Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 4/The Three Apples
Arabian
Winter-Evenings
Entertainments.
Vol. IV.
The Hundred and Thirteenth Night.
EXT Morning, before Day-break, Dinarzade awak’d her Siſter, who went on as follows. Bedreddin Haſſan, continued the Vizier Giafar, run after Agib and the Eunuch, and overtook them before they were got to the Gate of the City. The Eunuch, perceiving he followed them, was extremely ſurprized; You impertinent Fellow, you, ſaid he, with an angry Tone, What do you want? My dear Friend, replied Bedreddin, do not you trouble your ſelf: I have a little buſmeſs out of Town, that’s juſt come into my Head, and I muſt needs go and look after it. However, this Anſwer did not at all appeaſe the Eunuch, who, turning to Agib, ſaid, This is all along of you, I foreſaw I ſhould repent of my Complaiſance; you would needs go into the Man’s Shop; it was not wiſely done in me to give you leave. Perhaps, replied Agib, he has real Buſineſs out of Town; and the Road is free to every Body. While this paſſed, they kept walking together, without looking behind them, till they came near the Vizier’s Tents, upon which they turned about to ſee if Bedreddin followed them. Agib, perceiving he was within two Paces of him, reddened and whitened alternately, according to the divers Motions that affected him. He was afraid the Grand Vizier, his Grand-father, ſhould come to know he had been in the Paſtry-Shop, and had eat there. In this dread, he took up a pretty big Stone that lay at his Foot, and, throwing it at Bedreddin Haſſan, hit him in the Forehead, which gave
him ſuch a Wound that his Face was covered with Blood. Then he took up his Heels and run under the Eunuch’s
Tents. The Eunuch gave Bedreddin to underſtand, he had no reaſon to complain of a Miſchance, that he had merited, and brought upon himſelf.
Bedreddin turned towards the City ſtanching the Blood of this Wound with his Apron, which he had not put off. I was a Fool, ſaid he within himſelf, for leaving my Houſe, to take ſo much Pains upon this Brat; for doubtleſs he would never have uſed me after this manner, if he had not thought, I had had ſome fatal Deſign againſt him. When he got home, he had his Wound dreſſed, and ſoftned the ſenſe of his Miſchance by the Reflection, that there was an infinite Number of People upon the Earth, that were yet more unfortunate than he.
Day peeping in, obliged the Sultaneſs to ſilence, and Schahriar got up pitying Bedreddin, and impatient to know the Sequel of the Story.
The Hundred and Fourteenth Night.
TOwards the cloſe of the enſuing Night, Scheherazade, addreſſing her ſelf to the Sultan of the In-dies, purſued her Story as follows. Sir, the Grand Vizier Giafar, continuing the Story of Bedreddin Haſſan, Bedreddin, ſaid he, kept on the Paſtry-Trade at Damaſcus, and his Uncle Schemſeddin Mohammed went from thence three Days after his Arrival. He went by way of Emaus, Hamah, and Halep; then croſſed the Euphrates, and after paſſing through Mardin, Mouſſoul, Sengiar, Djarbeke, and ſeveral other Towns, arrived at laſt at Balſora; and immediately after his Arrival, deſired Audience of the Sultan; who was no ſooner informed of Schemſeddin’s Qualility, than he gave him Audience, received him very favourably, and asked him the Occaſion of his Journey to Balſora? Sir, replied the Vizier Schemſeddin Mohammed, I come to know what is become of the Son of Noureddin Ali my Brother, who has had the Honour to ſerve your Majeſty. Noureddin Ali, ſaid the Sultan, has been dead a long while; as for his Son, all I can tell you of him, is, that he diſappeared all on a ſudden, about Two Months after his Father’s Death, and no Body has a him ſince, notwithſtanding all the Enquiry I ordered to be made. But his Mother, who is a Daughter of one of my Viziers, is ſtill alive. Schemſeddin Mohammed deſired leave of the Sultan to ſee her, and carry her to Egypt; and having obtained his Requeſt, without tarrying till the next Day, for the ſatistaction of ſeeing her, enquired after her place of Abode, and that very Hour went to our Houſe, accompanied with his Daughter and his Grand-ſon.
The Widow of Noureddin Ali lived ſtill in the ſame Place, where her Husband had lived. ’Twas a fine ftately Houſe, adorn’d with Marble Pillars: But Schemſeddin did not ſtop to view it. At his Entry, he kiſſed the Gate, and the Piece of Marble upon which his Brother’s Name was written in Letters of Gold. He asked to ſpeak with his Siſter-in-law, and was told by, her Servants, that ſhe was in a ſmall Edifice of the Form of a Dome, which they ſhewed to him, in the Middle of a very ſpacious Court. The Matter was, this tender Mother uſed to ſpend the greateſt part of Day and Night in that Room, which ſhe had built for a Repreſentation of the Tomb of Bedreddin Haſſan, whom ſhe took to bedead after fo long Abſence. At that very Minute ſhe pouring Tears over the Thoughts of that dear Child, and Schemſeddin Mohammed entring found her buried in the laſt Afflicttion.
