Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/28

the good Fortune to effect by ſome back Ways, and got to one the King’s Servants, on whoſe Fidelity I could depend.

Being thus ſurrounded with Sorrows and perſecuted by Fortune, I had Recourſe to a Stratagem, which was the only Means left me to ſave my Life; I cauſed my Beard and Eye-brows to be ſhay’d, and putting on a Callender’s Habit, I paſs’d, unknown by any, out of the City: After that, by degrees, I found it eaſy to get out of my Uncle’s Kingdom, by taking the By-roads.

I avoided paſſing through Towns, until I was got into the Empire of the mighty Governor of the Muſſelmen, the glorious and renown’d Califf Haroun Alraſhid, when I thought my ſelf out of Danger, and conſidering what I was to do, I reſolv’d to come to Bagdad, intending to throw my ſelf at that Monarch’s Feet, whoſe Generoſity is every where applauded. I ſhall move him to Compaſſion, ſaid I to my ſelf, by the Relation of my ſurprizing Misfortunes, and without doubt he will take pity on ſuch an unfortunate Prince, and not ſuffer me to implore his Aſſiſtance in vain.

In ſhort, after a Journey of ſeveral Months, I arrived Yeſterday at the Gate of this City into which I enter’d about the Dusk of the Evening, and ſtanding ſtill a little while to revive my Spirits, and to conſider on which Hand I was to turn, this other Callender you ſee here next to me, came alſo along; he ſaluted me, and I him: You appear, ſaid I, to be a Stranger as I am: You are not miſtaken, replied he. He had no ſooner return’d this Anſwer, but this third Callender you ſee there overtook us. He ſaluted us, and told us, he was a Stranger newly come to Bagdad; ſo that as Brethren we join’d together, reſolving not to ſeparate from one another.

Mean while it was late, and we knew not where to ſeek a Lodging in the City where we had no Acquaintance, or had never been before. But good Fortune having brought us before your Gate, we made bold to knock, when you receiv’d us with ſo much Kindneſs, that we are incapable to return you ſuitable Thanks. This, Madam, (ſaid he) is in Obedience to your Commands, the Account I am to