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deal of Gaiety. Schahriar at firſt took no Notice of this great Alteration; but expoſtulated with him modeſtly, why he wou’d not bear him company at hunting the Stagg; and without giving him time to reply, entertain’d him with the great Number of Deer, and other Game, that he had kill’d, and what Pleaſure he had in the Sport. Schahzenan heard him with Attention, gave Anſwers to every thing, and being rid of that Melancholy, which formerly over-clouded his Wit, he ſaid a thouſand agreeable and pleaſant things to the Sultan.
Schahriar, who expected to have found him in the ſame Condition as he left him,was overjoy’d to ſee him ſo chearful; and ſpoke to him thus, Dear Brother, I return Thanks to Heaven for the happy Change it has made in you during my Abſence; I am extreamly rejoyc’d at it; but I have a Requeſt to make to you and conjure you not to deny me. I can refuſe you nothing, replies the King of Tartary, you may command Schahzenan as you pleaſe; pray ſpeak, I am impatient till know what it is you deſire of me. Ever ſince you came to my Court, replies Schahriar, I found you ſwallow’d up by a deep Melancholy, and I did in vain attempt to remove it by Diverſions of all Sorts. I imagin’d it might be occaſion’d by reaſon of your Diſtance from your Dominions, or that Love might have a great Share in it; and that the Queen of Samarcande, who, no doubt, is an accompiſh’d Beauty, might be the Cauſe of it, I don’t know if I be miſtaken, but I muſt own, that this was the particular Reaſon why I would not importune you upon the Subject, for fear of making you uneaſy. But without my being able to contribute any thing towards it, I find now upon my Return, that you are in the beſt Humour that can be, and that your Mind is entirely deliver’d from that black Vapour which diſturb’d it. Pray do me the favour to tell me, why you were ſo melancholy, and how you came to be rid of it.
Upon this the King of Tartary continued for ſome time as if he had been in a Dream, and contriving what he ſhould anſwer; but at laſt reply’d as follows; You are my Sultan and Maſter, but excuſe me, I beſeech you, from anſwering your Queſtion. No, dear Brother, ſaid the Sultan, youmuſt
