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A NEW AND COMPLETE EDITION.
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WITH ri'WAIIKs OK AN lIL'NDltEl) Il.Ll STIIATIONS ON WOOD,
IJRAWN IJV S. J. (JUOVKS.
THE VI7.IFH AND HIP TWO I) Am 11 ! K I! .< .
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IT
flPHE dironicles o£ tlie Sussanians,
T.'L the ancient kings of Persia, who
^ X extended their empire into the
^- Indies, over all the islands there-
^ unto belonguig, a great way beyond the
i' Ganges, and as far as China, acquaint us,
that there was formerly a king of that
potent family, the most excellent prince
of his time ; he wtvs as much beloved by his
subjects for his wisdom and prudence, as
he was dreaded by his neighbours because
of his valour, and his warlike and well-
disciplined troops. He had two sons ; the
•Idest, Schahriar, the worthy heir of his
loJler, and endowed with all his virtues.
hai. yoimgest, Schahzenan, was likewise a
iiP.icc of incomparable merit.
*'After a long and glorious reign, this king
ed, and Schahriar mounted his throne,
'.chahzcnan, being excluded from aU share
of the. government by the laws of the em-
I)ire, and obliged to live a private life, was
so far from envying the happiness of his
brother, that he made it his whole business
to i)lease him, and effected it without much
tliffioulty. Schahriar, who had natural^ a
great atfection for that prince, was bo
charmed with his complaisance, that out of
an excess of friendship, he would needs
divide his dominions with him, and gave
him the kingdom of Great Tartar j'. Schah-
zenan went immediately, and took possession
of it, and fixed the seat of his government ai
Samarcande, the metropolis of the country.
After they had been separated ten years,
Schahriar, having a iiassionato desire to sec
his brother, resolved to send an ambassador
to invite him to his court. He made choice
of his prime vizier for the embassy, sent
him to Tartary with a retuuie answerable to
his dignity, and he maile all possible haste
to Samarcande. When he came near the
city, Schahzenan had notice of it, and went
to meet him with the principal lords of his
court, who, to put the more honour on the
sultan's minister, appeared in magniticent
apparel. The king of Tartary received the
ambassador with the greatest demonstra-
tions of joy ; and immediately asked him
concerning the welfare of the sultan his
brother. The vizier having acquainted
him that he was in health, gave him a.i
accoimt of his embassy. Schahzenan was
so much affected with it, that he answered
i. v
•li
lUliuliuiiui*'
**u» •«*«««• M
T//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
thus: — "Sage vizier, the Hultan my brntlier
does me too much honcnir: he could ])rn)Mise
nothing in the worlil so aucejitalile; I long
08 ijossionately to ace hini, ns he does to sea
me. Time has been no more able to ilimi-
nish my friendship than his. My kingdom is
in peace, and I desire no more than ten days
to get myself ready to go with j'ou ; so that
there is no necessity o£ your entering the city
for so short a time : I pray you to pitch youi
tents here, and I will order provinions in
abundance for yourself and your company."
The vizier did accordingly, and as soon
08 the king returned, he sent him a prodi-
gious quantity of provisions of all sortd, with
presents of great value.
In the meanwhile, Sehnhzenan made ready
for his journey, took orders about his most
important affairs, a])pointed a council to
govern in his absence, and named a minis-
ter, of wliose wisdom he hod sufficient t!xpe-
rience, and in whom he had an entire con-
fidence, to be their president. At the end
of ten days, his e(|uipage being reac^.y, he
took his leave of the queen hia wife, and
went out of town in the evening with his
retinue, pitched his royal pavilion near the
vizier's tent, unA discoursed with that am-
bassador till midnight. But wilhng ouce
more to euibract the queen, whom he loved
entirely, he returned alone to hia palace, and
went straight to h^r majesty's apartment,
who, not expecting his return, had taken one
of the meanest ofiicers of her household to her
bed, where they lay both fast asleep, having
been in bed a considerable while.
The king entered without any noise, and
pleased himself to think how he should sva-
priae his wife, who, he thought, loved him
as entirely as he did her ; but how strange
was his surprise, when by the light of the
flambeaux, which bum all night in the apart-
ments of those eastern princes, he saw a
man in her arms ! He stood immovable
for a time, not knowing how to believe his
own eyes ; but, finding that it was not to
be doubted, "How!" says he to himself, "I
am scarce out of my palace, and but just
under the walls of Samarcande, and dare
they put such an outrage upon me ? Ah !
perficUous wretches ; your crime shall not
go unpunished. As king, I am to punish
wickedness committed in my dominions ;
and as an enraged husband, I must sacrifice
you to my just resentment." In a word, this
luifortunate prince, giving way to his rage,
drew his scimitar, and, approaching the
bed, killed them l)oth with one blow, turning
their sleep into death ; and afterwards taking
them up, threw them out of a window, into
the ditch that surrounded the palace.
Havitg avenged himself thus, he went
out of town privately, as he came into it ;
and, returning to his pavilion, without say-
ing one word of what had happened, he
ordered the tents to be struck, and to make
reatly for his jounioy. This was speedily
done : and before day he began his march,
with kettledrums and other instruments of
music, that filled every one with joy, except
the king, who was so much troubled at the
disloyalty of hia wife, that he was seized
with extreme melancholy, wliich preyed
U])on him during his whole journey.
When he <lrew near the capital of the
Indies, the sultan iSchahriar and all his
court came tiut to meet him : the princes
were overjoyed to see one another, and
alighting, after mutual embraces, and other
marks of affection and respect, they mount-
ed again, and entered the city, with the
acclamations of vast multitudes of ])cople.
The sjUtan conducted his brother to the
palace he had provided for him, wliich had
a communication with his own by means of
» garden ; and was so much the more mag-
nificent, that it was set ajiai-t as a banquet-
ing-house for public entertaiimient, and
other diversions of the court, and the splen-
dour of it had been lately augmented by
new furnitiu'e.
Schahriar immediately left the king of
Tartary, that he might give him time to
bathe himself, and to change his a]>parel ;
and as soon as he had done, he came to him
again, and they sat down together upon a
sofa or alcove. The courtiers kept at a
distance, out of respect, and those two
princes entertained one another suitably to
their friendship, their nearness of blood,
and the long separation that had passed
betwixt them. The time of supper being
come, they ate together, after which they
renewed their conversation, which continued
till Schahriar, perceiving that it was very
late, left his brother to rest.
The unfortunate Schahzenan went to bed;
and though the conversation of his brother
had suspended his grief for some time, it
returned upon him with more violence ; so
that, instead of taking his necessary rest,
he tormented himself with cruel reflections.
All the circumstances of his wife's disloyalty
presented themselves afresh to his imagina-
tion, in so lively a manner, that he was like
one beside himself. In a word, not being
able to sleep, he got up, and giving hims"'
over to afflicting thoughts, they made s.
an impression upon his countenance, t
the sultan coidd not but take notice of i
and said thus to himself : — "What can 1
the matter with the king of Tartary, tha
he is so melancholy ? Has he any cause to
complain of his reception ? No, surely ; I
have received him as a brother whom I
love, BO that I can charge myself with no
omission in that respect. Perhaps it grieyes
him to be at such a distance from his do-
minions, or from the queen his wife. Alas !
if that be the matter, I must forthwith give
•1^
THE ARADTAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
him the presents I ilesi^ncd fur him, that
he may return to Samarcantlo wlicn Ins
])lea8C'8." Accordingly, next day Schahriar
sent him part of tlisHo presents, ))L-ing the
greatest rarities and the ricliest things that
the Indies couhl afford. At the same time ho
endeavtured to divert his brother every day,
by nev objects of pleasure, and the finest
treats which, instead of giving the king of
Tarts j-y any ease, did only increase his sonow.
O'le day, Schahriar, having ai)poiuted a
gre.*t hunting match, about two days' jour-
ney from his ca)>ital, in a place that alioimded
with deer, Hchah/cnan ])rayed him to excuse
liim, for his health would not allow him to
bear him company. The sultan, unwilling
to i)ut any constraint upon him, left him at
his liberty, and went a hunting with his
nobles The king of Tartary, lieing thus
left alone, shut himself up in his apartment,
and sat down at a window that looked into
the garden. That delicious place, and the
sweet harmony of an inlinite number of
birds, which chose it for a place of retreat,
must certainly have diverted him, had he
been cajjable of taking jile.isure in any-
thing ; but being perpetually tormented
with the fatal remembrance of his queen's
infamous conduct, his eyes were not so often
fixed upon the garden, as lifted up to heaven
to bewail his misfortiuies.
Whilst he was thus swallowed up with
grief, an object presented itself to his view
which quickly turned all liis thoughts another
way. A secret gate of the sultan's palace
opened all of a siulden, <ind there came out
of it twenty women, in the midst of whom
walked the sidtaness, who Avas cosily dis-
tinguished from the rest by her majestic air.
This princess, thinking that the king of Tar-
tary was gone a-huuting with his brother the
sultan, came up with her retinue near the
windows of his apartment; for the prince
had placed himself so that he coidd see all
that passed in the garden without being per-
ceived himself. He observed that the per-
sons who accom])auied the sultaness threw
oflF their veils and long robes, that they might
be at more freedom; but was wonderfully
suri)rised when ho saw ten of them to be
blacks, and that each of them took hia mis-
tress. The sultaness, on her part, was not
long without her gallant. She clapped her
hands, and colled, "Masoud! Masoud!" and
immediately a black came down from a trro,
and ran to her in .ill liaslo.
Modesty will not allow, nor is it necesmry,
to relate what passtil liet\veen the l)Iacks and
the ladies. It is sufficient to say , that Schah-
zenau saw enough to convince i:im that his
brother was as much to be pitied as himself.
This amorous company continued together
till midnight ; and having bathed all together
in a great piece of water, which was one of
the chief ornaments of the garden, they
dressed themselves, and ro- entered the palace
by the secret door, all except Masoud, wlu>
climbed up his tree, and got over the garden
wall the same way as he come in.
All this having passed in the king of Tar-
tary's sight, occasioned him to make a multi-
tude of reflections. " How little reason had
I," says he, " to think that no one was so un-
fortunate as myself. It is certainly the un-
avoidable fate of all husbands, since the sul-
tan, my brother, who is sovereign of so many
dominions, and the greatest prince of the
earth, could not escajie it. The case being
so, what a fool am I to kill myself with
grief ! I am resolved that the remembrance
of a misfortune so common shall never more
disturb my quiet."
From that moment he foreborc afllicting
himself. Being unwilling to sup till he saw
the whole scene that was acted under his
window, he called then for his supper, ate
with a better appetite than he had done at
any time since his coming from Samarcande,
and listened with some degree of pleasure to
the agreeable concert of vocal and iiistru*
mental music that was appointed to enter-
tain him while at table.
He contiiuied after this in very good
humour ; and when he knew that the sultan
w.os retailing, he went to meet him, and
])nid liiiu his compliments with great gaiety.
Schahriar at firat took no notice of tliia
alteration, but politely expostulated with
him why ho woidd not bear him company at
hunting the stag ; and without giving him
time to reply, entertained him with a great
number of deer and other game they had
killed, and what pleasure he had had in the
sport. Schahzenan heard him with atten-
tion, gave answers to everything, and being
free from that melancholy which formerly
overclouded his wit, he said a thousand
agreeable and jileasant things to the sultan.
Schahriar, who expected to have found
him in the same state as he left him, was
overjoyed to see him so cheerful, and spoke
to him thus : ' ' Dear brother, I return thanks
to Heaven for the happy change it has made
in you during my absence ; T am extremely
rejoiced at it; but I have a recpiest to make
to you, and conjure you not to deny me."
" I can refuse you nothing," replies the king
of Tartary ; ' ' you may command Schahzenan
as you ple.ase : speak, I am impatient till I
;r.f,w v.liat you desire of me." "Ever since
j')U cViiie to my court," replied Schahriar
" I found you swallowed up by a dcepmel.in-
choly, ond I in vain attempted to remove it
by all soi-ts of diversion.. I imagined it
might be occasioned by reason of your dis-
tance from your dominions, or that love
might have a great share in it ; and that the
queen of Samarcande, who, no doubt, is an
accomplished beauty, might be the cause of
it. I do not know if I be mistaken; but I
■' i'
THE ARAIilAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I
muat own that it was for this very reason I
■woiiUl not importiino you iii)on the subject,
for fear of making you unuasy. But with-
out my having contrilmtuil anytliing towanla
it, I find now, upon my ruturn, tliat you aru
in the Ijcst lunnour that can be, and thot
y<tur mind is entirely delivered from that
black vapour which diHturbed it. I'niy tlo
mo tlie favour to tell mo why you were so
melancholy, and why you aru no longer so."
Upon thia the king of Tartary continiu'd
for some timo as if he had been meditating,
and contriving what ho should answer ; but
at last replies as follows: ''You are my
sultan and master; but excuse mo, I l)i!-
Bcech you, from answering your qnesti'in."
"No, dear brother," saiil the sultan, "you
must answer me; I will take no denial."
.Schahzenan, not being able to withstand
these pressing instances, answered, "Well,
then, brother, I will satisfy yon, since yon
command me;" and having told him the
story of the (jncen of .Saniarcando's treachery,
"This." says he, "was the cause of my
grief ; judge whether I had not reason
enough to give myself up to it."
" Oh ! my brother," says the sultan, (in a
tone which shewed what an interest he took
in the king of Tartary'a story,) " what a
horrible story do you toll me ! How im-
patient was I till I heard it out ! 1 com-
mend you for punishing the traitors who
oflfercd you such an outrage, Xoliody can
blame you for that action : it was just ; and,
for my part, had the case been mine, I should
scarce have been so moderate as yon, I
woidd not have satisticd myself with the
life of one woman ; I verily think I should
have sacrificed a thousand to my fury. I
cease now to wonder at your aelancholy.
The cause of it was too sensible and too
mortifying not to make you yield to it. O
lieaven ! what a strange adventure ! Nor
do I believe the like ever befell any man
but yourself. But, in short, I must bless
God, who has comforted you ; .and since I
doubt not but your consolation is well
grounded, be so good as to let mo know
what it is, and conceal nothing from me."
Schahzenan was not so easily prevailed upon
in this point as ho had been in the other,
because of his brother's concern in it ; but
being obliged to yield to his pressing in-
stances, answered, " I must obey you, then,
since your command is absolute ; yet I am
afraid th.at my obedience will occasion your
trouble to be greater than ever mine was.
But you must blame yourself for it, since
you force me to reveiU a thing which I should
otherwise have buried in etem.al oblivion."
" What you say, " answers Schahriar, ' ' serves
only to increase my curiosity. M.ake haste
to discover the secret, whatever it be," The
king of Tartary being no longer able to re-
fuse, gave him the particulars of all that he
had M-en of the blacks in disguise, of the
ungovemcd pansion of tho sultaness and
her la<lie«; and he did not forgot Maaoud,
" After having been witness to those in-
famous actions," says he, "I believed all
women to Ihj naturally inclined thereto; and
that they could not resist their inclination.
Being of this opinion, it seemed to me to bo
an unaccountable weakness in men to jilace
any cmfidence in their fidelity. This rc-
llection brought on many others; and, in
short, I thought the best thing I could do
wajj to make myself easy. It cost mo some
pains, indeed, but at last I etfected it ; and
if you will take my advice, you will follow
my example."
Though the .advice was good, tho sultan
could not relish it, but fell into a rage.
" Wh.at !" s.ays he, " is the sultaness of the
Inilibs capable of prostituting herself in so
1)083 a manner? No, brother, I cannot be-
lieve wliat you say, except I saw it with my
own eyes; yours must needs have deceived
you : the matter is so important that 1 must
be satisfied of it myself." "Dear brother,"
answers .Schahzen.an, " that you may with-
out much rlilficulty. Ap[ioint another hunt-
ing-match; and when we are out of town
with yriur court and mine, we will stop
under our tents, and .at night let you and I
ntum .alone to my apartments ; I am cer-
tain the next d.ay you will see what I saw.
The sultan, ajiproving tho stratagem, imme-
di.ately ajiiKiinteil a new hunting-match ; and
that same day the tents were set u^) at tho
place aiijiointeiL"
Next day the two princes set out with all
their retinue ; they arrived at the ])lace of
encampment, and stayed there till night.
Then .Schahriar called his grand vizier, and
without acquainting him with his design,
commandc<l him to stay in his pl.ace during
his absence, and sutler no person to go out
of the camp upon any account whatever.
As soon as he h,ad given this order, the king
of Grand Tartary and he took horse, passed
through the camp incognito, returned to the
city, and went to .Schahzenan's apartment.
Tlioy h.atl scarce placed themselves in 'the
same window where the king of Tartary had
beheld the scene of the disguised blacks, but
the secret gate opene<l, the sultaness and her
hulies entered the garden with the blacks,
and she, having called upon Masoud, the
sultan saw more tlian enough to convince
him fully of his dishonour .and misfortune.
" O heavens ! " cried he, " what an in-
dignity ! what horror ! Can the wife of a
sovereign such as I am be capable of such
an infamons action ? After this, let no
prince Iwast of his Ijeing perfectly happy.
Alas! my brother,'' continues he, (embracing
the king of Tartary,) " let us both renoimce
the world ; honoor is banished out of it ; if
it Hatters us one day, it betrays us the next !
^f)
THE ARAIUAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAISMKNTS.
Lot iiM aliantloii our duiiiiiiionH mid ^raiulour !
li-'t us go into foreign countrica, whoro wo
may load an obMcuru life, and conci^nl our
nii^fortuncH." iSclnhzcnau did not at all
nji|irovo of this rcRolution, but did not think
lit to contradict Sclialiriar in the hunt of his
]ia.s)<ion. " I)ear hrotlaT," says lio, "your
will shall l)c mine; I am ready to follow
j-ou whither you ]ilensu : but promise mo
that you will return, if we can meet with
any one that is more unha])py than our-
selves." " I ft,i;ree to it," says the sultan,
"but <Ioubt much whether *i'e shall." "I
am not of your mind in this," replies the
king of Tartary ; " I fancy our journey Mill
be but short." Having said thus, they went
secretly out of the palace by a ditlerent way
from that by which they camu. They tra-
velled OS long as it was day, and lay the
first night under trees; and getting up about
break of day, they went on till they came
to a Hne meotlow upon the bank of the sea
that was besprinkled with great trees. They
sat down under one of those trees to rest
and refresh themselves, and the chief sub-
ject of their conversation was the infidelity
oi their wives.
,rr^>V\
They hod not sat long, bt'fon< they heard
a frightful noise from the s<!a, and a terrible
cry, whicli filled them M'ith fear ; then tlio
sea o[H-ning, there arose up something like
a great block column, which reached almost
to the clouds. This redoubled their fear,
made them rise sjieedily, and climb up into
n tree to hide themselves. They had scarce
got uji, till, looking to the phace from whence
the noise came, and where the sea ojiencd,
they observed that the black column ad-
vanced, winding about towards the shore,
cleaving the water before it. They could
not at tirst think what it should be ; but
in a little time they found that it was ono
of those malignant genies that are mortal
eneiniea tu mankind, and are always doing
them mischief. He was black, frightful, had
the shape of a giant, of a |)rodigious stature,
and carried on his lie.ad a great glass box,
shut with four locks of fine steel. He en-
tered the meatlow with his burden, which
he laid down just at the foot of the tree
where the two princes were, who looked
upon themselves to be dead men. Mean-
while the genie sat down by his box, and
opeuini; it with four keys that he had at his
girdle, there came out a lady magnificently
appareUcd, of a majestic stature, and a coui-
plete beaut}'. The monster made her sit
down by him, and eyeing her with an amo-
rous look : "Lady," says he, "nay, most ac-
complished of aU ladies, who are admired for
their beauty, my charming mistress, whom
I carried off on your wedding-day, and have
loved so constantly ever since, let me sleei)
a few moments by you; for I found my-
self BO very sleepy, that I came to this place
to take a little rest." Having spoke thus,
he laid down his huge head upon the lady's
knees, and stretching out his legs, whicli
reached as far as the sea, he fell asleep pre-
sently, and snored so that he made the
banks echo again.
The lady happening at the same time to
look up to the tree, saw the two princes,
and made a sign to them with her hand to
come down without making any noise. Their
fear was extreme when they found them-
selves discovered, and they prayed the lady,
by other signs, to excuse them ; but she,
after having laid the monster's head softly
down on the ground, rose up and spoke
to them, with a low, but eager voice, to
come down to her ; she would take no de-
nial. They made signs to her that they
were afraid of the genie, and would lain
It /'
I
tKi
T
THE ARAIilAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS,
havo been cxousimI. Uiion which shii or-
tiered them to come down, and if they did
not make haMtc, tlireatent'd to awokti thu
^'eniu, and l)iil him kill tht>ni.
TheHe wordH did io much iiitimidatn tho
prinuoa tliat they be^nn to come dnwn with
all ]>oH8iblo precaution, loHt they Hhoidd
awake tlie genie. When they came down,
the lady took thum by the hand, and K"''"K
a little further with them under the trceH,
made a very urgent [iro]i<mal to them. At
first they rejected it, but Hhe obIi;,'ed them
to accept it by her threatd. Hiiviu}; ol)-
tained what she dcHired, Hhe ])erceivcd that
each of them had a riii;; un his tin;{er,
which she demanded of tliem. Ah fioon as
she received them, she went and took a box
out of the ))iindle, where her t<iih't wan,
pulled out a string' of other rings of nil sorts,
which she shewed them, and asked them if
they know what those jewels meant. "No,"
said they, " we hope you will lie jile.ised to
tell us." "These are," replied she, "the
rings of all the men to whom I have grnuted
my favours. There are full fourscore and
eighteen of them, which 1 keep as tokens
to remember them ; and askeil yours fur
the same reason, to make up the hundred,
Ho that," continued she, "1 have a hundred
gallants already, notwithstanding the vigil-
ance of this wicked genie, who never leaves
me. He may lock me nji in this glasj box,
and liido me in the bottom of the sea : I
find a way to cheat his care. Yon may see
by this, that when a woman has formed a
jiroject, there is no husband or lover that
can hinder her putting it into execution.
Alen liad better not put their wives under
such restraint, as it only sen'es to teach
them cunning." Having spoken thus to
them, she jiut their rings ujion the same
string with the rest, and sitting down by
the monster, as before, laid his head again
npon her Lip, and made a sign for the
princes to be gone.
They returned immediately l)y the same
way they came, and when they were out of
sight of the lady and genie, Schahriar says
to Schahzenan, "Well, brother, what do you
think of this adventure ? Has not the genie a
very faithf id mistress? And do not you agree
that there is no wickedness e([ual to that
of woman?" " Yes, brother," answers the
king of Great Tartary ; "and you must also
agree that the monster is more unfortiuiate
and more to be pitied than wo. There-
fore, since we have found what we sought
for, let us return to our dominions, and
let not this hinder us from marrying. For
my part, I know a method by whicli to keep
inviolable the fidelity that my wife owes
me. 1 wiU say no more of it at present,
bnt you will hoar of it in a little time, and
I am sure you will follow my example."
The sultan agreed with his brother ; and
continuing their joumey, they arrived in the
cam]) thu thinl night after they left it.
Tlie news of the sultan's return lH>ing
Npreail, the courtiers came betimes in thu
morning before his pavilion, to wait on
him. He ordered them to enter, received
them witn a more pleasant air than formerly,
ami gave each of them a presi nt : after
which he told them he would go no farther,
ordered them to take horse, and returned
speedily to his jialace.
As soon as he arrived, he ran to the
sidtaness's apartment, commnmled her to
be liound before him, and delivered her tu
his grand vizier, with an order to strangle
her, which was accordingly executed by that
minister without incjuiring into her crime.
The enraged prince did not stop here, but
cut otrthe heads of all the sultaness's ladies
with his own hand. After this rigorous
punishment, being persuaded that no woman
was chaste, he res(dved, in order to prevent
the disloyalty of such as he should after-
wards marry, to wed (me every night, and
have her strangled next morning. Having
ini]ioHed this cruel law upon himself, he
swore tliat he would observe it immediately
after the departure of the king of Tartary,
who sjieedily took leave of him, and being
laden with magnificent ])rcsents, set forward
on his journey.
.Schah/.t.'nau being gone, Schahriar ordered
his grand vizier to bring him tiie daughter
of fine of his generals. Thu vizier oiieyid ;
the sultan lay with her, and putting her
next morning into his hands again, in order
to be Strangled, connnanded him to get him
another next night. Whatever reluctance
the vi/ier had to jmt such orders in execu-
tion, as he owed blind obedience to the
atdtan his master, he was forced to submit.
He brought him, then, the daughter of a
subaltern, wlimn he also cut off next day.
After her he brought a citizen's daughter ;
and, in a word, there was every day a maid
married, and a wife murdered.
The rumour of this unparalleled barbarity
occasioned a general consternation in the
city, where there was nothing but crying
and lamentation. Here, a father in teiirs,
and inconsolable for the loss of his daughter ;
and there, tender mothers, dreading lest
their daughters should have the same fate,
making the air to resound beforehand with
their gi'oans : so that, instead of the com-
mendations and blessings which the sidtan
had hitherto received from his subjects,
their mouths were now filled with imi)reca-
tions against: him.
The grand vizier, who, as has been already
said, was the executioner of this horrid in-
justice against his will, had two daughters,
— the eldest called Scheherazade, and the
youngest Dinarzade. The latter was a lady
of very great merit ; but the elder had
\ '
THE ASS, THE OX, AND THE LABOURER.
coura}{0, «it, aiul iKiiftration intinitcly
abovt! hor rvx. .She ruiul iniicli, and liiid
Miich a |ir(MliKii)iiii iiU'inory, tl\iit hIic> iifvt'i'
forgot miythiux nIiu liiul ri'a<l. Shu Imd
ituuceiwfiilly a|i|>lit!tl lieriti'lf to ]ihiliiHi)|iliy,
pliyHiu, hiatory, uml tin- IiIhtoI artn ; uiul lor
viTMf rxcet'duil tlif Ih'mI |Mn't« of her tiiiif.
Iti'HitliiB tliiii, bIic wiiH IV |K.-rtcct liuuuty, ami
nil lu!r tine (lUalilicutioiiH wrru crowned by
Holid virtiiu.
Tliu vizitT ]iaiuionat('ly lovrd a datiKhtur
HO worthy of hiM teiidt>r atli'ctioii ; and ouu
day, ad they were diMcoui-Hin^' to^vthur, iilie
sayii to him, '• Father, [ have one favour to
bug of you, and nioHt hiinilily )iray yon to
^Tant it niu." ' I will not refimu it," an-
HwurH hu, " prrividi'd it be juHt and reanon-
able." "For the juHtiee of it," Haya Hhe,
"theru can be no ({UeHtion, and you may
judf,'e of it by the motive which oblij^ea me
to demand it ot you, 1 wIhIi to Htu]i the
courne of that barbarity which the Hultan
exurcisuH u|ion the fumilicH of tliiH city. I
would diij])el those unjuHt fe;ir<j , hich ho
many mothers have of lo8ingt».e . \ .u^;hti'r«
in such a fatal maimer." "Your desiyn,
daughter," repliuH th' ■ 'zier, "is very com-
mendable ; but the e\ il you would remetly
to me seems incurable ; how do you jinteud
to od'ect itV" "Father," says Schehera-
;;iule, " since by your meauH the sultan
makes every day a new marriage, 1 conjure
you by the tender ulfcction yon bear to me
to procure me the honour of bis lied." The
vizier could not hear this without honor.
"() heaven!" reidied he, in a jiassion,
"have you lost your senses, daughter, that
you make such a dangermis recjuest to me ?
You know the sultan has sworn by his soul
that be will never lie above one night w ith
the same woman, and to order her to b',-
killed the next morning ; and would you
have me jiropose you to him ? Consider
well to what your indiscreet zeal will ex-
pose you." " Yes, dear father," rc]ilies the
virtuous daughter, " 1 know the risk I run ;
but that does not frighten me. If I. perish,
my death will be glorious ; and if I suc-
ceed, I shall do my country an im]iortaut
piece of service." "No, no," says the vizier,
"whatever you can represent to engage mo
to let you throw yourself into that horrible
danger, do not think that ever I will agree
to it. When the sultan shall order me to
strike my poniard into your lieai't, alas ! I
must oljey him ; and what an emjdoyment
is that for a father ! Ah ! if you do not fear
death, yet at least be afraid of occasioning
me the mortal grief of seeing my hand
stained with your blood." "Once more,
father," says Scheherazatle, "grant me the
favour I beg." "Your stubbornness," re-
plies the vizier, "will make me angry;
why will you run headlong to your rui ''.
They that do not foresee the end of a dau«
gcrouM enterpriHi-, can never bring it to a
happy issue. 1 am afraid the sanu* thing
will hapin'n to you that liap|>ened to the
ass, which wiM well, and coulil not keep
hiuitielf HO," "What misfortune befell the
ass?" replieH Schehtruzade. "1 will tell
you," says the vizi«.r, "if you will hear
me."
FAIILE OF THE ASS, THK OX, AND TlIK
LAHOl'llKK.
.\ very rich luerclmnt had iH-veral country
houses, where he had abundance of cattle of
all sorts. He wi'iit with his w ife and foiuilv
to oiuvof those cHtates, in order to ui iirove it
himself. Wv had tlu' gift of understioii
the liiiijiuages of beasts, but with tlrs t
dition, that hi- hIiouUI interpret it to n >-
body <iu ]iain of death ; and this biu'lereil
him from eonnuunicating to other hat ht
learned by ineans of this gift.
ile hud ill the same stall an \ and an luic
and one day, as he sat nearthi'in, anddn'crt
ed himself to see ) !m children ]ihiynbo« I Uiii\
.e heard the ox nay to the ass, "Sjiri iitly, 'i.i,
how hajipy do 1 think you, wlien I ciuisider
the ease yiiii enjoy, ami the little labour that is
required of you! ^'ou are carefully rubbcil
down and \va.shcd, — you have well-dressed
corn, and fresh clean water. Y'our greatest
business is to carry tlu' merchant our master,
when he has a littlL- journey to make; ami
were it not fir that, you would be perfectly
idle. I am treated in a quite dillerent man-
ner, luul my condition is as unfortunate oa
yours is jileasant. It is scarce daylight
when 1 am fastened to a plough, and there
they make me work till night, to till the
grouud ; which fatigues me so, that some-
times my strength fails me. iiesides, the
labourer who is always behind me beats mo
continually, liy drawing the jilough, my
tail is all llayed ; and, in short, after having
laboure<l from moruhig till night, when 1 am
brought in, they give me luithin^ to eat but
sorry dry beans, not so much as cleansed
from dirt, or other food eijually bad ; and
to heighten my misery, when 1 have filled
my belly with such ordinary stull", 1 am
forced to lie all night in my own dung : so
that you see I have reason to envy your
lot."
The ass did not intemqit the ox ; but when
he had made an eiul, aiib v .Ted, ' ' They that
call you a foolish beast do not lie ; you are
too simple, you let them carry you whither
they please, and shew no mnmier of resolu-
tion. In the meantime, what advantage do
you reaji by all the indignities you suffer ?
You lull yourself for the ease, pleasure, and
profit of those who give you no thanks for so
doing. But they would not treat you ao if
you bad as much courage as strength. When
they come to fasten you to the stall, why do
8
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
not yoii make resistance ? Why do not you
strike them -with your horns, and shew that
you are angry, by striking your foot against
the groimd ? and, in short, why do you not
frighten them by bellowing aloud ? Nature
has furnished you with means to procure
you respect, but you do not make use of
them. They bring you sorry beans and bad
straw : cat none of them ; only smell to
them, and leave them. If you follow the
advice I give you, you will quickly find a
change for which you will thank me."
The ox took the ass's advice in very good
part, and owned he was much obliged to him
for it. " Dear Sprightly," adds he, " I will
not fail to do all that you have said, and you
shall see how I will accjuit myself." They
held their peace after this discourse, of which
the merchant lost not a word.
Next morning betimes the labourer comes
to take the ox. He fastened him to the
plough, and carried him to his usual work.
The ox, who had not forgot t lie ass's coun-
sel, was very troublesome and uutowardly
all that day ; and in the evening, when the
labourer brought him back to the stall, and
began to fasten him to it, the malicious
beast, instead of presenting his horns will-
ingly, as he used to do, was restive, and went
backward, bellowing ; and then made at the
labourer, as if he woidd have pushed him
with his horns. In a word, he did all that
the ass advised him to. Next day, the la-
bourer came, as usual, to take the ox to his
labour ; but, finding the stall full of beans,
t' " straw that he put the night before not
touched, and the ox lying on the ground with
his legs stretched out, and panting in a
strange manner, he believed him to be sick,
pitied him, and thinking that it was not pro-
per to carry him to work, went immediately
and acquainted the merchant with it, who
perceiving that the ox had followed all the
mischievous advice of the ass, whom he
thought fit to punish for it, he ordered the
labourer to go and put the ass in the ox's
jilaco, and to be sure to work him hard.
The labourer did so ; the ass was forced to
draw the plough all that day, which fatigued
him so much the more, as he was not accus-
tomed to that sort of labour ; besides, he
had been so soundly 1)eaten, that he could
scarce stand when he r^amfe back.
Meanwhile the ox was mightily pleased.
He ate up all that was in his stall, and rested
himself the whole day. He was glad at heart
that he had followed the ass's advice, blessed
him a thousand times for it, and did not fail
to compliment him upon it when he saw him
come back. The ass answered not one word,
so vexed was he to be so ill treated ; but
says within himself, " It is by my own impru-
dence I have brought this misfortune upon
myself ; I lived happily, everything smiled
upon me, I had all that I coiUd wish ; it is
my own fault th. ■: I am brought to this mis-
erable condition ; and, if I cannot contrive
some way to get out of it, I am certainly
undone ; " and, as he spoke thus, his strength
was so much exhausted, that he fell down in
his stall as if he had been half dead.
Here the grand vizier addressed himself
to Scheherazade, and said, " Daughter, you
do just like the ass ; you will expose yourself
to dt-itruction by your false prudence. Take
my advice, be easy, and do not take such
measTires as will hasten your death." *' Fa-
ther," replies Scheherazade, "the example
you bring me is not capable of making me
change my resolution ; I will never cease
importuning you until you present me to
the sultan to be his bride." The vizier, per-
ceiving that she persisted in her demand,
replied, " Alas ! then, since you will con-
tinue obstinate, T shall be obliged to treat
you in the same manner as the merchant I
named just now treated his wife in a little
time after."
The merchant, understanding that the ass
was in a lamentable condition, was curious
to know what passed between him and the
ox ; therefore, after supper, he went out
by moonlight, and sat down by them, his
wife bearing him company. When he ar-
rived, he heard the ass say to the ox, " Com-
rade, tell me, I pray you, what you intend
to do to-morrow, when the labourer brings
you meat ?" " What will I do ! " says the
ox ; "I will continue to do as yon taught
me. I will go off from him, and threaten
him with my horns, as I did yesterday : I
will feign myself to be sick and just ready
to die." " Beware of that," replies the ass,
" it wUl ruin you ; for, as I came home this
evening, I heard the merchant our master
say something that makes me tremble for
you." "Alas! what did you hear ?" tays
the ox : "as you love me, hide nothing from
mo, my dear Sprightly." "Our master,"
replied the ass, " had these sad expressions
to the labourer : ' Since the ox does not eat,
and is not able to work, I woiUd have him
killed to-morrow, and we will give his flesh
iis an alms to the poor, for God's srke ; as
for the skin, that will be of use to us, and I
woiUd have you give it to the currier to
dress : therefore, do not fail, but send for
the butcher. ' This is what I had to tell you, "
says the ass. " The concern I have for your
preservation, and my friendship for you, ob-
liged me to let you know it, and to give you
now advice. As soon as they bring you
your bran and straw, rise up, and eat
heartily. Our master will by this think
that you are cured, and, no doubt, will re-
call his orders for killing you ; whereas, if
you do otherwise, you are certaiidy gone."
This discourse had the effect which the
ass designed. The ox was strangely troubled
at it, and bellowed out for fear. The mer-
ink
f
THE ASS, THE OX, AND THE LABOURER.
chant, who hoard the discourse very atten-
tively, fell into such a fit of laughter, that
his wife was surprised at it, and said, " Pray,
husband, tell me what you laugh at so
heartdy, that I may laugh with you."
" Wife," says he, " you must content your-
self with hearing me laugh." " No," replied
she, " I will know tht reason." " I cannot
give you that satisfaction," answei-s he, " but
only that I laugh at what our ass just now
said to our ox. The rest ia a secret which
I am not allowed to reveal." " And what
hinders you from revealing the secret ? "
says she. "If T. tell it you," answers he,
"it will cost me my life." " You only jeer
me," cried his wife; "what you tell me
now cannot be true. If you do not satisfy
me presently what you laugh at, and tell me
what the ox and the ass said to one another,
I swear by hccaven that you and I shall
never bed together agam."
Having spoke thus, she went into tlie
house in a great fret, and, setting herself in
the corner, cried there all night. Her hus-
band lay alone, and finding next morning
that she continued in the same humour, tohl
her she was a very foolish woi. an to afUict
lierself in that manner, the tiling was not
worth so much, and that it concerned her as
little to know the matter as it concerned him
much to keep it secret ; "therefore," said he,
" I conjure you to think no more of it." " I
shall stUl think so much of it," said she,
"as never to forbear weeping till you have
satisfied my curiosity." "But I tell you
very seriouslj'," re])lied he, "that it will
cost me my life if I yield to your indiscre-
tion." " Let what will happen," says she,
" I do insist upon it." "1 perceive," says
the merchant, "that it is impossible to
bring you to reason : and since I foresee that
you will occasion your own death by your
obstinacy, I will call in your children, that
they may see you before you die." Ac-
cordingly he called for them, and sent for
lier father and mother, and other relations.
When they were come, and heard the reason
of their being called for, they did all they
could to convince her that she was in the
wrong, but to no purpose ; she told them
she woidd rather die than yield that point
to her husband. Her father and mother
spoke to her by herself, and told her that
what she desired to know was of no import-
ance to her ; but they could gain nothing
upon her, either by their authorities or en-
treaties. When her children saw that
nothing would prevail to bring her out of
that sullen temper, they wept bitterly. The
merchant himself was like a man out of his
senses, and was almost reatly to ris!' his own
life to save that of his wife, whom lie loved
dearly.
Now, my daughter, (says the vizier to
Scheherazade,) this merchant had fifty hens
and a cock, with a dog, that gave good
heed to all that passed ; and while the
merchant was set down, as I said, and con-
sidering what he had best to do, he sees
his dog run towards the cock as he was tread-
ing a hen, and heard him speak to him thus ;
"Cock," says he, "I am sure heaven will
not let you live long : are you not ashamed
to do that thing to-day ?" The cock, standing
up on tiptoe, answers the dog fiercely, " And
why," says he, "should I not do it to-day
as well as other days?" "If you do not
know," replies the dog, " then I will tell you,
that this day our master is in great perplexity :
his wife would have him reveal a secret
which is of such a nature that it will cost
him his life if he do it. Things are come
to that ]>iiss that it is to be feared he will
scarcely have resolution enough to resist his
wife's obstinacy ; for he loves her, and is
affected with the tears that she continually
sheds, and perhaps it may cost him his life :
we are all alarmed at it ; and you only in-
sidt our melancholy, and have the imprud-
ence to divert yourself with your hens."
The cock answered the dog's reproof thus :
" What, has our master so little sense ? He
has but one wife, and canuot govern her !
and though I have fifty, I make them all do
what I please. Let him make use of his rea-
son ; he will speedily find a way to rid him-
self of his trouble." "How?" says the dog;
"what woidd you have him do ? " " Let him
go into the room where his wife is," says the
cock, "lock the door, and take a good stick
and thrash her well ; and, I will answer for
it, that will bring her to her right wits, and
make her forbear to ask him any more what
he ought not to tell her." The merchant
had no sooner heard what the cock said, but
ho took up a good stick, went to his wife,
whom he found still crying, and, shutting
the door, belaboured her so soundly, that
she cried out, " It is enough, husband, it is
enough ; let me alone, and I will never ask
the question more." Upon this, perceiving
that she repented of her impertinent curio-
sity, he forbore drubbing her ; and opening
the door, her friends came ii, were glad to
find her cured of her obstinacy, and compli-
mented her husband upon this happy expe-
dient to bring his wife to reason.
" Daughter," adds the grand vizier, " you
doserve to be treated as the merchant
treated his wife."
"Father," replied Scheherazade, "I beg
jou would not take it ill that I persist in my
opinion. I am nothing moved by the story
of that woman. I can tell you abundance of
others, to persuade you that you ought not
to oppose my design. Besides, pardon me
for declaring to you that your opposing me
would be ir. vain : for if your paternal
aiTections shoidd hinder you from granting
my request, I would go and ofiFer myself to
Bk> !■ I ■ ili**
lO
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the sultan." In short, the father, being over-
come by the resolution of his daughter,
yielded to her importunity ; and though he
■was very much grieved that he could not
divert her from such a fatal resolution, he
went that minute to acquaint the sultan
that next night he would bring him Sche-
herazade.
The sultan was much surprised at tho
sacrifice which the grand vizier made to him.
"How coidd you resolve upon it," says he, "to
bring me your own daughter?" " Sir," an-
swers the vizier, "it is her own offer. The
sad destiny that attends it could not frighten
her; she jirefersthe honour of being your ma-
jesty's wife one night to her life. " " But do
not mistake yourself, Yizier,"says the sultan :
"to-morrow, when I ])ut Scheherazade into
your hands, I expect you will take aAvay her
life ; and if you faU, I swear that yourself
shall die." " Sir," rejoins the vizier, " my
heart, without doubt, will be full of grief to
execute your commands ; but it is to no pur-
pose for nature to murmur : though I be
her father, I will answer for the fidelity of
my hand to obey your order." Schahriar ac-
cepted his minister's offer, and told him he
might bring his daughter when he i)leased.
The grand vizier went with the news to
Scheherazade, who received it with as mtich
joy as if it had been the most agreeable
thing in the world. She thanked her father
for having obliged her in so sensible a man-
ner; and, ]ierceiving that he was over-
whelmed with grief, she told him, in order
to his consolation, that she hnjied he would
never repent his having married her to the
sultan, but that, on the contrary, he slioidd
have reason to rejoice in it all his days.
All her business was to \mt herself in a
condition to appear before the sultan ; but,
before she went, she took her sister Dinar-
zade apart, and says to her, " My dear sister,
I have need of your helj) in a matter of very
great importance, and must pray you not to
deny it me. My father is going to carry
mc to the sultan to lie his wife ; do not let
this friglitcn you, but hear me with patience.
As soon as I come to the sidtan, I will jiray
him to allow you to lie in the bride-chamber,
that I may enjoy your company this one
night more. If I obtain that favour, as I
hope to do, remember to awake nie to-mor-
row an hour before day, and to address me
in these or some such words : ' My sister, if
you be not asleep, I pray you that, till day-
break, which will be very speedily, you will
tell me one of the fine stories of which you
have read so many.' Immediately I will tell
you one ; and I hope, by this means, to de-
liver the city from the consternation they
are imder at present." Dinarzade answered
that she woiUd obey with pleasure what she
required of her.
The time of going to bed being come, the
grand vizier conducted Scheherazade to the
palace, and retired, after having introduced
her to the sultan's apartment. As soon as
the sidtan waa left alone with her, he ordered
her to uncover her face, and found it so
beautifid, that he was perfectly charmed
with her ; and perceiving her to be in tears,
asked her the reason. " Sir," answered
Scheherazade. " I have a sister who loves
me tenderly, as 1 do her ; and I could wish
that she might be allowed to be all night in
this chamber, that I might see her, and bid
her once more adieu. Will you be ])leased
to allow me the comfort of giving her this
last testimony of my friendship ? " Schahriar
having consented to it, Dinarzade was sent
for, who came with all possible diligence.
The sultan went to bed with Scheherazade
tipon an alcove raised very high, according
to the custom of the monarchs of the East ;
and Dinarzade lay in a bed that was pre-
pared for her, near the foot of the alcove.
An hour before day, Dinarzade, being
awake, failed not to do as her sister ordered
her. ' ' My dear sister, "cries she, " if you be
not aslee2>, I pray, until day-break, wliich
will be in a very little time, that you will
tell me one of those pleasant stories you
have read : alas i this may, perhaps, be the
last time that ever I shall have that satis-
faction."
Schehoraz:\de, instead of answering her
sister, addressed herself to the sultan thus :
" Sir, will your majesty be pleased to allow
me to give my sister this satisfaction?"
"With all my heart," answers the sultan.
Then Scheherazade bade her sister listen, and
afterwards, addressing herself to Schahrioi',
began thus : —
The First Night.
THE MERCHANT ANI> THE cIeNIE.
SiE, there was formerly a merchant, who
had a great estate in lands, goods, and
money. He had abundance of deputies,
factors, and slaves. He was obliged from
time to time to take journeys, and talk
with his correspondents: and one day,
being under a necessity of going a long
journey about an affair of importance, he
took horse, and put a portmanteau behind
him, with some biscuits and dates, because
he had a great desert to jiass over, where
he could have no manner of provisions.
He arrived, without any accident, at the
end of his journey ; and having despatched
his affairs, took horse again, in order to
return home.
The fourth day of his journey he was so
much incommoded by the heat of the sim,
and the reflection of that heat from the
earth, that he turned out of the road, to
refresh himself imder some trees that he
saw in the country. There he found, at
:7
THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE.
II
the foot of a great walnut-tree, a fountain
of very clear running water ; and, alighting,
tied hia horse to a branch of a tree, and,
sitting down by the fountain, took some
biscuits and dates out of his jtortmanteau ;
and as he ate his dates, threw the shells
about on both sides of him. When he had
done eating, being a good Mussulman, he
washed his hands, his face, and his feet, and
said his prayers. He had not made an end,
but was still on his knees, when he saw a
genie appear, all white with age; and of a
monstrous bidk ; who, a<lvancing towards
him with a scimitar in his hand, spoke to
him in a terrible voice thus : " iiise I'.p, that
I may kill thee with this scimitar, as you
have killed my son ;" and accompanied these
words with a frightful cry. The merchant,
being as much frightened at the hideous
shape of the monster as at those threaten-
ing words, answered him, trembling, " Alnii I
my good lord, of what crime can I be
guilty towards you, thjit you
should take away my life ? "
" I will," replies the genie,
"kill thee, as thou hast killed
my son." "O heaven ! " say.-"
the merchant, "how should
I kill your son ? I did not
know him, nor ever saw him."
" Did not you sit down when
you came hither?" replies
the genie. "Did not you
take dates out of your port-
manteau, and, as you ate
them, did not you throw the
shells about on both sides ? "
" I did all that you say," an-
swers the merchant, "I can-
not deny it." "If it be so,"
replied the genie, "I tell thee
that thou hast killed my
son ; and the way was thus :
when you threw the nutshells
about, my son was passing by, and you threw
one of them into his eye, which killed him ;
therefore I must kill thee. " " Ah ! my lord,
pardon me," cried tho merchant. "No
pardon," answers the genie, "nr> mercy: is
it not just to kiU him that has killed an-
other ?" " I agree to it," says the merchant ;
" but certainly I never killed your son : and
if I have, it was imknown to me, and I did
it innocently ; therefore I beg you to pardon
me, and to suffer me to live." "No, no,"
says the genie, persisting in his resolution ;
" I must kill thee, since thouha.st killed my
son." And then, taking the merchant by the
arm, threw him with his face upon the ground,
and lifted up his scimitar to cut off hLs head.
'!l\>^ merchant, all in tears, protested he
was inuonent. bewailed his wife and chil-
dren, and spoke to the genie in the most mov-
ing expressions that could be uttered. The
genie, with his scimitar still lifted up, had so
much patience as to hear the wretch make
an end of his lamentations, but woidd not re-
lent. "All this whining," says the monster,
" is to no purpose ; though you should shed
tears of blood, that shall not hinder me from
killing thee, as thou hast killed \s\y sou."
' ' Why," rei)lied the merchant, ' ' can nothing
prevail with you ? Will you absolutely take
away the life of a poor innocent?" "Yes,"
replied the genie, "I am resolved upon it."
As she had spoken these words, '^et-
ceiving it was day, and knowing that the
sultan rose betimes in the morning to say
his prayers and hold his council, Schehera-
zade held her peace. Lord ! sister, s.iys Di-
narzade, what a wonderful story is tliis : —
The remainder of it, says Scheherazade, is
more surjirising ; and you will be of my
mind, if the sultau will let me live this
day, and permit me to tell it you the next
night ! Scliahriar, who had listened to
Scheherazade with pleasure, says to him-
self, 1 will stiiy till to-mor-
row, for I can at any time
jiut her to death, when she
has made an end of her story.
So, having resolved not to
take away Scheherazade's life
that day, he rose, and went
to his prayers, and then called
his council.
All this while the grand
vizier was terribly uneasy.
Instead of sleeping, he sjieut
the night in sighs and groans,
bewailing the loss of hia
daughter, of whom he be-
lieved that he himself shoidd
be the e.xecutioner. And as,
in this melancholy pro8j»ect,
he was afraid of seeing the
sultan, he was agreeably sur-
prised when he sawthe prince
enter the councU - chamber
without giving him the fatal orders he
exi)ected.
The sultan, according to his custom, spent
the day in regulating his affairs ; and when
night came, he Avent to bed with Schehera-
zmle. Next morning, before day, Dinarzade
failed not to address hei-self to her sister
thus : My dear sister, if you be not asleej),
I pray you, till diiybreak, which must be in
a very little time, to go on with the story
you began last night. The sultan, without
staying till Scheherazade anked him leave,
bade her make an end of the story of the
genie and the merchant, for he longed to hear
the issue of it. Upon which Scheherazade
spoke and continued the story as follows : —
rtr-a%
u:
12
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Tlio Second Night.
WnEX tlio merchant saw that the genie was
going to cut off his liead, he cried out aloud,
and said to him, "For heaven's sake, hold
your hand ! AUow me one word : be so
gootl as to grant me some respite ; allow me
but time to bid my wife and children adieu,
and to divide my estate among them by
will, that they may not go to law with one
Another after my death ; and when I have
done so, I will come back to the same place,
and submit to whatever you shall please to
order concerning me." "But, "says the genie,
"if I grant you the time you demand, I doubt
you will never return. " ' ' If you will believe
my oath, " answers the merchant, ' ' I swear by
all that is sacred that I will come and meet
you here without fail. " " What time do you
demand then ? " replies the genie. " I ask a
year, " says the merchant ; " I cannot have less
to order my affairs, and to prepare myself to
die without regret. But I promise you, that
this day twelvemonth I will return under
those trees, to put myself into your hands."
" Do you take heaven to be witness to this
promise ? " says the genie. ' ' I do, " answers
the merchant, "and repeat it, and you may
rely upon my oath." Upon this, the genie
left him near the fountain, and disappeared.
The mercliant, being recovered from his
fright, mounted his horse, and set forward
on his journey ; and as he was glad, on the
one hand, that he had escaped so great a
danger, so he was mortally sorry, on the
other, when he thought on his fatal oath.
When he came home, his wife and children
received him with all the demonstrations of
jierfect joy ; but he, instead of making them
suitable returns, fell to weeping bitterly ;
from whence they readily conjectured that
something extraordin.ary had bjefallen him.
His wife asked the reason of his excessive
grief and tears. "We are all overjoyed," says
she, " at your return, but you frighten lis to
see you in this condition ; pray tell us the
<;ause of your sorrow." "Alas!" replies the
husband, "the cause of it is, that I have but
a year to live ;" and then he told what had
passed between him and the genie, and that
he had given him his oath to return at the
■end of the year, to receive death from his
hands.
When they had heard this sad news, they
aU began to lament heartily. His wife made
a jtitiful outcry, beat her face, and tore her
hair. The children, all in tears, made the
house resound with their groans: and the
father, not being able to overcome nature,
mingled his tears with theirs ; so that, in a
word, it was the most alTecting speotaclc
that any man could behold.
Next morning the merchant applied him-
self to put his afifaira in order, and, first of
all, to pay his debts. He made presents to
his friends ; gave gi-eat alms to the poor ;
set his slaves of both sexes at liberty ;
divided his estate among his children ;
appointed guardians for such of them as
were not come of age ; and, restoring to his
wife all that was due to her by contract of
marriage, he gave her, over and above, all
that he could do by law.
At last the year expired, and go he must.
He put his burial clothes in his portmanteau ;
but never was there such grief seen as when
he came to bid his wife and children adieu.
They could not think of parting, but re-
solved to go and die with him ; but finding
that he must be forced to part with those
dear objects, he spoke to them thus : " My
dear wife and children," says he, "I obey
the order of Heaven in quitting you ; follow
my examjJe, submit courageously to this
necessity, and consider that it is the destiny
of man to die." Having said these words,
he went out of the hearing of the cries of
his famUy ; and taking his journey, arrived
at the place where he promised to meet the
genie on the day appointed. He alighted,
and setting himself down by the fountain,
waited the coming of the genie with all the
sorrow imaginable. Whilst he languished
in this cruel expectation,' a good old man,
leading a hind, appeared, and drew near
him. They saluted one another; after
which the old man says to him, " Brother,
may I ask you why you are come into this
desert -place, where there is nothing but
evil spirits, and by consequence you cannot
be safe ? To look upon these fine trees, in-
deed, one woidd think the place inhabited ;
but it is a true wilderness, where it is not
safe to stay long."
The merchant satisfied his curiosity, and
told him the adventure which obliged him
to be there. The old man listened to him
with astonishment, ami when he had done,
cried out, "This is the most surjirising
thing in the world ; and you are bound
with the most inviolable oath ; however, I
will be witness of your interview with the
genie. ' ' And sitting down by the merchant,
they talked together. — But I see day, says
Scheherazade, and must leave off ; yet the
best of the story is to come. The sultan,
resolving to hear the end of it, suffered her
to live that day also.
The Third Night.
Next morning, Dinarzade made the same
request to her sister as formerly : My dear
sister, says she, if you be not asleep, tell
me one of those pleasant stories that you
have read. But the sultan, willing to un*
derstand what followed between the mer-
THE FIRST OLD MAN AND THE HIND.
13
• 1^
chant and the genie, bid her go on with that,
which she did, as follows : —
Sir, while the merchant, and the old
man who led the hind were talking, they
saw another old man coming to them, fol-
lowed by two black dogs. After they had
saluted one another, he asked them what
they did in that place. The old man with
the hind told him the adventure of the mer-
chant and genie, with all that had passed
between them, particularly the merchant's
oath. He added, that it was the day agreed
on, and that he was resolved to stay and sec
the issue.
The second old man, thinking it also
worth his curiosity, resolved to do the like ;
he likewise sat down by them ; and they had
scarce begun to talk together but there
came a third old man, who, addressing him-
self to the two former, asked why the mer-
chant that sat with them looked so melan-
choly. They told him the reason of it,
Avhich appeared so extraordinary to him,
that he also resulved to be witness to the
result ; and for that end sat down with them.
In a little time, they perceived in the
field a thick vapour, like a cloud of dust
raised by a whirlwind, advancing towards
them, which vanished all of a sudden, and
then the genie appeared ; who, without sa-
luting them, came up to the merchant with
a, drawn scimitar, and taking him by the
arm, says, "Get thee up, that I may kill
thee, as thou didst my son." The merchant
and the three old men being frightened,
began to lament, and to till the air with
their cries.- — Here .Scheherazade, perceiving
day, left off her story, which did so much
whet the sultan's curiosity, that he was
absolutely resolved to hear the end of it,
and put off the sultaness's execution till the
next day.
Nobody can express the grand vizier's
joy when he perceived that the sultan did
not order him to kill Scheherazatle : hi?
family, the court, and all the people in
general, were astonished at it.
The Fourth Night. '
Towards the end of the follo^ving night,
Dinarzade failed not to awaken the sidtaness.
My dear sister, says she, if you be not
asleep, pray tell me one of your fine stories.
Tlien Scheherazade, with the sidtan's per-
mission, spoke as follows : —
Sir, when the old man who led the hind
saw the genie lay hold of the merchant, and
about to kill him without mercy, he threw
himself at the feet of the monster, and, kiss-
ing them, says to him, "Prince of genies, I
most humbly request you to suspend your
anger, and do me the favour to hear me. I
will tell you the history of my life, and of
the hind you see ; and if you think it more
wonderful and surjirising than the adven-
ture of the merchant you are going to kill,
I hope you wiU pardon the poor unfortunate
man the third of his crime." The genie took
some time to consult upon it, but answered
at last, "Well, then, I agree to it."
THE III.STORV OF THE FIRST OLD .MAN AND
THE UIND.
I shall begin, then, says the old man;
listen to me, I pray you, with attention.
This hind you see is my cousin ; n.iy, what
is more, my wife ; she was only twelve years
of age when I married her, so that I may
justly say, she ought as much to regard me
as her father as her kinsman and husband.
We lived together twenty years, without
any children; yet her barrenness did not
hinder my having a great deal of complais-
ance and friendshii) for her. The desire of
having children only made me buy a slave,
by whom I had a son, who was extremely
promising. My wife being jealous, conceived
a hatred for both mother and child, but con-
cealed it so well, that I did not know it till
it was too late.
Meantime my son grew up, and was ten
years old, when I was obliged to undertake
a journey. Before I went, I recommended
to my wife, of whom I had no mistrust, the
slave and her son, and prayed her to take
care of them during my absence, which was
for a whole year. She made use of that
time to satisfy her hivtred ; she applied her-
self to magic, .and when she knew enough of
that diabolical art to execute her horrible
contrivance, the wretch carried my son to a
desolate place, where, by her enchantments,
she changed my son into a calf, and gave
him to my farmer to fatten, pretending she
had bought him. Her fury did not stop at
this abominable action, but she likewise
changed the slave into a cow, and gave her
also to my farmer.
At my return, I asked for the mother and
child. "Your slave," says she, "is dead;
and as for yoiu: son, I know not what has
become of him. I have not seen him these
two months." I was troubled .at the death
of the slave, but my son having only disap-
peared, as she told me, I was in hopes he
would return in a little time. However,
eight months passed, and 1 heard nothing of
him. When the festival of the great Bairam
happened, to celebrate the same I sent to
my farmer for one of the fattest cows to
s.acrifice, and he sent me one accordingly.
The cow which he brought me was my slave,
the unfortunate mother of my son. I tied
her, but as I was going to sacrifice her,
she bellowed pitifully, and T could perceive
streams of tears run from her eyes. This
iKrdil-aiL^'ii^Sl^
■MM
--— MtT» fWMimM
*nmi
H
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
seemed to ine very extraordinary; and find-
ing myself, in spite of all I could do, in-
spired with pity, I coidd not find in my
heart to give her a blow, but ordered my
farmer to get me another.
My wife, who was present, was enraged
at my compassion, and, opposing herself to
an order which disappointed her malice, she
cries out, "What are you doing, husband?
Sacrilice that cow : your farmer has not a
finer, nor one fitter for that use." Out of
complaisance to my wife T came again to the
cow, and combating my compassion, which
suspended the (jjicrifice, was going to give
her the fatal blow, when the victim, redoub-
ling her tears and bellowing, disar ned me a
second time. Then I put the mallet into
the farmer's hands, and bid him take and
sacrifice her himself, for her tears and bel-
lowing pierced my heart.
The farmer, less compassionate than I,
•sacrificed her; and when he flayed her,
found her \a be notliing but bones, though
to us she seemed very fat. "Take her to
yourself," says I to the farmer, "I quit her
to you ; give her in alms, or which way you
will ; and if you liave a very fat calf, bring
it me in her stead." I did not inform myself
what he did with the cow ; but, soon after
he took her away, he came with a very fat
calf. Though I knew not the calf was my
son, yet I could not forbear being moved at
the sight of him. On his part, as soon as
he saw me, he made so great an effort to
come to me, that he broke his cord, threw
himself at my feet, with his head against the
ground, as if he m'\ant to excite mj"- compas-
sion, conjuring me not to be so cruel as to
take his life ; and did as much as was pos-
sible for him to do to signify that he was
my son.
I was more surprised and affected with
this action than with the tears of the cow ;
I felt a tender pity, which made me inte-
rest myself for him, or, rather, nature did
its duty. " Go, " says I to the farmer, ' ' carry
home that calf, take great care of him, and
bring me another in his place immediately."
As soon as my wife heard me say so, she
immediately cried out, " What do you do,
husband? Take my advice, sacrifice no
other calf but that." "Wife," says I, "I
will not sacrifice him ; I will spare him, and
pray do not you oppose it." The wicked
woman had no regard to my desire; she
liated my son too much to consent that I
shoiUd save him. I tied the poor creature,
and taking up the fatal knife Hero
Scheherazade stopped, because she perceived
daylight.
Then Dinarzade said, Sister, I am en-
chanted with this story, which so agreeably
calls for my attention. — If the sultan will
suffer me to live to-day, answers Sche-
herazade» what 1 Lave to tell to-morrow
will divert you abundantly more. Schah-
riar, curious to know what would become of
the old man's son thf i led the hind, told the
sidtaness he woidd be very glad to hear the
end of that story next night.
The Fifth Night.
WiiEK day began to draw near, Dinarzade
put her sister's orders in execution very
exactly, who, being awaked, prayed the
sultan to allow her to give Dinarzade that
satisfaction ; which the prince, who took so
much pleasure in the story himself, willingly
agreed to.
Sir, then says Scheherazade, the first old
man who led the hind, continuing his story
to the genie, to the other two old men, and
the merchant, proceeded thus : -I took the
knife, says he, and was going to strike it
into my son's throat ; when turning his eyes,
bathed with tears, in a languishing manner
towards mo, he affected me so that I had
no strength to sacrifice him, but let the
knife fall, and told my wife positively that
I would have another calf to sacrifice, and
not that. She used ."Ul endeavours to make
me change my resolution ; but I continued
firm, and pacified her a little, by promising
that I woidd sacrifice him against the Bairam
next year.
Next morning my farmer desired to speak
with me alone, and told me, "I come," says
he, "to tell you a piece of news, for which
I hope j'ou will return me thanks. I have
a daughter that has some skill in magic.
Yesterday, as I carried back the calf which
you would not sacrifice, I perceived she
laughed when she saw him, aud in a mo-
ment after fell a-weeping. I asked her why
she acted two such contrary parts at one
and the same time. 'Father,' replies she,
'the calf you bring back is our landlord's
son : I laughed for joy to see him still alive,
and T wept at the remembrance of the sacri-
fice that was made the other day of his
mother, who was changed int<3 a cow. These
two metamorphoses wore made by the en-
chantments of our master's wife, who hated
both the mother and son.' This is what
my daughter told me," said the farmer,
"and I come to acquaint you with it."
At these words, the old niaa adds, I leave
you to think, my lord r;cnie, how much I
was surprised: I went immediately to my
fanner, to speak with his daughter myself.
As soon as I came, I went forthwith to the
stall where my son was : he could not an-
swer my embraces, but received them in
such a manner as fully satisfied me he was
my son.
The farmer's daughter came. "My good
maid," says I, "can you restore my son to
•M|
.^
V
1
THE SECOND OLD MAN AND THE TWO BLACK DOGS.
15
his former shape?" "Yes," says iha, "I
can." "Ah!" says I, "if you can, I will
make you miatresa of all my fortune." dhe
replied to me, smiling, "You are our master,
and I know very well what I owe to you ;
but I cannot restore your sou to liis for-
mer shape but ou two conditions : the first
is, that you give him me for my husband;
and the second is, that you allow me to
punish the person who changed him into a
calf." "For the first," says I, "I agree to it
with all my heart ; nay, 1 prowiise you more
— a considerable estate for yourself, inde-
l)endent of what I design for my son : in a
word, you shall see how I will reward the
great service I expect from you. As to
what relates to my wife, I also agree to it ;
a person who has been capable of commit-
ting such a criminal action deserved very well
to be punished; I leave her to you, only I
must pray you not to
take her life." "lam
just going, then," aii-
swers she, "to treat
her as she has treated
your son." "I agree
to it," says I, "pro-
vided you^iestore my
son to me before-
hand."
Then the damsel
took a vessel full of
water, pronounced
over it words that I
did not understand, and, addressing herself
to the calf, "0 calf," says she, "if thou
wast created by the almighty and sovereign
Mivater of the world such as you appear at
this time, continue iu that form ; but if
thou be a man, and art changed into a calf
by enchantment, return to thy natural shape,
by the ijerniission of the sovereign Creator."
As she spoke these words, she threw water
upon him, and iu an instant he recovered his
£rst shape.
"My son, my dear son," cried I, immedi-
ately embracing him, with such a transport
of joy that 1 knew not what I was doing : "it
is Heaven that has sent us tliis young maid,
to take off the horrible charm by which you
were enchanted, and to avenge the injury
done to you and your mother. I doubt not
but, in acknowledgment, you wiU take your
deliverer to wife, as I have promised." He
consented to it with joy : but, before they
married, she changed my wife into a hind ;
and this is she whom you see here. I de-
sired she should have this shape, rather
than another less agreeable, that we might
see her in the family without horror.
Since that time, my son ia become a
widower, and gone to travel : aud, it being
several years since I heard of him, I am
come abroad to inquire after him ; and not
being willing to trust aoiybody witli my
wife till I shoidd come home, I thought tit
to carry her everywhere with mo. This is
the history of myself and this hind ; is it
not one of the most wonderful and surpris-
ing that can be ? "I agree to it," says the
genie, " and upon that account I forgive the
merchant the third of his crime."
When the first old man, sir, (continued
the sultancss,) had finished his story, the
second, who led the two black dogs, ad-
dressed himself to the genie, and says to
him : "I am going to tell you what happened
to me and these two black dogs you see by
me, and I am certain you will say that my
story is yet more surprising than that which
you have just now heard ; but when I have
told it you, I hope you will be i)leased to
pardon the merchant the second third of his
crime." "Yes," rejJied the genie, "provided
your story sui'pass that of the hind." Then
the second old man
began in this manner
But as Schehera-
zade pronounced these
words, she saw it was?
day, and left off speak-
Lig.
O heaven ! sister,
says Dinarzade, these
adventures are very
singular. — Sister, re-
plies the sultaness,
they are not compar-
able to those which I
have to tell you next night, if the sultan,
my lord and master, be so gooil as to let me
live. Schahriar answered nothing to that;
but rose up, said his prayers, and went to
council, without giving any order against
the life of the charmin<( Scheherazade.
The Sixth Night.
The sixth night being come, the sultan and
his lady wont to bed. Dinarzade awaked
at the usual hour, and, caUing to the sultan-
ess, says. Dear sister, if you be not asleep,
I pray you, until it be day, to satisfy my
curiosity : I am impatient to hear the story
of the old man and the two black dogs.
The sultan consented to it with pleasure,
being no less desirous to know the story
than Dinarzade; and Scheherazade continued
it as follows :—
THE STORY OF THE SECOND OLD MAN AND THE
TWO BLACK DOCS.
Great iirincc of gcnies, says the old man,
you must know that we are three brothers,
I and the two black dogs you see. Our
father, when he died, left each of us one
thousand sequins. With that sum we all
'•'»'Mpr"''W--»^T5nKi-JMMl»^l
i6
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
entered into the same way of living, and
became merchanta. A little time aftei- we
had opened shop, my eldest brother, one of
these two dogs, resolved to travel and trade
in foreign ccuntrics. With this view, ho
sold his estate, and bought goods proper for
the trailo ho intended.
He went away, and was absent a whole
year ; at the end of which, a poor man, wlio
I thought had come to ask alms, presented
himself before me in my shop. I said to
him, "God help you." " Gotl help you also,"
answered he: "is it possible you do not
know me ? " Upon this I looked at him nar-
rowly, and knew him. "Ah, brother," cried
I, embracing him, " how could I know you in
this condition?" I made him come into my
house, and asked him concerning his health
and the success of his travels. "Do not ask
me that question," says he : "when you see
me, you see all: it would only renew my
grief to tell you all the particulars of the
misfortunes that have befallen me, and re-
duced me to this condition, since I left
you."
I immediately shut up my shop, and, car-
rying him to a bath, gave him the best
clothes I had by me ; and, examining my
books, and finding that I had doubled my
stock, that is to say, that I was worth two
thousand sequins, I gave hia one-half :
"With that," says I, "brother, you may
make up your loss." He joyfully accepted
the prolier, recovered himself, and we lived
together as before.
Some time after, my second brother, who
is the other of these two dogs, would also
sell his estate. I and his other brother
did aU we could to tlivert him from it, but
without effect. He sold it, and with the
money bought such goods as were suitable
to the trade he designed. He joined a cara-
van, and took a journey. He returned, at
the end of the year, in the same condition
as my other brother ; and I, having gained
another thousand sequins, gave him them,
with which he furnished his shop, and con-
tinued to follow his trade.
Some time after, one of my brothers came
to me to propose a tratling voyage with
them. I immediately rejected their proposal.
"You have travelled, " says I, ' ' and what have
you gained by it ? Who m assure me that
I shall be more success} ' than you have
b,een?" They represented to me in vain all
Tihat they thought fit to prevail upon me to
engage in that design with them, for I con-
stantly refused ; but they importuned me so
much, that, after having resisted their soli-
citation live whole years, they overcame me
at last. But, when we were to make pre-
parations for our voyage, and to buy goods
necessary to the undertaking, I found they
had spent all, and that they had not one
farthing left of the thousand sequins I had
given each of them. I did not, however,
upbraid them in the least. On the contrary,
my stock being six thousand sequins, I
shared the half of it with thera, telling them,
" My brothers, we must venture these three
thousand sequins, and hide the rest in some
sure place ; that, in case our voyage be no
more successful than yours was formerly,
we may have wherewith to assist us, and to
follow our ancient way of living." I gave
each of them a thousand sequins, and, keep-
ing as much for myself, I buried the other
three thousand in a corner of my house.
We bought our goods, and, after having em-
barked them on board of a vessel, which
we freighted betwixt us three, we put to
sea with a favourable wind. After a month's
sail But I see day, says Scheherazade ;
I must stop here.
Sister, says Diuarzade, this story pro-
mises a great deal ; I fancy the rest of it
must be very extraordinary. You are not
mistaken, says the siUtancss ; and, if the
sultan will allow me to tell it you, I am
persuaded it will very much divert you.
Schahriar got up, as ho did the day before,
without explaining his mind, but gave no
order to the grand vizier to kill his daughter.
The Seventh Night.
When the seventh night drew near a close,
Dinarzade awaked the sultaness, and prayed
her to continue the story of the second old
man. I will, answers Scheherazade, i)ro-
vided the sultan, my lord and master, does
not oppose it. — Not at all, says Schah-
riar ; 1 am so far from opposing it, that I
desire you earnestly to go on with it.
To resume the thread of the story, says
Schoherazade, you must know that the old
man who led the two dogs continued his
story to the genie, the other two old men,
and the merchant, thus : — In short, says he,
after two months' sail, we arrived happily
at port, where we landed, and had a very
great vent for our goods. I, especially, sold
mine so well, that I gained ten to one, and
we bought commodities of that country to
transport and sell in our own.
When we were ready to embark, in order
to return, I met upon the bank of the sea
a lady, handsome enough, but poorly clad.
She came up to me presently, kissed my
hand, prayed me with the greatest earnest-
ness imaginable to marry her, and take her
along with me. I made some difficulty to
agree tC' it ; but she said so many things to
persuac.e me that I ought to make no ob-
jection to her poverty, and that I should
have all the reason in the world to be satis-
fied with her conduct, that I yielded. I
ordered proper apparel to be m"^e for her ;
If iia.
THE SECOND OLD MAN AND THE TWO BLACK DOCS.
17
and after having married her, according to
form, I took her on board, and wo set sail.
During the navigation, I found the wife I
had taken had so many good qualities, that
I loved her every day more and more. In
the meantime, my two brothers, who had
not managed their affairs so well as I did
mine, envied my proBi>erity ; and their fury
carried them so far a,^ to conspire against
my life ; so that, one night, when my wife
and I were asleex>, they threw us both into
the sea.
My wife was a fairy, and, by consequence,
genie, you know well she could not be
drowned ; but for me, it is certain I hod
been lost without her hclii. I hod scarce
fallen into the water when she took me ui>,
and carried me to an island. When it was
day, the fairy said to me, " You see, hus-
band, that by saving your life I have not re-
warded you ill for your kindness to me. You
must know that 1 am a fairy, and that
being upon the bank of the sea when you
were going to embark, I found I had a
strong inclination for you : I had a mind to
try your goodness, and presented myself
before you in that disguise wherein you saw
me. Y'ou have dealt very generously with
me, and I am very glad to have found sm
opportunity of testifying my acknowledg-
ment to you. But I am incensed against
your brothers, and nothing will satisfy me
but their lives."
I listened to this discourse of the fairy
with admiration ; I thanked her as well as
I could for the great kindness she had done
me: but "Madam," says I, "as for my
brothers, I beg you to pardon them ; what-
ever cause they have given me, I am not
cruel enough to desire their death." I told
her the piuticulars of what I had done for
them, which increased her indignation so
that she cried out, "I must immediately
pursue those imgrateful traitors, and take
speedy vengeance on them : I will drown
their vessel, and throw them into the bot-
tom of the sea." "No, my good lady,"
replied I, "for Heaven's sake, do not so;
moderate your anger ; consider that they
are my brothers, and that we must do good
for evil."
I pacified the fairy by these words ; and,
as soon as I had spoken them, she trans-
ported me in a moment from the island
where we were to the roof of my own house,
which was terraced, and disai)peared in a
moment. I went down, opened the doors,
and dug up the three thousand sequins I
had hid. I went afterwards to the place
where my shop was, which I also opened,
and was complimented by the merchants,
my neighbours, upon my return. When
I went to my house, I perceived two black
dogs, which came to me in a very submissive
maimer: I knew not what it meant, but
was much astonished at it. But the fairy,
who appeared immediately, pays to me,
"Husband, bo not 8uq)ri8cd to see these
two black dogs by you : they are your two
brothers." I was troubled at these words,
and asked her by what power they were so
transformed. " It was I who did it," says
she; "at least I gave commission to one of
my sisters to do it, who at the same time
sunk their ship. You have lost the goods
you had on board, but I will make it up to
you another way. As to your two brothers,
I have condemned them to remain five years
in that shape ; their pertidiuusness too well
deserves such a penance." And, in short,
after having told me where I might hear of
her, she disapjieared.
Now, the live years being out, I am tra-
velling in quest of her ; and as I passed
this way, I met this merchant and the good
old man that led the hind, and sat down by
them. This is my history, O i)rince of
gcnies! do not you think it very extra-
ordinary? "I own it," says the genie;
"and upon that account, I remit the mer-
chant the second third of the crime which
he committed against me."
As soon as the second old man had
finished his story, the third began, and made
the like request of the genie with the two
first ; that is to say, to pardon the merchant
the other third of his crime, provided the
story he had to tell him exceeded the two he
had already heard for singular events. The
genie made him the same ])romi8e as he had
done the other two. "Hearken, then," says
the old man, to him But day appears,
says Scheherazade ; I must stop here.
I cannot enough admire, sister, says
Dinarzade, the adventures you have told
me. — I know abundance more, says the
sultaness, that are still more wonderful.
Schahriar, willing to know if the story of
the third old man would be as agreeable as
that of the second, put off the execution of
Scheherazade till the next day.
The Eighth Night.
As soon as Dinarzade perceived it was time
to call the sultaness, she says. Sister*, I
have been awake a long time, and had a
great mind to awaken you, I am so impatient
to hear the story of the third old man.
The sultan answered, I can hardly think
that the third story will surpass the two
former ones.
Sir, replies the sultaness, the third old
man told his story to the genie : I can-
not tell it to you, because it has not come
to my knowledge ; but I know that it did
so much exceed the two former stories in
the variety of wonderful adventures, that
i8
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the genio was aatnniHhc>(l at it, and no sooner
heanl the end of it, but \w said to the tliird
old man, "I remit the other third part of tlie
merchaut'H crime upon the account of your
story. He ia very much obliged to all three
of you for having delivered him out of thiM
danger by your stories, without which ho
had not now been in the world." And,
having spoke thus, he disajipeared, to the
great contentment of the com]>any.
The merchant failed not to give his three
deliverers the thanks he owed them. They
rejoiced to see him out of danj^er; after
which they bade him adieu, and each of
them went on his way. The merchant re-
turned to bis wife and children, and passed
the rest of his days with them in peace.
But, sir, rnlded Scheherazade, how ple.is-
ant soever these stories may be that I have
told your majesty hitherto, they do not
come near that of the hsherman. Diiiar-
zade, perceiving that the aultauesH deiiuirred,
says to her, Sister, since there ia still some
time remaining, pray tell us the story of the
fisherman, if the sultan is willing. Schah-
riar agreed to it ; and Scheherazade, re-
suming her disec'irse, pursued it in this
manner : —
THE f?rOKT OF THE FISHERMAN.
Sir, there was a very ancient fisherman,
so poor that he could scarce earn enough to
maintain himself, his wife, and three chil-
dren. He went every day to liah betimes in
a morning ; and imi)oscd it as a law upon
himself not to cast lus nets above four times
a day. He went one morning by moon-
light, and coming to the seaside, imdrcssed
liimself, and cast in his nets. As he drew
them towards the shore, he found them very
heavy, and thought he had a good draught
of fish, at which he rejoiced within himself;
but in a moment after, perceiving that, in-
stead of fish, there was nothing in his nets
but the carcass of an ass, he was much vexed.
— Scheherazade stoi)ped here, because she
saw it was day.
Sister, says Dinarzade, I must confess
that the beginning of the story charms
me, and I foresee that the resiUt of it will
be very agreeable. — There is nothing more
surprising than the story of this fisher-
man, replied the sultauess : and you will
be convinced of it next night, if the sultan
will be so gracious as to let mc live.
Schahriar, being curious to hear the success
of such an extraordinary fishing, would not
order Scheherazade to be put to death that
♦lay.
♦
The Ninth Night.
My dear sister, cries Dinarzade next morn-
ing at the -usnal hour, if you be not
asleei), I pray you go on with the story of
the fisherman ; I am ready to die till I hear
it.— I am willing to give you that satis-
faction, says the Hultuness ; hut, at the
same time, she demanded leave of the sul-
tan, and having obtained it, began the story
again as follows : —
Sir, when the fisherman, vexed to h 've
made such a sorry draught, had mended i is
nets, which the earc-WH of the ass had broken
in several places, he threw them in a second
time; and when he drew them, found a great
deal of resistance, which made him think
he had taken abundance of fish ; but he
found nothing excejit a basket full of gravel
and slime, which grieved him extremely.
"0 Fortune ! " cries he, with a lamentable
tone, "be not angry with me, nor persecute
a wretch who prays thee to spare him. I
came hither from my house to seek for my
livelihoo<l, and thou i)ronounce8t death
against me. I have no other traile but this
to subsist by ; and, notwithstanding all the
care I take, I can scarcely jirovido what is
absolutely necessary for my family. But I
am to blame to complain of thee ; thou
takest pleasure to persecute honest peojde,
and to leave great men in obscurity, while
thou shewest favour to the wicked, and ad-
vancest thoHe who have no virtue to recom-
mend them."
Having finished this complaint, he threw
away the basket in a fret, and washing his
nets from the slime, cast them the third
time ; and brought up nothing, except stone,
shells, and mud. Nobody can express his
disorder; he was almost beside himself.
However, when day began to api>ear, he did
not forget to say his prayers, like a good
Mussulman, and afterwards added this peti-
tion : " Lord, thou knowest that I cast my
nets only four times a day ; I have already
drawn them three times, without the least
reward for my labour: I am only to cast
them once more ; I pray thee to render the
sea favourable to me, as thou didst to
Moses."
The fisherman having finished this prayer,
cast his nets the fourth time ; and when he
thought it was time, he drew them as for-
merly, with great difficidty; but instead of
fish, found nothing in them but a vessel of
yellow copper, which by its weight seemed
to be full of something; and he observed
that it was shut up and sealed with lead,
ha\'ing the impression of a seal upon it.
This rejoiced him. " I will sell it," says he,
" to the founder, and with the money arising
from the produce, buy a measure of com."
He examined the vessel on all sides, and
shook it, to see if what was within made
any noise, but heard nothing. This circum-
stance, with the impression of the seal upon
the leaden cover, made him think there was
something precious in it. To try this, he
I Mf<i>Bii
i
THE a TORY or THE FISHERMAN.
19
took a knifi', ami oiieuctl it Mith very little
lalxiiir. llu jirtst'iitly turiii'd tlio mouth
tlowiiward, but iiothiiiy cuiiio out; Mliich
•urjiriMcJ liim txtrtuitly. lie set it before
hiiii, ami while he looked ui)ou it atten-
tively, there came out a very thick miioke,
which oblijjed him to retire tw<« or threo
pauea from it.
The smoke ascended to the clouds, and
extendi u^ itself along the sea and ujiou the
shore, formed a great mist, whieli we may
well imagme did mightily astonish the titih-
erman. When the smoke was all out of the
vessel, it reunited itself, and became a solid
bo<ly, of which tliere was formed a genie
twice as high as the greatest of giants. At
the sight of a monster of such unsizable
bulk, the fisherman would fain have lied,
but was so frightened that lie could not go
one step.
" Solomon," cried the genie immediately,
"Solomon, the great prophet, pardon, iiur-
don. I will never more ojijtose your will;
I will obey all your commands."
Scheherazade, perceiving day, broke off her
story. Upon which Uinarzade said. Dear
sister, nobody can keep their promise better
than you have done yours. This story is cer-
tainly more surprising than all the former. —
Sister, rei>he8 the sultaness, there are more
wonderful things yet to come, if my lord the
sultan will allow me to tell them to you.
Schahriar had too great a desire to hear out
the story of the fisherman to deprive him-
self of that ]ilea8ure, and therefore put oil'
the sultancss's death another day.
The Tenth Night.
DiNABZADE called her sister next night,
•when she thought it waa time, and prayed
her to continue the story of the fisherman ;
and the sidtan being also impatient to know
what concern the genie had with Solomon,
Scheherazade continued her story thus : —
Sir, the fisherman, when he heard these
words of the genie, recovered his courage,
and said to him, "Proud spirit, what is it
that you say ? It is above eighteen Imn-
dred year.s since the jirophet Solomon died,
and We arc now at the end of time. Tell
me your history, and how you came to be
shut up in this vessel."
The genie, turning to the fisherman, with
a fierce look, H.iys, " You must speak to me
with more civility ; tln)U art very bold to
c.iU me a proud spirit." "Very well," re-
plies the iishermaii, "shall I speak to you
with more civility, and call you the owl of
good luck?" "I say," answers the genie,
"speak to me more civilly before I kill
thee." "Ah ! " repUes the lisherman, "why
would you kill me ? Did not I just now set
you at liberty, and liave you already for-
gotten it?" "Yes, I remember it," says
the genie, "but that shall not hinder me
from kiUing thee : I have only one favour to
grant thee." "And what is that?" says
the fisherman. "It is," answers the genie,
"to give thee thy choice, in what manner
thou wouhlst have me take thy life." "But
wherein have I offended you ? " replies the
fisherman. " Is that your reward for the
good services I have done you? " " I cannot
treat you otherwise," says the genie; "and
that you may be convinced of it, hearken to
my story : —
" I am one of those rebellious spirits that
opposed the will of- Heaven : all the other
genies owned Solomon, the great prophet, and
submitted to him. Saear and I were the
only genies that would never be guilty of a
mean thing : and, to avenge himself, that
great monarch sent Asaph, the son of Barak -
hia, his chief minister, to apprehend me.
That was accordingly done. Asaph seized
my iierson, and brought me by force 'before
his master's throne.
"Solomon, the son of David, commanded
me to quit my way of living, to acknowledge
20
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
bis power, nnd to Biibniit inym-lf to liiii com-
mand ; I hravuly refuHud to olniy, and told
liim 1 Would rathur uxpoNu myself to hU
ruMcntmcnt than swuar fualty and Hiibmit to
him as he roiiuired. To pnuixh nu>, ho
shut mu lip in this copper veHsel ; and to
makn sure of mu that I should not break
prison, ho himself stamped upon this loaden
oover his seal, with the f.n'uat name of Clod
engraved u])on it. Then he gave the vessel
to one of tho gcnies who submitted to him,
with orders to tiirow mo into the soa, which
was cxoonisd, to my sorrow.
"During the tirst hundred years' impriion-
mcnt, I swore that if any one woulil deliver
me before tho hundred years expired, 1 would
make him rich, even afttr his death ; but
that century ran (uit, uud nobody did mo
that good otlice. During:; tho second I mado
an onth tiiat I would open all tho treasures
of the earth to any one tliiit shoidd set mu
at liberty ; but with no bettor success. In
tho third, [ iiromised to muko my deliverer
a potent monarch, to be always near him in
spirit, and to grant him every day three
requests, of what nature soever they miuht
bo ; but this century ran out as well as tho
two forniL-r, and I continued in prison. At
last, being angry, or rather mad, to find my-
self a prisoner so long, I swore, that if after-
wards any ono should deliver me, 1 would
kill him without mercy, ami grant him no
other favour but to choose what kind of
death he would die ; and therefore, since you
have delivered mo to-day, I give you that
choice."
This discourse aflUcted tho poor fisherman
extremely: "1 am very unfortunate," cries
he, "to come hither to do such a piece of
good service to one that is so ungrateful. I
beg you to consider your injustice, and re-
voke such an unreasonable oath; pardon me,
and Heaven will pardon you ; if you grant
me my life. Heaven will protect you from
all attempts against yours." "No, thy
death is resolved on," says the genie, "only
choose how you will die." The fisherman,
perceiving the genie to bo resolute, was ex-
tremely grieved, not so much for himself, as
for his three children; and bewailed the
misery they must be reduced to by his
death. He endeavoured still to apjicase the
genie, and says, "Alas! be pleased to take
pity on me, in consideration of the good
service I have done you." "I have told thee
already," replies the genie, "it is for that
very reason I must kill thee." " Tl»at is
very strange," s.iys the fisherman ; "are you
resolved to reward good with evil? The pro-
verb says, ' That he who does good to one
who deserves it not is always ill rewarded.'
I must confess I thought it was false ; for
in efifect there can be nothing more contrary
to reason, or the laws of society. Never-
theless, I find now by cruel experience that
it is but too true." "Do not loto time,"
re]iliei the genie ; " all thy reasoning shall
not divert me from my puritotio ; make
haste and toll mo which way you choose to
die."
Necessity is tho mother of invention. Tho
fisherman bethought himsfif of a stratagem.
"^<incu I must die then," says lie to tho
genie, " I submit to tho will of Heaven; but
before T choose tho manner of di'ath, I con-
jure you by tho great name which was en-
graven upon the seal of the pro]>het Solomon,
tho son of David, to answer me truly tho
question I am going to ask you."
The gonio finding himself obliged to a
positive answer by this adjuration, trembled ;
and re]>lied to tho fisherman, "Ask what
thou wilt, but make haste."— Day appearing,
Sclieherazade hehl her peace.
Sister, says Uinarzade, it must be oAvncd
that tho more you speak tho more you
surprise and satisfy. I hr»j)e our lord
the sidtnn will not order you to be jiut to
death till he iicars out the tinu story of the
fisherman. — Tho sultan is absolute, re-
jdies Scheherazade, wo must submit to his
will in everything. But Schahriar being
as willing as Dinarzado to hear an end of
tho stoiy, did again put off the execution of
tho sultancss.
The Eleventh Night.
SciiAiiHTAn, and the princess his spouse,
passed this night in the same manner as they
had done tho fonner ; and before break of
day, Dinnrzailo awaked them with these
words, addressed tu the sultancss: I pray
you, sister, to resume the story of the fisher-
man. — With all my heart, said Sche-
herazade, I am willing to satisfy you, with
the sultan's permission.
The genio, continued she, having pro-
mised to speak the truth, the fisherman says
to him, — "I would know if you were actu-
ally in this vessel : dare you swear it by the
name of the great God?" " Yes," re])lied
the genie, " I do swear by that great name
that I was, and it is a certain truth." " In
good fnith," answered the fisherman, " I
cannot believe you ; the vessel is not capable
of holding one of your feet, and how should
it bo possible that your whole body could lie
in it? " " I swear to thee, notwithstanding,"
replied tho genie, " that I was there just as
you see me here. Is it possible that thou
dost not believe me after this great oath
that I have taken ? " " Truly, not I," said
the fisherman ; " nor will I believe you, un-
less you shew it me."
Upon which the body of the genie was
dissolved, and changed itself into smoke, ex-
tending itself as formerly upon the sea and
shore ; and then at last being gathered to-
TIIK GRFXIAN KING AND THE PHYSICIAN DOVDAN.
21
f^ctluT, it lH>){an to rc-cnti>r the vex«ul, wbiuh
it continiifd tu do mucvuivcly by a kIow aiul
c<|ual motiun after n Riuuoth and vxoct
way, till nothing wa« left uiit ; and iinmc-
diatuly a vuicu camu forth, whicli Haid tu
tliu tJMhurman, " Wull, now, inurediiloUH fel-
low, I am all in tho vcHui'l, do uot you bo-
liovo me now V
1'ho tishernian, inMtcad of answering tlio
Kcnie, took thu uover of lead, and having
Hjieedily 8hut tho vessel, " Genie," cries he,
"now it is your turn to beg my favour, and
to choose '.vhich way I shall put you to
death ; but uot so, it ia l>etter tliat I should
thn>w you into the sea, whence I took you :
oiul then I will build a hoUHO upon the bank,
wliero I will dwell, tu give notice tu all
fishermen who come to tiirow in their netii
to beware of such a wicked genie as thuu
art, who hast made an oath to kill bitu that
shall set thee at liberty."
Tlie genie, enraged at these oxprc 'ons,
did oil ho could to get out of the '' ;bsrl
again ; but it was not possible for lu .1 tu
du it ; fur the impression of Solomon's seal
prevented him. So perceiving that tho
liHhcrman hod got the advantage of him,
he thuught lit to disaemlile his anger.
"Fisherman," said he, iu a ideasant tone,
" take heed you do not du what you say,
for what I spoke to you before was only by
way of jest, and you ai'c to take it no other-
wise." "O genie!" iciilies the fisherman,
"thou who wast bu*' a moment ago the
greatest of all genie, and now art the least
of them, thy crafty discourse will signify
nothing to thee, but to the sea thou sholt
return. If tliou host stayed there already so
lung as thuu hast told me, thou mayst very
well stay there till the day of judgment. I
begged of thee, in God's name, not tu take
away my life, and thou didst reject my
prayers ; I am obliged to treat thee in the
same manner."
The genio omitted nothing that could pre-
vail upon the fisherman. " Open the vessel,"
says he, " give me my liberty, I pray thee,
and I promise to satisfy thee to thy own
contend" "Thou art a mere traitor," re-
plies the iishennan; "I shoidd deserve to
lose my life if 1 were such a fool as to trust
thee ; thou wilt not fail to treat me in the
same manner as a certain Grecian king
treated the physician Doubon. It is a story
I have a mind to tell thee, therefore listen
to it."
THE STORY OF THE GRECIAN KIUO AND TIIE
PHYSICLVN UOUBAN.
There was in the country of Zouman, in
Persia, a king, whose subjects were origin-
ally Greeks. This king was all over leprous,
and hia physicians in vain endeavoured his
cure : and when they were at their wits' end
wliat tu ]irGacribe to him, a very able phy*
•ician, called Doubon, arrived at hia court.
Tliia physician had learneil his auienue in
Greek, I'eniian, Turkish, Arabian, Latin,
Syriac, and Hebrew buoka ; and besides that,
hu was an expert philosopher, and fully un-
derstood the guod and bod (jualities of all
aorta of plants and drugs. Aa soon as ho
was infoimed of the king's diatemiier, and un-
derstu(Kl that his physicians hatl given l:im
over, hu clad himself in the best habits ho
could procure, and found means to present
liimaelf to the king. "Sir," saya he, "I
know that all your majesty's physicians have
not been able to cure you of the leprosy ; but
if you will du mo tlie honour to accept my
service, I will engage myself to cure yuu
without potions or external ai>pIicationa."
The king listened tu wliat hu said, and an-
swered, "If you bo able to i)crform what
you do promise, I will enrich you and your
posterity : and besides the presents 1 shall
maku you, you shall bo my chief favourite.
Do you oasuro me, then, tliat you will euro
me of my leprosy, without making me take
any jjotion, or ajiplying any external medi-
cine?" "Yea, sir," replies the physician ;
" I jiromise myself success, through God's
assistance, and to-morrow I will make trial
of it."
Tho physician returned to his quartora,,
and ma<le a mallet, holluw within, and at
the handle he put in his drugs : ho mode also
a boll in such a manner aa suited his purpose,
with which, next morning, he went to pre-
sent himself before the king, and falling
down at hia feet kissed the ground. — Here
Scheherazade, perceiving day, acquainted
the sultan with it, and held her peace.
I wonder, sister, says Dinaraide, where
you learn so many fine things. — You shall
hear a great many others tu-morrow, re-
plica Scheherazade, if tho sultan my master
will be pleased to prolong my life farther.
Schahriar, who longed as much as Dinarzade
to hear the sequel of tho story of Douban
the physician, did uot order the sultaness ta
be put to death thr.t day.
The Twelfth Night.
The twelfth night was far advanced, when
Dinarzade called, and says, Sister, you
owe ua the continuation of the agreeable
history of the Grecian king and the physician
Douban. I am very willing to pay my
debt, replied Scheherazade, and resumed
the story aa follows : —
Sir, the Iishennan, ax)eaking always to the
genie whom he kept shut up in the vessel,
we.it on thua : — The physician Douban rose
up, and, after a profoimd reverence, says to
the king, he judged it meet that his majesty
should take horse, and go to the place where
r^
22
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
%
he tised to play at malL* The king did so,
and when he arrived there, the physician
oame to him with the mall, and says to him,
"Sir, exercise yonraelf with this mall, and
strike the ball with it until yon find your
hands and your body in a sweat. When the
medicine I have put up in the handle of the
mall ia heated with your hand, it will pene-
trate your whole body ; and as soon as you
shall sweat, you may leave off the exercise,
for then the medicine will have had its effect.
As soon as you are returned to your palace,
go into the bath, and cause yourself to be
well washed and rubbed ; then go to bed,
and when you rise to-morrow you will find
yourself cured."
The king took the mall, and struck the
ball, which was returned by his officers that
played with him ; he struck it again, and
played so long, that his hand and his whole
body were in a sweat, and then the medicine
shut up in the handle of the mall had its
oper-ition, as the physician se.id. Upon this,
the king left off play, returned to his palace,
entered the bath, and observed very exactly
what his physician had prescribed him.
He was very weU after it, and next morn-
ing when he arose ho perceived, with
equal wonder and joy, that his leprosy was
cured, and his body as clean as if he had
never been attacked with that distemper.
As soon as he was dressed, he came into the
hall of audience, where he ascended his
tbjone, and bowed himself to his courtiers,
who, eager to know the success of the new
medicine, came thither betimes ; and when
they saw the king perfectly ciu-ed, did all
express great joy. The physician Douban
entered the hall, and bowed himself before
the throne, with his face to the ground. The
king, perceiving him, called him, made him
sit down by his side, shewed him to the as-
sembly, and gave him all the commendation
he deserved. His majesty did not stop here ;
but, as he treated all his court that day, he
made him eat at his table alone with him. —
At these words, Scheherazade, percei\iiig
day, broke off her story. Pister, says
Dinarzade, I know not what the concluaiou
of this story will be, but T find the begin-
ning admirable. — That which is to come
is yet O'. i ter, answered the sultanesa ; and
I am certain you will not deny it, if the
suK.'u girct' • ie leave to make an end of it
to-mo TOW night. Set ..hriar consented,
ind rose very well satisfied with what he
uad heard.
The Thirteenth Night.
Dcf iRZABE, willing to keep the sultan in
ignorance of her design, cried out, as if she
Tills game Is played on horseback.
had started out of her sleep : O dear sis-
ter, I ha\ 'i had a troublesome dream, and
nothing will sooner make me forget it than
the remainder of th" "tory of the Grecian
king and doctor Douban. I conjure you by
the love you always bore me not to defer it
a moment longer. — I shall not fail, good
sister, to ease your mind ; and if my sove-
reign will permit me, I will go on. Schah-
riar, being charmed with the agreeable man-
ner of Scheherazade's telling her stories, says
to her. You will oblige me no less than
Dinarzade, therefore continue, t
The Grecian king (says the fisherman to
the genie) was not satisfied with having
admitted the physican Douban to his table,
but towards night, when he was about dis-
missing the company, he caused him to be
clad in a long rich robe, like those which
his favourites usually wore in his presence ;
and besides that, he ordered him two thou-
sand sequins. The next day, and the day
following, he continued his favour to him ;
in short, the prince, thinking that he could
never enough acknowledge the obligations
he lay under to that able physician, bestowed
every day new favours upon him. But this
king had a grand vizier, who was avarici-
ous, envious, and naturally capable of all
sort of mischief. He could not see without
en\'y the presents that were given to the
physician, whose other merits had already
begun to make him jealous, and therefore he
resolved to lessen him in the king's esteem.
To effect this, ho went to the king, and told
him in private that he had some advice to
give him, which was of the greatest concern.
"The king having asked what it was, — " Sir,"
said he, "it is very dangerous for a monarch
to put confidence in a man whose fidelity
he never tried. Though you heap favours
upon the physician Douban, and shew him
all the familiarity that may be, your ma-
jesty does not know but he may be a traitor,
and come on purpose to this court to kill
you." " From whom have you this," an-
swered the king, " that you dare to tell it
me ? Consider to whom you speak, and
that you advance a thing which I shall not
easily believe." "Sir," replied the vizier,
"I am very well informed of what I have
had the honour to represent to your ma-
jesty ; therefore do not let your dangerous
confidence grow to a farther height : if
your majesty be asleep, be pleased to
awake ; for I once nu^re repeat it, that the
physician Douban did not leave the heart
of Greece, his native country, nor come
here to settle himself at your court, but to
execute that horrible design which I have
jusl now hinted to you."
"Xo, no, vizier," replies the king; "I
am ceiitain that this man, whom you treat
t This Introduction Is not in the Ia8^ French edition.
THE HUSBAND AND THE PARROT.
23
as a villain and a traitor, is one of the best
«nd most virtuous men in the world, and
there is no man I love so much. You
know by what med'oine, or rather by whftt
miracle, he cured me of my leprosy ; if he
had a design upon my life, why did he save
me ? He needed only have left me to my
disease ; I could not have escaped it ; my
life was already half gone. Forbear, then,
to fill me with unjust suspicions : instead
of listening to you, I tell you that from
this day forward I will give that great man
a pension of a thousand sequins per month
for his life ; nay, though I were to share
with him all my riches and dominions, I
should never pay him enough for what he
has done for me. I perceive it to be his
virtue which raises your envy ; but do not
think that I will be unjustly possessed with
prejudice against him. I remember too
well what a vizier said to king Sinbad, his
master, to prevent his putting to death the
prince his son." — But, sir, says Schehera-
zade, daylight appears, which forbids me
to go any further.
I am very well pleased that the Grecian
king, Siays Dinarzade, had so much firmness
of spirit to reject the false accusation of
the vizier. — If you commend the firmness of
that prince to-day, says Scheherazade, you
wUl as much condemn his weakness to-mor-
row, if the sultan be pleased to allow me
time to finish this story. The sultan being
curioiis to hear wherein the Grecian king
discovered his weakness, did further delay
the death of the sultaness.
The Fourteenth Night.
A:^ hour before day, Dinarzade awaked her
sister, and says to her, You will certainly
be as good as your word, madam, and finish
the story of the fisherman : to assist your
memory, I will tell you where you left off :
it was where the Grecian king maintained the
innocence of his physician Douban against
his vizier. — I remember it, says Schehera-
zade, and am ready to give you e;>tisfaction.
Sir, continues she, addressing herself to
Schahriar, what the Grecian king said about
king Sinbad raised the vizier's curiosity,
who says to him, " Sir, I pray your majesty
to pardon me if I have the boldness to ask
what the vizier of king Sinbad said to his
master to divert him from cutting off the
prince his son." The Grecian king had the
complaisance to satisfy him. ' ' That vizier, "
says he, " after having represented to king
Sinbad that he ought to beware lest, on the
accusation of a mother-in-law, he should
commit an action which he might after-
wards repent of, told him this story : " —
THE STORY OF THE HUSBAOT) AND THE
PAEKOT.
A certain man had a beautiful wife, whom
he loved so dearly, that he could scarce
allow her to be out of his sight. One day,
oeing obliged to go abroad about urgent
affairs, he came to a place where all sorts
of birds were sold, and there bought a
parrot, which not only spoke very well, but
could also give an account oi ever3rthing
that was done before it. He brought it in a
cage to his house, desired his wife to put it
in his chamber, and to take oare of it during
a journey he was obliged to undertake ; and
then went out.
At his return, he took care to ask the
parrot concerning what had passed iu his
absence, and the bird told him things that
gave him occasion to upbraid his wife. She
thought some of her slaves had betrayed
her, but all of them swore they had been
faithful to her ; and they all agreed vi^at it
liM^
iJ
24
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
mudt have been the parrot that had told
tales.
Upon this, the wife bethought herself of a
'way how she might remove her husband's
jealousy, and at the same time revenge her-
self on the parrot, which she effected thus :
her husband being gone another journey,
she commanded a sl^ve in the night-time to
turn a handmill under the parrot's cage;
she ordered another to throw water, in form
of rain, over the cage ; and a third to take a
looking-glass, and turn it to the right and
to the left before the parrot by candle-light.
The slaves spent great part of the night in
doing what their mistress commanded them,
and acquitted themselves very dexterously.
Next night the husband returned, and
examined the parrot again about what had
passed during his absence. The bird an-
swered, " Good master, the lightning,
thunder, and rain did so much disturb me
all night that I cannot tell how much I
suffered by it." The husband, who knew
that there had been neither thunder, light-
ning, nor rain that night, fancied that the
parrot, not having told him the truth in
this, might also have lied to him in the
other; upon which he took it out of the
cage, and threw it with so much force to
the ground that he killed it. Yet after-
wards he understood by his neighbours that
the poor parrot had not lied to him, when
it gave him an accoimt of his wife's base
conduct, which made him repent he had
killed it. — Scheherazade stopped here, be-
cause she saw it was day.
All that you tell us, sister, says Dinar-
zade, is so cm'ious, that nothing can be
more agreeable. — I shall be willing to divert
you, answers Scheherazade, if the sultan
my master will allow me time to do it.
Schahriar, who took as much pleasure to
hear the sultaness as Dinarzade, rose and
went about his affairs without ordering the
vizier to cut her off.
The Fifteenth Night.
Dinarzade was punctual this night, as she
had been the former, to awaken her sister,
and begged of her, as usual, to teU her a
story. I am going to do it, sister, says
Scheherazade ; but the sultan interrupted
her, for fear she should begin a new story,
and bid her finish the discourse between the
Grecian king and his vizier about his phy-
sician Douban. — Sir, says Scheherazade, I
will obey you ; and went on with the stoiy
as follows : —
When the Grecian king, (says the fisher-
man to the genie,) had Huished the story
of the parrot ; " and you, vizier," adds he,
"because of the hatred you bear to the
physician Donban, who never did you any
hurt, would have me cut him off; but I
will take care cf that, for fear I should
repent it, as the husband did the killing of
his parrot."
The mischievous vizier was too much con-
cerned to effect the ruin of the physician
Douban tostop here. " Sir," says he, "the
death of the parrot was but a trifle, and, I
beUeve, his master did not mourn for him
long : but why should your fear of wronging
an innocent man hinder you putting this
physician to death ? Is it not enough to
authorise yon to take away his life that he
is accused of a design against your life \
When the business in question is to secure
the life of a king, bare suspicion ought to
pass for certainty ; and it is better to sacri-
fice the innocent than to spare the guilty,
li'jt, sir, this is not an uncertainty; the
physician Douban has certainly a mind
to assassinate you. It is not envy which
makes me his enemy ; it is only my zeal,
and the concern I have for preserving your
majesty's life, that makes me give you my
advice in a matter of this importance. If it
be false, I deserve to be punished in the
same manner as a vizier was formerly
punished." " What had the vizier done,"
says the Grecian king, "to deserve punish-
ment?" "I will inform your majesty of
that," says the viziei', "if you will be
pleased to hear me,"
TUB STORY OF THE VIZIER THAT WAS
PUNISHED.
There was a king, (says the vizier,)
who had a son that loved hunting. He
allowed him to divert himself that way very
often ; but gave orders to his grand vizier to
attend him constantly, and never to lose
sight of him.
One hunting-day, the huntsman having
roused a deer, the prince, who thought the
vizier followed him, pursued the game so far,
and with so much earnestness, that he was
left quite alone. He stopped, and finding
he had lost his way, endeavoured to return
the same way he came, to find out the vizier,
who had not been careful enough to follow
him, and so wandered farther.
Whilst he rode up and down, without
keeping any road, he met by the way-side a
handsome lady, who wept bitterly. He
stopped his horse, asked who she was, how
she came to be alone in that place, and what
she wanted. " I am," says she, "daughter
to an Indian king. As I was taking the air
on horseback in the coimtiy, I grew sleepy,
fell from my horse, who is run away, and I
know not what is become of him." The
young prince, taking compassion on her,
asked her to get u^) behind him, wliich sha
willingly accepted.
THE GRECIAN KING AND THE PHYSICIAN DOUBAN.
25
As they passed by the ruins of a house,
the lady signified a desire to alight on the
occasion. The prince stopped, and suffered
her to alight ; then he alighted himself, and
went near the ruins with his horse in his
hand. But you may judge how much he
was surprised when he heard the lady
within say these words : "Be glad, my
children, I bring you a handsome young
man, and very fat;" and other voices, which
answered immediately, "Mamma, where is
he, that we may eat him presently, for we
are very hungry ?"
The piince heard enough to convince him
of his danger, and then he perceived that
the lady, who called herself daughter to an
Indian king, was an ogress, wife to one of
those savage demons called ogres, who live
in remote places, and make use of a thou-
sand wiles to surprise and devour passen-
gers ; so that the prince, being frightened,
moimted his horse as soon as he could.
The pretended princess appeared that very
moment, and perceiving that she had missed
her prey, she cries, " Fear nothing, prince :
who are you? whom do you seek?" "I
have lost my way," replies he, "and am
seeking it." " If you have lost your way,"
says ohe, " recommend yourself to God, He
will deliver you out of your perplexity."
Then the prince lifted up his eyes towards
heaven. — But, sir, says Scheherazade, I am
obliged to break off, for day appears.
I long, says Dinarzade, to know what
became of that young prince : I tremble for
him. — I will deliver you from your un-
easiness to-morrow, answers the sidtaness,
if the sidtan will allow me to live till then.
Schahriar, willing to hear an end of this ad-
venture, prolonged Scheherazade's life for
another day.
The Sixteenth Night.
DiXARZADE had such a desire to hear out
the story of the young prince, that she
awaked that night sooner than ordinary,
and said. Sister, pray go on with the story
you began yesterday : I am much concerned
for the young prince, and ready to die for
fear that he was eaten up by the ogress and
her children. Schahriar having signified
that he had the same fear, the sultaness re-
plies. Well, sir, I wiU satisfy you imme-
diately.
After the counterfeit Indian princess had
bid the yoimg prince recommend himself to
God, he could not believe she spoke sincerely,
but thought she was sure of him ; and there-
fore, lifting up his eyes to heaven, said,
"Almighty Lord, cast Tliine eyes upon me,
and deliver me from this enemy." After
this prayer, the ogress entered the ruins
again, and the prince rode o£f with all pos-
sible haste. He happily found his way
again, and arrived safe and sound at his
father's court, to whom he gave a particidar
account of the danger he had been in through
the vizier's neglect : upon which the king,
being incensed against the minister, ordered
him to be immediately strangled.
" Sir," continued the Grecian king's vizier,
" to return to the physician Douban, if you
do not take care, the confidence you put in
him will be fatal to you : I am very well
assured that he ia a spy sent by your ene-
mies to attempt your majesty's life. He has
cured you, you wiU say ; but, alas ! who can
assure you of that ? He has, perhaps, cured
you only in appearance, and not radically ;
who knows but the medicine he has given
you may, in time, have pernicious effects ? "
The Grecian king, who had naturally very ^
little sense, was not able to discover the
wicked design of his vizier, nor had he firm-
ness enough to persist in his first opinion.
This discourse staggered him. " Vizier,"
says he, "thou art in the right ; he may be
come on purpose to take away my life,
which he may easily do by the very smell of
some of his drugs. We must consider what
is fit for us to do in this case.
When the vizier found thp king in such a
temper as he wished, " Sir," said he, "the
surest and speediest method you can take to
secure your life is to send immediately for
the physician Douban, and order his head to
be cut off as soon as he comes. " "In truth, ' '
says the king, " I believe that is the way
we must take to prevent his design." When
he had spoken thus, he called for one of hia
officers, and ordered him to go for the phy-
sicicin ; who, knowing nothing of the king's
design, came to the paLace in haste.
" Know ye," says the king, when he saw
him, "why I sent for you?" "No, sir,"
answers he ; "I wait tUl your majesty be
pleased to inform me." "^ sent for you,"
replied the king, " to rid myself of you by
taking your life."
No man can express the surprise of the
physician when he heard the sentence of
death pronounced against him. " Sir," said
he, " why would your majesty take my life?
What crime have I committed '!" "I am in-
formed by good hands," rejJies the king,
"that you come to my court oidy to attempt
my life ; but to prevent you, I will be sure
of yours." "Give the blow," says he to
the executioner, who was present, " and
deliver me from a perfidious wretch, who
came hither on purpose to assassinate me."
When the physician heard this cruel order,
he readily judged that the honours and pre-
sents he had received from tlie king had pro-
cured him enemies, and that the weak prince
was imposed on. He repented that he had
cured him of his leprosy ; but it was now
m
mmm
mmsmmmmsmmm
nBMWMSi
26
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
too late. "Is it thus," replied the physicifHi,
"that you reward me for curing you ?" The
king -would not- hearken to him, but a second
time ordered the executioner to strike the
fatal blow. The physician tlien hod recourse
to his prayers. "Alas! sir," cries he, "pro-
long my days, and God will prolong yours ;
do not put me to death, lost God treat you
in the same manner. " The iisherman broke
off his discourse here, to apply it to the
genie. "Well, genie," says he, "you see
what passed then betwixt the Grecian king
and his physician Douban is acted just now
betwixt us."
The Grecian king, continues he, in-
stead of having regard to the i)rayer8 of the
physician, who begged him for God's sake
to spare him, cruelly replied to him, "No,
no ; I must of necessity cut yoii off, other-
wise you may take my life away with as
much art as you cured me." The physician
melted into tears, and bewailing himself for
being so ill rewarded by the king, prepared
for death. The executioner bound up his
eyes, tied his hands, and was going to draw
his scimitar.
Then the courtiers, who were present, be-
ing moved with compassion, begged the king
to pardon him, assuring his majesty that he
was not guilty of the crime laid to his charge,
and that they would answer for his inno-
cence ; but the king was inflexible, and an-
swered them so as tliey dared not to say any
more of the matter.
The physician, being on his knees, his
eyes tied up, and ready to receive the fatal
blow, addressed himself once more to the
king. " Sir," says he, "since your majesty
will not revoke the sentence of death, I beg
at least that you would give me leave to
return to my house, to give order about my
burial, to bid fare'. jU to my family, to give
alms, and to bequeath my books to those
who are capable of making good use of them.
I have one particularly 1 woidd present to
your majesty : it is a very precious book,
and worthy to be laid up very carefully in
your treasury." "Well," replies the king,
" why is that book so precious as you talk
of ?" " Sir," says the physician, " because
it contains an infinite number of curious
things ; of which the chief is, that when
you have cut off my head, if your majesty
will give yourself the trouble to open the
book at the sixth leaf, and read the third
line of the left page, my head will answer
all the questions you ask it." The king,
being curious to see such a wonderful thing,
deferred his death till next day, and sent
him home under a strong guard.
The phy.iician, during that time, put his
affairs in order : and the report being spread
that an unheard-of i)rodigy was to happen
after his death, the viziers, emirs, officers of
the guard, and, in a word, the whole court,
repaired next day to the hall of audience,
that they might be witnesses of it.
The physician Douban was soon brought
in, and advanced to the foot of the throne
with a great book in his hand : there he
called for a basin, upon which he laid the
„over that the book was wrapped in, and
presented the book to the king. "Sir,"
says he, " take that book, if you ])lease, and
as soon as my head is cut off, order that it
be put into the basin upon the cover of the
book ; as soon as it is ])ut there, the Jjlood
will stop : then open the book, and my head
will answer your questions. But, sir," says
he, "permit me once more to implore your
majesty's clemency ; for God's sake grant my
request ; I protest to you th.it I am inno-
cent." "Your prayers," answers the king,
" are in vain ; and, were it for nothing but
to hear your head speak after your death, it
is my will you should die." As he said
this, he took the book out of the physician's
hand, and ordered the executioner to do his
duty.
The head was so dexterously cut off, that
it fell into the basin, and was no sooner laid
upon the cover of the book, but the blood
stopped ; then, to the great surprise of the
king and all the si^ectators, it opened its
eyes, and said, " Sir, will your majesty be
pleased to open the bookl" The king
opened it, and finding that one leaf was as
it were glued to another, that he might turn
it with the more ease, he put his finger to
his mouth, and wet it with spittle. He did
so till he came to the sixth leaf, and finding
no writing on the place where he was bid to
^^eakii
THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE.
27
look for it, "Physician," says he to the
head, "there ia nothing written." "Ttirn
over some more leaves," replies the head.
The king continued to tiu-n over, p\itting
always his finger to his mouth, until the
poison, with which each leaf vaa imbued,
coming to have its effect, the prince finding
himself all of a sudden taken with an extra-
ordinary fit, his eyesight failed, and he fell
down at the foot of the throne, in violent
convulsions. — At these words, Scheherazade,
perceiving day, gave the sultan notice of it,
and forbore speaking. Ah, dear sister,
says Dinarzade, how grieved am I that
you have not time to finish the story ! I
shoidd be inconsolable if you '< 3 your
life to-day, — Sister, repliea ' .ultaness,
that must be as the sidtan pL..^os ; but I
hope he will be so good as to suspend my
death till to-morrow. And, accordingly,
Schahriar, far from ordering her death that
day, expected the next night with much
impatience ; so earnest was he to hear out
the story of the Grecian king, and the sequel
of the fisherman and the genie.
to
lid
ing
to
The Seventeenth Night.
Though Dinarzade was very curious to hear
the rest of the story of the Grecian king,
she did not awake that night so soon as
usual, so that it was almost day before she
called upon the sidtaness ; and then she
said : I pray you, sister, to continue the won-
derful story of the Grecian king ; but mako
haste, I beseech you, for it will speedily be
day.
Scheherazade resumed the story where she
left off the day before. Sir, says she to
the sultan, when the physician Douljan, or
rather his head, saw that the poison had
taken effect, and that the king had but a
few moments to live; "Tyrant," it cried,
"now you see how princes are treated who,
abusing their authority, cut off innocent
men: God punishes soon or late their injus-
tice and cruelty." Scarce had the head
spoke these words, when the king fell down
dead, and the head itself lost what life it
had.
Sir, continues Scheherazade, such was
the end of the Grecian king and the jihy-
sician Douban. I must return now to the
story of the fisherman and the genie ; but it
is not worth while to begin it now, for it is
day. The sultan, who always observed his
hours regularly, could stay no longer, but
got up ; and wishing to hear the sequel of
the story of the genie and the fisherman, he
bid the snltaneas prepare to tell it him next
night.
The Eighteenth Night.
DiyARZASG made amends this night for the
last night's neglect ; she awaked a long time
before day, and calling upon Scheherazade,
Sister, says she, if you be not asleep,
pray give us the rest of the story of the
fisherman and the genie; you know the sul-
tan desires to hear it as well as I.
I shall soon satisfy his curiosity and
yours, answers the sultaness ; and then, ad-
dressing herself to Schahriar, Sir, continued
she, as soon as the fisherman had con-
cluded the history of the Greek king and
his physician Douban, he made the appli-
cation to the genie, whom he still kept shut
up in the vessel. ' ' If the Grecian king, " says
he, " would have suffered the physician to
live, God would also have suffered him to
hve; but he rejected his most humble pray-
ers, and it is the same with thee, genie !
Could I have prevailed with thee to grant
me the favour I demanded, I should now
have had j>ity upon thee ; but since, not-
withstanding the extreme obligation thou
wast under to me for having set thee at
liberty, thou didst persist in thy design to
kill mc, I am obliged, in my turn, to be as
hard-hearted to thee."
" My good friend, fisherman," replies the
genie, " I conjure thee once more not to be
guilty of such cruelty : consider, that it is
not good to avenge one's self ; and that, on
the other hand, it is commendable to do
good for evil; do not treat me as Tmama
treated Ateca formerly." " And what did
Imama to Ateca?" replies the fisherman.
" Ho ! " says the genie, " if you have a mind
to know it, open the vessel : do you think
that I can be in a humour to tell stories in
so strait a prison ? 1 will teU you as many
as you please when you let me out." " No,"
says the fisherman, " I will nut let thee out;
it is in vain to talk of it ; I am just going to
throw you into the bottom of the sea."
" Hear mo one word more," cries the genie;
"I promise to do thee no hurt; nay, far
from that, I will shew thee a way how thou
mayest become exceeding rich."
The hope of delivering himself from po-
verty prevailed with the fisherman. " I
could listen to thee," says he, " were there
any credit to be given to thy word ; swear
to me ])y the great n.ime of God that you
will faithfully perform what you promise,
and I will open the vessel. I do not believe
you will dare to break such an oath."
The genie swore to him, and the fisherman
immediately took off the covering of the
vessel. At that very instant the smoke
came out, and the genie having resumed his
form as before, the first thing he did was to
kick the vessel into the sea. This action
frightened the fisherman. " Genie," says
T
28
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
he, "what is the meaning of that? Will
not you ke^p the oath you just now made?
And must I say to you, as the physician
Douban sail to the Grecian king, Suffer me
to live, and God will prolong your days."
The genie laughed at the fisherman's fear,
and answerec', "No, fisherman, be not afraid ;
I only did it xo divert myself, and to see if
thou wouldst be alarmed at it ; but to per-
suade thee that I am in earnest, take thy
nets and follow me." As he spoke these
words, he walked before the fisherman, who,
having taken up his nets, followed him, but
with some distrust. They passed by the
town, and came to the top of a mountain,
from whence they descended into a vast
plain, which brought them to a great jwud
that lay betwixt four hills.
When they came to the side of the pond,
the genie says to the fisherman, " Cast in thy
nets, and catch fish. " The fisherman did not
doubt to catch some, because he saw a great
number in the pond ; but he was extremely
surprised when he found they were of four
colours — that is to say, white, red, blue, and
yellow. He threw in his nets, and brought
out one of each colour. Having never seen
the Uke, he could not but admire them ; and,
judging that he might get a considerable
sum for them, he was very joyful. " Carry
those fish," says the genie to him, "and
present them to thy sultan : he will give you
more money for them than ever you had in
your Ufe. You may come every day to fish
in this pond ; and I give thee warning not
to throw in thy nets above onoe a day, other-
wise you will repent it. Take heed, and re-
member my advice ; if you follow it exactly,
you will find your account in it. " Having
spoke thus, he struck his foot upon the
ground, which opened, and shut again, after
it hod swallowed up the genie.
The fisherman, being resolved to follow
the genie's advice exactly, forbore casting in
his nets a second time ; and returned to the
town very well satisfied with his fish, and
making a thousand reflections upon his ad-
venture. He went straight to tjie sultan's
palace to present him his fish. — But, sir,
says Scheherazade, I perceive day, and must
stop here.
Dear sister, says Dinarzade, how surpris-
ing are the last events yon have told us !
I can hardly believe that anything you
have to say can bf more surprising. — Sister,
rei)lies the sultaness, if *' . 'Hr.ii my mas-
ter will let me live > i
persuaded you wi!' I ■ *
history of the fisii. •
than the beginning '. .;.
more diverting. tSohahi;.^,
TOW,
I
am
([Uel of the
•re wonderful
, i jmjiaiT.bly
l)Oin;< CUil'MlS
to know if the remainder oi the ^tor;/ oi the
fisherman would be such as the sultouesa
said, put off the execution of the cruel law
once more.
The Nineteenth Night.
Towards morning, Dinarzade called the
sultaness, and said. Dear sister, my pen-
dulimi tells me
it will be day
speedily, there-
fore pray con-
tinue the history
of the fisherman ;
T am extremely
impatient to
know what the
issue of it was.
Scheherezade,.
having demanded
leave of Schah>
riar, resumed her
discourse as fol-
lows : — Sir, I
leave it to your
majesty to think
how much the
sultan was sur-
prised when he
saw the four
fishes which the
fisherman presented him. He took them up
one after another, and viewed them with
attention ; and after having admired them a
long time, "Take those fishes," says he to
his first vizier, " and carry them to the
handsome cook-maid that the emperor of the
Greeks has sent me. I cannot imagine but
they must be as good as they are fine."
The vizier carried them himself to the
cook, and, delivering them into her hands,
" Look ye," says he, " there are four fishes
newly brought to the sultan ; he orders you
to dress them." And having said so, he re-
turned to the siUtan his master, who ordered
him to give the fisherman four himdred pieces
of gold of the coin of that country, which he
did accordingly.
The fisherman, who had never seen so
much cash in his lifetime, could scarce be-
lieve his own good fortune, but thought it
must be a dream, untU he foimd it to be
real, v.'hen he provided necessaries for hi»
family with it.
