While his retinue were unlading the other camels, he took

Bedreddin’s mother and his daughter aside, and addressed himself

to the latter: God be praised, said he, my child, for this happy

occasion of meeting your cousin and your husband. You remember, to

be sure, what order your chamber was in on your wedding-night: go

and put every thing in the very same order they were then in; and in

the mean time, if your memory do not serve you, I can supply it by a

written account, which I caused to be taken upon that occasion: as

for what else is to be done, I will take care of that.

The beautiful lady went joyfully about her father’s orders; and he

at the same time, began to put the things in the hall in the same

order they were in when Bedreddin Hassan was there with the sultan

of Egypt’s hunch backed groom. As he went over his manuscript, his

domestics placed every moveable accordingly. The throne was not

forgot, nor the lighted wax candles. When every thing was put to

rights in the hall, the vizier went into his daughter’s chamber,

and put in their due place Bedreddin’s clothes, with the purse of

sequins. This done, he said to the beautiful lady, Undress yourself,

my child, and go to bed. As soon as Bedreddin enters your room,

complain of his being from you so long, and tell him, that when you

awaked you were astonished you did not find him by you. Press him to

come to bed again; and to-morrow morning you will divert your

mother-in-law and me, in telling us what passes between you and him

this night. This said, he went from his daughter’s apartment, and

left her to undress herself and go to bed.

Schemseddin Mohammed ordered all his domestics to depart the hall,

excepting two or three, whom he ordered to stay there. These he

commanded to go and take Bedreddin out of the chest, to strip him to

his shirt and drawers, to conduct him in that condition to the hall,

to leave him there all alone, and to shut the door upon him.

Bedreddin Hassan, though overwhelmed with grief, had been asleep all

the while, insomuch that the vizier’s domestics had taken him out

of the chest, and stripped him before he awaked, and carried him so

suddenly into the hall, that they did not give him time to bethink

himself where he was. When he found himself all alone in the hall,

he looked round him, and the objects of his sight recalling to

memory the circumstances of his marriage, he perceived, with

astonishment, that it was the same hall where he had seen the

sultan’s groom of the stables. His surprise was still the greater,

when approaching softly to the door of a chamber which he found

open, he spied within his own clothes in the same place where he

remembered to have left them on his wedding-night. My God! said he,

rubbing his eyes, am I asleep or awake?

The beautiful lady, who in the mean time was diverting herself with

his astonishment, opened the curtains of her bed all on a sudden,

and bending her head forward, My dear lord, said she, with a soft,

tender air, what do you do at the door? Prithee come to bed again!

You have been out of bed a long time. I was strangely surprised when

I awaked in not finding you by me. Bedreddin Hassan’s countenance

changed when he perceived that the lady who spoke to him was that

charming person that he had lain with before: so he entered the

room, but calling up the thoughts of all that had passed for a ten

years’ interval, and not being able to persuade himself that it

all could have happened in the compass of one night, he went to the

place where his clothes lay, and the purse of sequins, and after

examining them very carefully, By the living God, cried he, these

are things that I can by no means comprehend! The lady, who was

pleased to see his confusion, said, once more, My lord, come to bed

again; what do you stand at? Then he stepped towards the bed, and

said to her, Pray; madam, tell me, is it long since I left you?

--The question, answered she, surprises me. Did not you rise from me

but now? Sure your thoughts are very busy. --Madam, replied

Bedreddin, I do assure you my thoughts are not very composed. I

remember indeed to have been with you, but I remember, at the same

time, that I have lived since ten years at Damascus. Now, if I was

actually in bed with you this night, I cannot have been with you so

long. These two things are inconsistent. Pray tell me what I am to

think; whether my marriage with you is an illusion, or whether my

absence from you is only a dream? --Yes, my lord, cried she,

doubtless, you were light-headed when you thought you were at

Damascus. Upon this, Bedreddin laughed out heartily, and said, What

a comical fancy is this! I assure you, madam, this dream will be

very pleasant to you. Do but imagine, if you please, that I was at

the gate of Damascus in my shirt and drawers, as I am here now, that

I entered the town with a halloo of a mob that followed and insulted

me; that I fled to a pastry cook’s, who adopted me, taught me his

trade, and left me all he had when he died; that after his death, I

kept a shop. In fine, madam, I had an infinity of other adventures

too tedious to recount: and all I can say, is, that it was well that

I awaked, for they were going to nail me to a stake. --Oh lord! and

for what, cried the lady, feigning astonishment, would they have

used you so cruelly? Sure you must have committed some enormous

crime. --Not in the least, replied Bedreddin; it was for nothing in

the world but a mere trifle, the most ridiculous thing you can think

of. All the crime I was charged with was selling a cream tart that

had no pepper in it. --As for that matter, said the beautiful lady,

laughing heartily, I must say they did you great injustice. --Ah!

madam, replied he, that was not all. For this cursed cream tart, was

every thing in my shop broke to pieces, myself bound and fettered,

and flung into a chest, where I lay so close, that methinks I am

there still. In fine, a carpenter was sent for, and he was ordered

to get ready a stake for me; but thanks be to God, all those things

are no more than a dream.

Bedreddin was not easy all night; he waked from time to time, and

put the question to himself, whether he dreamed or was awake: he

distrusted his felicity, and to be sure whether it was true or not,

opened the curtains, and looked round the room. I am not mistaken,

sure, said he, this is the same chamber where I entered instead of

the hunch-backed groom of the stables, and I am now in bed with the

fair lady that was designed for him. Daylight, which then appeared,

had not yet dispelled his uneasiness, when the vizier Schemseddin

Mohammed, his uncle, knocked at the door, and at the same time went

in to bid him good-morrow.

Bedreddin Hassan was extremely surprised to see, all on a sudden, a

man that he knew so well, and that now appeared with a quite

different air from that with which he pronounced the terrible

sentence of death against him. Ah! cried Bedreddin, it was you that

condemned me so unjustly, to a kind of death, the thoughts of which

make me shudder; and all for a cream tart without pepper. The vizier

fell a laughing, and to put him out of suspense, told him, how, by

the ministry of a genie, (for hunch-back’s relation made him

suspect the adventure,) he had been at his house, and had married

his daughter instead of the sultan’s groom of the stables; then he

acquainted him, that he had discovered him to be his nephew by a

book written by the hand of Nourreddin Ali, and pursuant to that

discovery, had gone from Cairo to Balsora in quest of him. My dear

nephew, added he, embracing him with every expression of tenderness,

I ask your pardon for all I have made you undergo since I discovered

you. I had a mind to bring you to my house before I told you your

happiness; which ought now to be so much the dearer to you, as it

has cost you so much perplexity and affliction. To atone for all

your afflictions, comfort yourself with the joy of being in the

company of those who ought to be dearest to you. While you are

dressing yourself, I will go and acquaint your mother, who is beyond

measure impatient to see you: and will likewise bring to you your

son, whom you saw at Damascus, and for whom you showed so much

affection without knowing him.

No words are of sufficient energy to express the joy of Bedreddin,

when he saw his mother and his son. These three embraced and showed

all the transports that love and tenderness could inspire. The

mother spoke to Bedreddin in the most moving terms; she mentioned

the grief she had felt for his long absence, and the tears she had

shed. --Little Agib, instead of flying his father’s embraces, as

at Damascus, received them with all the marks of pleasure. And

Bedreddin Hassan, divided between two objects so worthy of his love,

thought he could not give sufficient marks of his affection.

While this passed at Schemseddin Mohammed’s, the vizier was gone

to the palace to give the sultan an account of the happy success of

his voyage; and the sultan was so charmed with the recital of the

story, that he ordered it to be taken down in writing, and carefully

preserved among the archives of the kingdom. After Schemseddin’s

return to his house, having prepared a noble feast, he sat down to

table with his family, and all the household passed the day in

festivity and mirth.

The vizier Giafar, having thus made an end of the story of Bedreddin

Hassan, told the caliph Haroun Alraschid, that this was what he had

to relate to his majesty. The caliph found the story so surprising,

that without farther hesitation, he granted his slave Rihan’s

pardon; and to condole the young man for the grief of having

unhappily deprived himself of a woman whom he loved so tenderly,

married him to one of his slaves, bestowed liberal gifts upon him,

and maintained him till he died.

The Story of the Little Hunch-back.

There was in former times at Casgar, upon the utmost skirts of

Tartary, a tailor, that had a pretty wife, whom he doted on, and was

reciprocally loved by her. One day as he sat at work, a little

hunch-back came and eat down at the shop-door, and fell to singing

and playing upon a tabor. The tailor took pleasure to hear him, and

resolved to take him into his house to please his wife. This little

fellow, said he to his wife, will divert us both this evening. He

invited him in, and the other readily accepted of the invitation; so

the tailor shut up his shop, and carried him home. As soon as they

came in, the tailor’s wife having before laid the cloth, it being

supper time, set before them a good dish of fish; but as the little

man was eating, he unluckily swallowed a large bone, of which he

died in a few minutes, notwithstanding all that the tailor and his

wife could do to prevent it. Both were heartily frightened at the

accident, knowing it happened in their house; and there was reason

to fear that if the magistrates happened to hear of it they would be

punished as murderers. However, the husband found an expedient to

get rid of the corpse: he reflected there was a Jewish doctor that

lived just by, and having presently contrived a scheme, his wife and

he took the corpse, the one by the feet, and the other by the head,

and carried it to the physician’s house. They knocked at the door,

from which a steep pair of stairs led to his chamber. The servant

maid came down without any light, and opening the door, asked what

they wanted. Go up again, said the tailor, if you please, and tell

your master, we have brought him a man who is very ill, and wants

his advice. Here, said he, putting a piece of money into her hand,

give him that beforehand, to convince him that we do not mean to

impose on him. While the servant was gone up to acquaint her master

with the welcome news, the tailor and his wife nimbly conveyed the

hunch-backed corpse to the head of the stairs, and leaving it there,

hurried away.

In the mean time, the maid told the doctor, that a man and a woman

waited for him at the door, desiring he would come down and look at

a sick man, whom they had brought with them, and clapping into his

hand the money she had received, the doctor was transported with

joy: being paid beforehand, he thought it was a good patient, and

should not be neglected. Light, light, cried he to the maid; follow

me nimbly. So saying, without staying for the light, he gets to the

stair-head in such haste, that, stumbling against the corpse, he

gave him a kick that made him tumble down to the stair-foot; he had

almost fallen himself along with him. A light! a light! cried he to

the maid; quick, quick! At last, the maid came with a light, and he

went down stairs with her; but when he saw that what he had kicked

down was a dead man, he was so frightened, that he invoked Moses,

Aaron, Joshua, Esdras, and all the other prophets of the law.

Unhappy man that I am! said he, why did I attempt to come down

without a light! I have killed the poor fellow that was brought to

me to be cured; questionless, I am the cause of his death, and

unless Esdras’s ass [68] comes to assist me, I am ruined. Mercy on

me! they will be here out of hand, and drag me out of my house for a

murderer.

Notwithstanding the perplexity and jeopardy he was in, he had the

precaution to shut his door, for fear any one passing by in the

street should observe the mischance of which he reckoned himself to

be the author. Then he took the corpse into his wife’s chamber,

who was ready to swoon at the sight. Alas! cried she, we are utterly

ruined and undone, unless we fall upon some expedient to get the

corpse out of our house this night. Beyond all question, if we

harbour it till morning, our lives must pay for it. What a sad

mischance is this! What did you do to kill this man? That is not the

question, replied the Jew; our business now is to find out a remedy

for such a shocking accident.

The doctor and his wife consulted together how to get rid of his

dead corpse that night. The doctor racked his brain in vain, he

could not think of any stratagem to get clear; but his wife, who was

more fertile in invention, said, I have a thought just come into my

head: let us carry the corpse to the leads of our house, and tumble

him down the chimney into the house of the Mussulman, our next

neighbour.

This Mussulman was one of the sultan’s purveyors for furnishing

oil, butter, and all sorts of fat articles, and had a magazine in

his house, where the rats and mice made prodigious havoc.

