Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 1.djvu/68

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The Seventeenth Night.


THO’ Dinarzade was very curious to hear the reſt of the Story of the Grecian King, ſhe did not awake that Night fo ſoon as uſual, ſo that it was almoſt Day before ſhe call’d upon the Sultaneſs, and then ſaid, I pray you, Siſter, to continue the wonderful Story of the Grecian King; but make haſte, I beſeech you, for it will ſpeedily beDay.

Scheherazade reſum’d the Story where ſhe left off the Day before: Sir, ſays ſhe to the Sultan, when the Phyfician Douban, or rather his Head, ſaw that the Poiſon had taken Effect, and that the King had but a few Moments to live: Tyrant, it cried, now you ſee how Princes are treated, who abuſing their Authority, cut off innocent Men, God puniſhes ſoon or late their Injuſtice and Cruelty. Scarce had the Head ſpoke theſe Words, till the King fell down dead, and the Head it ſelf loſt what Life it had.

Sir, continues Scheherazade, ſuch was the end of the Grecian King and the Phyſician Douban; I muſt return now to the Story of the Fiſherman and the Genie, but it’s not worth while to begin it now, for it is Day. The Sultan, who always obſerv’d his Hours regularly, could ſtay no longer, but got up; and having a mind to hear the Sequel of the Story of the Genie and the Fiſherman, he bid the Sultancſs prepare to tell it him next Night.


The Eighteenth Night.


DInarzade made amends this Night for laſt Night’s Neglect ſhe awak’d a long time before Day, and calling upon Scheherazade, Siſter, ſays ſhe, if you be not aſleep, pray give us thereſt of the Story of the Fiſherman and the Genie; you know the Sultan deſires to hear it as well as I.

I ſhall ſoon ſatisfy his Curioſity and yours, anſwers the Sultaneſs; and then addreſſing her ſelf to Schahriar, Sir,

continu’d