But, sir, says Scheherazade, having told
you what happened to the fisherman, I
must acquaint you next with what befell the
sultan's cook-maid, whom we shall find in
great perplexity. As soon as she had gutted
the fishes, she put them upon the fire in a
frying-pan, with oil ; and when she thought
them fried enough on one side, she turned
them upon the other ; but, oh, monstrous pro-
digy ! scarce were they turned, when the
wall of the kitchen opened, and in came a
young la<ly of wonderful beauty and comely
size. She was clad in flowered satin, after
the Egyptian m.anner, with pendants in her
THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE.
29
«ar8, a necklace of large pearls, and bracR-
leta of gold garnished with rubies, with a
rod of myrtle in her hand. She came to-
wards the frying-pan, to the great amaze-
ment of the cook -maid, who continued im-
movable at the sight, and, striking one of
the fishes with the end of the rod, says, • ' Fish,
iish, art thou in thy duty ?" The fish having
answered nothing, she repeated these words,
and then the four fishes lifted up their heads
all together, and said to her, " Yes, yes ; if
you reckon, we reckon; if you pay your
debts, we pay ours; if you fly, we over-
come, and are content." As soon as they
' had finished these words, the lady over-
turned the frjring-pan, and entered again
into the open part of the wall, which
shut immediately, and became as it was
before.
The cook-maid was mightily frightened at
this, and coming a little to herself, went to
take up the fishes that fell upon the hearth,
but found them blacker than coal, and not
fit to be carried to the sultan. She was
grievously troubled at it, and fell to weep-
ing most bitterly. ' ' Alas ! " says she, ' ' what
will become of me ? If I tell the 8\iltan what
I have seen, T am sure he will not believe
me, Init will be enraged against me."
While she was thus bewailing herself, in
came the grand vizier, and asked her if the
fishes were ready ? She told him all that
had happened, which we may easily ima-
gine astonished him ; but, without speaking
a word of it to the sultan, he invented an
e.rouse that satisfied him, and sending im-
mediately for the fisherman, bid him bring
four more such fish, for a misfortune had be-
fallen the others, that they were not fit to be
carried to the sultan. The fishei-man, with-
out saying anything of what the genie had
told him, in order to excuse himself from
bringing them that very day, told the vizier
he had a great way to go for them, but
would certainly bring them to-morrow.
Accordingly the fisherman went caway by
night, and, coming to the pond, threw in his
nets betimes next morning, took four such
fishes as the former, and brought them to
the vizier at the hour appointed. The minis-
ter took them himself, carried them to the
kitchen, and shutting himself up all alone
with the cook-maid, she gutted them, and
put them on the fire, as she had done the
four others the day before ; when they were
fried on one side, and she had turned them
upon the other, the kitchen wall opened, and
the same lady came in with the rod in her
hand, struck one of the fishes, spoke to it as
before, and all four gave her the same an-
swer. — ^But, sir, says Scheherazade, day
appears, which obliges me to break off.
What I have told you is indeed very singu-
lar, but if I be alive to-morrow, I will tell
you other things, which are yet better worth
your hearing. Schahriar, conceiving that
the sequel must be very curious, resolved to
hear hor next night.
The Twentieth Night.
Next morning the sultan prevented Dinar-
zade, and said to Scheherazade, Madam,
I pray you make an end of the story
of the fisherman, I am impatient to hear
it; upon which the sultaness continued it
thus : —
Sir, after the four fishes had answered the
young lady, she overturned the frying-jjan
with her rod, and retired into the same place
of the wall from whence she came out. The
grand vizier being witness to what had
])asscd, "This is too surprising and extraor-
dinary," siiys he, " to be concealed from the
sultan ; I will inform him of this prodigy ;"
which he did accordingly, and gave him a
very faithful accoimt of all that had hap-
pened.
The sultan, being much surprised, was
impatient to see this himself. He sent im-
mediately for the fisherman, and says to him,
" Friend^ cannot you bring me four more
such fishes?" The fisherman replied, "If
your majesty will be pleased to allow me
three days' time, I will do it. Having ob-
tained his time, he went to the pond imme-
diately ; and at the first throwing in of his net
he caught four such fishes, and brought them
presently to the sultan, who was so much
the more rejoiced at it, as he did not expect
them so soon ; and ordered him other four
hxmdred pieces of gold. As soon as the
sultan had the fish, he ordered them to be
carried into the closet, with all that was ne-
cessary for frying them ; and, having shut
himself up there with the vizier, the minister
gutted them, put them in the pan upon the
fire, and when they were fried on one side,
turned them upon the other. Then the wall
of the closet opened; but instead of the young
lady, there came out a black, in the habit
of a slave, and of a gigantic stature, with a
great green baton in his hand. He advanced
tow.wds the pan, and, touching one of the
fishes with his baton, said to it, with a ter-
rible voice, "Fish, art thou in thy duty?"
At these words, the fishes raised up their
heads, and answered, " Yes, yes, we are ; if
you reckon, we reckon ; if you pay your
debts, we pay ours ; if you fly, we over-
come, and are content."
The fishes had no sooner finished these
words, but the black threw the pan into the
middle of the closet, and reduced the fishes
to a coal. Having done this, he retired
fiercely, and entering again into the hole of
the wall, it shut, and appeared just as it did
before.
■I
30
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
"After what I have seen," says thcsiUtan
to the vizier, " it will uotbe possible forme
to be easy in my mind. These fish, without
doubt, signify something extraordinary, in
which I have a mind to be satislied." Ho
sent for the fisherman, and when he came,
said to him, " Fisherman, the iishes you
have brought us make me very uneasy ; where
did you catch them?" " Sir," answers he,
" I fished for them in a pond situated be-
twixt four hiUs, beyond the mountain that
we see from hence." " Knowest thou not
that pond ?" says tlie sultan to the vizier.
"No, sir," replies the vizier, "I never so
much us heard of it ; and yet it is not sixty
years since I hunted beyond that mountain
and thereabouts." The sultan asked the
fisherman how far the jwnd might be from
the palace ? The fisherman answered, " It
was not above three hours' journey." Ui)OU
this assurance, and there being day enough
beforehand, the sultan commanded all his
court to take horse, and the fisherman served
them for a guide. They all ascended the
mountain, and at the foot of it they saw, to
their great surjirise, a vast plain that nobody
had observed till then ; and at last they
came to the jwnd, which they found actually
to be situated betwixt four hills, as the
fisherman had said. The water of it was so
transparent, that they observed all the fishes
to be like those which the fisherman liad
brought to the palace.
The sultan stayed upon the bank of the
pond, and, after beholding the fishes with
admiration, he demanded of his emirs and
all his courtiers if it was' possible they hod
never seen this pond, which was within so
little a way of the town. They all answered
that they had never so much as heard of
it.
"Since you all agree," says he, "that
you never heard of it, and as T am no less
astonished than you are at this novelty, I
am resolved not to return to my palace till
I know how this pond came here, and why
all the fish in it are of four colours. " Hav-
ing spoke thus, he ordered his court to en-
camp ; and immediately his pavihon, and
the tents of his household, were planted
upon the banks of the pond.
When night came, the siUtan retired under
his pavilion, and spoke to the grand vizier
by himself thus : — " Vizier, my mind is very
uneasy: this pond transported hither, the
black that appeared to us in my closet, and
the fishes that we heard speak, all this does
80 much excite my curiosity, that I cannot
resist the impatient desire which I have to
be satisfied in it. To this end, I am re-
solved to withdraw alone from the camp,
and I order you to keep my absence secret ;
stay in my pavilion, and to-morrow morn-
ing, when the emirs and courtiers come to
attend my levee, send them away, and tell
them that I am somewhat indisposed, and
have a mind to be alone ; and the following
day tell them the same thing, till I return."
The grand vizier said several things to
divert the sultan from this design : he repre-
sented to him the danger to which ho might
be exposed, and that all his labour might
perhaps be in vain; but it was to no pur-
pose, the sultan was resolved on it, and
would go. Ho put on a suit fit for walking,
and took his scimitar; and as soon oa he
saw that all was quiet in the camp, he went
out alone, and went over one of the hiUs
without much difficulty. He found the de-
scent still more cosy, and when he came to
the plain, walked on till the 8un arose, and
then he saw before him, at a considerable
distance, a great building. Ho rejoiced at
the sight, in hopes to be informed there of
what he wanted to know. When he came
near, he found it was a magnificent palace,
or rather a very strong castle, of fine black
polished marble, and covered with fine steel,
as smooth as a looking-glass. Being highly
pleased that he had so speedily met with
something worthy his curiosity, he stopped
before the front of the castle, and considered
it with attention.
He afterwards came up to the gate, which
had two leaves, one of them open ; though
he might have entered when h' would, yet
he thought it best to knock. He knocked,
at first softly, and waited for some time ;
seeing nobody, and supposing they had not
heard him, he knocked harder the second
time, but neither seeing nor hearing any-
body, he knocked again and again, but
nobody appearing, it surimsed him ex-
tremely ; for he could not think that a castle
in so good repair was without inhabitants.
' ' If there be nobody in it, " gays he to himself,
"I have nothing to fear ; and if there be, I
have wherewith to defend myself."
At lost he entered, and when he came
within the jiorch, he cried, " Is there no-
body here to receive a stranger, who comes
in for some refreshment an he passes by?"
He repeated the same two or tiiree times ;
but though he spoke very high, nobody
answered. The silence increased his aston-
ishment : he came into a very spacious
court, and looking on every side, to see if he
could perceive anybody, he saw no living
thing. — But, sir, says Scheherazade, day
appears, and I must stop.
Ah ! sister, says Dinorzade, you break
off at the very best of the story. — It is
true, answered the sultaness; but, sister,
you see, I am forced to do bo. If my lord
the BiUtan x)leases, you may hear the rest
to-morrow. Schahriar agreed to this, not
so much lo please Dinarzade, aa to satisfy
his own curiosity, being impatient to know
what adventure the prince met with in the
castle.
1:
I
THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE.
31
The Twenty-First Night.
DiNAKZASE, to make amends for Iter neglect
the night before, never closed her eyes, and
when she thought it was time awaked the
sultaness, saying to her, My dear sister,
pray give us an account of what happened
in the fine castle where you left us yesterday.
Scheherazade forthwith resumed her story,
and addrcHsing herself to Schahriar, said, Sir,
the sultan perceiving nobotly in the court,
entered the great halls, which were hung
with silk tapestry, the alcoves, and sofas
were covered with stuffs of Mecca, and the
porches with the richest stuffs of India,
mixed with gold and silver. He came after-
wards into an oilniircble saloon, in the mid-
dle of which there was a great fountain,
with a lion of maflsy gold at each corner :
water issued from tlie mouths of the four
lions, and this water, aa it fell, formed tlia-
monds and pearls, that very well answered
a jet of water, which, springing from the
middle of the fountain, rose as high almost
as the bottom of a. cupola painted after the
Arabian manner.
The castle, on three sides, was encom-
passed by a garden, with flower-pots, water-
works, groves, and a thousand other fine
things concurring to embellish it ; and to
complete the beauty of the place, an infinite
number of birds filled the air with their har-
monious notes, and always stayed there, nets
being spread over the trees, and fastened to
the palace to keep them in. The sultan
walked a long time from apartment to apart-
ment, where he found everything very grand
and magnificent. Being tired with walking,
he sat down in an open closet, which had a
view over the garden, and there reflecting
upon what he had already seen, and then
saw, all of a sudden he heard the voice of
one complaining, accompanied with lament-
able cries. He listened with attention, and
heard distinctly these sad words : " O For-
tune ! thou who wouldest not suffer me
longer to enjoy a happy lot, and hast made
me the most unfortimate man in the world,
forbear to persecute me, and by a speedy
death put an end to my sorrows. Alas ! is
it possible that I am still alive, after so
many torments as I have suffered ?"
The sultan being affected with these piti-
ful complaints, rose up, and made toward
the place where he heard the voice ; and
when he came to the gate of a great hall, he
opened it, and saw a handsome young man
richly habited, set upon a throne raised a
little above the ground. Melancholy was
painted on his looks. The sultan drew near,
and saluted him ; the young man returned
him his salute, by a low bow with his head ;
but not being ab'e to rise up, he said to the
sultan, " My lord, I am very well satisfied
that you deserve I should rise up to receive
you, and do you all possible honour; but I
am hindered from doing so, by a very sad
reason, and therefore hope you will not take
it ill" "My lord," replies the sultan, "I
am very much obliged to you for having so
good an opinion of me : as to the reason of
your not rising, whatever your apology be, I
heartily accei)t it. Being drawn hither by
your comjilaiuts, and afflicted by your grief,
I come to ofler you my help ; would to God
that it lay in my power to ease you of your
trouble ; I would do my utmost to effect it.
I flatter myself that you would willingly tell
me the history of your misfortunes ; but
I)ray tell me first the meaning of the pond
near the palace, where the tishes are of four
colours? what this castle is? how you came
to be here ? and why you are alone ? "
Instead of answering these questions, the
young man Ixjgan to weep bitterly. " How
inconstant is Fortune ! " cried he : " she
takes pleasure to pull down those she had
raised uj). Where are they who enjoy
quietly the happiness which they hold of
her, and whose day is always clear and
serene ?"
The sidtan, moved with compassion to see
him in that condition, prayed him forthwith
to tell him the cause of his excessive grief.
"Alas! my lord," replies the young man,
"how is it possible but I should grieve,
and my eyes be inexhaustible fountains of
tears ?" At these words, lifting up >ii»
gown, he shewed the sultan thai< i>c was a
man only from the head to the girdle, and
that the other half of his body was black
marble. — Here Scheherazade broke oft', and
told the sultan that day appeared.
Schahriar was so much charmed with the
story, and became so much in love with
Scheherazade, that he resolved to let her
live a month. He rose, however, as usual,
without acquainting her with his resolution.
The Twenty-Second Night.
DiNAEZABE was 80 impatient to hear out tho
story, that she called her sister next morn-
ing sooner than usual, and said to her,
Sister, pray continue the wonderful story
you began, but could not make an end of,
yesterday morning. — I agree to it, replies
the sultaness ; hearken then.
You may easily imagine, continued she,
that the sultan was strangely surprised
when he saw the deplorable condition of the
young man. "That which you shew me,"
says he, "while it fills me with horror, ex-
cites my curiosity, so that I am impatient to
hear your history, which, no doubt, is very
extraordinary, and I am })ersuaded that the
pond and the fishes make some part of it ;
•^mmr
'mmm^
32
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
therefore I conjure you to tell it mn. Yon
will find some comfort in it, Rince it i.i cer-
tain that unfortunate people will find some
sort of ease in telling tlieir misfortunes." "I
will not refuse you this satisf notion," re-
plies the young man, " though I cannot do
it without renewing my grief. But I give
you notice beforehand to prepare your ears,
your mind, and even your eyes, for things
which suqiass all that the most extraordi-
nary imagination can conceive."
THE HISTOEY OP THE VOUNO KINO OP THE
BLACK ISLES.
You must know, my lord, (continued he,)
that my father, who was called Mahmoud,
was king of this country. This is the king-
dom of the Black Isles, which takes its name
from the four little neighbouring mountains;
for those mountains were formerly isles : the
capital, where the king my father had his
residence, was where that pond you now sec
is. The sequel of my history will inform
you of all those changes.
The king my father died when he was
seventy years of age : I had no sooner suc-
ceeded him, but I married, and the lady I
chose to share the royal dignity with me
was my cousin. I had all the reason ima-
ginable to be satisfied in her love to me ;
and, for my i)nrt, I had so much tenderness
for her, that nothing was comparable to the
good understanding lietwixt us, which lasted
five years, at the end of which time I per-
ceived the queen, my cousin, had no more
delight in me.
One day, wkile she was at the bath, I
found myself inclined to sleep after dinner,
and lay down upon a sofa. Two of her
ladies, who were then in my chamber, came
and sat down, one at my heatl, and the other
at my feet, with fans in their hands to mo-
derate the heat, and to hinder the flies from
troubling me in my sleep. They thought I
was fast, and spoke very low ; but I only
r^hut my eyes, and heard every word they
said.
One of them says to the other, " Is not
the (^ueen much in the wrong, not to love
such an amiable prince as this?" "Cer-
tainly," replies the other ; "for my part, I
do not understand it ; and I know not why
she goes out every night, and leaves him
alone ! Is it possible that he doe.s not per-
ceive it?" "Alas!" says the first, "how
would you have him perceive it ? She
mixes every evening in his drink the juice
of a certain herb, which makes him sleep so
sound all night, that slie has time to go
where she pleases ; and as day begins to
appear, she comes and lies down by him
again, and wakes him by the smeU of some-
thing she puts under his nose."
You may guess, my lord, how much I was
surprised at this conversation, and with
what sentiments it inspired me ; yet, what-
ever emotion it excited in mo, I had comro md
enough over myself to dissemble, and feig led
to awoke without having heard one word of
it
The queen returned from the bath, we
suppe<l together, and before we went to bed,
she with her own hand presented me with a
cup full of such water as I was accustomed
to drink ; but instead of putting it into my
mouth, I went to a window that was oi)en,
and threw out the water so quickly, that
she did not perceive it, and I put the cup
again into her hands, to persuade her that I
had drank it.
We went to bed together, and soon after,
believing that I was asleep, though I was
not, she got up with so little precaution
that she said so loud that I could hear it
distinctly, "Sleep, and may you never wake
again ! " She dressed herself speedily, and
went out of the chamber. — As Scheherazade
simke these words, she saw day appear, and
stopped.
Dinarzade had heard her sister with a
great deal of pleasure, and Schahriar thought
the history of the king of the Black Isles so
worthy of his curiosity that he rose up full
of impatience for the rest of it.
The Twenty-Third Night.
Ay hour before day, Dinarzade, being awake,
failed not to call u^ran the sultancss, and
said, Pray, dear sister, go on with the
history of the young king of the four Black
Islands. Scheherazade, calling to mind
where she had left off, resumed the story
thus : —
As soon as the queen my wife went out,
continucrl the king of the Black Islands, I
got up, dressed me in haste, took my scimi-
tar, and followed her so quick, that I soon
heard the sound of her feet before me, and
then walked softly after her, for fear of
being heard. She passed through several
gates, which opened upon her pronouncing
some magical words ; and the last she opened
was that of the garden, which she entered.
I stopped at that gate, that she might not
perceive me as she crossed a plat, and look-
ing after her as far as the darkness of the
night permitted, I perceived that she entered
a little wood, whose walks were guardetl by
thick palisades. I went tliither by another
way, and slipping behind the palisades of
a long walk, I saw her walking there with
a man.
I was very attentive to their discourse,
and heard her say thus to her gallant : " I do
not deserve to be upbraided by you for want
of diligence ; you know very well what hin-
"MM*
•JtAt
I
THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLES.
33
ders me ; but if all the tctkcng of love that
I have iilreoily given you bo not enough, 1
am reatly to give you greater : you need but
command mo, you know ray jiower. I will,
if ycu desire it, before sunrising, change
this great city and lliis linu palace into
frightful ruins, which shall bo inhabited by
notjiing but wolves, owls, and ravens. If
you wish mo to transport all tho stones of
those walls so solidly built beyond Mount
Caucasus, and out of tho bounds of the
habitable world, speak but the word, and all
those places shall undergo a change."
Afl the rjucen linished these wordH, her
gallant and she came to tho end of tho walk,
turned to enter another, and passed before
me. I had already drawn my scimitar, and
her gallant being next me, I struck him in
the neck, and made him fall to the ground.
I thought I had killed him, and therefore
retired speedily, without making myself
known to tho queen, whom I chose to spai'e,
because she was my kinswoman.
The blow I had given her gallant was
mortal ; but she preserved his life by the
force of her enchantments ; in such a man-
ner, however, that he could not be said to be
either dead or alive. As I crossed the gar-
den to return to the palace, I heard the
queen cry out lamentably ; and judging by
that how much she was grieved, I was
pleased that I had spared her life.
When I returned to her apartment, I
went to bed, and being satisfied with having
punished the villain that did me the injury,
I went to sleep ; and when I awaked next
morning, found the queen lying by mo; —
Scheherazade was obhged to stop here, be-
cause she saw day.
U heaven! sister, saya Diuarzadc, how
it troubles n»e that you can say no more.
— Sister, replies tho sultaness, you ought
to have awaked mo more early ; it is your
faidt. — I will make amends next night,
replies Dinarzade, for T doubt not but tho
sultan will be as willing to hear out tho
story as I am ; and I hope he will bo so good
as to let you live one day more.
The Twenty-Fourth Night.
DiNARZADE was actually as good as her
word. 8he called the sultaness very early,
saying, Dear sister, if you bo not asleep,
pray tini.sh the .igreoiible history of the king
of the Black Isles ; I am ready to die with
impatience to know how he came to be
changed into marble. — You shall hear it,
replies Scheherazade, if the sultan will give
me leave.
I found the ([ueen lying by me, (says tho
king of the Black Islands :) I cannot tell
you whether she slept or not ; but 1 got up
without making any noise, and went to my
closet, where I mado an end of dressing my-
self. I afterwards wont and held my council,
and at my return the queen, clad in mourn-
ing, her hair hanging about her eyes, and
part of it torn oil', presented herself before
me, and said : " Sir, I come to beg your
majesty not to be suritrised to see me in
this condition ; three afllicting pieces of
news 1 have just now received all at jnce
are the cause of my heavy grief, of which
the tokens you see are but very faint ex-
pressions." "Alas! what is that news,
madam ? " said I. " The death of the queen
my dear mother," answered she; "thatof the
king my father, killed in battle ; and that of
one of my brothers, who is also fallen down
a precipice."
I was not ill-pleased that she made use
of this pretext to hide the true cause of her
grief, and I thought she had not suspected
me of having killed her gallant. "Madam,"
says I, "I am so far from blaming your
grief, that I assure you I take my share in
it. I should very much wonder if you were
insensible ■ of so great a loss : mourn on ;
your tears are so many proofs of your good
nature ; I hope, however, that time and
reason will moderate your grief."
She retired into her apartment, where,
giving herself whoUy up to sorrow, she
spent a whole year in mourning and afflict-
ing herself. At the end of that time, she
begged leave of me to build a burying-place
for herself, within the bounds of the'p^ace,
where she would continue, she told me, to
the end of her days : I agreed to it, and she
r
34
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
hiiilt A stately ]iulace, wiMi n cupola, that
iriny \w fici'ii fniii hiMico, ami ahc callt'il it
tlu! I'uloou of TuarM. When it wax liiiisliud,
Hho oaiisoil her gallant to \m hroiight thithrr
from thu place whithur she had caiiacd liini
to Im! carried the Haiiiu night that I woundvd
him : she had hindered hia dyin>; by a
drink rIii' gave him, and carried t<> him her-
Hclf every day after he came to the I'ulaue
of Tears.
Yi^t, with all her enchantments, she could
not cure the wretch ; lie was not only uii-
ahle to walk and to help himself, hut had
also lost the use of his Hpceeli, and gave no
sign of life, but by his looks. Though the
queen had no other consolation but to Ree
him, and to say to him all that her foolish
passion could ins]>ire, yet every day she
made him two lonj^ visits. [ was very well
informed of all this, but i)retended to know
nothing of it.
One day I went o\it of curiosity to the
Palace of Tears, to see how the j)rinee3s
employed her.self; and going to a ]>laco
where she could not see mo, I heard lier
speak thus to her gallant : " T am atllicted
to the highest degree to see you in this con-
dition ; I am as Bcuaiblc as yourself of the
tormenting pain you endure; but, dear soul,
I always speak tc you, and you do not
answer me. How .ong will you be silent !
Speak only one word. Alas ! the sweetest
moments ol my life are those I spend here
in partaking of your grief. I cannot live
at a distance from you, and would ))refer
the pleasure of always seeing you to the
empire of the universe."
At these words, which were several times
interrupted by her sighs and sobs, 1 lost all
patience ; and discovering myself, came up
to her and said, "Madam, you have mourned
enough, it is time to give over this sorrow,
which dishonours lis both ; you have too
much forgotten what you owe to me and to
yourself." " 8ir," said she, " if you have any
kindness or complaisance left for me, I be-
seech you to put no restraint upon me ; allow
me to give myself up to mortal grief, which
it is impossible for time to lessen. "
When I saw that my discourse, instead
of bringing her to her duty, served only to
increase her rage, I gave over and retired.
She continued eveiy day to visit her gallant,
and for two whole years gave herself up to
excessive grief.
I went a second time to the Palace of
Tears, while she was thero. I liid myself
again, and heard her speak thus to her gal-
lant : "It is now three years since you spoke
one word to me ; you return no answer to
the expressions of love I give you by my
discourse and groans. Is it from insensi-
bility or contempt? O tomb! hast thou
abated that excessive love he had for me ?
Hast thou shut those eyes that shewed me
so much love, and worn all my joy ? No,
no, I beliuv)! nothing of it. Tell mc rather,
by what mik-aidu thou Itecamcat the dcpoai-
tory of the rarest treasure that over was in
the worhl."
I must confess, my lord, I waa enraged
at those words ; for, in short, thia gallant
so much doted upon, this adored mortal,
was not such a one as you would imagine
him to have been. He was a black Indian,
a native of that country. I aay, I waa so
enraged at that discourse, that 1 diacovered
myself all of a sudden, and addreaaing the
tomb in my turn : "0 tomb! ''cried I, "why
dost not thou swallow up that monster in
nature, or rather, why dost not thou swallow
U]) the gallant anil his mistress?"
I had scarce finished these words, when
the rjueen, who sat by the black, rose up
like a fury. "Cruel man!" said she, "thou
art the cause of my grief ; do not you think
that I know it ? I have dissembled it but
too long ; it is thy barbarous hand which
hath brought the object of my love into this
lamentable condition ; and you are so hard-
hearted as to come and insult a despairing
lover." ''Yes," said I, in a rage, "it was I
who cha.stised that monster, according to his
desert ; I ought to have treated thee in the
same manner ; I repent now that I did not
do it ; tho«i hast abused my goodness too
long." As I spoke these words, I drew out
my scimitar, and lifted up my hand to
imnish her ; but she, steadfastly beholding
mc, .said with a jeering smile, "Moderate
tliy anger." At the same time hhe jiro-
nounced words I did not understand ; and
afterwards added, "By virtue of my en-
chantments, I command thee immediately
to become half marble and half man." Im-
mediately, my lord, I became such as you
sec mc already, a dead man among the
living, and a living man r.mong the dead. —
Hero Scheherazade, perceiving day, broke
oil" her story.
Upon which Dinarzadc says. Dear sister,
I am extremely obUged to the sidtau : H is
to his goodness I owe the extr.iovdiai iy
pleasure I have in your stories. — My lis-
tcr, replies the sultaness, if th( s-utan
will be so good as to suffer mo \.-> li i^e till
to-morrow, I shall tell you a thing that will
afford as much satisfaction as anything you
liave yet heard. Though Schal? uir had not
resolved to defer the death of Scheherazjide
a month longer, he could not have ordered
her to be put to death that day.
TliG Twenty-Piftli NigM.
Towards the end of the night, Dinarzade
cried. Sister, if I do not trespass too much
upon your complaisance, I would pray you
see--;
THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLES.
35
jiro-
and
.11 1 y
■is-
uian
etill
wiU
you
not
zade
ered
to tininh the hiiitory of thr kin^ of thv BUck
iMliindH. .Sola>h(>r»»ido having »WBke<l iiihui
liiT niMtfr'B cdl, jiri'iiari'd to give hor the
Hatiiifaction »hu rc(|uinMl, and \w%n.\\ thuR : —
The king, half niarliU- and half man,
continued hiH hlHtory to the Riiitan thun: —
After this cruel magician, unworthy of the
name of a <[ueen, liotl metamoi'jdioaed mo
thus, und brought me into thin hall, l>y an-
other enchantment 8he dcatroyed my capital,
which was very flourishing and full of people ;
she alxiliahed the hoiiseB, the |iul)lic placet)
and marketH, and reduced it to the pond and
desert Held, wliicli you may have seen. The
fishes of four colours in the ]iond are the
four sorts of j)eople, of diH'erent U'ligions,
who inhabited the place. The white are
the Mussulmans ; the red, the IVrsians, who
worshipiH-'d the fire ; the blue, the ChristianN ;
and the yellow, the Jews. The four little
hills woru the four islands that gave name
to this kingdom. I learned all this from the
magician, who, to add to riiy aflliction, toltl
me with her own mouth those ctlbcts of her
rage. But this is not all : her revenge voa
not satished with the destruction of my do-
minions, and the metamorphosis of my ])cr-
son : she comes every day, and gives me over
my naked shoulders a hundred blows with
an ox-i)izzle, which makes me all over blood :
.-vnd when she has done, covers me with a
coarse stuff of goat's hair, and throws over
it this robe of brocade that you see, not to
do me honour, but to mock me.
After this part of the discourse, the
young king could not withhold his tears;
and the sultan's heart was so pierced with
the relation that he could not speak one
word to comfort him. A little time after,
the young king, lifting up his eyes to heaven,
cried out, "Mighty Creator of all things, I
submit myself to Thy judgments, and to the
decrees of Thy providence : I endure my cala-
mities with patience, since it is Thy will it
should be so; Init I hope Thy infinite good-
ness will reward me for it."
The sidtan being much moved by the
recital of so strange a story, and animated
to avenge this xmfortunate jjrince, says to
him, "Tell me whither this perfidious magi-
cian retires, and where may be her unworthy
gallant, who is buried before his death."
" My lord," replies the prince, " her gallant,
as T have already told you, is in the Palace
of Tears, in a handsome tomb iii form of a
dome, and that palace joins to this castle on
the side of the gate. As to the magician, I
camiot precisely tell whither she retires, but
every day at simrising she goes to see her
gallant, after having executed her bloody
vengeance upon me, as I have told you ; and
you see I am not in a condition to defend
myself against so great a cruelty. She car-
ries him the drink with which she has
hitherto prevented his dying, and always
complainn uf hii never Biieaking to her since
ho waa wounded.
" Unfortunate prince," says the sultan,
" you can never enough bo lamented I No-
Ixnly can bo more sensibly touched with
your condition than I am; never did such
on extraordinary misfortune liefall any man,
and those who write your history will have
the advn'it, ge to relate something that sur-
])as8eH all l.lrat has ever yet been written.
There wants but the vengeance which is dtio
to you, and I will omit nothing that can ))e
done to j)rocure it."
While the sidtan discoursed upon the
subject with the young ])rincu, he told him
who ho wa!<, and for what end he entered
the castle, and thought on a way to avenge
him, which he communicated to him. They
agreed ui)on the measures they were to take
for effecting their design, but deferred the
execution of it till the next day. In the
meantime, the night being far spent, the
sultan took some rest; but the poor young
prince passed the night without sleep as
us\ial, having never slept since lie was en-
chanted ; but conceived some hopes of being
speedily delivered from his misery.
Next moriing the sultan got up Iieforc
day, and, in < rder to execute his design, he
hid in a comer his upper garment, which
would have encumbered him, and went to
the Palace of Tears. He found it enlight-
ened with an infinite number of tlamlieaux
of white wax, and a delicious scent issued
from several boxes of tine gold of admirable
workmanship, all ranged iu excellent order.
As soon as he saw the bed where the black
lay, he drew his scimitar, killed the wretch
without resistance, dragged his corpse into
the court of the castle, and threw it into a
well. After this he went and lay down in
the black's bed, took his scimitar with him
imder the counterpane, and waited there to
execute his design.
The magician arrived in a Uttle time. She
first went into the chamber where her hus-
band, the king of the B'*'"!: Idluuud, wfts,
stripped him, and lieat him with the ox-
pizzle in the most barbarous manner. The
poor prince filled the palace with his lamen-
tations to no purpose, and conjured her in
the most alfectiug manner to take pity oi'
him ; but the cruel woman would not give
over tUl she had given him a hundred blows.
" You had no compassion on ny lover," said
she, " and you are to expect none from me."
— Scheherazade, perceiving day, stopped, and
could go 110 further.
O heavens! says Dinarzade, sister, this
was a barbarous enchantress indeed 1 But
must we stop here ? Will you not tell
us whether she received the chastisement
she deserved? — My dear sister, says the
Bultaness, I desire nothing more than to
acquaint you with it to-morrow; but you
I ii
36
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
know that depends en tlie si'ltan'a pleasure.
After what Schahriar had heard, he was far
from any design to put Scheherazade to
death ; on the contrary, he said to himself,
I will not take away her life xintil she I. as
finished the surprising story, though it "Suuid
last for two mouths. It shall always be in
my power to keep the oath I have made.
The Twenty-Sixth Night.
As soon as Dinarzade thought it time to
call the sultancss, she said to her, How
much should I be obliged to you, dear sister,
if you would tell us what passed in the Pa-
lace of Tears ! Schahriar having signified
that he was as curious to know it as Dinar-
zade, the sultaness resumed the story of the
young enchanted prince as follows :—
Sir, after the enchantress had given the
king her husband a hundred blows with
the (ix-pizzle, she put on again his covering
of goat's hair, and his brocade gown over all.
She went afterwards to the Palace of Tears,
and as she entered the same, she renewed
her tears and lamentations ; then approach-
ing the bed where she thought her gallant
•was, "What cruelty," cries she, "was it to
disturb the satisfaction of so tender and
passionate a lover as I am ! O thou who
reproachest me that I am too inhuman when
I make thee feel the ellects of my resent-
ment ! — cruel prince! — does not thy bar-
barity surpass my vengeance ? Ah, traitor !
in attempting the life of the object which I
adore, hast thou not robbed me of mine?
Alas," says she, addressing herself to the
sidtan, while she thought she sjjoke to the
black, "my sun, my life, will you always be
silent? Are you resolved to let me die,
■without giving me the comfort of telling me
that you love me? My soul, speak one
word to me, at least, I conjure you."
The sultan, making as if he had been awoke
out of a deep sleep, and counterfeiting the
language of the blacks, answered the queen
with a grave tone, " There is no strength or
power but in God alone, who is almighty."
At these words the enchantress, who did not
expect them, gave a great shout to signify
her excessive joy. "My dear lord," cries
she, " do not I deceive myself ? Is it certain
that I hear you, and that you speak to me ? "
" Unhappy wretch !" said the sultan, " art
thou worthy that I should answer thy dis-
coxirse ? " " Alas ! " re])liea the queen, ' ' why-
do you reproach me thus ?" "The cries," re-
plied he, "the groans and tears of thy hus-
band, whom thou treatest every day with
so much indignity pnd barbarity, hinder me
from sleeping niglit and day. I should have
been cured long ago, and have recovered the
use of my speech, hadst thou disenchanted
him. That is the cause of my silence, which
you complain of." " Very well," says the
enchantress; "to pacify you, I am ready to
do what you will command me : would you
have me restore him as he was?" "Yes,"
replies the sultan; " make haste to set him
at liberty, that I be no more disturbed with
his cries."
The enchantress went immediately out of
the Palace of Tears : she took a cup of
water, and pronounced words over it, which
caused it to boil, as if it had been on tho
fire. She went afterwards to the hall, to
the young king her husband, and threw the
water upon him, saying, " If the Creator of
all things did form thee so as thou art at
present, or if He be angry with thee, do not
change : but if thou art in that condition
merely by virtue of my enchantments, re-
sume thy natural shape, and become what
thou wast before." She had scarce spoken
these words, when the prince, finding him-
self restored to his former condition, rose np
freely, with all imaginable joy, and returned
thanks to God. The enchantress then said
to him, " Get thee gone from this castle, and
never return here on pain of death ! " The
young king, yielding to necessity, went away
from the enchantress, without replying a
word, and retired to a remote place, v/here
ht patiently Jiwaited the success of the de-
sign which the sultan had so happily begun.
Meanwhile the enchantress returned to the
Palace of Tears ; and, supposing that she
still spoke to the black, says, " Dear lover,
I have done what you ordered ; let nothing
noT»- hinder you from givmg me that satis-
faction of v/hich I have been deprived so
long."
The sultan continued to counterfeit the
language of the blacks. " That which you
liave just now done," said he, " is not suffi-
cient to my cure. You have only eased me
of part of my disease ; you must cut it iip
by the roots." " My lovely black," rejjlies
she, " ,vhat do you mean by the roots ?"
" Unfortunate woman," replies the sultan,
" do not j'ou understand that I mean the
town, and its inhabitants, aid the four
islands, which thou hast destroyed by thy
enchantments. The fishes every night at
midnight raise their heads out of the pond,
and cry for vengeance against thee and me.
Tliis is the true cause of the delay of my
cure. Go speedily, restore things as they
were, and at thy return I will give thee my
hand, and thou shalt help me to rise."
The enchantress, filled with hopes from
these words, cried out in a transport of joy,
"My heart ! my sovl ! you shall soon be
restored to your heiJth, for I will imme-
diately do what you command me." Ac-
cordingly she went that moment; and
when she came to the brink of the pond,
she took a little water in her hand, and
'iiiiiiliiii
es from
oi joy,
oon be
inmie-
" Ac-
t; and
pond,
id, and
THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLES.
37
sprinkling it-
Here Scheherazade saw
day, and stopped.
Diuarzode says to the sidtaness. Sister,
I am much rejoiced to hear that the young
king of the four Black Islands was disen-
chanted, and I already consider the town
and the inhibitants as restored to their
former statf, ; but I long to know what
will becom'i of the enchantress. Have a
little pati'jnce, replies the sultaness ; you
shall have the satisfaction you desire to-
morrow, if the sultan my lord will con-
sent to it. Schahriar, having resolved on
this already, as was said before, rose up,
and went about his business.
The Twenty-Seventh Night.
At the usual hour, Dinarzade called upon
the sultaness thus : — Dear sister, pray tell
us what was the fate of the magician queen,
as you promised us. Upon which Schehera-
zade went on thus : — The enchantress had no
sooner sprinkled the water, and pronoimced
some words over the fishes and the pond,
but the city was immediately restored. The
fiahes became men, women, and children,
Mohammedans, Christians, Persians, or Jews,
freemen or slaves, as they were before ;
every one having recovered their natural
form. The houses and shops were imme-
diately filled with their inhabitants, who
found all things as they were before the en-
chantment. The sultan's numerous retinue,
who foimd themselves encamped in the
largest square, were astonished to see them-
selves in an instant in the middle of a large,
handsome, weU-peopled city.
To return to the enchantress. As soon as
she had effected this wonderfid change, she
returned with all diligence to the Palace of
Tears, that she might reap the fruits of it.
"My dear lord," cried slie, as she entered,
" I come to rejoice with you for the return
of your health. I have done all that you
required of me : then pray rise, and give me
your hand." " (Jome near," said the sidtan,
still counterfeiting the language of the
blacks. She did so, "You are not near
enough," replied he ; " come nearer." She
<il)ey2d. Then he rose up, and seized her
by the arm so suddenly, that she had not
time to discover who it was, and with a blow
of hie scimitar cut her in two, so that ono
half fell one way, and the other another.
Tliis done, he left the carcass upon the
place ; and going out of the Palace of Tears,
he went to seek the young king of the Black
Isles, who waited for him with great impa-
tience ; and when he found him, "Prince,"
said lie, embracing him, "rejoice; you have
nothing to fear now, your cruel enemy is dead,"
The young prince returned thanks to the
sidtan in such a manner as shewed that he
was thoroughly sensible of the kindness that
he had done him, and, in return, wished him
a long life and all happiness. " You may
henceforward," said the sultan, " dwell
peaceably in your capital, except you will
go to mine, which is ,so near, where you
shall be very welcome, and have as much
honour and respect shewn you as if you
were at home." "Potent monarch, to
whom I am so much indebted," replied the
king, "you think, then, that you are very
near your capital ?" " Yes," said the
sultan, " I know it ; it is not above four or
five hours' journey." " It will take you a
whole year's journey," said the prince. " 1
do believe, indeed, that you came hither
from your capital in the time you spoke of,
because mine was enchanted ; but since the
enchantment is taken off, things are changed :
however, this shall not prevent my following
you, were it to the utmost corners of the
earth. You are my deliverer ; and that I
may give you proofs of my acknowledging
this during my whole life, I am willing to
accompany you, and to leave my kingdom
without regret."
The sidtan was extremely surprised to
understand that he was so far from his
dominions, and could not imagine how it
could be. But the young king of the Tllaok
Isles convinced him beyond a possibUity of
doubt. Then the sultan replied, " It is no
matter ; the trouble of returning to my own
country is sufficiently recompensed l;y the
satisfaction of having obliged you, and by
acquiring you for a son : for since you will
do me the honour to accompany me, as I
have no child, I look upon you as such ;
and from this moment I api)oint you my
hair and successor. "
This discourse between the sidtan and
the king of the Black Island :< concluded
with the mo;>t affectionate rrrbraces; after
which the young pvir ,; w ■ lo' ally taken
up in making p'epa 'uionb .01 aM journey,
which were fii ished in three weeks' time, to
the great rr^^rct ' ■" r'.j court and subjects,
who agreed to -ecei' e at his hands one of
his nearest kind.-ed for tHeir king.
At last the sultai auc the young prince
began their journey with a hundretl camels
laden with inestiaiai le riches from the trea-
sury of the yomig king, followed by fifty
handsome gentlemen on horseback, perfectly
well mounted and dressed. They had a
very hapi)y journey ; and -when the sidtan,
who had sent couriers to give advice of iiL*
delay, and of the adventure which had occa- j
sioned it, oame near his capital, he prin-
cipal officers he had left there "iime to
receive him, and to assure him that h.s
Iqng absence had occasioned no aU'.iitioa
in nis empire. The inhabitants c*me ovt
also in great crowds, receiving him -,v.''h
38
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
K A
1 |!
acclamations, and made public rejoicings for
several days.
Next day after his arriyal, the sultan
gave all his courtiers a very ample account
of the events which, contrary to his expec-
tation, had detained him so long. Ho
acquainted them with his having adopted
the king of the four Black Islands, who was
willing to leave a great kingdom to accom-
pany and live with him ; auc'l, in short, in
reward of their loyalty, he made each of
them presents according to their rank.
As for th j fisherman, as he was the first
cause of the deliverance of thi3 young prince,
the sultan gave him a plentiful fortune, which
made him and his family happy the rest of
their days.
Here Scheherazade made an end of the
story of the Fisherman and 'the Genie. Di-
narzade signified that she had taken a great
deal of pleasure in it ; and Schahriar having
said the same thing, the sulianess told them
that she knew another w!luch was much
finer, and if the sultan would give her leave,
she would tell it them next morning, for
day began to appear. Schahriar, bethink-
ing himself that he had granted the sultaness
a month's reprieve, and beuig curious more-
over to know if this new story would be as
agreeable as she promised, got up, with a
desire to hear it next night.
The Twenty-Eighth Night.
DiNABZADE, according to custom, did not
forget to call the suit sess when it was
time. Madam, said si' e, I know not what
"•'4i'iii|''!5iri[i""
is the matter with me, but I know very
well that one of the stories which you
tell so agreeably would be a great relief
against that melancholy which eats me up.
Scheherazade, without answering her, began
immediately, and told the sultan the follow-
ing story : —
THE STORY OF THE THREE CALENDERS,* SONS
OF KINGS, AND O' THE FIVE LADIES OF
BAGDAD.
Sir, said she, in the reign of Caliph Ha-
roun Alraschid, there was at Bagdad, the
place of his residence, a porter, who, not-
withstanding his mean and laborious busi-
ness, was a fellow of wit and good humour.
One morning, as he was at the place where
he usually plied, with a great basket, wait-
ing for employment, a handsome young lady,
covered with a great muslin veil, accosted
him, and said, with a pleasant air, "Hark
ye, porter, take your basket, and follow me."
The porter, charmed with those few words,
pronounced in so agreeable a manner, took
his basket immediately, set it on his head,
and followed the lady, saying, "O happy
day ! day of good luck ! "
The lady stopped presently before a gate
that was shut, and knocked: a Christian,
with a venerable long white beard, opened
the gate, and she put money into his hand,
without speaking one word : but the Chris-
tian, who knew what she wanted, went in,
and in a little time after brought a large jug
of excellent wine. "Take this jug," said
the lady to the porter, "and put it in your
basket." This being done, she commanded
him to follow her ; and as she went on, the
porter said stiU, "O happy day! this is a
day of agreeable surprise and joy!"
The lady stopped at a fruit-shop, where
she bought several sorts of apples, apricots.
* A sort of Mobammudan moi.ks.
•diSU
THE THREE CALENDERS AND FIVE LADIES.
39
loots,
peaches, quinces, lemons, citrons, oranges,
myrtles, sweet basil, lilies, jessamine, and
some other sorts of iiowers and fragrant
plants; — she bade the porter put all into
his basket, and follow her. As she went by
a butcher's stall, she made him weigh her
twenty-tive pounds of his best meat, which
she ordered the porter to put also into his
basket ; at another shop she took capers,
tarragou, cucumbei-s, sassafras, and other
herbs, to be preserved in vinegar; at an-
other shop she bought pistachios, nuts, fil-
berts, almonds, '■■' inRJs of pine apples, and
such other fruitt> . and at another she bought
all sorts of confectionary. When the porter
had put all these things into his basket, and
perceived that it grew fidl, "My good lady,"
said he, "yo\i ought to have given me no-
tice that you had so much provision to carrj',
and then I would have got a horse, or rather
a camel, to have carried them ; for if you
buy ever so little more, I shall not be able
to carry it." '''■ •} lady .laughed at the fel-
low's pleac- '•'■''' .lAiour, and ordered him still
to follow ' ir,
Then she went to a druggist, where she
furnished herself v it!i all manner of sweet-
scented waters, cloves, musk, pepper, gin-
ger, and a great piece of ambergris, and
several other Indian spices. This quite
filled the porter's basket, and she ordered
him to follow her. They witlked till they
came to a magnificent house, whose front
was adorned with fine columns, and which
had a gate of ivory. There they stopped,
and the lady knocked softly. — Here Schehe-
razade, perceiving day, broke off.
I must own, sister, says Dinarzade, the
beginning of this story has a great deal
of curiosity; I fancy the sultun ■viU not
deprive himself of the pleasure .u (lesr-
ing the rest of it. And, indetd, r'o" ,!■* .,
was so far from ordering the su.'f'.aeii t' .us
put to death, that he longed v \ itier'Iy lor
Dixt night, to know what jr. ati u >. ; tine
aouse.
The Twenty-Ninth Night.
Dinarzade being awake before day, atl-
dressed the sultaness thus: Si?i,er, it you
be awake, I would pray you to continue the
history you began yesterday , and 8chf,he-
razade went on with it thus : —
While the young lady and the porter
stayed for the oi)ening of the gate, the porter
had a thousand thoughts : \st wond'. red that
such a tine lady should cone ab'>i«j. ^-. buy
provisions: he concluded ..uo uouid Lot be
a slave, her :;■> was too noble; and there-
fore he Vuoitght she mr.st needs be a woman
of f;'"..*lity. Just iis h j was about to a'jk her
!i ime questions u^ran that iieau, auotlfer lady
came to open the gate, and appeared to him
so beautifiU, that he was perfectly surprised,
or rather so much struck with her charms,
that he had like to have Int his basket fall,
for he had never seen any beauty that
equalled her.
The lady who brought the porter with
her, j>ereeiviiig his disorder, and what occa-
sioned it, diverted herself with it, and took
so much pleasure to examine his looks, that
she forgot the gate was opened. U[K)n this,
the beautiful lady said to her, "Pray, sister,
come in; what do you stay for? Do you
not see this poor man so heavily laden, that
he is scarcely able to stand under it? "
When she enteretl with the porter, the
lady who opened the gate shut it, and all
three, after having gone through a very fine
porch, came into a spacious court encom-
passed with an open gallery, which had a
communication with several apartments on
a floor, and extraordinarily magnificent.
There was at the farther end of the court a
sofa richly adorned, with a throne of amber
in the middle of it, supported by four col-
umns of ebony, enriched with diamonds and
pearls of an extraordinary size, and covered
with red satin embroidered with Indian gold
of ailmirable workmanship. In the middle
of the court there was a great fountain,
faced with white marble, and fidl of clear
water, which fell into it abundantly out of
the mouth of a lion of brass.
The porter, though heavy laden, could
not but admire the magnificence of this
house, and the excellent order that every-
thing was placed in ; but that which par-
ticiUarly captivated his attention was a
thirtl Wly, who seemed to be a greater
beauty than the second, and was seated
upon the throne just now mentioned. She
came down from it, as soon as she saw the
two former ladies, and advanced towards
tliem : he judged bj' the respect which the
others shewed her that she was the chief,
in which he was not mistaken. This lady
was called Zobeide, she who opened the
yate was called Safie, and Amine was the
name of her who went out to buy the pro*
visions.
Zobeide said to the two ladies, when she
came to them, " Sisters, do not you see that
this honest man is reatly to sink xmder his
burden ? Why do not you ease him of it ? "
Then Amine and Safie took the basket, the
one before and the other behind, and Zo-
beide also lent her hantl, and all three to-
gether set it on the ground ; then emjjtied
it ; and when they had done, the beautiful
Amine took out money, and paid the porter
liberally. — Daylight appeari ng, Scheherazade
was obliged to keep silence ; but Schahriar,
having a great desire to hear the rest of the
story, ordered the sultaness to go on with it
next night.
1;'^
■'\
40
THE ARABUN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
^ The Thirtietli Night.
Next morning JJinarzade, being awaked by
her impatience to hear the rest of the story,
said to the sultaness, For the sake of
heaven, sistei", if you be not asleep, give us
an account of what the ladies did with the
provisions brought by Amine. — You shall
quickly hear it, said Scheherazade, if you
listen to my story, which she resiuned as
follows : —
The porter, very well satisfied with the
money he had received, was to Jiave taken
up his basket, and be gone ; but he could
not tell how to think on it. Do what he
could, he foimd himself stopped by the
pleasure of seeing three such beauties, who
appeared to him equally charming ; for
Araine, having now laid aside her veU, was
as handsome as either of them. What sur-
prised him most was, that he saw no man
about the house, yet most of the provisions
he brought in, as the dry fruits, and the
several sorts of cakes and confections,
were fit chiefly for those who could drink
And make merry.
Zobeide thought at first that the porter
«taid only to take breath ; but perceiving
that he staid too long, " What do you
wait for ? " said she : " are you not well
«nough paid ? " And turning to Amine,
said, "Sister, give him something more,
that he may depart satisfied." " Madam,"
replied the porter, "it is not that which
keeps me, I am over and above paid ; I am
sensible that I am unmannerly to stay
longer than I ought, but I hope you will be
so good as to pardon me if I tell you that
1 am astouished to see that there is no man
with three ladies of such extraordinary
beauty ; and you know that a company of
women without men is as melancholy a
thing as a company of men without wome;^."
To this he added several other pleasant
tilings, to prove what he said, and did not
forget the Bagdad proverb, " That the table
is not completely furnished except there be
four in company : " and so concluded that
since they were but three they wanted a
fourth.
The ladies fell a-laughing at the porter's
discourse ; after which, Zobeide said to him
very gravely, "Friend, you are a little too
bold ; and though you do not deserve that
T shoidd enter into particulars with you,
yet I am willing to tell you that we are
three sisters, who do our business so secretly
that nobody knows anything of it. We
have too great reason to be cautious of i c-
quaintiug indiscreet persons with it ; and a
good author that we have read, says, • Keep
your secret, and do not reveal it to any-
body. He that reveals it is no longer
master of it. If your own breast cannot
keep your secret, how do you think that
another person will keep it ?' "
" My ladies," replied the porter, "by your
very air, I judged at first that you were
persons of extraordinary merit, and I con-
ceive that I am not mistaken ; though for-
tv.ne has not given me wealth enough to
raise me above my mean profession, yet I
have not failed to cidtivate my mind as
much as I could, by reading books of
science and history : and allow me, if you
X>lease, to tell you, that I have also read in
another author a maxim which I have al-
ways happily practised : ' We do not con-
ceal our secrets,' says he, ' but from such
persons as are known to all the world to
want discretion, and woidd abuse the con-
fidence we put in them ; but we make no
scruple to discover them to prudent persons,
because we knc 'hey can keep them.' A
secret with me x. ' sure as if it were in a
closet whose kev *■ and the door
sealed up."
Zobeide perceiving , ii tlie porter did
not want sense, but concviving he had a
mind to share in their treat, she replied to
him, smiling, " You know that we are
about to have a treat, and you know also
that we have been at a considerable expense,
and it is not just that you shoidd have
a share of it, without contributing towards
it. " The beautifid Safie seconded her sister,
and said to the jiorter, "Friend, have you
never heard that which is commonly said,
' Tf you bring anything with you, you shall
be welcome ; but if you bring nothing, you
must get you gone with nothing ?' "
The porter, notwithstanding his rhetoric,
must, in all probability, have retired in con-
fusion, if Amine had not taken his part,
and said to Zobeide and Safie, " My dearest
sisters, I conjure you to let nim stay with
us; I need not teU you thrt lie will divert
us — you see well enough that he is capable
of that : I must needs tell you that unless
he had been very wilUng, as well as nimble,
and hardy enough to follow me, I could not
have done so much business in so little time ;
besides, should I repeat to you all the oblig-
ing expressions he used to me by the way,
you would not be surprised at my protect-
ing him."
At thes? words of Amine, the porter was
so much transported with joy that he fell
on his knees, kissed the ground at the feet
of that charming person, and raising him-
self uj), said, "Most beautiful lady, you
began my good fortune to-day, and now you
complete it by this generous action ; I can-
not enough testify my acknowledgment for
it. As to what remains, my ladies," said
he, addressing himself to all three sisters,
"since you dome so great honour, do not
think that I will abuse it, or look upon my-
self as a person that deserves it. No, I
«?»
(*
■MMRMwaa
THE THREE CALENDERS AND FIVE LADIES.
41
f^%
shall always look upon myself as one of your
most humble slaves." 'WTien he had spoken
these wokIs, he would have returned the
money he had received, but the grave Zo-
beide ordered him to keep it. "That which
we have once given," said she, "to reward
those who have served us we never take
again." — Here day began to dawn, which
put Scheherazade to silence.
Dinarzade, who listened with a great deal
of attention, was much troubled at it, but
had this comfort, however, that the sultan,
who was as curious as she to know what
passed betwixt the three beautifid ladies
and the porter, ordered the sidtaness to go
on with the rest of the story next night, and
rose up to go about his business.
The Thirty-First Night.
The next morning Dinarzade did not fail to
awaken the sultaness at the ordinary time,
and said. Dear sister, if you are not
asleep, I woidd pray you (until break of
day, which is near at hand) to go on with
that agreeable story you began. Upon
which, Scheherazade addressed the sultan
thus : Sir, with your leave, I am willing
to satisfy my sister's curiosity ; and at the
same time went on with the story of the
Three Calenders.
Zobeide would not take back the money
from the porter, but said, " My friend, in
consehting that you stay with us, I must
forewarn you that it is not only on con-
dition that you keej) secret what we have
required you; but also that you observe
exactly the rules of good manners and
civility." Tn the meantime, the charming
Amine put off the apparel she went abroad
with, put on her night-gown, that she might
be more easy, and covered the table, which
ahe furnished with several sorts of meat, and
upon a sideboard she set bottles of wine and
cups of gold. Soon after the ladies took
their places, and made the porter sit down
by them, who Avas overjoyed to see himself
at a table with three such admirable beau-
ties. After they had eaten a little. Amine,
who sat next the sideboard, took up a bottle
and a cup, filled out wine and drank first
herself, according to the custom of the
Arabians ; then she filled the cup to her
sisters, who drank in course as they sat ; and
at last she filled it the fourth time to the
pirter, who, as he received it, kissed
A mine's hand ; and before he drank, sung
a song to this purpose : — That as the wind
brijigs along with it the sweet scents of the
perfumed places through which it passes, so
the wine he was going to drink, coming from
her fair hands, received a more exquisite
taste than what it had «f its own nature.
This song pleased the ladies so much, that
each of them sung another in their turn.
In short, they were very merry all dinner-
time, which lasted a long while, and nothing
was wanting that coiild make it agreeable.
The day being almost spent, Safie spoke in
the name of the three ladies, and said to the
porter, " Arise, and be gone ; it is time for
you to depart." But the porter, not willing
to leave so good company, cried: "Alas!
ladies, whither do you command me to go
in the condition I am in? I am quite be-
side myself by what I have seen since I
came hither ; and having also drunk above
my usual quantity, I shall never find the way
home : allow me this ni^ht to repose in
any place where you plt^e, for no less time
is necessary for me to recover myself ; but
go when I will, I shall leave the best part
of myself behind me."
Amine pleaded the second time for the
porter, Sivying, " Sisters, he is in the right ;
I am pleased with the request, he having
already diverted us so well ; and, if you
will take my advice, or if you love me as
much as I think you do, let us keep him, to
pass away the remaining part of the night."
"Sister, "answered Zobeide, "we can refuse
you nothing ;" and then turning to the por-
ter, said, "We are willing once more to
grant your request, but upon this new con-
dition, that whatever we do in your presence
relating to ourselves or anything else, take
heed you do not once open your mouth to
ask the reason of it; for if you ask ques-
tions about that which does not belong to
you, you may chance to know that which
will be no way pleasing to you; beware,
therefore, and do not be too curious to dive
into the motives of our actions."
" Madam," repUed the porter, " I promise
to observe this condition with such exact-
ness, that you shall have no cause to reproach
me With breaking it, and far less to punish
my indiscretion : my tongue shall be immov-
able on this occasion, and my eye like a
looking-glass, which retains nothing of the
object that is set before it." " And to shew
you," said Zobeide, with a serious counte-
nance, " that what we demand of you is not
a new thing among us, rise up, and read
what is written over our gate on the in-
side."
The porter went thither, and read these
words, written in large characters of gold :
"He who speaks of things that do not con-
cern him shall hear of things that wiU not
please him." Eeturning again to the three
sisters, " Ladies," said he, " I give you my
oath that you shall never hear me speak
anything wliich does not concern me, or
wherein you may have any concern."
This agreement being made. Amine
brought in supper, and after the room was
set round with tapers, that were mixed
r
!•-
42
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
with aloes and ambergris, which gave a
most agreeable scent, as well as a delicate
light, she sat down at table with her sisters
and the porter. They began again to eat
and drink, sing, and repeat verses. The
ladies took pleasure to fuddle the porter,
under pretext of causing him to drink their
healths, and abundance of witty sentences
passed on both sides. In short, as they were
all in the besfc humour in the world, they
heard a knocking at the gate. — Schehera-
zade was obliged to stop here, because she
observed daylight appearing.
The sultan, not doubting the sequel of
this history deserved to be heard, put it o£f
till the day following, and so arose.
The Thirty-Second Night.
The next night being almost at an end,
Dinarzade called to the sultaness : For
heaven's sake, sister, if you are awake, let
me pray you to continue the story of the
three fair ladies : I am very impatient till I
know who it was that knocked at their gate.
— You shall hear it immediately, said she ;
I am sure that what I am now going
to relate is worthy of my lord the sultan's
attention : —
When the ladies, said she, heard the
knocking, they all three got up to open the
gate ; but Satie, to whom this oiSce parti-
cularly belonged, was the nimblest; which
her other two sisters perceiving, sat down
till she came back, to acquaint them who it
could be that had any business with them so
late. Safie re-
turning, said,
" Sisters, we
have here a
very fine op-
portunity to
pass a good
part of the
night with
much satisfac-
tion, and if
you be of the
same mind
with me, we
shall not let
it shp. There
are three ca-
lenders at our
gate, at least
they appear to
be such by
their habit ;
but that which
you will most
admire is, they
are all three blind of the rigLt eye, and
have their heads, beards, and eyebrows
shaved, and, as they say, are but just
come to Bagdad, where they never were
before ; and it being night, and not know-
ing where to find any lodging, they hap-
pened by chance to knock at this gate, and
pray us, for the love of heaven, to have
compassion on them, and receive them into
the house : they care not what place we
put them in, provided they may be under
shelter ; they woidd be satisfied with a sta-
ble : they are yoimg and handsome enough,
and seem also to be men of good sense ; but
I cannot without laughing think of their
pleasant and uniform figure." Herei Satie
fell a-laughing so heartily, that it put the
two sisters and the porter into the same
mood. "My dear sisters," said she, "are
you content that they come in ? it is impos-
sible but with such persons as T have already
described them to be we shall finish the
day better than we began it'; they will afford
us diversion enough, and put us to no charge,
because they desire shelter only for this
night, and resolve to leave us as soon as day
appears."
Zobeide and Ai: ine made some difficulty
to grant Safie's request, for reasons they
well knew • bi't she having so great a desire
to obtain this fa c, th' ji. Jd not refuse
her. "Go, theu," jiiid Z"bcide, "and bring
them in ; but do not forget to acquaint them
that they must not speak of anything which
does nob concern them, and cause them to
read what is written over the gate." Safie
ran out with a great defd of joy, and in a
little time after returned with the three
calenders in her company.
At their entrance they made a profound
bow to the ladies, who rose up to receive
them, told them most obligingly that they
were very welcome, that they were glad to
have met Mith an opportunity to oblige
them, and to contribute towards relievmg
them from the fatigue of their journey,
and at last invited them to sit down with
them.
The magnificence of the place, and the
civility they received in it, made the calen-
ders conceive a great idea of these hand-
some ladies ; but, before they sat down,
having by chance cast their eyes upon the
porter, whom they saw clatl almost like one
of those other calenders with whom they are
in controvei-sy about several points of disci-
pline, because they never shave their beards
nor eyebrows, one of them said, " Look here,
I believe we have got one of our revolted
Arabian brethren."
The porter being half asleep, and having
his head warm with wine, was affronted
at these words, and with a fierce look, with-
out stirring from his place, answered, " Sit
you down, and do not meddle with what
does not concern you. Have you not read
the inscription over the gate 1 Do not pre-
THE THREE CALENDERS AND FIVE LADIES.
43
tend to make people live after your faahiou,
but follow ours."
" iloneat man," said the calender, "do
not put yourself in a passion ; we should be
very sorry to give you the least occasion ; on
the contrary, we are ready to receive your
commands." Upon which, to put an end to
the dispute, the ladies interposed, and paci-
fied them. When the calenders sat down at
table, the ladies served them with meat ; and
Safie, being most pleased with them, did not
let them want for drink.
Scheherazade 8top2>ed her discourse, be-
cause she saw day appear, and the sultan
got up to follow his affairs, and promised to
hear the rest of the story next day ; for he
had a great desire to know why those three
calenders were blind, and all three of the
same eye.
\
The Thirty-Third Night.
An hour before day, Dinarzade being awake,
said to the sultaness. Dear sister, pray let
me know what passed between the ladies
and the calenders. — ^With aU my heart,
replied Scheherazade, and continued her
story in the manner following : —
After the calenders hod eaten and drank
liberally, they signified to the ladies that
they had a great desire to entertain them
with a concert of music, if they had any in-
struments in the house, and would cause
them to be brought : they willingly accepted
the proffer, and fair S«Uie going to fetch
them, returned again in a moment, and pre-
sented them with a flute of her own country
fashion, another of the Fersiau sort, and a
tabor. Each man took the instrument he
liked, and aU three together began to play a
tune. The ladies, who knew the words of a
merry song that suited the air, joined the
concert with their voices ; but the words of
the song made them now and then stop, and
fall into excessive laughter.
In the height of this diversion, and when
the company were in tlie midst of their jol-
lity, somebody knocked at the gate. Safie
left off singing, and went to see who it was.
— But, sir, said Scheherazade to the sul-
tan, it is fit your majestj' should know why
this knocking happened so late at the ladies'
house. Now the reason was this : The Caliph
Haroun Alraschid was accustomed to wajk
abroad in disguise very often by night, that
he might see with liis own eyp« if every-
thing was quiet in the city, and that no dis-
orders were committed in it.
This night the caliph went out pretty
early on hia rambles, accompanied by Gia-
fai", his grand vizier, and Mesrour, the chief
of the eunuchs of his palace, all disguised in
merchants' habits ; and passing through the
street where the three ladies dwelt, he heard
the sound of the music and great fits of
laughter ; uj)on which he commanded the
vizier to knock, because he would go in, to
know the reason of that jollity. The vizier
told him in vain that it was some women
merry-making; that without question their
heiids were warm with wine, and that it
would not be proper he should expose him-
self to be affronted by them : besides, it was
not yet an unlawful hour, and therefore he
ought not to disturb them in their mirth.
" No matter," said the caliph, " I command
you to knock." So it was the grand vizier
Giafar that knocked at the ladies' gate by
the caliph's order, because he himself woiUd
not be known. Safie opened the gate, and the
vizier perceiving, by the bght that she held
in her hand, that she was on incomparable
beauty, he acted his part very well, and
with a very low bow and respectful beha-
viour, told her, " Madam, we are three mer-
chants of Mossoul, who arrived about ten
days ago with rich merchandise, which we
have in a warehouse at a khan, or inn, where
we have also our lodging. We happened
this day to be with a merchant of the city,
who invited us to a treat at his house, where
we had a splendid entertainment : and the
wine having put us in humour, he sent for a
company of dancers. Night being come on,
and the music and dancers making a great
noise, the watch cam by in the meantime,
caused the gate to be ojjened, and some of
the company to be taken up ; but we had
the good fortune to escape by getting over
a wall. Now," said the vizier, "being
strangers, and somewli.at overcome with
wine, we are afraid of meeting another, and
perhaps the same watch, before we get home
to our khan, which lies a good way from
hence. Besides, when we come there, the
gates will be shut, and not opened till morn-
ing : wherefore, mailam, hearing, as we
passed by this way, the sound of music, we
supposed you were not yet going to rest, and
made bold to knock at your gate, to beg the
favour of lodging ourselves in the house till
morning ; and if you think us worthy of
your good comi>any, tve will endeavour to
contribute to your diversion to the best of
our power, to make some amends for the
interruption we have given you ; if not, we
only beg the favour of staying tliis night
under your porch."
Whilst Giafar held this discourse, fair Safie
had time to observe the vizier and his two
companions, who were said to be merchants
like himself, and told them that she was not
mistress of the house ; but if they would
have a minute's patience, she would return
with an answer.
Safie acquainted her sisters with the mat-
ter, who considered for some time what to
conclude upon ; but being naturally of a
good disposition, and having granted the
misxr^
r-
44
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
same favour to the three calenders, they at
last conBeotcd to let them in. — Scheherazade
intending to continue her story, saw day-
light api>ear, which made her break ofF; but
the quality of these new actors which the
sultauess had brought upon the stage ex-
cited the curiosity of Schahriar, who, looking
for some singular event, exx^ectcd the next
night with imjiaticnce.
The Thirty-Fourth Night.
DiNARZADE, being as curious as the sultan
to know what the arrival of the caliph at
the house of those three ladies might jiro-
<luce, did not forget to awaken the sultaness
very early next morning, and prayed her
earnestly to resume the story of the calen-
ders, which Scheherazade, with leave of the
sultan, pursued in the following manner : —
The caliph, his grand vizier, and the
chief of the eunuchs, being introduced by
the fair Safie, very courteously saluted the
ladies and the calenders. The ladies re-
turned them the like civilities, supposing
them to be merchants. Zobeide, as the
chief, said to them with a grave and serious
countenance, which wa.i natural to her,
"You are welcome. But before I proceed
farther, I hope you will not take it ill if we
desire one favour of you." "Alas!" said
the vizier, "what favour? We can refuse
nothing to such fair ladies." Zobeide re-
plied, "It is, that you woidd only have
eyes, but no tongues ; that you put no ques-
tion to us about the reason of anything yoiv
may happen to see, and speak not of any-
thing that does not concern you, lest you
come to hear of things that will by no means
please you."
"Madam," replied the vizier, "you shall
foe obeyed. We are not ce'isorious, nor im-
pertinently curious ; it is onough for us to
take notice of that which concerns us, with-
out meddling with that which does not be-
long to us." Upon this they all sat down,
and the company being united, they drank
to the health of the new-comers.
While the vizier Giafar entertained the
ladies in discourse, the caliph could not for-
bear admiring their extraordinary beauty,
graceful behaviour, pleasant humour, and
ready wit ; on the other hand, nothing was
more surprising to him than the calenders
being all three blind of the right eye. He
would gladly have been informed of this
singularity ; but the conditions so lately
imposed upon himself and his companions
would not allow him to speak. This, with
the richness of the furniture, the exact order
of everything, and the neatness of the house,
made him think it was some enchanted
place.
Their conversation happening to turn
upon diversions and different ways ot mak-
ing merry, the calenders arose, and danced
after their fashion, which augmented the
good opinion the ladies had conceived of
them, and procured them the esteem of the
caliph and his companions.
When the three calenders hod made an
end of their dance, Zobeide arose, and tak-
ing Amine by the hand, said, "Pray, sister,
rise up, for the company will not take it ill
if we use our freedom, and their presence
need not hinder our performance of what we
are wont to do." Amine, understanding her
sister's meaning, rose from her seat, carried
away the dishes, the table, the flasks and
cups, together with the instruments which
the calenders had played upon.
Safie was not idle, but swept the room,
put everything again in its place, snuffed the
candles, and put fresh aloes and ambergris
to them, and then prayed the three calen-
ders to sit down upon the sofa on one side,
and the caliph with his companions on the
other. As to the porter, she said to him,
"Get up and prepare yourself to serve in
what we are going about ; a man like you,
who is one of the family, ought not to be
idle." The porter, being somewhat recov-
ered from his wine, got up immediately, and
having tied the sleeve of his gown to his
belt, answered, "Here am I, ready to obey
your commands in anything. " ' ' Very well, "
replied Safie, "stay till you are spoken to ;
you shall not be idle very long." A little
time after, Amine came iu with a chair,
which she placed in the middle of the room ;
and then went to a closet, which having
oi)ened, she beckoned to the i)orter, and said
to him, " Come hither and help me ;" which
he obeying, entered the closet, and returned
immediately, leading two black bitches, with
each of them a collar and chain; they looked
as if they had been severely whijjped with
rods, and he brought them into the middle
of the room.
Then Zobeide, rising from her seat be-
tween the calenders and the caliph, marched
very gravely towards the porter. "Come
on," said she, with a great sigh; "let us
perform our duty." Then tucking up her
sleeves above her elbows, and receiving a rod
from Safie, "Porter," said she, "dehver one
of the bitches to my sister Amine, and come
to me with the other."
The porter did as he was commanded.
The bitch that he held in his hand began to
cry, and turning towards Zobeide, held her
head up in a begging posture ; but Zobeide,
having no regard to the sad countenance of
the bitch, which woidd have nloved pity,
nor her cries, that resounded through the
house, whipped her with the rod till she was
out of breath ; and having spent her strength,
that she coiild strike nQ more, she threw
\
'I
THE THREE CALENDERS AND FIVE LADIES.
45
down the rod, and taking the chain from the
porter, lifted up the bitch by her paws, and
looking upon her with a sad and pitiful
countenance, they booh wept : after which,
Zobeide, with her handkerchief, wiped the
tears from the bitch's eye, kissed her, re-
turned the chain to the porter, bade him
carry her to the place whence ho took her,
and bring her the other. The porter led
b icK the whipped bitch to the closet, and
n ceiving the other from Amine, i)resented
her to Zobeide, who bade the porter hold
her as he did the first, took up the rod, and
treated her after the same manner ; and when
she had wept over her, dried her eyes, and
kissed her, and returned her to the porter :
but lovely Amine spared him the trouble of
leading her back into the closet, and did it
herself. The three calenders and the caliph,
with his companions, were extremely sur-
prised at this execution, and coidd not com-
prehend why Zobeide, after having so
furiously whipped those two bitches, that
by the Mussulman religion are reckoned un-
clean animals, shoidd cry with them, wipe
off their tears, and kiss tliem : they muttered
among themselves, and the caliph, who, being
more impatient than the rest, longed ex-
ceedingly to be informed of the cause of
so strange an action, could not forbear
making signs to the vizier to ask the ques-
tion ; the vizier turned his head another way ;
but being pressed by repeated signs, he an-
swered by others that it was not yet time
for the caliph to satisfy his curiosity.
Zobeide sat still some time in the middle
of the room, where she had whipped the two
bitches, to recover herself of the fatigue;
and fair Safie called to her, ' ' Dear sister,
•will yon not be pleased to return to your
place, that I may also act my part?" "Yes,
sister," replied Zobeide ; and then went and
sat down upon the sofa, having the caliph,
Giafar, and Mesrour on her right hand, and
the three calenders, with the porter, on her
left.
Here said Scheherazade to the sultan,
Sir, what has been hitherto told your ma-
jesty must, without doubt, appear very
strange ; but what yet remains is more won-
derful, and I am persuaded your majesty
•will think so, if you will be pleased to give
me leave to finish the story next night.
The sidtan agreed to it, and got up because
it was day.
The Thirty-Fifth Night,
DiNAKZADE was no sooner awake next morn-
ing but she caUed, Sister, if you are not
asleep, pray continue the fine story ol i;he
three sisters. The sidtaness remembe/ing
where she left off, addressed herself to the
Bultan and went on as follows: Sir, after
Zobeide sat down, the whole company was
silent for a while ; at last Satie, sitting on a
chair in the middle of the room, spoke to her
sister Amino: "Dear sister, I conjure you
to rise up ; you know well enough what I
would say." Amine rose, and went into
another closet, near to that where the bitches
were, and brought out a case covered with
yellow satin, richly embroidered with gold,
and green silk : she came near Safie and
opened the case, from whence she took a
lute, and presented it to her; and after
some time spent in tuning it, Safie began to
play and accompany it with her voice. She
sung a song about the torments that absence
creates to lovers with so much sweetness,
that it charmed the caliph and all the com-
pany. Having sung with a great deal of
passion and action, she said to hjvely Amine,
"Pray take it, sister, for 1 can do no more ;
my voice fails me : oblige the company with
a tune and a song in my room." "Very
willingly," replied Amine, who, taking the
lute from her sister Safie, sat down in her
place.
Amine, after some small trial, to see
whether the instrument was in tune, played
and sung almost as long upon the same sub-
ject, but with so much vehemency, and she
was so much affected, or rather transported
by the words of the song, that her strcngtk
failed her as she made an end of it.
Zobeide, willing to testify her satisfaction,
said, " Sister, you have done wonders, and
we may easily see that you feel the grief
you have expressed in so lively a manner."
Amine was prevented from answering this
civility, her heart being so sensibly touched
at the same moment, that she was obliged,
for air, to imcover her neck and breast,
which did not appear so fair as might have
been expected from such a lady as she ; but,
on the contrary, black and full of scars,
which frighted all the spectators. However,
this gave her no ease, but she fell into a fit. —
Here Scheherazade stopped, saying, Sir, I
had almost forgot that it is day. With this
she ended her discourse, and the sultan arose
from bed. And though this prince had not
resolved to defer the death of the sidtaness,
he could not, at tli'° time, have determined
to takj away her life ; his curiosity was so
great to hear out the story, which had so
many unheard-of events.
The Thirty-Sixth Night.
DnTABZADB awaked her sister as formerly,
saying. Dear sister, I pray you to con-
tinue the story of the ladies and the ca-
lenders. Upon which she resumed her
discourse in the manner following : —
When Zobeide and Safie ran to help their
•
46
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
sister, one of the calenders could not for-
bear to say, •' We had better have slei)t in
the streets than have come hither, had we
thought to have seen such spectacles."
The caliph, who heard this, came to him
and the other caIendei-<<, and asked them
what might be the meaning of all this.
They answered, "Sir, we know no more
than you do." " What 1 " says the caliph,
"are you not of the family? nor can you
resolve us concerning the two black bitches,
and the lady that fainted atiay, and has
been so basely abused ?" "Sir," said the
calenders, "this is the first time that ever
we were in the house, and we came in but
a few minutes before yoti."
This increased the caliph's astonishment.
"It may be," says he, "tliis other man
that is with you may know something of
it." One of the calenders made a sign for
the porter to come near, and asked him
^whether he knew why those two black
bitches had been whipped, and why
Amine's bosom -was so scarred? "Sir,"
said the i)ortor, "I can swear by heaven
that if you know nothing of all this, I
know as little as you do. It is true I live
in this city, but I never was in the house
until now ; and if you are surprised to see
me here, I am as much to find myself in
your company ; — and that which increases
my wonder is, that I have not seen one man
with these ladies."
The caliph and his company, as well as
the calenders, supposed the porter had been
one of the family, and hoped he could in-
form them of what they desired to know ;
but finding he could not, and resolving to
satisfy his curiosity, cost what it would, he
said to the rest, " Look ye, we are here
seven men, and have but three women to
deal with ; let us try if we can oblige them
to satisfy us, and if they refuse it by fair
means, we are in a condition to force them
to it."
The grand vizier Giafar was against this
'method, and shewed the caliph what might
•be the consequence of it ; but, without dis-
covering the prince to the calenders, ad-
dressed him as if he had been a merchant
thus : " Sir, consider, T pray you, that our
reputation lies at stake. You know very
well upon what conditions these ladies were
ready to receive us, and we also agreed to
them ; what will they say of us if we break
them ? We shall be still more to blame if
any mischief befall us ; for it is not likely
that they would demand such a promise of
us, if they did not know themselves to be in
a condition to make us repent the breaking
of it."
Here the vizier took the caliph aside, and
whispered to him thus: "Sir, the night
will soon be at an end ; and if your majesty
will only be pleased to have so much patience,
I will take these ladies to-morrow morning,
and bring them before your throne, where
you may be informed of all t'lat you desire
to know," Though this advice was verj'
judicious, the caliph rejected it, bade the
vizier liold his tongue, and said he would
not stay till then, but would have satisfac-
tion in the matter presently.
The next business was to know who
should carry the message. The caliph en-
deavoured to prevail with the calenders to
si>eak first, but they excused themselves ;
and at last they agreed that the porter
should be the man : and as they were con-
sulting how to won' this fatal question,
Zobeidc returned from her sister Amine,
who was recovered of her fit, tlrew near
them, and, having overheard them speak-
ing pretty loud, and with some passion, said,
" Gentlemen, what is the subject of your
discourse ? what are you disputing about ?"
The porter answered immediately, " Ma-
dam, these gentlemen pray you to let them
understand wherefore you wept over your
two bitches after you whipped them so
severely, and how that lady's bosom, who
lately fainted away, comes to be so full of
scars. This is what I am ordered to ask in
their name."
At these words, Zobeide looked with a
stem countenance ; and, turning towards
the calijih and the rest of the company,
" Is this true, gentlemen," said she, " that
you have given him orders to ask me this
question?" All of them, except the vizier
Giafar, who spoke not a word, answered
j'cs. On which she told them, in a tone
that sufficiently expressed her resentment,
" Before we granted you the favour of
being received into our house, and to pre-
vent all occasion of trouble from you, be-
cause we are alone, we did it upon condition
that you should not speak of anything that
did not concern you, lest you might come to
hear that which would not please you ; and
yet, after having received and entertained
you as weU as we possibly could, you make
no scruple to break your promise. It is
true tliat our easy temi)er has occasioned
this, but that shall not excuse you, for
your proceedings are very unhandsome."
As she spoke these words, she gave three
hard knocks with her foot, and clapping
her hands as often together, cried, " Come
quick." Upon this, a door ilew open, and
seven strong, sturdy black slaves, with
scimitars in their hands, rushed in ; e>ery
one seized a man, tlirew him on the ground,
and dragged him into the middle of the
room, in order to cut oflf his head.
We may easily conceive what a fright the
caliph was in ; he then repented, but too
late, that he had not taken his vizier's ad-
vice. In the meantime, this unhappy
j^iince, Giafar, Mesrour, the porter, and the
/#
jm
*iA,
THE THREE CALENDERS AND FIVE LADIES.
47
calenders, were iijOTn the point of losing
their lives by their indiscreet curiosity.
But before they would strike the fatal blow
one of the slovcs said to Zobeidu and her
sisters, " High, mighty, and adorable mis-
tresses, do you command us to cut their
throats ?" " .SUy," says Zt>beide, " I must
examine them lirsit." The frightened i>orter
1^
interrupted her thus : "In the name of
heaven, do not make me die for another
man's crime ! T am innocent — they are to
blame. Aloa!" said he, crying, "how
])Iea8antly did we pass our time ! Those
blind calenders are the cause of this misfor-
tune ; there is no town in the world but
suffers wherever these inauspicious fellows
come. Madam, I beg you not to destroy
the innocent with the guilty, and consider
that it is more glorious to pardon such a
wretch as I .-vm, who have no way to help
myself, than to sacrifice me to your resent-
ment."
Zobeide, notwithstanding her anger, coidd
not but laugh witliin herself at the porter's
lamentation ; but, without answering him,
she spoke a second time to the rest : " An-
swer me," said she, " and tell me who you
are, otherwise you shall not live one moment
longer. I cannot believe you to be honest
men, nor persons of authority or distinction
in your own countries ; for if you were, you
woidd have been modest and more respect-
ful to us."
The caliph, who was naturally impatient,
was infinitely more impatient than the rest
to find his life depend upon the command of
a lady justly incensed ; but he began to con-
ceive some hopes when he saw she would
know who they were ; for he imagined she
would not take away his life when once she
came to be informed who he was : there-
fore he spoke with a low voice to the vizier,
who was near him, to declare speedily who
he was ; but the vizier, being more prudent,
resolved to save his master's honour, and
not let the world know the affront he had
brought upon himself by his own weakness ;
and therefore answered, "We hivve what
we deserve." But if he would have spoke
in obedience to the caliph, Zobeide did not
give him time ; for, having turned to the
calenders, and seeing them all three blind
with one eye, she asked if they were
brothers. One of them answered, " No,
madam, no otherwise than as we are calen-
ders ; that is to say, as we observe the
same rules." "Were you bom blind of
the right eye ? " replied she. " No, madam,"
answered he; "I lost my eye in such a
surprising adventure, that it would be in-
structive to everybody were it in writing.
After that misfortune, I shaved my beard
and eyebrows, and took the habit of a
calender, which I now wear."
Zobeide asked the other two calenders
the same question, and had the same an-
swer; but he who spoke last added, "Ma-
dam, tc shew you that we are no common
fellows, and that you may have some consi-
deration for us, be pleased to know that
we are all three sons of kings ; and though
we never met together till this evening, yet
we have had time enough to make that
known to one another; and I assure you
that the kings from whom we derive our
being made some noise in the world."
^•■^'r'
■MMhi
"fW!
4«
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
At this diHcourHc, Zobeido ft88\inj{L'il Iht
anRor, and said to tlif BlavcM, "Givu tlifni
thuir liberty a wliilo, Imt stay litTc. TIioho
wild ti'll ua their history, and tho occasion
of their coining, do them no hurt, let them
j;o whero they please ; but do not sjiaro
those who refuso to give us that satisfae-
tion." — Hero Sehehera/ade stopped ; and
her silence, as well as daylight, K'vinK tho
Bultan to know that it was time for him to
rise, he f;ot ui), and resolved to lioar tho
rest of the story next night ; for he was im-
patient to know who these three oue-cy'd
caleudera were.
The Thirty-Seventh Night.
DlXAKZADE, who also took a {,'reat deal of
pleasure to hear tlio sultaness's stories, said
to her, about the close of tho following
night, Dear sister, if you be not asleep, I
conjure you to go on with tho agreeable
story of the three calenders.
Scheherazade asked leave of the sultan,
and having obtained it, Sir, said she, the
three calenders, the caliph, the grand vizier
Giafar, the eunuch Mosrour, and tho porter
were all in the niid<lle of the liall, seated
wpqn a foot-carpet, in the presence of the
three ladies, who sat upon a sofa, and tlie
slaves stood ready to do whatever their mis-
tresses should command.
The porter, iiuderstanding that he might
extricate himself from danger by telling his
history, spoke first, and said, " Aladani, yoxi
know my history alnudy, and the occasion
of my coming hither ; so that what I have
to say will bo very short. My lady, your
sister there, called me this morning at the
I)lace where I plied as porter to see if any-
body would employ me, that I iuight get
my bread. I followed her to a A'intner's,
then to an herb-shop, then to one that sold
oranges, lemons, and citrons, then to a
grocer's, next to a confectioner's and a
druggist's, with my basket upon my head
as full as I was able to carry it ; then I
came hither, where you had the goodness
to suffer me to contiiuie till now, — a favour
that I shall never forget. This, madam, is
my history."
When the porter had done, Zobeide said
to him, " Go, march, let us see you no more
here." "Madam," replied the porter, "I
beg you to let me stay : it woidd not be just,
after the rest have had tho pleasure to hear
my history, that I shoidd not also have the
satisfaction to hear theirs." And, having
spoken thus, he sat down at the end of the
sofa, glad at heart to have escaped the dan-
ger that had frightened him so much. After
him, one of the three calenders, directing
his speech to Zobeide, as the principal of
tho three ladies, aiul the person that com-
manded him to speak, began his story
thus ; —
tub nistouv of tiik fikst calender, a
kino's .son.
Madam, in order to inform you how I
lost my right eye, and why 1 was obliged to
put myself into a calemler's habit, 1 uiuab
tell you that I am a king's son born : tho
king my father had a brother that reigned,
as ho did, over a neighbouring kingdom ;
and tho prince his sou and I were nearly of
the same age.
After [ ha<l learned my exercises, and tho
king my father granted mo such liberty aa
suited my dignity, I went regularly every
year to see my uncle, at whose court I
amused myself for a month or two, and then
returned again to my father's. These seve-
ral journeys cemented a llrm and intimate
friendship between the prince my cousin and
myself. The last time I saw him he re-
ceived me with greater demonstrations of
tenderness than he had done at any t'.me
before; and resolving one day to give me
a treat, he made great i)riparations for hat
purpose. We continued a long time at
table; and after wo hod both supped, "Cou-
sin," said he, "you will hardly be able to
;^ucss how I have been employed since your
last departure from hence, now about a year
past. I have had a great many men at work
to perfect a design I have in my mind : I
have caused an edifice to be built, which is
now finished so .is to be habitable ; you will
not be displeased if I shew it you. But
first you are to promise me, upon oath, that
you will keep my secret, according to the
confidence I repose in you."
The affection and familiarity that sub-
sisted between us would not allow me to
refuse him anything. I very readily took
the oath required of me : upon which lie
said to me, " Stay here till I return — I will
bo with you in a moment ;" and accordingly
ho came with a lady in his hand, of singular
beauty, .and magnificently apijareUed. He
did not intimate who she was, neither did T
think it was jtolito in me to inquire. We
sat down again with this lady at table, where
we continued some time, conversing upon
indifferent subjects, and now and then filling
a glass to each other's health. After which
tho prince said, "Cousin, we must lose no
time; therefore pray oblige me by taking
this lady along with you, and conducting
her to such a place, where you will see a
tomb newly built in form of a dome. You
will easily know it, the gate is open; go in
there together, and tarry tiU I come, which
will be very speedily."
Being true to my oath, I made no farther
inquiry, but took the lady by the hand, and.
<
f
I .
THE FIRST CALENDER.
49
liy the (UructiimH which tho ]ii-iiicu my cniiHin
had given me, 1 brought her to tlie pluce,
by the W^ht of the moon, without niiiiNiiii;
one iitep of the w/vy. Wo were gciireely jjot
tliither, when we saw tho i>rince following
ftftor, carrying a little pitcher with water, a
hatchet, and a little Img with ]iliu*ter.
The hatchet served him to break down the
> ^)ty sepulchre in the middle of the tomb;
lie took away the stoni'H one after another,
and laid them in a corner. When all thiH
was taken away, he digged up the ground,
where I saw a trap-door under tho sepulchre,
which he lifte<l up, and underneath per-
ceived the head of a staircase leading into ii
vault. Then my couHiii, speaking to tho
lady, said, " Madam, it is by this way that
wo are to go to the phice I told you of."
SiiM^.
Upon which, the lady drew nigh, and went
•down, and the prince began to follow; but
first, turning to nie, said, " My dear cousin,
I am infinitely obliged to you for tho trouble
you have taken ; I thank you. Adieu." T
cried, "Dear cousin, what is the meaning of
this?" "Be content," replied he; "you
may return back the same way you came."
Scheherazade having proceeded thus far,
saw day appear, which prevented her pro-
ceeding any farther. The sidtan got up,
but longed very much to know the design
of tho prince and his lady, who seemed as if
they had a mind to bury themselves alive ;
and impatiently waited for next night, that
he might be thoroughly informed of it.
The Thirty-Eighth Night.
DiNARZABE awakened the sultaness next
night as usual, and prayed her to continue
the history of the lirst calender. Hchahrior
having alHo signified to the niiltanesH that it
would be very jjlcaHing to him, she resumed
the thread of her discourse as follows: —
Madam, Hai<l tho calender to Zobeide, I
could get nothing further from him, liut waa
obliged to take leave of him. Ah I re-
turned to my uncle's i)alaee, the vapours of
the wine got uj) into my heml ; however, I got
to my apartment, aiul went to bed. Next
moniing, when I awaked, I began to refiect
upon what had hapjiened the night before;
and after recollecting all tho circumstances
of such a singular adventure, I fancied it
was nothing but a dream. Full of thcso
thoughts, I sent to see if the prince, my
cousin, was ready to receive a visit from
me ; but when they brought word back that
he did not lie in his own lodgings that night,
they knew not what was become of him, and
were in much trouble about it, I conceived
that the strange event of tho tomb was but
too true. I was sensibly afllicted at it; and
stealing away privately from my people, I
went to the public biiryiiiL' place, where
there was a vast number of t nbs like that
which 1 had seen. I spent 1 Im' day in view-
ing them one after another, but could not
find that I sought for ; and thus I spent four
days successively in vain.
You must know that all this while the
king my uncle was absent, and had lieen
hunting for several days ; and I ltcw weary
of staying for him, and having jn-ayed his
ministers to make my apology to him at his
return, I left his palace, and set out towards
my father's court, from which I had never
been so long absent before. I left the mini-
sters of the king my uncle in groat trouble
to think what was become of the jirinco my
cousin ; but because of the oath I had made
to keep his secret, I durst not tell them of
anything that I had seen or knew, in order
to make them easy.
I arrived at my father's capital, the usual
place of his residence, where, contrary to
custom, 1 found a great guard at tho gate of
the i)alace, who surrounded mo as I entered.
I asked the reason, and the commanding
officer replied, " Prince, the army has pro-
claimed the grand vizier king instead of
your father, who is dead, and I take you
prisoner in the name of the new king." At
these words the guards laid hold of me, and
carried mo before the tjTant. I leave you
to judge, madam, how much I was surjirised
anci grieved.
This rebel vizier had long entertained a
mortal hatred .against me, for this reason : —
When I was a stripling, I loved to shoot
with a cross-bow ; and being one day upon
tho terrace of the palace with my bow,
a bird happening to come by, I shot, but
missed him, and the ball by misfortune hit
the vizier, who was taking the air upon the
D
\:
so
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
terrace of his owii house, .and put out one of
his eyes. As aeon as I underbtood it, I not
only sent to make my excuses to liim, but
did it in person ; yet he always resev:ted it,
and, as opportimity oifered, made uie sen-
sible of it : but now, madam, that he had
me in his power, he expressed his resent-
ment in a very barbarous manner ; for he
came to me like a madman, as soon as ever
he saw van, and thrustinft his linger into my
right eye, pulled it out himself ; and so,
madam, I became blind of one eye.
But the usurper's cruelty did not stop
here ; he ordered me to be shut up in a box,
and conunanded the executioner to carry
me into the country, to cut olf my head,
and leave me to be devoured by the bii-ds
of prey. The executioner and another man
carried me thus shut up on horseback into
the country, in order to execute the usiu-p-
er's barbarous sentence ; but by my prayers
and tears I moved the executioner's com-
passion. "Go," said he to me, "get you
speedily out of the kingdom, (vud take heed
of ever retumiug to it, otherwise you will
certaiidy meet your own ruin, and be the
car ~ mine." I thanked him for the
favo.j' i;' did me ; and as soon as 1 was left
aloito i jomforted myself for the loss of my
eye, by considering that I had very narrowly
escaped much greater danger.
Being in such a condition, I could not
travel far at a time : I retired to remote
places while it was day, and travelled as far
by night as my strength would allow me.
At last 1 arrived in the dominious of the
king my \incle, and came to his capital.
I gave him a lo.ig detail of the tragical
cause of my return, a.-'d of the sad condition
he saw me in. " Alas! " cried he, " was it
not enough for me to hav « lost my son, but
must I have news also of the death of a
brother I loved so dearly, and see you also
reduced to this deplorable condition ? " He
told me how uneasy he was, that he could
hear nothing of his sou, notwithstanding all
the diligence and inquiry he coiUd make.
At these wonls, the unfortunate father
burst out into tears, and was so much
afflicted that, pitying his grief, it was im-
possible for me to k'jep the secret any
longer; so that, notwithstanding my oath
to the prince my cousin, I told the king his
father all that I knew.
His majesty listened to me with some sort
of comfort, and when I hod done, ' ' Nephew, ' '
said he, " what you tell me gives me some
hope. I knew that my son ordered that
tomb to be built, and I can guess pretty
near at the place ; and with the idea you
still have of it, I fancy we shall find it : but
since he ordered it to be built privately,
and you took your oath to keep lus secret,
I am of opinion that we ought to go in quest
of it alone, without saying auything." But
ho had another reason for keeping the mat*
ter secret, which he did not then tell me ;
and an important reason it was, as you will
imrceive by the sequel of my discourse.
We disguised ourselves, and went out by
a door of the garden which opened into the
field, and soon found what we sought for. I
knew the tomb, and was the more rejoiced
at it, because I had formerly sought it a long
time in vain. We entered, and found the
iron trap puUed down upon the entrance of
the staircase : we had much ado to raise it,
because the prince had fastened it on the
inside with the water and jJaster formerly
mentioned ; but at last we did get it up.
The kmg my imcle descended first — I fol-
lowed ; and we went down about fifty steps.
When we came to the foot of the stairs, we
found a sort of ante-chamber, f uU of a thick
smoke, of an ill scent, which obscured the
lamp, that gave a very fa?nt light.
From this o.nte-chamber we came into
another, very large, supported by great
columns, and lighted by several branched
candlesticks. There wa.s a cistern in the
middh>, and provisions of several sorts
standing on one side of it ; but we were
very much surprised to see nobody. Before
us there appeared a high sofa, which we
mounted by several steps, and over this
there apjjeared a very large bed, with the
curtains drawn close. The king went up,
and opening the ciu-tains, perceived the
prince his son and the lady in bed together,
but burnt and changed to a coal, as if they
had been thrown into a great fire, and taken
out again before they were consumed.
But what surprised me most of all was,
that though this spectacle filled me with
horror, the king my uncle, instead of testi-
fying his sorrow to see the prince his son in
such a frightfid condition, spit on his face,
and said to him with adisdainfiU air, "This
is the punishment of this world, but that of
the other wUl last to eternity; " and not con-
tent with this, he pulled off his sandal, and
gave his son a great blow on the cheek
with it.
But, sir, said Scheherazade, it is day.
I am sorry your majesty's time will not
allow you to he.ir me farther. This story
appearing very strange to the sultan, he got
up, resolved to hear the rest of it next night.
The Thirty-Nintli Night.
DiNARZADE being awake sooner than ordi-
nary, called her sister Scheherazade. My
good Bidtaness, said she, I pray you make
an end of your story of the first calender,
for I am ready to die with impatience till I
know the issue of it. — Well, then, said
Scheherazade, you remember how tha first
> 1
i
THE FIRST CALENDER.
51
calender continued his story to Zobeide : —
I cannot enough express, madam, said he,
how much I was astonished when I saw the
king my uncle abuse the prince his son thus
after he was dead. "Sir," said I, "what-
ever grief this dismal sight is capable of im-
pressing upon me, I am forced to suspend it,
on purpose to ask your majesty what crime
the prince my cousin may have committed,
that his corpse should deserve this sort of
treatment ?" " Nephew," replied the king,
' ' I must tell you that my son (who is un-
worthy of that name) loved his sister from
his infancy, as she ditl him ; I did not hinder
their growing love, because I did not per-
ceive tlie pernicious consequence of it.
This tenderness increased as they grew in
years to such a hei^^ht, that I dreaded the
end of it. At last I applied such reinedies
as were in my power. I not only ga\e my
son a severe reprimand in private, laying
before him the hon'i))le nature of the pas-
sion he entertained, and the eternal disgrace
he woidd bring upon my family, if he per-
sisted iu such criminal courses, but I also
represented the same to my daughter; and
I shut her up so close that she could have
no conversation with her brother. But that
unfortunate creature had swallowed so much
of the poison, that all the obstacles which
by my prudence I could lay in the way
served only to inflame her love.
' ' My son being persuaded of his sister's
constancy, on pretence of budding <i tomb,
caused this subterraneous habitation to bo
made, in hopes to find one day or other an
opi)ortmiity to possess himself of that object
which was the cause of his flame, and to
bring her hitlier. He took advantage of my
absence to enter by force into the place of
his sister's confinement; but this was a cir-
cumstance which my honour woidd not sufi"er
me to make public : and after so damnable
an action, he came and shut himself up with
her in this i)lace, which he has supplied, as
you see, with all sorts of ])rovisions, that he
might enjoy his detestable pleasures for a
long time, which ought to be a subject of
horror to all the world ; but God, who would
not suffer such an aljomination, has justly
inmished them both." At these words, he
melted mto tears, and I joined mine with
his.
After a while, casting his eyes upon me,
"Dear nephew," cried he, embracing me,
"if I have lost that unworthy son, I shall
haply find iu you what will better supply
his place." The reflections he made on the
doleful end of the prince and princess his
daughter made us both fall into a new fit of
weeping.
We went up the some stairs again, and
departed at last from that dismal place. We
let down again the trap-door, and covered it
with earth, and such other materiola as the
tomb was built of, on purpose to hide, as
much as lay in our power, so terrible an
effect of the wrath of God.
We had not bcL n very long got back to
the palace, unperc— ved by any one, when we
heard a confused noise of trumpets, drums,
and other instruments of war. We soon un-
derstood by the thick cloud of dust, which
almost darkened the air, that it was the
arrival of a formidivble army : and it proved
to be the same vizier that had xlethroned my
father, and usurped his throne, who, with a
vast niunber of troops, was also come to pos-
sess himself of that of the king my uncle.
That prince, who then had only his usual
guards about him, could not resist so many
enemies; they invested the city, and the
gates being opened to them without any re-
sistance, they very soon became masters of
the city, and broke into the palace where
the king my uncle was, who defended him-
self till he was killed, and sold his life at a
dear rate : for m_,- part, I fought as well as
I could for a while; but seeing we were
forced to submit to a superior i)ower, I
thought on my retreat and safety, which I
had the good fortune to effect by some back
ways, and got to one of the king's servants,
on whose fidelity I could depend.
Being thus sunounded with sorrows, and
persecuted by fortune, I had recourse to a
stratagem, which was the only means left
me to save my life : 1 caused my beard and
eyebrows to be shaved, and putting on a
calender's habit, I i)assed, unknown by ai.y,
out of the city; after that, by degrees, I
found it easy to get out of my uncle's king-
dom, by taking the by-roads.
I avoided passing through toAvns, xmtil I
was got into the empire of the mighty gov-
ernor of the Mussulmans, the glorious and
renowned Caliph Haroun Alraschid, when I
thought myself out of danger ; and consider-
ing what I was to do, I resolved to come to
Bagdad, intending to throw myself at the
feet of that monarch, whose generosity is
everywhere applauded. " I shall move him
to compassion," said I to myself, "by the re-
lation of my extraordinai'y misfortunes, and
without doubt he will take pity on such an
unfortunate prince, and not sutfer me to im-
plore his assistance in vain."
In short, after a journey of several
months, I arrived yesterdjiy at the gate of
this city, into which I entered about the
dusk of the evening ; and stopping a Uttle
while to revive my spirits, and to consider
which way I was to turn, this other calen-
der you see here next to me came up : he
saluted me, and I him. "You apj)ear,"
said I, " to be a stranger, as I am." "You
are not mistaken," replied he. He had no
sooner returned this answer, but that third
calender you see there overtook us. He
saluted us, and told us he was a stranger
mf
52
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
nowly come to Bagdad ; so as brethren we
joined together, resolving not to separate
from one another.
Meanwhile, it was late, and we knew not
where to seek a lodging in the city, where
we had no acquaintance, and had never been
before. But good fortune having brought
us before your gate, we made bold to knock,
when you received us with so much kind-
ness, that we are incapable of returning you
suitable thanks. This, madam, said he,
is in obedience to your commands, — the
account T was to give you why I lost my
right eye, wherefore my beard and eyebrows
are shaved, and how I came to be with you
at this present time.
"It is enough," said Zobeide ; "youmay
retire to what place you think fit." The
calender made his excuse, and begged the
ladies' leave to stay till he had heard the
relations of his two comrades, " whom I
cannot," said he, "leave with honour;"
and till he might also hear those of the
three other persons that were in company.
Here Scheherazade said to the sultan.
Sir, the daylight which you see prevents
me from going on with the story of the
second calender ; but if your majesty will
hear it to-morrow, you will find as much
satisfaction in that as in the story of the
first. To which the sultan gave consent,
and so got ui) in order to go to council.
The Portieth Night.
DiNAEZADE, not doubting to find as much
delight in the story of the second calender
as she had in the first, failed not to call
upon the sultaness before day. If you
be not asleep, sister, said she, I woidd
pray you to begin the story that you pro-
mised me : upon which, Scheherazade ad-
dressed her discourse to the sultan, and
sjioke as follows : —
Sir, the story of the first calender seemed
very strivnge to the whole company, but
especially to the caliph ; who, notwith-
standing the slaves stood by with their
scimitars in their hands, coidd not forbear
whispering to the vizier, — "Many stories
have I heard, but never anything that came
near the story of the calender." Whilst he
was saying this, the second calender began,
addressir.g his speech to Zobeide.
the story of the second calendee, a
kino's son.
Madam, said ho, to obey your command,
and to shew you by what strange accident
I became blind of the right eye, I must of
necessity give you the whole account of
my lif«
I was scarce past my infancy, when the
king my father (for you must know, madam,
I am a prince by birth) perceived that I
was endowed with a great deal of sense, and
spared nothing that wiis proper for improv-
ing it : he employed all the men in his
dominions that excelled in science and art,
to be constantly about me.
No sooner was I able to read and write
than I learnt the Alcoran from the begin-
ning to the end by heart ; that admirable
book, which contains the foundation, the
precepts, and the rules of our religion ;
and that I might be thoroughly instructed
in it, I read the works of the most approved
authors, by whose commentaries it had
been explained. I added to this study that
of all the traditions collected from the
mouth of our i)rophet, by the great men
that were contemporary with him. I was
not satisfied with the knowledge of all that
had any relation to our religion, but made
•ilso a particidar search into our histories.
I made myself perfect in polite learning, in
the works of poets, and versification. I
applied myself to geography, chronology,
and to speak our Arabian language in its
purity ; not forgetting in the meantime all
such exercises as were 2)roper for a prince
to understand. But one thing which I was
fond of, and succeeded in to admiration,
was to form the characters of our Arabian
language, wherein I surpassed all the writ-
ing-masters of our kingdom that had ac-
quired the greatest reputation.
Fame did me more honour than I
deserved, for she not only spread the re-
nown of my talents through all the do-
minions of the king my father, but carried
it as far as the Indian court, whose potent
monarch, desirous to see me, sent an ambas-
sador with rich presents, to demand me of
my father, who was extremely glad of this
embassy for several reasons : he was per-
suaded that nothing could be more com-
mendable in a prince of my age than to
travel and visit foreign courts ; and he was
very glad to gain the friendship of tho
Indian sultan. I departed with the am-
bassador, but with no great retinue, be-
cause of the length and diflSculty of the
journey.
When we had travelled about a month,
we discovered at a distance a groat cloud of
dust, and under that we saw very poon fifty
horsemen, well armed, that were robbers,
coming towards us at full gallop. Schehera-
zade perceiving day, told the sidtan of it,
who got up ; but desiring to know what
passed between the fifty men on horseback
and the Indian ambassador, the prince was
somewhat impatient till next uight came.
I
I
THE SECOND CALENDER.
53
The Forty-First Night.
It -was almost day when Dinarzatle awoke
next morning and called to her sister, If
you be not asleep, dear sister, I pray you
continue the story of the second calender.
Scheherazade began in this manner : —
Madam, said the calender (always speak-
ing to Zobcide) as we had ten horses Laden
with baggage and other presents, that I
was to carry to the Indian sultan from
the king my father, and my retinue
was but small, you may easily judge that
these robbers came boldly up to us; and
not being in a posture to make any oppo-
sition, we told them that we were am-
bassadors belonging to the sidtan of the
Indies, and hoped they would attempt no-
thing contrary to that respect that is due to
them, thinking by this means to save our
equipage .and our lives : but the robbers
most insolently rei)lied, "For what reason
would you have us shew any respect to the
sultan your master? We are none of his
subjects, nor are we upon his territories."
Having spoken thus, they surrounded and
fell upon us. I defended myself as long as
I coidd; but finding myself wounded, and
seeing the ambassador with hLs servants and
mine lying on the groimd, I made use of what
strength was yet remaining in my horse,
who was also very much wounded, and
separated myself from the crowd, and rode
away as fast as he could carry me ; but he
hapiiening all of a sudden to fall under me,
by weariness and the loss of blood he fell
down dead. I got rid of him in a trice ; and
findiiig that I was not pursued, it made me
judge the robbers were not willing to quit
the booty they had got.
Scheherazade, perceiving day coming on,
was obliged to stop here. O sister, said
Dinarzade, to-morrow I shall be more dili-
gent, in hopes you will make reparation to
the sultan for the loss that his curiosity has
sustained through my neglect. Sch.ahriar
.arose without s.aying one word, and went to
his usual consultation.
The Forty-Second Night.
Dinarzade failed not to call the sultaness
a good wliile before day. My dear sister,
said she, if you be not asleep, I i)ray you
resume the story of the calender. — I con-
sent to it, said Scheherazade; and so con-
tinued it in these words : —
Here you see me, said the calender, alone,
wounded, destitute of help, and in a strange
country. I durst not betake myself to the
high road, fearing I might fall again into
the hands of these robbers. When I had
bound up my wound, which was not danger-
ous, I walked on the rest of the day, and
arrived at the foot of a mountain, where I
perceived a passage into a cave. I went in,
and staid there that night with little satis-
faction, after I had eaten some fruits that I
gathered by the way.
I continued my journey for several days
following without finding any place of abode ;
but after a month's time, I came to a large
town, well inhabited, and situated so much
the more advantageously, as it was sur-
rounded with several rivers, so that it en-
joyed perpetual spring.
The pleasant objects which then presented
themselvep to my view afforded me some joy,
and suspended for a time the sorrow with
which I was overwhelmed to find myself in
such a condition. My face, hands, and feet
were black and sim-bumt; and, by my long
journey, my shoes and stockings were quite
worn out, so that I was forced to walk bare-
footed; and besides, my clothes were all in
r.ags. I entered into the town to inform
myself where I was, and addressed myself
to a tailor that was at work in his shop;
who, perceiving by my air that I was a per-
son of more note than my outward appear-
ance bespoke me to be, made me sit do^vn
by him, and asked me who I was, from
whence I came, and wh.at had brought me
thither? I did not conceal anything of all
that had befallen me, nor made I any scruple
to discover ray quality.
The tuilor listened with attention to my
words; but after I had done s])caking, in-
stead of giving me any consolation, he aug-
mented my sorrow. "Take heed," said he,
"how you discover to any person what you
have now declared to me ; for the ])rince of
this country is the greatest enemy that the
king your father has, and he wUl certainly
do you some mischief when he comes to
hear of your being in this city." 1 made
no doubt of the tailor's smcerity when he
named the prince ; but since the enmity
which is between my father and him has
no relation to my adventures, I must beg
your pardon, madani, if I pass it over with
sUence.
I returned the tailor thanks for his good
advice, and shewed myself inclinable wholly
to follow his counsel, and assured him that
his favours shoidd never be forgot by me.
And \s he believed I could not but be hungry,
he oraered something to be l)rought for me
to eat, and offered me at the same time a
lodging in his house, which I accepted.
Some days after, tinding me pretty weU re-
covered from the fatigue I had endured by a
long and tedious journey, and reflecting
that most princes of our religion did apply
themselves to some art or calling that might
be serviceable to them upon occasion, he
asked me if I had learned anything where-
wmm
nai
wm.
54
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
by I might get a livelihood, and not be
1)urden8ome to any man ? I told him that I
nnderatood the laws, both divine and human ;
that I was a grammarian and poet ; and
above all, that I understood writing per-
fectly-well. " By all this," said he, "you
will not be alile in this country to purchase
yourself one morsel of bread ; nothing is of
Jess use here than those sciences ; but if
you will be ad\'ised by me," said he, "dress
yourself in a la))ourer's habit ; and since
yon apjiear to l)e strong, and of a good con-
stitution, you shall go into the next forest,
and cut lire-wood, which you may bring to
the market to be sold : and 1 can assure you
it will turn to so good an account that you
may live by it, without dependence upon
any man ; and by this means you will be
in a condition to wait for the favourable
minute when Heaven shall think fit to dis-
pel those clouds of misfortune that thwart
your happiness, and oblige you to conceal
your birth : I will take care to supply you
with a rope and a hatchet."
The fear of being known, and the neces-
sity I was imder of getting a livelihood,
made me agree to this proposal, notwith-
standing all the meanness and hardships
that attended it. The day following the
tailor bought me a rope, a hatchet, and a
short coat, and recommended me to some
poor people who gained their bread after
the same manner, that they might take me
into their company. They conducted me to
the wood, and the first day I brought in as
much upon my head .is brought me half a
piece of gold, which is the money of that
country : for though the wood is not far dis-
tant from the town, yet it was very scarce
there, by reason that few or none would be
at the trouble to go and cut it. I gained a
good sum of money in a short time, and re-
paid my taihn* what he had advanced for me.
I continued this way of living for a whole
year; and one day that by chance I was
gone farther into the wood than usual, I
happened to light on a very pleasant place,
where I beg.an to cut down wood; and in
pulling up the root of a tree, T espied an
iron ring, fastened to a trap-door of the same
metal. I took away the earth that covered
it, and having lifted it up, saw stairs, which
I went down, with my axe in my hand.
When I was come to the bottom of the
stairs, I found myseK in a large palace,
which put me into great consternation, be-
cause of a great light, which appeared as
clear in it as if it had been above ground,
in the open air. I went forward along a
gallery, supjiorted by pillars of jasper, the
base and capitals of massy gold ; but seeing
a lady of a noble and free air, and extremely
beautiful, coming towards me, my eyes were
taken off from beholiling any other object
but her alone.
Here Schelicrazadc stopped, because day
appeared: but Dinarzade said. Dear sister,
I confess I am extremely well pleased with
what you have told us to-day, and I imagine
that the following part must be no less sur-
prising. — You are not mistaken, said the
sultancss, for the remainder of this story of
the second calender is better worth my lord
the sultan's attention than all tliat he has
hitherto heard. — I doubt that, said Schali-
riar, as he was getting up ; but we shall
know that to-morrow.
The Torty-Third Niglit.
The Bultaness being awakened as usual, gave
the sultan an account that the second calen-
der continued his story thus : — Being desir-
ous, said he, to spare the lady the trouble
to come to me, I made haste to meet her;
and as I was saluting her with a low bow,
she asked me, " What are you — a man or a
genie ?" " A man, madam," said I : "I
have no correspondence with genies." "By
what adventure," said she, fetching a deep
sigh, " are you come hither? I have livetl
here these twenty-five years, and never saw
any man but yourself during that time."
Her great beauty, which had already
smitten me, and the sw^eetneas and civility
wherewith she received me, emboldened me
to say to her, "Madam, before I have the
honour to satisfy your curiosity, give me
leave to tell you that I am infinitely satis-
fied with this unexpected meeting, which
offers me an occasion of consolation in the
midst of my afiiiction ; and perhaps it may
give mo an opportunity to make you also
more happy than you are." I gave her a
true account by what strange accident she
saw me, the sou of a king, in such a condi-
tion as I then appeared in her presence ; and
how foi-tune directed that I should discover
the entrance into that magnificent prison
where I had found her, but, according to
appearance, in an unpleasant situation.
"Alas! prince," said she, sighing once
more, "you have just cause to believe this
rich and pompous prison cannot bo other-
wise than a most wearisome abode ; the most
charming ])lace in the world being no way
delightful when we are detained there con-
trary to our will. It is not possible but you
have heard of the great Epitimarus, king of
the isle of Ebene, so called from that pre-
cious wood it produces in abundance ; I am
the princess, his daughter.
" The king my father had chosen for me a
husband, a prince that was my cousin ; but,
on my wedding-night, in the midst of the
rejoicing that was uithe court and the capital
city of the kingdom of the isle of Ebene, be-
fore I was given to my husband, a genie took
THE SECOND CALENDER.
55
)nce
[this
llier-
lOSt
n-ay
coii-
lyou
of
ae a
t)Ut,
I the
bital
Jbe-
look
ft
'
me away. I faiated at the same moment,
and lost my senaea ; but when I came to my-
aelf again, I foimd myself in this place. I
was a long time inconsolable, but time and
necessity have accustomed me to see and re-
ceive the genie. Twenty-five years, as I
told you before, I have continued in this
place; where, I must confess, I have every-
thing that I can wish for necessary to life,
and also everything that can satisfy a prin-
cess fond of dress and fashions.
" Every ten daya," said the princess, " the
genie comes hither to lie with me one night,
which he never exceeds ; and the excuse he
makes for it is, that he is married to an-
other wife, who would grow jealous if she
came to know how unfaithful he was to her.
Meanwhile, if I have occasion for him by
day or night, as soon as I touch a talisman,
which is at the entrance into my chamber,
the genie appears. It is now the fourth day
since he was here, and I do not expect him
before the end of six more ; so, if you please,
you may stay five days and keep me com-
pany, and I will endeavour to entertain you
according to your quality and merit." I
thought myself too fortunate to have ob-
tained so great, a favour without asking it
to refuse so obliging a proffer. The princess
made me go into a bagnio, which was the
moat handsome, the most commodious, and
the most sumptuous that could be imagined >
and when I came forth, instead of my own
clothes, I found another very costly suit,
which I did not esteem so much for its rich-
ness, as because it made me look worthy to
be in her company. We sat down on a sofa
covered with rich tapestry, with cushions to
lean upon of the rarest Indian brocade ; and
some time after she coshered a table with
several dishes of delicate meats. We ate
together, and passed the remaining part of
the day with much satisfaction ; and at night
she received me to her bed.
The next day, as she contrived every
means to please me, she brought in at
dinner a bottle of old wine, the most excel-
lent that ever was tasted ; and out of com-
plaisance she drank some part of it with nie.
When my head grew hot with the agreeable
liquor, " Fair princess," said I, "you have
been too long thus buried alive : follow me,
and enjoy the real day, from which yoii
have been deprived so many years, and aban-
don this false light that you have here."
"Prince," rejUied she, with a smile, "leave
this discourse; if you out of ten days will
grant me nine, and resign the last to the
genie, the fairest day that ever was would
be nothing in my esteem." " Princess,"
said I, "it is the fear of the genie that
makes you speak thus ; for my part, I value
him BO little, that I will break in pieces his
talisman, with the conjuration that is writ-
ten about it. Let him come ; I will expect
him ; and how brave or redoubtable soPVcr
he be, I will make him feel the weight of my
arm. I swear solemnly that I will extirpate
all the genies in the world, and him first."
The princess, who knew the consequence, con-
jured me not to touch the talisman ; " for
that would be a means," said she, " to ruin
both you and me : I know what belongs to
genies better than you." The fumes of the
wine did not suffer me to hearken to her rea-
sons ; but I gave the talisman a kick with
my foot, and broke it in several pieces.
At these words Scheherazade perceiving
day, grew silent, and the sultan got up, not
doubting but the breaking of the talisman
had some remarkable event, and therefore
resolved to hear that story to the end.
The Forty-Fourth Night.
DiNABZADE being awaked somewhat before
day, said to the sultaness, Sister, if you are
not asleep, I pray you acquaint us with what
happened in the subterranean palace after
the prince had broken the talisman. — I am.
just going to relate it, said Scheherazade.
Upon which, resuming her narrative, she con-
tinued her discourse thus, in the person of the
second calender : —
The talisman was no sooner bi-oken but
the i>alace began to shake, and was ready to
fall, with a hideous noise like thunder, ac-
companied with flashes of lightning, and a
great darkness. This terrible noise in a
moment dispelled the fumes of my wine, and
made me sensible, but too late, of the folly I
had committed. "Princess," cried I, "what
means all this?" She answered in a fright,
and without any concern for her own mis-
fortune, "Alas! you are undone if you do
not escape presently."
I followed her advice, and my fears were
so great that I forgot my hatchet and cords.
I was scarcely got to the stairs by which
I came down, when the enchanted palace
opened at once, and made a passage for the
genie. He asked the princess, in great anger,
" What has happened to you, and why did
you call mo?" " A qualm .at my stomach,"
said the princess, "made me fetch this bottle
which you see here, out of which I drank
twice or thrice, and by mischance made a
ffvlse step, and fell upon the talisman, which
is broken; and that is all."
At this answer the furious genie told her,
"You are a false woman, and a liar; how
came that axe and those cords there?" " I
never saw them till this moment," said the
princess. " Your coming in such an im-
petuous manner has, it may be, forced them
up in some place, as you came along, and so
brought them hither without your knowing
it."
56
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The genie made no other answer but what
was accompanied with reproaches and blows,
of which I heard the noiae. I could not en-
dure to hear the pitiful cries and shouts of
the princess, so cruelly abuseiL I had al-
ready laid oif the suit she made mc i^ut on,
and taken my own, which I had laid on the
stairs the day before, when I came out of
the bagnio. I made haste up stairs, more
distracted with sorrow and. compassion, as I
had been the cause of so great a misfortune ;
and by sacrificing the fairest princess on
earth to the barbarity of a merciless genie, I
was become the most criminal and ungrate-
ful of mankind. " It is true," said I, " she
has been a prisoner these twenty-five years ;
but, liberty excepted, she wanted nothing
that could make her hajipy. My folly has
put an end to her happiness, and brought
upon her the cruelty of an unmerciful devil."
I let down the trap-door, covered it again
with earth, and returned to the city with a
burden of wood, which I bound up without
knowing what I did, so great was my trouble
and sorrow.
My landlord, the tailor, was very much
rejoiced to see me. "Your absence," said
he, "has disquieted me very much, by rea-
son you had intrusted me with the secret of
your birth, and I knew not what to think ;
I was afraid somebody had discovered you :
God be thanked for your return. " I thanked
him for his zeal and affection, but not a word
durst I say of what had passed, nor the rea-
son why I came back without my hatchet
and cords.
I retired to my chamber, where 1 re-
proached myself a thousand times for my
excessive imprudence. "Nothing," said I,
" could have paralleled the princess's good
fortune and mine, had I forborne to break
the talisman.
While I was thus giving myself over to
melancholy thoughts, the tailor came in.
"An old man," said he, "whom I do not
know, brir^3 me here your hatchet and cords,
which he found in his way, as he tells me,
and understood by your comrades that go
along with you to the woods that you lodge
here : come out and speak to him, for he will
deliver them to none but yourself."
At this discourse I changed colour, and fell
a trembling. Wliile the tailor was asking
me the reason, my chamber door oiiened at
once, and the old man, having no patience to
stay, appeared before us with my hatchet and
cords. This man was the genie, the ravisher
of the fair princess of the isle of Ebene,
who had thus disguised himself after he had
treated her with the iitmost barbarity. " I
am a genie," said he, " son of the daughter of
Eblis, prince of genies : is not this your
hatchet V" said he, speaking to me; "and arc
not these your cords ? "
Here Scheherazade saw day, and left off.
The sultan found the story of the second
calender too curious not to desire that he
might hear it out ; and therefore got np
with an intention to hear the rest next
mornins;.
The Forty-Fifth Night.
The day following, Dinarzade called upon
the sultaness : My dear sister, pray tell us
how the genie treated the prince. — I wish
to satisfy your curiosity, replied Schehera-
zade, and then resumed her story of the
second calender thus : —
The calender continuing his discourse to
Zobeide, Madam, said he, after tlie genie
had put the question to me, he gave me no
time to answer, nor was it in my power, so
much had his terrible aspect disordered me.
He grasped me by the middle, dragged me
out of the chamber, and mounted into the
air, carried me up to the skies with such
swiftness, that I perceived 1 was got so high
without being able to take notice of the
way, he carried me in so few moments. He
descended again in like manner to the earth,
which on a sudden he caused to open with
a stroke of his foot, and so sunk down at
once, where I found myself in the enchant-
ed palace, before the fair ])rincess of the isle
of Ebene. But, alas ! -what a spectacle was
there ! I saw what pierced me to the heart.
This poor princess was quite naked, welter-
ing in her blood, and laid upon the groimd,
more like one dead than alive, with her
checks bathed in tears.
"Perfidious wretch," said the genie to her,
])ointing at me, "is not this your gallant ? "
She cast her languishing eyes upon me, and
answered mournfully, "1 do not know him ;
I never saw him till this moment." "What ! "
said the genie, " he is the cause of thy being
in the condition thou art justly in ; and yet
darest thou say shou dost not know him ? "
"If I do not know him," said the princess,
" would you have me make a lie on pui-pose to
ruin him V " " Oh, then, " said the genie, pull-
ing out a scimitar, and presenting it to the
princess, " if you never saw him before, take
the scimitar and cut oif his head." " Alas ! "
replied the princess, "how is it possible that I
shoidd execute what you would force me to
do? My strength is so far spent that I
cannot lift up my arm : and if I could, how
shoidd I have the heart to take away the
life of an innocent man, and one whom I do
not know ?" "This refusal," said the genie to
the princess, "sufficiently informs me of your
crime." Upon which, turning to me, "And
thou," said he, "dost thou not know her?"
I should have been tho most ungrateful
wretch, and the most perfidious of all man-
kind, if I had not shewn myself as faithful
I
\\
the
do
ito
our
?"
sful
THE ENVIOUS MAN, AND HIM THAT HE ENVIED.
