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Door, and take a good Stick and treſh her well, and I’ll anſwer for it, that wilt bring her to her right Wits, and make her forbear to ask him any more what he ought not to tell her. The Merchant had no ſooner heard what the Cock ſaid, but he took up a good Stick, went to his Wife, whom he found ſtill a crying, and ſhutting the Door, belabour’d her ſo ſoundly, that ſhe cried out, It is enough, Husband, it is enough, let me alone, and I will never ask the Qeſtion more. Upon this, perceiving that ſhe repented of her impertinent Curioſity, he forbore drubbing her, and opening the Door, her Friends came in, were glad to find her cur’d of her Obſtinacy, and complimented her Husband upon this happy Expedient to bring his Wiſe to Reaſon. Daughter, adds the Grand Viſier, you deſerve to be treated as the Merchant treated his Wife.
Father, replies Scheherazade, I beg you would not take it ill that I perſiſt in my Opinion. I am nothing moved by the Story of that Woman, I can tell you abundance of others, to perſuade you that you ought not to oppoſe my Deſign. Beſides, pardon me for declaring to you, that your oppoſing me would be in vain; for if your Paternal Affection ſhould hinder you to grant my Requeſt, I would go and offer my ſelf to the Sultan. In ſhort, the Father being overcome by the Reſolution of his Daughter, yielded to her Importunity, and tho’ he was very much griev’d that he could not divert her from ſuch a fatal Reſolution, he went that Minute to acquaint the Sultan, that next Night he would bring him Scheherazade.
The Sultan was much ſurpriz’d at the Sacrifice which the Grand Vifier made to him. How could you refolve upon it, ſays he, to bring me your own Daughter? Sir, anſwers the Viſier, it’s her own Offer. The ſad Deſtiny that attends it could not ſcare her, ſhe prefers the Honour of being your Majeſty’s Wiſe one Night, to her Life. But don’t miſtake yourſelf, Viſier, ſays the Sultan, to-morrow when I put Scheherazade into your Hands, I expect you ſhould take away her Life, and if you fail, I ſwear that you your ſelf ſhall die. Sir, rejoins the Viſier, my Heart without doubt will be full of Grief to execute your Commands, but it is to no purpoſe for Nature to murmur, tho’ I be her