He made his Compliment, and after beſeeching her to ſuſpend her Tears and Groans, gave her to know he had the Honour to be her Brother-in-law, and acquainted her with the Reaſon of his Journey from Cairo to Balſora.
Theſe Words were no ſooner ſpoken, than Scheherazade drop’d her Story upon the Approach of Day; but reſumed the Thread of it next Night in the following manner.
The Hundred and Fifteenth Night.
SChemſeddin Mohammed, continued the Vizier Giafar, after acquainting his Sifter-in-Law with all that paſſed at Cairo on his Daughter’s Wedding Night, after informing her of the Surprizal occaſioned by the Diſcovery of the Paper ſew’d up in Bedreddin’s Turban, preſented to her Agib and the beautiful Lady.
The Widow of Noureddin Ali, who had ſtill continued ſitting like a Woman moped, and weaned from the Affairs of this World, no ſooner underſtood by his Diſcourſe that her dear Son whom the lamented ſo bitterly, might ſtill be alive, than ſhe aroſe, and with repeated Hugs embraced the beautiful Lady, and her Grand-child Agib, and, perceiving in the Youth the Features of Bedreddin, ſhed Tears of a quite different Stamp from what ſhe had been ſo long accuſtomed to ſhed. She could not forbear kiſſing the Youth, who, for his part received her Embraces with all the Demonſtrations of Joy he was capable of. Madam, ſaid Schemſeddin Mohammed, it is time to wipe off your Tears, and ceaſe your Groans, you muſt think of going along with us to Egypt. The Sultan of Balſora gives me leave to carry you thither, and I do not doubt but you’ll agree to it. I am hopeful we at laſt find out your Son my Nephew; and if that comes to paſs the Hiſtory of him, of you, of my Daughter, and that of my own Adventures, will deſerve to be committed ro Writing, and ſo tranſmitted to Poſterity.
The Widow of Noureddin Ali heard this Propoſal with Pleaſure, and from that very Minute order’d the Preparations to be made tor her Departure, While that was a do-ing, Schemſeddin Mohammed defir’d a ſecond Audience, and after taking leave of the Sultan, who uſed him with ample Marks of Reſpect, and gave him a conſiderable Preſent for himſelf, and another of great Value for the Sultan of Egypt, ſet out from Balſora for the City of Damaſcus.
When he arrived in the Neighbourhood of Damaſcus, he order’d his Tents to be pitched without the Gate, at which he deſigned to enter the City; and gave out he would tarry there three Days, to give his Equipage Reſt, and buy up the beſt Curioſities he could meet with, and ſuch as were worthy of being preſented to the Sultan of Egypt.
While he was employed in looking upon and picking, out the fineſt Stuffs, that the principal Merchants had brought to his Tents, Agib beg’d the black Eunuch his Governour to carry him through the City, in order to ſee what he had not leiſure to view as he paſſed before; and to know what was become of the Paſtry-Cook that he had wounded with a ſtone. The Eunuch, complying with his Requeſt, went along with him towards the City, after Leave obtained of the beautiful Lady his Mother.
They entered Damaſcus by the Paradiſe-Gate, which lay next to the Tents of the Vizier Schemſeddin Mohammed. They walked through the great Squares and the publick Places where the richeſt Goods were ſold, and took a View of the ancient Moſque of the Ommiada,[1] at the Hour of Prayer,between Noon and Sunſet.[2] After that they had paſſed by the Shop of Bedreddin Haſſan, whom they found ſtill employed in making Cream-Tarts. I ſalute you, Sir, ſays Agib, Do you mind me? Do you remember you ever ſaw me before? Bedreddin, hearing theſe Words, caſt his Eyes upon him, and knowing him, (Oh the ſurprizing Effect of Paternal Love!) found the ſame Emotion within himſelf, as when he ſaw him firſt of all; he was confuſed upon the Matter, and inſtead of making an Anſwer, continued a long time without uttering one Word, But after all, recalling his Wits, My little Lord, ſaid he, be ſo kind as to come once more with your Governour into my Houſe, and taſte a Cream Tart. I beg your Lordſhip’s Pardon for the Trouble I gave you in following you out of Town; I was at that time not my ſelf, I did not know what I did. You dragged me after you, and the Violence of the Pull was ſo ſoft that I could not withſtand it.
Scheherazade, obſerving the approaching Day, ſtopped here; and the next Night reſumed her Diſcourſe to the following Purpoſe.
The hundred and Sixteenth Night.
AGib, continued the Vizier Giafar, aſtoniſhed at what Bedreddin ſaid, replied thus: “There’s an Exceſs in the Kindneſs you expreſs, and unleſs you engage under Oath not to follow me when 1 go from hence, I will not enter into your Houſe. If you give me your Promiſe, and prove a Man of your Word, I’ll viſit you again to Morrow, ſince the Vizier my Grand-father is ſtill employed in buying up Things for a Preſent to the Sultan of Egypt.” “My little Lord, (replied Bedreddin) I’ll do whatever you would have me to do.” This ſaid, Agib and the Ennuch went into the Shop.
