Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/40

SIR, the young Bagdad Merchant recounting his Adventures to the Chriſtian Merchant, continued thus; I had but juſt got, ſaid he, to Bedreddin’s Shop, when I ſaw the Lady coming in more magnificent Apparel than before, and attended by her Slave, When ſhe came in, ſhe did not mind the Merchant, but addreſſing her ſelf to me, Sir, ſaid ſhe, you ſee I am punctual to my Word. I am come on purpoſe to pay the Sum you were ſo kind as to paſs your Word for Yeſterday. tho’ you hadno Knowledge of me: Such an uncommon piece of Generoſity I ſhall never forget. Madam, I ſaid I, you had no occaſion to be ſo haſty. I was very well ſatisfied as to my money, and am ſorry you ſhould put your ſelf to ſo much Trouble about it. I had been very unjuſt, anſwered ſhe, if I had abuſed your Generoſity. With theſe Words ſhe clapp’d the money into my Hand, and ſat down by me.

Having this Opportunity of converſing with her, I made the beſt Uſe of it, and mentioned to her the Love I had for her; but ſhe roſe and left me very abruptly, as if ſhe had been angry with the Declaration I had made. I followed her with my Eyes as long as ſhe was in Sight; and as ſoon as ſhe was out of Sight. I took leave of the Merchant, and walk’d out of the Bezeſtein, without knowing where I went. I was muſing upon this Adventure, when I felt ſome body pulling me behind: And turning about to ſee who it was, I had the agreeable Surprizal to perceive ’twas the Lady’s Slave. My Miſtreſs, ſaid the Slave, I mean the young Lady you ſpoke with but now in a Merchant’s Shop, wants to ſpeak one Word with you; ſo if you pleaſe to give your ſelf the Trouble to follow me, I’ll conduct you. Accordingly I followed her, and found my Miſtrels ſtaying for me in a Banker’s Shop.

She made me ſit down by her, and ſpoke to this Purpoſe. Dear Sir, ſaid ſhe, don’t be ſurpriz’d that I left you ſo abruptly. I thought it not proper before that Merchant to give a favourable Anſwer to the Diſcovery you made of your Affection to me. But to ſpeak the Truth, I was far from being offended at it, that I was pleaſed