Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/80

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in the Flower of my Age, I had a Curioſity to travel. Accordingly I went over Perſia to the Indies, and came at laſt to ſettle in this your Capital, where I practiſe Phyfick with Reputation and Honour.

The Sultan of Caſgar was pretty well pleaſed with this laſt Story. I muſt ſay, ſaid he to the Jew, the Story you have told me is very odd; but I declare freely that of the little Hump is yet more extraordinary, and much more comical; ſo that you are not to expect that I’ll give you your Life, no more. than the reſt, I’ll hang you all Four. Pray, Sir, ſtay a Minute, ſaid the Taylor, advancing forwards, and then proſtrating himſelf at the Sultan’s Feet; ſince your Majeſty: loves pleaſant Stories, I have one to tell you that’s very comical. Well, I’ll hear thee too, ſaid the Sultan; but do not flatter thy ſelf that I’ll ſuffer thee to live, unleſs thou telleſt me ſome Adventure that’s yet more diverting than that of the Hump-back’d Man. Upon this the Taylor, as if he had been ſure of his Project; ſpoke very briskly to the following Purpoſe.

The Story told by the Taylor.


A Citizen of this City did me the Honour, two Days ago to invite me to a Treat, which he was to give to his Friends Yeſterday Morning. Accordingly I went pretty early, and ſound there twenty Perſons,

The Maſter of the Houſe was gone out upon ſome Buſineſs, but in a very little time he came home; and brought with him a young Man, a Stranger, very well dreſs’d, and very handſome, but lame, When he came in, we all roſe, and out of Reſpect to the Maſter of the Houſe, invited the young Gentleman to fit down with us upon the Sofa. He was a going to fit down; but all on a ſudden ſpying a Barber in our Company, he flew backwards, and made towards the Door. The Maſter of the Houſe ſurprized at the Action, ſtopped him; where are you going, ſaid he? I bring you along with me to do me the Honour of being my Gueſt among the reſt of my Friends; and here you’re no ſooner got into my Houle, but you run away again. Sir, ſaid the young Man, ſor God’s ſake do not ſtop me, let me go, I can’t without Horror look upon that abominable Barber; though he’s born in a Country where all the Natives

are