and strangling you.  Softly, sir, said he, very calmly, without being moved by my passion:  you are not afraid of a relapse:  do not be in a passion, I am going to serve you this minute.  On speaking these words, he clapped his astrolabe in his case, took up his razor, which he had fixed to his belt, and fell a shaving again:  but, all the while he shaved me, the dog could not forbear prattling.  If you please, sir, said he, to tell me what business it is you are going about, I could give you some advice that may be of use to you.  To satisfy the fellow, I told him I was going to meet some friends who were to regale me at noon, and make merry with me upon the recovery of my health.

When the barber heard me talk of regaling, God bless you this day as well as all other days, cried he:  you put me in mind that yesterday I invited four or five friends to come and eat with me this day:  indeed I had forgot it, and I have as yet made no preparation for them.  Do not let that trouble you. said I; though I dine abroad, my house is always well provided.  I make you a present of what is in it; nay, besides, I will order you as much wine as you may have occasion for, for I have excellent wine in my cellar; only despatch the shaving of me presently, and pray do not mind it; whereas my father made you presents to encourage you to speak, I give you mine to make you hold your peace.

He was not satisfied with the promise I made him:  God reward you, sir, said he, for your kindness; but pray show me these provisions now, that I may see if there will be enough to entertain my friends:  I would have them satisfied with the good fare I make them.  I have, said I, a lamb, six capons, a dozen of pullets, and enough to make four services of.  I ordered a slave to bring them all before him, with four great pitchers of wine.  It is very well, said the barber, but we shall want fruit, and sauce for the meat:  that I ordered likewise; but then he gave over shaving to look over every thing one after another; and this survey lasted almost half an hour.  I raged, and stormed, and went mad, but it signified nothing, the coxcomb never troubled himself.  He, however, took up his razor again, and shaved me for some moments; then stopping all on a sudden, I could not have believed, sir, that you would have been so liberal; I begin to perceive that your deceased father lives again in you:  most certainly I do not deserve the favours with which you have loaded me; and I assure you I shall have them in perpetual remembrance:  for, sir, to let you know it, I have nothing but what comes from the generosity of honest gentlemen, such as you; in which point I am like to Zantout that rubs the people in bathing; to Sali that cries boiled pease in the streets:  to Salout that sells beans; to Akerscha that sells greens; to Amboumecarez that sprinkles the streets to lay the dust, and to Cassem the caliph’s life-guard man.  Of all these persons, not one is apt to be made melancholy; they are neither peevish nor quarrelsome;