Preſently after, Bedreddin ſet before them a Cream Tart, that was full as good as what they had eat of when they ſaw him before; “Come, (ſays Agib addreſſing himſelf to Bedreddin) ſit down by me and eat with us.” Bedredden ſat down, and made Offers to embrace Agib, as a Teſtimony of the Joy he conceived upon his ſitting by him. But Agib ſhoved him off; defiring him to be eaſy, not to run his Friendſhip too cloſe, and to content himſelf with ſeeing and entertaining him. Bedreddin obeyed and fell a ſinging a Song, the Words of which he compoſed off Hand, in the Praiſe of Agib: He did not eat, but made it his Buſineſs to ſerve his Gueſts. When they had done eating he brought them Water to[3] waſh with, and a very white Napkin to wipe their Hands. Then he filled a large China Cup with Sher-bet, and put ſnow[4] into it; and offering it to Agib, “This (ſaid he) is Sherbet of Roſes; and the pleaſinteſt you’ll meet with all the Town over; I am ſure you never taſted better.” Agib having drunk of it with Pleaſure, Bedreddin Haſſan took the Cup from him, and preſented it to the Eunuch, who drunk it all off at one Pull.
In fine, Agib and his Governor, having fared well, returned Thanks to the Paſtry-Cook tor their good Entertainment, and moved Homewards, it being then latiſh. When they arrived at the Tents of Schemſeddin Mohammed, they repaired immediately to the Lady’s Tent, Agib’s Grand-mother received him with Tranſports of Joy: Her Son Bedreddin run always in her Mind, andin embracing Agib, the Remembrance of him drew Tears from her Eyes. Ah, my Child! ſaid ſhe, my Joy would be perfect, if I had the Pleaſure of embracing your Father Bedreddin Haſſan, as I now embrace you. Then, fitting down to Supper, ſhe made Agib ſit by her, and put ſeveral Queſions to him relating to the Walk he had been taking along with the Eunuch, and, complaining of his ſorry Stomach, gave him a Piece of Cream Tart, which ſhe made for her ſelf, and was indeed very good; for, I told you before, the could make them better than the beſt Paſtry-Cooks. She likewiſe gave ſome to the Eunuch; but both of them had eat ſo heartily at Bedreddin’s Houſe that they could not taſte a bit.
Here approaching Day put a ſtop to Scherſeddin’s Story for this Night; but towards the cloſe of the next, ſhe reſumed it in the following Terms.
The Hundred and Seventeenth Night.
AGib no ſooner touched the Piece of Cream Tart that had been ſet before him, than he pretended he did not like it, and left it uncut; and Schaban (ſuch was the Eunuch’s Name)[5] did the ſame thing. The Widow of Noureddin Ali obſerved with regret, that her Grand-ſon did not like the Tart: What! Says ſhe, does my Child thus deſpite the Work of my Hands; beſt known to you, no one in the World can make ſuch Cream Tarts befides my ſelf, and your Father Bedreddin Haſſan, whom I my ſelf taught to make them. My good Mother, replied Agib, give me leave to tell-you, it you do not know how to make better, there’s a Paſtry-Cook in this Town, that goes beyond you in that Point. We were at his Shop but now, and eat of one that is much better than yours.
This ſaid, the Grand-mother, frowning upon the Eunuch, How now! Schaban, (ſaid ſhe) was the Care of my Grand-child committed to you, to carry him to eat at Paſtry-Shops, like a Beggar? Madam, replied the Eunuch, ’tis true, we did ſtop a little while and talked with the Paſtry-Cook, but we did not eat with him. Pardon me, ſays Agib, we went into his Shop, and there eat a Cream Tart, Upon this, the Lady more incenſed againſt the Eunuch than before, roſe in a paſſion from the Table, and running to the Tent of Schemſeddin Mohammed, informed him of the Eunuch’s Crime, and that in fuch Terms as tended more to inflame the Vizicr, than diſpoſe him to excuſe it.
Shemſeddin Mohammed, who was naturally paſſionate, did not fail upon this Occaſion to diſplay his Anger. He went forthwith to his Siſter-in-Law’s Tent, and making up to the Eunuch, What! ſays he, you pitiful Wretch, have you the Impudence to abuſe the Truſt I repoſe in you. Schaban, though ſufficiently convicted by Agib’s teſtimony, denied the Fact ſtill. But the Child perſiſting in what he had affirmed, Grandfather, ſaid he, I can aſſure you we not only cat, but we ear both of us ſo heartily, that we have no occaſion for Supper: Beſides, the Paſtry-Cook treated us alſo with a great Bowl of Sherbet. Well, cried Schemſeddin, turning to Schaban, after all this, will you deny that you entred the Paſtry-Cook’s Houſe, and eat there? Schaban had ſtill the Impudence to fwear it was not true. Then you’re a Liar, ſaid the Vizier, I believe my Grand-child before I believe you: But after all, ſays he, if you can eat up this Cream Tart that’s upon the Table, I hall be perſwaded you have Truth on your Side.
