Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/91

Haſſan, Delivered to Bedreddin Haſſan, for the Cargo of the firſt of thoſe Ships that formerly belong’d to Noureddin Ali his Father, of worthy Memory, ſold unto me upon its Arrival in this Place. He had ſcarce read theſe Words, when he gave a ſhout, and fainted away.

Scheherazade gave over here, and next Night began again thus.

SIR, the Vizier Schemſeddin Mohammed being recovered from his Fit by the help of his Daughter, and the Women ſhe called to her Aſſiſtance. Daughter (ſaid he) do not frighten your ſelt at this Accident, the Reaſon of it is ſuch as you can ſcarcely believe. Your Bridegroom is your Couſin the Son of Noureddin Ali. The Thouſand Sequins in the Bag puts me in mind of a Quarrel I had with my dear Brother; ’tis without doubt the Dowry, he gives you. God be praiſed for all Things, and particularly for this miraculous Adventure which demonſtrates his Almighty Power. Then looking again upon his Brother’s Writing, he kiſſed it ſeveral Times, ſhedding abundance of Tears.

He looked over the Book from one end to t’other, where he found the Date of his Brother’s Arrival at Balſora, of his Marriage, and of the Birth of Bedreddin Haſſan; and when he compar’d the ſame with the Day of his own Marriage, and the Birth of his Daughter at Cairo, he admir’d how every thing did agreee ſo exactly.

This bappy Diſcovery put him into ſuch a tranſport of Joy, that he took up the Book, with the Ticket of the Bag, and ſhew’d it to the Sultan, who pardoned what was paſt, and was ſo much pleaſed with the Relation of this Adventure, that he cauſed it with all its Circumſtances to be put in Writing tor the Uſe of Poſterity.

Mean while the Vizier Schemſeddin Mohammed could not comprehend, the Reaſon why his nephew did not appear; he expected him every Moment, and was imatient to have him in his Arms. After he had expected him ſeven Days in vain, he ſearched for him through all Cairo, but could hear no News of him, which perplex’d him very much. This is the ſtrangeſt Adventure, ſaid he, that ever Man met with. And not knowing what Alterations might happen, he thought fit to draw up in Writing with his own Hand, after what Manner the Wedding had been ſolemniz’d; how the Hall and the Daugfiter’s Bed-