Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 4/The Jewish Physician
The Hundred and Fiftieth Night.
SIR, ſaid ſhe, the Jewiſh Phyſician, finding the Sultan of Caſgar diſpoſed to hear him, gave the following Relation.
The Story of the Jewish Phyſician.
SIR, when I was a Student of Phyſick, and juſt beginning the Practice of that noble Profeſſion with ſome Reputation, a Man flave called me to ſee a Patient in the Governor of the City’s Family. Accordingly, I went, and was carried into a Room, where I found a very proper handſome young Man mightily caſt down with his Condition: I ſaluted him, and ſat down by him; but he made no return to my Compliments, only a SIgn with his Eyes that he heard me, and thanked me. Pray, Sir, ſaid I, give your Hand, that I may feel your Pulſe. But inſtead of ſtretching out his Right he gave me his Left Hand, at which I was extremely ſurprized. This, thinks I to my ſelf, is a groſs Piece of Ignorance, that he does not know that People preſent their Right Hand, and not their Left to a Phyſician. However, I felt his Pulſe, and writ him a Receipt, and ſo took leave.
I continued my Viſits for nine Days, and every time I felt his Pulſe he ſtill gave me the Left Hand. On the tenth Day he ſeem’d to be pretty well, and ſo I preſcrib’d nothing for him but bathing. The Governor of Damaſcus, who was by, did, in Teſtimony of his being well ſatisfied with my Service, inveſt me with a very rich Robe, ſaying, he made me a Phyſician of the City Hoſpital, and Phyſician in ordinary to his Houſe, where I might freely eat at his Table when I pleaſed.
The young Man likewiſe ſhewed me many Civilities, and asked me to accompany him to the Bath. Accordingly we went together, and when his Attendants had undreſ-ſed him, I perceived he wanted the Right Hand, and that it had not been long cut off, which had been the Occaſion of his Diſtemper, tho’ conceal’d from me; for while the People about him were applying proper Medicines externally, they had called me to prevent the Conſequence of the Fever he was then in. I was very much ſurprized, and concern’d in ſeeing his Misfortune; which he obſerved by my Countenance. Doctor, cried he, do not be aſtoniſh’d to ſee that my Hand is cut off, ſome Day or other I’ll tell you the Occaſion of it, and in that Relation you’ll be entertain’d with very ſurprizing Adventures.
After we had done bathing, we ſat down and eat, and after we had ſome other Diſcourſe together, he asked me if it would be any Prejudice to his Health, if he went and fetch’d a walk out of Town in the Governor’s Garden, I made Anſwer, it would be fo far from that, that it would benefit his Health. Since it is ſo, ſaid he, if you’ll let me have your Company, I’ll tell you the Hiſtory of my Adventures. I replied, I was at his Command for all that Day. Upon which he preſently called his Servants to bring ſomething for a Collation, and ſo we wen: to the Governor’s Garden. There we took two or three Turns, and then ſat down upon a Carpet that his Servants had ſpread under a Tree, which gave a very pleaſant Shade. After we were ſet, the young Man gave his Hiſtory in the following Terms.
I was born, ſaid he, at Moufſoul, and come of one of the moſt conſiderable Families in the City. My Father was the eldeſt of ten Brothers, that were all alive, and all married when my Grandfather died. All the Brothers were Childleſs, but my Father; and he had ne’er a Child but me. He took a particular Care of my Education; and made me learn every thing that was proper for a Child of my Quality.But, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, I am injoined ſilence by the Day which now appears, So ſhe ſtopped, and the Sultan roſe.
The Hundred and Fifty Firſt Night.
NEXT Morning Scheherazade continued her laſt Story as follows. Sir, ſaid ſhe, the Jewiſh Phyſici-an addreſſing himſelf to the Sultan of Caſgar, the young Gentleman of Mouſſoul, ſaid he, went on thus.
