Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/76

ſwered Bedreddin, I ſell it to you for 1000 Sequins, it is done. Upon this the Jew deliver’d him the Bag of 1000 Sequins, and offered to count ’em, but Bedreddin Haſſan ſav’d him the Trouble, and ſaid, He would truſt his Word. Since it is ſo, My Lord, ſaid he, be pleaſed to favour me with a ſmall Note in Writing of the Bargain we have made, And having ſaid this, pulled his Ink-horn from his Girdle, and taking a ſmall Reed out of it neatly cut for Writing, he preſented it to him, with a Piece of Paper he took out of his Letter-Caſe; and whilſt he held the Ink-horn, Bedredlin Haſſan wrote theſe Words.

THIS Writing is to Teſtify, That Bedreddin Haſſan of Balſora, has ſold to Iſaac the Jew, for the ſum of a Thouſand Sequins received in Hand, the Lading of the firſt of his Ships that ſhall arrive in this Port.

This Note he deliver’d to the Jew, who put it in his Letter-Cafe, and then took his Leave of him.

While Iſaac purſued his Journey to the City, Bedreddin made the beſt of his way to his Father Noureddin Ali’s Tomb. When he came to it, he bowed his Face to the Ground, and with his Eyes full of Tears, deplored his miſerable Condition. Alas! ſaid he, Unfortunate Bedreddin, What will become of thee? Whither canſt thou fly for Refuge againſt the unjuſt Prince that perſecutes thee? Was it not enough to be afflicted for the Death of ſo dear a Father? Muſt Fortune needs add new Misfortunes to juſt Complaints? He continued a long time in this Poſture, but at laſt roſe up again, and leaning his Head upon his Father’s Sepulchre, his Sorrows returned more violently than before, ſo that he ſigh’d and mourned, till, overcome with Heavineſs, he ſtretch’d himſelf all along upon the Floor, and fell aſleep.

He had not ſlept long, till a Genie, who had retired to that Church-yard during the Day, and was intending, according to his Cuſtom, to range about the World at Night, eſpying this young Man in Noureddin Ali’s Tomb; he entered, and finding Bedreddin lying on his Back, was ſurprized at his Beauty.