Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/14

membring where ſhe left off, addreſſed her Speech to the Sultan; and went on as follows: Sir, after Zobeide ſet down, the whole Company was ſilent for a while; at laſt Safie, ſiting on a Chair in the middle of the Room, ſpoke to her Siſter Amine, Dear Siſter, I conjure you to riſe up, you know well enough what I would ſay; Amine aroſe and went into another Cloſet near to that where the Bitches were, and brought out a Caſe cover’d with yellow Sattin, richly embroider’d with Gold, and green Silk; ſhe came near Safie and opened the Caſe, from whence ſhe took a Lute and preſented her; and after ſome time ſpent in tuning it, Safie began to play, and accompanying it with her Voice, the ſung a Song about the Torments that Abſence creates to Lovers, with ſo much Sweetneſs, that it charm’d the Califſ and all the Company. Having ſung with a great deal of Paſſion and Action, ſhe ſaid to lovely Amine, Pray take it, Siſter, for I can do no more, my Voice ſails me; oblige the Company with a Tune and a Song in my Room. Very willingly, replied Amine, who taking the Lute from her Siſter Safie, ſat down in her Place.

Amine, after ſome ſmall Trial to ſee whether the Inſtrument was in Tune, played and ſung almoſt as long upon the ſame Subject, but with ſo much Vehemency, and was ſo much affected, or rather tranſported by the Words of the Song, that her Strength ſail’d her as ſhe made an end of it.

Zobeide willing to teſtify her Satisfaction, ſaid, Siſter, you have done Wonders, and we may eaſily ſee that you have a Feeling of the Grief you have expreſs’d ſo much to the Life. Amine was prevented from anſwering this Civility, her Heart being ſo ſenſibly touch’d at the ſame Moment, that ſhe was oblig’d; for Air, to uncover her Neck and Breaſt, which did not appear ſo fair as might have been expected from ſuch a Lady as ſhe: But on the contrary, black and full of Scars, which frighted all the Spectators, However, this gave her no Eaſe, but ſhe fell into a Fit. Here Scheherazade ſopp’d, ſaying, Sir, I had almoſt forgot that it is Day: With this ſhe ended her Diſcourſe, and the Sultan aroſe from Bed. And tho’ this Prince had not reſolv’d to defer the Death of the Sultaneſs, he could not