us
that satisfaction."

The three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier Giafar, the captain
of his guards, and the porter were all in the middle of the hall,
seated upon a carpet in the presence of the three ladies, who reclined
upon a sofa, and the slaves stood ready to do whatever their
mistresses should command.

The porter spoke first, and briefly related the adventures of the
morning with Amina, and the kind favors to him of herself and her fair
sisters in the evening, which he declared to be the whole of his
history.

When the porter had concluded, Zobeide said, "Save thyself and begone,
nor ever let us see thee again."

"I beg of you, madam," replied he, "to let me remain a little longer.
It would be unfair that I should not hear their histories, after they
have had the pleasure of hearing mine."

Saying this, he took his place at the end of the sofa, truly delighted
at finding himself free from the danger which so much alarmed him.

One of the calenders, addressing himself to Zobeide, next spoke.

THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST CALENDER

Madam, I am the son of a sultan. My father had a brother, who reigned
over a neighboring kingdom. His son, my cousin, and I were nearly of
the same age. I went regularly every year to see my uncle, at whose
court I amused myself for a month or two, and then returned home.

On one occasion I arrived at my father's capital, where, contrary to
custom, I found a numerous guard at the gate of the palace. They
surrounded me as I entered. The commanding officer said, "Prince, the
army has proclaimed the grand vizier sultan, instead of your father,
who is dead, and I take you prisoner in the name of the new sultan."

This rebel vizier had long entertained a mortal hatred toward me. When
I was a boy I loved to shoot with a crossbow. Being one day upon the
terrace of the palace, and a bird happening to come by, I shot but
missed him, and the ball by misfortune hit the vizier, who was taking
the air upon the terrace of his own house, and put out one of his
eyes. He never forgave me, and, as opportunity offered, made me
sensible of his resentment. But now that he had me in his power he
came to me like a madman, and thrusting his finger into my right eye,
pulled it out, and thus I became blind of one eye.

His cruelty did not stop here; he commanded the executioner to cut off
my head, and leave me to be devoured by birds of prey. The executioner
conveyed me to the place of execut