Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/16

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

( 14 )


The Hundred and Nineteenth Night.


SIR, the Vizier Giafar continued his Relation to the Califf in this Manner, It was needleſs for Bedreddin Haſſan to ask by the way, thoſe who carried him off, what Fault had been found with his Cream Tart: They gave him no Anfwer. In ſhort they carried him to the Tents, and made him ſtay there till Schemſeddin Mohammed returned from the Governor of Damaſcus his Houſe.

Upon the Vizier’s Return, Bedreddin Haſſan was brought before him, “My Lord, (ſays Bedreddin with Tears in. his Eyes) Pray do me the Favour to let me know wherein I have diſpleaſed you.” “Why, you Wretch you, (ſaid the Vizier) was it not you that made the Cream Tort you ſent me?” “I own I am the Man, (replies Bedreddin) but pray what Crime in that?” “I will puniſh you according to your Deſerts, (ſaid Schemſeddin) it ſhall coſt you your Life, for ſending me ſuch a forry Tart.” Good God! (cried Bedreddrin) what News is this! Is it a capital Crime to make a bad Cream Tart, Yes, (ſaid the Vizier) and you are to expect no other Uſage from me.”

While this Interview laſted, the Ladies who were hid, minded Bedreddin narrowly, and readily knew him, notwithſtanding he had been ſo long abſent, They were ſo tranſported thereupon with Joy, that they ſwooned away; and when they recovered would fain have run up and fallen upon Bedreddin’s Neck, but the Promiſe they had made to the Vizier of not diſcovering themſelves, reſtrained the tender Motions of Love and of Nature.

Schemſeddin Mohammed, having reſolved to ſet out that very Night, ordered the Tents to be ſtruck, and the neceſſary Preparations to be made for his Journey. And

as for Bedreddin, he order’d him to be clap’d into a Cheſt or Box well locked, and laid on a Cammel. When every thing was got ready, the Vizier and his Retinue begun their March, and travelled the reſt of that Night, and all the next Day without ſtopping. In the Evening they halted, and Bedreddin was taken out of his Cage, in order to be ſerved with the neceſlary Refreſhments, but ſtill

care-

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.