57
to the priuccas as she waa to me, who hod
been the cause of her misfortunes ; there-
fore, I answered the genie, " How should I
know her, when I never saw her till now?"
"If it be so," said he, " take the scimitar and
cut off her head : on this condition I will
set thee at liberty, for then I shall be con-
vinced that thoti didst never see her till this
very moment, as thou sayest. " "With all my
heart," replied I, and took the scimitar in my
hand.
But, sir, said Scheherazade, it is day, and
I ought not to abuse your majesty's pa-
tience. — These are wonderfid events, said
the sultan to himself. We shall know to-
morrow if the prince was so cruel as to pay
obedience to the genie's command.
The Forty-Sixth Night.
When the night was near at an end, Dinar-
zade said to the sidtancss. Sister, if you be
not asleep, I would pray you to continue
the story which you could not finish yester-
day. — I will, says Scheherazade, and with-
out loss of time you shall understand that
the second calender went on thus : —
Do not think, madam, that I drew near
to the fair princess of the isle of Ebene to
be tlip executioner of the genie's barbarity.
i ■,'' i it only to demonstrate by my beha-
viour, as much as possible, that as she had
shewn her resolution to sacrifice her life for
my sake, I would not refuse to sacrifice
mine for hers. The princess, notwithstand-
ing her pain and suffering, understood my
meaning, which she signified by an obliging
look, and made me xmderstand her will-
ingness to die for me, and that she was
satisfied to see how willing I was alao to die
for her. Upon this, I stepped back, and
threw the scimitar on the ground. " I shall
forever," said T to the genie, " be hateful to
all mankind, shoidd I bo so base as to mur-
der, I do not only say a person whom I do
not know, but a lady like this, who is ready
to give up the ghost : do with me what you
please, since I am in your power ; I cannot
obey your barbarous commands."
"I see," said the genie, "that you both out-
brave me, and insult my jealousy ; but both
o£ you shall know, by the treatment I give
you, what I am capable of doing." At these
words the monster took up the scimitar,
and cut off one of her hands, which left her
only 80 much of life as to give me a token
with the other that she bid me adieu for
ever ; for the blood she had lost before, and
that which gushed ut then, did not permit
her to live above one or two moments after
this barbarous cnielty, the sight of which
threw me into a fit. When I was come to
myself again, I expostidated with the genie
why he made me languish in expectation of
death. " Strike," cried I, " for I an ready
to receive the mortal blow, and expect it as
the greatest favour you can shew me," But
instead of agreeing to that, "Look ye," said
he, "how genies treat their wives whom
they suspect of unfaithfulness : she has re-
ceived thee here; and were I certain that
she had put any further affront upon me, I
would put thee to death this minute ; but I
wiU content myself to transform thee into a
dog, ape, lion, or bird ; take thy choice of
any of these, — I will leave it to thyself."
These words gave me some hopes to mol-
lify him. "0 genie," said I, " moderate your
passion, and since you will not take away
my life, give it me generously : I shall
always remember your clemency, if you
pardon me, as one of the beat men in the
world pardoned one of his neighbours that
bore him a mortal hatred." The genie asked
me what had passed between those two
neighbours, and said he woidd have patience
till he heard the story, which I told him
thus; and I believe, madam, you will not
' ke it ill if I also relate it to you : — .
THE STOKY OF THE EJTVIOUS MAN, AND OF
HIM THAT HE ENVIED.
In a considerable town, two persons dwelt
next door to one another : one of them con-
ceived such a violent hatred against the
other, that he who was hated resolved t»
remove his dwelling farther off, being per-
suaded that their being neighbours was the
only cause of his animosity ; for though he
had done Lim several i)ieces of service, he
found, nevertheless, that his hatred was
nothing diminished; therefore he sold his
house, with what goods he had left, and
retired to the capital city of that kingdom,
which was not far distant. He bought a
little spot of ground, which lay about half a
league from the city ; he had a house con-
venient enough, with a fine garden, and a
pretty spacious court, wherein there was a
deep well, which was not in use.
The honest man having made this pur-
chase, put on a dervise's or monk's habit, to
lead a retired life, and caused several cells
to be made in the house, where in a short
time he established a numerous society of
dervisea. He soon came to be publicly
known by his virtue, through which he ac-
quired the esteem of many people, as well
of the commonalty as of the chief of the
city: in short, he was extremely honoured
and cherished by every one. People came
from afar to recommend themselves to his
prayers; and all who came to live with
him published what blessings they received
through his means.
The great reputation of this honest man
58
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
having spread to the town from whence he
camoj it touched the envious mim so much
to the quick, that he left liis house and
affairs with a resohition to go and ruin liim.
With this intent he went to the new convent
of dervises, of whicii his former neighbour
was the heml, 'yho niceived him with all
imaginable tokens of friendship. The en-
vious man told him ihat he was come on
jmrpose to communicate a business of im-
portance to him, which he could not do but
in private. "And that nobody may hear us,
let lis," said he, " take a walk in your court ;
and seeing night begins to draw on, command
your dervises to retire to their cells." The
head of the dervises did as he re(|uired.
When the envious man saw that he was
alone with this good man, he began to tell
his errand, walking side by side in the court,
till he saw his opportunity ; and getting the
good man near the brink of the well, ho gave
him a thrust, and inished him into it, with-
out anybody being witness to so wicked an
action. Having done thus, he marched off
immediately, got out at the gate of the con-
vent without being known to any one, and
went home to his own house, well satisfied
with his journey, being fully j)ersuaded that
the object of his hatred was no more in this
world ; but he found himself highly mistaken.
Scheherazade could go no farther, because
day began to appear. The sultan conceived
great indignation against the envious man,
and said to himself, I heartily wish that no
hurt may have come to this honest man. I
hope to hear to-morrow that Heaven did not
forsake him on this occasion.
The Forty-Seventh Night.
If you be not asleep, sister, said Dinar-
zade, next morning, I conjure you to tell ua
if the honest dervise came safe and sound
out of the well. — Yes, replied Schehera-
zade, and the second calender pursued his
story thus: — This old well, said he, was
inhabited by fairies and genies, which hap-
pened luckily for the relief of the head of
the convent; for they received and sup-
ported him, and carried him to the bottom,
so that he got no hurt. He perceived well
enough that there was something extraordi-
nary in his fall, which must otherwise have
cost him his life; whereas he neither saw
nor felt anything. But he soon heard a
voice, which said, " Do you know what honest
man this is, to whom we have done this
piece of service ? " Another voice answered,
"No." To which the first replied, "Then I
will tell you. This man, out of charity, the
greatest that ever was known, left the town
he lived in, and has established himself in
this place, in hopes to cure one of his neigh-
bours of the envy he had conceived against
him : he had acquired such a general esteem
that the envious man, not able to endure it,
came hither on purpose to ruin him, which
he hail performed, had it not been for the
assistance which we have given this honest
man, whose reputation is so great, that the
sultan, who keeps his residence in the neigh-
bouring city, was to pay him a visit to-
morrow, to recommend the princess his
daughter to his prayers. "
Another voice asked, "What need had the
princess of the dervise's prayers ?" To which
the first answered, " You do not know, it
seems, that she is possessed by genie Mai-
moun, the son of Dimdim, who is fallen in
love with her. But I know well how this
good head of the dervises may cure her ; the
thing is very easy, and I will tell it yon.
\
SaSI
I I
THE ENVIOUS MAN, AND HIM THAT HE ENVIED.
59
He has a black cat in hia convent, with a
white spot at the end of her tail, about the
bigness of a small piece of Arabian money;
let him only pull neven hairs nut of the
white spot, bum them, and smoke the prii.-
cess's head with the fume, who will not only
be presently cured, but be so safely delivered
from Maimoun, tho son of Dimdim, that he
will never dare to come near her a second
time."
The liead of the derx'ises remembered
every word of the discourse between the
fairies and the jjenies, who were very silent
all the nij^ht after. The next morning by
break of day, when he could discern one
thing from another, the well being broken
down in several places, he saw a hole, by
which he crept out with case.
The other dervises, who had been seeking
for him, were rejoiced to see liim : he gave
them a brief account of the wickeibiess of
that man to whom he liad given so kind a
reception the day before, and retired into
his cell. It was not long till the black cat,
of whom the fairies and the gcnies had made
mention in their discourses the night before,
came to fa^vn upoii her master, as she was
accustomed to do ; ho took her uj), and indled
out seven hairs of the white spot that was
npon her tail, and laid them aside for his
use when occasion should serve.
The sun was not high, when the sultan,
who would leave no means imtried that he
thought could restore the princess to perfect
health, arrived at the gate of the convent.
He commanded his guards to halt, whilst he
with his principal officers went in. The
dervises received him with profound respect.
The sxdtan called their head aside, and
said, " Good sheich, it may be you know
already the cause of my coming hither."
" Yes, sir," replied he very gravely ; " if I
do not mistake, it is the disease of the
princess which procures me this unmerited
honour." "That is the very thing," replie<l
the sultan. " You will give me new life if
your prayers, as I hope they will, can pro-
cure my daughter's health." " Sir," said
the good man, " if your majesty will be
pleased to let her come hither, I am in hopes,
through God's assistance and favoui-, she
shall return in perfect health."
The prince, transjiorted with joy, sent im-
mediately to fetch his daughter, who very
soon appeared with a numerous train of ladies
and eunuchs, but masked, so that her face
was not seen. The chief of the dervises
caused a pall to be held over her head, and
he had no sooner thrown the seven hairs
upon the burning coals, than the genie Mai-
moun, the son of Dimdim, gave a great cry,
without anything being seen, and left the
princess at liberty ; upon which she took off
the veil from her face, and rose up to see
where she was, saying, " Where am I, and
who brought me hither!" At which words,
the sultan, overcome with excess of joy, em-
braced his daughter, and kissed her eyes ;
lie also kissed the chief of the dervises' hands,
and said to his oflicrrs, " Tell me your
opinion, what reward does he deserve that
has thus cured my daughter? " They all cried,
" He deserves her in marriage." " This is
what I had in my thoughts," said the stdtan ;
" and I make him my son-in-law from this
mon)ent." Some time after, the prime vizier
died, and the sultan conferred the jdace on
the' dervise. The sultan himself also died
without heirs-male ; upon which, the reli-
giotis orders and the militia gathered to-
gether, and the good man was declared an<l
acknowledged sultan by general consent.
Daylight appearing, Scheherazade was
obliged to break oft' her story. Schahriar
looked upon the dervise to be worthy of
the crown he had got, but was desirous to
know if the envious man did not die for
spite ; and got up with an intention to hear
it next night.
The Forty-Eighth Night.
DiN'AKZADE, when it was time, addressed
her speech to the sidtaness thus : — My dear
sister, said she, if you be not asleep, I would
pray you to continue the story of the hated
and envious man. — 'With all my heart, an-
swered Scheherazade. The second calender
continued his story thus : — The honest der-
vise, said he, being mounted on the throne
of liis father-in-law, as he was one day in
the midst of his courtiers upon a march, he
espied the envious man among the crowd of
people that stood as he passed along, and
calling one of the viziers that attended him,
whispered him in his ear thus — " Go, bring
me that man you see there ; but take care
you do not frighten him." The vizier
obej'cd, and when the envious man was
brought into his presence, the stdtan said,
" Friend, I am extremely glad to see you."
Upon which he called an officer. "Go imme-
diately," said he, "and cause to be paid the
man out of my treasury one hundn d pieces
of gold ; let him have also twenty load of
the richest merchandise in my storehouses,
and a eutficient guard to conduct him to his
house." After he had given this charge to
the officer, he bid the envious man fareweU,
and proceeded on his march.
When I had finished the recital of this
story to the genie, the murderer of the
princess of the isle of Ebene, I made the
application to himself thus: — "Ogenie! you
Bee here that this bountifiU sultan did not
content himself with forgetting the design
of the envious man to take away his life,
but treated him kindly, and sent him back
with aU the favours which I just now re-
f
60
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
i
Inted." In short, I mnclo uhc of all my elo-
quence, prayinj; him to imitate ho good an
example, and to grant me i>ardon; but it
was impossible for mo to move his eompas-
sion.
'• All that I can do for thee," said he, " is,
that I will not take thy life : do not Hatter
thyself that I will send thee safe and sound
bock ; I must let thee feel what I am able
to do by my enchantments." So saying, he
laid violent hands on me, and carried mc
across the vault of the subterranean palace,
which ojjcned to give him passage ; he flew
lip with mo so high, that the earth seemed
to be only a little white cloud ; from thence
ho came down again like lightning, and
alighted ujjon the ridge of a mountain.
There he took up a handful of earth, and
pronounced, or rather muttered, 8f)me words
which I did not understand, and threw it
upon me. " Quit the shape of a man," said
he to me, " and take on thee that of an ope."
Ho vanished immediately, and left me alone,
transformed into an ape, overwhelmed M-ith
sorrow in a strnnge country, not knowing
whether I was near or far from my father's
dominions.
I went down from the top of the moun-
tain, and came into a plain country, which
took me a month's time to travel through,
and then I came to the sea-side. It hap-
pened to be then a great calm, and I espied
a vessel about half a league from the shore.
UnwiUing to lose this good opportunity, I
broke off a large branch from a tree, which
I carried with me to the sea-side, and set
myself astride u])on it, with a stick in each
hand, to serve me for oars.
I launched out in this posture, and ad-
vanced near the ship. When I was nigh
enough to bo known, the seamen and pas-
sengers that were upon the deck thought
it an extraordinary sight, and all of them
looked upon mo with great astonishment.
In the meantime I got aboard, and laying
hold of a rope, I jumped upon the deck, but
having lost my speech, I found myself in
great perplexity ; and indeed the risk I ran
then was nothing less than when I was at
the mercy of the genie.
The merchants, being both superstitious
and scrupidous, believed I should occasion
some mischief to their voyage if they re-
ceived me ; therefore, said one, " I will
knock him down with a L.-.-idspike ; " says
another, ' ' I wUl shoot an arrow through his
guts ;" says a third, " Let us throw him into
the sea." 8ome of them woidd not have
failed to execute their design, if I had not
got to that side where the captain was ;
when I threw myself at his feet, and took
him by the coat in a begging posture. This
action, together with the tears which he
saw gush from my eyes, moved his compas-
sion, so that he took me under Lis protec-
tion, threatening to be revenged on him
that would do mo the least hurt ; and ho
himself made very much of mo, while I, on
my part, though I had no power to 8]>euk,
shewed oil possible signs of gratitude by my
gestures.
The wind that succeeded the calm was
gentle and favourable, and did not change
f(jr fifty days, but brought us safe to tlie
port of a fine city, well peopled, and of
great trade, the capital of a powerful state,
where wo came to an anchor.
Our vessel was speedily surrounded with
on infinite number of boats full of ijcojile,
who came to congratidato their friends upon
their safe arrival, or to inquire for those
they had left behind them in the country
from whence they came, or out of curiosity
to ice a ship that came from a far country.
Amongst the rest some officers came on
board, desiring to speak with the merchants
in the name of the sultan. The merchants
a|)i)caring, one of the officers told them,
" The siUton, our master, hath commanded
us to accpiaint you that he is glad of your
safe arrival, and prays you to take the
trouble, every one of you, to write some
lines upon this roll of paper : and that his
design by this may be understood, you must
know that we had a prime vizier who, be-
sides a great capacity to manage affairs, un-
derstood writing to the highest perfection.
This minister is lately dead, at which the
sultan is very much troubled ; and since he
can never behold his writing without admi-
ration, he has made a solemn vow not to
give the place to any man but to him who
can write as well as he did. Many people
hove presented their writings, but to this
day nobody in all this empire has been
judged worthy to sujjply the vizier's place."
Those merchants that believed they could
write well enough to pretend to this high
dignity wrote one after another what they
thought tit. After they had done I atl-
vanced, and took the roll out of the gentle-
man's hand ; but all the jieople, especially
the merchants, cried out, "He will tear it,
or throw it into the sea ; " till they saw how
properly I held the roll, and made a sign
that I would write in my turn : then they
were of another opinion, and their fear
turned into admiration. However, since
they hod never seen an ape that could
write, nor could be persuaded that I was
more ingenious than other apes, they offered
to snatch the roll out of my hand ; but the
captain took my part once more. " Let him
alone," said he; " sufi'er him to write. If
he only scribbles the paper, I promise you
that I will punish him upon the spot ; if, on
the coutrory, he writes well, as I hope he
will, because I never saw an ape so clever
and ingenious, and so quick of apprehension,
I do declare that I will own him as my son.
THE SECOS'D CALENDER.
Cl
sign
I they
fear
■since
pould
was
[fered
the
iliim
If
you
If, on
le he
llever
ill
I hwl one that had not half tho wit that ho
haw." PercL'iviiij,' that nobody opposed my
design, I took the pen, and wrote six sorts
of hands used amonir tho Arabians, and each
specimen contained an extemporary distich
or (piatrain in praise of tho sultan. My
writing did not only excel that of the mer-
chants, but, I venture to way, they had not
before seen any such fair writing in that
country. When I had done, the ollicers
took tho roll, and carried it to the sultan.
Thus far was 8cheherazade coino in her
story when daylight appeared. Sir, said
she to Schahriar, if I had time to continue,
I would give your majesty an account of
things far more surprising than what I have
already told. The sultan, who had re-
flolved to hear the end of tho story, got up
without saying a word.
The Forty-Ninth Night.
TiiK next morning, Dinarzade, being awake
before day, called the sultaness, and said,
.Sister, if you be not asleep, pray let ua
hear tho rest of the adventures that befell
tho ape. I believe my lord the sultan is no
less curious to know it than myself. — You
shall both bo soon satisfied, answered Sche-
herazade. Tho second calender continued
his story thus : —
The sultan took little notice of any of the
other writings, but considered mine, which
was so much to his liking, that he said to
the officers, " Take the finest horse in my
stable, with the richest harness, and a robe
of the most sumptuous brocade to put upon
that person who wrote the six hands, and
bring him hither to me." At this command
the officers could not forbear laughing : the
sultan grew angry at their boldness, and
was ready to punish them ; till they told
him, " Sir, we humbly beg your majesty's
pardon : these hands were not written by a
man, but by an ape." "What do you say?"
said tho sultan ; " those admirable charac-
ters, are they not written by the hands of a
man?" "No, sir, "replied the officers; "wo
do assure your majesty that it was an ape
who wrote them in our presence." The
sultan was too much surprised at this ac-
count not to desire a sight of me; and
therefore said, " Do what I command
you, and bring me speedily that wonderful
ape."
The officers returned to the vessel, and
shewed the captain their order, who an.
Bwered, " The sidtan's command must be
obeyed." Whereupon they clothed me with
that rich brocade robe, and carried me
ashore, where they set me on horseback,
whilst the sidtan waited for me at his
palace, with a great number of courtiers,
whom ho gathered together to do mo tho
more honour.
Tho cavalcade being begun, the harbour,
the streets, tho public places, windows, ter-
races, palaces, and houses woro tilled with
an infinite number of people of all sorts,
who tlockcd from all parts of tho city to seo
me ; for tho rumour was spread in a mo-
ment that the sultan had chos(>n an ape to
be his grand vizier ; and after having served
for a spectacle to the people, who could not
forbear to express their 8uri)ri8e by re-
doubling their shouts and cries, I arrived at
the ]>alace of tho sultan.
I found tho i)rince on his throne, in the
midst of tho grandees : I niado my bow three
times, very low, and at last kneeled and
kissed the ground before him, and after-
wards sat down on my seat in tho posture
of an ape. The whole assembly admired
me, and could not comprehend how it was
possible that an ape should understand so
well to pay the sultan his due respect ; and
he himself was more astonished than any.
In short, the usual ceremony of the audience
would have been complete, could I have
added speech to my behaviour; but apes do
never speak, and the advantage I had of
having been a man did not allow me that
privilege.
The sultan dismissed his courtiers, and
none remained by him but the chief of tho
eunuchs, a little young slave, and myself.
He went fnjm his chamber of audience into
his own apartment, where he ordered dinner
to be brought. As he sat at table, bo gave
me a sign to come near and eat with them :
to shew my obedience, I kissed the ground,
stood up, sat down at table, and ate with
discretion and moderation.
Before the table was uncovered, I espied
a writing-desk, which I made a sign should
be brought me. Having got it, I wrote upon
a large peach some verses after my way,
which testified my acknowledgment to the
sultan; who, having read them after my
presenting him the peach, it increased his
astonishment. When the table was unco-
vered, they brought him a particular liquor,
of which he caused them to give me a glass,
I drank, and wrote upon it some new verses,
which explained the state I was reduced to,
after many sufferings. The sultan read them
likewise, and said, " A man that was capable
of doing so much would be above the greatest
of men."
The sultan caused them to bring in a
chess-board, and asked me, by a sign, if I
understood that game, and would play with
him. I kissed the ground, and lajring my
hand upon my head, signified that I was
ready to rec.'ive that honour. He won the
first game, but I won the second and third •,
and perceiving he was somewhat displeased
at it, I made a quatrain, to pacify him; in
i !
62
THE ARAniAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAIS'MENTS.
which 1 tiilil htm t)iat twn |i(iti'iit iiniiiux
hiiil hecii tiglittu>; fiiriiiUHly nil dity, but thikt
they miulo up a poiuK^ towanlH the (■vi'tiini,',
nnd luiflsc'd tliu reiimining ]>iirt of tliu night
very {luncuably toj^ethcr tijiou the lield of
Imttle.
So many i;ircuriiHtanc('s apiicariug to thu
Htdtaii far lieyoml whatever any ono liad
cither Been or known of tlie eluverneHH or
sensu of apes, he determined not to hu thu
only witness of those jtrodi^icH himself, but
havin;^adau>;hter, called the Lady of Heauty,
on whom the chief of the eunuchs, then ])re-
sent, waited, "(!o," said the sultan to him,
" and bid your lady come hither: 1 am de-
sirous she sbotdd share my jiieaMiire."
Theeimucli went, and iniinediatily brought
tho priucesH, who had lier face uncovered;
but she was no sooner come into the room
than she i)ut on her veil, and said to tlie
sultan, " !Sir, your majesty must needs have
forgotten yourself : J am very much sur-
prised that your majesty lias sent for mu to
appear among men." "How, daughter!"
said tlie sultan, "you do not know what
you say : here is nobody l)ut the little slave,
the eunuch your governor, and myself, who
have the liberty to see your face ; and yet
you lower your veil, and Idanie me for having
sent for you hither !" " .Sir," said the i)rin-
cess, "your majesty shall soon understand
that I am not in the wrong. That ajie you
see before you, though he has the sha[)e of
an ape, is a young prince, son of a great
king ; he has been metamor]>hosed into an
ape by enchantment. A genie, tho son of
the daughter of Eblis, has maliciously done
him this wrong, after having cruelly taken
awaj' • '>e life of the princess of the isle of
Ebene, daughter to the king of Epitimanis."
The sultan, astonished at this discourse,
turned towards me, and spoke no more by
signs, but in ])lain words asked me if it was
true what his daughter said. Seeing I could
not speak, I p\it my hand to my head to sig-
nify that what the princess spoke was t.iie.
Upon this, the sultan said again to his.
daughter, "How do you know that this
])riuce has been transformed by enchant-
ments into au ape?" "Sir," replied the
Lady of Beauty, ' ' your maj csty may rem em -
ber that when I wits past my infancy, I had
an old lady waited upon me ; she was a most
expert magician, and taught me seventy rules
of magic, by virtue of which I can transport
your capital city into the midst of the sea in
the twinkling of an eye, or beyond Mount
Caucasus. By this science I know all en-
chanted persona at first sight : I know who
they are, and by whom they have been en-
chanted ; therefore do not be surprised if I
should forthwith relieve this prince, in spite
of the enchantment, from that which hinders
him to appear in your sight what he natu-
rally is." "Daughter," said the sultan, "I
did pot believe you to liave undenitoo<l so
nnich." " Sir," replied the jirineesH, " tlieso
things arc curious and worth kiuiwiiig; but
r think 1 ought imt to boast of them."
"Since it is 8(»," said the sultan, "you can
dispel the prince's enchantment." "Yen,
sir," said the jirincess, " I can restore him
to liis (ii-st shape again." "Do it, then,"
said the sidtau, " you cannot do me a greater
pleasure ; for 1 will have him to be my vizier,
and he shall marry you." "Sir," said the
princess, " I am re;uly to obey you in all
that you should be ple:i8ed to command me."
Scheherazade, as slu; B|M>ke, e8i)ied day,
and broke otf her story of the 8econ<l ciUen-
der : and .Schahriar, judging the se()uel
woidd be as diverting as the former part of
it, resolved to hear it next day.
Tho Fiftieth Night.
DiNAiiZAKK called the sultaness at the usual
hour, saying. Sister, if you be not asleep,
])ray do us the favour to tell us how the
Lady of Beauty restored the second calender
to his former shape. — You shall hear it, said
Seheherazaile. The calender resumed his dis-
course t bus : —
The jtrincess, the Lady of Beauty, went
into her apartment, from whejice she brought
in a knife, which had some Hebrew words
engraven on the bhule : she made the sulttui,
the master of the etmuchs, the little slave,
and myself, go down into a jirivate court of
the palace, and there left us under a gallery
that went round it. She placed herself in
the middle of the court, where she made a
great circle, and within it she wrote several
words in Arabian characters, some of them
Ancient, and others of those which they call
the characters of Cleopatra.
When she had finished and prepared the
circle as she thought fit, she jilaced herself
in the centre of it, where she began .objura-
tions, and repeated verses out of the Koran.
The air grew insensibly dark as if it had
been night, and the whole world about to be
dissolved : we found ourselves stnick with a
panic, and this fear increased the more when
we saw the genie, the son of the daughter of
Eblis, appear on a sudden in the shape of a
lion of a frightful size.
As soon as the princess perceived this
monster, "You dog," said she, " instead of
creeping before me, dare you i)rosent your-
self in this shape thinking to frighten me?"
" And thou," replied the lion, " art thou not
afraid to break the treaty which was solemnly
made and confirmed between us by oath, not
to wrong or do one another any hurt ? " " O
thou cursed creature ! " replied the princess,
" I can justly reproach thee with doing so."
The lion answered fiercely, " Thou ahalt
■
I
of
liry
in.
■ a
ral
hem
Liall
THE SECOND CALENDER.
63
quickly have thy reward for tho troiihlo
thuu hiutt Kivcn mn to rrtiirii:" witli that
he opfiied hiH t*>rril>h! tliroat, ami ran at Iht
to duvour hor; liut (the, hcint,' on licr i;iiiir(l,
li'a|K'd hackwunl, ^ot timi' to ]iull out oni-
of her hairx, an<l by pronouncini,' three or
four wonU, chan>!e<l hemelf into a, Hlmrp
Hword, wherewith who cut tho lion througli
the middle in two ])iecen.
The two parts of tlie lion vanitihed, and
the lieft<l only was left, wliicii eliaULted itself
into a larfjo Mcorpion. Immediately the ])rin-
cesH turned lieraelf into a HerjK'nt, and fouj^iit
the Mcoq)ion, who, Hndini; himself worsted,
took tho Hhape of an canle, and (lew away ;
but tho serpent at the same time took also
the Hha|H3 of an ea,i;lc, that was black and
much Ntronjjer, and pursued him, so that wo
lost the si^ht of them both.
Some time after they had disapjieared, the
^ound oi)ened before us, and out of it came
forth a cat, black and white, with her hair
standing upright, and mewing in a frii,'htful
manner ; a black wolf followed her close,
and gave her no time to rest. The cat beiii'^'
thus hard beset, chan,;;ed herself into a worm,
an<l bein;; nigh to a pomegranate that had
accidentally fallen from a tree that gn.'w on
the side of a canal, which was deep, Init not
broad, the worm pierced the jMimegranate in
an instant, and hid himself, but the pome-
granate swelled immediately, and became ivs
big as a gourd, which mounting U]) to the
roof of the gallery, rolled there for some
space, backwanl and forward, fell down
again into the court, and broke into several
pieces.
The wi'lf, who had in the meantime trans-
formed itself into a cock, fell to picking up
the seeds of tlie pomegranate one after an-
other ; but finding no more, he came towards
us with his wings spread, making a great
noise, as if he would .-isk ns whether there
was any more seed. There was one lying
on the brink of the canal, which the cock
perceiving as he went back, ran speedily
thither; but just as he was going to pick it
I'" *-hi- seed rolled into the river, and turned
11.. . ittle Hsh.
But 1 see day, sir, said Scheherazade ; had
it not '-ome so suddenly, I am persuaded
what ad farther to say would have given
your ijesty a great de.al of satisfaction.
Upon this, she stopped, and the sultan arose:
but his thoughts being altogether taken uj)
with such luiheard-of adventures, he was
extremely impatient +'11 he heard the rest of
the story.
J.
The Fifty-First Night.
DiNARZADE made no scruple to disturb the
sultaness next mor ig, and called to her.
Sister, if you be not .uileep, pray begin wlierc
you left oil" that wonderful story last night:
I am very desirous to ki.ow what followed
after all those metamor|)ho8es. — Sehehera-
/ado recollected where she had stopiK'd, and
addressing her discourse to the sultan, Hir,
said she, the second calender continued his
story after this manner: —
The cock jum|)ed into tho river, and was
turned into a pike, that ])ursued the small
fish; they continueil both unih.'r water above
two hours, and we knew not what was be-
conu! of them, but all on a sudden we heard
terrible cries, whieh made us tremble, and a
little while after we saw tho genie and ]>rin-
cess all in tlames. Thi'y throw Hashes of (ire
out of their niniitlis at each other, till they
came tt> close cjiiarters; then the two lires
increased, with a thick burning smoke, which
mounted so high, that we had reason to fear
it would set the ])alace on lire, liut we
very soon had a niori^ j)res8ing occasion of
fvar, for the genie having got loose fmm the
])riiicess, canio to tho gallery where we stood,
and blew llamcs of lire up(ui us. We had
all perished if the princess, running to our
assistance, had not by her cries forced him
to retire, and defend himself against her;
yet, notwithstanding all her exertions, she
could not hinder tho sultan's bearil frtmi
being liurnt, and his face Hj)oiled, the chief
of the eunuchs from being stilled, and burnt
on the spot, and a sjiark from entering my
right eye, and making it blind. Tho sultan
and I expected nothing but death, when we
hearil a cry of "Victory, victory!" and on a
sudden the i)rinces8 appeared in hor natural
shape, but tho genie was reduced to a heaj*
of ashes.
Tho princess c.ame near to us, that she
might not lose time, called for a cu]iful of
water, which the young slave, who bad re-
ceived no damage, brought her. She took
it, and after pronouncing some words over
it, threw it ujion me, saying. If tlioii ivrt be-
come an ape by enchantment, change thy
shape, and take that of a man, which thou
hadst before. These words were hardly ut-
tered, till I became a man as I was before,
one eye only excepted.
I was preparing myself to give thanks to
the j)rinces8, but she prevented me by ad-
dressing herself to her father thus: — "Sir, I
have gained the victory over the genie, as
your majesty may see; but it is a victory
that coats nie dear ; I have but a few minutes
to live, and you will not have the satisfac-
tion to make the match you intended; the
fire has pierced me during the terrible coni-
bat, and I find it consumes me by degrees.
This woidd not have happened, had I jjer-
ceived the last of the pomegranate seeds,
and swallowed it, as I did the other when I
was changed into a cock : the genie had tied
thither aa to his last entrenchment, and upon
that the success of the combat depended,
64
^HE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
•which would have been successful, and with-
out danger to me. This slip obliged me to
have recourse to fire, and to fight with those
mighty arms as I did between heaven and
earth, in your presence ; for, in spite of all
his redoubtable art and experience, I made
the genie know that I understood more than
he : I have conquered and reduced him to
ashes, but I cannot escape death, which is
approaching."
Here Scheherazade broke off the story of
the second calender, and said to the sultan,
S.'r, daylight ai>pears, which forbids me to
say any more; but if your majesty thinks
fit to let me live till to-morrow, you shall
hear the end of this story. Schahriar con-
sented, and got up according to custom to
take care of the affairs of his empire.
The Fifty-Second Night.
DiNAEZADE awaking some time before day,
called upon the sultaness, and said. My
dear sister, if you be not asleep, I would
pray you to finish the story of the second
calender. Scheherazade resumed her dis-
courae, and went on as follows : - -
The caleuder always directing his speech
to Zobeidc, told her, Madam, the sultan
suffered the princess, the J ady of Beauty, to
go on with the recital of her combat, and
when she had done, he spok to her in a
tone that sufficiently testified his grief. "My
dauglitcr," said he, ' ' you see in what condition
your father is; alas ! I wonder that I am yet
alive ! Your governor, the cnnuch, is dead,
anil the prince whom you have delivered
from his enchantment lias lost one of his
eyes." He coidd speak no more, for his tears,
sighs, and sobs made him sj)oochless ; his
daughter and 1 Avere exceedingly sensible of
his sorrow, and wept with him.
In the meantime, while we were vying
with each other in grief, the princess cried,
"I burn! I burn!" She found that the fire
which consumed her had at last seized upon
her whole body, whioli made her still cry, "I
burn," until deatli had made an end of her
intolerable pains. The effect of that fire was
so extraordinary, that in a few moments
she was whoUy reduced to ashes, as was the
genie.
I cannot tell you, madam, how much I
was grieved at so dismal a spectacle ; I had
rather all my life have continued an ape or
a dog, than to have seen my benefactress
thus miserably perish. The sultan being
afflicted beyond all that can be imagined,
cried out piteously, and beat himself on his
head and stomach, until being quite over-
come with grief, he fainted away, which
made me fear for his life. In the meantime
the eunuchs and officers came running at
the sultan's cries, and with very much ado
brought him to himself again. There was
no need for that prince and me to give
them a long narrative of this adventure, in
order to convince them of their great loss.
The two heaps of ashes, into which the
princess and the genie had been reduced,
were sufficient demonstration. The sidtap
was hard'y able to stand, but was forced to
be supported by them till he could get to his
apartment.
When the noise of the tragical event had
spread itself tliro-agh the palace and the
city, aU the peoi)le bewailed the misfortune
of the princess, the Lady of Beauty, and
were much affected by the sultan's affliction.
Every one was in deep mourning for seven
days, and many ceremonies were perforii:<>d.
The ashes of the genie were thrown into the
air, but those of the princess were gathered
into a precious ur-'j, to be kept, and the urn
was set in a str,cely tomb, which was built
for that purpose on the same place where the
ashes had lain.
The grief which the sultan conceived foi
the loss of his daughter threw him into a fit
oi sickness, which confined him to his cham-
ber for a whole month. He had not fully
recovered strengtii when he sent for me.
" Prince," said he, "hearken to the orders
that I now give you ; it will cost you your life
if you do not put them into execution." I as-
sured him of exact ol)edience. Upon which,
he went on tlms : "I have constantly hved in
l)erfect felicity, and was never crossed ))y any
accident : but by your arrival all the lijippi-
noss I possessed is vanished ; my daughter
is dead, her governor is no more, and it is
through a miracle that I am yet alive. You
arc the cause of all those misfortunes, for
which it is impossible that I should be com-
forted ; therefore depart from hence in peace,
without farther delay, for I myself must
perish if you stay any longer : I am persuaded
that your presence brings mischief along with
it. This is all I have to say to you. Depart,
and take care of ever appearing again in my
dominions ; no consideration whatsoever
shall hinder me from making you repent of
it." I was going to speak, but he stopped
my mouth by words full of anger; and so I
was obliged to remove from his palace, re-
jected, banished, an outcast from the world;
and not knowing what would become of me,
before I left the city I went into a bagnio,
where I caused my beard and eyebrows to
be shaved, and put on a calender's habit. I
began my journey, not so much deploring my
own miseries as the death of the two fair
princesses, of which I had been the occasion.
I jiassed through many countries without
making myself known ; at last I resolved to
come to Bagdad, in hopes to get myself in-
troduced to the commander of the faithful,
to move his compassion by giving him an
jithter
it is
You
les, for
com-
iig my
ro fair
:asiou.
ithout
ved to
elf in-
ithful,
ioi ail
THE THIRD CALENDER.
65
account of my strange adventures. I came
hither this evening, and the first man I met
was this calender, our brother, who spoke
before me. You know the remaining part,
madam, and the cause of my having the
honour to be here.
When the second calender made an end of
his story, Zobeide, to whom he liad addressed
his speech, told him, It is well; you may
go which way you please; I give you leave:
but instead of departing, he also petitioned
the lady to shew him the same favour she
had vouchsafed to the first calender, and
went and sat down by him. — But, sir, said
Scheherazade, as she sjjoke these words, it is
day, and I must not proceed; I dare, how-
ever, assure you, that how agreeable soever
this story of the second calciuler may seem
to you, that of the third will be no less
worthy of your hearing, if your majesty be
pleased to havo patience. The sultan being
desirous to know whether it would appear so
wonderfiU as the last, got out of bed with a
resolution to prolong Scheherazade's life
f.arther, though the delay he had granted
was determined several days before.
The Fifty-Third Night.
About the latter end of the following night,
Dinarzade addressed herself to the siUtaness
thus : — Dear sister, I pray, until day apjicar,
which will be very soon, be pleased to relate
some of the fine stories you have read. —
I woiUd willingly, said Schahriar, hear the
story of the third calender. — Sir, replied
Scheherazade, you shall be obeyed. The
third calender, perceiving it was his turn to
speak, addressed his speech as the rest had
done, to Zobeide, and began in this nian-
the history of the third calender, a
king's son.
My story, most honourable lady, very
much differs from what you have heard al-
ready. The two princes that spoke before
me have each lost an eye by the pure effects
of their destiny, but mine 1 lost through iny
own fault, and by hastening to seek my own
misfiiitune, as you shall hear by the 8e(iuel
of the story.
My name is Agib, and I am the son of a
king, who was called Cassib. After his death
I took possession of his dominions, aiul re-
sided in the same city where he lived before.
The city is situated on the sea-coast, has
one of the finest and safest harbours in the
world, an arsenal capable of fitting out for
sea one himdred and fifty men-of-war, that
are always ready, and fifty merchantmen
and light frigates, and pleasure-boats be-
sides. My kingdom is composed of several
fine provinces upon the mainland, besides
a number of spacious islands, every one of
which lies almost in sight of my capital
city.
The first thing I did was to visit the pro-
vinces. I afterwards caused my whole fleet
to be fitted out and manned, and went to
my islands to gain the hearts of my subjects
by my presence, and to confirm them in
their loyalty ; and some time after I re-
turned, I went thither again. These voy-
ages giving me some taste for nfurigation, I
took so much pleasure in it that I resolved
to make some discoveries beyond my islands;
to which end, I caused only ten ships to be
fitted out, embarked on board them, and set
sail.
Our voyage was very successful for forty
days together; but on the forty-first night
the wind became contrary, and withal so
boisterous, that we were near being lost in
the storm. About break of day, the wind
grew calm, the clouds dispersed, and the
sun having brought back fair weather, we
came close to an island, where we remained
two days, to take in fresh i)rovisions ; after
which we jiut olT again to sea. After ten
days' sail, we were ii? hopes of seeing land ;
for the tempests we had gone through had so
much abated my curiosity that I gave orders
to steer back to my own coast ; but I per-
ceived, at tlie same time, that my pilot
knew not where we were. Upon the tenth
day, a seaman being sent to look out for
lard from the main-mast head, gave notice
that on starboard and larboard he could see
nothing but the sky aiul the sea, which
bounded the horizon ; but just before us,
u2)on the stern, ho saw a great blackness.
The pilot changed colour at this relation ;
and, throwing liis turban on the deck with
one hand, and beating his breast with the
other, cried, "0 sir! we are .all lost! not
one of us will escape ! and, with all my
skill it is not in my power to prevent it."
Having spoken thus, he fell to crying like a
man who foresaw unavoidable ruin : his de-
spair put the whole ship'i, crow in fear. I
asked him what reason lie had thus to de-
spair ? Ho told nie the te' ipest which he
had outlived had brought us so far out oi
f)ur course, that to-morrow about noon \vc
.should come near to that black place, which
is nothing else but the black uumntain, that
is, a mine of adania.it which at this very
minute draws all your fieet towards it, by
virtue of the iron and the nails that are in
your ships ; and when we come to-morrow
at a certain distance, the strength of the
adamant will have such a force, that all the
nails will be drawn out of the sides and bot-
toms of the ships, and fasten to the moun-
tain ; so that j'our vessel will fall to pieces,
and sink to the bottom : and as the adamant
S
1
66
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
has a virtue to draw all iron to it, whereby
its attraction becomes stronger, this moun-
tain on the side of the sea is covered over
with nails, drawn out of an infinite number
of vessels that have perished by it ; and this
preserves and augments its virtue at the
same time.
"This mountain," continued the pilot, "is
very rugged : on the top of it there is a dome
of line brass, supported by pillars of the
same ; and upon the top of that dome there
stands a horse of the same metal, with a
rider on his back, who has a plate of lead
fixed to his breast, upon which some talis-
manic characters are engraven. So, the tra-
dition is, that this statue is the chief cause
that so many ships and men have been lost
and sunk in this place, and that it will ever
continue to be fatal to all those who have
the misfortune to come near to it, until it
shall be thrown down."
The pilot, having ended his discourse,
began to weep afresh, and all the rest of the
ship's company did the like. I had no other
thought but that my daj'S were there to have
an end. In the meantime, every one began
to provide for his own safety, and to that
end took all imaginable precautions ; and,
being imcertain of the event, they aU made
one another their heirs, by virtue of a will,
for the benefit of those that shoidd happen
to be saved.
The next morning we perceived the black
mountam very plain, and the idea we had
conceived of it made it appear more fright-
ful than it was. About noon we were come
so near, that we found what the pilot had
foretold to be true ; for we saw all the nails
and iron about the ships liy towards the
mountain, where they fixed, by the violence
of the attraction, with a horrible noise : the
ships split asunder, and sunk into the sea,
which was so deep about the place, that we
could not sound it. All my people were
drowned; but God had mercy on me, and
permitted me to save myself by means of a
plank, which the wind drove ashore just at
the foot of the mountain. I did not receive
the least hurt ; and my good fortune brought
me to a landing-place, where there were
steps that went up to the top of the moun-
tain.
Scheherazade would have gone on with
her story, but day appearing, she was obliged
to keep silence. The sultan was convinced
by this beginning that the sultaness had not
deceived him ; and therefore we are not to
Wonder that he did not order her to die that
day.
The Fifty-Fourth Night.
Foe Heaven's sake, cried Dinarzade, next
morning, if you be not asleep, sister, go on
with the story of the third calender. — My
dear sister, said Scheherazade, the prince
renewed his discourse thus : —
At the sight of these steps, said he, for
there was not a bit of ground, either on the
right or left, whereon a man could set his
foot, I gave thanks to God, and recom-
mended myself to His holy protection, as I
began to mount the steps, which were so
narrow, rugged, and hard to get up, that
had the wind blowu ever so little, it would
have thrown me down into the sea. But at
last I got up to the top, without any acci-
dent. I came into the dome, and, kneeling
on the ground, gave God thanks for His
mercies to me.
I passed the night under the dome ; and
in my sleep an ohl, grave man appeared to
me, and said : " Hearken, Agib : as soon as
thou art awake, dig xip the ground under
thy feet ; thou shalt find a bow of brass,
and three arrows of lead, that are made un-
der certain constellations, to deliver man-
kind from the many calamities that threaten
them. Shoot the three arrows at the statue,
and the rider shall fall into the sea, but the
horse will fall down by thy side, which thou
must bury in the same place from whence
thou tookest the bow and arrows. This
being done, the sea will swell f.oA rise up to
the foot of the dome that stands upon the
top of the mountain : when it jomes up so
high, thou shalt see a boat, with one man
holding an oar in each hand. This man is
also of metal, but diiFerent from that thcai
hast thrown down; step on board to him,
without mentioning the name of God, and
let him conduct thee. He will in ten days'
time bring thee into another sea, where thou
shalt find an ojiportunity to get home to thy
country safe and sound, provided, as I have
told thee, thou dost not mention the name
of God during the whole voyage."
This was the substance of the old man's
discourse. When 1 awoke I was very much
comforted by the vision, and did not fail to
observe everything that he had commanded
me. I took the bow and arrows out of the
ground, shot at the horseman, and, with the
third arrow, I overthrew him : he fell into
the sea, and the horse fell by my side, which
1 buried ui the j>lace whence I took the
bow and arrows. In the meantime the sea
swelled, and rose up by degrees : when it
came as high as the foot of the dome that
stood upon the top of the mountain, 1 saw
afar off a boat rowing towards me, and I
returned God thanks that everything suc-
ceeded according to my dream.
At last the boat made land, and I saw the
man was made of metal, as I had dreamt.
I "tepped aboard, and took great heed not to
pronounce the name of God, neither spoke
I one word. I sat down, and the man of
metal began to row off from the mountain.
^^^
lea
it
at
I
c-
le
t.
;o
:e
THE THIRD CALENDER.
by
He rowed without ceasing till the ninth day,
when I saw aome islands, which gave me
hopes that I should escape iUl the danger that
I feared. The excess of my joy made me for-
get what I was forbidden to do : " Blessed
be God !" said I ; " God be praised ! "
I had no sooner spoken these words but
the boat sunk with the man of metal ; and,
leaving me upon the surface, I swam the. re-
maining part of the day towards that land
which appeared nearest to me. A very dark
night succeeded : and not knowing where I
was, I swam at a venture. My strength at
last began to fail, and I despaired of being
able to save myself, when the wind began
to blow hard, and a wave as big as a moun-
tain threw me on a flat, Avhere it left me,
and drew back. I made haste to get ashore,
fearing another wave might wash me back
again. The first thing I did was to strip,
and wring the water out of my clothes, and
then lay them down on the dry sand,
wliich was still pretty warm by the heat of
the day.
[ Next morning the stm dried my clothes
early ; I put them on, and went forward to
see where I was. I had not walk(!d very
far till I found I was got upon a little de-
sert island, though very pleasant, w^here
there grew several sorts of trees and wild
fruits; but I perceived it was very far from
the continent, which much diminished the
joy I conceived for having cscipcd the dan-
ger of the seas. I notwithstanding recom-
mended myself to God, and j)rayed Him to
dispose of me according to His good will
and pleasure. At the same time I saw a
vessel coming from the mainland, before the
wind, directly to the island. I doubted
not but they were coming to anchor there ;
.and being imcertain what sort of people
'.xxOy miglit be, whether friends or foes, I
thought it not safe for me to bo seen. I
got up into a very thick tree, from whence
I might safely view them. The vessel came
into a little creek, where ten slaves landed,
carrying a spade and other instniments tit
for digging up the ground. They went to-
wards the middle of the island, where I saw
them stop, and dig the ground a long while ;
after which I thought 1 saw them lift up a
trap-door. They returned again to the ves-
sel, and unladed several sorts of provisions
and furniture, which they carried to that
place where they had broken ground, and so
went downward ; which made me suppose it
was a subterraneous dwelling.
I saw them once more go to the ship, and
return soon after with an old man, who led
a very handsome yoimg lad in his hand, of
about fourteen or fifteen years of age. They
all went down at the trap-door ; and, being
come up again, having let down the trap-
door, and covered it over with earth, they
returned to the creek where the ship lay;
but I saw not the young man in their com-
pany. This made me bidieve that he staid
behind in that place under ground, at which
I could not but be extremely astonished.
The old man and the slaves went aboard
again, and the vessel being got imder sail,
steered its course towards the mainland.
When I perceived they were at such distance
that they could not see me, I came down
from the tree, and went directly to the place
where I had seen the ground broken. I
moved the earth by degrees, till I found a
stone that was two or three feet square. I
lifted it up, and saw that it covered the
head of the stairs, which were also of stone.
1 went down, and came into a large room,
where there was laid a foot-carpet, and a
couch, covered with tapestry and cushions
of rich stuff, upon which the young man
sat, with a fan in his hand. I saw all thin
by the light of two tapers, together with the
fruits and flower-pots he had standing about
him. The young lad was startled at the
sight of me ; but to rid him of his fear I
said to him as I came in, " Whoever you be,
-tammttm
wmmmmmmmm
mm
68
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
sir, do not fear anything : a king, and the
son of a king, as I am, is not capable of
doing you any prejudice ; on the contrary,
it is probable that your good destiny has
brought me hither to deliver you out of this
tomb, where it seems they have buried you
alive, for reasons unknown to me. But that
which makes me wonder, and what I cannot
conceive, (for you must know that I have
been witness to all that hath passed since
your coming into this island,) is, that you
suffered yourself to be buried in this place
without any resistance."
Scheherazade broke off here ; and the sul-
tan arose, very impatient to know why this
young lad was thus abandoned in a desert
island, as to which he promised himself satis-
faction next night.
The Fifty-Fifth Night.
DiNAEZADE, perceiving it was time to call
■upon the sultaness, said. Sister, if you be
not asleep, pray resume the story of the
third calender. Scheherazade gave her no
occasion to repeat her request, and went on
in this manner : —
The young man, continued the third ca-
lender, recovered himself at these words,
and i)rayed me, with a smiling countenance,
to sit down by him ; which, when I had
done, he said, " Prince, I am to acquaint
you with a matter so extraordinary in itself,
that it cannot but surprise you.
" My father is a merchant jeweller, who,
through his ingenuity in his calling, has ac-
quired a great estate. He has many slaves,
and also deputies, whom he employs to go
as supercargoes to sea with his own ships, on
purpose to maintain the correspondence he
has at several courts, which he furnishes with
sucii j)recious stones as they want.
" He had been married a long while, and
without issue, when he understood by a
dream that he should have a son, though his
life would be but short ; at which he was
very much concerned when he awoke.
Some days after, my mother acquainted
him that she was with child ; jvnd what she
supposed to be the time of her conception
agreed exactly with the day of his dream.
She was brought to bed of me at the end of
nine months, which occasioned great joy in
the family.
" My father, who had observed the very
moment of my birth, consulted astrologers
about my nativity, who told him, ' Your son
shall live very happily till the age of fifteen,
when lie will be in danger of losing his life,
and hardly be able to escape it ; but if his
good destiny preserve him beyond that time,
he will live to grow very old. It will be
(said they) when the statue of brass, that
stands upon the top of the mountain of ada-
mant, shall be thrown down into the sea by
Prince Agib, son of King Cassib ; and, as the
stars jirognosticate, your son shall be killed
fifty days aftervr-ards by that prince.'
" As the event of this part of the predic-
tion about the statue agrees exactly with my
father's dream, it aillicted him so much that
he was struck to the very heart with it. Tn
the meantime he took all imaginable care of
my education until this jiresent year, which
is the fifteenth of my age ; and he had no-
tice given him yesterday that the statue of
brass had been thrown into the sea about
ten days ago by that same prince I told you
of. This news has cost him so many tears,
and has alarmed him so much, that he looks
not like himself,
" Upon these predictions of the astrologers,
he has sought by all means possible to fal-
sify my horoscojje, and to preserve my life.
It is not long since he took the precaution
to build me this subterranean habitation to
hide me in, till the expiration of the fifty
days after the throwing down of the statue ;
ajid therefore, since it was ten days ago that
this had happened, he came hastily hither to
hide me, and promised at the end of forty
days to come i.gain, and fetch me out. As
for my own part, I am in good hopes, and
cannot believe that Prince Agib will come to
seek for me in a place imder ground, in the
midst of a desert island. This, my lord, is
%vhat I have to say to you."
While the jeweller's son was telling me
this story, I laughed in myself at those as-
trologers who had foretold that I should take
away his life ; for I thought myself so far
from being likely to verify what they said,
that he had scarce done speaking when I told
him, with great joy, " l)ear sir, put your
confidence in the goodness of God, and fear
nothing : you may consider it as a debt you
was to pay, but that you are acquitted of it
from this very hour. I am glad that, after
my shipwreck, I came so fortunately hitlier
to defend you against all those that would
attempt your death. I will not leave yon
tUl the forty days are expired, of which the
foolish astrologers have ma<le you apprehen-
sive ; and, in the meanwhile, I will do you
all the service tliat lies in my power. After
which, I shall have the benefit of getting to
the mainland in your vessel, with leave of
your father and yourself ; and when I am
returned into my kingdom, I shall remember
the obligations I owe you, and endeavour to
demonstrate my acknowledgments in a suit-
able manner."
This my discourse encouraged the jewel-
ler's son, and inspired him with confidence
in mo. I took care not to tell him I was the
very Agib whom he dreaded, lest I should
put him into a fright, and took as much care
not to give him any cause to suspect it. We
*
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tve of
I am
pmber
[mr to
siiit-
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I care
We
!■
/
THE THIRD CALENDER.
69
passed the time in several discourses till
night came on : I found the young lad of
ready wit, and partook with him of his pro-
visions, of which he had enough to have
lasted beyond the forty days, tliough he had
more guests than myself. After supper we
continued sometime in discourse ; at last we
went to bed.
The next day, when we got up, I held the
basin and water to him ; I also provided
dinner, and set it on the tabic in due time :
after we had done, I invented a play to di-
vert ourselves, not only for that day, but
for those that followed. I prepared supper
after the same manner as I had i)reparcd
dinner ; and having supped, we went to bed
as formerly. We had time enough to con-
tract friendship. I found he loved me ; and
for my part, I had so great a respect for hiin,
that I have often said to myself, " Those as-
trologers who predicted to his father that Lis
son should die by my hand were impostors ;
for it is not jiossible tliat I should commit so
base an action." In sliort, madam, we spent
thirty-nine days in the pleasantest manner
that could be, in a i>laco like that under
ground.
The fortieth daj^ appeared ; and in the
morning, when the young man awoke, he
said to me, with a transport of joy that he
coidd not restrain, "Prince, tliis is the for-
tieth day, and I am not dead, thanks to God
and your good company. My father will
not fail to be here anon, to give you a testi-
mony of his gratitude for it, and shall fur-
nish you with all that is necessary for your
return to your kingdom : but in the mean-
time," said he, " I beg you to get ready some
water very warm, to wash my whole body in
that jiortable bagnio, that I may clean my-
self and change my clothes, to receive my
father more cheerfully."
I set the water on the fire, and when it
was liot, put it into the movable bagnio :
the youtli went in, and I myself washed and
rubbed him. At last he came out, and laid
himself down in liis bed that I liad prepared,
and covered him with his bed-clothes. After
he had slept awhile he awoke, and said,
" Dear prince, pray do me the favour to fetch
me a melon and some sugar, that I may eat
some, and refresh me."
Out of several melons that remained, I
took the best and laid it on a plate; and
because I could not iind a knife to cut it
with, I asked the ;'oung man if he knew
where there was one. " There is one," said
he, "upon this cornice over my head." I
accordingly saw it there, and made so much
haste to reach it, that while I had it in my
liand, my foot being entangled in the cover-
ing, I fell most unliaj)pily upon the young
man, and the knife ran into his heart iu a
minute.
At this spectacle I cried out most hideous-
ly : I beat my head, my face, and breast ;
I tore my clothes ; I threw myself on the
ground with unspeakable sorrow and grief.
"Alas!" Icried, "therewereonlysomehours
wanting to have put him out of that danger
from which he sought s.anctuary here ; and
when I myself thought the danger past, then
T became his murderer, and verified the pre-
diction. But, O Lord ! " said I, lifting up my
face and hands to heaven, "1 entreat thy par-
don, and if I be guilty of his death, let me
not live any longer."
Scheherazade jierceiving day, was obliged
to break off this doleful story. The sultan
of the Indies was moved with it, and felt very
uneasy to think what would become of the
calender after this ; and resolved that Sche-
Jicrazade should not die that day, because
she was the only person that coidd resolve
him.
The Fifty-Sixth Night.
DiNAEZAUE awaked the sultaness next morn-
ing as usual. If you be not asleep, sister,
said she, pray tell us what passed after the
70
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
death of the young man. She weut on aa
follows : —
Madam, continued the third calender, ad-
dressing himself to Zobeide, after this misfor-
tune I would have embraced death without
any reluctance, had it presented itself to me.
But what we wish to ourselves, whether
good or bad, will not always ha])j)en. Never-
theless, considering with myself that all my
tears and sorrows would not bring the young
man to life again, and the forty days being
expired, I might be surprised by his father,
I qiutted the subterranean dwelling, laid
down the great stone upon the entry of it,
and covered it with earth.
I had scarce done, when casting ray eyes
upon the sea towards the mainland, I ])ur-
ceived the vessel coming to fetch home the
young man. I began then to consider what
I had best do : T said to myself, " If I am seen
by the old man, he will certaiidy lay hold of
me, and perhaps cause me to be massacred
by his slaves, when he has seen that his son
is kUled : all that I can allege to justify my-
self will not persuade him oi my innocence.
It is better for me then to withilraw, since it
is in my i)ower, than to expose myself to his
resentment."
There happened to be near that subter-
ranean habitation a large tree with thick
leaves, which I thought fit to hide me in.
I got up to it, and was no sooner tixed in a
place where I could not be seen, than I saw
the vessel come to the same place where she
lay the first time.
This old man and his slaves landed imme-
diately, and advanced towards tlie subter-
ranean dwelling, witli a countenance that
shewed some hope ; but when they saw the
earth had been newly removed, they changed
colour, particiUarly the old man. They lift-
ed up the stone and went down ; they called
the young man by his name, but he not
answering, their fears increased ; they went
down to seek him, and at length found him
lying upon the bed, with the knife in his
heart, for I had not power to take it out.
At this sight they cried out lamentably,
which increased my sorrow : the old man
fell down in a swoon. The slaves, to give
him air, brought him up in their arms, and
laid him at the foot of the tree where T was ;
but notwithstanding all the pains they took
to recover him, the unfortunate father con-
tinued a long while in that condition, and
matle them oftener than once despair of his
life ; but at last he came to himself. Then
bhe slaves brought up his son's corpse,
dressed in his best apparel, and when tliey had
made a grave they jjut him into it. Tlie old
man, supported by two slaves, and his face
covered with tears, threw the first earth
upon him ; after which the slaves filled up
the grave.
This being done, all the furniture was
brought up from under ground, and, with
the remaining provisions, put on board the
vesseL The old man, overcome with sor-
row, and not being able to stand, was laid
upon a sprt of litter and carried to the ship,
which stood out to sea, and in a 'ihort time
was out of sight. — The daylight which began
to enter the sultan's apartment obliged
Scheherazade to stop here : Schahriar arose
at the usual hour, and for the same reason
as before he prolonged the sultanesa'a life,
and left her with Dinarzade.
The Fifty-Seventh Night,
The next morning, before day, Dinarzade
addressed herself to the nultanesa in these
words : My dear sister, if you be not asleep,
be pleased to continue the adventures of the
third calender. — You must know then, sister,
said Scheherazaile, that the prince went oa
with the relation of liis story to Zobeide and
the company as follows : —
After the old man and his slaves were gone
with the vessel, I was left alone upon the
island. I lay that night in the subterranean
dwelling, which they had shut up ; and vh^n.
the day came, I walked round the ibiand, and
stopped in such places as I thought most
proper to repose iu.
I led this wearisome life for a whole
mouth ; after which I j)erceived the sea to
be mightily fallen, the island to be much
larger, and the mainland seemed to be draw-
ing near me. In fact, the water grew so low,
that there was but a small stream between
me and the mainland. I crossed it, and the
water did not come above the middle of my
leg. I walked so long upon the slime and
sand that I was very weary : at last I got
upoa firm ground, and when at a good dis-
tance from the sea, I saw a good Avay before
me somewhat like a great fire, which gave
me some comfort ; for I said to myself, " I
shall find somebody or other, it not being
possible that this fire should kindle of itself ; "
but when I came nearer hand, I found my
error, and saw that what I had taken for a
fire was a castle of red cojjper, which the
beams of the sun made to look, at a distance,
as if it had been iu fiames.
I stoi)ped near the castle, and sat down to
admire its admirable structure, and to rest
a while : I had not taken such a full view
of this magnificent building as it deserved,
when I saw ten handsome young men coming
along, as if they had been taking a walk;
but what most surprised me was, that they
were all blind nf the right eye : they accom-
panied an old man, who vi'as very tall, and
of a venerable aspect.
I could not but M'onder at the sight of so
many half -blind men all together, and every
-mammitmsi
3com-
and
of so
3very
THE THIRD CALENDER.
71
one blind of the same eye : aa I waa think-
ing in my mind by what adventure all these
men could come together, they came wj) to
me, and seemed very glad to see me. After
the first compliments, they inquired what
had brought me thither ? I told tliem my
story would be somewhat tedious, 1)ut if
they woidd take the trouble to sit down, I
would satisfy their request. They did so,
and I related to them all that liad happened
imto me since I left my kingdom, which
filled them with astonishment.
After I had ended my discourse, the young
gentlemen prayed me to go with them into
the castle. I accejited tlie prolfer, and we
passed through a great many halls, ante-
chambers, bed-chaniliera, and closets, very
well furnished, and came at last into a spa-
cious hall, where there were ten small blue
sofas set round, separate from one another,
upon which they sat by day, and slept by
night. In the middle of this circle stood an
eleventh sofa, not so high ;is the rest, but of
the same colour, upon which the old man
before mentioned sat down, and the young
gentlemen made use of the other ten : but as
each sofa could only contain one man, one
of the young men said to me, "Comrade, sit
down upon that carpet in the middle of the
room, and do not inquire into anything that
concerns us, nor the reason why we are all
blind of the right eye ; be content with what
you see, and let not your curiosity go any
farther."
The old man having sat a little whUe,
rose up and went out ; but he returned in a
minute or two, brought in supper to those
ten gentlemen, distributed to each man his
portion by himself, and likewise brcught me
mine, which I ate by myself, as the rest did ;
and when su])per was almost ended, he pre-
sented to each of us a cup of wine.
They thought my story so extraordinary
that they made me repeat it after supper,
and it furnished conversation for a good part
of the night. One of the gentlemen observ-
ing that it was late, said to the old man,
"You see it is time to go to bed, and yon
do not bring us that with which we may
acquit ourselves of our duty.'' At these
words the old man arose, and went into a
closet, from whence he brought out upon
his head ten bivsins one after another, all
covered with blue stiifl' : he set one before
every gentleman, together with a ligat.
They uncovered their basins, in which
there were Jishes, coal-dust, and lamjj-black ;
they mixed all together, and rubbed and be-
daubed their faces with it in such a manner
that they looked very frightful. After having
thus blackened themselves, they fell a weep-
ing and lamenting, beating their heads and
breasts, and cried continually, " This is the
fruit of our idleness and debauches. "
They continued thus aJmost the whole
night, and when they left off, the old maa
brought them water, with wliich they washed
their faces and hands ; they changed all their
clothes, which were spoiled, and put on
others ; so that they did not look in the
least as if they had been doing so strange
an action.
You may judge, madam, how uneasy I
was all the while : I wished a thousand
times to break the silence which those young
gentlemen had imposed U2)on me, and ask
(juestions ; nor was it possible for me to
sleep that night.
After Ave got up next day, we went out to
walk, when I told tliem, "Gentlemen, I de-
clare to you that I must renounce that law
which you prescribed to me last night, for I
cannot observe it. You are men of sense,
and do not want wit ; you have convinced
me of this ; jet I have seen you do such ac-
tions aa none but madmen could be capable
of. Whatever misfortune befalls me, I can-
not forl)i.'ar asking why you bedaubed your
faces with black ? — how it comes that each
of you have but one eye ? Some singular
circumstance must certainly be the cause of
it; therefore I conjure you to satisfy my
curiosity." To tlicse jiressing instances they
answered only, that it was no business of
mine to ask such questions, and that I shoidd
do well to hold my peace.
We passed that day in conversation upon
indifferent subjects; and when night was
come, and every man had supped, the old
man brought in his blue basins, and the
young gentlemen bedaubed their faces, wept
and beat themselves, crying, " This is the
fruit of our idleness and debauches," as be-
fore, and continued the same actions the
following night. At last, not being able to
resist my curiosity, I earnestly jirayed them
to satisfy me, or shew me how to return to
my own kingdom ; for it was impossible for
me to keep them company any longer, and
to see every night such an odd spectacle,
without being permitted to know the reason.
One of the gentlemen answered in behalf
of the rest, " l)o not wonder at our conduct
in regard to yoiu'self, and that hitherto we
have not granted your request : it is out of
mere kindness to save you the pain of being
reduced to the same condition with us. If
you have a mind to try our unfortunate
destiny, you need but speak, and we will
give you the satisfaction you desire." I told
them I was resolved on it, let what woidd
be the consequence. "Once more," said
the same gentleman, " we advise you to
restrain your curiosity ; it will cost you the
loss of your right eye." " No matter," said
I; "I declare to you, that if such a misfor-
tune befall me, I will not impute it to you,
but to myself."
He farther represented to me, that when
I had lost an eye, I must not hope to stay
Rfl
^2
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
with them, if I were so minded, becaiiso
their number was so complete, and no addi-
tion could be I" ode to it. I told them that
it would be " ^.tat satisfaction to me never
to part from such honest gentlemen; but
if there were necessity for it, I was ready
to submit ; and let it cost wliat it would, I
begged them to grant my request.
The ten gentlemen perceiving that I was
80 fixed in my resolution, took a sheep and
killed it, and after they had taken otF tho
skin, i)resentcd me with a knife, telling me
it would bo iiGuful to u a a certain occa-
sion, which they should .^il me of presently.
" We must sew you into this skin," said
they, "and then leave you; upon which a
fowl of monstrous size, called a roc, will
appear in the air, and taking you to be a
sheep, will come down upon you, and carry
you up to the very sky; but let not that
frighten you ; he will come down with you
again, and lay you on the top of a mountain.
When you lind yourself upon the ground,
cut the skin with the knife, and throw it off.
As soon as the roc sees you, he will fly away
for fear, and leave you at liberty; do not
stay, but walk on till you come to a prodi-
gious large castle, covered with ])lates of
gold, large emeralds, and other precious
stones : go up to the gate, which always
stands open, and walk in : we have been
in the castle as long as we have been here ;
we will tell you nothing of what we saw, or
what befell us there : you will learn it your-
self ; all that we can inform you is, that it
liath cost each of us our right eye, and the
penance which you have been witness to, is
what we are obliged to do, because we have
been there. The history of each of us in
particular is so fidl of extraordinary adven-
tures, that a large volume would not contain
them. But we must explain ourselves no
farther."
Here Scheherazade broke off the discourse,
and said to the sultan of the Indies : Sir, my
sister called upon me this morning sooner
than ordinary ; I fear I have wearied your
majesty's patience. But now day appears in
very good time, and commands my silence.
Schahriar's curiosity still prevailed upon him
to dispense with his cruel oath.
Tlie Fifty-Eighth Night.
DiXARZADE did not call so early this night
as she did the last, yet she called upon the
Eidtauess before day : If you be not asleep,
sis+,er, pray continue the story of the third
ca.euder. 8cheheraza<le resumed it thus,
pi rsonating the calender in his discourse to
Zobeide : —
Mivdam, when the gentleman had ended
thi.1 discourse, I wrapt myself in tue sheep's
skin, held fast the knife which was given
me ; and after those young gentlemen had
been at the trouble to sew the skin about
me, they retired into the hall, and left me
on the spot. The roc they spoke of was not
long of coming; he fell upon me, took me
in his talons like a shcc]), and carried me up
to the top of the mountain.
When I foimd myself upon the ground, I
made use of the knife, cut the skin, and
tlirowing it off, the roc at the sight of mo
Hew away. This roc is a white bird, of a
monstrous size ; his strength is such that he
can lift lip elephants from the plains, and
carry them io the tops of mouutauis, where
he feeds upon them.
Being impatient till I reached the castle,
I lost no time ; but made so much haste that
I got thither in half a day's joiirney, and I
must say that I found it surpassed the de-
scription they had given me of it.
The gate being- opened, I entered into a
court that was square, and so large that
there were round it ninety-nine gates of wood
of Sanders and aloes, with one of gold, with-
out reckoning those of several magnificent
staircases, that led to apartments above, be-
sides many more, which I could not see.
The himdred doors which I spoke of opened
into gardens or storehouses full of ri"hes, or
into places »vhich contained things wonderful
to be seen.
I saw a door standing open just before me,
through which I entered into a large hall,
where I found forty young ladies of such
perfect beauty that imagination coiUd not
surpass it : they were all most sumptuously
apiiarelled ; and as soon as they saw me, rose
up, and without expecting my compliments,
said to me, with demonstrations of joy,
"Noble sir, you are very welcome." And
one spoke to me in the name of the rest,
thus : "We have been in expectation a long
while of such a gentleman as you : your
mien assures us that you are master of all
the good qualities we can wish for ; and we
hope you will not find our company disagree-
able or unworthy of yours."
They forced me, notwithstanding all the
opposition I could make, to sit down on a
seat that was higher than their own ; and
though I signified that I was uneasy, "That
is your place, " said they ; ' ' you are at present
our lord, master, and judge, and we are
your slaves, ready to obey your command."
Nothing in the world, madam, did so
much astonish me as the passion and eager-
ness of those fair ladies to do me all possible
service. One brought hot water to wash
my feet ; a second poured sweet-scented
water on my hands : others brought me all
sorts of necessaries, and change of apparel;
others lirought in a magnificent collation;
and the rest came with glasses in their
hands, to fill me delicious wines, all in good
¥
))
THE THIRD CALENDER.
73
order, and in the most charming manner
possible. I ato and drank ; after which the
ladies placed themselves about me, and de-
sired au aocount of my travels, I gave them
a full relation of my adventures, which
lasted till night came on.
Scheherazade making a stop here, her
sister asked her the reason. Do you not sco
it is day? said the sultancss; wherefore did
you not call me sooner?
The sultan, expecting some pleasant ad-
ventures from the arrival of the third calen-
der at the ])alace of the forty ladies, would
not deprive himself of the pleasure of hear-
ing them ; and therefore agam put off the
death of the sultaness.
The Fifty-Ninth Night.
DiNARZADE slept as long this night as she
did the last; and when it was almost day,
she called to the sultaness, Dear sister, if
you be not asleep, pray tell ns what passed
'\i\ the fine castle where you left ns yester-
day. — I will, said Scheherazade; and, ad-
dressing her speech to the sultan, said.
Sir, the calender resumed his narrative after
tu.s manner : —
When I had made an end of my story,
which I related to the forty ladies, some of
them that sat nearest to me stayed to keep
me company, whilst the rest, seeing it was
dark, rose up to fetch tajjcr^. They brought
a prodigious quantity, whi?h made such a
v/onderful light, as if it had been day, and
they were so properly disposed that nothing
could be more beautiful.
Other ladies covered a ta.)le with dry
fruits, sweetmeats, and evc-rything proper
to relish the liquor ; a sideboard was set out
with several sorts of wine and other liquors.
Some of the ladies came in with musical in-
struments ; ard when everything was ready,
they invited me to sit down to supper. The
ladies sat down with me, and we continued
a long while at supper. They that were to
play upon the instruments and sing rose up,
and formed a most charming concert. The
others began a sort of ball, and danced two
and two, one after another, with a wonder-
ful good grace.
It was past midnight ere those divertise-
ments ended. At length, one of the ladies
said to me, " You are doubtless wearied by
the journey you have taken to-day; it is
time for you to go to rest — your lodging is
prepared ; but before you depart, make
choice of any of us you like best, to be your
bedfellow." I answered, that I knew better
than to ofl'er to make my own choice, since
they were all equally beautiful, witty, and
worthy of my respects and service, and that
I would not be guilty of so nmch incivility as
to prefer one before another.
The same lady that sjioke to me before
answered, " We are very well satisfied of
your civility, and find you are afraid to
create a jealousy among us, which occasions
your modesty ; b\it let not ^liis hinder you :
we assure you that the go I fortune of her
whom you choose shall cause no jealousy;
for we are agreed among ourselves, that
every one of us shall have the same honour
till it go round; and when forty days are
past, to begin again; — therefore, make your
free choice, and lose no time to go and take
the repose you stand in need of." 1 was ob-
liged to yield to their entreaties, and offered
my hand to the lady that spoke ; she, in re-
tui-n, gave me hers, and we were conducted
to a simiptuous apartment, where they left
us ; and then everv one retired to their owu
I)
74
THE ARAniAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
apartment. — But doy oppcars, sir, said Sche-
herozoilu tu tho miltiin; uml your niajeMty, I
hope, will i)t'rniit iiii) to leavu the cali-mlfr
priiicu with hi.s lady, Schahriar returned no
answer, hut Haid to himself, :is he f,'ot up, I
must allow that the Btory is exuiaordinary,
and I sliould ho very muuh tu blomo nut tu
hear it out.
The Sixtieth Night.
DiNAUZAiiK ilid not fail ahout the latter
end of the next night to atldreaa tlie Hultan-
ess thus: If you bo not asleep, sister, pray
relate to us the remaining part of the won-
derfid story of the third calender. — Most
willingly, said Scheherazade. The prince
continued it thus : —
I was scarce dressed next morning, when
the other thirty-nine ladies came into my
chamhiT, all in diU'erent dresses from those
they hiul on the day before ; they bade me
good-morrow, and incinired after my health,
after which they carried me to a bath, where
they washed me themselves, and, whether I
would or no, serve<l me with everything I
stood in need of; and when I came out of
the b^th, they made me jiut on another
suit much richer than the former.
We passed the whole day almost con-
stantly at table; and when itwivs bed-time,
they prayed me again to make choice of one
of them to keep me company. In short,
madam, not to weary you with repetitions,
I must tell you that I continued a whole
year among those forty ladies, and receivetl
them into my bed one after another ; and
during all the time of this voluptuous life,
we met not with the least kind of trouble.
When the year was exiiired, 1 w.aa strangely
surprised that these forty ladies, instead of
appearing with their usual cheerfulness to
ask how 1 did, entered one morning into
my chamber all in tears. They embraced
me with great tenderness one .ifter another,
saying, "Adieu, dear prince, adieu ! for we
must leave you." Their tears affected me ;
I prayed them to tell me the reason of their
grief, and of the separation they spoke of.
" For (jod's sake, fair ladies, let me know,"
said I, "if it be in my power to comfort you,
or if my assistance can be in any way useful
to you." Instead of returning a direct an-
swer, "Would to God," said they, "we hatl
never seen or known you ! Several gentle-
men have honoured us with their company
before you ; but never one of them had that
comeliness, that sweetness, that pleasant-
ness of humour, and that merit which you
possess; we know not how to live without
you." After they spoke these words, they
began to weep bitterly. "My de.ir ladies,"
soldi, "be so kind as not to keep me in
suspense any longer : tell me the cause of
your sorrow." " Alaa !" said they, "what
but the necessity of parting from you could
bo capable of grieving us ? It may so ha]ipen
that wo shall never see you again : but if
you be 80 minded, and posscHS siiineient
self-command, it is not impossible for us to
meet again." " Ladies,"said 1, "I understand
not your meaning ; pray explain yourselves
more clearly,"
"Oh then," said one of them, "to satisfy
you, we must occjuaint you that we are all
princesMCH, daughters of kings : we live here
together in such manner as you have seen ;
but at the end of every year we are obliged
to be alwent forty days uixm indispensalde
duties, which we are not permitted to reveal;
and afterwards we return to this castle.
Yesterday was the last of the year, and we
must leave you this day, which is the cause
<jf our grief. Before we depart we will
leave you the keys of everything, espe-
cially those belonging to the hundred doors,
where you will lind enough to satisfy your
curiosity, and to sweeten your solitude dur-
ing our absence: but for your own welfare,
and our particular concern in you, we re-
commend unto you to forbear opening the
golden door; for if you do we shall never
see you again ; and the fear of this augments
our grief. We hope, nevertheless, that you
will follow the advice we give you, as yo»i
tender your own quiet, and the happiness of
your life ; therefore take heed that you do
not give way to indiscreet curiosity, for you
will do yourself a considerable prejudice.
We conjure you not to commit this fault,
but to let us have the satisfaction of finding
you here again after forty days. We would
willingly carry the key of the golden door
along with us ; but that it would be an
atl'ront to a jwince like you to (juesticn your
<liscretion and modesty." — Scheherazade
wished to go on ; but she saw day appear,
and stopped. The sultan, being curious to
know what the third calender would do
when the forty ladies were gone and had
left him alone in the castle, deferred the
hearing of it till next day.
The Sixty -First Night,
The officious Dinarzade being awake long
Ijefore day, called to the siUtaness : If you
be not asleep, sister, consider that it is time
to tell the remaining part of the story to our
lord the sultan, Scheherazade, addressing
herself to the sultan, said. Sir, your majesty
may be pleased to know that the calender
pursued his story thus : —
Madam, said he, this discourse of the fair
princess grieved me extremely, I omitted
not to make them sensible how much their
absence would afflict me. I thanked them
I
I
i
i
THE THIRD CALENDER.
75
fur their ({ocd mlvico, and asHured tlium that
1 would foUow it, iinil williii|;ly du wliut wna
much Hioru dithcult in order to st'ciiro tliu
ha])i)inL'Ha of [iiwuin^ thu roHt of my days
with hulioii of Biich rare (inalilieatious. We
took leave of <me auotlier with much tender-
uesH, and liavinj^ eniliractil tliem all, they
dc])arted, and I was left alone in the caHtle.
Their agreealjle coniijany, the good cheer,
the concert of hhihIc, and other i>lea«nriH,
had 8o much diverted nie diirinj; the whole
year, that I neither had time nor the leant
desire to sec the wondeifid tliin;<8 contained
ill this enchauti'il palace. I did not ho much
as take notice of a thouHand ran^ ohjeeta
that were every day in my sinht; for I w.'is
so occ\i|)ied witli the charming beauty of
those ladies, and took so much jileaHure in
seeing them wholly enijiloyed to olilige me,
that their dep.uture aillieted me very Hcn-
sibly; and though their ab-<ence was to be
oidy forty days, it seemed to me an aye to
live without ihem.
I proniisid myself not to forget the im-
portant advice they had given me, not to
open the golden door; but as I was permit-
ted to satisfy my curiosity in everything
else, I took the lirst of the keys of the other
doors, which were huug in good order.
1 opened the first door, and came into an
orchard, which I believe the universe co\dd
not equal. I could nr>t imagine anything
that could surpass it, but that which our
religion promises us after death ; the sym-
metry, the neatn(!ss, tin; admirable order of
the trees, the abundance and diversity of a
thousand sorts of unknown fruits, their fresh-
ness and beauty, ravislied my sight.
I ought not to forget, madam, to ac(iuaint
you that this delicious orchard was watered
after a very particular manner ; there were
channels so artilicially and proportionably
dug, that they carried water in abundance
to the roots of such trees as wanted it
for making them produce their leaves and
flowers. Others carried it to those that had
their fruit budded ; some carried it in lesser
(piantities to those whose fruits were swell-
ing ; and others carried oidy so much as was
just requisite to water those which hatl their
fruit come to perfection, and (mly wanted
to be ripened. They far exceeded the ordi-
nary fruits of our gardens in bigness. Lastly,
those channels that watered the trees whose
fruit was ripe, had no more moisture than
just what would i)reservo them from wither-
ing.
I could never be we.arj' of looking at and
admiring so sweet a phvce ; and I should
never have left it, had I not conceived a
great idea of the other things which I ha<l
not seen. I went out at last with my mind
filled with those wonders : I shut that door,
and opened the next.
Instead of au orchard I found a flower-
garden, which was no loss extraordinary in
its kind. It contained a spacious plot, not
watered bo profusely as the former, but with
greater niceness, furnishing no more water
than just what each Hower retjuired. Tho
roses, jessamines, violets, dati'odils, hya-
rinths, anemones, tuli))s, crows-foots, pinks,
lilies, and an inlinite number of (lowers,
which d(» not grow in other places but at
certain times, were there nourishing all at
once, and nothing could be more delicious
than the fragrant smell of this ganlen.
1 opened the third door, where I found a
large aviary, paved with inari)lo of several
line uneominoii colours. The cage was made
of sandal wood and wood of aloes. It con-
tained a viust number of nightingales, gold-
linches, canary birds, larks, and other rare
singing birds, which I never heard of ; and
the vessels that held their seed and water
were of the most ])recious jasper or agate.
Uesicles, this aviary was ho exceedingly
neat, tliat, eonsideiing its extent, '".c; A'ould
think there could not be lesstlui i a hundreil
persons to keep it so clean ; but all thi>.
while not one soul ap|)eared, either here or
in the gardens where I had been ; and yet I
could not perceive a weed, or any superflu-
ous thing there. The sun went down, and
1 retired, charmed with the cliirping notes
of the multitude of birds, who then began
to perch ujioii such jilaces as suited them to
repose on during the night. I went to my
chamber, resolving to open all the rest of
the doors the days following, excepting that
of gold.
1 failed not to ojien the fourth door next
<lay, and if what I had seen before was cap-
able of surprising me, that which I saw then
put me in a jierfect ecstacy. I went into a
large court surrounded with buildings of an
admirable structure, the description of which
1 will pass by to avoid jirolixity.
This Ituilding had forty doors, all open,
and through each of them was an entrance
into a' treasury, several of which would pur-
chase the largest kingdoms. The hrst con-
tained lieajis of pearls; and, -what is almost
incredible, the number of those stones, which
are most jirecious, and as large as pigeons'
eggs, exceeding the number of those of the
ordinary size. In the second treasury there
were diamonds, carbuncles, and rubies ; in
the third, emeralds ; in the fourth, ingots of
gold ; in the lifth, money ; in the sixth, in-
gots of silver ; in the two following there
was also money. The rest contained a'.iie-
thysts, chrysolites, topazes, opals, turquoises,
and hyacinths, with all the other stoLes,
unknown to us, without mentioning agate,
jasper, cornelian, and coral, of which the.-e
was a storehouse Idled, not only with
branches, but whole trees.
Transported with amazement and admira-
tion, I cried out to myself, after having seen
::: -xb^m* -
ri. I
i.
76
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS,
ftll thcBC riches, "If all tho tronfiurcs of the
kin^^ of tliu univorHL- wito j^'atliorod tnj^cthcr
ill one jilncf, tlit'y could not coino iii'iir this:
whut ^(lod fortmio havu I to iiosxeaa all this
Wealth, with no iiiiiny iidminil)li' princesses ! "
1 Mliall not Htay, niailani, to tell you the
particulars of all the otiicr rare and j)rccioiin
thini^s 1 Haw the I'ollnwin;,' day.i. I hIwiII
only say that thirty-nine days iill'orded nio
but juxt as nmch time as was necessary to
open ninety-nine doors, and to adniiru all
that iircHCuted itself to my view : so that
there was only the liundredth door h'ft, tho
opening of whieii was forliiihleu to lue.
I)ay hejuan to appear in tho apartments
of the sultan of the Jinlies, which ini|ioNed
eilcnco upon Schehera/ado. But .Sclialniar
was too inucli taken with tliis pleasing
etory, not to hear tlie remainder of it next
day, and acconlingly ho got up with that
ruMulutiun.
The Sixty-Second Night.
DiN'ArzADK, who had as ardent a desire as
tSuhahriar to hear what wonderful things
were locked up hy tho key belonging to tho
j;;olden door, called tho sultaness very early.
If you be not asleep, sister, pray make an
end of that amazing story of the third calen-
der. — He went on thus, said Scheherazade : —
I was come to the fortieth day after the
departure of those charming princesses, and
had I but retained so much power over my-
self as I ought to liave had, I should have
been this day tho happiest of all maukiiid,
whereas now I am' the most nn-
fortunate. They were to return
next day, and the i)leasiire of
seeing them again ought to
have restrained my curiosity :
but through my weakness,
which I shall ever repent, I
yielded to the temptation of
the evil s])irit, who gave me no
rest till I had involved myself
in those misfortunes that I have
since suffered.
I opened that f.atal door,
which I promised not to meddle
with, and had not moved my
foot to go in when a smell that
was pleasant enough, but con-
trary to my constitution, made
me faint away. Nevertheless,
I came to myself again, and
instead of taking notice of this
warning to shut the door, and
forbear satisfying my curiosity,
I went in, after I had stood
some time in the air, to carry
oft' the scent, which did not in-
commode me any more. I found a large
place, very well vaulted ; the pavement was
atrewed over with saffron ; dovernl candle-
sticks of massy gold, with lighted tapers that
sinelled of aloes and ambergris, lighted the
jilaee, and this light was augmented by himj^i
of gold and silver, that burnt with oil made
of several sorts of sweet-scented mnti-'rials.
Among a great many objects that engaged
my attention, I perceived a black horse, of
the handsomest and best sh.ipe that ever was
seen. I went nearer, tho better to observe
him, and found he had a saddle and bridle
of massy gold, curiously wrought. One side
of his trough was lilled with clean barley and
sesame, and the other with rose water : I
took him by the bridle, and led him forth to
view him by the light ; I got on his back,
and Would have had him move ; but he not
stirring I whipped him with a switch I had
taken U]) in his magnilicent stable ; and he
had no sooner felt tin' stroke than he liegan
to nei'j:h with a horrible noise, and extending
his wings, which I had not seen before, ho
Hew up with mo into tho air, (piito out of
sight. I tho\ight on nothing then hut to sit
fast; and considering tho fear that had
seized upon me I sat very well. He after-
wards Hew down again towards the earth,
anil lighting upon tho t.-rraco of a castle,
without giving me any time to dismount, he
shook me out of the saddle with such force
that he throw me behind him, and with the
end of his tail stnick out mine eye.
Thus I became blind of one eye, and then
I began to remember the predictions of tho
ton young gentlemen. The horse flew again
out of sight. I got up very much troubled
at the misfortune I had brought upon my-
self ; I walked upon the terrace,
covering my eye with one of
my hands, for it pained me ex-
ceedingly, and then came down
and entered into a hall, which I
knew presently by the ten sofas
in a circle, and tho eleventh
in the middle, lower than the
rest, to be the same castle
from whence I was taken away
by the roc.
The ten half -blind gentlemen
•were not in the hall when I
came in, but came soon after
with the old man. They were
not at all surimsed to see me
again, nor at the loss of my
eye; but said, "We are sorry
that we cannot congratulate
you ujion your return as we
could have desired ; but we are
not the cause of your misfor-
tune." "I should bo in the
wrong to accuse you," said I;
" for I have drawn it upon my-
self, and I can charge the fault
upon no other person." "If it be a conso-
lation to the unfortunate," said they, "ta
\ V
THE THIRD CALENDER.
77
pmen
en I
fifter
vere
I me
my
Drry
(late
we
I are
have companiiiiiH, tluH vxamplo nmy nf-
fiTcl im a Hiiltjt'ct of rc>joi(;in>{. All tlmt
lia« lia|i[)i'iu'il to you wo liav»' also iiiuU'r-
jjono ; \VL' tantcd all Horts of ploaHiiri'S (liiriii);
n year HucceHsivi'ly ; ami \vc liad coiititiiu'il
to enjoy the sainu hHi>|>ini'SH Htill liail wo not
ojic'iiLil the goKlon door when tho iiriiicosHrs
were ahseiit. You havo hi'oii no wisor than
UH, and havo had likewiHu the saniu piiniah-
mcnt. Wo would yladly recoive you among
us, to perform hucIi penances as wo do,
though wo know not how lonj; it may oon-
tinuu ; but wo havo already declared tho
reasons that hinder us; therefore depart
from hence, and go to tho court of lla,i;dad,
where you shall meet with him that can de-
cide your destiny." They told mo tho way
I was to travel, and I left them.
On the road I caused my beard and eye-
brows to bo shaven, and a.s8>nned a calen-
der's habit. I havo had a lonj^ journey,
but at last I arrived this evcnin<^ in this
city, where 1 met these my brother calen-
ders at the gate, being strani,'ers as well as
myself. We wondered much atone another,
to see we were all three Idiiid of the same
eye ; but wo had not leisiu-o to disicourao
long of our conmiou calaiuitius. Wo had
only so much time as to come hither, to
implore those favours which you have been
generously pleased to grant us.
The third calender having finished this
relation of his adventures, Zubeide aildresseil
her speech to him and his fellow-calenders
thus : — "Go wherever you think fit; you are
all three at liberty." IJut ono of them an-
swered, " Madam, we beg you to pardon our
curiosity, and permit us to hear those gen-
tlemen's stories who have not yet si)oke."
Then the latly turned to that sid^ where tho
calipli, the vizier Giafar, and Mesrour stood,
whom she knew not; but said to them, " It
is now your turn to tell mo your adventures,
therefore speak."
The ;^rand vizier Giafar, who had always
been tho sjiokcsman, answered Zobeido thus :
"Madam, in order to obey you, we need
only to repeat what we have said already,
before we entered your house. We are mer-
chants of Moussol, that came to i5a:,'ilad to
sell our merchandise, that lies in the khan
where we lodge. We dined to-day with
several other persons of our profession, at a
merchant's house of this city ; who, after he
had treated us with choice dainties and
excellent wines, sent for men and women
dancers and musicians. The great noise wo
made brought in the watch, who arrested
some of the company, and wo had the good
fortune to escape ; but it being already late,
and the door of our khan shut nj), we knew
not whither to retire. It was our hap, as
we • assed along this street, to hear mirth at
your house, which made us determine to
knock at your gate. This is all the account
that wu can give you, in r)bedienco to your
uoniniands."
Zobeido, having lie-ud this discourse,
Noenied to hesitate upon what she should
say; which tho calenders perceiving, prayed
her to grant tho samo favour to the threo
MoUKsol merehantK m she had done to them.
" Well, then," said she, " I give my consent,
for you shall all bo eipiall^ ol)liged to me: I
pardon you all, provided y. u depart iinino-
di.itelyout of this house, and (/o whither you
please."
Zobeido having given this command in a
tone that signilied she would bo obeyed, tho
caliph, tho vizier, Mesrour, tho three calen-
ders, and tho porter, departed, without say-
ing one word ; for tho presence of the seven
slaves with their weaiioiis kept them in awe.
When they ■were out of tho house and tho
door shut, tho caliph said to tho calenders,
without making himself known, " You gen-
tlemen strangers, that are newly come to
town, which way do you design to go, since
it is not yet <lay ?" " It is that which per-
plexes us, sir," said tliey. "Follow us," re-
jilied the caliph, " and we will bring you out
of danger." After saying these words, ho
whispered to the vizier, "Take them along
with you, and to-morrow morning bring
them to mc ; I will cause their history to bo
put in writing, foi- it deserves a. place in tho
annals of my reign."
Tho vizier G iafar took the throe calenders
along with him, tho porter went to his ipiar-
ters, and the caliph and Mesrour returned to
tho palace. The caliph went to bed, but
could not get a wink of sleep, his spirit*
were so ])erplexed by tho extraordinary
things he had seen and heard ; but, abovo
all, ho was most concerned to know who
Zobcide was, what reason she could have to
bo so severe to tho two black bitches, and
why Amine had her bo.som so mortilied.
Day began to apiiear whilst he was thinking
upon those things ; he arose, and went to
his council-chamber, where he used to give
aiulienco, and sat upon his throne.
Tho grand vizier came in a little after,
and jiaid his rcsi)ects as usual. "Vizier,"
said the caliph, "tho aflairs that we have
to consider at present are not very i)ressing ;
that of the three ladies and the two black
bitches is much more so : my mind cannot
bo at ease till I am thorouglily satislicd in all
those matters that have surprised nie so much.
— Go, bring these ladies and the calenders at
the same time ; make haste, and remember
that I imi)atiently expect your return.,"
The vizier, who knew his master's quick
and fiery temper, made haste to obey, and
went to tho ladies, to whom he commimi-
cated, in a civil way, the orders he had to
bring them before the caliph, without taking
any notice of what had passed the night be-
fore at their house.
t
78
THE ARABfAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Tbe ladies put on their veils, ;ind went
with the vizier. Aa ho passed hj his own
house, he took tl'o three calenders along
with him ; and they, in the meantime, had
got notic; that tht^y hud both seen and spoke
with th'j caliph without knowing him. The
vizier brought them to the palace with so
much diligence, that the caliph was much
pleased, This prince, that he might keep
decorum before all the officers of his court
who were then present, gave order? that
those ladies shoukl be placed behin 1 the
hanging of the door of the roo.n next his
bed-chamber, and kept by him the three
calenders, Vi'ho by their rea[)ectful behaviour
gave sufficient proof that they were not igno-
rant before whom they had the honour to
api)ear.
When the ladies were jilaced, the caliph
turned towards them and said, "Ladies,
when I shall acquaint you that I came last
night, disguised in a merchant's habit, into
your h(mse, it will certainly alarm ycm, and
make yoi. f(.j,r that you have oli'ended me ;
and jiorhaps you believe that I have sent for
you for no other puri)ose but to shew some
marks of my resentment ; but bo not afraid,
you may rest assured that I have forgotten
all that has past, and am very well satisfied
with your coi\dtict. I wish that all the
ladies of Bagdad had as much discretion as
you have given proof of before me. I shall
always remember the mod<,ration you made
use of, after the incivility that we had com-
mitted. I was then a merchant of Moussol,
but am at present Haronn Alraschid, the
seventh, caliph of the glorious house of
Abbas, that holds the place of our great
p..ophet. I have only sent for you to know
who you are, and to ask you for what rea-
son one of yo;i, after severely whipping the
two black ))itches, did weep with them.
And I am no less curious to knot / why an-
other of you has her bosom so full of scars."
Though the caliph pronounced these words
very distinctly, and the three ladies heard
him well enough, yet the vizier Giafar did,
out of ceremony, repeat them over again.
But, sir, said Scheherazade, it is day ;
and if your majesty thinks tit that I shall
go on with the rest of this story, you will be
pleased to prolong my life until to-moiTow.
The sultan agreed to it, knowing that .Sche-
herazade would relate the history of Zoboide,
which he had a great desire to hear.
The Sixty-Third Night.
Dear sister, said Dinarzade, about break
of day, if you bo not asleej), pray tell us the
story of Zobeide, for, doubtless, that lady
told it to the caliph. She certainly did,
said Scheherazade, after that prince by his
discourse had encouraged her to it. And it
was in this r.ianner that she satisfied his
curiosity : —
TUE STORY OF ZOBETDE,.
C'-.-^mander of the faithful, said she, the
relaticm which I am about to give your ma-
jesty is one of the strr.ngest that ever was
heard. The two black i)itches and myself
are sisters by the same father and mother ;
and I shall acquaint you by what strange
accident they came to be metamorphosed.
The two ladies who live with mt, and are
now here, are also my sisters by the father's
side, Init l)y anothef mother; she that has
the sc<ars|nj)on her breast is named Amine,
the other's name is Safie, and mine Zobeide.
After our father's death, the estate that
he left us was equally divided among us :
and as soon as these two sisters received
their portions, they went from me to live
with their mother. My other two sisters
and myself stayed with purTnothir, who Mas
then alive, and when she died, left each of
us a thousand sequins. As soon as we re-
ceived our portions, the two elder (for T am
the yoimgest) being married, followed their
husbands, and left mo alone. Sn-.netime
after, my eldest sister's 'lusband sold all i,hat
he had, and with that riioney .and my sister's
portion they went both into Africa, where
her husband, by riot(nis living and debau-
chery, spent all ; and, finding himself re-
duced to i)overty, he found a pretext for
divorcing my sister, and put her away.
She returned to this city ; and, having
suffered incredible hardships by the way,
came to me in so lamental)le a condition
that it would have moved the hardest heart
to compassion. I received her with all the
tenderness she could expect ; and, inquiring
into the cause of her sad condition, she told
me with tears how inhumanly her husband
had rlealt by her. I was so much concerned
at her misfortune that it drew tears from
my eyes. I put her into a bath, and clothed
her with my own apjiarel and spoke to her
thus : ' ' Sister, you are the elder, and I
esteem you as my mother : during your ab-
sence God has blest the portion that fell to
my share, and the employment I follow to
feed and bring up silk-worms. Assure your-
self there is nothing I have but is at your
service, and as nuich at your dis])osal as my
own."
We lived very comfort.ably together for
some months ; and as we were often dis-
coursing together about our third sister, and
wondering we heard no news of her, she came
in as bad a condition as the eider : her hus-
band hadtr.ated her after the same manner,
and I received her likewise with the same
affection as I had done the former.
Some time after, my two sisters, on pre-
quiring
he told
iisbaml
iccriicd
from
clothed
to her
and 1
mr ab-
ftll to
How to
: your-
|t your
1 as my
lier for
Ini dis-
br, aiitl
■e came
br luis-
|anner,
same
pre. ^
THE STORY OF ZOBEIDE.
79
tence that they woiJd not be chargeable to
me, told me they had thoughts to maiTy
again. 1 answered them, that if their put-
ting me to charge was all the reason, they
might lay those thoughts aside, and be very
welcome to stay vi ith me ; for what I had
would be sufficient to maintain us all three
in a manner answerable to our condition.
"But," said 1, " I rather believe you have
a mind to marry figain; which, if you have,
I am sure it will very much surprise me :
after the experience you have had of the
small satisfaction there is in wedlock, is it
I)ossible you dare venture a second time?
You know how rare it is to meet with a
husband that is a re.al honest man. Believe
what 1 say, and let us live together as com-
fortal)ly as we can." All my persuasion was
iu vain ; they were resolved to marrj , and
Bo they did. But after some months were
past, they came back again, and begged my
liardon a thousand times for not following
my advice. " You are our yoimgest sister,"
said they, " and abundantly more wise than
we; but if you will vouchsafe to receive us
once more into your house, and account us
your slaves, we shall never commit such a
fault again." My answer was, " Dear sis-
ters, I have not alcerod my mind with respect
to you since we last ]iarted fr( ■■ a one another ;
come again, and t".ke part of what I have."
Upon this I emljraced them again, and we
lived together as we did foimerly.
We continued thus a whule year in per-
fect love and tranquillity ; and, seeing that
God had inci'eased my small stock, I pro-
jected a voy-ige by sea, to hazard somewhat
in trade. To this end, I went with my two
.sisters to Balsora, wliere I liought a shij)
rcatly Htted for sea, and laded her with such
merchandise as I brought from Bagdad. We
set sail Mitli a fair wind, and soon cleared
the Persian gulf ; and when we got into the
ocean, we steered our course to the Indies
and the twentieth day saw land. It was ■
veiy high mountain, at the bottom of which
we saw a great town ; and, having a fresh
gale, we soon reached the harljour, where
wo cast an. iior.
I had not patience to stay till my sisters
were dressed to go along with me, but went
ashore in the boat by myself ; and making
directly to the gate of the town, I saw there
a great number of men ui)on guard, some
sitting, and others standing with Ijatous in
their hands ; and they had all such dreadful
countenances that it frightened me : but per-
ceiving they had no motion, not so much as
with their eyes, I took courage, and went
nearer, and then found they were all turned
into atones. I entered the town, and passed
through tlic several streets, wherein stood
everywhere men in various atti^^^udes, but all
motionless and petrified. On that side where
the mercliants lived I found most of the
shoiis shut, and in sucli as were open I like-
wise found the people i)etrilied. I looked
up to the chimneys, but saw no smoke, which
made me conjecture that the inhabitants
both within and without, were all turned
into stone.
Being come into a vast scpiaie in the heart
of the city, I ]ierceived a great gate, covered
with plates of gold, the two leaves of which
stood ojien, and a curtain of silk stuff seemed
to be drawn before it; I also saw a lam])
hanging over the gate. After I had well
considered the fabric, I made no doubt 1)ut
it was the palace of tiie prince who reigned
over that country; and being very much
astonished that I had not i ■. I with one
living creature, I went thither in hopes to
find some. I entered the gate, and was still
more surprised when I saw none but the
guards in the porches, all petrified, some
staiiding, some sitting, and some lying.
I cro'jsed over a large court, where I .saw
a stately building just before mo, the win-
dows of wliicli were inclosed with gates of
massy gold. I supposed it to ))e the queen's
apartment, and went into a large hall, where
there stood several black eunuchs turned
into stone. I went from thence into a room
richly hung and furnished, where T perceived
a lady in the same situation. I knew it to
be the queen by the crown of gold that hung
over her head, .mtl a necklace of peails about
her neck, each of them a.^ big as a nut : I
went up close to her to ^•iew it, and never
beheld a finer si jcht.
I stood some time, and admired the riches
and magnificei.cc of the room; but, above
aU, the foot-cloth, the cushions, and the
sofas, which were all lined with Indian stuff
of gold, with pictures of men and beasts in
sil" " idi .irably exec\ited.
Sche erazade would have continued longer,
bill, daylight put a stop to her discourse.
T) e jultan was highly pleased with the
'-.ory : I must, said, he, as he was getting
out of lied, know what all tliis i underfill
petrifaction of men will come to.
The Sixty-Fourth Night.
DiNAiiZABi; was so extremely pleased with
the beginning of this stc>Ty of Zobeide, that
she did not fail to call tin. sultaness before
day. If you be not aslee >, sister, pray let
us know what Zobeide sr.w more in this
strange palace. JSchchera.^ade answered,
The lady c<intinued the story to the caliph
iu this manner : —
Sir, said she, I went out of the chamlier
where the petrified queen was, and ]iassed
through several other a]iartments and closets
richly furnished, and at last came into a vast
large room, where was a throne of iiassy
If
i
80
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
gold, raised Hcveral steps above the iloor,
and enriched with large enchased emeralds,
and a bed upon the throne of rich stuff, em-
broidered with pearls. What surprised mc
more than all the rest was a sparkling li,L,'ht
which came from above the bed. Being
curious to know from whence it came, I
mounted the steps, and, lifting up my head,
I saw a diamond as big as the egg of an
ostrich, lying upon a low stool; it was so
pure that I could not find the least blemish
in it, and it sparkled so bright, that I could
not endure the lustre of it when I saw it
by day.
On each side of the bed's head there stood
a lighted flambeau, but for what use I could
not comprehend; however, it made mo ima-
gine that there was some living creature in
this place, for I could not believe that these
torches continued thus burning of them-
selves. Several other rarities detained my
curiosity in this room, which was inesti-
mable, were it only for the diamond I men-
tioned.
The doors being all open, or but half shut,
I surveyed some other apartments, that were
as fine as those I hatl already seen. I looked
into the olHcos and store-rooms, which were
full of infinite riches, and I was so much
taken with the sight of all the wonderful
things that I forgot myself, and did not think
on my ship or my sisters ; my whole design
was to satisfy my curiosity : meantime night
came on, which xiut me in mind that it was
time to retire. I was for returning the same
way I came in, but I could not find it; I lost
myself among the apartments; and finding
I was come back again to that large room
where the throne , the couch, the large dia-
mond, and the torches stood, I resolved to
take my night's lodgings there, and to depart
the next morning betimes, to get aboard my
ship, I laid myself down upon the couch,
not without some dread to be alone in a
desolate place ; and this fear hindered my
sleep.
About midnight I hoard a voice like that
of a man reading the Koran, after the same
manner and in the same tone in which wo
read in our mosques. Being extremely glad
to hear it, I got up immediately, and taking a
torch in my hand to light me, I passed from
one chamber to another, on that side where
tlie voice came from. 1 came to the closet
door, where I stood still, nowise doubting
that it came from thence. I set down my
torch upon the ground, and looking through
a window, 1 found it to be an oratory. In
short, it had, as we have in our mosques, a.
niche that shews where we must turn to say
our jirayers ; there were also lamps hung up,
and the two candlesticks with large tapers
of white wax burning.
I saw a little carpet laid down, like those
we have to kneel upon when wo say our
prayers, and a comely young man sat upon
this carpet, reading with great devotion the
Koran, which lay before him upon a desk.
At the sight of this I was transported Avith
admiration. I wondered how it came to
pass that he should be the only living crea-
ture in a town where all the people were
turned into stones, and I lUd not doubt but
there was something in it very extraordinary.
Ihe door being only half shut, I opened
it and wont in, and standing upright before
the niche, I said this prayer aloud : " Praise
be to Clod, who has favoured us with a happy
voyage, and may he bo graciously pleased to
protect us in the same manner, until wo
arrive again in our own^oimtry. Hear me,
Lord, and grant my request."
THE
who yoj are laud wlotT' ^"r^'^*^* '"" ^"«^
this desolate 'ciy/Amft'^''*-^'''" *"
' tell you who I fn ,^ "t "'*'"'','' ^ ^'"
to th;^ state you see then, ^^'"'"/'^'"^^^^
told hi,u hou- mucl T ^"' I"'"'"'^'^' a'»I
Wgl.tfulde.olatiorthehnnTr''^^*'''^
places a^ I ca.ne alonl '^'^ "-'^" "» »"
-nishUiSi'^:,™—';'-^*^"-
case, and laid it in the ' V .'"'" '"^ "cli
opportunitv to o, erte h^"' 7 ^'^""^ "^=^*
so much Koodnatun on i ' . "'^ Perceived
\ felt such St , r?5 oiLnr-*^"^ ''''"■ "^••'*
'«d never done' hcf"o :e'°'^?j"\™^'«'^it as I
<IoM-n by him • and l,?f p '"ade me sit
---■^-irthl^tS^SlTtrn*''^'™'
v^ -i ai':)ired witl. « a • , , *• '^entimentH I
"f "'y .sou I et; ;^arf '"'•^•-^•^'•^''i-
wait for an' account :raV;r '"*'''"^^' *"
tJ"ngs that I have see IL r'''/?''^'-^"^
^ame into your city 4d mv ^'"'* *""'' ^
"ot he satisiied to^o' soon f, '"T'*^ '^''^"•
>.»tience. The suit, „^ *''''i'''^«^ «" your
-fttohcar^rtaSe^^yi-^-'S-xt
lul story, "''uuuer oi this wonder
TORY OF ZOBEIDE.
— — — _ «I
my iather did T<'\m Th!iT ^ ~^
court, the inhabitants ',''?,* l'"»ee, his whole
other subjects, vere ^^ *;' '^''>''.-^»'l ''' Ws
i're, and of A^u^Iou, the w -'"'f^'l'l'l'^''-^ "^
«^anWl.reb.W;^--;^'".ofthe
an Idolatrous father a.^?;,™ •■^?'^ ^""' ^f
S"od fortune in m^y t^t 'T' ' '""' «'«
"ess who was a crood At '"'^'-^ '"^ «over-
Koran by heart "an 1 '^^' f«"'"^an ; I j^'i^jtho
■^tionofltS:;;^ru^'^*^^^^^
would she oftentimes sav 'fi ''''"" I'"°«e,'
"'o Ood; take hc'l th;t*''"■^"'•»to^e
knowledge and adore anv',,^"" ''," ""* ac-
me to read Arabic an tV" /^'"'taught
n^e to preach upon'C th Ko""'' '^'f ^^^'^
as I was capable of ,,,,!). ,'■''"• '^« soon
PJ7edto,Li£'t^-f-^it,sheex.
W(-k, and infused pietv t f „ """'•^'''^"'^'^t
known to my father V;^ '," "^^ ™'nd, un-
'happened to^ L , ^t ''nT^r'^ '-''^''- ^^e
Pe*ctlyinstruct d meralltlT '^"^ ^''^
«ary to convince me o? t ' Ar * 7^' "^'='-'«-
«'on. After her death V'"^'"''^" '•'-^«-
constancy in the belief T .l'"«'«ted with
£--.od..^[i;i^-^-rabl.or
ago2;it:;i£°3-arsandsome months
«"clden so distinc Iv th ° wf ^'''"•'' '''" "f a
that nobody Sd n ^^t "''° ^^^'^'e city,
words were'^these -J'r, ^I'f '"« '*• The
the worship of iXardonn ,™*,'' "'^''andon
worship the only Go fe 7^ «f «i'e, and
. " This voice H^as Wl i '°"''' "'"'"'^y-'
fivcly, but nol.ody wa, *''''^'^'y^''»r««"cces.
J'-'^t day of the yZr at fo?^ m"^,' «« ^^^e
•"orning, all the Lmbtn , '^°'^^ '" ^^^e
cl^anged in an instant nt?."' ^''""•''' ^ere
"1 tJie same cond t on an. n :"""' ^^"'"•^ «"«
Pened to I,e then , Tl ^r'*'""" *^''y ^ap-
Ii!,,! +!,„ __ "'"-"in. iho kinrr ,r,„ f..ii ■•
The Sixty-Fifth Night.
S^°m^-::^S!i,1r-1'^--de,
pray you to '';e.,ume tl * T ^"^' ^ ^'-""1^
and aequazrt us wha , "?,"^ ^"^"-'"Je,
and the youn^nK-^/tJa'!^"^' '^^tween he;
the palace you gave 1 «' ^""'J"' •'"'^^ "'
^f---I will immSX ^tfsfv : ''"^^■'•.'P"°"
■sultaness. Zobeide went ^ •^.""' «'''"l the
thus :- '''"'' ^ent on with her story
"Madam," said the vo .nr,
J'ave given mo to ZxIrlwS '"'''"'/'yon
knowledge of the true God ^.V" ^'""^'^ <*
y"« just now addresser! f' S- *''" ^''^-'^ye'-
acquaint you St - ?''"• ' will
I o
Vti;:;;-l-,Ti.kin^„,4^-
Phosed into a blaci s/nn ,'''''' "letamt.r-
j» this palace • a ^ tbe ' '"" ''' '^ *" l^*^ «een
iad the like desthly ^""■"' "^^^ "^^"ther.
"feiStt:?;i:S«-*fnotsu«.r
I I.a.e continued^ o'-s^r"'/; "•'? ^'"'''^
ferv.-ncy than before /am ^" '","^ '"°^«
'a'ly, that he has sent. ^","''''«'' ^^ar
eomfort, for whid/ /"^rSer ir"' '"^ ^^
thanks; for I niust own i't « ''' 'f '"*«
hfo IS very uneasy " *^"*' solitary
^3^"n::;:;::;^'S?Eri^^^^^^"^^'^>^t^«
"^'rince," said /.<,,*■'■ ^'"" extremely.
Providence hath brouS^''^"; ''""'^^ ''"t
to present you wi [, af !"*" y'""' P"rt,
;;-i..gfr^ntS^S;:;^;X^'^3^with
-ade^y^nhat'iy- ^^ -aS S^
'la.l, wiro r ,;;^'"j^;»«7eestee„, at l[4'
estate; and I SVe 1 / •^'•"•^''^^'^Wo
sanctuarythere unbifT ^'*: l" l"'"'"'^" you
of the fiithfid'wh^^^^^j'S'^ty commander
__JJ™^Jsvioe.regent to our
82
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
prophet, whom you acknowledge, shew you
the honour that is due to your merit. This
renowned prince lives at Bagdad, and as
soon as he is informed of your arrival in his
capital, you will find that it is not in vain to
implore his assistance. It is impossible you
can stay any longer in a city where all the
objects you see must renew your grief : my
vessel is at your service, whore you may
absolutely command as you shall think lit."
He accepted the offer, and we discoursed the
remaining part of the night about our em-
barkment.
As soon as it was day we left the palace,
and came aboard my ship, where we found
my sisters, the cap-
tain, and the slaves,
all very much troubled
for my absence. Af-
ter I had i)resented
my sisters to thi.i
prince, I told them
what had hindered
my return to the ves-
sel the day before,
how I had met witli
the young prince, liis
story, and the cause
of the desolation of so line a city.
The seamen were taken up several days in
xmlading the merchandise 1 brought along
with me, and embarking, instead of that, all
the precious things in the palace, as jewels,
gold, and money. We left the f urnitiure and
goods, which consisted of an intinite quan-
tity of plate, &c., because our vessel could
not carry it, for it would have re(£uired
several vessels more to carry all the riches
to Bagdad that we might have chosen to
take with us.
After we had laden the vessel with what
we thought (it, we took such provisions and
water aboai-d as were necessary for our voy-
age (for we had stiU a great deal of those
provisions left that we had taken in at Bal-
sora : ) at last we set sail with a wind as fa-
vourable as we could wish.
Here Scheherazade saw day, and stopped
her discourse : the sidtan arose without
speaking a word ; but he projiosed to him-
self to hear the end of Zobeide's story, and
the wonderful dehverauce of this young
prince.
The Sixty-Sixth Night.
When the ensiung night was almost past,
Dinarzade, impatient to know the success of
Zobeide's voyage, called the sultaneps : My
dear sister, day begins to break ; for God's
?ake continue the story of yesternight, and
tell us whi:t!(er thi' prince and Zobeide ar-
rived safe at Bagdad. — I will, said fcichehe-
razade.
Zobeide, addressing herself to the caliph,
went on thus s —
Sir, said she, the young prince, my sisters.
and myself, enjoyed ourselves for some time
very agreeably : but, alas ! this good under-
standing did not last long, for my sisters
grew jealous of the friendship between the
prince and me, and maliciously asked me one
day, what we shoidd do with him when we
came to Bagdad. I perceived immediately
that they put this question to me on purpose
to discover my inclinations ; therefore, re-
solving to put it otF with a jest, I answered
them, "I will take him for my husband ;"
and upon that, turning to the prince, "Sir,
I humbly bog of you
to give your consent;
for as soon as we come
to Bagdad, I design
to offer you my per-
son to be your slave,
to do you all the ser-
vice that is in my
power, and to resign
myself wholly to your
commands."
The prince answer-
ed, ' ' I know not, ma-
dam, whether you be in jest or no ; but for
ujy own part, I seriously declare before
these ladie.s, your sisters, that from this mo-
ment I heartily accept your offer, not with
any intention to have you as a slave, but as
my lady and mistress ; nor wiU I pretend to
have any power over your actions." At
these words my sisters changed colour, and
I coidd perceive afterwards that they did not
love me as formerly.
We were come into the Persian gidf, and
not far from Balsora, where I lioped, con-
sidering the fairwnd, we miglit have arrived
the day following ; but in the night, when I
was asleej), my sisters watched their time,
and threw me overboard. They did the same
to the prince, who was drowned. I swam
some minutes on the water ; but by good
fortune, or rither miracle, I felt ground. I
went towards a black place, that, by what I
could discern in the dark, seemed to be laud,
and actually was a flat on the coast ; which,
when day came, I found to be a desert is-
land, lying about twenty miles from Balsora,
I soon dried my clothes m the sun ; an ;1 as
I walked along, I found several sorts of fruit,
and likewise fresh water, which gave me
some hopes of preservin<' my life.
I laid myself down in a shade, and soon
after I saw a winged serpent, very large and
long, commg towards me, wriggling to the
right and to the left, and lianging out his
tongue, which made me think he had somo
hurt, I arose, and saw a larger serpent fol-
lowing him, holding liim by tho tail, and
endeavouring to devour him. I had com-
passion on him, and instead of ilying away,
\
?«
THE STORY OF AMINE.
83
f, and
, cou-
rrived
dien I
time,
5 same
swam
'
good 1
d. I
bat I
land.
hicb.
irt is-
Isora.
n:l as
fruit.
\ ^
3 me
\ i
\
soon
t
3 and
) the
t his
somJ
li.
tfol-
11
and
B
corn-
K
way, n ^
1
■ a
I had the boldness and courage to take up a
stone that by chance lay by me, ano. throw
it with all my strength at the great serpent,
whom I hit on the head and killed him.
The other, finding himself at liberty, took
to his wings and Hew away. I looked a long
while after him in the air, as an extraordi-
nary thing ; but he How out of sight, and 1
lay down again in another place in the shade,
and fell asleep.
When I awaked, judge how I was sur-
prised to soo by mo a Ijlaok woman, of a lively
and agreeable eomjiloxion, who hold tied to-
gether in her hand two Ijitohes of the same
colour. I sat up and asked her who she
was. " 1 am, "said she, " the serpent whom
you delivered not lung since from ray mortal
enemy. I knew n(jt how to acknowledge
the great kindness you did me, but by doing
what I have done. I knew the treachery of
your sisters, and to avenge j-ou on them, as
soon as I was sot at liberty l>y your generous
assistance, I called several t)f my coriipauiona
together, fairies like myself. We have car-
ried into your storehouses at Bagdad all
your lading that was in your vessel, and
afterwards sunk it.
" These two 1)lack bitches are your sisters,
whom I have transformed into this shape.
But this punLshment is not sufficient; for I
will have you treat them in such a manner
as I shall direct. "
At these words the fairy took me fast
under one of her anns, and the two bitches
in the other, and carried me to my house in
Bagdad, where I found in my storehouses all
the riches which were laden on board my
vessel. Before she loft me, she delivered mo
the two bitches, and told me, " If you will
not be cliangcd into a bitch as they are, I
ordain you, in the name of him that governs
the sea, to give each of your sisters every
night a hundred lashes with a rod, for the
punishment of the crime they have commit-
ted against your jjorson, and the young
prince whom they drowned. " I was forced
to promise that I woidd obey her order.
Since that time I have whi])ped them every
night, though v/ith regret, whereof your
majesty hiis Ijeen a witness. I give evidence
by my teai's with how much sorrow and re-
luctance 1 must i>orform this cruel duty;
and in this your majesty may see I am more
to bo pitied than blamed. If there be any-
thing else, with rtlatiou to myself, that you
desire to bo informed of, my sister Amine
will give you the full discovery of it, by the
relation of her story.
After the caliph had heard Zobeide with
a great deal of astonishment, he desired liis
grand vizier to pray fair Amine to acquaint
him wherefore her breast was marked with
so man;/ scare.
But, sir, said Sclieherazade, it is day, and
I dare nob detain your majesty a»y longer.
Schahriar being persuaded that the story
which Sohohorazade was to relate would ex-
jilain the former, said to himself, I nnist
have the jileasure of hearing this story out :
upon which he arose, and resolved that Sche-
herazade should live one day longer.
The Sixty-Seventh Night.
DiNARZADE longed to hear the story of
Amine, and therefore waked the sultaness a
long while before day, saying, Dear sister,
pray let us know wliy fair Amine had her
breast so covered with scars. — 1 cdusont to
it, said the sultaness ; and that no time may
Ije lost, you may know that Amine address-
ed herself to the ealipli, and began her story
after this manner : —
THE .STORY OF AMINE.
Commander of the faithful, said she, to
avoid repeating what your majesty has al-
ready heard by my sister's .stur" 1 .jhall
only .idd, that after my mother had taken a
house for herself to live in during her
widowhood, she gave me in marriage, with
the jiortion my father left me, to a gentleman
that had one of the best estates in the city.
I had scarce l)een a year married when 1
became a widow, and was left in possession
of all my husband's estate, which iinKjunted
to ninety thousand sequins. The inti rest
of this money was sufficient to maintain me
very honourably. In the meantime, when
my first six months' mourning was over, I
caused to bo made me ten suits of clothes,
very rich, so that each suit came to .1 thou-
sand sequins ; and when the year was past,
I began to wear them.
One day, as I was busy .ilono about my
domestic atTairs, I was told that a lady de-
sired to speak to me. I ordered her to be
bro\ight in. She was a person .advanced in
years : she saluted me by kissing the ground,
and told me, kneeling, " Dear lady, excuse
the freedom I take to trouble you; the con-
fidence I have in your cliarity mal;es me
thus bold. I must .acquaint your ladyship
that I have an orphan daughter, vho is to
be married this day : she and I ar(! both
strangers, and have no acquaintance in this
town; which much perjiloxes me, for we
wish the numerous family with wliom we
are going to ally oursolve.i to think we are
not altogether strangers, and without credit ;
therefore, most liciutiful la<ly, if you would
vouchsafe to honour the wedding with your
])resence, we shall be infinitely obliged to
you, because the ladies of your country will
then know that we are not looked upon hero
as despicable wretches, when they shall
come to understand that a Lady of your
quality did us that honour. But, alas ! ma-
84
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
w
dam, if you refuse this request, Ave shall be
altogether disgraced, and dare not address
ourselves to any other."
This poor woman's discourse, mixed with
tears, movedmy compassion. "Good woman,"
said I, "do not alilict yourself ; I am willing
to grant you the favour you desire ; tell luu
what ])laco 1 must come to, and I will meet
you as soon as I am dressed. " The old wo-
man was so transported with joy at my an-
swer that slie kissed my feet witlmut my
being able to hinder it. "(4ood charitable
lady," said she, rising up, " God will reward
the kindness you have shewed to your ser-
vants, and make your heart as joyful as
you have made theirs. It is too soon yet to
give yourself that trouble : it will be time
enough when I come to call you in the even-
ing. So farewell, madam," said she, " till I
have the honour to see you again."
As sooii as she was gone, I took the suit
I liked best, with a necklace of large pearls,
bracelets, pendants in my ears, and rings
set with the linest and most sparkling dia-
monds ; for my mind presaged what would
befall me.
When night drew on, the ohl woman came
to call me, with a oountenauce full of joy;
she kissed my hands, and said, "My dear
lady, the relations of my son-in-law, Avho
are the principal ladies of the town, are
now met together ; you may come when you
please, I am ready to wait on you." We
went immediately, she going before, and I
followed her, with a good number of my
maids and slaves, very well dressed. We
stopt in a n-ide street, newly swept and
V I'-i' 1, at a sjiacious gate with a lantern
bt'iore it, l)y the light of which 1 could read
this inscriiition over the gate in golden let-
ters : "Here is the abode of everlasting pleas-
ures and content." The old woman knocked,
and the gate was opened immediately.
They brought me to the lower er cl of the
court, into a large hall, where I wat received
by a young lady of admirable beaii\y. She
came up to me, and after having embraced
me, she made me sit down by her upon a
sofa, where there was a throne of precious
wood, set with diamonds. "Mauari:," said
she, "you are brought hither to assist at a
wedding ; but I lio])e this marriage will
prove otherwise than what yoi: expected. I
have a brother, one of the handsomest men
in the world : he is fallen so much in love
with the fame of yoiu- beauty, that his fate
depends wholly upon you, and he will be the
nuhappicst of men if you do not take pity
on him. He knows your quality, and I can
assure you he is in nowise unworthy of your
alliance. If my prayers, madam, can prevail,
I shall join them with his, and humbly beg
you will not refuse the offerof being his wife."
After the death of my husband, I had no
thought of marrying »gain : but I had no
power to refuse the offer made by so charm-
ing a lady. As soon as I had given consent
by silence, accompanied with a blush, the
young lady clapt her hands; and immedi-
ately a closet door opened, out of which
came a young man of a majestic air, and so
graceful a Ijehaviour, that I thought myself
happy to have made so great a conquest.
