Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
approached ; he was hardl y recovered from the effects ofhis debauch , but he brought under his arm the utensils of the bath , and as he walked along was heard to exclaim , " I will never exercise any trade but that of servant to a bagnio . " Ignorant of what had happened , he approached the bath , and coming near the door , he saw it fastened , and the domestics sitting sorrowful without : " What are
you about ? " said Basem ; "how comes the bath to be shut ? If any thing is the matter with the lock let me set my foot against it . " Vext as they were , they could not help laughing at Basem : " What you wish to open the bagnio , sir , do you ? " " To be sure I do , " paid Basem . "Yes , " said Caled , " and I suppose you'd like very much to be crucified at the door . " " What the devil do you mean ? ' "'
said Basem : " You pretend , I suppose , " answered Caled , " not to have heard of the proclamation . The Khalif has ordered all bagnios to be shut up for three days , on pain of crucifixion . " When Basem heard this , " For heaven ' s sake , " said he , in a tone of anxiety , " what can this possibly mean ! " " 'Tis all owing to you , " said the master ofthe bagnio ; " about business : 1 have been master
. go your of a bagnio for thirty years , and till you shewed your ill-looking face among us , never heard of such a proclamation ; yesterday blacksmiths were prohibited—to day bagnios—by Alia begone !" Basem departed in great tribulation . " This , " said he , with a heart swelling with anger , " all this has happened on account of my cursed visitors ; whatever they pretend to fancy is certain to come to
pass . Ly heavens , if I do but meet them , I'll make them see the stars by day-light . " He then went home very melancholy indeed . When he entered , he sat down lost in thought . " What can I possibly do now ? " he exclaimed , " not an asper have I in my pocket ; 1 am proscribed as a blacksmith , the bagnio is shut , and pray what trade next ? " Then thinking of his guests , he clenched his fists in
f inger , and resolved to go seek them through the streets of Bagdah . In this search he was employed part of the day , and of course in vain : ' ' To night , " said he , " I must be supperless ; no meat , no fruit , no wine , no lights : " he then returned home , dressed himself , 'put his stilish round his head in a cubical form , and taking the doth used for prayer , he said , "this will I sell , and provide myself as usual . " In his
wanderings he came near a school and a chape ) , "Here , " said lie , " 1 will perform my ablutions , pray that this evil be removed , and my occupation restored . " He entered the college , performed his ablution , and said his prayers ; then he came into tiie portico , and - holding the cloth in his hand , his vexation against his guests had somewhat subsided , aud throwing the cloth over his shoulders , he remained in the lace
same p , undetermined to what bazar he should carry it to sell . Whilst he was in this situation a woman approached , and seeing Basem , a fine tall fellow , with a shash round his head , she imagined him to be a Wakeel , or officer of justice belonging to the Cadi ; " Pray sir , " said she , " are you a messenger or wakeel ?" " I am , " replied Basem , rolling his eyes , " if you desire it , a potent messenger , and , if you p lease ,, by declaration and signature of the .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
approached ; he was hardl y recovered from the effects ofhis debauch , but he brought under his arm the utensils of the bath , and as he walked along was heard to exclaim , " I will never exercise any trade but that of servant to a bagnio . " Ignorant of what had happened , he approached the bath , and coming near the door , he saw it fastened , and the domestics sitting sorrowful without : " What are
you about ? " said Basem ; "how comes the bath to be shut ? If any thing is the matter with the lock let me set my foot against it . " Vext as they were , they could not help laughing at Basem : " What you wish to open the bagnio , sir , do you ? " " To be sure I do , " paid Basem . "Yes , " said Caled , " and I suppose you'd like very much to be crucified at the door . " " What the devil do you mean ? ' "'
said Basem : " You pretend , I suppose , " answered Caled , " not to have heard of the proclamation . The Khalif has ordered all bagnios to be shut up for three days , on pain of crucifixion . " When Basem heard this , " For heaven ' s sake , " said he , in a tone of anxiety , " what can this possibly mean ! " " 'Tis all owing to you , " said the master ofthe bagnio ; " about business : 1 have been master
. go your of a bagnio for thirty years , and till you shewed your ill-looking face among us , never heard of such a proclamation ; yesterday blacksmiths were prohibited—to day bagnios—by Alia begone !" Basem departed in great tribulation . " This , " said he , with a heart swelling with anger , " all this has happened on account of my cursed visitors ; whatever they pretend to fancy is certain to come to
pass . Ly heavens , if I do but meet them , I'll make them see the stars by day-light . " He then went home very melancholy indeed . When he entered , he sat down lost in thought . " What can I possibly do now ? " he exclaimed , " not an asper have I in my pocket ; 1 am proscribed as a blacksmith , the bagnio is shut , and pray what trade next ? " Then thinking of his guests , he clenched his fists in
f inger , and resolved to go seek them through the streets of Bagdah . In this search he was employed part of the day , and of course in vain : ' ' To night , " said he , " I must be supperless ; no meat , no fruit , no wine , no lights : " he then returned home , dressed himself , 'put his stilish round his head in a cubical form , and taking the doth used for prayer , he said , "this will I sell , and provide myself as usual . " In his
wanderings he came near a school and a chape ) , "Here , " said lie , " 1 will perform my ablutions , pray that this evil be removed , and my occupation restored . " He entered the college , performed his ablution , and said his prayers ; then he came into tiie portico , and - holding the cloth in his hand , his vexation against his guests had somewhat subsided , aud throwing the cloth over his shoulders , he remained in the lace
same p , undetermined to what bazar he should carry it to sell . Whilst he was in this situation a woman approached , and seeing Basem , a fine tall fellow , with a shash round his head , she imagined him to be a Wakeel , or officer of justice belonging to the Cadi ; " Pray sir , " said she , " are you a messenger or wakeel ?" " I am , " replied Basem , rolling his eyes , " if you desire it , a potent messenger , and , if you p lease ,, by declaration and signature of the .