Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: old, and that nature had formed nothing so charming and so complete as the other two, who seemed to be hardly eighteen. A great number of female slaves, veiled in the same manner, and ranged on each side of the throne, kept a profound silence, and seemed respectfully to await the command of the three ladies. After they had given the tailor time to look about him and admire so much magnificence, the lady that appeared the eldest of the three rose from the throne. Shams al-Din, says she, your reputation has excited our curiosity. We have heard wonders concerning your skill, and are willing to be judges of it ourselves ; look well upon these two young ladies; view their shapes with attention: Dare you engage, without taking any other measure, to make each of them a genteel suit of clothes ? — Madam, replied the young tailor, I shall do my endeavors to keep up the reputation I have with some justice acquired: I have viewed these ladies enough; order me the silks, and in eight days' time you shall be satisfied. The black slaves upon this led Shams al-Din into another room, and opened twenty coffers, which were all full of the finest silks of the East: he chose what was necessary to make the two habits complete. His eyes were again muffled, and he was led to the house of the old woman, who re-conducted him home. If you would have your good fortune continue, said she to him at parting, do not seek to know from whence you come, or for whom you are to work: the least step you take towards such a discovery will cost you your life. Think of nothing but how to execute as soon as possible the orders you have received. I shall fetch you again eight days hence, and carry you to the same ladies, upon the former conditions. The old woman having taken leave of Shams al-Din, he went to bed, af...