Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/22

ALcouz was the Name of my fourth Brother, who came to loſe one of his Eyes, upon an occaſion that I ſhall acquaint your Majeſty with by and by: He was a Butcher by Profeſſion, and had a particular way of teaching Rams to fight, by which he procured the Acquaintance and Friendſhip of the chief Lords of the Country, who loved that Sport; and for that End kept Rams about their Houſes: He had beſides a very good Trade, and had his Shop always full of the beft Meat, becauſe he was very rich, and ſpared no Coſt for the beſt of every Sort. One Day, when he was in his Shop, an old Man with a white long Beard came and bought fix Pound of Meat of him, gave him Money for it, and went his way. My Brother thought the Money ſo fine, ſo white, and ſo well coined, that he put it apart by it ſelf: The ſame old Man came every Day for five Months together, bought a like Quantity of Meat, and paid for it in the ſame ſort of Money, which my Brother continued to lay apart by it felt.

At the end of five Months, Alcouz having a mind to buy a parcel of Sheep, and to pay for them in this fine Money, opened his Trunk; but inſtead of finding his Money, was extreamly ſurpriz’d to ſee nothing but a Parcel of Leaves clipp’d round in the Place where he had laid it: He beat his Head, and cry’d out aloud; which preſently brought the Neighbours about him, who were as much ſurpriz’d as he when he told them the Story. O! cry’d my Brother, weeping, that this treacherous old Fellow would come now with his hypocritical Looks. He had ſcarce done ſpeaking, till he ſaw him coming at a diſtance, ran to him, and laid Hands on him; Muſſelmen, cries he, as loud as he could, Help! Hear what a Cheat this wicked Fellow has put upon me; and at the ſame time told a great Crowd of People, who came about him, what he had formerly told his, Neighbours. When he had done, the old Man, without any Paſſion, ſays to him very gravely, you would do well to let me go, and by that Means make Amends for the Affront you have put upon me before ſo many People, for fear I ſhould put a greater Affront upon you, which I am not willing to do. How,