The Jewish doctor approving the proposed expedient, his wife and he

took the little hunch-back up to the roof of the house; and,

clapping ropes under his arm-pits, let him down the chimney into the

purveyor’s chamber so softly and dexterously, that he stood

upright against the wall, as if he had been alive. When they found

he had reached the bottom, they pulled up the ropes, and left the

corpse in that posture. They were scarce got down into their

chamber, when the purveyor went into his, being just come from a

wedding-feast, with a lantern in his hand. He was greatly surprised

when, by the light of his lantern, he descried a man standing

upright in his chimney; but being naturally a stout man, and

apprehending it was a thief, he took up a good stick, and making

straight up to the hunch-back, Ah, said he, I thought it was the

rats and mice that eat my butter and tallow, and it is you come down

the chimney to rob me! But I think you will not come here again upon

this errand. This said, he falls upon the man, and gives him many

strokes with his stick. The corpse fell down flat on the ground, and

the purveyor redoubled his blows; but, observing the body not to

move, he stood to consider a little, and then, perceiving it was a

dead corpse, fear succeeded his anger. Wretched man that I am, said

he, what have I done! I have killed a man! Alas! I have carried my

revenge too far. Good God, unless thou pity me, my life is gone!

Cursed, ten thousand times accursed, be the fat and the oil that

gave occasion to this my commission of such a criminal action! He

stood pale and thunderstruck: he thought he saw the officers already

come to drag him to condign punishment, and could not tell what

resolution to take.

[Illustration: HUNCHBACK AND THE SULTAN’S PURVEYOR.]

The sultan of Casgar’s purveyor had never noticed the little

man’s hump-back when he was beating him; but as soon as he

perceived it, he threw out a thousand imprecations against him. Ah,

you cursed hunch-back, cried he, you crooked son of a bitch! would

to God you had robbed me of all my fat, and I had not found you

here! I had not then been so much perplexed for the sake of you and

your vile hunch. Oh! ye stars that twinkle in the heavens, give

light to none but me in this dangerous juncture. As soon as he had

uttered these words, he took the crooked corpse upon his shoulders,

and carried him out of doors to the end of the street, where he set

him upright, resting against a shop, and so trudged home again,

without looking behind him.

A few minutes before the break of day, a Christian merchant, who was

very rich, and furnished the sultan’s palace with various articles

--this merchant, I say, having sat up all night at a debauch,

stepped at that instant out of his house to go to bathe. --Though he

was drunk, he was sensible that the night was far spent, and that

the people would quickly be called to the morning prayers, at break

of day; therefore he quickened his pace to get in time to the bath,

for fear any Mussulman meeting him in his way to the mosque should

carry him to prison for a drunkard. As he came to the end of the

street, he stopped upon some necessary occasion against the shop

where the sultan’s purveyor had put the hunch-backed corpse, which

being jostled, tumbled upon the merchant’s back. The merchant,

thinking it was a robber that came to attack him, knocked him down

with a swinging box on the ear, and after redoubling his blows,

cried out “thieves.”

The outcry alarmed the watch, who came up immediately; and finding a

Christian beating a Mussulman, (for hump-back was of our religion,)

What reason have you, said he, to abuse a Mussulman after this rate?

He would have robbed me, replied the merchant, and jumped upon my

back with intent to take me by the throat. If he did, said the

watch, you have revenged yourself sufficiently; come, get off him.

At the same time he stretched out his hand to help little hump-back

up; but observing he was dead, Oh! said he, is it thus that a

Christian dares to assassinate a Mussulman? So saying, he laid hold

of the Christian, and carried him to the house of the lieutenant of

the police, where he was kept till the judge was stirring, and ready

to examine him. In the mean time, the Christian merchant grew sober,

and the more he reflected upon his adventure, the less could he

conceive how such single blows of his fist could kill the man.

The judge having heard the report of the watch, and viewed the

corpse, which they had taken care to bring to his house,

interrogated the Christian merchant upon it, and he could not deny

the crime, though he had not committed it. But the Judge,

considering that little hump-back belonged to the sultan, for he was

one of his buffoons, would not put the Christian to death, till he

knew the sultan’s pleasure. For this end he went to the palace,

and acquainted the sultan with what had happened, and received from

the sultan this answer: I have no mercy to show to a Christian that

kills a Mussulman; go, do your office. Upon this the judge ordered a

gibbet to be erected, and sent criers all over the city to proclaim,

that they were about to hang a Christian for killing a Mussulman.

At length the merchant was brought out of jail to the foot of the

gallows; and the hangman having put the rope about his neck, was

going to give him a swing, when the sultan’s purveyor pushing

through the crowd, made up to the gibbet, calling to the hangman to

stop, for that the Christian had not committed the murder, but

himself had done it. Upon that the officer who attended the

execution began to question the purveyor, who told him every

circumstance of his killing the little hump-back, and how he

conveyed his corpse to the place where the Christian merchant found

him. You were about, added he, to put to death an innocent person;

for how can he be guilty of the death of a man who was dead before

he came at him? It is enough for me to have killed a Mussulman,

without loading my conscience with the death of a Christian, who is

not guilty.

The sultan of Casgar’s purveyor having publicly charged himself

with the death of the little hunch-backed man, the officer could not

avoid doing justice to the merchant. Let the Christian go, said he

to the executioner, and hang this man in his room, since it appears

by his own confession that he is guilty. Thereupon, the hangman

released the merchant, and clapped the rope around the purveyor’s

neck; but just when he was going to pull him up, he heard the voice

of the Jewish doctor, earnestly entreating him to suspend the

execution, and make room for him to come to the foot of the gallows.

When he appeared before the judge, My lord, said he, this Mussulman

you are going to hang is not guilty; all the guilt lies at my door.

Last night, a man and a woman, unknown to me, came to my door with a

sick man they had brought along; my maid went and opened it without

a light, and received from them a piece of money, with a commission

to come and desire me, in their name, to step down, and look at the

sick person. While she was delivering her message to me, they

conveyed the sick person to the stair-head, and disappeared. I went

down without staying till my servant had lighted a candle, and in

the dark happened to stumble upon the sick person, and kick him down

stairs. At length, I saw he was dead, and that it was the crooked

Mussulman, whose death you are now about to avenge. So my wife and I

took the corpse, and after conveying it up to the roof of our house,

shoved it to the roof of the purveyor, our next neighbour, whom you

were going to put to death unjustly, and let it down the chimney

into his chamber. The purveyor, finding it in his house, took the

little man for a thief; and after beating him, concluded he had

killed him; but that it was not so, you will be convinced by this my

deposition; so that I am the only author of the murder; --and though

it was committed undesignedly, I have resolved to expiate my crime,

that I may not have to charge myself with the death of two

Mussulmen, and hinder you from executing the sultan’s purveyor,

whose innocence I have now revealed. So pray dismiss him, and put me

in his place, for I alone am the cause of the death of the little

man.

The chief justice being persuaded that the Jewish doctor was the

murderer, gave orders to the executioner to seize him, and release

the purveyor. Accordingly the doctor was just going to be hung up,

when the tailor appeared, crying to the executioner to hold his

hand, and make room for him, that he might come and make his

confession to the chief judge. Room being made, My lord, said he,

you have narrowly escaped taking away the lives of three innocent

persons; but if you will have the patience to hear me, I will

discover to you the real murderer of the crook-backed man. If his

death is to be expiated by another, that must be mine. Yesterday,

towards the evening, as I was at work in my shop, and was disposed

to be merry, the little hunch-back came to my door half-drunk, and

sat down before it. He sung a little, and so I invited him to pass

the evening at my house. He accepted of the invitation, and went in

with me. We sat down to supper, and I gave him a plate of fish; but

in eating, a bone stuck in his throat; and though my wife and I did

our utmost to relieve him, he died in a few minutes. His death

afflicted us extremely; and for fear of being charged with it, we

carried the corpse to the Jewish doctor’s house, and knocked at

the door. The maid coming down and opening the door, I desired her

to go up again forthwith, and ask her master to come down and give

his advice to a sick person that we had brought along with us; and

withal, to encourage him, I charged her to give him a piece of

money, which I had put into her hand. When she was gone up again, I

carried the hunch-back up stairs, and laid him upon the uppermost

step, and then my wife and I made the best of our way home. The

doctor coming down, made the corpse fall down stairs, and thereupon

he took himself to be the author of his death. This being the case,

continued he, release the doctor, and let me die in his room.

The chief justice and all the spectators could not sufficiently

admire the strange events that ensued upon the death of the little

crooked man. Let the Jewish doctor go, said the judge, and hang up

the tailor, since he confesses the crime. It is certain, this

history is very uncommon, and deserves to be recorded in letters of

gold. The executioner having dismissed the doctor, made every thing

ready to tie up the tailor.

While the executioner was making ready to hang up the tailor, the

sultan of Casgar, wanting the company of his crooked jester, asked

where he was; and one of his officers told him, The Hunchback, sir,

whom you inquire after, got drunk last night, and contrary to his

custom, slipped out of the palace, and went strolling about the

city, and this morning was found dead. A man was brought before the

chief justice and charged with the murder of him; but when he was

going to be hanged, up came a man, and after him another, who took

the charge upon themselves, and cleared one another. This lasted

some time, and the judge is now examining a third man, who gives

himself out for the real author of the murder.

Upon this intelligence, the sultan of Casgar sent an officer to the

place of execution. Go, said he, in all haste, and tell the judge to

bring the accused persons before me immediately; and, withal, bring

the corpse of poor Humpback, that I may see him once more.

Accordingly, the officer went, and happened to arrive at the place

of execution at the very time that the executioner was going to tie

up the tailor. --He cried aloud to the executioner to suspend the

execution. The hangman knowing the officer, did not dare to proceed,

but untied the tailor; and then the officer acquainted the judge

with the sultan’s pleasure. The judge obeyed, and went straight to

the palace, accompanied by the tailor, the Jewish doctor, and the

Christian merchant; and made four of his men carry the hunch-backed

corpse along with him.

When they appeared before the sultan, the judge threw himself at the

prince’s feet, and after recovering himself, gave him a faithful

relation of what he knew of the story of the hump-backed man. The

story appeared so extraordinary to the sultan, that he ordered his

own historian to write it down with all its circumstances; then

addressing himself to the audience: Did you ever hear, said he, such

a surprising event as this, that has happened upon the account of my

little crooked buffoon? Then the Christian merchant, after falling

down, and touching the earth with his forehead, spoke as follows:

Most puissant monarch, said he, I know a story yet more astonishing

than that you have now spoken of; if your majesty will give me

leave, I will tell it you. The circumstances are such, that nobody

can hear them without emotion. --Well, said the sultan, I give you

leave; and so the merchant went on as follows:

The Story told by the Christian Merchant.

Sir, before I commence the recital of the story you have permitted

me to relate, I beg leave to acquaint you that I have not the honour

to be born in any part of your majesty’s empire. I am a stranger,

born at Cairo, in Egypt, a Copt by nation, and by religion a

Christian. My father was a broker, and got a good estate, which he

left me at his death. I followed his example, and took up the same

employment; and one day at Cairo, as I was standing in the public

inn for the corn merchants, there came up to me a young handsome

man, well dressed, and mounted upon an ass. He saluted me, and

pulling out a handkerchief, in which he had a sample of sesame, or

Turkey corn, asked me what a bushel of such sesame would fetch? I

examined the corn that the young man showed me, and told him, it was

worth a hundred drachms of silver per bushel. Pray, said he, look

out for some merchant to take it at that price, and come to me at

the Victory gate, where you will see a khan at a distance from the

houses. So saying, he left me the sample, and I showed it to several

merchants, who told me, that they would take as much as I could

spare at a hundred and ten drachms per bushel, so that I made an

account to get ten drachms per bushel for my share. Full of the

expectation of this profit, I went to the Victory gate, where I

found the young merchant expecting me, and he carried me into his

granary, which was full of sesame. He had a hundred and fifty

bushels of it, which I measured out, and having carried them off

upon asses, sold them for five thousand drachms of silver. Out of

this sum, said the young man, there is five hundred drachm; coming

to you, at the rate of ten drachms per bushel. This I give to you,

and as for the rest which is to come to me, do you take it out of

the merchant’s hand, and keep it till I call or send for it, for I

have no occasion for it at present. I made answer, it should be

ready for him whenever he pleased to call for it; and so, kissing

his hand, took leave of him with a grateful sense of his generosity.