When I was grown pretty tall, and beginning to keep Company with the World, I happened one Friday to be at Noon Prayers, with my Father and my Uncles, in the great Moſque of Mouſſoul. And after Prayers were over, the reſt of the Company going away, my Father and my Uncles continued ſitting upon the beſt Tapeſtry in the Moſque, and I ſat down by ’em. They diſcourſed of ſeveral Things, but they fell inſenſibly, I do not know how, upon the Subject of Voyages. They extoll’d the Beauties and peculiar Rarities of ſome Kingdoms, and of their principal Cities. But one of my Uncles ſaid, that according to the uniform Report of an infinite Number of Voyages, there was none in the World a pleaſanter Country than Egypt and the Nile; and the Account he gave of ’em infus’d into me ſuch a charming Idea of them, that from that very Moment I had a Deſire to travel. Whatever my other Uncles ſaid, by way of Preference to Bagdad and the Tigris, in calling Bagdad the true Reſidence of the Muſſeman Religion, and the Metropolis of all the Cities in the Earth, all this made no impreſſion upon me, My Father joined in his Opinion with thoſe who had ſpoken on the Behalf of Egypt, which gave me a great deal of Joy. Say what you will ſaid he, he that has not ſeen Egypt, has not ſeen the greateſt Rarity in the World. All the Land there is Golden, I mean ’tis ſo fertile that it inriches its Inhabitants. All the Women of that Country are charming, either in their Beauty, or in their agreeable Carriage. If you ſpeak of the Nile, pray where is there a more admirable River? What Water was ever lighter or more delicious? The very Slime it carries along in its overflowing, fattens the Field ſo, that without manuring they produce a Thouſand times more than other Countries that are Cultivated with great Labour. Do but mind what a Poet ſaid of the Egyptians, when he was obliged to depart Egypt. “Your Nile loads you with good Offices every Day; ’tis for you only that it travels ſo far. Alas! in removing from you, my Tears are going to run as abundantly as its Water; you are to continue in the Enjoyment of its Sweetneſſes, while I am condemned to rob my ſelf of ’em againſt my Will.”
If you look, added my Father, towards the Iſland that’s form’d by the two greateſt Branches of the Nile; what Variety of Verdure have you there! What Enamel of all ſorts of Flowers! What a prodigious number of Cities, Villages, Canals and a thouſand other agreeable Objects! If you caſt your Eyes on the other ſide, fteering up towards Ethiopia, how many other Subjects of Admiration! I can’t compare the Verdure of ſo many Plains, watered with the different Canals of the Iſland, better than to ſparkling Emeralds ſet in Silver. Is not great Cairo the largeſt, the moſt populous, and the richeſt City in the Univerſe? What a prodigious Number ef magnificent Edifices both publick and private! If you view the Pyramids, you’ll be ſeized with Aſtoniſhment: You’ll turn ſtiff and unmoveable at the ſight of theſe Maſſes of Stone, of an extravagant Thickneſs, which riſe to the Skies; you’ll be obliged to profeſs, that the Pharoahs who employed ſuch Riches, and ſo many Men in building them, muſt have ſurpaſſed all the Monarchs that have appeared ſince, not only in Egypt, but all the World over, in Magnificence and Invention; fo tranſcendent are the Monuments they have left worthy of their Memory: Monuments ſo ancient, that the Learned can’t agree upon the Time of their Erection; and yet ſuch as ſtand to this Day and will laſt while Ages are. I filently paſs over the Maritime Cities of the Kingdom of Egypt, ſuch as Damiera, Roſetum, Alexandria, &c, where the Lord knows how many Nations come for a thouſand ſorts of Grain, Seeds, Cloath, and an infinite Number of other Things calculated for the Conveniency and the Delight of Men. What I ſpeak of, I have ſome occaſion to know; I ſpent ſome Years of my Youth there, which, as long as I live, I ſhall always reckon the moſt agreeable Part of my Life.
Scheherazade was running on at this Rate, when Day-light appear’d and made her mute. But towards the Cloſe of the enſuing Night, ſhe purſued her ’Story in the fol- lowing manner
The Hundred and Fifty Second Night.
