Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/53

great Value. After I had return’d him a thouſand Thanks for all his Favours, I went aboard. We ſet ſail, and as the Adventure, which procured me this Liberty, was very extraordinary, I had it continually in my Thoughts.

We ſtopt at fome Iſlands to take in freſh Provitions, our Veſſels being come to a Port on the Terra Firma in the Indies, we touched there, and, not being willing to venture by Sea to Balſora, I landed my Proportion of the Ivory, reſolving to proceed on my Journey by Land. I made vaſt Sums of my Ivory, I bought ſeveral Rarities, which I intended for Preſents, and when my Equipage was got ready, I ſet out in Company of a large Caravan of Merchants, I was a long time on the way, and ſuffered very much, but endured all with Patience, when I conſidered that I had nothing to fear from the Seas, from Pirates, from Serpents, nor of the other Perils I had undergone.

All theſe Fatigues ended at laſt, and I came ſafe to Bagdad. I went immediately to wait upon the Califf, and gave him an Account of my Embaſſy, That Prince told me, he had been uneaſy, by reaſon I was ſo long a returning, but that he always hoped God would preſerve me. When I told him the Adventure of the Elephants, he ſeemed to be much ſurpriſed at it, and would never have given any Credit to it had he not known my Sincerity. He reckoned this Story and the other Relations I had given him to be ſo curious, that he order’d one of his Secretaries to write them in Characters of Gold, and lay them up in his Treaſury. I retir’d very well ſatisfy’d with the Honours I received, and the Preſents which he gave me, and after that I gave my ſelf up wholly to my Family, Kindred and Friends.

Sindbad finiſhed the Relation of his Seventh and laſt Voyage, and then addreſling himſelf to Hindbad, Well Friend, ſays he, did you ever hear of any. Perſon that ſuffered ſo much as I have done, or of any Mortal that has gone through ſo many Perplexities. Is it not reaſonable that after all this I ſhould enjoy a quiet and pleaſant Life. As he ſaid this, Hindbad drew near to him, and, kiſſing his Hand, ſaid, I muſt acknowledge, Sir, that you have gone thro’ terrible Dangers, my Troubles are not comparable to yours; if they afflict me for a time, I comfort