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Article ORIENTAL APOLOGUES. ← Page 4 of 7 →
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Oriental Apologues.
appearance ,. of a person like you ? " On which the stranger gave trte sultan a violent blow with his fist ; a blow bitterer than fire . " Sir , " , said he to the prince , " are you obliged to eat it all ? eat what you please , and leave the rest . " The sultan whispered his vizier , " we are certainly in the wrong ; I , hy an impertinent question , have provoked this man to strike me , hut by Alia if you do not find some means by which I . may properly give him a blow for the one I have received , I will certainly put you to death . '' " Sir , " answered the vizier , " you shall to-morrow night
invite him to . your apartments ; you must give him an entertainment an all respects superior to this , in splendour and magnificence ; if he shall presume to make any observation , you may then return the blow you have now received . ' The sultan accordingly followed the ' advice of his minister , and invited the stranger . The next night the man entered the sultan ' s apartments , with a countenance and manner somewhat confused and embarrassed ; the sultan however
encouraged him by the politeness and kindness of his behaviour : after a short interval , supper was called for , and the table was covered with a thousand dishes . The sultan sat down , and invited his guest to take his place ; he did so , and in a cool and collected manner said , * ' God's will be done ; this is indeed what it ought to be ; may God for ever prosper the plenty of your table ; here is a profusion of victuals , but profusion is an excellent thing ; it delights the eye before it satisfies the stomach . He feasted heartily , and afterwards exclaimed , by way of grace , " Praise be to the omnipotent God of his
people . . The sultan whispered his vizier , " This will not do , how can I possibly strike a man who expresses himself so wisely ? but if you do not find out some just cause for my . giving him a blow before we part , I certainly will kill you . " " My Lord , " said the vizier , " when he rises from the table to wash his hands , you shall officiously present yourself to pour out the water for him ; if he shall say"By no means
, , Sir , God forbid that you should thus demean yourself , indeed this must not be ;"—for such an impertinent opposition you may certainly give him such a blow as you think proper ; saying at the same time , " Pray , Sir , amrl to be taught by you what I am to do ? do you presume to contradict me ? " The sultan promised to do so , and when the stranger rose to wash his handsthe prince eagerlpressed
, y forwards , laid bold of the vessel , and prepared to pour water on the . hands of his guest . " God bless 3 'ou , Sir , " said the stranger , " I am delighted by your kindness , may God prosper all your undertakings !" . After this exclamation , the prince was obliged to pour the water upon the stranger ' s hands , but at the same time it evidently appeared that he was inwardly chagrined and angry .
Coffee was now introduced , and the prince again addressing his -vizier , said , " I swear by Alia , if . you do not speedily find a remedy -for my disquietude , I will order } 'ou to be put to instant death ; is it not enough that the man has struck me , but that I should also be degraded to the servile office of pouring out water for him to wash ?" " Sir , " answered the vizier , " he will soon be obliged to take his leave , do you be ready with a bamboo in your hand : call one of your
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Oriental Apologues.
appearance ,. of a person like you ? " On which the stranger gave trte sultan a violent blow with his fist ; a blow bitterer than fire . " Sir , " , said he to the prince , " are you obliged to eat it all ? eat what you please , and leave the rest . " The sultan whispered his vizier , " we are certainly in the wrong ; I , hy an impertinent question , have provoked this man to strike me , hut by Alia if you do not find some means by which I . may properly give him a blow for the one I have received , I will certainly put you to death . '' " Sir , " answered the vizier , " you shall to-morrow night
invite him to . your apartments ; you must give him an entertainment an all respects superior to this , in splendour and magnificence ; if he shall presume to make any observation , you may then return the blow you have now received . ' The sultan accordingly followed the ' advice of his minister , and invited the stranger . The next night the man entered the sultan ' s apartments , with a countenance and manner somewhat confused and embarrassed ; the sultan however
encouraged him by the politeness and kindness of his behaviour : after a short interval , supper was called for , and the table was covered with a thousand dishes . The sultan sat down , and invited his guest to take his place ; he did so , and in a cool and collected manner said , * ' God's will be done ; this is indeed what it ought to be ; may God for ever prosper the plenty of your table ; here is a profusion of victuals , but profusion is an excellent thing ; it delights the eye before it satisfies the stomach . He feasted heartily , and afterwards exclaimed , by way of grace , " Praise be to the omnipotent God of his
people . . The sultan whispered his vizier , " This will not do , how can I possibly strike a man who expresses himself so wisely ? but if you do not find out some just cause for my . giving him a blow before we part , I certainly will kill you . " " My Lord , " said the vizier , " when he rises from the table to wash his hands , you shall officiously present yourself to pour out the water for him ; if he shall say"By no means
, , Sir , God forbid that you should thus demean yourself , indeed this must not be ;"—for such an impertinent opposition you may certainly give him such a blow as you think proper ; saying at the same time , " Pray , Sir , amrl to be taught by you what I am to do ? do you presume to contradict me ? " The sultan promised to do so , and when the stranger rose to wash his handsthe prince eagerlpressed
, y forwards , laid bold of the vessel , and prepared to pour water on the . hands of his guest . " God bless 3 'ou , Sir , " said the stranger , " I am delighted by your kindness , may God prosper all your undertakings !" . After this exclamation , the prince was obliged to pour the water upon the stranger ' s hands , but at the same time it evidently appeared that he was inwardly chagrined and angry .
Coffee was now introduced , and the prince again addressing his -vizier , said , " I swear by Alia , if . you do not speedily find a remedy -for my disquietude , I will order } 'ou to be put to instant death ; is it not enough that the man has struck me , but that I should also be degraded to the servile office of pouring out water for him to wash ?" " Sir , " answered the vizier , " he will soon be obliged to take his leave , do you be ready with a bamboo in your hand : call one of your