Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/10

ning, and if you think us worthy of your good Company, we will endeavour to contribute to your Diverſion what lies in our Power, to make ſome Amends for the Interruption we have given you; if not, we only beg the Favour of ſtaying this Night under your Porch.

Whilſt Giafar held this Diſcourſe, fair Safie had time to obſerve the Viſier and his two Companions, whom he ſaid to be Merchants like himſelf, and told them that ſhe was not Miſtreſs of the Houſe; but if they would have a Minute’s Patience, ſhe would return with an Anſwer.

Safie acquainted her Siſters with the Matter, who conſider’d for ſome time what to conclude upon: But being naturally of a good Diſpoſition, and having granted the ſame Favour to the three Callenders, at laſt they conſented to let them in; Scheherazade intending to continue her Story, ſaw Day-light appear, which made her break off; but the Quality of theſe new Actors which the Sultaneſs had brought upon the Stage, whetted the Curioſity of Schahriar, who looking for ſome ſingular Events, expected the next Night with much Impatience.

DInarzade being as curious as the Sultan, to know what the Arrival of the Califf at the Houſe of thoſe three Ladies might produce, did not forget to awaken the Sultaneſs very early next Morning, and pray’d her earneſtly to reſume the Story of the Callenders, which Scheherazade, with leave of the Sultan, purſued in the following manner.

The Califf, his grand Viſier, and the Chief of the Eunuchs, being introduc’d by the fair Safie, very courteouſly ſaluted the Ladies and the Callenders: The Ladies return’d them the like Civility, ſuppoſing them to be Merchants. Zobeide, as the Chief, ſays to them with a grave and ſerious Countenance, which was natural to her, You, are welcome. But before I proceed further, I hope you will not take it ill if we deſire one Favour of you. Alas! ſaid the Viſier, what Favour? We can refuſe nothing to ſuch fair Ladies.