Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/57

ſent to ſeize Forty Barmecides more in their Houſes; a publick Crier was ſent about the City to cry thus, by the Califf’s Order, Thoſe who have a deſire to ſee the Grand Vizier Giafar hanged, and Forty more Barmecides of his Kindred, let them come to the Square before the Palace.

When all Things were ready, the Criminal Judge, and a great many Officers belonging to the Palace, brought out the Grand Vizier with the Forty Barmecides, and ſet each of them at the Foot of the Gibbet deſign’d for them, and a Rope was put about each of their Necks. The Multitude of People that filed the Square, could not without Grief and Tears behold this Tragical Sight for the Grand Vizier and the Barmecides were loved and honour’d on account of their Probity, Bounty and Impartiality, not only in Bagdad, but thro’ all the Dominions of the Califf.

Nothing could prevent the Execution of this Prince’s too ſevere and irrevocable Sentence, and the Lives of the honeſteſt People of the City were juſt going to be taken away, when a young Man of handſome Mein, and good Apparel preſſed through the Crowd till he came where the Grand Vizier was, and after he had kiſſed his Hand, ſaid, Moſt excellent Vizier, chief of the Emirs of this Court, and Comforter of the Poor; You are not guilty of the Crime for which you ftand here. Withdraw, and let me expiate the Death sf the Lady that was thrown into the Tigris. ’Tis I who murder’d ber, and I deſerve to be puniſh’d for it.

Though thoſe Words occaſion’d great Joy to the Vizier, yet he could not but pity the young Man, in whoſe Looks he ſaw ſomething that, inſtead of being ominous, was engaging: But as he was about to anſwer him, a tall Man pretty well in Years, who had likewiſe forc’d his way through the Crowd, came up to him, ſaying, Sir, do not believe what this young Man tells you, I killed that Lady who was found in the Trunk, and this Puriſhment ought only to fall upon me. I conjure you in the Name of God not to puniſh the Innocent for the Guilty. Sir, ſays the young Man to the Vizier, I do proteſt that I am he who committed this vile Act, and no body elſe had any hand in it. My Son, ſaid the old Man, ’Tis Deſpair that brought