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the Arm, threw him with his Face upon the Ground, and lifted up his Scimiter, to cut off his Head.
The Merchant all in Tears, proteſted he was innocent, bewail’d his Wife and Children, and ſpoke to the Genie in the moſt moving Expreſſions that could be uttered. The Genie, with his Scimiter ſtill lifted up, had ſo much Patience, as to hear the Wretch make an end of his Lamentations, but would not relent. All this whining, ſays the Monſter, is to no purpoſe, tho’ you ſhould ſhed Tears of Blood, that ſhall not hinder me to kill thee, as thou kill’dſt my Son. Why! repiied the Merchant, can nothing prevail with you; will you abſolutely take away the Life of a poor Innocent. Yes, replied the Genie, I am reſolv’d upon it. As ſhe had ſpoke thoſe Words, perceiving it was Day, and knowing that the Sultan roſe betimes in the Morning to ſay his Prayers, and hold his Council, Scheherazade, held her Peace. Lord! Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, what a wonderful Story is this. The Remainder of it, ſays Scheherazade, is more ſurpriſing, and you will be of my mind, if the Sultan will let me live this Day, and permit me to tell it you next Night. Schahriar, who had liſtned to Scheherazade with Pleaſure, ſays to himſelf, I will ſtay till tomorrow, for I can at any time put her to death when ſhe has made an end of the Story: So having reſolved not to take away Scheherazade’s Life that Day, he roſe and went to his Prayers, and then call’d his Council.
All this while the Grand Viſier was terrible uneaſy. Inſtead of ſleeping, he ſpent the Night in Sighs and Groans, bewailing the Lot of his Daughter, of whom he believ’d that he himſelf ſhould be the Executioner. And as in this melancholy Proſpect, he was afraid of ſeeing the Sultan; he was agreeably ſurpriz’d, when he ſaw the Prince enter the Council-Chamber without giving him the fatal Orders he expected.
The Sultan according to his Cuſtom, ſpent the Day in regulating his Affairs; and when Night came, he went to Bed with Scheherazade. Next Morning before Day, Dinarzade fail’d not to addreſs her ſelf to her Siſter, thus: My dear Siſter, if you be not aſleep, I pray you till Day break which muſt be in a very little time, to go on with