A month passed before he came near me; then he asked for his four

thousand five hundred drachms of silver. I told him they were ready,

and should be told down to him immediately. He was then mounted on

his ass, and I desired him to alight, and do me the honour to eat a

mouthful with me before he received his money. No, said he, I cannot

alight at present; I have urgent business that obliges me to be at a

place just by here; but I will return this way, and then take the

money, which I desire you would have in readiness. This said, he

disappeared, and I still expected his return, but it was a full

month before he came again. I thought to myself, the young man has

great confidence in me, leaving so great a sum in my hands without

knowing me; any other man would have been afraid I should have run

away with it. To be short, he came again at the end of the third

month, and was still mounted on his ass, but finer dressed than

before.

As soon as I saw the young man, I entreated him to alight, and asked

him if he would not take his money? There is no hurry, said he, with

a pleasant easy air, I know it is in good hands; I will come and

take it when my other money is all gone: Adieu, continued he, I will

come again towards the latter end of the week. With that, he struck

the ass, and was soon out of sight. Well, thought I to myself, he

says he will see me towards the latter end of the week, but it is

likely I may not see him in a great while; I will go and make the

most of his money, and shall get a good profit by it.

And as it happened, I was not out in my conjecture; for it was a

full year before I saw my young merchant again. Then he appeared

indeed, with richer apparel than before, but seemed to have

something on his mind. I asked him to do me the honour to walk into

my house. For this time, replied he, I will go in; but upon this

condition, that you shall put yourself to no extraordinary charge

upon my account. I will do just as you please, said I; only do me

the favour to alight and walk in. Accordingly, he complied, and I

gave orders for an entertainment; and while that was getting ready,

we fell into discourse together. When the entertainment was got

ready, we sat down to table. I observed he took the first mouthful

with his left hand, and not with the right. I could not tell what to

think of it. Said I to myself, ever since I knew this young man, he

always appeared very polite; is it possible he can do this out of

contempt of me? What can be the matter, that he does not make use of

his right hand?

I was very anxious to know, why my guest ate with the left hand.

After we had done eating, and every thing was taken away, we sat

down upon a sofa, and I presented him with a lozenge by way of

dainty, and still he took it with his left hand. Then I said to him,

Pardon, sir, the liberty I take, in asking you what reason you have

for not making use of your right hand? Perhaps you have some

complaint in that hand. Instead of answering, he fetched a deep

sigh, and pulling out his right arm, which he had hitherto kept

under his garment, showed me, to my great astonishment, that his

hand had been cut off. Doubtless, you were alarmed, said he, to see

me feed myself with the left hand; but I leave you to judge whether

it was in my power to do otherwise. May one ask you, said I, by what

mischance it was that you lost your right hand? Upon that, he burst

into tears, and after wiping his eyes, gave me the following

relation.

You must know, said he, that I am a native of Bagdad, the son of a

rich father, the most eminent in that city for quality and for

riches. I had scarce launched into the world, when falling into the

company of travellers, and hearing their wonderful accounts of

Egypt, especially Grand Cairo, I was moved by their discourse, and

felt a longing desire to travel. But my father was then alive, and

had not given me leave. At length, he died; and being now my own

master, I resolved to take a journey to Cairo. I laid out a large

sum of money upon several sorts of fine stuffs of Bagdad and

Moussoul, and so undertook my journey.

Arriving at Cairo, I went to the khan, called the khan of Mesrour,

and there took lodgings, with a warehouse for my bales, which I

brought along with me upon camels. This done, I retired to my

chamber, to rest myself after the fatigue of my journey, and gave

some money to my servants, with orders to go and buy some

provisions, and dress them. After I had eaten, I went and saw the

castle, some mosques, the public squares, and the other places that

were curious.

Next day, I dressed myself, and ordered some of the finest and

richest of my bales to be picked out and carried by my slaves to the

Circassian bezestein, [69] whither I went myself. I no sooner got

there, than I was surrounded with brokers and criers, who had heard

of my arrival. I gave patterns of my stuffs to several of the

criers, who went and cried them, and showed them all over the

bezestein; but none of the merchants offered near so much as they

had cost me in prime cost and carriage. This vexed me, and the

criers observing I was dissatisfied, If you will take our advice,

said they, we will put you in a way to sell your stuffs without loss.

The brokers and the criers having thus promised to put me in a way

of losing nothing by my goods, I asked them, what course they would

have me take. Divide your goods, said they, among several merchants,

and they will sell them by retail; and twice a week, that is, on

Mondays and Thursdays, you may receive what money they take. By this

means, you will get instead of losing, and the merchants will gain

by you; and in the mean while, you will have time to take your

pleasure, and walk about the town, or go upon the Nile.

I took their advice, and carried them to my warehouse; from whence I

brought all my goods to the bezestein, and there divided them among

the merchants whom they represented as most reputable and able to

pay; and the merchants gave me a formal receipt before witnesses,

stipulating withal, that I should not make any demands upon them for

the first month.

Having thus regulated my affairs, my mind was taken up with other

things than the ordinary pleasures. I contracted friendship with

divers persons almost of the same age with myself, who took care to

make the time pass pleasantly. After the first month was expired. I

began to visit my merchants twice a week, taking along with me a

public officer to inspect their books of sale, and a banker to see

they paid me in good money, and to regulate the value of the several

species; and so every pay day I had a good sum of money to carry

home to my lodging at the khan of Mesrour. I went, nevertheless, on

the other days, to pass the morning sometimes at one merchant’s

house, and sometimes at another. In short, I diverted myself in

conversing with them, and seeing what passed in the bezestein.

One Monday, as I sat in a merchant’s shop, whose name was

Bedreddin, a lady of quality, as one might easily perceive by her

air, her habit, and by a well-dressed slave, came into the shop, and

sat down by me. Her external appearance, joined to a natural grace

that shone in all her actions, prejudiced me in her favour, and

inspired me with a longing desire to be better acquainted with her.

I know not whether she observed that I took pleasure in gazing upon

her, and whether this attention on my part was not agreeable to her;

but she let down the crape that hung over the muslin which covered

her face, and so gave me the opportunity of seeing her large black

eyes, which perfectly charmed me. In fine, she inflamed my love to

its height by the agreeable sound of her voice, and her genteel,

graceful carriage in saluting the merchant, and asking him how he

did since she saw him last.

After conversing with him some time upon indifferent subjects, she

gave him to understand that she wanted a sort of stuff with a gold

ground; that she came to his shop, as affording the best choice of

any in all the bezestein; and that if he had any such as she asked

for, he would oblige her in showing them. Bedreddin showed her

several pieces, one of which she pitched upon, and he asked for it

eleven hundred drachms of silver. I agree, said she, to give you so

much, but I have not money enough about me; so I hope you will give

me credit till to-morrow, and in the mean time allow me to carry off

the stuff. I shall not fail, added she, to send to you to-morrow the

eleven hundred drachms I agreed for. Madam, said Bedreddin, I would

give you credit with all my heart, and allow you to carry off the

stuff if it were mine; but it belongs to the young man you see here,

and this is the day on which we settle our accounts. Why, said the

lady in surprise, why do you offer to use me so! Am I not a customer

to your shop? And as often as I have bought of you, and carried home

the things without paying ready money for them, did I ever fail to

send you your money next morning? Madam, said the merchant, it is

true; but this very day I have occasion for the money. There, said

she, throwing the stuff to him, take your stuff; I care not for you

nor all the merchants. You are all alike; you respect nobody. This

said, she rose up in a passion, and walked out.

When I saw, said the young man, that the lady walked away, I felt a

great concern for her; so I called her back, saying, Madam, do me

the favour to return; perhaps I can find a way to content you both.

She returned, saying, it was for my sake that she complied. Mr.

Bedreddin, said I to the merchant, what do you say you must have for

this stuff that belongs to me? I must have, said he, eleven hundred

drachms; I cannot take less. Give it to the lady then, said I, let

her take it home with her; I allow a hundred drachms profit to

yourself, and shall now write you a note, empowering you to discount

that sum upon the other goods you have of mine. In fine, I wrote,

signed, and delivered the note, and then handed the stuff to the

lady. Madam, said I, you may take the stuff with you, and as for the

money, you may either send it to-morrow or next day; or, if you

will, accept the stuff as a present from me. I beg your pardon, sir,

said she, I mean no such thing. You treat me with so much civility,

that I ought never to show myself in the world again, if I did not

show my gratitude to you. May God reward you by an increase of your

fortune; may you live many years when I am dead; may the gate of

heaven be open to you when you remove to the other world, and may

all the city proclaim your generosity.

These words inspired me with some assurance. Madam, said I, I desire

no other reward for the service I have done you, than the happiness

of seeing your face; that will repay me with interest. I had no

sooner spoken than she turned towards me, took off the muslin that

covered her face, and discovered to my eyes a wonderful beauty. I

was so struck, that I could not express my thoughts to her. I could

have looked upon her for ever: but fearing any one should observe

her, she quickly covered her face, and letting down the crape, took

up the piece of stuff and went away, leaving me in a very different

state of mind from what I was in when I came to the shop. I

continued for some time in great disorder and perplexity. Before I

took leave of the merchant, I asked him if he knew the lady: Yes,

said he; she is the daughter of an emir, who left her an immense

fortune at his death.

I went back to the khan of Mesrour, and sat down to supper, bat

could not eat, neither could I shut my eyes all the night, which

seemed the longest night in my life. As soon as it was day I got up,

in hopes to see once more the object that disturbed my repose; and

to engage her affection, I dressed myself yet more nicely than I had

done the day before.

I had but just got to Bedreddin’s shop, when I saw the lady coming

in more magnificent apparel than before, and attended by her slave.

When she came in, she did not mind the merchant, but addressing

herself to me, Sir, said she, you see I am punctual to my word. I am

come on purpose to pay the sum you were so kind as to pass your word

for yesterday, though you had no knowledge of me. Such uncommon

generosity I shall never forget. --Madam, said I, you had no

occasion to be so hasty; I was well satisfied as to my money, and am

sorry you should put yourself to so much trouble about it. --I had

been very unjust, answered she, if I had abused your generosity.

With these words she put the money into my hand, and sat down by me.

Having this opportunity of conversing with her, I made the best use

of it, and mentioned to her the love I had for her; but she rose and

left me very abruptly, as if she had been angry with the declaration

I had made. I followed her with my eyes as long as she was in sight,

and as soon as she was out of sight, I took leave of the merchant,

and walked out of the bezestein, without knowing where I went. I was

musing upon this adventure, when I felt somebody pulling me behind,

and turning about to see who it was, I had the agreeable surprise to

perceive it was the lady’s slave. My mistress, said the slave, I

mean the young lady you spoke with but now in the merchant’s shop,

wants to speak a word with you if you please to give yourself the

trouble to follow me. Accordingly I followed her, and found her

mistress sitting waiting for me in a banker’s shop.

She made me sit down by her, and spoke to this purpose. Dear sir,

said she, do not be surprised that I left you so abruptly. I thought

it not proper, before that merchant, to give a favourable answer to

the discovery you made of your affection to me. But to speak the

truth, I was so far from being offended at it, that I was pleased

when I heard it; and I account myself infinitely happy in having a

man of your merit for my lover. I do not know what impression the

first sight of me could make upon you; but I assure you, I no sooner

saw you than I conceived tender thoughts of you. Since yesterday I

have done nothing but think of what you said to me; and my eagerness

to come and seek you this morning may convince you I have no small

regard for you. --Madam, said I, transported with love and joy,

nothing can be more agreeable to me than what I now hear. No passion

can be greater than that with which I love you, since the happy

moment I cast my eyes upon you; my eyes were then dazzled with so

many charms, that my heart yielded without resistance. --Let us not

trifle away the time in needless discourse, said she, interrupting

me; I make no doubt of your sincerity, and you shall quickly be

convinced of mine. Will you do me the honour to come to my home? or

if you will, I will come to yours. --Madam, said I, I am a stranger

lodged in a khan, which is not a proper place for the reception of a

lady of your quality and me. It is more proper, madam, for me to

come to you at your own home, if you will please to tell me where it

is. The lady complying with this desire; I live, said she, in

Devotion-Street; come on Friday, which is the day after to-morrow,

after noon-prayers, and ask for the house of Abon Schama, surnamed

Bercour, late master of the emirs; there you will find me. This

said, we parted; and I passed the next day in great impatience.

