Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/58

you hither, and you would anticipate your Deſtiny. I have lived a long while in the World, and ’tis time for me to be gone; let me therefore ſacrifice my Life for yours. Sir, ſaid he again to the Vizicr, I tell you once more I am the Murderer, let me die without any more ado.

The Controverſy between the old Man and the young one, obliged the Grand Vizier Giafar to carry them both before the Califf, which the Judge Criminal conſented to, being very glad to ſerve the Vizier. When he came before the Prince, he kiſſed the Ground ſeven times, and ſpake after this manner, Commander of the Faithful, I have brought here before your Majeſty this old Man and this young Man, who both confeſs themſelves to be the ſole Murderers of the Lady. Then the Califf asked the Criminals which of them it was that ſo cruelly murdered the Lady, and threw her into the Tigris. The young Man aſſured him that it was he, but the old Man maintained the contrary. Go, ſays the Califf to the Grand Vizier, and cauſe them both to be hanged. But, Sir, ſays the Vizier, if only one of them be guilty, it would be unjuſt to take the Lives of both. At theſe Words the young Man ſpoke again, I ſwear by the great God, who has raiſed the Heavens ſo high as they be, That I am the Man who killed the Lady, cut her in pieces, and threw her into the Tigris about Four Days ago. I renounce my part of Happineſs among the Juſt at the Day of Judgment, if what I ſay be not the Truth; therefore I am he that ought to ſuffer. The Califf, being ſurprized at this Oath, believed him; eſpecially ſince the old Man made no Anſwer to this, Whereupon, turning to the young Man, Thou Wretch, ſaid he, what was it that made thee commit that deteſtable Crime, and what is it that moves thee to offer thy ſelf voluntarily to die? Commander of the Faithful, ſaid he, if all that hath paſt between that Lady and me were ſet down in Writing, it would be a Hiſtory that might be very uſeful for other Men. I command thee then to relate it, ſaid the Califf: The young Man obeyed, and began his Story thus.

Scheherazade would have gone on, but ſhe was obliged to defer it till the Night following.