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merry Slaves, who came towards him with loud Fits of Laughter, and in the Middle of them he perceived a young Lady of extraordinary Beauty, who was eaſily known to be their Miſtreſs by the Reſpect they paid her. Backbarah, who expected private Converſation with the Lady, was extreamly ſurpriz’d when he ſaw ſo much Company with her. In the mean Time, the Slaves put on a grave Countenance when they drew near; and when the young Lady came up to the Sopha, my Brother roſe up and made her a low Bow. She took the upper Hand, pray’d him to ſit down, and ſays to him, with a ſmiling Countenance, I am mighty glad to ſee you, and wiſh you all the Happineſs you can deſire. Madam, replies Backbarah, I cannot deſire a greater Happineſs than to be in your Company. You ſeem to be of a Humour, ſays ſhe, and to have a Mind that we ſhould paſs the Time pleaſantly together.
She forthwith commanded a Collation to be brought and immediately a Table was cover’d with ſeveral Baskets of Fruit and Confections. The Lady ſat down at the Table with the Slaves and my Brother; and he being placed juſt over againſt her, when he open d his Mouth to eat, ſhe perceiv’d he had no Teeth; and taking Notice of it to her Slaves, ſhe and they laugh’d at him heartily. Backbarah, from time to time, lifted up his Head to look at her, and perceiving her laugh, thought it was for Joy of his Company, and flatter’d himſelf that ſhe would ſpeedily ſend away her Slaves, and be with him alone. She judg’d what was his Mind, and pleaſing herſelf to flatter him in his Miſtake, ſhe gave him abundance of ſweet Words, and preſented him the beſt of every thing with her own Hand. The Treat being done, they roſe from Table, when ten Slaves took Muſical Inſtruments, and began to play and fing, and others went to dance. My Brother to make them Sport, did likewiſe dance, and the Lady danced with him. After they had danced ſome time, they ſat down to take Breath, and the young Lady calling tor a Glaſs of Wine, look’d upon my Brother with a ſmiling Countenance, to ſignify, that ſhe was going to drink his Health. He roſe up, and ſtood while ſhe drank. When ſhe had done, inſtead of giving back the Glaſs, ſhe order’d it to be fill’d, and preſented it to my Brother, that be might Pledge her.
Scheherazade
