Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 1.djvu/30

heat from the Earth, that he turn’d out of the Road, to refreſh himſelf under ſome Trees that he ſaw in the Country, There he found at the Root of a great Walnut Tree, a Fountain of very clear running Water, and alighting, tied his Horſe to a Branch of a Tree, and ſitting down by the Fountain, took ſome Dates out of his Portmanteau, and as he eat his Dates, threw the Shells about on both ſides of him. When he had done eating, being a good Muſſulman, he waſh’d his Hands, his Face, and his Feet, and ſaid his Prayers. He had not made an end, but was ſtill on his Knees, when he ſaw a Genie appear, all white with Age, and of a monſtrous Bulk; who advancing towards him with a Scimiter in his Hand, ſpoke to him in a terrible Voice, thus: Riſe up, that I may kill thee with this Scimiter, as you have kill’d my Son; and accompanied thoſe Words with a frightful Cry. The Merchant being as much frightned at the hideous Shape of the Monſter, as at thoſe threatning Words, anſwer’d him trembling. Alas! my Lord, of what Crime can I be guilty towards you, that you ſhould vanes my Life? I will, replies the Genie, kill thee, as thou haſt kill’d my Son? O Heaven! fays the Merchant, how ſhould I kill your Son, I did not know Him, nor ever ſaw him. Did not you fit down when you came hither, replies the Genie? Did not you take Dates out of your Portmanteau, and as you eat ’em, did not you throw the Shells about on both fides? I did all that you fay, anſwers the Merchant, I cannot deny it. If it be ſo, replied the Genie, I tell thee, that thou kill’d my Son; and the Way was thus: When you threw your Nut-ſhells about, my Son was paſſing by, and you threw one of ’em into his Eye, which kill’d him; therefore I muſt kill thee. Ah! my Lord, pardon me! cry’d the Merchant. No Pardon, anſwers the Genie, no Mercy. Is it not juſt to kill him that has kill’d another? I agree to it, ſays the Merchant, but certainly I never kill’d your Son; and if I have, it was unknown to me, and I did it innocently; therefore I beg you to pardon me, and to ſuffer me to live. No, no, ſays the Genie, perſiſting in his Reſolution, I muſt kill thee, ſince thou haſt kill’d my Son; and then taking the Merchant by