Moslema is saved by his faithful wife (Les Avantures d'Abdalla, vol. 2, 1712)
Notice précédente Notice n°0 sur 12
Description
Thanks to the kindness of King Zirisdin, Moslema married the daughter of an emir, the beautiful Rasimé. One of his friends convinced him that all women are unfaithful, so Moslema bet him that Rasimé was not. But Kachek describes in detail his wife's jewelry, furniture, and beauty marks. Convinced that he is a cuckold, Moslema abandons his wife on a desert island, leaves for two years to join the army of the Great Mogul, and returns claiming to the Emir that Rasimé has perished in a storm. The Emir rushes to the Cadi and has Moslema imprisoned, who is sentenced to be sawn in half alive (p. 264). Molesma appeals to King Zirisdin's justice, who initially confirms the sentence.
The engraving depicts the scene that begins here:
Moslema, kneeling on the left, confesses the truth before the king, in the center background, and facing his accuser, his father-in-law the Emir: Moslema explains that, mortified at having been deceived by his wife, he abandoned her on a desert island. Kachek is brought before the king and confesses his deception: Rasimé never granted him anything; it was through a servant that he learned all the intimate details he recounted to Moslema.
Then comes a dramatic turn of events: Rasimé appears, alive and well (p. 268, and at the top left, in front of the kneeling Moslema); she pleads for her husband. The king and the emir forgive Moslema, but Kachek is sentenced to whip the old servant at every crossroads in the city, then to banishment (they are both seen at the bottom right)
2. Engraving inserted opposite p. 250, at the beginning of the “ Story of Moslema, & of the faithful Rasimé.” But the scene depicted begins on p. 262.
Technical Data
Notice #017110