Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 1.djvu/50

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Upon which Dinarzarde ſaid, Dear Siſter, no body can keep their promiſe better than you have done yours. This Story is certainly more ſurpriſing than the former. Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs, there are more wonderful Things yet to come, if my Lord, the Sultan, will allow me to tell ’em you. Schahriar had too great a defire to hear out the Story of the Fiſherman, to deprive himſelf of that Pleafure; and therefore put off the Sultaneſs’s Death another Day.


The Tenth Night.


DInarzade call’d her Siſter next Night, when fhe thought it was time, and pray’d her to continue the Story of the Fiſherman; and the Sultan being alſo impatient to know what Concern the Genie had with Solomon, Scheherazade continued her Story thus.

Sir, the Fiſherman, when he heard theſe Words of the Genie, recover’d his Courage, and ſays to him,thou proud Spirit, what is that you talk? It’s above eighteen hundred Years ſince the Prophet Solomon died, and we are now at the end of Time: Tell me your Hiſtory, and how you came to be ſhut up in this Veſſel?

The Genie turning to the Fiſherman, with a fierce Look; ſays, You muſt ſpeak to me with more Civility; thou art very bold to call me a proud Spirit. Very well, replies the Fiſherman, ſhall I ſpeak to you with more Civility, and call you the Owl of good-luck? I ſay, anſwers the Geni, ſpeak to me more civilly, before I kill thee, Ah! replies the Fiſherman, why would you kill me? Did not I just now ſet you at Liberty, and have you already forgot it? Yes, I remember it, ſays the Genie, but that ſhall not hinder me to kill thee: I have only one ſavour to grant thee: And what’s that, ſays the Fiſherman? It is, anſwers the Genie, to give you your Choice, in what manner thou wouldſt have me take thy Life, but wherein have offended you, replies the Fiſherman? Is this your Reward for the good Service I have done you? Ican’t treat you otherwiſe, ſays the Genie; and that you may be convinc’d of it, hearken to my Story.

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