Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/70

DInarzade awak’d the Sultaneſs next Morning as uſual. If you be not aſleep, Siſter, ſaid ſhe, pray tell us what paſſed after the Death of the young Man.

Madam, continued the third Callender, addreſſing himſelf to Zobeide, After this Misfortune, I would have embrac’d Death without any Reluctancy, had it preſented it ſelf to me. But what we wiſh to our ſelves, whether good or bad, will not always happen: Nevertheleſs, conſidering with my ſelf, that all my Tears and Sorrows would not bring the young Man to life again, and the 40 Days being expir’d, I might be ſurpriz’d by his Father. I quitted that ſubterranean Dwelling, laid down the great ſtone upon the entry of it, and cover’d it with Earth.

I had ſcarce done, when, caſting my Eyes upon the Sea towards the main Land, I perceiv’d the Veſſel coming to fetch home the young Man. I began then to confider what I had beſt do; I ſaid to my ſelf, if I am ſeen by the old Man he will certainly lay hold on me, and perhaps cauſe me to be maſſacred by his Slaves. When he has ſeen his Son kill’d, all that I can alledge to juſtify my ſelf will not be able to perſuade him of my Innocence. It is better for me then to withdraw, ſince it is in my Power, than to expoſe my ſelf to his Reſentments.

There happened to be near that ſubterranean Habitation a large Tree with thick Leaves, which I thought fit for me to hide in. I got up to it, and was no ſooner fix’d in a Place where I could not be ſeen, but I ſaw the Veſſel come to the ſame Place where ſhe lay the firſt time.

The old Man and his Slaves landed immediately, and advanced towards the ſubterranean Dwelling, with a Countenance that ſhewed ſome hope; but when they ſaw the Earth had been newly removed, they chang’d Colour, particularly the old Man. They lifted up the Stone and went down; they called the young Man by his Name, but he not anſwering, their Fears increaſed, they went down to ſeek him; and at length found him lying upon a Bed with the Knife in his Heart, for I had not power to take it out. At this Sight they cried out lamentably, which increaſed my Sorrow; the old Man fell down in a Swoon. The