On Friday I got up betimes, and put on my best clothes, with fifty

pieces of gold in my purse. I mounted an ass I had bespoke the day

before, and set out, accompanied by the man that let me the ass.

When we came to Devotion-Street, I directed the owner of the ass to

inquire for the house I wanted; he found it, and conducted me

thither. I paid him liberally, and sent him back; directing him to

observe narrowly where he left me, and not to fail to come back with

the ass next morning, to carry me back again to the khan of Mesrour.

I knocked at the door, and presently two little girl-slaves, white

as snow, and neatly dressed, came and opened it. Be pleased to come

in, sir, said they; our mistress expects you impatiently; these two

days she has talked of nothing but you. I entered the court, and saw

a great pavilion, raised upon seven steps, and surrounded with iron

rails that parted it from a very pleasant garden. Besides the trees

which only embellished the place, and formed an agreeable shade,

there was an infinite number of other trees loaded with all sorts of

fruit. I was charmed with the warbling of a great number of birds,

that joined their notes to the murmurings of a very high water-work,

in the middle of a parterre enamelled with flowers. This water-work

was a very agreeable sight; four large gilded dragons at the angles

of the basin, which was of a square form, spouted out water clearer

than rock-crystal. This delicious place gave me a charming idea of

the conquest I had made. The two little slaves conducted me into a

saloon magnificently furnished; and while one of them went to

acquaint her mistress with my arrival, the other tarried with me,

and pointed out to me the beauties of the hall.

I did not tarry long in the hall, ere the lady I loved appeared,

adorned with pearls and diamonds; but the splendour of her eyes far

outshone that of her jewels. Her shape, which was now not disguised

by the habit she wore in the city, appeared the most slender and

advantageous. I need not mention with what joy we met once more;

that far exceeds all expression. I shall only tell you, that when

the first compliments were over, we sat both down upon a sofa, and

there conversed together with the highest satisfaction. After that,

we had the most delicious messes served up to us; and after eating,

continued our conversation till night. At night we had excellent

wine brought up, and such fruit as is apt to promote drinking; and

timed our cups to the sound of musical instruments, joined to the

voices of the slaves. The lady of the house sung herself, and by her

songs raised my passion to the height. In short, I passed the night

in the full enjoyment of all manner of pleasure.

Next morning I slipt under the bolster of the bed the purse with the

fifty pieces of gold I had brought with me, and took leave of the

lady, who asked me when I would see her again. Madam, said I, I give

you my promise to return this night. She seemed to be transported

with my answer, and conducting me to the door, conjured me at

parting to be mindful of my promise.

The same man that had carried me thither, waited for me with his

ass, which I mounted, and went directly to the khan, ordering the

man to come to me again in the afternoon at a certain hour; to

secure which, I would not pay him till that time came.

As soon as I arrived at my lodging, my first care was to order my

people to buy a good lamb, and several sorts of cakes, which I sent

by a porter as a present to the lady. When that was done, I attended

to my serious business till the owner of the ass came. Then I went

along with him to the lady’s house, and was received by her with

as much joy as before, and entertained with equal magnificence.

Next morning I took leave, and left her another purse with fifty

pieces of gold, and returned to my khan.

I continued to visit the lady every day, and to leave her every time

a purse with fifty pieces of gold, till the merchants whom I

employed to sell my goods, and whom I visited regularly twice a

week, owed me nothing: and, in short, I came at last to be

moneyless, and hopeless of having any more.

In this desperate condition, I walked out of my lodging, not knowing

what course to take, and by chance went towards the castle, where

there was a great crowd of people to see a show given by the sultan

of Egypt. As soon as I came up to them, I wedged in among the crowd,

and by chance happened to stand by a horseman well mounted, and

handsomely clothed, who had upon the pommel of his saddle a bag,

half open, with a string of green silk hanging out of it. I clapped

my hand to the bag, concluding the silk twist might be the string of

a purse within the bag: in the mean time, a porter with a load of

wood upon his back, passed by the other side of the horse, so near

that the gentleman on horseback was forced to turn his head towards

him, to avoid being hurt, or having his clothes torn by the wood. In

that moment did the devil tempt me; I took the string in one hand,

and with the other laid open the mouth of the bag, and pulled out

the purse so dexterously, that nobody perceived it. The purse was

heavy, and I did not doubt but there was gold or silver in it.

As soon as the porter had passed, the horseman, who probably had

some suspicion of what I had done while his head was turned,

presently put his hand to his bag, and finding his purse was gone,

gave me such a blow that he knocked me down. This violence shocked

all who saw it; some took hold of the horse’s bridle, to stop the

gentleman, and asked him, what reason he had to strike me, or how he

came to treat a Mussulman after that rate. Do not you trouble

yourselves, said he briskly; I had reason for what I did: this

fellow is a thief. At these words, I started up, and from my

appearance, every one took my part, and cried out he was a liar, for

that it was incredible a young man such as I, should be guilty of so

base an action; but while they were holding his horse by the bridle

to favour my escape, unfortunately passed by the judge, who seeing

such a crowd about the gentleman on horseback and me, came up and

asked what the matter was. Every body present reflected on the

gentleman for treating me so unjustly upon the pretence of robbery.

The judge did not give ear to all that was said; but asked the

cavalier if he suspected any body else beside me? The cavalier told

him he did not, and gave his reasons why he believed his suspicions

not to be groundless. Upon this, the judge ordered his followers to

seize me, and search me, which they presently did; and finding the

purse upon me, exposed it to the view of all the people. The

disgrace was so great, I could not bear it, but swooned away. In the

mean time the judge called for the purse.

When he had got it in his hand, he asked the horseman if it was his,

and how much money was in it. The cavalier knew it to be his own,

and assured the judge he had put twenty sequins into it. Upon which,

the judge called me before him: Come, young man, said he, confess

the truth; was it you that took the gentleman’s purse from him? Do

not wait for the torture to extort confession. Then, with downcast

eyes, thinking within myself, that if I denied the fact, they

finding the purse about me, would convict me of a lie; to avoid a

double punishment, I looked up and confessed it was I. I had no

sooner made the confession than the judge called people to witness

it, and ordered my hand to be cut off. This sentence was put in

execution immediately upon the spot, to the great regret of all the

spectators; nay, I observed by the cavalier’s countenance, that he

was moved with pity as much as the rest. The judge would likewise

have ordered my foot to be cut off, but I begged the cavalier to

intercede for my pardon, which he did, and obtained it.

When the judge was gone, the cavalier came up to me, and holding out

the purse, I see plainly, said he, that necessity put you upon an

action so disgraceful and unworthy of such a handsome young man as

you are. Here, take that fatal purse; I freely give it you, and am

heartily sorry for the misfortune you have undergone. This said, he

went away; and I being very weak by loss of blood, some of the good

people of the neighbourhood had the charity to carry me into a

house, and gave me a glass of wine; they likewise dressed my arm,

and wrapped up the dismembered hand in a cloth, which I carried away

with me fastened to my girdle.

If I had returned to the khan of Mesrour in this melancholy

condition, I should not have found there such relief as I wanted;

and to offer to go to the young lady was running a great hazard, it

being likely she would not look upon me after she heard of my

disgrace. I resolved, however, to put it to the trial; and to tire

out the crowd that followed me, I turned down several by-streets,

and at last, arrived at the lady’s house very weak, and so much

fatigued, that I presently threw myself down upon a sofa, keeping my

right arm under my garment, for I took great care to conceal my

misfortune.

In the mean time, the lady, hearing of my arrival, and that I was

not well, came to me in all haste, and seeing me pale and dejected,

My dear soul, said she, what is the matter with you? --Madam, said

I, dissembling, I have got a violent pain in my head. The lady

seemed to be much concerned, and asked me to sit down, for I had got

up to receive her. Tell me, said she, how your illness came: the

last time I had the pleasure to see you, you were very well. There

must be something else that you conceal from me; let me know what it

is. I stood silent, and instead of an answer, tears trickled down my

cheeks. I cannot conceive, said she, what it is that afflicts you.

Have I unthinkingly given you any occasion of uneasiness? Or do you

come on purpose to tell me you no longer love me? --It is not that,

madam, said I, fetching a deep sigh; your unjust suspicion is an

addition to my misfortune.

I could not think of discovering to her the true cause. When night

came, supper was brought, and she pressed me to eat; but considering

I could only feed myself with my left hand, I begged to be excused,

upon the plea of having no appetite. Your appetite will return, said

she, if you would but discover what you so obstinately hide from me.

Your inappetency, without doubt, is only owing to your irresolution.

--Alas! madam, said I, I find I must resolve at last. I had no

sooner spoke these words, than she filled me a cup full of wine, and

offering it to me, Drink that, said she, it will give you courage. I

reached out my left hand, and took the cup.

When I had got the cup in my hand, I redoubled my tears and sighs.

Why do you sigh and weep so bitterly? said the lady: and why do you

take the cup with your left hand, rather than your right? --Ah!

madam, said I, excuse me, I beseech you; I have a swelling in my

right hand. --Let me see that swelling, said she: I will open it. I

desired to be excused, alleging it was not ripe enough for opening!

and drank off the cup, which was very large. The fumes of the wine,

joined to my weakness and weariness, set me asleep, and I slept very

soundly till next morning.

In the mean time, the lady curious to know what ailed my right hand,

lifted up my garment that covered it, and saw to her great

astonishment that it was cut off, and that I had brought it along

with me wrapt up in a cloth. She presently apprehended what was my

reason for declining a discovery, notwithstanding all her pressing

solicitation, and passed the night in the greatest uneasiness upon

my disgrace, which she concluded had been occasioned only by the

love I bore to her.

When I awaked, I discerned by her countenance, that she was

extremely grieved. However, that she might not increase my

uneasiness, she said not a word. She called for jelly broth of fowl,

which she had ordered to be prepared, and made me eat and drink to

recruit my strength. After that, I offered to take leave of her, but

she declared I should not go out of her doors. Though you tell me

nothing of the matter, said she, I am persuaded I am the cause of

the misfortune that has befallen you. The grief that I feel upon

that score will quickly make an end of me; but before I die, I must

execute a design for your benefit. She had no sooner said the word

than she called for a judge and witnesses, and ordered a writing to

be drawn up, putting me in possession of her whole property. After

this was done, and every body dismissed, she opened a large trunk,

where lay all the purses I had given her from the commencement of

our amour. There they are all entire, said she; I have not touched

one of them: here is the key: take it, for all is yours. After I had

returned her thanks for her generosity and goodness: What I have

done for you, said she, is nothing; I shall not be satisfied unless

I die, to show how much I love you. I conjured her by all the powers

of love, to give up such a fatal resolution. But all my

remonstrances were ineffectual; she was so afflicted to see me have

but one hand, that she sickened, and died after five or six weeks’

illness.

After mourning for her death as long as was decent, I took

possession of all her estate, a particular account of which she gave

me before she died, and the corn you sold for me was part of it.

What I have now told you will plead my excuse for eating with my

left hand. I am highly obliged to you for the trouble you have given

yourself on my account. I can never sufficiently recompense your

fidelity. Since, thanks to God, I have still a competent estate,

notwithstanding I have spent a great deal, I beg you to accept of

the sum now in your hand, as a present from me. --Over and above

this, I have a proposal to make to you; since by reason of this

fatal accident I am obliged to depart from Cairo, I am resolved

never to see it more. If you choose to accompany me, we will trade

together as equal partners, and divide the profit.

I thanked the young man, said the Christian merchant, for the

present he had made me; and as to the proposal of travelling with

him, I willingly embraced it, assuring him, that his interest should

always be as dear to me as my own.

