Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/43

IN a conſiderable Town, two Perſons dwelt next Door to one another; one of them conceiv’d ſuch a violent Hatred againſt the other, that he who was hated, reſolv’d to remove his Dwelling farther off, being perſuaded that their being Neighbours was the only Cauſe from whence his Animoſity did ariſe: For tho’ he had done him ſeveral Pieces of Service, he found, nevertheleſs, that his Hatred was nothing diminiſh’d; therefore he ſold his Houſe with what Goods he had left, and retir’d to the Capitol City of that Kingdom, which was not far diſtant, He bought a little Spot of Ground, which lay about half a League from the City; he had a Houſe convenient enough, with a fine Garden and a pretty ſpacious Court, wherein there was a deep Well which was not in uſe.

The honeſt Man having made this Purchaſe, put on a Dervis or a Monk’s Habit, to lead a retired Life, and cauſed ſeveral Cells to be made in the Houſe, where in a ſhort time he eſtabliſh’d a numerous Society of Derviſes, he came ſoon to be publickly known by his Virtue, through which he acquired the Eſteem of a great many People, as well of the Commonaly as of the Chief of the City. In ſhort, he was extreamly honoured and cheriſhed by every one. People came from afar to recommend themſelves to his Prayers; and all thoſe who came to live with him publiſh’d what Bleſſings they received through his Means.

The great Reputation of this honeſt Man having ſpread through the Town from whence he came, it touch’d the envious Man ſo much to the quick, that he left his Houſe and Affairs with a Reſolution to go and ruin him: With this Intent he went to the new Convent of Derviſes, of which his former Neighbour was the Head; who received him with all imaginable Tokens of Friendſhip. The envious Man told him that he was come on purpoſe to communicate a Buſineſs of importance to him, which he could not do but in private: And becauſe that no-body ſhall hear us, let us,