MY Uncles had no Anſwer to give to my Father, continued the Young Man of Mouſſol, and agreed to all he had ſaid of the Nile, of Cairo, and of the whole Kingdom of Egypt. As for my own Part, I was ſo taken with it, that I had never a wink of Sleep that Night. Soon after, my Uncle: declared of themſelves how much they were touched with my Father’s Diſcourſe. They made a Propoſal to him, that they ſhould travel all together into Egypt. He accepted of the Propoſal; and being rich Merchants, they reſolved to carry with them ſuch Goods as would go off there. I cameto know that they were making Preparations for their Departure; and thereupon went to my Father and begged of him, with Tears in my Eyes, that he would ſuffer me to go along with him, and allow me ſome Stock of Goods to trade with my ſelf: You’re too young yet, ſaid my Father, to travel into Egypt, the Fatigue is too great for you, and beſide I’m ſure you’ll come off a Loſer in your Traffick. However theſe Words did not cure me of the caper Defire I had to travel, I made uſe of my Uncles Intereſt with my Father, who at laſt granted me leave to go as far as Damaſcus? where they would drop me, till they went through their Travels into Egypt. The City of Damaſcus, ſaid my Father, may likewiſe glory in its Beauties, and ’tis very well if my Son has Leave to go ſo far. Tho’ my Curioſity to ſee Egypt was very preſſing, I conſidered he was my Father, and ſubmitted to his will.
So I ſet out from Moſſoul with him and my Uncles; we travelled through Meſopotamia, paſſed the Euphrates, and arrived at Halep; where we ſtaid ſome Days. From thence we went to Damaſcus, the firſt Sight of which was a very agreeable Surprizal to me. We lodg’d in one Khan; and I had the view of a City, that was large, populous, full of fine People, and very well fortified. We employed ſome Days in walking up and down the delicious Gardens that ſurround it; and we all agreed that Damaſcus was juſtly ſaid to be ſeated in a Paradiſe. At laſt my Uncles thought of purſuing their Journey; but took care before they went to ſell my Goods, which they did fo advantageouſly for me, that I got five Hundred per Cent. This Sale fetched me ſo conſiderable a Sum, that I was tranfported to ſee my ſelf Poſſeſſor of it.
My Father and my Uncles left me in Damaſcus, and purſued their Journey. After their Departure, I uſed mighty Caution not to lay out their Money idly. But at the ſame time I took a ſtately Houſe, all of Marble, adorn’d with Pictures of Gold, and pure branched Work, and excellent Water-works, I furniſhed it, not ſo richly indeed as the Magnificence of the Place deſerved, but at leaſt handſomely enough for a young Man of my Condition. It had formerly belonged to one of the principal Lords of the City, whoſe Name was Moudoun Adalraham; but then was the Property of a rich Jewel Merchant, to whom I paid for it only two Sheriffs[1] a Month. I had a large Number of Domeſticks, and lived honourably; ſometimes I gave Entertainments to ſuch People as I was acquainted with, and ſometimes I went and was treated by them. Thus did I ſpend my Time at Damaſcus, waiting for my Father’s Return; no Paſſion diſturb’d my Repoſe, and my only Employment was converfing with People of Credit.
One Day as I ſat taking the cool Air at my Gate, a very handſome fine Lady came to me, and asked if I did not ſell Stuffs; but no ſooner ſpoke the words than ſhe went into my Houſe.
Here Scheherazade ſtopp’d, perceiving Day; but the next Night went-on as follows.
The Hundred and Fifty Third Night.
WHEN Iſaw, ſaid the young Gentleman of Mouſſoul, that the Lady had gone into the Houſe, I roſe, and having ſhut the Gate, carried her into a Hall, and pray’d her to ſit down. “Madam, (ſaid I) I have had Stuffs that were fit to be ſhewn to you, but I have ’em not now, for which I am very ſorry.” She took off the Veil that covered her Face, and made a Beauty ſparkle in my Eyes, which affected me with ſuch Motions as I had never felt before. “I have no occaſion for Stuffs, (ſaid ſhe) only come to ſee you, and paſs the Evening with you, if you are pleas’d with it, all I ask of you is a light Collation.
