Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/65

had two Sons very handſome Men, and who in every Thing followed his own footſteps, The Eldeft was called Schemſeddin Mohammed,^[1] and the Younger Noureddin Ali. The laſt eſpecially was endowed with all the good Qualities that any Man could have.

The Vizier their Father being dead, the Sultan ſent for them, and after he had caus’d then both to put on the uſual Robes of a Vizier; I am forry, ſays he, for the Loſs of your Father, as your ſelves, and becauſe I know you live together, and love one another entirely, I will beſtow his Dignity upon you conjunctly, go and imitate your Father’s Conduct.

The two new Viziers humbly thanked the Sultan, and went home to their Houſe, to make due Preparation for their Father’s Interment, They did not go abroad for a Month, and then went to Court, where they appeared continually on Council-Days; when the Sultan went out a hunting, one of the Brothers went along with him, and this Honour they had by Turns. One Evening as they were talking after Supper, the next Day being the elder Brother’s turn to go a hunting with the Sultan, he ſaid to his younger Brother, Since neither of us is yet married, and that we live ſo lovingly together, a Thought is come into my Head, Let us both marry in one Day, and let us chuſe two Siſters out of ſome Family thar may ſuit our Quality, What do you think of this Fancy? I muſt tell you, Brother, anſwer’d Noureddin Ali, that its very ſuitable to our Friendſhip, there cannot be a better Thought; for my part, I am ready to agree to any thing you ſhall think fit. But hold, this is not all, ſays Schemſeddin Mohammed, my Fancy carries me further. Suppoſe both our Wives could conceive the firſt Night of our Marriage, and ſhould happen to be brought to Bed on one Day, your’s of a Son, and mine of a Daughter, we will give them to one another in Marriage, when they come to Age. Nay, ſays Noureddin Ali aloud, I muſt acknowledge that this Proſpect is admirable, ſuch a Marriage will perfect our Union, and I willingly conſent to it. But then Brother, ſays he further, if this Marriage ſhould happen, would you expect that my Son ſhould ſettle a Jointure on your Daughter.