An hour before day, Dinarzade being awake, said to the sultaness,
Dear sister, pray let me know what passed between the ladies and the
calenders. With all my heart, replied Scheherazade, and continued
her story in the manner following:
After the calenders had eaten and drank liberally, they signified to
the ladies, that they had a great desire to entertain them with a
concert of music, if they had any instruments in the house, and
would cause them to be brought: they willingly accepted the proffer,
and fair Safie going to fetch them, returned again in a moment, and
presented them with a flute of her own country fashion, another of
the Persian sort, and a tabor. Each man took the instrument he
liked, and all three together began to play a tune. The ladies, who
knew the words of a merry song that suited the air, joined the
concert with their voices; but the words of the song made them now
and then stop, and fall into excessive laughter.
In the height of this diversion, and when the company were in the
midst of their jollity, somebody knocked at the gate. Safie left off
singing, and went to see who it was. But, sir, said Scheherazade to
the sultan, it is fit your majesty should know why this knocking
happened so late at the ladies’ house. Now the reason was this:
The Caliph Haroun Alraschid was accustomed to walk abroad in
disguise very often by night, that he might see with his own eyes if
every thing was quiet in the city, and that no disorders were
committed in it.
This night the caliph went out pretty early on his rambles,
accompanied by Giafar his grand vizier, and Mesrour the chief of the
eunuchs of his palace, all disguised in merchant’s habits; and
passing through the street where the three ladies dwelt, he heard
the sound of the music and great fits of laughter; upon which he
commanded the vizier to knock, because he would go in, to know the
reason of that jollity. The vizier told him in vain, that it was
some women merry making; that without question their heads were warm
with wine, and that it would not be proper he should expose himself
to be affronted by them; besides, it was not yet an unlawful hour,
and therefore he ought not to disturb them in their mirth. --No
matter, said the caliph, I command you to knock. So it was the grand
vizier Giafar that knocked at the ladies’ gate by the caliph’s
order, because he himself would not be known. Safie opened the gate,
and the vizier perceiving, by the light that she held in her hand,
that she was an incomparable beauty, he acted his part very well,
and with a very low bow and respectful behaviour, told her, Madam,
we are three merchants of Mossoul, who arrived about ten days ago
with rich merchandize, which we have in a warehouse at a khan, or
inn, where we have also our lodging. We happened this day to be with
a merchant of this city, who invited us to a treat at his house,
where we had a splendid entertainment; and the wine having put us in
humour, he sent for a company of dancers. Night being come on, and
the music and dancers making a great noise, the watch came by in the
mean time, caused the gate to be opened, and some of the company to
be taken up; but we had the good fortune to escape by getting over a
wall. Now, said the vizier, being strangers, and somewhat overcome
with wine, we are afraid of meeting another, and perhaps the same
watch, before we get home to our khan, which lies a good way from
hence. Besides, when we come there, the gates will be shut, and not
opened till morning: wherefore, madam, hearing, as we passed by this
way, the sound of music, we supposed you were not yet going to rest,
and made bold to knock at your gate, to beg the favour of lodging
ourselves in the house till morning; and if you think us worthy of
your good company, we will endeavour to contribute to your diversion
to the best of our power, to make some amends for the interruption
we have given you; if not, we only beg the favour of staying this
night under your porch.
Whilst Giafar held this discourse, fair Safie had time to observe
the vizier and his two companions, who were said to be merchants
like himself, and told them that she was not mistress of the house;
but if they would have a minute’s patience, she would return with
an answer.
Safie acquainted her sisters with the matter, who considered for
some time what to conclude upon: but being naturally of a good
disposition, and having granted the same favour to the three
calenders, they at last consented to let them in. Scheherazade
intending to continue her story, saw daylight appear, which made her
break off: but the quality of these new actors which the sultaness
had brought upon the stage excited the curiosity of Schahriar, who
looking for some singular event, expected the next night with
impatience.