We fixed a day for our departure, and accordingly entered upon our

travels. We passed through Syria and Mesopotamia, travelled all over

Persia, and after stopping at several cities, came at last, sir, to

your capital. Some time after our arrival in this place, the young

man having formed a design of returning to Persia, and settling

there, we balanced our accounts and parted very good friends. He

went from hence, and I, sir, continue here in your majesty’s

service. This is the story I had to tell you: does not your majesty

find it more surprising than that of the crooked buffoon?

The sultan of Casgar fell into a passion against the Christian

merchant. You are very bold, said he, to tell me a story so little

worth my hearing, and then to compare it to that of my jester. Can

you flatter yourself so far as to believe that the trifling

adventures of a young debauchee can make such an impression upon me

as those of my jester? I will hang you all four, to revenge his

death.

Hearing this, the purveyor fell down frighted at the sultan’s

feet. Sir, said he, I humbly beseech your majesty to suspend your

just wrath, and hear my story; and if it appears to your majesty to

be prettier than that of your jester, to pardon us all four. The

sultan having granted this request, the purveyor began thus:

The Story told by the Sultan of Casgar’s Purveyor.

Sir, --A person of quality invited me yesterday to his daughter’s

wedding: I went to his house in the evening, at the hour appointed,

and found there a large company of doctors, ministers of justice,

and others of the best quality in the city. After the ceremony was

over, we had a splendid feast; and among other things set upon the

table, there was a course with garlic sauce, which indeed was very

delicious, and coveted by every body; we observed, however, that one

of the guests did not offer to touch it, though it stood just before

him, and we invited him to do as we did. But he conjured us not to

press him upon that head. I will take care, said he, not to touch

any dish that has garlic in it; I remember too well what the tasting

of such an one cost me once before. We entreated him to tell us what

was the occasion of his strong aversion to garlic; but before he had

time to make answer, Is it thus, said the master of the house, that

you honour my table? This ragout is excellent, do not you pretend to

be excused from eating of it; you must do me that favour as well as

the rest. --Sir, said the gentleman, who was a Bagdad merchant, I

hope you do not think I refuse to eat it out of a mistaken nicety;

if you will have me eat of it, I will do it; but still upon this

condition, that after eating of it, I may wash my hands, with your

good leave, forty times with alcali, [70] forty times more with the

ashes of the same plant, and forty times again with soap. I hope you

will not take it ill that I stipulate this condition, in pursuance

of an oath I have made never to taste garlic without observing it.

The master of the house would not dispense with the merchant from

eating of the ragout with garlic, and therefore ordered his servant

to get ready a basin with water, together with alcali, the ashes of

the same plant, and soap, that the merchant might wash as often as

he pleased. When every thing was got ready, Now, said he to the

merchant, I hope you will do as we do.

The merchant, displeased with the violence that was offered him,

reached out his hand, and took up a bit, which he put to his mouth

trembling, and eat with a reluctance that surprised us all. But what

surprised us most of all was, that he had only four fingers and no

thumb, which none of us observed before, though he had eat of other

dishes. You have lost your thumb, said the master of the house; by

what accident? It must have been occasioned by some extraordinary

accident, a relation of which will be agreeable to the company.

--Sir, replied the merchant, I have no thumb on the right nor on the

left hand. In speaking this, he put out his left hand, and showed

that what he said was true. But this is not all, continued he: if

you will believe me, I have no great toe on either of my feet: I was

maimed in this manner by an unheard of adventure, which I am willing

to relate to you, if you will have the patience to hear me. The

relation will equally raise your astonishment and pity. Only suffer

me to wash my hands first. With this he rose from the table, and

after washing his hands a hundred and twenty times, took his place

again, and recounted his story as follows:

You must know, gentlemen, that in the reign of the caliph Haroun

Alraschid, my father lived in Bagdad, the place of my nativity, and

was reputed one of the richest merchants in the city. But being a

man addicted to his pleasures, and neglecting his private affairs,

instead of leaving me a plentiful fortune at his death, he left me

in such a situation, that all my economy was scarcely sufficient to

clear off his debts. However, with difficulty, I paid them all, and

through my industry and care, my little fortune began to wear a

smiling aspect.

One morning, as I opened my shop, a lady, mounted upon a mule, and

attended by an eunuch and two slaves, stopped near my shop door, and

with the assistance of the eunuch’s hand, alighted. Madam, said

the eunuch, I told you you would be too soon; you see there is

nobody yet in the bezestein; if you had taken my advice, you might

have saved yourself the trouble of waiting here. The lady looked all

round her, and finding there was no shop open but mine, addressed

herself to me, asking leave to sit in my shop till the rest of the

merchants came. I could do no less than return a civil answer, and

invite the lady into my shop.

The lady sat down in my shop, and observing there was nobody in the

whole bezestein but the eunuch and myself uncovered her face to take

the air; and I must say I never saw so beautiful a person. I no

sooner had a sight of her face, than I conceived a passion for her.

I fixed my eyes upon her, and perceived that she was not displeased

with my ogling, for she gave me a full opportunity to look on her,

and did not cover her face but when she was afraid of being taken

notice of.

After she had pulled down her veil again, she told me she wanted

several sorts of the richest and finest stuffs, and asked me if I

had them. Alas! madam, said I, I am but a young man, and just

beginning the world, I have not stock enough for such great

concerns, and it is a mortification to me that I have nothing to

show you that will suit you: but to save you the trouble of going

from shop to shop, as soon as the merchants come, I will go, if you

please, and fetch from them what you want, with the lowest prices,

and so you may do your business without going any farther. She

complied with my proposal, and entered into discourse with me, which

continued so much the longer, as I made her believe the merchants

that could furnish what she wanted were not yet come.

I was no less charmed with her wit than I had been before with the

beauty of her face; but there was a necessity of denying myself the

pleasure of her conversation. I ran out to see for the stuffs she

wanted; and after she had pitched upon what she liked, we agreed for

five thousand drachms of coined silver. I wrapped up the stuffs in a

small bundle, and gave it to the eunuch, who put it under his arm.

This done, she rose and took leave. I followed her with my eyes till

she had reached the bezestein gate, and even after she had mounted

her mule again.

The lady had no sooner disappeared, than I perceived that love had

caused me to commit a great neglect. It had so engrossed my

thoughts, that I did not reflect that she went away without paying

the money, neither had I the thought to ask who she was or where she

dwelt. However, I considered I was accountable for a large sum to

the merchants, who, perhaps, would not have the patience to stay for

their money; and so I went to them, and made the best excuse I

could, pretending that I knew the lady; and then came home again,

equally affected with love, and with the burden of such a heavy debt.

I had desired my creditors to stay eight days for their money; and

when eight days were passed, they did not fail to dun me. --Then I

entreated them to give me eight days more, which they agreed to; and

the very next day I saw the lady come to the bezestein, mounted on

her mule, with the same attendants as before, and exactly at the

same hour of the day.

She came straight to my shop. I have made you stay some time, said

she, but here is your money at last; carry it to the banker, and see

it is all good and right. The eunuch, who brought me the money, went

along with me to the banker, and we found it very right. I returned,

and had the happiness of conversing with the lady till all the shops

of the bezestein were open. Though we talked but of ordinary things,

she gave them such a turn, that they appeared new and uncommon; and

convinced me that I was not mistaken in admiring her wit at our

first interview.

As soon as the merchants had arrived and opened their shops, I

carried to the respective owners the money due for their stuffs, and

was readily entrusted with more, which the lady had desired to see.

She chose some from these to the value of one thousand pieces of

gold, and carried them away as before without paying: nay, without

speaking a word, or informing me who she was. What distressed me was

the consideration that while at this rate she risked nothing, she

left me without any security against being made answerable for the

goods in case she did not return. She has paid me, thought I, a

considerable sum; but she leaves me responsible for a greater.

Surely she cannot be a cheat: it is not possible she can have any

such design as to inveigle me to my ruin. The merchants do not know

her; they will all come upon me. In short, my love was not so

powerful as to stifle the uneasiness I felt, when I reflected upon

all the circumstances in which I was placed. A whole month passed

before I heard any thing of the lady again; and during that time my

alarm increased. The merchants, were impatient for their money, and

to satisfy them, I was going to sell off all I had, when one morning

the lady returned with the same equipage as before.

Take your weights, said she, and weigh the gold I have brought you.

These words dispelled my fear, and inflamed my love. Before we

counted the money, she asked me several questions, and particularly

if I was married. I answered I never had been. Then reaching out the

gold to the eunuch, let us have your interposition, said she, to

accommodate our matters. Upon which the eunuch fell a laughing, and

calling me aside, made me weigh the gold. While I was thus occupied,

the eunuch whispered in my ear --I know by your eyes you love this

lady, and am surprised you have not the courage to disclose your

passion. She loves you more ardently than you do her. Do not imagine

that she has any real occasion for your stuffs. She only makes this

her pretence to come here, because you have inspired her with a

violent passion. It was for this reason she asked you if you were

married. It will be your own fault, if you do not marry her. It is

true. I replied, I have had a passion for her from the first moment

that I cast my eyes upon her; but I durst not aspire to the

happiness of thinking my attachment could meet her approbation. I am

entirely hers, and shall not fail to retain a grateful sense of your

good offices in this affair.

I finished weighing the gold, and while I was putting it into the

bag, the eunuch turned to the lady, and told her I was satisfied;

that being the word they had agreed upon between themselves.

Presently after, the lady rose and took her leave; telling me she

would send her eunuch to me, and that I had only to obey the

directions he might give me in her name.

I carried each of the merchants their money, and waited some days

with impatience for the eunuch. At last he came.

I received him very kindly, and inquired after his mistress’s

health. You are, said he, the happiest lover in the world; she is

quite sick of love for you, and is impatient to see you; and were

she mistress of her own conduct, would not fail to come to you

herself, and willingly pass in your society all the days of her

life. Her noble mien and graceful carriage, I replied, convinced me

that she was a lady beyond the common rank. You have not erred in

your judgment on that head, said the eunuch: she is the favourite of

Zobeide, the caliph’s wife, who is the more affectionately

attached to her from having brought her up from her infancy, and

intrusts her with all her affairs. Having a wish to marry, she has

declared to her mistress that she has fixed her affections upon you,

and has desired her consent.

Zobeide told her, she would not withhold her consent; but that she

would see you first, in order to judge if she had made a good

choice; in which case she meant herself to defray the expenses of

the wedding. Thus you see your felicity is certain; since you have

pleased the favourite, you will be equally agreeable to the

mistress, who seeks only to oblige her, and would by no means thwart

her inclination. All you have to do is to come to the palace. I am

sent hither to invite you as soon as you determine to go.

My resolution is already formed, said I, and I am ready to follow

you whithersoever you please to conduct me.

Very well, said the eunuch; but you know men are not allowed to

enter the ladies’ apartments in the palace, and you must be

introduced with great secrecy. The favourite lady has contrived the

matter well. On your side you must act your part discreetly; for if

you do not, your life is at stake.

I gave him repeated assurances punctually to perform whatever he

might require. Then, said he, in the evening, you must be at the

mosque built by the caliph’s lady on the bank of the Tigris, and

wait there till somebody comes to conduct you. To this I agreed; and

after passing the day in great impatience, went in the evening to

the prayer that is said an hour and a half after sunset in the

mosque, and remained there after all the people had departed.

Soon after I saw a boat making up to the mosque, the rowers of which

were all eunuchs, who came on shore and put several large trunks

into the mosque, and then retired; only one of them staid behind,

whom I perceived to be the same eunuch that had all along

accompanied the lady, and had been with me that morning. I saw the

lady also enter the mosque; and making up to her, told her I was

ready to obey her orders. We have no time to lose, said she; and

opening one of the trunks, bid me get into it, that being necessary

both for your safety and mine. Fear nothing, added she; leave the

management of all to me. I considered with myself, I had gone too

far to recede, and so obeyed her orders; and she immediately locked

the trunk. This done, the eunuch her confidant called the other

eunuchs who had brought in the trunks, and ordered them to carry

them on board again. The lady and eunuch re-embarked, and the

boatmen rowed to Zobeide’s apartment.

