Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
the secret gate , found Basem ' s chamber , lighted up ,: and observed his shadow on the wall with a glass in his hand , the outward appearance of things precisely as before . Giafar , by the Khalif's order , knocked at the door . " . Who . is there ? " exclaimed Basem ; "" Your guests , the Mosul merchants , " replied they . " Neither peace nor welcome to " said Basem" by Aliaif do not about business
you , ; , you go your , it will be the ' saddest nig ht you ever knew . " " Indeed , brother , " said Giafar , " we have only two words ' to say , and therefore beg admittance . " Basem from his window perceiving them at his door , " Ho , ho , " exclaimed he , " what is it you want of me ? -. N 0 soul shall enter my house this night . Begone , I say , I never saw good inr countenancesand have brought ruin on all the blacksmiths
you . , you and bagnio keepers in Bagdat . " Giafar , pretending ignorance of what had happened , begged onl y for admission . " We have , " said he , " been busily emploj'ed all day in our khane till this _ moment , and know nothing of what passes in Bagdat . " " And are you really asleep to what passed to-day ? " " We are , indeed , and beseech for God ' s saketo inform us . " " Then I beseech youfor God ' s
you , . , , sake , " replied Basem , " to come up stairs , that I may acquaint you ; but upon these conditions , firstly , that you do not commit an act of infidelit }' , and practise enchantment against me ; for every thing you have said hitherto has proved true , as if engraven on stone ; and , secondly , that you do . not interrupt or trouble , me with , your impertinent discourse . '' ¦ -.... _ . ..
This agreement made , they were admitted up stairs , found every , thing disposed as usual , and took their seats in silence . " Now , my . guests , " says Basem , " as you expect favour of God , tell me ,, do you . know nothing of what has happened to me this day , an'd . what has been done by that blockhead the Khalif ? " His hearers hardly could re-: frain from laughing ; but begged of him to proceed . " Why , " , said Basem" from his ragged beardand want of understanding , he
is-, , sued a royal ordinance for shutting all the bagnios of Bagdat , for three days . Now having , as I told you last night , taken up a new _ - trade , this cursed ordinance cast me adrift again , and reduced me to such distress , as no mortal ever experienced before , or will experience after me ; for I could devise no feasible means of obtaining my evening provision . " " Why did you not- apply to the Khalif ' s-
bath , or that of Sit Zebeedy ? " sfiid the Khalif . ; " Oh , " replied Ba- . sem , " both of them were shut up before ah the others . It was indeed a dismal day . The people were astonished ; and the numerous tribe of bath-men were starving . However , my guests , " continued he , " Providence did not desert me , but put five drachms in my way , with which , as you may see , 1 made my usual provision , in' spite
of all who hate me , or envy me , and in spite of the Khalif , and all those in his palace . " " Well , well , friend , " said the Khaiif , within himself " please God , 1 shall one time or other be even with you . " Basem then filled bis glass , and holding it sometime before the flame of the candle , drank it off , and nodding to his companions , thus addressed them ; " Now , my guests , you do just as becomes you ; yon U u 3
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basem; Or, The Blacksmith. An Oriental Apologue.
the secret gate , found Basem ' s chamber , lighted up ,: and observed his shadow on the wall with a glass in his hand , the outward appearance of things precisely as before . Giafar , by the Khalif's order , knocked at the door . " . Who . is there ? " exclaimed Basem ; "" Your guests , the Mosul merchants , " replied they . " Neither peace nor welcome to " said Basem" by Aliaif do not about business
you , ; , you go your , it will be the ' saddest nig ht you ever knew . " " Indeed , brother , " said Giafar , " we have only two words ' to say , and therefore beg admittance . " Basem from his window perceiving them at his door , " Ho , ho , " exclaimed he , " what is it you want of me ? -. N 0 soul shall enter my house this night . Begone , I say , I never saw good inr countenancesand have brought ruin on all the blacksmiths
you . , you and bagnio keepers in Bagdat . " Giafar , pretending ignorance of what had happened , begged onl y for admission . " We have , " said he , " been busily emploj'ed all day in our khane till this _ moment , and know nothing of what passes in Bagdat . " " And are you really asleep to what passed to-day ? " " We are , indeed , and beseech for God ' s saketo inform us . " " Then I beseech youfor God ' s
you , . , , sake , " replied Basem , " to come up stairs , that I may acquaint you ; but upon these conditions , firstly , that you do not commit an act of infidelit }' , and practise enchantment against me ; for every thing you have said hitherto has proved true , as if engraven on stone ; and , secondly , that you do . not interrupt or trouble , me with , your impertinent discourse . '' ¦ -.... _ . ..
This agreement made , they were admitted up stairs , found every , thing disposed as usual , and took their seats in silence . " Now , my . guests , " says Basem , " as you expect favour of God , tell me ,, do you . know nothing of what has happened to me this day , an'd . what has been done by that blockhead the Khalif ? " His hearers hardly could re-: frain from laughing ; but begged of him to proceed . " Why , " , said Basem" from his ragged beardand want of understanding , he
is-, , sued a royal ordinance for shutting all the bagnios of Bagdat , for three days . Now having , as I told you last night , taken up a new _ - trade , this cursed ordinance cast me adrift again , and reduced me to such distress , as no mortal ever experienced before , or will experience after me ; for I could devise no feasible means of obtaining my evening provision . " " Why did you not- apply to the Khalif ' s-
bath , or that of Sit Zebeedy ? " sfiid the Khalif . ; " Oh , " replied Ba- . sem , " both of them were shut up before ah the others . It was indeed a dismal day . The people were astonished ; and the numerous tribe of bath-men were starving . However , my guests , " continued he , " Providence did not desert me , but put five drachms in my way , with which , as you may see , 1 made my usual provision , in' spite
of all who hate me , or envy me , and in spite of the Khalif , and all those in his palace . " " Well , well , friend , " said the Khaiif , within himself " please God , 1 shall one time or other be even with you . " Basem then filled bis glass , and holding it sometime before the flame of the candle , drank it off , and nodding to his companions , thus addressed them ; " Now , my guests , you do just as becomes you ; yon U u 3