Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/15

Whiskers, it he would not alſo part with his Beard, which could never agree with a Woman’s Dreſs; and ſhe wondred, that a Man, who was upon the Point to enjoy the fineſt Lady in Bagdad, ſhould have any Regard to his Beard. The old Woman threatned him with the Loſs of the young Lady’s Favour; ſo that at laſt he let them do what they would. When he was dreſs’d like a Woman, they brought him before the young Lady, who laughed ſo heartily when ſhe ſaw him, that ſhe fell backward on the Sopha where ſhe ſat. The Slaves laugh’d and clapt their Hands, ſo that my Brother was quite out of Countenance. The young Lady got up, and ſtill laughing ſays to him, after ſo much Complaiſance for me, I ſhould be very much in the wrong not to love you with all my Heart: But there’s one Thing more you muſt do for me, and that is, to dance as we do. He obey’d, and the young Lady and her Slaves danced with him, laughing as if they had been mad. After they had danced ſome time with him, they all fell upon the poor wretch, and did ſo box and kick him, that he fell down like one out of his Senſes. The old Woman helped him up again; and that he might not have Time to think of his ill Treatment, ſhe bid him take Courage, and whiſper’d in his Ear, that all his Sufferings were at an End, and that he was juſt about to receive his Reward.

Day-light beginning to appear, Scheherazade broke off her Story, and continu’d it the next Night, as follows.

THE old Woman continu’d her Diſcourſe to Backbarah thus: You have only one Thing more to do, and that is but a ſmall one. You muſt know, that my Miſtreſs has a Cuſtom, when ſhe has drank a little, as you ſee ſhe has done to day, to let no body that ſhe loves come near her, except they be ſtript to their Shirt; and when they have done ſo, ſne takes a little Advantage of them, and ſets a running before them through the Gallery, and from Chamber to Chamber till they catch her. This is one more of her Humours: What Advantage ſo ever ſhe takes of you, conſidering of your Nimbleneſs and Inclination to the Work,