Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/50

perly I he!d the Roll; and made a Sign that T would write in my turn, Then they were of another Opinion, and their Fears turn’d into Admiration: However, ſince they had never ſeen an Ape that could write, nor could be perſuaded that I was more ingenious than other Apes, they offer’d to ſnatch the Roll out of my Hand; but the Captain took my part once more. Let him alone, ſaid he, ſuffer him to write. If he only ſcribles the Paper, I promiſe you that I will puniſh him upon the ſpot. If on the contrary he writes well, as I hope he will, becauſe I never ſaw an Ape ſo handy and ingenious, and ſo apprehenſive of every thing, I do declare that I will own him as my Son; I had one that had not by far the Wit that he has. Perceiving that no Man did any more oppoſe my Deſign, I took the Pen and wrote before I had done, ſix ſorts of Hands, us’d among the Arabians, and each ſpecimen extemporary Diſtich or Quatrain in praiſe of the Sultan. My Writing did not only out do that of the Merchants, but I dare ſay, they had not before ſeen any ſuch fair Writing in that Country. When I had done, the Officers took the Roll and carried it to the Sultan.

Thus far was Scheherazade come with her Story when Day-light appear’d, Sir, ſaid ſhe to Schahriar, If I had time to continue, I would give your Majeſty an Account of Things far more ſurprizing than what I have already told, The Sultan, who had reſolved to hear the End of the Story, got up without ſaying one Word.

THE next Morning Dinarzade, being awake before Day, called the Sultaneſs, and ſaid, Siſter, if you be not aſleep, pray let us hear the reſt of the Adventures, that happened to the Ape. I believe my Lord the Sultan is no leſs curious to know it than my ſelf. You ſhall both be ſatisfied, anſwer’d Scheherazade, and that you may ſoon be eas’d of your Longing, the ſecond Callender continued his Story thus.

The Sultan took little Notice of any of the other Writings, but conſider’d mine, which was ſo much to his liking that he ſays to the Officers, Take the fineſt Horſe in my