Danger of being his Confidant in the Matter, which was partly the Occaſion of his retiring to
Balſora, to ſtay there until the Storm, which he feared, ſhould be over. This he has done, adds the Jeweller, and I am ſurpriz’d how he could determine himſelf to abandon you, in the Condition he inform’d me you was in. As for me, Prince, I confeſs, I am moved with Compaſſion towards you, and am come to offer you my Service, and if you do me the Favour to accept of it, I engage my ſelf to be as ſaithful to you as
Ebn Thaher; beſides, I promiſe to be more conſtant, I am ready to ſacrifice my Honour and Life for you: And in fine, that you may not doubt of my Sincerity, I ſwear by all that’s Sacred in our Religion, to keep your Secret inviolable. Be perſwaded then, Prince, that you will find in me the Friend which you have loſt. This Diſcourſe encourag’d the Prince, and comforted him under
Ebn Thaher’s Abſence. I am very glad, ſays he to the Jeweller, to find in you a Reparation of my Loſs: I want Words to expreſs the Obligations I am under to you. I pray God to recompence your Generoſity, and accept your obliging Offer with all my Heart. Believe it, continues he, that
Schemſelnihar’s Confidant came to ſpeak to me concerning you, ſhe told me that it was you who adviſed
Ebn Thaher to go from
Bagdad, theſe were the laſt Words ſhe ſpoke to me, when ſhe went away, and had almoſt perſwaded me of it. But don’t you reſent it, for I doubt not ſhe is deceiv’d after what you have told me. Prince, replied the Jeweller, I have had the Honour to give you a ſaithful Account of my Converſation with
Ebn Thaher. It’s true, when he told me he would retire to
Balſora, I did not oppoſe his Deſign, but ſaid he was a wiſe and prudent Man; and that this may not hinder you to put your Confidence in me, I am ready to ſerve you with all imaginable Zeal, which though you do otherwiſe, this ſhall not hinder me from keeping your ſecret religiouſly, according to my Oath. I have already told you, replies the Prince, that I wou’d not believe what the Confidant ſaid, it’s her Zeal which inſpir’d her with this groundleſs Suſpicion, and you ought to, excuſe it