Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 2.djvu/8

Safie being moſt pleas’d with them, did not let them want for Drink.

Scheherazade ſtopt her Diſcourſe, becauſe ſhe ſaw Day appear, and the Sultan got up to follow his Affairs, and promiſed to hear the reſt of the Story next Day, for he had great Deſire to know why thoſe three Callenders were blind, and all three of the ſame Eye.

AN Hour before Day, Dinarzade being awake, ſaid to the Sultaneſs, dear Siſter, Pray let me know what paſt between the Ladies and the Callenders; with all my Heart, replied Scheherazade, and continued her Story in the Manner following.

After the Callenders had eat and drank liberally, they ſignified to the Ladies, that they had a great Deſire to entertain them with a Conſort of Muſick, if they had any Inſtruments in the Houſe, and would cauſe them to be brought ’em: They willingly accepted the Proffer, and fair Safie going to fetch them, return’d again in a Moment, and preſented them with a Flute of her own Country Faſhion, another of the Perſian Sort, and a Tabor, Each Man took the Inſtrument he lik’d, and all three together began to play a Tune. The Ladies who knew the Words of a merry Song that ſuited the Air, join’d the Conſort with their Voices; but the Words of the Song made them now and then ſtop, and fall into exceſſive Laughter.

At the Height of this Diverſion, and when the Company were in the midſt of their Jollity, ſore body knocks at the Gate; Safie left off ſinging, and went to ſee who it was: But, Sir, ſays Scheherazade to the Sultan, it is fit your Majeſty ſhould know why this Knocking happen’d ſo late at the Ladies Houſe, and the Reaſon was thus. The Calif Haroun Alraſchid was accuſtom’d to walk abroad in Diſguiſe very often by Night, that he might ſee with his own Eyes, if every thing was quiet in the City, and that no Diſorders were committed in it.