Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/20

ket upon my Head as full as I was able to carry it; then I came hither where you had the Goodneſs to ſuffer me to continue till now, a Favour that I ſhall never forget. This, Madam, is my Hiſtory.

When the Porter had done, Zobeide ſays to him, go, march, let’s ſee you no more here. Madam, replies the Porter, I bed you to let me ſtay, it would not be juſt, after the reſt have had the Pleaſure to hear my Hiſtory, that I ſhould not alſo have the Satisfaction to hear theirs. And having ſpoke thus, ſat him down at the End of the Soſa, glad at the Heart to have eſcap’d the Danger, that had frightned him ſo much. After him one of the three Callenders directing his Speech to Zobeide, as the Principal of the three Ladies, and the Perſon that commanded him to ſpeak, begun his Story thus.

MADAM, in order to inform you how I loſt my Right Eye, and why I was obliged to put myſelf into a Callender’s Habit, I muſt tell you, that I am a King’s Son born, the King my Father had a Brother that reigned as he did, over a neighbouring Kingdom; and the Prince his Son and I were almoſt of an Age.

After I had learned my Exerciſes, and that the King my Father granted me ſuch Liberty as ſuited my Dignity, I went orderly every Year to ſee my Uncle, at whole Court I diverted my ſelf during a Month or two, and then returned again to my Father’s. Theſe ſeveral Journeys gave Occaſion of contracting a very firm and particular Friendſhip between the Prince my Couſin and my ſelf. The laſt time I ſaw him he receiv’d me with greater Demonſtrations of Tenderneſs than he had done at any time before; and reſolving one Day to give me a Treat, he made great Preparations for that purpoſe. We continued a long time at Table, and after we had both ſupp’d very well; Couſin

(ſays he) you will hardly be able to gueſs how I have been employ’d ſince your laſt Departure from hence, now about a Year paſt, I have had a great many Men at work to per-