Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/60

than the Day before; only I happen’d to meet an old Gardiner, who told me that all my Pains would ſignify nothing, for I could not expect to find Apples any where but in your Majeſty’s Garden at Balſora. As I loved my Wife paſſionately, and would not have any thing of Neglect to ſatisfy her, chargeable upon me; I put my ſelf in a Traveller’s Habit, and after I had told her my Deſign, I went to Balſora, and made my Journey with ſo great Diligence, that I returned at the end of fifteen Days, with three Apples, which coſt me a Sequin a-piece; there were no more left in the Garden, ſo that the Gardiner would let me have them no cheaper. As ſoon as I came home, I preſented them to my Wife, but her Longing was over, ſo ſhe ſatisfied her ſelf with receiving them, and laid them down by her. In the mean time ſhe continued ſickly, and I knew not what Remedy to get for her.

Some few Days after, I returned from my Journey, I was ſitting in my Shop in the publick Place where all ſorts of fine Stuffs are ſold, and ſaw an ugly, tall, black Slave come in with an Apple in his Hand, which I knew to be one of thoſe I had brought from Balſora, I had no reaſon to doubt it, becauſe I was certain there was not one to be had in all Bagdad, not in any of the Gardens about it. I call’d to him, and ſaid, Good Slave, Prithee tell me where thou hadſt this Apple. ’Tis a Preſent (ſaid he ſmiling) from my Miſtreſs, I was to ſee her to Day, and found her out of Order. I ſaw three Apples lying by her, and asked her where ſhe had them. She told me, The good Man her Husband had made a Fortnight’s Journey on purpoſe for them, and brought them her, We had a Collation together, and when I took my leave of her, I brought away this Apple that yow ſee.

This Diſcourle put me out of my Senſes, I roſe, ſhut up my Shop, run home with all ſpeed, and going to my Wife’s Chamber, looked immediately for the Apples, and feeing only a couple, ask’d what was become of the Third. Then my Wife, turning her Head to the Place where the Apples lay, and perceiving there was but Two, anſwered me coldly, Conſin, I know not what is become of it. At this Anſwer I did verily believe what the Slave told me to be true; and at the ſame time giving my ſelf