Tranſported with ſuch happy Luck, I order’d my Folks to bring us ſeveral ſorts of Fruit, and ſome Bottle of Wine. They ſerv’d us nimbly; and we eat and drank and made merry till Midnight, In ſhort, I had not paſſed a Night ſo agreeably all the while I had been there: Next Morning I would have put ten Sheriffs in the Lady’s Hands, but ſhe refuſed them; I am not come to ſee you ſaid ſhe, from a Deſign of Intereſt; you affront me, I am ſo far from receiving Money of you, that I deſire you to take Money of me, or elſe I’ll ſee you no more. In ſpeaking this, ſhe clapped her Hand in her Purſe, took out ten Sheriffs and forced me to take ’em. You may expect me three Days hence after Sun-ſet. Then ſhe took Leave of me, and I felt that when fhe went ſhe carried my Heart along with her.
She did not fail to return at the appointed Hour Three Days after; and I did not fail to receive her with all the Joy of a Perſon that waited impatiently for her Arrival. The Evening and the Nignt we ſpent as before; And next Day at parting ſhe promiſed to return the Third Day after. However, ſhe did not go without forcing me to take ten Sheriffs more.
She return’d a third Time, and at that Interview when we were both warm with Wine, ſhe ſpoke thus, My dear Heart, what do you think of me? Am not I handſome and agreeable? Madam, ſaid I, All the Marks of Love with which I entertain you, ought to perſwade you, that I love you; I am charmed in ſeeing you, and more ſo in enjoying you. You’re my Queen, my Sultaneſs, in you lies all the Felicity of my Life. Ah! Sir, replied ſhe, I am aſſured you would ſpeak otherwiſe, if you ſaw a certain Lady of my Acquaintance that’s younger and handfomer than I. She’s a Lady of ſuch a pleaſant jocund Temper, as would make the moſt melancholy People merry. I muſt bring her hither; I ſpoke of you to her, and from the Account I have given of you, ſhe dies of deſire to ſee you. She intreated me to gain her that Pleaſure, but I did not dare to humour her without ſpeaking to you before-hand. Ma-dam, ſaid I, you ſhall do what you pleaſe; but whatever you may fay of: your Friend, I defy all her Charms to tear my Heart from you, to whom ’tis ſo inviolably tied, that nothing can diſengage it. Do not be too poſitive, faid ſhe, I now tell you, I’m about to put your Heart to a ſtrange Trial.
We ſtayed together all Night, the next Morning at parting, inſtead of Ten Sheriffs, ſhe gave me Fifteen, which I was forced to accept. Remember, ſaid ſhe, that in Two Days Time you’re to have a new Gueſt; pray take care to give her a good Reception: We’ll come at the uſual Hour, after Sun ſet. I took care to have my Hall in great order, and a nice Collation prepared againſt they came.
Here Scheherazade obſerving it was Day ſtopp’d; but next Night ſhe went on as follows,
The Hundred and Fifty Fourth Night.
SIR, the Young Man of Mouſſoul, recounting the Hiſtory of his Adventures to the Jewish Phyſician, continued thus. I waited, faid he, for the Two Ladies with Impatience, and at laſt they arrived, They both unveil’d themſelves, and as I had been ſurpriz’d with the Beauty of the firſt, I had reaſon to be much more ſo when I faw her Friend. She had regular Features, a lively Complection, and ſuch ſparkling Eyes that I could hardly bear their Splendor, I thanked her for the Honour ſhe did me, and intreated her to excuſe me, if I did not give her the Reception ſhe deſerved. No Compliments, faid ſhe, it ſhould be my part to make. them to you for allowing my Friend to bring me hither. But fince you are pleas’d to ſuffer it; let’s lay aſide all Ceremony, and think of nothing but being merry.
As ſoon as the Ladies arrived, the Collation was ſerved up, and we ſat down to Supper. I ſat oppoſite to the ſtranger Lady, and ſhe never left off looking upon me with a Smile: I could not reſiſt her conquering Eyes, and ſhe made her ſelf Miſtreſs of my Heart with ſuch Force, that I had not power to offer Oppoſition. But inſpiring me ſhe took Fire her ſelf, and was equally tonch’d; and was fo far from ſhewing any thing of Conſtraint in her Carriage, that ſhe told me very fenſible moving things.
