Sindbad, pursuing the story, said to the company, When the captain
heard me speak thus, O heaven! said he, whom can we ever trust
now-a-days? There is no faith left among men. I saw Sindbad perish
with my own eyes, and the passengers on board saw it as well as I;
and yet you tell me you are that Sindbad. What impudence is this! To
look on you, one would take you to be a man of probity; and yet you
tell a horrible falsehood, in order to possess yourself of what does
not belong to you. Have patience, captain, replied I; do me the
favour to hear what I have to say. Very well, said he, speak; I am
ready to hear you. Then I told him how I escaped, and by what
adventure I met with the grooms of king Mihrage, who brought me to
his court.
He began to abate of his confidence upon my discourse, and was soon
persuaded that I was no cheat; for there came people from his ship
who knew me, paid me great compliments, and expressed much joy to
see me alive. At last he knew me himself, and, embracing me, Heaven
be praised, said he, for your happy escape; I cannot enough express
my joy for it. There are your goods; take and do with them what you
will. I thanked him, acknowledged his probity, and, in requital,
offered him part of my goods as a present, which he generously
refused.
I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented it to
king Mihrage, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came by
such rarities? I acquainted him with the whole story. He was
mightily pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and gave me
one much more considerable in return. Upon this, I took leave of
him, and went aboard the same ship, after I had exchanged my goods
for the commodities of that country. I carried with me wood of
aloes, sandal, camphire, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger. We
passed by several islands, and at last arrived at Balsora, from
whence I came to this city, with the value of 100,000 sequins. [13]
My family and I received one another with all the transports of
sincere friendship. I bought slaves of both sexes, fine lands, and
built me a great house; and thus I settled myself, resolving to
forget the miseries I had suffered, and to enjoy the pleasures of
life.
Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to go on with their
concerts, which his story had interrupted. The company continued to
eat and drink till the evening, when it was time to retire; when
Sindbad sent for a purse of one hundred sequins, and giving it to
the porter, said, Take this, Hindbad; return to your home, and come
back to-morrow to hear some more of my adventures. The porter went
home, astonished at the honour done him, and the present made him.
The relation of it was very agreeable to his wife and children, who
did not fail to return thanks to God for what providence had sent
him by the hand of Sindbad.
Hindbad put on his best clothes next day, and returned to the
bountiful traveller, who received him with a pleasant air, and
caressed him heartily. When all the guests were come, dinner was set
upon the table, and continued a long time. When it was ended,
Sindbad, addressing himself to the company, said, Gentlemen, be
pleased to give me audience, and listen to the adventures of my
second voyage; they deserve your attention better than the first.
Upon which every one held his peace, and Sindbad went on thus:--
Second Voyage of Sindbad, the Sailor.
I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at
Bagdad, as I had the honour to tell you yesterday; but it was not
long ere I grew weary of a quiet life. My inclination to trade
revived. I bought goods proper for the commerce I intended, and put
to sea a second time, with merchants of known probity. We embarked
on board a good ship, and, after recommending ourselves to God, set
sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged commodities
with great profit. One day we landed on an island covered with
several sorts of fruit-trees, but so unpeopled, that we could
neither see man nor beast upon it. We went to take a little fresh
air in the meadows, and along the streams that watered them. Whilst
some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and others with
gathering fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and sat down by a
stream betwixt two great trees, which formed a curious shape. I made
a very good meal, and afterwards fell asleep. I cannot tell how long
I slept, but when I awaked the ship was gone. Here Scheherazade
broke off, because day appeared, but next night continued the story
thus: