Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/30

place, and then to all thoſe who were round me, and bowing before them to the-Earth, to kiſs the Border of their Garments, I pray’d them to have Compaſſion upon me. Conſider, ſaid I, that I am a Stranger, and ought not to be ſubject to this rigorous Law, and that I have another Wife and Children in my own. Country, ^[1]It was to no purpoſe for me to ſpeak thus; no Soul was moved at it; on the contrary, they made haſte to let down my Wife’s Corps into the Pit, and to put me down the next Moment in an open Coffin, with a Veſſel full of Water, and ſeven Loaves, In ſhort, the ſatal Ceremony being perform’d, they covered up the Mouth of the Pit, notwithſtanding the Exceſs of my Grief, and my lamentable Cries.

As I came near the Bottom, I diſcover’d by help of the little Light that came from above, the Nature of this ſubterranean Place; it was a vaſt long Cave, and might be about 50 Fathom deep. I immediately ſmelt an inſufferable ſtench, proceeding from the Multitude of dead Corps, which I ſaw on the Right and Left, nay, I fancy’d that I heard ſome of them ſigh out their laſt. However, when I got down, I immediately left my Coffin, and getting at a diſtance from the Corps, held my Noſe, and lay down upon the Ground, where I ſtaid a long time, bath’d in Tears. Then reflecting on my ſad Lot, it is true, ſaid I, that God diſpoſes all Things according to the Decrees of his Providence; but, poor Sindbad, art not thou thy ſelf the Cauſe of thy being brought to die ſo ſtrange a Death. Would to God thou hadſt periſh’d in ſome of thoſe Tempeſts which thou haſt eſcap’d! Then thy Death had not been ſo lingring and terrible in all its Circumſtances. But thou haſt drawn all this upon thy ſelt by thy curſed Avarice. Ah unfortunate Wretch! Shouldſt thou not rather have ſtaid at home, and quietly enjoy’d the Fruit of thy Labour.

Such were the vain Complaints with which I made the Cave to eccho, tearing my Head and Stomach out of Rage and Deſpair, and abandoning my ſelf to the moſt afficting Thoughts. Nevertheleſs I muſt tell ye, that inſtead of calling Death to my Aſſiſtance in that miſerable Condition, I felt till an Inclination to live, and to do all I could to pro-