Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/13
ing the other from Amine, preſented her to Zobeide, who bid the Porter hold her as he did the firſt, took up the Rod, and treated her after the ſame manner; and when ſhe had wept over her, dried her Eyes and kiſſed her, returned her to the Porter; but lovely Amine ſpar’d him the Trouble of leading her back into the Cloſet, and did it her ſelf, The three Callenders and the Calif with his Companions, were extreamly ſurpriz’d at this Execution, and could not comprehend why Zobeide, after having ſo furiouſly whipt thoſe two Bitches, that by the Muſſulman-Religion are reckon’d unclean Animals, ſhould cry with them, wipe off their Tears, and kiſs them; they mutter’d among themſelves, and the Calif who being more impatient than the reſt long’d exceedingly to be inform’d of the Cauſe of ſo ſtrange an Action, could not forbear making Signs to the Viſier to ask the Queſtion; the Viſier turn’d his Head another way; but being preſſed by repeated Signs, he anſwer’d by others, That it was not yet time for the Califf to ſatisfy his Curioſity.
Zobeide ſat ſtill ſometime in the middle of the Room, where ſhe had whipt the two Bitches, to recover her ſelf of the Fatigue; and fair Safie call’d to her, Dear Siſter, will you not be pleas’d to return to your Place, that I moy alſo act my Part. Yes, Siſter, replied Zobeide, and then went and ſat down upon the Soſa, having the Califf Giafar, and Meſrour on her right Hand, and the three Callenders with the Porter on her left,
Here, ſays Scheherazade to the Sultan, Sir, what has been hitherto told your Majeſty, muſt, without doubt, appear very ſtrange; but what yet remains is more wonderful, and I am perſyaded your Majeſty will think ſo, if you will be pleas’d to give me leave to finiſh the Story next Night; the Sultan agreed to it, and got up becauſe it was Day.