Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/4

furniſh’d with ſeveral ſorts of Meat, and upon a Side-board ſhe ſet Bottles of Wine and Cups of Gold: Soon after, the Ladies took their Places, and made the Porter ſit down by them, who was overjoy’d to ſee himſelf at Table with three ſuch admirable Beauties. After they had eat a little, Amine, who ſat next the Side-board, took up a Bottle and Cup, fill’d out Wine, and drank firſt her ſelf according to the Cuſtom of the Arabians, then ſhe fill’d the Cup to her Siſters, who drank in Courſe as they ſat; and at laſt the fill’d it the fourth time to the Porter, who as he receiv’d it, kiſs’d Amine’s Hand; and before he drank ſung a Song to this purpoſe, That as the Wind brings along with it the ſweet Scents of the perfum’d Places through which it paſſes, ſo the Wine he was going to drink coming from her fair Hands, receiv’d a more exquiſite Taſte than what it had of its own Nature. This Song pleaſed the Ladies ſo much, that each of them ſung another in their Turn. In ſhort, they were extraordinary merry all the time of Dinner, which laſted a long while, and nothing was wanting that could make it agreeable. The Day being almoſt ſpent, Safie ſpoke in the Name of the three Ladies, and ſays to the Porter, ariſe and be gone, it’s time for you to depart. But the Porter, not willing to leave ſo good Company, cry’d, alas Ladies, whither do you command me to go in the Condition I am in, I am quite beſides my ſelf by what I have ſeen ſince I come hither, and having a ſo drank above my Ordinary, I ſhall never find the way Home; allow me this Night to recover my ſelf in any place where you pleaſe; for no leſs time is neceſſary for me to come to my ſelf; but go when I will, I ſhall leave the beſt part of my ſelf behind me.

Amine pleaded a ſecond time for the Porter, ſaying, Siſters, he is in the right, I am pleas’d with the Requeſt, he having already diverted us ſo well, and if you’ll take my Advice, or it you love me as much as I think you do, let us keep him to paſs away the remaining part of the Night. Siſter, anſwer’d Zobeide, we can refuſe you nothing; and then turning to the Porter, ſaid, we are willing once more to grant your Requeſt, but upon this new Condition, that whatever we do in your Preſence, relating to ourſelves or