Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/32

upon themſelves, and cleared one another.” The Examination has continued a long while, and the Judge is now examining a third Man that gives himſelf out for the real Author of the Murderer.

Upon this Intelligence the Sultan of Caſgar ſent a Huſſar to the Place of Execution. Go, ſaid he to his Meſſenger, make all the haſte you can, and bring the arraigned Perſons before me immediately; and withal bring the Corps of poor Crump-back, that I may ſee him once more. Accordingly the Huſſar went, and happened to arrive at the Place of Execution at the ſame Time that the Executioner was going to tie up the Taylor. So he cried aloud to the Executioner to ſuſpend the Execution. The Hangman knowing the Huſſar, did not dare to proceed, but untied the Taylor; and then the Huſſar acquainted the Judge with the Sultan’s Pleaſure. So the Judge obeyed, and went ſtraight to the Palace, accompanied by the Taylor, the Jewiſh Doctor, and the Chriſtian Merchant; and Four of his Men carry the Hunch Corps along with him.

When they appeared before the Sultan, the Judge threw himſelf at the Prince’s Feet; and after recovering himſelf, gave him a faithful Relation of what he knew of the Story of the Crump-back’d Man. The Sultan found the Story ſo uncommon, that he ordered his private Hiſtorians to write it with it’s Circumſtances. Then addreſſing himſelf to all the Audience; Did you ever hear (ſaid he) ſuch a ſurprizivg Story as this, that has happened upon the Account of my little crooked Buffoon? Then the Chriſtian Merchant, after falling down, and ſaluting the Earth with his Fore-head, ſpoke in the following manner. Moſt Puiſſant Monarch (ſaid he) I know a Story yet more aſtonifhing than that you have now ſpoke of; if your Majeſty will give me leave, I’ll tell it you. The Circumſtances are ſuch that no Body can hear ’em without being mov’d. Well, (ſaid the Sultan). I give you leave; and ſo the Merchant went on as follows.