Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/55
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bout Noon to go a fiſhing, and from that time to this I have not been able to catch one Fiſh, and at the ſame time I have a Wife and ſmall Children, and nothing to maintain them.
The Califf moved with Compaſſion, ſays to the Fiſherman, Haſt thou the courage to go back and caſt thy Nets once more, we will give thee a hundred Sequins for what thou ſhalt bring up. At this Propoſal, the Fiſherman, forgetting all his Day’s Toil, took the Califf at his Word. And with him, Giafar and Meſrour returned to the Tigris, ſaying to himſelf, Theſe Gentlemen ſeems to be too honeſt and reaſonable not to reward my Pains, and if they give me but the hundreth Part of what they promiſe me, it will be a great deal.
They came to the Bank of the River, and the Fiſherman throwing in his Net, when he drew it again, brought up a Trunk cloſe ſhut, and very heavy. The Califf made the Grand Vizier pay him 100 Sequins immediately, and ſent him away. Meſrour, by his Maſter’s Order carried the Trunk on his Shoulder, and the Califf was ſo very eager to know what was in it, that he returned to the Place with all ſpeed. When the Trunk was opened, they found in it a large Basket made of Palm- Leaves, ſhut up, and the Covering of it ſew’d with red Thread. To ſatisfy the Califf’s Impatience, they would not take time to unrip it, but cut the Thread with a Knife, and they took out of the Basket a Bundle wrapt up in a ſorry Piece of Hanging, and bound about with a Rope, which being untied, and the Bundle open’d, they found it to their great Amazement the Corps of a young Lady whiter than Snow, all cut in Pieces.
Scheherazade ſtopt here, becauſe we ſaw it was Day and next Night continued it thus.
The Ninety Firſt Night.
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