Punch (99.1890)

310 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [Deoembeb 27, 1890.

ESSENCE OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

EXTRACTED FROM THE TRANSLATION OF TOBY, M.P.
(the thousand-and-twoth night.)

OJV frere," said Dinabzade
Jacques Mobley to schehe-
razade HaBCOUBT, " SI VOUS

nedormiezpas,je vous supplie,
en attendant le jour, qui par-
aitra bientot, de me raconter
un de ces beaux contes que vous
savez."
" Certainly, my dear Jacx,"

Said schehebazade.

Now Dinabzade did not like
this flippant tone of address.
He was, as has been recorded
by Shahstead (a gentleman of
whose patronage he is proud)
not a man you may take
liberties with. For Schehe-
bazade, taking mean advan-
tage of a French agglome-
ration of letters which did not
represent his name, to hail him
as " Jack" was characteristic,
and therefore undesirable.
But, as everybody knows,
Dinabzade, at the approach
of each successive morning,
was obliged to make this appeal to his brother, in order to circumvent the
bloodthirsty designs of the Sultan (for particulars of which, see original). So
he dissembled his anger, and Scheherazade proceeded to tell the History of
the Second Old Man, and the Black Dog.

"Sire," he said, "whilst the Merchant and the First Old Man, who con-
ducted the hind, went their way, there arrived another Old Man, who led a black
dog, and who forthwith proceeded to relate his history. ' We were, you know,'
he remarked, leaning wearily on his staff, ' two brothers, this dog that you see,
and myself. In early life we were not tied by those bonds of affection that should
exist in family circles. In fact, on one occasion, I had to put my brother in
prison. He had not at that period assumed the four-footed condition in which
you now behold him. He walked about on two legs, like the rest of us, ate and
drank, made love, and made merry. After he had been in prison some time, suc-
cessful interposition was made on his behalf by a friend named Le Sieur O'Shat.
But that (as Rudtabd Kippunq observes) is another story.

1'' Some time after my brother came to me and proposed to make a long journey
involving close business relations with him. I at first deolined his proposition.
" You have been in business some time," I said to ;him, " and what have you
gained ? Who is to assure me that I shall be more fortunate than you ? "

" ' In vain he encouraged me to stake my fortune with him, but he returned so
often to the charge that, having through six years constantly resisted his
solicitations, I at last yielded. I realised all my property, took my brother into
partnership, stocked our vessel exclusively with Home Rule goods, and set out
on our voyage.

" ' We arrived safely, did a great stroke of business with our wares, bought those
of the country, and set forth on our return voyage. Just as we were ready
to re-embark I met on the seashore a lady, not at all bad looking, but very
meanly dressed. She approached me, kissed my hand, begged me to take her
for my wife, and conduct her to my home across the sea. This may seem to our
friend Jack Mobley a somewhat nasty proceeding. Jack is a philosopher, but
I am the Second Old Man, a mere child of nature. I took her into Bond Street,
and bought her a new dress, and, having duly married her, we set sail. Perhaps
I should add that her maiden name was Ireland.

" ' My brother and she got on very well at first, and he loudly professed to
share the esteem and (considering she was my wife I may say) affection with
which I regarded her. But suddenly a change came over him. One night
whilst we slept he threw us overboard into the sea. My wife turned out to
be a fairy, and, as you may imagine, she was not born to be drowned. As
for me I was, so to speak, on my way to be as dead as a herring, when she

seized me and transported me to an isle. When it was
day the fairy said to me, " You see, my husband, that in
saving your life I have not badly recompensed you. I
am, as you doubtless begin to suspect, a fairy. Finding
myself on the seashore when you were about to embark,
I felt strongly drawn towards you. Desiring to prove
the goodness of your heart, I presented myself in the
disguise with whioh you are familiar. It was, I admit,
a trifle shabby. You have used me generously. I am
delighted to have found occasion to repay you; but as
for that brother of yours, I am death on him. I shall
never rest till I have taken his life."

" 1 " I beg you to do no such thing," I said.

" ' " I will sink his vessel and send him to the bottom
of the sea," she insisted.

"' After much endeavour I managed to appease her
wrath, and in the twinkling of an eye, before you could
say " Ali Baba! " she had transported me back to my
own house. On entering I found this black dog who
stared strangely at me.

" ' " My husband," said the fairy " do not be surprised
to see this dog here; he is your brother. He has behaved
in a most shocking way towards you. He has maligned
you, misrepresented yon, threatened you, even called
you a Grand Old Spider. I have condemned him to
remain in this state till you have concluded your little
transactions in Home Rule."

" ' " But my dear!-" I said.' "

At these words Scheherazade, remarking that it was
daybreak, ceased to pursue his narrative.

To a Modern Minstrel.

{After Kingsley.)
Be puff'd, dear boy, and let who will be clever ;

Write catchy things, not good ones, all day long,
And make a name to-day, and not for ever,
By one weak song.

FERVOUR IN THE EOG.

Unpromising Individual (suddenly—his voice vibrating with
passion). "Shi's moy Unnii;

Oim 'ek Jot! "

Kj" NOTICE__Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will

in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper, To this rule
there will he no exception.