Page:Beckford - Vathek (1816).djvu/246

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Page 41.Soliman Ben Daoud.

The name of David in Hebrew is composed of the letter ו Vau between two ד Daleths דוד; and according to the Massoretic points ought to be pronounced David. Having no u consonant in their tongue, the Septuagint substituted the letter b for v, and wrote Δαβιδ, Dabid. The Syriac reads Dad or Dod; and the Arabs articulate Daoud.


Page 49.with the grin of an ogre.

Thus, in the history of the punished vizir:—"The prince heard enough to convince him of his danger, and then perceived that the lady, who called herself the daughter of an Indian king, was an ogress, wife to one of those savage demons, called ogre, who stay in remote places, and make use of a thousand wiles to surprize and devour passengers." Arab. Nights, vol. I. p. 56.


Page 54.mutes.

It has been usual, in eastern courts, from time immemorial, to retain a number of mutes. These are not only employed to amuse the monarch, but also to instruct his pages, in an art to