Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/52

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The Sultan diſmiſs’d his Courtiers, and none remain’d by him but the Chief of his Eunuchs, a little young Slave and my ſelf. He went from his Chamber of Audience into his own Apartment, where he ordered Dinner to be brought. As he ſat at Table he gave me a Sign to come near and eat with him: To ſhow my Obedience, I kiſſed the Ground, ſtood up, ſat me down at Table, and eat with Diſcretion and moderately.

Before the Table was uncovered, I eſpied an Inkhorn, which I made a ſign ſhould be brought me; having got it I wrote upon a large Peach ſome Verſes after my way, which teſtified my Acknowledgment to the Sultan; who, having read them after my preſenting him the Peach, it increaſed his Aſtoniſhment. When the Table was uncover’d, they brought him a particular Liquor, of which he caus’d them to give me a Glaſs: I drank, and wrote ſome new Verſes upon it, which explained the State I was in after a great many Sufferings. The Sultan read them likewiſe, and ſaid, An Ape that was capable of doing ſo much, ought to be exalted above the greateſt of Men.

The Sultan cauſed them to bring in a Cheſs-board, and asked me by a Sign, if I underſtood that Game, and would play with him? I kiſſed the Ground, and laying my Hand upon my Head, ſignified that I was ready to receive that Honour. He won the firſt Game, but I won the ſecond and third; and perceiving he was ſomewhat diſpleaſed at it, made a Quatrain to pacifie him, in which I told him, That two potent Armies had been fighting very eagerly all Day, but that they made up a Peace towards the Evening and paſſed the remaining part of the Night very peaceably together upon the Field of Battle.

So many Things appearing to the Sultan, far beyond whatever any one had either ſeen or known of the Behavour and Knowledge of Apes, he would not be the only Witneſs of theſe Prodigies himſelf; but having a Daughter, called the Lady of Beauty, to whom the Head of the Eunuchs then preſent was Governor, Go, ſaid the Sultan to him, and bid your Lady come hither: I am willing ſhe ſhould have a Share in my Pleaſure.

The Eunuch went, and immediately brought the Princeſs, who had her Face uncover’d; but ſhe was no ſooner got into the Room, when ſhe put on her Veil, and ſaid to
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