Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/107

had ſaid, ſhe gave me an Account of the Loſs of the young Prince, occaſioned by the Jealouſy of her two Siſters; ſhe told me alſo by what Accident they were transformed into Bitches: And in the laſt place, after a thouſand Teſtimonies of her Love towards me, ſhe ſhew’d me my youngeſt Siſter, who had likewiſe taken ſanctuary with her, after the Death of her Mother.

Thus we gave God Thanks, that had brought us together again, reſolving to live a ſingle Life, and never to ſeparate any more, for we have enjoy’d this peaceable Way of living a good many Years: And as it was my Buſineſs to mind the Affairs of the Houſe, I always took pleaſure to go my ſelf and buy in what we wanted. I happened to go abroad yeſterday, and the Things I bought I cauſed to be brought home by a Porter, who proved to be a ſenſible and a jocoſe Fellow, and we kept him by us for a little Diverſion. Three Callenders happen’d to come to our Door, as it began to grow dark, and pray’d us to give them ſhelter till next Morning: We gave them entrance, but upon certain Conditions, which they agreed unto; and after we had made them fit down at the Table by us, they gave us a Conſort of Mulick after their Faſhion, and at the ſame time we heard knocking at our Gate. Theſe were the three Merchants of Mouſſol, Men of a very good Mein, who begg’d the ſame Favour which the Callenders had obtain’d before: We conſented to it upon the ſame Conditions, but neither of them kept their Promiſe; and though we had Power on our fide to puniſh them, yet we contented our ſelves with demanding from them the Hiſtory of their Lives, and conſequently bounded our Revenge with diſmiſſing them, after they had done, and deprived them of the Lodging they demanded.

The Califf Haroun Alraſhid was very well ſatisfied with theſe ſtrange Stories, and declared publickly his Aſtoniſhment at what he had heard.

But, Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, Day begins to break, ſo that I have no time to acquaint your Majeſty what the Caliph did to put an end to the Inchantments of the two black Bitches, Schahriar ſuppoſing that the Sultaneſs would quite finiſh the Story of the five Ladies, and the three Callenders, the next Night roſe up and ſuffer’d her to live till next Morning.