Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/86
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The Hundred and Sixtieth Night.
SIR, the old Lady continued her Account of the Interview ſhe had with the Cadis’s Daughter. You remember well, added I, how rigorouſly you treated me the laſt time I was here, when I was offering to ſpeak to you of his Illneſs, and to propoſe a Means to reſcue him from the danger he was in; when I took leave of you, I went ſtrait to his Houſe, and he knew no ſooner by my Countenance that I had brought no favourable Anſwer, than his Diſtemper increaſed. From that time, Madam, he’s ready to die. and I do not know whether you can ſave his Life now, tho’ you ſhould take pity of him. This is juſt what I ſaid to her, continued the old Woman. The fear of your Death ſhak’d her, and I ſaw her Face change Colour. Is it true what you ſay, ſaid ſhe? Has he actually no other Diſeaſe but what is occaſioned by the Love of me? Ah! Madam, ſaid I, that’s too true, would to God it were falſe? Do you believe, ſaid ſhe, that the Hopes of ſeeing me would contribute any thing to reſcue him from the Danger he’s in? Perhaps it may, ſaid I, and it you’ll give me Orders, I’ll try the Remedy. Well, ſaid ſhe, Sighing, make him hope to ſee me? but he can pretend to no other Favours from me, unleſs he aſpires to marry me, and my Father gives his Conſent to it. Madam, replied I, your Goodneſs overcomes me! I’ll go and ſee for the young Gentleman, and tell him he is to have the Pleaſure of an Interview with you: The propereſt time I can think of, ſaid ſhe, for granting him that Favour, is next Friday at the Time of Noon-Prayers. Let him take care to obſerve when my Father goes out, and then to come and plant himſelf over-againſt the Houſe, if ſo be his Health permits him to come abroad. When he comes I ſhall ſee him thro’ my Window, and ſhall comedown and open the Door to him. We ſhall then converſe together during Prayer-time; and he muſt be gone before my Father returns.
done,