He sat down by me, and by the discourse we
had together, I found that his merits far cx-
C'^eded the account his sister had given me
of him.
When she saw that we were satisfied with
one another, she elapt her hands a second
time, and out came a cadi, or scrivener, who
wrote our contract of marriage, signed it
himself, and caused it to be attested by four
witnesses ho brought along with him. The
only thing that my new spouse made me
jiromise was, that 1 sliould not be seen by
nor speak with any other man but himself;
and he vowed to me upon that condition,
that I should have no reason to complain
of him. Our marriage was concluded and
linished after this manner ; so I became the
principal actress of a wedding whereuuto I
was only invited as a guest.
After we had been mari'ied a month, I
had occasion for some sttiffs. I asked my
husband's leave to go out and buy them,
which he granted ; and I took that old
woman along with me, of whom T spoke be-
fore, she being one of the family, and two
of my own female slaves.
When we came to the street where the
merchants dwell, the old woman told me,
" Dear mistress, since you want silk stutt's,
I must carry you to a young merchant of my
acquaintance : he has of all sorts, and it will
prevent you wearying yourself by going from
one shop to another. I can assure you that
he is able to furnish you with that which
nobody else can." 1 was easily persuaded,
and we entered into a shoji belonging to a
young merchant who was tolerably hand-
some. I sat down, and bade the old woman
desire him to shew me the finest silk stuffs
he had. The woman bade me speak myself;
but 1 told her it was one of the articles of
my marriage contract not to speak to any
man but my husband, which I ought to keeji.
The merchant shewed mo several stuffs, of
which one pleased me better than the rest :
but I bade her ask the price. He answered
the old Avoman, "T Avill not sell it for gold
or money, but I Avill make her a present of
it, if she will give me leave to kiss her
cheek." I ordered the old woman to tell
liim that he was very rude to propose such
a thing; but instead of obeying me, she said,
" What the merchant desires of you is no
such great matter; you need not speak, but
only present him your cheek, and the busi-
ness will soon be done." The stuff pleased
me so much that I was foolish enough to
the
jne,
stutts,
;of my
it will
from
311 that
wliicli
laded,
to a
hancl-
e vfcRt :
awerecl
r gold
nt of
ss her
■to tell
e such
e said,
is no
k, but
busi-
ileased
gh to
THE STORY OF AMINE.
85
take her advice. The old woman and my
slave stood up, that nobody should see, and
I put up my veil; but instead of a kiss, the
morcliant bit me till the blood came.
The pain and surprise were so great that
I fell down in a swoi'U, and continued in it
so long that the merchant liad time to shut
his shop, iiud ily for it. When 1 came to
mys*.lf, I foiiud luy cheek all liloody: the
old woman and my slaves took earo to cover
it with my veil, that the people who canity
about us eould not [ "rceivo it, but supposed
it to be only a fainting lit.
.Scheherazade, as she spoke these words,
perceived day, and hela her peace. The
sultan ilnding the story Victh extraordinary
anil pleasant, rose uj), with a design to hear
the rest of it.
The Sixty-Eighth Night.
WiiK>r next night was near at an end, Dinar-
zade awaked and called to the sidtaness. If
you jilease, sister, pray continue the story of
Amine. — Scheherazade answered, The lady
resumed it thus . —
The old woman who was with me, being
extremely troubled at this accident, endeav-
oured to comfort me. "My dear mistress,"
said she, "I beg your pardon, for I am the
cause of this misfortune, having brought you
to this merchant, because he is my country-
man; but I never thought ho would be guilty
of such a villanous action. But do not
grieve : let us make haste to go home ; I
will give you a medicine that shall perfectly
cure you in three days' time, so that the
least mark shall not be seen." The lit had
made me so weak that I was scarce able to
walk : but at last I got home, where I had
a second lit, as I went into the chamber.
•Meanwhile, the old woman applied her re-
medy, so that I came to myself, and went
to bed.
My husband came to mc at night, and
seeing my head bound iip, asked me the
reason. I tohl him I had the headache, and
hoped ho would iii(|uire no further; but he
took a candle, and saw my cheek was hurt.
"How comes this wound?" said he. And
though I was not very guilty, yet I could
not think of owniug the thing; besides, to
make such a confession to a husband, I
thought, was somewhat indecent; therefore
I told him, " That as I was gouig to seek
for that stuir you gave me leave to buy, a
porter carrying a load of wood came so close
by me, as 1 went through a narrow street,
that one of the sticks gave me a rul) on the
cheek ; but it is not mucu hurt." This put
my husband in such a passion, that he vowed
he shoidd not j,o unpunislicd ; "for I will to-
morrow give orders to the lieutenant of the
police to seize upon all those brutes of por-
ters, and cause them to be hanged." Being
afraid to occasion the death of so many inno-
cent persons, 1 told him, "Sir, I should bo
sorry that so great a piece of injustice should
be committed. I'ray do not do it; for I
should deem myself unpardonable if 1 were
the cause of so much mischief." "Then tell
me sincerely," said ho, "how came you by
tliis wound';" I answered, "That it came
through the inadvertency of a broom-seller
upon an ass, who, coming behind me, and
looking another way, his ass gave me such a
push that I fell down, and Inirt my cheek
upon some glass." " Is it so ?" said my hus-
band; "then to-morrow morning, before sun-
rising, the grand vizier G iafar shall have an
account of this insolence, and he shall cause
all the broom-sellers to be put to death."
" For the love of God, sir," said I, " let mo
beg of you to pardon them, for they are not
guilty." "How, madam," said he, "what
is it I nmst believe ! Speak, for I am abso-
lutely resolved to know the truth from your
own mouth." "Sir," said I, " I was taken
with a giddiness in my head, and fell down,
and that is the whole matter."
At these last words my husband lost all
liatienco. "Oh," said he, "1 have given
ear to your lies too long;" with that, clap-
ping his hands, in came three slaves. "Pull
I'cr out of bed," said he, "and lay her in
the midiUe of the lloor." The slaves obeyed
his orders, one holding me by the head, and
another by the feet : he commanded a third
to fetch him a scimitar ; and when he had
brought it, "Strike," said he; cut her in
two in the middle, and then throw her into
the Tigris to feed the fishes. This is the
punishment I give to those to whom I have
given my heart, if they falsify their pro-
mise. When he saw tliat the slave made
no haste to obey his orders, " Why do you
not strike ?" said he. " Who is it that holds
you? What are you waiting for?"
" Madam, then," said the slave, " j'ou are
near the last moment of your life; consider
if yovi have anything to dispose of before
you die." I begged leave to speak one word,
which was granted me. I lifted up my
head, and looking wistfully to my husband,
"Alas! "said I, "to what condition am I
reduced ! Must I then die in the prime of
my youth ? " I could say no more, for my
tears and sighs prevented me. My husband
was not at all moved, but, on the contrary,
went on to reproach me, so that to have
made answer wouM have been in vain. I
had recourse to entreaties and prayers, but
he had no regard to them, and commanded
the slaves to proceed to execution. The old
woman who had been his nurse came in just
at that moment, fell down upon her knees,
and endeavoured tf/appease lii" vvrath. "Mv
son," said she, ' ' since I have 'jcen your nursf,
mmM
I HI
86
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
and brought you up, let mo bog tlio favour of
you to grant mc lier life ; consider that ho
who kills shall bo killed, and that you will
stain your reputation, and lose tho esteem of
mankind. What will the world say of such
a bloody rage?" Slio spoke these words in
such an affecting manner, accompanied with
tears, that she prevailed upon him at last.
" Well, then," said ho to his nurse, " for
your sake I will spare her life ; but she shall
carry some marks along with her to make
licr remember the crime." With that one
f,'f the slaves, by his order, gave nic so many
blows as hard as he could strike, with a little
oano, upon my sides and breast, that ho
fetched both skin and Hesh away, so that I
lay stt.seless. After that he cau.-ed the same
slaves, tho executioners of his fury, to carry
me into a house, where the old woman took
care of mo. I kept my bed four months :
at last I recovereil : the scars you saw
yesterday, against my will, have i?mained
ever since.
As soon as I was able to walk, and go
abroad, I resolved to go to the house Avhich
was my own by my lirst husl)and, but I
could not lind the place. My second hus-
band, in the heat of his wrath, was not
content to have razed it to tho ground, but
catised all the street where it stood to bo
pulled down. I believe such a violent pro-
ceeding was never hoard of before ; but
against whom should I make my complaint?
The author had taken such care that ho was
not to 1)0 found, neither could I know him
sigain if I saw him; and sui)poso I had
known him, is it not easily seen that tho
treatment I met \\ ith proceeded from abso-
lute power ? How, then, dared I make any
complaint ?
Being desolate, and unprovided of every-
thing, I had recourse to my dear sister Zo-
beide, who gave your majesty just now an
iKCOunt of her adventures : to her I made
known my misfortune ; she received me with
her accustomed goodness, and advised me
to bear it with patience. " This is the way
of the world," said she, " which either robs
us of our means, our friends, or our lovers,
and oftentimes of all at once." And, at the
same time, to confirm what she had said,
she gave me an account of the loss of the
young prince, occasioned by the jealousy of
her two sisters ; she told me also by what
accident they were transformed into bitches ;
and, in the last place, after a thousand v >sti-
nionials of her love tow.arils me, she shewed
me my youngest sister, who had likewise
taken sanctuary with her after the death of
he;- mother.
Thus we gave God thanks, who had
'brou::;ht us together again, resolving to live a
single life, and never to separate any more,
for we have enjoyed this peaceable way of
living a great many years ; and as it was my
business to mind the affairs of the house, I
always took pleasure to go myself and buy
in what we wanted. 1 haiipeued to go
abroad yesterday, ami the things I bought
I caused to be brought home by a porter,
who proved to be a sensible and jocose fellow,
and we kei)t liim with us for a little diver-
sion. Three calenders happened to come to
our door as it began to grow dark, and
prayed us to give them shelter till the next
morning. We gave them entrance, but upon
certain conditions, which they agreed to;
and after we liad made them sit down at the
table by us, they gave lis a concert of music
after their fashion, and at the same time we
heard knocking at our gate. These were the
three merchants of Moussol, men of a very
good mien, who begged the same favour
which the calenders had obtained before.
We consented to it upon the same conditions,
but neither of them kept their promise j and
THE STORY OF AMIXE.
87
thour;h vt' had ]Kiwer ns w'l as justice
(in our side to ])iiiiisli tliom. yet wo con-
tfutud ourselves with demiuidinj; from them
the history of their lives, and cousecjuently
cuulijied our revenge to disuiiiisin^ them after
they had done, and depriving them of the
lodgini; tliey ref|uestcd.
Tile calii>h Jlaronn Alrasehid was very
well satisiied witli these stnin'^e stories, and
declared imblicly his astonishment at what
he had heard.
But, sir, said Scheherazade, day bettins to
break ; so that I have not time to ac(juaint
your majesty what the cali|ih did to put an
end to the enchantment of the t»\'o black
bitches. Schahriar, supposing that the sul-
tancss would iinish the sto'.y of the five
ladieu and the three calenders the next
night, rose up, and suil'ercd her to live till
next moruiug.
The Sixty-Ninth Night.
Foe the love of heaven, sister, says Pinar-
zade, before it was day, if yfiu are not asleep,
tell us how the two Ijlack bitches were
brought to their former sha[>e, and what
became of the three calenders. — I will satisfy
your curiosity, said .Scheheraza<le. Then ad-
dressing lior discourse to Schaliriar, she pur-
sued it thus : —
Sir, the caliph having satisfied his curi-
osity, thought himself obliged to give some
marks of grandeur and generosity to the ca-
lender princes, and also to give the three
ladies some proofs of his bounty. He him-
.self, without making use of his minister, the
grand vizier, spoke to Zobeido: "Aladam,
this fairy, that shewed herself to you in the
sh.apo of a srrpent, and imposed such a rig-
orous command upon you, did she not tell
you where her place of abode was ? Or
rather, did she not jiromise to see you, and
restore those ))itches to their natural shape ? "
"Commander of the faithful," answered
Zobeide, " I forgot to tell your majesty that
the fairy left with me a bundle of hair, say-
ing withal, that her jiresonce would one day
be of use to nie ; and then, if I onlv burnt
two tufts of this hair, she would be with
me in a moment, though she were beyond
!Mount C'.aiicasns." "Madam," said the
caliiih, " where is the bundle of hair ?" She
answered, "Ever since that time I have had
snch a particular care of it, that 1 always
carry it about me." Upon which she pulled
it out, just opening the ^ase where it was,
and shewed it to him. "Well then," said
the caliph, "let us make the fairy come
hither,,, yoi.i could not call her in r. better
time, for I long to see her."
Zobeide having consented to it, fire was
brought in, and she threw the whole bundle
of hair into it. The palace began to shako
at that very instant, and the fairy a]>pearcd
before the ealii>h, in the shape of a lady very
richly dressed.
'• Commander of the faithful," said she to
the jirinee, "you see 1 am ready to come and
receive your Ci)nnnands. The lac ly who gave
me this call by your order, did mo n par-
ticular piece of service : to make my gi'ati-
tude ajipear, 1 revenged her of her sisters'
inhunwmity, by changing them into bitches ;
but if your majesty commands it, I will re-
store them to their former shape."
"Handsome fairy," said the caliph, "you
cannot do me a greater ]ileasure ; vouchsafe
them that favour, and after that I will find
some means to comfort them for the hard
penance. But besides, I have another boon
to ask in favour of that lady, who has had
such cruel usage from an unknown husiiand ;
and as you undoubtedly know a great many
things, we have reason to believe that you
cannot be ignorant of this. ()l)lige me with
the name of this liarbarous fellow, whoeoidd
not be contented to exercise his barbarous
cruelty ujion her person, but has also most
unjustly takeu from her all her substance.
I only wonder how such an unjust and in-
human action could be performed in spite of
my authority and not come to my ears."
" To oblige your majesty," answered the
fairy, " I will restore the two bitches to their
former state, and 1 will so cure the lady of
her scars, that it shall never ajipear she was
so beaten ; and at last I will tell you who it
was that did it."
The caliph sent for the two bitches from
Zobeide's house ; and when they came, a glass
of water was brought to the fairy by her
desire ; she pronounced over it some words,
which nobody understood ; then throwing
some part of it upon Amine, and the rest
upon the bitches, the latter became two
ladies of surprising beauty, and the scars that
were upon Amine vanished away. After
which the fairy said to the caliph, "Com-
mander of the faithful, I must now discover
to you the unknown husband you inquire
after ; lie is very near related to yourself,
for it is prince Amin, your eldest son, who
falling passionately in love with this lady, by
the fame ho had heard of her beauty, by an
intrigue got her brought to his house, where
he married her. As to the strokes he caused
to be given her, he is in some measure ex-
cusable ; for the lady, his spouse, had been
a littlo too easy, and the excuses she had
made were capable of making him believe
she was more faulty than really she was.
This is all I can say to satisfy your curio-
sity ; " and at these words she saluted the
caliph, and vanished.
The prince being filled with admiration,
and having much satisfaction in the changes
that had happened through his means, did
"•■*,
jJtHi .' i >mti,atBtii k im
.1* ,.„—..; :z^r*?'M*
u
88
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
.'-'ich tilings ai will pi'i'iK'timto liia memory
to nil nj^oH. First, ho Hunt for hit 8(m Amin,
ivnd told him that ho was iiil'ormc<l of his
secret iimrria<,'o, mid how ho had wounded
Amino iiiion a very Hli^ht cause. U|ioiithis
tho iirinee did not wiiit for his father'tt com-
mands, hut reeeivi'd her ai,'.iin imniidiatcly.
After which the calijih declared that ll(!
would j^ive hin own heart and hand to Zo-
bcide, and oU'ered the other three si.ster.-i to
the calendern, who wero souh of kini^s, who
acceptecl tlieni for their hridea with much
joy. Tile cali|ih aH.'<i^'ned each of them a
niagnilicent palace in the city of l!a;;dad,
]iromoted them to the hi;.diest di^^nities of his
empire, anil admitted them to his connseln.
The town-clerk of I'a^^dad beinj^ called,
with witnessea, wrote the contracts of mar-
riarje ; and the famous cali[ih ilarouu Alra.s-
chid, liy niakini; the fortune of so many
porsons that had 8iiireri.(l such incredihle
calamities, drew a thousand bleasingy noon
himself.
TllE STORY or SIXDDAD THE SAILOR.
DiNARZAUK having awakened her sister the
Bultaness as usual, and prayed her to tell
another story, ISeheherazade asked leave of
the sidtan, and having obtained it, began
thus : —
Sir, in the reign tif the same Caliph lla-
ronn Alraschid, whom 1 formerly mentioned,
there lived at Bagdad a poor porter called
Hindbad. * One day, when the weather was
excessively h(jt, he was emi)loyed to carry a
heavy burden from one end of the town to
the other. Being very weary, and having
still a great way to go, he came into a street
where a delicate westiirn breeze blew ou his
face, and tho pavement of the street being
sprinkled with rose-water, he could not de-
sire .1 better place to rest in ; therefore, lay-
ing oil his burden, he sat down by it, near
a great house.
Ho was mightily pleased that he stopt in
this place, for au agrcealde smell of wood of
aloes, and of pastils, that came from the
house, mixing with the scent of rose-water,
did completely jierfume and embalm the air :
besides he heard from within a concert of
.several sorts of instrumental music, accom-
panied with the harmonioiis notes of nightin-
gales, and other birds peculiar to that climate.
This charming melody, and the smell of se-
veral sorts of victuals, made the porter think
there was a feast, and great rejoicings within.
His occasions leading him seldom that way,
he knew not who dwelt in the house ; l«it
to satisfy his curiosity, he went to some of
* It is remarkable that tho names of " Sindbad " and
"Ilindbad" aie botli derived from tlie old reisian lan-
guage. "Bad" sifrnities a city ; "Sind" and " Hind "
are the territories ua either side of the Induii. "Sind,"
indeed, is its original name, but"Uind" is of those
countries which lie betwixt it and the Ganges. — Uole.
tho servants, wliom ho saw standing at tho
gate in magnificent apparel, and asked tho
name of tho master of the house, "Howl "
replied one of them, " do you live in Bagdad,
and know not that this is the house of Signor
Sindliad the sailor, that famous traveller,
who Ih'H sailed round the world '.'" The por-
ter, who had heard of this Sindb.ld's riches,
Could Jiot I)ut envy a man whoso condition
ho thought to be a.s hajipy as his own was
dijiloralilo ; and his mind being fretted with
those rellections, he lifted up his eyes to
heaven, and said, loud enough to be heard,
"Almighty Creator of all things, consider
the diliercnec between .Sindbad and me : I
am every day exposed to fatigues and calanu-
ties, and can scarce get coarse barley-bre.ad
for myself and my family, whilst hapi)y Sind-
bad profusely exiiends immense riches, and
leads a life of continual pleasure. What ha*
he done to obtain from thee a lot so agree-
able ? And what have I done to dc.-'.erve one
so miserable?" Having linished his expos-
tulations, he struck his foot against tho
ground, like a man swallowed up of grief
and despair.
Whilst the porter was thus indulging hia
melancholy, a servant came out of the house,
anil taking him by the arm, bid liiin follow
him, for Signor Sindbad, his master, wanted
to speak with him. — Here day beginning to
appear, Scheherazade broke oil' her story, but
resumed it again next morning as follows : —
Tho Seventieth Night.
Sir, your majesty may easily imagine that
poor Hindbad was not a little surprised at
this conijiliment; for, considering what ho
had said, he was afraid Sindbad had sent for
him to punish him : therefore he would have
excused himself, alleging that he could not
leave his burden in the middle of the street.
But Sindbad's servants assured him they
would look to it, and pressed the i^orter so,
that he was obliged to yield.
The servants brought him. into a great
hall, where abundance of peoide sat round a
table covered with, all sorts of line dishes.
At the npper end there sat a grave, comely,
venerable gentleman, with a long white beard,
and behind him stood a number of officers and
domestics all ready to serve him ; this grave
gentleman Avaa Sindbad. The porter, whose
fear was increased at tho sight of so many
people, and of a banquet so sumptuous, sa-
luted the company trembling. Sindbad bid
him draw near, and setting him down at his
right hand, served him himself, and gave him
excellent wine, of which there was a good
store upon the sideboard.
When dinner was over, Sindoad began hia
discourse to Hindbad : and calling him bro-
ther, according to the manner of the Aro/-
!
r
5 :.
!
F
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
89
Mans wlieii they are fainilinr onu with an-
(ither, lie aski'd him liis iimik^ ami ('in|ili>y-
iiit'iit. "iSiyiiiir," iinswcrcil l;c, "my iinini'
is lliiidhail." " [ am vitj' glail to hco yi>ii,"
replied Siiidl)ad, "and I daro Hay the Hatnc for
all tho coniiiany; l>ut 1 would Ih; ^dad to
licar from your own mouth what it wax j'ou
said awhilo aj;o in the street." ForSindliad
liad heard it hiniaelf through the window,
lieforc lid sat down at table, and that occa-
sioned his calling' for him.
Hindbad, being surprised ftt tho f^uestion,
linn,!.; ilown IiIh head, and replied, " Sijrnor,
I confess that my weariness ]mt me out of
humour, and oecawioiu'il lue to speak some
indisereet words, whieh I be;,' you to jiar-
doii." " Oh ! do not think I am so unjust,"
replied Sindbad, " to resent siudi a tliini; ai«
that; I eonsider yi'ur eoudition, aud instead
of npbraidin!^ you with your complaints, I
commiserate you : but 1 lyust rectify youp
mistake concernin;.; myself, ^'on think, nn
doubt, fliat I have ae(|uired without labon?
aud trouble the ca'SO aud couveuiuney which
^m.
I now enjoy : but do not mistake ; I did not
attain to this hapjiy condition without en-
durinj^ more trouble of body and mind, for
several years, than can well be imagined.
Yes, gentlemen," added he, speaking to the
whole company, "I can assure you my trou-
bles were so extraordinary, that they were
capable of discouraging the most covetous
man from undertaking such voyages as I
did to accpiirc riches. I'erhajis you have
never heard a distinct account of niy wonder-
ful adventures, and the dangers I met
with in my seven voyages; and since I have
this opportunity, I am willing to give you a
faithful account of them, not doubting but
it will be acceptable."
And because Sindbad was to tell this story
particularly upon the porter's account, he
ordered bis burden to be carried to the place
appointed, and began thus : —
THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR:
HIS FIRST VOYAGE.
My father left me a considerable estate,
the best part of which I spent in debauchery
during my youth ; but I perceived my error,
and reflected that riches were perishable,
and quickly consumed by such ill managers
as myself, I farther considered, that by my
irregular way of living I wretchedly misspent
iny time, which is the most valuable thing
in tho worlil. I remembered the saying of
the great Solomon, wliich I hail frequently
hoard from my father. That death is more
toli.'ralilc than poverty. Struck with these
reflections, I collected the remains of my
furniture, and sold all my patrimony by
public auction to the highest bidder. Then
I entered into a contract witli some mer-
chants, who traded by sea : I took the ad-
vice of such as I thought most capable to
give it me; and resolving to imiirove what
money I had, I went to JJalsora,* and em-
barked with several merchants on board a
ship which we jointly litted out.
We set sail, and steered our course to-
wards the East Indies, thnnigh the Persian
(lulf, which is formed by the coasts of Ara-
bia Felix on the riglit, and by those of Persia
on the left, and, according to common opi-
nion, is seventy leagues at the broadest
place. The Eastern sea, as well as that of
the Indies, is very spacious : it is bounded
on one side by tho coasts of Abyssinia, aud
is 4500 leagues in length to the isles of
* A port in the Persian gulf.
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
\l I
Vakvak.* At first I waa troubled with the
8ea-8ickneR8, Init speedily recovered my
health, and was not afterwards troubled
with that disease.
In our voya;,'e we touched at several is-
lands, ■m^Bf we sold at exchanged our goods.
One day, whilst under sail, we were be-
calmed near a little island, even almost with
the surface of the water, which resembled a
green meadow. The captain ordered his
sails to be furled, and permitted such per-
sons as had a mind to land u^wn the island,
amongst whom I was one.
But wliile we were diverting ourselves
with eating and drinking, and recovering
ourselves from the fatigiie of the sea, the
island on a sudden trcmltlcd, and sliook lis
terribly.
Here Scheheraeade stopped, because day
appeared, but resumed her discourse next
morning as follows : —
The Seventy-First Night.
SiK, Sindbatl pursued his itory thus : — They
perceived the trembling of the island on
board the ship, and called us to re-embark
speedily, or we should all be lost ; for what
we took for an island was only the book of
a whale. Tlie nimblest got into the sloop,
others betook themselves to swimming ; but
for my part, I was still upon the back of the
whale whei» le dived into the sea, .and had
time only to catch hold of a piece of wood
that we had broiijiht out of the ship to make
a fire. Meanwhile, the captain, having re-
ceived those on Ijoard who were in the sloop,
and taken up some of tl.ose tliat swam, re-
solved to improve the favourable gale that
was just risen, anil hoisting his sails, ]mr-
sued his voj-ajrc, so tluit it was impossible to
recover the ship.
Tluis was I exposed to the mercy of the
waves, and 8tru;.'<.'led for my life all the rest
of the day and the fullmving night. Next
nioniing J found my strength gone, and de-
spaired of sa%-ing my life, when happily a
wave tlirew me asainst an island, t The
bank was high and rugged, so that I could
scarcely have got up, had it not been for
some roots of trees, whicli fortune seemed
to have preserved in this place for my
safety. Being got ui>, 1 lay down upon tlie
ground half dead, until the sun appeared ;
then, though I was very feelde, both by rea-
son of my hard labour and want uf food, I
• TlicsR i»lanil«. according to the Arahians, nro
I)PTon(l China, anfl are so called from n tree which
heiirs a fruit of that name. They are. without douht,
the isles of Japan ; which are not, however, fur from
Abyssinia.
f )Ir IIol?. p. Ti. say.i that thia Is probably one of the
three Islands near Ceylon, called IIIhih de C'avaloB,
fWm the wild hnr»os, 'to which the Dutch annually
eend mares to improre th" breed. — Wolfs Account of
' Ceylon, but, p. 256, be alters hii opinion.
crept along to see some herljs fit to eat, snd
had not only the good lack to find some,
but likewise a spring of excellent water,
which contributed much to recover me.
After this I advanced farther into the island,
and came at last into a tine plain, where I
perceived a horse feeding at a gnat dis-
tance. I went towards him, between hojie
and fear, not knowing whether I was going
to lose my life or save it. When I came
near, I perceived it to be a very fine mare,
tied to a stake. Whilst I looked upon her,
I heard tlio voice of a man from under
ground, who immediately appeared to me,
and asked who I was. I gave him an account
of my adventure ; after which, taking me by
the hand, he led me into a cave, where there
were several other j)eople, no less amazed to
see rac than I was to see them.
I eat some victuaLs which they oflTered
me, and then, having asked them what they
did in such a desert place, they answered
that they were .j^woms belonging to king
Mihrage, sovereign of the island; and that
every year, at the same season, they brought
thither the king's mares, and fastened them
as I saw that mare, until they were covere<I
by a horse that came out of the sea, who,
after he had done so, endeavouretl to destroy
the mares ; but they hinderetl him by their
noise, and obliged him to return to the sea ;
after which tliey carried home the mares,
whose fouls were kojrt for the king'.s use, and
called sea-liorses. They added, that they
were to get homo to-morrow, and had I l>een
one day later, I must have perished, Itecause
the inhabited part of the i.sland was at a
groat distance, and it wouhl have been im-
l)ossible for me to have got thither without
a guide.
Whilst they entertained me thus, the horse
came out of the sea, aa they had told nie,
covered the mare, and afterwards would
have devoured her ; but upon a great noi»e
made by the grooms he left her, and went
back to the sea.
Next morning they returned with their
mares to the capital of tlie island, took me
with them, and presented me to king Mih-
rage. J He asked me who I was, and by what
adventure I came into his dominions. And,
after I hod satisfied him, he told me he was
mxicli concerned for my misfortune, and at
the same time ordered t) it I should want
nothing, which his officers were so generous
and careful as to see exactly fulfilled.
Being a merchant, T ""requented men of
my own profession, and particularly in<|aired
for those who were strangers, if perhaps I
might hear any news from Bagdad, or find
an opportunity to return thither, for king
X We meet with KIni; Mehrajre in the sceonnts of
India and China by two lilohammedan tniTeilen in the
nintli century, and the ialond of Zapo^ and the
Friendly Islands answer to Borneo. — Hou.
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
91
Mihrago's capital is situated on the bank of
the sea, and has a fine harbour, where ships
arrive daily from the different quarters of
the world. I frequente<l also the society of
tlie learned Indians, and took delight to hear
them discourse ; but withal, I took care to
make my court regularly to the king, and
conversed with the governors and petty
kings, his tributaries, that were about him.
They asked me a thousand questions about my
country ; and I being willing to inform my-
self OS to their laws and customs, asked them
everything which I thought worth knowing.
There belongs to this king an island named
Ciissel : they assured me that every night a
noise of drums* was heard there, whence
tlie mariners fancied that it was the residence
of Degial.t I hatl a great mind to see this
wonderful jilace, and in my way thither saw
fishes of 100 and 200 cul)its long.J that oc-
casion more fear than hurt, for they are so
fearful that they will Hy upon the rattling
of two sticks or Iwards. I saw likewise
other fishes about a cubit in length, that had
heads like owls.§
As I was one day at the port, after my
return, a ship arrived, and, as soon as she
cast anchor, they began to unload her, and
the merchants on board ordered their goods
to be carried into the magazine. As I cast
my eye tipon some hales, and looked to the
name, I found my own, and perceived the
bales to be the same that I had embarked at
Balsora. I also knew the ca))tain ; but being
persuaded that he believed
me to be drownied, I went
and asked him whose bales
these were. He replied that
they belonged to a nierchaut
of Bagdad, called Sindhad,
who came to sea with liini ;
but one day, l)eiiig near on
island, as we thought, he
went ashore, with several
other i)assengers, u]>on this
supposed island, Avliich w.os
only a monstrous whale that
lay asleep upon the surface
of the water : but as soon as
he felt the heat of the fire
they had kiniUed upon his
back to dress some victuals,
he began to move, aiul dived
under water : most of the
persons who were upon him
* The same in one or the islands of Eolai. Perhaps
the roaring of tin- wnvt-s among the rocks. — Hole.
Lllte the cave in Britain, mcntionet] by Clemens Alex-
andrinus, Trhere the wind produced a sounil as of cjrmbals,
t Degial, with the Mohammedans, is the same as Anti-
christ with us. According to tiiem lie is to appear
about the end of the world, and will conquer all the
earth except Mecca, itledina, Tarsus, and Jerusalem,
which are to be preserved by angels which he shall set
round them.
X The sea-serpents on the Malabar coast. — Hole.
i Martini mentions llshes with birds' faces in the
Cktua leas.— HobB.
'|>eri8hed, and among them uafortonate iSind-
bad. Those bales belonged to him, and
I am resolved to trade with them until I
meet with some of his family, to whom
I may return the profit. " Ca})tain," said I,
" I am that Sindbad whom you thought to
bo dead, and those bales are mine." — Here
Scheherazade stopt till next morning, and
went on as follows : —
The Seventy-Second Night.
Sindbad, pursuing the story, said to the
company, when the captain heard me speak
thus, "O heaven!" said he, "whom can we
ever tnist now-a-days? There is no faith
left among men. I saw Sindbad perisli with
my own eyes, and the passengers on board
saw it as well as I ; ami yet you tell me you
are that Sindbad. What impudence is this !
To look on you one would take you to be a
man of probity ; and yet you tell a horrible
falsehood in order to ]io3sess yourself of what
does not belong to you." " Have patience,
captain, " replied I ; ' 'do me the favour to hear
what I have to say." " Very well," said he,
"speak ; I am ready to hear you." Then I
told him liow I escaped, and by what adven-
ture I met with the grooms of king Mihrage,
who brought mo to his court.
He began to abate of his confidence upon
my discoui-se, and was soon persuaded that
I was no cheat ; for there came i>eople from
his ship who knew me, paid
me great compliments, and
expressed much joy to see
me alive. At last he knew
me himself, and, emhracing
me, "Heaven be praised,"
said he, "for your hajjpy
escape ; I cannot enough ex-
l)res3 my joy for it. There
are your guuds ; take and do
with them what you will."
I thanked him, acknowledged
his pro))ity, and, in requital,
oiiVred him part of my goods
as a present, which he gene-
rously refused.
I took out what was most
valuable in my bales, and
presented it to king ^lih-
rage, who, knowing my mis-
fortune, asked me how I came
by such rarities? I acquainted him with
the whole story*. He was mightily pleased
at my good luck, accepted my present,
and gave me one much more consider-
able in return. Upon this I took leave of
him, and went aboard the same ship, after
I had exchanged my goods for the commodi-
ties of that country. I carried with me
wood of aloes, sandal, camphor, nutmegs,
cloves, pepper, and ginger. We passed by
'mmm
wsm-
■^
92
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
■everal islands, and at last arrived at Bal-
Bora, from whence I came to this city, with
the value of 100,000 sequins.* My family
and I received one another with all the
transi>orts of sincere friendship. I bought
slaves of both sexes, fine lands, and built me
a great house; and thus I settled myself,
resolving to forget the miseries I hod sutl'ered,
and to enjoy the pleasures of life.
Sindbad stoijped here, and ordered the mu-
sicians to go on with their concerts, which
his story had intorruptod. The company
continued to eat and drink till the evening,
when it was time to retire ; when Sindbad
sent for a purse of one hundred sequins, and
giving it to the porter, said, "Take this,
Hindbad; return to your home, and come
back to-morrow to hear some more of my
adventures." The porter went home, aston-
ished at the honour done him, and the pre-
sent made him. The relation of it was very
agreeable to his wife and children, who did
not fail to return thanks to (Jod for what
providence had sent him by the hand of
Sindbad.
Hindbad put on his best clothes next day,
and returned to the bountiful traveller, who
received him with a pleasant air, and ca-
ressed him heartily. When all the guests
were come, dinner was set upon the table,
and continued a long time. When it was
ended, Sindbml, addressing himself to the
company, said, "Gentlemen, be i^leoscd to
give mo audience, and listen to the adven>
tures of my second voyage ; they deserve
your attention better than the first." Upon
which every one held his peace, and Sindbad
went on thus : — •
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SISDBAD THE BAItOR.
I designed, after my first voyage, to spend
the rest of my days at Bagdad, as I had the
honour to tell you yesterday ; but it was
not long ere I grew weary of a quiet life.
My inclination to trade revived. I bought
goods proper for the commerce I intended,
and put to sea n second time, with merchants
of kno^vn probity. We embarked on board
a good shi]i, and, after recommending our-
selves to Goil, set sail. We traded from
island to island, and exchanged commodities
with great prolit. One day we landed on
an island covered with several sorts of fruit-
trees, but so unpeopled that we could neither
see man nor beast \\\wn. it. We went to
take a little fresh air in the meadows,
and along the streams that watered them.
Whilst some diverted themselves with ga-
theruig flowers, and others with gathering
fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and
sat down by a stream betwixt two great
trees, which formed a curious shape. I
made a very good meal, and afterwards fell
asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but
when I awaked the ship was gone. — Here
Scheherazade broke off, because day ap-
peared, but next night continued the story
thxu: —
The Seventy-Third Night.
I WAS very much surprised, said Sindbad,
to find the ship gone. I got up, and looked
• The Turkish sequin is about nine shilliDgs sterling.
aboTit everywhere, and could not see one of
the merchants who landed with me. At last
I perceived the ship under sail, but at such
a distance that I lost sight of her in a very
little time.
I leave you to guess at my melancholy
reflections in this sad condition ; I was ready
to die with grief. I cried out sadly, beat
my head and breast, and threw myself down
upon the ground, where I lay some time in
A
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
93
a terrible agony, one afflicting thought being
succeeded by another still more afflicting.
I upbraided myself a hundred times for not
being content with the produce of my first
voyage, that might well have served me all
my life. But all this was in vain, and my
repentance out of season.
At last I resigned myself to the will of
God ; and not knowing what to do, I climbed
up to the top of a great tree, from whence
I looked about on all sides to see if there
was anything that could give me hoi)e3.
When I looked towards the sea I could see
nothing but sky and water ; but looking to-
' wards the land I saw something white, and
coming down from the tree I took up wliat
provision I had left, and went towards it,
the distance being so great that I could not
distinguish what it was.
When I came nearer, I thought it to be
a white bowl, of a prodigious height and
bigness ; and when I came up to it I touched
it, and found it to bo very smooth. I went
round to see if it was open on any side, l)ut
saw it was not, and that there was no climb-
ing up to the top of it, it was so smooth.
It was at least fifty paces round.
By this time the sun was ready to set,
and all of a sudden the sky became as dark
as if it had been covered with a thick cloud.
I was much astonished at this sudden dark-
ness, but much more Avhen I found it occa-
sioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that
came flying toward me. I remembered a
fowl, called roc, that I had often heard
mariners speak of, and conceived that the
great bowl, which I so much admired, must
needs be its egg. In short, the bird alight-
ed, and sat over the egg to hatch it. As I
perceived her coming, I crept close to the
egg, so that I had before me one of the legs
of the bird, which was as big as the trunk
of a tree. I tied myself strongly to it with
the cloth that w^ent round my turban, in
hopes that when the roc* flew oway next
morning, she would carry me with her out
of this desert island. And after having
passed the night in this condition, the bird
actually flew away next morning, as soon as
it was day, and carried me so high that I
could not see the earth ; she afterwards de-
scended all of a budden, with so much ra-
pidity that T lost my senses ; but when the
roc was settled, and I found myself upon
the ground, I speedily untied the knot, and
hod scarce done so when the bird, having
taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in
her bill, flew away.f
♦ Marco Paolo, In his Travels, and Father Martini,
In his History of China, speak of this bird called
"Ruch," and say it will take up an elephant and a
rhinoceros. See also Vigafetta, in Ramusio's Collec-
tion of Voyages, 1369. The combat between eagles and
elephants is to be foond in Pliny, Solinus, and Diodonu
Sloulus UOLI.
t Of serpents devoured bj WflM, IM UaiOO FmIo,
iMreafter cited.— Hou.
The place where it left me was a very
deep valley, encompassed on all sides with
mountains, so high that they seemud to
reach above the clouds, and so full of steep
rocks that there was no possibility of getting
out of the valley. This was a new per-
plexity ; so that when I compared this place
with the desert island from which the roc
brought me, I found that I had gained no-
thing by the change.
As I walked tlirongh this valley I per-
ceived it was strewed with diamonds, some
of which were of a surprising bigness. I
took a great deal of pleasure to look upon
them ; but speedily I saw at a distance such
objects as very much diminished my satis-
faction, and which I could not look upon
without teiTor ; this was a great number of
serjients, so 1)ig and so long, that the least
of them was capable of swallowing an ele-
phant. They retired in the daytime to
tlieir dens, where they hid themselves from
the roc, their cnwiiy, and did not come out
but in the night-time.
I spent the day in walking about the val-
ley, resting myself at times in such places as
I thought most commodious. When night
came on I went into a cave, where I thought
I might be in safety. I stopped the mouth
of it, which was low and straight, with a
great stone, to preserve me from the ser-
pents, but not so exactly titted as to hinder
light from coming in. I supped on part of
my provisions ; but the serpents, which be-
gan to appear, hissing about in the mean-
time, put me into such extreme fear that
yc:i may easily imagine I did not sleep.
When day appeared the serpents retired,
and I came out of the cave trembling. I
can justly say that T walked a long time
upon diamonds without feeling an inclina-
tion to touch any of them. At last I sat
down, and, notwithstanding my uneasiness,
not having shut my eyes during the night, I
fell asleep, after having eaten a Uttle more
of my provision ; but I had scarce shut my
eyes when something, that fell by me with
great noise, awaked me. This was a great
piece of fresh meat ; and at the same time I
saw several others fall down from the rocks
in dift'erent places.
I always looked upon it to be a fable
when I heard maruicrs and others discourse
of the valley of diamonds, and of the strata-
gems made use of by merchants, to get
jewels from thence ; but then I found it to
bo true. For in reality those merchants
come to the neighbourhood of this valley
when the eagles have young ones, and
throwing great joints of meat into the valley,
the diamonds, upon whose points they fall,
stick to them ; the eagles, which arc stronger
in this country than anywhere else, pounce
with great force upon those pieces of meat,
and carry them to their nests upon the top
94
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
of the rocka, to feed their young -with ; at nests, frighten the eagles by their noise, and
which time the merchants, running to their | take away the diamonds that stick to the
meat.* And this stratagem they make use
of to get the diamonds out of the valley,
which is surrounded with such preci^iices
that nobody can enter it.
I believed till then that it was not pos-
sible for me to get out of this abyss, which
I looked upon as my grave ; but then I
changed my mind, for the fallhig in of those
ineces of meat put me in hopes of a way of
saving my life. — Here day began to appear,
which obliged Scheherazade to break off;
but she went on with it next night as fol-
lows :—
The Seventy-Fourth Night.
Sir, said she to the sultan, Sindbad con-
tinued the story of the adventure of his
second voyage thus : —
I began to gather together the largest dia-
monds that I could see, and put them into
the leathern bag in which I used to carry
my provisions. I afterwards took the largest
piece of meat I coidd find, tied it close round
me with the cloth of my turban, and then laid
myself upon the ground with my face down-
ward, the bag of diamonds being tied fast to my
girdle, that it could not possibly drop off.
I had scarce laid me down before the
eagles came ; each of them seized a piece of
meat, and one of the strongest having taken
me up, mth a piece of meat on my back,
carried me to his nest on the top of the
mountain. The merchants fell straightway
to shouting, to frighten the eagles ; and
when they had obliged them to quit their
prey, one of them came to the nest where I
was. He Was very much afraid when he
saw me ; but, recovering himself, instead of
inquiring how I came thither, he began to
quarrel with me, ond asked why I stole his
goods. "You will treat me," replied I,
"with more civility when you know me bet-
ter. Do not trouble yourself, I have dia-
monds enough for you and myself too, more
* Epiplmniua, in a trentise on the twelve stones ia
the Jewish hipli jiricst's l>reast-plate, tells a like story
of the jacinths in the deserts of gcythia. Marco Paolo
places it bevoud Malabar, iu a situation which would
suit Oolconda. See also Benjamin of Tadela, who tra-
TeUe<t between 1160 and 1173.— Uoli.
than all the other merchants together. If
they have any it is by chance ; but I chose
myself in the bottom of the valley all those
which you see in this bag : " and having
spoken these words I shewed them to him.
I had scarce done speaking when the other
merchants came trooping about us, much
astonished to see me ; but they were much
more surprised when I told them my story.
Yet they did not so much admire my strata-
gem to save myself as my courage to attempt
it.
They carried me to the place where they
stayed all together, and there having opened
my bag, they were surprised at the largeness
of my diamonds, and confessed that in all
the courts where they had been they never
saw any that came near them. I piiayed
the merchant to whom the nest belonged
whither I was carried, {for every merchant
had his own,) to to lie as many for his share
as he pleased. He contented liiniself with
one, and that, too, the least of them ; and
when I pressed him to take more, without
fccar of doing me any injury, "No," said he,
" I am very well satisfied with this, which
is valuable enough to save me the trouble of
making any more voyages, to raise as great
a fortune as I desire."
1 spent the night with those merchants,
to whom 1 1' Id my story a second time, for
the satisfaction of those who had not heard
it. I could not moderate my joy when I
found myself delivered from the danger I
have mentioned : I thought myself to be in
a dream, and coidd scarce believe myself to
be out of danger.
The merchants had thrown their pieces of
meat into the vaUey for several days : and
each of them being satisfied with the dia-
monds that had fallen to his lot, we left the
place next morning all together, and travel-
led near high mountains, where there were
seri)ents of a prodigious length, which we
hod the good fortune to escape. We took
the first port we came at, and came to the
isle of Roha, where the trees grow that
yield camphor. This tree is so large, and
its branches so thick, that a hundred men
may easily sit under its shade. The juice,
of which the camphor is made, runs out
h
it
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
95
from a hole bored in the upper part of the
tree, is received in a vesael, where it grows
to a consistency, and becomes what wu call
camphor; and the juice thus drawn out, the
tree withers and dies.
There is in this island the rhinoceros, a
creature less than the elephant, but greater
than the buffalo ; they have a horn ui)on
their nose, about a cubit long ; this horn is
solid, and cleft in the middle from one end
to the other, and there is u])on it white lines,
representing the figure of a man. The rbiii-
oceros fights with the elephant, runs his
horn into his belly, and carries liim olf upon
his head ; but the blood and the fat of the
elephant running into his eyes, and making
him blind, he falls to the groimd ; and then,
strange to relate, the roc comes and carries
them both away in her claws, to be food for
her yoimg ones.
I pass over many other things peculiar to
this island, lest I should be troublesome to
you. Here I exchanged some of my dia-
monds for good merchandise. From thence
we went to other isles ; and at lost, having
touched at several trading towns of the main
laud, wu landed at Balsoro, from whence I
went to Bagdad. There I immediately gave
great alms to the poor, and liveil honouraVily
upon the vast riches I had brought and
gained with so much fatigue. Thus Sind-
bad ended the story of the second voyage,
gave Hindbad another hundred sequins, and
invited him to come next day to hear the
story of the third. The rest of the guests
returned to their houses, and came again the
next day at the same hour ; and one may be
sure the porter did not fail, having by this
time almost forgot his former poverty.
When dinner was over, Sindbad demanded
attention, and ,L'ave them an auuount of hia
third voyage, as follows : —
-^i?;- ij^-^fc?^ ^-^5
SINDBAD THE .SAILOR's THIRD VOYAGE.
The pleasures of the life which I then led
soon made me forget the risks I had run in
my two former voyages ; but being then in
the flower of my age, I grew weary of living
without business; and hardening myself
against the thought of any danger I might
incur, I went from Bagdad, with the richest
commodities of the country, to Balsora :
there I embarked again with the mercluints.
We made a long voyage, and touched at
several ports, where we drove a considerable
trade. One day, being out in the main
ocean, we were attacked by a horrible tem-
pest, whicli made us lose our course. The
tempest continued several days, and brought
us before the port of an island, where the
captain was very unwilling to enter; but we
were obliged to cast anchor there. When
we had furled our sails, the captain told us
that this and some other neighbouring is-
lands * were inhabited by hairy savages, who
woiUd speedUy attack us ; and though they
were but dwarfs, yet our misfortune was
such that we must make no resistance, for
they were more in number than the locusts;
and if we happened to kill one of them,
they would all fall upon us and destroy us.
— Here day beginning to appear, Scheher-
azade broke oft" her story, and continued it
next night, as follows : —
The Seventy-Fifth Night.
This discourse of the captain, said Sindbad,
* Ptolemy places the Island of Satyrs, inhabited by
cannibals, to the eastward of tho island of Simda
Hole.
96
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
\\\
put tho whole company into a great conster-
nation ; and wc found very soon, to our cost,
that what he Iind told U8 was* but too true :
an innumcralilo multitude of frightfid sa-
vages, covered nil over with red hair, ond
about two feet hi^^h,* camo swimming to-
wards us, and encompassed our ship in a
little time. They spoke to us as they came
near, but we understood not their language ;
they climbed up the sides of tho ship with
6o much agility as surprised u». We beheld
nil this with mortal fear, without daring to
oifer to defend ourselves, or to sjieak one
word to divert them from their miscbievoua
design. In short, they took down our sails,
cut tho cable, and hauled to the shore, made
us all get out, and afterwards carried the
ship into another island, from whence they
came. All travellers cirefully avoided that
islaud where they left us, it being very dan-
gerous to stay there, for a reason you shall
hear anon ; but we were forced to bear our
afliiction with patience.
We went forw.ird into the island, where
we found some fruits and herbs to prolong
our lives as long as we could ; but we ex-
pected nothing but de.ith. As we went on,
we perceived ab .•. distance a great pile of
building, and made towards it. We found
it to be a palace, well built, and very lofty,
with a gate of ebony of two leaves, which
we thrust open. We entered the court,
where we saw before us a vast apartment,
with a porch, having on one side a heap of
men's bones, and on the other a vast nimi-
ber of roasting spits. We trembled at this
spectacle, and being weary with travelling,
our legs fading under us, we fell to the
ground, being seized with deadly fear, and
lay a long time motionless.
The sun was set, and whilst we were in
the lamentfible condition just mentioned,
the gate of the apartment opened with a
great noise, and there came ont the horrible
iigure of a black man, as hig'.^ as a tall palm-
tree. He had but one ey«, and that in the
middle of his forehead, where it looked as
red as a burning coaL His fore-teeth were
very long and sharp, and stood out of his
mouth, which was as deep as that of a horse;
his upper lij) hung down upon his breast ;
his ears resembled those of an elephant,+
and covered his shoulders ; and his nails
were as long and crooked as the talons of
the greatest birds. At the sight of so fright-
ful a giant we lost all sense, and lay like
men dead.$
At last we came to ourselves, and saw
* These are described by William de Bubruquis,
12S3, nnd arc supposed to be apes.— IIoLB.
t The long-cared ptople, mentioned by Strabo and
Fliny, vii. 2: and Marsdeu's "History of Sumatra," p.
«T.— HOLB.
t Without goin;; back to the Cyclops in the ninth
book of the " Odyssey," Sir John Manderille will furnish
Buch one-eyed giants in one of the Indian isUndi.—
HOLB.
him sitting in the porch, looking at us.
When he had considered us well, he ad-
vanced towards us, and laying his hand upon
me, he took me up by tho nai)e of uiy neck,
and turned me round as a butcher would do
a sheep's head. After having viewed me
well, and perceiving mo to be so lean that I
hod nothing but skin and bone, he let me
go. He took up all the rest, one by o le,
viewed them in the same manner, and the
captain being tho fattest, he held him ivith
one hand, as I would do a sparrow, and
thrusting a spit through him, kindled x great
lire, roosted, and cat him in his apii-tment
for his supper; which being done, he re-
turned to his porch, where he lay and fell
asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He
slept thus till morning. For our parts, it
was not possible for us to enjoy any rest ;
so that we passed the night in the most cruel
fear that can be imagined. Day being come,
the giant awaked, got iip, went out, and
left us in the palace.
When we thought him at a distance, we
broke the melancholy silence we had kept
all night, ond every one grieving more than
another, we modo tho palace resound with
our complaints and groans. Though there
were a great many of us, and we had but
one enemy, we hod not at first the presence
of mind to think of delivering ourselves from
him by bis death. This enterprise, however,
though hard to put in execution, was the
only design we ought naturally to hove
formed.
We thought of several other things, but
determined nothing; so that submitting to
what it should please God to order concern-
ing us, we spent the day in rimning about
the island for fruit and herbs to sustain our
lives. When evening came, we sought for
a place to lie in, but found none ; so that we
were forced, whether we would or not, to
return to the palace.
The giant foiled not to come back, and
supped once more upon one of our compan-
ions ; after which he slept and snored till day,
and then went out and left us as former-
ly. Otir condition was so very terrible, that
several of my comrades designed to throw
themselves into the sea, rather than die so
strange a dooth; and those who were of
this mind argued with the rest to follow
their example : upon which one of the
company answered, that we were forbidden
to destroy ourselves ; but allowing it to be
lawfiU, it was more reasonable to think of a
way to rid ourselves of the barbarous tyrant
who designed so cruel a death for us.
Having thought of a project for that end,
I communicated the same to my comrades,
who approved of it. "Brethren," said I,
" you know there is a great deal of timber
floating upon the coast : if you will be ad-
vised by me, let us make several floats of it
II
\-^_.
SINDDAD THE SAILOR.
97
that may carry hs ; and when they are done,
leave them there till we think Ht U> make
use of them. In the meantime wo will exe-
cute the design to deliver oursclvca from the
giant; and if it succeed, we may stay here
with patience till some ship pass by that
may carry us out of this fatal island ; but if
it happen to miscarry, we will speedily get
to our floats, and put to sea. I confess that
by exposing ourselves to the fury of the
waves, we run a risk of losing our Uvea ;
but if wo do, is it not better to bo buried in
the sea than in the entraib of this monster,
who has already devoui-eii two of us?" My
lulvice was relished, and wo made floats cap-
able of carrying three persons each.
We returned to the palace towards the
t.treni'-.g, and the giant arrived a little while
after. We were forced to conclude on see-
ing another of our comrades roasted. But
at last we revenged ourselves on the brutish
giant thus : after he had made an end of
his cursed supper, he lay down on his bauk
and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him
snore,* according to his custom, nine of the
boldest among us, and myself, took each of
us a spit, and putting the jioints of them into
the fire till they were burning hot, we thrust
them into hia eye all at once, and blinded
him. The pain occasioned him to make a
frightful e-y, and to get up and stretch out
hi3 hands, in order to sacrifice some of us to
bis rage ; but we ran to such ]>]aces as he
could not find us ; and after having sought
for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and
went out, howling dreadfully. — Schehera-
zade stopped here, but uext night resumed
her story thus : —
The Seventy-Sixth Night,
We went oi.fc of the palace after the giant,
continued Sindbad, and came to the shore,
■where we had left our floats, and put them
immediately into the sea. We waited till
day, in order to get upon tliem, in ease the
giant came towaids us v/ith any guide of his
own species ; but we hoped, if he did not
apiiear by sun-rising, and give over liis howl-
ing, which we still heard, that he would
die ; and if that happened to be the case,
we resolved to stay in that island, and not
to risk our lives upon the iloats : but day
had scarce appeared, when we perceived our
cruel enemy, accompanied with two others
almost of the same size, leading him, and a
great number more coming before him with
a very quick pace.
When we saw this, we made no delay,
but got immediately upon our floats, and
rowed oflf from the shore. The giants, who
* It would seem Uie Arabian antbor has taken this
«toi7 bom Homer's " Odjgsey,"
perceived this, t(>ok up great stones, and
running to the shore, entered the water up
to the middle, and threw so exactly, that
they sunk all the floats but that I was upon ;
and all my companions, except the two with
me, were drowned. Wo rowed with all our
might and got out of the reach of the giants ;
but when wo got out to sea, we were ex-
posed to the mercy of the waves and winds,
and tossed about, sometimes on one side, ami
sometimes on another, and spent that night
and the following day imder a cruel uncer-
tainty as to our fate ; but next morning we
had the good luck to be thrown ui>on an
island, where wo landed with much joy.
We found excellent fruit tliere, that gave
us great relief, so that we pretty well reco-
vered our strength.
In the evening we fell asleep on the bank
of the sea, but were awaked by the noise
of a seri>ent as long as a jialm-tree, whose
scales mailo a rustling as he crept along,
lie swallowed up one of my comrades, not-
withstanding his loud cries and the efforts
he made to rid himself of the serpent;
which, shaking liini several times against
the groiuid, crushed him ; and we could hear
him gnaw and tear the poor wretch's bones
when we had fled a great distance from him.
Next day wo saw the serpent again, to our
great terror; when I cried out, "G Heaven,
to what dangers are we exposed! We re-
joicei'. yesterday at our having escaped from
the cruelty of a giant and the rage of the
waves, and now are we fallen into another
danger altogether as terrible."
As we walked about we saw a large tall
tree, upon which we designed to pass the
following night for our security ; and hav-
ing satisfied our hunger, we mounted it ac-
cordingly. A little while after the seriieut
came hissing to the root of the tree, raised
itself up against the tnmk of it, and meet-
ing with my comrade, who sat lower than I,
swallowed him at once, and went off.
I stayed upon the tree till it was day, and
then came down, more like a dead man than
one alive, expecting the same fate with my
two companions. This filled me with hor-
ror, so that I was going to throw myself intd
the sea ; but nature prompting us to a de-
sire to live as long Ks we can, I withstood
this temptation to despair, and submitted
myself to the will of God, who dis2)08es of
our lives at his pleasure.
In the meantime I gathered together a
great quantity of small wood, brambles, and
dry thorns, and making them up into fag-
gots, made a great circle with them round
the tree, and also tied some of them to the
branches over my head. Having done thus,
when the evening came I shut myself up
within this circle, with this melancholy j)iece
of satisfaction, that I had neglected nothing
which could preser^'e me from the cruel
98
THE ARABIAN N/GHTS" ENTERTAINMENTS.
clcstiny with which I wai threatened. The
Bcrpcnt failed not to couio at tlte usnal hour,
and went round the tree, seeking for an op-
portunity to devour mo, but wan i)revented
by the rampart I )md made; so that ho lay
till day, like a cat watching in vain for a
mouse that has retired to a ]ilaco of safety.
When day np])eared he retired ; but I dared
not tn leave my fort t\ntil the sun arose.
I was fatigued with the toil he had put
uie to, and suirered so much by his ]M)i8on-
ous breath, tliat, death seeming more eligible
to me than the horror of such a condition, I
came down from the tree, and, not thinking
on the resignation I had made to the will of
Gknl the preceding day, T ran towards the
sea, with a design to throw myself into it
headlong. — Here Scheherazade stopped be-
cause day a]>peared, and next night conti-
nued her story thus :—
The Seventy-Seventh Night.
SiNDB.VD i)ursued the account of his third
voyage thus : — God, said he, took com-
passion on my desperate state ; for just as
I was going to throw myself into the sea, I
perceived a. ship at a considerable distance.
I called 08 loud as I could, and taking the
liuen from my turban, displayed it, that
they might observe me. This had the de-
sired effect ; all the crew perceived me, and
the captain sent his boat for me. As soon
as I came aboard, the merchants and sea-
men flocked about mo to know how I came to
that desert island; and after I had told them
of all that befell me, the oldest of them said
to me, they had several times heard of the
giants that dwelt in that island, that they
were cannibals, and cat men raw as well as
roasted ; and as to the serpents, they added
that there were abundance in the isle, that
hid themselves by day, and came abroad by
night. After having testified their joy at
my escaping so many dangers, they brought
me the best of what they had to eat ; and
the captain, seeing that I was all in rags,
was so generous as to give me one of his
own suits. We were at sea for some time,
touched at several islands, and at last landed
on that of Salabat,* where there grows San-
ders, a wood of great use in physic. We
entered the port, and came to an anchor.
The merchants began to unload their goods,
in order to sell or exchange them. In the
meantime the captain came to me, and said,
"Brother, I have here a parcel of goods that
belonged to a merchant who sailed some
time on board this ship ; and he being dead,
I design to dispose of them for the benefit of
* Possibly Timor, which Linschoten celebrates fbr its
woods and wildernesses of Sanders. Purchas' Pilgriios,
il. p. 1T81.— Uou.
his heirs, when I know them." The bales
he 8|»oko of lay on the deck, and, shewing
them to mo, he said, "There are the goods;
I hope you will take care to sell them, and
yon shitU have factorage." I thanked him
that ho gave me an opportunity to employ
niysi^lf, because I hated to be idle.
The olerk of the ship took an account of
all the tales, with the names of the mer-
chants to whom they belonged ; and when he
asked the cajitain in whose name he should
enter those he gave him the charge of,
"Enter them," said the cajitain, "in the
name of Sindbad the sailor." I could not hear
myself named without some emotion ; anil
Ijokiug steadfastly on the captain, I knew
him to be the person who, in my second
voyage, had left me in the island where I
fell asleep by a brook, and set sail without
me, or sending to see for mo: but I could
not remember him at first, he was so much
altered since I saw him.
And as fur him, who believed me to be
dead, I could not wonder at his not knowing
me. "But, captain," said I, "was the mer-
chant's name, to whom those bales belonged,
Sindbad?" "Yes," replied he, "that was his
name ; he came from Bagdad, and embarked
on board my ship at Balsora. One day, when
we landed at an island to take in water and
other refreshments, I know not by what
mistake, I set sail without observing that
he did not re-embark with us ; neither I nor
the merchants jierceived it till four houiy
after. We had the wind in our stern, and
so fresh a gale, that it was not then possible
for us to tack about for him. " " You believed
him then to be dead ? " said T. " Certainly,"
answered ho. "No, captain," said I; "look
upon me, and you may know that I am
Sindbad, whom you left on that desert island.
I fell asleep by a brook, and when I awaked,
I found all the company gone." At these
words the captain looked steadfastly upon
me. — Here Scheherazade perceiving day,
broke off her story, and next day resumed
it thus : —
The Seventy-E^hth Night.
The captain, continued Sindbad, having con-
sidered me attentively, knew me at last,
embraced me, and said, "God be praised that
fortune has supplied my defect. There are
your goods, which I always took care to
preserve, and to make the best of them
at every port where I touched. I restore
them to you, with the profit I have mode of
them." I took them from him, and at the
same time acknowledged how much I owed
to him.
From the isle of Salabat we went to an-
other, where I furnished mjrself with cicves,
cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed
«
*
SIN DBA D THE SAILOR.
99
from t)iat island wo saw a t'>rtoiio that was
twenty culiita in length and breadth.* Wo
obsorvodalso a iish which lonked like a cow,
and gavo inilk.t and its skin is so licrd that
tliuy UHually inako bucklers of it. I uaw
another which had the shape and colour of
a camel. J In short, nftt-r a long voyage, I
arrived at Balsora, and front thence returned
to tliis city of Bagdad, with so much riches
that I know not what I had. 1 gave a great
deal to tho ]ioor, and bought another great
estate in addition to what I had already.
Thus kSindbod finished the history of his
third voyage, gave another hundred sorjuins
to Hindbod, and invited him to dinner again
uexc day, to hear the story of his fourth
voyage. Hindbod and the company retired ;
and next day, when they returned, Sindbad
after dinner coutiuucd the story of his ad-
ventures.
THE FOURTH VOVAOE OF SIN'DUAD THE
SAILUlt.
Tlie plea.suru, said he, and the divcrtise-
ments 1 took after my third voyage, had not
charms enoujjh to divert me from another.
I was again i>rcvailed u]iou by my passion
for trattic, and curiosity to see new things.
I therefore settled my atTairs, and having
provided a stock of goods lit for the places
where I designed to trade, I set out on my
journey. I took tho way of Persia, of Avhich
I travelled over several provinces, and then
arrived at a i)ort, where I embarked. We
set sail, and having touched at several ports
of the main land, and some of tho eastern
islands, we put out to sea, and were over-
taken by such a sudden gust of wind as
obliged the captain to furl his sails, and to
take all other necessary precautions to pre-
vent the danger that threatened lis : but all
was in vain; our endeavours had no effect:
the soils were torn in a thousand pieces, and
the ship was stranded ; so that o great many
of the merchonts and seamen were drowned,
and the corgo lost.
Scheherazade perceiving day, held her
peace; but resumed her story next night,
as follows :—
The Seventy-Ninth Night.
I HAD the good fortune, continued Sind-
bad, with several of the merchants and
mariners, to get a plonk, and we were car-
ried by the current to an island which lay
before us : there we found fruit and spring
* Xlllan, Hist. An. xrl. 16, describes tortoises fif-
teen cubits long, the shells big enovgh to cover a house ;
and MandeTille saya three men mi^t hide under
them, in the island of Calonab, not tax from Java.—
Hout.
t The hippopotamni. } The mtnatre.
water, wliich prc8er>'ed our live*. Wo stayed
all night near tho place where the sea cast
us aslioro, without consulting what we should
do, our misfortune ha<l dispirited us so much.
iNcxt morning, as soon as the sun was up,
wo walked from the shore, and advancing
into the island, saw some houses, to Mhich
wo went ; and as soon as wo came thither
wo were encompassed by a great number of
blacks, who seized us, shared us among
them, and carriud us to their resi>ective
habitations.*
I, and five of my comrades, were carried
to one place; they mode us sit down imme-
diately, and gave us a certain herb, which
they mode signs to ns to eat. Aly com-
rades, not taking notice that the blacks eat
none themselves, consulted only the satisfy-
ing of their own hunger, and fell to eating
with greediness ; but I, suspecting some
trick, would not so much as taste it, which
happened well for me; for iu a little time
after I perceived my companions had lost
their senses, and that when they s^Mike to
me they knew not what they said.
The l)lacks fed ns afterwards with rice,
prejiared with oil of cocoa-nuts ; and my
comrades, who hod lost their reason, eat of
it greedily. I eat of it also, but very spar-
ingly. The blacks gave ns that herb at tirst
on purpose to deprive us of our senses, +
that we might not bo aware of the sod
destiny prepared for ns; and they gave ua
rice on pur^rasc to fatten us ; for, being can-
nibals, their design w.ts to eat us as soon as
wo grew fat. They did accordingly eat my
comrades, who were not sensible of their
condition ; but my senses being entire, you
may easUy guess, gentlemen, that instead of
growing fat, as the rest did, I grew leaner
every day. The fear of death under which
I laboured, turned all my food into poison.
I fell into a languishing distemper, which
proved my safety ; for the blacks, having
killed and eat up my companions, seeing mo
to be withered, lean, and sick, deferred my
death till another time.
Meanwhile I had a grcot deal of liberty,
so that there was scarce any notice taken of
what I did ; and this gave me an opportu-
nity one day to get at a distance from the
houses, and to make my escape. An old
man who saw me, and suspected my design,
called to me as loud as he coiUd to return ;
but instead of obeying him I redoubled my
pace, and quickly got out of sight. At that
time there was none but the old man about
* In the sea of Andaman, or Bay of Bengal, the Mo-
hammedan travellers, in the ninth century, mentirn
negro cannilmls. Ptolemy places them in the same
bay in the Nicohnr island. — Holb.
t The lotus of Homer's "Odyssey," the intoxicating
" seed" of Sumatra, mentioned by Davis, 1597 ; and
the herb "dutroa" of Linschoten, or "dutro" of
Lobo: "dutry" and "bunib" or •■btng" of Prjrer.—
Hou.
100
THE AJiAlilAN NIGHTS' ENTERTA/NMEXTS.
the lioiiicii, tlio rctt Ixiiiff abroad, and not
to conic homo till ni^ht, whieli wm pretty
uiiiol with them : thrrffuro, ln-inK miru that
they coiihl not roini< tinu> rn>>ii^h to piirnuu
WW, I wi'nt on till ni;{lit, M'hi-n [ Htojipi'd to
n-Bt a littlt', niid to vat Bonio of tliu iirovi-
iiioni I had taken i-aro of ; hut 1 B])c'odily
act forward a^'ain, and travdlctl Bcven dayti,
avnidini; thoMu ])Iacvs whiuli ai-vnicd to ho
inhahitt'd, nnd lived for the nioHt part iiiion
cocoa-nutB, which served mo hoth for meat
and drink. On the eighth day I caniu near
thcBca, and saw all of a stidilen white puoiilu
like myself, gathering pepper,* of whiuh
there wax ^reat ]ilenty in that place. 'J'liis
I took to he a )^o(h1 omen, and went to them
withotit ony scruple. — Scheherazade hroku
«>tf here, and went un with the story ucxt
night, OH follows: —
The Eightieth Night.
Tub pcojilo who j;athercd pep])er, conti-
nued Sindhad, came to meet mo oh soon
08 they Haw mc, and asked mo, in Araliie,
who I was, and whence 1 cnnie. I was over-
joyed to hear them speak in my own lau-
gua^^e, and satv^tied their curiosity hy giving
them an account of my Khipwreck, and how
I fell into tht! hands of the lihicks. " Those
blacks," rejtlied they, "eat men; and hy
what miracle did you escape their cruelty?"
I told them the same story I i;ow tell you,
at which they were wonderfully 8uri)rised.
I stayed with them till they had feathered
their cjuantity of i)ei>per, and th«n sailed
with them to the island from whence they
came. They jiresented mc to their king,
who was a good prince. He had the pa-
tience to hear the relation of my mlventureH,
which suri>ri8ed him ; and he aftenvarda
gave me clothes, and commanded care to be
taken of mc.
The island was very well peopled, plenti-
ful in every thing, and the capital was a
place of great trade. This agreeable retreat
was very comfortable to mv after my mis-
fortune ; and the kindness of this generous
prince towards mo completed my satisfac-
tion. In a word, there was not a person
mofe in favour with him than myself ; and,
hy consequence, every man in court and city
sought to oblige me ; so that in a very
Uttlc time I was looked upon rather as a
native than a stranger.
I observed one thing which to mc ap-
peared very extraordinary. All the people,
the king himself not excepted, rode their
horses without bridle or stirrups. This
made me one day take the liberty to ask the
king how that came to pass. His majesty
* Santia island* and Sumatra produce plenty of
pepper and cocoa-nute.— IIole.
auHWcred, that I talked to him of thinga
which nolunly knew tho iibo of in hla do-
minions.
I w<'nt immediately to a workman, and
gave liim a model for making the stock of a
saddle. When that was done, I covered it
myself with velvet and leather, and embroi-
dered it with gohl. I afterwards went to a
locksmith, who mado me a bridle according
to the pattern 1 shewed him, and then he
mado mc also soum stirruiix. AVhen I had
all things completed, 1 iireacnted them to
the king, and ])ut them upon one of his
luirscs. Jiia majcHty mounted immediately,
and was so pleased with them that ho tes-
tilled his satisfaction by large presents to me.
I could not avoid nmking several others for
his ministers and principal olHcers of his
hoUHehold, who all of them mado mo pre-
sents that enriched mo in a little time. I
also mado for tho jieojile of best quality in
tho city, which gained me great reputation
and regard.
As 1 mado my court very constantly to
the king, he said to mo one day, " Sindhad,
I love thee ; and all my subjects who know
thco treat tlicc according to my example. I
have one thing to demand of thee, which
tliou must grant." "Sir," answered I, "there
is nothing but what I will do, as a mark of
my obedience to your majesty, whoso power
over mo is absolute." "1 have a mindthmi
shouldst marry," replied he, " that so thou
mayst stay in my dominion, and think no
more of thy own country." I dared not
resist the ])rincc's will ; and so ho gave mo
one of the ladies of his court, a noble, beau-
tiful, chaste, and ricli lady. Tho ceremonies
of marriage being over, I went and dwelt
with tho lady, and for boiv.o time wo lived
together in perfect harmony. I was not,
however, very well satislicd with my condi-
tion, and therefore designed to make my
escape on the first occasion, and to return to
Bagdad ; which my i)rcsent settlement, how
advantageous soever, could not make mo
forget.
While I was thinking on this, the wife
of one of my neighbours, with whom I had
contractotl a veiy strict friendship, fell sick,
and died. I went to see and comfort him in
his atlliction ; and finding him swallowed up
with sorrow, I said to him as soon as I saw
him, "God preserve you and grant you a
long life." "Alas!" replied he, "how do
you think I should obtain that favour you
wibh me ? I have not above anhour to live."
"Pray," said I, "do not entertain such a me-
lancholy thought; I hope it will not be so,
but that I shall enjoy your company for many
years." "I wish you," said he, "a long
life ; but for me my days are at an end, for I
must be buried this day with my wife.* Thia
• ManderUle nentlons the bnrTlng tbe wiv£i allTe
RBI
wife
II bad
sick,
in
jcl up
saw
[ou a
Iw do
you
ive."
line-
80,
nany
J long
Iforl
iThia
I
'.
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
lol
IN a law which <mr niicestor* pNtaMinhi'd in
tiiiM inland, and nlway* <il)M<>rvi'd it iiiviolnlily,
Tliu living liUNlianil in iiiU'rri'd witii tiio
(load wifu, and tho living wife witli tho drnd
hiisliiind. Niithini{ can savo niu; uvury uiio
niiiHt Hiihniit to this law."
While h« was t'nti'rtiiininj{ mo with an
account of tliin harhuniiiH cuHtimi, tho very
lioariui; of wliich frij^litrl inu criully, hin
kindred, friendn, and ni'i,uid)iiiirH caniu in a
liody to MNgiHt at th(> fiimralH. They juit on
tliu corpse the wuniau's riclu'tit apparel, as
if it had hriMi her wedding day, and dronsud
lior with all ht-r jcwi-U ; tiu'ti tlu-y put hor
into an open cotlin, and lifting it up, he^'an
their march to the jdace of burial. Tho
liu.<i"VMd walked at thti head of the conii>nny,
and tollowed tlic eorpHe. Thiy went up ton
hiL{h mountain, and when they cnnie thither,
took up a ureat Htono, which covered tho
month of a very deep pit, and lot down tho
corpse with all its apparel and jewels. Then
tht> hushand, omIiraeinK his kindred and
friends, sutl'ercd himselt' to ho put into an>
other open coflin without resistance, with a
pot of water, and seven little loaves, and
was let down in the same manner as they let
down his wife. The mountain was pretty
long, and reached to the sea. Tho cere-
mony being over, they covered the hole again
with the stone, and returned.
It la needless, gentlemen, for mo to tell
you that I was the only melancholy specta-
tor 6f this funeral, whereas the rest were
scarcely moved at it, the practice was so
customary to them. I could not forbear
8]icakiug my thoughts of this matter to tho
king. "Sir," said I, "I cannot but wonder
atthestrange custom in this country, of bury-
ing the living with the dead. I have been a
great traveller, and seen many countries, but
never heard of so cruel a law." "What do
you mean, Sindbad?" said the king: "it is
a common law. I shall be interred with the
queen, my wife, if she die first." "But, sir,"
said I, "may I presume to ask your majesty
if strangers bo obliged to ol'j.^rve this law?"
"Without doubt," replied the king, (smiling
at the occasion of my question, ) ' ' they are not
exempted, if they be married in this island."
I went home very melancholy at this an-
w!th the dead husband. In the Island of Calnnack ; and
Jerome, the husband with the wives in Scythia.— Hole.
Rwer; for tho fear of my wife's dyioc; first,
and that I should be interred alive with her,
occasioin;d me very mortifying rellectious.
But there wius no remedy : I must have pa-
tience, and submit to the will of (Jod. I
trembled, however, at every little indispo-
sition of my wife : but alas ! iu a little time
my feara came upon mc all at once, for she
fell sick, and diud iu a few days.
Scheherazade stupt hero for that time,
and resumed the thread of her story next
uight, thus :—
The Eighty-First Night.
You may judge of my sorrow, continued
Sindbad ; to be interred alive, seemed to me
as deplorable an end as to bo de\oured by
cannibals. But I must 8u))mit; the king and
all his court would honour the funeral with
their presence, and the most considerable
people of the city did the like. 'When all
was ready for the ceremony, the corpso. was
put into a coiiin, with all her jewels and
magi'iificent apjiarel. The cavalcade began;
and as second actor in this dolefid tragedy,
I went next the corpse, with my eyes fidl of
tears, bev ailing my deplorable fate. Before
I came to the mountain, I made an essay on
'i !
102
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the minds of the spectaton. I addressed
myself to the ku"; in the first place, and
then to all those who were round me, and
bowing before them to the earth, to kiss the
border of their garments, I prayed them to
have compassion upon me. "Consider," said
I, " that I am a stranger, and ought not to be
subject to this rigorous law, and that I have
another wife and children in my own coun-
try,"* It was no purpose for me to speak
thus. !No sold was moved at it; on the con-
trary, they made haste to let down my wife's
corpse into the pit, and put me down the
next moment in an open coffin, with a ves-
sel full of water, and seven loaves. In short,
the fatal ceremony being performed, they
covered up the mouth of tiie pit, notwith-
standing the excess of my grief, and my
lamentable cries.
As I came near the bottom, I discovered,
by help of the little light that came from
above, the nature of this subterraneous place.
It was a vast long cave, and might be about
fifty fathom deep. I immediately smelt an
insufferable stench, proceeding from the mul-
titude of dead corpses which I saw on the
right and left ; nay, I fancied that I heard
some of them sigh out their last. However,
when I got down, I immediately left my
cofiSn, and getting at a distance from the
corpses, held my nose, and lay down upon the
ground, where I stayed a long time bathed in
tears. Then, reflecting on my sad lot, "It is
true," said I, "that God disposes all things
according to the decrees of his providence ;
but, poor Siudbad, art not thou thyself the
cause of thy being brought to die so strange
a death? Would to God thou hadst perished
in some of those tempests which thou hast
escaped! Then thy death had not been so
lingering and terrible in all its circumstances.
But thou hast drawn all this upon thyself
by thy accursed avarice. Ah ! unfortunate
wretch, shouldst thou not rather have stayed
at home, and quietly enjoyed the fruits of
thy labour?"
Such were the vain complaints with which
I made the cave to echo, beating my head
and stomach out of rage and despair, and
abandoning myself to the most afflicting
thoughts. Nevertheless I must tell you, that
instead of calling death to my assistance in
that miserable condition. I felt still an incli-
nation to live, and to do all I could to pro-
long my days. I went groping about, with
my nose stopped, for the bread and water
that was in my coiiin, and I took some of it.
Though the darkness of the cave was so great
that I could not distinguish day and night,
yet I always found my coffin again, and the
cave seemed to be more spacious and fuUer
of corpses than it appeared to me at first. I
lived for some days upon my bread and water,
* He was a Mohammedan, ami the; allow polygamy.
which being all spent, at last I prepared for
death. — At these words Scheherazade left
off, but resumed the story next night thus : —
The EigMy-Second Night.
As I was thinking of death, continued Sind-
bad, I heard the stone lifted up from tht;
mouth of the cave, and immediately th«
cori>se of a man was let down. When men
are reduced to necessity, it is natural for
them to come to extreme resolutions. While
th(jy let down the woman, I approached the
place where her coffin was to be put, and as
soon as I perceived they were covering again
the mouth of the cave, I gave the xmfortu-
nate wretch two or three great blows over
the head with a large bone that I found ;
which stunned, or, to say the truth, killed
her. I committed this inhuman action merely
for sake of the bread and water that was in
her coffin, and thus I had provisions for some
days more. When that w.is spent, they let
down another dead woman, and a live man.
I killed the man in the same miinner, and, as
good luck would have it for me, there Avas
then a sort of mortality in the town, so that
by this means I did not want for provisions.
One day, as I had despatched another wo-
man, I heard something walking, and blow-
ing or panting as it walked. T advanced to-
wards that side from whence I heard the
noise, and upon my approach the thing puffed
and blew harder, as if it had been rimning
away from me. I followed the noise, and
the thing seen-^d to stop sometimes, but
always fled and blew as I approached. I
followed it so long, and so far, till at last I
perceived a light, resembling a star ; I went
on towards that light, and sometimes lost
sight of it, but always found it again, and at
last discovered that it came through a hole
in the rock, large enough for a man to get
out at.
Upon this I stopped some time to rest
myself, being much fatigued with pursuing
this discovery so fast : afterwards coming up
to the hole, I went out at it, and found my-
self upon the bank of the sea. I leave you
to guess the excess of my joy : it was such,
that I could scarce persuade myself of its
being real.
But when I was recovered from my sur-
prise, and convinced of the truth of the mat-
ter, I found the thing which I had followed,
and heard puff and blow, to be a creature
which came out of the sea, and was accus-
tomed to enter at that hole to feed upon the
dead carcases.*
I examined the mountain, and perceived
it to be situated betwixt the sea and the
* See the escape of Ariatomenes, in his l!f« by Bawe.—
Hole.
^
aga'L'™
ii>.i.:.wora.^-
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
103
town, but v/ithottt any passage or way to
communicate with the latter, the rocks on
the side of the sea were so rugged and steep.
I fell down upon the shore to thank God for
this mercy, and afterwards entered the cave
again to fetch bread and water, which I did
by daylight, with a better appetite than I
had done since my interment in the dark
hole.
I returned thither again, and groped about
among the liiera for all the diamonds, rubies,
pearls, gold bracelets, and rich stuffs I could
find ; these I brought to the shore, and tying
them up neatly into bales, with the cords
that let down the coffins, I laid them together
upon the bank, waiting tUl some ship passed
by, without fear of rain, for it was not then
the season.
After two or three days, I perceived a ship
that had bat just come out of the harbour,
and passed near the place where I was.
I made a sign with the linen of my turban,
and called to them as loud as I coulcL They
heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on
board, when the mariners asked by what
misfortune I came thither. I told them that
I had suffered shipwreck two days ago, and
made shift to get ashore with the goods they
saw. It was happy for me that those people
did not consider the place where I was, nor
inquire into the probability of what I told
them; but, without auy more ado, took ms
on board with my goods. When I came to
the ship, the captain was so well pleased to
have saved me, and so much taken up with
his own affairs, that ne also took the story
of my pretended shijiwreck upon trust, and
generously refused some jewels which I
offered him.
We passed by several islands, and among
others that called the isle of Bells, about
ten days' sail fromSerendib,* with a regidar
wind, and six from that of Kela, where we
landed. This island produces lead mines,
Indian canes.f and excellent camphor.
The king of the isle of Kela is very rich
and potent ; and the isle of Bells, which is
about two days' journey in extent, is also
subject to him. The inhabitants are so bar-
barous that they still eat human flesh. After
tve had finished our commerce in that island,
v,-e put to sea again, and touched at several
Cither ports ; at last I arrived happily at Bag-
dad with infinite riches, of which it is need-
less to trouble you with the detail. Out of
thankfulness to God for his mercies, 1 gave
great alms for the support of several mosques,
and for the subsistence of the poor, and em-
ployed myself wholly in enjoying my kindred
and friends, and making merry with tJiem.
* Serendib is Ceylon, and Kela is Cala, or Calabar,
where the Arabians touched in their way to China ;
BO tluU it must have been somewhere about the f oiut
of Malabar.— Rknaudot.
t Sugar canes, or bamboo trees.
Here Sindbad finished the relation of his
fourth voyage, which was more surprising
to the company than all the three former.
He gave a new present of a hundred sequins
to Hindbad, whom he prayed to return with
the rest next day at the same hour, to dine
with him, and hear the story of his fifth
voyage. Hindbad and the rest of his guests
took leave of him, and retired. Next morn-
ing when they all met, they sat down at
table, and when dinner was over, Hindbad
began the relation of his fifth voyage as
follows : —
THE FirrH VOYAGE OP SINDBAD THE BAILOR.
The pleasures I enjoyed had again charms
enough to make me forget all the troubles
and calamities I h<td undergone, without
cviring me of my inclination to make new
voyages. Therefore I bought goods, ordered
them to be packed up and loaded, and set
out with them lor the best sea-port; and
there, that I might not be obliged to depend
upon a captain, but have a ship at my own
conmiaud, 1 stayed till one was built on pur-
pose, at my own charge. When the ship
was ready I went on board with my goods ;
but not having enough to load her, I took
on board several merchants of different
nations, with their merchandise.
We sailed with the first fair wind, and,
after a long navigation, the first place we
touched at was a desert island, where we
found an egg of a roc, equal in bigness to
that I formerly mentioned. There was a
young roc in it just ready to be hatched, and
the bill of it began to appear.
At these words Scheherazade stopt, be-
cause day began to enter the Sultan's apart-
ment ; but next iiiglit she resumed her story
thus : —
The Eighty-Third Night.
81NDBAD the sailor, said she, continued the
relation of his fifth voyage jvs follows : — The
merchants whom I had taken on board my
shij), and who landed witli rac, broke the
egg with hatcliet.s, and made a licle in it,
from whence they pulled out the young roc,
piece after piece, and roasted it. I had ear-
nestly persuaded them not to meddle with the
egg, but they would not listen to me.
Scarcely had they made an end of their
feast when there appeared in the air, at a
considerable distance from us, two great
clouds. The captain whom I hirid to ma-
nage my ship, knowing, by experience, what
it meant, cried that it was th« male and fe-
male roc, that belonged to the young one,
and pressed us to re-embark with all speed,
to prevent the misfortune which he saw
woiild otherwise befall us. We made haste
I04
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS*.
to do 80, and set sail with all possible dili-
gence.
In the meantime the two rocs approached
with a frightful noise, which they redoubled
when they saw the egg broken, and their
young one gone. But having a mind to
avenge themselves, they flew back towards
the place from whence they came, and dis-
api)eared for some time, while we inadf all
the sail we could, to prevent that which un-
hap])ily befell us.
They returned, and we observed that each
of them carried between their talons, stones,
or rather rocks, of a monstrous size. When
they came directly over my ship, they ho-
vered, and one of them* let fall a stone ; but
by the dexterity of the steersman, who turned
the ship with the nulder, it missed us, and,
falling by the side of the ship into the sea,
divided the water so, that we almost coTild
see to the bottom. The other roe, to our
misfortune, threw the stone so exactly upon
the middle of the ship, that it split in a thou-
sand jiiecL-s. The mariners and passengers
were all killed by the stone, or sunk. I my-
self had the last fate ; but as I came up again,
I fortunately caught hold of a piece of the
wreck, and, sometimes swimming with one
hand, and sometimes with the other, but
always holduig fast my board, the wind and
the tide favouring me, I came to an island,
whose shore was very steep I overcame that
difficulty, however, an<l got ashore.
I sat down upon the grass, to recover
myself a little from the fatigue; after which
I got up, and went into the island to view it.
It seemed to be a delicious garden. I found
trees everywhere, some of them bearing
green, and others ripe fruits, and streams of
fresh pure water, with pleasant windings and
turnings. I ate of the fruits, which I found
excellent, and drank of the water, which was
very pleasant.
Night being come, I lay down upon the
grass in a convenient place enough, but I
could not sleep an hour at a time, my mind
was so disturbed with the fear of being alone
in so desert a place. Thus I spent the best
part of the night in fretting, and reproached
myself for my imprudence in not staying
at home rather than undertaking this last
voyage. These reflections carried me so far,
that I began to form a design against my
own life ; but daylight dispersed those me-
lancholy thoughts, and I got up and walked
among the trees, but not without apprehen-
sions of danger.
When I was a little a<lvanced into the
island, I saw an old man,* who appeared very
weak and feeble. He sat upon the bank of
a stream, and at first I took him to be one
who had been shipwrecked like mj'self, 1
went towards him and saluted him ; but he
only bowed his head a little. I asked him
what he did there ; but, instead of answering
mo, he made a sign for me to take him upon
my back, and carry him over the brook, sig-
nifying that it was to gather fruit.
I l)elieved him really to stand in need of
ity help, 80 took him upon my back, and,
having carried him over, bid him get down,
and for that end stooped, that he miglit get
• Bochart, (Hicroz,) vol. li. p. 854, tcll3 a story ex-
actly simitar, from Demur or Damur, another writer,
«ho died in 1405.
ofT with ease ; but in.stead of that, (which 1
laugh at every time I think of it,) the old
man, who to me appeared very decrepit,
clasped his legs nimbly alxjut my neck, and
then I perceived his skin to resemble that of
* An ourang-oatang. — IIols.
.:r»!Bi;
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
105
^1
a cow. He sat astride upon my shoulders,
and held my throat so tight, that I thought
he woidd have strangled me, the fright of
which made me faint away and fall down.
Day appearing, Scheherazade was obliged
to stop here, but pursued her atory thus next
night : — _
The EigMy-Pourth Night.
NoTWTTHSTANDiNO my fainting, continued
Sindbad, the ill-natured old fellow kept
fast about my neck, but opened his legs a
little, to give me time to recover my breath.
When I had done so, he thrust one of his
feet against my stomach, and struck me so
rudely on the side with the other, that he
forced me to rise up against my will. Being
got up, he made nie walk under the trees,
and forced me now and then to stop to
gather and eat fruit such as we found. He
never left me all day, and when I lay down
to rest me by night, he laid himself down
*rith me, holding always fast about my neck.
Every morning he pushed me to make me
awake, and afterwards obliged me to get up
and walk, and pressed me with his feet. You
may judge, then, gentlemen, whiit trouble I
was in, to be loaded with such a burden
which I could by no means rid myself from.
One day I found in my way several dry
calabashes that had fallen from a tree. I took
Hk large one, and, after cleaning it, pressed in-
to it some juice of grapes,* which abounded
in the island. Having filled the calabash, I
set it in a convenient place ; and coming
hither again some days after, I took up my
'Calabash, and setting it to my mouth, found
the wine to be so good, that it made me pre-
sently not only forget my sorrow, but I grew
vigorous, and was so light-hearted that I
began to sing and dance .as I walked along.
The old man perceiving the effects which
this drink had upon me, and that I carried
him with more ease than I did before, made
& sign for me to give him some of it. I gave
him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing
his palate, he drank it all off. There being
enough of it to fuddle him, he became dnmk
iumiediately, and the fumes getting up into
Ilia head, he began to sing after his manner,
and to dance with his breach upon my shoid-
•ders. His jolting made him vomit, and he
loosened his legs from about me by degrees ;
so finding that he did not press me as before,
I threw him upon the ground, where he lay
without motion ; and then I took up a great
stone, with which I crushed his head to
pieces.
I was extremely rejoiced to be freed thus
for ever from this cursed old fellow, and
* Ompes irrow In the isles of Bauda. Ilatn'B Collect.
1 464L— UOLB.
walked upon the bank of the sea, where I met
the crew of a ship that had cast tmchor to
take in water to refresh themselves. They
were extremely surprised to see me, and to
hear the particulars of my adventures. You
fell, said they, into the hands of the old man
of the sea, and are the first that ever e3cai)ed
strangling by him. He never left those he
had once made himself master of, till he de<
stroyed them, and he had made this island
famous by the number of men he has slain;
so that the merchants and mariners who
landed upon it dared not to advance into the
island but in numbers together.
After having informed mo of those things,
they carried me with them to the ship. The
captain received me with great satisfaction
when they told him what had befallen me.
He put out again to sea, and after some days'
sail we arrived at the harbour of a great city,
whose houses were built with good stone.
One of the merchants of the ship, who had
taken me into his friendship, obliged me to
go along with him, and carried me to a place
appointed for a retreat for foreign merchants.
He gave me a great bfig, and having recom-
mended me to some people of the town, who
used to gather cocoa nuts, he desired them to
take me with them to do the like. " Go,"
said he, "follow them, and do as you see
them do, and do not separate from them,
otherwise you endanger your life." Having
thus spoke, he gave me i)rovision8 for the
journey, and I went with them.
We came to a great forest of trees, ex-
tremely straight and tall, and their trunks
so smooth that it was not possible for any
man to climb up to the branches that bore
the fruit All the trees were cocoa-trees,
and when we entered the forest we saw a
great number of apes of several sizes, that
fled as soon as they perceived us, andxlimbed
up to the top of the trees with surprising
swiftness.
Scheherazade would have gone on, but day
appearing prevented her, and next night she
resumed her discourse as follows : —
The Eighty-Fifth Night.
The merchants with whom I was, con-
tinued Sindbad, gathered stones, and threw
them at the apes on the top of the trees. I
did the same, and the apes out of revenge
threw cocoa-nuts at us as fa^t, and with such
gestures as sufficiently testified their anger
and resentment. We gathered up the cocoa-
nuts, and from time to time threw stones to
provoke the apes ; so that by this stratagem
we filled our bags with cocoa-nuts, which it
had been impossible for us to have done
otherwise.
When we had gathered our number, we
returned to the city, where the merchant
"J!
io6
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
who sent me to the forest gave me the value
of the cocoas I brought. " Go on," said he,
"and do the like every
day, until you have got
money enough to carry
you home." I thanked
him for his good advice,
and insensibly gathered
together so many cocoa-
nuts as amounted to a
considerable sum.
The vessel in which I
came sailed with mer-
chants, who loaded her
with cocoa-nuts. I ex-
pected the arrival of
another, which landed
speedily for the Uke
loading. -I embarked on
board the same all the
cocoa-nuts that belonged
to me, and when she was
ready to sail, I went and
took leave of the mer-
chant who had been so
kind to me; but he could
not embark with me, be-
cause he had not finished
his business.
We set sail towards
the islands,* where pep-
per grows ingreatplenty.
From thence we went
to the isle of Comari.f
where the best sort of
wood of aloes grows,
and whose inhabitants
have made it an inviol-
able law to themselves
to drink no wine, nor to
to suffer any j)lace of
debauch. I exchanged
my cocoa in those two
islands for pepi)er and
wood of aloes, and went
with other merchants a
pearl-fishing. X I hired
divers, who fetched me
up those that were very large and pure. I
embarked joyfully in a vessel that happily
arrived at Balsora; from thence I returned
to Bagdad, where I maJe vast sums of my
pepper, wood of aloes, and pearls. I gave
the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done
upon my return from other voyages, and en-
* In the straits of Snnda. — Holb.
t This islnnd, or peniosula, ends at the cape which
wc nonr call cape Comorin. It is also called Comar
and Camor. The Mohammedan travellers siiy the king
of Comar (whence they bring aloes,) was subdued by
Blibrage. The inhabitants are very virtuous, and
debauchery with women and the use of wine are forbid-
den them. Accounts of India and China, p. 63.
X There still is, and has been from time immemorial,
a pearl-fishery in the neighbourhood of cape Comorin,
Bee Marco Paolo. — IIuLs.
deavoured to ease myself from my fatigues
by diversions of all sorts.
When Sindbad had
finished his story, he
ordered one hundred se-
quins to Hindbad, who
retired with all the other
guests ; but next moni-
ing the same company
returned to dine with
rich Sindb-id, wbo, after
having treated them as
formerly, demanded au-
dience and gave the fol-
lowing accrunt of his
sixth voyage : —
THE SIXTH VOYAOE OF
SINDBAU, THE SAILOR.
Gentlemen, said he,
youlong, without doubt,
to know how, after being
shipwrecked five times,
and escaping so many
dangers, I could resolve
again to try my fortune,
and expose myself to
new hardships. I am
astonished at it myself
when I think on it, and
must certainly have been
induced to it by my
stars. But be that as it
will, after a year's rest,
I prepared for a sixth
voyage, notwithstand-
ing the entreati'38 of my
kindred and friends, who
did all that was possible
to prevent me.
Instead of taking my
way by the Persian gulf,
I travelled oiice more
through sevtjx'al pro-
vinces of Persia and the
Indies, and arrived at a
sea-poi-t, where I em-
barked on board a ship, the captain of which
was resolved on a long voyage.
It was very long indeed, but at the same
time so unfortunate, that the ca^jtain and
pilot lost their couroe, and knew not where
they were. They foimd it at last, but we
had no reason to rejoice at it. We were all
seized with extraoi tlinary fear, when we saw
the captain quit his post, and cry out. He
threw off his turban, pulled the hair of his
beard, and beat his head Uke a madman.
We asked him the reason, and he answered
"that he was in the most dangerous place in
all the sea. A rapid current carries the ship
along with it, and we shall all of us perish
in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to
God to deUverus from this danger: we can-
'P,
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
107
Bot escape it if he does not take pity on us."
At these words he ordered the sails to be
changed; but all the ropes broke, and the
ship, without its being possible to help it,
was carried by the current to the foot of an
inaccessible mountain, where she run ashore,
and was broken to pieces, yet so that we
saved our lives, our provisions, and the best
of our goods.
This being over, the captain said to us,
"God has done what pleased him; we may
every man dig mir grave here, and bid the
world adieu ; for we are all in so fatal a place,
that none shipwrecked here did ever return
to their homes again." His discourse aiilicted
us sorely, and we embraced each other with
tears in our eyes, bewailing our deplorable
lot.
The mountain at the foot of which we
were cast was the coast of a very long and
large island. This coast was covered all
over with wrecks, and by the vast number
of men's bones we saw everywhere, and
which filled us with horror, we concluded
that abundance of people had died there.
It is also incredible to tell what a quantity
of goods and riches we found cast ashoi-e
there. All those objects served only to aug-
ment our grief. Whereas, in all other places
rivers run from their channels into the sea,
here a great river of fresh water* runs out
of the sea into a dark oave, whose entrance
is very high and large. What is most re-
markable in this place is, that the stones of
the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other
precious stones. Here is also a sort of foun-
tain of pitch or bitumen,* that runs into the
sea, which the fishes swallow, and then
vomit it up again, turned into ambergris ;
and this the waves throw up on the beach
in great quanti'les. Here tUso grow trees,
most of which are wood of aloes, equal in
goodness to those of Comari.
To finish the descri))tion of this place,
— which may well be called a gulf, since no-
thing ever returns from it — it is not possible
for shijjs to get oft" from it, when once they
come within such a distance of it. If they
be driven thither by a wind from the sea,
the wind and the current ruin them ; and if
they come into it when a land-wind blows,
which might seem to favour their getting out
again, the height of the mountain stops the
wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force
of the current runs them ashore, where they
are broken to pieces, as ours was ; and that
which completes the misfortune is, that
there is no possibility to get to the top of
the mountain, or to get out any manner of
way.
We continued upon the shore, like men
out of their senses, and expected death every
day. At first we divided our provisions as
equally as we could, and thus every one
lived a longer or shorter time, according to
their temjierance, and the use they made of
their provisions.
Schehera::aile i)erceiving day, left off speak-
in ; but next night she resumed the story as
follows : —
The Eighty-Sixth Night.
Those who died first, continued Sindbad,
were interred by the rest; and, as for my
• Mr Ives mentions wells of fresh water un 'r the
wa in the Persian gulf near the island of liurien. —
HOLR.
part, I paid the last duty to all my compa-
nions : nor are you to wonder at this ; for
besides that I husbanded the provision that
* Such fountains are net untt'equent in India and
Ccvlon ; and the Mohenimedun travt^Uers speak of
Hmberjiris swallowed by whales, who are mode sick by
and regorge it.— Hole.
io8
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
fell to my share better than they, I had jiro-
vifiionB of my own, -which 1 did not share
"with my comrndca ; yet when I buried the
laat, I had so little remaining, that I thought
I could not hold out long ; so that I dug a
grave, resolving to lie down in it, because
there was none left alive to inter me. I
must confess to you, at the same time, that
while I was thus employed, I coidd not but
reflect upon myself as the cause of my own
ruin, and repented that I had ever under-
taken this last voyage : nor did I stop at
reflections only, but had well-nigh hastened
my own death, and began to tear my hands
with my teeth.
But it pleased Cod once more to take
compassion on nie, and put it in my mind to
go to the bank of the river which rim into
the great cave ; where, considering the river
with great attention, I said to myself. This
I'iver which runs thus under ground, must
come out somewhere or other. If I make a
float, and leave myself to the current, it will
bring me to some inliabited country, or
drown me. If I be drowned, I lose nothmg,
but only change one kind of death for ano*
ther; and if I get out of this fatal place, I
shall not only avoid the sad fate of my com-
rades, but perhaps find some new occasion
of enriching myself. Who knows but for-
tune waits, upon my getting off this dan-
gerous shelf, to compensate my shipwreck
with usury?
I immediately went to work on a float. I
made it of large pieces of timber and cables,
for I had choice of them, and tied them to-
gether so strong, that I had made a very
solid little float. When I had finished, I
loaded it with some bales of rubies, emeralds,
ambergris, rock - crystal, and rich stuffs.
Having bal.anced all my cargo exactly, and
fastened them well t^o the float, I went on
board it with two little oars that I had made,
and leaving it to the course of the river, I
resigned myself to the will of God.
As soon as I came into the cave, I lost
all light, and the stream carried me I knew
not whither. Thus I floated some days in
perfect darkness, and once found the arch so
low that it very nigh broke my head, which
made me very cautious afterwards to avoid
the like danger. All this while I eat nothing
but what was necessary to support nature ;
yet, notwithstanding this frugality, all my
provisions were spent. Then a pleasing
sleep seized upon me. I cannot tell how
long it continued; but when I awaked, I
was surprised to find myself in the middle
of a vast country, at the brink of a river,
where my float was tied amidst a great num-
ber of negroes. I got up as soon as I saw
them, and saluted them. They spoke to me,
but I did not understand their language. I
was so transported with joy, that I knew not
whether I was asleep or awake; but being
persuaded that I was not asleep, I recited
the following words in Arabic aloud : "Call
upon the Ataiighty, he will help thee; thou
needest not perplej^ thyself about anything
else: shut thy eyes, and while thou art
asleep, God will change thy bad fortune into
good."
Oiv; of the blacks, who understood Arabic,
hearing me speak thus, came towards mfe,
and said, " Brother, be not surprised to see
us ; we are inhabitants of this country, and
came hither to-day to water oiu- fields, by
digging little canals from this river, which
comes out of the neighbouring mountain.
We perceived something floating upon the
water, went speedily to see what it was, and
perceiving your float, one of us swam into
* 1
art
into
bic,
see
and
hich
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
I(X>
')
the river, and brought it hither, where we
fastened it, as you see, until you should
awake. Pray tell us your history, for it
must be cxtraord'nary ; how did you venture
yourself into this river, and whence did you
come?" I begged of them first to give ine
something to eat, and then I would satisfy
their curiosity. They gave mo several sorts
of food ; and when I had satisfied my hunger,
I gave them a true account of all that h.ad
befallen me, which they listened to with
admiration. As soon as 1 had finished my
discourse,' they told me, by the person who
spoke Arabic, and interj^eted to them what
I said, that it was one of the most surpris-
ing stories they ever heard, and that I must
go along with them, and tell it their king
myself ; the story is too extraordinary to be
told by any other than the person to whom
it happened. I told them I was ready to do
whatever they pleased.
They immediately sent for a horse, which
was brought in a little time; and having
made me get upon him, some of them
walked before mo to show mo the way, and
the rest took my float and cargo, and fol-
lowed me.
Here Scheherazade was obliged to stop
because day appeared; but towards the close
of the next night resumed the thread of her
story thus : —
The Eighty-Seventh Night.
We marched thus altogether, till we came
to the city of Serendib,* for it was in that
island I landed. The blacks presented me
to their king ; I approached his throne, and
saluted him as I used to do the kings of the
Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself
at his feet, and kissed the earth. The prince
ordered me to rise up, received me with an
obliging air, and made me come up, and sit
down near him. He first asked me my
name, and I answered, "They call me Sind-
bad the sailor, because of the many voyages
I had undertaken, and I am a citizen of
Bagdad." "But," replied he, "how came
you into my dominions, and from whence
came you last?"
I concealed nothing from the king. I told
him all that I have now told you; and his
majesty was so surprised and charmed with
it, that he commanded my adventui'e to be
written in letters of gold, and laid up in the
archives of his kingdom. At last my float
was brought in, and the bales opened in his
presence : he admired the quantity of wood
of aloea and onfbergrir.. but, above all, the
rabies and emeralds, fiT he had none in his
treasury that came near them.
Observing that he looked on my jewels
• Ceylon.
with pleasure, and viewed the most remark-
able among them one after another, I. fell pros-
trate at his feet, and took the liberty to sAy
to him, "Sir, not only my person is at your
majesty's service, bat the cargo of the float,
and I would beg of you to dispose of it as
your own." He answered me with a smile,
" Sindbad, I will take care not to covet any-
thing of yours, nor take any thing from you
that God has given you : far from lessening
your wealth, I design to augment it, and
will not let you go out of my dominions
without marks of my liberality." All the
answer I returned was prayers for the pros-
perity of that prince, and commendations of
his generosity and bounty. He charged one
of his officers to take care of me, and or-
dered people to ser\'e me at his own charge.
The officer was very faithful in the execu-
tion of his orders, and caused all the goods to
be carried to the lodgings provided for me.
I went every day at a set hour to make
my court to the king, and spent the rest of
my time in seeing the city, and what was
most worthy of notice.
The isle of Serendib is situated just imder
the eqmnoctial line;* so that the days and
nights there arc always of twelve hours
each, and the island is eighty t parasangs in
length and as many in breadth.
The capital city stands in the end of a fine
valley, formed by a mountain in the lui'ldlo
of the island, which is the highest in the
world. X I* '8 seen three days sail off at sea.
There are rubies and several sorts of mine-
rals in it, and aU the rocks are for the most
part emery, a metalline stone made use of
to cut and smooth other precious stones.
There grow all sorts of rare plants and trees,
especially cedars and cocoa-trees. There is
also a pearl fishery in the mouth of its river,
and in some of its valleys there are found
diamonds. I made, by way of devotion, a
pilgrimage to the jilace where Adam was
confined after his banishment from Paradise,
and had the curiosity to go to the top of it.
When I came back to the city, I prayed
the king to allow me to return to my coun-
try, which he granted me in the most ob-
liging and most honourable manner. He
would needs force a rich present upon me ;
and when I went to take my leave of him,
he gave me one much more considerable, and
at the same time charged me with a letter for
the commander of the faithful, our sovereign,
saying to me, I pray you give this present
* QeoRTaphers plnce it on this side the line, in the
first climate. Diodorus Sicujus and Ptolemy place 16
in the same island as Sindbad, though not the true
one.
t The eastern geographers made a parosang longer
than a French league.
X Knox and Wolf confirm this account of the situa-
tion of the capital of Oeylon, and the productions of
its mountains. Pico d'Adam is tlie high mountain
here described.
IF
i
IlO
TflE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
from me, and tbis letter, to Caliph Haroun
Alraschid, and assure him of my friendship.
I took the present and letter in a very re-
spectful manner, and promised his majesty
punctually to execute the commission with
which he was pleased to honour me. Before
I embarked, this princo sent for the captain
and the merchant who were to go with me,
and ordered them to treat mo with all pos«
sible respect.
The lett r from the king of Serendib was
written on the skin of a certain animal of
great value, because of its being so scarce,
and of a yelloMrish colour.* The characters
of this letter were of azure, and the contents
as follows : —
"The king of the Indies, before whom
march a hundred elephants, who lives
in a palace that shines with a hun-
dred thousand rubies, and who has in
his treasury twenty thousand crov.iis
enriched with diamonds, to Caliph
Haroun Alraschid :
' Though the present we send you be in-
considerable, receive it however as a brother
and a friend, in consideration of the hearty
friendship which we bear for you, and of
which we are willing to give you proof.
We desire the same part in your frieudship,
considering that we believe it to be our
merit, being of the same dignity with your-
self. We conjure you this in quality of a
brother. — Adieu."
The present consisted, first, of one single
ruby-f- made into a cup about half a foot
high, an inch thick, and filled with round
pearls of half a dram each; second, the
skin of a serpent, whose scales were as large
* Tellow Telli m, or the skin of the hog deer from
Princes Island n tlic straits of Sunda. The elephants,
rabies, Ac, are illustrated by Mr Hole.
t Ceylon is Iinown to prbdoce large mbies, and the
Indian Ocean t bounds in pearls of extraordinuy sixe. —
Hole.
as an ordinary piece of gold, and had the
virtue to preserve from sickness those who
lay upon it;* third, fifty thousand drams
of the best wood of aloes, with thirty grains
of camphor as big as pistachios ; and,
fourth, a she slave of ravishing beauty,
whose apparel was all covered over with
jewels.
The ship set sail, and after a very long
and successful navigation, we landed at Bal-
sora ; from thence I went to Bagdad, where
the first thing I did was to acquit myself of
my commission. — Scheherazade stopt because
day appeared, and next night proceeded
thus: —
The Eighty-Eighth Night.
I TOOK the king of Serendib's letter, conti-
nued Sindbad, and went to present myself
at the gate of the commander of the faithful,
followed by the beautiful slave, and such of
my own family as carried the presents. I
gave an account of the reason of my com-
ing, and was immediately conducted to the
throne of the caliph. I made my reverence
by prostration, and after a short speech,
gave him the letter and present. When he
had read what the king of Serendib wrote to
him, he asked me if that prince was really
* There is a snake in Bengal whose skin if esteemed
a cure for external pains, by applying it to the part
affected. — Holb.
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Ill
l^
■o rich and potent as ho had said in his let-
ter ? I prostrated myself a second time, and
rising again, ♦' Commander of the faithful,"
said I, " I can assure your majesty he doth
not exceed the truth on that head ; I am wit-
ness of it. There is nothing more capable of
raising a man's admiration than the mag-
nificence of his palace. Whe^ the prince
Appeals in public, he has a throne fixed on
the back of an elephant, and marches be-
twixt two ranks of his ministers, favourites,
and other people of his court ; before him,
upon the some elephant, an officer carries a
{Tolden lance in his hand; and behind the
throne there is another, who stands upright,
with a coluum of gold, on the top of which
there is an emerald half a foot long, and on
inch thick ; before him march a guard of a
thousand men clad in cloth of gold and
silk, and mounted on elephants richly capa-
risoned.
" While the king is on his march, the ofHcer
who is before him on the same elephant,
cries from time to time, with a loud voice,
' Behold the great monarch, the potent and
redoubtable Kultau of the Indies, whose
palace is covered with a himdred thousand
rulues, and who possesses twenty thousand
crowns of diamonds. Behold the crowned
monarch greater than the great Solima* and
the great Mihrage.'t After he has pro-
nounced those words, the officer behind the
throne cries in his turn, 'This monarch, so
great and so powerful, must die, most die,
must die." And the officer before replies.
Praise be to him who lives for ever.'
"Farther, the king of Screndib is ho jiut
that there are no j udges in his dominions.
His people have no need of them. They
understand and observe justice exactly of
themselves."
The caliph was much pleased witli my
discourse. "The wisdom of that king," said
ho, "appears in his letter; and after what you
tell me, I must confess that his wLsdum is
worthy of his people, and his people deserve
so wise a prince." Having spoken thus, he
dismissed me, and sent me home with a rich
present.
Sindbad left ofT speaking, and his com-
pany retired, Hindbad having first received
a hundred sequins ; and next day they re-
turned to heai- the relation of his seventh
and last voyage, as follows : —
THE 8EVKMTH AND LAST VOYAQE OI SINDBAD
THE SAILOR.
Beino returned from my sixth voyage, I
absolutely laid aside all thoughts of travel-
ling any farther ; for, beside that my years
now required rest, I was resolved no more
to expose myself to such risk as I had run ;
so that I thought of nothing but to pass
the rest of my days in (piiet. t>iie day as
I was treating a parcel of my friends, one of
my servants come and told me, that an
officer of the caliph's asked for me. I rose
from the table, and went to him. "The ca-
liph," said he, "has sent me to tell you, that
he must speak with you." I followed the
officer to the palace, where, being presented
to the caliph, I saluted him by prostrating
myself at his feet " Sindbad," said he to
• Solomon.
i An ancient king of a great island of the same name
In the Indies, and ver^ mach famed among the Ara-
bians for his power and wisdom.
me, " I stand in need of yon; you most do
me the service to carry my answer and pre-
stnt to the king of Serendib. It is but just
I should return his civility."
This command of the caliph to me was
like a clap of thunder. * ' Commander of the
Ii
112
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
faithful," replicil I, " I am ready to do what-
ever your majesty Hhall think tit to command
me; but I beuecch ynu most humbly to con-
sider what I have undergone, I have also
mode a vow iicvcr to go out of Bagdad.
Hence I took occasion to give him a largo
and particular account of all my adventures,
which he bod tho ])atiencc to hear out.
As soon OS I had tiuiahed, " I confess,'' said
he, " that the things you tell me are very ex-
traordinary ; yet you must, for my sake, un-
dertake this voyage which I propose to you.
you have notliing to do but to go to the isle
of Serendib, and deliver tho commission
which I give you. After that you are at
liberty to return. But you must go ; for
you know it would bo indecent, and not
suitable to my dignity, to be indebted to the
king of that island." Perceiving that the
caliph insisted upon it, I submitted, and told
him that I was willing to obey. He was very
well pleased at it, and ordered me a thousand
seijuins for the charge of my journey.
I prepared for my departure in a few day*,
and as soon as the caliph's letter and pre-
sent were delivered to me, I went to Balsoro,
where I embarked, and had a very happy
voyage. I arrived ot the isle of Serendib,
where I acquainted tho king's ministers with
my commission, and i)rayed them to get mo
speedy audience. Tliey did so, and I was
conducted to tho palace in an honourable
manner, wluiro I saluted the king by prog-
tr.ition, according to custom. That prince
knew me immediately, and testified very
great joy to see mo. " Sindbad," said he,
*' you are welcoino. I swear to you I have
many times thought of you since you went
hence ; I blesa the day n\}0\\ which wo see
one another once more." I mailo my com-
pliment to him, and after having thanked
him for his kinduess to me, I delivered the
caliph's letter and present, which he received
with all imaginable satisfaction.
The caliph's present was a complete set
of cloth of gold, valued at one thousand
sequins ; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred
other of white cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez,
Cusa,* and Alexandria ;t a royal crimson
bed, and a second of another fashion ; a ves-
sel of agate, broader than deep, an inch thick,
and hsilf a foot wide, the bottom of which
represented in bas-relief a man with one knee
on the ground, who held a bow and an arrow,
ready to let fly at a lion. He sent him also
a rich table, which, according to tradition,
belonged to the great Solomon. The caliph's
letter was as follows : —
* A port on the Red Sea.
t A town of Arabia,
••Greeting in the name of the sovereign
guide of the right way, to the potent
and happy sidtan, from Abdallah
Haroun Alraschid, whom God hath
set in the place of honour, after his
ancestors of happy memory ;
"We received your letter with joy, and
send you this from the council of our port ;
the garden of superior wits. We hope,
when you look upon it, you will find our
good intention, and be pleased with it. —
Adieu."
The king of Serendib was highly pleased
that the caliph answered his friendship. A
little timetr after this audience, I solicited
leave to depart, and had much difficulty to
obtain it. I obtained it however at laaty
and the king, when be dismissed me, made
_
I)
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
113
me A very considerable present. I cnibarkcil
immediately to return to Bagdad, Imt had
not the Rood fortune to arrive there as I
hoped. God ordered it <»therwise.
Three or four days after my departure,
wo were attacked by corsairs, who easdy
seized upon our ship, because it was no
vessel of force. Some of the crew offered
resistance, which cost them their lives. Rut
for mo and the rest, who were not so impru-
dent, the corsairs saved us, on purx)08u to
make slaves of us.
Day beginning to appear, Scheherazade
was obliged to kec]) silence, but next uight
resumed the story thus : —
The Eighty-Ninth Night.
Sib, said she to the sultan of the Indies,
>Sindbad, continuing his story, told the com-
pahy, — " AVe were all stripjjed, and instead of
oiir own clothes, they gave us sorry ra;;;H,
and carried us into a remote island, where
they sold us.
I fell into the hands of a rich merchant,
who, as soon aa ho bought nic, carried mo
to his house, treated me well, and clad mo
handsomely for a slave. Some days after,
not knowing who I was, he asked me if I
imderstood any trade? I answered, that T
was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that
the corsairs, who sold me, robbed me of all
I had. " But tell me," replied he, " can you
shoot with a bow ?" I answered, that the bow
was one of my exercises in my youth, and I
had not yet forgot it. Then he gave me a
bow and arrows, and taking me behind hiin
upon an elephant, carried me to a vast fo-
rest some leagues from tlie town. We went
a great way into the forest, and when he
thought tit to stop, ho bid me alight ; then
showing mo a great tree, " Climb up that
tree," said he, " and shoot at the elephants
as you see them pass by, for there is a pro-
digious number of them in this forest, and if
any of them fall, come and give me notice of
it." Having spoken thus, he left me victuals,
and returned to the town, and I continued
upon the tree all night.
I saw no elephant •during that time, but
next morning, as soon as the sun was up, I
saw a great number, I shot several arrows
among them, and at last one of the elephants
fell ; the rest retired immediately, and left
me at liberty to go and acqiiaint my patron
with my booty. When I had told him the
news, he gave me a good meal, commended
my dexterity, and caressed me highly. We
went afterwards together to the forest, where
we dug a hole for the elephant ; my patron
designing to return when it was rotten, and
to take its teeth, &c., to trade with.
I continued this game for two months,
and killed an elephant every day, getting
sometimes upon one tree, and sometimes
u]Hin another. One morning, as I looked
for the elephants, I perceived, with an ex-
treme amazement, that, instead of passing
by mo across the forest as usual, they stop-
ped, and came to me with a horrible noise,
in B\ioh a number tliat the earth was covered
with them, and shook under them. They
encompassed the tree where [ was, witli
their tnmks extended, and their eyes all
fixed upon me. At this frightful siiectacle
T continued immovable, and was so much
frightened, that my bow and arrows fell out
of my hand.
My fears were not in vain ; for after the
elephants had stared upnu me some time,
one of the largest of them put his trunk
round the foot of the tree, and pulled so
strong that ho jjlucked it u]), and threw it
on the ground j I fell with the tree, and the
elephant taking me up with his trunk, laid
me on his back, where I sat more like one
dead than alive, with my quiver on my shoul-
der. He put himself at the head of the rest,
who followed him in troops, and carried me
to a jdaco where ho laid me down on the
ground, and retired with all his companions.
Conceive, if you can, the condition I was in :
I thought myself to be in a dream. At last,
after having lain some time, and seeing the
elephants gone, I got up, and found I was
upon a long and broad hill, covered all over
with the bones and teeth of elephants. I
confess to you, that this object furnished me
with abundance of reflections. I admired
the instinct of those animals. I doubted not
but that was their burying-placo, and that
they carried me thither on purjiose to tell
me that 1 should forbear to persecute them,
since I did it only for their teeth. I did not
stay on the hill, Imt turned towards the city,
and, after having travelled a day and a
night, I came to my patron. I met no ele-
phant in my way, which made me think
they had retired farther into the forest, to
leave me at liberty to come back to the hill
without any obstacle.
As soon as my patron saw me, "Ah, poor
Sindbad," said he, "I was in great trouble
to know what had become of you. I have
been at the forest, where I found a tree
newly pulled up, and a bow and arrows on
the ground j and after having sought for you
in vain, I despaired of ever seeing you more.
Pray tell me what befell you, and by what
good hap thou art still alive." I satisfied his
curiosity, and going both of us next morn-
ing to the hill, he found to his great joy that
what I had told him was true. We loaded
the elephant upon which we came with as
many teeth as he could carry ; and when we
were returned, "Brother," said my patron,
" for I will treat you no more as my slave,
after having made such a discovery as vtill
enrich me, God bless you with all happiness
* I
I
114
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
and protperity. I Ueclaru beforo him that I
givo you your liberty. I oonccolud frum you
what I am now K<>i>H( to tt'Il you.
'• Tho elephants of our forest have every
year killed ua a f^reat many Mlaves, whom we
lent tu Buek ivory. For all the uauti<>ni< wo
oould give them, those crafty nniinals killed
them one time or other. tj<Kl hoa delivered
you from their fur^', aud liaa bestowed that
favour ajMin you only. It i> a Hign that h«
lovea you, and haa use for
your Hervice in thu world.
You have procured me in-
credible ^aiiL We could
not have ivory formerly, but
by uxiHising the lives of our
■laves, and now our whole
city is enrichetl by your
means. Do not think I pre-
tend to have rewarded you
by >;iving you your liberty ;
I will also give you consider-
able riches. I coiUd engage
all oiu: city to contribute to-
wards making your fortune,
but I will have the glory of
doing it myself."
To this obliging discourse
Ij replied, " Patron, (tod pre-
servo you. Your giving me
my liberty is enough to dis-
charge what you owe me,
and I deaire no other reward
for the service 1 had the good
fortune to do to you and your
city but leave to return to
my own country." " Very
well," said he, "the mon-
soon* will in a little time
bring ships for ivory. I will
send you home then, and
give you wherewith to bear
your charges." Ithankedhim
again for my liberty, and his
good intentions towards me.
T stayed with him, expecting
the monsoon; and during
that time, we made so many
journeys to the hill, that we
tilled all our warehouses with
ivory. The other merchants,
who traded in it, did the same
thing, for it could not be lon^r
concealed from them. At
these words Scheherazade, perceiving day,
broke off, but resumed the story next night
The Ninetieth Night.
Sir, said she to the sultan of the Indies, Sind-
bad went on with his seventh voyage thus: —
* A regular wind that blows six months from the
east aud as many from the wnt.
The ahipa arrived at last, aud my patron
himaelf having made choice of the ship
wherein I won to embark, he loaded half of
it with ivory on my account, he laid in ])ro-
visions in abundance for my passage, and
iH'sides obliged me to accept a present of
thtt curiosities of the country, of great value.
After I hatl returned him a thousand thanks
for all his favours, I went aboard. We set
soil; and as the adventure which procured
me this liberty was very ex-
trnortlinary, I had it continu-
ally in my thoughts.
We Htoppod at some islands
to take in fresh provisions.
Our vesHel being come to a
port on the mainland in the
Indies, we touched there, and
not being willing to venture
by sea to Bal^ora, I lauded
my i)roportion of tho ivory,
resolving to proceed on my
journey by land. I mode
vast sums of ray ivory, 1
bought Beveral rarities, wluch
I intended for presents, and
when my e(juipago was got
ready, I set out in compauy
of a large caravan of mer-
chants. I was a long time
on tho way, and suffered very
much, but endured all with
patience, when I considered
that I had nothing to fear
from tho seas, from pirates,
from Ber])ent8, nor from the
other perils I had imdergone.
All these fatigues ended
at lotit, and I camo safe to
B.agdod. I went immediate-
ly to -wait upon the caliph,
aud gave him an account of
my embassy. That prince
told me he had been uneasy,
by reason I was so long in
returning, but that he always
hoped God would preserve
me. When I told lum of the
adventure of the elephants,
he seemed to be much sur-
prised at it, and would never
have given any credit to it
had he not known my sin-
cerity. He reckoned this
story and the other relations I had given
him to be so curious, that he ordered one
of his secretaries to write them in charac-
ters of gold, and lay them up in his trea-
sury. I retired very well satisfied with the
honours I received and the presents which
he gave me; and after that I gave myself up
wholly to my family, kindred, and friends.
Sindbad here finished the relation of his
seventh and last voyage, and then, address-
ing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend,"
L
THE THREE APPLES,
"5
■«i(l ho, "dill you nvor licnr i>{ any i«'r»<>ii
that »iifr«r«<l HO inucli as I havu tlonc, nr of
any mortal that hiw none through no miiiiy
jiwiiioxitit'H? U it not ri'iwoimblo that, after
oil thix, I Hhoiilil •'iijny II i|uit't niid )ilt<naAnt
lifet" Ah he HiiidtliiH, lliiidliitd drcwncarto
him, nnd liiMKin^ tiinhnnd, naid, "I imiHt au-
kiiowU'diji', «ir, that you have ^omt through
terrible dangcrH ; my troul)K'S are not com-
]iarable to yours; if tlu-y alUict mo for a
time, I eomfort myself with the thimj^lits
of the protita I net by them. You not only
deserve a nuiet life, but are worthy buHides
of oU the riches you enjoy, because you
make such a good and ^^reneruus use of thorn.
