Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
other , and before the afternoon prayers he had made up his five drachms , the sum which he usually acquired as a blacksmith . As soon as Basem had got this sum , he exulted exceedingly : " Who cares for the Khalif now , " says he , " I will work no more to-day , but , by the blessing of Alia , I will never be any tiling again but the servant of a bagtiio : it is so charmingly easy , I like it ten times
better than being a blacksmith . " He then dressed himself , went home , took his leathern pitcher , and a basket , and went immediately to market , where he laid out one drachm on mutton , which he left together with his dish at the cook-shop . He bought wine for one drachm ; a third was laid out in wax candles and flowers ; with the fourth , he purchased p istachio the fifth drachmhe
nuts , sweet pastry , and fruits ; changing , expended it on oil of Sesamum for his lantern , common oil for his lamp , and two loaves of bread . After purchasing all these , he returned to the cook-shop , where he found his mutton ready dressed in the dish j and then exulting in his good fortune , he arrived with the whole at his house about sun-set
. , „ ,,.,, ^ J As soon as he reached his apartment , betook off his cloaths , cleaned his room , lighted his lamp , and set out his table ; placing his supper , wine , and fruit in order , he sat down , and filling a bumper , " Here , " said he , " is to the confusion of my rascally guests , and may heaven
send a meeting betwixt them and me to-nig ht . " When the evening was somewhat advanced , the Khalif , who thought of nothing but Basem , sent for his vizir Giafar ; " I have been just thinking , " said he , " how that poor devil of a blacksmith will manage tonight . ' " I presume , Sir , " answered the vizir , " that he must now be sitting in a melancholy mood , with an empty belly , and his jar unfilled . ' three will before
" Send for Mesrour , " said the Khalif , " we go as , and make him a visit for our amusement . " " Indeed , Sir , " said the vizir , " I think we had better stay at home ; he may chance to do one or more of us a mischief . " ' < I insist upon going , " said the Kha-s Iff . They again disguised themselves , and went as before ; on approaching the same street , they beheld the reflection of the lights j whom to listen
Basem with his glass in his hands , , on approaching , they heard - as on the preceding ni g ht , singing jovially . " I vow to Alia , '' ' exclaimed the Khalif , « ¦ the condition of our friend does not appear in the least altered ; we suspended , on his account , the occupation ofthe blacksmith , but it does not seem to have made any alteration in his affai I insist procuring admissionthat we
rs : upon your , may again amuse ourselves . " " Indeed , Sir , " replied the vizir , " this is an unlucky affair , and may prove our ruin ; when we saw him yesterday , he behaved with extreme rudeness , to-day it may probably be worse . " the Khalif was peremptory , and Mesrour knocked at the
At this moment Basem , into whose head the wine had ascended , was thinking of hs guests , and wishing that he might have . the fortune to meet with them : he heard the knock , and went impatiently to the balcony . M Who is there ? " said he , angrily . » Your guest *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
other , and before the afternoon prayers he had made up his five drachms , the sum which he usually acquired as a blacksmith . As soon as Basem had got this sum , he exulted exceedingly : " Who cares for the Khalif now , " says he , " I will work no more to-day , but , by the blessing of Alia , I will never be any tiling again but the servant of a bagtiio : it is so charmingly easy , I like it ten times
better than being a blacksmith . " He then dressed himself , went home , took his leathern pitcher , and a basket , and went immediately to market , where he laid out one drachm on mutton , which he left together with his dish at the cook-shop . He bought wine for one drachm ; a third was laid out in wax candles and flowers ; with the fourth , he purchased p istachio the fifth drachmhe
nuts , sweet pastry , and fruits ; changing , expended it on oil of Sesamum for his lantern , common oil for his lamp , and two loaves of bread . After purchasing all these , he returned to the cook-shop , where he found his mutton ready dressed in the dish j and then exulting in his good fortune , he arrived with the whole at his house about sun-set
. , „ ,,.,, ^ J As soon as he reached his apartment , betook off his cloaths , cleaned his room , lighted his lamp , and set out his table ; placing his supper , wine , and fruit in order , he sat down , and filling a bumper , " Here , " said he , " is to the confusion of my rascally guests , and may heaven
send a meeting betwixt them and me to-nig ht . " When the evening was somewhat advanced , the Khalif , who thought of nothing but Basem , sent for his vizir Giafar ; " I have been just thinking , " said he , " how that poor devil of a blacksmith will manage tonight . ' " I presume , Sir , " answered the vizir , " that he must now be sitting in a melancholy mood , with an empty belly , and his jar unfilled . ' three will before
" Send for Mesrour , " said the Khalif , " we go as , and make him a visit for our amusement . " " Indeed , Sir , " said the vizir , " I think we had better stay at home ; he may chance to do one or more of us a mischief . " ' < I insist upon going , " said the Kha-s Iff . They again disguised themselves , and went as before ; on approaching the same street , they beheld the reflection of the lights j whom to listen
Basem with his glass in his hands , , on approaching , they heard - as on the preceding ni g ht , singing jovially . " I vow to Alia , '' ' exclaimed the Khalif , « ¦ the condition of our friend does not appear in the least altered ; we suspended , on his account , the occupation ofthe blacksmith , but it does not seem to have made any alteration in his affai I insist procuring admissionthat we
rs : upon your , may again amuse ourselves . " " Indeed , Sir , " replied the vizir , " this is an unlucky affair , and may prove our ruin ; when we saw him yesterday , he behaved with extreme rudeness , to-day it may probably be worse . " the Khalif was peremptory , and Mesrour knocked at the
At this moment Basem , into whose head the wine had ascended , was thinking of hs guests , and wishing that he might have . the fortune to meet with them : he heard the knock , and went impatiently to the balcony . M Who is there ? " said he , angrily . » Your guest *