vizier, who was near him, instantly to declare who he was. But this wise vizier, being more prudent, resolved to save his master’s honor, and not let the world know the affront he had brought upon himself by his own imprudence; and therefore answered, “We have what we deserve.”
Zobeide, meanwhile, having turned to the calenders, and seeing them all blind with one eye, asked if they were brothers. One of them answered, “No, madam, not otherwise than as we are calenders; that is to say, as we observe the same rules.” “Were you born blind of the right eye?” continued she. “No madam,” answered he; “I lost my eye in such a surprising adventure, that it would be instructive to every one to hear it.” Zobeide put the same question to the others in their turn, when the last she addressed replied, “Pray, madam, show some pity on us, for we are all the sons of kings. Although we have never seen each other before this evening, we have had sufficient time to become acquainted with this circumstance; and I can assure you that the kings our fathers, have made some noise in the world!”
During this speech Zobeide became less angry, and said to the slaves, “Give them their liberty a while, but remain where you are. Those who tell us their history, and the occasion of their coming, do them no hurt, let them go where they please; but do not spare those who refuse to give us that satisfaction.”
The three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier Giafar,
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