Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/85

They continu’d their Converſation for ſome time, and conſulted together of convenient Means to entertain the Prince’s Correſpondence with Schemſelnihar. They agreed to begin by diſabuſing the Confidant, who was ſo unjuſtly prepoſſeſſed againſt the Jeweller. The Prince engaged to undeceive her the firſt time ſhe returned, and to entreat her to engage her ſelf to the Jeweller, that ſhe might bring the Letters, or any other Information from her Miſtreſs to him. In Effect they agreed, that ſhe ought not to come ſo frequently to the Prince’s Houſe, becauſe thereby ſhe might give an Occaſionto diſcover that which was of ſo great Importance to conceal. At laſt the Jeweller aroſe, and after having again prayed the Prince of of Perſia to have an entire Confidence in him, he retired.

The Sultaneſs Scheherazade ſeeing Day begin to appear, broke off her Diſcourle, and next Night reſumed it thus,

SIR, The Jeweller returning to his Houſe, perceived before him a Letter, which ſome Body had dropp’d in the Street, he took it up, and ſince it was not ſeal’d, he open’d it, and found it conceiv’d in theſe Terms.

I Am inform’d by my Confidant, of a piece of News which troubles me, no leſs than it does you, by loſing Ebn Thaher, we have indeed loſt much; but let not this hinder you, dear Prince, from thinking to preſerve your ſelf, If our Confidant has abandon’d us through a panick Fear, let’s conſider that it’s a Misfortune which we could not avoid. I confeſs, Ebn Thaher has left us at a Time, when we need him moſt; but let us fortify our ſelves by Patience, againſt this unlook’d tor Accident, and let us not forbear to love one another conſtantly, Fortify your Heart againſt this Misfortune, no body can obtain what they deſire without Trouble. Let us not diſcourage our ſelves, but hope that Heaven will fayour us, and that after