Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 1.djvu/82

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Magical Words, and the laſt ſhe open’d was that of the Garden which ſhe enter’d; I ſtopp’d at that Gate, that ſhe might not perceive me, as ſhe croſs’d a Plott, and looking after her as ſar as I could in the Night, I perceiv’d that ſhe enter’d a little Wood, whoſe Walks were guarded by thick Palliſadoes, I went thither by another way, and ſlipping behind the Palliſadoes of along Walk, I ſaw her walking there with a Man.

I gave very good heed to their Diſcourſe, and heard her ſay thus; I don’t deſerve, ſays the Queen: to her Gallant, to be upbraided by you for want of Diligence, you know very well what hinders me; but iſall the marks of Love that I have already given you, be not enough, I am ready to give you greater Marks of it: You need but command me you know my Power, I will if you deſire it, before Sun-riſing change this great City, and this fine Palace into frightful Ruins, which ſhall be inhabited by nothing but Wolves, Owls, and Ravens; would you have me to tranſport all the Stones of thoſe Walls ſo ſolidly built, beyond Mount Caucaſus, and out of the bounds of the habitable World; ſpeak but the Word, and all thoſe Places ſhall be chang’d.

As the Queen finiſh’d theſe Words, her Gallant and ſhe came to the end of the Walk, turn’d to enter another, and paſſed before me. I had already drawn my Scimiter, and Gallant being next me, I ſtruck him in the Neck, and made him ſall to the Ground; I thought I had kill’d him, and therefore retir’d ſpeedily without making my ſelf Known to the Queen, whom I had a mind to ſpare, becauſe ſhe was my Kinſwoman.

In the mean time, the Blow I had giv’n her Gallant was mortal; but ſhe preſerv’d his Life, by the Force of her Enchantments, in fuch a manner, however, that he could not be ſaid to be either dead or alive, As I croſfed the Garden, to return to the Palace, I heard the Queen cry out lamentably, and judging by that how much ſhe was griev’d, I was pleas’d that I had ſpar’d her Life.

When I return’d to my Apartment, I went to Bed, and being ſatisfied with having puniſh’d the Villain that did me the Injury, I went to ſleep; and I wak’d next Morning,

found