In the mean time I reflected very seriously upon the danger to which

I had exposed myself, and made vows and prayers, though it was then

too late.

The boat stopped at the palace gate, and the trunks were carried

into the apartment of the officer of the eunuchs, who keeps the key

of the ladies apartments, and suffers nothing to enter without a

narrow inspection. The officer was then in bed, and there was a

necessity of calling him up.

The officer of the eunuchs was angry that they should break his

rest, and chid the favourite lady severely for coming home so late.

You shall not come off so easily as you think for, said he: not one

of these trunks shall pass till I have opened them every one. At the

same time he commanded the eunuch to bring them before him, and open

them one by one. The first they began with was that wherein I lay,

which put me into inexpressible fear.

The favourite lady, who had the key of that trunk, protested it

should not be opened. You know very well, said she, I bring nothing

hither but what is for the use of Zobeide, your mistress and mine.

This trunk, continued she, is filled with rich goods that I had from

some merchants lately arrived, besides a number of bottles of Zemzem

water sent from Mecca; [71] and if any of these should happen to

break, the goods will be spoiled, and then you must answer for them;

depend on it, Zobeide will resent your insolence. She insisted upon

this in so peremptory terms, that the officer did not dare to take

upon him to open any of the trunks. Let them go, said he angrily;

you may carry them off. Upon that the women’s apartment was

opened, and all the trunks were carried in.

They were scarcely got in, when all on a sudden I heard the people

cry, Here is the caliph! here comes the caliph! This put me in such

a fright, that I wonder I did not die upon the spot, for it really

was the caliph. What hast thou got in these trunks? said he to the

favourite. --Some stuffs, said she, lately arrived, which your

majesty’s lady had a mind to see. --Open them, cried he, and let

me see them. She pretended to excuse herself, alleging the stuffs

were only proper for ladies, and that by opening them his lady would

be deprived of the pleasure of seeing them first. I say, open them,

cried the caliph; I have a mind to see them, and I will see them.

She still represented that her mistress would be angry with her if

she opened them. No, no, said he; I will engage she shall not say a

word to you for so doing: come, come, open them, and do not keep me

waiting here.

There was a necessity of obeying, which gave me such alarm, that I

tremble every time I think on it. The caliph sat down; and the

favourite ordered all the trunks to be brought before him one after

another. Then she opened them; and to lengthen out the time, showed

all the beauties of each particular stuff, thinking thereby to tire

out his patience; but her stratagem did not succeed. Being as

unwilling as myself to have the trunk where I lay opened, she left

that to the last. So when all the rest were viewed, Come, said the

caliph, make an end; let us see what is in that. I am at a loss to

tell you whether I was dead or alive that moment; for I little

thought of escaping so great a danger.

When Zobeide’s favourite saw that the caliph would needs have the

trunk open where I lay, As for this trunk, said she, your majesty

will please to dispense with the opening of it: there are some

things in it which I cannot show you without your lady be by. Well,

well, said the caliph, since it is so, I am satisfied; order the

trunks to be carried away. The word was no sooner spoken than the

trunks were moved into her chamber, where I began to revive again.

As soon as the eunuchs who had brought them were gone, she presently

opened the trunk where I was prisoner. Come out, said she, go up

these stairs that lead to an upper room, and stay there till I come.

The door which led to the stairs she locked after I was in; and that

was no sooner done, than the caliph came and sat down on the very

trunk where I had been confined. The occasion of this visit was a

motive of curiosity that did not respect me. He had a mind to

question the lady about what she had seen or heard in the city. So

they discoursed together some while, and then he left her and

retired to his apartment.

When she found the coast clear, she came to the chamber where I was,

and made many apologies for the alarms she had given me. My

uneasiness, said she, was no less than yours; you cannot well doubt

of that, since I have run the same risk out of love to you: perhaps,

another person in my situation would not have had the presence of

mind to manage matters so dexterously upon so delicate an occasion,

where so much courage and presence of mind were requisite; nothing

less than the love I had for you could have inspired me with courage

to do it. But come, take heart, now the danger is over. After much

tender discourse between us, she told me it was time to go to rest,

and that she would not fail to introduce me to Zobeide, her

mistress, some hour to morrow, which will be very easy; For the

caliph never sees her, added she, but at night. Encouraged by these

words, I slept very well; or if my sleep was interrupted it was by

agreeable disquietudes, caused by the hopes of enjoying a lady,

blest with so much wit and beauty.

The next day, before I was introduced to Zobeide, her favourite

instructed me how to behave, mentioning what questions she would put

to me, and dictating the answers I was to give. This done, she

carried me into a very magnificent and richly furnished hall. I was

no sooner entered, than twenty women slaves, advanced in age,

dressed in rich and uniform habits, came out of Zobeide’s

apartment, and placed themselves very modestly before the throne in

two equal rows; they were followed by twenty other younger ladies

clothed after the same manner, only their habits appeared somewhat

gayer. In the middle of these appeared Zobeide, with a majestic air,

and so laden with jewels that she could scarce walk. She went and

sat down on the throne, and the favourite lady, who had accompanied

her, stood just by her on her right hand; the other ladies, who were

slaves, being placed at some distance on each side of the throne.

As soon as the caliph’s lady was set down, the slaves that came in

first made a sign for me to approach. I advanced between the two

rows they had formed, and prostrated myself upon the carpet that was

under the princess’s feet. She ordered me to rise, and did me the

honour to ask my name, my family, and the state of my fortune; upon

all which I gave her satisfactory answers, as I perceived not only

by her countenance, but by her words. I am glad, said she, that my

daughter, (so she used to call the favourite lady,) for I look upon

her as such, after the care I have taken of her education, I am very

glad she has made a choice that pleases me; I approve of it, and

give consent to your marriage. I will myself give orders for

solemnizing it; but I want to have my daughter stay ten days with me

before the solemnity; and in that time I will speak to the caliph,

and obtain his consent: meanwhile, do you stay here; you shall be

taken care of.

Pursuant to the caliph’s lady’s orders, I staid ten days in the

women’s apartments, and during that time was deprived of the

pleasure of seeing the favourite lady; but was so well used by her

orders, that I had no reason to be dissatisfied.

Zobeide told the caliph her resolution of marrying the favourite

lady; and the caliph leaving to her the liberty of doing upon that

head what she pleased, granted the favourite a considerable sum by

way of settlement. When the ten days were expired, Zobeide ordered

the contract of marriage to be drawn up and brought to her, and the

necessary preparations being mane for the solemnity, the musicians

and the dancers (both men and women) were called in, and there were

great rejoicings in the palace for nine days. The tenth day being

appointed for the last ceremony of the marriage, the favourite lady

was conducted to a bath, and I to another. At night, I sat down to

table, and had all manner of dishes served up to me, and among

others, a ragout with garlic, such as you have now forced me to eat

of. This ragout I liked so well, that I scarce touched any of the

other dishes; but such was my unhappiness, that when I arose from

the table, I only wiped my hands, instead of washing them well; a

piece of negligence I had never been guilty of before.

Though it was then night, the whole apartment of the ladies was as

light as day, by means of many illuminations. Nothing was to be

heard all over the palace but musical instruments, dances, and

acclamations of joy. My bride and I were introduced into a great

hall, where we were placed upon two thrones. The women that attended

her made her shift herself several times, and painted her face with

different sorts of colours, according to the usual custom on wedding

days; and every time she changed her habit they showed her to me.

All these ceremonies being over, we were conducted to the nuptial

room: as soon as the company retired, I approached to embrace my

wife; but instead of returning my transports, she pushed me away,

and cried out most fearfully; upon which, all the ladies of the

apartment came running into the chamber to know what she cried for:

and for my own part, I was so thunder-struck, that I stood like a

post, without the power of even asking what she meant by it. Dear

sister, said they to her, what has happened since we left you so

lately? Let us know, that we may try to relieve you. --Take, said

she, Take out of my sight that vile fellow. Why, madam? said I;

wherein have I deserved your displeasure? --You are a villain, said

she, in a furious passion, to eat garlic, and not wash your hands!

Do you think I would suffer such a filthy fellow to poison me? Down

with him, down with him upon the ground, continued she, addressing

herself to the ladies, and bring me a good bull’s pizzle. In

short, I was thrown upon the ground, and while some held my hands,

and others my feet, my wife, who was presently furnished with a

weapon, laid on me as long as she could stand over me. Then she said

to the ladies, Take him, send him to the judge, and let the hand be

cut off with which he fed upon the garlic ragout.

Good God, cried I, must I be beat and bruised unmercifully, and to

complete my affliction, have my hand cut off, for eating of a ragout

with garlic, and forgetting to wash my hands? What proportion is

there between the punishment and the crime? Curse on the ragout, and

on the cook that dressed it, and on him that served it up.

All the ladies that were by, and had witnessed my receiving the

thousand strokes, took pity of me when they heard the cutting off of

my hand spoken of. Dear madam, dear sister, said they to the

favourite lady, you carry your resentment too far. We own he is a

man quite ignorant of the world, of your quality, and the respect

due to you; but we beseech you to overlook and pardon the fault he

has committed. I have not received suitable satisfaction, said she;

I will teach him to know the world; I will make him bear sensible

marks of his impertinence, and be cautious hereafter how he tastes a

garlic ragout without washing his hands. Afterwards, they continued

their solicitations, and fell down at her feet, and kissing her fair

hands, Good madam, said they, in the name of God, moderate your

wrath, and grant the favour we request. She answered not a word, but

got up, and after uttering a thousand reproaches against me, walked

out of the chamber, and all the ladies followed her, leaving me in

inconceivable affliction.

I continued there ten days, without seeing any body but an old woman

slave that brought me victuals. I asked her what was become of the

favourite lady. She is sick, said the old woman; she is sick of the

poisoned smell you infected her with. Why did you not take care to

wash your hands after eating of that cursed ragout? Is it possible,

thought I to myself, that these ladies can be so nice and so

vindictive for so small a fault! I loved my wife, notwithstanding

all her cruelty, and could not help pitying her. One day the old

woman told me my spouse was recovered, and gone to bathe, and would

come to see me the next day. So, said she, I would have you call up

your patience, and endeavour to accommodate yourself to her humour:

for she is otherwise a woman of good sense and discretion, and

beloved by all the ladies about the court of Zobeide, our

respectable mistress.

In effect, my wife came next night, and accosted me thus: You see I

am too good in seeing you again after the affront you have offered

me; but still I cannot be reconciled to you till I have punished you

according to your demerit, in not washing your hands after eating

the garlic ragout. This said, she called the ladies, who, by her

order, threw me upon the ground; and after binding me fast, she had

the barbarity to cut off my thumbs and great toes herself with a

razor. One of the ladies applied a certain root to stanch the blood;

but by bleeding and by the pain, I swooned away.

When I came to myself, they gave me wine to drink, to recruit my

strength. Ah! madam, said I to my wife, if ever I eat of a garlic

ragout again, I solemnly swear to wash my hands a hundred and twenty

times with the herb alkali, with the ashes of the same plant, and

with soap. Well, replied my wife, upon that condition I am willing

to forget what is past, and live with you as my husband.

This, continued the Bagdad merchant, addressing himself to the

company, this is the reason why I refused to eat of the garlic

ragout that is now upon the table.

The ladies applied to my wounds not only the root I mentioned to

you, but likewise some balsam of Mecca, which they were well assured

was not adulterated, because they had it out of the caliph’s own

dispensatory. By virtue of that admirable balsam was I perfectly

cured in a few days, and my wife and I lived together as agreeably

as if I had never eat of the garlic ragout. But having been all my

lifetime used to enjoy my liberty, I grew weary of being confined to

the caliph’s palace; yet I said nothing of it to my wife, for fear

of displeasing her. However, she suspected it, and wanted nothing

more herself than to get out; for it was gratitude alone that made

her continue with Zobeide. Being a very witty woman, she represented

in such lively terms to her mistress the constraint I was under, in

not living in the city with people of my own rank, as I had always

done, that the good princess chose rather to deprive herself of the

pleasure of having her favourite about her, than not to grant what

we both equally desired.

