Here you see me, said the calender, alone, wounded, destitute of
help, and in a strange country: I durst not betake myself to the
high road, fearing I might fall again into the hands of these
robbers. When I had bound up my wound, which was not dangerous, I
walked on the rest of the day, and arrived at the foot of a
mountain, where I perceived a passage into a cave; I went in, and
staid there that night with little satisfaction, after I had eaten
some fruits that I gathered by the way.
I continued my journey for several days following, without finding
any place of abode; but after a month’s time, I came to a large
town, well inhabited, and situated so much the more advantageously,
as it was surrounded with several rivers, so that it enjoyed
perpetual spring.
The pleasant objects which then presented themselves to my view
afforded me some joy, and suspended for a time the sorrow with which
I was overwhelmed to find myself in such a condition. My face,
hands, and feet, were black and sun-burnt; and, by my long journey,
my shoes and stockings were quite worn out, so that I was forced to
walk bare-footed; and besides, my clothes were all in rags. I
entered into the town to inform myself where I was, and addressed
myself to a tailor that was at work in his shop; who, perceiving by
my air that I was a person of more note than my outward appearance
bespoke me to be, made me sit down by him, and asked me who I was,
from whence I came, and what had brought me thither? I did not
conceal any thing of all that had befallen me, nor made I any
scruple to discover my quality.
The tailor listened with attention to my words; but after I had done
speaking, instead of giving me any consolation, he augmented my
sorrow. Take heed, said he, how you discover to any person what you
have now declared to me; for the prince of this country is the
greatest enemy that the king your father has, and he will certainly
do you some mischief, when he comes to hear of your being in this
city. I made no doubt of the tailor’s sincerity, when he named the
prince: but since the enmity which is between my father and him has
no relation to my adventures, I must beg your pardon, madam, if I
pass it over with silence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account