The other Lady, who minded us, did nothing at firſt but laugh at us. I told you, ſaid ſhe, addreſſing her ſelf to me, you wou’d find my Friend full of Charms; and I perceive you have already violated the Oath you made me of being faithful to me. Madam, ſaid I, laughing as well as ſhe; you would have Reaſon to complain of me, if I were wanting in Civility to a Lady that you brought hither, and one whom you are fond of; you might then upbraid me, both of you, for not knowing the Meaſures of Hoſpitality and Entertainment.
We continued to drink on; but as the Wine grew warm in our Stomachs, the Stranger Lady and I ogled one another with ſo little Reſerve, that her Friend grew Jealous, and quickly gave us a diſmal Proof of her Jealouſy. She roſe from the Table and went out, ſaying, ſhe would be with us preſently again: But a few Moments after, the Lady that ſtaid with me changed her Countenance, fell into violent Convulſions, and in fine expired in my Arms, while I was calling tor the People to come and aſſiſt me to relieve her. Immediately I went out, and asked for the other Lady; and my People told me ſhe had opened the Street Door and gone out of Doors. Then I ſuſpected what was really true, that ſhe had been the Cauſe of her Friend’s Death. In fine ſhe had the Dexterity, and the Malice, to put ſome very ſtrong Poiſon into the laſt Glaſs, which ſhe gave her out of her own Hand.
I was afflicted to the laſt Degree with the Accident. What ſhall I do, thinks I within my ſelf? What will become of me? I thought there was no time to loſe, and fo it being then Moon-light, made my Servants quietly take up a great piece of Marble with which the Yard of my Houſe was paved; under that I made ’em dig a Hole preſently, and there inter the Corps of the Young Lady. After replacing the Stone, I put on a travelling Suit, and took what Silver I had; and having lock’d up every thing, affixed my own Seal to the Door of my Houſe. This done, I went to ſee tor the Jewel Merchant my Landlord, payed him what Rent I ow’d, with a Year’s Rent more, and giving him a the Key, prayed him to keep it for me. A very urging Affair, ſaid I, obliges me to be abſent for ſome time; I am under a Neceſſity of going to find out my Uncles at Cairo. In fine, I took leave of him, and that very Moment mounted my Horſe, and ſet out with my Equipage.
Day appearing Scheherazade diſcontinued her Diſcourſe; but reſumed it next Night as follows.
The Hundred and Fifty Fifth Night.
I Had a good Journey, continued the Young Man of Morſſoul, and arrived at Cairo, without any ill Accident: There I met with my Uncles, who were very much ſurprized to ſee me there. To excuſe my ſelf, I pretended I was tired of ſtaying for them; and hearing nothing of them, was ſo uneaſy, that I could not be ſatisfied without coming to Cairo, They received me very kindly, and promiſed my Father ſhould not be angry with me for leaving Damaſcus without his Permiſſion. I lodged in the ſame Khan with them, and ſaw all the Curioſities of Cairo.
Having finiſhed their Traffick, they began to ſpeak of returning to Mouſſoul, and to make Preparations for their departure. But having a mind to ſee ſomething in Egypt that I had not yet ſeen, left my Uncles, and went to lodge at a great diſtance from their Khan, and did not appear till they were gone. They had ſought for me all over the City; but not finding me, they judg’d the Remorſe of having come to Egypt without my Father’s Conſent, had put me upon returning to Damaſcus without ſaying any thing to them. So they began their Journey, expecting to find me at Damaſcus, and there to take me up.
I continued at Cairo after their Departure three Years, to give full Satisfaction to the Curioſity I had of ſeeing all the Wonders of Egypt. During that time I took care to ſend Money to the Jewel-Merchant, ordering him to keep my Houſe for me: For I had a deſign to return to Damaſcus, and ftay there for ſome Years. I had no Adventure at Cairo worthy of your hearing; but doubtleſs you’ll be ſurprized at that I met with after my return to Damaſcus.
