Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/42

clare unto you, that I am extreamly Poor, and not able to redeem my ſelf. In a Word, my Brother diſcover’d to him all his Misfortunes, and endeavour’d to ſoften him with Tears; but the Bedoin had no Mercy, and being vexed to find himſelf diſappointed of a conſiderable Sum, which he reckon’d he was ſure of, he took his Knife and ſlit my Brother’s Lips, to avenge himſelf by this Inhumanity for the Loſs that he thought he had ſuſtain’d.

The Bedoin had a handſome Wife, and frequently when he went on his Courſes, he left my Brother alone with her, and then ſhe uſed all her Endeavours to comfort my Brother under the Rigour of his Slavery; ſhe gave him Tokens enough that ſhe loved him, but he durſt not yield to her Paſſion, for fear he ſhould repent it; and therefore he ſhunn’d to be alone with her, as much as ſhe ſought the Opportunity to be alone with him. She had ſo great a cuſtom of toying and jeſting with miſerable Schacabac, when ever ſhe ſaw him, that one Day ſhe happen’d to do it in Preſence of her Husband; My Brother, without taking Notice that he obſerv’d them, (ſo his Sins would have it) jeſted likewiſe with her. The Bedoin immediately ſuppoſing that they lived together in a criminal manner, fell upon my Brother in a Rage, and after he had mangled him in a barbarous Manner, he carried him on a Camel to the Top of a Deſart Mountain, where he left him. The Mountain was on the Way to Bagdad, ſo that Paſſengers who paſſed that Way gave me an Account of the Place where he was. I went thither ſpeedily, where I found unfortunate Schacabac in a deplorable Condition; I gave him what Help he ſtood in need of, and brought him back to the City.

This is what I told the Califf Monſtanſer Billah, adds the Barber, That Prince applauded me with new Fits of Laughter. Now, ſays he, I cannot doubt but they juſtly gave you the Sir-Name of Silent. No Body can ſay the contrary; for certain Reaſons, however, I command you to depart this Town immediately, and let me hear no more of your Diſcourſe. I yielded to Neceſſity, and went to travel ſeveral Years in far Countries. I underſtood at laſt that the Califf was Dead; I returned to Bagdad, where I found not one of my Brethren alive. It was in my Return to this Town, that I did the important Service to the