Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/109
Handſome Fairy ſaid the Calif, you cannot do me a greater Pleaſure, vouchſafe them that Favour, and after that I will find out ſome means to comfort them for their hard Penance: But beſides, I have another Boon to ask in ſavour of that Lady, who has had ſuch cruel Uſage from an unknown Husband: And as you undoubtedly know a great many things, we have Reaſon to believe that you cannot be ignorant of this, oblige me with the name of this barbarous Fellow, that could not be contented to exerciſe this barbarous Cruelty upon her Perſon, but has alſo moſt unjuſtly taken from her all the Subſtance ſhe had; I only admire how ſuch an unjuſt and inhuman Action could be perform’d in ſpight of my Authority, and not come to my Ears.
To ſerve your Majeſty, anſwer’d the Fairy, I will reſtore the two Bitches to their former State, and I will cure the Lady of her Scars that it ſhall never appear ſhe was ſo beat; and at laſt I will tell you who it was that did it.
The Califf ſent tor the two Bitches from Zobeide’s Houſe, and when they came a Glaſs of Water was brought to the Fairy, upon her Deſire; ſhe pronounc’d ſome Words over it, which no body underſtood; Then throwing ſome part of it upon Amine, and the reſt upon the Bitches, the latter became two Ladies of ſurprizivg Beauty, and the Scars that were upon Amin vaniſh’d away, After which the Fairy ſaid to the Califf; Commander of the Faithful, I muſt now diſcover to you the unknown Husband you inquire after; he is very near related to your ſelf for it is Prince Amine your eldeſt Son, who falling paſſionately in love with this Lady, by the Fame, he had heard of her Beauty, he, by an Intrigue, got her brought to his Houſe, when he he married her. As to the Strokes he caus’d to be given her, he is in ſome manner excuſable; for the Lady his Spouſe had been a little too eaſy, and the Excuſes ſhe had made were capable to make him believe ſhe was more faulty than really ſhe was. This is all I can ſay to ſatisfy your Curioſity; and at theſe Words ſhe ſaluted the Califf and vaniſh’d.
The Prince being filled with Admiration, and having much ſatisfaction in the changes that had happened through his Means, did ſuch things as will perpetuate his Memory to all Ages, Firſt, he ſent for his Son Amin, and told him,