it being a custom with the Moors to give the betrothed a supper and to
set out the feast for them, and then to take leave and return to visit
them on the ensuing day, the ceremony was performed accordingly.
However, the fathers and mothers, and all the relations of the bride
and bridegroom went away with many misgivings, fearing that when they
returned the ensuing day they should either find the young man dead,
or in some very bad plight indeed.

So it came to pass, that as soon as the young people were left alone,
they seated themselves at the table, and before the dreaded bride had
time to open her lips, the bridegroom, looking behind him, saw stationed
there his favourite mastiff dog, and he said to him somewhat sharply,
"Mr. Mastiff, bring us some water for our hands;" and the dog stood
still, and did not do it. His master then repeated the order more
fiercely, but the dog stood still as before. His master then leaped up
in a great passion from the table, and seizing his sword, ran towards
the mastiff, who, seeing him coming, ran away, leaping over the chairs
and tables and the fire, trying every place to make his escape, with the
bridegroom hard in pursuit of him. At length reaching the dog, he smote
off his head with his sword, then hewed off his legs, and all his body,
until the whole place was covered with blood. He then resumed his place
at table, all covered as he was with gore; and soon casting his eyes
around, he beheld a lap-dog, and commanded him to bring him water for
his hands, and because he was not obeyed, he said, "How, false traitor!
see you not the fate of the mastiff, because he would not do as I
commanded him? I vow, that if you offer to contend one moment with me,
I will treat thee to the same fare as I did the mastiff;" and when he
found it was not done, he arose, seized him by the legs, and dashing him
against the wall, actually beat his brains out, showing even more rage
than against the poor mastiff. Then in a great passion he returned to