Tho Schaban had cramm’d himſelf to the throat before, he agreed to ſtand that teſt: and accordingly took a Piece of Tart, but his ſtomack riſing againſt it was obliged: to ſpit it out of hiſ mouth; yet he ſtill reſued the Lye, and pretend’d he had over eat himſelf the Day before, ſo that hiſ ſtomach was not come to him, The Vizier irritated with all the Eunoch’s frivolouſ pretences, and convinced of his guilt ordred him to lay flat upon the Ground, and to be ſoundly baſtinado’d, In undergoing this Puniſhment, the poor wretch ſcreeched out prodigiouſly, and at laſt confeſſed the truth; I own, cries he, that he did eat a Cream Tart at the Paſtry-Cook’s, and that it was much better than that upon the Table.
The Widow of Noureddin Ali thought it was out of Spite to her, and with a Deſign to mortify her, that Schaban commended the Paſtry-Cook’s Tart; and accordingly ſaid, I can’t believe the Cook’s Tarts are better than mine; I am reſolved to ſatisfy my ſelf upon that Head; Where does he live? Go immediately and buy me one of his Tarts. The Eunuch, having received of her what Money was ſufficient for that Purpoſe, repaired to Bedreddin’s Shop, and addreſſed himſelf to Bedreddin, Good Mr. Paſtry-Cook, ſays he, take this Money here, and let me take one of your Cream Tarts; one of our Ladies wants to taſte of them. Bedreddin choſe one of the beſt, and gave it to the Eunuch, Take this, ſays he, I’ll engage ’tis an excellent one, and I can aſſure that no Perſon is able to make the like, unleſs it be my Mother, who perhaps is ſtill alive.
Schaban returned ſpeedily to the Tents, and gave the Tart to Noureddin’s Widow, and ſhe ſnatching it greedily broke a piece off, but no ſooner put it to her Mouth, than ſhe cried out and ſwooned away. Schemſeddin Mohammed, who was preſent, was extreamly ſurprized at the Accident: He threw Water himſelf upon her Face, and was very active in ſuccouring her. As ſoon as ſhe came to her ſelf, My God! cried ſhe, it muſt needs be my Son, my dear Bedreddin, that made this Tart.
Here Day light interrupted Scheherazade; and the Indian Sultan got up to ſay his Prayers, and go to the Council. The next Night the Sultaneſs purſued the Story of Bedreddin Haſſan in the following Manner.
The Hundred and Eighteenth Night.
When the Vizier Shemſeddin Mohammed heard his siſter-in-law ſay that the Maker of the Tart, brought by the Eunoch, muſt needs be Bedreddin Haſſan, he was over-joy’d; but reflecting that his Joy might prove groundleſſ, and in all likelihood the Conjecture of
Noureddin’s widow was falſe, Madam, ſaid he, why are of that mind? Do you think there may not be a Paſtry-Cook in the world, that knows how to make Cream-Tarts as well as your Son? I own, replied ſhe, there may be Paſtry-Cooks that can make as good Tarts as he; but foraſmuch as I make them after a peculiar manner, and no Body but my Son is let into the Secret, it muſt abſolutely be he that made this. Come, my Brother, added ſhe in Tranſport, let’s call up Mirth and Joy; we have at laft found what we have been ſo long looking for. Madam, ſaid the Vizier in Anſwer, I treat you to moderate your Impatience, for we ſhall quickly know the bottom of it. All we have to do is to bring the Paſtry-Cook hither; and then you and my Daughter will readily diſtinguiſh whether ’tis Bedreddin or not. But you muſt both be hid, ſo as to have a View of Bedreddin while he cannot ſee you; for I would not have our Interview and mutual Diſcovery laid at Damaſcus. My Deſign is to delay the Diſcovery till we return to Cairo, where I propoſe to regale you with very agreeable Diverſion.
This ſaid, he left the Ladies in their Tent, and retired to his own; where he called for Fifty of his Men, and ſaid to them; “Take each of you a Stick in your Hands, and follow Schaban, who will conduct you to a Paſtry-Cook’s in this City. When you arrive there, break and daſh in pieces all you find in the Shop: If he asks you why you commit that Diſorder, only ask him again if it was not he that made the Cream Tart, that was brought from his Houſe. If he fays he is the Man, ſeize his Perſon, fetter him: and bring him along with you; but take care you do not beat him, nor do him the leaſt Harm, Go and loſe no Time.
