Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/64

Had ſeen it before. Charming Schemſelnihar, cries he, at this Sight, I underſtand you, you would have me to know there areas fine Nights as Days. After what I have ſeen, I cannot diſown it.

Let us return to the Prince of Perſia, and Ebn Thaher, whom we left in the Gallery: Ebn Thaher could not enough admire all that he ſaw, I am not very young, ſays he, and I have ſeen great Entertainments in my Time; but don’t think any Thing can be ſeen ſo ſurprizing or magnificent! All that’s ſaid of Enchanted Palaces, does no Ways come near this prodigious Spectacle we now ſee. O! What Riches and Magnificence together!

The Prince of Perſia was nothing at all moved with thoſe Objects which were ſo pleaſant to Ebn Thaher, he could look on nothing but Schemſelnihar, and the Preſence of the Calif threw him into an unconceivable Grief. Dear Ebn Thaher, ſays he, would to God that I had my Mind as free to admire thoſe Things as you. But alas! I am in a quite different condition, all thoſe Objects ſerve only to increaſe my torment. Can I ſee the Califf Cheek by Joll with her that I love, and not die of Grief? Muſt ſuch a Paſſionate Love as mine be diſturb’d with ſo potent a Rival. O Heavens! How cruel and ſtrange is my Deſtiny! It’s but a Moment ſince I eſteem’d my ſelf the moſt fortunate Lover in the World, and at this Inſtant I feel my Heart ſo ſtruck, that it’s like to kill me. I cannot reſiſt it, my dear Ebn Thaher, my Patience is at an End, my Diſtemper overwhelms me, and my Courage fails. While he was ſpeaking thoſe Words, he ſaw ſomething paſs in the Garden, which obliged him to keep ſilence, and to turn all his Attention that Way.

The Califf had order’d one of the Women who was near him, to play upon her Lute, and ſhe began to ſing; the Words that ſhe ſung were very paſſionate, and the Calif was perſuaded that ſhe ſung thus by Order of Schemſelnihar, who had frequently entertain’d him with the like Teſtimonies of her Affection, therefore he interpreted all in his own Favour: But this was not now Schemſelnihar’s Meaning; ſhe applied it to her dear Ali En Becar, and was ſo ſenlibly touch’d with Grief, to have before her an Object whoſe Preſence ſhe could no longer enjoy, that ſhe fainted and fell backwards upon her Seat, which having no Arms