Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/15

at this time, have reſolv’d to takeaway her Life; his Curioſity was ſo great to hear out the Story, which had ſo many unheard of Events.

DInarzade awak’d her Siſter as formerly, ſaying, Dear Siſter, I pray you to continue the Story of the Ladies and the Callenders; upon which ſhe reſum’d her Diſcourſe in the manner following:

While Zobeide and Safie ran to help their Siſter, one of the Callenders could not forbear to ſay, We had better have ſlept in the Streets, than have come hither, had we thought to have ſeen ſuch Spectacles, The Califf, who heard this, came up to him and the other Callenders, and ask’d them what might be the Meaning of all this: They anſwered, Sir, we know no more than you do. What, ſays the Califf, are not you of the Family? Nor can you reſolve us concerning the two black Bitches and the Lady that ſainted away, and has been ſo baſely abus’d? Sir, ſays the Callenders, this is the firſt time that ever we were in: this Houſe, and came in but a few Minutes before you.

This increaſed the Califf’s Aſtoniſhment: It may be, ſays he, this other Man that is with you may know ſomething of it. One of the Callenders made a Sign for the Porter to come near; and ask’d him, whether he knew why thoſe two black Bitches had been whipt, and why Amine’s Boſom was ſo ſcarr’d. Sir, ſaid the Porter, I can ſwear by Heaven, that if you know nothing of all this, I know as little as you do. ’Tis true, I live in this City, but I never was in the Houſe till now, and if you are ſurpriz’d to ſee me here, I am as much to find myſelf in your Company; and that which increaſes my Wonder is, That I have not ſeen one Man with theſe Ladies.

The Calif and his Company, as well as the Callenders, ſuppoſed the Porter had been one of the Family, and hop’d he could inform them of what they deſired to know; but finding he could not, and reſolving to ſatisfy his Curioſity, coſt what it would; he ſays to the reſt, Look ye, we are