# Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 5/The Eldest Brother

The Story of the Barber’s eldeſt Brother.
SIR, ſaid I, my eldeſt Brother, whoſe Name was Bacbouc the Hump-back, was a Taylor by Trade: When he came out of his Apprentiſhip, he hired a Shop over againſt a Mill, and having little Buſineſs, he could ſcarcely maintain himſelf. The Miller, on the contrary, was very wealthy, and had a very handſome Wife. One Day as my Brother was at work in his Shop, he lift up his Head and ſaw the Miller’s Wife looking out of the Window, and was charm’d with her Beauty. The Woman took no Notice of him, but ſhut her Window, and came no more to it all that Day, while the poor Taylor did nothing but lift up his Eyes towards the Mill all Day long. He prick’d his Fingers oftner than once, and his Work that Day was not very regular. At Night, When he was to ſhut his Shop, he cou’d ſcarce tell how to do it, becauſe he ſtill hoped the Miller’s Wife would come to the Window once more; but at laſt he was forced to ſhut up, and go Home to his little Houſe, where he had but a very ſorry Night. He got up betimes in the Morning, and ran to his Shop, in Hopes to ſee his Miſtreſs again, but he was no happier than the Day before, for the Miller’s Wife did not appear at the Window above one Moment all the Day, but that Moment made the Taylor the moſt amorous Man that ever liv’d The Third Day, he had ſome more Ground of Satisfaction; for the Miller’s Wife ​caſt her Eyes upon him by Chance, and ſurpriz’d him as he was gazing at her, of which ſhe preſently knew: the Reaſon. Here Day began to appear, which made the Sulraneſs break off her Story, and ſhe reſum’d it next Night thus.
The Hundred and Sixty Eight Night.
NO ſooner (continu’d the Barber) did the Miller’s Wife perceive my Brother’s Mind, but inſtead of being vex’d at it, ſhe reſolv’d to make it her Diverſion. She look’d upon him with a ſmiling Countenance, and my Brother look’d upon her in the ſame Manner, bur after ſuch an odd Sort, that the Miller’s Wife preſently ſhut her Window, leſt her loud Laughter ſhould have made him ſenſible that ſhe only ridicul’d him. Poor Bacbouc interpreted her Carriage to his own Advantage, and flattered himſelf that ſhe look’d upon him with Pleaſure.,
The Miller’s Wife reſolv’d to make ſport with my Brother: She had a piece of very fine Stuff, with which ſhe had a long time deſign’d to make her a Suit; ſhe wrapt it up in a fine embroider’d Silk Handkerchief, and ſent it him by a young Slave that ſhe had; who being taught her Leſſon, comes to the Taylor’s Shop, and tells him, my Miſtreſs gives you her Service, and prays you make her a Suit of this Stuff according to this Pattern; ſhe changes her Cloaths often, ſo that her Cuſtom will be profitable to you: My Brother doubted not but the Miller’s Wife loved him, and thought that ſhe ſent him Work ſo ſoon after what had paſs’d betwixt them, only to ſignify that ſhe knew his Mind; and to confirm him that he had obtain’d her Favour. My Brother being of this Opinion, charged the Slave to tell her Miſtreſs, that he would lay aſide all Work for hers, and that the Suit ſhould be ready next Morning. In Effect, he work’d at it with ſo much Diligence, that he finiſh’d it the ſame Day. Next Morning the young Slave came to ſee if the Suit was ready; Bacbouc gave it her neatly folded up, telling her, I am too much concern’d to pleaſe your Miſtreſs to neglect her Suit; I would engage her by my Diligence, to make Uſe of no other but my ſelf for the time to come. The young Slave went ſome Steps, as if ſhe had intended to go away, and then ​coming back, whiſper’d to my Brother, I had forgot Part of my Commiſſion, my Miſtreſs charg’d me to compliment you in her Name, and to ask how you paſ’d the Night; for her, poor Woman, ſhe loves you ſo mightily, that ſhe could not ſleep. Tell her, anſwers my ſilly Brother, I have ſo ſtrong a Paſſion for her, that theſe four Nights, I have not ſlept one Wink. After ſuch a Compliment from the Miller’s Wife, my Brother thought ſhe would not let him languiſh in Expectation of her Favour.
About a quarter of an Hour after, the Slave return’d to my Brother with a Piece of Sattin: My Miſtreſs, ſays ſhe, is very well pleas’d with her Suit, nothing in the World can fit her better; and ſince it is very fine, ſhe would not wear it without a new Peticoat, and ſhe prays you to make her one, as ſoon as you can, of this Piece of Sattin. It’s enough, ſays Bacbouc, I’ll do it before I leave my Shop; you ſhall have it in the Evening. The Miller’s Wife ſhow’d her ſelf often at her Window, was very prodigal of her Charms, and to encourage my Brother, ſhe made as if ſhe took Pleaſure to ſee him work. The Peticoat was ſoon made, and the Slave came for it, but brought the Taylor no Money, neither for the Trimming he had bought for the Suit, nor for his Labour. In the meantime, this unfortunate Lover, whom they only amuſed, though he could not perceive it, had eat nothing all that Day, and was forced to borrow Money at Night to buy his Supper. Next Morning, as ſoon as he arriv’d at his Shop, the young Slave came to tell him; that the Miller wanted to ſpeak to him. My Miſtreſs, ſays ſhe, has told him ſo much Good of you, when ſhe ſhew’d him your Work, that he has a Mind you ſhould work alſo for him; ſhe does it on Purpoſe, that the Friendſhip ſhe deſigns to form betwixt you and him, may make you to ſucceed in what you both equally deſire. My Brother was eaſily perſwaded, and went to the Mill with the Slave. The Miller receiv’d him very kindly, and fhew’d him a Piece of Cloath, and told him he wanted Shirts, bid him make twenty of that Cloath, and give him again what was over and above.
