Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/53

is any thing in the World more ſurprizing. But when I conſider that this is the glorious Habitation of the lovely Schemſelnihar, and that he is the greateſt Monarch of the Earth-who keeps her here, I confeſs to you that look upon my ſelf to be the moſt unfortunate of all Mankind, and that no Deſtiny can be more cruel than mine, to love an Object poſſeſs’d by my Rival, and that too, in a Place, where he is ſo Potent, that I cannot think my ſelf ſure of my Life one Moment.

Scheherazade ſaid no more that Night, becauſe Day began to appear; but next Night continued the Story thus.

SIR, Ebn Thaher hearing the Prince of Perſia ſpeak; as I told your Majeſty Yeſternight, ſays to him, Sir, I wiſh you could give me as good Afſurance of the happy Succeſs of your Amours, as I can you of the Safety of your Life: Though this ſtately Palace belongs to the Califf, who built it on Purpoſe for Schemſelnihar, called it, The Palace of Eternal Pleaſures, and that it makes part of his own Palace; yet you muſt know, that this Lady lives here at entire Liberty: She is not beſieged by Eunuchs to be Spies upon her: This is the particular Houſe that’s abſolutely at her Diſpoſal. She goes into the City when ſhe pleaſes, and returns again, without asking leave of any Body, and the Califf never comes to ſee her, but he ſends Meſrour, the chief of his Eunuchs, to give her Notice, that ſhe may be prepared to receive him: Therefore you may be eaſy, and give full Attention to the Conſort of Muſick, which I perceive Schemſelnihar is preparing for you.

Juſt as Ebn Thaher had ſpoke theſe Words, the Prince of Perſia, and he, ſaw the Fayourite’s truſty Slave come and give Orders to the Ladies to begin to ſing, and play with the Inſtruments: They all began immediately to play together as a Preludium, and after they had play’d ſome Tine, one of them began to ſing alone, and play’d at the ſame Time admirably well upon her Lute, being advertiſed before hand upon what Subject ſhe was to ſing. The Words were ſo agreeable to the Prince of Perſia’s Senti-