Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/103

himſelf, and caus'd it to be atteſted by four Witneſſes he brought along with him, The only thing that my new Spouſe made me promiſe was, That I ſhould not be ſeen, nor ſpeak with any other Man but himſelf; and he vowed to me upon that Condition, that I ſhould have no reaſon to complain of him. Our Marriage was concluded and finiſh’d after this manner, ſo I became the principal Actreſs of a Wedding, whereunto I was only invited as a Gueſt.

After we had been married a Month, I had occaſion for ſome Stuffs, I asked my Husband’s leave to go out and buy them, which he granted; and I took that old Woman along with me, of whom I ſpoke before, ſhe being one of the Family, and two of my own female Slaves.

When we came to the Street where the Merchants dwell, the old Woman told me, Dear Miſtreſs, ſince you want Silk-Stuffs, I muſt carry you to a young Merchant of my Acquaintance, he has of all ſorts, and it will prevent your wearying your ſelf, by going from one Shop to another, I can aſſure you that he is able to furniſh you with that which no body elſe can. I was eaſily perſuaded, and we enter’d into a Shop belonging to a young Merchant, a Man likely enough; I ſat down, and bid the old Woman deſire him to ſhow me the fineſt Silk-Stuffs he had: The Woman bid me ſpeak my ſelf, but I told her it was one of the Articles of my Marriage-Contract, not to ſpeak to any Man but my Husband which I ought to keep.

The Merchant ſhew’d me ſeveral Stuffs, of which one pleaſed me better than the reſt; I bid her ask the Price. He anſwer’d the old Woman, I will not ſell it for Gold or Money, but I will make her a Preſent of it it ſhe will give me leave to kiſs her Cheek. I bid the old Woman tell him, that he was very rude to propoſe ſuch a thing. But inſtead of obeying me, ſhe ſaid, what the Merchant deſires of you is no ſuch great matter, you need not ſpeak, but only preſent him your Check, and the Buſineſs will ſoon be done; the Stuff pleaſed me ſo much, that I was fooliſh enough to take her Advice. The old Woman and my Slaves ſtood up that no body ſhould ſee it, and I put up my Veil; but inſtead of a Kiſs, the Merchant bit me till the Blood came.

The Pain and Surprize was ſo great, that I fell down in a Swoon, and continu’d in it ſo long, that the Merchant had time to ſhut his Shop, and fly for it. When I came to my