Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/71

Council every time, when the Infirmities of Age would not permit his Father-in-law to appear.

The old Gentleman died about four Years after, with great Satisfaction, to ſee a Branch of his Family that promis’d ſo fair to ſupport the Grandeur of it.

Noureddin Ali performed his laſt Duty to him, with all poſſible Love and Gratitude. As ſoon 3as his Son Bedreddin Haſſan had attain’d to ſeven Years of Age, he provided him a moſt excellent Tutor, who taught him ſuch Things as became his Birth. The Child had a ready Wit, and a Genius capable of receiving all the good Inſtructions that could be given.

Scheherazade was going on, but perceiving Day, we put an end to her Diſcourſe, and reſumed it thus the Night following.

SIR, the Vizier Giafar continu’d his Story, told the Califf, That after Bedreddin Haſſan had been two Years under the Tuition of his Maſter, who taught him perfectly to read; he learnt the Alcoran by heart. His Father Noureddin Ali put him afterwards to other Tutors, by whom his Mind was cultivated to ſuch a Degree, that when he was twelve Years of Age he had no more occafion for them. And then as his Phyſiognomy promiſed Wonders, he was admir’d by all that looked upon him.

Hitherto Noureddin Ali had kept him to his Study, and had not yet brought him in Publick, but now he carried him to the Palace, on purpoſe to have the Honour of kiſsing the Sultan’s Hand, who received him very graciouſly. The People that ſaw him in the Streets were charmed with his genteel Mein, and gave him a thouſand Bleſſings

His Father propoſed to make him capable of ſupplying his Place, ſpared no Coſt for that end, and brought him up to Buſineis of the greateſt Moment, on purpoſe to qualify him betimes. In ſhort, he omitted nothing to advance a Son he lov’d ſo well. But as he began to enjoy the Fruits of his Labour, he was all on a ſudden taken with a violent Fit of Sickneſs; and finding himſelf paſt Recovery, diſpoſed himſelf to die a good Muſſelman.