The Vizier’s Orders were immediately executed. The Detachment, conducted by the black Eunuch, went with Expedition to Bedreddin’s Houſe, and broke in pieces the Plates, Kettles, Copper-Pans, Tables, and all the other Moveables and Utenſils they met with, and drowned the Sherbet-Shop with Cream and Comfits. Bedreddin, aſtoniſh’d at the ſight, ſaid with a pitiful Tone, “Pray, good People, why do you ſerve me ſo? What’s the Matter? What have I done?” “Was it not you, ſaid they) that ſold this Eunuch the Cream Tart?” Yes, (replied he) I am the Man: And who ſays any thing againſt it? I defy any one to make a better.” Inſtead of giving him an Anſwer, they continued to break all round them, and the Oven it ſelf was not ſpared.
In the mean time the Neighbours took the Alarm, and ſurprized to ſee fifty armed Men commit ſuch a Diſorder, asked the Reaſon of ſuch Violence; and Bedreddin ſaid once more to the Actors of it, Pray tell me what Crime I am guilty of, to have deſerved this Uſage?” “Was it not you, (replied they) that made the Cream Tart you ſold to the Ennuch?” “Yes, yes, it is I, (replied he) I maintain it is a good one, I do not deſerve ſuch Uſage as you give me.” However, without liſtening to him, they ſeized his Perſon, and, ſnatching the Cloath off his Turban, tied his Hands with it behind his Back, and, after dragging him by Force out of his Shop, marched off.
The Mob gathering, and taking Compaſſion of Bedreddin, took bis Part, and offered Oppoſition to Schemſeddin’s Men; but that very Minute up came ſome Officers from the Governor of the City who diſperſed the People, and favoured the carrying off of Bedreddin; for Schemſeddin Mohammed had in the mean time gone to the Governor’s Houſe, to acquaint him with what Orders he had given, and to demand the Interpofition of Force to favour the Execution; and the Governor, who commanded all Syria in the Name of the Sultan of Egypt, was loth to refuſe any thing to his Maſter’s Vizier. So Bedreddin was carried off after all his Cries and Tears.
Day appearing, Scheherazade, could proceed no farther, till next Morning that ſhe went on as follows.
The Hundred and Nineteenth Night.
SIR, the Vizier Giafar continued his Relation to the Califf in this Manner, It was needleſs for Bedreddin Haſſan to ask by the way, thoſe who carried him off, what Fault had been found with his Cream Tart: They gave him no Anfwer. In ſhort they carried him to the Tents, and made him ſtay there till Schemſeddin Mohammed returned from the Governor of Damaſcus his Houſe.
Upon the Vizier’s Return, Bedreddin Haſſan was brought before him, “My Lord, (ſays Bedreddin with Tears in. his Eyes) Pray do me the Favour to let me know wherein I have diſpleaſed you.” “Why, you Wretch you, (ſaid the Vizier) was it not you that made the Cream Tort you ſent me?” “I own I am the Man, (replies Bedreddin) but pray what Crime in that?” “I will puniſh you according to your Deſerts, (ſaid Schemſeddin) it ſhall coſt you your Life, for ſending me ſuch a forry Tart.” Good God! (cried Bedreddrin) what News is this! Is it a capital Crime to make a bad Cream Tart, Yes, (ſaid the Vizier) and you are to expect no other Uſage from me.”
While this Interview laſted, the Ladies who were hid, minded Bedreddin narrowly, and readily knew him, notwithſtanding he had been ſo long abſent, They were ſo tranſported thereupon with Joy, that they ſwooned away; and when they recovered would fain have run up and fallen upon Bedreddin’s Neck, but the Promiſe they had made to the Vizier of not diſcovering themſelves, reſtrained the tender Motions of Love and of Nature.
Schemſeddin Mohammed, having reſolved to ſet out that very Night, ordered the Tents to be ſtruck, and the neceſſary Preparations to be made for his Journey. And as for Bedreddin, he order’d him to be clap’d into a Cheſt or Box well locked, and laid on a Cammel. When every thing was got ready, the Vizier and his Retinue begun their March, and travelled the reſt of that Night, and all the next Day without ſtopping. In the Evening they halted, and Bedreddin was taken out of his Cage, in order to be ſerved with the neceſlary Refreſhments, but ſtill carefolly kept at a Diſtance from his Mother and his Wife; and during the whole Expedition, which laſted twenty Days, was he ſerved in the ſame Manner.
When they arrived at Cairo, they encamped in the Neighbourhood of that Place; and 5chemſeddin called for Bedreddin, gave Orders in his Prefence, to a Carpenter to ſee for ſome Wood with all Expedition, and make a Stake. Heyday, fays Bedreddin, what do you mean to do with a Stake? Why, to nail you to it, replied Schemſeddin, and then to have you carried through all the Quarters of the Town, that the People may have the Spectacle of a worthleſs Paſtry-Cook, who makes Cream Tarts without Pepper. This faid, Bedreddin cried out ſo comically, that Schemſeddin had enough to do to keep his Countenance: Good God, cried he, muſt I ſuffer a Death, as cruel as ’tis ignominious, for not putticg Pepper in a Cream Tart?
