ſeiz’d thoſe two Lovers when they ſaw one another; it’s altogether impoſſible: They ſat down together upon a Sofa, looking upon one another for ſometime, without being able to ſpeak, they were ſo much overjoy’d: But when their Speech return’d to them, they ſoon made up their Silence. They expreſs’d themſelves with ſo much Tenderneſs, as made the Jeweller, the Confident, and the two other Slaves weep. The Jeweller however reſtrain’d his Tears to think upon the Collation, which he brought. The Lovers eat and drank a little, after which they ſat down, again upon the Sofa: Schemſelnihar ask’d the Jeweller if he had a Lute, or any other Inſtrument: The Jeweller, who took care to provide all that might pleaſe them, brought her a Lute; She took ſome Time to tune it, and then play’d,
Scheherazade ſtopt becauſe ſhe ſaw Day begin to appear, and next Night went on thus.
The Two Hundred and Third Night.
WHILE
Schemſelnihar was charming the Prince of
Perſia, and expreſſing her Paſſion by Words compoſed
ex tempore,a great Noiſe was heard; and immediately the Slave, which the Jeweller brought with him, appear’d all in a Fright, and came to tell him that ſome People were breaking up the Gate; that he ask’d who it was, but inſtead of any Anſier the Blows were redoubled, The Jeweller being alarm’d, left
Schemſelnihar and the Prince to go to inform himſelf of the Truth of this bad News: There was already got into the Court a Company of Men arm’d with Bayonets and Scimiters, who had enter’d privily; and having broke up the Gate came ſtraight toward him. He ſtood cloſe to a Wall for fear of his Life, and ſaw ten of them paſs without being perceiv’d by them; and finding he could give no great Help to the Prince of
Perſia and
Schemſelnihar, he ſatisfy’d himſelf with the bewailing them, and ſo fled for Refuge to a Neighbour’s Houſe who was not yet gone to Bed; he did not doubt but this unexpected Violence was by the Califf’s Order, who he thought had been inform’d of his Fayourite’s Meeting with the Prince of
Perſia. He heard a great Noiſe in his own Houſe, which continu’d ’till Midnight: And when all was quiet, as he