Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/56

ſaid further would have given your Majeſty a great deal of Satisfaction. Upon this ſhe ſtop’d and the Sultan aroſe; his Thoughts being altogether taken up with unheard of Adventures, he was extreamly impatient till he heard the reſt of the Story.

DInarzade made no Scruple to diſturb the Sultaneſs next Morning, and call’d to her, Siſter, If you be not aſleep, pray begin where you left off that wonderful Story laſt Night, I am very deſirous to know what followed after all thoſe Metamorphoſes. Scheherazade call’d to mind where ſhe made a Stop, and addreſſing her Diſcourſe to the Sultan, Sir, ſays ſhe, the ſecond Callender continued his Story after this manner.

The Cock jump’d into the River and was turned into a Pike that purſued the ſmall Fiſh; they continued both under Water above two Hours and we knew not what was become of them, but all of a ſudden we heard terrible Cries which made us to quake, and a little while after we ſaw the Genie and Princeſs all in Flames: They threw Flaſhes of Fire out of their Mouths at one another, till they came to it Hand to Hand, then the two Fires increaſed, with a thick burning Smoak, which mounted ſo high that we had Reaſon to fear it would ſet the Palace on Fire. But we very ſoon had a more preſſing Occaſion of Fear, for the Genie having got looſe from the Princeſs, came to the Gallery where we ſtood, and blew Flames of Fire upon us: We had all periſhed if the Princeſs, running to our Aſſiſtance, had not forc’d him by her Efforts, to retire and defend himſelf againſt her; yet notwithſtanding all her Diligence ſhe could not hinder the Sultan’s Beard from being burnt and his Face ſpoil’d; the chief of the Eunuchs from being ſtifled and burnt on the Spot, nor a Spark to enter my Right-Eye and make it blind. The Sultan and I expected nothing but Death, when we heard a cry, Victory, Victory; and all of a ſudden the Princeſs appeared in her natural Shape, but the Genie was reduc’d to an Heap of Aſhes.