'
'What do you say?' said the sultan. 'Those admirable characters,
are they not written by the hands of a man?'
'No, sir,' replied the officers; 'we do assure your majesty that it
was an ape, who wrote them in our presence.'
The sultan was too much surprised at this not to desire a sight of
me, and therefore said, 'Bring me speedily that wonderful ape.'
The officers returned to the vessel and showed the captain their
order, who answered that the sultan's commands must be obeyed.
Whereupon they clothed me with that rich brocade robe and carried
me ashore, where they set me on horseback, whilst the sultan waited
for me at his palace with a great number of courtiers, whom he
gathered together to do me the more honour.
The cavalcade having begun, the harbour, the streets, the public
places, windows, terraces, palaces, and houses were filled with an
infinite number of people of all sorts, who flocked from all parts
of the city to see me; for the rumour was spread in a moment that
the sultan had chosen an ape to be his grand vizier; and after
having served for a spectacle to the people, who could not forbear
to express their surprise by redoubling their shouts and cries, I
arrived at the palace of the sultan.
Pages:
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300