Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/13

Tho Schaban had cramm’d himſelf to the throat before, he agreed to ſtand that teſt: and accordingly took a Piece of Tart, but his ſtomack riſing againſt it was obliged: to ſpit it out of hiſ mouth; yet he ſtill reſued the Lye, and pretend’d he had over eat himſelf the Day before, ſo that hiſ ſtomach was not come to him, The Vizier irritated with all the Eunoch’s frivolouſ pretences, and convinced of his guilt ordred him to lay flat upon the Ground, and to be ſoundly baſtinado’d, In undergoing this Puniſhment, the poor wretch ſcreeched out prodigiouſly, and at laſt confeſſed the truth; I own, cries he, that he did eat a Cream Tart at the Paſtry-Cook’s, and that it was much better than that upon the Table.

The Widow of Noureddin Ali thought it was out of Spite to her, and with a Deſign to mortify her, that Schaban commended the Paſtry-Cook’s Tart; and accordingly ſaid, I can’t believe the Cook’s Tarts are better than mine; I am reſolved to ſatisfy my ſelf upon that Head; Where does he live? Go immediately and buy me one of his Tarts. The Eunuch, having received of her what Money was ſufficient for that Purpoſe, repaired to Bedreddin’s Shop, and addreſſed himſelf to Bedreddin, Good Mr. Paſtry-Cook, ſays he, take this Money here, and let me take one of your Cream Tarts; one of our Ladies wants to taſte of them. Bedreddin choſe one of the beſt, and gave it to the Eunuch, Take this, ſays he, I’ll engage ’tis an excellent one, and I can aſſure that no Perſon is able to make the like, unleſs it be my Mother, who perhaps is ſtill alive.

Schaban returned ſpeedily to the Tents, and gave the Tart to Noureddin’s Widow, and ſhe ſnatching it greedily broke a piece off, but no ſooner put it to her Mouth, than ſhe cried out and ſwooned away. Schemſeddin Mohammed, who was preſent, was extreamly ſurprized at the Accident: He threw Water himſelf upon her Face, and was very active in ſuccouring her. As ſoon as ſhe came to her ſelf, My God! cried ſhe, it muſt needs be my Son, my dear Bedreddin, that made this Tart.

Here Day light interrupted Scheherazade; and the Indian Sultan got up to ſay his Prayers, and go to the Council. The next Night the Sultaneſs purſued the Story of Bedreddin Haſſan in the following Manner.