Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/48

the matter ſaid ſhe, I am the Cauſe of the Misfortune that is befallen you. The Grief that I feel upon that ſcore will quickly make an end of me; but, before I die, I muſt do one Thing, that is deſigned for our Advantage. She had no ſooner ſaid the Word, than ſhe called for a publick Notary and Witneſſes, and ordered a Writing to be drawn up, intruſting me to her whole Eſtate. After this was done, and the Men diſpatch’d, ſhe open’d a large Trunk, where lay all the Purſes I had given her, from the Commencement of our Amours. There are they all entire, ſaid ſhe, I have not touch’d one of them: Here, take the Key, the Trunk is yours. After I had returned her Thanks for her Generoſity and Bounty; What I do for you, ſaid ſhe, is nothing at all; I ſhall not be ſatisfied unleſs I die, to ſhew how much I love you. I conjur’d her by all the Powers of Love, not to drop ſuch a fatal Reſolution. But all my Remonſtrances were ineffectual; ſhe was ſo afflicted, to ſee me have but one Hand, that ſhe fickned, and died after five or ſix Weeks Illneſs.

After mourning for her Death as long as was decent, I ſtook Poſſeſſion of all her Eſtate, a particular Account of which ſhe gave me before ſhe died; and the Corn you ſold for me was part of it,

The Appearance of Day interrupted Scheherazade, ſhe diſcontinued her Story till next Night, that ſhe went on as follows.

THE Young Man of Bagdad concluded his Story to the Chriſtian Merchant to this Purpoſe. What I have now told you, ſaid he, will influence you. to excuſe me for eating with my Left Hand. I am mightily oblig’d to you for the Trouble you have given your ſelf on my Account. I can never make ſufficient Acknowledgment of your Fidelity, Since God has ſtill given me a complete Eſtate, notwithſtanding I have ſpent a great deal, I beg you to accept of the Sum now in your Hand as a Preſent from me. Over and above this, I have a Propoſal to make to you, which is this, For as much as, by reaſon of this fatal Accident, I am obliged to depart Cairo, I am reſolved never to ſee it more: So if you’ll