A month after our marriage, my wife came into the room with several

eunuchs, carrying each a bag of silver. When the eunuchs were gone,

You never told me, said she, that you were uneasy in being confined

to court; but I perceived it, and have happily found means to make

you contented. My mistress, Zobeide, gives us leave to go out of the

palace, and here are fifty thousand sequins of which she has made us

a present, in order to enable us to live comfortably in the city.

Take ten thousand of them, and go and buy us a house.

I quickly found a house for the money, and after furnishing it

richly, we went and lived in it; and kept a great many slaves of

both sexes, and made a good figure. In short, we began to live a

very agreeable life, but it did not last long. At a year’s end, my

wife fell sick and died.

I might have married again, and lived honourably at Bagdad; but

curiosity to see the world put me upon another course. I sold my

house, and after purchasing several sorts of goods, I went with a

caravan to Persia; from Persia, I travelled to Samarcande, and from

thence hither.

This, said the purveyor to the sultan of Casgar, this is the story

that the Bagdad merchant told in company where I was yesterday. This

story, said the sultan, has something in it extraordinary; but it

does not come near that of my little Hunchback. Then the Jewish

physician prostrated himself before the sultan’s throne, and

rising again, addressed himself to that prince in the following

manner: Sir, if you will be so good as to hear me, I flatter myself

you will be pleased with a story I have to tell you. Well spoken,

said the sultan; but if it is not more surprising than that of

little Hunch-back, you must not expect to live.

The Story told by the Jewish Physician.

Sir, when I was studying physic at Damascus, and was just beginning

to practise that noble profession with some reputation, a man slave

called me to see a patient in the governor of the city’s family.

Accordingly, I went, and was conducted into a room, where I found a

very handsome young man, much dejected by his disorder: I saluted

him, and sat down by him; but he made no return to my compliments,

only a sign with his eyes that he heard me, and thanked me. Pray,

sir, said I, give me your hand, that I may feel your pulse. But

instead of stretching out his right, he gave me his left hand, at

which I was extremely surprised. This, said I to myself, is a gross

piece of ignorance, that he does not know that people present their

right hand, and not their left, to a physician. However, I felt his

pulse, wrote him a prescription, and took my leave.

I continued my visits for nine days, and every time I felt his

pulse, he still gave me his left hand. On the tenth day he seemed to

be pretty well, and so I prescribed nothing for him but bathing. The

governor of Damascus, who was by, in testimony of his being well

satisfied with my service, invested me with a rich robe, saying he

made me a physician of the city hospital, and physician in ordinary

to his house, where I might freely eat at his table when I pleased.

The young man likewise showed me many civilities, and asked me to

accompany him to the bath. Accordingly, we went together, and when

his attendants had undressed him, I perceived he wanted the right

hand, and that it had not long been cut off, which had been the

occasion of his disorder, though concealed from me; for while the

people about him were applying proper medicines externally, they had

called me to prevent the ill consequence of the fever which was on

him. I was very much surprised and concerned on seeing his

misfortune, which he observed by my countenance. Doctor, cried he,

do not be astonished to see that my hand is cut off; some day or

other, I will tell you the occasion of it; and in that relation you

will be entertained with very surprising adventures.

After we had done bathing, we sat down to table; and after some

other discourse together, he asked me if it would be any prejudice

to his health if he went and took a walk out of town in the

governor’s garden? I made answer, so far from it, that the air

would benefit his health. Since it is so, said he, if you will give

me your company, I will tell you the history of my adventures. I

replied, I was at his command for all that day. Upon which he

presently called his servants to bring something for a collation,

and we went to the governor’s garden. There we took two or three

turns, and then sat down upon a carpet that his servants had spread

under a tree, which gave a very pleasant shade. After we were

seated, the young man gave me his history in the following terms:

I was born, said he, at Moussoul, of one of the most considerable

families in the city. My father was the eldest of ten brothers, who

were all alive and married when my grandfather died. All the

brothers were childless, but my father; and he has no child but me.

He took particular care of my education, and made me learn every

thing proper for a child of my rank.

When I was grown up, and began to keep company with the world, I

happened one Friday to be at noon-prayers with my father and my

uncles in the great mosque of Moussoul. And after prayers were over,

the rest of the company going away, my father and my uncles

continued sitting upon the best carpet in the mosque; and I sat down

by them. They discoursed of several things, but the conversation

fell insensibly, I know not how, upon the subject of voyages. They

extolled the beauties and peculiar rarities of some kingdoms, and of

their principal cities. But one of my uncles said, that according to

the uniform report of an infinite number of voyagers, there was not

in the world a pleasanter country than Egypt and the Nile; and the

account he gave of them infused into me such a charming idea of

them, that from that very moment I had a desire to travel thither.

Whatever my other uncles said, by way of preference to Bagdad and

the Tigris, in calling Bagdad the true residence of the Mussulman

religion, and the metropolis of all the cities of the earth, made no

impression upon me. My father joined in opinion with those of his

brothers who had spoken in favour of Egypt; which filled me with

joy. Say what you will, said he, the man that has not seen Egypt,

has not seen the greatest rarity in the world. All the land there is

golden; I mean, it is so fertile that it enriches its inhabitants.

All the women of that country charm you by their beauty and their

agreeable carriage. If you speak of the Nile, where is there a more

wonderful river? What water was ever lighter or more delicious? The

very slime it carries along in its overflowing fattens the fields,

which produce a thousand times more than other countries that are

cultivated with the greatest labour. Observe what a poet said of the

Egyptians, when he was obliged to depart from Egypt: Your Nile loads

you with blessings every day; it is for you only that it runs from

such a distance. Alas! in removing from you, my tears will flow as

abundantly as its waters: you are to continue in the enjoyment of

its sweetnesses, while I am condemned to deprive myself of them

against my will.

If you look, added my father, towards the island that is formed by

the two greatest branches of the Nile, what variety of verdure! What

enamel of all sorts of flowers! What a prodigious number of cities,

villages, canals, and a thousand other agreeable objects! If you

turn your eyes on the other side, up towards Ethiopia, now many

other subjects of admiration! I cannot compare the verdure of so

many plains, watered with the different canals of the island, better

than to brilliant emeralds set in silver. Is not Grand Cairo the

largest, the most populous, and the richest city in the universe?

What a number of magnificent edifices, both public and private! If

you view the pyramids, you will be filled with astonishment: you

will stiffen at the sight of these masses of stone of an enormous

thickness, which rear their heads to the skies! You will be obliged

to confess, that the Pharaohs, who employed such riches, and so many

men in building them, must have surpassed in magnificence and

invention all the monarchs that have appeared since, not only in

Egypt, but in all the world, for having left monuments so worthy of

their memory: monuments so ancient, that the learned cannot agree

upon the time of their erection; yet such as stand to this day, and

will last to the end of time. I pass over in silence the maritime

cities of the kingdom of Egypt, such as Damietta, Rosetta,

Alexandria, where innumerable nations come for various sorts of

grain, cloth, and an infinite number of other things calculated for

the accommodation and delight of men, I speak of what I know; for I

spent there some years in my youth, which, as long as I live, I

shall always reckon the most agreeable part of my life.

My uncles had no answer to give my father, continued the young man

of Moussoul, and assented to all he had said of the Nile, of Cairo,

and of the whole kingdom of Egypt: my imagination was so full of it,

that I had not a wink of sleep that night. Soon after, my uncles

declared how much they were struck with my father’s discourse.

They made a proposal to him, that they should travel all together

into Egypt. He accepted of the proposal; and being rich merchants,

they resolved to carry with them such goods as would sell there. I

found that they were making preparations for their departure; and

thereupon went to my father, and begged of him, with tears in my

eyes, that he would suffer me to go along with him, and allow me

some stock of goods to trade with on my own account. You are too

young, said my father, to travel into Egypt; the fatigue is too

great for you; and besides, I am sure you will come off a loser in

your traffic. These words, however, did not cure the eager desire I

had to travel. I made use of my uncles’ interest with my father,

who at last granted me leave to go as far as Damascus, where they

were to leave me, till they travelled through Egypt. The city of

Damascus, said my father, may likewise glory in its beauties, and my

son must be content with leave to go so far. Though my curiosity to

see Egypt was very pressing, I considered he was my father, and

submitted to his will.

I set out from Moussoul with him and my uncles. We travelled through

Mesopotamia, passed the Euphrates, and arrived at Aleppo, where we

staid some days. From thence we went to Damascus, the first sight of

which agreeably surprised me. We lodged all together in one khan;

and I had the view of a city that was large, populous, full of

handsome people, and well fortified. We employed some days in

walking up and down the delicious gardens that surrounded it; and we

all agreed, that Damascus was justly said to be seated in a

paradise. At last my uncles thought of pursuing their journey; but

took care, before they went, to sell my goods so advantageously for

me, that I got five hundred per cent. This sale fetched me so

considerable a sum, that I was transported to see myself possessed

of it.

My father and my uncles left me in Damascus, and pursued their

journey. After their departure, I used great caution not to lay out

my money idly. But at the same time I took a stately house, all of

marble, adorned with paintings of gold, silver foliage, and a garden

with fine water-works. I furnished it, not so richly indeed as the

magnificence of the place deserved, but at least handsomely enough

for a young man of my rank. It had formerly belonged to one of the

principal lords of the city, whose name was Modoun Aldalraham; but

then was the property of a rich jewel merchant, to whom I paid for

it only two sherifs [72] a month. I had a number of domestics, and

lived honourably; sometimes I gave entertainments to such people as

I had made an acquaintance with, and sometimes I went and was

treated by them. Thus did I spend my time at Damascus, waiting for

my father’s return; no passion disturbed my repose, and my only

employment was conversation with people of credit.

One day, as I sat taking the cool air at my gate, a very handsome

well dressed lady came to me, and asked me, if I did not sell

stuffs? She no sooner spoke the words than she went into my house.

When I saw that the lady was gone into the house, I rose, and having

shut the gate, conducted her into a hall, and prayed her to sit

down. Madam, said I, I have had stuffs that are fit to be shown to

you, but I have them not now, for which I am very sorry. She took

off the veil that covered her face, and discovered a beautiful

person, which affected me with such emotions, as I had never felt

before. I have no occasion for stuffs, said she; I only come to see

you, and pass the evening with you, if you please: all I ask of you

is a light collation.

Transported with such good luck, I ordered the servants to bring us

several sorts of fruits, and some bottles of wine. They served us

with despatch, and we ate, drank and made merry till midnight. In

short, I had not before passed a night so agreeably as this. Next

morning, I would have put ten sherifs in the lady’s hands, but she

drew back instantly. I am not come to see you, said she, with an

interested design; you affront me; far from receiving money of you,

I desire you to take money of me, or else I will see you no more. In

speaking this, she put her hand into her purse, took out ten

sherifs, and forced me to take them, saying, You may expect me three

days hence after sunset. Then she took leave of me, and I felt that

when she went she carried my heart along with her.

She did not fail to return at the appointed hour three days after,

and I did not fail to receive her with all the joy of a person who

waited impatiently for her arrival. The evening and the night we

spent as before; and next day, at parting, she promised to return

the third day after. However, she did not go without forcing me to

take ten sherifs more.

She returned a third time; and at that interview, when we were both

warm with wine, she spoke thus: My dear heart, what do you think of

me? Am I not handsome and agreeable? Madam, said I, I think this an

unnecessary question; all the expressions of love which I show you,

ought to persuade you that I love you; I am charmed to see you and

possess you. You are my queen, my sultaness; in you lies all the

felicity of my life. Ah! replied she, I am sure you would speak

otherwise if you saw a certain lady of my acquaintance, that is

younger and handsomer than I. She is of such a pleasant, lively

temper, that she would make the most melancholy people merry: I must

bring her hither; I spoke of you to her, and from the account which

I have given of you, she is dying with desire to see you. She

entreated me to procure her that pleasure, but I did not dare to

humour her without speaking to you beforehand. Madam, said I, do

what you please; but whatever you may say of your friend, I defy all

her charms to tear my heart from you, to whom it is so inviolably

attached that nothing can disengage it. Be not too positive, said

she, I now tell you I am about to put your heart to a strange trial.

