Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/8

coming back, whiſper’d to my Brother, I had forgot Part of my Commiſſion, my Miſtreſs charg’d me to compliment you in her Name, and to ask how you paſ’d the Night; for her, poor Woman, ſhe loves you ſo mightily, that ſhe could not ſleep. Tell her, anſwers my ſilly Brother, I have ſo ſtrong a Paſſion for her, that theſe four Nights, I have not ſlept one Wink. After ſuch a Compliment from the Miller’s Wife, my Brother thought ſhe would not let him languiſh in Expectation of her Favour.

About a quarter of an Hour after, the Slave return’d to my Brother with a Piece of Sattin: My Miſtreſs, ſays ſhe, is very well pleas’d with her Suit, nothing in the World can fit her better; and ſince it is very fine, ſhe would not wear it without a new Peticoat, and ſhe prays you to make her one, as ſoon as you can, of this Piece of Sattin. It’s enough, ſays Bacbouc, I’ll do it before I leave my Shop; you ſhall have it in the Evening. The Miller’s Wife ſhow’d her ſelf often at her Window, was very prodigal of her Charms, and to encourage my Brother, ſhe made as if ſhe took Pleaſure to ſee him work. The Peticoat was ſoon made, and the Slave came for it, but brought the Taylor no Money, neither for the Trimming he had bought for the Suit, nor for his Labour. In the meantime, this unfortunate Lover, whom they only amuſed, though he could not perceive it, had eat nothing all that Day, and was forced to borrow Money at Night to buy his Supper. Next Morning, as ſoon as he arriv’d at his Shop, the young Slave came to tell him; that the Miller wanted to ſpeak to him. My Miſtreſs, ſays ſhe, has told him ſo much Good of you, when ſhe ſhew’d him your Work, that he has a Mind you ſhould work alſo for him; ſhe does it on Purpoſe, that the Friendſhip ſhe deſigns to form betwixt you and him, may make you to ſucceed in what you both equally deſire. My Brother was eaſily perſwaded, and went to the Mill with the Slave. The Miller receiv’d him very kindly, and fhew’d him a Piece of Cloath, and told him he wanted Shirts, bid him make twenty of that Cloath, and give him again what was over and above.

Scheherazade perceiving Day, held her Peace, and the next Night continu’d the Hiſtory of Bacbouc thus.