then riſing up, ſhe wiſhed my Brother all manner of Happineſs.
The Day beginning to draw, Scheherazade left off, and next Night return’d her Diſcourſe, perſonating the Barber as follows.
The Hundred and Seventy Eight Night.
THE old Woman then wiſhed my Brother all ſort of Happineſs, and thanked him for his Civility, being meanly clad, and very humble to him. He thought ſhe ask’d Alms, upon which he offer’d her two Pieces of Gold. The old Woman ſtept back in a ſort of a Surprize, as if my Brother had done her an Injury. Heaven ſays ſhe, what is the meaning of this? Is it poſſible, Sir, ſays ſhe, that you took me for an impudent Beggar? Did you think I came ſo boldly into your Houſe to ask Alms? Take back your Money, I have no need of it, Thanks to Heaven, I belong to a young Lady of this City, who is a charming Beauty and very rich; ſhe lets me want for nothing.
My Brother was not cunning enough to perceive the Craft of the old Woman, who only refuſed the two Pieces of Gold that ſhe might catch more. He asked her if ſhe could not procure him the Honour of ſeeing that Lady. With all my Heart, replied ſhe, ſhe will be very well fatisfy’d to marry, and to put you in Poſſeſſion of her Eftate, by making you Maſter of her Perſon. Take up your Money and follow me. My Brother being raviſhed with his good Luck of finding ſo great a Sum of Money, and almoſt at the ſame time a beautiful and rich Wife, his Eyes were ſhut upon all other Conſiderations; ſo that he took his
500 Pieces of Gold, and followed the old Woman; ſhe walked before: him, and he followed at a Diſtance, to the Gate of a great Houſe, where ſhe knock’d: He came up to her juſt as a young Greek Slave opened the Gate. The old Woman made him enter firſt, went croſs a Court very well pav’d, and introduced him into a Hall, the Furniture of which confirm’d him in the good Opinion he had conceiv’d of the Miſtreſs of the Houle., While the old Woman went to acquaint the Lady, he ſat him down, and the Weather being hot; put off his Turbant, and laid it by him. He ſpeedily ſaw the young Lady come in, whoſe Beauty