The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian entertainment — Volume 2 by George Meredith
page 5 of 52 (09%)
page 5 of 52 (09%)
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O beauteous is creation, in fashion and device!
If I have fail'd to think thee fair, 'tis blindness is my vice. And she answered him: I've proved thy wit and power of verse, That is at will diffuse and terse: Lest thou commence to lie--be dumb! I am content: the time will come! Then she said to the Vizier Feshnavat, 'O my father, there is all in this youth, the nephew of the barber, that's desirable for the undertaking; and his feet will be on a level with the task we propose for him, he the height of man above it. 'Tis clear that vanity will trip him, but honesty is a strong upholder; and he is one that hath the spirit of enterprise and the mask of dissimulation: gratitude I observe in him; and it is as I thought when I came upon him on the sand-hill outside the city, that his star is clearly in a web with our star, he destined for the Shaving of Shagpat.' So the Vizier replied, 'He hath had thwackings, yet is he not deterred from making further attempt on Shagpat. I think well of him, and I augur hopefully. Wullahy! the Cadi shall be sent for; I can sleep in his secresy; and he shall perform the ceremonies of betrothal, even now and where we sit, and it shall be for him to write the terms of contract: so shall we bind the youth firmly to us, and he will be one of us as we are, devoted to the undertaking by three bonds--the bond of vengeance, the bond of ambition, and that of love.' Now, so it was that the Vizier despatched a summons for the attendance of |
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