they are more contented with their lot than the caliph in the midst of his court; they are always gay, ready to dance and to sing, and have each of them their peculiar song and dance, with which they divert the city of Bagdad:  but what I esteem most in them is, that they are no great talkers, no more than your slave that has now the honour to speak to you.  Here, sir, that is the song and dance of Zantout, who rubs the people in baths:  mind me, pray, and see if I do not imitate it exactly.

The barber sung the song and danced the dance of Zantout; and though I did what I could to make an end to his buffoonery, he did not give over till he had imitated, in like manner, the songs and dances of the other people he had named.  After that, addressing himself to me, I am going, says he, to invite all these honest persons to my house:  if you take my advice, you will join with us, and balk your friends yonder, who perhaps are noisy prattlers, that will only teaze you to death with their nauseous discourses, and make you fall into a distemper worse than that you so lately recovered of; whereas, at my house, you shall have nothing but pleasure.

Notwithstanding my anger, I could not forbear laughing at the fellow’s impertinence.  I wish I had no business upon my hands, said I; if I had not, I would accept of the proposal you make me; I would go with all my heart to be merry with you, but I beg to be excused, I am too much engaged this day; another day I shall be more at leisure, and then we shall make up that company.  Come, have done shaving me, and make haste to return home; perhaps your friends are already come to your house.  Sir, said he, do not refuse me the favour I ask of you; come and be merry with the good company I am to have; if you were but once in our company, you would be so well pleased with it, you would forsake your friends to come to us:  let us talk no more of that, said I, I cannot be your guest.

I found I gained no ground upon him by mild terms.  Since you will not come to my house, replied the barber, then pray let me go along with you; I will go and carry these things to my house, where my friends may eat of them if they like them, and I will return immediately; I would not be so uncivil as to leave you alone; you deserve this complaisance at my hands.  Heavens! cried I, then I shall not get clear of this troublesome man this day.  In the name of the living God, said I, leave off your unreasonable jargon:  go to your friends, drink, eat, and be merry with them, and leave me at liberty to go to mine.  I have a mind to go alone, I have no occasion for company:  besides, I must needs tell you, the place to which I go is not a place where you can be received; nobody must come there but me.  You jest, sir, said he; if your friends have invited you to a feast, why should you hinder me to accompany you?  You will please them, I am sure, by carrying thither a man that can speak comically like me, and knows how to divert company agreeably:  but, say what you will, the thing is resolved upon; I will go along with you in spite of your teeth.