Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/57

obliged one of the Women who came to ſing, to obſerve him. When ſhe was near him, Follow me, ſays he to her, and do me the Favour to accompany me with your Lute, a Song which you ſhall hear forthwith. Then he ſung with an Air ſo tender, and paſſionate, as, perfectly expreſſed the Violence of his Love. As ſoon as he had done, Schemſelnihar following his Example, ſaid to one of the Women, follow me likewiſe, and accompany my Voice. At the ſame time ſhe ſang after ſuch a Manner, as did further pierce the Heart of the Prince of Perſia, who anſwered her by a new Air, as paſſionate as the former.

Thoſe two Lovers declared their mutual Affections by their Songs, Schemſelnihar yielded to the Force of hers; ſhe aroſe from her Throne, and adyanc’d towards the Door of the Hall. The Prince, who knew her Deſign, aroſe immediately, and went towards her in all haſte. They met at the Door, where they took one another by the Hand, and embrac’d with ſo much Paſſion, that they fainted: And wou’d have fallen, if the Women, who follow’d them, had not help’d them. They ſupported them, and carried them to a Sopha, where they brought them to themſelves again, by throwing odoriferous Water upon their Faces, and by giving them things to ſmell to.

When they came to themſelves, the firſt Thing that Schemſelnihar did, was to look about, and not ſeeing Ebn Thaher, ſhe ask’d with a great deal of Concern, where he was? He had withdrawn out of reſpect, whilſt her Women were applying Things to recover her, and dreaded; not without Reaſon, that ſome troubleſome Conſequence might attend what had happen’d; but as ſoon as he heard Schemſelnihar ask for him, he came forward, and preſented himſelf before her.

Here the Sultaneſs gave over till the next Morning, becauſe Day appear’d, and then reſumed the Story next Night as follows.