Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/49

of Agat, broader than deep, of an Inch thick, and half a Foot wide, the Bottom of which repreſented in baſe Relief, a Man with one Knee on the Ground who held a Bow and an Arrow, ready to let fly at a Lion. He ſent him alſo a rich Table, which according to Tradition, belong’d to the Great Solomon. The Califf’s Letter was as follows.

WE received your Letter with Joy, and ſend you this letter from the Council of our Port; the Garden of ſuperior Wits. We hope when you look upon it, you will find our good Intention, and be pleas’d with it. Adieu.

The King of Serendib was mightily pleas’d, that the Califf anſwer’d his Friendſhip, A little time after this Audience, I ſollicited Leave to depart, and obtain’d the ſame with much Difficulty. I got it however at laſt, and the King when he diſcharg’d me, made me a very conſiderable Preſent. I embark’d immediately to return to Bagdad, but had not the-good Fortune to arrive there as I hop’d. God order’d it otherwiſe.

Three or four Days after my Departure, we were attack’d by Corſairs, who eaſily ſeized upon our Ship, becauſe it was no Veſſel of Force. Some of the Crew offer’d Reſiſtance, which coſt them their Lives. But for me and the reſt, who were not ſo prudent, the Corſairs ſav’d us on purpoſe to make Slaves of us.

Day beginning to appear, Scheherazade was oblig’d to keep ſilence, but next Night reſum’d the Story thus.

SIR, ſays ſhe to the Sultan of the Indies, Sindbad, continued his Story, told the Company, we were all ſtript, and inſtead of our own Cloths, they gave us ſorry Rags, and carried us into a remote Iſland, where they ſold us.