May you therefore continue to live in haii-
jjincHS and joy to the day of your death."
Sindbad jjave him a hundred Be(|uins more,
received him into the number of his frieudH,
and desired him to quit his jiorter's employ-
ment, and come and dino every day with
him, that he might all hin days have reason
to remember Sindbad the sailor.
Scheherazade perceiving it was not yet
day, continued her discourse, and began an-
other story.
THE THREE APPLEH.
Sir, said she, I have alreaily had the
honour to entertain your majesty with a
ramble which the eoliph Harouu Alraschid
mode one night from hia palaee; I must
give yon an account of one more.
This prince one day commanded the grand
vizier Giafor to come to his palace the night
following. " Vizier," said he, " I will take
a walk round the town, to inform mj-fielf
what people say, and particularly how they
are pleased with my officers of justice. If
there be any against whom they have reason
of just complaint, we will turn them oat,
and put others iu their stead, who shall
officiate better. If, on the contrary, there
be aiiy that have gained their applause, we
will have that esteem for them which they
deserve." The grand vizier being come to
the palace at the hour appointed, the caliph.
he, and MuMrour the cliiff of the (tunuchs,
diH^'uisod tlii'iiim.Ivi-1 so as they could not bo
known, and wi-nt mit all tliree to;icthcr.
They passfd tliron;;h si'vcral jilacus, and
by Hevorid murkotn ; and as thoy ontored a
Bi lall Mtreet, thiiy (lorccivfil, liy tlio li;^)it of
the moon, a tall man, with a whitu bcunl,
who carrit'd nt'ta on liia head, :nul a club in
his hand. "The old man," said the caliph,
"doen not seem to be rich; let us go to
him, and incjuire into his eiroumstances."
"Honest man," said the vizier, "who art
thou?" The old man replied, "Sir, I am a
fisher, but one of the poorest and most
miserablo of the trade ; I went from my
house about noon to yo a iishiiig, and from
that time to this I ?iave not been able to
catch one fiith ; and at the siUiiu time 1 have
» wife and small children, and nothing to
maintain them."
The caliph, moved with compassion, said
to the lishorman, "Hast thou the couram^
to go back and cast thy net once more? \Vc
will give thee a hundred sequins for what
thou shalt bring up." At this proposal, the
fisherman, forgetting all hia dayV toil, took
the caliph at his word; and, with him, Gior
far and Mesrour, returned to the Tigris ; he
saying to himself : "These gentlemen seem
lo be too honest and reasonable not to re-
ward my ])ains; and if they give me the
himdredth part of what they promise me, it
wiU be a great deal"
They came to the bank of the river, and
the fisherman throwing in his net, when he
drew it again, brought up a trunk, close
shut, and very heavy. The caliph made
the grand vizier pay him a hundred sequiua
immediately, and sent him away. Mesrour,
by his master's orders, carried the trunk on
ii6
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
V:
\ i';
hia shouldi, ;• ; and the caliph was so vary
eager to know what was in it, that he re-
turned to the palace with all spcetl. When
the trunk was opened, they found in it a
large basket made of palm-leaves, shut up,
and the covering of it sewed with red thread.
To satisfy the caliph's impatience, they
would not take time to unrip it, hut cut the
thread with a knife, and they took out of
the basket a bundle wrajit up in a sorry
piece of hanging, and bound about with a
rope; which being untied, and the bundle
opened, thej' found, to their great amaze-
ment, the corpse of a young lady, whiter
than snow, all cut in pieces.
Scheherazade stopped her?, because she
saw it was day, and next night continued it
thus : —
The Ninety-First Night.
Sir, your mijesty may imagine a great deal
better than I am able to express it, the
astonishment of the caliph at this dreadful
spectacle. His surprise was instantly changed
into passion, and darting an angry look at
the vizier, "Ah! thou wretch," said he, "is
this your inspection into the actions of my
people ? Do they commit such imj^ious mur-
ders under thy ministry in my capital city,
and throw !iiy subjects into the Tigris, that
they may cry for vengeance against me at
the day of judgment? If thou dost not
speedily revenge the murder of this woman,
by the death of her murderer, I swear by
Heaven, that I will cause thee to be hanged,
and forty more of thy kindred." "Com-
mander of the faithful," replied the grand
mazier, ' • I beg your majesty to grant me time
to make inquiry." " I will allow thee no
more," said the caliph, " than three days ;
tLerefore thou must look to it."
The vizier Giafar went home in great con-
fusion of mind. "Alas!" said ho, how is it
possible that in such a vast and populous
city as Bagdad, I should be able to detect a
murderer, who imdoulitedly committed the
crime without witness, and perhaps may be
already gone from hence ? Any other but I
would take some wretched person out of
prison, and cause him to die, to satisfy the
caliph ; but I will not burden my conscience
with such a barbarous action ; I will rather
die than save my life at that rate."
He ordered the oflicers of the police and
justice to make strict search for the crimi-
nal ; they sent their servants about, and they
themselves were not idle, for they were no
lebs concerned in this matter than tho vizier.
Bui all their endeavours amounted to no-
thing : what pains soever they took they
could not find out the murderer ; so that the
vizier concluded his life to be gone, unless
some remarkable providence hinder it.
The third day being come, an officer came
to this unfortunate minister with a sum-
mons to follow him, which the vizier obeyed.
The caliph asked him for the murderer. He
answered with tears in his eyes, " Com-
mander of the faithful, I have not found any
person that coidd give me the least account
of him." The calii)h, full of fury and rage,
gave him many reproachful words, and or-
dered that he and forty Bermecides * more
should be hanged up at the gate of the
palace.
In the meanwhile the gibbets were pre-
paring, and orders were sent to seize forty
Bermecides more in their houses : a public
crier was sent about the city to cry thus, by
the caliph's order: — " Those who have a de-
sire to see the grand vizier Giafar hanged,
and forty more Bermecides of his kindred,
let them come to the square before the
palace."
When all things were ready, the criminal
judge, and a great many oificers belonging
to the palace, brought out tho grand vizier,
with the forty Bermecides, and set each of
them at the foot of the gibbet designed for
them; and a rope was put about each of
their necks. The multitude of people that
filled the square could not without grief and
tears behold this tragical sight ; for the
grand vizier and the Beryiecides were loved
and honoured on account of their probity,
bounty, and impartiality, not only in Bag-
dad, but through all the dominions of the
caliph.
Nothing could jirevent the execution of
this prince's too severe and irrevocable
sentence ; and the lives of the most honest
people in the city were just going to be taken
away, when a yoimg inan of handsome mien,
and good apparel, pressed through the crowd
till he ''ame where the grand vizier was, and
after he had kissed his hand, said, " Most
excellent vizier, chief of the emirs of this
court, and comforter of the poor, you are
not guilty of the crime for which you stand
here. Withdraw, and let me expiate the
death of the lady that was thrown into the
Tigris. It was I who murdered her, and I
deserve to be punished for it."
Though these words occasioned great joy
to the vizier, yet he coiua not but pity the
young man, in whose look he saw some-
thing that instead of being ominous was en-
gaging ; but as he was about to answer him,
a tall man, pretty well in years, who had
likewise forced his way through the crowd,
came up to him, saying, "Sir, do not believe
what this young man tells you; I killed
that lady who was found in the trunk, and
this pimishment ought only to fall upon me.
I conjure you in the name of God not to pun-
* The Bermecides were a family that cjime out of
Persia, and of them tlic gvaud vii-icr was descended.
V
\
•>MB*AteMAk'4*a««
THE LADY THAT WAS MURDERED.
117
out of
uled.
ish the innocent for the guilty." "Sir,"
said the young man to the vizier, " I do pro-
test that I am he who committed this vile act,
and nobody else had any hand in it." "My
son," said the old man, " it is despair that
brought you hither, and you would antici-
pate your destiny. I have lived a long time
in the world, and it is time for me to be
gone ; let me, therefore, sacrifice my life for
youra." "Sir," said he again to the vizier,
" I tell you once more I am the murderer ;
let me die without any more ado."
The controversy between the old man and
the young one obliged the grand vizier Gia-
far to carry them both before the caliph,
which the judge criminal consented to, be-
ing very glad to serve the vizier. When he
came before the prince, he kissed the ground
seven times, and spake after this manner :
" Commander of the faithful, I have brought
here before your majesty this old man and
this young man, who both confess them-
selves to be the sole murderers of the lady."
Then the caliph asked the criminals which
of them it wiis that so cruelly murdered the
lady, and threw her into the Ti'jris. The
young man assured him it was ho, but the
old man maintained the contrary. " Go,"
said the caliph to the grand vizier, "and
cause them both to be hanged." "But, sir,"
said the vizier, "if only one of them be
guilty, it would be unjust to take the lives
of both." At these words the young man
spoke again, — "I sv.'ear by the great God
who has raised the heavens so high, that 1 am
the man who killed the lady, cut her in quar-
ters, and threw her into the Tigris about four
days ago. I renounce my part of happiness
amongst the just at the day of judgment,
if what T say be not true ; therefore I am he
that ought to suffer." The caliph being sur-
prised at this oath, believed him, especially
since the old man made no answer to this.
Whereu])on, turning to the young man,
" Thou wretch,'' said he, " what was it chat
made thee commit that detestable crime, and
what is it that moves thee to oflfer thyself
voluntarily to die." " CVmimander of the
faithful," said he, "if all that has passed
between tbat lady and me were set down in
writing, it would be a history that might be
very useful for other men." "I command
thee, then, to relate it," said the caliph. Tlie
young man ol yed, and began. His history
was thus : —
Scheherazade would have gone on, but
she was obliged to defer it to the night fol-
lowing.
The Ninety-Second Night.
ScHAHETAR prevented the sui'.anes,', and de-
sired to know what w" *he youug maa's
speech to Haroun Alraschid. Sir, said Sche-
herazatle, the words he spoke were these : —
TUE STORV OF THE LADY THAT WAS MUR"
DEKED, AND OF TUE YOUNCi MAN HER
HUSBAND.
Commander of the faithful, your majesty
may be pleased to know that this murdered
lady was my wife, the daughter of this old
man you see here, who is my own uncle by
the father's side. She was not above twelve
years old when he gave her to me, and it is
now eleven years ago. I have three children
by her, all boys, yet alive ; and I must do
her that justice to say, that she never gave
me the least occasion for offence. She was
chaste, of good behaviour, and made it her
whole business to please me ; and, for my
part, I loved her entirely, and rather pre-
vented her in granting anything she desired,
than opposed it.
About two months ago she fell sick ; T
took aU imaginable care of her, and spared
nothing that could procure her a speedy re-
covery. After a month she began to grow
better, and had a mind to go to the bath.
Before she went out of the house, "Cousin,"
said she, (for so she used to call me out of
familiarity,) "I long for some apples; — if
you would get me any, you woidd plciise me
extremely. I have longed for them a great
while ; and I must own it is come to that
height, that if I be not satisfied very soon, I
fear some misfortune wiU befall me." "With
all my heart," said I ; "I will do all that is
in my power to make you easy."
I went immediately roun'i. all the markets
and shops in the town to seek for apples,
but 1 could not get one, though I offered to
jjay a sequin a-piece. I returned home very
much dissatisfied at my disappointment ; and
for my wife, when she returned from the
bagnio, and saw no apples, she became so
very uneasy, that she could not sleep all
night. I got up betimes in the morning,
and went through all the gardens, but had
no better success than the di'y before ; only
I hai)pened to meet an old gardener, who
told me that all my pains would signify no-
thing, for I could not exftect to find apples
any where but in your majesty's garden at
Balsora. As I loved my wife passionately,
<ind would not have any neglect to satisfy
her chargeable upon me, I dressed myself in
a traveller's habit, and, after 1 had told her
my design, I went to Balsora, and made my
journey v^'ith so great diligence, that I re-
turned at the end of fifteen days, with three
apples, which cost me a se(i\iin a-piece :
there were no more left in the garden, so
that the gardener would not let mo have
them cheaper. As soon as I came home, I
presented them to my wife; but her longing
■was over, so she satisfied herself with re-
r
■■■■■■■lii!
mmmmm
'•
1 ■
Ii8
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ceiving tliem, and laid them down by her.
In the meantime she continued sickly, and
I knew not what .-emedy to got for her.
Some few days after I returned from my
journey, I was sitting in
my shop in the ])ul)lic jilaco
where aU sorts ni liuu stuffa
are sold, and saw an ugly,
tall, black slave come in with
an apple in his hand, which
I knew to be one of those I
had brought from Balsora.
I had no reason to doubt it,
because I was certain there
w^a'j not one to be had in all
Bagdad, nor in any of the
gardens about it 1 called to
him and said, " Good sluve,
prithee tell me where thou
hadst this apple." " It is a
present," said he, smiling,
" from my mistress. I went
to see her to-day, and found
her out of ortler. I saw
three apples lying by her,
and asked her where she had
them. She told mo the good
man her husband had made
a fortnight's journey on jnir-
pose for them, and brought
them her. We had a colla-
tion together ; and when I
took my leave of her, I
brought away this apple that
you see."
This discourse put me out
of my senses. I rose, shut up
my shop, ran home ■with all
speed, and, going to mj- wife's
chamber, looked immediately
for the api)le» ; and seeing
only a couple, asked what was
become of the thinl. Then
my wife, turning her head to
the place whore the apj)les
lay, and i)erceiving there wei-c
but two, answered me coldly,
*' Cousin, I know not what is beoomo of it."
At this answer I did verily believe what
the slave told me to lie true ; and, at the
same time, giving myself up to madness
and jealousj-, I drew my knife from my
girdle, and thrust it into the unfortunate
creature's throat. I aftenvai-ds cut off her
head and divided her body into four quar-
ters, which I packed up in a bundle, and
hiding it in a basket, sewed it up with a
thread of red yam, put altogether in a trunk,
and when night came, I carried it on my
shoulder down to the Tigris, where I sunk it.
The two youngest of my chUdreu were
already put to bed and asleep, the third was
gone abroad; but at my return, I found
him sitting ))y my gate, weeping very sore.
I asked him the reason: — "Father," said he.
" I took this morning from my mother, with-
out her knowledge, one of those three apples
you brought her, and I kept it a Jong while ;
but, as I was playing some time ago with
ny little brother in the
street, a taU slave that went
by snatched it out of my
hands, and carried it with
him. I ran after him, de-
manding it back, and liesides
told him, that it l)elonged to
my mother, who w.as sick,
and that you luul nade a
fortnight's journey to fetch
it; but all to no puqiose —
he would not restore it. And
as I still followed him, cry-
ing out, he turned and beat
me, and then ran away as
fast as he conld from one lane
to another, till at length I
lost sight of him. I have
since Ijeen walking without
the town, expecting your i-e-
tum, to pray you, dear father,
not to tell my mother of it,
lest it should make her
worse." And wh-^n he had
Raid those words, he fell a
weeping again more bitterly
thin Jjefore.
My son's discourse afflicted
me beyond all measure. I
then found myself guilty of
an enormous crime, and re-
pente<l too late of ha^dng so
easily Ixilieved the calumnies
of a wretche<l slave, who,
from what he had learnt of my
sou, invented that fatal lie.
My uncle here jiresent
came just at the time to see
his daughter; but instead of
linding her alive, understood
from me that she was dead,
for I concealed nothing from
him ; and, without staying
for his censure, declared myself the greatest
criminal in the world.
Upon this, instead of reproaching me, he
joined his tears with mine, and we wept
three days together without intermission ;
h<^ for the loss of a daughter whom he always
loved tenderly, and I for the loss of a dear
wife, of whom I had deprive<l myself after
so cruel a manner, by giving too easy credit
to the report of a lying slave.
This, conimaudor of the faithful, is the
siucere confession your majesty commanded
from me. You have heard now all the cir-
cuiustancea of my crime, and I most hum-
bly beg of you to order the punishment due
for it ; how severe soever it may be, I shall
not in the least complain, but esteem it too
easy and gentle.
V
THE LADY THAT WAS MURDERED.
119
Scheherazade perceiving day, left off
speaking, but next night pursued her dis-
ooiirse thus :—
The Ninety-Third Night.
Sir, said she, the caliph was very much
astonished at the young man's relation. But
this just prince, finding he was rather to
be pitied than condemned, began to speak
in his favour : " This young man's crime,"
said he, " is pardonable before God, and ex-
cusable with men. The wicked slave is the
sole cause of this murder — it is he alone that
must be punished ; wherefore, said he, look-
ing upon the grand vizier, I give you three
days' time to find him out; if you do not
bring him within that space, you shall die
in his stead." The unfortunate Giafar, who
thought himself now out of danger, was ter-
ribly pei'plcxed at this new order of the caliph ;
but as he durst not return any answer to
this prince, whose hasty temper he knew jo
well, he departed from his presence, and re-
tired to his house with tears in his eyes, per-
suading himself he had but three days to
live ; for he was so fuUy persuaded that he
shoidd not find the slave, that he made not
the least inqiury about him. " Is it possible, "
said he, "that in such a city as Bagdad, where
there is an infinite number of negro slaves, I
ahoiild be able to find him out that is guilty ?
So that unless God be pleased to bring it
about, as he hath already detected the mur-
derer, nothing can save my life."
He spent the two first days in mourning
with his family, who sat round him, weeping
and complaining of the caliph's cruelty.
The third day being come, he prepared him-
self to die with courage as an honest mi-
nister, and one that had nothing to trouble
his conscience ; he sent for notaries and wit-
nesses, who signed the Ip't will he made in
their presence. After which he took leave
of his wife and children, and bade them the
last farewell. All his family were drowned
in tears, so that there never was a more sor-
rowfid spectacle. At last the messenger
came from the caliph to tell him that he was
out of all patience, having heard nothing
from him, nor concerning the negro slave
which he had commanded him to search for :
"I am therefore ordered," said he, "to bring
you before his throne." The afflicted vizier
made ready to follow the messenger; but as
he was going out, they brought him his
youngest daughter, about five or six years
of age. The nurses that attended her pre-
sented her to her father to receive his last
blessing.
As he had a particular love for that child,
lie prayed the messenger to give him leave
to stop for a moment ; and, taking his
daughter in his arms, he kissed her several
times. As he kissed her, he perceived she
had somewhat in her bosom that looked
bulky, and had a sweet scent. " My dear
little one," said he, "what hast thou in thy
bosom?" "My dear father," said she, "it
is an apple upon which is written the name
of our lord and master the caliph ; our slave
Kihan* sold it me for two sequins."
At these words «;>/)?« and »lave, the grand
vizier cried out with surprise, intermixed
with jo_> ; and putting his hand into the
child's lK>3om, pulled <nit the apple. He
caused the slave, who was not far off, to be
brought immediately : and when he came,
" Rascal," said he, " where hadst thou this
apple?" "My lord, "said the slave, "lewear
to you that I neither stole it in your house,
nor out of the commander of the faithful's
garden ; but the other day, as I was going
along a street, where three or four small
children were at play, one of them having it
in his hand, I snatched it from him, and car-
ried it away. The child ran after me, telling
me it was none of his own, but belonged to
his mother, who was sick, and that his father,
to save her longing, had made a long jour-
ney, and brought home three apples, whereof
this was one, which he had taken from his
mother without her knowledge. He said
what he could to make me give it him back,
but I woiUd not ; and so I brought it home,
and sold it for two sequins to the little lady
your daughter; and this is the whole trutii
of the matter."
Giafar could not enough admire how the
roguery of a slave had been the cause of an
innocent woman's death, and almost of his
own. He carried the slave along with him;
and when he came before the caliph, he gave
that prince an exact account of all that the
slave had told him, and the chance that haa
brought him to the discovery of his crime.
Never was any surprise so great as that
of the caliph ; yet he could not prevent him-
self from falling into excessive fits of laugh-
ter. At last he recovered himself, and,
with a serious mien, told the vizier, that
since his slave had been the occasion of a
strange accident, he deserved an exemplary
punishment. " Sir, I must own it," said the
vizier, " but his guilt is not irremissible. I
remember a strange story of a vizier of Cairo,
called Noureddin Ali,t and Bedreddin Has-
san, t of Balsora; and since your majesty
delights to hear such things, I am ready to
tell it, upon condition, that if your majesty
finds it more astonishing than th»t which
gives me occasion to tell it, you will be
pleased to pardon my slave." " I am con-
* This word gifniifles In Arabic, Basilicit, an odori-
ferous plant ; and tli« Arabians call their slayes by
this name, as the custom in France la to giro the
name of Jessamin to a footman.
t Noureddin sifniiOcs in Arabic the light of religion.
} Bedreddin signiflea the full moon of religion.
IP
■pa
I "'
120
THE ARA2IAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
tent," said the caliph; "but you undertake
a hard task, for I do not believe you can
save your slave, the story of the apples being
so very singular," Upon this, Oiafar began
hia story thus : —
STORY OF NOUREDDIN A LI AND BEDKEUDIN
HASSAN.
Commander of the fuithfid, there was in
former days a sultan uf Egypt, a strict ob-
server of jxistice, gracious, merciful, and li-
beral ; and his valour made him terrible to
his neighbours. He loved the poor, and pro-
tected the learned, -whom he advanced to
the highest dignities. This sultan had a
vizier, who was prudent, wise, sagacious,
and well versed in other sciences. This mi-
nister had two sons, very handsome men,
and who in everything followed his own
footsteps. The eldest was called Schem-
seddin* Mohammed, and the younger Nou-
reddin Ali. The last especially was endowed
with aU the good qualities that any man
coidd possess.
The vizier their father being dead, the
sultan sent for them ; and, after he had
caused them both to put on the usual robes
of avizi'ir, "IamassoiTy,"saidhe, "for the
loss of your father as you yourselves ; and
because I know you live together, and love
one another entirely, I. will bestow his dig-
nity upon you conjunctly. Go, and imitate
your father's conduct."
The two new viziers humbly thanked the
sultan, and went home to their house, to
make due preparation for their father's in-
terment. They did not go abroad for a
month, and then went to court, where
they appeared continually on council days.
When the sultan went out a-himting, one
of the brothers went along with him, and
this honour they had by turns. One even-
ing, as they were talking after supper, the
next day being the elder brother's turn to go
a-hunting with the sidtan, he said to his
younger brother, "Since neither of us is yet
married, and we live so lovingly together, a
thought has come into my head : let us both
maiiy in one day, and let us choose two
sisteiH out of some family that may suit our
quality , — what do you think of this fancy ? "
"I must tell you, brother," answered Nou-
reddin Ali, "that it is very suitable to our
friendship— there cannot be a better thought;
for my part, I am ready to agree to anything
you should think fit." "But hold, this is not
all," said Schemseddin Mohammed ; " my
fancy carries me farther : suppose both our
wives should conceive the first night of our
marriage, and should happen to be brought to
bed on one day, yours of a son, and mine
of a daughter — we will give them to one
• That is to sny, the sun of religion.
another in marriage, when they come to
age." "Nay," said Noureddin Ali, aloud,
" I must acknowledge that this prospect is
admirable ; such a marriage will perfect our
union, and I willingly consent to it." "But
then, brother," said he farther, "if this mar-
riage should happen, would you expect that
my son should settle a jointure on your
daughter ?" "There is no difficulty in that,"
replied the other; " for I am persuaded, that,
besides the usual articles of the marriage
contract, you will not fail to promise, in
his name, at least three thousand sequins,
three good manors, and three slaves. " No,"
said the younger, ' ' I will not consent to that :
are we not brethren, and equal in title and
dignity ? Do not you and I both know what
is just? The male being nobler than the
female, it is your part io give a large dowry
with your daughter. By what I perceive,
you are a man that would have your busi-
ness done at another man's charge."
Although Noureddia Ali spoke these
words in jest, his brother, being of an ill-
temper, was offended at it; and, falling into
a passion, "A mischief upon your son," said
he, "since you prefer him before my daugh-
ter ! I wonder you had so much confidence
as to believe him worthy of her ; — you must
needs have lost your judgment to think you
are my equal, and say we are colleagues.
I would have you to know, you fool, that
since you are so impudent, I would not
marry my daughter to your son, though you
would give him more than you are worth."
This pleasant quarrel between two brothers
about the marriage of their children before
they were born went so far, that Schemsed-
din Mohammed concluded with threatening :
"Were I r"t to-morrow," said he, "to at-
tend the sultan, I would treat you according
as you deserve; but at my return I shall
make you sensible that it does not become
a younger brother to speak so insolently to
his elder brother as you have done to me. "
Upon this, he retired to his apartment, and
his brother went to bed.
Schemseddin Mohammed rose very early
next morning, and goes to the palace to at-
tend the sultan, who went to hunt about
Cairo, near the pyramids. As for Nou-
reddin Ali, he was very uneasy all the night ;
and, considering that it would not be pos-
sible for him to live longer vsith a brother
who treated him with so much haughtiness,
he provided a good mule, furnished himself
with money, jewels, provisions, and victuals ;
and having told hia people that he was
going on a private journey for two or three
days, he departed.
When he was out of Cairo, he rode by the
desert towards Arabia ; but his mule hap-
pening to tire by the way, he was forced to
continue his journey on foot. A courier
that was going to Balsora by good fortune
NOUREDDIN ALT AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
121
overtaking him, took Lini up behind him.
As soon 03 the courier camo to Balsora,
■Noureddin Ali alighted, and rcftumed him
thanks for his kindness. As he went about
to seek for a lodging, he saw a person of
quality, with a great retinue, coming along,
to whom all the people shewed the greatest
respect, and stood still till he passed by;
Noureddin Ali stopt among the rest. This
was the grand vizier to the siUtan of Bal-
sora, who walked through the city to see
that the inhabitants kept good order and
discipline.
This minister, casting his eyes by chance
on Noureddin Ali, found something extra-
ordiliary in his aspect, looked very atten-
tively upon him, and as he camo near him,
and saw him in a traveller's habit, he stood
still, asked him who he was, and from whence
he came. "Sir," said Noureddin Ali, "I
am an Egyptian, bom at Cairo, and have
left my country because of the unkindness
of a near relation, and am resolved to travel
through the world, and rather to die than to
rettim home again." The grand vizier, who
was a reverend old gentleman, after hearing
those words, said to him, "Son, beware ; do
not pursue your design ; there is nothing
but misery in the world ; you are not sensible
of the hardships you nuist endure : come,
follow me ; I may perhaps make you forget
the thing that has forced you to leave your
own coimtry."
Noureddin Ali followed the grand vizier,
who soon perceived his good qualities, and
fell so much in love with him, that one day
he said to him in private, "My son, I am,
as you see, so far gone in years that there
is no likelihood I shall live much longer.
Heaven has bestowed only one daughter
upon mc, who is as beautiful as you are
handsome, and now tit for marriage. Several
people of the greatest quality at this court
have desired her for their sons, but I could
not grant their request. I have a love for
you, and think you so worthy to be received
into my family, that, preferring you before
all those that have sought her, I am reatly
to accept you for my son-in-law. If you
like the proposal, I will acquaint the sidtau
my master that I have adopted you by this
marriage, and I will i)ray him to grant you
the reversion of my dignity of grand vizier
in the kingdom of Balsora. In the mean-
time, nothing being more requisite for me
than ease in my old age, I will not only put
you in possession of mj^ estate, but leave the
administration of public affairs to your ma-
nagement."
When the grand vizier had made an end
of this kind and generous proposal, Nou-
reddin Ali fell at his feet, and expressing
himself in terms that demonstrated his joy
and gratitude, told the vizier that he was at
his commoud in everything. Upon this the
vizier sent for his chief domestics, ordered
them to furnish the great hall of his palace,
and prepare a great feast ; he afterwards,
sent to invite the nobility of the court and
city to honour him with their company ; and
when they were all met, (Noureddin Ali
having now told him who ho was,) he said to
those lords, for he thought it proper to speak
thus, on purpose to satisfy such of them ttv
whom he had refused his alliance, — "I am
now, my lords, to discover a thing to you
which hitherto I have kept secret. I have
a brother, who is grand vizier to the sidtaii
of Egypt, as I am to the sultan of this king-
dom. This brother has but one son, whom
he would not marry in the court of Egypt,
but sent him hither to marry my daughter,
that both our branches may be reunited..
His son, whom I knew to be my nephew a»
soon as I saw him, is the young gentleman
I here present to you, and is to be my son-
in-law. I hope you will do me the honour
to be present at this wedding, which I am.
resolved to celebrate this day." The noble-
men, who could not take it ill that he pre-
ferred his nephew before all the great matches-
that had been proposed to him, said that he-
had very good reason for what he did, were
willing to be witnesses to the ceremony, and
wished that God might prolong his days, to
enjoy the satisfaction of the hapjjy match.
Here Scheherazade broke off, because day
apiieiu-ed, and next night resumed her story.
The Ninety-Fourth Night.
Sir, said she, the grand vizier Giafar con-
tinued his story to the caliph thus : — The-
lords met at the vizier of Balsora's house,
having testified their satisfaction at the m.ir-
riage of his diiughter with Noureddin Ali,,
sat down to dinner, which lasted a long,
while ; and the latter course was sweetmeats,
of which every one, according to custom,
took what they thought fit. The notai-ies
came in with the marriage contract, the
chief lords signed it, and when the company
departed, the grand vizier ordered his ser-
vants to prepare a bath, and had everything,
in readiness for Noureddin Ali to bathe.
He had fine new linen, and everytlung else
provided for him in the most curious manner.
When he had washed and dried himself, he
was going to put on his former apparel, but
had an extraordinary rich suit brought him.
Being dressed and perfumed with the most
odoriferous essences, he went to see the grand
vizier, his father-in-law, who was exceed-
ingly well pleased with I's genteel mien;
and having made him sit down, "My son,"
said he, "you have declared imto me who
you are, and the quality you had at the
coiut of Egypt. You have also told me of
T
Tt"
n
wm
I'
I
122
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
a difference betwixt you and your brother,
which occasioned you to leave your country.
I desire you to make me your entire confi-
dant, and to acquaint me with the cause of
your quarrel ; for now you have no reason
either to doubt me, or to conceal anything
from me. "
Noureddin All gave him an account of
every circumstance of the quarrel ; at wliicli
the vizier burst out into a fit of laufthtcr,
and said, "This is one of tlie oddest things
that I ever have heard : is it possible, my
son, tliat your quarrel should rise so high
about an imaginary marriage ? I am sorry
you foil out with your elder brother upon
such a frivolous matter ; but T find he is in
the wrong to be angry at what you only
spoke in jest, and I ought to thank Heaven
for that dififorence which has procured me
such a son-in-law. But," said the (dd gen-
tleman, "it is late and time for you to re-
tire ; go to your bride, my son, she expects
you : to-morrow I will present you to the
sultan, and hope he will receive you in such
a manner as shall satisfy us both."
Noureddin Ali took leave of his father-in-
law, and went to his spouse's ai)artment.
It is remarkable, continued Giafar, that
Schemseddin Mohammed happened also to
marry at Cairo the very same day that this
marriage was solemnised at Balsora, the par-
ticulars of which are as follows : —
After Xoureddin
Ali left Cairo, with
an intention never
to return, Schem-
seddin Mohammed,
his elder brother,
who was gone a
hunting with the
sultan of Egypt,
did not come back
in a month ; for the
sidtau loved that
game extremely,
and therefore con-
tinned the sport all that while. Sch"m-
seddin at his return, ran to Xoureddin
All's apartment, but was much surprised
when he imderstood, that \iuder pretence of
taking a journey of two or three days, he
went away on a mule the same day that the
sultan went a hunting, and had never ap-
peared since. It vexed him so much the
more, because he did not doubt but the hard
words he had given him were the cause of
his going away. He sent a messenger in
search ot him, who went to Damascus, and
as far as Aleppo, but Noureddin was then
at Balsora. When the courier returned,
and brought word that he heard no news of
him, Schemseddin Mohammed intended to
m:vke further inquiry after him in other
parts, and in the meantime had a fancy to
m&rry, and matched with the daughter of
one of the groatcst lords in Cairo, upon the
same day his brother married the daughter
of the grand vizier of Balsora.
But this is not all, said Giafar : at the end
of nine months Schemseddin Mohammed's
wife was brought to bed of a daughter at
Cairo, and on the same day Noiureddin's
wife brought forth a son at Balsora, who
was called Bedreddin Hassan.
The grand vizier of Balsora testified his
joy by great gifts and public entertainments
for the birth of his grandson ; and to ghow
his sim-in-law the great esteem he had for
him, he went to the palace, and most hum-
bly besought the sultan to grant Noureddin
Ali his ofKce, that he might have the com-
fort before his death to see his son-in-law
made grand vizier in his stead.
The sultan, who had taken a great liking
to Ntmreddin, when his father presented
him after his marriage, and had ever since
heard everybody speak well of him, readily
granted his father-in-law's request, and
caused Noureddin immediately to put on the
robe of grand vizier.
The next day, when the father saw his
son-in-law preside in council, as he himself
had done, and perform 9II the offices of
grand vizier, his joy was complete. Nou-
reddin Ali behaved himself so well in every-
thing, that one would have thought he had
been all his life time employed in such affairs.
He continued after-
wards to assist in
coimoil every time
when the infirmi-
ties of age would not
permit his father-
in-law to appear.
The old gentle-
man died about f our
years after with
great satisfaction,
to see a branch of
his family that pro-
mised so fair to sup-
port the grandeur of it.
Noureddin Ali performed his last duty
to him with all possible love and gratitude.
And as soon as his son Bedreddin Hassan
had attained to the age of seven years, he
provided him a most excellent tutor, who
taught him such things as became his birth.
The child had a ready wit, and a genius
cajmble of receiving all the good instructions
that could be given.
Scheherazade was going on, but perceiving
day, she put an end to the discourse, and re-
sumed it thuB the night following : —
The Ninety-Fifth Night.
Sir, the vizier Giafar continuing his stoiy,
told the caliph, that after Bedreddin Hassan
NOUREDDIN ALT AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
123
had been two years under the tuition of his
master, who taught him perfectly to read,
he learnt the Koran by heart. His father
Noureddin Ali put him afterwards to other
tutors, by whom his mind was cultivated to
such a degree, that when he was twelve
years of age he had no more ocoasion for
tliem; and then, as his physiognomy pro-
mised wonders, he was admired by all that
looked upon him.
Hitherto Noureddin Ali iiad kejit liim to
his study, and had not yet Ijrought him in
public ; but now he carried him to the
])alace, on purpose to have the honour of
kissing the sultan's hand, who received him
very graciously. The jxiople that saw him
in the streets were charmed with his gentle
mien, and gave him a thousand blessings.
His father, proposing to make him capable
of supplying his place, spared no cost for
that end, and brought him up to business of
the greatest moment, on purpose to (jualify
him betimes. In short, he omitted nothing
to advance a son he loved so well. But as
he began to enjoy the fruits of his labour,
he was all of a sudden taken with a violent
lit of sickness ; and finding himself ])a8t re-
covery, disposed himself to die a good Mussul-
man.
In that last and precious moment he for-
got not his son Bedi-eddin, but called for
him, and said, " My son, you see this world
is transitory ; there is nothing dura)>le but
in that which I shall speedily go to. You
must therefore from henceforth begin to fit
yourself for this change, as I have done ;
you must prepare for it without murmur-
ing, and so as to have no trouble of con-
science for not acting the part of a real
honest man. As for j'lmr religion, you are
sufficiently instructed in it by what you
have learned from your tutors and your own
study ; and as to what belongs to an honest
man, I shall give you some instructions,
which I hope you will make good use of.
As it is a necessary thing to know one's
self, and that you cannot come to that
knowledge without you first understaiul
who I am, I shall now tell it you.
"I am," said he, "a native of Egypt; my
father, your grandfather, was first minister
to the sultan of that kingdom. I myself had
the honour to be vizier to that same sultan,
and so has my brother, your uncle, who I
suppose is yet alive; his name is Schem-
seddin Mohammed. I was obliged to leave
him, and come into this counti-y, where I
have raised myself to the high dignity I now
enjoy. But you will understand aU these
matters more fully by a manuscript that I
shall give you."
At the same time Noureddin Ali pulled
out his pocket-book, which he had written
with his own hand, and carried always about
him, and giving it to Bedreddiu Hassan,
"Take it," said he, "and read it at your
leisure ; you will find, among other things,
the day of my marriage, and that of your
birth ; these are such circumstances as per-
haps you may hereafter have occasion to
know, therefore you must keep it very care-
fiUly."
Bedreddin Hassan being most ofllicted to
see his father in that condition, and sensibly
touched with this discourse, could not but
weep when he received the pocket-book, and
promised at the same time never to part
with it.
That very moment Noureddin Ali fainted,
80 that it was thought ho would have ex-
pired ; but Tie came to himself again, and
uttered these words : —
" My son," said he, "the first instrtiction
I give you is, not to make yourself familiar
with all sorts of people. The way to live
happy is to keep yom* mind to yourself, and
not to tell your thoughts easily.
" Secon(lly, Not to do violence to any-
body whatever ; for in that case you will
draw everybody's hatred ui)on you. You
ought to consider the world as a creditor, to
whom ycni owe moderation, compassion, and
forbearance.
" Thirdly, Not to say a wonl when you
are reproached ; for, as the proverb says. He
that keeps silence is out of danger. And in
this case particularly you ought to practise
it. You also know what one of our poets
says upon this subject, That silence is the
ornament and safeguard of life ; That our
speech ought not to be like a storm of rain
that spoils all. Never did any man yet re-
pent of having spoke too little, whereas mjiny
have been sorry that they spoke so much.
" Fourthly, To drink no wine, for that is
the source of all vices.
"Fifthly, To be frugal in your way of
living : if you do not scpiander your estate
away, it will maintain you in time of neces-
sity. I do not mean you should be either too
liberal or too niggardly ; for though you have
never so little, if you husband it well, and
lay it out on projicr occasions, you shall
have many friends ; but if, on the contrary,
you have great riches, and make but a bad
use of them, all the world >vill forsake you,
and leave you to yourself."
In short, Noureddin Ali continued till the
last moment of his breath to give good ad-
vice to his son ; and when he was dead, he
was magnificently interred.
Scheherazade stopt her discourse here,
because she saw day, and deferred the resi-
due of her story till next night.
The Ninety-Sixth Night.
The sultaness of the Indies being awaked
by her sister Dinarzade at the usual hour,
wmm^mmm
124
T//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
bIic addressed herself to Schahriar. Sir, said
she, the caliph was very well satisfied to hear
the grand vizier Giafar relate his story, which
he continued thus : —
Noureddiu Ali was Luried with all the
honours due to his quality. Be<lrcddiu Has-
san of Balsora, for so he was called, because
born in that town, was so overwhelmed with
grief for the death of his father, tliat instead
of a month's time to mourn, according to
custom, he kept himself close shut up in
teal's and solitude about two mouths, without
seeing anybody, or so much as going abroad
ti) pay his duty to the sultan of Balsora;
who being displeased at his neglect, looked
upon it as a slight put on his court aud per-
son, suffered his passion to prevail, and In
hia fury called for the new grand vizier (for
he had created a new one as soon as Nou-
reddin .\li ilied), commanded him to go to
the house of the deceased, and seize upon
it, with all his other houses, lands, and
effects, without leaving anything for Bed-
reddin Ilaasan, and to bring him prisoner
along with him.
The new grand vizier, accompanied with
a great many messengers belonging to the
palace, justices, and other officers, went im-
mediately to execute his commission. But
one of Bfdreddin Hassan's slaves happening
accidentally to come into the crowd, no
sooner understood the vizier's errand, but he
ran before in all haste to give his master
warning. He foimd hira sitting in the porch
of his house, as melancholy as if his father
had been but newly dead. He fell down at
his feet out of bre.ith, and after he hatl kissed
the hem of his garment, cried out, " My lord,
sjvve yourself immediately." Bedreddin Has-
san, lifting up his head, " What is the mjvtter ?
what news dost thou bring ? " "My lord,"
said he, "there is no time to be lost; the
sultan is horribly incensed against you, and
he has sent people to take all you have, and
also to seize your person."
The words of this faithful and aflfectionate
slave put Bedreddin Hassan into great con-
fusion. " May not I have so much time,"
said he, " as to take some money and jewels
along with me?" "No, sir," replied the
slave ; "the grand vizier will be here this mo-
ment : begone immediately ; save yourself."
Bedreddin Hassan rose up from his sofa in
all haste, put his feet in his sandals, and after
he had covered his head with the tail of his
gown, that his face might not be known, he
lied, without knowmg what way to go, to
avoid the impending danger.
The first thought that came into his head
was to get out of the next gate with all
speed. He ran without stopping till he came
to the public burying-ground, and since it was
growing dark, he resolved to pass that night
on his father's tomb. It was a large edifice,
in form of a dome, which Xoureddin Ali
buUt when he was alive. Bedreddin met a
very rich Jew by the way, who was a banker
and merchant, and Avas returning from a
place where his affairs hod colled lum to
the city.
The Jew, knowing Bedreddin, halted, and
saluted him very courteously. — Day begin-
ning to appear as Scheherazade spoke these
words, she put it off till next night, when
she resumed her discourse a'^ain.
The Ninety-Seventh Night.
Sir, said she, the caliph was very attentive
to the grand vizier's discourse, who went on
after this manner : —
Isaac, the Jew, after he had paid his
respects to Bedreddin Hassan, by kissing his
hand, said, " My lord, dare I bo so l)old to
ask whither you are going at this time of
night all alone, and so much troubled ? Has
any thing disquieted you?" "Yes," said
Bedreddin ; "a while ago I was asleep, anil
my father appeared to me in a dream, look-
ing very fiercely upon me, as if ho were ex-
traordinarily angry. I started out of my
sleep, very much frightened, and came out
immediately to go and pray upon his tomb."
"My lord," said the Jew (who did not
know the true reason why Bedreddin left the
town), " your father of happy memory, and
my good lord, had store of merchandise in
several vessels, which are yet at sea, and
belong to you ; I beg the favour of you to
grant me the first refusal of them before any
other merchant. I am able to pay down
ready money for all the goods that are in
your ships : and to begin, if you will give
me those that happen to come in the first
ship that arrives in safety, I will p.iy you
down in part of payment a thousand sequins."
And drawing out a bag from under his
gown, he shewed it him, scaled uji with one
seal.
Bedreddin Hassan being banished from
home, and dis[)ossessed of all that he had in
the world, looked upon this proi^osal of the
Jew as a favour from heaven, and therefore
accepted it with a great deal of joy. "My
lord," said the Jew, " then you sell unto me,
for a thousand sequins, the lading of the first,
of your ships that shall arrive in port?"
" Yes," answered Bedreddin, " I sell it you
for a thousand sequins ; it is done." Upon
this the Jew delivered him the bag of a thou-
sand sequins, and offered to count them, bufi
Bedreddin Hassan saved hiin the trouble,
and said he would trust his word. " Since
it is so, my lord," said he, " be pleased to
favour me with a small note in writing of the
bargain we have made." And having said
this, he pulled the inkhom from his girdle,
and taking a small reed out of it neatly cut
I
;■'(
/
1
BEDREDDIN AT HIS FATHEU's TOMB -i'nflc 124.
I
i
MJ
#
^.^
» it*
oT-
/s
ri
i'"
gti«.-»iiWiifiiaaai«iai3B«i
\
m
t
I
AOU/i/iDD/N ALT AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
125
for writing;, ho presented it to him, with a 1
piece of piiper he took out of hifi letter-coKe ;
and whilnt liu licld the inithoni, Budruddiii
Hosaau wroto these words :—
"This writinj,' w. to testify thftt Bedreddiii
Hassan of Katsora lias sold to Isaac the Jew,
for the sum of one thousand ae(iuinH, received
in liand, the lading of tlie first of liis shiiis
that shall arrive in thin port.
•'lledreddin Hassan of Balsora."
This note ho delivewd to tho Jew, who
put it in hia letter-case, and then took Ids
leave of him.
While Isaac pursued his journey to the city,
Bcdreddin Hassan made the best of his way
to hia father Noureddiu Ali's tomb. When
ho came to it, he bowed his face to the ground,
and, with hia eyca full of tears, dejilored hia
miserable condition. " Alas ! " said ho, " un-
fortunate Bcdreddin, what will become of
thee ? Whither canst thou lly for refuge
against the unjust prince that ])ersccute8
thee ? Was it not enough to bo alllietcd for
the death of so dear a father? Mu.st fort\ino
needs add now misfortunes to just com-
plaints?" He continued a long time in this
posture, but at laai. rose up again, and lean-
ing his head i.pon his father's sepulchre, his
aorrowa returned more violently than before ;
so that he sighed and mourned till, over-
come with heaviness, ho stretched himself
all along upon the floor and fell asleep.
He had not slept long when a genie, who
had retired to that cemetery during tl>o day,
and was intending, according to his custom,
to range about tho wo-i'.d at night, espying
this young man in > .ireddin All's tomb,
ho entered, and finding Bee! cddin lying on
hia back, was surprised o'' 'ia beauty.
Daylight appeared, ann prevented Sche-
herazade'a going 01. with her story, but next
night at the iisual hour she continued it
thus : —
The Ninety-Eighth Night.
Whex the genie had attentively considered
Bedreddin Hassan, ho said to himself, "To
judge of this creature by hia good mien, ho
would seem to be an angel of the terrestrial
paradiae, whom God has sent to put the
world ill a flame with his beauty." At last,
after he had satisfied himself with hjoking
upon him, he took a flight into the air,
where, meeting by chance with a fairy, they
saluted one another ; after which he said to
her, " Pray descend with me into the ceme-
tery where I stay, and I will shew you a
prodigious beauty, which is worthy your
admiration as well as mine. " The fairy con-
sented, and both descended in an instant :
they came into the tomb. " Look ye," said
tho genie to the fairy, ahe^ring her Bedreddin
Hassan, " did you ever see a young man of a
bettor sha[>e, and more beautiful than this ? "
The fairy, having attentively observed
Bedre(Uliu, returned to the genie. "I must
confess," said she, " that ho ia a very hand-
some man; but I just now came from seeing
an object at Cairo mure admirable than this,
and it you will hear mo, I will tell you a
strange story concerniMg her." " You will
very much oblige me in so doing," answered
tho genio. " You must know then," said
the fairy, (for I will tell it you at length,)
" that tho sultan of Egypt has a vizier called
Schemseddin Mohammed, who has a daugh-
ter of about twenty yeara of ago, tho most
beautiful and comi)lete person that ever was
known. The sidtau having heard of this
young lady's beauty, sent tho other day for
her father, and told him, ' I understand yon
have a daughter to marry; I have a mind
to marry her: will not you consent to it?'
The vi/ier, who did not expect this proposal,
was troubled at it; and instead of accepting
it joyfully, which another in his place wouhl
certainly have done, ho answered tho sultan,
' May it please your majesty, I am not
worthy of tho honour you confer upon mo,
and I most humbly beseech you to pardon
me if I do not agree to your request. You
know I had a brother called Noureddiu Ali,
who had tho honour, aa well aa myself, to bo
one of your viziers : we had some dill'erenco
together, which was the cause of hia leaving
me on a sudden, and since that time I have
had no account of him till within these four
days that I heard he died at Balsora, being
grand vizier to tho sultan of that kingdom.
" ' He has left a son behind him, and there
having been an agreement between ua to
match our children together if ever wo had
any, I am persuaded he intended that match
when he died; and being desirous to fulfil
the promise on my part, I conjure your ma-
jesty to grant me leave. You have in your
court many other lords who have daughters
as well aa I, on whom you may please to
bestow that honour.'
"The sultan of Egypt waa incensed against
Schemseddin Mohammed to the highest de-
gree."
Here Scheherazade stopped, because day
ajjpeared, and next night resumed her story,
still personating the vizier Giafar speaking
to Harouu Alraschid the caliph.
The Ninety-Ninth Night.
"The sultan of Egypt, provoked at this bold
denial of Schemseddin Mohammed, said to
him, in passion which he could not restrain,
' Is this the way you requite my proposal to
stoop so low as to desire your alliance ? I
know how to revenge your daring to prefer
1l
126
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
aiiothur to mc, and I iwonrtliat your iIaiikIi-
tor Bhail bo mitrritMl to thu inoutco'it''miitililo
nml U){ly of all my
Hlavci.' And, liav-
ing 8|iokori thuHu . _ ~ . jv_ r^_ r
word«, he angrily
l)id tho vizier l)e-
gone, who went
home tu hia ImuHO
fiUl of confusion,
and extrounliuorily
sad.
"This very day
the HuIt.tU Hent for
one of hia grooms
who is hunijt-
backed, big-bellied,
crookdegged, and as ugly as a hobgoblin ; and
after having coniuianded tSeheniHeddin Mo-
hnniuK'd to coiiHcut to marry his daughter
to this ghastly slavi', he eauHe<l the eoutraut
to be nuule and Migned by witnesses in his
own pres.-uee. The (jreparatious for this
fantastical wedding are idl reaily, and this
very moment all the slaves belonging to the
lords of tho court of Egypt ore waiting at
the door of a bath, each with a llambitau iu
bis hand, for the crook-backed uToom, who
is bathing himself, to go along with them to
his bride, who is already dressed to receive
him ; and when I departed from Cairo, tho
ladies met for that purpose were going to
condu t her iu her nu])tial attire to the hall,
where she is to receive her hump-backed
bridegroom, and is this minute now expect-
ing him. I have seen her, .and do assure
you that no person can look upon her with-
out .-wlmiration."
When the fairy left ofT speaking, thu genie
said to her, " Whatever you think or say, I
cannot btt ]>er8Uiwk'd that the girl's beauty
exceeds that of this yoiuig man." "I will
not dispute it with you," answered the fairy,
" for I must I jiifesa he deserves to be mar-
ried to that charming creature which they
design for hump-back. And I think it were
a deed worthy of us to obstruct the fciilt/vn
of Egypt's injustice, and tu ])ut this yfuui;;
gcntlem.in in the room of the slave."' " You
are in the right,'' .answered the gev'; ; • I
am extremelj' obliged to you for so t/i' jd a
thought ; let ua deceive him. I consent to
your revenge upon the sultan of Egypt ; let
us comfort a distressed father, and make his
daughter .-vs hf.ppy as she thinks herself
raiaer.able : I will do my utmost endeavour
to m.ike this ]>rojcct succeed, and I am per-
suaded you will not be backward. I will
be at the pains to carry him to Cairo before
he awake, and afterwards leave it to your
care te carry him elsewhere, when we have
accomplished our design."
The fairy and the genie having thus con-
certed what they had to do, the genie lifted
up Bedreddin Hassan genljy, and vith an
inpfini'i'ivftble swiftnesH carried him thnuigh
tho air, and set him down at tho dour of a
publiu-house next
to tho bath, whence
' himip-back was to
. — otnno with the train
of Niaves that wait-
eel for him. IJeilred-
iliu llassan awaked
that very moment,
an<l was mightily
surprised to find
liiniself iu the mid-
dle of a city he knew
not. He was going
toeryout.andtoaHk
where he was ; but
the gonifl touched him guntlyon the shoidder,
fuul forl)ade him to speak n\v ord. Then he ]iut
a tiireli iu his hand, and bid liini go and mix
with the erow<l at the door of the bath, and
follow them till you come into a hall, where
they are going to celebrate a marriage. The
bridegroom is a hump-backed fellow, and by
that you will easily know him. I'ut your-
self at the right hand as you go in, and then
immediately ojicn thu purse of Mei|Utna you
have in your bosom, and distribute them
among the musicians and dancers as they
go along ; and when you .are got into tho
hall, give money also to the fenuile slaves
you see about the bride, when they come
near you ; l)ut every time you p>it your hand
iu your purse, be sure to take out a whole
h.iiulful, .uid do not ap.irc them. Observe
to do everything exactly as I have told you
with great presence of mind; be not afraid
of any person or thing, and leave the rest to
a su])orior jiower, who will order matters as
he tliinks tit.
Young Bedreddin, being well instructed
in .^11 that he was to do, a<lvanced towards
the door of the bath : tho first thing he did
was to light his torch as that of a slave ; and
then mixing among them as if he belonged to
some nobleman of Cairo, he marched along
as they did, and followed humi)-back, who
came out of the bath, and mounted a horse
out of the Bultan's own stable. D.ay light
appearing, put a stop to Scheherazade's dis-
course, and she deferred tho following of the
story tUl next night.
The Hundredth Night.
Sir, said she, the vizier Giafar continued
his discourse, and said, Bedreddin Hassan,
coming near to the musicians and men and
women dancers, who went just before the
bridegroom, pulled out time after time whole
handfuls of sequins, which he distributed
among them : and as he thus gave his money
^vith an unparalleled grace and engaging
issaEsifesB-'^-
teas
I
NOUREDDIN ALI AND liEDREPDIN fTASSAl^.
127
mien, all who n^oeivwl it uiuit their t'yt««
»HK)n liiin ; and, oftor thoy hail i\ full viuw
of hin fiu-M', they found hiiu ho hiiiulHomo
and comely that they could not look olF
again.
At last they canio to .Sohoiniieddin Mo-
honimud's K^te, who wa*i Bedrodiliii Miw»iin'.s
undo, imd littlu thouKht hi8 Mepla-w wuh
■o near, I'ho doorkeepcrH, to jirevent any
diaonlur, Ictpt bock all the itlaveii that uor-
I ricd torchoH, nml woiilil not lut them cumn
ill, lU'ilredilin wum IlkmviMO refiiHed ; Init
the niUHicianii, who had I'ruu entrance, stood
Htill, anil |iroti'Mted tliey would not ^o in
if they hinilered liini from ^oiii^; ixhmn with
them. " }le Ih not oucMtf the Hlavc.i," miid
they ; " look u|ioii him, mid you will soon lie
HutiHlied OH to that, lie \n eertainly a yoiin^
Htraiiyer, who is curioim to auo the cero-
nionii'H ubnervud at wuddingH iu thia city ; "
i ■- y \ •■Ml,
»i|pg|i»
and saying thus, they put him in the midst
of them, and carried him in, whether the
porters would or no; they took his torch
out of his hand, and gave it to the first they
met : having brought him into the hall, they
placed him at the right hand of the hump-
backed bridegroom, who sat near the vizier's
daughter on a throne most richly adorned.
She appeared very lovely in all her
drosses, but in her face there was nothing
to be seen but vexation and mortal grief.
The cause of this was easy to be guensod at,
when she had by her .side a bridegroom so
very deformed, and so tniworthy of her love.
The throne of that ill-matched couple was
in the midst of a Hofa. The ladies of the
emirs, viziers, and those of the sult.in's bed-
chamber, and several other ladies of the
court and city, were placed on each side, a
little lower, every one according to their
ff
WSSMi
I
V '.
)
128
T/fE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
quality ; and all of them bo fine and richly
dressed that it was one of the pleasantcst
sights that conld be seen, each of them hold-
ing a jwrge ax taper in tlieir hand.
When they saw Bedreddin Hassan come
into the room, thoy all fixed their eyes iij)on
him; and admiring his Bhaj)e, his bel'.aviour,
and tbo beauty of his face, they could not
forbear lookuig upon him. When he was
set down, every one left their seats, and
came near to him to have a full view of his
face ; and almost all of them, as they turned
to their scats, foimd themselves moved with
tender passion.
The disparity between Bedreddin Hassan
and the hump-backed groom, who made
such a horrible figure, occasioned a great
munnurinp among the company, insomuch
that the ladies cried out, " We must give
our bride to this handsome young gentle-
man, and not to this ugly hump-back." Ni>r
did they rest here, but uttered imprecations
against the sultan, who, .abusing his abso-
lute power, would unite ugliness and beauty
together. They did also upbraid the bride-
groom, so as they put him quite out of coun-
tenance, to the great satisfaction of the spec-
tators, whose shouts for some time put a
stop to the concert of music in the hall. At
last the musicians began again, and the
women who had dressed the bride came all
about her. But Scheherazade ])erceiving
day, broke off till next night, when she
continued her story.
Note. — The hundred and first and the
hundred and second night, in the original,
contain only a description of seven robes
and seven different dresses which the vizier
Schemseddin Mohammed's daughter changed
at the sound of the instruments ; and this
description having nothing pleasant in it,
and besides being intermixed with verses,
which in the Arabian tongue are very fine,
but would lose their beauty by a translation,
it was tlnught needless to translate those
two nights.
The Hundred and Third Night.
Sir, said Scheherazade to the sultan of the
Indies, I hope your majesty has not forgot
that it is the grand vizier Giafar who speaks
to the Ciiliph Haroun Alraschid.
Each time, continued he, that the new
bride changed her habit, she rose uji from
her seat, followed by her bride-woman, and
passed by hump-back without giving him
one look, and went tow irds Bedreddin Has-
san, before whom she presented herself in
her new attire. On this occasion Bedreddin,
according to the instructions given him by
the genie, failed not to put his hands in his
purse, and pulled out handfuls of sequins.
which ho distributed among the women that
followed the bride. Nor did ho forget the
players and dancers, but also threw money
to them. It was pleasant to see how they
pushed one another to gather it up. They
shewed themselves very thankful, and made
him signs that the young bride should be
for him, and not for the h'.imp-back fellow.
The M'omen that attended her told her the
same thing, and did not value whether the
groom heard them or not, for they put a
thousand tricks upon him, which very much
jjleased the spectators.
When the ceremony of changing habits
was passed, the music ceased and went away,
but mafle a sign to Bedreddin Hassan to stay
beliind. The ladies did the same, and went
all home, but those that belonged to the
house. The bride went into a closet, whither
her woman followed to undress her, and none
remained in the hall but the hump-back
groom, Bedreddin Hassan, and some of the
domestics.
Hump-back, who was furiously mad at
Bedreddin, suspecting him to be his rival,
gave him a cross look, and said, " And thou,
what dost thou wait for ? Why art thou not
gone as well as the rest ? Begone ! " Bed-
reddin, having no pretence to stay, withdrew,
not knowing what to do with himself. But
he was not got out of the porch when the
genie and the fairy met and stopped him.
"Whither are yon going?" said the fairy;
"stay, for hump-back is not in the hall; he
is gone out about some business ; you have
nothing to do but return, and introduce your-
self into the bride's chamber. As soon as
you are alone with her, tell her boldly that
you are her husband, that the sultan's in-
tention was only to make sport with the
groom; and to make this pretended bride-
groom some amends, you had caused to be
prei)ared for him, in the stable, a good dish
of cream. And then tell her all the fine
things you can think on to persuade her;
for being so handsome as you are, little per-
suasion will do ; she will think herself happy
in being deceived so agreeably. In the mean-
time we will take care that the hump-back
shall not return; and let nothing hinder yon
from passing the night with your bride, for
she is yours, and none of his."
While the fairy thus encouraged Bed-
reddin, and instructed him how he should
behave himself, hump-back was really gone
out of the room ; for the genie went to him
in the shape of a great cat mev lug at a most
fearful rate. The fellow called to the cat, —
he clapped his hands to make her flee ; but
instead of that, the cat stood upon her hinder
feet, staring with her eyes like fire, looking
fiercely at him, mewing louder than she did
at first, and growing bigger till she was as
large as an ass. At this sight hump-back
would have cried out fo.' help, but his fear
NOUREDDIN ALT AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
129
111-
th the
Ibride-
be
dish.
fine
her;
te per-
lappy
Lean-
-back
feryou
Je, for
Bed-
liould
gone
him
1 most
Jat, —
but
linder
pking
did
las as
(back
1 fear
was 80 great that he stood gaping, and could
not utter one word ; and that he might liave
no time to recover, the genie changed him-
self immediately into a large buffalo, and in
this shape called to him, with a voice that
redoubled his fear, " Thou hump-backed
villain ! " At these words the affrighted
groom cast himself upon the ground, and
covering his face with his gown, that he
might not see this dreadful beast, " Sove-
reign prince of buffaloes," said he, "what
is it you want of me ?" "Woe be to thee,"
replied the genie, "hast thou the boldness
to venture to marry my mistrfjss?" "0
my lord," said hump-back, " i pray you to
pardon me; it I am guilty, it is through
ignorance. I did not know that this lady
had a buffalo to her sweetheart : command
me in anything you please, — I give you my
oath that I am ready to obey you." "By
death," replied the genie, "if thou goost
out from hence, or sjieakest a word till the
sun rises, I will crush thy head to pieces ;
but then I give thee leave to go from '.lence :
I warn thee to make despatch, and not to
look back ; but if thou hast the imprudence
to return, it shall cost thee thy life." When
the genie had done speaking, he transformed
himself into the shape of a man, took hump-
back by the legs, and after ha">ing set him
against the wdU with his head downwards,
"If thou stir," said he, "before the sun
rise, as I have told thee already, I will take
thee by the ueels again, and dash thy head
in a thousand pieces against the wall."
To return to Bedreddiii Hassan, who, be-
ing prompted by the genie and the presence
of the fairy, got into the hall again, from
whence he slipt into the bride-chamber,
where he sat down, expecting the success
of his adventure. After a wliUe the bride
arrived, conducted by an oid matron, who
came no further t'l^i f door, exhorting
the bridegroom Id <x-j h '■■'7 like a man,
without look. nit ,.i to S' ij it it was hump-
back or au.th'.r, .and then locked the door,
and retired.
The younj. bviie vas mightily surprised
instead of Immn bae" to find Bedreddin
Hassan, who can j up to her with the best
grace in the vi rid. "What! my dear
friend," said she, "by your being liere at
this time of nij^iit, you must be my hus-
band's comrade ?" "No, madam," said Bed-
reddin, "I am of anothersort of quality than
that ugly hump-back." "But," said she,
"you do not consider that you speak do-
grading^r of my husband." "Hr your hu'i-
band, m<^am ! " replied he ; " cuu _ rou r-^\Mi
those thoughts so long? Be c-,nvinr<v? cf
your mistake, madam ; for so mu';!' .,ou.uti
must never be sacrificed to the most con
temptible of all mankind. It is i, u:. •>•',&(?'
that am the happy mortal for ■whom ii s
reserved. The sultan had a mind to ; lal t
himself merry by p' ting this trick upon the
vizier your father, but he chose me to be
your real husband. You might have ob-
served how the ladies, the musicians, the
dancers, your women, and all the servants
of your family, were pleased with this
con...ay. We have sent that hump-backed
fellow to Lis stable again, where he is just
now eating a dish of cream ; and you may
rest assured that he wUl never appear any
more before your eyes."
At this discourse the vizier's daughter
(who was more like one dead than alive
when she came into the bride-chamber) put
on a gay air, which made her so handsome,
that Bedreddin was i)erfectly charmed with
her.
"I did not expect," said she, "to meet
with so pleasing a surprise ; and I had con-
demned myself to live imhappy all my days.
But my good fortune is so much the greater,
that I possess J ii you a man that is worthy
of my tenderest affection."
Having spoken thus, she undressed her-
self and stept into bed. Bedreddin Hassan,
overj yed to see himself possessor of so many
charms, made haste to follow her, and laid
his clothes upon a chair, with the bag thfit
he got from the Jew ; which, notwithstand-
ing all the money he had pulled out, was
still fidl. He likewise laid off his turban,
and put on a nightcap that had been ordained
for hump-back, and so went to bed in his
shirt and drawers.* His drawers were of
blue satin; tied with a lace of gold.
Day beginning to dawn, obliged Schehe-
razade to stop ; but next night, being called
upon at the ordinary hour, she resumed her
story, and went on after this manner : —
The Hundred and Fourth Night.
WniiisT the two lovers were aslcejt, said
the grand yizier Giafar, the genie, who ha<l
met again with the fairy, told her that it
was high time o finish what was begun,
and so successfiiUy carried on hitherto : then
let us nut '"• -1 taken by daylight, which
will soon aj.i)^«r ; go you and bring otf the
young man again without awaking him.
The fairy went into the bed-chamber
where the tv^o lovers were fast asleep, and
took up Bedreddin Hassan just as he was,
that is to say, in his shirt and drawers ; and
in comi'"ay with the geniu, with a wonder-
ful "(wiftue.'s flew away with him to the
gstes of jJ.tinascus, in Syria, where they
anived just at the time when the officers of
tiie ir.osq!'js, appointed for that end, were
Ccilling the people to come to prayers at
brei - of day. The fairy laid Bedreddin
* .11 the Eastern imtiona Me lu their drawers, lint this
' cui/istnucc will staud him in stead ic the sei|ii>.'l of
iic itory.
I
130
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Hassftn softly on the ground, and leaving
him close by the gatp, departed with the
genie.
The gate of the city being opened, and a
great many people assembled to get out,
they were mightily surpinsed to see Bedred-
din Hassan Ij'ing in his shirt and drawers
upon the ground. One said, " He has been
hard put to it to get away from his mistress,
that hu could not get time to put on his
clothes." "Look ye," said another, "how
people expose themselves : sure enough he
has spent most part of the night in drinking
with his friends, till he has got drunk ; and
then, perhaps, baWug occasion to go out, in-
stead of returning, is come this length, and
not having his senses about him, was over-
taken with sleep." Others were of another
opinion ; but nobody could guess what had
been the occasion of his coming thither.
A small pufF of wind happening to blow
at the same time, uncovered his breast, that
was whiter than snow. Every one being
struck with admiration at the fineness of his
complexion, they s])oke so loud that it
awaked the young man.
His suqirise was as great as theirs, when
he found himself at the gate of a city where
he had never been before, and encompassed
by a crowd of people gazing at him. " Gen-
tlemen," said he, "for God's sake tell me
where I am, and what you would have of
me ? " One of the crowd spoke to him, s!>y-
ing, " Yojuig man, the gates of the city were
just now opened, and as we came out we
found you lying here in this condition, and
stood still to look on you. Have you lain
here all night ? and do not you know that
you are at one of the gates of Damascus ? "
"At one of tlie gates of Damascus!" an-
swered Bedveddiu; "sure you mock me.
When I lay down to sleep last night I was
at Cairo." When he said these words, some
of the people, moved with compassion for
him, said, " It is pity that such a handsome
young man should have lost his senses ! "
and BO went away.
" My son," said an old gentleman to him,
" you know not what you say. How is it
possible that you, being this morning at
Damascus, cciUd be last night at Cairo ? "
"It is true for all that," said Bedruddin ;
"for I swear to you, that I was all day
yesterday at Balsora." Ho had no aoonei'
said thegs words, but all the people fell into
a tit of laughter, and cried out, "He's a
fool, he 's a madman." There were some,
however, that pitied him because of his
youth ; and one among the company .said to
him, " My son, you must certainly be crazed;
you ilo not consider what you say. Is it
possible thai a man could yesterday be at
Balsora, the same night at Cairo, and next
morning at Damascus ? >Sure you arc asleep
still : come rouse up your spirits." "What
I say," answered Bedreddin Hassan, " is so
true, that last night I was married in the
city of Cairo." All those that laughed be-
fore could not forbear laughing again, when
he said so. "Call yourself to mind," said
the same person that spoke before; "you
have sure enough dreamt all this, and that
fancy still possesses your brain." " I am
sensible of what I say," answered the young
man. " Pray can you tell me how it was
possible for me to go in a dream to Cairo,
where I am very certain I was in person,
and where my bride was seven times brought
before me, each time dressed in a different
habit : and where I saw an ugly hump-backed
fellow, to whom they intended to give her ?
Besides, I want to know what is become of
my gown, my turban, and the bag of sequins
I had at Cairo."
Though he assured them that all these
things were matter of fact, yet they coiUd
not forbear to laugh at him ; which put him
into such confusion, that he knew not v '"a/
to think of aU those adventures.
Daylight, which began to api)e&.. i>i
Schahriar's apartment, imposed silence on
.Scheherazade ; but next night she resumed
her story.
The Hundred and Pifth Night.
Stb, said she after Bedreddin Hassan had
confidently affirmed all that he said to be
true, he rose up to go into the town, and
every one that followed him called out, " A
madman, a fool." Upon this some looked
out at their windows, some came to their
doors, and others joined with those that
were about him, calling out as they did, " A
madman ; " ))ut not knowing for what. In
this perplexity of mind the yoang gentle-
man happened to come before t, pastrycook's
shop, and went into it to avoio the rabble.
This pastrycook had formetly been cap-
tain to a troop of Arabian rcbber;, who
plundered the caravans ; and though he was
become a citizen of Damascus, where he )>e-
haved himself to every one's content, yet he
was dreaded by all those that knew him ;
wherefore, as soon as he came out to the
rabble that followed Bedreddin, they dis-
persed.
The pastrycook, seeing them all gone,
asked him what he was, and who brought
him thither? Bedreddin Hassan told him
all. not concealing his birth, nor thfi death
of his father, the grand vizier. He after-
wards gave him an account why he left
Balsora ; how, after he had fallen asleer
the night following upon his father's toiub,
ho found himself when he awaked >'« Cairo,
where ho had married a lady ; .uid at hut,
in what amazement he was, \ ~.r. iie iouud
It
NOUREDDIN AU AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
131
himself at Damascus, without being able to
X)enetrate into all those wonderful adven-
tures.
" Your history is one of the most surpris-
ing," said the pastrycook ; "but if you will
follow my advice, you shall let no man
know those matters you have revealed to
me, but patiently expect till Heaven think
fit to put an end to your misfortunes ; you
shall be free to stay with me till then ; and
since I have no children, I will own you
for my son, if you consent to it ; and after
you are so adopted, you may freely walk up
and down the city, without being exposed
any more to the insidts of the rabble."
Though this adoption was below the sou
of a grand vizier, Bedreddin was glad to ac-
cept of the pastrycook's proposals, judging
it the best thing he could do, considering
his then circumstances. The cook clothed
him, called for witnesses, and went before
a notary, where he acknowledged him for
his son. After this Bedreddin stayed with
him by the name of Hassan, and learned the
pastry trade.
Whilst this passed at Damascus, Schem-
seddin Mohammed's daughter awaked, and
finding Bedreddin gone out of bed, sup-
posed he had risen softly for fear of disturb-
ing her, but he would soon return. As she
was in expectation of him, her father, the
vizier, (who was mightUy vexed at the
alTront put upon him by the sultan,) came
and knocked at her chamber door with a
resolution to bewail her sad destiny. He
called her by her name, and she knowing
him by his voice, immediately got up, and
openetl the door. She kissed his hand, and
received him with so much satisfaction in
her countenance as sur]t)rised the vizier, (who
expected to find her drowned in tears, and
as much grieved as himself.) "Unhappy
■wretch ! " said he in a passion, "dr> you ap-
pear before me thus ? After the hideous
sacrifice you have just consummated, can
you see me with so much satisfaction?"
Scheherazade left off when she came this
length, because day appeared, and next
night resumed her discourse to the sultan of
the Indies.
>1
The Hundred and Sixth Night.
Sin, the grand vizier Giafar went on with
the relation of Bedreddin Hassan's story
thus : —
The new bride seeing her father angry at
her pleasant countenance, said to him, " For
God's sake, sir, do not reproach me wrong-
fully ; it is not the hump back feUow, whom
I abhor more than death ; it is not that
monster I have married ; everybody laughed
him to scorn, and put him so out of counten-
ance, that he was forced to run away and
hide himself, to make room for a charming
yoiuig gentleman, who is my real husband."
"What fable do you tell me?" said Schcm-
seddiu Mohammed, roughly. " What ! did
not crotik-back lie with you to-night?"
"No, sir," said she; "it was that young
gentleman I told you ofi", who has large eyes
and black eyebrows." At these words, the
vizier lost all patience, and fell into a to"rible
passion. "Ah! wicked woman," said ho,
"you wiU make me distracted!" "It is
you, father," said she, " that put me out of
my senses by your incredulity." "So it is
not true," replied the vizier, "that hump-
back " " Let us talk no more of hump-
back," said she ; "a curse upon humji-back !
must I always have him cast in my dish ?
Father," said she, "I tell you once more,
that I did not bed with him, but with my
dear spouse, who, I believe, is not very far
oflF,
Schemseddin Mohammed went out to seek
him ; but instead of seeing him, was mightily
surprised to find hump-back with his head
on the ground and his heels uppermost, as
the genie had set him against the waU.
"What is the meaning of this?" said he;
' ' who pla.ced you thus ? ' ' Crook-back, know-
ing it to be the vizier, answered, "Alas!
alas ! it is you then that would marry me to
the mistress of a buffalo, the sweetheart of
an ugly genie : I won't be your fool ; you
shan't put a trick upon me, "
Scheherazade stopped here, and next night
resumed her story thus : —
The Hundred and Seventh Night.
Sir, Schemseddin Mohammed, when he
heard himip-back speak thus, thought he
was raving, and bid him move, and stand
upon his legs. " I wiU take care how I do
that," said hump-back, "unless the sun be
risen. Know, sir, that when I came hither
last night, on a sudden, a black cat appeared
to me, and in an instant grew as big as a
buffalo, I have not forgot what he said to
me, therefore you may go about your busi-
ness, and leave me here." The vizier, instead
of going away, took him by the heels, and
made him get up. Then hump-back ran off
as fast as he could, without looking behind
him ; and coming to the palace, presented
himself to the suiltan, who laughed heartily
when he told him the story how the genie
had served him.
Schemseddin Mohammed returned to his
daughter's chamber more astonished than
before. "Well then, my abused daughter,"
said he, " can you give me no further light
into this matter ? " " Sir, " said she, ' ' I can
give you no other accoimt than what I have
done already. Here are my husband's clothes,
which he left upon the chair ; perhaps you
-T-
zrmmt
■^"
132
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
may find somewhat there that may solve
your doubt." Then she shewed him Bedred-
din's turban, which he took and examined
narrowly on all sides. I should take this to
be a vizier's turban, if it were not made
after the Moussol* fashion. But perceiving
somewhat to be sewed between the stufif and
the lining, he called for scissorn, and having
unri2>t it, found the paper which Noureddin
Ali gave Bedreddin his son aa he was dying,
and which he had put into his turban for
more security.
Schemseddin Mohammed having opened
the paper, knew his brother Noureddin's
hand, and found this superscription, "For
my son, Bedreddin Hassan." Before he
could make any reflections upon it, his
daughter delivered 'i'"i the bag that lay
under his clothes, whi he likewise opened,
and found it full of se; "- ^)r, a.-s I told
you before, notwithstaui iie liberality
of Bedreddin, it was stiJI : i. full by the
genie and fairy. He read ^^ . following
words upon a note in the bag : — "A thousand
sequins belonging to Isaac the Jew." And
these lines underneath, which the Jew wrote
before he parted from Bedreddin Hassan:
— •' Delivered to Bedreddin Hassan, for the
cargo of the first of those ships that formerly
belonged to Noureddin Ali his father, of
worthy memory, sold unto me upon its arriv-
al in this place. " He had scarce read these
words, when he gave a shout, and fainted
away.
Scheherazade gave over here, and next
night began again thus : —
The Hundred and Eighth Night.
Sir, the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed
being recovered from his fit by the help of
his daughter, and the woman she called to
her assistance; "Daughter," said he, "do
not frighten yourself at this accident ; the
reason of it is such as you can scarcely
believe. Yoiu* bridegroom is your cousin,
the son of Noureddin Ali. The thousand
sequins in the bag puts me in mind of a
quarrel I had with my dear brother ; it is
without doubt the dowery he gives you. God
be praised for all things, and jiarticularly for
this miraculous adventure, which demon-
strates his almighty power." Then looking
again upon his brother's writing, he kissed it
several times, shedding abundance of teiirs.
He looked over the book from one end to
the other, where he found the date of his
brother's arrival at Balsora, of his marriage,
and of the birth of Bedreddin Hassan ; and
when he compared the same with the day of
his own marriage, and the birth of his
* The town of Mougsol is In Meaopotamia, built ovep
•gainst old Nineveh.
daughter at Cairo, ho admired how every>
thing did agree so exactly.
The happy discovery put him into such a
transport of joy, that he took up the book,
with the ticket of the bag, and shewed it to
the sultan, who pardoned what was past,
and wa£> so much pleased with the relation
of this adventure, that he caused it, with all
its circumstances, to be put in writing for
the use of posterity.
Meanwhile the vizier Schemseddin Mo-
hammed coidd not comprehend the reason
why his nephew did not appear ; he expected
him every moment, and was impatient to
have him in his arms. After he had ex-
pected him seven days in vain, he searched
for him through all Cairo, but could hear no
news of him, which perplexed him very much.
" TI is is the strangest adventure," said he,
" that ever man met with." And not know-
ing what alteration might happen, he thought
fit to draw up in writing with his own hand,
after what manner the wedding had been
solemnised ; how the hall and his daughter's
bed-chamber were furnished, and other cir-
cumstances. He likewieA made the turban,
the bag, and the rest of Beoicd din's things,
into a bundle, and locked them up.
The sidtaness stopped here, and next night
pursued her discourse thus : —
The Hundred and Ninth Night.
Sir, after some days were past, thv vizier's
daughter perceived herself with child, and
was brought to bed of a son after nine months.
A nurse was provided for the child, besidea
other women and slaves to wait upon him ;
and his grandfather called him Agil).*
When young Agib had attained the age of
seven, the vizier, instead of teaching him to
read at home, put him to school with a mas-
ter who was in great esteem ; and two slaves
were ordered to wait upon him. Agib used
to play with his schoolfellows, and as they
were all inferior to him in quality, they
shewed him great respect, according to the
example of their master, who many times
would pass by faults in him that he would
not pass by in the rest. This complaisance
spoiled Agib, so that he became proud and
insolent, would have his playfellows bear all
from him, and would bear nothing from
them, but be master everywhere ; and if
any one took the liberty to thwart him, he
would call them a thousand names, and
many times beat them.
In short, all the scholars were weary of
his company, and complained of him to their
master. He answered that they must have
patience. But when he saw that Agib still
grew more and more insolent, and occasioned
-* This word in Arabic signifies "wonderful."
L. V
^«^ss-f
fefla;,v_is::
NOUREDDIN ALT AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
133
him a great deal of trouble, "Children," said
ho to his scholars, " I find Agib is a little
insolent gentleman ; I will shew you a way
how to mortify him, so aa he shall never tor-
ment you any more : nay, I believe it will
make him leave the school. When he comes
again to-morrow, and that you have a mind
to play together, set yourselves round him,
and do one of you call out. Come, let us play,
but upon condition that they who desire to
play shall teU his own name and the names
■of his father and mother ; and they who re-
fuse it shall be esteemed bastards, and not
suffered to play in our company."
Next day, when they were gathered to-
gether, they failed not to follow their master's
instructions ; they placed themselves round
Agib, and one of them called out, "Let us be-
gin a play, but on condition that he v.'ho cannot
tell his own name, and that of his father and
mother, shall not play at all." They all cried
out, and so did Agib, "Weconscnttoit." Then
he that spoke first asked every one the question,
and all fidfilled the condition except Agib,
who answered, "My name is Agib ; my mo-
ther is called the lady of beauty, and my father
Schemseddin Mohammed, vizierto the sultan."
At these words all the children cried out,
" Agib, what did you say ? That is not the
name of your father, but your grandfather."'
"A curse en you," said he in a passion;
" what I dare you say that the vizier Schem-
seddin Mohammed is not my father ? " " No,
no," cried they, with great laughter, ''he
is but your grand-
father, and you shall ,\((4^'^5-/<3
not play with us.
Nay, we will take
care how we come
into your com-
pany." Having spo-
ken thus, they all
left him, scoffing
him, and laughing
among themselves,
which mortified
Agib so much that
he wept.
This schoolmaster, who was near, and
heard all that passed, came just at the nick
of time, and speaking to Agib, said he, "Agib,
do not you know that the vizier Schemseddin
Mohammed is none of your father, but your
grandfather, and the father of your mother,
the lady of beauty ? We know not the name
of your father no more than you do. We
only know that the sultan was going to
marry your mother to one of his grooms, a
hump-back fellow ; but a genie lay with
her. This is hard upon you, and ought
to teach you to treat your schoolfellows
with less haughtiness than you have done
hitherto."
Here Scheherazade stopped, but next night
resumed her discourse thus : —
The Hundred and Tenth Night.
Sib, little Agib being nettled at this, ran
hastily out of the school, and went home
crying. He came straight to his mother's
chamber, who being alarmed to see him
thus grieved, asked him the reason. He
could not answer for tears, his grief was so
great ; and it was but now and then he
could speak plain enough to repeat what
had been said to him, and occasioned his
sorrow.
When he came to himself, " Mother," said
he, " for the love of God be pleased to tell
me who is my father." " My son," said she,
"Schemseddin Mo 'immed, that everyday
makes so much of you, is your father."
" You do not tell me truth," said he ; "he
is your father, and none of mine. But whose
son am I?" At this question, the lady of
beauty calling to mind her wedding- night,
which had been succeeded by a long widow-
hood, began to shed tears, repining bitterly
at the loss of so lovely a husband as Bed-
reddin.
Whilst the lady of beauty and Agib were
both weeping, in comes the vizier, who de-
manded the reason of their sorrow. The
lady told him the shame Agib had under-
gone at school, which did so much affect the
vizier, that he joined his tears with theirs,
and judging from this, that the misfortime
which had happened to his daughter was the
common discourse
of the town, he was
quite out of pa-
tience.
Being thus afflict-
ed, he went to the
sidtan's palace and
falling prostrate at
his feet, most hum-
bly prayed him to
give him leave to
make a journey into
the provinces of the
Levant, and parti-
cularly to Balsora, in search of his nephew
Bedreddin Hassan. For he could not bear
any longer that the people of the city should
believe a genie had got his daughter with
child.
The sultan was much concerned at the
vizi-Br's affliction, approved his resolution,
and gave him leave to go. He caused a
passport also to be written for him, praying,
in the most obliging terms that could be, jdl
kings and princes, in whose dominions the
said Bedreddin might sojourn, to grant that
the vizier might bring him along with
him.
Schemseddin Mohammed, not knowing
how to express his thankfulness to the sul-
tan for this favour, thought it his duty to fall
134
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
down before him a second time, and the
floods of tears lie shed gave him sufiicient
testimony of his gratitude. At last, having
wished the sultan all manner of prosperity,
he took his leave and went home to his
house, where he disposed everything for his
journey ; and the jveparations for it were
carried on with so much diligence, that in
four days after he left the city, accomjianied
with his daughter the lady of beauty, and
his grandson Agib.
Scheherazade, perceiving day, stopped :
and the sultan of the Indies got u}>, ex-
tremely well pleased with the sultaness's dis-
course, and resolved to hear it to the end.
Scheherazade satisfied his curiosity the night
following, thus :—
The Hundred and Eleventh Night.
Sir, the grand vi;Jer Oiafar continuing his
discourse to the <; ,ih Haroiin Alraschid,
proceeded thus : —
Schemseddin Mohammed set out for Da-
I mascus witli hij daughter the beautiful lady,
and Agib his g; <lchilri "hey travelled
nineteen days witaout stopping anywhere ;
but on the twentieth, arriving in a very
pleasant mead, at a small distance from the
gate of Damascus, they stopped there, and
pitched their tents upon the banks of a river,
that runs through the town, and gives a very
agreeable prospect to its neighbourhood.
The vizier Schemseddin Mohammed de-
clared he would stay in that pleasant place
two days, and pursue his journey on the
third. In the meantime he gave leave to
his retinue to go to Damascus : and almost
all of them made use of it ; some influenced
by curiosity to see a city they had heard go
much of, and others by the opportunity of
vending there the Egyptian goods they had
brought with them, or buying 8tu&, and
the rarities of the country. The beautifid
lady desiring her son Agib might share in
the satisfaction of viewing that celebrated
city, ordered the black eunuch that acted in
quality of his governor, to conduct him
thither, and take care he came to no harm.
Agib, in magniJicent apparel, went along
with the eunuch, who had a large cane in
his hand. They had no sooner entered the
city, than Agib, fair and glorious as the day,
attracted the eyes of the people. Some got
out of their houses to gain a nearer and
narrower view of him ; others put their heads
out of the windows, and those who passed
along the street were not satisiied in stop-
ping to look upon him ; but kept pace with
him, to prolong the pleasure of the agreeable
sight ; in fine, there was nobody that did not
admire him, and bestow a thousand bene-
dictions on the father and mother that had
given being to so fine a child. By chance
the eunuch and he passed by the shop where
Bedreddin Hassan was, and there the crowd
was so grea':, that they were forced to halt.
The pastrycook that had adopted Bed-
reddin Hassin had died some years before,
and left him his shop and all his estates. So
Bedreddin became master of the shop, and
managed the pastry trade so dexterously, that
he gained great reputation in Damascus.
Bedreddin seeing so great a crowd before his
door, that were gazing so attentively upon
Agil) and the black eunuch, stepped out to
see them himself.
This said, Scheherazade perceived it was
day, and so was sUent : upon this Schahriar
rose impatient to know what should pass
between Agib and Bedreddin. Towards the
end of the next night, the sultaness satisfied
his impatience, by resuming the story as fol-
lows : —
The Hundred and Twelfth Night.
Bedreddin Hassan, continued the vizier
(jiafar, having cast his eyes particidarly
upon Agib, jtresently found himself moved,
he knew not how, nor for what. He was not
struck, like the people, with the brilliant
beauty of the boy ; another cause, unknown,
to him, gave rise to the uneasiness and emo-
tion he felt. It was the force of blood that
wrouglit in tliis tender father ; who laying
aside his business, made up to Agib, and
with an engaging air, said to him, "My
little lord, who hast won my soul, be so kind
as to come into my shop, and eat a bit of
such fare as I have ; that I may have the
jdeasure of admiring you at my ease. " These
words he pronounced with such tenderness,
that tears trickled from his eyes. Little Agib-
was moved when he saw it, and turning to
the eunuch, "This honest man," said he,
" has a face that pleases me ; he speaks in
such an affectionate manner, that I cannot'
avoid complying with his request ; let us step
into this house, and taste his pastry," " It
would be a fine thing tndy," replied the
slave, "to see the son of a vizier, like you, go
into a pastrycook's shop to eat ; do not im-
agine that I will suffer any such thing,"
"Alas! my little lord," cried Bedreddin, "it
is a great piece of cruelty to trust the conduct
of you in the hands of a person who treats
you so harshly." Then applying himself to
the eunuch, "My good friend," continued
he, "pray do not hinder this young lord
from granting me the favour I ask ; do not
put that piece of mortification upon me ;
rather do me the honour to walk in along
with him, and by so doing you will let the
world know that, though your outside i&
brown like a chestnut, your inside is as white.
Do you know," continued he, "that I am
master of the secret to make you white, in-
■f'fe^fm mm^hiii ;ti.is^s^'m:iim>ff:
am^Bnmm*!!-
NOUREDDIN ALT AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
135
Btead of being black as you are ?" This set
the eunuch a-laughing, and then he asked
Bedreddin what that secret was. "I will
tell you," replied Bedreddiu, and so he re-
peated some verses in praise of black eunuchs,
implying that it was by their ministry
that the honour of princes and of all great
men was secured. The eunuch was so
charmed with these verses that, without
farther hesitation, he suli'ered Agib to go
into the shop, and went in with him him-
self.
Bedreddin Hassan was overjoyed in hav-
ing obtained mi hat he had so jjassionately
desired, and falling again to the work he
had thus discontinued, "I was making," said
he, " cream- tarts ; and you must, with sub-
mission, eat of them. I am persuaded you
will find them very good ; for my own
mother, who makes them incomparably well,
taught me to make them, and the j)eople
send to buy them of me from all quarters of
the town." This said, he +ook a cream-tart
out of the oven, and after strewing upon it
some pomegranate kernels and sugar, set it
before Agib, who found it very delicious.
Another was served xjp to the eunuch, and
he gave the same judgment.
While they were both eating, Bedreddin
Hassan minded Agib very attentively ; and
after looking upon him u^^ain and again, it
came into his mind that for anything he
knew, he might have such a son by his
charming wife, from whom he had been so
soon and so cruelly sepa.ated ; and tlui very
thought drew tears from his eyes. He was
thinking to have put some question to little
Agib about his journey to Damascus ; but
the child had no time to gratify his curiosity,
for the eunuch pressing him to return to his
grandfather's tents, took him away as soon
as he had done eating. Bedreddiu Hassan,
not contented with looking after him, shut
lip his shop immediately, and went after
him.
When Scheherazade came to this period,
she perceived day, and discontinued her
story. Then Schahriur rose, resolving to
hear the story out, and to suffer the sulta-
ness to live till she had made an end of it.
The Hundred and Thirteenth Night.
Next morning, before daybreak, Diuarzade
awaked her sister, who went on as follows : —
Bedreddin Hassan, continued the vizier
Giafar, ran after Agib and the eunuch, and
overtook them before they were got to the
gate of the city. The eunuch, perceiving
he followed them, was extremely surprised.
"You impertinent fellow, you," said he,
with an angry tone, "what do you \vant?"
"My dejff friend," replied Bedreddin, "do
not you trouble yourself. I have a little
business out of town, that is just come into
my head, and I must needs go and look after
it." This answer, however, did not at all
satisfy the eunuch, who, turning to Agib,
said, ' ' This is all owing to you ; I foresaw
I should repent of my complaisance ; you
would needs go into tlie man's shop — it was
not wisely done in me to give you leave."
" Perhaps," replied Agib, " he has real busi-
ness out of town, and the road is free to
everybody." While this passed, they kept
walking together, without looking behind
them, till they came near the vizier's ttrnta,
ujjon which they turned about to see if Bed-
reddin followed them. Agib, perceiving he
was witliin two paces of him, reddened and
whitmied alternately, according to the dif-
ferent emotions that afl'ected hira. He was
afraid the grand vizier his grandfather should
come to know he had been in the pastry-
shop, and had .. atcn there. In this dread, he
took up .*<' pretty large stone that lay at his
foot, and ti; vowing it at Bedreddin Hassau,
hit him in tiie forehead, which gave him
such a wound, that his face was covered
with blood. Then he took to his heels, and
ran under the eunuch's tent. The eunuch
gave Bedreddin to imderstaud he had no
reason to complain of a mischance that he
had merited and brought upon himself.
Bedreddin turned towards the city, stanch-
ing the blood of this wound with his apron,
which he had not put ofif. " I was a fool,"
said he within himself, "for leaving my
house, to take so much pains about this brat ;
for doubtless he would never have used me
after this manner, if he had not thought I
had some ill design against him." When he
got home, he had his wound dressed, and
softened the sense of his mischance by the
reflection that there was an infinite number
of people upon the earth that were yet more
unfortunate than he.
Day peeping in, obliged the sultoness to
silence; oud Schahriar got up, pitying Bed^
reddiu, and impatient to know the sequel of
the story.
The Hundred and Fourteenth Night.
Towards the close of the ensuing night,
Scheherazade, addressing herself to the sul-
tan of the Indie." pursued her story as fol-
lows : —
iSir, the grand vizier Giafar continuing the
story of Bedreddin Hassivn, Bedreddin, said
he, kept on the pastry trade at Damascus,
and his uncle Schemseddin Mohammed went
from thence three days after his arrival. He
went by way of Emaus, Hanah, and Halep ;
then crossed the Euphrates, and, after pass-
ing through Mardin, Moussol, Singier, jjiar-
beker, and several other towns, arrived at
i i iiij »t phi — i*ii'<l^ l *'ii-'-4*ir v
136
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
last nt Balsora; and immediately after hia
arrival, desired audience of the sultan, who
was no sooner informed of Schemseddin's
quality than he gave him audience, received
him very favourably, and asked him the
occasion of his journey to Balsora. "Sir,"
replied the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed,
" I come to know what is become of the sou
of Noureddin All my brother, who has had
the honour to serve your majesty." "Nou-
reddin AH," said the sidtan, "has been dead
a long while ; as for his son, all I can tell
you of him is that he di8api)eare<l all on a
sudden, about two months after his father's
death, and nobody has seen him since, not-
withstanding all the inquiry I ordered to be
made. But his mother, who is daughter of
one of my viziers, is still alive." Ijchem-
«eddiu Mohammed desired leave of the sul-
tan to see her, and carry her to Egypt ; and
Jiaving obtained his request, without tarry-
ing tiU the next day for the satisfaction of
seeing her, inquired after her place of abode,
and that very hour went to her house, ac-
companied with his daughter and his grand-
son.
The widow of Noureddin Ali lived stUl in
the same place where her husband had lived.
It was a fine stately hoase, adorned with
marble pillars ; but Schemseddin did not stop
to view it. At his entry he kissed the gate,
and the piece of marble upon which his
brother's name was written in letters of gold.
He a.sked to speak with his sister-in-law, and
'was told by her servants that she was in a
. small building in form of a dome, which they
ishewed to him, in the middle of a very spa-
■cious court. This tender mother used to
^pend the greatest part of day and night in
that room, which she had built for a repre-
sentation of the tomb of Bedreddin Hassan,
whom she took to be dead after so long
absence. At that very minute she was
pouring tears over the thoughts of that dear
child, and Schemseddin Mohammed entering,
found her buried in the deepest affliction.
He mode his compliment, and, after be-
seeching her to suspend her tears and sighs,
informed her he had the honour to be her
brother-in-law, and acquainted her with the
reason of his journey from Cairo to Balsora.
These words were no sooner spoken than
Scheherazade dropped her story, upon the
approach of day ; but resumed the thread of
it next night in the following manner :^
The Hundred and Fifteenth Night.
Schemseddin MonAMMED, continued the
vizier Giafar, after acquainting his sister-in-
law with all that ^losscd at Cairo on his
daughter's wedding-night, after informing
her of the surprise occasioned by the dis-
covery of the paper sewed up in Bedreddin's
turban, presented to her Agib and the beau<
tiful lady.
The widow of Noureddin Ali, who had
still continued sitting like a woman dejected
and weaned from the aflairs of this world,
no sooner understood by his discourse that
her dear son, whom she lamented so bitterly,
might still be olive, than she arose, and re-
peatedly embraced the beautiful lady and
her grandchild Agib ; and, perceiving in the
youth the features of Bedreddin, shed tears
of a quite different stamp from what she
had been so long accustomed to shed. She
could not forbear kissing the youth, who,
for his part, received her embraces with all
the demonstrations of joy he was capable of.
"Madam," said Schemseddin Mohammed,
"it is time to wipe off your tears, and cease
your groans ; you must think of going along
with ws to Egypt. The sultan of Balsora
gives me leave to carry you thither, and I
doubt not you will agree to it. I am in
hopes we shall at last find out your son, my
nephew ; and if that comes to pass, the
history of him, of you, of my own daughter,
and of my own adventures, will deserve to
be committed to writing, and transmitted to
posterity."
The widow of Noureddin Ali heard this
proposal with pleasure, and from that minute
ordered preparations to be made for her de-
parture. While that was doing, Schem-
seddin Mohammed desired a second audience ;
and after taking leave of the sultan, who
dismissed him with ample marks of respect,
and gave him a considerable present for him-
self, and another of great value for the sul-
tan of Egypt, set out from Balsora for the
city of Damascus.
When he arrived in the neighbourhood of
Damascus, he ordered his tents to be pitched
without the gate, at which he designed to
enter the city ; and gave out he would tarry
there three days, to give his suit rest, and
buy lip the best curiosities he could meet
with, and such as were worthy of being pre-
sented to the sultan of Egypt.
While he was employed in looking upon
and picking out the finest stutls that the
principal merchants had brought to his tents,
Agib begged the black eunuch his governor
to carry him through the city, in order to
see what he had not leisure to view as he
passed before, and to know what was be-
come of the pastrycook that he had wounded
with a stone. The eunuch, complying with
his request, went along with him towards
the city, after leave obtained of the beautiful
lady his mother.
They entered Damascus by the Paradise-
gate, which lay next to the tents of the
vizier Schemseddin Mohammed. They
walked through the g; eai- squares and the
public places where the richest goods were
sold, and took a view of the ancient mosque
)
t
\.
'■4'^»ii<&mmmmm:!.ms»mmms;
1
i'
NOUREDDIN ALT AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
137
of the Ommiado),* at tho hour of prayer,
between noon and sunset, t After that they
passed by the shop of Bedreddin Hawan,
•whom they found still emjiloyed in making
cream-tarts. " I salute you, sir," said Agib.
" Do you know me ? do you remember yaw
ever saw mo before ?" I3edrcddin, hearing
these words, cast his eyes upon him, and
knowing him, (suuh was the surprising effect
of paternal love !) fult the same emotion as
when he saw him first of all. H© was con-
fused, and, instead of making an answer,
continued a long time without uttering one
■word. But after all, recover-
ing himself, "My little lord,"
said he, "be so kind as to
come once more with your
governor into my house, and
taste a cream-tart. I beg
your lordship's pardon for the
trouble I gave you in follow-
ing you out of town ; I was
At that time not myself, I
did not know what I did.
You drew me after you, and
the violence of the attrac-
tion was so strong that I
could not withstand it."
Scheherazade, obser\'ing
the approaching day, stopped
here ; and the next night
resumed her discourse to the
following purport :—
The Hundred and Sixteenth Night.
AOTB, continued the vizier Giafar, asto-
nished at what Bedreddin said, replied thus :
" There is an excess in the kindness you
express, and unless you engage under oath
not to follow me when I go from hence, I
wiU not enter into your house. If you give
me your promise, and prove a man of your
•word, I will visit you again to-morrow, since
the vizier, my grandfather, is still employed
in buying up things for a present to the sul-
tan of Egypt." "My little lord," replied
Bedreddin, " I •will do •whatever you would
have me to do." This said, Agib and the
eunuch went into the shop.
Presently after, Bedreddin set before them
a cream-tart, that was full as good as what
they had eaten of when they saw him before.
"Come," said Agib, addressing himself to
Bedreddin, " sit down by me, and eat with
us." Bedreddin sat down, and made offers
to embrace Agib, as a testimony of the joy
he conceived upon his sitting by him. But
Agib shoved him off, desiring him to be
* That is, of the caliphs that reigned after the four
first successors of Mohammed, and were so named from
one of their ancestors, whose name was Ommiah.
t This prayer is always said two hours and a lialf be-
fore sunset.
quiet, not to be too familiar in his friendship,
and to content himself with seeing and con-
versing with him. Bedreddin obeyed, and
fell to singing a song, the words of which he
composed off-hand, in praise of Agib. He
did not eat, but made it his business to serve
his guests. When they had done eating, he
brought them water to wash with,* and a
very white napkin to wipe their hands. Then
he filled a largo china cup with sherbet, and
put snow into it ;t and offering to Agib,
" This," said he, " is sherbet of roses, and
the X)lea8antest you will meet with all the
town over; I am sure you
never tasted better." Agib
having drunk of it with plea-
sure, Bedreddin Hassan took
tho cup from him, and pre-
sented it to the eunuch, who
drank it all off at once.
In fine, Agib and his gover-
nor having fared well, re-
turned thanks to the pastry-
cook for their good entertain-
ment, and moved homewards,
it being then late. When
they arrived at the tents of
Schemscddin Mohammed,
they repaired immediately to
the lady's tent. Agib's
grandmother received him
with transports of joy ; her
son Bedreddin ran always
in her mind, and in em-
bracing Agib, the remembrance of him drew
tears from her eyes. "Ah, my child!"
said she, "my joy would be perfect, if I
hail the pleasure of embracing your father,
Bedreddin Hassan, as I now embrace you."
Then, sitting down to supper, she made
Agib sit by her, and put several questions •to
him, relating to the walk he had been tak-
ing along with the eunuch ; and when he
complained of his weak stomach, she gave
him a piece of cream-tart, which she had
made for herself, and was indeed very good ;
for I told you before that she could make
them better than the best pastrycooks. She
likewise gave some to the eunuch ; but both
of them had eaten so heartily at Bedreddin's
house, that they could not taste a bit.
Here approaching day put a stop to Sche-
herazade's story for this night ; but towards
the close of the next, she resumed it in the
following terms : —
The Hundred and Seventeenth Night.
A01& no sooner touched the piece of cream.
*The Mohammedans havlngacnstom of washing their
hands five times a day, when ttiey go to prayers, they
reclcon tliey have no occasion to wash before eating, but
they always wash after eating, because they cat without
forks.
t This is done all the Levant over, for keeping their
drink cool.
T^
138
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTEHTAINMENTS.
tart that liud boou let buforu him, than he
pretended he did not like it, and left it un-
cut; and Sclmbau* (audi woh the uuuuuU'h
name) did the aaiue thin}(. The widow of
Noiireddin Ali obnerviid with regret that
her grandson did not like the tart. *' What ! "
Hoid she, " does my child thuH dcspiite the
work of my hands ! Be it known to you, no
one in the world can make such crcam-tiirts
betiidcs uiytielf and your father, Bedretldin
Hassan, whom I myself taught to make
them." " My ^ood mother," replied Agil),
"give me leave to tell you, if you do not
know how to make lietter, there is a pastry-
cook in this town that outdoes you in that
point. Wo were at hia shop but now, and
ate of one that is much better thou yours."
Thia said, the grauduiothor, frowning
upon the eunuch, " How now, Schabau,"
said she, "was the care of my grandchild
committed to you, to carry him to eat at
pastry-shops like a beggar?" " Mi^Uam,"
rejdied the eunuch, " it is true, we did atop
a little while and talked with the pastry-
cook, but we did not eat with him." " Far-
don me," said Agib, " we went into his shop,
and there ate a cream-tart." Upon this the
lady, more incensed against the eunuch than
before, rose in a passion from the table, and
running to the tent of Suhemscddiu Moham-
med, informed him of the eunuch's crime,
and that in such terms, as tended more to
intlame the vizier, than to disjiose him to ex-
cuse it.
Schemseddiu Mohammed, who was natu-
rally passionate, did not faU on this occasion
to display his anger. He went forthwith to
his sister-in-law's tent, and making up to
the eunuch, " What !" said he, "you pitiful
wretch, have yon the impudence to abuse
the trust I repose in you V Schaban, though
sufficiently convicted by Agib's testimony,
denied the fact still. But the child persist-
ing in what he had afiirmed, "Grandfather,"
said he, " I can assure you we not only ate,
but we ate both of us so heartily that we
have no occasion for supper; besides, the
pastrycook treated us also with a great
bowl of sherbet." "Well," cried Schem-
seddin, turning to Schaban, " after all this,
will you continue to deny that you entered
the pastrycook's house, and ate there?"
Schaban had still the impudence to swear it
was not true. " Then you ore a liar," said
the vizier ; "I believe my grandchild before
I believe you; but after all," said he, "if
you can eat up this cream-tart that is upon
the table, I shall be persuaded you have
truth on your side."
Though Schaban had crammed himself up
to the throat before, he agreed to stand that
test, and accordingly took a piece of tart ;
* The MohammedaDS give this name generally to the
black cuuucba.
but his stomach riaiop; against it, he was
obliged to spit it out of his mouth. Yet he
still pursued the lie, and protended he hod
over-eaten lu/asclf the day before, so that b'
had not recovered his ttp[)etite. 'J'lie vizier
irritated with all the eunuch's frivolous pre-
tences, and convinced of his guilt, ordered
him to lie flat upon the ground, and to be
soundly bastinadoed. In undergoing this
l)unisliment, the poor wretch shrieked out
aloud, and at lost confessed the truth. "I
own," cries ho, "that wo did eat a creom-
tart at the pastrycook's, and tliat it was
muuh better than tliat upon the table. '
Tho widow of Noureddin Ali thought it
was out of spite to her, and with a design
to mortify her, that Schaban commended the
pastrycook's tart; and accordingly said, "1
cannot believe the cook's torts are better
than mine : I am resolved to sotisfy myself
iipon that head. Where dt)09 he live ? do
immediately and buy me one of his tarts."
The cunucli having received of her what
money was sutlicient for that purpose, re-
]»aired to Bedreddin's shop, and addressing
himself toBedreddin, ' 'Good Mr I'ostrycook, "
said he, " take this money here, and let me
have one of your cream-tarts ; one of our
ladies wants to taste them. " Bedreddin chose
one of the best, and gave it to the eunuch ;
" Take this," said he ; "I will engage it is an
excellent one, and I can assure you that no
person is able to make the like, unless it be
my motluT, who perhaps is still alive."
Schaban returned speedily to the tents,
and gave the tart to Noureddin's widow, ami
she snatching it greedily broke a piece oft';
but no sooner put it to her mouth, than she
cried out, and swooned away. Schemseddin
Mohammed, who was ])re8ent, was extremely
surprised at the accident; he threw water
himself upon her face, and was very active
in succouring her. As soon as she came to
herself, "MyGod!" cried she, "iimustneeds
be my dear son, my dear Bedreddin, that
made this tart."
Here daylight interrupted Scheherazade ;
and the Indian sultan got up to say his pray-
ers, and go to the council. The next night
the sult.auess pursued the story of Bedreddin
Hassan in the following manner : —
The Hundred and Eighteenth Night.
When the vizier Schemseddin Mohammed
heard his sister-in-law say that the maker
of the tart brought by the eimucli must
needs be Bedreddin Hassan, he was over-
joyed; but retiecting that his joy might
prove groundless, and in all likelihood the
conjecture of Noureddin's widow was false,
' ' Madam, " said he, ' ' why are you of that mind ?
Do you think there may not be a pastrycook
V
;t*i#>-w^«^^
NOUREDDIN ALI AND DEDREDDIN HASSAN.
139
in the whole world, that knowi how to make
oream-tarts aa well as your wm?" "I owu,"
replied she, "there may be pastrycook! that
can make as good tartH wi he ; but forasmucii
aa I make them after a peculiar manner, and
nobody but my hou ia let into the aecret, it
must absolutely be he that made this. C'ume,
my brother," added she in a transport, " let
ua call up mirth and joy ; we have at last
found what we have been so lonj^ looking
for." "Madam," said the vizier in answer,
" I entreat you to moderate your impatience,
for we shall quickly know the bottom of it.
All we have to do is to bring the pastrycook
hither ; and then you and my daughter will
readily distinguish wliether it is Bedreddin
or not. But you must both be hid, so as to
have a view of Bedreddin, while ho cannot
see you ; for I would not have our interview
and mutual discovery laid at Damascus.
My design ia to delay the discovery till we
return to Cairo, wliere I i)romise to regale you
with very agreeable diversion."
This said, he left the ladica in their tent,
and retired to his owu ; where he called for
fifty of his men, and said to them : " Take
each of you a stick in your hand, and fol-
low Hchaban, who will conduct you to a
pastrycook's in this city. When you arrive
there, break and dash in pieces all you find
in the shop : if he asks you why you commit
that disorder, only ask him again if it was
not he that made the cream-tart that was
brought from his hou.ie. If ho says he is the
man, s jize his person, fetter him, and bring
him along with you ; but take care yuii du
not beat him, nor do him tlie least harm, (Jo
and lose no time."
The vi/.ier's orders were immediately exe-
cuted. The detachment, conducted by the
black eunuch, went ivith expedition to Bed-
reddiu's house, and broke in pieces the plates,
kettles, copperpans, tables, and all the other
movables and nntensils they met with, and
drowned the aherbet-shop with cream and
comlita. Bedreddin, astonished at the sight,
aaid with a pitiful tone, " I'ray, good people,
why do you serve me so? What is the mat-
ter? What have I done?" "Was it not
you," said they, "that sold this eunuch the
cream-tart ? " " Yes," replied he, " I am the
man : and who aaya anything against it? I
defy any one to make a better." Instead of
giving him an answer, they continued to
break all round them, and the oven itaelf
was not spared.
In the meantime the ueighbouu took the
alarm, and, sur])rised to see fifty armed men
commit audi a disorder, asked the reason of
such violence ; and Bedreddin said once more
to the actors of it, " Pray tell me what crime
I am guilty of, to have deserved this usage ? "
"Was it not you," replied they "that
made the cream -tart you sold to the eu-
nuch ? " — "Yea, yes, it was I," replied he ; I
maintain it is a g(jod one. I do not deserve
such usage as you give me." However,
without listening to him, they seized his ]^>er-
son, and, snatching the cloth off his turban,
tied hia hands with it behind his back, and,
after dragging him by force out of his shop,
marched oil.
The mob gathering and taking compassion
on Bedreddin, took his i>art, and offered op-
position to Schemseddin's men ; but that very
minute up came some officers from the go-
vernor of the city, who dispersed the people,
and favoured the carrying ofif of Bedreddin ;
forSchemseddin Mohammed had in the mean-
time gone to the governor's house to acquaint
him with what order he had given, and to
demand the interposition of force to favour
the execution ; and the governor, who com-
mande<l all Syria in the name of the sultau
of Egypt, was unwilling to refuse anything
to his master's vizier. So Bedreddin was
carried off after all his cries and tears.
Day appearing, Scheherazade could pro-
I40
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ceoti no (itrthpr till next morning : then ahe
went on 08 follows : —
The Hundred and Nineteenth Night.
Sir, the vizit-r (iiftfar continued his relation
to the calijih in tills manner. It was
iicciUess for Bedreddin Hassan to ask by the
way those who carried him off, what fatilt
had been foimd with his cream-tart. They
gave him no answer. In short, they carried
him to the tents, and made him stay there
till Suheniseddin Mohammed returned from
the governer of Damascus's house.
Upon the vizier's return, Bedreddin Hassan
was l>rouglit before him. " My lord," said
Bedreddin, with tears in his eyes, "pray do
mo the favour to let me know wherein I
liavo displeased you." " Why, you wretch
you," said the vizier, " was it not you that
maile the cream-tart you sent me ? " "I own
I am the man," replied Bedreddin ; " but
pray what crime is that?" " I will punish
you acconlin-j to your deserts," said Sehem-
aeddin ; it shall cost you your life, for send-
ing me such a sorry tart." "Good God! "
cried Bedreddin, "what news is this ! Is it
a capital crime to m.iko a bad cream-tart ? "
"Yes," said the vizier, "and you are to
expect no other usage from me."
While this interview lasted, the ladies,
who were hid, minded Bedreddin narrowly,
and readily knew him, notwithstanding ho
had been so long absent. They were so
transported with joy, that they swooned
away ; and, when they recovered, would
fain have ran up and fallen upon Bedreddin's
neck ; but tho promise they had made to
the vizier of not discovering themselves,
restrained the tender emotions of love and of
nature.
Sehemseddin Mohammed, having resolved
to set out that very night, ordered the tents
to be struck, and tlie necessary preparations
to bo made for his journey. And as for
Bedreddin, he ordered him to bo clapped into
a chest or box, well locked, and laid on a
camel. When everything was got ready, the
vizier and his retinue began their march, and
travelled the rest of that night, and all the
next dity, without stopping. In the evening
they baited, and Bedreddin was taken out of
Ilia cage, in onlerto be served with the neces-
sary refreshments, but still carefully kept
at a distance from his mother and his wife ;
and during the whole expedition, which lasted
twenty days, was served in the same manner.
When they arrived at Cairo, they encamped
in the neighbourhood of that place. Schem-
seddin called for Bedreddin, gave orders, in
his presence, to a carpenter to get some wood
with all expedition, and make a stake.
" Heyday !" said Bedreddin, " what do you
mean to do with a stake ? " •' Why, to nail
^
you t<) it, " replied .Schemseildin, ' ' then to have
you carried through all tho quarters of tho
town, that tho people may have tho spectacle
of a worthless pastrycook, who makes cream-
tarts without pepper." This said, Bedreddin
cried out so comieally, that Schomseddin had
enough to do to keep his countenance.
" Good God ! " cried he, " must I suffer a
death, as cruel as it is ignominious, for not
putting ])eppcr in a cream-tart ?"
At this jieriod, Soheherazadi "1,
ttpon tho approach of day ; and ..riar
rose, laughing at Bedreddin's fright, and cu-
rious to know the sequel of tho story, which
the sultancss i)ur8ued next night before
day, as follows :—
The Hundred and Twentieth Night.
Sir, tho caliph Haroun Alraschid, not-
withstanding his gravity, could not forbear
laughing when the vizier Giafar told him
that iSchemseddin Mohammed threatened to
put to death Bedreddin, for not putting
jiepper into the cream -tart he had sold to
Schaban. " How !" said Bedreddin, "must
I be riHed, and have all tho goods in my
house broken to pieces — must I be imprisoned
in n chest, and at last nailed to a stal'" and
all for not putting pepper in a cren rt ?
Got.d God 1 who ever heard of such % !
Are these the actions of Mussu' A
persons that make a profession of probity
and justice, and practise all manner of good
works?" With these words he shed tears,
and then, renewing his complaint ; "No,"
continued he, " never was man used so
unjustly, nor so severely. Is it possible
they should be capable of taking a man's life
for not putting pepper in a cream-tart?
Cursed bo all cream-tarts, as well as the hour
in which I was bom ! Would to God I had
died that minute ! "
Disconsolate Bedreddin did not cease his
lamentations ; and when tho stake was
brought, and tho nails to fasten him to it,
ho cried out bitterly at the horrid sight.
" Heaven !" said he, " can you suffsr me to
die an ignominious and painfid death ? And
all this, for what crime ? not for robbery or
murder, or renouncing my religion, but for
not putting pepper in a cream-tart."
Night being then pretty far advanced, the
vizier Schomseddin Mohammed ordered Bed-
reddin to be clapped up again in his cage,
saying to him, " Stay there till to-morrow ;
the day shall not be spent before T give orders
for your death." Then the chest or cage
was carried away and laid upon the camel
that had brought it from Damascus ; at the
same time all the other camels were loaded
again ; and the vizier mounting his horse,
ordered the camel that carried his nephew
to march before him, and so entered the city
^:^z:s^mm^
*^ni^mmm-^:y
NOUREDDIN ALI AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN.
141
\
with all hia Biiitc. After paiuiin|i( through
Bcvural Rtrcctx, where iKiboily appuarcil,
every one lii'inj? in bed, ho urrivod at IiIh
house, where he ordered the uiient to lie
taken down, but nut opened till further
orders.
While his retinue were unlading the other
camclH, he took Kedrediliu'a mother and hiit
daughter OHido, and addresged himself to the
latter, "(lod be praised," said ho, "my
child, for this happy occasion of meeting
your cousin and your husband. You re-
member, to be sure, what order your cham-
ber was in on your wedding-night ; go and
put ' , . fining in the very same order they
were then in ; and in the meantime, if your
memory do not serve you, I can sujiply it
by a written account, which I caused to bo
taken up on that occasion ; as for what else
is to be done, I will take care of that,"
The beautiful lady went joyfully about
her father's orders ; and ho at the same time
began to i)ut the things in the hall in the
same order they wore in when Hedreddin
Hassan was there with the sultan of Egypt's
hunchbacked groom. As ho went over his
manuscript, his domestics placed every mov-
able accordingly. The throno was not f"r-
got, nor the lighted wax candles. AVhen
everything was put to rights in tlio hall, the
vizier went into his daughter's chamber, and
put in their due place Bodrcddin's clothes,
with the purse of sequins. This done, ho
said to the beautiful latly, "Undress your-
self, my child, and go to bed. As noon as
Bedreddin enters your room, complain of his
being from you so long, and tell him, that
when you awaked you were astonished you
did not find him by you. Press him to come
to bed again ; and to-morrow morning you
will divert your mother-in-law and me, in
telling us what passes between you and him
this night." This said, ho went from his
daughter's apartment, and left her to undress
herself and go to bod.
Scheherazade would have gone on with
her story, but approaching day obliged her
to discontinue it.
I
The Hundred and Twenty-First Night.
Towards the close of the next night, the
sidtan of the Indies, who was very impatient
to know where the story of Bedreddin should
end, awaked Scheherazade himself, and bade
her go on with it : which she did in the fol-
lowing terms : — Schemscddin Mohammed,
said the vizier Giafar to the caliph, ordered
all his domestics to depart the hall, except-
ing two or three, whom he ordered to stay
there. These he commanded to go and
take Bedreddin out of the chest, to strip
him to his shirt and drawers, to conduct
him in that condition to th.t hall, to Icnyvi
lilm there all alone, and to shut *he door
upon him,
liedreddin Tlosgnn, thou;^li overwhelmed
with grief, had boon asU'ep all tiu> whiU; ;
insomueh that the vizier's duniostici'i had
taken him out of the chest, and stripped
liini, before he awaked, and earried him sn
suddenly into the hall, that they did nob
give him time to bethink himself where ho
was. When ho found himself all alone in
the hall, ho looked round him, and the ob-
jects of his sight ree.alling to the memory
tho circumstances of his marriage, ho per-
ceived, with astonishment, that it was tho
same hall where he liad seen tho sultan's,
groom of tho stables. II in surprise was still
tho greater, when ajjproacliing softly to tho
door of a chamber which ho found (i[ieji, hu
spied within his own clothes, in the same
place where he remembered to luive left them
on his wedding-night. " My (Jod !" said ho,
rubbing his eyes, "am I asleep or awake ?"
Tho beautiful lady, who in the meantime
was diverting herself with his astonishment,
opened the curtains of her bed all on a sud-
den, and bendinj; her head forward, "My
dear lord," said she, with a soft, tender air,
"what do you do at tho door? I'rytheo
come to bed again ! You have been out of
bed a long time. I was strangely surprised
when I awaked, in not finding you by me."
Bedreddin Hassan's countenance changed,
when ho perceived that the lady who sjioko
to him was that charming perRou that ho
hatl lain with before : so ho entered the
room, but calling up the thoughts of all that
had passed for a ten years' interval, and not
being able to persuade himself that it all
could have happened in the compass of one
night, he went to the place where his clothes
lay, and the purse of sequins ; and after
examining them very carefiUly, " By tho
living God," cried he, "these are things
that I can by no means comprehend ! " Tha
lady, who was pleased to see his confusion,
said, onco more, " My lord, come to bed
again ; what do you stand at ? " Then he
stepped towards the bed, and said to her»
" I'ray, madam, tell me, is it long since I
left you?" " The question," answered she,
" surprises me. Did not you rise from me
but now ? Sure your thoughts are very
busy." "Madam," replied Bedreddin, "I
do assure you my thoughts are not very
composed. I remember, indeed, to have
been with you, but I remember at the same
time that I have lived since ten years at Da-
mascus, Now, if I was actually in bed with
you this night, I cannot have been with yoxi
so long. These two things are inconsistent.
Pray tell me what I am to think ; whether
my marriage with you is an illusion, or
whether my absence from you is only a
dream?" "Yes, my lord," cried she,
i
142
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
"doubtless you were light-headed when
you thought you were at Damascus. " Upon
this Bedreddin laughed out heartily, and
said, " What a comical fancy is this ! I as-
sure you, madam, this dream of mine wUl
be very pleasant to you. Do but imagine,
if you please, that I was at the gate of Da-
mascus in my shirt and drawers, as I am
here now ; that I entered the town with a
halloo of a mob that followed and insulted
me ; that I fled to a pastrycook's, who
adopted me, taught me his trade, and left
me all he had when he died : that after his
death I kept a shop. In fine, madam, T had
an infinity of other adventures, too tedious
to recount : and all I can say, is, that it
was well that I awaked, for they were
going to nail me to a stake." "0 Lord!
and for what," cried the lady, feigning asto-
nishment, "would they have used you so
cruelly? Sure you must have committed
some enormous crime?" "Not in the
least," replied. Bedreddin ; "it was for no-
tliing in the world but a mero trifle : the
most ridiculous thing you can think of.
^Vll the crime I was charged with was sell-
ing a cream-tart that had no pepper in it."
"As for that matter," said the beautiful
lady, laughing heartily, " I must say they
did you great injustice." "Ah! madam,"
replied he, "that was not all. For this
cursed creara-tart was everything in my
shop broke to pieces, myself bound and fet-
tered, and flung into a chest, where I lay so
close, that methinks I am there still. In
fine, a carpenter was sent for, and he was
ordered to get ready a stake for me : but
thanks be to God, all those things are no
more than a dream."
At tins period the approach of day obliged
Scheherazade to stop. Schahriar could not
forbear laughing at Bedreddin, for taking a
real thing for a dream. "I must own,"
said he, "this is a pleasant story, and I am
persuaded that to-morrow Schemseddin Mo-
hammed and his sister-in-law will be ex-
tremely pleased with it." "Sir," replied
the sultaness, " that I shall have the honour
to acquaint you with to-morrow, if you suf-
fer me to live so long." Upon thcat the
sultan rose without saying one word : but
he had no mind to cut her head off till he
had heard the story out.
The Hundred and Twenty-Second Night.
ScnEHEBAZADE, waking before day, went
on as follows : — Sir, Bedreddin was not easy
all nigl.t : he waked from time to time,
and put the question to himself, whether
he dreamed or was aw.ake : he distnistcd
his felicity ; and, to be sure whether it was
true or not, opened the curtains, and looked
round the room. " I am not mistaken, sure, "
said he; "this is the same chamber where
I entered instead of the hunchbacked groom
of the stables, and I am now in bed with the
fair lady that was designed for him." Day-
light, which then appeared, had not yet dis-
pelled his uneasiness, when the vizier Schem-
seddin Mohammed, hia uncle, knocked at
the door, and at the same time went in to
bid him good-morrow.
Bedreddin Hassan was extremely sur-
prised to see, all on a sudden, a man that
he knew so well, and that now appeared
with a quite different air from that with
which he pronounced the terrible sentence
of death against him. "Ah!" cried Bed-
reddin, "it was you that condemned me so
unjustly, to a kind of death, the thoughts
of which make me shudder, and all for a
cream-tart without pepper. " The vizier fell
a-laughing, and to put him out of suspense,
told him how, by the ministry of a genius,
(for Hunchback's relation made him suspect
the adventure,) he had been at his house,
and had married his daughter instead of the
sidtan's groom of the stables ; then he ac-
quainted him that he had discovered him to
be his nephew, by a book written by the
hand of Noureddin Ali ; and pursuant to
that discovery had gone from Cairo to Bal-
sora in quest of him. " My dear nephew,"
added he, embracing him with every expres-
sion of tenderness, " I ask your pardon for
all I have made you undergo since I dis-
covered*yoi\. I had a mind to bring you to
my house before I told you your happiness ;
which ought now to be so much the dearer
to yon, as it has cost you so much perplexity
and affliction. To atone for all your afflic-
tions, comfort yourself with the joy of being
in the company of those who ought to be
dearest to you. While you are dressing
yourself, I will go and acquaint your mother,
who is beyond measure impatient to see yon ;
and will likewise bring to you your son,
whom you saw at Damascus, and for whom
you shewed so much affection, without
knowing him.
