Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/49

The Lady was raviſh’d to hear the Perſon ſhe already lov’d ſo paſſionately was of ſo high a Quality. You mean certainly, ſays ſhe, that he is deſcended of the Kings of Perſia? Yes, Madam, replied Ebn Thaher, The laſt Kings of Perſia were his Anceſtors, and ſince the Conqueſt of that Kingdom, the Princes of his Family have always made themſelves very acceptable at the Court of our Califfs. You will oblige me much, adds ſhe, to make me acquainted with this young Noble-man: When I ſend this Woman, ſays ſhe, pointing to one of her Slaves, to give you Notice to come and ſee me, pray bring him with you, I ſhall be very glad that he ſee the Magnificence of my Houſe, that he may ſee that Avarice does not reign at Bagdad among Perſons of Quality: You know very well what I mean, don’t fail, otherwiſe I will be very angry with you, and never come hitheragain while I live.

Ebn Thaher was a Man of too much Penetration, not to perceive the Lady’s Mind by thoſe Words: My Princeſs, my Queen, reply’d he, God preſerve me from ever giving you any Occaſion of Anger againſt me: I ſhall always make it a Law to obey your Commands. At this Anſwer, the Lady bow’d to Ebn Thaher and bid him farewel; and after ſhe had given a favourable look to the Prince of Perſia, ſhe re-mounted her Mule and went her Way.

Scheherazade ſtopt here, to the great Regret of the Sultan of the Indies, who was obliged to riſe becauſe Day appeared; She continued her Story next Night, and ſaid to Schahriar:

SIR, the Prince of Perſia was ſo deeply in Love with the Lady, that he look’d after her as far as he could ſee her, and a long time after ſhe was out of Sight, he ſtill look’d that Way. Ebn Thaher told him, that ſeveral Perſons obſerv’d him, and began to laugh to ſee him in this Poſture, Alas! ſaid the Prince to him, the World and you would have Compaſſion on me, if you knew that the fine Lady who is juſt now gone from you, has carry’d with her the beft Part ’of me, and that the remaining Part ſeeks for an Opportunity to go after. Tell me, I conjure you, adds he, what cruel Lady is this, who forces People