Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/63

Scheherazade would have gone on with her Story, but Day appearing ſhe was oblig’d to keep ſilence The Sultan was convinc’d by this beginning, that the Sultaneſs had not deceived him, and therefore we are not to wonder that he did not order her to die that Day.

FOR the ſake of Heay’n, cry’d Dinzrzade next Morning, If you benot aſleep, Siſter, go on with the Story of the third Callender, My dear Sitter, ſaid Scheherazade, the Prince renewed his Diſcourſe thus.

At the Sight of theſe Steps, ſaid he, for there was not a bit of Ground either on the Right or Left whereon a Man could ſet his Foot, I gave thanks to God, and recommended my ſelf to his holy Protection as I began to mount the Steps, which were ſo narrow, rugged and hard to get up, that had the Wind blown ever ſo little it would have thrown me down into the Sea. But at laſt I got up to the top without any Accident, I came into the Dome, and kneeling on the Ground, gave God thanks for his Mercies to me.

I paſs’d the Night under the Dome, and in my Sleep an old grave Man appear’d to me, and ſaid, Hearken Agib, as ſoon as thou art awake, dig up the Ground under thy Feet; thou ſhalt find a Bow of Braſs, and three Arrows of Lead, that are made under certain Conſtellations, to deliver Mankind from ſo many Calamities that threaten them. Shoot the three Arrows at the Statue, and the Rider ſhall fall into the Sea, but the Horſe will fall down by thy Side, which thou muſt bury in the ſame Place from whence you took the Bow and Arrows: This being done, the Sea will ſwell and riſe up to the Foot of the Dome that ſtands upon the Top of the Mountain: When it is come up ſo high, thou ſhalt ſee a Boat with one Man, and an Oar in each Hand: this Man is alſo of Metal, but different from that thou haſt thrown down; ſtep on board to him, without mentioning the Name of God, and let him conduct thee. He will in ten Days time bring thee into another Sea, where thou ſhalt find an Opportunity to get home to thy Country ſafe and ſound provided, as I have told thee, thou doſt not mention the Name of God during the whole Voyage.