Arriving at this City, I went to the Jewel-Merchant’s Houſe, who received me joyfully, and would needs go along with me to my Houſe, to ſhew me that no Body had entred it whilſt I was abſent, In Effect the Seal was ftill intire upon the Lock; and when I went in I found every thing in the ſame order in which I had left it.
In ſweeping and cleaning out my Hall where I had uſed to eat, one of my Servants found a gold Chain Necklace with Ten very large and very perfect Pearls placed upon it at certain Diſtances. He brought it to me, and I knew it to be the ſame I had ſeen upon the Lady’s Neck that was poiſoned; and concluded it had broke off and fallen when I did not perceive it, I could not look upon it without ſhedding Tears, when I call’d to mind the lovely Creature I had ſeen die in ſo fatal a manner. I wrapp’d it up, and put it in my Boſom.
I paſs’d ſome Days to work off the Fatigue of my Voyage; after which I began to viſit my former Acquaintance. I abandoned my ſelf to all manner of Pleaſure, and inſenfibly ſquandered away all my Money. Being in this Condition, inſtead of ſelling my Moveables, I reſolved to part with the Necklace: But I had fo little Skill in Pearls, that I took my Meaſures very ill, as you ſhall hear.
I went to the Bezeſtein, where I called a Crier aſide, and ſhewing him the Necklace, told him I had a mind to ſell it, and deſired him to ſhew it to the principal Jewellers. The Crier was ſurprized to ſee ſuch an Ornament. What a pretty thing it is, cried he, ſtaring upon it with Admiration; never did our Merchants ſee any thing ſo rich; I’m ſure I’ll oblige them in ſhewing it to them; and you need not doubt they’ll ſet a high Price upon it in Emulation with one another. He carried me to a Shop, which proved to be my Landlord’s: Tarry here, ſays the Crier, I’ll return preſently and bring you an Anſwer.
While he was running about to ſhew the Necklace, I ſat with the Jeweler who was glad to ſee me; and we diſcourſed of common Subjects. The Crier returned, and calling me aſide, inſtead of telling me the Necklace was valued at two Thouſand Sheriffs,he aſſured me no Body would give more than Fifty. The Reaſon is, added he, the Pearls are falſe; ſo ſee it you can part with it at that Price. I took the Fellow to be an honeſt Fellow, and wanting Money, Go, faid I, I truſt what you ſay, and they who know better than I; deliver it to them, and bring me the Money immediately.
The Crier had been ordered to offer me Fifty Sheriffs by one of the richeſt Jewellers in Town, who had only made that offer to ſound me, and try if I was well acquainted with the Value of the Goods I expoſed to Sale. He had no ſooner received my Anſwer, than he carried the Crier to the Juſtitiary Judge, and ſhewing him the Necklace; Sir, ſaid he, here’s a Necklace that was ſtole from me; and the Thief under the Character of a Merchant, has had the Impudence to offer it to Sale, and is at this Minute in the Bezeſtein. He’s willing to take Fifty Sheriffs for a Necklace that’s worth Two Thouſand, which is a plain Argument that ’tis ftole.
The Judge ſent immediately to ſeize me; and when I came before him, he ask’d me if the Necklace he had in his Hand was not the ſame that I had expoſed to Sale in the Bezeſtein. I told him it was, Is it true, ſaid hey that you are willing to deliver it for Fifty Sheriffs? I anſwer’d, it was, Well, ſaid he, in a ſcoffing way, give him the Baſtinado; he’ll quickly tell us, with all his fine Merchant’s Cloaths, that he’s only a downright Thief; let him be beat till he confeſſes. The Violence of the Blows: made me tell a Lye, I confeſs’d, tho’ it was not true, that I had ſtole the Necklace; and preſently the Judge ordered my Hand to be cut off.
This made a great Noiſe in the Bezeſtein, and I was ſcarce returned to my Houſe, when my Landlord came. My Son, ſaid he, you ſeem to be a young Man well educated, and of good Senſe; how is it poſſible you could be guilty of ſuch an unworthy Action! You gave me an Account of your Eſtate your ſelf and I do not doubt but the Account is juſt. Why did not you ask Money of me, and I would have lent it you? However, ſince the thing has happened, I can’t allow you to lodge longer in my Houſe; you muſt go and ſee for other Lodgings. I was extremely troubled at this; and intreated the Jewller with Tears in my Eyes to let me ſtay three Days longer in his Houſe which he granted.