No words are of sufiicient energy to ex-
press the joy of Bedreddin when he saw his
mother and his son. These three embraced,
and shewed all the transports that love and
tenderTiosa could inspire. The mother spoke
to Bedreddin in the most moving terms ;
she mentioned the grief she had felt for his
long absence, and the tears she had shed.
Little Agib, instead, of flying his father's
embraces, as at Damascus, received them
with all the marks of pleasure. And Bed-
reddin Hassan, divided between two objects
so worthy of his love, thought he could not
give sufficient marks of his affection.
While this passed at Schemseddin Mo-
hammed's, the vizier was gone to the palace,
to give the sultan an account of the happy
■^4
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK.
M3
Buccess of his voyage ; and the sultan was
80 charmed with tlie recital of the story,
that he ordered it to be taken down in writ-
ing, and carefully preserved among the
archives of the kingdom. After Schem-
seddin's return to his house having prepared
a noble feast, he sat dov. >;o table with liis
family, and all the household passed the day
in solemnity and mu-th.
The vizier Giafar having thus made av.
end of the story of Bedreddin Hassan, told
the caliph Haroun Alraschid that this was
what he had to relate to his majesty. The
caliph found the story so surprising, that
without further hesitation he granted his
slave Rihan's pardon ; and, to condole the
young man for the grief of having unhappily
depiived himself of a woman whom he loved
80 tenderly, married him to one of his slaves,
bestowed liberal gifts upon him, and main-
tained him till he died. Hut, Sir, added
Scheherazade, observing the
day began to appear, though
the story I have now told
you be very agreeable I
have one still that is much
more so. If your majesty
pleases to hear it the next
night, I am certain you will
be of the same mind, Sehah-
riar rose without giving any
answer, and was per])lexcd
what to do. The good sul-
tauess, said he within himself,
tells very long stories, and
when once she begins one,
there is no refusing to hear
it out. I cannot tell whe-
ther I shall put her to death
to-day or not. I certainly
will not ; I will do nothing
rashly. The story she pro-
mises is, perhaps, more divert-
ing than all she has told yet :
I wUl not deprive myself of the pleasure of
hearing it ; Avlien once she has told it, then
ahe shaU die.
The Hundred and Twenty-Third Night.
DiNAEZADE did not fail to awake the
sultaness of the Indies before day ; and the
sultaness, after asking leave of the sultan,
began the story she had promised to the
following purpose : —
THE STORY OF THE MTTLE urNCnBACK.
There was in former times at Casgar,
upon the utmost skirts of Tartary, a tailor
that had a pretty wife whom he doted on,
and was reciprocally loved by her. One
day, 08 he sat at work, a little hunchback
came and sat down at the shop-door, and
fell to singing, and playing upon a tabor.
The tailor took pleasure to hear him, and
resolved to take him into his house to please
his wife. "This little fellow," said he to his
wife, "will divert us both this evening."
He invited him in, and the other readily
accepted of the invitation ; so the tailor shut
up his shop, and carried him home. As
soon as they came in, the tailor's wife, having
before laid the cloth, it being supper time,
set before them a good dish of fish ; — but
as the little man was eating, he unluckily
swallowed a large bone, of which he died
in a few minutes, notwithstanding all that
the tailor and his wife could do to prevent
it. Both were heartily frightened at the
accident, knowing it happened in their
house ; and there was reason to fear that
if the magistrates happened to hear of it,
they would be punished as murderers. How-
ever, the husband found an
expedient to get rid of the
coq)se : he reflected there
was a .Jewish doctor that
lived just by, and having
J )resently contrived a scheme,
his wife and he took the
corpse, the r.L- by the feet,
and the other by the head,
and carried it to the physi-
cian's house. They knocked
at the door, from which a
steep pair of stairs led to
his chamber. The servant
maid came down, without
any light, and opening the
door, asked what they want-
ed. "Go up asain," said
the tailor, " if you please,
and tell your master wc have
brought him a man who is
very ill, and wants his ad-
■ vice. Here," said he, put-
ting a piece of money into ht • liand, "give
him that beforehand, to convince him that
we do not mean to impose on him."
While the son'ant Wiis gone up to acquaint
her master with the welcome news, the
tailor and his wife niml)ly conveyed the
Imnchbacked corpse to the head of the
stairs, and. leaving it there, liurried away.
In the meantime the maid told the doctor,
that a man and a woman waited for him
at the door, desiring he would come down
•and hink at a sick man whom they had
brought with them; and clapping into his
hand the money she had received, the
doctor was transported with joy : being
paid beforehand, he thought it was a good
patient, and should not be neglected.
" Light, light ! " cried he to the maid ; "fol-
low me nimbly." So saying, without stay-
ing for the light, he gets to the stair-head in
such haste, that, stumbling against the
I
144
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
corpse, he gaye him a kick that made him
tumble down to the stair-foot; he had al-
most fallen himself along with him, "A
light! a light!" cried he to the maid;
"quick, qtiick!" At last the maid came
with a light, and he went down stairs with
her; but when he saw that what he had
kicked down was a dead man, he was so
frightened that he invoked Moses, Aaron,
Joshua, Esdras, and all the other prophets
of the law. " Unhappy man that I am ! "
said he, " why did I attempt to come down
without a light! I have killed the poor
fellow that was brought to me to be cured ;
questionless I am the cause of his death, and
unless Esdras's ass* comes to assist me, I am
ruined. Mercy on me ! they will be here
out of hand, and drag me out of my house
for a murderer."
Notwithstanding the perplexity and jeo-
pardy he was in, he had the precaution to
shut his door, for fear any one passing by in
the street should observe the mischance of
which he reckoned himself to be the author.
Then he took the corpse into his wife's
chamber, who was ready to swoon at the
sight. " Alas ! " cried she, " we are utterly
ruined and undone, unless we fall upon some
expedient to get the corpse out of our house
{his night. Beyond all question, if we har-
bour it till morning our lives must pay for
it. What a sad mischance is this ! What
did you do to kill this man?" "That is
not the question," replied the Jew; "our
business now is to find out a remedy for
such a shocking accident." But, sir, said
Scheherazade, I do not consider, it is day.
So she stopped, and next night jjursued her
story as follows : —
The Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Night,
The doctor and his wife consulted toge-
ther how to get I'id of his dead corpse that
night. The doctor racked his brain in vain;
he could not think of any stratagem to get
clear ; but his wife, who was more fertile in
invention, said, " I have a thought just come
into my heatl : let us carry the corpse to the
leads of our house, and tumble him down
the chimney into the house of the Mussul-
man, our next neighboiu-.
Tliis Mussulman was one of the sultan's
purvej'ors for furnishing oil, butter, and all
sorts of fat articles, and had a magazine in
his house, where the rats and mice mnde
prodigious havoc.
The Jewish doctor approving the proposed
exj)edient, his wife and he took the little
hunchback up to the roof of the house ;
* litre tlic Arabian author plays upon the Jews:
this ass is that which, as the Moliummedana believe,
Esdraii rode upon when he came ftom the Babylonian
captivity to Jerosalem.
and, clapping rcpes under his ami-pits, let
him down the chimney into the purveyor's
chamber so softly and dexterously, that he
stood upright against the wall, as if he had
been alive. When they foimd he had reacucit
the bottom, they pulled up the ropes, and
left the corpse in that posture. They were
scarce got down into their chamber, when
the purveyor went into his, being just come
from a wedding-feast, with a lantern in his
hand. He was greatly surprised when, by
the light of his lantern, he descried a man
standing upright in his chimney ; b.it being
naturally a stout man, and apprehending it
was a thief, he took up a good stick, and
making straight up to the hunchback, " Ah,"
said he, "I thought it was tbe rats and mice
that cat my butter and tal' and it is you
come down the chimney to j me ! But I
think you will not come here again upon
this errand." This said, he falls upon the
man, and gives him many strokes with his
stick. The corpse feU down flat on the
ground, and the purveyor redoubled his
blows ; but, observing the body not to move,
he stood to consider a little, and then, per-
ceiving it was a dea<l corpse, fear succeeded
his anger. " Wretched man that I am,"
said he, " what have I done ! I have killed
a man ! Alas ! I have carried my revenge
too far. Good God, unless thou pity me,
my life is gone ! Cursed, ten thousand times
accursed, be the fat and the oil that gave
occasion to this my commission of such a
criminal action !" He stood pale and thun-
derstruck : he thought he saw the officers
already come to drag him to condign punish-
ment, and could not tell what resolution to
take.
Here the dawn of the morning interrupted
Scheherazade, but next night she proceeded
thus : —
The Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Night.
Sir, the sultan of Casgar's purveyor had
never noticed the little man's humpback
when he was beating him ; but as soon as
he perceived it, he threw out a thousand
imprecations against him. Ah, you cursed
hunchback, cried hi', you crooked son of a
bitcli ! would to God you had robbed me of
all vr,^ fat, and I had not found you here !
I had not then been 30 luiioh peridexed for
the sake of you and your \Tle hunch. Oh !
ye stars that twinkle in the heavens, give
light to none but rae in this dangerous
juncture. As soon as he had uttered these
words, he took the crooked corpse upon his
shoulders, and carried him out of doors to
the end of the street, where he set him up-
right, resting against a shop, and so trudged
home again, without looking behind him.
A few minutes before the ) . jik. of day, a
fyofiTw aiw*** -
THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK.
145
Christian merchant, who was very rich, and
furnished the sultan's palace with various
articles — this merchant, I say, having sat
up all night at a debauch, stepped at that
instant out of his house to go to batlie.-^
Though he was drunk, he was sensible that
the night was far spent, and that the people
would quickly be called to the morning
prayers, at break of day; therefore he
quickened his pace to get in time to the
bath, for fear any Mussulman meeting him
in his way to the mosque should carry him
to prison for a drunkanL As he came to
the end of the street, he stopped upon some
necessary occasion against the shop where
the sultan's purveyor had put the hunch-
backed corpse, which, being jostled, tumbled
upon the merchant's back. The merchant,
thinking it was a robber that came to attack
him, knocked him down with a swinging box
on the ear, and after redoubling his blows,
cried out "thieves."
The outcry alarmed the watch, who came
up immediately; and finding a Christian
beating a Mussulman, (for humpback was
of our religion,) "Wliat reason have you,
said he, to abuse a Mussidman after this
rate ? " " He woidd have robbed me," »eplied
the merchant, " and jumped upon my back
with intent to take me by the tliroat." " If he
did," said the watch, "you have revenged
yourself sufficiently ; come, get off him."
At the same time he stretched out his hand
to help little humpback up ; but observing
he was dead, "Oh!" said he, "ia it thus that a
Christian dares to assassinate a Mussidman?"
So saying, he laid hold of the Christian, and
carried him to the house of the lieutenant of
the police, where he was kept till the judge
was stirring, and ready to examine him.
In the meantime the Christian merchant
grew sober, and the more he reflected upon
his adventiu-e, the less coidd he conceive
how such single blows of his fist could kill
the man.
The judge having heard the report of the
watch, and viewed the corpse, which they
had taken care to bring to his house, inter-
rogated the Christian merchant upon it, and
he coidd not deny the crime, though he had
not committed it. But the judge, consider-
ing that little humpback belonged to the
sultan, for he was one of his buffoons, woidd
net put the Christian to death till he knew
the sultan's pleasure. For this end he went
to the palace, and acquainted the sultan
with what had happened, and received from
the sidtan this answer: " I have no mercy
to shew to a Christian that kills a Mussul-
man ; go, do your office." Upon this the
judge ordered a gibbet to be erected, and
sent criers all over the city to proclaim that
they were about to hang a Christian' for
killing a Mussulman.
At length the merchant was brought out
of gaol to the foot of the gallows ; and the
hangman having put the rope about hia
neck, was going to give him a swing, when
the sidtan's purveyor pushed through the
crowd, made up to the gibbet, calling to the
hangman to stop, for that the Christian had
not committed the murder, but himself had
done it. Upon that the officer who attended
the execution began to question the pur-
veyor, who told him every circumstance of
his killing the little humx>back, and how he
conveyed his cori)se to the place where the
Christian merchant found him. You were
about, added he, to put to death an inno-
cent pei-son ; for how can he be guilty of
the death of a man who was dead before he
came at him ? It is enough for me to have
killed a Mussulman, without loading my
conscience with the death of a Christian,
who is not guilty.
Scheherazade perceiving the peep of day,
stopt here ; and the next night resumed her
story as follows : —
The Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Night.
SiK, said she, the sultan of Casgar's pur-
veyor having publicly charged himself with
the death of the little hmichbackcd man,
the officer could not avoid doing justice to
the merchant. Let the Christian go, said
he to the executioner, and hang this man in
his room, since it appears by his own con-
fession that he is guilty. Thereupon the
hangman released the merchant, and clapped
the rope round the purveyor's neck ; but
just when he was going to pull him up, he
heard the voice of the Jewish doctor, ear-
nestly intreating him to suspend the execu-
tion, and make room for him to come to the
foot of the gallows.
When he appeared before the judge, "My
lord," said he, "this Mussidman you aie
going to hang is not guilty; aU the guilt
lies at my door. Last night, a man and a
woman, unknovm to me, came to my door
with a sick man they had brought along ;
my maid went and opened it without a light,
and received from them a piece of money,
with a commission to come and desire me,
in their name, to step do>vn, and look at the
sick person. While she was delivering her
message to mc, they conveyed the sick per-
son to the stair-head, and disappeared. I
went down, without staying till my servant
had lighted a candle, and in the dark hap-
pened to stumble upon the sick person, and
kick him down stairs. At length I saw he
was dead, and that it was the crooked
Mussulman, whose death you are now about
to avenge. So my wife and I took the
corpse, and, after conveying it up to the
roof of our house, shoved it to the roof of
the purveyor, our next neighbour, whom
K
146
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
you were going to put to death unjustly, and
let it down the chimney into his chamber.
The purveyor, finding it in his house, took
the little man for a thief ; and after beating
him, concluded he had killed him ; but that
it was not so, you will be convinced by this
my deposition; so that I am the only
author of the murder ; — and though it was
committed undesignedly, I have resolved to
expiate my crime, that I may not have to
charge myself with the death of two Mussul-
men, and hinder you from executing the
sultan's purveyor, whose innocence I have
now revealed. So pray dismiss him, and put
me in his place, for I alone am the cause of
the death of the little man.
The sultaness descrying day, discontinued
her story till the next night ; then she pro-
ceeded in the following manner : —
The Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Night.
Sir, said she, the chief justice being per-
suaded that the Jewish doctor was the mur-
derer, gave orders to the executioner to seize
him, and release the purveyor. Accord-
ingly the doctor was just going to be hung
up, when the tailor a]jpeared, crying to the
executioner to hold his hand, and make
room for him, that he might come and make
his confession to the chief judge. Koom
being made, "My lord," said he, " you have
narrowly escaped taking away the lives of
three innocent persons ; but if you will have
the patience to hear me, I will discover to
you the real murderer of the crookbacked
man. If his death is to be expiated by ano-
ther, that must be mine. Yesterday, to-
wards the evening, as I was at work in my
shop, and was disposed to be meiry, the
little himchback came to my door half-
drunk, and sat down before it. He sung a
little, and so I invited him to pass the even-
ing at my house. He accepted of the invi-
tation, and went in with me. We sat down
to supper, and I gave him a plate of fish ;
but in eating, a bone stuck in his throat;
and though my wife and I did our utmost
to relieve him, he died in a few minutes.
His death afflicted us extremely; and for
fear of being charged with it, we carried the
corpse to the Jewish doctor's house, and
knocked at the door. The maid coming
down and opening the door, I desired her to
go up again forthwith, and ask her master
to come down and give his advice to a sick
person that we had brought along with us ;
and withal, to encourage him, I charged
her to give him a piece of money, which I
had put into her hand. When she was gone
up again, I carried the hunchback up stairs,
and laid him upon the uppermost step, and
then my wife and I made the best of our
way home. The doctor coming down, mad.e
the corpse fall down stairs, and thereupon he
took himself to be the author of his death.
This being the case," continued he, "release
the doctor, and let me die in his room."
The chief justice, and all the spectators,
could not sutBciently admire the strange
events that ensued upon the death of the
little crooked man. " Let the Jewish doc-
tor go," said the judge, " and hang up the
tailor, since he confesses the crime. It is
certain this history is very uncommon, and
deserves to be recorded in letters of gold."
The executioner having dismissed the doctor
made everything ready to tie up the tailor.
— But, sir, said the sultaness, I see day ap-
pears, and so I adjourn the story till to-
morrow. The sultan agreed to her proposal,
and so rose and went about his business.
The Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Night.
The sultaness, waked by her sister, re-
sumed her story as follows : While the exe-
cutioner, sir, was making ready to hang up
the taUor, the sultan of Casgar, wanting the
company of his crooked jester, asked where
he was ; and one of his officers told him,
"The Hunchback, sir, whom you inquire
after, got drimk last night, and, contrarj'^ to
his custom, sUpped out of the palace, and
went strolling about the city, and this morn-
ing was found dead. A man was brought
before the chief justice, and charged with
the murder of him ; but when he was going
to be hanged, up came a man, and after him
another, who took the charge upon them-
selves, and cleared one another. This lasted
some time, and the judge is now examining
a third man, who gives himself out for the
real author of the murder.
Upon this iuteUigence the sultan of Cas-
gar sent an oificer to the place of execution.
"Go," said he, "in all haste, and tell the
judge to bring the accused persons before
me immediately ; and withal, bring the corpse
of poor Humpback, that I may sec him
once more. " Accordingly the officer went,
and happened to arrive at the place of exe-
cution at the very time that the executioner
was going to tie up the tailor. He cried
aloud to the executioner to suspend the exe-
cution. The hangman knowing the officer,
did not dare to proceed, but untied the
tailor ; and then the officer acquainted the
judge with the sultan's pleasure. The judge
obeyed, and went straight to the palace, ac-
companied by the tailor, the Jewish doctor,
and the Christian merchant ; and made four
of his men carry the hunchbacked corpse
along with him.
When they appeared before the sultan,
the judge threw himself at the prince's feet ;
and after recovering himself, gave him a
MWS«MB9«m»j
THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT.
H7
faithful relation of what he knew of the
story of the humpbacked man. The Btory
appeared so extraordinary to the sultan, that
he ordered his own historian to write it down
with all it^ circumstances . Then addressing
himself to the audience, "Did you ever
hear," said he, " such a surprising event as
this, that has happened upon the account of
my little crooked buffoon ? " Then the Chris-
tian merchant, after fulling down, and touch-
ing the earth with his forehead, spoke as
follows : — " Most puissant monarch," said
he, "I know a story yet more astonishing
than that you have now spoken of ; if your
majesty will give me leave, I will tell it you.
The circumstances are such, that nobody can
hear them without emotion." " Well," said
the sultan, "I give you leave;" and so the
merchant went on as follows : —
THE STOKY TOLD BY THE CIIUISTIAN
MERCUANT.
Sir, before I commence the recital of the
story you have permitted me to relate, I beg
leave to acquaint you, that I have not the
honour to be born in any part of your ma-
jesty's empire. I am a stranger, bom at
Cairo, in Egypt, a Copt by nation, and by
religion a Christian. My father was a
broker, and got a good estate, which he left
me at his death. I followed his example,
and took up the same employment. And
one day at Cairo, as I was standing in the
public inn for the corn-merchants, there
comes up to me a young handsome man,
well dressed, and mounted upon on ass. He
saluted me, and pulling out an iiandkerchief,
in which he had a sample of sesame or Tur-
key corn, asked me what a bushel of such
sesame woiUd fetch.
Scheherazade perceiving day, stopped
here ; but the next night went on in the
following manner : —
The Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Night.
Sir, continued the Christian merchant to
the sultan of Casgar, I examined the corn
that the young man shewed me, and told
him it was worth a hundred drachma of silver
per bushel. "Pray," said he, "look out
for some merchant to take it at that price,
and come to me at the Victory gate, where
you wiU see a khan at a distance from the
houses." So saying, he left me the sample,
and I shewed it to several merchants, who
told me, that they would take as much as I
could spare, at a himdred and ten di'achms
per bushel, so that I made an account to get
ten drachms per bushel for my share. Full
of the expectation of this profit, I went to
the Victory gate, where I found the yoimg
merchant expecting me, and he carried me
into his granary, which was full of sesame.
He had a hundred and fifty bushels of it,
which I measured out, and having carried
them off upon asses, sold them for five thou-
sand drachms of silver. " Out of this sum,"
said the yoimg man, "there is five hiuidred
drachms coming to you, at the rate of ten
drachms x>cr bushel. This I give you ; and
as for the rest which is to come to me, do
you take it out of the merchant's hand, and
keep it till I call or send for it, for I have
no occasion for it at present." I mode an-
swer, it should be ready for him whenever
he pleased to call for it ; and so, kissing his
hand, took leave of him, with a grateful
sense of his generosity,
A month passed before he came near me ;
then he asked for his four thousand five
himdred drachms of silver. I told him they
mm
\
u
148
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
were ready, and should be told down to Lim
immediately. He was then mounted on his
ass, and I desired him to alij;ht, and do me
the honour to eat a mouthful with me before
he received his money. "No," said he, "I
cannot alight at present ; I have urgent
business that obliges me to be at a place just
by here ; but I will return this way, and then
take the money, which I desire you would
have in readiness," This said, ho disap-
peared, and T still expected his return, but
it was a fidl month before he came again,
I thought to myself, " The young man has
great confidence in me, leaving so great a
sum in my hands without knowing me ; any
other man would have been afraid I should
have run away with it." To be short, he
came again at the end of the third month,
and was still mounted on his ass ; but finer
dressed than before,
Scheherazade, perceiving daylight, went
no further for this night ; but the next en-
suing night she proceeded as follows : —
The Hundred and Thirtieth Night.
As soon as I saw the young man, con-
tinued the Christian merchant to the sultan
of Casgar, I entreated him to alight, and
asked him if he would not take his money ?
" There is no huny," said he, with a pleasant
easy air, " I know it is in good hands ; I
will come and take it when my other money
is all gone : Adieu," continued he, " I will
come again towards the latter end of the
week," With that he struck the ass, and
was soon out of sight. "Well," thought I
to myself, "he says he will see me towards
the latter end of the week, but it is likely I
may not see him a great while : I will go
and make the most of his money, and shall
get a good profit by it."
And as it happened, I was not out in my
conjecture ; for it was a fuU year before I
saw my young merchant again. Then he
appeared indeed, with richer apparel than
before, but seemed to have pomething on his
mind. I asked him to d 3 me the honour to
walk into my house, " For this time," re-
ified he, " I will go in : but upon this con-
dition, that you shall i)ut yourself to no ex-
triiordinary charge upon my account," "I
will do just <is you please," said I ; "only
do me the favour to alight and walk in,"
Accordingly he complied, and I gave orders
for an entertainment ; and while that was
getting ready, we fell into discourse toge-
ther. When the entertainment was got
ready, we sat down to table. I observed
he took the first mouthful with his left
hand, and not with the right. I could not
tell what to think of it. Said I to myself,
" Ever since I knew this young man, he al-
ways appeared very polite ; is it possible he
can do this out of contempt of me ? What
can be the matter that he does not make use
of his right hand?"
Scheherazade perceiving the approach of
day, discontinued her story : but the next
uiyht recommenced it as foUows :—
The Hundred and Thirty-First Night.
S.R, the Cliristian Merchant was very
anxious to know why his guest eat with the
left hand. "After we had done eating,"
said he, " and everything was taken away,
we sat down upon a sofa, and I presented
him with a lozenge by way of dainty, and
still he took it with his left hand. Then I
said to him, " Pardon, sir, the liberty I take
in asking you what reason you have for not
making use of your right hand ? Perhaps
you have some complaint m that hand?"
Instead of answering, he fetched a deep sigh,
and pulling out his right arm, which he had
hitherto kept under his gani.ont, shewed me,
to my great astonishment, that his hand had
been cut off, "Doubtless you were alarmed,"
said he, "to see me feed myself with the left
hand ; but I leave you to judge, whether it
was in my jiower to do otherwise." " May
one ask you," said I, " by what mischance
it was that you lost your right hand?"
Upon that he burst into tears, and after
wiping his eyes gave me the following rela-
tion : —
You must know, said he, that I am a
native of Bagdad, the son of a rich father,
the most eminent in that city for quality
and for riches, I had scarce launched into
the world, when falling into the company
of travellers, and hearing their wonderful
accounts of Egypt, especially Grand Cairo,
I was moved by their discourse, and felt a
longing desire to travel. But my father
was then alive, and had not given me leave.
At length he died ; and being now my own
master, I resolved to take a journey to
Cairo, I laid out a large sum of money
upon several sorts of fine stufl's of Bagdad,
and Mosoul, and so undertook my jour-
ney.
Arriving at Cairo, I went to the khan,
called the khan of Mesroi^r, and there took
lodgings, with a warehouse for my bales,
which I brought along with me upon camels.
This done, I retired to my chamber, to rest
myself after the fatigue of my journey, and
gave some money to my servants, with
orders to go and buy some provisions and
dress them. After I had eaten, 1 went and
saw the castle, some mosques, the public
squares, and the other places that were
curious.
Next day I dressed myself, and ordered
some of the finest and richest of my bales
to be picked out and carried by my slaves
(»*S-fS4ii.-i:;i«tWs*"
•^wmmimng^
THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT.
149
to the Circassian bezestein,* whither I went
myself. I no sooner got there, than I was
surrounded with brokers and criers who had
heard of my arrival. I gave patterns of my
stuffs to several of the criers, who went and
cried them, and shewed them all over tho
bezestein; but none of the merchants of-
fered near so much as they had cost mo in
prime cost and caniagc. This vexed me,
and the criers observing I was dissatisfied,
"If you will take our advice," said they,
"we will put you in a way to sell your
stuffs without loss."
Here Scheherazade stopped upon the ap-
proach of day, but the next night went on
as follows : —
The Hundred and Thirty-Second Night.
The brokers and the criers, said the
young man to the Christian merchant,
having thus jiromised to put me in a way
of losing nothing by my goods, I asked
them what course they would have me take.
"Divide your goods," said they, "among
several merchants, and they will sell them
by retail; and twice a- week, that is, on
Mondays and Thursdays, you may receive
what money they take. By this means you
will ^et instead of losing, and the merchants
wir gain by you. And in the meanwhile you
wil. have time to take your pleasure, and
walk about the town, or go upon the Nile.
I took their advice, and carried them to
my warehouse ; from whence I brouglit all
my goods to the bezestein, and there divided
them among the merchants whom they re-
presented as most reputable and able to
pay ; and the merchants gave me a formal
receipt before witnesses, stipulating withal,
that I should not make any demands upon
them for the first month.
Having thus regulated my affairs, my
mind was taken up with other things than
the ordinary pleasures. I contracted friend-
ship with divers persons almost of the same
age with myself, who took care to make the
time pass pleasantly. After the first month
was expired, I began to visit my merchants
twice a-week, taking along with me a pub-
lic officer to inspect their books of sale, and
a banker to see they paid m.e in good money,
and to regulate the value of the several
species : and so every pay-day, I had a good
sum of money to carry home to my lodging
at the khan of Mesrour. I went neverthe-
less on the other days, to pass the morning
sometimes at one merchant's house, and
sometimes at another's. In short, I diverted
myself in conversing with them, and seeing
what passed in the bezestein.
One Monday, as I sat in a merchant's
* A bezestein Is a public place, where silk stuffs
and other precious things are exposed to sale.
shop, whose name was Bedreddin, a lady
of quality, as one miglit easily perceive by
her air, her habit, and by a well-dressed
slave, came into the shop, and sat down by
me. Her external appearance, joined to a
natural grace that shone in all her actions,
prejudiced me in her favour, and inspired
me with a longing desire to be better ac-
quainted with her. I know not whether she
observed that I took pleasure in gazing upon
her, and whether this attention on my part
was not agreeable to her ; but she let down
the crape that hung over the muslin which
covered her face, and so gave me the oppor-
tunity of seeing her large black eyes ; which
perfectly cliarmed me. In tine, »he inflamed
my love to the height by the agreeable sound
of her voice, and her genteel graceful car-
riage in saluting the merchant, and asking
him how he did since she saw him last.
After conversing with llim some time upon
indiiierent subjects, she gave him to imder-
stand that she Avanted a sort of stuff with a
gold ground ; that she came to his shop, as
affording the best choice of any in all the
bezestein ; and that if he had any such aa
she asked for, he would oblige her in shew-
ing them. Bedreddin shewed her several
pieces, one of which she pitched upon, and
he asked for it eleven hundred drachms of
silver. " I agree," said she, "to give you
so much, but I have not money enough
about me ; so I hope you will give me crodit
till to-morrow and in the meantime allow
me to carry off the stuff. I shall not fail,"
added she, "to send to you to-morrow the
eleven hundred drachms I agreed for."
"Madam," said Bedreddin, "I would give
you credit with all my heart, and allow you
to carry off the stuff, if it were mine ; but it
belongs to the young man you see here, and
this is the day on which we settle our ac-
counts." " Why," said the lady in suiiirise,
" why do you olfer to use me so ! Am not
I a customer to your shop ? And as often
as I have bought of you, and carried home
the things without jiaying ready money for
them, did I ever fail to send you your money
next morning?" "Madam," said the mer-
chant, " it is true, but tliis very day I have
occasion for the money." "There," said
she, throwing the stuff to him, ' ' take your
stuff; I care not for you nor all the mer-
chants. You are all alike ; you respect no-
body." This said, she rose up in a passion,
and walked out.
Scheherazade, perceiving day, discontinued
the story tUl the next night, when she pro-
ceeded as follows ;— .
The Hundred and Thirty-Third Night.
The Christian merchant continued hia
story thus : — When I saw, said the young
inHpi
mmmm
I 1
ISO
T//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
man, that the lady walked away, I felt a
great concern for her ; so I called her back.
Baying, "Madam, do me the favour to re-
turn ; perhaps I con find a way to content
you both." iShe returned, saying, it was
for my sake that she complied. "Mr Bed-
reddin," said I to the merchant, " what do
yo»i say you must have for this stuff that
belon^^s to me ?" "I must have," said ho,
"eleven himdred drachms; I cannot take
less." " Give it to the lady then," said I,
" let her take it home with her ; I allow a
hundred drachms profit to yourself, and
shall now write you a note, em])owcring
you to discoimt that sum upon the other
goods you have of mine." Tn fine, I wrote,
signed, and delivered the note, and then
handed the stuff to the lady. " Madam,"
said I, " you may take the stuff with you,
and as for the money, you may either send
it to-morrow or next day ; or, if you will,
accept the stuff as a present from me." " I
beg your pardon, sir," said she, " I mean
no such thing. You treat me with so
much civility, that I ought never to shew
my face in the world again, if I did not
shew my gratitude to you. M.iy God re-
ward you, by an increase of your fortune ;
may you live many years when 1 am dead ;
may the gate of heaven be open to you
when you remove to the other world, and
may all the city proclaim your generosity."
These words inspired me with some assu-
rance. "Madam," said I, "I desire no other
reward for the service I have done you, than
the happiness of seeing your face ; that will
repay me with interest." I had no sooner
sjioken than she turned towards me, took
off the muslin that covered her face, and
discovered to my eyes a wonderful beauty.
I was so struck, that T could not express
my thoughts to her. I could have looked
upon her for ever: but fearing any one
should observe her, she quickly covered her
face, and letting down the crape, took up
the piece of stuff, and went away, leaving
me in a very different state of mind from
what I was in when I came to the shop. I
continued for some time in great disorder
and perplexity. Before I took leave of the
merchant, I asked him if he knew the lady :
" Yes," said he, " she is the daughter of an
emir, who left her an immense fortune at
his death."
I went back to the khan of Mesrour, and
sat down to supper, but coidd not eat,
neither coidd I shut my eyes all the night,
which seemed the longest night in my life.
As soon as it was day I got up, in hopes to
see once more the object that disturbed my
repose ; and to engage her affection, I
dressed myself yet more nicely than I had
done the day before.
Scheherazade perceiving day, stopped
here ; but went on next night as follows : —
The Hundred and Thirty-fourth Night.
Str, the young Bagdad merchant, recount-
ing his adventures to the Christian mer-
chant, continued thus : — " I had but just
got," said he, "to Bedreddin's shop, when I
saw the lady coming in more magnificent ap-
jiarel than before, and attended by her slave.
When she came in, she did not mind the
merchant, but addressing herself to me,
"Sir," said she, "you see I am pimctual to
my word. I am come on purpose to pay
the sum you were so kind as to pass your
word for yesterday, though you had no
knowledge of me. 8iich uncommon gene-
rosity I shall never forget." "Madam,"
said I, " you had no occasion to be so hasty ;
I was well satisfied as to my money, and am
sorry you should put yourself to so much
trouble about it." "I had been very un-
just," answered she, "if I had abused your
generosity." With these words she put the
money into my hand, and sat down by me.
Having this opportunity of conversing
with her, I made the best use of it, and
mentioned to her the love I had for her ;
but she rose and left me very abruptly, as if
she had been angry with the declaration I
had made : I followed her with my eyes as
long as she was in sight ; and as soon as she
was out of sight, I took leave of the mer-
chant, and walked out of the bezestein,
without knowing where I went. I was
musing upon this adventure when I felt
somebody pulling me behind, and turning
about to see who it was, I had the agreeable
surprise to perceive it was the lady's slave.
" My mistress," said the slave, "I mean the
yoxmg lady you spoke with but now in the
mercliant's shop, wants to speak a word with
you, if you please to give yourself the trouble
to follow me." Accordingly I followed her,
and found her mistress sitting waiting for me
in a banker's shop.
She made me sit down by her, and spoke to
this purpose. • ' Dear sir, " said she, ' ' do not
be surprised that I left you so abruptly. I
thought it not proper, before that merchant,
to give a favourable answer to the discovery
you made of your affection to me. But to
speak the truth, I was so far from being
offended at it, that I was pleased when 1
heard it ; and I account myself infinitely
happy in having a man of your merit for my
lover. I do not know what impression the
first sight of me could make upon you ; but
I assure you, I no sooner saw you thaa I
conceived tender thoughts of you. Since
yesterday I have done nothing but think of
what you said to me ; and my eagerness to
come and seek you this morning may con-
vince you I have no small regard for you."
" Madam," said I, transported with love and
joy, "nothing can be more agreeable to me
BBi
THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT.
m
than what I now hear. No posHion can be
greater than that with which I love you,
since the happy moment I cast my eyes upon
you : my eyes were then dazzled with so
many channs, that my heart yielded without
resistance." "Let us not triHe away the time
in needless discourse," said she, intemipting
me ; "I make no doubt of your sincerity, and
you shall quickly be convinced of mine.
Will you do mo the honour to come to my
home ? or, if you will, I will come to yours."
"Madam," said I, "I am a stranger, lotlged
in a khan, which is not a proper place for
the reception of a lady of your quality
and merit."
Here the approach of day interrupted
Scheherazade, but the next morning she con-
tinued thus : —
The Hundred and Thirty-Fifth Night.
" It is more proper," madam, said the young
Bagdad merchant, "for me to come to you at
your own home, if you will please to ttU me
where it is." The lady complying with his
desire — "I live," said she, "in Devotion
Street : come on Friday, which is the day
after to-morrow, after noon-prayers, and ask
for the house of Abon Schama, surnamed
Bcfcour, late master of the emirs; there
you will find me." This said, we parted ;
and I passed the next day in great impa-
tience.
On Friday I got up betimes, and put on
my beat clothes, with fifty pieces of gold in
my purse. I mounted an ass I had bespoke
the day before, and set out, accompanied by
the man that let me the ass. When we came
to Devotion Street, I directed the owner of
the ass to inquire for the house I wanted ;
he found it, and conducted me thither. I
paid him liberally, and sent him back ; di-
recting him to obsen'e narrowly where he
left me, and not to fail to come back with
the ass next morning, to carry me back again
to the khan of Mesrour.
I knocked at the door, and presently two
little girl-slaves, white as snow, and neatly
dressed, came and opened it. " Be pleased
to come in, sir," said they; "our mistress
expects you impatiently : these two days she
has talked of nothing but you." I entered
the court and saw a great pavilion, raised
upon seven steps, and surrounded with iron
rails that parted it from a very pleasant gar-
den. Besides the trees which only embel-
lished the place, and formed an agreeable
shade, there was an infinite number of other
trees loaded with all sorts of fruit. I was
charmed with the warbling of a great num-
ber of birds, that joined their notes to the
murmnrings of a very high water- work, in
the middle of a parterre enamelled with
flowers. This water-work was a very agree-
able sight ; four large gilded dragons at the
angles of the bason, which was of a wiuare
form, spouted out water clearer than rock-
crystal. This delicious place gave me a
charming idea of the conquest I hod made.
The two little slaves conducted me into a
saloon magniticently furnished ; and while
one of them went to acquaint her mistress
with my arrival, the other tarried with me,
and pointed out to mo the beauties of the
hall.
At this period Scheherazade discontinued
her story, upon the appoarance of day ; and
Schahriar got up curious to knov what the
young Bagdodese would do in the lady's
parlour. The next morning the sultaness
gratified the sultan's curiosity, by pursuing
the sequel of the story in the following man-
ner; —
The Hundred and Thirty Sixth-Night.
Sib, the Christian merchant continued his
discourse to the sultan of Casgar to this pur-
pose : — I did not tarry long in the hall,
said the young man of Baijdad, ere the lady
I loved appeared, adorned with pearls and
diamonds ; but the splendour of her eyes
far outshone that of her jewels. Her shape,
which was now not disguised by the habit
she wore in the city, appeared the most slen-
der and advantageous. I need not mention
with what joy we met once more ; that far
exceeds all expression. I shall only tell you,
that when the first compliments were over,
we sat both down u])on a sofa, and there
conversed together with the highest satisfac-
tion. After that we had the most delicious
meases served up to us ; and after eating,
continued our conversation till night. At
night we had excellent wine brought up, and
such fruit as is apt to }>romote drinking ;
and timed our cups to the sound of musical
instruments, joined to the voices of the
slaves. The lady of the house sung herself,
and by her songs raised my passion to the
height. In short I passed the night in full
enjoyment of all manner of pleasure.
Next morning I slijjt under the bolster of
the bed the i)urse with the fifty pieces of
gold I had brought with me, and took leave
of the lady, who asked me when I would see
her again. " Madam," said I, " I give you
my promise to return this night. " She seemed
to be transported with my answer, and con-
ducted me to the door, conjured me at part-
ing to be mindful of my promise.
The same man that had carried me thi-
ther, waited for me with his ass, which I
mounted, and went directly to the khan,
ordering the man to come to me again in the
afternoon at a certain hour ; to secure
which, I would not pay him till that time
came.
7 -
152
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENS.
As soon as I arrived at my lodging, my
first core was to order my jjcuplc to buy a
good lamb, and soveral Horts of cakes, whick
I Bent by a porter as a iireaent to the lady.
\mw^W^'!W^fL>
When that was done I attended to my seri-
ous business till the owner of the ass came.
Then I went along with him to the lady's
house, and was received by her with as much
joy as before, and entertained with equal
magnificence.-
Next morning T took leave, and left her
another purse with fifty pieces of gold, and
returned to my khan. But Scheherazade
perceiving day, gave notice of it to the sid-
tan, who thereupon rose without saying one
word. Next night she went on with her
story as follows : —
The Hundred and Thirty-Seventh Night.
Sir, the yoxmg man of Bagdad, continued
the Christian merchant to the sultan of Cas-
gar, went on to this purpose : — I continued,
said he, to visit the lady every day, and to
leave her every time a purse with fifty jjieces
of gold, till the merchants, whom I employed
to sell my goods, and whom I visited regu-
larly twice a week, owed me nothing ; and,
in short, I came at last to be moneyless, and
hopeless of having any more.
In this desperate condition T walked out
of my lodging, not knowing what course to
take, and by chance went towards the castle,
where there was a great crowd of people to
see a show given by the sultan of Egypt.
As soon as I came up to them, I wedged in
among the crowd, and by chance happened
to stand by a horseman well mounted, and
handsomely clothed, who had upon the pom-
mel of his saddle a bag, half open, with a
string of green silk hanging out of -it. I
clapped my hand to the bag, concluding the
silk twist might be the string of a purse
within the bag : in the meantime a porter,
with a load of wood upon his back, passed
by the other side of the horse, so near that
the gentleman on horseback was forced to
turn his head towards him, to avoid being
hurt, or having his clothes torn by the wood.
In that moment did the devil tempt me ; I
took the string in one hand, and with the
other laid open the mouth of the bag, and
jiulled out the purse so dexterously, that no-
body perceived it. The purse was heavy,
and I did not doubt but there was gold or
silver in it.
As soon as the porter had passed, the
horseman, who probably had some suspicion
of what I had done while his head was
turned, presently put his hand to his bag,
and finding his purse was gone, gave me
such a blow, that he knocked me down.
This violence shocked all who saw it ; some
took hold of the horse's bridle, to stop the
gentleman, and asked him what reason he
had to strike me, or how he came to treat a
Mussulman after that rate. "Do not you
trouble yourselves, " said he, briskly ; "I had
reason for what I did : this fellow is a thief."
At these words I started up, and from my
api)earance every one took my part, and
cried out he was a liar, for that it was incre-
dible a young man such as I should be guilty
of so base an action : but while they were
holding his horse by the bridle to favour my
escape, unfortunately passed by the judge ;.
who, seeing such a crowd about the gentle-
man on horseback and me, came up and
asked what the matter was. Everybody
.^nxStm^m-
r-'WWw'is^WKrw-
THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT.
155
present relleoted on the gentleman for treat-
ing me so unjustly i»iiou the pretence of
robbery.
The judge did not give car to all thot was
said ; but asked the cavalier if ho suspected
anybody else beside nio ? The cavalier told
him he did not, and gave his reasons why he
believed his suspieions not to be groundless.
Ujwn this the judge ordered his followers to
seize me, und search nie, •which they pre-
sently did, and liiuling the purse upon nic,
exposed it to the view of all the peoi)le. Tho
disgrace was so great, I eo\ild not bear it,
but I swooned away. In the meantime the
judge called for the purse.
But I see, said Scheherazade, it is day;
if your majesty will let mo live till to-
morrow, you shall hear the sequel of the
story. Then Schahriar got up, (lesigning to
gratify his cwiosity by hearing the rest next
night.
The Hundred and Thirty-Eighth Night.
Towards the close of the next night, the
Bultaness atldressed Schahriar thus : — Sir, the
young man of Bagdad pursued his story :
When the judge, said he, had got the
purse in his hand, ho asked the horseman if
it was his, and how much money was in it.
The cavalier knew it to be his own, and
assured the judge he had put twenty sequins
into it. Upon which the judge called me
before him : "Come, young man," said he,
*• confess the truth ; was it you that took
the gentleman's purse from him ? Do not
wait for the torture to extort confession."
Then with downcast eyes, thinking within
myself, that if I denied the fact, they find-
ing the purse about me, would convict me
of a lie ; to avoid a double punishment, I
looked up and confessed it was I. I had no
sooner made the confession than the judge
called people to witness it, and ordered my
hand to be cut off. This sentence was put
in execution immediately upon the spot, to
the great regret of all the spectators ; nay, I
observed, by the cavalier's coimtenance, that
he was moved with pity as much as the rest.
The judge would likewise have ordered my
foot to be cut off, but I begged the cavalier
to intercede for my pardon ; wWch he did,
and obtained it.
When the judge was gone, the cavalier
came up to me, and holding out the purse,
"I see plainly," said he, "that necessity
put you upon an action so disgraceful and
unworthy of such a handsome young man as
you are. Here, take that fatal purse; I
freely give it you, and am heartily sorrow
for the misfortune you have undergone."
This said, he went away ; and I being very
weak by loss of blood, some of the good
people of the neighbourhoofl hml the charity
to carry me into a house, and give mo a
glass of wine ; they likewise drcssi'd my
arm, and wrapped uii the ili>nu'mbLn'i'd hand
in a cloth, which 1 carried away with mo
fastened to my girdle.
If I had returned to the khan of Mesrour
in this melancholy conditinu, I should not
have found there such relief as I wanted ;
and to offer to go to the young lady was
running a gri^at hazard, it being likely sho
woidil not look upon me after she heard of
my disgrace. I resolved, however, to put it
to the trial ; and to tire out the crowd that
followed me, I turned down several by-
streets, and at last arrived at the lady'ft
house very weak, and so much fatigued,
that I presently threw myself down upon a
sof.a, keeping my right arm under my gar-
ment, for I took great care to conceal my
misfortune.
\\\ the meantime the lady, hearing of my
arriv.ll, and that 1 w.os not well, came to me
in all haste ; and seeing mo jiale and de-
jected, " My dear, soul," said she, " what i»
the matter with you ? " " Madam, " s.aid I,
dissembling, "I have got a violent pain in
my heatl." The lady seemed to bo much
concerned, and asked me to sit down, for I
had got up to receive her. "Tell me," said
she, " how your illness came : the List time
I had the pleasure to see you, you were very
well. There must be something else that
you conceal from mc ; let me know what it
is." I stood silent, and instead of an
answer, tears trickled down my cheeks.
"I cannot conceive," said she, "what it io
that afflicts you. Have 1 unthinkingly
given you any occasion of uneasiness ? Or
do you come on purpose to tell me you no
longer love me ? " " It is not that, madam,"
said I, fetching a deep sigh ; " your unjust
suspicion is an addition to my misfortune."
I could not think of discovering to her
the true cause. When night came, supper
was brought, and she pressed me to eat ;
but considering I could only feed myself
with my left hand, I begged to be excused,
upon the plea of having n(j appetite. " Your
apiietite will return," said she, " if you would
but discover what you so obstinately hide
from me. Your inajipetency, without doubt,
is only owing to your irresolution." " Alas^
madam," said I, "I find I must resolve at
last." I had no sooner spoke these words,
than she filled me a <i\\\> full of wine, and
offering it to me, "Drink that," said she;
"it will give you courage. ' I reached out
my left hand, .and took the cup.
Here the appearance of day discontinued
Scheherazade's story, but the next night she-
pursued the sequel thus: —
n 5
III
i!
!l 1.1
Tho Hundred and Thirty-Ninth Night.
When I had got tlic cup in my hand, said
tho young man, 1 rrdouldwl my tears and
Hig}ui. "Why do you sigh and weep ho
hittt-rly ? " said the huly ; " and why do you
take tho cup with your left liantl, rather
tlion your right?" "Ah! madam," Maid I,
" excuse me, I hcscocli you ; I have a swell-
ing in my right hand." "Let mo sec that
swelhng," said she ; " I will o]ieu it." I
desired to ho excused, alleging it was not
ripe enough for opening, ancl drank off
tho cup, which was very large. The fumes
of the wine, joined to my weakness and
weariness, set me a8lee]>, and I slept very
soundly till next morning.
In the meantime the lady, curious to
know what ailed my right hand, hfted U])
my garment that covered it, and saw to her
great astonishment tli.at it was cut off, and
that I had hrought it along with me wrapt
up in a cloth. .She jirexently apprehended
what was my reason for declining a discovery,
notwithstanding all her jjressing solicitation,
and p.'vssed the night in the greatest un-
easiness upon my «lisgrace, which she con-
cluded hail heen occasioned only by the love
I hore to her.
When 1 awaked I discerned by her coun-
tenance that she was extremely grieved.
However, that she might not increase my
uneasiness, she said not a word. She called
for jelly-broth of fowl, whch she had order-
ed to be prepared, and made me eat and
drink to recruit my strength. After that, I
offered to take leave of her, but she de-
clared I should not go out of her doors.
"Though you tell me nothing of the
matter," said she, "I am persuaded lam
the cause of the misfortune that has be-
fallen you. The grief that I feel upon that
score will quickly make an end of me : but
before I die, T must execute a design for
your benefit." She had no sooner said the
word, than she called for a judge and
•witnesses, and ordered a writing to be drawn
lip, putting me in possession of her whole
property. After this was done, and every-
body dismissed, she opened a large trunk,
where lay all the purses I had given her
from the commencement of our amour.
"There they are, all entire," said she; "1
have not touched one of them : here is the
key ; take it, for all is yours." After I had
returned her thanks for her generosity and
goodness: " What I have done for you,"
said she, "is nothing; I shall not be satis-
fied unless I die, to show how much I love
you." I conjured her, by all the powers,
of love, to give up such a fatal resolution
But all my remonstranced were ineffectual ;
she was so afflicted to see me have but one
hand, that she sickened, and died after five
or six weeks' illness.
After mourning for licr death as long M
Was decent, I took ]ioHNC8sion of all her
estate, a particular account of which she gave
niu before siie died ; and the com you sold
for mn was jiart of it.
The appearance of day interrupting Soho-
hera/adt', she discontinued her story till
next uiglit ; then she went on as follows : —
The Hundred and Fortieth Night.
The Christian merchant concluded his story
of the young man of Bagdad to this purpose :
— " What I have now told," said he, " will
plead my excuse for eating with my left hand.
1 am highly obliged to you for the trouble
you have given yourself on my account. I
can never sufficiently recnmponso your fide-
lity. Since, thanks to (>od, I have still a
comi)etent estate, notwithstanding I have
spent a great deal, I beg you to accept of
tile sum now in your hand, as a present from
me. (.Ivor and above this, I have a i)ropogal
to make to you ; since by reason of this fatal
accident, I am obliged to depart from Cairo,
I am resolved never to see it more. If you
choose to accompany me, wo will trade
together as equal i)artners, and divide the
profit."
I thanked the young man, said the
Christian merchant, for the present he had
made me, and as to the proposal of travell-
ing with him, I willingly embraced it, assur-
ing him that his interest should always be
as dear to me as my own.
We fixed a day for our departure, and
accordingly entered upon our travels. We
passed through Syria and Mesopotamia,
travelled all over Persia, and after stopping
at several cities, came at last, sir, to your
ca])ital. Some time after our arrival in this
l)lace, the young man having formed a design
of returning to Persia, and settling there,
we balanced our accounts, and parted very
good friends. He went from hence, and I,
sir, contimu- '-zvs in your majesty's si-tvine.
This is the »• iry I had to tc" \.iu
not your majesty find it; ti o sxirpruing
than that of the cpii' .^ ?
The sultan of L
against the Christie
very bold," said he,
little worth my heart
pare it to that of my jestc Can you
flatter yourself so far as to hulieve that
the trifling adventures of a young debauchee
can make such an impression upon me aa
those of my jester? I will hang you all
foiu:, to revenge his death."
Hearing this, the purveyor feU down
frightened at the sultan's feet. " Sir," said
he, " I humbly beseech your majesty to
ulto a passion
iiant. " You a;
tell mo .1 story so
md t' , a to com-
'
\
THE SULTAN OF CASGAfTS PURVEYOR.
155
HiiHpcnil your jiwt wroth, and hear my story ;
nml if it np]iearH to your inajoUy to he pret-
tier than that of your jeBtor, to panlon u»
all four. Tho Hultaii having uninteil tiiii*
ro(|UU8t, the imrvcyor begun thus : —
THE STOKY TOLD nV TIIK HIJLTAN OF CASOAH'h
riUVEVOB.
Sir, a porson of quality invitod me yester-
day tohig dnunhter'g wedding. 1 wont to Ilia
houHo in tliH evenini;{ at the hour appointed,
and found there a Iftr),'o company of doctors
miniHtera of j\isticc, and otherB of the liest
quality in the city. After the ceremony
was over, wi; had a splendid feast ; and
amon^ other thinj;s set upon tho taMe,
there was a course with j^arliu sauce, which
indued was very delicious, and coveted by
everybody ; wo observed, however, that one
of the v"e-<t8 did not otl'or to touch it,
thoujjh it stood just before him, and wo iu-
viteil him to do as we did. But ho conjured
H8 not to i)ress liim upon that head : " I wiU
take care," said he, "n<»t to touch any dish
that has tjarlic in it ; I remember too well
what tlieta.sting of such an one cost me once
before." Wo intrertted him to toll ua what
was tho oucaaiofi of his strong aversion to
garlic ; but before he had time to make
answer, "la it thus," said the master of the
houHo, " that you honour my table ? Thia ra-
gout is excellent : do not you pretend to be ex-
cused from eating of it ; you muHt do me that
favour as well as the rest." " iSir," said the
gentleman, who was a Bagdad merchant, " I
hope you do not think I refuse to eat it out
of a mistaken nicety : if you will have me
eat of it, I will do it ; but still upon this
condition, that after eating of it, I may wash
my hands, with your good leave, forty times
with alcali,* forty times more with the ashes
of the same plant, and forty times again
with soap. 1 hope you will not take it iU
that I stipulate this condition, in pursuance
of an oath I have made never to taste garlic
without observing it."
Scheherazade, ])erceiving day, stopped
here ; and so Schahriar rose with a curiosity
to know why the merchant hatl sworn to wash
himself a hundred and twenty times after
eating a ragout with garlic. Towards the
close of tho next night the aultaness satis-
fied his curiosity in the following words : —
The Hundred and Porty-Pirst Night.
The master of the house, continued the
purveyor of the sultan of Casgar, would not
dispense with the merchant from eating of
the ragout with garlic, and therefore ordered
his servant to get ready a basin with water.
* Tills is called In English, Saltwort.
together M'ith aloali, the aHhoa of the anmu
plant, anil soap, tiiat the merc^iiant might
wash aa often as he ]iIeaHed. When every-
thing was got ready, " JJow," said he to the
meroiiant, " I hope you will do as wo do."
The merchant, diiiiileased with the violence
that was ottered him, reached out his hanti,
and took up a bit, which he put to his mouth
trend)ljng, and eat with a reluctance that
Hurprisod us all. Hut what Hurjiri.ied us
most of all was, that he had only four lingers
and no thumb, which none of us observed
before, though ho had eat of other dishes.
"You have lost your thumb," said the
master of the house ; "by what accident?
It must have been occasioned by fttuno
extraordinary accident, a relation of which
will bo agree.ablo to the company." "Hir,"
replied tho merchant, "I have no thumb
on the right nor on the left hand." In
speaking thua, he put out his left hand, and
sliowed that what ho said was true. " But
this is not all," continued ho : " if you will
believe me, I have no great too on either
of my feet : I was maimed in this manner
by an unheard-of adventure, which T am
willing to rebate to you, if you will have the
l)atience to hear me. The relation will
equally raise your astonishment and pity.
Only suffer mo to wash my hands first."
With this he rose from the table, and after
washing his hands a hundred and twenty
times, took his place again, and recounted
his story as follows : —
You must know, gentlemen, that in the
reign of the caliph Haroim Alraschid, my
father lived at Bagda<l, the place of my
nativity, and was reputed one of the richest
merchants in tho city. But being a man
addicted to his jilcasures, and neglecting his
private affairs, instead of leaving me a i)len-
tiful fortune at his death, he left me in such
a situation, that all my economy was scarcely
sufficient to clear his debts. However, with
difliculty I paid them all, and through my
industry and care my little fortune began to
wear a smiling aspect.
One morning, as I opened my shop, a
lady, mounted upon a mide, and attended
by an eunuch and two slaves, stopped near
my shop door, and, with the assistance of
the eunuch's hand, alighted. "Madam,"
said the eunuch, "I told you you would be
too soon ; you sec there is nobody yet in the
bezestein ; — if you had taken my advice, you
might have saved yourself the trouble of
waiting here." The lady looked all r^ind
her, and finding there was no shop open but
mine, addressed herself to me, asking leave
to sit in my shop till the rest of the mer-
chants came. I could do no less than return
a civil answer, and invite the lady into m^
shop.
156
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The Hundred and Forty-Second Night.
The Bultaness being awakened by her sis-
ter Dinarzade, proceeded to address herself
to the sidtan in the following manner : —
The lady sat down in my shop, continued
the merchant of Bagdad ; and observing
there was nobody in the whole bezestein but
the eunuch and myself, uncovered Tier face
to take the air ; and i must say I never saw
so beautifid a pc/'aon. I no sooner had a
sight of her face than I conceived a passion
for her, I fixed my eyes upon her, and per-
ceived that she was not disjjleased with my
oglmg, for she gave me a full opportunity to
look on her, and did not cover her face but
when she was afraid of being taken notice
of. ^
After she had jmlled down her veil again
she hold me she wanted several sorts of the
richest and finest stufi's, and asked me if I
had them. ' ' Alas ! madam, " said I, ' ' I am but
a young man, and just beginning the world ;
1 have not stock enough lor such great con-
cerns, and it is a mortification to me that T
have nothing to shesv you cnat Will suit you;
but to save you the trouble of going from
shop to shop, as soon as the merchants come,
I will go, if you please, and fetch from them
what you want, with the lowest prices ; and
so you may do your business without going
any further." She complied with my jiro-
posal, and entered into discourse with me ;
which continued so much the longer, that I
made her believe the merchants that could
furnish what she wanted were not yet come.
I was no less charmed with her wit than I
had been before with the beauty of her face ;
but there was a necessity of denying myself
the pleasure of her conversation. I ran out
to see for the stuffs she wanted ; and after
she had pitched upon what she liked, we
Agreed for five thousand drachms of coined
silver. I wrai)ped up the stuffs in a small
bundle, and gave it to the eunuch, who put
it under his arm. This done, she rose and
took leave. I followed her with my eyes till
she had reached the bezestein gate, and even
after she had mounted her mule again.
The lady had no sooner disapjjeared, than
I perceived that love had caused me to com-
mit a great neglect. It had so engrossed
my thoughts, that I did not reflect that she
went away without paying the money, nei-
ther lu-ul I the thought to ask who she was,
or where she dwelt, However I considered
I was accountable for a large sum to the
merchants, who, perhaps, woidd not have
the patience to stay for their money ; and
so I went to them and made the best excuse
I could, pretending that I knew the lady,
and then came home again equally affected
with love, and with the burden of such a
heavy debt.
Scheherazade had no sooner spoken these
words than day appeared; but the next
night she proceeded as follows :—
The Hundred and Porty-Tl-iird Night.
I HAD desired my creditors, coi.t'r.aed the
merchant, to stay eight days for their
money ; and when the eight days were passed,
they did not fail to dun me. Then I en-
treated them to give me eight days more,
which they agreed to ; and the very next
day I saw the lady come to the bezestein,
mounted on her mule, with the same attend-
ants as before, and exactly at the same hour
of the day.
She came straight to my shop, " I have
made you stay some time," said she, "but
here is your n-oney at Last ; carry it to the
banker, and see it is all good and right."
The eunuch, who brought me the money,
went along with me to the banker, and we
found it very right. Then I came back
again, and had the happiness of conversing
with the lady till all the shops of the bezes-
tein were open. Though we talked but of
ordinary things, she gave them such a tirni,
ihat they appeared new and uncommon, and
convinced me that I v/as not mistaken in
admiring her wit when I first conversed
with her.
As soon as the merchants were come, and
had opened their shops, I carried to the re-
spective men the money that was due for
their stuffj. and was readily entrusted with
more, which the lady had desired to see.
In short, the lady took stuffs to the value of .a
thousand pieces of gold, and carried them
away without paying fot them ; nay, with-
out saying one word, or giving me to un-
derstand who she was. I was astonished,
when I considered that at this rate she risked
nothing, but left me without any security of
not being troubled if she never came again.
She has i)aid me, thought I to myself, a con-
siderable sum ; but she leaves me ans .vcr-
able for another that runs much deeper.
Surely she cannot be a cheat ; it is not jios-
sible she can have any such design as tO'
inveigle me to my ruin. The merchants do
not know her ; they will all come upon me.
In short, my love was not so powerful as to
stifle the uneasiness I felt, when I reflected
upon all circumstances. A whole month
passed uefore I heard anything of my lady
again ; and during that time the alarm
increased. The merchants were impatient
for their money, and, to satisfy them, I wa»
going to sell off all I had ; when the lady
returned <iiic morning with the same equi-
page as before.
"Take yoi.' weights." said she, "and
weigh the gold i have brought you." These
words dispelled my fear, and inflamed my
\
■ llS il^ fc u^....^^ - r-r L,
THE SULTAN OF CASGAR'S PURVEYOR.
157
love. Before we counted the money, she
Asked me several questions, and particularly
if I v/as married. I answered I never was.
Then reaching out the gold to the eunuch,
"Let us Lave your interposition," said she,
"to accommodate our matters." Upon
which the eunuch fell a laughing, and calling
me aside, made mo weigh the gold. While
T was weighing the gold, the eunuch whis-
pered in my ear, " I know by your eyes you
love this lady, and I am sui-prised to find
that you have not the courage to disclose
your passion to her. She loves you more
passionately than you do her. Do not
imftgine that she has any real occasion for
your stuffs. She only makes an errand to
come hither, because you have insi)irt;d her
with a violent passion. For this reason
she asked you if you were married. Do but
asli her the question ; it will be your own
fault if you do not marry her. " It is true,"
said I, " I have had a passion for her from
the first moment that I cast my eyes upon
her ; but I durst not aspire to the happiness
of thinking my love acceptable to her. I am
entirely hers, and shall not fail to retain a
grateful sense of your good offices in that
matter.
I made an end of weighing the gold, and
while I was putting it into the bag, the
eunuch turned to the lady, and told her I
was satisfied ; that being the word they
had both agreed upon between themselves.
Presently after the lady rose and took leave,
telling me she would send the eunuch to me,
and that I had only to do what he directed
mo in her name,
I carried every one of the merchants
their money, and waited some days with
impatience for the eunuch. At last he came.
— But here Scheherazade stopt, because it
was day, and pursued the sequel of her story
next night in the following mamier : —
The Hundred and Forty-Fourth Night.
I RECEIVED the eunuch very kinilly, .said the
Bagdad merchant, and inquired after his
mistress's health. " You are," s.-id he, "the
happiest lover in the world ; she is ([uite
sick of love for you ; she earnestly desires
to see you ; and were she mistress of her
own conduct, would not fail to come to you,
and Avillingly pass all the moments of hor
life in your company." "Her noble mien
and graceful carriage," sail T, "convinced
me that she was a lady beyond the common
level." "The judgment you have formed
upon that head," said the eunuch, "is very
just; she is the favourite of Zobeide, the
caliph's lady, who loves her the more for
having brought her up from her infancy,
and instructs her with all her affairs. Hav-
ing a mind to marry, she has declared to the
caliph's lady that she has cast her eyes upon
you, and desired her consent, Zobeide told
her she agreed to it, only she had a mind to
See you first, in order to judge if she had
made a good choice ; and, if she had,
Zobeide meant to defray the charges of the
wedding. Thus you see your felicity is cer-
tain ; since you have pleased the favourite,
you will be equally agreeable to the mistress,
who seeks only to oblige her favourite, and
would by no means thwart her inclination.
All you have to do is to come to the palace.
I am sent hither to invite you, as soon as
you will determine to go." " M" resolution
is formed already," said I, "and 1 am ready
to follow you whithersoever you please to
conduct me." "Very well," said the
eunuch; "but you know men ai-e not
allowed to enter the ladies' ai)artments in
the palace, and you must be introduced with
great secrecy. The favourite lady has con-
trived the matter very well. On your side
you are to act your part very discreetly ; for
if you do not, your life is at .stake."
I gave him repeated assurances of a punc-
tual performance of whatever should be
enjoined me. "Then," said he, "in the
evening you must be at the mosque built by
the caliph's lady on the bank of the Tigris,
and stay there till somebody comes to call
you." I agreed to all he proposed ; and
after passing the day in great impatience,
went in the evening to the prayer that is
said an hour and a half after sunset in the
mosque, and there I ^ /ed after all the
people were gone.
Soon after T saw a boat making up to
the mosque, the rowers of which were all
eunuchs, who came on shore and put several
large trunks into the mosque, and then re-
tired ; only one of them stayed behind,
whom I perceived to be the same eunuch
that had all along accomjianied the lady,
and had been with me that morning. I saw
the lady also enter the mosque ; and mak-
ing up to her, told her I was ready to obey
her orders. " We have no time to lose,"
said she ; and opening one of the trunks,
l)id me get into it, " that being necessary
l)oth for your safety and mine. Fear no-
thing," added she ; "leave the management
of all to me." I considered with myself, I
had gone too far to recede, and so obeyed
her orders; and she 1.. mediately locked the
trunk. This done, the eunuch her confidant
called the other eunuchs who had brought
in the trunks, and ordered them to carry
them on board again. The lady and eunuch
re-embarked, and the boatmen rowed to
Zobeide's apartment.
In the meantime I reflected very seriously
upon the danger to which I had exposed
myself, and made vows and prayers, though
it was then too late.
T
■fS'^f^S^H!!!?™"
I
158
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The bo^t stopped at the palace gate, and
the trunks were carried into the apartment
of the oflScer of the eunuchs, who keeps the
key of the hulies' apartments, aud suffers
nothing to enter without a nan-ow inspec-
tion. The officer was then in bed, and there
was a necessity of calling him up. — But now,
sir, said Scheherazade, I see it is day ; upon
which Schahriar rose to hold a council,
resolving to hear the rest of the story next
night.
The Hundred and Forty-Fifth Night.
Some minutes before day, the sultaness of
the Indies waking, pursued her story as
follows : — Tlie officer of the eunuchs, con-
tinued the Bagdad merchant, was angry
that they should break his rest, and chid
the favourite lady severely for coming home
so late. " You shall not come off so
easUy as you think for," said he : "not one
of these trunks shall pass tiU I have o^iened
them every one." At the same time he com-
manded the eunuch to bring them before
him, and opened them one by one. The
first they began with was that wherein I
lay, which put me into inexpressible fear.
The favourite lady, who had the key of
that trunk, protested it phoiUd not be
opened. "You know very well," said she,
" I bring nothing hither but what is for the
use of Zobeide, your mistress and mine.
This trunk," continued she, "is filled with
rich goods that I had from some merchants
lately arrived, besides a number of bottles
of Zemzen water sent from Mecca ; * and if
any of these should happen to break, the
goods will be spoiled, and then you must
answer for them; depend on it, Zobeide
wdl resent your insolence. She insisted
upon this in so peremptory terms, that the
officer did not dare to take upon him to
open any of the trunks. "Let them go,"
said he angrily; "you may carry them off."
Upon that the women's apartment was
opened, aud all the trunks were carried in.
They were scarcely got in, when all on a
sudden I heard the people cry, ' ' Here is the
calipli ! here conies the caliph ! " This put
me in such a fright, that I wonder \ did not
die upon the spot, for it really was the
caliph. "What hast thou got in these
trunks?" said he to the favourite. "Some
stuffs," said she, "lately arrived, which
your majesty's lady had a mind to see."
"Open them," cried he, "and let me see
them." She pretended to excuse herself,
alleging the stuffs were only proper for
* There is a fountaiD at Mecoa, which, accordiDK to
the Hiihommeilans, is the spring that Ooil sbeweU to
Ilagar after Al)raham was oljliited to put her away.
The water of this spring is druiilc by way of devotiou,
and ia sent in presents to tlie princss aud princeues.
ladies, and that by opening them his lady
would be deprived of the pleasure of seeing
them first. "I say, open them," cried the
caliph ; "I have a mind to see them, and I
will see them. She stiU represented that
her mistress would be angry with her if she
opened them. "No, no," said he, "I will
engage she shall not say a word to you for
so doing : come, come, oiieu them, and do
not keep me waiting here."
There was a necessity of obeying, which
gave me such alarm, that I tremble every
time I think on it. The caUph sat down ;
and the favoiu'ite onlered aU the trunks to
be brought before him one after another.
Then she opened them ; and to lengthen out
the time, shewed all the beauties of each
particular stuff, thinking thereby to tire out
his patience ; but her stratagem did not
succeed. Being as unwilling as myself to
have the trunk where I lay opened, she left
that to the last. So when all the rest were
viewed, "Come," said the caliph, "make
au end ; let us see what is in that." I am
at a loss to tell you whether I was dead or
olive that moment ; for I little thought of
escaping so great a danger.
Day appearing Scheherazade stopt, but
carried on her story next uight as follows :
The Hundred and Forty-Sixth Night,
When Zobeide's favourite, continued the
Bagdad merchant, saw that the caliph
would needs have the trunk o])ened where I
lay, — " As for this trunk," said she, " your
majesty will please to dispense with the
ojiening of it ; there are some things in it
which I cannot shew you without your lady
be by." " Well, well, "said the caliph, "since
it is 80, I am satisfied ; order the trunks to
be can'ied away. The word was no sooner
spoken than the trunks were moved into
her chamber, where I began to revive again.
As soon as the eunuchs who had
brought them were gone, she presently
opened the truuk where I was prisoner.
"Come out," said she, "go up these stairs,
that lead to an upper room, and stay there
till I come." The door which led to the
stairs she locked after I was in ; and that
was no .sooner done than the caliph came
and sat down on the very truuk where I hod
been confined. The occasion of this visit
was a motion of curiosity that did not re-
spect me. He had a mind to question the
lady about what she hod seen or heard in
the city. So they discoursed together some
while ; and then he left her, and retired to
his apartment.
When she fouiid the coast clear, she came
to the chamber where I was, and ma<le
many apologies for the alarms she had given
me. "My uneasiness," said she, "was uo
THE SULTAN OF CASGAKS PURVEYOR.
159
^
less than yours ; you cannot well doubt of
that, since I have run the same ri^k out of
love to you : perhaps another person in my
situation would not have had the presence
of mind to manage matters so dexterously
upon so delicate an occasion, where so much
courage and presence of mind were requisite;
nothing less than the lovo I had for you
could have inspired me with courage to do
it. But come, take heart, now the danger
is over." After much tender discourse be-
tween us she told me it was time to go to
rest, and that she would not fail to intro-
duce me to Zobeide, her mistress, some hour
to-morrow, which will be very easy ; " For
the caliph never sees her," added she, "but
at night." Encouraged by these words, T
slept very well ; or if my sleep was inter-
rupted, it was by agreeable disquietudes,
caused by the hopes of enjoying a lady blest
with so much wit and beauty.
The next day, before I was introduced to
Zobeide, her favourite instructed me how
to behave, mentioning what questions she
would put to me, and dictating the answers
I was to give. This done, she carried me
into a very magnificent and richly furnished
haU. I was no sooner entered than twenty
women slaves, advanced in c^e, dressed in
rich and iiniform habits, came out of Zo-
beide's apartment, and placed themselves
very modestly before the throne in two
equal rows ; they were followed by twenty
other younger ladies clothed after the same
manner, only their habits appeared some-
what gayer. In the middle of these appeared
Zobeide, with a majestic air, and so laden
with jewels that she could scarce walk.
She went and sat down on the throne, and
the favourite lady who had accompanied
her stood just by her on her right hand ;
the other ladies, who were slaves, being
placed at some distance on each side of the
throne.
As soon as the caliph's lady was set down,
the slaves that came in first made a sign for
me to approach. I advanced between the
two rows they had formed, and prostrated
myself upon the carpet that was under the
princess's feet. She ordered me to rise, and
did me the honour to ask my name, my
family, and the state of my fortune ; upon
all which I gave her satisfactory answers, as
I perceived not only by her countenance,
but by her words. " I am glad,'' said she,
"that my daughter" (so she used to call
the favourite lady,) "for I look upon her as
such, after the care I have taken of her edu-
cation, I am very glad she has made a choice
that pleases me ; I approve of it and give
consent to your marriage. I will myself
give orders for solemnising it ; but I want
to have my daughter stay ten days with me
before the solemnity ; and in that time I
wUl speak to the caliph, and obtain his con-
sent : meanwhile do you stay here ; you
shall be taken care of.
Scheherazade, perceiving day, stopped
here, but went on the next night as fol-
lows : —
The Hundred and Forty-Seventh Night.
PuESUANT to the caliph's lady's orders, con-
tinued the Bagdad merchant, I stayed ten
days in the women's apartments, and during
that time was deprived of the pleasure of
seeing the favourite lady ; but was so well
iised by her orders, that I had no reason to
be dissatisfied.
Zobeide told the caliph her resolution of
marrying the favourite lady ; and the caliph
leaving to her the liberty of doing upon that
head what she pleased, granted the favourite
a considerable sum by way of settlement.
When the ten days were expired, Zobeide
ordered the contract of marriage to be drawn
up and brought to her, and the necessary
preparations being made for the solemnity,
the musicians and the dancers (both men and
women) were called in and there were great
rejoicings in the palace for nine days. The
tenth day being appointed for the last cere-
mony of the marriage, the favourite lady
was conducted to a bath, and I to another.
At night I sat down to table, and had all
manner of dishes served up to me, and
among others, a ragout with garlic, such as
you have now forced mc to eat of. This
ragout I liked so well, that I scarce touched
any of the other dishes : but such was my
unhappiness, that when I arose from the
table, I only wiped my hands, instead of
washing them well ; a piece of negligence I
had never been guilty of before.
Though it was then night, the whole
apartment of the ladies was as light as day,
by means of many illuminations. Nothing
was to be heai-d all over the palace but
musical instruments, dances, and acclama-
tions of joy. My bride and I were intro-
duced into a great hall, where we were
placed upon two thrones. The women that
attended her made her shift herself several
times, and painted her face with different
sorts of colours, according to the usual cus-
tom on wedding-days ; and every time she
clianged her habit they shewed her to me.
All these ceremonies being over, we were
conducted to the nuptial-room ; as soon as
the company retired, I approached to em-
brace my wife : but instead of retui'iiing my
transports, she pushed me away, and cried
out most fearfidly ; upon which all the ladies
of the apartment came nmning into the
chamber to know what she cried for ; and
for my own part, I was so thunder-struck,
that I stood like a post, without the power
of even asking what she meant by it.
I
.V
i6o
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
"Dear sister," said they to her, " what has
happened since we left you so lately ? Let
MS know, that we may try to relieve you. "
"Take," said she, "take out of my sight
that vile fellow." " Why, madam ? " said I,
" wherein have I deserved your displeasure ? "
"You are a villain," said she, in a furious
passion, "to eat garlic and not wash your
hands ! Do you think I would suifer such a
filthy fellow to poison me ? Down with
him, down with him upon the ground,"
continued she, "addressing herself to the
ladies ; and bring me a good bull's pizzle."
In short, I was thrown upon the ground ;
and while some held my hands, and others
my feet, my wife, who was presently fur-
nished with a weapon, laid on me as long as
she could stand over me. Then she said to
the ladies, "Take him, send him to the
judge, and let the hand be cut off with
which he fed upon the garlic ragout."
"Good God," cried I, "must I be beat
and bruised unmercifully, and to complete
my affliction, have my hand cut off, for
eating of a ragout with garlic, and forgetting
to wash my hands? What proportion is
there between the punishment and the
crime ? Curse on the ragout and on the
cook that dressed it, and on him that served
it up."
Here the sultaness discontinued her story,
observing the dawn of day ; and Schahriar
rose, laughing heartily at the favourite lady's
anger, and curious to know the issiie of the
story.
The Hundred and Forty-Eighth Night.
Next morning Scheherazade, waking before
day, resumed the thread of her discourse to
this jjurpose : — All the ladies that were
by, continued the Bagdad merchant, and
had witnessed my receiving the thousand
strokes, took pity of me when they heard the
cutting off of my hand spoken of. "Dear
madam, dear sister," said they to the
favourite lady, " you carry your resentment
too far. AVe own he is a man quite ignorant
of the world, of your quality, and the
respect due to you : but we beseech you to
overlook and jjardon the fault he has com-
mitted." "I have not received suitable
satisfaction," said she, " I will teach him to
know the world ; I will make him bear
sensible marks of his impertinence, and be
cautious hereafter how he tastes a garlic
ragout without washing his hands. " After-
wards they continued their solicitations,
and fell down at her feet, and kissing her
fair hands, " Good madam," said they, "in
the name of God moderate your wrath, and
grant thefavourwc request." She answered
not a word, but got up, and after uttering a
thousand reproaches against me, walked out
of the chamber ; and all the ladies followed
her, leaving nr.e in inconceivable affliction.
I continued there ten days, without seeing
anybody but an old woman slave that
brought me victuals. I asked her what was
become of the favourite lady. "She is
sick," said the old woman ; " she is sick of
the^ poisoned smell you infected her with.
Why did you not take care to wash your
hands after eating of that cursed ragout?"
Is it possible, thought I to myself, that
these ladies can be so nice, and so vindictive
for so small a fault ! I loved my wife, not-
withstanding all her cruelty, and could not
help pitying her.
One day the old woman told me my
spouse was recovered, and gone to bathe,
and would come to see me next day.
" So," said she, " I would have you call up
your patience, and endeavour to accommo-
date yourself to her humour : for she is
otherwise a woman of good sense and
discretion, and beloved by all the ladies
about the court of Zobeide, our respectable
mistress. "
In effect, my wife came next night, and
accosted me thus : "iYou see I am too good
in seeing you again after the affront you
have offered me ; but still I cannot be re-
conciled to you till I have punished you ac-
cording to your demerit, in not washing
your hands after eating the garlic ragout.
This said, she called the ladies, who, by her
order, threw me upon the ground; and after
binding me fast, she had the barbarity to
cut off my thumbs and great toes herself
with a razor. One of the ladies applied a
certain root to stanch the blood ; but by
bleeding and by the pain I swooned away.
When I came to myself they gave me
wine to drink, to recruit my strength.
" Ah, madam," said I to my wife, " if ever
I eat of a garlic ragout again, I solemnly
swear to wash my hands a hundred and
twenty times with the herb alkali, with the
ashes of the same plant, and with soap."
"Well," replied my wife, "upon that con-
dition I am willing to forget what is past,
and live with you as my husband."
This, continued the Bagdad merchant,
addressing himself to the company, this is
the reason why I refused to eat of the garlic
ragout that is now upon the table.
Day appearing stopjjcd Scheherazade; but
next night she went on to the following
pui'pose :•—
The Hundred and Forty-Ninth Night.
Sir, to make an end of the Bagdad mer-
chant's story : The ladies, said he, ap-
plied to my wounds not only the rooti men-
tioned to you, but likewise some balsam of
Mecca, which they were well assured was
THE SULTAN OF CASGARS PURVEYOR.
I6l
■
not adulterated, because they had it out of
the caliph's own dispensatory. By virtue
of that admirable balsam was I perfectly
cured in a few days, and my wife and I lived
together as agreeably as if I had never eat
of the garlic ragout. But having been all
my lifetime used to enjoy my liberty, I
grew weary of being conlined to the cali])h's
palace ; yet I said nothing of it to my wife,
for fear of displeasing her. However, she
suspected it, and wanted nothing more her-
self than to get out ; for it was gratitude
.ilone that made her continue with Zobeide.
Being a very witty woman, she represented
in such lively terms to her mistress the con-
straint I was under, in not living in the city
with people of my own rank, as I had always
done, that the good princess cho !c rather
to deprive herself of the pleasure (f liaving
her favourite about her than not to grant
what we both eijually desired.
A month after our marriage, my wife
came into the room with several eunuchs,
carrying each a bag of silver. When tlie
eunuchs were gone, — " You never told mo,"
said she, "that you were uneasy in being
confined to court : but I jjerceived it, and
have hapj)ily found means to make you con-
tented. My mistress Zobeide gives us leave
to go out of the palace ; .and here are fifty
thousand sequins of which she lias made us
a present, in order to enable us to live com-
fortably in the city. Take ten thousand of
them, and go and buy us a house."
I quickly found a house for the money,
and after furnishing it richly, we vent and
lived in it ; and kept a great many slaves of
both sexes, and ma<lo a good iigure. In
short, we began to live a very agreeable
life, but it did not last long. At a year's end
my wife fell sick and died.
I might have married .again, and lived
honourably at Bagdad ; but curiosity to see
the world put me upon another course.
I sold my house, and after purchasing seve-
ral sorts of goods, I went with a ciravtau
to Persia ; from Persia I tr.avelled to Samar-
cande, and from thence hither.
•' This," said the purveyor to the sultan
of C.osgar, " this is the story that the Bagdad
merchant told in a comjiany where I was yes-
terday." " This story, " said the sultan, * ' has
something in it extraordiuiiry ; but it does
not come near that of my little Hunchback."
Then the Jewisli physician prostrated him-
self before the sidtan's tlirone, .and rising
again, addressed himself to that prince in
the following m.anner : — •" Sir, if you will be
so good as to hear me, I flatter mj'self you
will be pleased with a story I have to tell
you." ♦'Well spoken," said the sult.an ;
"but if it is nf)t more surprising than that
of little Hunchback, you must not expect
to hve."
Day appearing, the sultaness stopped here,
liut resumed her discourse next nigh as
follows :—
The Hundred and Fiftieth Night.
SiE, said she, the Jewish physici.an, find-
ing the sultan of Casgar disposed to hear
him, gave the following relation : —
I
'
162
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
THE STORY TOLD BY THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN.
Sir, when I was studying ijhysic at Dam-
ascus, anil was just beginning to practise
that noble profession with some reputation,
a man slave called mo to see a patient in the
governor of the city's family. Accordingly
I went, and was conducted into a room,
where 1 found a very handsome young man,
much dejected by his disorder. I saluted
him, and sat down by him ; but he made
no rettirn to my compliments, only a sign
with his eyes that he hoard me, and thanked
me. "Pray, sir," said I, "give me your
hand, that I may feel ymir palse." But
instead of stretching out his right, lie gave
me his left hand, at which I was extremely
surprised. This, said I to myself, is a
gross piece of ignorance, that he does not
know that people present their right hand,
and not their left, to a physician. How-
ever, I felt his pulse, wrote him a pre-
scription, and took leave.
I continued my visits for nine days,
and every time I felt his pulse he still gave
me his left hand. On the tenth day he
seemed to be pretty well, and so I pre-
scribed nothing for him but bathing. The
governor of Damascus, who was by, did, in
testimony of his being well satisfied with
my service, invest me with a very rich robe,
saying he made me a physician of the city
hosi)ital, and physician in ordinary to his
house, where I might freely eat at his table
when I pleased.
The young man likewise shewed me many
civilities, .and asked me to accompany him
to the bath. Accordingly we went together,
and when his attendants had undressed him,
I perceived he wanted the right hand, and
that it had not long 'jeen cut off, which had
been the occasion of his disorder, though
concealed from me ; for while the people
about him were applying proper medicines
externally, they had called me to prevent
the ill consequence of the fever which was
on him. I was very much surprised and
concerned on seeing his misfortune ; which
he observed by my countenance. " Doctor,"
cried he, "do not be astonished to see that
my hand is cut off ; some day or other I will
tell you the occasion of it ; and in that rela-
tion you will be entertained with very sur-
prising adventures."
After we had done bathing, we sat down
to table ; and after some other discourse to-
gether, he asked me if it would be any pre-
judice to his health if he went and took a
walk out of town in the governor's garden ?
I made .answer, so far from it, that the air
would benefit his health. "Since it is so,"
said he, " if you will give me your comp.any,
I will tell you the history of my adventures. "
I replied, "I was at his command for all
that day." Upon which he jiresently called
his servants to bring something for a colla-
tion, and we went to the governor's garden.
There we took two or three turns, and then
sat down upon a carpet that his servants
had spread under a tree, which gave a very
pleasant shade. After we were seated, the
young man gave me his history in the
following torn.s : —
I was born, said he, at Moussol, of
one of the most considerable families in
tiie city. My father was the eldest of ten
brothers who were all .alive, .and married
when my grandfather died. All the brothers
were childless, but my father ; tind he has
no child but me. He took particular care
of my education, and made me leiini every-
thing proper for a child of my rank. — But,
sir, said Scheherazade, I am enjoined silence
by the day which now appears. So she
stopped, and the sultan rose.
The Hundred and Fifty-First Night.
Next morning Scheherazade continued her
last story as follows :--Sir, said she, the
Jewish physician addressing himself to the
sultiin of Casgar, the young man of Moussol,
said he, went on thus :
When I was grown up, and began to keep
company with the world, I happened one
Friday to be at noon-pr.aj'crs with my father
and my uncles in the great mosque of Mous-
sol. And after praj'ers were over, the rest
of the compiiny going .away, my father and
myiuicles continued sitting upon the best
carpet in the mosque ; and I sat down by
them. They discoursed of sevcr.al things,
but the conversation fell insensibly, I know
not how, upon the subject of voyages. They
extolled the beauties and peculiar rarities of
some kingdoms, and of their principal cities.
But one of my uncles said, that according to
the uniform report of an infinite number of
voyagers, there was not in the world a
lile.osanter country than Egypt and the Nile ;
and the account he gave of them infused
into me such a charming idea of them, that
from that very momen' I had a desire to
travel thither. Whatever my other uncles
said, by way of preference to Bagdad and the
Tigris, in calling Bagdad the true residence
of the ^lussulman religion, and the metro-
polis of .all the cities of the earth, made no
impression upon me. My fiither joined in
opinion with those of his brothers who had
spoken in favour of Egypt ; which filled me
with joy. " Say what you will," said he,
"the man that has not seen Egypt, has not
seen the greatest rarity in the world. All
the land there is golden ; I mean, it is so
fertile that it enriches its inhabitants. All
the women of that country charm you by
■'ii^fT^^3BCW!^ I j fe t w iMNiM^,'-
watim
of
IB 80
AU
u by
THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN.
163
their beauty and their agreeable carriage.
If you speak of the Nile, where is there a
more wonderful river? What water was
ever lijilitcr or more dtJicioua? The very
flime it carries along in its overflowing
fattens the tields, which produce a thousand
times more than other countries that are
cultivated with the greatest labour. Ob-
serve what a ]ioet said of the Egyptians,
when he was obliged to depart from Egypt :
* Your Nile loads you with blessings every
day ; it is for you only that it runs from
such a distance. Alas ! in removing from
you, my tears will How as abundantly as its
waters : you are to continue in the enjoy-
ment of its sweetnesses, while I am con-
demned to deprive myself of them against
my will.'
" If you look," added my father, "towards
the island that is formed by the two greatest
branches of the Nile, what variety of ver-
dure ! What enamel of all sorts of flowers !
What a prodigious number of cities, villages,
canals, and a thousand other agreeable ob-
jects ! If you turn your eyes on the other
side, up towards Ethiopia, how many other
subjects of admiration ! I cannot compare
the verdure of so many plains, watered with
the did'erent canals of the island, betterthan
til brilliant emeridds set in silver. Is not
Grand Cairo the largest, the most populous,
and the richest city in the universe ? What
a nttmberof magnificent edifices, both public
and jirivate ! If you view the pyramids,
you will be filled with astonishment : yo»i
will stifFen at the sight of these masses of
stone of an enormous thickness, which rear
their heads to the skies ! You will be
obliged to confess that the Pharaohs, who
omjiloyed such riches, and so many men in
building them, must have surpassed in
magnificence and invention all the roonarchs
that have apjieared since, not only in Egypt,
but in all the world, for having left monu-
ments so worthy of their memory : monu-
ments so ancient, that the learned cannot
agree upon the time of their erection ; yet
such as stand to this day, and will last to
the end of time. I pass over in silence the
maritime cities of the kingdom of Egypt,
such as Damictta, Kosetta, Alexandria,
where innumerable nations come for various
sorts of grain, cloth, and an infinite number
of other things calcidated for the accom-
modation and delight of men. I speak of
wfiat I know ; for I spent there some years
in my youth, which, as long as I live, I shall
always reckon the most agreeable iiart of mv
life." •*
Schehera>:ade was proceeding, when day-
light apjieared and silenced her : but to-
wards the close of the ensuing night, she pur-
sued her story in the following manner :
The Hundred and Fifty-Second Night.
My uncles had no answer to give my fa-
ther, continued the young man of Moussol,
and assented to all he had said of the Nild
of Cairo, and of the whole kingdom of
Egypt : my imagination was so full of it,
that I had not a wink of sleei) that night.
Soon after, my uncles declared how much
they were struck with my father's discourse.
They made a ]iroposal to him, that they
should travel all together into Egypt. He
accepted of the proposal ; and being rich
merchants, they resolved to carry with them
such goods as would sell there. I found
that they were making preparations for their
dejiarture ; and thereupon went to my father,
and begged of him, with tears in my eyes,
that he ■Hould sufl'er me to go along with
him, and allow me some stock of goods to
trade with on my own account. "You are
too young," said my father, " to travel into
^^gyP* > the fatigue is too great for you ; and
I
I
\
164
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
besides, I am sure you will come off a loser
in your traffic." These words, however, did
not cure the eager desire I hatl to travel. I
made use of my uncle's interest with my
father, who at last granted me leave to go
as far as Damascus, where they were to leave
me, till they travelled through Egypt.
"The city of Damascus," said my father,
"may likewise glory in its beauties, and my
son must be content with leave to go so far."
Though my curif)8ity to see Egypt was very
prossing, I considered he was my father, and
submitted to his will.
I set out from Moussol with him and my
uncles. We travelled through Mesopotamia,
passed the Euphrates, and arrived at Aleppo,
where we stayed some days. From thence
wo went to Damascus, the first sight of
which agreeably surprised me. We lodged
all together in one khan ; and I had the
view of a city that was large, populous, full
of handsome people, and well fortified. Wo
employed some days in walking up and down
the delicious gardens that surrounded it;
and we all agreed, that Damascus was justly
said to be seated in a paradise. At last my
uncles thought of pursuing their journey ;
but took care, Iwifore they went, to sell my
goods so advantageously for me, that I got
five hundred per cent. This sale fetched
me so considerable a sum, that I was trans-
ported to see myself possessed of it.
My father and my imcles left me in
Damascus, and pursued their journey. After
their departure, I used great caution not to
lay out my money idly. But at the same
time I took a statelj' house, all of marble,
adorned with paintings of gold, silver foli-
age, and a garden with fine water-works.
I furnished it, not so richly, indeed, as the
magnificence of the place deserved, but at
least handsomely enough for a young man
of my rank. It had formerly belonged to
one of the jirincij>al lords of the city, whose
name was Modoun Aldalraham; but then
was the property of a rich jewel merchant,
to whom 1 paid for it only two sherifs * a
month. I had a number of domestics, and
lived honourably ; sometimes I gave enter-
tainments to such people as I had made an
acquaintance with, and sometimes I went
and was treated by them. Thus did I spend
my time at Damascus, waiting for my
father's return ; no passion disturbed ray
repose, and my only employment was con-
versing with people of credit.
One day, as I sat taking the cool air at
my gate, a very handsome well-dressed lady
came to me, and asked if I did not sell
stuffs ? She no sooner spoke the words than
she went into my house.
Here Scheherazade stojiped, perceiving
* A sherif is thfi same with a sequin. Tliis word
occurs in our ancient authors.
day ; but the next night went on oa fol-
lows :—
The Hundred and Fifty-Third Night.
When I saw, said the young man of Mous-
sol, that the lady was gone into the house,
I rose, and having shut the gate, conducted
her into a hall, and prayed her to sit down.
"Madam," said I, "I have had stuffs that
arc fit to be shewn to you, but I have them
not now ; for which I am very sorry. She
took off the veil that covered her face, and
discovered a beautiful person, which atfocted
me with such emotions as I had never felt
before. "I havo no occasion for stuffs,"
said she ; " I only ccmo to see you, and
pass the evening with you, if you please ;
all I ask of you is a light collation."
Transported with such good luck, I
ordered the servants to bring us several
sorts of fruits, and some bottles of wine.
They served us with despatch ; and we ate,
drank, and made merry till midnight. In
short, I had not before passed a night so
agreeably as this. Next morning, I would
have put ten sherifs in the lady's hands, but
she drew back instantly. " I am not come
to see you," said she, "with an interested
design ; you affront me : far from receiving
money of you, I desire you to take money
of me, or else I will see you no more." In
speaking this, she put her hand into her
purse, took out ten sherifs, and forced me
to take them, saying, " You may expect me
three days hence after sunset." Then she
took leave of mo, and I felt that when she
went she carried my heart along with her.
She did not fail to return at the appointed
hour three di.ys after : and I did not fail to
receive her w.th all tlie joy of a person who
waited impatiently for her arrival. The
evening and the night we spent <as before ;
and next day, at i)arting, she promised to
return the third day after. However, she
did not go without forcing me to take ten
sherifs more.
She returned a third time ; and at that
interview, when we were both warm wil>
wine, she spoke thus : ' ' My dear heart, what
do you think of me? Am I not handsome
and agreeable?" "Madam," said I, "I
think this an unnecessary question : all the
expressions of love which I shew you ought to
persuade you that I love you ; I am charmed
to see you and possess you. You arc my
queen, my sultaness ; in you lies all the
felicity of my life." "Ah!" replied she,
"I am sure you would speak otherwise if
you saw a certain lady of my acquaintance,
that is younger and handsomer than me.
She is of such a pleasant lively temper,
that she would make the most melancholy
people merry : I must bring her hither ; I
[
THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN.
105
cpoke of you *o her, and from the account I
have given of you, she is dying with desire
to see you. She entreated mo to procure her
that plcaHurc, but I did not dare to humour
her without speaking to you beforehand.
"Madam," said 1, "do wliat you please;
but whatever you may say of your friend, I
defy all her charms to tear my heart from
you, to whom it is so inviolably attached
that nothing can disengage it." " Bo not
too positive," said she ; " I now tell you, I
am about to put your heart to a strange
trial."
We stayed together all night, and next
morning at parting, instead of ten sherifs,
she gave me fifteen, which I was forced to
accept. " Remember," said she, "that in
two days' time, you are to have a new
guest ; pray take care to give her a good
reception : we will come at the iisual hour,
after sunset." I took care to have my hall
in great order, and a handsome collation i)re-
pared against they came.
Here Scheherazade, obscrvirg it was day,
stopped ; but the next night she went on as
follows : —
The Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Night.
Sir, the young man of Moussol, recounting
the history of his adventures to the Jewish
physician, continu-
ed thus : I waited,
said he for the two
ladies with impa-
tience, and at last
they arrived at the
beginning of the
night. They both
unveiled them-
selves, and as I had
been surprised with
the beauty of the
first, I had reason
to be much more so
when I saw her
friend. She had re-
gular features, a
complete person,
and such sparkling
eyes, that I could
hardly bear their
si)lendour. I thank-
ed her for the hon-
our she did me, and
entreated her to ex-
cuse mo if I did not give her the reception
Bhe deserved. "No compliments," said she ;
"it should be my part to make them to you,
for allowing my friend to bring me hither.
But since you are pleased to suffer it, let us
lay aside all ceremony, and think only of
amusing ourselves."
I had given orders, as soon as the ladies
arrived, to have the collation served up, and
wo soon sat down to Bupjicr. I sat opposite
to the strange lady, and she never ceased
looking upon me with a smile, I could not
resist her conquering eyes, and she possessed
herself so powerfully of my heart, that I
could ofl'er no opposition. But while she
inspired me with a ilame, she caught the
llamo herself ; and so far from shewing any
constraint in her carriage, she held to me
very lively language.
The other lady, who observed us, did
nothing at first but laugh at us. "I told
you," said she, addressing herself to me,
"you would find my friend full of charms ;
and I perceive you have already violated the
oath you made me of being faithful to me."
"Madam," said I, laughing as well as she,
"you would have reason to comj)lain of me
if I were wanting in civility to a lady whom
you brought hither, and who is a favourite
with you ; both of you might then upbraid
me, for not knowing how to do the honours
of my house."
We continued to drink ; but as the wine
warmed us, the strange lady and I ogled
one another with so little reserve, that her
friend grew jealous, and quickly gave us a
dismal jjroof of her jealousy. She rose from
the table and went out, saying she would be
with us presently again ; but a few momenta
after, the lady that stayed with me changed
countenance, fell in-
to violent convid-
sions, and, in short,
expired in my arms,
while I was calling
for assistance to re-
lieve her. I went
out immediately,
and asked for the
other lady ; and my
people told me, she
had opened the
street door and was
gone. Then I sus-
]ie(;tud, what was
but too true, that
she had been the
cause of her friend's
death. She had the
dexterity and the
malice to i)ut some
very strong poison
into the hist glass,
which slie gave her
with her own hand.
I was afflicted to the last degree with the
accident. What shall I do ? thought I,
What will become of me ? I considered
there was no time to lose, and it being then
moonlight, I made my servants quietly take
up one of the great pieces of marble with
which the court of my house was paved.
Under that I made them presently dig a
i66
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
il
hole, and there inter the corpse of tbe
young lady. After replacing tlie atone, [
put on a travelling suit, and took what
money I had j and having locked up every-
thing, ailixud my own seal on the door of
my house. This done, I went to see the
jewel merchant, my landlord ; paid him
what rent I owed, with a year's rent in
advance ; and, giving him the key, jirayed
him to koejt it for me. "A very urgent
affair," said I, " obliges me to be absent for
some time ; I am under the necessity of
going to find out my uncles at Cairo." I
took my leave of him, immediately mounted
my horse, and set oil' with my attendants.
Day appearing, Scheherazade discontiu<ied
her discourse ; but lesmucd it next night oa
follows ; —
The Hundred and Fifty-Fifth Night.
I HAD a good journey, continued the young
man of Mousaol, and arrived at Cairo with-
out any accident. There I met with my
imcles, who were very much surprised to
see me. To excuse myself, I pretended I
was tired of staying for them ; and hearing
nothing of them, was so uneasy, that I
could not be satistied without coming to
Cairo. They received me very kindly, and
promised my father should not be angry
with me for leaving Damascus without his
permission. I lodge<l in the same khan
with them, and saw all the curiosities of
Cairo.
Having finished their traffic, they began
to talk of returning to Moussol, and to
make preparations for their departure ; but
I, having a mind to see something in Egypt
that I had not yet seen, left my uncles, and
went to lodge in another quarter at a dis-
tance from the khan, and did not appear
any more till they were gone. They sought
for me all over the city ; but not finding me,
they supposed remorse for having come to
Egypt without my father's consent had put
me on returning to Damascus, without say-
ing anything to them. So they began their
journey, expecting to find me at Damascus,
and there to take me up.
I continued at Cairo after their departure
three years, more completely to indulge my
curiosity after all the wonders of Egypt.
During that time, I took care to send money
to the jewel merchant, ordering him to keep
my house for me ; for I designed to retm-n
to Damascus, and stay there some years
more. I had no adventure at Cairo worth
relating ; but, doubtless, you will be very
much surprised at that I met with after my
return to Damascus.
Arriving at this city, I went to the jewel
merchant's house, who received me joyfully,
and would needs go along with me to my
house, to show me that nobody had entered
it while I was absent. The seal was still
entire upon the lock ; and when I went in,
I found everything in the same order in
which I hud left it.
In 8wee]>ing and cleaning out my hall
where I had \ised to eat with the ladies, one
of my servants found a gold chain necklace,
with ten very large and very perfect pearls
])laced upon it at certain distances. Ho
brought it to me, and I knew it to be the
same I had seen upon the lady's neck that
was poisoned, and conuhuU'd it had broken
off and fallen, when I did not perceive it.
I could not look upon it without shedding
tears, when I called to mind the lovely
creature I had seen die in such a shocking
manner. 1 wrapt it up, and put it in my
bosom.
I passed some days to recover from the
fatigues of my voyage ; after which, I liegon
to visit my former actjuaintancc. I aban-
doned myself to all manner of pleasure, aud
insensibly squandered away all my money.
Being thus reduced, instead of selling my
furniture, I resolved to jjart with my neck-
lace ; but I had so little skill in pearls, that
I took my measures very ill, as you shall
hear.
I went to the bezestcin, where I called a
crier aside, and shewing lum the necklace,
told him I had a mind to sell it, and desired
him to shew it to the principal jewellers.
The crier was 8urj)rised to see such a trinket.
"What a pretty thing it is!" cried he,
staring upon it a long whUe with admira-
tion ; "never did our merchants see any-
thing so rich. I am sure Ishall oblige them
highly in shewing it to them ; and you need
not doubt they will set a high price upon it,
in emulation of each other." He carried
me to a shop, which proved to be my land-
lord's. "Stay here," said the crier; "I
will return presently, and bring you an
answer."
While he w.as running about to shew the
necklace with much caution, I sat with the
jeweller, who was glad to see me, and we
conversetl on different subjects. The crier
returned, and calling me aside, instead of
telling me the necklace was valued at two
thousand sherifs, he assured me nobody
would give me more than fifty. " The
reason is," added he, "the pearls are false :
consider, see if you will part with it at that
price." I took him at his word ; and,
wanting money, "Go," said I, "I take
your word, and that of those who know
better than myself ; deliver it to them, and
bring me the money immediately."
The crier had been ordered to offer me
fifty sherifs by one of the richest jewellers
in town, who had only made that offer to
sound me, and try if I was well acquainted
with the value of the goods I exposed to
THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN.
167
•ale. IIo liad no sooucr rucuived my
aiiHwer, than he corriud tho crier to tho
jiulji^, and tthuwiii^ him tho ncckloeo, ".Sir,"
8aid he, " here in a nucklucu that woti stuleii
from me, ami the thief, under the eharuuter
of a merchant, hiu< liud tliu impudence to
offer it for sule, and is at this minute in the
bezeatein. He \a willing to tiiko lifty sheriff
for a neckliur that in worth two thouHiuid,
which is a plain ari^ument that it is stolon."
The jud|;o sent immediately to seize me;
and when I came before him, he asked mo
if tho necklace he hod in his hand was not
the same that I had exposed to Hale in the
bezestein, T told him it was. "Is it true,"
said he, "that you ore willing to deliver it
for lifty slierifs '; " 1 answered I was.
"Well," said ho, iii a scoffing way to me,
"give him tho bastinado; he will quickly
tell us, with all his lino merchant's clothes,
that ho is only a downright thief ; let him
be beat till ho confesses." The violence of
the blows ma«le mo tell a lie : I confessed,
though it was not true, ihat I hail stolen
tho necklace; and presently tho judge
ordered my lian<l to bo cut oil'.
This made a great noise iu tho bezesteiu ;
and I was scarce returned to my house
when my landlord came. "My son," said
he, " you seem to bo a young man well
educated, and of good sense ; how is it
possible you could be guilty of such an un-
worthy action as that 1 hear talk of ? You
gave me an account of your property your-
self, mul I do not doubt but the account is
just. Why did not you ask money of me,
and I would have lent it you 'i However,
after what has happened, I cannot allow
you to lodge longer iu my house ; you must
go and seek for other lodgings." I was
extremely troubled at this ; and entreated
the jeweller, with tears in my eyes, to let
me stay three days longer iu his house,
which he granted.
Alas ! said I to myself, this misfortune
and affront is unsuft'orable : how shall 1 dare
to return to Moussol ? Nothing I can Si'y
to my father will persuade him that I am
innocent,
Scheherazade perceiving day, stopt here ;
but continued her story next day as
follows : —
The Hundred and Fifty-Sixth Night.
Three hours after this fatal accident my
house was assaulted by the judge's officers,
accompanied with my landlord, and the
merchant that had falsely accused me of
having stolen the necklace. 1 asked them
what brought them there. But instead of
giving me any answer, they bound and
gagged me, calling me a thousand rogues,
and telling me the necklace belonged to the
Those
, ' said 1, "1
iliuiioent. 1
the necklace
governor of iJamascus, who hiul lost it above
three years ago, luul that one of his
daughters had not been heard of since that
timu. Judge my sensations when I heard
this news. However, t summoned all my
resolution : I will tell, thought I, \ will tell
the governor tho truth ; and so it will rest
with him either to put me to death, or to
pardon me.
When I was brought before him, I ob-
served he looked ujion me with an eye of
compassion, from whence I augured well.
Ho ordered nto to bo untitd ; and, aildresa-
ing himself to tho jewellrr who accused me,
and to my landlord, "Is this tho man,"
said he, "that sold the pearl necklace?"
They hud no sooner answered "yes," than
ho Huid, "I am sure In- did not steal the
necklace, ami I am iiiU' h .ist' ui.shed at tho
injustice that has lieeu ^ .v
Words giving iiu ^•ouraLre, "' ^
do as.siire yi'u I jim jkiI'
am likewise tully persuiii. A
never did In I 11 g to my accuser, whom I
.lever sa»„ .lad wh<w<e horrible pertidy is
tho causi i>i my iiujust treatment. It is
true, I uuule a confession iis if I had stolen
it ; but this I did contrary to my conscience,
through the force of torture, and for another
reason, that I am ready to tell you, if you
will bo so good as to hear me." "I kuow
enough of it already," replied the governor,
"to tlo you one part of tho justice that is
due to you. Take from hence," contiuued
he, " take tho false accuser ; let him under-
go the same p\inishnient he caused to be
inllicted on this young man, whose innocence
is known to me."
Tho governor's orders Mere immediately
put in execution ; the jeweller was iiunished
as he deserved. Then the governor, having
ordered all tho company to withdraw, said
to me, " My son, tell me without fear how
this necklace fed into your hands — conceal
nothing from me." Then I told him i)lainly
all that had passed, and declared I had
chosen rather to i)ass for a thief than to re-
veal that tragical adventure. " Good God ! "
said the governor, "thy judgments are in-
compreheusible, and we ought to submit to
them without murmiuing. I receive, with
an entire submission, tho stroke thou hast
been pleased to inllict upon me." Then,
directing his discourse to me, "My son,"
said he, "having now heard the cause of
your disgrace, for which 1 am very much
concerned, 1 will give you an account of the
disgrace that befell me. Know, then, that
I au! the father of these two young ladies
you ^^•ero speaking of but now.
Scl.eherazade, perceiving the appearance
of day, stopt here, but went on next night
iu the ioUowiug maimer ; —
i68
THE ARAIUAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Night.
•Sir, mid ahc, the diRcourso that the gover-
nor of DamnxcuB adilrt'HSL'd to tho yoiini;
inau of MouHHol was thin : " My sun," Mixid
thu govcnior, "yoii are to kn<iw, tliat the
first lady, wim had the impudenee to eoiuu
to yoiir lioiiNi", w o-S my eldest daughter. 1
had given her in niarri!ij;e, at Cairo, to oni;
of her COII8U1H, my brother's son. Her hus-
band died and she returned home, eurruiited
with all manner of wickedness, wliieh she
luxd learned in Kgypt. Before I took her
homo, her youngest sister, who died in that
deplorable manner in your arms, was a very
prudent young woman, and had never given
me any ocea'iion to comiilaiu of her conduct.
But after that the eldest sister grew very
intimate with her, and insensibly made her
OS wicked as herself.
"The day after the death of tho yourigost,
not finding her at table, I asked her eldest
Bister what was become of her ; but she,
instead of answering, fell to crying bitterly,
from whence I formed a fatal presage. I
pressed hor to inform me of what I asked
her. 'Father,' said she, sobbing, '1 can
tell you no more than that my sister put on
her best clothes yesterday, and her fine jiearl
necklace, and went out, and has not been
heard of since.' I made search for my
daughter all over tho town, but coidd learn
nothing of her unhappy fate. In the mean
time tho eldest, who doubtless repented of
her jealous fiu-y, took on vev;- much, and
incessantly bewailed the death of her sister ;
she denied herself all inannei of food, and so
put an end to her deplorable days.
"Such," continued the governor, "such is
the condition of mankind I — such arc *■'.. un-
lucky accidents to which they are exposed !
However, my son," added he, " since we are
both of ua eipially unfortunate, let us unite
our sorrow, and not abandon one another.
I give you in marriage a third daughter I
have still left ; she is younger than her sis-
ters, and in no respect imitates their con-
duct ; besides, she is handsomer than they
were, and I assure you is of a disposition
calculated to make you happy. You shall
have no other house but mine ; and after
my death you and she shall be heirs to all
my property."
"Sir," said I, "I am ashamed of all your
favours, and shall never be able to make a
Bufiicient acknowledgment." "Enough,"
said he, interrupting me ; "let ws not waste
time in idle words." This said, ho called
for witnesses, ordered the contract of mar-
riage to be drawn, and I married his daugh-
ter without further ceremony.
He was not satisfied with punishing the
jeweller who had falsely accused me, but
confiscated for my use all his property,
which was very considerablp. A« for tho
rest, since you have i)oen called to the go-
vernor's house, you may havo seen what re-
Hiiect they ]iay me there. I nnist tell you
further, tliaii a man wlio has been sent by
my uncles to Egypt, on ]>ur[)oHo to iu(piiru
for liiM there, passing throii'.;!' Hhis city,
found me out, and oanio last night and de-
livered mo a letter from them. They inform
me of my fatlier's death, and invito mo to
eonic and take posseMsiou of his estate at
Moussol ; but as the alliivnce aiul friendship
of tho governor have fixed mo with him, and
will not Butfer nu^ to leave him, I have sent
back tho express, with a power which will
secure to me my i)roperty. After what you
havi! heard, I \w\m you will pardon my
incivility iluring tlie course of my illness,
ill giving you my left instc.iil of my right
hand.
This, said tlio Jewish physician, this
is tho story T heard fniiii the young ni.au of
Aloussol. 1 continued at iJaniaseus as long
as tho governor lived : after his death, being
in the (lower of my age, I had tho curiosity
to travel. Accordingly I went through
I'ersia to the Indies, and came at iast to set-
tle in this your capital, where I practise
physic with reputation.
'J'he sultan of Oasgar was well pleased
with this last story. 1 must say, said he to
the .Jew, the story you have told me is very
singular ; but I declare freely, that of the
little hump-back is yet more extraordinary,
and much more comical ; so you are not to
expect that I wiU give you your life any
more than the rest. I will hang you all
four. " i'ray, sir, stay a minute," said the
tailor, advancing forwards, and prostrating
himself at the sultan's feet; " siuce your
majesty loves pleasant sti>ries, I havo one to
tell you that will not displease you."
" Well, I will hear thee too," said tho sultan ;
" but do not flatter thyself that I will sutler
thee to live, unless thou tellest me some ad-
venture that is yet more diverting than that
of tho hump-backed man." Upon this the
tailor, as if ho had been sure of his scheme,
spoke boldly to the following i)urpose : —
THE STOllY TOLD BY THE TATLOU.
A CITIZEN of this city did me the honour,
two days ago, to invito mo to a treat which
he was to give to his friends yesterday
morning. Accordingly I went early, and
found there about twenty jjcrsons.
The master of the house was gone out
upon some business, but in a very little time
ho came home, and brought with him a
young man, a stranger, very well dressed,
and very handsome, but lame. When he
came in, wo all rose up, aiul, out of respect
to the master of the hou^e, invited the
young man to sit down with us upon the
if
THE TAILOR.
169
*
aofa. Ho was goinj^ to do bo, but all nn a
«iuldon, Hpyiii^ a harbor in (iiir coin|iaiiy, lie
flow backwards, and niailu towards tlio door.
Tlio inasUr of tho hougf, Hiiqirisi'd at Iiih bn-
baviour, Rtoppt'd him. " Wbcro aro you
goiiijj?" Bai<i bo. " I l)rinK you along witli
nio to do mo tho honour of boinj; my i;uo»t
amont; tho rest of my friondw, nnd you aro
110 sooner j,'<)t into my Iiouho, but vim aro
for runnin){ awiiy nuain." "Sir,"Niuii ♦liu
young man, " for tiod's sako do not atop u. 1
— lot mo go: i cannot without horror look
upon that abominablo barbor, who, though
ho was l)orn in a country whoro all tho na-
tives aro whito, roseniblos an Ethiopian, and
liis soul is yet blacl.crand moro horrible than
his face."
Schchorazadc perceiving day, said no moro
for that night; but next day wout on oa
foUowa : —
Tl:o Hundred and Fifty-Eighth Night.
We were all surjirisod to heai; the young
man speak so, continued tho tailor; and we
began to have a very bad opinion of the
barber, without knowing what ground the
young man had for what he said. Kay, wo
])rotested wo would not suffer any one to
remain in our company who bore so horrid
A character. Tho master of the house en-
treated tho stranger to toll us what reason
he had for hating the barber. "Gentlemen,"
said tho young man, "you must know this
cursed barber is the cause of my being Inmo,
and falling under tho
cruellest accident that
any oue can imagine.
For this reason 1 have
sworn to avoid all the
l)laces whore ho i.s, and
even not to stay in the
cities where ho dwells.
It was fi)r this reason
that I. left Bagdad,
wliero he then was, and
travelled so far to settle
in this city, in the heart
of Great Tartary, a place
where I flattered myself
1 should never see him ;
and now, after all, con-
trary to my expectation,
I liiul him here. This
obliges me, gentlemen,
against my will, to de-
prive myself of the hon-
our of being merry with
you. This very day I take leave of your
town, and will go, if I can, to hide my head
where he shall not come." This said, he
would have left us, but the master of the
house kept him, and entreated him to
stay, and tell us the cause of his aver-
sion for tho barber, who all this while
looked down, antl said not a word. Wo
joined with tho master of tho liouse in
re(|uesting him to stay ; and, at last, tho
young man, yielding to our importunities,
sat down upon tho sofa ; and, alter turning
his back to the barber, that he might not seu
him, gave us tho following account!—
My father's ijuality might have entitled
binj to the highest posts in the city of Mag-
dad ; but h(! always ]ireferred a (piiet life to
all tho iKiniMirs ho might deHorvo. I was
his only child, and when ho died I was
already educated, and of ago to dispose of
tho i>lentiful fortune ho had left mo ; which
1 did not sipiiiiider away foolishly, but
applied it to such uses that everybody ro-
specteil me.
I had not been yet disturbed with nny
])assion : I was so far from l)eing seiisiiile of
love, that I acknowledge, jierhaps to my
shanu', that I cautiously •ivoided tho conver-
sation of women. One day, walking in tho
streets, I saw a gre.it company of ladies be-
fore mo ; and tliat I might not meet them,
I turned down a narrow lane just by, and
sat down upon a bench ))y a door. 1 sat
over against a window where there stood a
pot with very ]>retty llowers; and I had my
eyes lixed upon it, when on a sudden tho
window oj)enod, and a young lady ap]peared,
whose beauty struck me. Immediately she
cast her eyes upon me ; ancl in watering tho
flower-pot with a hand whiter than alabas-
ter, looked upon me with a smile that in-
spired mo with as much love for her, as I
had formerly aversion
f(jr all women. After
having watered her flow-
ers, aiul darted upon mo
a glance full of charmB
that pierced my heart,
she shut the window
again, and left me in in-
conceivable ])erplexity ;
from which 1 should not
have recovered, if a noise
in the street had not
brought me to myself.
I lifted up my head,
and turning, saw the
first cadi of tho city,
mctunted on a mule, and
attenrled by five or six
servants : he alighted at
the door of the house
whore the young lady
had opened the win-
dow, and went in; from
whence I concluded he was the young lady's
father.
T went home in a difTerent state of mind,
tossed with a passion the more violent, as 1
had never felt its assaults before : I went to
bed in a violent fever, at which all the
I/O
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
m
'i
i
ii
family was much concerned. 3Iy rehvtioiis,
w 10 had a great affection for uie, were so
a'.armed with the sudden dis' idur, that they
importuned uiu to tell the cause ; which 1
took care luit to discover. My silence
created an uneasiness that tlie physicians
could not dispel, because they knewuothiny
of my distemper, niid by their medicines
they rather iuilamed than checked it.
My relations bet^an to despair of my life,
when an old la<]y of our acquaintance, hear-
int; I was ill, came to see me. She con-
sidered me with great attention, and after
having examined me, penetrated, I know
not how, into tlie real cause of my illness.
She took my relations aside, and desired all
my people v/oidd retire out of the room, and
leave her alone with me.
When the room was clear, she sat down
on the side of my bed. "My son," said
she, "you have obstinately concealed the
cause of your illness ; but you have no
occasion to reveal it to me. I have experi-
ence enough to penetrate into a secret ; you
will not deny it, when I tell you it is love
that makes ; du sick. I can lind a way to
cure you, if you will but let me know who
that ha]>py ladj' is that could move a heart
so insensible as your's ; for you have the
character of a woman-hater, and I was n(jt
the last that perceived that such wis your
disposition ; but what I foresaw has .ome to
pass, and I am now glad of the opportunity
to em)iloy my talents in relieving your pain."
Sir, said Scheherazade, I perceive it is
day : Schahriar rose j)resently, full of imjia-
tience to know the sequel of a story which
he had heard the beginning of.
The Hundred and Fifty-Ninth Night.
Sir, aaid Scheherazade, the lame young man
pursued his story thus : The old latly, said
he, having talked to me thus, paused, ex-
pecting my answer ; but though what she
ha<.1 said had made a strong imiiression upon
me, I durst not lay open to lier the bottom
of my heart : I only turned to her, and
fetched a deep sigh, without saying any-
thing. " Is it bashfulness," saidshe, "that
keeps you from speaking ? or is it want of
contidenee in me ? Do you doubt the eflect
of my promise ''. I could mention to you a
number of young men of your i";quaint-
ance th."'. have been in the same condi-
tion wiui you, and have received relief
from me."
The good lady told me so many more cir-
cumstances, that I broke silence, declared
to her my comi>laint, pointed out to her the
jilace where 1 had seen the object which
occasioned it, and unravellei.l all the circum-
stances of my adventure. " If you succeed,"
said I, "and procure me the happiness of
seeing tliat charming beauty, and reveahng
to her the passion with which I burn for
her, you may depend upon it I will be grate-
ful." "My son," said the old woman, "I
know the lady you sjieak of ; she is, as you
rightly judge, the daughti r of the first cadi
of this city. I am not surprised that you
are in love with her : sho is the handsomest
aiul most lovely lady in Bagdad ; but what
I most hesitate about is, that she is very
l)roud, and of difhculb access. You know
how strict our judges are in enjoining the
punctual observance of the severe laws that
coulkie women in such a strict constraint ;
and they are yet more strict in the observa-
tion of them in their own families : the cadi
you saw is more r'gid in that point than all
the other magistrates together. Thoy are
always preaching to their daughters what a
heinous crime it is to shew themselves to
men ; and the girls themselves are so pre-
possessed with the notion, that they make
no other use of their own eyes but to con-
duct them along the street, when necessity
obliges them to go abroad. I do not say
absolutely that the first cadi's daughter is
of that humour ; but that does not hinder
my fearing to meet with as gi'eat obstacles
on her side as on her father's. Would to
God yt)u had loved any other ! then I should
not have bad so many ditficulties to sur-
mount. Howe\er, I shall employ all my
wits to compass the matter ; but it requires
time. In the meantime take courage, and
trust in me."
The old woman took leave of me ; and as
I weighed within myself all the obstacles
she had been talking of, the fear ,yf her not
succeeding in her midertaking intlaraed my
disorder. Next day she came again, and I
read in her cou.'itenance that she had no
favourable news to impart. She spoke
thus: "My son, I was not mistaken; I
have somewhat else to conquer besides the
vigilance of a father : you love an insensible
object, who takes pleasu.-e in making every
one biu'n with love who suffer themselves to
be charmed by her ; but she will not deign
tliem the least comfort. She heard me with
pleasure, when I spoke of nothing but the
torment she made you undergo ; but I no
sooner opened my mouth to engage her to
allow you to see her, and converse with her,
but casting ,at me a terrible look, ' You are
very bold,' said she, ' to make such a j)ro-
posal to me ; I charge you never to see me
again with such language.' "
" Do not let t]iis cast you down," con-
tinued she ; "I am not easily disheartened ;
and if your patience does but hold out, I am
hopeful I shall comi)a8s my end." To
shorten my story, said t'le young man,
this good go-between made several fruit-
less attacks in my behali! on the proud
I
5;l
THE TAILOR.
171
enemy of my rest. The vexation 1 suffered
inflamed my distemper to that degree, that
my physicians gave nie over. I was con-
sidered as a dead man, when the ohl woman
came to recall me to life.
That nobody might hear what was said,
she whispered in my ear, — " llemcmber the
present you owe for the good news I bring
you." These words produced a marvellous
effect ; I raised myself uj) in the bed, and
with transport made answer, " You shall
not go without a present ; but what is the
news yon bring me?" "Dear sir," said
she, "you shall not die; I shall speedily
have the j)leasiu'e to see you in perfect
health, and very well satisfied with me.
Yesterday, being Monday, I went to see V<v:
lady you love, and found her in a very j^c u i
humour. As soon as I came in, 1 put on
a sad countenance, and fetched many deej)
sighs, and began to s(pi ^eze out simie tears.
■My good mother,' said she, 'what is the
matter with you '. why are you so cast
down?' 'Ahs, my dear and honourable
lady,' said 1, ' I have been just now with
the young gentleman I spoke to you of the
other day ; his business is done ; he is
giving up his life for love of you ; it is a
pity, I assure you, and you have been very
cruel.' 'I am at a loss to know,' replied
she, ' how you mean me to be the cause of
his death. How can I have contributed to
it?' 'How,' replied I. 'aid not you tell
me the other day, that he sat down before
your window, when you opened it to water
your llower-pot ? He then saw that j)rodigy
of beauty, those charms that your mirror
represents to you ever? day. From tliat
moment he languishes, and his disorder is
risen to that height, that he is reduced to
the deplorable condition I have mentioned.' "
At this p-^viiiil, Scheherazade seeing day,
discontinued th. story till next night, when
she resiuue'l it as follows : —
Tlie Hundred and Sixtieth Night.
Sre, the old lady continued her account
the interview she had with the caui a
daughter. '"You remeud)erwell,"' added I,
'"how rigorously you treated me the lust
time I was here, when I was offering to
speak to you of his illness, and to ju-opoae a
means to rescue liim from the danger he was
in : when I took leave of y(/,', I went
straight to his house, and he knew no sooner
by my countenance that I had b -ought no
favourable answer, than his disti'mi)er in-
creased. From tbab time, madam, lie has
been ready to die, and T do not know
whether you can save his life now, though
you should take pity on him.' Tins is just
what I said to her," continued the old
woman. "The fear of your death alarmed
her, and I saw her face change colour.
