OF AMINÈ.
Commander of the Faithful, that I may not repeat those things which your majesty has already been informed of by my sister, I will only mention, that my mother, having taken a house to pass her widowhood in private, first bestowed me in marriage on the heir of one of the richest men in this city.
I had not been married quite a year before my husband died. I thus became a widow, and was in possession of all his property, which amounted to above ninety thousand sequins. The interest only of this sum would have been quite sufficient for me to have passed the remainder of my life with ease and reputation. In the mean time, as soon as the first six months of my mourning were over, I ordered ten different dresses to be made up, which were so very magnificent that each cost me a thousand sequins; and when my year of mourning was finished, I began to wear them.
I was one day quite alone, and employed about my domestic affairs, when they came and told me that a lady wanted to speak with me. I desired them to let her come in. She appeared to be very far advanced in years. On her entrance she saluted me, by kissing the ground, and then rising on her knees, she said, “I entreat you, my good lady, to excuse the liberty which I have taken, in coming to importune you; but the assurance I have received of your charitable disposition is the cause of my boldness. I must inform you, most honourable lady, that I have an orphan daughter, who is to be married to-day: we are both strangers, and have not the least knowledge of any one in this city. This causes us great anxiety and confusion; because we wish that the numerous family, with which we are going to be connected, should be acquainted, that we are not altogether unknown and of no respectability and credit. It is for this reason, most charitable lady, that you would lay us under an infinite obligation, if you would honour the nuptials with your presence. If, therefore, you grant us this favour, our own countrywomen will know, that we are not looked upon here as poor wretches, when they shall be informed, that a person of your rank has had the condescension to do us so great an honour. But if, alas! you reject our petition, how great will our mortification be; because we know not to whom else to address ourselves!”
The poor lady was in tears during the whole of this speech, which very much excited my compassion. “My good mother,” replied I, “do not afflict yourself any more; I shall be very happy to oblige you in the way you wish. Tell me where I must come to; I only wish for time sufficient to dress myself properly for such an occasion.” The old lady was so overjoyed at this answer, that she would have fallen at my feet and kissed them, if I had not prevented her. “My dear good lady,” she cried in getting up, “God will recompense you for the goodness you have shown to those who will always consider themselves as your servants; he will make your bosom overflow with joy from the reflection of your having been the cause of so much to us. It is not necessary for you to have the trouble of remembering the address, but only that you will have the goodness to go with me in the evening, at the time I shall come and call for you. Adieu, madam,” added she, “till I have the honour of seeing you again.”
She had no sooner left me, than I went and took that dress I liked best; also a necklace of large pearls, a pair of bracelets, some rings both for the fingers and ears, of the finest and most brilliant diamonds; for I, somehow or other, seemed to have a presentiment of what would happen to me.
The evening began to close, when the old lady, with a countenance that expressed great joy, arrived at my house. She kissed my hand, and said, “The parents and relations of my son-in-law are all arrived; and they are ladies of the first consequence in this city. You may now come, whenever it is agreeable to you; and I am ready to serve you as a guide.” We immediately set out, and she walked before to show me the way. I followed, together with a great number of my female slaves, all properly dressed for the occasion. Having come into a wide street, that had been fresh swept and watered, we stopped at a large door, lighted by a lamp, by the help of which I could distinguish this inscription, written over the door, in letters of gold; “this is the continual abode of pleasures and of joy.” The old lady knocked, and the door instantly opened.
They conducted me through a court into a large hall, where I was received by a young lady of incomparable beauty. She came immediately towards me; and after embracing me, she made me sit next to her on a sofa, over which there was a sort of throne, or canopy, formed of precious wood enriched with diamonds. “You have come here madam,” she said to me, “to assist at some nuptials; but I trust they will belong to different persons from those which you expect. I have a brother, who is one of the best made and accomplished of men. He is so charmed with the description which he has heard of your beauty, that his fate absolutely depends upon you; and he will be most unfortunate and wretched, if you do not have pity upon him. He is well acquainted with the situation you hold in the world, and I can assure you that he is not unworthy of your alliance. If my prayers, madam, can have any weight with you, I readily join them to his, and entreat you not to reject the offer which he makes you, of receiving him for your husband.”
Since the death of my husband, the idea of marrying again never came into my head; but I did not possess sufficient resolution to refuse so beautiful a person. I had no sooner given my assent to this by my silence, accompanied by a blush, which suffused my cheek, than the young lady clapped her hands; a young man immediately entered, with so majestic an air and so much apparent grace, that I thought myself fortunate in having made so excellent a conquest. He seated himself near me; and I discovered, by the conversation that passed between us, that his merit was still greater than his sister had informed me of.
When she found, that we were very well satisfied with each other, she clapped her hands a second time, and the cadi immediately entered, who made a contract for our marriage, signed it, and had it also witnessed by four persons whom he brought with him for that purpose. There was one condition, and it was the only one my new husband required of me; and this was, that I should neither see nor speak to any other man than himself. He then took an oath that if I preserved these terms, I should have every reason to be satisfied with him. Our marriage was then concluded, and thus I became a principal person concerned, when I only thought of being a spectator, and a guest.