Alas, ſaid I to my ſelf, this Misfortune and Affront is inſufferable; how ſtall U dare to return to Mouſſoul? There’s nothing I can ſay to my Father, will perſwade him that I am innocent.
Scheherazade perceiving Day, ſtopped here; but continued her Story next Day as follows.
The Hundred and Fifty Sixth Night.
THREE Hours after this fatal Accident, my Houſe was aſſaulted by the Judge’s Officers, accompanied with my Landlord and the Merchant that had falſly accuſed me of having ſtole the Necklace. I asked them, what brought them there? But inſtead of giving me any Anſwer, they bound me, calling me a thouſand Rogues, and telling me the Necklace belonged to the Governor of Damaſcus, who had loſt it above three Years ago, and whoſe Daughter had not been heard of ſince that time. Judge you what Thoughts rolled in my Mind, when I heard this News. However, I called all my Reſolution about me; I’ll tell, thinks I, I’ll tell the Governor the Truth; and ſo it will lie at his Door either to put me to Death, or to pardon me.
When I was brought before him, I obſerved he look’d upon me with an Eye of Compaſſion, from whence I propheſied good things. He ordered me to be untied, and addreſſing himſelf to the Jeweller who accus’d me and to my Landlord: Is this the Man, ſaid he, that ſold the Pearl Necklace? They had no ſooner anſwered yes; then, he ſaid, I’m ſure he did not ſteal the Necklace, and I am much aftoniſhed at the Injuſtice that has been done him. Theſe Words giving me Courage: Sir, ſaid I, I do aſſure you I am in Effect very innocent. I am likewiſe fully perſuaded the Necklace never did belong to my Accuſer, whom I never ſaw, and whoſe horrible Perſidiouſneſs is the Cauſe of my unjuſt Treatment. ’Tis true, I made a Confeſſion as if I had ſtole it; but this I did- contrary to my Conſcience, thro’ the Force of Torture, and of another Reaſon that I am ready to tell you, if you’ll be ſo good as to hear me. I know enough of it already, replied the Governor, to do you one part of the Juſtice that is due to you. Take from hence, continued-he, take the falſe Accuſer, let him under go the ſame Puniſhment he caus’d to be inflifted on this young Man; whoſe Innocence is known to me.
The Governor’s Orders were immediately put in Execution; the Jeweller was puniſhed according to his Demerit. Then the Governor having ordered all the Company to withdraw; ſaid to me: My Child, tell me without tear how this Necklace fell into your Hands, conceal nothing of the Matter from me. Then I told plainly all that had paſs’d, and declared I had choſen rather to paſs for a Thief, than to reveal that Tragical Adventure. Good God, ſaid the Governor, thy Judgments are in comprehenſible, and we ought to ſubmit to them without Murmuring. I receive, with an entire Submiſſion, the Stroke thou haſt been pleafed to inflict upon me. Then directing his Diſcourſe to me; My Child, ſaid he, having now heard the Cauſe of your Diſgrace, for which I am very much concerned, I’ll give you an Account of the Diſgrace that befel me. Know then, that I am the Father of theſe two Young Ladies you were ſpeaking of but now.
Scheherazade perceiving the Appearance of Day, ſtopped here; but went on next Night in the following manner.
The Hundred and Fifty Seventh Night.
SIR, ſaid ſhe, the Diſcourſe that the Governor of Damaſcus made to the Young Man of Mouſſoul, was this, My Child, ſaid the Governor, know that the firſt Lady, who had the Impudence to come to your Houſe, was my eldeſt Daughter. I had given her in Marriage to one of her own Couſins, my own Brother’s Son at Cairo. Her Husband died, and ſhe returned home corrupted with all manner of Wickedneſs, which ſhe had learned in Egypt. Before I took her home, her younger Siſter who died in that deplorable manner in your Arms, was a very prudent young Woman, and had never given me any Occaſion to complain of her Conduct. But after that, the eldeſt Siſter grew very intimate with her, and inſenfibly made her as wicked as her ſelf.