' la what you say true ? ' said she. ' Has
he actually no other disorder but what was
occasioned by the love of me?' 'Ah!
madam,' said I, 'it is too true: would to
God it were false !^ 'Do you believe,'
said she, 'that the hopes of seeing me
would at all contribute to rescue him from
the danger he is in?' 'Perhaps it m.-iy,'
said I ; ' and if you will give me orders, I
wUl try the remedy.' 'Well,' said she,
sighing, ' give him hopes of seeing me, but
he must pretend to no other favour from,
me, unless he aspires to marry me, and my
father gives his consent to it.' ' Madam,'
replied I, ' your goodness overcomes me : I
will go and seek the young gentleman, and
tell him he is to have the ideasure of an
interview witii you.' ' The i)roperest time
I can think of,' said she, ' for granting him
that favour, is next Fri^Iay, at the time of
noon prayers. Let him take care to observe
when my father goes out, and then come
and jilant himself over against the house, if
his health pcrmita him to come abroad.
When he comes, I sliidl see him through my
window, and sliall come down and open the
door to him ; we shall then c^onverse to-
gether during i>rayer-time, and he must be
gone before my father returns.'
"It is now Tuesday," continued the old
lady; "you have from this time to Friday
to recover your .strength, and make the
necessary dispositions for the interview."
While the good ol-' lady was speaking, I
felt my illness decrease ; or rather, by the
time she had done, I found myself perfectly
well. "Here, take this," said I, reaching
out to her my purse, which was full ; " it is
to you alone that I owe my cure. I reckon
this money better empltiyed than all that I
gave to the physicians, who have only tor-
mented me during the whole course of lay
illness."
When the old lady was g< me, T f o\nid T had
strength enough to get up ; and my relations
lindiug me so well, complimented me upon
it, and went home.
Friday morning the old woman came,
just when I was dressing myself, and chees-
ing out the hnest clothes in my wardrobe,
"L do not asic you," said she, " how you
do : what you are about is intimation
enough of your health : but will not you
bathe before you go to the lirst cadi's
house?" "That will take u|i too much
time," said I ; "I will content myself with
sending for a barl)er to shave my head and
beard." Immediately I. ordered one of my
slaves to call a liarber that ciuud do his
business cleverly and exjieditiously.
The slave brought me this wretch you see
here ; who came, and after saluting me,
" iSir," said he, "you look as ii you were
not well." I told him 1 was just recovered
'I
1 1
>■ :\ i
i .
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
from a fit of sickness. "I wish," said he,
"God may deUver yo« from all mischance ;
may his grace always go along with you."
" 1 hope," said I, " ':e will grant your wish,
for which I. .im very much ohliged to you."
" Since you are recovering of a tit of sick-
Tiess,"' said he, "I pray God preserve yo\ir
health ; hut now pr.ay let mc know what I
am to do ; I have hrought my razors and
my lancets ; do you desire to jje shaved or
to ho hied?" I replied, "I am just re-
covered of a fit of sickness, I told you, and
so you may readily judge I only want to he
shaved. Come, make haste, do not lose
time in prattling ; for I am in li.aste, and
precisely at noon I am to he at a place."
Here the approach of day interrupted
Scheherazade ; but next night she pursued
her story thus ; —
The Hundred and Sixty-First NigM.
The barber, continued the lame young
man, .spent much time in opening his case,
and preparing his razors : instead of jiutting
water into the basin, he took a very hand-
some astrolabe out of his case, and went
very gravely out of my room to tha middle
of the yard, to take the height of the sun :
then he returned witli the same grave jiace,
and entering iuy room, " Sir," said he, "you
will be pleased to know this day is Friday,
the ISth of the moon Safar, in the year
G5.3 * from the retreat of our great pro])het
from Mecca to Medina, and in the year
7320 1 of the cpocha of the great Iskender
with two horns : and that the conjunction
of Mars and !Mercury signilies you cannot
choose a better time than this very day and
hour for being shaved. But o:i tho other
hand the same conjunction is a bad presage
to you. I learn from thence, that this day
you run a great risk, not indeed of losing
your life, b\it ot an inconvenience which will
attend you v hile you live You are obliged
to me for tho advice I now give \'ou, to take
care to a^ oid it ; I should be s>,;..y if it befell
you."
You may guess, gentlemen, how vexed
I was at having fallen into the hands of such
a prattling, imj)ertinent bai'bei ; what an
unseasonable adventure it was for a lover
preparing for an interview ! I waa quite
• Tills year O.'i." is one of ttie IIcpir.T, tlie common
epocliii of the Miihamniciliins, iinil iinswers to the year
12o5 from (he iiati\ity of Clirist ; from whence we may
conjecture that these computations were made in Arabia
about tliat time.
■f As for the year 7320, tho author is mistaken in tlmt
coniiiutatioii. The year 00:1 of tlie IIe).'ini, ami the I'JSa
of Christ. coinci<le only with tlie ]:J57 of the era or
epocha of the t-eleucides, which is the same with that of
Alexander the Great, who is called Iskeuikr with two
lionis, iicconlin;; to th'! expression of the Arabians.
This name he lias from Ills father Jupiter Amnion, iu
memory of whom lie is represented sometimes witli tlie
liorns of u rum on bis head.
angry. "I care not," said I, in anger, "for
your advice and predictions ; I did not call
you to considt your astrology ; you came
hither to shave me ; shave me, or begone.
I will call another b.irber." '' Sir," sai<l he,
with a phlegm that put mc out of all pa-
tience, " what reason have you to be angry
with me? You do not knor.- that all bar-
bers are not like me ; and that you would
scarce find such another, if you made it
your business to search. You only sent for
.1 barber; but here, in my person, you
have the best barber in Bagdad, an experi-
enced physician, a very profound chymist,
an infallible astrologer, a finished gramma-
rian, a complete orator, a subtle logician, a
mathematician perfectly well versed in geo-
metry, arithmetic, astronomy, and all the
refinements of algebra; an historian fully
master of the histories of all the kingdoms
(jf the universe. Besides, I know all parts of
philosophy. I have all our law traditions at
my fingers' end.s. I am a poet; I am an
arcliitect ; and what is it I am not ? There
is nothing in nature hidden from me. Your
deceased father, to whose memory I pay a
wibuto of tears every time I think of him,
was fully convinced of my merit ; he was
fond of me and spoke of me in all companies
as tho first man in the world. Out of grati-
tude and friendship for him, I am willing to
attacli myself to you, to take you into my
]ir(itection, and guard yrm from all the evils
that your stars may tltreaten."
When I heard all this stutf, I could not
forbear laughing, notwithstanding my anger.
"You im]H'rtiuent prattler:" said I, "wiU
you ha\e done and begin to shave me ?"
Hera Scheherazade stopped, perceiving
day ; but next jii-ht pursued the story of
the lame young Uion, m the following man-
ner :—
The Hundred and Sixty-Second Night.
The lame young man continuing his story :
"Sir," replied the barber to mo, "you af-
front me in calling me a prattler; on the
contrary, all the world gives me the honour-
able title of Silent. I harl six brothers that
you might justly have called prattlers; and
th.at you may know them the better, the
name of tho first was Bacbouc, of the second
I'.akbarah, of the third Bacbac, of tlie fourth
Alcouz, of the fifth Alnascar, and of the
sixth Schacabac. These indeed were imper-
tinent chatterers ; but for me, who am a
younger brother, I am grave and concise in
my discourae."
For God's sake, gentlemen, do but sup-
pose you had been in my jilace. What could
1 say, when I .saw myself so cruelly a.ssas8i-
nated ? "Give hiin three pieces of gold," said
I to the slave that was my housekeeper.
J
ffdf^M
THE T. II LOR.
^71
' ' an<i sf- ud hirri away, that he may disturb
me no more ; I .vill not l)e shaveil this day."
"Sir," said the barber, "pray what do yju
mean by that ? I did not cotiie to seek for
you, it was you »-nt for me ; and since it is
so, I swear by tli«r faith of a MusHubnan, I
will not stir out o? these doors till I have
shaved you. If you do not know my vaUu;,
it is not my fault. Your deceased father
aid me more justice. Every time he fient
for me to let him blood, he made mo sit
down by him, and he was charmed with
hearing what fine thinirs I said to him. I
kept him in a continual strain of admiration ;
I elevated him ; and when I h;ul finished
niydiscourse, 'My God,' cried he, 'you are an
inexhaustil)le source of science ; no man can
reach the depth of your knowledge.' My
dear sir, said I again, you do me more hon-
our than I deserve. If I say anything that
is fine, it is owing to the favourable aiulience
you vouchsafe mo ; it is your liljerality that
inspires me with the sublime thoughts that
have the happiness to please you. One day,
when he ■n^ as charmed with an admirable
discourse I had made him, 'Give him,'
said he, ' a hundred jiicces of gold, and in-
vest him with one of my richest robes.' I
received the present upon tl'j spot, and pre-
sently I drew his horoscope, and found it
the happiest in the worhl. Nay, I carried
my gratitude further ; I let him blood with
cupping-glasses."
This was not all ; he spun out another
liarangue that was a full half hour long.
Tired with hearing him, and fretted at the
loss of time, which was almost spent before
I was lialf ready, I did not know what to
say. "It is impossible, "said I, "there should
be such another man in the world, who
takes i)leasure as you do, in making people
mad."
Day appearing, put Scheherazade to silence
at this period ; but the next night she con-
tinued after this maimer : —
Tlie Hundred and Sixty-Third Night.
I THOUGHT, said the lame young man of Bag-
dad, that 1 sliould succeed better, if I dtalt
mildly with my barber. "In the name of
God," said I, "leave oil' all your fine talking,
and dispatch me presently ; business of the
last importance calls me, as I have told you
already." At this he fell a laughing. "It
woiUd be a laudalilo thing," said he, "if our
minds were always in the same state ; if we
were always wise and prudent ; however, I
am willing to believe, that if you are angry
with me, it is your distemper hius caused that
cliange in your humour ; and for that rea-
son you stand in need of some instruc-
tions, and you cannot do better than to
follow the exfmiple of your father and grand-
father. They came and consulted me upon
all occasions, and I can say, without vanity,
that they always prized my advice highly.
Pray observe, sir, men never succeed in
their undertakings without the advice of men
of understanding. A man caimot, says the
jiroverb, be wise without rectiving advice
from the wise. I am entirely at your servi';e,
and yo\i nave only to command me."
"What ! cannot J prevail with j-ou then,"
said I, interrupting him, "to leave off these
.ong speeches, that tend to nothing but to
split my head in pieces, and to detain nie
from my business '; Shave me, I say, or be-
gone ! " With that I started up in auger,
stamping my foot against the grcnind.
When he saw I was angry in earnest ;
"Sir,"saia he, "do not be angry; -wjare
going to begin." He lathered my head, and
fell to ahaving me ; but he had not given
me four strokes of his razor when he stopped,
saying, "Sir, you are hasty; you "should
avoid these transports, that only come from
the devil. I am entitled to some considera-
tion on account of my age, my knowledge,
and my great virtues."
"Go on and shave mo," said I, intornipt-
ing him again, "and talk no more." "That
is to say," replied he, "y(m have some ur-
gent business to go about ; I will lay you a,
wager I guess right." "Why 1 tohl you so
these two hours," said I; "you ought to
have shaved me before." " Moderate your
passion," replied he ; " perhaps you have not
maturely weighed what you are going about :
when things are done precipitately, they arc
generally repented of. I wish you would
tell me what mighty business this is j'ou are
so earnest upon : I would tell j'oii my
opinion of it : besides you have time iiiough,
since your ai)pointnient i3 not till noon, and
it wants three hours of that yet." "idi>
not mind that," said I, "persons of honour
and of their word are rather before their time
than after. But I forget that in .imusing
myself with reasoning with you, I give into
the faidts of you prattling barbers : have
done, have done ; shave me."
The more haste I was in the less haste he
made. He laid down the razor, and took up
his astrolabe ; then laid down his astrolabe,
and took up his ra/.ur again.
Here the !i])]ieariiuee of day made Schehe-
razade silent, but next night she pursued
the story thus : —
The Hundred and Sixty-Fourth Night.
Thk barber, continued the lame young man,
quitted his razor again, and took up hi«
iistrolabe a second time ; and so left me half
shaved, to go and see precisely what o'clock
it was. Back he came, and then, "Sir," said
he, "I knew I was not mistalicn; it wants
uaAi5Wi!i4K.^^»t'fe:^,te.i«,k;.ia'»«aW-i*A/.;
174
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
three lionrs of noon. I am sure of it ; or
elne all the rules of astronomy are false.
"Just heaven!" cried I, "my patience is
at an end. I can bear it no longer. You
eiirsed barber ! yon barber of mischief ! I
can scarce lielp falling njion you and
strangling yoxi." "Softly, sir," said he,
very calmly, without being moved by my
passion. " You are not afraid of a rela])se :
be not in a passion ; T am going to shave
you this minute." In speakingthese words,
!ie clapjied his astrf)lal)e in his case, and
took uj) his razor, and ])assing it over the
strap ■which was lixed to his belt, fell to
shaving me again ; but all the while he
shaved, the dog could not forbear prattling.
"If y vii please, sir," said he, "to tell me
what is the business you are going about at
noon, I could give you some advice that
may be of nse to you." To satisfy the
fellow, I told him I was going to meet some
friends at an cntnrtainmcnt at noon to
make merry with me upon
tlie recovery of my health.
When the barber heax'd
me talk of regaling, "God
bless you this day, as
well as all other days,"
cried he. "You jmt mo
in mind that yesterday 1
invited four or live friends
to come and eat with me
an this day; indeed I had
forgot it, and I have as yet
made no ]ireparation for
them." " Do not let tliat
trouble y on, " said I ; " though
I dine abroad, my larder is
always well furnished. I
make you a present fif all
that it contains ; and be-
sides, I will order you a«
much wine as you have oc-
casion for, for 1 have excellent wine in my
cellar ; only you must dispatch shaving me :
and pray remember it ; whereas my father
made you presents to encourage you to
speak, I give you mine to make you hold
your tongue."
He was not satisfied with my promise :
"God reward you, sir," said he, " for your
kindness; but jiray show me these jirovi-
sioris now, th.it I may see if there will be
enough to entertain my friends : I would
have them satislied with the good fare I
make them." " I have," said I, "a lamb, six
capons, a dozen chickens, and enough to make
four noui"E)es." I ordered a slave to bring all
before him, with foui' great pitchers of wine.
"It is very well," .said the barber; "but
we shall want fruit, and sauce for the
meat." That I ordered likewise ; but then
he gave over shaving, to look over every-
thing, one after another ; and this survey
lasted almost half an hour. I raged and
stormed like a madman, but it signified no-
tliing ; the wretch made not the more haste.
However, lie took up his razor again, and
shaved me for some minutes ; then stopping
all on a sudden, " I could not have believed,
sir, that you would liave been so liberal ; 1
begin to perceive that your deceased father
lives again in you. Most certainly, I do
not deserve the favours with which j'ou
have loaded me ; and I assure you I shall
have them in perpetual remembi auce ; for,
sir, to let you know it, I have nothing but
what conies from the generosity of such
gentlemen as you : in which respect, I am
like to Zantout, who rubs the jieople in the
baths ; to Sali, who cries boiled peas in the
streets ; to Salout, who sells beans ; to
Aker.sclia, who sells greens ; to Aboumecarez,
who 8j)rinkles the streets to lay the dust ;
and to Cassem, the calij)h's life-gnai'd man.
Of all these persons, not one is apt to be
melancholy ; they are neither impertinent
nor quarrelsome ; they are
more contented with their
lot than the caliph in the
midst of his court ; they
are always gay, ready to
sing and dance, and have
each of them their peculiar
Sf)ng and dance, with which
they divert the city of Bag-
dad ; but what I esteem most
in them is, that they are no
great talkers, no more than
your slave, that has now the
honour to speak to you.
Here, sir, is the song and
dance of Zantout, who rubs
the people in the baths;
mind me, pray, and see if
I do not imitate it ex-
actly."
Scheherazade went no
further this night, because she perceived
day ; next morning she continued her story
in the following words : —
The Hundred and Sixty-Fifth Night.
The barber sung the song, and danced the
dance of Zantout, continued the lame
youth ; and let me say what I could to
oblige him to make an end of his buf-
fooneries, he did n> t give over till he imi-
tated, in like nL-uinor, the songs and dances
of the other poojile he had named. After
that, addressing himself tome, "lam going,"
said he, '■ to invite all the-^o honest men to
my house : if you will take my advice, you
will join ns, and disappoint j'our friends
yonder, who perhaps are great talkers, that
will only tease you to death with their im-
pertinent discourse, and make you relapse
into a distemper worse than that you are so
!a*Mfw*
THE TAILOR.
175
if
ex-
im-
»pse
e so
lately recovered of ; whereas at my bouse
you shall have nothing but i)leasure."
Notwithstanding my anger, I could not
forhear laughing at the fellow's imj)ortinence.
"I wish I had no business njjou my hands,"
said I ; "I would accept of the proposal you
make me ; I woidd go with all my heart to
be merry with you : but I beg to bo e\cused ;
I am too much engaged this day ; another
day I sliall be more at leisure, and then wo
shall make np that company. Come, finish
shaving mc, and make haste home ; perhaps
your friends are already come to your
house." "Sir," said he, " do not refuse me
the favour 1 ask of you ; come and be merry
with the good comjiany I am to have : if
you were but once in our company, you
would be so jileasfcd with it, you woidd for-
sake your friends to come to lis." " Let us
talk no more of that," said I ; "I cannot bo
your guest."
I found I gained no ground by mild
terms. "Since j'ou will not come to my
house," replied the barber, " you must allow
me to go along with you : I will go and
carry these things to my liouse, where my
friends may eat oi them, if they like them,
and I will return immediately: I would not
))e so uncivil as to leave you alone. You
deserve this jiieoe of complaisance at my
hands." "Heavens!" cried T, "then I
shall not get clear of this troublesome fellow
to-day." "Ill the name of the living God,"
said I, "leave ofl' your unreasonable jargon ;
go to your friends, drink, eat, and be merry
A^ith them, and leave me at liberty to go to
mine. I have a mind to go alone ; I have
no occasion for coni]iany: l)esides, I must
needs tell you, the place to which I go is not
a place where you can be received ; nobody
must come there but I." " You jest, sir,"
said he : " if your friends have invited you
to a feast, what should pre\-ent you from
allowing me to accompany you? You will
please them, I am sure, by carrying thither
a man that can t.alk comically like me, and
knows how to divert comi)any. But say
what you will, I am determined I will go
along with you, in sjiite of you. "
These words, gentlemen, perjilexed me
much. How shall I get rid of this cursed
barber? thought I to myself. If I persist
in contradicting him, we dhall never have
done.
Besides, I heard then the first call to noon
prayers, and it was time for me to go. In
line, I resolved to say nothing at all, and
to make as if I consented to his accompany-
ing me. He then made an end of shaving
me, and I said to him, "Take some of my
servants to carry these jirovisions along with
you, and return hither ; I will stay for you
and shall not go without you."
At last he went, and I dressed myself
(piickly. I heard the last caU to prayers,
and made haste to set out : but the malicious
barber, who guessed my intention, went
with my servants only within sight of the
house, and stood there till he saw them
enter his house ; having hid himself at the
corner of the street, with an intent to observe
and foHow me. In fine, when I arrived at
the cadi's door, I looked back and saw him
at the head of the street, which fretted me
to the last degree.
The cadi's door was half o])en, and as I
went in I saw an old woman w.iiting for me,
who after she had shut the door, conducted
me to the chamber of the young lady I was
in love with ; but we had scarce began our
interview, when we heard a noise in the
streets. The young lady put her head to the
window, and saw through the gate, that it
was the cadi her father returning already
from prayers. At the same time 1 looked
thriuigh the window, and saw the barber
sitting over-against the lious", in the same
place where 1 had seen the young lady
before.
I had then twr; things to fear, the arrival
of the cadi, and the presence of the barber.
The young lady mitigated my fear of the
first, !)_, assuring me, the cadi came but very
seldom to 1 er chamber, and as she had fore-
seen that this misadventure might happen,
she had contrived a way to convey me out
safe : but the indiscretion of the accursed
barber made me very uneasy ; and y(ni shall
hear that this my uneasiness was not with-
out ground.
As soon as the cadi was come in, he caned
one of his slaves that had deserved it. This
slave made a horrid noise, wliich was heard
in the streets : the barber thought it was I
that cried out, and was maltreated. Pre-
jiossessed with tliis thouglit, he roared out
aloud, rent his clothes, threw dust upon his
head, and called the neighbourhood to his
assistance. The neighljourhooil came, and
aske<l what assistance he wanted. ' ' Alas ! "
cried he, " they are assassinating my master,
my dear patron; and without saying any-
thing more, he ran all the way to my house,
with the very same cry in his mouth. I'Vom
thence he returned, followed by all my
(hmiestics armed with sticks. 'J'hey knocked
with inconceivable fury at the eadi's door,
and the cadi sent a slave to see what was
the matter ; but the slave l)eiiig frightened,
returned to his master, crying, "Sir, above
ton thousand men are going to break into
your house by force."
Immediately the cadi himself ran, opened
the door, and asked what they wanted.
His venerable presence could not inspire
them with respect. They insolently Sitid to
him, " You cursed cadi, you dog of a cadi,
what reason have you to assassinate our
master ? What lias he
"Good people," replied
done to
you
the cadi, "for
C<iMtiiiiilx'AJiJiii^illAimi.tK:^U>ii/iji/Ji.-/^
i
lih
\
1,1
u
176
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
what should I assassinate your master,
whom 1 do not know, .and who has dono
me no harm ? My house is open to you ;
come, see and search." " You bastinadoed
him," said the barber; "I heard his cries
not a minute ago." "But, once more,"
replied the cadi, "what harm could your
master do to me, to oblige me to abuse him
after that rate ? Is he injny house ? If he
is, how came he in, or who could have intro-
duced liim?" "Ah, wretched cadi," cried
the barber, "you and your long beard shall
never make me believe what you say. I
know what I say ; your daughter is in love
with our mnster, and ai)pointed him a meet-
ing during the time of noon prayer ; you,
without doubt, have had notice of it ; you
returned home, and surprised him, and made
your slaves bastinado him ; btit this your
wicked action shall not pass with impunity ;
the calipli shall be acquainted Avith it, and
he wiU give true and brief justice. Let him
come out ; deliver him to us immediately ;
or if you do not, we will go and take liini out
to your shame." " There is no occasion for
so many words," replied the cadi, " nor to
make so great a noise : if what you say is
tnie, go and find him out ; I give you free
liberty." Thereupon the barber and my do-
mestics rushed into the house like furies, and
looked for me all about.
Scheherazade perceiving day, stopjied at
this period : .Schahriar rose, laughing at the
indiscreet zeal of tlie barber, and curious to
know what passed in the cadi's house, and
by what accident the young man became
lame : next night the sultaness satisfied his
curiosity, and resumed the story in the fol-
lowing words : —
The Hundred and Sixty-Sixth Night.
The tailor continued to tell the sidtan of
C'asgar tie story which he had begun. Sir,
said he, the lame young man went on thus :
As I heard all that the barber said to the
cadi, I sought for a place to hide myself, and
could find nothing but a great empty trunk,
in which I lay down, and shut it upon me.
The barber, after he had searched every-
where, came into the chamber where I was,
and opening the trunk, as soon as he saw
me, he took it iijjon his head and carried it
away. He came down a high staircase into
a court, which he crossed hastily, and got to
the street door. While he carried me, the
trunk unhappily ilew open, and I, not being
•able to endure the shame of being exposed
to tlu! view and shouts of the mob that fol-
lowed us, leaped out into the street with so
much haste that I hurt my leg so, that 1
have been lame ever since. I was not sen-
sible how bad it was at first, and therefore
got up quickly to get away from the iieople,
who laughed at me ; nay, I threw handfuls
of gold and silver among them, and whilst
they were gathering it up, I made my escape
by cross streets and alleys. But the cursed
barber, avaOing himself of the stratagem
that I had made use of to get away from the
mob, followed me close, crying, "Stay, p-'r;
why do you run so fast ? If you knew how
much I am afllicted at the ill-treatmenc yoi:
received from the cadi, — you, who are so
generous, and to whom I and my friends are
so much obliged ! Did I not tell you truly,
that you would expose your life by your
obstinate refusal to let me go with you?
See what has happened to you, by your own
fault ; and if I had not resolutely followed
you, to see whither you went, what would
have become of you ? Whither do you go,
sir? Stay for me."
Thus the wretched barber cried aloud in
the streets ; it was not enough for him to
have occasioned so great a scandal in the
quarter where the cadi lived, but he would
have it known through the whole town. I
was in such a rage, that I had a great mind
to have stayed and cut his throat ; but con-
sidering that that would have perplexed me
further, I chose another course ; for, per-
ceiving that his calling after me exposed
mo to vast numbers of jieople, who crowded
to the doors or windows, or stopped in the
street to gaze on me, I entered into a khan
or inn,* the chamberlain of which knew
me ; and finding him at the gate, whither
the noise had brought him, I prayed him,
for the sake of Heaven, to hinder that mad-
man from coming in after me. He pro-
mised to do so, and was as good as his word,
but not without a great deal of trouble, for
tJio obstinate barber would go in, in spite of
him, and did not retire without calling him
a thousand names ; and after the chamber-
lain shut the gate, the barber continued
telling all he met what great service he had
done me. Thus I rid myself of that trouble-
some fellow. After that, the clu^niberlain
prayed me to tell him my adventure, which
I did, and then desired him to let me have
an apartment until I was cured. "But,
sir," said he, "will it not be more conve-
nient for you to go home?" "I will not
return thither," said I ; "for the detestable
barber will continue ])laguing me there, and
I shall die of vexation to be continually
teased with him. Besides, after what has
bei'allen me to-day, I cannot think of staying
any longer in this town ; I must go whither
my ill-fortune leads me : " and actually,
when I was cured, I took all the money I
thought necessary for my travels, and gave
the rest of my estate among my kindred.
Thus, gentlemen, I left Bagdad, and came
* A public place in the towns of the Levant wherj
btrangera lodge.
THE BARBER.
177
not
table
and
[ally
has
yfing
iier
^iiy.
.yl
tave
lame
Iherf
hither. I had ground to hope that I should
not meet this pernicious barber in a country
80 fai- from my own, and yet I lind him
amongst you. Be not surprised, then, at
my haste to be gone ; you may easily judge
how unpleasant to me is the siglit of a man,
who was the occasion of my lameness, and
of my being reduced to the melancholy ne-
cessity of living so far from my kindred,
friends, and country. When ho had spoke
these words, the lame young man rose up
and went out. The master of the house con-
ducted him to the gate, and told him he
was sorry that he had given him, though
innocently, so great a subject of mortitica-
tion.
When the young man was gone, continued
the tailor, wo were all astonished at the
story, and, turning to the Ijarber, told him
he was very much to blame, if what we
had just heard were true. "Gentleman,"
answered he, raising up his liead, which
till then he had held down, " my silence
during the young man's discourse is sufli-
cient to testify that he advanced nothing
that was not true : 1)ut for all that he has
said to you, I maintain that I ought to have
done what I did ; I leave you to be judges
of it. Did not he throw himself into danger,
and could he have come otf so well without
my assistance? He may think himself
happy to get ofl" with the lame leg. Did
not I expose myself +0 greater danger to get
him out of a house, where I thought he was
ill-treated ? Hns he any reason to complain
of me, and abiise me so ? This is what one
gets by serving unthankful people. He ac-
cuses me of being a prattling fellow, which
is a mere slander : of seven brothers, I speak
least, and have most wit to my share ; and
to convince you of it, gentlemen, I need
only to tell my own story and their's.
Honour me, I beseech you, with your at-
tention."
THE STORY OF THE BARBER.
In the reign of the caliph Monstanser
Bilah,* continued he, a prince so famous
for his vast liberality towanls the ])oor, ten
highwaymen infested the roads about Bag-
dad, and for a long time committed un-
heard-of robberies and cruelties. Tlie ca-
lil)h, having notice of this, sent for the
judge of the police, some days before the
feast of Bairam, and ordered him, on pain
of death, to bring all the ton to him.
Scheherazade stopt here, because day ap-
peared, and next night resumed her discourse
as follows ; —
* He was raised to tliis ilipnity in tlic year of tlie
Ilegira, 623, und Auuo Uom. 1226, aud WU9 tlie S6tli
caliph of the ruce of the Abasaidus.
The Hundred and Sixty-Seventh Night.
The judge of the police, continued the
barber, used so mucli diligence, and sent
so many people in pursuit of the ten rob-
bers, tliat they were taken on the very day
of Bairam. I was walking then on the
banks of the Tigris, and saw ten men richly
aj)parelled go into a boat. I might have
known they were robbers, had I observed
the guar('« that were with theoi ; but I
looked only to them, and thinking tliey
were peojile that had a muid to sjiend the
festival-day in jollity, I entered the boat
with them, without saying one word, in
hopes they would allow me to be one of the
company. We went down the Tigris, and
landed before the caliph's palace : I had
time then to consider with myself, and to
find my mistake. When we came out of
the boat, we were surrounded by a new
troop of the judge of the police's guard,
who bound us all, and carried us before the
caliph. I suffered myself to be bound as
well as the rest, without speaking one
word : for to what pui'pose should 1 have
spoken, or made any resistance ? That
had been the way to have got myself ill-
treated by the guards, who would not have
listened to me ; for they are brutish fellows,
who will hear no reason : I was with the
robbers, and that was enough to make them
believe me to be one of them.
When we came before the calii)h, he
ordered the ten highwaymen's heads to be
cut off immediately. The executioner drew
us up in a tile within reach of his arm,
and by good fortune I was the Inst. He
cut off the heads of the ten highwaymen,
beginning at the first ; and when he came
to me, he stopjted. The calipli perceiving that
he did not strike me, grew angry : "Did not
I command thee," said he, " to cut off the
heads of ten highwaymen, and why hast
thou cut off but nine?" "Commander of
the faithf\d," said lie, " Heaven preserve me
from disobeying your majesty's orders : here
are ten corpses upon the ground, and as
many heads which I cut off; your majesty
may count them." When the caliph saw
that what the executioner said was true, he
looked upon me with amazement, and ])er-
ceiving that I had not tlie face of a high-
wayman, said to me, "tiood old man, iiow
came you to be among th"se wretches, who
have deserved a thousand deaths ? " I an-
swered, " Commander of the faitliful, I
shall make a true confession. This morn-
ing I saw tliose ten persons, whose punish-
ment is a ])roof of your majesty's justice,
take boat ; I embarked with them, think-
ing they were men goinR to celelirate this
day, which is tho most distinguished in our
relit'' ju."
I. ■ i.
t
178
T//£ ARAlilAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAIA'MEATS.
The calipli could not forbear laui;liiiig at
my adventure ; and instead of treating me
as a prattling fellow, as this lame young man
<lid, he oilmired my dlNcretion and Hteady
alienee. "Commander of the faithfid," said
I, "your majesty need not wonder at my
kecjiing silence on aueh an occasion, as
woiild have made another aj>t to wjieak : I
make it a particular profession of holding
my peace, and upon that account I have ac-
quired the gloiious title of Silent ; by which
I am distinguished from my six brothers.
This is the elleet of my philosophy ; and, in
a word, in this virtue consists my glory and
happiness." "I am very glail," said the
caliiih smiUng, "that they gave you a title
that you know how to make such good use
of. Jiut tell me what sort of men were your
brothers; were they like you?" "By no
means," said I; "they were aU of them
more given to jvratuig one tha:i another.
And as to their persons, there was still a
greater difference betwixt them and me.
The first was humpbacked ; the second had
rotten teeta ; the third had but one eye ;
the fourtL was blind ; the fifth had his ears
cut off; and the sixth had hare-lips. They
have met with such adventures as would
enable you to judge of their characters, had
I the honour to tell them to your majesty ; "
and since the caliph seemed desirous to hear
their several stories, I went cfn "without
waiting his commands.
XHE STORY OF THE BARBER's ELDEST
BROTHER.
Sir, said I, my eldest brother, whose
name was Bacbouc the humpback, was a
tailor by trade ; when he came out of his
apprenticeship, h^ hired a shop over against
a mill, and having but very 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
lifted up his head and saw the miller's wife
looking out of the window, and was charmed
with her beauty. The woman took no
notice of him, but shut her window, and
came no more to it all that day. The poor
tailor did nothing but lift vqt his eyes to-
wards the mill all day long. He pricked
his finger oftencr than once, and his work
that day was not very regular. At night,
when he was to shut his shop, he could
scarce teU 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 passed but a very uncom-
fortable night. He got up betimes in the
morning, and ran to his shop, in hopes to see
his mistress again ; but he was no ha^ipier
than the day before, for the miller's wife did
not aj)pear at the window above a minute in
the whole day, but that minute made the
tailor the most amorous m;in that ever lived.
The third I'ay he had some more ground of
satisfaction, for the miller's wife east her
eyes upon him by chance, and surprised him
as ho was gazing at her, which convinced
her what iiassed in his mind.
Here day began to ajuiear, which made
the sultaness break oil' her story, and she re-
sumed it ne.Yt night thus :—
The Hundred and Sixty-Eighth Night.
Xo sooner, continued the barber, did the
miller's wife perceive my brother's inclina-
tion, but instead of being vexed at it, she
resolved to divert herself with it. She
looked ujiou him with a smiling countenance,
and my brother looked upon her in the same
manner, but 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 ridiculed him. Poor
Bacbouc inteq>reted her carriage to his own
advantage, and Hattered himself that she
looked upon him with pleasure.
The miller's wife resolved to make sport
with my brother : she had a piece of very
tine stuff, with which she had a long time
designed to make her a suit ; she wrapped it
up in a tine embroidered silk handkerchief,
and sent it him by a young slave whom she
kept, wl'o, being taught her lesson, comes to
the tailor a shop, and tells him, "My mistress
gives you her service, and prays you to
make her a suit of this stuff according to
this pattern ; she changes her clothes often,
so that her custom will be profitable to you."
My brother doubted not that the mUler's
wife loved him, and thought that she sent
him work so soon after what had passed be-
twixt them, only to signify that she kjiew
his mind, and to convince him that he had
obtained her favour. !My brother being of
this oi)inion, 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. He worked at it with so
much diligence, that he finished it the same
day. Next morning the young slave came to
see if the suit was ready. Bacbouc gave it
to lier neatly folded up, telling her, "I am too
much concerned to please your mistress to
neglect her suit ; I would engage her by my
dUigeuce to employ no other but myself for
the time to come." The young slave went
some steps as if she had intended to go away,
and then coming back whispered to my bro-
ther, " 1 had forgot part of my commission;
my mistress charged me to make her com-
pliments to you, and to ask how you passed
the night ; as for her, poor woman, she loves
you .'jO, that she could not sleep." ' ' Tell her,"
B
mn •■,i'Hiinmt«i»itfViiftW*w
THE BARBER'S ELDEST BROTHER.
179
,
anawori'd my silly brother, " I have so strong
a !'■ .jsioii for her, that for these four nights
I have not sk'i<t one wink." After such a
coniiiliinciit from the miller's wife, my bro-
ther thoiiL;ht she would not let him languish
loufj; ill the expectation of her favours.
About a (luarter of an hour r.fLer, the
slave returned to my brother with a jiiecc of
satin. "My mistress," said she, "isverywell
pleased with her suit ; nothing in the world
can lit her better ; and as it was very hand-
some she would not we.ir it without a new
petticoat ; she prays you to make her one,
as soon as you can, of this piece of satin."
"Enough," said Bacbouo ; "I will do it before
I leave my shop : you shall have it in the
evening." The miller's wife shewed herself
often at her window, and was very prodigal
of her eliarma, to encourage my brother.
You would have laughed to have seen him
work. The petticoat was soon made, and
the slave came for it, but brought the tailor
no money, neither for the trimming he had
bought for the suit, nor for the making. In
the meantime, this unfortunate lover, whom
they only amused, though he could not see
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 arrived
at his shop, the young slave came to tell him,
that the miller wanted to speak to him.
"My mistress," said she, "has told him so
much in your praise, when she shewed him
your work, that he has a mind you should
work also for him ; she does it on puqiose
that the connexion she wishes to form be-
twixt you and him may crown your mutual
wishes with success. My brother was easily
persuaded, and went to the mill with the
slave. The miller received him very kindly,
and shewed him a piece of cloth, told him
he wanted shirts, bid him make it into
twenty, and give him again what was left.
Scheherazade perceiving day, held her
peace, and the next night continued the his-
tory of Bacbouo thus : —
The Hundred and Sixty-Ninth Night.
My brother, said the barber, had work
enough for five or six days to make twenty
shirts for the miller, who afterwards gave
him another piece of cloth to make him as
many pair of drawers. When they were
finished, Bacbouc carried them to the miller,
who asked him what he must have for his
plains. My brother answered, he would be
content with twenty drachms of silver. The
miUer immediately called the young slave,
and bid her bring him his weights, to see if
his money was right. The slave, who had
her lesson, looked at my brother with an
angry countenance, to signify to him that
he would spoil oU if he took any money.
He knew her iiicaiiing, and rifusod to take
any, though he wanted it so much, that lie
was forced to borrow money to buy the
thread that sewed 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 ])ay him. I gave him some cojiper
money I had in my jmrse, and upon that ho
subsisted for some days : it ia true, indeed,
he lived upon nothing but broth, nor had he
his till of that.
One day he went to the miller, who was
busy at his vork, and thinking my brother
came for moi.ey, he oiFered him some; but
the young slave being jiri^sent, made him
another sign not to take it ; which he com-
]ilie(l with, and told the miller he did not
come for his money, but only to know how
he did. The miller thanked him, and gave
him an U])per garment to make. Bacbouc
carried it him next d.ay. When the miller
drew out his purse, the young slave gave
my brother the usual cign ; on which he said
to the miller, "Neighbour, there is no haste ;
wo will reckon another time : " so that the
poor ninny went to his shop again, with
three terrible distempers upon him, love,
hunger, ami want of money, The miller's
wife was not only avaricious, but ill-na-
tured; for, not content to cheat my ])ri'ther
of his due, she provoked her husband to re-
venge hirisolf upon him for making love to
her, which they accomplished thus. The
miller inv'ted Bacbouc one night to 8upi)er,
and after j'iving him a very sorry treat, said
to him, " Brother, it is too late for you to
go homo ; you had better stay here all
night ; " and then he carried 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
went to my broth^.\ and swl, " Neighbour,
are you asleep ? My iiuue ia ill, and 1 have
a quantity of corn to grind ; you will do me
a great kindness if you will turn the mill in
her stead." Bacbouc, to shew his good na-
ture, told him he was ready to do him that
piece of service, if he would shew him how.
Then the miller tied him by the middle to
the mule's place, and whipping him soundly
over the back, said to him, " Go, neigh-
bour." "Ho!" said my brother, " why do
you boat me?" " It is to make you brisk,"
said the miller; "for without a wbij) my
mule wiU not go." Bacbouc was amazed at
this sort of treatment, but durst not com-
plain. When he had gone five or six rounds,
he would fain have rested ; but the miller
gave him a dozen sound lashes, saying,
" Courage, neighljour ! do not stop, pray ;
you must go on without taking breath,
otherwise you will spoil my meal."
Scheherazade stojjped here, because she
saw day, and next morning continued her
story thus : —
• I
i
•I
1 80
T//E ARABIAiV NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The Hundred and Seventieth Night.
Thk inilkT f)1)lii;('(l my lirothiT, said tho
l)ar))er, to turn tlio mill tlnis all iii.i,'lit.
About break of ilay ho li-ft him without un-
tying him, and Wk'wi to his wife's chanibur.
Bacbouc continued there for some time, and
at hint the young slave came and initied him.
" Ah ! " Haid tlie treacheroua wretch, " how
my mistress and I pitied you ! We had no
hand in this wicked trick which her hus-
band Las played you." The wretched Bac-
bouc answered her not a word, he was so
much fatigtied with Work and Idows ; but
crei't home to his house, resolving never to
think more of the miller's wife.
Tho telling of this story, said the barber,
made tho caliiih laugh. " Go home," said
he to nie ; " I have ordered something to be
given you to make uji for the loss of the
good dinner you expected." "Commander
of the faithful," said I, " I pray your ma-
jesty to let mo stay till I have told the story
of my other brothers." The caliph liaving
Bignilied by his silence that ho was willing
to hear me, I went on thus : —
THE .STORY OF THE UAliliEU'ri SECOND BROTHER.
My second brother, who was called B.ack-
barah the toothless, going one d.ay through
the city, met an old woman in a distant
street, she came up to him, and said, " I
want one word with you ; pray stop a mo-
ment." He did so, and asked her what she
would have. " If you have time to come
along with me," said she, "I will bring you
into a stately palace, where you shall see a
lady as fair as tho day. iShe will receive
yo\i with much pleasure, and give you a
treat with excellent wine. 1 need say no
more to you." "But is what you say
true?" replied my brother. "I am no
lying hussy," replied the old woman : " I
say nothing to yo\i but what is true. But
hark, 1 have something to ask of you. You
must be prudent, say but little, and be ex-
tremely polite." Backbarah agreed to all
tliis. The old woman went before, .ind he
followed after. They came to the gate of a
great i)alace, where there was abundance of
oflicers and domestics. Some of them would
have stopped my brother, but no sooner did
the old woman speak to them, than they let
him pass. Then turning to my brother, she
said to him, " You must remember that the
young lady I bring you to loves good-nature
and modesty, and cannot endure to be ct)n-
tradictcd ; if you please her in that, you
may be sure to obtain of her what you
please." Backbarah thanked her for this
advice, and promised to follow it.
She brought him into a fine apartment 0.'
a great square building, answerable to the
magnificence of tho palace. There was a
gallery round it, and a very line garden in
tho middle. I'ho old woman made him sit
down upon a handsome sofa, and bid him
stay a monu-nt, tdl sho went to tell the
young lady of his being come.
My brother, who had never been in such
a stati'ly i)alace before, ga/.ed u|ion tho line
things ttiat he saw ; ami judging of his good
fortune by the magniticence of the palace,
ho was scarcely al)le to contain himself for
joy. ]'>y and by he heard a great noise, oc-
casioned by a troop of merry slaves, who
came towards him with loud lits of huijditcr,
and in the middh^ of them, he perceived a
young lady of extraordinary beauty, who
was easily known to be their mintress l)y the
respect they jiaid her. ]5ackl)arah, who ex-
pected private convers.atiou with the lady,
was extremely surprised when he saw so
much company with her. In the meantime
the slaves put on a grave countenance when
they drew near ; and when the young lady
came up to the sofa, my brother rose up and
made her a low bow. She took the u[)per
hand, i>rayed him to sit down, and said to
him, with a smiling countenance, "I am
mightily glad to see you, and wish you all
the happiness you can desire." " ^ladame,"
reiilied Backbarah, "I cannot desire a
greater hai)]iiness tlian to be in your com-
pany." " You seem to be of a pleasant
humour," said sho, " and to be disposed to
pass the time ]deasantly."
She forthwith commanded a coll.ation to
be brought ; and immediately a table was
covered with several baskets of fruits and
sweetmeats. The lady sat down at the table
with the slaves and my brother; and he, be-
ing placed just over-against her, when ho
opened his month to eat, she perceieved he
had no teeth ; and taking notice of it to her
slaves, she and they langlied at him heartily.
Backbarah from time to time lifted up his
head to look at her, and perceiving her
laugh, thought it was for joy of his com-
pany, and flattered himself tliav he woidd
si)ecdily send away her slaves, and be with
him alone. She guessed his thoughts, and
pleasing herself to flatter him in his mis-
take, she gave him abundance of jdeasant
language, and jiresented him the best of
everything with her own hand. The treat
being ended, they rose from the table ; ten
slaves took musical instruments, and began
to play and sing, and others to dance. My
brother, to please them, danced likewise, and
the lady danced with them. After they had
danced st)me time, they sat down to take
breath, and the young lady, calling for a
glass of wine, looked upon my brother with
a smiling countenance, to signify that she
was going to drink his health. He rose up,
and stood while she drank. When she had
done, instead of giving back the glass, she
i,!; i
THE BARDEFUS SECOND BROTHER.
I8[
ordered it to lie lilled, and ]preHi'ntcd it to
my bnitlicr, tliat \\k\ iiiij^lit iileil^e her.
>Sclieiiciii/a(li', iierueiviii;^ day, limiio (ilF
her stdry, and contimied it next uiyht in
the following manuur :> —
Tho Hundred and Seventy-First Night.
Siii, said ulie to llie Knltaii, the liarher went
ou tluis : — My hnither took tlic^ ^'lass fidni
tho yoiui;.! lady'.s luiud, Avliieli lie kiHaed at
the yanie time, and Htoiid and drank to her,
in retnrn for the favour she liad done him.
Then the youiiL! lady made him wit down liy
iier, and liei;an to caress him. Mie )mt her
hand liehind his head, iind yave him aoniu
tijis from time to tiine witli her lingers.
Itavished with th(j.se favourw, he thon,t;ht
liiniself the happiest man in the world, and
had a ^'reat mind to toy also with the eharm-
ing lady, hut durst not take the lilierty be-
fore HO many slaves, who liad their eyes
upon him, and laughed at their lady's wanton
trieks. 'J'he yoiuiij; lady continued to tip
him with her iini^era, but at last gave him
such a sound box on tho car, that he grew
angry at it : the colour cauie in his face,
and ho rose u)» to sit at a greater distance
from such a rude play -fellow. Then tlu- old
woman who brought him thither gave him a
look, to ht him know that he was in the
wrong, and that he had forgot the advice
she gave him to be very coinidaisant. lie
owned his fault, and, in order to make
amends, he went near the young lady again
and jneteiuled that he did not go away (uit
of any illluimour. She drew him by tho
.arm, made him sit down by her again, and
gave him a thous.aud malicious 8(pieezes.
Her slaves took their pait in the diversion :
one gave poor Backbarah several lillips on
the nose with all her might ; another jiulled
him by tho ears, .as if she would have pulled
them oil'; and others boxed him so, as might
shew they were not in jest. My brother
bore all this with admirable jiatienee, atl'ect-
ing a gay air, and looking at the old woniaii,
said to her with a forced fmile, "You told
mc, indeed, that I should liud tho lady per-
fectly kind, pleasant, and charnimg ; 1 .am
mightily obliged to yoii ! " "All this is no-
thing," replied the old woman : " let her go
on; you will sec other thuigs by and by."
Then the young lady said to him, "Brother,
you are a lirave man ; I am glad to llnd you
are so good-lmmoured and eomplais.ant to
be.ar with my little caprices, and that your
humour is so comformablo to mine."
"Madam," replied Backbar.ali, Avho was
cfiarmed with this discourse, "1 am no more
myself, I am wholly yours ; you may disp<3se
of me as you please." "How you oblige
me," said the lady, " by such submission !
I am very well pleased with you, and would
have you be bo with me. Bring him per-
fume," said she, "and rose water." Upon
this, two alavrs we<it out, aiul rcturtu'd
speedily ; one with a silver casket, lilled
with till' best of aliieswood, with wliich she
jKrlumed him ; and Ww otlier with mse-
watcr, which she sprinkleil on his face ami
han<ls. My brotlnr was quite beside him-
self at this handsduie treatment. Aftc^r this
ceremony, thi^ young lady commanded the
slaves, who had aLeady played on their
instruments and sung, to renew their ''on-
cerls. They obeyed, anil in the meai l.me
the lady called another shiM', and ordered
her to carry my brotlu r witli her, and do
what she knew, and bring him back to her
again. Baekliarah, who heard this order,
got up (piickly, and going to the old woman,
who also rose up to g<i along willi him and
the slave, luayed lur to till him what they
were to do with him. " My mistrtss is
only curioiis," replied the old woman,
softly; "she has a minil to see how you
look in a woman's dress ; and this slave,
who has orders to carry you witli her, h.aa
orders to paint your eyebrows, to cut otf
your whiskers, and to dress you like a
woman." "You m.ay jiaint my eyebrows
as much as you please," said my brother ;
"I agree to that, because lean wash it oil'
again ; but to shave me, you know I must
not allow. How can 1 apiiear abroad again
without mustaehios ? " " Heware of refusing
what is asked of you," said the old woman :
" you will sjioil your fortune, which is now
in as favourable a train as heart can wish.
The laily loves you, and has a mind to make
you haiipy ; and will you, for a nasty
whisker, renounce the most delicious favours
tliat man can obtain? " Backbanah listened
to the old woman, and witliout saying a
wt)rd, went to a chamber ivith the slave,
where they painted his eyebrows with red,
cut olY his whiskers, and were going to do
the like with his beard. My brother's
patience then began to fail: "Oh!" said
lie, "I will never part with my beard."
Tho slave told him that it was to no purpose
to have parted with his whiskers, if ho
would not also part with his beard, which
could never agree with a woman's dress ;
and she wonilered that a man, ^vho was
upon the point to enjoy the linest lady in
Bagdad, should be concerned about his
beard. Tho old woman threatened him with
the loss of the young lady's favour ; t^o that
at last he let them do what they would.
When he was dressed like a woman, they
brought him befin'c tho young lady, who
laughed so heartily when she saw liim, that
she fell backward on the sofa where she sat.
Tho slaves laughed and clapped their hands,
so that my brother was quite out of coun-
tenance. Tho young lady got up, and still
laughing, said to him, "After so muck
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yy/is: Arabian nights' entertainments.
complaisanco for me, I should be very much
to blame not to love you with all my heart :
but there is one thing more you must do for
me, and that is, to dance aa wc do." He
obeyed, and the young lady and her slaves
danced with him, laughing as if they hail
been mad. After they had danced some
time with him, they all fell upon the pour
wretch, and did so box and kii.-k him, that
he fell down hke one out of his senses. The
old woman hel[)ed him up again ; and that
he might not have time to think of his ill-
treatment, she bid him take courage, and
whispered in his ear, that all his suti'orings
were at an end, and that he was just about
to receive his reward.
Daylight beginning to appear, Schehera-
zade broke oil' her story, and continued it
next night aa follows : —
The Hundred and Seventy-Second Night.
The old woman continued her discourse to
Backbarah thus : — "You have only one thing
more to do, and that is but a small one.
You must know that my mistress has a
custom, when she has drank a little, as you
see she has done to-day, to lei nobody that
she loves come near her, except they l)e
stripped to their shirt ; and when they have
done so she takes a little advantage uf them,
and begins running ))efore them through the
gallery, and from chamber to chamber, till
they catch her. This is one more of her
humours. What advantage soever she takes
of you, considering your nimbleness and
inclination, you will soon overtake her :
strip yourself then to your shirt; undress
yourself without ceremony."
My silly brother, said the barber,
had done too much to hesitate at any-
thing now ; he undressed himself ; and in
the meantime the young lady was stripped
to her shift and under-)>etticoat, that she
might run the more nimbly. When they
were ready to run, the young lady took the
a<lvantage of twenty paces, and then fell to
running with surprising swiftness ; my
brother followed her as fast as he could, the
slaves in the meantime laughing heartily,
and clapping their hands. The young lady,
instead of losing ground, gained upon my
brother ; she made him run two or three
times roimd the gallery, and then running
into a long dark entry, got away by a pas-
sage which she knew. iSackbarah, wLo
still followed her, having lost sight of her in
the entry, was obliged to slacken his pace,
because of the darkness of theplace : at last
perceiving a Ught, he ran towards it, and
went out at a door, which was immediately
shut upon him. You may imagine how he
was surprised to find himself in a street
inhabited by curriers ; and they were no
less surprised to see him in his shirt, his
eyes painted red, and without beard or
mustachios. They began to clap their
hands and shout at him, and some of them
ran after him and lashed his buttocks with
leather strajis. They then took him and
set hiui upon an ass which they met by
chance, and carried him tlirough the town,
exposed to the laughter of the people.
To complete Lis misfortune, as he went
by the judge's house, he would needs know
the cause of the tumiUt. The curriers told
him, that they saw him come in that con-
dition out at the gate of the ai)artmcnt of
the grand vizier's women, which opened into
their street ; upon which the judge ordered
unfortunate liackbarah to have a himdred
blows with a cane on the soles of his feet,
and sent him out of the town, with orders
never to return again.
Thus, commander of the faithful, said I
to the caliph Monstauser Billah, I have
given an account of the adventure of my
second brother, who did not know that our
greatest ladies divert themselves sometimes
by putting such tricks ui>on young people,
who are so foolish to be caught in the
snare.
■Scheherazade was obliged to stop here,
because day ajipeared : the next night she
diverted the
story : —
sultan with the following
The ^^undred and Seventy-Tliird Night.
Sir, the barber, without leaving off, told
the story of his third brother in the follow-
iiij; manner : —
THE STORY OF THE BARBER 8 THIRD BROTHER.
Commander of the faithful, said he to the
caliph, my third brother, whose name was
Uackbac, was bUnd, and his evil destiny
reducwl him to beg from door to door.
He had been so long accustomed to walk
through the streets tdone, that he wanted
none to lead him. Ue had a custom to
knock at people's doors, and not to answer
till they opened to him. One day he
knocked thus at a door, and the master
of the house, who was alone, cried, "Who
is there V" My brother gave no answer, and
knocked a second time. The master of the
house asked again rid again, "Who is
there?" but to no purpose: nobody an-
swered. Upon which he came down, 02>ened
the door, and oskec^ my brother what he
wanted. " Give me something, for Heaven'e
sake," said Backbac. " You seem to be
blind," replied the master of the house.
" Yes, to my sorrow," said my brother.
"Give me your hand," said the master oi
the house. My brother did so, thinking he
THE BARBERS ELDEST BROTHER.
183
was going to give him alms ; but he only
took him by the hand to lead him up to his
chamber. Backbac thought he had been
carrying him to dine with him, as many
other people had done. When they came
up to the chamber, the man let go his hand,
and sitting down, asked him again what he
wanted. " I have already told you," said
Backbac, "that I want somctliing, for God's
sake." "Good blind man," replied the
master of the house, "all that I can do for
you is to wish that God may restore you
your sight." " You might have told me
that at the door," said my brother, " and
not have given me the trou1>le to have come
up stairs." "And why, fool, said the man
of the house, " do not you answer at first,
when people ask you who is there ? Why
do you give anybody the trouble to come
and open the door when they si>eak to you ?"
"What will you do with me, then?" said
my brother. " I tell you again," said the
man of the house, "I have nothing to give
you." "Help me down the stairs, then,"
replied Backbac, "as you helped me up."
" The stairs are before you," said the man
of the house, "and you may go down by
yourself if you will. " My brother attempted
to go down, but missing a step about the
middle of the stairs, he fell down to the
Dottom, and hurt his head and his back : he
got up again with a great deal of difficulty,
and went out cursing the master of the
house, who laughed at his fall.
As my brother went out of the house,
two blind men, his companions, were going
by, knew him by his voice, and a.sked him
what was tht matter. He told them what
had happened to him, and afterwards said,
" I have eat nothing to-day : I conjure you
to go along with me to my house, that I
may take some of the money that we three
have in common to buy me something for
supper." The two blind men agreed to it,
and they went home with him.
You must know that the master of the
house where my brother was so ill-used was
a highwayman, and of a cunning and mali-
cious disposition. He heard at liis window
what Backbac had said to his companions,
and therefore came down and followed them
to my brother's house. The blind men
being sat down, Backbac said to them,
" Brothers, we must shut the door, and
take care there be no stranger with us."
At this the highwayman was much jier-
plexed ; but perceiving by chance a rope
hanging down from a beam, he caught hold
of it, and hung by it, while the blind men
shut the door, and felt about the room with
their sticks. When they had done this, and
sat down again in their places, the highway-
man left his rope, and sat down softly by
my brother ; who, thinking himself alone
with his blind comrades, said to them,
"Brothers, since you have trusted me with
the money which we all three have been
gathering a long time, I will shew you that
I am not unworthy of the trust that you re-
pose in me. The last time we reckoned,
you know we had ten thousand drachms,
and that we put them into ten bags ; I will
shew yoti that I have not touched one of
them ;" and having said so, he put his hand
among some old clothen, and taking out
the bags one after another, gave them to
his comrades, saying, " There they are ; you
may judge by their weight that they are
whole, or you may tell them if you please."
His comrades answered there was no need,
they did not mistrust him ; so he opened
one of the bag<!i, and took out ten drachms,
and each of the other blind men did the
like.
My brother put the bags into their place
again : after which, one of the blind men
said to him, "There is no need to lay out
anything for supper, for I have got as much
victuals from good peo])le as will serve us
all three." At the same time he took out
of his bag bread and cheese, and some fruit,
and, putting all upon the table, they began
to cat. The highwayman, who sat at my
brother's right hand, jjicked out the best,
and eat with them ; but, whatever care he
took to make no noise, Backbac heard his
chaps going, and cried out immediately,
" We are undone ; there is a stranger among
us : " and having said so, he stretched out his
hand, and caught hold of the highwayman
by the arm, cried out, " Thieves," fell upon
him, and boxed him. The other blind men
fell upon him in like manner, and the high-
wayman defended himself as well as he
could ; and being young and vigorous, and
having the advantage of his eyes, he gave
furious blows, sometimes to one, sometimes
to another, as he could come at them, and
cried out, " Thieves," louder than they did.
The neighbours came running at the noise,
broke ojieu the door, and had much ado to
separate the combatants ; but having at last
succeeded, they asked the cause of their
(piarrcl. My brother, who still had hold of,
the highwayman, cried out, "Gentlemen,
this man I have hold on is a thief, and stole
in with us on purpose to rob »is of the little
money we have." The thief, who shut his
eyes as soon as the neighbours came, feigned
himself blind, and cried out, "Gentlemen,
he is a liar. I swear to you by Heaven, and
by the life of the caliph, that I am their
companion, and they refuse to give me my
just share. They have all three fallen upon
me, and I demand justice." The neighbours
would not interfere in their quarrel, but car-
ried them all before the judge.
When they came before the magistrate,
the highwayman, without staying to be ex-
amined, cried out, atill feigning himself
1 84
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
blind, " Sir, since you are deputed to admi-
nister justice by the caliph, whom God
prosper, I declare to you that we are equally
criminal, my three comrades and I ; but we
have all engaged, upon oath, to confess no-
thing except we be bastinadoed ; so that if
you would know our crime, you need only
order us to be bastinadoed, and begin with
me." My brother would have spoken, but
was not allowed to do so ; and the highway-
man was put under the bastinado.
Here Scheherazade stopt, because it was
day, itnd the next
storj' thus : —
night she resumed her
The Hundred and Seventy-Fourth Night.
The robber being under the bastinado, had
the courage to bear twenty or thirty blows ;
when, pretending to be overcome with paui,
he first opened one eye, and then the other,
and crying out for mercy, begged the judge
would put a stoj) to the blows. The judge
perceiving that he looked upon him with his
eyes open, was much surprised at it, and
said to him, "Rogue, what is the meaning
of this miracle?" "Sir," replied the high-
wayman, " I will discover to you an im-
portant secret, if you pardon me, and give
me, as a pledge that you will keep your
word, the seal-ring which you have on your
finger : I am ready to declare the wliole
mystery." The judge consented, giive him
his ring, and promised him pardon. ' ' Under
this promise," said the highwayman, "I
must confess to you, sir, that I and my
three comrades do all of us see very well.
We feigned ourselves to be blind, that we
might freely enter peojjle's houses, and into
women's apartments, where we abuse their
weakness. 1 must further confess to you,
that by this trick we have gained together
ten thousand drachms. This day I de-
manded of my partners two thousand five
hundred that belonged to me as my share ;
but they refused because I told them I
would leave them, and they were afraid I
should accuse them. Upon my pressing
still to have my share, they all three fell
upon me ; for which I appeal to those
people who brought us before you. I ex-
pect from your justice, sir, that you will
make them deliver me the two thousand five
hundred drachms which is my due ; and if
you have a mind that my comrades shoidd
confess the truth, you must order them
three times as many blows as I have had,
and you will find they will open their eyes
08 well as I did."
My brother and the other two blind men
woidd have cleared themselves of this horrid
cheat, but the judge would not hear them.
"Villains," said he, "do you feign your-
selves blind, then, and, under that pretext of
moving their compassion, cheat people, and
commit such crimes?" "Ho is a cheat,"
cried my brother, "and we take God to
witness that none of us can see."
All that my brother could say was in vain j
his comrades and he received each of them
two hundred blows. The judge looked when
they sluiuld have opened their eyes, and as-
cribed to their obstinacy what really they
could not do. All the while, the highway-
man said to the blind men, "Poor fools 'that
youare, open your eyes, and do not suffer your-
selves to be beat to death." Tlien address-
ing himself to the judge, said, " I perceive,
sir, that they will be maliciously obstinate
to the last, and will never open their eyes,
They have a mind certainly to avoid the
shame of reading their own condemnation in
the face of every one that looks upon them ;
it were better, if you think fit, to pardon
them, and to send some person along with
me for the ten thousand drachms they have
hid."
The judge did so, gave the highwayman
two thousand five hundred drachms, and
kept the rest liiniself ; and as for my brother
and his two compiinions, he thought he
shewed them a great deal of pity by sentenc-
ing them only to be banished. As soon as
I heard what befel my brother, I ran after
him ; he told me his misfortune, and I
brought him back secretly to the town. I
could easily have justified him to the
judge, and have got the highwayman
punished as he deserved, but durst not at-
tempt it, for fear of bringing myself into
trouble. Thus I finished the sad adventiire
of my honest blind brother. The caliph
laughed at it as much as at those he had
heard before, iind ordered again that some-
thing should be given me ; but without
staying for it, I began the story of my fourth
brothel'.
THE STORY OF THE BABDEK's FOURTH
DIIOTHER.
Alcouz was the name of the fourth bro-
ther, who lost one of his eyes upon an oc-
casion that I shall have the honour to relate
to your majesty. Ho was a butcher by pro-
fession, and had a particular way of teaching
rams to fight, by which he gained the ac-
quaintance and friendship of the chief lords
of the country, who loved that sport, and
for that end kept rams at their houses ; he
had, besides, a very good trade, and had his
shop always full of the best meat, because
he was very rich, and spared no cost for the
best of every sort. One day, when he was
in his shop, an old man with a long white
beard came and bought six pounds of meat
of him, gave him money for it, and went his
way. My brother thought the money so
fine, so white, and so well coined, that he
K
\
THE BARBERS FOURTH BROTHER.
185
'!^
\
put it apart by itaelf. The 8amo old man
came every day for five months together,
bought a like quantity of meat, and paid fur
it in the same sort of money, which my bro-
ther continued to lay apart by itself.
At the end of live months, Alcouz, having
a mind to buy a parcel of sheep, and to ]iay
for them in this lino money, opened hia
chest ; but, instead uf finding his money,
was extremely surprised to see nothing in
the place where he had laid it but a parcel
of leaves clipped round : he beat his head,
and cried out aloud, which presently brought
the neighbours about him, who were as
much surprised as he, when he told them
the story. ' ' Oh ! " cried my brother, weeping,
"that this treacherous old fellow would come
now, with his hypocritical looks ! " He had
scarce done B])eaking, when lie saw him
coming at a distance, ran to hiui, and laid
hands on him. "Mussulmans!" cried he, as
loud as he could, "help! hear what a cheat
this wicked fellow has put upon me ! " and, at
the same time, told a great crowd of peojjle,
who came about him, wliat he had formerly
told his neighbours. When he had done,
the old man said to him, very gravely and
calmly, "You had better let me go, and by
that means make amends for the affront you
have put upon me before so many people,
for fear I should put a greater atlront upon
you, which I should be sorry to do. " «' How, "
said my brother, "what have you to say
against me ? I axa an honest man in my
business, and fear not you, nor anybody."
"You would have me speak out then," said
the old man, in the same tone ; and turning to
the people, said to them, "Know, good peo-
ple that this fellow, instead of selling mut-
ton, as he ought to do, sells man's flesh."
"You are a cheat," said my brother. "No,
no, " said the old man : " good people, this very
minute that I am speaking to him, there is
a man with his throat cut hung up in the
shop like a sheep ; do any of you go thither,
and see if what I say be not true."
Just before my brother had opened his
chest, he had killed a sheep, dressed it, and
exposed it in the shop, according to custom.
He protested that what the old man said was
false ; but notwithstanding aU his protesta-
tions, the credulous mob, prejudiced against
a man accused of such a heinous crime,
would go to see whether the matter was
true. They obliged my brother to quit the
old man, laid hold of him, and ran like
madmen into his shop, where they saw a
man hung up with his throat cut, as the old
man had told them ; for he was a magician,
and deceived the eyes of all people, as he did
my brother, when he made him take leaves
instead of money. At this sight one of
those who held Alcouz gave him a great
blow with his fist, and said to him, "Thou
wicked villain ! dost thou make us eat men's
flesh instead of mutton ? " And at the samo
time the old man gave him another blow,
which beat out one of his eyes, and every-
body that could get near him beat him ; and
not content with that, they carried him be-
fore a judge, witli the pretended carcass of
the man, to be evidence against him. "Sir,'*
said the old magician to the jiulge, "we have
brought you a man who is so liarbarous as
to murder people, and to sell their flesh in-
stead of mutton ; — the public expects that
you shall punish him in an exemplary man-
ner." The judge heard my brother with pa-
tience, but would believe nothing of the
story of the money clianged into leaves,
called my brother a cheat, told him he would
believe hia own eyes, ami ordered him to re-
ceive five hundred blows. He afterwards
made him tell where his money was, took it
all from him, and banished him for ever,
after having made him ride three days
through the city upon a camel, exposed to
the insults of the peo](le.
Scheherazade ])crceiving daylight, broke
off, and next night continued her story as
follows : —
Tlie Hundred and Seventy-Piftli Night.
The barber went on thus : I was not at
Bagdad when this tragical adventure befell
my fourth brother. He retired into a re-
mote place, where he lay concealed till he
was c\ired of the blows with which his back
was terribly mauled. When he was able to
walk, he went by night to a certain town
ivhere nobody knew him ; and there he took
a lodging, from whence he seldom went out.
But being weary of this confined Lfe, he
went to walk in one of the suburbs, where
all of a sudden he heard a great noise of
horsemen coming behind him. He was then
by chance near the gate of a great house y
and fearing, after what had befallen him,
that these iiorsomen were ])ursuing him, he
opened the gate, in order to hide himself ;
and after he shut it, came into a great court,
where immediately two servants came, and
collaring him, said, "Heaven be jiraised that
you have come of your own accord to sur-
render yourself to us ! You have frightened
us so much those three last nights, that we
could not sleep ; nor would you liave spared
our lives, if we had not prevented you."
You may very well imagine my brother was
much surprised at this compliment. "Good
people," said he, "I know not what you
mean; yoii certainly take me for somebotly
else." "No, no," replied they; "we know
that you and your comrades are great rob-
bers : you were not contented to rob our
master of all that he had, and to reduce him
to beggary, but you had a mind to take his life.
Let us see a little if you have not a knife about
I
1 86
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
you, which you had in your hand when you
pursued iw last night." And havinR said this,
they searched him, and found he liad a
knife. " Ho ! ho ! " cried they, laying hold of
him, "and dare you say that you are not a
robber?" "Why," said my brother, "cannot
a man carry a knife about him without being
a highwayman ? If you will hearken to my
story," continued he, " instead of having so
bad an opinion of me, you will be touched
with compassion at my misfortunes." But far
from hearkening to him, they fell npon him,
trod upon him, took away his clothes, and
tore his shirt. Then seeing his scars on his
back, "Odog!" said they, redoubling their
blows, "would you havo us believe you are
au honest man, when your back shews us
the contrary?" "Alas!" said my brother,
"my crimes must be very great, since, after
having been abused already so unjustly, I
am abused again a second time, without
being more culpable ! "
The two servants, no way moved with this
complaint, carried him before the judge ;
who a<«k3d him how he durst be so bold as
to go into their house, and ])ursue them with
a drawn knife ? "Sir," replied poor Alcouz,
" I am the most innocent man in the world,
and am undone, if you will not be pleased
to hear me patiently ; nobody deserves more
compassion." "Sir," replied one of the
domestics, "will you listen to a robber who
enters peoples houses to plunder and murder
them? If you will not believe us, only look
upon his back." And when he said so, he
uncovered my brother's back, and shewe<l it
to the judge ; who, without any other infor-
mation, conimauded immediately to give him
a hundred lashes with a bull's pizzle over the
shoulders, and made him afterward:-, be car-
ried through the town on a camel, with one
crying before him, "Thus are such men pun-
ished as enter people's houses by force."
After having treated him thus, they banished
him the town, and forbid him ever to return
to it again. 8ome people, who met him
after the second misfortune, brought me
word where he was ; and I went and fetched
him to Bagdad privately, and gave him all
the assistance I could. The cali})h, contin-
ued the barber, did not laugh so much at
this story as at the other. He was 2)leased
to pity the unfortunate Alcouz, and ordered
something to be given me. But, without
giving his servants time to obey his orders,
I continued my discourse, and said to him,
My sovereign lord and master, you see that
T do not talk much; aud since your majesty
has been pleased to do me the favour to lis-
ten to me so far, I beg you would likewise
hear the adventures of my two other bro-
thers. I hope they will be as diverting as
those of the former. You may make a
complete history of them, that will not lie
unworthy of your library. I shall do my-
self the honour then to acquaint you that
the fifth brother was called Alnaschar.
Here Scheherazade broke otF, and loft the
rest of the story till next morning, when
she continued it thus : —
The Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Night,
TUB STORY OF THE BARBER'S FIFTH BROTHER.
Alnaj^cuar, as long as our father lived, was
very lazy ; instead of working for his living,
he used to go begging in the evening, and
to live next day upon what ho got. Our
father died in a very old age, and left among
us seven hundred drachms of silver; we
divided it equally, so that each of us had a
hundred for our share. Alnaschar, who had
never so much mnney before in his lifetime,
was very much perplexed to know what he
should do with it. He consulted a long
time with himself, and at last resolved to
lay it out in glasses, bottles, and other glass-
ware, which he bought of a wholesale dealer.
He put all in an open basket, and chose a
very little shop, where he sat with the bas-
ket before him, and his back against the
wall, expecting while somebody should come
and buy his ware. In this }K>sture he sat,
with his eyes fixed on his basket, and
began to meditate ; during which he spoke
as follows, loud enough to be heard by a
neighbouring tailor. "This basket," said
he, " cost me a hundred drachms, which is
all I have in the world ; I shall make two
hundred of it by retailing my glass ; and of
these two hundred drachms, which I will
again lay out in glass-ware, I shall make
four hundred ; — and going on thus, I shall
at last make four thousand drachms ; of
four thousand I shall easily make eight
thousand, and when I come to ten thousand,
1 will leave oflf selling glass, and turn jewel-
ler. I will trade in diamonds, jiearls, and
all sorts of precious stones. Then, when I
am rich as I can wish, I will buy a fine
house, a great estate, slaves, eunuchs, and
horses. I will keep a goml house, and make
a great figure in the world ; I will send for
all the musicians and dancers of both sexes
in town. Nor will I stop here : I will, by
the favour of Heaven, go on till I get a hun-
dred thousand drachms ; and when I have
got so much, I will think myself as great as
a prince, and send to demand the grand
vizier's daughter in marriage ; and represent
to that minister, that I have heai-d much of
the wonderful beauty, understanding, wit,
and all the other qualities of his daughter.
In a word, that I will give him a thousand
pieces of gold the first night after we are
married ; and if the vizier be so uncivil as
to refuse his daughter, which cannot be sup-
posed, I will go and carry her off before hia
THE BARBER'S FIFTH BROTHER.
187
/
face, and take licr to my house whether ho
will or no. As soon oa I have married the
grand vizier's daughter, I will buy her ten
young black eunuchs, the handsomest that
can be had. I will clothe myself like a
prince, and, moiinted upon a fine horse, with
a saddle of tine gold, with housings of cloth
of gold finely embroidered with diamonds
and pearls, I ^vill ride tlirough the city, at-
tended by slaves before and behind ; and I
will go to the vizier's ])alace, in view of all
the people, great and small, who will shew
me the most profound respect. When I
alight at the fuut of the vizier's staircase, I
will go up the same through my own people
ranged in files on the right and left; and
the grand ^'izier, receiving me as his son-in-
law, shall give me the right hi\nd, and set
me above him, to do me the more honour.
If this comes to pass, as I hope it will, two
of my i)eople shall each of them have a
purse with a thousand pieces of gold, which
they shall carry with them. 1 will take
one, and jircsenting it to the grand vizier,
will tell him, ' There is the thousand i)iuces
of gold that I promised the first night of
marriage;' and 1 will offer him the other,
and say to him, ' There is as much more, to
shew you that I am a man of my word,
and even better than my promise.' After
such an action as this, all the world will
talk of my generosity. I will return to my
own house in the same pomp. My wife will
send some officer to compliment me, on ac-
co\mt of my visit to the vizier, her father ;
I will honour the officer with a line robe,
and send him back with a rich jtresent. If
she thinks to send me one, I will not accept
it, but dismiss the bearer. I will not sufl'er
her to go out of her apartment on any ac-
count whatever, without giving me notice ;
and when I have a mini I to come to her
apartment, it shall be in such a manner as
to make her respect me. In short, no house
shall be better ordered than mine. I will
be always richly clad. When 1 retire with
my wife in the evening, 1 will sit on the
upper hand ; I will affect a grave air, with-
out turning my head to one side or other.
I will speak little; cand whilst my wife,
beautiful as the full moon, stands before me
in all her charms, I will make as if I did not
see her. Her women about her will say to
me, ' Our dear lord and master, here is
your spouse, your humble servant, before
you, ready to receive your caresses, and
much mortified that you do not vouchsafe
to look upon her; she is wearied with stand-
ing 80 long; bid her, at least, sit down.'
I will give no answer to this discourse,
which will increase their surprise and grief.
They will prostrate themselves at my feet ;
and after they have for a considerable time
entreated me to relent, I will at last lift up
my head, and give her a careless look, and
resume my former posture : they will sup-
1)080 that my wife is not well enough nor
handsomely enough dressed, and will carry
her to her closet, to change her apparel. At
the same time, I will get u]>, and put on a
more magnificent suit than before : they will
return and hold the same discourse with me
as before, and I will have the ])leasurc not
so much as to look upon my wife, till they
have prayed and entreated as long as they
did at first. Thus I will begin on the first
day of marriage to teach her what she is to
expect during the rest of her life."
Here Scheherazade broke off, because it
was day ; and next morning resumed her
story as follows : —
The Hundred and Seventy-Seventh Night.
The prattling barber continued the his-
tory of his fifth brother thus : — " After the
ceremonies of the marriage," said Alnaschar,
" I will take from one of my servants, who
shall be about me, a purse of five hundred
pieces of gold, which I will give to the tire-
women, that they may leave me alone with
my spouse. When they are gone, my wife
shall go to bed first ; then I will lie down
by her, with my back towards her, and wiU
not say one word to her all night. The next
morning she will certainly complain of my
contempt to her, and of my pride, to her
mother, the grand vizier's wife, which wUl
rejoice my heart. Her mother will come
to wait upon me, respectfully kiss my hands,
and say to me, 'Sir,' (for she will not dare
to call me son-in-law, for fear of provoking
mo by such a familiar style), ' I entreat you
not to disdain to look upon my daughter,
and ri. fuse to come near her : I assure you
that her chief delight is to please you, and
that she loves you witii all her soul.' Bu'>,
in spite of all my mother-in-law can sav, I
wiU not answer her one woid, but keep an
obstinate gravity. Then she will throw
herself at my feet, kiss them repeatedly,
and say to me, ' Sir, is it possible that you
can suspect my daughter's good sense? I
assure you I never let her go out of my
sight. You are the first man that ever saw
her face : do not mortify her so much : do
her the favour to look ui»on her, to speak to
her, and confirm her in her good intentions
to satisfy you in everything.' But nothing
of this shall prevail with me. Upon which
my mother-in-law will take a glass of wine,
and, putting it in the hand of her daughter
my wife, will say, ' (>o present him this glass
of wine yourself ; perhaps he will not be so
cruel as to refuse it from so fair a hand.'
My wife will come with the glass, and stand
trembling before me; and when she finds
that I do not look towards her, but that I
continue to disdain her, she will say to me.
i88
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
■with tcora in her eyes, ' My heart, my dear
ROiil, my amiable lurd, I conjure yuii, t>y the
favours which heaven lieaps upon you, to
receive this nlasa of wine from the lianil of
your most humi Je servant ; ' hut I will not
look upon her still, nor answer her. ' My
charming sjiouse,' will she say, redoubling
her tears, and putting the ghissto my mouth,
'I will never leave olF till I prevail with
you to drink : ' then, wearied with her
entreaties, I will dart a terrible look at her,
give her a gooil box on the cheek, and such
a push with my foot, as will thi'ow her to a
distince from the sofa."
My brother wiw so full of these chimer-
ical visions, that he acted with his foot as if
she had been really before him, and by mis-
fortune he gave such a push to his basket
and glasses, that they were thrown down in
the street, and broken in a thouMand pieces.
The tailor, his neighbour, who heard his
extravagant t;dk, burst into a groat fit of
laughter when he saw the basket fall.
" Oh, what an unworthy fellow art thou ! "
said he to my brother : " ought you not to be
ashamed to abuse thus a youug spouse, who
gave you no cause to complain. You must
be a very brutish fellow to desjiisethe tears
and charms of such a beautiful lady. Were
I the vizier, your father-in-law, I would
order you a himdreil lashes with a bull's
pizzli and send you through the town with
your character written on your forehead."
My brother, on this fatal accident, came to
himself, and perceiving that he had brought
this misfortune npon himself by his insuj)-
portable pride, he beat his face, tore his
clothes, and cried so loud, that the neigh-
bours came about him ; and the peojile, who
were going to their noon-prayers, stopped
to kno-.r what was the matter. Being on a
Friday, more people went to prayers than
usual : some of them took pity on Alnaschar,
and others only laughed at him for his ex-
travagance. In the meantime, his vanity
being dispersed with his property, lie bit-
terly bewailed his loss ; and a lady of rank
passing by npon a mide richly caparisoned,
my brother's situation moved her compas-
sion. She asked him who ho was, and what
he crieil for ? They told her, that he was a
jioor man, who had laid out the little money
he was worth in the purchase of a basket of
glassware, and that the basket had fallen
over, and all his glasses were broken. The
lady immediately turned to an eunuch who
attended her, and said to him, "Give the
poor man what you have about you." The
eunuch obeyed, and put into my brother's
hands a purse, with live hundred pieces of
gold. Alnaschar was ready to die with joy
when he received it. He gave a thousand
blessings to the lady, and shutting up his
shop where he had no more occasion to sit,
he went to his house.
While he was making deep reflections
upon his good luck, lie heard somebody
knock at his door : before he opened, ho
askod who it was ; and knowing by the
voice that it was a woman, ho let her in.
" My son," said she, "I have a favour to
beg of you,: the hour of ju'ayer is como ;
jiray let me M'ash myself, that I may be lit
to say my prayers. I'ray let me come into
your house, and give me a basin of water."
My brother looked at her, and saw that she
was a woman well advanced in years :
though he knew her not, ho granted her
reipiest, and sat down again, still full of his
new adventure. He put his gold in a lonfj
straight purse, jiroper to carry at his girdle.
The old woman in the meantime said her
prayers, and when she had done, camo tf>
my brother, and bowed twice to the groimd
so low, that she touched it with her fore-
head, as if she had been going to say her
prayers : then rising up, she wished my
brother all happiness.
The day beginning to dawn, Schehera^
zado left off, and next night resumed her
discourse, personating the barber, as fol-
lows : —
The Hundred and Seventy-Eighth Night.
The old woman, as I said, wished my
brother all happiness, and thanked him for
his civility. Being meanly clad, and very
humble, he thought she asked alms, upon
which he offered her two pieces of gold.
The old woman stepped back in a sort of
surprise, as if my brother had affronted her.
" Good God ! " said she, " what is the mean-
ing of this ? Is it possible, sir, that yon
took me for one of those impudent beggars
who push into people's houses to ask alms ?
Take back your money ; I need it not,
thank heaven. I belong to a young lady
of this cit}', who is a charming beauty, and
very rich ; she lets me want for nothing."
My brother was not cunning enough to
perceive the craft of the old woman, who
only refused the two pieces of gold that she
might catch more. He asked her if she
could not procure him the honour of seeing
that lady. " "With all my heart," replied
she ; " she will be very glad to marry you,
and to put you in possession of her fortune,
by making you master of her person. Take
up your money and follow me." 5Iy bro-
ther being ravished with his good luck of
finding so great a sum of money, and almost
at the same time a beautiful and rich wife,
shut his eyes to all other considerations ; so
that he took his five hundred pieces of gold,
and followed the old woman. She walked
before him, and he followed at a distance,
to the gate of a great house, where she
knocked. He came up to her just as a
THE BARBER'S FIFTH BROTHER.
189
-■d
young Greek slave openeil the gate. The
uld woman made him enter first, crossccl a
■well-paved court, and introduced him into a
hall, the furniture of which conlirmed him
in the good opinion ho had conceived of tho
mistress of the house. While the old wo-
man went to ac([uaint tho laily, he sat down,
and the weather being hot, i)ufc off his tur-
ban, and laid it by him. He B|)cedily saw
the young lady come in, whose beauty and
rich apparel perfectly surprised him ; I.e got
up aa soon as he saw her. Tho lady, with
a smiling countenance, prayed him to sit
down again, and placed herself by him : she
told him she was very glad to sec him ; and
after having spoken some engaging words to
him, said, '• \Ve do not sit here at our case.
Come, give me your hand." At these words
she presented iiim hers, and carried him
into an inner chamber, where she conversed
■with him for some time ; then she left him,
bidding him stay, — she would be ■with hiin
in a moment. Ho waited for her ; but in-
stead of a lady came in a great black slave,
with a scimitar in \\\h hand, and looking
upon my brother, with a terrible aspect,
said to him fiercely, " What have you to di>
here ? " .ynnschar was so frightened at tho
sight of the slave, that he had not power to
answer. The black stripped him, carried
off his gold, and gave him several flesh
wounds with his scimitar. My unhappy
brother fell to t'le ground, where he lay
without motion, though he had still the tise
of his senses. The black, thinking him to
be dead, asked for salt : the Greek slave
brought him a basin full : they rubbed my
brother's woimds with it, who had so much
command of himself, notwithstanding the
intolerable pain it put him to, that he lay
still, without giving any sign of life. The
black and the Greek slave being retired,
the old ■woman, who drew my brother into
the snare, came and dragged him by the
feet to a trap-door, which she opened, and
tlirew him into a place under ground,
among the coqises of several other people
that had been murdered. He perceived this
as soon as he came to himself, for the vio-
lence of the fall had taken away his senses.
The salt rubbed into his wounds preserved
his life, and he recovered strength by de-
grees, so as he was able to walk. After two
days ho opened the trap-door in the night,
and finding in the court a place jiroper to
hide himself in, continued there till break of
day, when he saw the cursed old woman
oi)en the gate to the street, and go out to
seek another prey. He stayed in the place
some time after she ■'vent out, that she
might not see him, and then came to me
for shelter, when he told me of his adven-
tures.
In a month's time he was perfectly cured
of his wounds by medicines that I gave him,
and resolved to avenge himself of the old
woman, who ha<l put such a J)arbarotis cheat
upon him. To this end ho took a bag, largo
enough to contain live hundred pieces of gold,
and tilled it with ]>ieces of glass.
Here Scliohorazado stopt till next morn-
ing, when she went ou thus : —
The Hundred and Seventy-Ninth Night.
My brother, continued tho barber, fasten-
ed tho bag of glass about him, disguised
himself like an old 'woman, and took a
scimitar under his gown. One mr)rniiig he
met the old woman walking through the
town to seek her prey ; he came up to her,
and counterfeiting a woman's voice, said to
her, "Cannot you lend me a pair of scales ?
I am a woman newly come from Persia,
have brought five hundred pieces of gold
with me, and would know if they are
weight." ' ' G ood woman, " answered the old
hag, " you could not have api)licd to a pro-
perer person : follow me ; I will bring you
to my son, who changes m(jnej% and will
weigh them himself, to save you the trouble.
Let us miike haste, for fear ho go to his
shoj)." My brother followed her to the
house where she carried him the lirst time,
and the Greek slave opened the door.
The old woman carried my brother to the
hall, where she bid him stay a moment till
she called her son. The jiretended son
came, and i)roved to be tho villainous black
slave. " Come, old woman," said he to my
brother, "rise and follow me:" having
spoken thus, he went before to bring him to
the place where he designed to murder him.
Alnaschar got up, followed him, and draw
ing his scimitar, gave him such a dexterous
blow behind on the neck, that he cut off his
head, which he took in one hand, and, drag-
ging the corpse with the other, threw them
both into the place under ground before
mentioned. The Greek slave, who was
accustomed to the trade, came presently
with a basin of salt ; but when she saw
Alnaschar with his scimitar in his hand,
and without his veil, she laid down the
basin, and fled. But my brother overtak-
ing her, cut off her head also. The wicked
old woman came running at the noise, and
my brother seizing her, said to her, "Trea-
cherous wretch! do not you know me?"
"Alas, sir!" answered she, trembling, "who
are you ? I do not remember that I ever saw
you." "I am," said he, "the person to
whose house you came the other day to
wash and say your prayers. Hypocritical
hag ! " said he, "do not you remember it ?"
Then she fell on her knees to beg his pardon,
but he cut her in four pieces.
There remained only the lady, who knew
nothing of what had passed : he sought her
190
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
out, and fuund hur in a chambur, where aha
woo ruody to HJiik whun bIiu saw him : sho
begged hur life, which he generously granted.
" Mudaui," said he, " how could you live
with such wicked i)eople, as I have 8o justly
revenged myself ui)ou now?'' "I was,"
said she, " wife to an honest merchant ; and
the cursed old woman, whose wickednesa £
did not know, used sometiuies to conu; to
see me. ' Motlam,' said she to me one day,
•we have n very tine wedding at our house,
which you will be pleaaed to see, if you give
us the honour of your company:' I was ])er-
suaded by her, put on my best apparel, and
took with inu a hundred pieces of gold. I
followed her ; she brought me to this house,
where the black has since kept me by force,
and 1 have been three yeai's here, to my
very great sorrow." '* By the trade which
that cursed black followed," replied my bro-
ther, " ho must have gathered together a
vast deal of riches." " There is so much,"
said she, "that you will be mode for ever,
if you carry them off : follow me, ond you
shall see them." Alnaschar followed her to
a chamber, where she shewed him several
coffera full of gold, which he beheld with
admiration. " (Jo," said she, "fetch people
enough to carry it all off. ' My brother
needed not be bid twice : he went out, and
stayed only till he got ten men together,
and brought them with him, and was much
surprised to find the gate open, but more
when he found the lady and coffers all gone ;
for she being more diligent than he, carried
them all off and disa})i)eareil. However,
being resolved not to return empty-handed,
he carried off all the furniture he could find
in the house, which was a great deal more
thau enough to make up the five hundred
pieces of gold he was robbed of ; but when
he went out of the house, he forgot to shut
the gate. The neighbours, who saw my
brother and the porters come and go, went
and acquainted the magistrate with it, for
they looked upon my brother's conduct as
suspicious. Alnaschar slept well enough all
night ; but the next morning, when he came
out of his house, he found twenty of the
magistrate's men, who seized him. " Come
along with us," said they; "our master
would speak with you." My brother prayed
them to have patience for a moment, and
offered them a sum of money to let him
escape ; but instead of listening to him,
they bound him, and forced him to go
along with them. They met in the street
an old acquaintance of my brother's, who
stopped them awhile, and asked them why
they seized my brother, and offered them a
considerable sum to let him escape, and tell
the magistrate they could not find him.
But this woidd nut do ; so he was carried
before the magistrate.
Here Scheherazade left off, because she
saw day ; but resumed her story thus next
nioniing : —
The Hundred and Eightieth Night
When the officers brought him before the
magistrate, he asked him where ho had the
goods which he carried home last night?
"Sir," replied Alnaschar, "I am ready to
tell you all the truth ; but allow mc first to
have recourse to your clemency, and to beg
your i)roraise, that nothing shall be done to
me." " I give it you," said the magistrate.
Then my brother told him the whole story
without disguise, from the time the old
woman came into the house to say her
prayers, to the time the lady made her
escape, after he had killed the black, the
Greek slave, and the old woman : and as
for what he had carried to his house, he
l)rayed the judge to leave him part of it,
for the five hundred pieces of gold that he
was robbed of.
The judge, without promising anything,
sent his otiicers to bring off all, and having
put the goods into his own wardrobe, com-
manded my brother to quit the town imme-
diately, and never to return, for he was
afraid, if my brother had staj ed in the city,
he would have found some way to represent
this injustice to the calijih. In the mean-
time, Alnaschar obeyed without murmuring,
and left that town to go to another : by the
w<ay he met with highwaymen, who stript
him naked ; and when the ill news was
brought to me, I carried him a suit, and
brought him secretly again into the town,
where I took the like care of him as I did of
his other brothers.
The Hundred and Eightieth Night
Continued.
THE STORY OF THE BABBER'S SIXTH BROTHER.
I AM now only to tell you the story of my
sixth brother, called Schacabac, with the
hare-lips. At first he was industrious
enough to improve the himdred drachms of
silver which fell to his share, and went on
very well ; but a reverse of fortune brought
him to beg his bread, which he did with a
great deal of dexterity. He studied chiefly
to get into great men's houses, by means of
their servants and officers, that he might
have access to their masters, and obtain
their charity. One day, as he jmssed by a
magnificent house, whose high gate shewed
him a very spacious court, where there was
a miUtitude of servants, he went to one of
them, and asked him to whom that house
belonged. "Good man," replied the ser-
THE LiARHER'S SIXTH BROTHER.
191
vant, "whence do yon come, that you ottk
ine Hiicli a r|iu'Hti>iii? L)ooh not all that you
Bce make you uiulorHtaud that it Ih the
]iaIaci>of a Uarmcuidif ?"* My lirothiT, who
very woll knew the lilirrality and fjcncnmity
uC thu liai-nicoidi'8, addrc.iNi'd hiniRidf to one
of Ilia porttTH (for ho lia<l more tlian onu,)
and prayed him to ;rive him an alms, "do
in," Hiiid lio, " nnhody hinders you, and
addresH yovirself to the master of the house ;
he will send you hack satisfied."
My brother, who expected no gnch
civihty, thanked the jiorters, and with their
pemiiHNion entered the palace, which was kk
large, that it took him a considerahlc time
to reach the Barmecide's apartment ; at hist
he camo to a tine acjuare building of an
excellent architecture, and entered by a
porch, through which he saw one of the
iincst ganleim with gravel walks of several
colours, extremely pleasant to the eye : the
lower apartments round this square were
most of them open, and were shut only with
great curtains to keep out the sun, whii;h
were opened again when the heat was over,
to let in the fresh air.
Such an agreeable place would have
struck my brother with admirivtion, even if
his mind had been more at ease than it w.-w.
He went on till lu! came into a hall richly
furnished, and adorned with paintings of
gold and azure foliage, where he saw n.
venerable man with a long white beard,
sitting at the upper end on a sofa, whence
he concluded him to be the master of the
house ; and in fact it was the Barmecide
himself, who said to my brother in a very
civil manner, that he was welcome ; and
asked him what he wanted. " My lord,"
answered my brother, in a begging tone,
" I am a poor man who stands in need of
the help of such rich and generous persons
as yourself." He could not have addressed
himself to a fitter person than this lord, who
had a thousand good qualities.
The Barmecide seemed to be astonished
at my brother's answer, and putting both
his hands to his stomach, as if he would
rend his clothes for grief, " Is it possible,"
cried he, "that I am at Bagdad, and that
such a man as you is so jwor as you say ?
This is what must never be." My brother
fancying that he was going to give him some
singular mark of his bounty, blessed him a
thousand times, and wished him all sorts of
happiness. "It shall not be said," replied
the Barmecide, " that I will abandon you,
nor will I have you leave me." "8ir,"
replied my brother, " I swear to you I have
not eaten one bit to-day." "Is that true,"
replied the Barmecide, " that you are fast-
ing till now ? Alas, poor man ! he is
* The Barmecides, u has been said already, were a
noble family of Persia, who settled at Bagdad.
ready to die for hunger. Ho, boy," cried
he, with a loud voice, "bring a liaxin and
water prcHentiy, that we may wiioli o\ir
hauils." Though no boy appenrcd, and my
brother saw neither water nor lianin, the
Karnii'i'ide till to rubbing Iiim hands, as if
one had poured water upon them, and bid
my brother come and wa.di with him.
Sehacabac judged by that, that the Karme-
citle lord loved to be merry; and he himself
understanding raillery, and knowing that
the poor niUKt be eoiiipliiisaut to the rich, if
they woidd have anything from them, he
came forward, and did ns he did.
"(Jonie Oil," said the Harmeciile ; "bring
us something to eat, and do not let us stay
for it." Wlieii he hail saiil so, though no-
thing was brought, he began to cut, as if
soniething had been brought him upon a
|ilate, and putting hi.s hand to his mouth,
liegan to chew, and said to my bi-other,
"Come, frieiul, eat as freely jis it" you were
at home: cmiie, eat; you said you were
like to die of hunger, but you eat as if you
had noatomaeh." "I'ardon me, my loi-d,"
said Scliaoabac, who iierl'ectly iniiti'd what
he rllil, "you see I lose no tiiiie, and that
I ]ilay my part well enough." "How like
you tins bread?" said the jjarinccide : "do
not you tiiul it very good?" " () my
lord," said my bi-otlier, who saw neither
bread nor meat, " I never ate anything so
white and so line." " Kat your bellyful,"
said the Barmecide; "I assure you, the
woman who bakes me this good bread cost
me five hundred pieces of gold to purchase
her."
Hero Scheherazade stopt, because it was
day, and next night went un thus : —
The Hundred and Eighty-First Night.
The Barmecide, said the barber, after hav-
ing boasted so much of his bread, v,-'uioh
my brother eat only in idea, cried, "Boy,
bring us another dish :" and though no boy
appeared, "Come, my good friend," said he
to my brother, "taste this new dish, and
tell me if ever you eat better mutton and
barley-broth than this." " It is atlniirably
good," replied my brother, "and therefore
you see 1 eat heartily." "You oblige me
highly," replied the Barmecide ; "I conjure
you then, by the satisfaction I have to see
you eat so heartily, that you eat all up,
since you like it so well." A little while
after he called for a goose, and sweet sauce,
made up of vinegar, honey, dry raisins, gray
]i)eas, and dry tigs, which was brought just
in the same manner as the other was. "The
goose is very fat," said the Barmecide, "eat
only a leg and a wing ; we must save our
stomachs, for we have abundance of other
dishes to come." He actually called for
192
rilE ARAlilAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I
i
. i i
■uvoral other diiihi'ii, of which my brother,
who WM leiKly to tliu of hiiii^fcr, iircteinleil
to eat ; but whut lie hoaMtcd of iiioro tlinii
all thu rent, wim a laiiil> fcil with |iiHtiit'hio
nutfl, whicli he (iniiTi-il to lie liroii;{ht ii]i in
the same innniicr tliiit the rcNt were. "Aiwl
here iM n iIIhIi," miitl the Kiiriiu'eide, "that
you will Hee at iiol)ody'« talile liut my own ;
1 would have yon eat your lieiiyful of it."
Haviu;; Hpokeu tliUH, he Htntehed out hin
hand, am it' he hiul a pieue of lanih in it, and
Ituttin^ it to my hrotlier'8 mouth, " There,"
said he, "HWallow that, and you will jud^u
whether I ha<l not reaxon to lioant of thia
diHh." My brother thruHt o\it hin head,
opened hin mcnith, and made an if he took
thu piece of lamb, and eat it with extreme
pleasure. "1 knew you would like it," Baid
the liarniecide. "There is nothing in the
world liner," replied my brother; "your
table ill most delicious." "Come, bring the
ragout presently ; I fancy you will like that
us well as yini did tht^ lamb. Well, how ih)
you relish itV" said the Barmecide. " Oh !
it is wonderful," rejdied >Scliacabac ; "for
hero wo taste all at once, and>cr, cloves,
nutmeg, ginger, {lejiper, and the most odo-
rifenms herbs ; and all these delicacies aro
BO well mixed, that <me does not prevent
our tasting the other. How ]ilea8ant ! "
" Honour this ragout," said the Harmecido,
"by eating heartily of it. Ho, boy ! " cried
he, "bring us a new ragout." "No, my
lord, if it jdease you," replied my brother,
"for mdeed 1 can eat no more."
"Come, take away then," said the Bar-
mecide, " and bring the fruit." He staid a
moment, as it were to give time for his ser-
vants to carry away ; after which, he said
to my brother, " Taste these almonds, they
are good and fresh gathered." Both of them
made as if they had jieelcd the almonds, and
eaten them ; after this, the Barmecide in-
vited my brother to eat something else.
"Look you," said he, "there are all sorts
of fruits, cakes, dry sweatmeats, and con-
serves; take what yo\i like ;" then stretch-
ing out his hand, as if he had <ached my
brother something, " Look ye," said ho,
"there is a lozenge, very good £(>" diges-
tion." .Schaeabac made as if he eat "■., and
said, "My lord, there is no want of musk
here." " These lozenges," said the Barme-
cide, "are made at my own house, where
there is nothing wanting to make every-
thing good." He still bid my brother eat,
and said to him, "Methinks you do not
eat as if you had been so hungry as you
said when you camo in." " My lord," re-
jdied 8chacabac, whose jaws ached with
moving and having nothing to eat, " I as-
sure you I am so full tht.t I cannot eat one
bit more."
"Well then, friend," replied the Barme-
cide, "we must drink now, after wo have eat
■o well."* "Yoii may driuk wine, my
loni," rejilied my brother ; "but I will drink
none, if you pleane, because I am forbidden
it" " You art! too scrupulous," replied the
Barmecide; "do as I <lo." "I will drink
then out of com)>lai.sance," said Schaeabac,
" fur 1 see you wdl have nothing wanting to
make your treat comjilete ; but since 1 am
not acuustomed to drink wine, I am afraid I
shall commit some error in point of good
breeding, and contrary to the respect that is
duo to you, and therefore 1 pray you, onco
more, to excuse me from drinking any wino j
1 will bo content with water." "No, no,"
said the Bannecide, "you shall drink wino ; "
and at the same time he commanded some to
be brought, in the same manner as the meat
and fruit had been brought before. Ho
made as if he pcuired out wine, and drank
tirat himself, and then poiU'ing out for ray
brother, presented him the glass : " Drink
my health," said he, "and let us know if
you think this wine good." My brother
made as if ho took the glass, and looked as
if the colour was good, and ])ut it to his nose
to try if it had a goo<l flavour : then he made
a low bow to the Barmecide, to signify that
he took the liberty to drink his health ; anil,
lastly, he ajipeared to drink with all the
signs of a man that drinks with pleasure.
"My l(.rd," said he, "this is very excellent
wine, but I think it is not strong enough."
"If you would have stronger," said the
Barmecide, "you need only speak, for I
have several sorts in my cellar. Try how
you like this." Upon which he niailo as if
lie poured out another glass to himself, and
then to iny brother ; and did this so often,
that .Schaeabac, feigning to be intoxicated
with the wine, and acting a dninken man,
lifted up his hand, and gave the Barmecide
such a box on the ear, as made him fall
down : he was going to give him another
blow, but the Barmecide holding up his hand
to ward it off, cried out, "Are you mad?"
Then my brother, making as if he had come
to himself again, said, "My lord, you have
been so good as to admit your slave into
your house, and give him a great treat ; you
should have been satisfied with making me
eat, and not have obliged me to drink wine ;
for I told you beforehand, that it might
occasion me to fail in my respect for you, I
am very sorry for it, and beg you a thousand
pardons."
Scarce had he finished these words, when
the Barmecide, instead of being in a passion,
fell a laughing with all his might. " It is a
long time," said he, "that I have been seek-
ing a man of your character."
Here Scheherazade broke off, and conti-
nued her story next night aa follows : —
* Tlic Eastcrna, and particularly the Mohammedans,
do not drink (ill after meals.
THE PARUKR'S SIXTH HROTIIER.
193
The Hiindrod and Eiuhty-Sccond Ni((ht.
TiiK Haniiccidi- cftrcHKcd Si'luicnlinc itii^lit-
ily, and ti>lil liiiii, " I imt only fiir;;iv<! thu
lilow you Imvu jiivi'ii nic, l)iit I di'Miio liciifc-
forward wu Hliould lii^ frii'iidM, niul tliiit you
taku my Iiouhc for your lionu- : you liavt' had
W\v uoiii|ilaiMnucu tu acuoiniiiodatu y rsi'lf to
my humour, and thu {laticnou to k('('[i tho
jfst u]t to thu Inst ; wu will now ent in ^iiod
oanu'Ht." Whin hu lioJ liniMlicd Wwav
words, ho ('1ai)|K!d IiIr handfi, and oommaniK'd
his m-rvantu, who tlien niipcari'd, to covit
the tahlo j which wa» niM't-dily done, and my
brother wns treated with all those disln-M in
reality, which ho ate of beforo in fancy.
At last tliey cleared the table, and brou){lit
ill the wine, and at the Hamu time n number
of handsome slaves riclily n]i|inrelk'd, o.ime
in and sung sotno agreeable nira to their mu-
sical instrumentH. In 0. word .Schncabac had
all tho reason in the world to be satisfied
with the Btiniecide's civility and bounty ;
for ho treated him as liis familiar friend, and
n-(lered him a suit of his wardrobe.
Tho Barinecido found my brother to be a
man of so much wit and underotandin;;, tiint
in a few days after lie entrusted iiiin his
household and all his allairs. >ry brother
acquitted himself very well in that employ-
ment for twenty years ; at the end of which
the generous Barmecide dieil, and leaving no
heirs, all his property was confiscated to tho
use of the prince, and my brother lost all he
had acquired : and, being reduced to his first
condition, ho joined a caravan of pilgrims
going to Mecca, designing to accomplish that
pilgrimage by their charity ; but unfortu-
nati'ly the caravan wom attacked and plund-
ered by n nuiuiier of lirdouiiiM, * NUiicrior to
that of the pilgriniK. .My brother was then
taken as a slai o by one of the lleilnuinx,
who put him i.ndcr the bastinado for Hiveral
days, to oblige liini to ransom himself.
Sciiacabae proti'sted to him, that it was all
in vain. " 1 am your slave," said he ; "you
may dispose of mo as you please ; but 1 de-
elaru to you, that I am extremely poor, and
not able to redeem myself," In a word my
brothenliscovererl to him all his misfortunes,
and endeavoured to soften him with tears ;
but the Bedouin was not to be moved, and
being vexed to lind himself disap|iointed of
a considerable sum wliifli he reckoned him-
! self sure of, he took his knife, anil slit my
I bn/fl'ir'" lips, to avenge hi">.self by tlii-* in-
hunuuii' . for I he loss that he thought ho
had susl I ed.
Tiio h 'douin had a handsome wife, and
fre'iu.'ntly when he wen' on his excur 'oiis,
' ' eft m> brother • ..I.. with her, and then
Mie used nil h' 1 'udeavours to comfort my
brother n- 1<i- the rigour of his slavery : sho
gave luin 'ens enough that she loved hiui,
but !.k 11 ist Hot return her passion, for fear
he should repent it ; and therefore ho avoid-
ed being -I'me with her, as much as sho
sought (he opportunity to be alone with
hhn. She had so greai .. uustorn of toying
;ind jilnying with the miserable .Sch.ii:abac,
whenever the saw him, that one day she
hajiiiencd to do it in i)rcsence of her hus-
band. >[y brother, without taking notico
that lio observed thcin (so his sins would
have it,) playeil likewise with her. The
Bedouin immediately Biipposing that they
lived together in a criminal manner, fell
upon my brother in a rage, and after he
had inutilat«d him in a barbarous manner,
he carried him on a camel to the top of a
* Or vagabond Arabs, who wander in the deserts, and
plunder the (^ravaiia when they are not strong enough
to resist them.
N
1 1.
194
7'//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
desert mountain, where he left him. The
mountain was on the road to Bagdad, so
that the passengers wlio saw him there in-
formed me where he was. I went thither
speedily, and found unfortunate Schauabac
in a deplorable condition ; I gave him what
help he stood in need of, and brought him
back to the city.
This is what I told the caliith Monstanser
Bilah, added the barber; the prince ap-
plauded me with new tits of laughter.
"Now," said he, "I cannot doubt but they
j ustly gave you the surname of Silent. Nobody
can say the contrary ; for certain reasons,
however, I command you to depart this
town immediately, and let me hear no more
of you." I yielded to necessity, and travel-
led for several years in distant coimtries.
Un lerstanding at last that the cali])h was
dead, I returned to Bagdad, where I found
not one of my brothers alive. It was on my
return to this city, that I did the lame
voung man the important service which you
have heard. You are, however, witness of
his ingratitude, and of the injurious manner
in which he treated me : instead of testify-
ing his obligation, he rather chose to liy
from me, and to leave his own country.
When I understood that he was not at Bag-
dad, though nobody could tell me truly
whither he was gone, I did not forbear to
go and seek him. I travelled from province
to province a long time ; and when I least
expected, I met him this day ; but 1 little
thought to find him so incensed against me.
Scheherazade perceiving day, broke off
here, and continued her discoiu-sc next night
thus : —
The Hundred and Eighty-Third Night.
Sir, the tador made an end of telling the
sultan of Casgar the history of the lame
young man and the liarber of Bagdad, after
that manner I had the honoiu" to tell your
majesty. When the barber, continued he,
had finished his stijry we found that the
young man was not to blame for calling him
a great chatterer. However, we wished him
to stay with us, and partake of the treat
which the master of the house had prepared
for us. We sat down to table, and were
merry together till afternoon prayers ; then
all the compiiny parted, and 1 went to my
shop till it was time for me to return home.
It was during this intei-val that hump-
back came half drunk before my shop,
where he simg and played on his tabor.
I thought that by carrying him home with
me I should divert my wife, therefore I
brought him in. My wife gave us a dish of
fish, and 1 presented humjjback with some,
which he eat without taking notice of a
bone. He fell down dead before us; and
after having in vain essayed to help him, in
the trouble and fear occasioned by such an
unlucky accident, we carried the cor>se
out and dexterously lodged him with the
Jewish doctor. The Jewish doctor put him
into the chamber of the purveyor, and the
purveyor carried him out into the street,
where it was believed the merchant had
killed him. This, sir, added the tailor, is
what I had to say to satisfy your majesty,
who must pronounce whether we be worthy
of mercy or wrath, life or death.
The sultan of Casgar shewed a satisfaction
in his coimtenance, which restored the
tailor and his comrades to life. "I cannot
but acknowledge," said he, "that I am more
struck with the history of the young cripjde,
with that of the barber, and with the adven-
tures of his brothers, than with the story of
my jester : but before I send you all four
away, and before we bury humpback, I
should like to see the barber who is the
cause that T have pardoned you ; since he is
in my capital, it is easy to satisfy my curio-
sity." At the same time he sent an officer
with the tailor to find him.
The officer and the tailor went immedi-
ately, and brought the borrber, whom they
presented to the sultan. The barber was
an old man, about ninety years old ; his
eyebrows and beard were white as snow, his
ears hanging down, and his nose very long.
The sultan could not forbear laughing when
he saw him. " Silent man," said he to him,
"I imderstand that you know wonderful
stories ; will you tell me some of them ?"
" Sir," answered the barber, "let us forbear
the stories, if you please, at present. I most
humbly beg your majesty to permit me to
ask what that Christian, that Jew, that
Mussulman, and that deiid humpback, who
lies on the ground, do here before your ma-
jesty ?" The sultan smiled at the barber's
freedom, and replied, " Why do you ask ?"
" Sir," replied the barber, " it concerns me
to ask, that your majesty may know I am
not so great a talker as some pretend, but a
man justly called Silent."
Scheherazade perceiving day, held her
peace ; and resumed her discourse next
night thus : —
The Hundred and Eighty-Fourth Night.
Sir, the sultan of Casgar had the complai-
sance to satisfy the barber's curiosity. He
commanded them to tell him the story of
the humpback, which he seemed earnestly
to wish for. When the barber heard it, he
shook his head, as if he would say there
was something under this which he did not
understand. " TriUy," cried be, " this is a
surprising story ; but I wish to examine
humpback a little nearer." He drew near
n^K»simmrm
■
her
next
.
ABOULHASSEN ALI EDN BECAR.
19s
him, sat down on the ground, took his
head between his kneee., aud after he hod
looked upon him steadfastly, he fell into so
great a fit of laughter, and had so little com-
mand of himself, that he fell backwards on
the ground, without considering that he was
before the sultan of Cosgar. As soon as he
came to himself, "It is said," cried he,
" and not without reason, that no man dies
without a cause. If ever any history de-
served to be written in letters of gold, it is
that of this humpback."
A.t this all the people looked upon the
barber as a buffoon, or an old dotard. " Si-
lent man," said the sultan, " speak to me :
why do you laugh so much?" "Sir," an-
swered the barber, «• I swear by your ma-
jesty's benevolence, that humpback is not
dead ; he is yet alive, and I shall be content
to pass for a madman if I do not let you see
it this minute. " So saying, he took a box
wherein he had several medicines that he
carried about him to make use of on occa-
sion, and he took out a little phial of bal-
sam, with which he rubbed humpback's
neck a long time ; then he took out of his
case a neat iron instrument, which he put
between his teeth ; and after lie liad opened
his mouth, he thrust down his throat a pair
of small pincers, with which he oook out a
bit of fi.sh and bone, which he shewed to all
the people. Immediately humpback sneezed,
stretched forth his arms and feet, opened
his eyes, and shewed several other signs of
life.
The sultan of Casgar, and all those who
were witnesses of this operation, were less
surprised to see humpback revive, after he
had passed a whole night and great part of
a day without giving any sign of life, than
at the merit and capacity of the barber, who
performed this ; and notwithstanding all his
faults, began to look upon him as a great
person. The sultan, transported with joy
and admiration, ordered the story of hump-
back to be written down, with that of the
barber, that the memory of it might, sis it
deserved, be preserved for ever. Nor did he
stop here ; but, that the tailor, Jewish doc-
tor, purveyor, and Christian merchant might
remember the adventure which the accident
of humpback had occasioned to them, with
plea,sure, he did not send them away till he
had given each of them a very rich robe,
with which he caused them to be clothed in
his presence. As for the barber, be ho-
noured him with a great pension, and kept
him near his jjersnn.
Thus the sultaness finished this long train
of adventures, to which the pretended death
of humpback gave occasion : then held her
peace, because day appeared. Her dear
sister Dinarzade seeing she had stopped, said
to her, "My princess, my sultaness, I am
the more charmed with the story you just
now told, because it concludes with an inci-
dent I did not expect : I verily thought
humpback was dead." "This surimse
]ilcases me," said Schahriar, "as much as
the adventures of the barber's brothers."
" The story of the lame young man of Bag-
dod diverted me also very much," replied
Dinarzade. " I am very glad of it, dear
sister," said the sultaness; "and since I
have the good fortune not to tire out the pa-
tience of the sultan, our lord and master, if
his majesty will still be so gracious as to
preserve my life, I shall have the honour to
give him an account to-morrow of the his-
tory of the loves of Aboulhassen Ali Ebn
Becar, and Schemselnihar, favourite of the
caliph Haroun Alraschid, which is no less
worthy of his and your notice than the his-
tory of humpback." The sultan of the In-
dies, who was very well satisfied with the
stories that Scheherazade had told him
hitherto, was willing to hear that other
story which she now promised. He rose,
however, to go to prayers, and hold his
council, without giving any signification of
his 2)leasure towards the sultaness.
The Hundred and Eighty-Fifth Night.
Dinarzade being always careful to awa'<i.«
her sister, called this night at the ordinary
hour; "My dear sister," said she, "day
■will soon apjiear. I earnestly beg of you to
tell us some of your fine stories." "We
need no other," said Schahriar, "but that
of the loves of Aboulhassen Ali Ebn Becar,
and Schemselnihar, the favourite of caliph
Haroun Alraschid." "Sir," said Schehera-
zade, "I will satisfy your curiosity;" and
began thus : —
■niK inSTORY OF ABOULHASSEN ALT EBN
BECAR, AND SCHEMSELNIHAR, FAVOCBITE
OV CALIPH HAROUN ALRASCHID.
In the reign of the caliph Haroun Alras-
chid, there was at Bagdad a druggist, called
Alboussan Ebn Thaber, a very rich, hand-
some man. He had more wit and polite-
ness than people of his profession ordinarily
have : his integrity, sincerity, and jovial
humour, made him beloved and sought after
by all sorts of people. The caliph, who
knew his merit, had an entire confidence in
him. He had so great an esteem for him
tliat he intrusted him m ith the care to p»'o-
vide his favourite ladies with all the things
they stood in need of : he chose for them
their clothes, furniture, and jewels, with ad-
mirable taste.
His good qualities, and the favour of the
caliph, made i.! sons of emirs, and other
officers of the first rank, be always about
196,
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
him : his house was the rendezvous of all
the nobility of the court. But among the
young lords that went daily to visit him,
there was one whom he took more notice of
than the rest, and with whom he contracted
a particular fricndaliij), called Aboulhassen
Ali Ebn Becar, ori<,'inally of an ancient
royal family of Persia. This family con-
tinued at Bagdad ever since the Mussulmcn
made a conquest of that kingdom. Nature
seemed to have taken pleasure to endow this
young prince with the rarest qualities of
body and mind : his face was so very beauti-
ful, his shape so fine, his air so easy, and his
physiognomy so engaging, that it was im-
possible to see him without immediately
loving him. When he spoke, he expressed
himself always in terms proper and well
chosen, with a new and agreeable turn, and
his voice charmed all that heard him ; with
this he had so much wit and judgment, that
he thought and spoke of all subjects with
admirable exactness. He was so reserved
and modest, that he advanced nothing till
after he had taken all possible care to avoid
giving any ground of suspicion that he
preferred his own opinion to that of
others.
Being such a person as I have represented
him, we need not wonder that Ebn Thaher
distinguished him from all the other young
noblemen of the court, most of whom had
the vices contrary to his virtues. One day,
when the prince was with Ebn Thaher,
there came a lady mounted on a pie-bald
mule, in the midst of ten female slaves who
accompanied her on foot, all very handsome,
as far as could be judged by their air, and
tlirough their veils which covered their faces.
The lady had a girdle of a rose-colour, four
inches broad, embroidered with pearls and
diamonds of an extraordinary bigness ; and
for beauty, it was easy to perceive that she
surpassed all her women, as far as the full
moon does that of two days old. She came
to buy something ; and as she wanted to
speak to Ebn Thaher, she entered his shop,
which was very neat and spacious, and he
received her with all the marks of the most
profound respect, entreating her to sit down,
and shewing her with his hand the most
honourable place.
In the meantime, the prince of Persia,
unwilling to let slip such an opportunity of
shewing his good breeding and gallantry,
beat up the cushion of cloth of gold for the
lady to lean on ; after which he retired
speedily, that she might sit down ; and
having saluted her by kissing the carpet
under her feet, he rose and stood before hex
at the lower end of the sofa. It being her
custom to be free with Ebn Thaher, she
lifted up her veil, and then discovered to the
prince of Persia such an extraordinary
beauty, that he was struck with it to the
heart. On the other hand, the lady could
not contain herself from looking upon the
prince, the sight of whom had made the
same impressions npon her. "My lord,"
said she to him, with an obliging air, " pray
sit down." The prince of Persia obeyed,
and sat down upon the edge of the sofa. He
had his eyes constantly fixed upon her, and
swallowed down large draughts of the sweet
poison of love. She quickly perceived what
passed in his heart, and this discovery served
to inflame her the more towards him. She
rose up, went to Ebn Thaher, and after she
had whispered to him the cause of her
coming, she asked the name and country of
the prince. "Madam," answered Ebn
Thaher, "this young nobleman's name is
•^
,(t,
ADOULHASSAN ALT EBN BECAR.
197
Aboulhassan Ali Ebn Becar, and he is a
prince of the blood royal."
The lady was transported at hearing that
the person she already loved so passionately
was of so high a rank. " You mean cer-
tainly," said she, "that he ia descended
from the kings of Persia ? " " Yes, madam, "
replied Ebn Thuher, "the last kings of
Persia were his ancestors ; and since the
conquest of that kingdom, the princes of his
family have always made themselves very
acceptable at the court of our caliphs."
" You will oblige me much," she added,
"by making me acquainted with this young
nobleman. When I send this woman," said
she, pointing to one of her slaves, ' ' to give
you notice to come and see me, pray bring
him with you ; I shall be very glad that he
should see the magniiicence of my house,
that he may have it in his power to sny, that
avarice does not reign at Bagdatl among
persons of quality. You know what I
mean t Do not fail, otherwise I will be very
angry with you, and never come hither
again while I live."
Ebn Thaher was a man of too much pene-
tration not to perceive the lady's mind by
these words. " My princess, my queen,"
replied he, "God jireserve me from giving
you any occasion of anger against me : I
shall always make it a law to obey your
commands." At this answer the lady bowed
to Ebn Thaher, and took her leave ; and
after she had given a favourable look to the
prince of Persia, she remounted her mule,
and went away.
Scheherazade stopt here, to the great
regret of the sultan of the Indies, who was
obliged to rise, because day appeared : she
continued her story next night, and said to
Schahriar, —
The Hundred and Eighty-Sixth Night.
Sir, the prince of Persia was so deeply in
love with the lady, that he looked after her
as far as he could see her ; and long after
she was out of sight, he directed his eyes
that way. Ebn Thaher told him, that he
remarked several persons observed him,
and began to laugh to see him in this pos-
ture. "Alas!" said the prince to him,
" the world and you would pity me, if you
knew that the beautiful lady, who is j ust
now gone from you, has carried with her
the best part of me, and that the remaining
part seeks for an opportunity to go after her.
Tell me, I conjiu-e you," added he, "what
cruel lady is this, who forces people to love
her, without giving them time to reflect ? "
" My lord," answered Ebn Thaher, " this
is the celebrated Schemsclnihar, * the princi-
* This word signifies in Arabic, " the sun of the
day."
pal favourite of the caliph our master."
" She is justly so called," added the prince,
" since she is more beautiful than the sim at
noon-day." " True," replied Ebn Thaher;
"therefore the commander of the faithful
loves, or rather adores her : he gi^ve me
express orders to furnish her with all that
she asked of me, and to prevent her wishes,
as far as hes in my power."
He spoke thus to hinder him from en-
gaging in a passion which could not but
prove unfortunate to him ; but this served
only to inflame it ihe more. "I feared,
charming Schemsclnihar," cried he, " I
bhould not be allowed so much as to think
of you ; I perceive, however, that without
hopes of being loved by you, I cannot for-
bear loving you : I will love you then, and
bless my lot that I am the slave of an object
fairer than the meridian sun,"
While the prince of Persia thus conse-
crated his heart to the fair Schemsclnihar,
this lady, as she went home, contrived how
she might see and have free converse with
him. She no sooner entered her palace, but
she sent to Ebn Thaher the woman she had
shewn him, and in whom she had placed all
her confldence, to tell him to come and see
her without delay, and bring the prince of
Persia with him. The slave came to Ebn
Thaller's shop while he was speaking to the
Xiriuce, and endeavouring to dissuade him by
very strong arguments, from loving the
caliph's favourite. When she saw them to-
gether, " Gentlemen," said she to them,
"my honourable mistress, Schcuiselnihar,
the chief favourite of the commander of the
faithful, entreats you tc come to her i)alace,
where she waits for you." Ebn Thaher,
to testify his obedience, rose up immediately,
without answering the slave, and followed
her, not without some reluctance. As for
the prince, he followed her, without reflect-
ing on the danger tliere might be in such a
visit. The presence of El)n Thaher, who
had liberty to go to the favourite when he
pleased, made the prince very easy. They
followed the slave, who went a little before
them, and entered after her into the caliph's
palace, and joined her at the gate of Schem-
selnihar's little palace, which was ready
open. She introduced them into a great
hall, where she prayed them to sit down.
The prince of Persia thought himself in
one of those delicious palaces that are pro-
mised us in the other world : he had never
seen anything that came near the magni-
ficence of the place he was in. The caqiets,
cushions, and other appendages of the sofa,
the furniture, ornaments, and architecture,
were surprisingly rich and beautiful. A
little time after Ebn Thaher and he had sat
down, a very handsome black slave brought
in a table covered with several delicacies,
the admirable smell of which shewed how
• i
198
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
delioioualy they vere seasoned. While they
'were eating, the slave who brought them in
waited upon them ; she took particular care
to invite them to eat of what she knew to
bo the greatest dainties. The other slaves
brought them excellent wine after they hod
eaten. When they had done, there was pre-
sented to each of them a fine gold basin full
of water to wash their hands ; after which
they brought them a golden pot full of the
X)erfume of aloes, with which they perfumed
their beards and clothes. Odoriferous water
was not forgotten, but served in a golden
vessel, enriched with diamonds and rubies,
made on purpose, and it was tlirown upon
their beards and faces,
according to custom.
Then they resumed
their places ; but they
had scarce sat down,
when the slave en-
treated them to rise
and follow her. She
opened a door of the
hall where they were,
and they entered into
a large saloon of won-
derful structure. It
was a dome of the
most agreeable form,
supported by a hundred
pillars of marble, white
as alabaster. The bases
and chapiters of the
pillars were adorned
with four-footed beasts
and birds of various
sorts, gilded. The car-
pet of this noble saloon
consisted of one piece
of cloth of gold, em-
broidered with bunches
of roses in red and
white silk ; and the
dome, painted in the
same manner, after the
Arabian fashion, pre-
sented to the mind
one of the most charm-
ing objects. Betwixt
each column was a
little sofa adorned in
the same manner, and
great vessels of china,
crystal, jasper, jet, jior-
phyry, agate, and other
precious materials, gar-
nished with gold and
jewels; the spaces be-
twixt the columns were so many large win-
dows, withseats projecting breast high, fitted
up as the sofas, and looking out into the most
delicious garden; the walks were of little
pebbles of dififerent colours, of the same pattern
as the oarpet of the saloon ; so that, looking
upon the carpet within and without, it seemed
as if the dome and the garden, with all ita
ornaments, had been upon the same carpet.