At this Period, Scheherazade ſtopt at the approach of Day: And Schahriar roſe, laughing at Bedreddin’s Fright, and curious to know the Sequel of the Story, which the Sultaneſs purſued next Night before Day as follows.
The Hundred and Twentieth Night.
SIR, the Califf Haroun Alraſchid, notwithſtanding his Gravity, could not forbear laughing when the Vizier Giafar told him, that Schemſeddin Mohammed threatned to put to Death Bedreddin, for not putting Pepper into the Cream Tart he had ſold to Schaban. How, faid Bedreddin, muſt I be rifled and have all my Goods in my Houſe broken to pieces, muſt I be impriſoned in a Cheſt, and at laſt nailed to a Stake, and all for the not putting Pepper in a Cream Tart! Good God, who ever heard of ſuch a Thing? Are theſe the Actions of Muſſelmen, of Perſons that make a Profeſſion ot Probity and Juſtice, and practiſe all manner of good Works? With theſe Words he ſhed Tears, and then renewing his Complaint, No, continued he, never was Man uſed ſo unjuſtly, nor ſo ſeverely. Is it poſſible they ſhould be capable of taking a Man’s Life for not putting Pepper in a Cream Tart. Curſed be all Cream Tarts, as well as the Hour in which I was born! Would to God I had died that Minute.
Diſconſolate Bedreddin did not ceaſe to ſpin out his Lamentations; and when the Stake was brought, and the Nails to nail him to it, he cried out bitterly at the horrid Sight. Heaven! faid he, can you ſuffer me to die an ignominious and painful Death? And all this, for what Crime? ’Tis not for Robbery or Murder, or renouncing my Religion; but for not putting Pepper in a Cream Tart.
Night being then pretty far advanced, the Vizier Schemfeddin Mohammed ordered Bedreddin to be clapt up again in his Cage, ſaying to him, Stay there till to Morrow; the Day ſhall not be ſpent before I give Orders for your Death. Then the Cheſt or Cage was carried away and laid upon the Camel that had brought it from Damaſcus: At the ſame time, all the other Camels were loaded again; and the Vizier mounting his Horſe, ordered the Camel that carried his Nephew to march before him, and ſo entred the City, with all his Equipage at his back. After paſſing thro’ ſeveral Streets, where no body appeared, every one being in Bed, he arrived at his Houſe, where he ordered the Cheſt to be taken down, but not opened till further Orders.
While his Retinue were unloading the other Camels, he took Bedreddin’s Mother and his Daughter aſide; and addrefſed himſelf to the latter; God be praiſed, ſaid he, my Child, for this happy Occaſion of meeting your Couſin and your Husband. You remember to be ſure what Order your Chamber was in on your Wedding Night: Go and put everything in the very fame Order they were then in; and in the meantime, if your Memory do not ſerve you, I can ſupply it by a written Account, which I cauſed to be taken upon that Occaſion: As for what elſe is to be done, I will take care of that.
The beautiful Lady went joyfully about her Father’s Orders; and he at the fame time began to put the Things in the Hall in the fame Order they were, in when Bedreddin Haſfan was there with the Sultan of Egypt’s Hump’d-back’d groom. As he went over his Manuſcript, his Domeſticks placed every Moveable accordingly. The Throne was not forgot, nor yet the lighted Wax-Candles. When every thing was put to rights in the Hall, the Vizier went into his Daughter’s Chamber, and put in their due Place Bedreddin’s Cloaths with the Purſe of Sequins. This done, he ſaid to the beautiful Lady, Undreſs your ſelf, my Child, and go to Bed. As ſoon as Bedreddin enters your Room, complain of his being from you ſo long, and tell him, that when you awaked you were aſtoniſhed you did not find him by you. Preſs him to come to Bed again; and to Morrow Morning you will divert your Mother-in-Law and me, in telling us what paſſes between you and him this Night. This ſaid, he went from his Daughter’s Apartment, and left her to undreſs her ſelf and go to Bed.
Scheherazade would have gone on with her Story, but Day approaching obliged her to diſcontinue it,
The hundred and Twenty Firſt Night.
TOwards the cloſe of the next Night, the Sultan of the Indies, who was mighty impatient to know where the Story of Bedreddin ſhould end, awaked Scheherazade himſelf, and bid her go on with it, which accordingly ſhe did in the following Terms. Schemſeddin Mohammed, ſaid the Vizier Giafar to the Califf, ordered all his Domeſticks to depart the Hall, excepting two or three, whom he ordered to ſtay there. Theſe he commanded to go and take Bedreddin out of the Cheſt, to ſtrip him to his Shirt and Drawers, to conduct him in that Condition to the Hall, to leave him there all alone, and to ſhut the Door upon him.
