Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/36

bid him get down, and for that end ſtoop’d, that he might get off with eaſe; but inſtead of that, (which I laugh at every time I think on’t) the old Man, who to me appear’d very decripit, claſp’d his Legs nimbly about my Neck, and then I perceiv’d his Skin to reſemble that of a Cow. He ſat aſtride upon my Shoulders, and held my Throat ſo ſtrait, that I thought he would have ſtrangled me, the Fright of which made me faint away and fall down.

Day appearing, Scheherazade was oblig’d to ſtop here, but purſu’d her Story thus next Night.

NOtwithſtanding my Fainting, continued Sindbad, the ill-natur’d old Fellow kept faſt about my Neck, but open’d his Leg a little to give me time to recover my Breath. When I had ſo done, he thruſt one of his Feet againſt my Stomach, and ſtruck me ſo rudely on the Side with the other, that he forc’d me to riſe up againſt my will. Being got up, he made me walk under the Trees, and forc’d me now and then to ſtop, to gather, and eat ſuch Fruit as we found. He never left me all Day, and when I lay down to reſt me by Night, he laid himſelf down with me, holding always faſtabout my Neck. Every Morning he puſh’d me to make me awake, and afterwards oblig’d me to get up and walk, and preſs’d me with his Feet. You may judge then, Gentlemen, what Troubie I was in, to be charg’d with ſuch a Burden as I could no ways rid my ſelf from.

One Day I found in my way ſeveral dry Calebaſhes that had fallen from a Tree, I took a large one, and after cleaning it, preſs’d into it ſome Juice of Grapes, which abounded in the Iſland; having fill’d the Calebaſh, I ſet it in a convenient Place, and coming hither again ſome Days after, I took up my Calebaſh, and ſetting it to my Mouth, found the Wine to be ſo good, that it made me preſently not only forget my Sorrow, but I grew vigorous, and was ſo light hearted that I began to ſing and dance as I walk’d along.

The old Man perceiving the Effect which this Drink had upon me, and that I carry’d him with more Eaſe than I did before, made a ſign for me to give him ſome of it. I gave him the Calebaſh, and the Liquor pleaſing his Pa-