Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/75

growing dark, he refolv’d to paſs that Night on his Fathers Tomb. It was a large Edifice, in form of a Dome, which Noureddin Ali built when he was alive. Bedreddin met a very rich Jew by the way, who was a Banker and Merchant, and was returning from a Place where his Affairs had called him to the City.

The Jew, knowing Bedreddin, halted, and ſaluted him very curteouſly. Day beginning to appear as Scheheraade ſpoke thoſe Words, ſhe put it off till next Night, when ſhe reſum’d her Diſcourſe again,

SIR, ſaid ſhe, the Calif was very attentive to the Grand Vizier’s Diſcourſe, who went on after this manner. Iſaac the Jew, after he had paid his Reſpects to Bedreddin Haſſan, by kiſſing his Hand, ſays, My Lord, dare I be ſo bold as to ask whether you are going at this time of Night all alone, and ſo much troubled? Has any thing diſquieted you? Yes, ſaid Bedreddin, a while ago I was aſleep, and my Father appearing to me in a Dream, looked very fiercely upon me, as if he were extraordinary angry. I ſtarted out of my Sleep very much frightned, and came out immediately to go and pray upon his Tomb.

My Lord, ſaid the Jew, (who did not know the true Reaſon why Bedreddin left the Town) your Father of happy Memory, and my good Lord, had ſtore of Merchandize in ſeveral Veſſels, which are yet at Sea, and belong to you, I beg the Favour of you to grant me the firſt Refuſal of them before any other Merchant. I am able to pay down ready Money for all the Goods that are in your Ship: And to begin, if you will, give me thoſe that happen to come in the firſt Ship that arrives in Safety, I will pay you down in part of Payment 1000 Sequins. And drawing a Fag from under his Gown, he ſhew’d it him ſealed up with one Seal.

Bedreddin Haſſan being baniſh’d from home, and diſpoſſefs’d of all that he had in the World, look’d upon this Propoſal of the Jew’s as a Favour from Heaven, and therefore accepted it with a great deal of Joy. My Lord, ſaid the Jew, then you ſell unto me for 1000 Sequins, the Lading of the firſt of your Ships that ſhall arrive in this Port. Yes, an-