Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/33
Taylor that was at work in his Shop; who perceiving by my Air that I was a Perſon of more Note than my outward Appearance beſpoke me to be, made me to fit down by him, and ask’d me who I was, and from whence I came, and what had brought me thither? I did not conceal anything of all that had befall’n me, nor made I any Scruple to diſcover my Quality.
The Taylor liſten’d with Attention to my Words; but after I had done ſpeaking, inſtead of giving me any Conſolation, he augmented my Sorrow: Take heed; ſays he, how you diſcover to any Perſon what you have now declared to me; for the Prince of this Country is the greateſt Enemy that the King your Father has, and he will certainly do you ſome Miſchief when he comes to hear of your being in this City. I made no doubt of the Taylor’s Sincerity, when he nam’d the Prince: But ſince that Enmity which is between my Father and him has no relation to my Adventures, I muſt beg your Pardon, Madam, to paſs it over with Silence.
I return’d the Taylor Thanks for his good Advice, and ſhew’d my ſelf inclinable wholly to follow his Counſel, and aſſur’d him that his Favours ſhall never be forgot by me. And as he believ’d I could not but be hungry, he caus’d them to bring me ſomewhat to eat, and offered meat the ſame Time a Lodging in his Houſe, which I accepted. Some Days after finding me pretty well recover’d of the Fatigue I had endured by a long and tedious Journey; and beſides, being ſenſible that moſt Princes of our Religion, did apply themſelves to ſome Art or Calling, that might ſtand them in ſtead upon Occaſion, he ask’d me if I had learnt any thing whereby I might get a Livelihood, and not be burthenſome to any Man? I told him that I underſtood the Laws both divine and humane; that I was a Grammarian and Poet, and above all, that I underſtood Writing perfectly well. By all this, ſays he, you will nor be able, in this Country, to purchaſe yourſelf one Morſel of Bread; nothing is of leſs Uſe here than thoſe Sciences: But if you will be advis’d by me, ſays he, dreſs your ſelf in a Labourer’s Habit; and ſince you appear to be ſtrong, and of a good Conſtitution, you ſhall go into the next Forreſt and cut