Page:Three crump twin-brothers of Damascus.pdf/5

 CRUMP TWIN-BROTHERS. 5 riz, came at length to Bagdad, where Watik. lah, the grandſon of Haroun Arreſchid, held e ſupreme power. This little crooked wretch underſtanding that cre was in that city ? cutier of tolerable good ſpute, went to him for employment; he told jm he was of Damaſcus, and that he had a per- cular art in tempering of ſteel the cutlers was willing to try if Babekan was as great a maſter of his trade as he boaſted himſelf to be, he took him into his ſhop, and finding indeed that not only the ſteel he tempered was as hard and ſharp gain, as what was commonly uſed at Bagda. per also that his work was much more neat and perfect, he retained him in his ſervice, and co- Jertained him with great kindneſs, that he might seep him to himſelf. From that time his ſhop was always crowded with cuſtomers. The little crump could not work faſt enough; the cutler fold his Bows and Sabres at his own price; and if he had not been a drunk- en extravagant for, he might have made a very conſiderable fortune. Babekan had scarce been two years at Bagdad, when his maſter fell very ill of a great debauch he had made his body was ſo worn and waſted by wine, brandy and women, that all the care of his wife and Babekan could not ſave his life : he died in their arms. Though Nohoud; which way the name of the cutler's wife, was very far from being handſome, Babekan had nevertheleſs been in love with her for ſome time ; and his maſter's death being a fair opportunity to declare his paſſion, he without any heſitation Province of Ilrerac. It has long been the place of abode of the Caliphs of Ægypt.
 * Bagdad is a city ci Afia, ſeated upon the Tygris, in the