Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
Schemseddin Mohammed, who was naturally of a warm temper, did not
omit so favourable an opportunity of putting himself in a passion.
He immediately repaired to the tent of his sister-in-law, and said
to the eunuch: “Wretch, hast thou the temerity to abuse the
confidence I have placed in thee?” Schaban, although sufficiently
convicted by the testimony of Agib, thought proper still to deny the
fact. But the child maintained the contrary: “Grandfather,” said
he to Schemseddin Mohammed, “I assure you that we have eaten so
much, that we are not in want of any supper. The pastry-cook also
regaled us with a large bowl of sherbet.”--“Well, wicked
slave,” cried the vizier, turning to the eunuch, “after this
wilt thou still deny, that you both went into a pastry-shop and eat
there?” Schaban had the effrontery to swear, that it was not true.
“Thou art a liar,” said the vizier, “I believe my grandson
rather than thee. Nevertheless, if thou canst eat the whole of the
cheesecake which was on this table, I shall be persuaded that thou
speakest truth.”
Schaban, although full to the very throat, submitted to this trial,
and took a bit of the cheesecake; but he was obliged to take it out
of his mouth again, for his stomach turned against it. He, however,
continued in his falsehood, and said, that he had eaten so much the
preceding day, that his appetite was not yet returned. The vizier,
irritated by the repeated falsities of the eunuch, and fully
convinced that he was guilty, had him laid on the ground, and
ordered him to receive the bastinado. The unhappy wretch uttered
loud cries on suffering this punishment, and confessed the fact.
“It is true,” cried he, “that we did eat a cheesecake at a
pastry-shop, and it was an hundred times better than that which is
on this table.”
The widow of Noureddin Ali thought, that it was through spite to
her, and to mortify her, that Schaban praised the pastry-cook’s
cheesecake; therefore, addressing herself to him, “I cannot
believe,” said she, “that the cheesecakes of this pastry-cook
are more excellent than mine. I will be satisfied on this point;
thou knowest where he lives; go to him, and bring me back a
cheesecake directly. She then ordered some money to be given to the
eunuch to buy the cheesecake, and he set off. Being come to the shop
of Bedreddin, “Here, my good pastry-cook,” said he, “here is
some money for you; give me one of your cheesecakes; one of our
ladies wishes to taste them.” There happened to be some hot, just
out of the oven; Bedreddin chose the best, and giving it to the
eunuch, said, “Take this, I warrant it to be excellent; and I can
assure you, that no one in the world can make such, excepting my
mother, who perhaps is still living.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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