We staid together all night, and next morning, at parting, instead

of ten sherifs, she gave me fifteen, which I was forced to accept.

Remember, said she, that in two days’ time, you are to have a new

guest; pray take care to give her a good reception; we will come at

the usual hour, after sunset. I took care to have my hall in great

order, and a handsome collation prepared against they came.

I waited for the two ladies with impatience, and at last they

arrived at the beginning of the night. They both unveiled

themselves, and as I had been surprised with the beauty of the

first, I had reason to be much more so when I saw her friend. She

had regular features, a complete person, and such sparkling eyes,

that I could hardly bear their splendour. I thanked her for the

honour she did me, and entreated her to excuse me if I did not give

her the reception she deserved. No compliments, said she; it should

be my part to make them to you, for allowing my friend to bring me

hither. But since you are pleased to suffer it, let us lay aside all

ceremony, and think only of amusing ourselves.

I had given orders, as soon as the ladies arrived, to have the

collation served up, and we soon sat down to supper. I sat opposite

to the strange lady, and she never ceased looking upon me with a

smile. I could not resist her conquering eyes, and she possessed

herself so powerfully of my heart, that I could offer no opposition.

But while she inspired me with a flame, she caught the flame

herself, and so far from showing any constraint in her carriage, she

held to me very lively language.

The other lady, who observed us, did nothing at first but laugh at

us. I told you, said she, addressing herself to me, you would find

my friend full of charms; and I perceive you have already violated

the oath you made me of being faithful to me. Madam, said I,

laughing as well as she, you would have reason to complain of me if

I were wanting in civility to a lady whom you brought hither, and

who is a favourite with you; both of you might then upbraid me, for

not knowing how to do the honours of my house.

We continued to drink; but as the wine warmed us, the strange lady

and I ogled one another with so little reserve, that her friend grew

jealous, and quickly gave us a dismal proof of her jealousy. She

rose from the table and went out, saying she would be with us

presently again; but a few moments after, the lady that staid with

me changed countenance, fell into violent convulsions, and, in

short, expired in my arms, while I was calling for assistance to

relieve her. I went out immediately, and asked for the other lady,

and my people told me, she had opened the street door, and was gone.

Then I suspected what was but too true, that she had been the cause

of her friend’s death. She had the dexterity and the malice to put

some very strong poison into the last glass, which she gave her with

her own hand.

I was afflicted to the last degree with the accident. What shall I

do? thought I, what will become of me? I considered there was no

time to lose, and it being then moonlight, I made my servants

quietly take up one of the great pieces of marble with which the

court of my house was paved; under that I made them presently dig a

hole, and there inter the corpse of the young lady. After replacing

the stone, I put on a travelling suit, and took what money I had,

and having locked up every thing, affixed my own seal on the door of

my house. This done, I went to see for the jewel merchant my

landlord; paid him what rent I owed, with a year’s rent in

advance; and giving him the key, prayed him to keep it for me. A

very urgent affair, said I, obliges me to be absent for some time; I

am under the necessity of going to find out my uncles at Cairo. I

took my leave of him, immediately mounted my horse, and set off with

my attendants.

I had a good journey, and arrived at Cairo without any accident.

There I met with my uncles, who were very much surprised to see me.

To excuse myself, I pretended I was tired of staying for them; and

hearing nothing of them, was so uneasy, that I could not be

satisfied without coming to Cairo. They received me very kindly, and

promised my father should not be angry with me for leaving Damascus

without his permission. I lodged in the same khan with them, and saw

all the curiosities of Cairo.

Having finished their traffic, they began to talk of returning to

Moussoul, and to make preparations for their departure; but I having

a mind to see something in Egypt that I had not yet seen, left my

uncles, and went to lodge in another quarter, at a distance from the

khan, and did not appear any more till they were gone. They sought

for me all over the city; but not finding me, they supposed remorse

for having come to Egypt, without my father’s consent, had put me

on returning to Damascus, without saying any thing to them. So they

began their journey, expecting to find me at Damascus, and there to

take me up.

I continued at Cairo after their departure three years, more

completely to indulge my curiosity after all the wonders of Egypt.

During that time, I took care to send money to the jewel merchant,

ordering him to keep my house for me; for I designed to return to

Damascus, and stay there some years more. I had no adventure at

Cairo worth relating; but, doubtless, you will be very much

surprised at that I met with after my return to Damascus.

Arriving at this city, I went to the jewel-merchant’s house, who

received me joyfully, and would needs go along with me to my house,

to show me that nobody had entered it while I was absent. The seal

was still entire upon the lock; and when I went in, I found every

thing in the same order in which I had left it.

In sweeping and cleaning out my hall where I had used to eat with

the ladies, one of my servants found a gold chain necklace, with ten

very large and very perfect pearls placed upon it at certain

distances. He brought it to me, and I knew it to be the same I had

seen upon the lady’s neck that was poisoned, and concluded it had

broken off and fallen, when I did not perceive it. I could not look

upon it without shedding tears, when I called to mind the lovely

creature I had seen die in such a shocking manner. I wrapt it up and

put it in my bosom.

I passed some days to recover from the fatigues of my voyage; after

which, I began to visit my former acquaintance. I abandoned myself

to all manner of pleasure, and insensibly squandered away all my

money. Being thus reduced, instead of selling my furniture, I

resolved to part with my necklace; but I had so little skill in

pearls, that I took my measures very ill, as you shall hear.

I went to the bezestein, where I called a crier aside, and showing

him the necklace, told him I had a mind to sell it, and desired him

to show it to the principal jewellers. The crier was surprised to

see such a trinket. What a pretty thing it is! cried he, staring

upon it a long while with admiration; never did our merchants see

any thing so rich. I am sure I shall oblige them highly in showing

it to them; and you need not doubt they will set a high price upon

it, in emulation of each other. He carried me to a shop, which

proved to be my landlord’s. Stay here, said the crier, I will

return presently, and bring you an answer.

While he was running about to show the necklace with much caution, I

sat with the jeweller, who was glad to see me, and we conversed on

different subjects. The crier returned, and calling me aside,

instead of telling me the necklace was valued at two thousand

sherifs, he assured me nobody would give me more than fifty. The

reason is, added he, the pearls are false: consider, see if you will

part with it at that price. I took him at his word, and wanting

money, Go, said I, I take your word, and that of those who know

better than myself; deliver it to them, and bring me the money

immediately.

The crier had been ordered to offer me fifty sherifs by one of the

richest jewellers in town, who had only made that offer to sound me,

and try if I was well acquainted with the value of the goods I

exposed to sale. He had no sooner received my answer than he carried

the crier to the judge, and showing him the necklace, Sir, said he,

here is a necklace that was stolen from me, and the thief, under the

character of a merchant, has had the impudence to offer it for sale;

and is at this minute in the bezestein. He is willing to take fifty

sherifs for a necklace that is worth two thousand, which is a plain

argument that it is stolen.

The judge sent immediately to seize me; and when I came before him,

he asked me, if the necklace he had in his hand was not the same

that I had exposed to sale in the bezestein. I told him it was. Is

it true, said he, that you are willing to deliver it for fifty

sherifs? I answered I was. Well, said he, in a scoffing way to me,

give him the bastinado; he will quickly tell us, with all his fine

merchant’s clothes, that he is only a downright thief; let him be

beat till he confesses. The violence of the blows made me tell a

lie: I confessed, though it was not true, that I had stolen the

necklace: and presently the judge ordered my hand to be cut off.

This made a great noise in the bezestein; and I was scarce returned

to my house when my landlord came. My son, said he, you seem to be a

young man well educated, and of good sense; how is it possible you

could be guilty of such an unworthy action as that I hear talk of?

You gave me an account of your property yourself, and I do not doubt

but the account is just. Why did not you ask money of me, and I

would have lent it you? However, after what has happened, I cannot

allow you to lodge longer in my house; you must go and seek for

other lodgings. I was extremely troubled at this; and entreated the

jeweller, with tears in my eyes, to let me stay three days longer in

his house, which he granted.

Alas! said I to myself, this misfortune and affront is unsufferable:

how shall I dare to return to Moussoul? Nothing I can say to my

father will persuade him that I am innocent.

Three hours after this fatal accident my house was assaulted by the

judge’s officers, accompanied with my landlord, and the merchant

that had falsely accused me of having stolen the necklace. I asked

them what brought them there. But instead of giving me any answer,

they bound and gagged me, calling me a thousand rogues, and telling

me, the necklace belonged to the governor of Damascus, who had lost

it above three years ago, and that one of his daughters had not been

heard of since that time. Judge my sensations when I heard this

news. However, I summoned all my resolution: I will tell, thought I,

I will tell the governor the truth; and so it will rest with him

either to put me to death, or to pardon me.

When I was brought before him, I observed he looked upon me with an

eye of compassion, from whence I augured well. He ordered me to be

untied; and addressing himself to the jeweller who accused me, and

to my landlord, Is this the man, said he, that sold the pearl

necklace? They had no sooner answered yes, than he said, I am sure

he did not steal the necklace, and I am much astonished at the

injustice that has been done him. These words giving me courage,

Sir, said I, I do assure you I am perfectly innocent. I am likewise

fully persuaded the necklace did never belong to my accuser, whom I

never saw, and whose horrible perfidy is the cause of my unjust

treatment. It is true, I made a confession as if I had stolen it;

but this I did contrary to my conscience through the force of

torture, and for another reason that I am ready to tell you, if you

will be so good as to hear me. I know enough of it already, replied

the governor, to do you one part of the justice that is due to you.

Take from hence continued he, take the false accuser; let him

undergo the same punishment he caused to be inflicted on this young

man whose innocence is known to me.

The governor’s orders were immediately put in execution: the

jeweller was punished as he deserved. Then the governor, having

ordered all the company to withdraw, said to me, My son, tell me

without fear how this necklace fell into your hands --conceal

nothing from me. Then I told him plainly all that had passed, and

declared I had chosen rather to pass for a thief than to reveal that

tragical adventure. Good God! said the governor, thy judgments are

incomprehensible, and we ought to submit to them without murmuring.

I receive, with an entire submission, the stroke thou hast been

pleased to inflict upon me. Then, directing his discourse to me, My

son, said he, having now heard the cause of your disgrace, for which

I am very much concerned, I will give you an account of the disgrace

that befell me. Know, then, that I am the father of those two young

ladies you were speaking of but now. The first lady, who had the

impudence to come to your house, was my eldest daughter. I had given

her in marriage, at Cairo, to one of her cousins, my brother’s

son. Her husband died, and she returned home, corrupted with all

manner of wickedness which she had learned in Egypt. Before I took

her home, her youngest sister, who died in that deplorable manner in

your arms, was a very prudent young woman, and had never given me

any occasion to complain of her conduct. But after that, the eldest

sister grew very intimate with her, and insensibly made her as

wicked as herself.

The day after the death of the youngest, not finding her at table, I

asked her eldest sister what was become of her; but she, instead of

answering, fell to crying bitterly, from whence I formed a fatal

presage. I pressed her to inform me of what I asked her. Father,

said she, sobbing, I can tell you no more than that my sister put on

her best clothes yesterday, and her fine pearl necklace, and went

out, and has not been heard of since. I made search for my daughter

all over the town, but could learn nothing of her unhappy fate. In

the mean time the eldest, who doubtless repented of her jealous

fury, took on very much, and incessantly bewailed the death of her

sister; she denied herself all manner of food, and so put an end to

her deplorable days.

Such, continued the governor, such is the condition of mankind!

--such are the unlucky accidents to which they are exposed! However,

my son, added he, since we are both of us equally unfortunate, let

us unite our sorrow, and not abandon one another. I give you in

marriage a third daughter I have still left; she is younger than her

sisters, and in no respect imitates their conduct; besides, she is

handsomer than they were, and I assure you is of a disposition

calculated to make you happy. You shall have no other house but

mine; and after my death, you and she shall be heirs to all my

property.