Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/9

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ing, Schemſeddin Mohammed defir’d a ſecond Audience, and after taking leave of the Sultan, who uſed him with ample Marks of Reſpect, and gave him a conſiderable Preſent for himſelf, and another of great Value for the Sultan of Egypt, ſet out from Balſora for the City of Damaſcus.

When he arrived in the Neighbourhood of Damaſcus, he order’d his Tents to be pitched without the Gate, at which he deſigned to enter the City; and gave out he would tarry there three Days, to give his Equipage Reſt, and buy up the beſt Curioſities he could meet with, and ſuch as were worthy of being preſented to the Sultan of Egypt.

While he was employed in looking upon and picking, out the fineſt Stuffs, that the principal Merchants had brought to his Tents, Agib beg’d the black Eunuch his Governour to carry him through the City, in order to ſee what he had not leiſure to view as he paſſed before; and to know what was become of the Paſtry-Cook that he had wounded with a ſtone. The Eunuch, complying with his Requeſt, went along with him towards the City, after Leave obtained of the beautiful Lady his Mother.

They entered Damaſcus by the Paradiſe-Gate, which lay next to the Tents of the Vizier Schemſeddin Mohammed. They walked through the great Squares and the publick Places where the richeſt Goods were ſold, and took a View of the ancient Moſque of the Ommiada,[1] at the Hour of Prayer,between Noon and Sunſet.[2] After that they had paſſed by the Shop of Bedreddin Haſſan, whom they found ſtill employed in making Cream-Tarts. I ſalute you, Sir, ſays Agib, Do you mind me? Do you remember you ever ſaw me before? Bedreddin, hearing theſe Words, caſt his Eyes upon him, and knowing him, (Oh the ſurprizing Effect of Paternal Love!) found the ſame Emotion within himſelf, as when he ſaw him firſt of all; he was confuſed upon the Matter, and inſtead of making an Anſwer, continued a long time without uttering one Word, But after all, recalling his Wits,
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  1. ↑ That is, of the Califfs that reigned after the four firſt ſucceſſors of Mahomet, and were ſo named from one of their Anceſtors, whoſe Name was Ommiam.
  2. ↑ This Prayer is always ſaid two Hours and a half before Sunſet.
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