Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/87

of contributing to Ebn Thaher’s Departure, I have been extreamly afflicted at it, not ſo-much for my Friendſhip to him, as out of Compaſſion for the Condition he left the Prince of Perſia in, whoſe Correſpondence with Schemſelnihar he has diſcovered to me. As ſoon as I knew certainly that Ebn Thaher was gone from Bagdad, I went to preſent my ſelf to the Prince, in whoſe Houſe you found me, to inform him of this News, and to offer him the ſame Service which he did him, and provided you put the ſame Confidence in me, that you did in Ebn Thaher, you may ſerve yourſelf very well by my Aſſiſtance. Inform your Miſtreſs of what I have told you, and affure her, that if I ſhould die for engaging in ſo dangerous an Intrigue, I will not repent to have ſacrificed my ſelf for two Lovers ſo worthy of one another.

The Confident, after having heard the Jeweller with great Satisfaction, begg’d him to pardon the ill Opinion ſhe conceiv’d of him out of the Zeal ſhe had for her Miſtreſs, I am extreme glad, adds ſhe, that Schemſelnihar, and the Prince, have found you who are a Man fit to ſupply Ebn Thaher’s Place. I will not fail to ſignify to my Miſteſs the good Will you bear her.

Scheherazade obſerving Day, left off here, and next Night purſued her Diſcourſe thus.

AFter the Confident had teſtified to the Jeweller her Joy to ſee him ſo well diſpos’d to ſerve Schemſelnihar, and the Prince of Perſia, the Jeweller took the Letter out of his boſom, and reſtor’d it to her, ſaying, Go carry it quickly to the Prince of Perſia, and come back this Way, that I may ſee the Anſwer. Forget not to give him an Account of our Converſation.

The Confident took the Letter and carry’d it to the Prince, who anſwer’d it immediately. She return’d to Jeweller’s Houſe, to ſhew him the Anſwer, which was thus,