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When the firſt old Man, Sir, continu’d the Sultaneſs, had finiſh’d his Story, the ſecond, who led the two black Dogs, addreſſed himſelf to the Genie, and ſays to him: I am going to tell you what happen’d to me, and theſe two black Dogs you ſee by me, and I am certain you will ſay, that my Story is yet more ſurprizing than that which you have juſt now heard; but when I have told it you, I hope you will be pleas’d to pardon the Merchant the ſecond Third of his Crime. Yes, replies the Genie, provided your Story ſurpaſs that of the Bitch. Then the ſecond old Man began in this manner. But as Scheherazade pronounc’d theſe Words, ſhe faw it was Day, and left off ſpeaking.
O Heaven! Siſter, ſays Dinarzade, thoſe Adventures are very ſingular Siſter, replies the Sultaneſs, they are not comparable to thoſe which I have to tell you next Night, if the Sultan, my Lord and Maſter, be ſo good as to let me live. Schahriar anſwer’d nothing to that; but aroſe up, ſaid his Prayers, and went to Council, without giving any Order againſt the Life of the charming Scheherazade.
The Sixth Night.
THE Sixth Night being come, the Sultan and his Lady went to Bed, Dinarzade awak’d at the uſual Hour, and calling to the Sultaneſs, ſays: Dear Siſter, if you be not aſleep, I pray you, until it be Day, to ſatisfie my Curioſity; I am impatient to hear the Story of the old Man and the two black Dogs. The Sultan conſented to it with Pleaſure, being no leſs deſirous to know the Story than Dinarzade; and Scheherazade continued it as follows.
The Story of the Second old Man, and the rare black, Dogs.
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