This my discourse encouraged the jeweller’s son, and inspired him
with confidence in me. I took care not to tell him I was the very
Agib whom he dreaded, lest I should put him into a fright, and took
as much care not to give him any cause to suspect it. We passed the
time in several discourses till night came on: I found the young lad
of ready wit, and partook with him of his provisions, of which he
had enough to have lasted beyond the forty days, though he had more
guests than myself. After supper we continued some time in
discourse: at last we went to bed. The next day, when we got up, I
held the basin and water to him; I also provided dinner, and set it
on the table in due time; after we had done, I invented a play to
divert ourselves, not only for that day, but for those that
followed. I prepared supper after the same manner as I had prepared
dinner; and having supped, we went to bed as formerly. We had time
enough to contract friendship. I found he loved me, and for my part,
I had so great a respect for him, that I have often said to myself,
Those astrologers who predicted to his father, that his son should
die by my hand, were impostors; for it is not possible that I could
commit so base an action. In short, madam, we spent thirty-nine days
in the pleasantest manner that could be, in a place like that under
ground.
The fortieth day appeared; and in the morning, when the young man
awoke, he said to me, with a transport of joy that he could not
restrain, Prince, this is the fortieth day; I am not dead, thanks to
God and your good company. My father will not fail to be here anon,
to give you a testimony of his gratitude for it, and shall furnish
you with all that is necessary for your return to your kingdom: but
in the mean time, said he, I beg you to get ready some water very
warm, to wash my whole body in that portable bagnio, that I may
clean myself, and change my clothes, to receive my father more
cheerfully.
I set the water on the fire, and when it was hot, put it into the
moveable bagnio; the youth went in, and I myself washed and rubbed
him. At last he came out, and laid himself down in his bed that I
had prepared, and covered him with his bed clothes. After he had
slept a while, he awoke, and said, Dear prince, pray do me the
favour to fetch me a melon and some sugar, that I may eat some, and
refresh me.
Out of several melons that remained, I took the best, and laid it on
a plate; and because I could not find a knife to cut it with, I
asked the young man if he knew where there was one. There is one,
said he, upon this cornice over my head. I accordingly saw it there,
and made so much haste to reach it, that while I had it in my hand,
my foot being entangled in the covering, I fell most unhappily upon
the young man, and the knife run into his heart in a minute.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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