Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/34
( 32 )
’Twas a Month after, before he came near me: Then he came and asked for his 4500 Drams of Silver. I told him they were ready, and ſhould be told down to him in a Minute. He was then mounted on his Aſs, and ſo I deſired him to alight, and do me the Honour to eat a Mouthful with me before he received his Money. No, ſaid he, I can’t alight at preſent, I have urgent Bufineſs that obliges me to be at a Place juſt by here; but I will return this Way, and then take the Money which I deſire you would have in readineſs. This said he diſappeared; and I ſtill expected his Return; but ’twas a full Menth before he came again. I thought to my ſelf the young Man repofed a great Truſt in me, leaving ſo great a Sum in my Hands without knowing me; another would have been afraid I would have run away with it. To be ſhort, he came again at the End of the third Month, and was ſtill mounted on his Aſs; but finer in his Cloaths than before.
Scheherazade, perceiving Day-light, went no farther for this Night; but the next enſuing Night ſhe proceeded as follows.
The Hundred and Thirtieth Night.
AS ſoon as I ſaw the young Man, continued the Chriſtian Merchant to the Sultan of Caſgar, I intreated him to alight, and asked him if he would not take his Money. “’Tis no matter for that, (ſaid he with a pleaſant eaſy Air) I know it is in good Hands; I’ll come and take it when my other Money is all gone: Adieu, (continued he) I’ll come again towards the latter end of the Week.” With that he clapt his Spurs to the Aſs, and away he went. Well, thought I to my ſelf, he ſays he’ll ſee me towards the latter end of the Week, but ’tis likely I may not ſee him a great while; I’ll go and make the moſt of his Money, and ſhall get a good Penny by it.
my