The Paſtry-Cook that had adopted Bedreddin Haſſan, had died ſome Years before, and left him his Shop and all his Eſtate. So Bedreddin became Maſter of the Shop, and manag’d the Paſtry-Trade fo dextrouſly, that he gain’d great Reputation in Damaſcus. Bedreddin ſeeing ſo great a Crowd before his Door, that were gazing fo attentively upon Agib and the black Eunuch, ſtep’d out to ſee ’em himſelf.
This ſaid, Scheherazade perceiv’d it was Day, and fo was ſilent: Upon which Schahriar roſe, impatient to know what ſhould paſs between Agib and Bedreddin. Towards the end of the next Night, the Sultaneſs ſatisfied his Impatience, in reſuming the Story as follows.
The Hundred and Twelfth Night.
BEdreddin Haſſan, continued the Vizier
Giafar, having caſt his Eyes particularly upon
Agib, preſently found himſelf moved, he knew not how nor what for. He was not ſtruck like the People with the ſhining Beauty of the Boy; ’twas another Cauſe unknown to. him, that gave Riſe to the Trouble and Commotion he ’was in. ’Twas the Spring and Force of the Blood that worked in this tender Father, who, laying aſide all Buſineſs, made up to
Agib, and with an engaging Air, ſaid to him: My little Lord, who has won my Sou!, be ſo kind as to come into any Shop, and eat a Bit of ſuch Fare as I have; that during that time I may have the Pleaſure of admiring you at my Eaſe. Theſe Words he pronounced with ſuch Tendernefs, that Tears trickled from his Eyes. Little
Agib was mov’d when he ſaw it, and turning to the Eunuch, “This honeft Man (ſays he) has a Face that pleaſes me; he ſpeaks in ſuch an affectionate manner, that I can’t avoid complying with what he asks: Let’s ſtep into his Houſe and taſte his Paſtry.” “Ay, in my troth, (replied the Slave) ’twould be a fine thing to ſee the Son of a Vizier, like you, go into a Paſtry-Shop to eat; do not you imagine that I’ll ſuffer any ſuch thing” “Alas! My little Lord, (cried
Bedreddin) ’tis a flaming Piece of Cruelty, to truſt your Conduct in the Hands’of a Perſon that treats you ſo harſhly.” Then applying himſelf to the Eunuch, “My good Friend, (continu’d he) Pray do not