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no doubt, that I have acquir’d without Labour and Trouble, the Eaſe and Conveniency which I now enjoy. But don’t miſtake your ſelf, I did not attain to this happy Condition, without enduring more Trouble of Body and Mind, for ſeveral Years, than can well be imagin’d. Yes Gentlemen, adds he, ſpeaking to the whole Company, I can aſſure you, my Troubles were ſo extraordinary, that they were capable of diſcouraging the moſt covetous Man from undertaking ſuch Voyages as I did to acquire Riches, Perhaps you have never heard a diſtinct Account of the wonderful Adventures and Dangers I met with, in my ſeven Voyages; and ſince I have this Opportunity, I am willing to give you a faithful Account of them, not doubting but it will be acceptable.
And becauſe Sindbad was to tell this Story particularly upon the Porter’s Account, he order’d his Burden to be carried to the Place appointed, and began thus.
The Story of Sindbad, the Sailor.
His First Voyage.
MY Father left me a conſiderable Eſtate, moſt Part of which I ſpent in Debauches, during my Youth; but I perceived my Error, and called to Mind that Riches were periſhable, and quickly conſumed by ſuch Ill Husbands as my ſelf. I further conſider’d, that, by my irregular Way of Living, I wretchedly miſpent my Time, which is the moſt valuable Thing in the World. I remembred the Saying of the Great Solomon, which I had frequently heard from my Father, That Death is more tolerable than Poverty. Being ſtruck with thoſe Reflections, I gathered together the Ruins of my Eſtate, and ſold all my Moveables in the publick Market to the higheſt Bidder. Then I entred into a Contract with ſome Merchants that traded by Sea; I took the Advice of ſuch as I thought moſt capable to give it me: And, reſolving to improve what Money I had, I went to Balſora, a Port on the Perſian Gulph, and embark’d with ſeveral Merchants, who join’d with me to fit out a Ship on Purpoſe,
We
