Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/35

my Account.” “That ſhall be as you pleaſe, (ſaid I) only do me the Favour to alight and walk in.” Accordingly he complied, and I gave Orders for ſome ſort of Entertainment; and, while that was getting ready, we fell into Difcourſe together. When the Victuals were got ready, we ſat down to Table. When he eat the firſt Mouthful, I obſerved he fed himſelf with the Left Hand, and not with the Right. I could not tell what to think of it. I thought within my ſelf, ever ſince I knew this young Man, he always appeared very polite ; is it poſſible he can do this out of Contempt of me: what can the matter be, that he does not make uſe of his Right Hand?

Scheherazade, perceiving the Approach of Day, diſcontinued her Story, but the next Night ſhe recommenced as follows.

SIR, the Chriftian Merchant was in great Pain to know why his Gueſt eat with the Left Hand: After we had done eating, ſaid he, and every thing was taken away, we ſat down upon a Sofa, and I preſented him with a Lozenge that was excellent for giving a ſweet Breath, and ſtill he took it with the Left Hand. Then I accoſted him in this manner; Sir, pray pardon the Liberty I take in asking you, what Reaſon you have for not making uſe of your Right Hand! ’Tis likely you have ſome Diſorder in that Hand. Inſtead of anſwering, he fetch’d a deep ſigh, and pulling out his Right Arm, which he had hitherto kept under his Garment, ſhewed me, to my great Aſtoniſhment that his Hand had been cut off. Doubtleſs you were alarmed, ſaid he, to ſee me feed my ſelf with the Left Hand; but I Leave you to judge, whether it was in my Power to do otherwiſe. May one ask you, ſald I, by what Miſchance it was, that you loſt your Right Hand? Upon that he fell into Tears, and after wiping his Eyes gave me the following Relation.

You muſt know, ſaid he, I am a Native of Bagdad, the Son of a rich Father, the moſt noted Man in that City both for Quality and for Riches. I had ſcarce launched into the World, when falling into the Company of Travellers, and hearing Wonders told of Egypt, eſpecially of Grand Cai-