Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/69

MY Uncles had no Anſwer to give to my Father, continued the Young Man of Mouſſol, and agreed to all he had ſaid of the Nile, of Cairo, and of the whole Kingdom of Egypt. As for my own Part, I was ſo taken with it, that I had never a wink of Sleep that Night. Soon after, my Uncle: declared of themſelves how much they were touched with my Father’s Diſcourſe. They made a Propoſal to him, that they ſhould travel all together into Egypt. He accepted of the Propoſal; and being rich Merchants, they reſolved to carry with them ſuch Goods as would go off there. I cameto know that they were making Preparations for their Departure; and thereupon went to my Father and begged of him, with Tears in my Eyes, that he would ſuffer me to go along with him, and allow me ſome Stock of Goods to trade with my ſelf: You’re too young yet, ſaid my Father, to travel into Egypt, the Fatigue is too great for you, and beſide I’m ſure you’ll come off a Loſer in your Traffick. However theſe Words did not cure me of the caper Defire I had to travel, I made uſe of my Uncles Intereſt with my Father, who at laſt granted me leave to go as far as Damaſcus? where they would drop me, till they went through their Travels into Egypt. The City of Damaſcus, ſaid my Father, may likewiſe glory in its Beauties, and ’tis very well if my Son has Leave to go ſo far. Tho’ my Curioſity to ſee Egypt was very preſſing, I conſidered he was my Father, and ſubmitted to his will.

So I ſet out from Moſſoul with him and my Uncles; we travelled through Meſopotamia, paſſed the Euphrates, and arrived at Halep; where we ſtaid ſome Days. From thence we went to Damaſcus, the firſt Sight of which was a very agreeable Surprizal to me. We lodg’d in one Khan; and I had the view of a City, that was large, populous, full of fine People, and very well fortified. We employed ſome Days in walking up and down the delicious Gardens that ſurround it; and we all agreed that Damaſcus was juſtly ſaid to be ſeated in a Paradiſe. At laſt my Uncles thought of purſuing their Journey; but took care before they went to ſell my Goods, which they did