Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 5/The Taylor

HE Taylor continued to tell the Sultan of Casgar the Story which he had begun: Sir, says he, the lame young Man went on thus: When I heard all that the Barber said to the Cadis, I Fought for a Place to hide my self, and could find-nothing but a great empty Trunk, in which I lay down and shut it upon me. The Barber, after he had searched every where, came into the Chamber where I was, and opening the Trunk, as soon as he saw me, he took it upon his Head and carry’d it away. He came down a high Stair-case into a Court, which he went through very speedily, and got to the Street, While he carry’d me, the Trunk unhappily opened, and I not being able to endure to be expos’d to the View and Shouts of the Mob that follow’d us, leap’d out into the Street with so much haste that I hurt my Leg, so as I have been lame ever since. I was not sensible how bad it was at first, and therefore got up quickly to get away from the People, who laugh’d at me; nay, I threw handfuls of Gold and Silver among them, and whilst they were gathering it up, I made my Escape by cross Streets and Alleys. But the cursed Barber improving the Stratagem that I had made use of to get away from the Mob, follow’d me close, crying, stay Sir, why do you run fo fast? If you knew how much I am afflicted at the ill Treatment you received from the Cadis, you, who are so generous a Person, and to whom I and my Friends are so much oblig’d! Did not I tell you truly, that you would, expose your Life by your obstinate Refusal to let me go with you? See now, what has happened to you by your own Fault? and if I had not resolutely follow’d you, to see whither you went, what would have become of you? Whither you go then, Sir, stay for me.

Thus the wretched Barber cry’d aloud in the Street; it was not enough for him to have occasioned so great a Scandal in the Quarter of the Cadis, but he would have it be known through the whole Town. I was in such a Rage, that I had a great mind to have stay’d and cut his Throat; but considering that that would have perplex’d me farther, I chose another Course; for perceiving that his calling after me, exposed me to vast Numbers of People, who crowded to their Doors or Windows, or stopt in the Streets to gaze on me, I enter’d into a * Khan^[1] or Inn, the Chamberlain of which knew me; and finding him at the Gate, whither the Noise had brought him, pray’d him, for the Sake of Heaven, to hinder that Madman from coming in after me, He promised to do so, and was as good as his Word; but not without a great deal of Trouble, for the obstinate Barber would go in in spight of him, and did not retire without calling him a thousand ill Names; and after the Chamberlain shut the Gate, the Barber continued telling the Mob what great Service he had done me. Thus I rid my self of that troublesome Fellow, After that, the Chamberlain pray’d me to tell him my Adventure which I did, and then desired him to let me have an Apartment until I were cured: But, Sir, says he, won’t it be more convenient for you to go Home? I will not return thither, said I, for the detestable Barber will continue plaguing me there, and I shall die of Vexation to be continually teaz’d by him. Besides, after what has befallen me to Day, I cannot think of staying any longer in this Town, I must go whither my ill Fortune leads me: And actually, when I was cur’d, I took all the Money I thought necessary for my Travels, and gave the rest of my Estate among my Kindred.

Thus, Gentlemen, I left Bagdad, and came hither. I had Ground to hope that I should not meet this pernicious Barber in a Country so far from my own, and yet I found him amongst you: Don’t be surpriz’d then at my Haste to be gone, you may easily judge how unpleasant to me the Sight of a Man is, who was the occasion of my Lameness, and of my being reduc’d to the melancholy Necessity of living so far from my Kindred, Friends, and Country. When he had spoke these Words; the lame young Man rose up and went out; the Master of the House conducted him to the Gate, and told him he was sorry that he had given him, tho’ innocently, so great a Subject of Mortification.

When the young Man was gone, continued the Taylor, we were all astonish’d at the Story, and turning to the Barber, told him he was very much in the wrong, if what he had just now heard were true. Gentlemen, answers he, raising up his Head, which ’till then he had held down, my Silence during the young Man’s Discourse is enough to testify, that he advanced nothing that was not true: But for all that he has said to you, I maintain that I ought to have done what I did; I leave your- selves to be Judges of it. Did not he throw himself into Danger, and: could he have come off so well without my Assistance? He was too happy to get off with a lame Leg. Did not I expose my self into a greater Danger to get him out of an House, where I thought he was ill treated? Has he any Reason to complain of me, and to give me fo many bad Words? This is what one gets by serving unthankful People. He accuses me of being a prating Fellow, which is a mere Slan-der: Of seven Brothers there’s of us, I am he who speak the least, and have most Wit for my share; and to perswade you of it, Gentlemen, I need only to tell my own Story and theirs, Honour me, I beseech you, with your Attention.

1. A Publick House in the Town of the Levant, where Strangers lodge,