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This Command of the Califf to me was like a Clap of Thunder. Commander of the Faithful, replied I, I am ready to do whatever your Majeſty ſhall think fit to command me, but I beſeech you moſt humbly to confider what I have undergone. I have alſo made a Vow never to go out of Bagdad. Hence I cook occaſion to give him a large and particular Account of all my Adventures, which he had the Patience to hear out.
As ſoon as I had finiſh’d, I confeſs, ſays he, that the Things you tell me are very extraordinary, yet you muſt for my ſake undertake this Voyage which I propoſe to you. You have nothing to do for to go to the Iſle of 5erendib, and deliver the Commiſſion which I give you. After that, you are at Liberty to return. But you muſt go, for you know it would be undecent, and not ſuitable to my Dignity to be indebted to the King of that Iſland; Perceiving that the Califf inſiſted upon it, I ſubmitted, and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very well pleas’d at it, and order’d me 1000 Sequins for the Charge of my Journey.
I prepar’d for my Departure in a few Days, and as ſoon as the Califf’s Letter and Preſent were delivered to me, I went to Belſora, where I embark’d, and had a very happy Voyage. I arriv’d at the Iſle of Serendib, where acquainted the King’s Miniſters with my Commiſſion, and pray’d ’em to get me ſpeedy Audience. They did ſo, and I was contacted to the Palace in an honourable Manner, where I ſaluted the King by Proſtration, according to Cuſtom. That Prince knew me immediately, and teſtified very great Joy to ſee me. O Sindbad, ſays he, you are welcome, I ſwear to you I have many times thought of you ſince you went hence, I bleſs the Day upon which we ſee one another once more, I made my Complement-to him, and after having thank’d him for his Kindneſs to me; I deliver’d him the Califf’s Letter and Preſent, which he receiv’d with all imaginable Satisfaction.
The Califf’s Preſent was a compleat Bed of Cloth of Gold, valu’d at a 1000 Sequins. Fifty Robes of rich Stuff, an Hundred others of white Cloth the fineſt of Cairo, Suez, Cuſa[1] and Alexandria,[2] another Crimſon Bed, and a third of another Faſhion, A Veſſelof
- ↑ A Port on the Red Sea.
- ↑ A Town of Arabia.
