Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/76

the third Callender, Scheherazade reſum’d it thus, perſonating the Callender in his Diſcourſe to Zobeide.

Madam, when the Gentleman had ended this Diſcourſe, I wrapt my ſelf in the Sheep’s Skin, held faſt the Knife which was given me; and after thoſe young Gentlemen had been at the trouble to ſew the Skin about me, they retir’d into the Hall, and left me on the Place. The Roc they had ſpoke of was not long a coming, he fell down upon me, took me up between his tallons like a Sheep, and carried me up to the top of the Mountain.

When I found my ſelf upon the Ground, I made uſe of the Knife, cut the Skin, and throwing it off, the Roc at the Sight of me flew away, This Roc is a white Bird of a monſtrous Size, his Strength is ſuch that he can lift up Elephants from the Plains, and carry them to the top of Mountains, where he feeds upon them.

Being impatient till I reach’d the Caſtle, I loft no time, but made ſo much haſte, that I got thither in half a Day’s Journey, and I muſt ſay, that I found it ſurpaſs the Deſcription they had given me of it.

The Gate being open, I entred into a Court that was ſquare, and ſo large, that there was round it 99 Gates of Wood Sanders and Aloes, with one of Gold, without counting thoſe of ſeveral magnificent Stair-Caſes, that led up to Apartments above, beſides many more I could not ſee. The hundred Doors I ſpoke of open’d into Gardens, or Store-houſes full of Riches, or into Places which contain’d Things wonderful to be ſeen.

I ſaw a Door ſtanding open juſt before me, through which I entred into a large Hall, where I found 40 young Ladies of ſuch perfect Beauty, that Imagination could not go beyond it; they were all moſt ſumptuouſly apparel’d, and as ſoon as they ſaw me, roſe up, and without expectation my Complements, ſaid to me with demonſtrations of Joy, noble Sir, you are very welcome. And one ſpoke to me in the Name of the reſt thus, we have been in expectation a long while of ſuch a Gentleman as you, your Mein aſſures us that you are Maſter of all the good Qualities we can wiſh for; and we hope you will not find our Company diſagreeable or unworthy of yours.