Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
morrow do as you saj ' , by the protection of Husseyn , the world shall not deliver you from my hands ; I would search for you through every corner of Bagdat , and would infallibly murder every one of you . '" On this , the Khalif was obliged to stop his mouth with his robe , to prevent his laughing aloud ; they then took their leave . " If I do not , " said the Khalif , as he went along , " find out to-moiv row some means of being even with my friend the blacksmithI
, shall be surprised indeed . " Morning approached , and the Khalif and his servants again entered the secret gate of the seraglio . Al Rasheed retired to his couch . After a short sleep , day broke upon him . He arose , performed his morning prayers , and proceeded to the chamber of audience ; the emeersvisirsofficersand grandees surrounded the prince ; but the
, , , Khaiif ' s whole imagination was occupied with the adventures of the preceding night . Calling therefore for the visir Giafar , " Send , " said he , " to the governor of the city , and let it be proclaimed through the streets of Bagdat , that no blacksmith shall open his doors , or labour in his occupation for three days , on pain of death . " The name ofthe governor was Khaled eben Jaled , who took care that the
royal proclamation should be published with the greatest pomp ' . six heralds , splendidly attended , made known through the different quarters of Bagdat the will of the sovereign ; the people wondered ; and obeyed . The master of Basem came , as usual , tp his shop early in . the morning , and with some of his servants was preparing to open it , when they heard the'govemor and his retinue proclaim the edict of the Khalif , that whatever blacksmith should open his shop , of labour , at his trade , before the expiration of three days , should be hanged before the door of his house . The master of Basem said to one of
his men , " there , go . home , take the keys , and come again on the fourth day . " As to Basem himself , as soon as his guests had left him , he . fe ] J fast asleep , nor did he open his eyes till long after sun-rise ; when he rose , he went abroad , and proceeded as usual to the shop , ignorant of the royal proclamation . When he came near , he observed the boy sitting on the outsideand the door of the shop shut . " You
, little dog , " said he , " why don't you open the door ? if any thing be the matter with the lock , I will clench my fist , and with one blow make the bolts fly ; or if the folding window is out of order , I will draw the nails of the hinges with my fingers . " On this , the master came up ; '' there is nothing the matter with the . lock , " said he . ? ' Why , what the devil , " cried Basem , " then does the boy mean by ¦
sitting on the outside ? " " Basem , " said the master , " you certainly are either drunk or asleep ? what , don ' t you know ofthe royal proclamation ? " " What royal proclamation i" said Basem , * ' 1 know of hone . " " Why , " returned the master , " the governor has but just proclaimed , that whatever blacksmith shall open his shop , or labour at his trade , before the expiration of three days , shall be hanged before die door of his house ; if you don't choose to believe me , make the experiment , " When Basem heard this , the tools fell insensibly
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
morrow do as you saj ' , by the protection of Husseyn , the world shall not deliver you from my hands ; I would search for you through every corner of Bagdat , and would infallibly murder every one of you . '" On this , the Khalif was obliged to stop his mouth with his robe , to prevent his laughing aloud ; they then took their leave . " If I do not , " said the Khalif , as he went along , " find out to-moiv row some means of being even with my friend the blacksmithI
, shall be surprised indeed . " Morning approached , and the Khalif and his servants again entered the secret gate of the seraglio . Al Rasheed retired to his couch . After a short sleep , day broke upon him . He arose , performed his morning prayers , and proceeded to the chamber of audience ; the emeersvisirsofficersand grandees surrounded the prince ; but the
, , , Khaiif ' s whole imagination was occupied with the adventures of the preceding night . Calling therefore for the visir Giafar , " Send , " said he , " to the governor of the city , and let it be proclaimed through the streets of Bagdat , that no blacksmith shall open his doors , or labour in his occupation for three days , on pain of death . " The name ofthe governor was Khaled eben Jaled , who took care that the
royal proclamation should be published with the greatest pomp ' . six heralds , splendidly attended , made known through the different quarters of Bagdat the will of the sovereign ; the people wondered ; and obeyed . The master of Basem came , as usual , tp his shop early in . the morning , and with some of his servants was preparing to open it , when they heard the'govemor and his retinue proclaim the edict of the Khalif , that whatever blacksmith should open his shop , of labour , at his trade , before the expiration of three days , should be hanged before the door of his house . The master of Basem said to one of
his men , " there , go . home , take the keys , and come again on the fourth day . " As to Basem himself , as soon as his guests had left him , he . fe ] J fast asleep , nor did he open his eyes till long after sun-rise ; when he rose , he went abroad , and proceeded as usual to the shop , ignorant of the royal proclamation . When he came near , he observed the boy sitting on the outsideand the door of the shop shut . " You
, little dog , " said he , " why don't you open the door ? if any thing be the matter with the lock , I will clench my fist , and with one blow make the bolts fly ; or if the folding window is out of order , I will draw the nails of the hinges with my fingers . " On this , the master came up ; '' there is nothing the matter with the . lock , " said he . ? ' Why , what the devil , " cried Basem , " then does the boy mean by ¦
sitting on the outside ? " " Basem , " said the master , " you certainly are either drunk or asleep ? what , don ' t you know ofthe royal proclamation ? " " What royal proclamation i" said Basem , * ' 1 know of hone . " " Why , " returned the master , " the governor has but just proclaimed , that whatever blacksmith shall open his shop , or labour at his trade , before the expiration of three days , shall be hanged before die door of his house ; if you don't choose to believe me , make the experiment , " When Basem heard this , the tools fell insensibly