Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/17

way; comes to be ſo full of Scars. This is what I am order’d to ask in their Name.

At theſe Words Zobeide look’d with a ſtern Countenance, and turning towards the Califf and the reſt of the Company Is this true, Gentlemen, ſays ſhe, that you have given him order to ask me this Queſtion? All of then, except the Viſier Giafar, who ſpoke not one Word, anſwer’d, Yes. On which ſhe told them, in a Tone that ſufficiently expreſs’d her Reſentment, Before we granted you the Favour of being receiv’d into our Houſe, and to prevent all Occaſion of Trouble from you, becauſe we are alone, we did it upon condition that you ſhould not ſpeak of any thing that did not concern you, leſt you might come to hear that which would not pleaſe you; and yet after having receiv’d and entertain’d you as well as poſſibly we could, you make no ſcruple to break your Promiſe, ’Tis true, that our eaſy Temper has occaſion’d this, but that ſhall not excuſe you, for your Proceedings are very unhandſome. As ſhe ſpoke theſe Words, the gave three hard Knocks with her Foot, and clapping her Hands as often together, cry’d, Come quick: Upon this a Door flew open, and ſeven ſtrong ſturdy black Slaves, with Scimiters in their Hands, ruſh’d in, every one ſeized a Man, threw him on the Ground, and dragged him into the middle of the Room in order to cut oft their Heads.

We may eaſily conceive what a Fright the Califf was in, he then repented, but too late, that he had not taken his Viſier’s Advice. In the mean time this unhappy Prince, Giafar, Meſrour, the Porter, and the Callenders, were upon the Point of loſing their Lives by their indiſcreet Curioſity. But before they would ſtrike the fatal Blow, one of the Slaves ſays to Zobeide and her Siſters: High, mighty, and adorable Miſtreſſes, do you command us to cut their Throats? Stay, ſays Zobeide, I muſt examine them firſt. The frightned Porter interrupted her thus: In the Name of Heaven don’t make me die for another Man’s Crime, I am innocent, they are to blame. Alas! ſays he, crying, How pleaſantly did we paſs our time! thoſe blind Callenders are the Cauſe of this Misfortune; there’s no Town in the World but goes to Ruin where ever theſe inauſpicious