Dinarzade slept as long this night as she did the last; and when it
was almost day, she called to the sultaness, Dear sister, if you be
not asleep, pray tell us what passed in the fine castle where you
left us yesterday. I will, said Scheherazade; and, addressing her
speech to the sultan, said, Sir, the calender resumed his narrative
after this manner:--
When I had made an end of my story, which I related to the forty
ladies, some of them that sat nearest to me staid to keep me
company, whilst the rest, seeing it was dark, rose up to fetch
tapers. They brought a prodigious quantity, which made such a
wonderful light, as if it had been day, and they were so properly
disposed, that nothing could be more beautiful.
Other ladies covered a table with dry fruits, sweetmeats, and every
thing proper to relish the liquor; a sideboard was set out with
several sorts of wine and other liquors. Some of the ladies came in
with musical instruments; and when every thing was ready, they
invited me to sit down to supper. The ladies sat down with me, and
we continued a long while at supper. They that were to play upon the
instruments and sing rose up, and formed a most charming concert.
The others began a sort of ball, and danced two and two, one after
another, with a wonderful good grace.
It was past midnight ere those divertisements ended. At length one
of the ladies said to me, You are doubtless wearied by the journey
you have taken to-day; it is time for you to go to rest --your
lodging is prepared; but before you depart, make choice of any of
us you like best to be your bed-fellow. I answered, that I knew
better than to offer to make my own choice, since they were all
equally beautiful, witty, and worthy of my respects and service,
and that I would not be guilty of so much incivility as to prefer
one before another.
The same lady that spoke to me before, answered, We are very well
satisfied of your civility, and find you are afraid to create a
jealousy among us, which occasions your modesty: but let not this
hinder you; we assure you that the good fortune of her whom you
choose shall cause no jealousy; for we are agreed among ourselves,
that every one of us shall have the same honour till it go round;
and when forty days are past, to begin again; --therefore make your
free choice, and lose no time to go and take the repose you stand in
need of. I was obliged to yield to their intreaties, and offered my
hand to the lady that spoke; she, in return, gave me her’s, and we
were conducted to a sumptuous apartment, where they left us; and
then every one retired to their own apartment. But day appears, sir,
said Scheherazade to the sultan; and your majesty, I hope, will
permit me to leave the calender prince with his lady. Schahriar
returned no answer, but said to himself, as he got up, I must allow
that the story is extraordinary, and I should be very much to blame
not to hear it out.