Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/86

the Moſques appointed for that End, were calling the People to come to Prayers at the break of Day. The Fairy laid Bedreddin Haſſan ſoftly on the Ground and, leaving him cloſe by the Gate, departed with the Genie.

The Gate of the City being open’d and a great many People aſſembled to get out, they were mightily ſurpriz’d to ſee Bedredden Haſſan lying in his Shirt and Drawers upon the Ground. One ſaid, He has been hard put to it to get away from his Miſtreſs, that he could not get time to put on his Cloaths. Look ye, ſays another, how People expoſe themſelves, ſure enough he has ſpent ſome part of the Night in drinking with his Friends, ’till he has got drunk, and then, perhaps, having occaſion to go out, inſtead of returning is come this length, and not having his Senſes about him, was overtaken with Sleep. Others were of another Opinion; but no Body could gueſs what had been the occaſion of his coming thither.

A ſmall Puff of Wind happening to blow at the ſame time, uncover’d his Breaſt that was whiter than Snow. Every one being ſtruck with Admiration at the Fineneſs of his Complexion, they ſpoke ſo loud that it awak’d the young Man.

His Surprizal was as great as theirs, when he found himſelf at the Gate of a City, where he had never been before, and encompaſſed by a Croud of People gazing at him. Gentlemen, ſaid he, for Gods ſake tell me where I am, and what you would have of me? One of the Crowd ſpoke to him, ſaying, Young Man, the Gates of the City were juſt now open’d, and as we came out we found you lying here in this Condition, and ſtood ſtill to look on you; Have you lain here all Night? And don’t you know that you are at one of the Gates of Damaſcus? At one of the Gates of Damaſcus! anſwer’d Bedreddin; ſure you mock me. When I lay down to ſleep laſt Night, I was at Cairo. When he ſaid theſe Words, ſome of the People, moved with Compaſion for him, ſaid, *rsquo;Tis a pity that ſuch a handſome Young Man ſhould have loſt his Senſes, and ſo went away.

My Son, ſays an old Gentleman to him, you know not what you ſay, How is it poſſible that you being this Morning at Damaſcus, could be laſt Night at Cairo? ’Tis true for all that, ſaid Bedreddin; for I ſwear to you, that I was all Day Yeſterday at Balſora, He had no ſooner ſaid theſe