Scheherazade perceiving Day, held her Peace, and the next Night continu’d the Hiſtory of Bacbouc thus.
The Hundred and Sixty Ninth Night.
MY Brother, ſaid the Barber, had Work enough for five or fix Days, to make twenty Shirts for the Miller, who afterwards gave him another Piece of Cloath to make him as many Pair of Drawers. When they were finiſh’d, Bacbouc carry’d them to the Miller, who ask’d him what he muſt have for his Pains. My Brother anſwered, he would be content with twenty Drachms of Silver. The Miller immediately call’d the young Slave, and bid her bring him his Weights to ſee if the Money was right. The Slave who had her Leſſon, look’d upon my Brother with an angry Countenance, to ſignify to him, that he would ſpoil all if he took any Money. He knew her Meaning, and refuſed to take any, tho’ he wanted it ſo much that he was forced to borrow Money to buy the Thread that ſow’d the Shirts and Drawers. When he left the Miller, he came to me to borrow Money to live on,and told me they did not pay him. I gave him ſome Copper Money I had in my Pocket, and upon that he ſubſiſted for ſome Days. It’s true, indeed, he liv’d upon nothing but broth, nor had he his Fill of that.
One Day he went to the Miller, who was buſy at his Work, and thinking my Brother came for Money, he offer’d him ſome; but the young Slave being preſent, made him another Sign not to take it, which he comply’d with, and told the Miller he did not come for his Money, but only to know how he did. The Miller thank’d him, and gave him an upper Garment to make; Bacbouc carry’d it him next Day; When the Miller drew out his Purſe, the young Slave gave my Brother the uſual Sign, on which he ſaid to the Miller, Neighbour, there’s no Haſte, we will reckon another Time; ſo that the poor Nynny went to his Shop again, with three terrible Diſtempers upon him, Love, Hunger, and Want of Money. The Miller’s Wife was not only greedy, but ill-natur’d; for not content to cheat my Brother of his Due, ſhe provok’d her Husband to revenge himſelf upon him, for making Love to her, which they accompliſh’d thus. The Miller invited Bacbouc one Night to Supper, and after having given him a very ſorry ​Treat, ſays to him, Brother, it’s too late for you to go Home, you had beſt ſtay here all Night; and then carry’d him to a Place in the Mill, where there was a Bed; there he left him, and went to Bed with his Wife. About the Middle of the Night, the Miller comes to my Brother, and ſays, Neighbour are you aſleep? My Mule is ill, and I have a great deal of Corn to grind, you will do me a mighty Kindneſs if you will turn the Mill in her Stead. Bacbouc to ſhow his Good Nature, told him, he was ready to do him that Piece of Service, if he would ſhow him how. Then the Miller ty’d him by the Middle to the Mule’s Place, and whipping him over the Back, bid him go, Neighbour. Ho! ſays my Brother, why do you beat me? It’s to make you brisk, ſays the Miller, for without a Whip my Mule won’t go. Bacbouc was amazed at this ſort of Treatment, but he durft not complain. When he had gone five or ſix Rounds, he would fain have reſted, but the Miller gave him a dozen of ſound Laſhes, ſaying, Courage Neighbour, don’t ſtop pray: you muſt go on without taking your Breath, otherwiſe you will ſpoil my Meal.
Scheherazade ſtopp’d here, becauſe ſhe ſaw Day, and next Morning continu’d the Story thus.
The Hundred and Seventieth Night.
THE Miller obliged my Brother (ſays the Barber) to turn the Mill thus all Night. About break of Day he left him without untying him, and went to his Wife’s Chamber. Bacbouc continued there for ſome time, and at laſt the young Slave came and unty’d him. Ah, on the treacherous Wretch, how my Miſtreſs and I bemoan’d you: We had no Hand in this wicked Trick which her Husband has put upon you. Unhappy Bacbouc anſwer’d her never a Word, he was ſo much Fatigu’d with Work and Blows, but crept home to his Houſe, reſolving never to think more on the Miller’s Wife.
The telling of this Story, ſays the Barber, made the Califf laugh. Go home, ſays he to me, I have order’d ſomething to be given you inſtead of the good Dinner you expected: Commander of the Faithful, ſays I; pray your Majeſty to ſtay till I tell-the Story of my other Brothers. ​The Calif having ſignify’d by his Silence, that he was wiling to hear me, I went on thus.