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a Piece of good Service, to one that’s ſo ungrateful. I beg you to conſider your Injuſtice, and revoke ſuch an unreaſonable Oath: Pardon me, and Heav’n will pardon you; if you grant my Life, Heav’n will protect you from all Attempts againſt yours. No, thy Death’s reſolv’d on, ſays the Genie, only chuſe how you will die. The Fiſherman perceiving the Genie to be reſolute, was extreamly griev’d, not ſo much for himſelf, as for his three Children; and bewail’d the Miſery they muſt be reduc’d to by his Death. He endeavour’d ſtill to appeaſe the Genie, and ſays, Alas! be pleas’d to take pity on me, in conſideration of the good Service I have done you. I have told thee already, replies the Genie, it’s for that very Reaſon I muſt Kill thee. That’s very ſtrange, ſays the Fiſherman, are you reſolv’d to reward Good with Evil: The Proverb ſays, That he who does Good to one who. deſerves it not, is always ill rewarded. I muſt confeſs, I thought it was ſalſe; for in effect, there can be nothing more contrary to Reaſon, or the Laws of Society. Nevertheleſs, I find now by cruel Experience, that it is but too true. Don’t let’s loſe time, replies the Genie, all thy Reaſonings ſhall not divert me from my Purpoſe: Make haſte and tell me, which way you chuſe to die.
Neceflity is the Mother of Invention. The Fiſherman bethought himſelf of a Stratagem. Since I muſt die then, ſays he to the Genie, I ſubmit to the Will of Heaven; but before I chuſe the manner of Death, I conjure you by the great Name which was engraven upon the Seal of the Prophet Solomon, the Son of David, to anſwer me truly the Queſtion I am going to ask you.
The Genie finding himſelf oblig’d to a poſitive Anſwer, by this Adjuration, trembled; and replies to the Fiſherman, ask what thou wilt, but make haſte.—Day appearing, Scheherazade held her Peace.
Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, it muſt be own’d, that the more you ſpeak, the more you ſurprize and ſatisfie. I hope the Sultan, our Lord, will not order you to be put to Death, till he hears out the fine Story of the Fiſherman: The Sultan is abſolute, replies Scheherazade, we muſt ſubmit to his Will in every thing. But Schahriar, being as willing asDinar-
