Page:Beckford - Vathek (1816).djvu/246

(236)

The name of David in Hebrew is composed of the letter Vau between two  Daleths ; and according to the Massoretic points ought to be pronounced David. Having no consonant in their tongue, the Septuagint substituted the letter  for, and wrote , Dabid. The Syriac reads Dad or Dod; and the Arabs articulate Daoud.

Thus, in the history of the punished vizir:—"The prince heard enough to convince him of his danger, and then perceived that the lady, who called herself the daughter of an Indian king, was an ogress, wife to one of those savage demons, called ogre, who stay in remote places, and make use of a thousand wiles to surprize and devour passengers." ''Arab. Nights'', vol. I. p. 56.

It has been usual, in eastern courts, from time immemorial, to retain a number of mutes. These are not only employed to amuse the monarch, but also to instruct his pages, in an art to