Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 1.djvu/92

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The Twenty Seventh Night.


AT the uſual Hour, Dinarazade call’d upon the Sultaneſs, thus: Dear Siſter, pray tell us what was the Fate of the Magician Queen, as you promis’d us. Upon which Scheherazade went on thus: The Enchantreſs had no ſooner ſprinkled the Water, and pronounced ſome Words over the Fiſhes and the Pond, but the City was reſtored that very Minute. The Fiſhes became Men, Women and Children; Mahometans, Chriſtians, Perſians or Jews; Freemen or Slaves, as they were before; every one having recover’d their natural Form. The Houſes and Shops were immediately filld with their Inhabitants, who found all things as they were before the Enchantment. The Sultan’s numerous Retinue, who found themſelves encamp’d in the largeſt Square, were aſtoniſh’d to ſee themſelves in an Inſtant, in the middle of a large, fine, and well-peopled City.

To return to the Enchantreſs: As ſoon as ſhe had made this wonderful Change, ſhe return’d with all Diligence to the Palace of Tears, that ſhe might reap the Fruits of it. My dear Lord, cries ſhe, as ſhe entred, I come to rejoice with you for the Return of your Health; I have done all that you requir’d of me, then pray riſe and give me your Hand. Come near, ſays the Sultan, ſtill counterfeiting the Language of the Blacks. She did ſo. You are not near enough, replies he, come nearer; ſhe obey’d ; then he aroſe up and ſeiz’d her by the Arm ſo ſuddenly, that ſhe had not time ts know who it was, and with a Blow of his Scimiter cut her in two, ſo that the one half fell one way, and the other another. This being done, he left the Carcaſe upon the Place, and going out of the Palace of Tears, he went to ſeek the young King of the Black-Iſſls, who waited for him with a great deal of Impatience; and when he found him, Prince, ſays he, embracing him, rejoice; you have nothing to fear now, your cruel Enemy is dead.

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