to see me again, nor at the loss of my eye; but said, We are sorry that we cannot congratulate you upon your return as we could have desired; but we are not the cause of your misfortune.  I should be in the wrong to accuse you, said I, for I have drawn it upon myself, and I can charge the fault upon no other person.  If it be a consolation to the unfortunate, said they, to have fellows, this example may afford us a subject of rejoicing; all that has happened to you, we also have undergone:  we tasted all sorts of pleasure during a year successively; and we had continued to enjoy the same happiness still, had we not opened the golden door when the princesses were absent:  You have been no wiser than we, and you had likewise the same punishment; we would gladly receive you among us, to do such penance as we do, though we know not how long it may continue:  But we have already declared the reasons that hinder us; therefore depart from hence, and go to the court of Bagdad, where you will meet with him that can decide your destiny.  They told me the way I was to travel, and so I left them.  On the road I caused my beard and eye-brows to be shaved, and took on a calender’s habit.  I have had a long journey; but at last arrived this evening in this city, where I met these my brother calenders at the gate, being strangers as well as myself.  We wondered much at one another, to see all three blind, of the same eye; but we had not leisure to discourse long of our common calamities, having only so much time as to come hither to implore those favours which you have been generously pleased to grant us.

The third calender having finished this relation of his adventures, Zobeide addressed her speech to him and his fellow-calenders thus:  Go wherever you think fit; you are all three at liberty.  But one of them answered, madam, we beg you to pardon our curiosity, and permit us to hear those gentlemen’s stories who have not yet spoken.  Then the lady turned to that side where stood the caliph, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour, whom she knew not; but said to them, It is now your turn to tell me your adventures; therefore speak.

The grand vizier Giafar, who had always been the spokesman, answered Zobeide thus:  Madam, in order to obey you, we need only repeat what we have said already, before we entered your house.  We are merchants of Moussol, that came to Bagdad to sell our merchandise, which lies in the khan where we lodge.  We dined to-day, with several other persons of our profession, at a merchant’s house in this city; who, after he had treated us with choice dainties and excellent wines, sent for men and women dancers and musicians.  The great noise we made brought in the watch, who arrested some of the company, but we had the good fortune to escape; and it being already late, and the door of our khan shut up, we knew not whither to retire.  It was our hap, as we passed along this street, to hear mirth at your house, which made us determine to knock at your gate.  This is all the account that we can give you in obedience to your commands.