Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/83

Hump-back, who was furiouſly mad at Bedreddin ſufpecting him to be his Rival, gave him a croſsLook, and ſaid, And thou, what doſt thou wait for? Why art thou not fone as well as the reſt? Begone. Bedreddin, having no Preſence to ſtay, withdrew, not knowing what to do with himſelf. But he was not got out of the Porch, when the Genie and Fairy met, and ſtopp’d him. Whither are you going? ſaid the Fairy, ſtay, for Hump-back is not in the Hall, he is gone out about ſome Buſineſs; you have nothing to do but return, and introduce your ſelf into the Bride’s Chamber. As ſoon as you are alone with her, tell her boldly, That you are her Husband, that the Sultan’s Intention was only to make Sport with the Groom; and to make this pretended Bridegroom ſome amends, you had caus’d to be prepar’d for him, in the Stable a good Diſh of Cream. And then tell her all the fine things you can think on to perſwade her; for being ſo handſome as you are, little Perſuation will do, ſhe will think herſelf happy of being deceived ſo agreeably. In the mean time, we will take care that Hump-back ſhall not return, and let nothing hinder you to paſs the Night with your Bride, for ſhe is yours, and none of his.

While the Fairy thus encouraged Bedreddin, and inftructed him how he ſhould behave himſelf, Hump-back was really gone out of the Room. For the Genie went to him in the Shape of a great Cat, miauling at a moſt fearful Rate. The Fellow called to the Cat, and clapt his Hands to make her flee, but inſtead of that, the Cat ſtood upon her hinder Feet, ſtaring with her Eyes like Fire, looking fiercely at him, miauling louder than ſhe did at firſt, and growing bigger till ſhe was as large as an Aſs. At this fight, Hump-back would have cried out for Help, but his Fear was ſo great, that he ſtood gaping, and could not utter one Word; and that he might have no time to recover, the Genie changed himſelf immediately into a large Buffalo, and in this Shape called to him with a Voice that redoubled his Fear, Thou Hump-back Villain. At theſe Words the aftrighted Groom caſt him ſelf on the Ground, and covering his Face with his Gown that he might not ſee this dreadful Beaſt, “Sovereign Prince of Buttaloes, (ſaid he) what is it you want of me?” “Wo be to thee (repliesthe Genie) haſt thou the boldneſs to venture to marry my Miſtreſs.” &;dquo;O my Lord, (ſaid Hump-back) I pray you to pardon me,