Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/91

ready. Then he fell a laughing; it would be alaudable thing, ſaid he, if our Minds were always in the ſame Strain; if we were always wiſe and prudent; however, I am willing to believe that if you are angry with me, ’tis your Diſtemper has cauſed that Change in your Humour and for that Reaſon you ſtand in need of ſome Inſtructions, and you can’t do better, than to follow the Example of your Father and your Grand-father. They came and conſulted me upon all Occafions, and I can ſay without Vanity that they always extolled my Counſel. Pray mind it, Sir, Men never ſucceed in their Enterprizes without having recourſe to the Advice of quick-ſighted Men. The Proverb tells you, a Man can’t be a wiſe Man without receiving Advice from the Wiſe. I am entirely at your Service, and you have nothing to do but to command me.

What! Can’t I prevail with you then, ſaid I, interrupting him? Leave off theſe long Diſcourſes that tend to nothing but to ſplit my Head to Pieces, and to detain me from the Place where my Buſineſs lies. Shave me, I ſay, or be gone; with that ſtarted up in a Huff, ſtamping my Foot againſt the Ground.

When he ſaw I was angry in earneſt; Sir, ſaid he, do not be angry, we’re a going to begin. Soon he waſhed my Head, and fell a ſhaving me; but he had not given four Sweeps of his Razor, but he ſtopped, ſaying, Sir, you’re haſty, you ſhould avoid theſe Tranſports that come only from the Devil. Beſides, my Merit ſpeaks, that you ought to have ſome more Conſideration for me, withreſpect to my Age, my Knowledge, and my ſhining Virtues.

Go on and ſhave me, ſaid I, interrupting him again, and do not ſpeak; that is to ſay, replies he, you have ſome

urgent Buſineſs to go about; I’ll lay you a Wager gueſs right, Why, I told you ſo theſe two Hours, ſaid I, you ought to have done before now. Moderate your Paſſion, replied he, perhaps you have not maturely weighed what you are going about; when things are done precipitantly, they are generally repented of. I wiſh you would, tell me what mighty Buſineſs this is, you’re ſo earneſt upon; I would tell you my Opinion of it: Beſides you have time enough, fince your Appointment is not till