Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/63

A great Light, which came all of a ſudden from the Side of the Garden thro’ the Windows, cauſed them to approach to ſee from whence it came; it was occaſioned by a hundred Flambeaux of white Wax carried by as many young Eunuchs; theſe were followed by more than an hundred others who guarded the Ladies of the Califf’s Palace cloathed and armed with Scimeters, in the ſame manner as thoſe I ſpoke of before, and the Califf came after them, betwixt Meſrour their Captain on his Right, and Vaſſif their ſecond Officer on his left Hand.

Schemſelnihar waited for the Califf at the Entry of an Ally, accompanied with twenty Women all of ſurprizing Beauty, adorn’d with Neck-laces and Ear- rings of large Diamonds, and ſome of them had their whole Heads covered with them: They played upon their Inſtruments, and made a charming Concert. The Favourite no ſooner ſaw the Prince appear, but ſhe advanced and proſtrated her ſelf at his Feet; and while ſhe was doing this, the Prince of Perſia, ſays ſhe, within herſelf, if your ſad Eyes bear Witneſs to what I do, judge of my hard Lot; if I were humbling my ſelf ſo before you, my Heart ſhould feel no Reluctance.

The Califf was raviſhed to ſee Schemſelnihar: Riſe, Madam, ſays he to her, come near, I am angry that I ſhould have deprived: my ſelf ſo long of the Pleaſure of ſeeing you; as he ſpoke thus, he took her by the Hand, and after abundance of tender Expreſſions, he went and ſat down upon a Silver Throne, which Schemſelnihar cauſed to be brought for him, and ſhe ſat down upon a Seat before him, and the twenty Women made a Circle round them upon other Seats, while the young Eunuchs who carried Flambeaux, diſperſed themſelves at a certain Diſtance from one another, that the Califf might enjoy the Cool of the Evening the better.

When the Califf ſat down, he look’d round him, and beheld with great Satisfaction a great many other Lights than thoſe Flambeaux the young Eunuchs he’d; but taking Notice that the Saloon was ſhut, was aſtoniſhed thereat, and demanded the Reaſon: It was done on Purpoſe to ſurprize him; for he had no ſooner ſpoken, but the Windows were all open at once, and he ſaw it illuminated within, and without, in a much better Manner than ever he