Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/21

and left me all he had when he died; that after his Death I kept a Shop. In fine, Madam, I had an Infinity of Other Adventures, too tediousto recount; and all I can ſay, is, That ’twas not amiſs that I awaked,for they were a going to nail me to a Stake.” “Oh Lord! and for what? cried the Lady, feigning Aſtoniſhment, would they have uſed you ſo cruelly? Sure you muſt have committed ſome enormous Crime.” “Not in the leaſt, (replied Bedreddin) it was for nothing in the World but for a meer Trifle, the moſt ridiculous Thing you can think of, All the Crime I was charged with, was ſelling a Cream Tart that had no Pepper in it.” “As for that matter, ſaid the beautiful Lady, laughing heartily, I muſt ſay they did you great Injuſtice.” “Ah! Madam (replied he) that is not all. For this curſed Cream Tart was every thing in my Shop broke to pieces, my ſelf bound and fettered, and flung into a Cheſt, where I lay ſo cloſe, that methinks I am there ſtill. In fine, a Carpenter was called for, and he was ordered to get ready a Stake for me. But, Thanks be to God, all thoſe Things are no more than a Dream.” At this Period the Approach of Day obliged Scheherazade to ſtop. Schahriar could not forbear laughing at Bedreddin for taking a real Thing for a Dream. I muſt own, ſaid he, this is a pleaſant Story,and I am perſwaded that to Morrow Schemſeddin Mohammed and his Siſter-in-Law will be extremely pleaſed with it. Sir, replied the Sultaneſs, that I ſhall have the Honour to acquaint you with to Morrow, if you ſuffer me to live ſo long. Upon that the Sultan roſe without ſaying one Word: But he had no mind to cut her off till he had heard the Story out.

SCheherazade waking before Day, went on as follows, Sir, Bedreddin was not eaſy all Night. He waked from time to time, and put the Queſtion to himſelf, whether he dreamed, or was awake: He diſtruſted his Felicity; and to be ſure whether it was true or not, open’d the Curtains, and looked round the Room. I am not miſtaken, ſure, ſaid be, this is the ſame Chamber where I entred inſtead of the Hunch-back’d Groom of the Stable; and I am now in Bed with the fair Lady that was deſigned for him, Day-