Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 1.djvu/9

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pointed a Council to govern in his Abſence, and named a Miniſter, of whoſe Wiſdom he had ſufficient Experience, and in whom he had an entire Confidence to be their Preſident. At the End of ten Days, his Equipage being ready, he took his Leave of the Queen his Wife, and went out of Town in the Evening with his Retinue, pitch’d his Royal Pavilion near the Viſer’s Tent, and diſcours’d with that Ambaſſador till Midnight. But willing once more to embrace the Queen, whom he lov’d entire y, he return’d alone to his Palace, and went ſtraight to her Majeſty’s Apartment, who not expecting his Return, had taken one of the meaneſt Officers of the Houſhold to her Bed, where the: lay both faſt aſleep; having been in Bed a couſiderable while.

The King enter’d without any Noiſe, and pleas’d himſelf to think how he ſhould ſurprize his Wife, who, he thought, lov’d him as entirely as he did her: But how ſtrange was his Surprize, when by the Light of the Flambeaus which burn all Night in the Apartments of thoſe Eaſtern Princes, he faw a Man in her Arms! He ſtood unmoveable for a time, not knowing how to believe his own Eyes; but finding it was not to bedoubted; How! ſays he to himſelf, I am ſcarce out of my Palace, and but juſt under the Walls of Samarcande, and dare they put ſuch an Outrage upon me! Ah, perfidious Wretches, your Crime ſhallnot go unpuniſh’d. As King, I am to puniſh Wickedneſs committed in my Dominions; and as an enrag’d Husband, I muſt ſacriſice you to my juſt Reſentment. In a Word, this unfortunate Prince, giving way to his Rage, drew his Cymiter, and approaching the Bed, kill’d them both with one Blow, turn’d their Sleep into Death: And afterwards taking them up, threw ’em out at a Window into the Ditch that ſurrounded the Palace.

Having aveng’d hinſelf thus, he went out of Town privately, as he came into it, and returning to his Pavilion without ſaying one Word of what had happen’d; he orderd the Tents to be ſtruck, and to make ready for his Journey. This was ſpeedily done, and before Day he began his March, with Kettle-Drums, and other Inſtruments of Muſick, that fill’d every one with Joy, except the King,
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