Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/12

ſon did not like the Tart: What! Says ſhe, does my Child thus deſpite the Work of my Hands; beſt known to you, no one in the World can make ſuch Cream Tarts befides my ſelf, and your Father Bedreddin Haſſan, whom I my ſelf taught to make them. My good Mother, replied Agib, give me leave to tell-you, it you do not know how to make better, there’s a Paſtry-Cook in this Town, that goes beyond you in that Point. We were at his Shop but now, and eat of one that is much better than yours.

This ſaid, the Grand-mother, frowning upon the Eunuch, How now! Schaban, (ſaid ſhe) was the Care of my Grand-child committed to you, to carry him to eat at Paſtry-Shops, like a Beggar? Madam, replied the Eunuch, ’tis true, we did ſtop a little while and talked with the Paſtry-Cook, but we did not eat with him. Pardon me, ſays Agib, we went into his Shop, and there eat a Cream Tart, Upon this, the Lady more incenſed againſt the Eunuch than before, roſe in a paſſion from the Table, and running to the Tent of Schemſeddin Mohammed, informed him of the Eunuch’s Crime, and that in fuch Terms as tended more to inflame the Vizicr, than diſpoſe him to excuſe it.

Shemſeddin Mohammed, who was naturally paſſionate, did not fail upon this Occaſion to diſplay his Anger. He went forthwith to his Siſter-in-Law’s Tent, and making up to the Eunuch, What! ſays he, you pitiful Wretch, have you the Impudence to abuſe the Truſt I repoſe in you. Schaban, though ſufficiently convicted by Agib’s teſtimony, denied the Fact ſtill. But the Child perſiſting in what he had affirmed, Grandfather, ſaid he, I can aſſure you we not only cat, but we ear both of us ſo heartily, that we have no occaſion for Supper: Beſides, the Paſtry-Cook treated us alſo with a great Bowl of Sherbet. Well, cried Schemſeddin, turning to Schaban, after all this, will you deny that you entred the Paſtry-Cook’s Houſe, and eat there? Schaban had ſtill the Impudence to fwear it was not true. Then you’re a Liar, ſaid the Vizier, I believe my Grand-child before I believe you: But after all, ſays he, if you can eat up this Cream Tart that’s upon the Table, I hall be perſwaded you have Truth on your Side.