Bedreddin Haſſan, tho’ over-whelmed with Grief, had been aſleep all the while; inſomuch that the Vizier’s Domeſticks had taken him out of the Cheſt, and ſtripped him before he waked; and carried him fo ſuddenly into the Hall, that they did not give him time to bethink himſelf where he was. When he found himſelf all alone in the Hall, he looked round him, and the Objects of his Sight recalling to his Memory the Circumſtances of his Marriage, he perceived with Aſtoniſhment that it was the ſame Hall, where he had ſeen the Sultan’s Groom of the Stables. His Surprizal was ſtill the greater, when approaching ſoftly to the Door of a Chamber which he found open, he ſpied within his own Cloaths, in the ſame Place where he remembred to have left them on his wedding-Night. My God! ſaid he, rubbing his Eyes, am I aſleep, or awake?
The beautiful Lady, who in the mean time was diverting her ſelf with his Aſtoniſhment, opened the Curtains of her Bed, all on a ſudden, and bending her Head forward, My dear Lord, ſaid ſhe, with a ſoft and tender Air, what do you do at the Door? Prithee come to Bed again! You have been out of bed along time. I was ſtrangely ſurprized when I awaked, in not finding you by me. Bedreddin Haſſan’s Countenance changed, when he perceived that the Lady who ſpoke to him, was the charming Perſon that he had lain with before; ſo he entered the Room, but calling up the Thoughts of all that had paſſed tor a Ten Years Interval, and not being able to perſwade himſelf that it could all have happened in the Compaſs of one Night, he went to the Place where his Cloaths lay, and the Purſe of Sequins, and after examining them very carefully, By the Living God, cried he, theſe are Things that I can by no means comprehend! The Lady, who was pleaſed to fee his Confuſion, ſaid, Once more my Lord, come to Bed again, what do you ſtand at? Then he ſtepped towards the Bed, and ſaid to her, Pray Madam tell me is it long ſince I left you? The Queſtion, anſwered ſhe, ſurprizes me! Did not you riſe from me but now? Sure your Thoughts are very buſy. “Madam, (replied Bedreddin) I do affure you my Thoughts are not very eaſy. I remember indeed to have been with you, but I remember at the ſame time that I have lived ſince Ten Years at Damaſcus. Now if I was actually in Bed with you this Night, I cannot have been from you ſo long. Theſe two Things are inconfitent. Pray tell me what to think; whether my Marriage with you is an Illuſion, or whether my Abſence from you is only a Dream.” ”Yes, my Lord, (cried ſhe) doubtleſs you were light-headed when you thought you wereat Damaſcus.” Upon this Bedreddin laughed out heartily, and ſaid, “What a comical Fancy is this; I aflure you, Madam, this Dream of mine will be very pleaſant to you. Do but imagine, if you pleaſe, that I was at the Gate of Damaſcus in my Shirt and Drawers, as I am here now; that I entred the Town with the Hallow of a Mob that follow’d and inſulted me; that I fled to a Paſtry Cook’s, who adopted me, taught me his Trade, and left me all he had when he died; that after his Death I kept a Shop. In fine, Madam, I had an Infinity of Other Adventures, too tediousto recount; and all I can ſay, is, That ’twas not amiſs that I awaked,for they were a going to nail me to a Stake.” “Oh Lord! and for what? cried the Lady, feigning Aſtoniſhment, would they have uſed you ſo cruelly? Sure you muſt have committed ſome enormous Crime.” “Not in the leaſt, (replied Bedreddin) it was for nothing in the World but for a meer Trifle, the moſt ridiculous Thing you can think of, All the Crime I was charged with, was ſelling a Cream Tart that had no Pepper in it.” “As for that matter, ſaid the beautiful Lady, laughing heartily, I muſt ſay they did you great Injuſtice.” “Ah! Madam (replied he) that is not all. For this curſed Cream Tart was every thing in my Shop broke to pieces, my ſelf bound and fettered, and flung into a Cheſt, where I lay ſo cloſe, that methinks I am there ſtill. In fine, a Carpenter was called for, and he was ordered to get ready a Stake for me. But, Thanks be to God, all thoſe Things are no more than a Dream.” At this Period the Approach of Day obliged Scheherazade to ſtop. Schahriar could not forbear laughing at Bedreddin for taking a real Thing for a Dream. I muſt own, ſaid he, this is a pleaſant Story,and I am perſwaded that to Morrow Schemſeddin Mohammed and his Siſter-in-Law will be extremely pleaſed with it. Sir, replied the Sultaneſs, that I ſhall have the Honour to acquaint you with to Morrow, if you ſuffer me to live ſo long. Upon that the Sultan roſe without ſaying one Word: But he had no mind to cut her off till he had heard the Story out.
The hundred and Twenty Second Night.
