I Sent Word To The Prince Of My
Arrival, When He Returned For Answer, That I Should Go On Before To The
Tents, And Wait His Arrival, When He Would Speak With Me.
It was night
when he came.
He sat a short while, only giving me a look, and arose to
retire among his women. As he passed, he sent a servant to desire me to
wait a little, till he came out to hold his guzalcan, when he should
take leave of me.
He came out in half an hour, but I could not get any one to remind him
of me, and he was fallen to play, and either forgot me, or proposed to
play me a state trick. I then told the waiters, that I had been sent for
by the prince, and only waited his orders, for which I had too long
waited, as it was late, and I must return to my house; and therefore, if
the prince had any business for me, I desired it might be sent after me,
as I scorned to be so used. Before I could mount, messengers came
running after me, and called me back to wait upon the prince. Going in,
I found him earnestly engaged at cards, but he excused himself of
forgetfulness, blaming the officers formally for not reminding him, and
shewed more than ordinary attention, calling me to see his cards, and
asking me many questions. I expected he would have spoken of my going
along with him; but, finding no such discourse, I told him I had come
only in obedience to his commands, and to take my leave, and craved his
pardon for being in haste, as I had to return to Agimere, having no
convenience for staying all night in camp. He answered, that he had sent
to speak with me before his departure, and that I should be presently
dispatched. He then sent in an eunuch into the interior apartments, and
several of his officers came to me smiling, who said that the prince
meant to give me a magnificent present, and if I feared to ride late, I
should have a guard of ten horsemen to see me safe home, making as much
of the matter as if I had been to get his best chain of pearls. By and
by came a cloak of cloth of gold, which the prince had once or twice
worn, which he caused to be put on me, and for which I made my reverence
very unwillingly; yet I urged some business, and having an answer, took
my leave. It is here reputed the highest favour, to give one a garment
that has been worn by a prince, or that has merely been laid on their
shoulders. The cloak now given me might have answered well for an actor
who had to represent the character of his ancestor, Tamerlane, on the
stage, but was to me of no importance. On my way out, I was followed by
his porters and waiters, begging in a most shameless manner, so that I
half paid the value of the cloak before I could get out from among them.
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