The Day after the Death of the youngeſt, not finding her at Table, asked her eldeſt Siſter what was become of her, but ſhe inſtead of anſwering, fell a crying bitterly, from whence I formed a fatal Preſage. I preſſed her to inform me of what I asked her. My Father, ſaid ſhe with Sobs, I can tell you no more but that my Siſter put on her beſt Cloaths Yeſterday, and her fine Necklace, and went abroad, and has not been heard of ſince. I made ſearch for my Daughter all over the Town; but could learn nothing of her unhappy Fate: In the mean time the eldeſt, who doubtleſs repented of her jealous Fury, took on very much, and inceſſantly bewailed the Death of her Siſter; ſhe denied her ſelf all manner of Food, and ſo put an end to her deplorable Days.
Such, continued the Governor, ſuch is the State of Mankind! ſuch are the unluckly Accidents to which they are expoſed, However, my Child, added he, ſince we are both of us equally unfortunate, let’s unite our Sorrow, and not abandon one another. I give you in Marriage a Third Daughter I have ſtill left; ſhe’s younger than her Siſters, and takes after them in no manner of Way in her Conduct; beſides ſhe’s handſomer than they were, and I aſſure you is of a Humour proper to make you happy. You ſhall have no other Houſe but mine, and after my Death you and ſhe ſhall be my univerſal Heirs. Sir, ſaid I, I’m aſham’d of all your Favours, and ſhall be never able to make you a ſufficient Acknowledgment. That’s enough, ſaid he, interrupting me; let us not waſte Time in idle Words. This ſaid, he called for Witneſſes, order’d the Contract of Marriage to be drawn, and ſo I married his Daughter without any Ceremony.
He was not ſatisfied with puniſhing the Jeweller that had falſly accuſed me; but confiſcated for my Uſe all his Goods, which were very conſiderable. As for the reſt, fince you have been called to the Governor’s Houſe, you have ſeen what Reſpect they pay me there. I muſt tell you further, that a Man who was ſent by my Uncles to Egypt on purpoſe to inquire for me there, paſſing through this City found me out, and came laſt Night and delivered me a Letter from them. They give me Notice of my Father’s Death, and invited me to come and take Poſſeſſion of his Eſtate at Mouſſoul. But as the Alliance and Friendſhip of the Governor has fixed me with him, and will not ſuffer me to remove from him; I have ſent back the Expreſs with an Order, which will ſecure to me what is my due, Now, after what you have heard, I hope you’ll pardon my Incivility during the courſe of my illneſs, in giving you my left in ſtead of my right Hand.
This, ſaid the Jewiſh Phyfician, this is the Story I heard from the young Man of Mouſſoul I continued at Damaſcus as long as the Governor lived; after his Death, being in the Flower of my Age, I had a Curioſity to travel. Accordingly I went over Perſia to the Indies, and came at laſt to ſettle in this your Capital, where I practiſe Phyfick with Reputation and Honour.
The Sultan of Caſgar was pretty well pleaſed with this laſt Story. I muſt ſay, ſaid he to the Jew, the Story you have told me is very odd; but I declare freely that of the little Hump is yet more extraordinary, and much more comical; ſo that you are not to expect that I’ll give you your Life, no more. than the reſt, I’ll hang you all Four. Pray, Sir, ſtay a Minute, ſaid the Taylor, advancing forwards, and then proſtrating himſelf at the Sultan’s Feet; ſince your Majeſty: loves pleaſant Stories, I have one to tell you that’s very comical. Well, I’ll hear thee too, ſaid the Sultan; but do not flatter thy ſelf that I’ll ſuffer thee to live, unleſs thou telleſt me ſome Adventure that’s yet more diverting than that of the Hump-back’d Man. Upon this the Taylor, as if he had been ſure of his Project; ſpoke very briskly to the following Purpoſe.
- ↑ A Sheriff is the ſame with a Sequin. This Word is in the ancient Authors.