SCheherazade waking before Day, went on as follows, Sir, Bedreddin was not eaſy all Night. He waked from time to time, and put the Queſtion to himſelf, whether he dreamed, or was awake: He diſtruſted his Felicity; and to be ſure whether it was true or not, open’d the Curtains, and looked round the Room. I am not miſtaken, ſure, ſaid be, this is the ſame Chamber where I entred inſtead of the Hunch-back’d Groom of the Stable; and I am now in Bed with the fair Lady that was deſigned for him, Day-Light which then appeared, hadnat yet diſpelled his Uneaſineſs, when the Vizier Schemſeddin Mohammed his Uncle knocked at the Door, and at the ſame time went in to bid him Good-Morrow.
Bedreddin Haſſan was extremely ſurprized to ſee, all on a ſudden, a Man that he knew ſo well, and that now appeared, with a quite different Air, from that with which he pronounc’d the terrible Sentence of Death againſt him. Ah! cried Bedreddin, it was you that condemned me ſo unjuſtly, to a manner of Death, the Thoughts of which make me ſhrink ſtill, and all for a Cream Tart without Pepper. The Vizier fella laughing, and, to put him out of Suſpence, told him, how, by the Miniſtry of a Genius, for Boſſu’s Relation had made him ſuſpect the Adventure) he had been at his Houſe, and had married his Daughter inſtead of the Sultan’s Groom of the Stables; then he acquainted him that he had diſcovered him to be his Nephew by a Book written by the Hand of Noureddin Ali; and purſuant to that Diſcovery had gone from Cairo to Balſora in queſt of him. “My dear Nephew, (added he with Embraces and all the Marks of Tenderneſs) I ask you Pardon, for all I have made you undergo ſince I diſcovered you. I had a Mind to bring you to my Houſe before I told you your Happineſs, which ought now to be ſo much the dearer to you, that it has coſt you ſo much Perplexity and Affliction. To atone for all your Afflictions, comfort yourſelt with the Joy of being in Company of thoſe, who ought to be deareſt to you. While you are dreſſing your ſelf, I’ll go and acquaint your Mother, who is beyond Meaſure impatient to ſee you; and will likewiſe bring your Son to you, whom you ſaw at Damaſcus, and for whom you ſhewed ſo much Affection, without knowing him.”
No Words are of ſufficient Energy to expreſs the Joy of Bedreddin, when he ſaw his Mother and his Son, Theſe three embraced, and ſhewed all the Tranſports that Love and a moving Tenderneſs could inſpire. The Mother ſpoke to Bedreddin in the moſt moving Terms, ſhe mentioned the Grief ſhe had felt for his long Abſence, and the Tears ſhe had ſhed, Little Agib, inſtead of flying his Father’s Embraces as at Damaſcus, received them with all the Marks of Pleaſure. And Bedreddin Haſſan, divided between two Objects ſo worthy of his Love, thought he could not give ſufficient Marks of his Affection.
While this paſt at Schemſeddin Mohammed’s, the Vizier was gone to the Palace, to give the Sultan an Account of the happy Succeſs of his Voyage; and the Sultan was ſo charmed with the Recital of the Story, that he order’d it to be taken down in Writing, and carefully preſerved among the Archieves of the Kingdom. After Schemſeddin’s Return to his Houſe, having prepared a noble Feaſt, he ſat down to Table with his Family, and all the Houſhold paſſed the Day in Solemnity and Mirth.
The Vizier Giafar having thus made an end of the Story of Bedreddin Haſſan, told the Califf Haroun Alraſchid, That this is what he had to relate to his Majeſty: The Califf found the Story ſo ſurprizing, that without farther Heſitation he granted his Slave Rihan’s Pardon: And to condole the young Man, for the Grief of having unhappily deprived him ſelf of a Woman whom he loved ſo tenderly, married him to one of his Slaves, beſtewed liberal Gifts upon him, and entertained him till he died.___But, Sir, added Scheherazade, obſerving that Day began to appear, tho’ the Story I have now told you be very agreeable, I have one ſtill that is much mote ſo. If your Majeſty pleaſes to hear it the next Night, I’m certain you will be of the ſame Mind. Schahriar role without giving any Anſwer, and was in a Quandary what to do. The good Sultaneſs (ſaid he within himſelf) tells very long Stories, and when once ſhe begins one, there’s no refuſing to hear it out. I can’t tell whether I ſhall put her to Death to Day or not. No ſure I will not; I’ll do nothing raſhly; the Story ſhe promiſes is perhaps more diverting than all ſhe has told yet; I will not deprive my ſelf of the Pleaſure of hearing it; when once ſhe has told it, then ſhe ſhall die.
- ↑ That is, of the Califfs that reigned after the four firſt ſucceſſors of Mahomet, and were ſo named from one of their Anceſtors, whoſe Name was Ommiam.
- ↑ This Prayer is always ſaid two Hours and a half before Sunſet.
- ↑ The Mahometans having a Cuſtom of waſhing their Hands five times a day, when they go to Prayers, they reckon they have no occaſion to waſh before eating, but they always waſh after eating, becauſe they eat without Forks.
- ↑ This is done all the the Levant over, for making their drink cool.
- ↑ The Mahometans give this Name generally to the black Ennuchs.