Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
BASEM ; OR , THE BLACKSMITH . AN ORIENTAL APOLOGUE .
JsY WILLIAM BELOE , F . S . A . TRANSLATOR OF HERODOTUS , 3 tC & C
irjfAROON al Rasheed one nig ht experienced an unusual rc-stjf ~ j ^ iessness , and found no disposition to sleep : he sent for his visir Giafar , who , presenting himself with the usual prostrations , wished his master a long life , and a happy reign : " Father of the Faithful , " said the minister , " what are my sovereign ' s commands , at this late hour of the night ! " " I have experienced" returned the
, Khalif , " so distressing airinquietude , that I have never once been able to close my eye-lids . " " Let us then , " replied the visir , " repair to my prince ' s favorite garden of the Tartars ; there we may gaze npon the trees and flowers , listen to the warbling of the birds , and inhale the fragrance ofthe violets . " " No , " said the Khalif ; " that proposal does not please me . " " Perhaps , Sir , " rejoined the visir ,
" your Majesty may please to go to one of your palaces in the suburbs ; there we may entertain ourselves -with the p ictures and representations of times past . " " Neither , " said the Khalif ; " is this agreeable to me . " " Suppose , Sir , " replied the other , " we go to your Majesty ' s museum of natural curiosities ; the contents of that may probably relieve you . " " No , " answered tiie Khalif , " neither will that satisfy me . " " Well , Sir , " answered the visir , " suppose we perambulate the bazars , the y-reat streets , aiid the lanes of Bagdat ; we
may probably there meet with some opportunity or diverting your melancholy . " " I like that idea very much , " said the Khalif , starting up , " let us go . " They immediately disguised themselves , in the habits of merchants , the visir having first gone for the black slave Mesrour , sword-bearer and executioner . When he was come , and disguised , they departed together through a private door of the selioand proceeded to ramble through the streets of Bagdat .
rag , They at length arrived- at the corner of one of the most private streets . Here the Khalif stopped , tor the voice of a maw singing vibrated in his ear . Looking about him , he discerned the reflection of light , from an upper chamber , which seemed to be very much illuminated . They approached the lig ht together , and easily perceived , ' on the opposite wallthe shadow of a person , who appeared to have
, a Hass in his hand ; they stopped , and heard a man singing very jovially ; the Khalif , on tills , turned to his visir , " Certain I am , " said he , " that nothing will this nig ht conquer my inquietude ,. but the opportunity of having some-conversation with this fellow who is drinking " knock instantlat the door" said he to the slave
Mes-: y , rour ; Mesrour accordingly approached , and gave a gentle knock . The man in the upper ' chamber heard the noise , and approaching the balcony ; " What rascal , " said he , " is knocking at my door , at this unseasonable hour ? " " Sir , " said Giafar , looking up , and in a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
BASEM ; OR , THE BLACKSMITH . AN ORIENTAL APOLOGUE .
JsY WILLIAM BELOE , F . S . A . TRANSLATOR OF HERODOTUS , 3 tC & C
irjfAROON al Rasheed one nig ht experienced an unusual rc-stjf ~ j ^ iessness , and found no disposition to sleep : he sent for his visir Giafar , who , presenting himself with the usual prostrations , wished his master a long life , and a happy reign : " Father of the Faithful , " said the minister , " what are my sovereign ' s commands , at this late hour of the night ! " " I have experienced" returned the
, Khalif , " so distressing airinquietude , that I have never once been able to close my eye-lids . " " Let us then , " replied the visir , " repair to my prince ' s favorite garden of the Tartars ; there we may gaze npon the trees and flowers , listen to the warbling of the birds , and inhale the fragrance ofthe violets . " " No , " said the Khalif ; " that proposal does not please me . " " Perhaps , Sir , " rejoined the visir ,
" your Majesty may please to go to one of your palaces in the suburbs ; there we may entertain ourselves -with the p ictures and representations of times past . " " Neither , " said the Khalif ; " is this agreeable to me . " " Suppose , Sir , " replied the other , " we go to your Majesty ' s museum of natural curiosities ; the contents of that may probably relieve you . " " No , " answered tiie Khalif , " neither will that satisfy me . " " Well , Sir , " answered the visir , " suppose we perambulate the bazars , the y-reat streets , aiid the lanes of Bagdat ; we
may probably there meet with some opportunity or diverting your melancholy . " " I like that idea very much , " said the Khalif , starting up , " let us go . " They immediately disguised themselves , in the habits of merchants , the visir having first gone for the black slave Mesrour , sword-bearer and executioner . When he was come , and disguised , they departed together through a private door of the selioand proceeded to ramble through the streets of Bagdat .
rag , They at length arrived- at the corner of one of the most private streets . Here the Khalif stopped , tor the voice of a maw singing vibrated in his ear . Looking about him , he discerned the reflection of light , from an upper chamber , which seemed to be very much illuminated . They approached the lig ht together , and easily perceived , ' on the opposite wallthe shadow of a person , who appeared to have
, a Hass in his hand ; they stopped , and heard a man singing very jovially ; the Khalif , on tills , turned to his visir , " Certain I am , " said he , " that nothing will this nig ht conquer my inquietude ,. but the opportunity of having some-conversation with this fellow who is drinking " knock instantlat the door" said he to the slave
Mes-: y , rour ; Mesrour accordingly approached , and gave a gentle knock . The man in the upper ' chamber heard the noise , and approaching the balcony ; " What rascal , " said he , " is knocking at my door , at this unseasonable hour ? " " Sir , " said Giafar , looking up , and in a