Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/43

one another; that leaves all Expreſſion tar behind it. I ſhall only tell you, that when the firſt Compliments were over, we ſat both down upon a Sofa, and there entertained one another with all imaginable Satisfaction. After that we had the moſt delicious Meſſes ſerved up to us; and after eating, continued our Diſcourſe till Night. At Night we had excellent Wine brought up, and ſuch Fruit as is apt to promote Drinking; and timed our Cups to the ſound of muſical Inſtruments joined to the Voices of the Slaves. The Lady of the Houſe ſung her ſelf, and by her Songs ſcrew’d up my Paſſion to the Height, In fine, I paſſed the Night in a full Enjoyment of all manner of Pleaſure.

Next Morning I ſlip’d under the Bolſter of the Bed the Purſe with the Fifty Pieces of Gold I had brought with me, and took leave of the Lady, who asked me when I would ſee her again. Madam, ſaid I, I give you my Promiſe to return this Night. She ſeem’d to be tranſported with my Anſwer, and, condufting me to the Door, conjured me at Parting to be mindful of my Promiſe.

The ſame Man that had carried me thither, waited for me with his Aſs to carry me home again; fo I mounted the Aſs and went ſtraight home; ordering the Man to come to me again in the Afternoon at a certain Hour, to ſecure which, I would not pay him till that time came.

As ſoon as I arrived at my Lodging, my firſt Care was to order my Folks to buy a good Lamb, and ſeveral ſorts of Cakes, which I ſent by a Porter as a Preſent to the Lady. When that was done, I minded my ſerious Affairs till the Owner of the Aſs came. Then I went along with him to the Lady’s Houſe, and was receiv’d by her with as much Joy as before, and entertain’d with equal Magnificence.

Next Morning I took leave, and left her another Purſe with Fifty Pieces of Gold: But Scheherazade perceiving Day, gave Notice of it to the Sultan, who thereupon roſe without ſaying one Word, Next Night ſhe went on with her Story as follows.