Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
The eunuch, perceiving that he followed them, was very much
surprised, and said to him angrily, “How importunate you are, what
do you want?”--“My good friend,” replied Bedreddin, “do not
be displeased; I have a little business just out of the city, which
I have thought of, and I must go and give orders concerning it.”
This answer did not satisfy the eunuch, who turning to Agib, said,
“See what you have brought on me; I foresaw, that I should repent
of my compliance; you would go into this man’s shop, but indeed I
was a fool to suffer it.”--“Perhaps,” said Agib, “he may
really have business out of the city, and the road is free for every
one.” They then continued walking, without looking behind them,
till they were arrived at the tents of the grand vizier; they then
looked back, and saw that Bedreddin followed close. Agib, perceiving
that he was within a few paces of him, blushed and turned pale
successively, according to the different emotions which arose. He
feared that the vizier, his grandfather, would learn, that he had
been in a pastry-cook’s shop to eat. With this apprehension he
took up a large stone, that lay at his feet, threw it at Bedreddin,
and striking him in the middle of his forehead, covered him with
blood. He then ran away, as fast as he could, into the tent with the
eunuch, who said to Bedreddin, that he must not complain of a
misfortune, which he deserved, and had brought upon himself.
Bedreddin returned to the city, stopping the blood from his wound
with his apron, which he had not taken off. “I was wrong,” said
he to himself, “to leave my house, and occasion so much pain to
this child; for he only treated me thus, because he no doubt
supposed that I had some bad design against him.” Being returned
home he had his wound dressed; and consoled himself with reflecting,
that there were many people in this world more unfortunate than
himself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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