Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/10

The Porter went Home aſtoniſh’d at the Honours done him, and the Preſent made him. The Relation of it was very agreeable to his Wife and Children, who did not fail to return Thanks to God for what Providence had ſent them by the Hands of Sindbad.

Hindbad put on his beſt Cloaths next Day, and return’d to the bountiful Traveller, who receiv’d him with a pleaſant Air, and careſs’d him mightily. When all the Gueſts were come, Dinner was ſet upon the Table, and continued a long Time. When it was ended, Sindbad, addreſſing himſelf to the Company, ſaid, Gentlemen, be pleaſed to give me Audience, and liſten to the Adventures of my Second Voyage; they better deſerve your Attention than the Firſt, upon which every one held his Peace, and Sindbad went on thus.

I Defign’d after my firſt Voyage, to ſpend the reſt of my Days at Bagdad, as I had the Honour to tell you Yeſterday; but it was not long ere I grew weary of an idle Life. My Inclination to Trade reviv’d. I bought Goods the proper for the Commerce I deſign’d, and put to Sea a ſecond Time with Merchants of known Probity. We embark’d on Board a good Ship, and after recommending our ſelves to God, ſet ſail; we traded from Iſland to Iſland and exchanged Commodities with great Profit. One Day we landed in an Iſle cover’d with ſeveral Sorts of Fruit-Trees, but ſo deſert, that we could neither ſee Man nor Houſe upon it. We went to take a little freſh Air in the Meadows, and along the Streams that water’d them. Whilſt ſome diverted themſelves with gathering Flowers, and others with gathering Fruits; I took my Wine and Proviſions, and ſat down by a Stream betwixt two great Trees, which form’d a curious Shade. I made a very good Meal, and afterwards fell aſleep. I can’t tell how long I ſlept, but when I waked the Ship was gone. Here Scheherazade broke off, becauſe Day appear’d, but next Night continued the Story thus.