Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/82

The Jeweller needed no more to convince him fully of the Prince of Perſia’s violent Paſſion, which Ebn Thaher told him of; meer Friendſhip would not let him ſpeak ſo, nothing but Love could produce ſuch feeling Expreſſions.

The Prince continued ſome Moments ſwallowed up with thoſe melancholy Thoughts; at laſt he lifted up his Head, and calling one of his Servants, go, ſays he, to Ebn Thaher’s Houſe, and ask any of his Domeſticks if he be gone to Balſora: Run and come back quickly, and tell me what you hear. While the Servant was gone, the Jeweller endeavour’d to entertain the Prince of Perſia with indifferent Subjects; but the Prince gave little heed to him, He was a Prey to fatal Grief: Sometimes he could not perſwade himſelf that Ebn Thaher was gone, and other times he did not doubt of it, when he reflected upon the Diſcourſe he had with him the laſt time he ſaw him, and the angry Countenance with which he left him.

At laſt the Prince’s Servants return’d, and reported that he had ſpoke with one of Ebn Thaher’s Servants, who aſſured him that he was gone two Days before to Balſora. As I came from Ebn Thaher’s Houſe, adds the Servant, a Slave well arrayed came to me, and after ſhe asked me if I had the Honour to belong to you, ſhe told me ſhe wanted to ſpeak with you, and begg’d at the ſame time that ſhe might come along with me: She is in the outer Chamber, and I believe ſhe has a Letter to give you from ſome Perſon of Note. The Prince commanded immediately to bring her in, he doubted not but it was Schemſelnihar’s Confidant Slave, as indeed it was. The Jeweller, knew who ſhe was, having ſeen her ſeveral times at Enn Thaher’s Houſe: She could not have come in a better time to hinder the Prince from Deſpair. She ſaluted him._____

But Sir, ſaid Scheherazade, by this time I perceive it’s Day. She held her Peace, and next Night went on after this Manner.