Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/39

all Mankind. ’Tis true, ſaid I, ſhe has been a Priſoner this 25 Years; but, ſetting Liberty aſide, ſhe wanted nothing that could make her Happy, My Madneſs has put an End to our Happineſs, and brought her under the Cruelty of an unmerciful Devil; I let down the Trap-door, cover’d it again with Earth, and return’d to the City with a Burden of Wood, which I bound up without knowing what I did; ſo great was my Trouble and Sorrow.

My Landlord the Taylor was very much rejoyc’d to ſee me; your Abſence, ſaid he, has diſquieted me very much, by reaſon you had entruſted me with the Secret of your Birth, and | knew not what to think; I was afraid ſome Body had known you; God be thank’d for your Return, I thanked him for his Zeal and Affection, but never a Word durſt I ſay of what had paſt, nor the Reaſon why I came back without my Hatchet and Cords.

I retir’d to my Chamber, where I reproach’s myſelf a thouſand Times for my exceſſive Imprudence; nothing (ſaid I) could have parallel'd the Princeſs’s good Fortune and mine, had I forborn to brake the Taliſman.

While I was thus giving my ſelf over to melancholy Thoughts, the Taylor came in, and told me, An old Man, ſaid he, whom I do not know, brings me here your Hatchet and Cords, which he found in his Way, as he tells me, and underſtood by your Comrades that go along with you to the Woods, that you lodge here; come out and ſpeak to him, for he will deliver them to none but your ſelf.

At this Diſcourſe, I chang’d Colour, and fell a trembling: While the Taylor was asking me the Reaſon, my Chamber Floor open’d at once, and the old Man, having no Patience to ſtay, appeared to us with my Hatchet and Cords. This was the Genie, the Raviſher of the fair Princeſs of the Iſle of Ebene, who had thus diſguis’d himſelf, after he had treated her with the utmoſt Barbarity. I am a Genie, ſaid he, Son of the Daughter of Eblis, Prince of Genies; Is not this your Hatchet, ſaid he, ſpeaking to me, and are not theſe your Cords?