dy, and told her I was ſatisfied; that being the Word they had both agreed upon between themſelves. Preſently after that, the Lady roſe and took leave, telling me, ſhe would ſend the Eunuch to me, and that I ſhould do what he directed me to in her Name.
I carried every one of the Merchants their Money, and waited ſome Days with impatience for the Eunuch. At laſt he came. But here Scheherazade ſtopp’d, becauſe it was Day, and purſued the Sequel of her Story next Night in the following manner.
The Hundred and Forty Fourth Night.
I Entertained the Eunuch very kindly, ſaid the
Bagdad Merchant, and asked him how his Miſtreſs did; You are, ſaid he, the happieſt Lover in the World; ſhe is quite ſick of Love for you; ſhe covets extremely to ſee you, and were ſhe maſter of her own Conduct, would not fail to come to you, and willingly paſs all the Moments of her Life in your Company. Her noble Mein and graceful Carriage, ſaid I, gave me to know that ſhe was a Lady beyond the common Level. The Judgment you have formed upon that Head, ſaid the Eunuch, is very juſt; ſhe is that Favourite of
Zobeide the Califf’s Lady, who has brought her up from her Infancy, and intruſts her with all her Affairs. Having a mind to marry, ſhe has declared to the Califf’s Lady, that ſhe has caſt her Eyes upon you, and deſired her Conſent.
Zobeide told her ſhe agreed to it, only ſhe had a Mind to ſee you firſt, in order to judge if ſhe had made a good Choice; the which if ſhe had,
Zobeide meant to defray the Charges of the Wedding. Thus you ſee your Felicity is certain, ſince you have pleaſed the Favourite, you’ll be equally agreeable to the Miſtreſs who ſeeks only to oblige her Favourite, and would by no means thwart her Inclination. In fine, all you have to do is to come to the Palace. I am ſent hither to call you, fo you’ll pleaſe to come to a Reſolution. My Reſolve is formed already, ſaid I, and I’m ready to follow you whitherſoever you pleaſe to conduct me. Very well, ſaid the Eunuch; but you know Men are not allowed to enter the Lady’s Apartments in the Palace, and ſo you muſt be introduced with great Secrecy. The Favourite Lady has contrived the matter