Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/82

Scheherazade perceiving Day, broke off till next Night, then ſhe continued her Story.

Note, The Hundred and Firſt, and the Hundred and Second Night, in the Original, contain only a Deſcription of Seven Robes, and ſeven different Drefſes, which the Vizier Schemſeddin Mohammed’s Daughter changed at the Sound of the Inſtruments. And this Deſcription having nothing pleaſant in it; and beſides, being intermixt with Verſes which in the Arabian Tongue are very fine, but would loſe their Beauty by a Tranſlation. I thought it not worth while to tranſlate thoſe two Nights.

SIR, ſays Scheherazade to the Sultan of the Indies, I hope your Majeſty has not forgot, that ’tis the Grand Vizier Giafar who ſpeaks to the Calif Haroun Alraſchid. Each time (continues he) that the new Bride changed her Habit, ſhe roſe up from her Seat, followed by her Bride-woman, and paſt by Hump-back without giving him one look, and went towards Bedreddin Haſſan, before whom ſhe preſented herſelf in her new Attire. On this Occaſion Bedreddin, according to the Inſtructions given him by the Genie, failed not to put his Hand in his Purſe, and pulled out Handfuls of Sequins, which he diſtributed among the Women that follow’d the Bride. Nor did he forget the Players and Dancers, but alſo threw Money to them. ’Twas pleaſant to ſee how puſh’d one another to gather it up. They ſhewed themſelves very thankful, and made him ſigns that the young Bride ſhould be for him, and not for the Hump-back Fellow. The Women that attended her, told her the ſame thing, and did not value whether the Groom heard them or not, for they put a Thouſand Tricks upon him, which very much pleaſed the Spectators.

When the Ceremony of changing of Habits was paſs’d, the Muſick ceaſed and went away, but made a Sign to Bedreddin Haſſan to ſtay behind. The Ladies did the ſame, and went all Home, but thoſe that belong’d to the Houſe. The Bride went into a Cloſet, whither her Women followed to undreſs her, and none remain’d in the Hall but the Hump-back Groom, Bedreddin Haſſan, and ſome of the Domeſticks,