Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/38

after the Prince had broke the Taliſman, I am juſt going to relate it, ſaid Scheherazade. Upon which reaſſuming her Narrative, ſhe continu’d her Diſcourſe thus, in the Perſon of the ſecond Callender.

The Taliſman was no ſooner broke, but the Palace began to ſhake, and was ready to fall, with a hideous Noiſe like Thunder, accompanied with Flaſhes of Lightning, and a great Darkneſs. This terrible Noiſe in a Moment diſpell’d the Fumes of my Wine, and made me ſenſible, but too late, of the Folly I had committed. Princeſs, cry’d I, what means all this? She anſwer’d in a Fright, and without any Concern for her own Misfortunes, Alas, you’re undone if you do not eſcape preſently.

I followed her Advice, and my Fears were ſo great that I forgot my Hatchet and Cords. I was ſcarcely got to the Stairs by which I came down, till the inchanted Palace open’d at once, and made Paſſage for the Genie, He ask’d the Princeſs in great Anger, What has happen’d to you, and why did you call me? A Qualm at my Stomach, ſaid the Princeſs, made me fetch this Bottle which you ſee here, out of which I drank Twice or Thrice, and by Miſchance made a falſe Step, and fell upon the Taliſman, which is broke, and that is all the matter.

At this Anſwer, the furious Genie told her, You are a Falſe Woman, and a Liar; How came that Ax, and thoſe Ropes there? I never ſaw them till this Moment, ſaid the Princeſs. Your coming in ſuch an impetuous manner, has, it may be forc’d them up in ſome Place as you came along, and ſo brought them hither without your knowing it.

The Genie made no other Anſwer but what was accompanied with Reproaches and Blows, of which I heard the Noiſe. I could not endure to hear the pitiful Cries and Shouts of the Princeſs ſo cruelly abus’d. I had already laid off the Suit ſhe made me put on, and took my own, which I had laid on the Stairs the Day before, when I came out of the Bagnio: I made haſte up Stairs, being ſo much the more full of Sorrow and Compaſſion, that I had been the Cauſe of ſo great a Misfortune, and that by ſacrificing the faireſt Princeſs upon Earth to the Barbarity of a mercileſs Genie, I was become the moſt criminal and ungrateful of