Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/42
ſee how willing I was alſo to die for her, Upon this I ſtept back and threw the Scimeter on the Ground, I ſhall for ever (ſays I to the Genie) be hateful to all Mankind, ſhould I be ſo baſe as to murder, I do no only ſay a Perſon whom I do not know, but alſo a Lady like this; who is ready to give up the Ghoſt; do with me what you pleaſe, ſince I am in your Power, I cannot obey your barbarous Commands.
I ſee, ſaid the Genie, that you both outbrave me and inſult my Jealouſie; but both of you ſhall know by the Treatment I give you, what I am capable to do. At theſe Words the Monſter took up the Scimeter and cut off one of her Hands, which only left her ſo much Life as to give me a Token with the other, that ſhe bid me for ever Adieu. For the Blood ſhe had loſt before, and that which guſh’d out then, did not permit her to live above one or two Moments after this barbarous Cruelty; the Sight of which threw me into a Fit. When I was come to my ſelf again, I expoſtulated with the Genie, why he made me languiſh in expectation of Death: Strike, cry’d I, for I am ready to receive the mortal Blow, and expect it as the greateſt Favour you can ſhow me. But inſtead of agreeing to that, Look ye, ſays he, how Genies treat their Wives whom they ſuſpect of Unfaithfulneſs; ſhe has receiv’d thee here: and were I certain that ſhe had put any further Affront upon me, I would make thee to die this Minute; but I will content my ſelf to transform thee into a Dog, Aſs, Lion or Bird, take thy choice of any of theſe, I will leave it to thy ſelf.
Theſe words gave me ſome Hopes to mollifie him, O Genie, ſaid I, moderate your Paſſion, and ſince you will not take away my Life, give it me generouſly, I ſhall always remember your Clemency, if you pardon me, as one of the beſt Men in the World pardoned one of his Neighbours that bore him a mortal Hatred, The Genie ask’d me what had paſſed between thoſe two Neighbours, and ſaid, he would have Patience till he heard the Story, which | told him thus; and I believe, Madam, you will not take it ill if I alſo relate it to you.