Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/79

Flambeau in his Hand, for the Crook-back’d Groom, who is bathing himſelf to go along with them to his Bride, who is already dreſs’d to receive him, and when I departed from Cairo, the Ladies met for that Purpoſe, were going to condudt her in all her nuptial Attire to the Hall, where ſhe is to receive her Hump-back’d Bridegroom, and is this Minute now expecting him: I have ſeen her, and do aſſure you, that no Perſon can look upon her without Admiration.

When the Fairy left oft ſpeaking, the Genie ſays to him, Whatever you think or ſay, I cannot be perſuaded that the Girl’s beauty-exceeds that of this young Man. I will not diſpute it with you, anſwer’d the Fairy, for I muſt confeſs he deſerves to be married to that charming Creature, which they deſign for Hump-back. And I think it were a Deed worthy of us to obſtruct the Sultan of Egypt’s Injuſtice, and put this young Gentleman in the Room of the Slave, You are in the right, anſwer’d the Genie, “I am extreamly oblig’d to you for ſo good a Thought; let us deceive him, I conſent to your revenge upon the Sultan of Egypt, let us comfort a diſtreſſed Father and make his Daughter as happy as ſhe thinks her ſelf miſerable; I will do my utmoſt Endeavour to make this Project take, and I am perſuaded you will not be backward, I will be at the Pains to carry him to Cairo, before he awake, and afterwards leave it to your Care, to carry him elſewhere, when we have accompliſhed our Deſign.”

The Fairy and the Genie having thus concerted what they had to do, the Genie lifted up Bedreddin Haſſan gently, and with an inconceivable Swiftneſs, carried him

through the Air, and ſet him down at the Door of a publick Houſe next to the Bagnio, whence Hump-back was to come with the Train of Slaves that waited for him. Bedreddin Haſſan awak’d that very Moment, and was mightily ſurpriz’d to find himſelf in the middle of a City he knew not, he was a going to cry out, and to ask where he was, but the Genie touch’d him gently on the Shoulder, and forbid him to ſpeak a Word. Then he put a Torch in his Hand, and bid him go, and mix with the Crowd at the Bagnio-Door, and follow them till you come into a Hall, where they are going to celebrate a Marriage. The Bridegroom is a Hump-back’d Fellow, and by that you will eaſi-