was a third beautiful lady, who was seated on the couch before mentioned. This lady was called Zobeide, she who opened the door was called Safie, and the name of the one who had been for the provisions was Amina. Zobeide, accosting the other two, said “Sisters, do not you see that this honest man is ready to sink under his burden, why do not you ease him of it?” Then Amina and Safie took the basket, the one before and the other behind; Zobeide also assisted, and all three together set it on the ground, then emptied it; and when they had done, the beautiful Amina took out money, and paid the porter liberally.
The porter was well satisfied, but when he ought to have departed, he was chained to the spot by the pleasure of be holding three such beauties, who appeared to him equally charming; for Amina having now laid aside her veil, proved to be as handsome as either of the others.
“Madam,” said he, addressing Zobeide, “I am sensible that I act rudely in staying longer than I ought, but I hope you will have the goodness to pardon me, when I tell you that I am astonished not to see a man with three ladies of such extraordinary beauty; and you know that a company of women without men is as melancholy as a company of men without women.” To this he added some pleasantries in proof of what he advanced, and did not forget the Bagdad proverb, “That the table is not completely furnished, ex-
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