Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
'tone of great civility , " we are strangers in this great city ; night has overtaken us ; and having lost our way , we are fearful "" of falling into the hands of the patrole , from whom , if they meet with lis , we shall certainly experience very harsh treatment . " We beseech you , therefore , in the name of Alia , to open your door , and admit us into your apartment ; Alia will certainly reward your humanity . " " Not Iindeed" said he" are a parcel of impudent vagrantSi
, , , you I have no doubt , all you want is to get up into my room , where ; as soon as you come , you think to gormandize on my food , and devour all my wine ; go about your business . " At this , Haroon al Rasheed laughed very heartily ; " Indeed , Sir , " said he , " we are only merchants . " " Tell me , " said the other , " have you supped , or have-yoii not ? " " Thanks and praise" be to Alia , " returned the Khalif mildly ,
" we have supped long since , and heartily . " " If that be the case , " said the man , " you may come up ; but mind , it must be on these conditions ; whatever you may see me do , you must not presume to open your lips , no , not if what you hear displeases you ever so much . " " We promise you , Sir , " replied they , " that We will sit in your apartment deaf and mute . " On this the man came downand
, opened the door . The Khalif , and his attendants , followed him Up to his room . _ On their entrance , they perceived a table set out , on which was a pitcher of wine , almost full , several kinds of fruit , roast meats , pre ^ serves , and confectionaries ' . The man , without any ceremony ; sat
down , and immediately tossed off a bumper ; "Go into that confer , " said he to the strangers , " and sit quietly down ; " they complied in silence . " Where do you fellows come from ? " said he , " and where are you going ? " " Sir , " said the visir , in a humble voice , " we are merchants of Mouse ! , and were this day invited to an entertainment , with some merchants of Bagdat ; having feasted with our friends , and drank heartil
y , we left our hosts , just as the darkness ofthe night began ; we were ' tinable to find our way to the khan where we lodge , and without any intention found ourselves accidentally in this street ; here we observed the reflection of the light from the balcony , and hearing your voice , we said to one another , let us intreat the hospi-i tality of this house for one night , and in the morning we will depart in the of
peace God . " " By heavens , " said the fellow , " I don ' t believe a word you say ; you are no merchants ; you are spies pr thieves , who go to honest people ' s houses , . and endeavour to get admission at unseasonable hours , Here , you Barrel Belly , you Dunghill of Offals , " said he , addressing himself to the visir , " you with whiskers like a bear , hang me if ever I saw a rascal with so villainous a . countenance too Blackface
. You , , Mr . , " said he to Mesrour , " you Gaunt Belly , what do you mean by casting such a hawk ' s eye upon my wine and provision ? By heavens ! if any one among you shall but dare to stretch out a finger . to touch a bit , I'll break all your bones , and send you to the devil .- " . saying this , he hastily rose , and going to one corner of the room , took an immense cudgel , of a VOL , IV . ' I i
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
'tone of great civility , " we are strangers in this great city ; night has overtaken us ; and having lost our way , we are fearful "" of falling into the hands of the patrole , from whom , if they meet with lis , we shall certainly experience very harsh treatment . " We beseech you , therefore , in the name of Alia , to open your door , and admit us into your apartment ; Alia will certainly reward your humanity . " " Not Iindeed" said he" are a parcel of impudent vagrantSi
, , , you I have no doubt , all you want is to get up into my room , where ; as soon as you come , you think to gormandize on my food , and devour all my wine ; go about your business . " At this , Haroon al Rasheed laughed very heartily ; " Indeed , Sir , " said he , " we are only merchants . " " Tell me , " said the other , " have you supped , or have-yoii not ? " " Thanks and praise" be to Alia , " returned the Khalif mildly ,
" we have supped long since , and heartily . " " If that be the case , " said the man , " you may come up ; but mind , it must be on these conditions ; whatever you may see me do , you must not presume to open your lips , no , not if what you hear displeases you ever so much . " " We promise you , Sir , " replied they , " that We will sit in your apartment deaf and mute . " On this the man came downand
, opened the door . The Khalif , and his attendants , followed him Up to his room . _ On their entrance , they perceived a table set out , on which was a pitcher of wine , almost full , several kinds of fruit , roast meats , pre ^ serves , and confectionaries ' . The man , without any ceremony ; sat
down , and immediately tossed off a bumper ; "Go into that confer , " said he to the strangers , " and sit quietly down ; " they complied in silence . " Where do you fellows come from ? " said he , " and where are you going ? " " Sir , " said the visir , in a humble voice , " we are merchants of Mouse ! , and were this day invited to an entertainment , with some merchants of Bagdat ; having feasted with our friends , and drank heartil
y , we left our hosts , just as the darkness ofthe night began ; we were ' tinable to find our way to the khan where we lodge , and without any intention found ourselves accidentally in this street ; here we observed the reflection of the light from the balcony , and hearing your voice , we said to one another , let us intreat the hospi-i tality of this house for one night , and in the morning we will depart in the of
peace God . " " By heavens , " said the fellow , " I don ' t believe a word you say ; you are no merchants ; you are spies pr thieves , who go to honest people ' s houses , . and endeavour to get admission at unseasonable hours , Here , you Barrel Belly , you Dunghill of Offals , " said he , addressing himself to the visir , " you with whiskers like a bear , hang me if ever I saw a rascal with so villainous a . countenance too Blackface
. You , , Mr . , " said he to Mesrour , " you Gaunt Belly , what do you mean by casting such a hawk ' s eye upon my wine and provision ? By heavens ! if any one among you shall but dare to stretch out a finger . to touch a bit , I'll break all your bones , and send you to the devil .- " . saying this , he hastily rose , and going to one corner of the room , took an immense cudgel , of a VOL , IV . ' I i