dle with their Quarrel, but carried them all four before
a Judge.
When they came before the Magiſtrate, the Highway-
man, without ſtaying to be examin’d, cry’d out ſtill, feigning himſelf to be blind, Sir, ſence you are deputed to adminiſter Juſtice by the Califf, whom God proſper, I declare to you that we are equally Criminal, my three Comrades and I; but we have all engaged, upon Oath, to confeſs nothing except we be baſtinado’d; ſo that if you would know our Crime, you need only order us to be baſtinado’d, and begin with me. My Brother would have ſpoke, but was not allowed to do ſo; and the Highway-man was put under the Baſtinado.
Here Scheherazade ſtopt, becauſe it was Day, and the next Night reſumed her Story thus.
The Hundred and Seventy Fourth Night.
THE Robber being under the Baſtinado, had the Courage to bear twenty or thirty blows. When ſeeming to be overcome with Pain, he firſt opened one Eye, and then the other, and crying out for Mercy, begg’d the Judge would put a Stop to the Blows. The judge perceiv’d that he look’d upon him with his Eyes open, was much ſurpriz’d at it, and ſays to him,
Rogue, what’s the meaning of this Miracle? Sir, reply’d the Highway-man
, I will diſcover to you an important Secret, if you pardon me, and give me, as a Pledge that you will keep your Word, the Seal-Ring, which you have on your Finger, The Judge agreed to it, gave him his Ring, and promiſed him pardon.
Upon this, ſays the Highway-man,
I muſt Confeſs to you, Sir, that I and my three Comrades do all of us ſee very well: We ſeigned our ſelves to be blind, that we might freely enter into Peoples Houſes, and into Womens Apartments, where we abuſe their Frailty. I muſt farther Confeſs to you, that by this Trick we have gain’d together Ten Thouſand Drachms. This Day I demanded of my Partners 2500 that belonged to me as my Share, but they refus’d, becauſe I told them I would leave them; and they were afraid I ſhou’d accuſe them. Upon my preſſing ſtill to have my Share, they all three fell upon me, for which I appeal to thoſe People who brought us before you. I expect from you Juſtice, that you will make them deliver me the 2500 Drachms which is my Due; and if you have a Mind that my