Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/60

As ſoon as the Califf’s Lady was ſet down, the Slaves that came in firſt made a fign for me to approach. So I advanced between the Rows they had formed, and proſtrated my ſelf upon the Tapeſtry that was under the Princeſs’s Feet. She ordered me to riſe, and did me the Honour to ask my Name, my Family, and the Condition of my Fortune upon all which I gave herſatisfatory Anſwers, as I perceived, not only by her Countenance, but by her Words; I am very glad, ſaid ſhe, that my Daughter (fo ſhe uſed to call the favourite Lady, looking upon her as ſuch after the Care ſhe had taken of her Education) I am glad, ſhe has made a Choice that pleaſes me; I approve of it, and give Conſent to your Marriage. I’ll give Orders my felf for what is to be done inſolemnizing it; but I want to have her ſtay ten Days with me before the Solemnity; and in that time I’ll ſpeak to the Califf and obtain his Conſent: Mean while do you ſtay here; you ſhall be taken care of.

Scheherazade perceiving Day, ſtopp’d here, but went on next Night as follows.

PUrſuant to the Califf’s Lady’s Orders, continued the Bagdad Merchant, I ftaid ten Days in the Lady’s Apartments; and during that time was deprived of the Pleaſure of ſeeing the Favourite Lady; but was ſo well uſed by her Orders, that I had no Reaſon to be diſſatisfied.

Zobeide told the Calif her Reſolution of marrying the favourite Lady; and the Califf leaving to her the Liberty of doing upon that Head what ſhe pleaſed, granted the Favourite a conſiderable Sum to help out her Fortune. When the ten Days were expired, Zobeide ordered the Contract of Marriage to be drawn up, and the neceſſary Preparations being made for the Solemnity, the Dancers (both Men and Women) were call’d in, and there were great Rejoicings, in the Palace for nine Days The tenth Day being appointed for the laſt Ceremony of the Marriage, the favourite Lady was conducted to a Bath, and I to another. At Night I ſat down to Table, and had all manner of Rarities ſerved up to me, and among other things Ragoo with Garlick, ſuch as you have now forced me to eat of. This Ragoo I liked ſo well, that I ſcarce touched any of the