The prospect round was at the end of the
walks, terminated by two canals of clear
water, of the same circular figure as the
dome, one of which being higher than the
other, emptied its water into the lowermost,
in form of a sheet : and curious pots of gilt
brass, with flowers and shrubs, were set
upon the banks of the canals at equal uis-
tances. Those walks lay betwixt great plots
of groimd planted with straight and biuay
trees, where a thousand birds formed a-
melodious concert, and diverted the eye by
flying about, and play-
ing together, or fight-
ing in the air.
The prince of Persia
and Ebn Thaher were
a long time engaged in
viewing the magnifi-
cence of the place,
and expressed their
surprise at everything
they saw, esi>ecially
the prince, who had
never beheld anjrthing
like it. Ebn Thaher,
though ho had been
several times in that
delicious place, could
not but observe many
new beauties. In a
■word, they never grew
weary in admiring so
many singularities, and
■were thus agreeably
employed, when they
perceived a company
of ladies, richly ap-
parelled, sitting with
out, at some distance
from the dome, each of
them upon a seat of
Indian plane wood, in-
laid with silver filigree
in compartments, with
instruments of music
in their hands, wait-
ing for orders to play.
They both went for-
ward, and had a full
view of the ladies;
and on the right they
saw a great court, with
a stair up from the gar-
den, encompasBod with
beautiful ajiai-tments.
The slave had left them, and, being alone,
they conversed together. "For you, who
are a wise man," said the prince of Persia,
" I doubt not but you look with a great
deal of satisfaction upon all these marks
of grandeur and power ; for my part, I do
-(V:lrt»wiBRj«"j>-.»
ABOULHASSEN ALI EBN BECAR.
199
not think there is anything in the world
more surprising. But when I consider that
this is the glorious habitation of the
lovely Schemselnihar, and that the greatest
monarch of the earth keeps her here, I con-
fess to you, that I look upon myself to be
the most unfortunate of all mankind, and
that no destiny can be more cruel than mine,
to love an object possessed by my rival, and
that, too, in a place where he is so potent
that I cannot think myself sure of my life
one moment.
Scheherazade said no more that night, be-
cause day began to appear ; but next night
continued her story thus : —
The Hundred and Eighty-Seventh Night.
Sir, Ebn Thaher, hearing the prince of
Persia speak, as I told your majesty last
night, said to him, "Sir, I wish you could
give me as good assurance of the li.ippy
success of your passion, as I can give you
of the safety of your life. Though this
stately palace belongs to the caliph, who
built it on purpose for Schemselnihar, and
called it the Palace of Eternal Pleamtres,
and though it makes part of his own jialace,
yet you must know that this lady lives here
at absolute liberty. She is not beset by
eunuchs to be spies upon her ; this is her
])rivate house, absolutely at her disposal.
She goes into the city when she pleases,
and returns again, without asking leave of
anybody ; and the caliph never comes to see
her, but he sends Mesrour, the chief of
his eunuchs, to give her notice, that she
may be prepared to receive him. Therefore
you may be easy, and give full attention to
the concert of music which I perceive Schem-
selnihar is preparing for you."
Just as Ebn Thaher had spoke these words,
the prince of Persia and he saw the fa-
vourite's trusty slave come and give orders
to the lailies to begin to sing, and play with
the instruments. They all began immedi-
ately to i>lay together, as a prelude ; and,
after they had jjlayed some time, one of
them began to sing alone, and played at the
same time admirably upon her lute, being
informed beforehand upon what subject she
was to sing. The words were so agreeable
to the prince of Persia's sentiments, that he
coidd not forbear to applaud her at the end
of the couplet. " Is it possible," cried he,
" that you have the gift of knowing people's
hearts, and that the knowledge of what is in
my mind has occasioned you to give ns a
taste of your charming voice by those words?
I should not express myself otherwise were
I to choose." The lady replied nothing, but
went on and sung several other staves, with
which the prince was so a£fected, that he re-
peated some of them with tears in his eyes ;
which discovered plainly enough that he ap-
plied them to himself. When she had made
an end, she and her companions rose up and
sung all together ; signifying by their words,
that " the full moon was going to rise in all
her splendour, and that they should speedi-
ly see her approach the sun ; " intimating
that Schemselnihar was coming, and that
the prince of Persia would soon have the
pleasure to see her.
In fact, as they looked towards the court,
they saw Schemselnihar's confidant coming
towards them, followed by ten black women,
who with much difficiUty carried a throne of
massy silver, curiously wrought, which they
set down lief ore them at a certain distance ;
after whieli tlie black slaves retired behind
the trees, to tlie entrance of a walk. After
this came twenty handsome ladies, richly
apparelled, in one dress ; they advanced in
two rows, each singing, and playing uj)on
instruments which she held in her hands,
and placed themselves on each side of the
throne.
All these things kept the prince of Persia
and IChn Thaher in so much the greater ex-
pectation, that they were curious to know
how they would end. They then saw come
out at the same gate from whence the ten
black women came, ten other ladies, equally
handsome and well-dressed, who halted there
a few moments, expecting the favourite, who
came out lost, and placed herself in the midst
of them.
Daylight beginning to a])pear, Schehera-
zade was obliged to stop; but next night
piu-sued her story thus : —
The Hundred and Eighty-Eighth Night.
SoiiEMSELNTHAR Was easily distinguished
from the rest by her tine shaiio and majestic
air, as well as by a sort of mantle, of a very
fine stuff of gold and sky-blue, fastened to
her shoulders, over her other apparel, which
waa the most handsome, most magniticent,
and best contrived, that could be imagined.
The pearls, rubies, and diamonds, which
adorned her were well disposed ; not many
in number, but well chosen, and of inestim-
able value. She came forward, with a ma-
jesty resembling the sim in its course amidst
the clouds, which receive his splendour
without hiding his lustre, and sat down
upon the silver throne that had been brought
for her.
As soon as the prince of Persia saw Schem-
selnihar, he couhl not take his eyes off her.
" We cease inqiuring," said he to Ebn Tha-
her, "after what we seek, when once we
see it ; and there is no doubt left, when once
the truth appears. Do you see this charm-
ing beauty ? She is the cause of all my suf-
ferings, which I bless, and will never forbear
■'I
20O
r//E ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
to blesa, however severe and lasting. At
the sight of this object I am not my own
master; my soiil is disturbed, and rebels,
and seems disposed to leave me. Go then,
my soul, I allow thee ; but -ot it be for the
welfare and preservation of this weak body.
It is you, cruel Ebn Thaher, who are the
cause of this disorder. You thought to do
me a great pleasure in bringing me hither,
and I jjerceive I am only come to complete
my ruin. Pardon me," said he, interrupting
himself; "lam mistaken: I would come,
and can blame nobody but myself ; " and at
these words he burst into tears. " I am
glad," said Ebn Thaher, " that you do me
justice. When I told you at first that
Schemselnihar was the calii)h's chief favour-
ite, I did it on purpose to prevent that fatal
passion which you please yourself with en-
tertaining in your breast. All that you see
here ought to disengage you, and you are
to think of nothing but of acknowledging
the honour which Schemselnihar has done
you, by ordering me to bring j'ou with me.
Becall then your wandering reason, and pre-
pare to appear before her as good breeding
requires. See, there she comes. Were we
to begin again, I would take other measures ;
but since the thing is done, I pray God wo
may not have cause to repent it. All I have
now to say to you is, that love is a traitor,
who may involve you in diificulties from
which you will never be able to extricate
yourself."
Ebn Thaher had no time to say more,
because Schemselnihar came ; and, sitting
down upon her throne, saluted them both
by bowing her head ; but she fixed her eyes
on the prince of Persia, and they spoke to
one another in a silent language, intermixed
with sighs, by which, in a few moments,
they spoke more than they coiUd have done
by words in a great deal of time. The more
Schemselnihar looked upon the prince, the
more she found by liis looks to confirm her
in the opinion that he was in love with her;
and, being thus persuaded of his passion,
thought herself the happiest woman in the
world. At last she turned her eyes from
him to command the women, who began to
sing first, to come near ; they rose, and as
they advanced, the black women, who came
out of the walk into which they had retired,
brought their scats, and set them near the
window, in the front of the dome, where
Ebn Thaher and the prince of Persia stood ;
and their seats were so disposed, that, with
the favourite's throne, and the women on
each side of her, they formed "■- semicircle
before them.
The women who were sitting before she
came, resumed their places, with the per-
mission of Schemselnihar, who ordered them
by a sign. That charming favotirite chose
one of those women to sing ; who, after she
had spent some moments in tuning her lute.
sung a song, the meaning whereof was, that
when two lovers entirely loved one another
with affection boundless, their hearts, though
in two bodies, were united ; and when any-
thing opposed their desires, could say, with
tears in their eyes. If we love because we
find one another amiable, ought we to be
bliimed Tor this? Let destiny bear thfe
blame.
Schemselnihar discovered so well by her
eyes and gestures that those words were ap-
plicable to herself and the prince of Persia,
that he could not contain himself : he arose,
and, advancing to a balustrade, which he
leaned upon, obliged one of the companions
of the woman who had just done singing to
I
ABOULHASSEN ALI EBN BtCAR.
20 r
obHorvehim. As she was near him, "Attend
to me, " said ho to her, ■ ' and do mo the favour
to accompany with your lute a song which
you shall hear forthwith." Then ho suug
with an air so tender and passionate, as per-
fectly expressed the violence of his love.
As soon as he had done, Schcmsclnihar, fol-
lowing his exami)le, said to one of the wo-
men, "Attend to me likewise, and accom-
pany my voice." At the same time she sung
after such a manner, as did farther pierce
the heart of the prince of Persia, who an-
swered her by a new air, more passionate
than the former.
Those two lovers having declared their
mutual affection by their songs, Schemsel-
nihar yielded to the force of her's : she arose
from her throne in transjiort, and advanced
towards the door of the hall. The prince,
who perceived her design, rose iij) immedi-
ately, and went to meet her in all haste.
They met at the door, where they took one
another by the hand, and embraced with so
much passion, that they fainted, and woidil
have fallen, if the women who followed
Schemselnihar had not hindered thcni.
They supported them, and carried them to
a sofa, where they were brought to them-
selves again by throwing odoriferous water
upon their faces, and by giving them some-
thing to smell to.
When they came to themselves, the first
thing that Schemselnihar did was to look
about; and not seeing Ebn Thaher, she
asked, with eagerness, where he was. He
had withdrawn out of respect, whilst her
women were engaged in recovering her, and
dreaded, not without reason, that some dis-
agreeable consequence might follow what he
had seen; but as soon as he heard Schem-
selnihar ask for him, he came forward, and
l>resented himself before her.
Here the siUtaness gave over till the nest
morning, because day appeared, and then
resumed the story next night as follows : —
The Hundred and Eighty-Ninth Night.
Schemselnihar was very well pleased to
see Ebn Thaher, and expressed her joy in
these obliging terms: "Ebn Thaher, I know
not how to return the great obligations yo>i
have put upon me ; without you, I should
never have seen the prince of Persia, nor
Lave loved the most amiable person in the
world; assure yourself I shall not die un-
grateful, and that my gratitude, if possible,
ahoU be equal to the obligation." Ebn Thaher
answered this compliment by a low bow,
and wished the favourite the accomplish-
ment of all her desires.
Schemselnihar, turning towards the prince
of Persia, who sat by her, and looking upon
him with some sort of confusion after what
had passed betwixt them, said to him, "Sir,
I am very well assured you love me ; and
how great soever your love may be to me,
you need not doubt but mine is as great
towards you. But let us not iiatter our-
selves ; for, notwithstanding this conformity
of our sentiments, I see nothing for you and
me but trouble, impatience, and tormenting
grief. There is no other remedy for our
evils but to love one another constantly, to
refer ourselves to the disposal of heaven,
and to wait its determination of our destiny."
"Madam," replied the prince of Persia, "you
will do me the greatest injustice, if you
doubt for a moment the continuance of my
love. It is so united to my soul, that I can
justly say it makes the best part of it, and
that I shall persevere in it after death.
Pains, torments, obstacles, nothing shall be
capable of hindering my loving you." Speak-
ing these words, he shed tears in abundance,
and Schemselnihar was not able to restrain
hers.
Ebn Thaher took this opportunity to
speak to the favourite : "Madam," said he,
"allow me to represent to you, that, instead
of melting into tears, you ought to rejoice
that you are now together. I understand
not this grief. What will it be when you
are obliged to part ? But why do I talk of
that ? We have been a long while here,
and you know, madam, it is time for us to
be going." "Ah ! how cruel are you ! " replied
Schemselnihar. "You, who know the cause
of my tears, have you no pity for my un-
fortunate condition? Oh! sad fatality ! what
have I done to be subject to the severe law
of not being able to enjoy the only person I
love ? "
Persuaded as she was that Ebn Tliaher
spoke to her only out of friendship, she did
not take amiss what he said to her, but made
a proper use of it. She made a sign to the
slave, her confidant, who immediately went
out, and in a little time brought a collation
of fruits upon a small silver table, M'hich she
set down betwixt her mistress and the prince
of Persia. Schemselnihar took some of the
best, and presented to the prince, praying
him to eat it for her sake ; he took it, and
put to his mouth that part which she touch-
ed ; and then he presented some to her,
which she took, and ate in the siime man-
ner. She did not forget to invito Ebn Tha-
her to eat with them ; but he, thinking
himself not safe in that place, and wishing
himself at home, ate only out of com-
plaisance. After the collation was taken
away, they brought a silver basin, with
water in a vessel of gold, and washed to-
gether : they afterwards returned to their
places, and three of the ten black women
brought each a cup of rock crystal full of
exquisite wine, upon a golden salver, which
they set down before Schemselnihar, the
■
I
202
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
prince of Persia, and Gbn Tbaher. That
they might be more private, Suhcmsclnihar
kept with her only ten block women, with
ten others, who began to sing, and play upon
ingtrumcuts; and after she had sent axray
all the rest, sho took up one of the cups,
and, holding it in her haiid, simg some
tender words, whicli one of her women ac-
companied with her hite. When she had
done, she drank, and afterwards took up one
of the othor cups, and presented it to the
prince, pra;- lUg him to driuk for love of her,
as she had drunk for love of him. Ho
received the cup with a transport of love
and joy ; but before he drank he sung also
a song, which another woman accompanied
with an instrument ; and as he sang, the
tears fell from his eyes in such abundance,
that he coiild not forbear expressing in his
song, that he knew not whether he was
going to drink the wine she hatl presented
to him or his own tears. Schemsehiihar at
last presented the third cup to Ebu Tbaher,
who thanked her for her kindness, and for
the liouuiir she did him.
After this, she took a lute from one of her
women, and sung to it in such a passionate
manner, that she seemed to be transported
out of herself ; and the prince of Persia
stood with his eyes lixed upon her, Jis if he
had been enchanted. As these things passed,
her trusty slave came in a great fright, and,
addressing herself to her mistress, said,
" Madam, Mesrour, and two other officers,
with several eunuchs that attend them, are
at the gate, and want to sjieak with you
from the caliph." When the prince of
Persia and Ebn Thaher heard these words,
thej' changed colour, and began to tremble,
as if they had been undone ; but Schemsel-
nJhar, who perceived it, recovered their cou-
rage by a sign.
Here Scheherazade broke off till next day,
wheu she rei umed the story thus : —
The Hundred and Ninetieth Night.
After Schemselnihar had quieted the fears
of the prince of Persia and Ebn Thaher, she
ordered the slave, her confidant, to go and
converse with Mesrour and the two other
officers, till she had ])ut herself in a condition
to receive them, and coiUd send her to intro-
duce them. Immediately she ordered all
the wuidows of tlie saloon to be shut, and
the painted cloth on the side of the garden
to be let down ; and, after having assured
the ])rince and Ebn Thaher that they might
continue there without any fear, she went
out at the great gate leading to the garden,
and shut it upon them ; but whatever as-
surance she had given them of their being
safe, they were desperately afraid all the
while they were there.
As soon as Schemselnihar was in the gar-
den with the women that had followed her,
she ordered all the seats, which served the
women who played on the instruments, to
be set near the window, where the prince of
Persia and Ebn Thaher heard themj and
having got things in order, she sat down
upon her silver throne ; then she sent notice
to the slave, her confidant, to bring in the
chief of the eimuchs, and his two subaltern
officers with him.
They appeared, followed by twenty black
eunuchs, all handsomely clothed, with sci-
mitars by their sides, and gold belts of four
inches broad. As soon as they pei-ceived the
favourite Schemselnihar at a distance, they
made her a profound reverence, which she
returned them from her throne. When they
came near, she got up and went to meet
;rw.'*'.sp?j!rai
ABOVLHASSEN ALT EBN BECAR.
203
I
Mearour, who come first; ahe asked what
news he brought. He answered, " Madam,
the commandf r of the faithful lias sent nie
to signify that he cannot live lunger without
seeing you ; he designs to come and see you
to-night, and I come beforehand to give you
notice, that you may be ready to receive
him. Ho hopes, madam, that you will re-
ceive him with as much pleasure as he feels
impatience to see you."
Upon this discourse of Mesrour, the fa-
vourite Sehemselnihar prostrated herself to
the ground, as a mark of that submission
with which she received the caliph's order.
When she rose up again, she said, " Pray
tell the commander of the faithfid, that I
shall always reckon it my glory to execute
his majesty's commands, and that his slave
will do her utmost to receive him with all
the respect that is due to him." At the
same time she ordered the slave, her confi-
dant, to tell the block women a]ipointed for
that service to get the palace ready to receive
the caliph ; and dismissing the chief oT the
eunuchs, said to him, " You see it requires
some time to get all tilings ready ; therefore
I entreat you to curb his majesty's impa-
tience, that, when he arrives, he may uot
find things out of order."
The chief of the eunuchs and his retinue
being gone, Sehemselnihar returned to the
saloon, extremely concerned at the necessity
she was under of sending back the prince of
Persia sooner than she thought to have done.
She came up to him again with tears in her
eyes, which heightened Ebn Thaher's fear,
who thought it no good omen. " Madam,"
said the prince to her, " I perceive you are
come to tell me that we must part : if there
be nothing more to dread, I hope heaven
will give me the patience which is necessary
to support your absence." " Alasl my dear
heart, my dear soul," replied the too tender
Sehemselnihar, "how happy do I think you,
and how unhappy do I think myself, when
I compare your lot with my sad destiny !
No doubt you will suffer by my absence, but
that is all, and you may comfort yourself
with hopes of seeing me again ; but as for
me, just heaven ! what a terrible trial am I
brought to ! I must not only be deprived of
the sight of the only person whom I love,
but I must be tormented with the sight of
one whom you have made hateful to me.
Will not the arrival of the caliph put me in
mind of your departure ? And how can I,
when I am taken up with thinking on your
dear image, express to that prince the joy
which he always observed in my eyes, when-
ever he came to see me ? I shall have my
mind perplexed when I speak to him, and
the least complaisance which I shew to his
love will stab me to the heart like a dagger.
Can I relish his kind words and caresses ?
Think, prince, to what torments I shall be
exposed when I can see you no more ! " Hei
tears and siglis hindered her from going on,
and the prince of Persia would have re])lied
to her, but his own grief, and that of his
mistress, dejjrived him of the power of
speech.
Ebn Thaher, who only wished to get out
of the palace, was obliged to comfort them,
and to exhort them to have patience ; but
the trusty slave interrupted them; "Ma-
dam," said she to Sehemselnihar, "you have
no time to lose ; the eunuclis begin t<> arrive,
and you know tlie caliph will lie here im-
mediately." "O Heaven! how cruel is this
sei)aration ! " cried the favourite: "Make
haste," said slie to tlie coiilidant, "carry
them both to the gallery wliich looks into
the garden on the one Hide, and to the Tigris
on the other : and wlieu the night grows
dark, let them out by the back gate, that
they may retire with safety." Having
spoken thus, she tenderly embraced the
prince of Persia, without being able to say
one word more, and went to meet the ca-
liph in such disorder as cannot well be ima-
gined.
In the meantime tlie trusty slave carried
the prince aiul Ebn Thaher to the gallery,
as Sehemselnihar had a])i>ointcd ; and having
brought them in, left them there, and shut
the door ui>on them, after having assured
them that they had nothing to fear and
that she would come for them when it was
time.
Here Scheherazade broke off, and next
night pursued the story thus : —
The Hundred and Ninety-First Ni?ht.
Sib, continued she, when Schemselnihar's
trusty slave left the prince of Persia anil Ebn
Thaher, they forgot she had assured them
that they needed not to be afraid : they exa-
mined the gallery and were seized with ex-
treme fear, because they knew no means of
escape if the caliph or any of his officers
should happen to come there.
A great light which came all of a sudden
from the side of the garden through the
lattices, caused them to a])proach them to
see from whence it came. It was occasioned
by a hundred Hambeaux of white wax, car-
ried by as many young eimuchs ; these were
followed by more than a hundred others,
who guarded the ladies of the caliph's palace,
clothed and armed with scimitars, in the
same manner as those I spoke of before ; and
the cahph came after them, betwixt Mesrour
their captain on his right, and Vassif their
second officer on his left hand.
Schomselnihar waited for the caliph at the
entry of a walk, accompanied with twenty
women, all of sur])rising beauty, adorned
with necklaces and ear-rings of large dia-
i| '1
.1
i
<■'
204
T//E APABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
raonda, and others which covered thoir heads
entirely ; they sung and jilaycd on their in-
struments, and formed a chnrminj,; concert.
The favuuritu no sooner saw the prince ap-
pear, but she advanced, and prostrated lier-
self at Ilia feet ; and while slio was doing
this, "Prince of Persia," aaid she within
herself, "if your sad eyes witnesa what I do,
judge of my hard lot; if I waa humbling
myself so before you, my heart should feel
no reluctance."
The calij)h was delighted to see Schcmsel-
nihar. " llise, madam," said he to her :
" come near : I am angry with myself that I
should have deprived myself go long of the
pleasure of seeing you." As ho spoke thus
he took her by the hand, and, with many
tender expressions, went and sat down upon
the silver throno
which Schemselni-
har caused to bo
brought for him,
and she sat down
upon a seat before
him ; and the twen-
ty women made a
circle round them
upon other Beats,
while the young
eimuchs, who car-
ried flambeaux, dis-
persed themselves at
a certain distance
from one another,
that the caliph
might enjoy the
cool of the evening
the better.
When the caliph
sat down, he looked
round him, and be-
held with great sa-
tisfaction the garden
illuminated with a
great many other
lights, besides those
flambeaux which
the young eunuchs
held ; but taking
notice that the saloon was shut, was aston-
ished thereat, and demanded the reason. It
was done on purjjose to surprise him ; for he
had no sooner 8j)oken, but all the windows
Hew open at once; he saw it illuminated
within and without, in a much better man-
ner than ever he had seen it before. ' ' Charm-
ing Schemselnihar," cried he at this sight,
"I imderstand you; you would have me
to know there are as tine nights as days.
After what I have seen I cannot deny it."
Let us return to the prince of Persia and
Ebn Thaher, whom we left in the gallery.
Ebn Thaher could not enough admire all
that he saw. " I am not very young," said
he, " and I have seen great entertainments
in my time ; but 1 do not think anything
can bo seen ao surprising and magnificent.
All that ia aaid of enchanted ]ialaces does
not come u]) to the i>rodigiou8 spectacles we
now aee. What riches and magnificence
united!"
The prince of Persia was not at all moved
with those objects which so delighted Ebn
Thaher; ho could look on nothing but
Schemselnihar, and the presence of the
caliph threw him into an inconceivable grief.
" Dear Ebn Thaher," said he, " would to
Ood I had my mind ns much at liberty to
attend to those objects of admiration as
you ! But, alas ! I am in a quite difiFercnt
situation ; all those objects serve only to
increase my torment. Can I see the caliph
familiar with the object of my love, and not
die of grief ? Must
such a passionate
love as mine be dis-
turbed with so po-
tent a rival? O
heavens! How cruel
and strange is my
destiny ! It is but
a moment since I
esteemed myself the
most fortunate lov-
er in the world, and
at this instant I feel
a death - stroke to my
heart. I cannot re-
sist it, my dear Ebn
Thaher; my pati-
ence is exhausted,
my disorder over-
whelms me, and
my courage fails."
While he was speak-
ing those words, he
saw something pass
in the garden, which
obliged him to keep
sUence, and to turn
all his attention
that way.
The caliph had
ordered one of the
women who 'tvas near him, to play upon her
lute, and she began to sing ; the words that
she sung were very passionate, and the ca-
liph, persuaded that she simg thus by order
of Schemselnihar, who had frequently enter-
tained him with the like testimonies of her
affections, interjjreted them in his own fa-
vour. But this was not now SchemselniharV
meaning ; she applied it to her dear Ali Ebn
Bccar, and was so sensibly touched with
grief, to have before her an object whose
presence she could no longer enjoy, that she
fainted and fell backwards upon her seat,
which having no arms to support her, she
must have fallen down, had not some of
i the women given her timely assistance,
ABOULHASSEN ALT EBN BECAR,
205
taken her up, and earned her into the
Bolnon.
Jibn Thaller, who was in the j{(illcry, biing
surprised at thia accident, turned townrdu
the prince of Persia ; but, insteiul of seeing
him stand and look through the window as
before, lie was uxtreniely amazed to sec liini
lyinj; at his feet motionless. This convinced
him of the violence of that prince's ]>as8ion
for Schemsclnihar, and hu admired that
strange elFcct of sympathy, which put him
into a mortal fear, because of the place they
were in. Ho did all he could to recover the
prince, but in vain. Elm Thahcr was in
this perplexity, when Schcmselnihar's con-
fidant opened the gallery door, and came in
out of breath, as one who knew not where
she was. " Come speedily," cried she,
" that I may let you out ; all is in confusion
here, and I fear this will be the last of our
days." "Ah! how would you have us
go?" replied Elm Thaher, with a mournful
voice; "come near, I pray you, and see
what a condition the prince of Persia is in."
When the slave saw him in a swoon, she
ran in all haste for water, and returned iu
an instant.
At last the prince of Persia, after they had
thrown water on his face, recovered his
spirits. " Prince," said Ebn Thaher to him,
"we run the risk of perishing, if we stay
here any longer : exert yourself, therefore ;
let us endeavour to save our lives. " He was
so feeble, that ho could not rise alone ; Ebu
Thaher and the confidant lent him their
hands, and supported him on each side.
They came to a little iron gate which opens
towards the Tigris, went out at it, and
come to the side of a little canal which has
a communication with the river. The con-
fidant clapped her hands, and immediately
a little boat appeared, and came towards
them with one rower. AH Ebn Bocar and
his comrade went aboard, and the confidant
staid at the side of the canal. As soon as
the prince sat down in the boat, he stretched
out one hand towards the palace, and laying
the other upon his heart, "Dear object of
my soul," cried he with a feeble voice, " re-
ce: /e my faith with this hand, while I as-
sure you with the other, that my heart shall
for ever preserve the fire with which it burns
for you."
Here Scheherazade perceiving day, held
her peace, and next night resumed her story
thus : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Second Night.
In the meantime the boatman rowed with
all his might, and Schemselnihar's confidant
accompanied the prince of Persia and Ebn
Thaher, walking along the side of the canal,
until they came to the Tigris, and when
she could go no farther, she took leave of
them, and returned.
The ])riuce of IVrsia continued very
feeble: K1)U Thaher eDniforted him, and
exhorted him to take eouia.;o, "Ciiusider,"
said hu to him, " that when wc are landed,
wo have a great way to go before we reach
my house ; and I would not advise you ti>
go to your liidging, which is a great deal far-
ther than mine, at this hour, and in this
condition." At last they went out of the
boat, liut the prince hnil so little strength,
that hu could not walk, which )mt Kbn
Thaller into great jieridexity. Hu recol-
lected he had a friend in the neighbourhood,
and carried tho )>rince thither with great
dilHculty. His friend received him very
cheerfully, and when he made them sit
down, ho asked them where they had been
so late. Elm Thaher answered him, "I
heard this evening that a man who owed
me a considerable sum of money was setting
out on a long voyage. I lost no time to find
him, and by the way I nu-t witli this young
nobleman whom you see, and to whou I aui
luider a thousand obligations ; for, knowing
my debtor, he did me the favour to go along
with me. We had a great deal of trouble
to l)ring the man to reason. Wu have at
length succeeded, and this is the cause of
our being so late. In our return home, this
good lord, to whom I am for ever bound to
shew all possible respect, was attacke<l by a
sudden illness, which made me take the lib-
erty to knock at your door, flattering myself
that you would be pleased to lodge us thia
night."
Ebn Thaller's friend took all this for truth,
told them they were welcome, and offered
the prince of Persia, whom ho knew not, all
the assistance he coiUd desire ; but Ebn
Thaher spoke for the jjrince, and said, that
his distemper was of that nature as rcfjuired
nothing but rest. His friend understood by
this that they desired to go to bed. Upon
which he conducted them to an apartment,
where he left them.
Though the prince of Persia slept, he was
interrupted by troublesome dreams, which
represented Schemselnihar iu a swoon at tho
calijdi's feet, and increased his aflliction.
Ebn Thahcr was very impatient to bo at
home, and doubted not but his family was
tmder gre.at apprehension, because he never
usetl to sleep out. He rose and departed
early in tho morning, after he had taken
leave of his friend, who rose at break of day
to prayers. At last he came home, and the
first thing the prince of Persia did, who had
walked so far with much trouble, was to lie
down upon a sofa, as weary as if he had
gone a long journey. Being not in a con-
dition to go to his own house, Ebn Thaher
ordered a chamber to be made ready for him,
and sent to acquaint hia friends with his con>
..(
206
THE ARAniAN NIGHTS' KNTERTAIXMICA'TS.
dition and where he was. In the meantime
he bcg^l>(l him to cominmo himitelf, to com-
mnnd in hia honHu, und to diiiposo of all
thini{s as ho [iluMod. " I thank you lioartily
for those oblii^ing offoni," Haid the prince of
Persia ; " hut tlmt I may not bo any way
troublesome to you, I conjuro yuii to deal
with me as if I were not at your house, [
would not stay one moment, if I thou<;ht
my presence would incommode you in the
least."
As soon ns Ebn Tliaher had time to recol-
lect himself, he told his family all that had
passed at •Schemselnihar'H ]ialacc, and con-
clude<l by thankin^r (iod who had delivered
him from the danj^ur he was in. The prince
of Persia's principal domestics came tu re-
ceive his orders at Ebn Thaller's house, and
in a little time there arrived several of his
friends who hod notice of his indi8po.<4ition.
Those friends jiassed the greatest port of the
day with him ; and though their conversation
could not extinguish those sad ideas which
were the cause of his trotd)le, yet it gave
him some relief. He would have taken his
leave of Ebn Thaher towards the evening ;
but this faithful friend foimd him still so
weak, that he obliged him to stay till next
day, and in the meantime, to divert him, he
gave him a concert of vocal and instnimental
music in the evening ; but this concert served
only to put him in mind of the preceding
night, and renewed his trouble, instead of
assuaging it ; so that next day his distemijcr
seemed to increase. Upon this Ebn Thaher
did not oppose his going home, but took
care to accompany him thither ; and when
he was with him alone in his chamber, he
represented to him all those arguments
which might influence him to a generous
eflfort to overcome that passion which in the
end would neither i)rove lucky to himself
nor to the favourite. "Ah! dear Ebn
Thaher," cried the prince, "how easy is it
for you to give this advice, but how hard is
it for me to follow it ; I am sensible of its
importance, but am not able to profit by it.
I have said already, that I shall carry to
the grave with me the love that I bear to
Sohemselnihar." When Ebn Thaher saw
that he coidd gain nothing upon the prince,
he took his leave of him, and would have re-
tired.
Scheherazade seeing day begin to appear,
held her ])eace, and next morning resumed
her discourse thus : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Third Night.
Tug prince of Persia stopped him, and said,
" Kind Ebn Thaher, since I have declared
to yon that it is not in my power to follow
your wise counsels, I beg you would not
charge it on me as a crime, nor forbear to
give mo the usual toMtimoniet of your friend-
ship; you cannot do me a greater favour
than to inform me of the destiny of my dear
Schemseluihar, when you hear any news of
her : the unccrtuinty I am in concerning
hur fate, and the mortal apprvhensiona her
fainting has oooasioned in me, keep ine in
this languishing oondition you reproach me
with." "My lord," answered Ebn Thaher,
"you have reason to hope that her fainting
was not attended witli any bad come-
i|ucncns ; Iier confidant will quickly come
an<l inform mo of the issue ; and as soon as I
know the particulars, I will no\ fail to im-
part them."
Ebn Thaher left the prince in this hope,
and returned home, where he expected
Schemselnihar's confidant all the rest of the
day, but in vain ; nor did she come next day.
His uneasiness to know the state of the
jirince of PersLVs health would not suffer
him to stay any longer without seeing him ;
he went to his lodging to exhort him to
patience, and found him lying on hia bed as
ill 08 ever, surrounded by a great many of
his friends, oud several physicians, who
made use of all their art to discover the
cause of hia distemper. As soon as he saw
Ebn Thaher, he looked upon him smiling, to
signify tUat he had two things to tell him ;
the one, that he was glad to see him ; the
other, how much the physicians, who could
not discover the cause of his distemper, were
out in their reasonings.
His friends and physicians retired one
aftei another, so that Ebn Thaher l>eing
alone with him, came near his bbd to ask him
how he did since he saw him. "I must tell
you," answered the prince, "that my pas-
sion, which continually gathers new strength,
and the uncertainty of the lovely Schemsel-
nihar's destiny, augment my distemjier every
moment, and cast me into such a state, as
atHicts my kindred and friends, and breaks
the measures of my physicians, who do not
imder.stand it. You cannot think," added
he, " how much I suffer by seeing so many
people about me, who importune me, and
whom I cannot in civility put away. Your
company alone relieves me ; but I conjure
you not to dissemble with me : What news
do you bring me of Schemselnihor ? Have
you seen her confidant ? What said she to
you ? " Ebn Thaher answered, that he had
not seen her yet ; and no sooner had he
told the prince of Persia this sad news, but
the tears came into his eyes ; he could not
answer one word, his heart was so oppressed.
"Prince," added Ebn Thaher, "suffer me
to tell you, thot you are too ingenious in
tormenting yourself. In the name of God,
wipe away your tears : if any of your i)eople
should come in, they would discover you by
this, notwithstanding the care you ought to
take to conceal your thoughts." Whatever
ABOULHASSEN ALI ElhX liECAK.
20;
thia jiulioious cuiiliiUiit could aay, it wm not
]M>wiblo for thu princu to rufrniii frnm wofji-
ing. " Wine Elm TImbvr," Haiti hu, mIicii
]io lia<l rccDVurud IiIh Hpia'ch, " I imvy iiulcfd
liindtir my toiiguu from ruvl'Illill^ the NfurutH
of my heart, hut 1 havu no powur over my
toara, upon Nuch an aliirmiii^ Hultjuct iia
iSuhvmHclniliar'H danger. It' tliat iuloral)U)
and only oltjvut of my dotiroH liu no loiii^iT
in the world, 1 Nliall not Hurvivu Iter a nio-
ini'nt." " lU'ject ho alllictinh' a tlioiinUt,"
n'jdied Elm Tlmlicr ; "SchcmHi'lniliar is yot
olive, yuu need nut doubt of it ; if you linvo
heard nu news uf her, it is liucauHC (the could
Hud uo o])portunity to ueiid to you, and I
ho|>o you will hear from her to-day," To
thiH he added several other consoling argu-
ments, and then withdrew.
Ebn Thaller was scarce at his own house
when ScheniHelnihar'H uontidant arrived with
a molauchuly countenance, which he reckon-
ed a bad omen, lie asked news of her niis-
tr • "Tell mo yimr's first," Haid the cou-
rt' it, ' for 1 was in great troulde to see
the pruice uf Persia go away ui that condi-
tion." Eiiu Tbaher t(dd her all that she
wished to know, and when he had done the
slave began thus : — If the ])riiicc of Per-
sia, said she, has sutl'crcd, and dues titill
sulTcr, for my mistress, she suti'ers no less
for him. After I departed from yuu, con-
tinued she, I returned to the saloon, where
I found Schemselnihar not yet recovered
from her swoon, notwithstanding all tho
liel]) they endeavoured to give lier. The
caliph was sitting near her, with all the
signs of real grief : he asked all the women,
and me in particular, if wo knew the cause
of her distemper; but we kc])t all secret,
und told him we were altogether ignorant
of it. In the meantime, we all wept to see
her suffer so long, and forgot nothing that
might any way help her. In a word, it was
almost midnight before she came to herself.
The caliph, who had the patience to wait
the event, was rejoiced at her recovery, and
asked Schemselnihar the cause of her dis-
temper. As soon as she heard him speak,
she endeavoured to recover her seat : and
after she had kissed his feet, before he could
hinder hw, " Sir," said she, " I have reason
to complain of heaven, that it did not allow
me to expire at your majesty's feet, to tes-
tify thereby how sensible I am of your fa-
vours."
"I am jiersuaded you love me," said the
caliph to her, ' ' and I command you to pre-
serve yourself for my sake. You have pro-
bably exceeded in something to-day, which
has occasioned this indisposition ; take care,
I entreat you : abstain from it for the fu-
ture : I am very glad to see you better, and
I advise you to stay here to-night, and not
to return to your chamber, for fear the mo-
tion afifect you." He then commanded a
little wine to Im brout;ht her, in onler to
strengthen her ; and taking leave of her, re-
turned to his apartment.
As soon as the caliph was gone, my mis-
tress gave me a MJ^n to come near her. She
asked me earnestly concerning yim ; I as-
Hured her that you hwl been gone a long
time, which mmle her easy on that head : I
took care not to speak of tlit? prince of Per-
sia's fainting, lest it shouKl make her fall
into tae same state, from which we had so
much trouble to recover her ; but my pre-
cautions were in vain, as you shall hear.
" Prince," said she, " I henceforth renoiinuo
all itleasure as long as I am deprived of tho
sight of you. If 1 have untlerstoml your
heart right, [ only follow your example.
You will not cease to weep until you see me
again ; it is but just that I weep and mourn
until [ see you." At i>hese words, which
she uttered in a manner expressive of the
violence of her ]iaMsion, she fainted a second
time in my arms.
Here Scheherazade seeing <'.ay lH>gin to
appear, broke oil', and next night pursuod
her diucuurse thus : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Fourth Night.
Scukmmklnihau'h conKdant continued to tell
Ebn Timber all that had happened to her
mistress after the first famting. My com-
]>ani(jns and I, said she, were a long time
recovering her ; at last she came to herself ;
and then I .said to her, " Mmlam, are you
resolved to kill yourself, and to make iw
also die with you ? T entreat you, iu the
name of the prince of I'ersia, who is so
deeply interested in your life, to preserve it,
as you love yourself ; bo ])er8uaded to this
effort, OS you love tho ])rince, and for our
fidelity to you." " 1 am very much obliged
to you," reidied she, "for your care, your
zeal, and yuur advice ; but, alas ! they are
useless to me : you are not to flatter us with
any hoi)es, for we can expect no end of our
torment but in the grave."
One of my companions would have di-
verted these satl thoughts by playing un the
lute, but she commanded her to be silent,
and ordered all of them to retire, except me,
whom she kept all night with her. O hea-
vens ! what a night it was I She passed it in
tears and groans, and incessantly naming
the prince of Persia ; she lamented her lot,
that had destined her to the caliph, whom
she could not love, and not for him whom
she loved so dearly.
Next morning, because she was not com-
modiously lodged in the saloon, I helped her
to her chamber, where she no sooner arrived
than all the physicians of the palace came to
see her, by order of the caliph, who was not
long in coming himself. The medicines
Il 11
208
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS
which the physicianB prescribed to Schcm-
aelnihar were ineffecttiiU, becaune they were
ignorant of the cause of her di8teni})cr ; and
the presence of the caliph augmented it.
She got a little rest, however, this night,
and as snon as she awoke, she charged me
to come to you, to hear news of the prince
of Persia. " I have already informed you
of his case," said Ebn Thaher ; "so return
to your mistress, and assure her, that the
prince of Persia waits for news from her
with the like impatience that she docs from
him ; above all, exhort her to moderation,
and to overcome herself, for fear she drop
before the caliph some word which may
prove fatal to us all." *' As for me," replied
the confidant, " I confess I dnad her tran-
sports ; I have taken the liberty to tell her
my mind, and am persuaded that she will
not take it ill that I tcU her again this from
you."
Ebn Thaher, who had but just come from
the prince of Persia's lodgings, thought it
not convenient to return so soon, and neglect
his own important affairs, and therefore
went not till the evening ; the prince w.aa
alone, and no better than in the morning.
"Ebn Thaher,"' said he to him, as soon as
he saw him, "you have doubtless many
friends, but they do not know your worth
which you. discover to me by your zeal,
yoiir care, and the trouble you give yourself
to oblige me. I am confounded with all that
yon do for me with so great affection, and I
know not how I shall be able to express my
gratitude." "Prince," answered Ebn Tha-
her, " do not speak so, I entreat you ; I am
ready, not only to give one of my eyes to
save one of your's, but to sacrifice my life
for you. But this is not the present busi-
ness ; I come to tell you that Schemselniliar
sent her confidant to ask me about you, and
at the same time to i:iform me of her condi-
tion. You may assure yourself that I said
nothing but what might confirm the excess
of your passion for her mistress, and the
constancy with which you love her." Then
Ebn Thaher gave him a particular accoimt
of all that had passed betwixt the trusty
slave and him. The prince listened with all
the different emotions of fear, jealousy, affec-
tion, and compassion, which this conversa-
tion could inspire liim with, making, upon
everything which he heard, all the afflicting
or comforting reflections that so ^lassionate a
lover was capable of.
Their conversation continued so long, tli.at
the night was far advanced, so that the
prince of Persia obliged Ebn Thaher to stay
with him. The next morning, as this trusty
frieml returned home, there came to him a
womaii, whom he knew to be Schemselni-
har's confidant, and immediately she spoke
to him thus ; " My mistress salutes you,
and I am come to entreat you in her name
to deliver this letter to the prince of Persia.'*'
The zealous Ebn Thaher took the letter, and
returned to the prince, accompanied by the
confidant slave.
Scheherazade stopped here, because day
began to appear, and resumed her discourse
to the sultan of the Indies the night follow-
ing, and said : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Fifth Night.
Sir, when Ebn Thaher entered the prince
of Persia's house with Schemselnihar's confi-
dant, he prayed her to stay, and wait for
him a moment in the drawing-room. As
soon as the jirince of Persia saw him, he
asked earnestly what news he had to t«ll
him ? "The best yon can expect," cinswered
Ebn Thaher : you are as dear]y beloved as
you love ; Schemselnihar's confidant is in
your drawing-room ; she has brought you a
letter from her mistress, and waits for your
orders to come in." "Let her come in,"
cried the prince, with a transport of joy;
and so saying, he sat uj) to I'eceive her.
The prince's attendants went from him as
soon as they saw Ebn Thaher, and left him
alone with their master, Ebn Thaher went
and opened the door himself, and brought in
the confidant. The prince knew her, and
received her with great politeness. "My
lord," said she to him, "I am sensible of
the affliction you have endured since I had
the honour to conduct you to the boat which
waited oo bring you back ; but I hope the
letter I have brought will contribute to your
cure." So saying, she presented him the
letter. He took it, and after he had kissed
it several tunes, hf> opened and read it as
follows : —
A Letter from Schemselniliar to AH Ebn
liecar, Prince 0/ Persia.
" The person who brings you this letter
will give you a better account concerning
me than I can do, for I have not been my-
self since I saw you : being deprived of
your presence, I sought to deceive myself
by conversing with you by these ill-written
lines, with the same pleasure as if I hail the
good fortune to speak to you.
" It is said, that patience is a cure for all
evils, but it heightens my sufferings, instead
of reUeving them. Although your picture
be deeply engraven in my heart, my eyes
desire speedily once more to see the original ;
and they will lose all their light, if they be
any considerable time deprived of it. May
I flatter myself that your's have the same
impatience to see me ? Yes, I can ; their
tender glances have sufficiently discovered
it to me. Hot happy, prince, shoidd you
and Schemselnihar both be, if our united
■Etr.gr.'^te... .
ABOULHASSEN ALT EBN BECAR.
209
desires were not thwarted by invincible ob-
stacles, which afflict me the more sensibly
OS they have that effect on you.
" Those thoughts which my fingers write,
and which I express with incredible pleasure,
repeating them again and again, proceed
from the bottom of my heart, and from the
inciirabij wound which you have made in
it ; a wound which I bless a thousand times,
notwithstanding the cruel torments I endiu-o
for your absence. I would reckon all that
opposes our love nothing, were I only al-
lowed to see you sometimes with freedom ;
I should then enjoy you, and what could I
desire more ?
" Do not imagine that I say more than I
think. Alas ! whatever expressions I make
use of, T feel that I think more than I can
teU you. My eyes, which are continually
watching and weeping for your return ; my
afflicted heart, which desires you alone ; the
sighs that escape me as often as I think on
you, that is every moment ; my imagina-
tion, which represents no other object to me
than my dear prince ; the complaints that I
make to heaven for the rigour of my destiny ;
in a word, my grief, my distress, my tor-
ments, which give mo no ease ever since
I lost sight of you, will vouch for what I
write.
" Am I not unhappy to be bom to love,
without hope of enjoying him whom I love ?
This afflicting ■ bought oppresses me so that
I should die, were I not persuaded that you
love me : but this sweet comfort balances
my despair, lUu. preserves my life. Tell me
that you love me always ; I will keep your
letter carefully, and read it a thousand times
a day : I should cndMe my afflictions with
ler J impatience : I pray heaven may cease to
' le angry at us, and grant us an opportunity
to say th'-'.t we love one another without
fear ; and that wo shall never cease to love
one another. Adieu. I salute Ebn Thaher,
to whom we are so much obliged."
1 he ])rini;o of Persia was not satisfied
wit 1 reading the letter once ; he thought he
lad read it with too little attention, and
therefore read it again with more leisure :
and as he read, sometimes he uttered deep
sighs, sometimes lie shed tears, and some-
trmes he broke out into transports of joy
and tenderness, as he was affected with
what he read. In short, Le coidd not kee])
his eyes off those cuaracters drawn by so
beloved a hand, and was beginning to read
it a third time, when Ebn Thaher observed
to him that the confidant had no time to
lose, and that he ought to think of giving
an answer. "Alas!" cried the prince,
"how would you have me answer so kind a
letter ? In what terms shall I express my-
self in the disturbed state I am in ? My
mind is to'sed with a thousand tormenting
thoughts, which are lost the same moment
they are conceived, to make way for others.
So long as my body is influenced by the
impressions of my mind, how shall I be able
to hold the paper, or guide my reed to
write?"*
So saying, he took out of a little desk
which was near liim, pa')er, a cane ready
cut, and an inkhorn.
Scheherazade perceiving day, broke ofT
her story, and began again next day as fol-
lows : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Sixth Night.
SiK, the prince of Persia, before he began
to write, gave Schemselnihar's letter to Ebn
Thaher, and i)rayed him to hold it open
while he wrote, that by casting his eyes
upon it he might the better see what to
answer. He began to write ; but the tears
that fell from his eyes upon the paper
obliged him several times to stoi>, that tliey
might fall the more freely. At last he
liuishcd his letter, and giving it to Ebn
Thaher, "Eead it, I pray," said he to him,
" and do me the favour to see if the disorder
of my mind has allowed me to give a favour-
able answer." Ebn Thaher took it, and
read as follows : —
The Prince 0/ Pfrfiia's amwer to ScJtemselnl-
liar's Letter.
" I was plunged in the deepest grief when
I received your letter, at the sight of which
I was transported with unspeakable joy ; and
at sight of the characters written by your
lovely hand, my eyes were enligl'tened by a
stronger light than they lost, when youi-'s
were closed on a sudden at the feet of my
rival. These words contained in your kind
letter are so many rays of light which have
dispelled the darkness wherewith my st)ul
was obscured ; they show me how much you
suffer for love of me, and that you are not
ignorant of what I endure for you, and
thereby comfort me in my afflictions. On
the one hand they make me shed tears in
abundance ; and on the other, they inflame
my heart with a fire which sui)ports it, and
prevents my dying of grief. 1 have not had
one moment's rest since our cruel separation.
Your letter alone gave mo some ease. I
kept a mournful silence till the moment I
received it, and then it restored my si)eech.
I was buried in profound melancholy, but it
inspired me with joy, which immediately
appeared in my eyes and countenance. But
my surprise at receiving a favour which I
* The Arabians, Persians, nnd Turks, when they
write, hold tlic paper comrannly upon their knee with
their left hand, and write with their right, with a little
reed or cane, cut and slit like our pens. This cane is
hollow, and resembles our reeds, but is harder.
2IO
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
i \
nad not yet deserved was so great, that I
knew not how to begin to testify my thank-
fulness for it. In a word, after having
kissed it several times, as a precious pledge
of your goodness, I read it over and over,
and was confounded at the excess of my
good fortune. You would have me signify
to you, that I always love you. Ah !
though I did not love you so perfectly as L
do, I could not forbear adoring you, after
all the marks you have given me of a love
so uncommon : yes, I love you, my dear
soul, and shall account it my glory to bum
all my days with that sweet lire you have
kindled in my heart. I will never complain
of that ardour with which I feel it consumes
me, and how rigorous soever the evils be
which I suffer, I will
■■Bar them with forti-
tude, in hopes to see
you some time or other.
Would to heaven it
were to-day, and that,
instead of sending you
my letter, I might be
allowed to come and as-
sure you, that I die for
love of you ! My tears
hinder me from saying
any more. Adieu."
Ebn Thaher could
not read those last
lines without weeping. He returned the
letter to the prince of Persia, and assured
him it wanted no correction. The prince
closed it, and when he Lad sealed it, he de-
sired the trusty slave to come near, and
said to her, "This is my answer to your
dear mistress's letter. I conj'ire you to
carry it to her, and to salute her in my
name." The slave took the letter, and re-
tired with Ebn Thaher.
Here the sultaness stopt, and continued
her story next night in the following
manner : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Seventh Night.
After Ebn Thaher had walked some way
with the slave, he left her, and went to his
house, and began to think in earnest upon
the amorous intrigue into which he foxmd
himself unhappily engaged. He considered,
that the prince of Persia and Schemselnihar,
notwithstanding theii< interest to conceal
their correspondence, conducted themselves
with so little discretion, that it could not be
long a secret. He drew all the consequencet
from it, which a man of good sense ought to
do. "Were Schemselnihar," said he to
himself, "a lady of common rank, I would
contribute all in my power to make her and
lier lover happy; bat she is the caliph's
favourite, and no man can without danger
attempt to engage the affections of the
object of his choice. His anger would fall
in the first instance on Schemselnihar; it
will next cost the prince of Persia his life,
and I shall be involved in his misfortune.
In the meantime I have my honour, my
quiet, my family, and my estate to preserve.
I must, while I can, extricate myself out of
such a risk."
These thoughts occujiied his mind all that
day ; next morning he went to the prince
of Persia, with a design to make one more
effort to oblige him to conquer his passion.
He represented to him what he had before
represented in vain ; that it would be much
better for him to call up all his resolution,
to overcome his incli-
nation for Schemselni-
har, than to suffer him-
self to be hurried away
by it ; and that his
passion was so much
the more dangerous, aa
his rival was jiowerful.
" In short, sir," added
he, "if you will heark-
en to me, you ought
to think of nc'bing but
to triumph over your
love ; otherwise you
rim the risk of destroy-
ing yourself with Schem-
selnihar, whose life ought to be dearer
to you than your own. I give you this
advice as a friend, for which you will some
time or other thank me."
The prince heard Ebn Thaher with great
impatience, but suffered him to speak his
mind, and then rej)lied to him thus : " Ebn
Thaher," said he, "do you think I can cease
to love Schemselnihar, who loves me so ten-
derly ? She is not afraid to expose her life
for me, and would you have me regard
mine ? No ; whatever misfortunes befal
me, I will love Schemselnihar to my last
breath."
Ebn Thaher, shocked at the obstinacy of
the prince of Persia, left him hastily, and
going to his own house, recalled to his mind
his former reflections, and began to think
seriously what he should do. In the mean-
time a jeweller, one of his intimate friends,
came to see him. The jeweller had per-
ceived that Schemselnihar's confidant came
oftener to Ebn Thaher than usual, and that
he was constantly with the Prince of Persia,
whose sickness was known to every one,
though not the cause of it. This had awaked
the jeweller's suspicions, and finding Ebn
Thaher very pensive, he presently judged
that he wa? perplexed with some important
affair, and fancying that he knew the cause,
he asked what Schemselnihar's confidant
wanted with him ? Ebn Thaher being struck
ABOULHASSEN ALI EBN BECAR.
211
with tliis question, would have disaembled,
and told him, that it was for a trifle she
come BO freqxiently to him. " You do not
tell me the truth," said the jeweller, " and
you think to persuade me, by your diasimu-
latiou, that this trifle is a more important
afi"air than at lirst I thought it to be." Ebn
Thaher, perceiving that his friend pressed
him so much, said to him, "It is true, that
it is an alfair of the greatest consequence !
I had resolved to keep it secret, but since I
know how much you are my friend, I choose
rather to make you my confidant, than to
suffer you to be under a mistake about it.
I do not recommend to you secrecy, for you
will easily judge by what I am going to tell
you, how impossible it is to keep it." After
this preamble, he told him the amour be-
tween Suhemsehiihar and the prince of
Persia. "You know," continued he, "in
what esteem I am at court, in the city, and
with lords and ladies of the greatest quality ;
what a disgrace it would be for me, should
this rash amour come to be discovered? But
what do I say ? should not I and my family
be completely ruined? That is what per-
plexes my mind ; but I have just formed my
resolution : I wUl go immediately and satis-
fy my creditors, and recover my debts, and
when I have secured my property, will re-
tire to Balsora, and stay tUl the storm, that
I foresee, is blown over. My friendship for
Schemselnihar and the prince of Persia
makes me very sensible to what dangers
they are exposed. I pray heaven to con-
vince them of it, and to preserve them ! but
if their evil destiny should bring their amours
to the knowledge of the caliph, I sh.all, at
least, be out of the reach of his resentment ;
for I do not think them so wicked as to de-
sign to involve me in their misfortunes. It
would be the height of ingratitude, and a
bad reward for the service I have done them,
and the good advice I have given them, par-
ticularly to the prince of Pers' \ who may
save both himself and his mistress from this
precipice, if he pleases : he may as easily
leave Bagdad as I ; and absence will insen-
sibly disengage him from a passion, wliicli
will only increase whilst he continues in this
place."
The jeweller was extremely surprised at
what Ebn Thaher told him. "What you
say to me," says he, "is of so great impor-
tance, that I cannot understand how Schem-
selnihar and the prince could have abandoned
themselves to such a violent passion ; what
inclination soever they may have for one
another, instead of yielding to it, they ought
to resist it, and make a better use of their
reason. Is it possible they can be insensible
of the dangerous consequence of their cor-
respondence? How deplorable is their
blindness I I perceive all the consequences
of it as well as you ; but you are wise and
prudent, and I approve your resolution ; the
only way to deliver yourself from the fatal
events which you have reason to f ear. " After
this conversation the jeweller rose up, and
took his leave of Ebn Thaher.
The sultaness stopped here, and continued
the story next night as follows : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Eighth Night.
Before the jeweller retired, Ebn Thaher
conjured him by the friendship betwixt
them, to say nothing of this to anybody.
"Fear not," said the jeweller; "I wiU keep
this secret on peril of my life."
Two days after, the jeweller went to Ebn
Thaher's shop, and seeing it shut, he doubt-
ed not but he had executed the design he
spoke of ; but, to be more sure, he asked a
neighbour, if he knew why it was shut?
The neighbour answered that he knew not,
unless Ebn Thaher was gone a joiu-ney.
There was no need of his inquiring further,
-ipd he immediately thought of the prince of
i^ersia: " Unhappy prince," said he to him-
self, " what wUl be your grief when you
hear this news? How will you now carry
on your correspondence with Schemschiihar?
I fear you will die of despair. I pity you,
and must make up your loss of a too timid
confidant."
The business that obliged him to come
abroad was of no consequence, so that he
neglected it : and though he had no know-
ledge of the prince of Persia, but only by
having sold him some jewels, he went to his
house ; he addressed himself to one of his
servants, and prayed him to tell his master,
that he desired to speak with him about
business of very great importance. The
servant returned immediately to the jewel-
ler, and introduced him to the prince's
chamber, who was leaning on a sofa, with
his head upon a cushion. As soon as the
prince saw him, he rose up to receive and
welcome him, and intreated him to sit down;
asked if he could serve him in anything, or
if he came to tell him anything interesting
concerning himself. " Prince," answered
the jeweller, "though I have not the honour
to be particidarly acquainted witli you, yet
the desire of testifying my zeal has made me
take the liberty to come to your house, to
impart to you a piece of news that concerns
you. I hope you will pardon my boldness
for my good intention."
After this introduction, the jeweller en-
tered upon the matter, and continued thus :
"Prince, I shall have the honour to tell you,
that it is a long time since the conformity of
disposition, and some business we have had
together, united Ebn Thaher and me in
strict friendship. I know you are acquaint- '
ed with him, and that he has employed him-
212
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
self itt obliging you to his utmost ; I have
learnt this from himself, for he keeps nothing
secret from me, nor I from him. I went
just now to his shop, and was surprised to
see it shut : I addressed myself to one of
his neighbours, to ask the reason; he an-
swered me, that two days ago Ebn Thaher
look leave of him, and other neighbours,
offering them his service at Balsora, wliither
he is gone, said he, ' about an affair of great
importance.' Not being satisfied with this
answer, my concern for his welfare deter-
mined me to come ivnd ask if you knew any-
thing particiUarly concerning this his sudden
departure."
At this discourse, which the jeweller ac-
commodated to the subject, the better to
compass his design, the princ^- of Persia
changed colour, and looked at the jeweller
in a manner which convinced him how much
he was disconcerted with the news. " I am
surjmsed at what you inform me," said he ;
" a greater misfortune coiild not befal me.
Ah!" said he, with tears in his eyes, "if
what you tell me be true, I am undone !
Has Ebn Thaher, who was all my comfort,
in whom I put all my confidence, left me !
I cannot think of living after so cruel a
blow."
The jeweller needed no more to convince
him fully of the prince of Persia's violent
passion, which E)jn Thaher told him of :
mere friendship would not make him speak
so; nothing but love could produce such
lively sensations.
The prince continued some moments ab-
sorbed in those melancholy thoughts ; at
last he lifted up his head, and calling one of
his servants, " Go," said he, to " Ebn Tha-
her's house, and ask some of his domestics
if he be gone to Balsora : run, and come
back quickly and tell me what you hear."
While the servant Avasgone, the jeweller en-
deavoured to entertain the prince of Persia
with indifferent subjects ; but the prince
gave little heed to him : he was a prey to
fatal grief. Sometimes he coiUd not per-
suade liimself that Ebn Thaher was gone,
and at other times he did not doubt of it,
when he reflected upon the conversation he
had with liim the last time he saw him, and
the abrupt manner iji which he left him.
At last the prince's servant returned, and
reported that he had spoken with one of
Ebn Thaher's servants, who assured him
that he had been gone two days to Balsora.
"As I came from Ebn Thaher's house,"
added the servant, " a slave well dressed
met me ; and after she had asked me if I
had the honour to belong to you, she told
me she wanted to speak with you, and
begged at the same time that she might
come along with me ; she is in the outer
room, and I believe she has a letter to give
you from some person of consec[uenoe." The
prince commanded her to be immediately
introduced, not doubting but it was Schem-
selnihar's confidant slave, as indeed it was.
The jeweller knew who she was, having seen
her several times at Ebn Thaher's house.
She could not have come in a better time
to save the prince from despair. She saluted
him. — But, sir, said Scheherazade, by this
time I perceive it is day. She held her
peace, and next night went on after this
manner : —
The Hundred and Ninety-Ninth Night.
The prince of Persia returned the salute of
Schemselnihar's confidant. The jeweller
arose as soon as he saw her appear, and re-
tired, to leave them at liberty to converse
together. The confidant, after she had con-
versed some time with the prince, took her
leave and departed. She left him quite
another person from what he was before ;
his eyes appeared brighter, and his counte-
nance more gay ; which satisfied the jewel-
ler that the good slave came to teU. him
something favourable to his amour.
The jeweller having taken his place again
near the prince, said to him, smiling, " I
see, prince, you have business of importance
at the caliph's palace." The prince of
Persia, astonished and alarmed at this dis-
course, answered the jeweller, "What leads
you to suppose that I have business at the
caliph's palace ?" " I judge so," replied the
jeweller, " by the slave that is gone forth."
"And to whom, think you, belongs this
slave ?" replied the prince. " To Schemsel-
nihar, the caliph's favoxirite," answered the
jeweller. " I know," continued he, "both
the slave and her mistress, who has several
times done me the honour to come to my
house and buy jewels. Besides, I know
that Schemselnihar keeps nothing secret
from this slave ; and I have seen her go and
come for several days along the streets, as T
thought, very much troubled : I imagined
that it was for some affair of consequence
concerning her mistress."
The jeweller's words did much trouble the
prince of Persia. "He would not say so,"
said he to himself, "if he did not suspect,
or rather was not acquainted with my
secret." He remained silent for some time,
not knowing what course to take. At last
he began, and said to the jeweller, " You
have told me things which make me believe
that you know yet more than you have
acquainted me with ; it concerns my repose,
that I be perfectly informed; I conjure you,
therefore, not to conceal anything from me."
Then the jeweller, who desired nothing
more, gave him a particular account of
what had passed betwixt Ebn Thaher and
himself : he let him know that he was in-
> be immediately
)ut it was Schem-
113 indeed it was.
3 was, having seen
I Thaber's house,
in a better time
pair. She saluted
herazade, by this
r. She held her
ent on after this
ty-Ninth Night.
ned the salute of
;. The jeweller
ir appear, and re-
iberty to converse
after she had con-
j prince, took her
e left him quite
•t he was before;
r, and his counte-
atisfied the jewel-
came to tell him
lis amour.
Lcn his place again
him, smiling, " I
ness of importance
The prince of
rmed at this dis-
iUer, "What leads
e business at the
Igeso," replied the
hat is gone forth."
you, belongs this
I. " To Schemsel-
ite," answered the
itinued he, "both
I, who has several
ir to come to my
Besides, I know
)s nothing secre*".
ve seen lier go and
ig the streets, as T
ibled : I imagiued
,ir of consequence
i much trouble the
'ould not say so,"
) did not suspect,
laiuted with my
uut for some time,
to take. At last
c jeweller, " You
li make me believe
e than you have
oncerns my repose,
ed; I conjure you,
nything from me."
o desired nothing
icular account of
Ebn Thaher and
T that he was in-
ABOULHASSEN ALI EBN BECAR.
213
formed of his correspondence with Schem-
selnihar, and forgot not to tell him that Ebn
Thaher, alarmed at the danger of being his
confidant in the matter, had communicated
to him his intention of retiring to Balsora,
to stay tlxere, until the storm which he
dreaded should be blown over. " This he
has executed," added the jeweller ; " and I
am suri)rised how he could determine himself
to abandon you, in the condition he informed
me you was in. As for me, prince, I con-
fess I am moved with compassion towards
you, and am come to offer you my service ;
and if you do me the favour to accept of it,
I engage myself to be as faithful to you as
Ebn Thaher ; besides, I promise to be more
resolute. I am ready to sacrifice my honour
and life for you ; and, that you may not
doubt of my sincerity, I swear by all that is
sacred in our religion, to keep your secret
inviolable. Be persuaded then, prince, that
you will find in me the friend whom you
have lost." This discourse encouraged the
I)rince, and comforted him under Ebn Tha-
her's absence. " I am very glad," said he
to the jeweller, "to find in you a restoration
of my loss : I want words to express the ob-
ligations I am under to you. I pray God to
recompense your generosity, and I accept
your obliging offer with all my heart. Be-
lieve me," continued he, " Schemselnihar's
confidant came to speak to me concerning
you : she told me that it was you who ad-
«sed Ebn Thaher to go from Bagdad : these
were the last words she spoke to me when
she went away, and she seemed persuaded
of what she said ; but they do not do you
justice. I doubt not, after
what you have told me, she
IS deceived." "Prince," re-
plied the jeweller, " I have
had the honour to give you
a faithful account of my
conversation with Ebn Tha-
her. It is true, when he
told me he meant to retire
to Balsora, I did not op-
pose his design, but said he
was a wise and prudent
man; but let not this pre-
vent your putting confidence
in me. I am ready to serve
you with all imaginable zeal.
If you do not make any use
of my service, this shall not
hinder me from keeping your
secret religiously, according
to my oath." "I have al-
ready told you," replied the
prince, "that I did not be-
lieve what the confidant
said : it is her zeal which in-
spired her with this ground-
less suspicion, and you ought to excuse it,
Ml do."
They continued their conversation for
some time, and consulted together about
the most convenient means to keep up th6
prince's correspondence with Schemselnihar.
They .agreed to liegin by undeceiving the
coulidant, who was so unjustly prepossessed
•against the jeweller. TJie prince engaged
to remove lier mistake the iirst time he saw
her again, and to intrcat her to address her-
self to the jeweller whenever she might
bring letters, or any other information from
her mistress to him. In short, they agreed
that she ouglit not to come so frequently
to tlie prince's house, because thereby she
might lead to tlie discovery of what it was
of so great impoi-tance to conceal. At last
the jeweller arose, and after having again
entreated the prince of Persia to place an.
unreserved confidence in him, he withdrew.
The sultaness Sclieherazade seeing day
begin to .appear, broke off her discourse, and
next nii^ht resumed it thus : —
The Two Hundredth Night.
Sir, the jeweller returning to his house,
perceived before him a letter, which some-
body had dropped in the street. He took it
up, and as it was not scaled, he opened it,
and found it conceived in these terms : —
A Letter from Schemselnihar to the Prince
0/ Persia.
"I learn from my confidant a piece of
news, which gives me no less concern than
it must give you. By los-
ing Ebn Thaher, we have
indeed sufl'ered a great loss ;
but let not this hinder you,
dear prince, from thinking
to preserve yourself. If our
confidant lias abandoned us
through a jiauic fear, let us
consider tluat it is a misfor-
tune which we could not
avoid. I confess Ebn Tha-
her has left ua at a time
when we most needed his
aasist.ance ; but let us fortify
ourselves by patience against
the unexpected stroke, and
let us not forbear to love one
another constantly. Fortify
your heart against this mis-
fortune. The object of our
wishes is not to be obtained
without trouble. Let us not
be discouraged, but hope
that Heaven will favour us :
and that, after bo many
afflictions, we ihaXl see a
happy accomplishment of our desires.
Adieu."
214
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
While the jeweller was conversing with
the prince of Persia, the confidant had time
to return to the palace, and communicate to
her mistress the ill news of £bn Thaher's
departure. Scheniselnihar immediately
wrote this letter, and sent back her confi-
dant with it to the prince of Persia, but she
negUgently dropped it.
The jeweller was glad to find it, for it
furnished him with an opportunity of justi-
fying liimself to the confidant, and bringing
him to the point he desired. When he had
read it, he perceived the slave seeking for it
with the greatest anxiety, and looking about
everywhere. He closed it again quickly,
and put it into his bosom ; but the slave
observetl him, and running to him, "Sir,"
.said she, " I have dropped a letter, which
you had just now in your hand ; I beseech
you to restore it." The jeweller taking no
notice that he heard her, continued his way
till he came to his house. He did not shut
the door after him, that the confidant, who
followed him, might come in. She did so ;
and when she came to his chamber, " Sir,"
said she to him, " you can make no use of
that letter you have found ; and you would
not hesitate to return it to me, if you knew
from whom it came, and to whom it is di-
i-ected. Besides, allow me to teU you, you
cannot honestly keep it."
Before the jeweller answered the confi-
dant, he made her sit down, and then he
said to her, " Is not tliia letter from Schem-
selnihar, and ia it not directed to the prince
of PerHia?" The slave, who expected no
such (piestion, blushed. "The question em-
barrasses you," replied he; "but I assure
you I do not put it rashly. I could have
given you the letter in the street, but I
wished you to follow me, on purpose that I
might come to some explanation with you.
Is it just, tell me, to impute an unhappy ac-
cident to jieople who no ways contributed
towards it? Yet this you have done, in
telling the jirince of Persia that it was I
who advised Ebn Thaller to leave Bagdad
for his own safety, I do not intend to lose
time in justifying myself to you ; it is enough
that the prince of Persia is f uUy persuaded
of my innocence in this matter : I wiU only
tell you that instead of contributing to Ebn
Thaher's departure, I have been extremely
afflicted at it ; not so much from mj- friend-
ship to him, as out of compassion for the con-
dition he left the prince of Persia in, whose
correspondence with Schemselnihar he has
discovered to me. As soon as I knew cer-
tainly that Ebn Thaher was gone from Bag-
dad, I went and presented myself to the
prince, in whose house you found me, to in-
form him of this news, and to offer him the
same service which he did him ; and provid-
ed you put the same confidence in me that
you did in Ebn Thaher, it will be your own
fault if you do not make my assistance of
use to you. Inform your mistress of what
I have told you ; and assure her, that though
I should die for engaging in so dangerous
an intrigue, I should not repent of having
sacrificed myself for two lovers so worthy of
one another."
The confidant, after having heard the
jeweller with great satisfaction, begged him
to pardon the ill opinion she had conceived
of him, for the zeal she had for her mistress's
interest. "I am beyond measure glad,"
added she, "that Schemselnihar and the
prince have found in you a person so fit to
supply Ebn Thaher's place. I will not fail
to convince my mistress of the good will you
bear her."
Schelierazade observing day, left ofif
here, ami next night resumed her discourse
thus : — •
The Two Hundred and First Nitjlit.
After the confidant had testified to the
jeweller her joy to see him so well disposed
to serve Schemselnihar and the prince of
Persia, the jeweller took the letter out of
his bosom, and restored it to her, saying,
' ' Go, carry it quickly to the prince of Persia,
and come back this way, that I may see the
answer. Forget not to give him an account
of our conversation."
The confidant took the letter and carried
it to the prince, who answered it immedi-
ately. She returned to the jeweller's house
to shew him the answer, wMch was in these
words : —
The Prince of Persia's answer to Schevi-
sdnihar,
" Your precious letter had a great effect
upon nie, but not so great as I could have
wished. You endeavour to comfort me for
the loss of Ebn Thaher; alas! however sen-
sible I am of this, it is but the least of my
troubles. You know these troubles, and
you know also that your presence alone can
cure me. When will the time come that I
shall enjoy it without fear of being deprived
of it? how long does it seem to me 1 or shall
we flatter ourselves that we may ever see it ?
You command me to preserve myself ; I
will obey you, since I have renounced my
own will to follow only your's. Adieu."
After the jeweller had read this letter, he
gave it again to the confidant; who said, as
she was going away, " I will desire my mis-
tress to put the same confidence in you that
she did in Ebn Thaher : you shall hear of
me to-morrow." Accordingly next daj' she
returned with a pleasant countenance.
"Your very looks," said he to her, "in-
*wsw>ai^ ^'
ABOULHASSEN A LI EBN BECAR.
215
I
form mo that yuu have brought Schemsehii-
har to the point you wished for," " It ia
true," said the conftdont, "and you shall
hear how I effected it. I found yesterday,"
continued she, " Schemaelnihar expecting
me with impatience ; I gave her the prince
of Persia's letter, and she read it with tears
in her eyes ; and when she had done, I saw
that she had abandoned herself to her usual
sorrow. ' Madam,' said I to her, ' it is
doubtless Ebn Thaller's removal that troubles
you ; but suffer me to conjure you, in the
name of God, to alarm yourself no farther
on that head. We have found another who
offers himself to oblige you with equal zeal,
and, what ia yet more important, with
greater courage.' Then I si)oke to her of
you," continued the slave, "and acquainted
her with the motive which led you to the
prince of Persia's house : in short, I assured
her that you would inviolably keep the sec-
ret betwixt her and the prince of Persia, and
that you were resolved to favour their amour
with all your might. Sl»e seemed to be
much relieved by my discourse. ' Ah !
what obligations,' said she, ' are the prince
of Persia and I imder to that honest man
you speak of ! I must be acquainted M-ith
him and see him, that I may hear from his
own mouth what you tell me, and thank
him for such an unheard-of piece of gener-
osity towards persons that ho is no way
obliged to concern himself with. The sight
of him will give me pleasure, and I shall
omit nothing to confirm him in those good
aentiments. Fail not to bring him to me
to-morrow.' Therefore, sir, be so good as
to go with me to the palace."
The confidant's discourse peri>lexed the jew-
eller. "Your mistress," replied he, " must
Allow me to say, that she has not duly con-
sidered what she requires of me. Ebn Tha-
her's access to the caliph gave him admission
everywhere, and the officers who knew him
allowed him free access to Schemselnihar's
palace ; but as for me, how dare I enter ?
Yon see clearly that it is impossible. I en-
treat you to represent to Schemselnihar the
reasons which prevent me from giving her
that satisfaction, and acquaint her with all
the ill consequences that would attend it.
If she considers it ever so little, she would
find that it would exjiose me needlessly to
very great danger."
The confidant endeavoured to encourage
the jeweller. "Can you believe," said she,
"that Schemselnihar is so unreasonable as,
by bringing you to her, to expose you to the
least danger, from whom she expects so im-
portant services ? Consider with yourself
that there is not the least appearance of risk
fur you ; my mistress and I are too much
interested in this affair to involve you in any
danger. You may depend upon me, and
leave yourself to my conduct. After the
thing ia over, you will be the tirat to couf ess
that your fear was groundless."
The jeweller yielded to the confidant's
discourse, and rose up to follow her ; but
notwithstanding his boasted courage, he was
seized with such terror, that his whole body
trembled. " In your present state," said she,
"I perceive it will be better for you to stay
at home, and that Schemselnihar shoidd
take other measures to see you. It is not
to be doubted but that, to satisfy her desire,
she will come hither herself ; the cose being
so, sir, I woiUd not have you go. I am per-
suaded it will not be long ere you see her
come to you." The confidant foresaw this ;
for she no sooner informed Schemselnihar of
the jeweller's fear, but she prepared to go
to his house.
He received her with all the expressions
of profound respect. When she sat down,
being a little fatigued with coming, she un-
veiled herself, and let the jeweller see such
beauty as convinced him that the prince of
Persia was excusable in giving his heart to
the caliph's favourite. Then she saluted the
jeweller with a graceful air, and said to him,
"I could not hear with what zeal you have
engaged in the prince of Persia's concerns
and mine, without immediately forming a
design to express my gratitude in person.
I thank Heaven for having so soon made up
Ebn Thaher's loss."
Scheherazade being obliged to stop here,
because day began to appear, continued her
story next morning in the following man-
The Two Hundred and Second Night.
Schemselnihar said many other obliging
things to the jeweller, after which she re-
turned to her palace. The jeweller went
immediately to give an accoxmt of this visit
to the prince of Persia, who said to him as
soon as he saw him, " I have expected you
impatiently. The trusty slave has brought
me a letter from her mistress, but it does
not relieve me. Whatever the lovely Schem-
selnihar says, I dare not hope for anything ;
my patience is at an end ; I know not now
what measures to take. Ebn Thaher's de-
parture makes me despair : he was my only
support — I lost all by losing him ; I flattered
myself with some hopes by reason of his ac-
cess to Schemselnihar."
After these words, which the prince pro-
nounced with so much eagerness that he gave
the jeweller no time to interrupt him, he
said to the prince, "No man can take more
interest in your affliction than I do ; and if
you will have patience to hear me, you will
perceive that I can relieve you." Upon this
the prince held his peace, and listened to
him. " I see very well," said the jeweller.
2l6
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
"that the only way to give you satisfaction
is to fall upon a plan that will afford you an
opportunity to converse freely with Hchem-
selnihar. This I wIhIi to procure you, and
to-morrow will set about it. You must by
no means expose yourself to enter Schemsel-
nihar's palace ; you know by experience the
clanger of that step ; I know a fitter place
for this interview, where you will be Bivfe,
When the jeweller had finished speaking, the
prince embraced him with transjiorts of joy.
" You revive," said he, " by this charming
promise, a wretched lover who was condemn-
ed to die. I see that you have fully repaired
the loss of Ebn Thaher ; whatever you do
will be well done ; I leave myself entirely
to your conduct."
After the prince had thus thanked him
for his zeal, the jeweller returned home, aud
next morning Schemselnihar's confidant came
to him. He told her that he had given the
prince of Persia hopes tliat he should see
Schemseluihar speedily. "I am come on
purpose," answered she, "to concert meas-
ures with you for that end. I think," con-
tinued she, "this house will be convenient
enough for their interview." "I could re-
ceive them very well here," replied he ; "but
I think they wUl have more liberty in
another house of mine where nobody lives
at present ; I will quickly furnish it for their
reception." "There remains nothing then
for me to do," replied the confidant, "but
to bring Schemselnihar to consent to it. I
wUl go and speak to her, and return speedily
with an answer."
She was as diligent as her promise ; and,
returning to the jeweller, told him that her
mistress woidd not fail to keep the appoint-
ment in the evening. lu the meantime she
gave him a purse, and told him it was to
prepare a collation. He carried her imme-
diately to the house where the lovers were
to meet, that she might know whither to
bring her mistress ; and when she was gone,
he went to borrow from his friends gold and
silver plate, tapestry, rich cushions, and
other furniture, with which he furnished the
house very magnificently; and when he had
l>ut all things in order, he went to the prince
of Persia.
You may easily conceive the prince of
Persia's joy, when the jeweller told him that
he came to conduct him to the house he had
prepared to receive him and Schemselnihar.
This news made him forget all his former
troubles. He put on a magnificent robe, and
went without his retinue along with the
jeweller ; who led him through several
by-streets, that nobody might observe them,
and at last brought him to the house, where
they conversed together until Schemsehiihar
came.
They did not stay long for this passionate
lover ; she came after evening prayer, with
her confidant and two other slaves. It is^
impossible to express the excess of joy that
seized those two lovers when they saw one
another : they sat down together upon a
sofa, looking upon one another for some
time, without being able to speak, they were
so much overjoyed ; but when their speech
returned, they soon made up for their si-
lence. Tliey said to each other so many
tender things, as made tlie jeweller, the
confidant, and the two other slaves, weep.
The jeweller, however, restrained his tears,
to attend to the collation, which he brought
in himself. The lovers ate and drank little,
after which they sat down again upon the
sofa. Schemselnihar asked the jeweller if
he had a lute, or any other instrument. —
The jeweller, who took care to provide all
that could please her, brought her a lute ;
she spent some time in tuning it, and then
sung.
Scheherazade stopped because she saw day
begin to appear; aud next night went on
thus : —
The Two Hundred and Third Night.
While Schemselnihar was charming the
prince of Persia, and expressing her passion
by words composed extempore, a great noise
was heard ; aud immediately the slave whom
the jeweller had brought with him came in
a great fright to tell him that some people
were breaking in at the gate ; that he asked
who it was, but instead of any answer, the
blows were redoubled. The jeweller being
alarmed, left Suhemselnihar and the prince,
to go and inform himself of the truth of this
bad news. No sooner was he got into the
court than he saw, notwithstanding the dark-
ness of the night, a company of men, armed
with bayonets and scimitars, who had bro-
ken the gate, and came directly towards him.
He stood close to a wall for fear of his life,
and saw ten of them pass without being per-
ceived by them. Finding he coi<M give no
great assistance to the prince of Persia and
Schemselnihar, he contented himself with
lamenting their fate, and fled for refuge to
a neighbour's house, who was not yet gone
to bed. He did not doubt but this unex-
pected violence was by the caliph's order,
who, he thought, had been informed of hia
favourite's meeting the prince of Persia there.
He heard a great noise in his own house,
which continued till midnight ; and when
all was quiet, as he thought, ho desired his
neighbour to lend him a scimitar ; and being '
thus armed, went on till he came to t?i
gate of his own house. He entered th^ .
coiui; full of fear, and perceived a man, who ';
asked him who he was; he krew by his
voice that it was his own slave. "How did
you manage," said he, "to avoid being taken
ABOVLHASSEN ALT EBN BECAR.
21/
l>y the watch ? " " Sii-, " answered the slave,
" I hid myself in a corner of the court, and
I went out BO Hoon as I heard the noise.
But it was not the watch who broke into
your house : they were robbers, who, within
these few days, robbed another house in this
neighbourhood ; they, doubtless, had notice
of the rich furniture you brought hither, and
had that in view."
The jeweller thought his slave's conjecture
probable enough : ho visited the house, and
saw that the robbers had taken all the fur-
niture out of the chamber where he received
Schemselnihar and her lover ; that they had
also carried off the gold and silver-plate, and,
in a word, had left nothing. — Being in this
condition, "O heaven," cried he, "I aiu
irrecoverably undone ! What will my friends
say, and what excuse can I make, when I
shall tell them that the robbers have broken
into my house, and robbed me of all they
had generously lent me ? I shall never be
able to make up their loss. Besides, what
is become of ISchemselnihar and the prince
of Persia ? This business will be so public,
that it will be impossible but it must reach
the caliph's ears. He will get notice of this
meeting, and I shall fall a sacrifice to his
fury ! " The slave, who was very much at-
tached to him, endea'^oured to comfort him.
"As to Schemselnihar," said he, "the rob-
bers probably would content themselves
with stripping her, and you have reason to
think that she is retired to her palace with
her slaves. The prince of Persia is proba-
bly in the same condition ; so that you ua.\ «
reason to hope the caliph will never know ( f
this adventure. As for the loss your friendi
have sustained, that is a misfortune that
you coidd not avoid. They know very well
the robbers are numerous, that they have
not only pillaged the house I have already
spoken of, but many other houses of the
principal noblemen of the court ; and they
are not ignorant that, notwithstanding the
orders given to apprehend them, nobody has
been yet able to seize any of them. You
will be acquitted by restoring your friends
the value of the things that are stolen ;
and, blessed be God, you will have enough
left."
Waiting till day, the jeweller ordered the
slave to mend the street door, which was
broken, as well as he could ; after which he
returned to his xisual residence with his
slave, making melancholy rellectious upon
what had happened. "Ebn Thaher," said
he to himself, "has been wiser than I : he
foresaw the misfortune into which I have
blindly thrown myself ; would to God I had
never meddled in this intrigue, which will,
perhaps, cost me my life ! "
It was scarce day when the report of the
robbery spread through the city, and a great
many of his friends and neighbours came to
his house to express their concern for hi»
misfortune, but were curious to know the
particulars. He thanked them for their af-
fection, and had at least the consolation,
that he heard nobody mention Schemselnihar
or the prince of Persia, which made him be-
lieve they were at their houses, or in somo
secure place.
When the jeweller was alone, his servants
brought him something to eat, but he could
not eat a bit. About noon one of his slaves
came to tell him there was a man at the gate,
whom he knew not, that desired to speak
with him. The jeweller, not choosing to re-
ceive a stranger into his house, rose up, and
went to speak with him. " Though you do
not know me," said the man, " yet I know
you, and I am come to talk to you about an
important affair." The jeweller desired him
to come in. " No," answered the stranger;
"if you please, rather take the trouble to
go with mo to your other house." "How
know you," replied the jeweller, "that I
have another house ?" "1 know very well,"
answered the stranger; "follow me, and do
not fear anytliing : I have something to com-
municate to you which will jylease you."
The jeweller went immediately with him;
and after he had considered by the way how
the house they were going to was robbed,
he said to him, that it was not fit to receive
him.
Wh^n they were be'"ore the house, and
the str.',nger saw the ga ,e half broken down,
said lie to the jeweller, " I see you have told
me the truth ; I will ' arry you to a place
where we shall be b( tter accommodated."
When he had said this, he went on, and
walked all the rest of the day without stop-
ping. The jeweller being weary with walk-
ing, vexed to see night approach, and that
the stranger went on without telling him
where he was going, began to lose his pa-
tience, when they cauie to a path which led
to the Tigris ; and as soon as they came to
the river, they embarked in a little boat, and
went over. The stranger led the jeweller
through a long street, where he had never
been before in his life ; and after he had
brought him through I know not how many
by-streets, he stopped at a gate, which he
opened. He caused the jeweller to go in ;
then he shut and bolted the gate with a huge
iron bolt, and conducted him to a chamber,
where there were ten other men, all of them
as great strangers to the jeweller as he that
brought him hither.
These ten men received the jeweller with-
out any compliments. They bade him sit
down, of which he had great need ; for he
was not only out of breath with walking so
far, but the fear he was in, to find himself
with people whom he thought he had reason
to be afraid of, would have disabled him
from standing. They waited for their leader
r
218
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
to go to supper, and oa soon as ho came, it
was served u]). They washed their hands,
obliged the jeweller to do the like, and to
sit at table with them. After supper, the
men asked him if he knew whom he spoke
to ? He answered, " No," and that lie knew
not the place ho was in. " Tell us your last
night's adventure," said they to liim, "and
conceal nothing from us." The jeweller be-
ing astonished at this discourse, answered,
" Gentlemen, it is probable you know it al-
ready." " That is true," replied they : "the
young man and the young lady, who were
at your house yester-night, told it us ; Imt
we would know it from your own mouth."
The jeweller needed no more to inform him
that he sjioke to the robliers who had broken
intoand jdundered his house. "Gentlemen,"
said he, "I am much troubled for that young
man and lady ; can you give me any tidings
of them?"
Scheherazade broke off here, to give no-
tice to the sultan of the Indies that the day
appeared ; and next night resumed her ditt-
oourse thus : —
The Two Hundred and Fifth Night.
SiK, said she, upon the jeweller's inquiry
of the thieves, if they knew anything of the
young man and the young lady, they an-
swered, " Be not concerned for them — they
are safe and well." So saying, they shewed
him two closets, where they assured him they
were separately shut up. They added, "We
are informed you alone know what relates to
them, which we no sooner came to under-
stand, but we shewed them all imaginable
respect, and were so far from doing them
any injury, that we treated them with all
possible kindness on your account. "NVe an-
swer for the same," proceeded they, "for
your own person ; you may put unlimited
confidence in us."
The jeweller being encouraged at this,
and overjoyed to hear that the prince of
Persia and Schemselnihar were safe, resolved
to engage the robbers yet farther in their in-
terest. He commended them, flattered them,
and gave them a thuusand benedictions.
" Gentlemen," said he, "I must confess I
have not the honour to know you, yet it is
no small happiness to me that I am not wholly
unknown to you ; and I can never be suffi-
ciently grateful for the favours which that
knowledge has procured me at your hands.
Not to mention your great humanity, I am
fully persuaded now that persons of your
character are capable of keeping a secret so
faithfully ; and none are so fit to undertake
a great enterprise, which you can best bring
to a good issue by yoiu- zeal, courage, and
intrepidity. Confiding in these qualities
which are so much your due, I hesitate not
to toll you my whole history, with that of
tl ose two persons you found in my house,
wi h all the fidelity you desire me."
After the jeweller had thus secured, as ho
th( light, the confidence of the robbers, be
made no scruple to relate to them the whole
amour of the prince of Persia and Schemsel-
nihar, from the beginning of it to the time
he received them into his house.
The robbers were greatly astonished at all
the jjarticulars they heard, and could not
forbear crying out, "How! is it imssiblo
that the young man should be the illustrious
Al Ebn Becar, jtrincc of Persia, and the
young lady the fair and celebrated beauty
Schemselnihar? The jeweller assured them
nothing was more certain, and that they
needed not to tliink it strange, that persons
of so distinguished a character should wish
not to 1)0 known.
Upon this assurance of their quality, the
robbers went immediately, one after another,
and threw themselves at their feet, imploring
their pardon, aud protesting that nothing of
the kind would have happened to them, had
they been informed of the quality of their
persons before they broke into the house;
and that they would by their future conduct
endeavour to make amends for the crime
they had thus ignorantly committed. Then
turning to the jeweller, they told him, they
were heartily sorry they could not restore to
him all that had been taken from him, part
of it Ijeing no longer in their possession ; but
as for what remained, if he would content
himself with his plate, it should be forthwith
put into his hand.
The jeweller was overjoyed at the favour
done him, and after the robbers had delivered
to him the ])late, they required of the prince,
Schemselnihar, aiul him, to promise them
upon oath, that they would not betray them,
and they would carry them to a ])Iace whence
they might easily go to their respective
homes. The prince, Schemselnihar, and the
jeweller, replied, that they might rely on
their words ; but, since they desired an oath
of them, they solemnly swore not to discover
them. The thieves, satisfied with this, im-
mediately went out with them.
By the way, the jeweller, uneasy at not
seeing the confidant and the two slaves, came
up to Schemselnihar, and begged her to in-
form him what was become of them. She
answered, she knew nothing of them, and
that all she could tell him was, that she 'vs ^
carried away from his house, ferried over the
river, and brought to the place from whence
they were ju.st now come.
Schemselnihar and the jeweller had no
farther discourse : they let the robbers con-
duct them with the prince to the river's side,
when the robbers immediately took boat, and
carried them over to the other side.
While the prince, Schemselnihar, and the
. I
I
I
ADOULHASSEN AU ERN BECAR.
219
jeweller were landing, they heard the noiso
of the horse-patrol coming towards them,
just oa the boat arrived, and had conveyed
the robbers bock l)y dint of rowing.
The commander of the brigade demanded
of the prince, Mchemsulnihar, and the jewel-
ler, who they wore, and whence they came
so late. Frightened as they were, and ap-
prehensive of saying anything that miglit
l)rejiidice them, tliey could not Hpcak ; but
at length it was necessary tliey Hhould : the
jeweller found hia tongue, his mind being
freer, and said, "Sir, I can iissure you, wo
are very honest pco])le of the city, and that
those people who have just lantled ua, and
are got back to the other side of tlie water,
are thieves, who having last niglit broken
open the house where we were, |iillaged it,
and afterwards carried us to their cpuirters,
where by fair words we prevailed on thorn
to let us have our liberty; ond they brought
lis hither. They have restored us part of
the booty they Jiad taken from us." At
which words he shewed the parcel of plate
he had recovered.
The commander, not satisfied with what
the jeweller had told him, came up to him
and the prince of Persia, and looking stead-
fastly at them, said, "Tell me truly who is
this lady ? How came you to know her ? and
whereabouts do you live t "
This question embarrassed them so much,
that neither of them could answer ; till at
length Huliomselnihar extricated them from
their ditticulty and taking the commander
aside, told him who she was ; which he no
sooner knew, but he alighted with great
expressions of res])cct and politeness, and
ordered liis men to bring two boats.
When the lioata were come, he put Scliem-
selniliar into one, and the prince of Persia
and the jeweller into the other, with two of
his peo|ile in each boat ; with orders to ac-
company each of them whithersoever they
were l>iiund. The two boats took dilFerent
routes ; but we shall at present speak only
of that wherein wa.s the ]irince and jeweller.
The prince to save his guides trouble,
bid them land the jeweller at his house,
naming the place. The guide, by this
direction, stojiped just before the caliph's
]>alace, which put both him and the jeweller
into is mortal fright, though ho durst not
shew it : although they had hoard the com-
mander's orders to his men, they could not
hel]) imagining they were to be delivered up
to the guard, to be ijrought before the caliph
next morning.
This, nevertheless, was not the intention
of the guides ; for after they had landed
them, they, by their master's command,
lecommended them to an oHicer of the
ca1i])h'B guai-d, who assigned them two
soldiers to conduct them by land to the
prince's house, which w.os at some distance
from the rivor. They arrived there, but so
tired and weary that they could hardly move.
The prince being come home, with the
fatigue of his journey, and this misadven-
ture to himself and Schemselnihar, which
deprived him of all hope of ever seeing her
more, fell into a swoon on his sofa. While
the greatest part of his servants were endea-
vouring to recover him, the rest gathered
about the jeweller, and begged him to tell
tliem what had happened to the prince theii
lord, whose absence had occasioned them
such inexpressible uneasiness.
Here Scheherazade stopped, because the
day began to appear, but next night resumed
her discourse to the sultan in the following
manner : —
&f,i^
220
T//Ji ARA/ilAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAimfENTS.
The Two Hundred and Sixth Night.
Siu, I told your maji'sty liwt ni>;)it, tlint
■whilst tho grvatrHt jiart of thu princo'H
domcstica worn cndi'avouriiij^ to ri't'over him
from liig awoon, othtTH of them wuru ^ot
about tho jcwi'lliT (It'HiriiiK to know wluit
had hiv|>[i('iu'd to thi'ir lord. Tho ji-wi'lk-r,
who took uaru to d".scovt'r nothiiii{ t(r tlirm
that waH not [iroiHT for tiu'ni to know, told
thuni it wnu an extraordinary cute, but that
it was not a tinio to relate it, and that they
would do better to go and assiMt tlie prince.
By good fortune the prince canio to liiniHelf
that nionieiit, and those that had but juxt
before reijnired hia hiatory with ao niueh
carnuatnesH, began to keep a reapectful dia-
tancu, and pay that reapect which waa due
from them.
Although tho prince had in some measure
recovered his senaes, he continued ao weak,
that he could not open hia mouth to apeak.
He answered only by signa, even to his
nearest relations, when they spoke to him.
He remained in tho same condition till next
morning, when tho jeweller came to take
leave of him. His answer was only with a
wink, and holding forth hia right hand ; but
when he saw ho was laden with a bundle of
plate which the thieves had returned to him,
he made a sign to hia servants that they
should toko it and carry it to his house.
The Jtiweller had been expected with
great impatience by hia family the day he
went forth with a man who came to oak for
him, and whom he did not know ; but now
he was quite given over, and it was no
longer doubted but some disaster had be-
fallen him. His wife, children, and servants
were in the greatest iUarm, and were lament-
ing him. When ho arrived, their joy was
very great ; yet they were troubled to see
that he was so much altered in the short in-
terval, that he waa hardly to be known.
This was occasioned by the great fatigue of
the preceding day, and the fears he had
undergone all night, which would not let
him sleep. Finding himself much disordered,
he continued at home two days, and would
admit only one of bis intimate friends to
visit him.
The third day, finding himself something
better, he thought he might recover strength
by going abroad to take the air ; and there-
fore went to the shop of a rich merchant his
acquaintance, with whom he continued long
in discourse. As he was rising to tivke leave
of his friend and go home, he observed a
woman making a sign to him whom he pre-
sently knew to be the confidant of Schemsel-
nihar. Between fear and joy, he made what
haste he could away, without looking at her ;
but she followed him, as he feared she would
the place they were in being by no means
proper to holil a con venation. As he walked
a little faater than ordinary, she not being
able to overtake him, every now and then
mIk! called out to him to stay.
He heard her; but after what had hap-
pened, he did not think tit to speak to her
in ]>ul)liu, for fear of giving cauao to auapect
that he was connected with Sehemaelnihar.
It waa known to everybotly in liagdad that
this woman belonged to her, and executeil
all her littlo commiaaions. He continued tho
aauK^ pace, and at length caTiie to a moaque,
where he knew but few people came. Ho
entered it, and alio followed him, and they
had a long converaation together, without
any body overhearing them.
Both the jeweller and confidant cx-
j)res8ed mutual joy at aeeing each other,
after the strange adventure of the robbers,
and their reciprocal apprehension for each
other, without regarding their own parti-
cular persons.
Tho jeweller wished lier to relate to him
how she eacajied with the two slaves, and
what she knew of Schemselnihar from tho
time he lost sight of her ; but so great was
her eagemeaa to know what had' happened
to him from the time of their unexpected
separation, that he found himself obliged to
satisfy her. " Having given you the detail
you desired," said he, "oblige mo in your
turn," which she did in the following man-
ner : —
When I first saw thq robbers, said she,
I hastily imagined that they were soldiers
of the caliph's guard, and that the caliph
being infornied of Schemsclnihar's going out,
hail sent them to take away her life, the
life of the prince, and of us all. Under this
impression I immediately got up to the leads
of your house, when the thieves entered the
chamber where the prince and Schemselnihar
were, and I was soon after followed by that
lady's two slaves. From leads to leads, we
came at last to a house of very honest people,
who received us with much civility, and with
wiioii.' we lodged that night.
Nfxi morning after thanking tho master
c.f tho house for our good usage, we re-
t"rn .vi to Schemsclnihar'a palace, where we
i-nt'.red in great disorder and distress, be-
cause we coidd not learn the fate of the two
unfortunate lovers. The other women of
Schemselnihar were astonished to see me
return without their lady. We told them
we had left her at the house of one of
her female friends, and that she would send
for us when she had a mind to come
home ; with which excuse they seemed well
satisfied.
For my part, I spent the day in great
imeasiness, and when night came, opening a
small private gate, I espied a little boat on
the canal which seemed driven by the stream^
I called to the waterman and desired him to
ADOULHASSEN AT.I EBN PECAR.
221
row up cftch litlo of tho rivor, nnd lodk if ho
could SCO a laily , it' ho fimiul hor, to lirini;
her aloiij; witli liiiii. Tliu two «laves iwiil I
waitfcl jiiipaticutly for his rotuni, niul iit
len>,'tli iiliiiut nii(liii;^')it, wc Haw tlm bontcoiii-
iiiK down with two incii in it nnd a, woniiin
lyinj,' alon;,' in tho Htorn. When tho liont wad
c'oniu lip, tho two nion liclpod tliu woninii to
rim-, nnd tlion it wr I knew lit- r to 1)0 Mehoin-
Hi-hiihar. I uaiuiu!. i'yi)russ my joy at uocing
her.
Horo Sohohi<ra/a<Io cndud hor diiicourae
for thiH ni;{ht, intending; to tuku it tip a}{aiii
tho night fuUuwing, when aho tulJ tUu •ul-
tun —
Tho Two Hundred and Seventh Night.
Slit, wc yostorday h'ft .Schonisohiihar'H con-
lidunt in tiio mo»(|iu>, ttllini; tho jeweller
what had liapponod front the tiuiu uf their
Moparation, and all the circumstances of
Schcmselnihar's return to her hotel. iShc
proceeded thus : —
I gave, said she, my hand to Schcmscl-
nihar to help her out f)f tho hoat ; she had
great need of my assistance, for slio could
hardly stand. When she was landed, she
whispered to me in a tone expressive of her
atUictioii, and bid me go and take a purse of
a thousand pieces of gold and give to tho
two soldiers that had accompanie<l her. I
committed her to the two slaves to 8Ui)port
her, and having ordered the two soldiers to
wait for mo a moment, I took tho purse and
returned instantly : I gave it to tho soldiers,
and having paid the waternian, shut tho
door.
I then followed my lady, and overtook
her before she wjvs got up to her chamber.
Wo immediately undressed her, and put her
to bed, where she had not long been before
she seemed ready to give up tho ghost all the
rest of the night. The day following, her
other •women expressed a great desire to see
her ; but I told them she had been greatly
fatigued, and wanted rest to restore her
strength. The other two women and I gave
her all the assistance in our power, and that
she could expect from our attention. She
persisted in takin£ nothing that we oiTered
I her : and we shoidd have despaired of her
life, if I had not at last perceived that the
wine which we gave her every now and
then liad a sensible efFeut in restoring her
strength. Bj' importunity wo overcame her
obstinacy, and at length prevailed with her
to eat.
When she came to the use of hor speech,
for she had hitherto only wept, groaned,
and sighed, I begged of her to toll me how
she had escaped out of the hands of tho
robbers. "Why would you recpiire of mo,"
said she, with a profound sigh, "to renew
my grief? Would to (iod the robbers had
taken away my life, rather than jiroserved
it ; my misfortunes would then have had an
end, whereas I live but to increase my suffer-
ings."
"Mcadam," replied I, "I beg you would
not refuse lue thii favour. You cannot but
know that the wretched foci a consolation
in relating their greatest misfortunes ; what
I ask woidd alleviate yours, if you will have
tho goodness to gratify mo."
"Hear then," said she, "the most afflicting
adventure that coiUd possibly have happen-
ed to one so deeply in love as myself, who
considered myself as at the utmost point of
my wishes. You must know, when I first saw
the robbers enter, aword in hand, I con-
V »
}
rAi
I
It
222
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
^idered it as the last moment of our lives ;
but death was not an object of regret, since
I thought T was to die with the prince of
Persia. Ho" evf>r, instead of murdering us,
i» i expected, two of the robbers were
ordered to take care of us, whilst their com-
panions were busied in packing up the goods
they found in the liou.se. When they had
done and got their bundles upon their backs,
they went out and carried us along with
them.
"As we went along, one of those that had
charge of us demanded of me who I was. I
answered I was a dancer. He ]mt the same
question to the prince, who replied, he was
a citizen.
"When we were come to the place
whither they were going, a new alarm
seized us. They gathered about us, and
after having considered my dress, and the
rich jewels I was adorned with, they seemed
to doubt that I disguised my quality.
Dancers, said they, do not use to be dress-
ed as you are. Tell us truly who you
are.
"When they saw I answered nothing, they
asked the prince once more who he was, for
they told him they plainly perceived he was
not the person he pretended to be. He did
not satisfy them much more than I had
done : he only told them he came to see the
jeweller, naming him who was the owner of
that house where they found them. I know
this jeweller, rejjlied one of the rogues, who
seemed to have some authority over the
rest : I have some obligations to him,
which he knows nothing of, and I take
upon me to bring him hither to-morrow
morning, from another house he has : but
you miist not expect, continued he, to be
released tiU he comes and tells iis who you
are : in the meantime, I promise you there
shall be no injury oflFered to you.
"The jeweller was brought next morning,
who, thinking to oblige us, as he really did,
declared to the robbers the whole truth.
They immediately came and asked my par-
don, and I believe did the like to the prince,
who was shut up in another room. They
prvitested to me they would not have broken
open the house where we were, had they
known it was the jeweller's. They soon
after took us, (the prince, the jeweller, and
myself) carried us to the river side, put us
aboard the boat, and rowed us across the
water : but we were no sooner landed, thun
a party of horse patrol came up to us.
" The robbers fled : I took the comman-
der aside, and told him my name, and that
the night before T had been seized by robbers
who forced me along with them ; but hav-
ing been told who I was, released me, and
the two persons he saw with me, on my ac-
count. He alighted out of respect to me,
Rnd, expressing great joy for being able to
oblige me, he caused two boats to be
brought, putting me and two of his soldiers,
whom you have seen, into one, escorted me
hither, and the jirinco and jeweller, with two
others, in another, to conduct them home
in safety. My guides have conducted me
hither ; but what is become of the prince
and his friend I cannot tell.
"I trust," added she, melting into tears,
"no harm has happened to them since our
separation ; and I do not doubt, but the
prince's concern for me is .?qual to mine for
him. The jeweller, to whcin we have been
so much obliged, ought to be recomi)ensed
for the loss he has sustained on our account.
Fail not, therefore, to take two purses of a
thousand pieces of gold in each, and carry
them to him to-morrow morning in my name,
and be sure to inquire after the prince's
welfare."
When my good mistress had done speak-
ing, I endeavoured, as to the last article of
inquiring into the prince's welfare, to per-
suade her to endeavour to triumph over her
passion, after the danger she had so lately
escaped almost by miracle. — "Make no an-
swer to me," said she, " but do what I com-
mand -you."
I was obliged to be silent, and am come
hither to obey her commands. I have been
at your house, and not finding you at home,
and uncertain as I was of finding where you
were said to be, was about going to the
prince of Persia ; but not daring to attempt
the journey, I have left the two purses with
a particular friend of mine, and if you will
wait here, I wiU go and fetch them immedi-
ately.
Scheherazade, perceiving the day begin to
approach, stopped here ; but continued the
same story the night following, and said to
the sidtau —
The Two Hundred and Eighth Night.
Sir, the confidant returned quickly to the
jeweller in the mosque, where she had left
him, and giving him the two purses, bid him
out of them satisfy his friends. " They are
much more than is necessary," said the jew-
eller, "but I dare not refuse the jiresent from
so good and generous a lady to her very
humble servant ; but I beseech you to assure
her from me, that I shall preserve an eternal
remembrance of her goodness." He then
agreed with the confidant, tha* .:he should
find him at the house where she had first
seen him, whenever she had occasion to im-
part anything from Schemselnihar, or to hear
any tidings of the prince of Persia : and so
they parted.
The jeweller returned home very well
satisfied, not only that he had got where-
withal so fully to satisfy his friends, but also
\>K* < H ||» W «>-»--
ABOULHASSEN A LI EBN BECAR,
223
to think that no person in Bagdad could
possibly know that the prince and Schem-
selnihar had been in his house when it was
robbed. It is true, he had acquainted the
thieves with it, but their secresy he thought
he might very well depend on : they, he ima-
gined, had not sufficient communication with
the world to fear any danger from their
divulging it. Next morning he visited the
friends who hod obliged him, and found no
difficulty in satisfying them. He had money
in hand to furnish his other house, in which
he placed servants. Thus he forgot all his
past danger, and the next evening waited on
the prince of Persia.
The prince's domestic^ told the jeweller,
that he came in very luckily, for that the
prince ever since he (jaw him was rjduced to
such a state thai his life was in danger, and
they had not been able to get a word out of
him. They introduced him softly into his
chamber, and he found him in a conditiou
that excited his pity. He was lying upon
his bed, with his eyes shut ; but when the
jeweller saluted him, and exhorted him to
take courage, he recollected him and opened
his eyes, and gave him a look that sufficient-
ly declared the greatness of his affliction,
infinitely beyond what he felt after he first
saw Schemselnihar. He took and grasped
him by the hand, to testify his friendship,
and told him in a feeble voice, that he was
extremely obliged to him for coming so far
to seek one so unhappy and wretched.
"Prince," replied the jeweller, "mention
not, I beseech you, any obligations you have
to me : I wish the good offices I have endea-
voured to do you had had a better effect :
but at pressjnt, let us talk only of your
health ; which, in th^ state I see you, I fear
you greatly injure, by unreasonably abstain-
ing from proper nourishment. "
The prince's servants took this opportu-
nity to tell him, it vae 'itb, the greatest
difficulty they h".*? .»■ jV8 ' ^ oa hheir master
to take the jma sf, re» .eiLb.meut, and that
for some li;nc bo had taken nothing at all.
This obliged jeweller to entreat the
prince to liii h;-; ..c "vants bring him somp-
thing to cat : w.b Ich \ 'o obtained after much
importunity.
After the prJu ;e had eaten more than he
had hitherto don i, through the persuasion of
the jawelier, he cocunanded the servants to
leave him alone with his friend. When the
room was clear, ho said, "Besides my mis-
fortune that distracts me, I nave b<!en ex-
ceedingly concerned to think what a losb you
have H'lfFered on my account; and it ia b;it
just I ohould make you some tecomocnsu;
but before I do this, after '. ;-ggins y.u
pardon a thousand times, I coni'v.rf, y'u
to tell me whether you have li^ii.Tit any-
thing of Schemselnihar, since I tad the irlj-
fortuno to be parted from her."
Here the jeweller, instructed by the con-
fidant, related to him all that he knew of
Schemselnihar's arri\ '. at her palace, her
state of health from that time till she reco-
vered, and how she had sent her confidant
to him to inquire after his welfare.
To all tills the prince replied only by sighs
and t .'ars : he made an efl'ort to get up, and
calling his servants, went himself to his
wardrobe, and having caused several bundles
of rich furniture and plate to be packed up,
he ordered them to be carried to the jewel-
ler's house.
The jeweller woidd fain have declined this
kind offer : but although he represented
that Scheniselniliar had already made him
more than sufficient amends for what he had
lost, the prince would be obeyed. The jew-
eller was therefore obliged to make all pos-
sible acknowledgments, and protested how
much he was confounded at his highness's
liberality. He would then have taken his
leave, but the jirince desired him to stay,
and 30 they passod good part of the night in
talking together.
Next morning the jeweller waited again
on the prince, who made him sit down by
him. " You know," said he, "there is an
end proposed in all things : the end the lover
proposes is, to enjoy the beloved object in
spite of all opposition. If once he loses that
hope, he must not think to live. Such is
my hard case, for when I had been twice at
the very point of fidfiUing my desires, I was
on a sudden torn from her I loved in the
most cruel manner imaginable. It remains
ior me only to think of death, and I had
sought it, but that our holy religion forbids
suicide ; but I need not anticipate it, I need
not wait long." Here he stopped, and vented
his passion in groans, sighs, sobs, and tears,
which flowed plentifully.
The jeweller, who knew no better way of
diverting him from his despair than by
bringing Schemselnihar into his mind, and
giving him some shadow of hope, told him
he fearid the confidant might be come from
her lady, and therefore it would not be pro-
per to stay any longer from home. " I will
let you g->," said the prince, "but conjure
you that 1) i 3 her, you recommend to
her to assure Schemaelniliar, tliat if I die, as
I expect to do shortly, I shall love her to
the last mon-.ent, even in the grave."
The jeweiler returned home, and waited
in expectat'.on of seeing the confidant, wlu>
Ct*i:io some hours after, but all in tears, and
in great afflictiou. The jeweller, nlarmed,
iiskfcd her what was the matter. She an-
f were^ that Schemselnihav, the prince, her-
Svdf, a.-iu he, were all ruined. Hear the
?ad news, said she, as it was told niu just
uj). >u my entering the palace after I had left
yo :—
Schemselnihar had iy.x some fault chastised
^HL
224.
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
one of the slaves you saw witli her when you
met in your other house : the slave, enraged
at the ill-treatinent, ran presently away, and
finding the gate ojien, went forth ; so that
we have just reason to believe, she has dis-
covered all to an eunuch of the guard, who
gave her protection.
But this is not all ; the other slave her
companion is iled too, and has taken refuge
in the caliph's palace ; so that we may well
fear she has born her part in this discovery :
for just as I came away, the caliph had sent
twenty of his eunuchs for Schemsclnihar, and
they carried her to the palace. I just found
means to come and tell you this. I know
not what has passed, yet I fear no good;
but, above all, I recommend it to you as a
secret.
The day which began here to shew its
light, obliged Scheherazade to stop ; but
she continued the same story the night fol-
lowing : —
The Two Hundred and Ninth Night.
Str, said she, the confidant added to what
she had said before to the jeweller, that it
was proper he sho\ild go immediately and
acquaint the prince with the whole affair,
that he might be prepared for every event,
and keep faithful to the common cause.
She went away in haste, without staying for
any answer.
What answer coidd the jeweller have made
in the condition he was in ? He stood motion-
less as if thunderstruck. He found, how-
ever, that there was no time to be lost, and
immediately went to give the prince an ac-
count. He addressed himself to him with
an air that sufficiently shewed the bad news
he brought him. " Prince," said he, " arm
yourself with courage and patience, and pre-
pare to receive the most terrible shock that
ever you had to encounter."
" Tell me in a few words," said the prince,
' ' what is the matter, without keeping me
in suspense : I am prepared to die, if neces-
sary."
'L'hen the jeweller told him all that he had
learnt from the confidant. "You see," con-
tinued he, "your destruction is inevitable.
Up, rise, save yourself by flight, for the
time is precious. You, of all men, must not
ex])ose yourself to the anger of the caliph,
and should much less confess anything in the
midst of torments."
At these words, the prince was almost^
ready to expire through grief, affliction, ar '
fear ; however, he recovered himself, ana
asked the jeweller what resolution he would
advise him to take in this conjuncture, every
moment of which was to be made use of.
The jeweller told him, he thought nothing
remained, but that he shoidd immediately
take horse, and haste away towards Anbar,*
that he might get thither before day. ' ' Take
what servants and swift horses you think
necessary," continued he, "and suffer me to
escape with you. "
The prince seeing nothing more to be
done, immediately gave orders to prepp^t,
* A city oQ the Tigris, twenty leagues '.»' "w Bagdad.
ABOULHASSEN ALI EBN BECAR.
225
made
tion-
how-
, and
1 ac-
with
news
'arm
Lpre-
that
■ince,
1 me
leces-
eliad
' con-
;able.
f the
it not
iliph,
!ntlie
Imost:
t, ar '
, and
vould
every
36 of.
thing
iately
ibar,*
Take
think
Sdsd.
such an equipage as would be leaat trouble-
some ; took money and jewels, and having
taken leave of his mother, he departed with
the jeweller and such servants as he had
chosen.
They travelled all that day and the night
following, without stopping ; till at length,
about two or three hours before daybreak,
both their horses and themselves being spent
with so long a journey, they stopped to rest
themselves.
They had hardly sat down before they
found themselves surrounded and assaulted
by a great band of robbers. They defended
their lives for some time courageously ; but
at length the prince's servants being all
killed, both he and the jeweller were obliged
to yield ivt discretion. The robbers, how-
ever, spared their lives ; but after they had
seized on the horses and baggage, they took
away their clothes and left them naked on
the spot.
When the thieves were gone from them,
the prince said to the jeweller, " What think
you of our adventure and condition. Had
I not better have tarried in Bagdad, and
awaited my death ?" " Prince," replied the
jeweller, " it is the decree of Heaven that
we should thus suffer. It has pleased God
to add aiUiction to affliction, and we must
not murmur at it, but receive his chastise-
ments with submission. Let us stay no
longer here, but seek for some retreat where
we may perhaps be relieved."
"Let me die," said the prince ; "for what
signifies it whether I die here or elsewhere ?
Perhaps while we <ire talking, Schemsebiihar
is no more ; and why should I endeavour to
live after she is dead? " The jeweller, by his
entreaty, at length prevailed on him ; and
they had not gone far before they came to
a mosque, which was open; they entered
it, and passed there the remainder of the
niglit.
At daybreak a man came into the mosque.
When he had ended his prayer, as he turned
about to go away, he perceived the prince
and jeweller, who were sitting in a corner.
He came up to them, and after having sal-
uted them with a great deal of civility, said,
"I perceive you are strangers."
The jeweller answered, "You are not
deceived ; we have been robbed to-night in
coming from Bagdad, as you may see, and
are retired hither for shelter, but we know
not whom to apply to." '' If you think fit
to come along with me to my house," an-
swered the man, " I will give you aU the
assistance in my power."
Upon this obliging offer, the jeweller
turned to the prince, and whispered him,
"This man, as you perceive, sir, does not
know us ; and we have reason to fear that
somebody else may come who may know us.
We cannot, I think, refuse his offer." "Do
as you please," said the prince ; "I am
willing to be guided by your discretion."
The mm, observing the prince and jew-
eller consulting together, and tliinking they
made some difficulty to accept his offer,
asked them if they were resolved what to
do. The jeweller answered, "We are ready
to follow you ; all that we make a difficulty
about is, that we are ashamed to appear
thus naked."
Fortunately the man had it in his power
to cover them sufficiently till they could get
to his house : and they were no sooner got
to the house, but he brought forth a very
handsome suit for each of them. As he
thought they must be hungry, and wish to
be alone, he had several dishes brought to
them by a slave ; but they ate little, espe-
cially the prince, who was so dejected and
dispirited, that he gave the jeweller cause to
fear he would die. Their host visited them
several times in the day, and in the evening,
as he knew they wanted rest, he left them
early; but he was no sooner in bed, than
the jeweller was forced to call him again to
assist at the death of the prince of Persia.
He found him breathe short, and with diffi-
culty, which gave him just reason to fear he
had but few minutes to live. Coming near
him, the prince said, " It is all over, and I
am glad you are witness of my last words.
I quit life with a great deal of satisfaction ;
I need not tell you the reason, for you know
it already. All my concern is, that I cannot
die in the arms of my dear mother, who has
always loved me tenderly, and for whom I
had a reciprocal affection. She will un-
doubtedly not be a little grieved that she
coidd not close my eyes, and bury me with
her own hands. Let her know how much I
was concerned at this, and pray her in my
name to have my body transported to Bag-
dad, that she may have an opportuity to
bedew my tomb with her tears, and assist
my departed soid with her prayers." He
then took notice of the master of the house,
and thanked him for his kindness in taking
him in; and after desiring him to let his
body rest with him till it shoidd be conveyed
to Bagdad, he expired.
Scheherazade had just concluded her story
of the prince's death, when she perceived
the daylight to appear ; whereupon she left
off, and resumed her discourse the aexfe
night as follows :—
The Two Hundred and Tenth Night.
Sir, said she, the day after the prince's
death, the jeweller took the opportunity of
a numerous caravan that was going to Bag-
dad, and arrived there soon after in safety.
He first went home to change his clothes,
and then hastened to the prince's palace,
^t .
226
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
W
where everybody was alarmed at not seeing
the prince with him. He desired them to
acquaint the prince's mother that he wished
to speak with her ; and it was not lonj;
before he was introduced to her in a hall,
with several of her women about her.
" Madftm," said he to her, with an air that
sufficiently denoted the ill news he brought,
" God preserve you, and shower down the
choicest of His blessings upon you. You
cannot be ignorant that He alone disposes of
us at His pleasure."
The princess would not give Lim leave to
go on, but cried out, ' ' Alas ! you bring me
the news of my son's death." She and her
women at the same time set up such a
hideous cry as brought fresh tears into the
jeweller's eyes. She tornjcnted and grieved
herself a long while, before she would suffer
him to resume his c. At leng^h she
checked her sighs aiii i-oans, and begged
of Mm to continue, witi ^<!aILng from
her the least circumstanc' >< "l^. a melan-
choly separation. He sa-.; < her, and
when he had done, she farther noiuanded of
him, if her son the prince had not given him
in charge something more particular in his
last moments. He assured her his lost
words were, that it was the greatest concern
to him that he must die so far distant from
his dear mother ; and that the only thing
he wished was, that she would be pleased
to have his corpse transported to Bagdad.
Accordingly, early next morning the prin-
cess set out with her women and great part
of her slaves, to bring her son's body to her
own palace.
When the jeweller, whom she kept with
her, saw she was gone, he returned home
very sad and melancholy, at the reflection
that so accomplished and amiable a prince
was thus cut off in the flower of his age.
As he walked towards his house, dejected
and musing, he saw a woman in mourning,
drowned in tears, standing before him : on
lifting up his eyes, he presently knew her to
be Schemsclni bar's confidant. At the sight
of her his tears began to flow afresh, but he
said nothing to her ; and going into his own
house, she followed him.
They sat down ; when the jeweller, be-
ginning the conversation, asked the confl-
daut, with a deep sigh, if she had heard of
the death of the prince of Persia, and if it
was on his account that she grieved. "Alas ! "
answered she, "what! is that charming
prince then dead? He has not lived long
after hia dear Schemselnihar. Beauteous
souls!" continued she, "in whatsoever place
ye now are, ye must be happy that your
loveB will no more be interrupted. Your
bodies were an obstacle to your wishes, but
Heaven has delivered you from them; ye
may now form the closest union."
The jeweller, who had heard notiiing of
Schemselnihar's death, and had not observed
the confldant was in mourning, suffered
fresh grief at hearing this news. ' ' Is Schem-
selnihar then dead?" cried he. "She is
dead," replied the confidant, weeping afresh ;
"and it is for her T wear these weeds. The
circumstances of her death were extraordi-
nary," continued she, "and deserve to bo
known to you ; but before I give you an
account of them, I beg you to let me know
those of the prince of Persia, whom, with
my dearest friend and mistress, I shall
lament as long as I live. "
The jeweUer then gave the confidant that
satisfaction she desired ; and after he had
told her all, even to the departure of the
I)rince's mother to bring her son's body to
Bagdad, she began and said. You have not
forgot that I told you the caliph -had sent
for Schemselnihar to his palace ; and it is
true, as we had all the reason in the world
to believe, he had been informed of the
amour betwixt her and the prince by the
two slaves, whom he had examined apart.
You will imagine, he would be exceedingly
enraged at Schemselnihar, and express great
tokens of jealousy and revenge against the
prince : but this was by no means the case.
He pitied Schemselnihar, and in some mea-
sure blamed himself for what had happened,
in giving her so much freedom to walk about
the city without being attended by his
eunuchs. This is the only conclusion that
could be drawn from his extraordinary be-
haviour towards her, as you will hear.
He received her with an open counten-
ance; and when he observed that the melan-
choly which oppressed her did not lessen
her beauty, (for she appeared thus before
him without surprise or fear,) with a good-
ness worthy himself, he said, ' ' Schemselnihar,
I cannot bear your appearing before me thus
with an air which gives me infinite pain.
You must needs be sensible how much I
have always loved you, and be convinced of
the sincerity of my passion by the continued
demonstrations I have given you of it : I can
never change my mind, for I love you more
than ever. You have enemies, Schemselni-
har," proceeded he, "and those enemies
have insinuated things against your con-
duct ; but all they have said against you
has not made the least impression upon me.
Shake off then this melancholy, and prepare
to entertain me with some diverting and
amusing conversation this night after your
accustomed manner." He said many othei
obliging things to her, and then desired her
to step into a magnificent apartment near
his own, and wait for him.
The dieted Schemselnihar was very sen-
sible of the kindness the caliph had for her;
but the more she thought herself obliged to
him, the more she was concerned that she
was so far remoTed, perhaps for ever, from
ABOULHASSEN ALI EBN BECAR.
227
her prince, without whom she could not
live.
This interview between the caliph and
Schemselnihar, continued the coufidant,
was whilst I was come to speak with you,
and I learned the particulars of it from my
companions who were present. But I had
no sooner left you, proceeded she, than I
went to my dear mistress again, and was
eye-witness to what happened in the evening.
I found her in the apartment I told you of ;
and aa she thought I came from you, she
came up to me, and, whispering me in the
ear, said, "I am much obliged to you for the
service you have done me, but feel it will be
the last." She said no more ; but I was
not in a place proper to offer anything to
comfort her.
The caliph was introduced at night with
the sound of instruments, which her women
played upon, and the collation was immedi-
ately served up. He took his mistress by
the hand, and made her sit down with him
on the sofa. She put such a force upon her-
self to please him, that she expired a few
minutes after. In short, she was hardly
set down, but she fell backwards : the caliph
believed she had only fainted, and so we all
thought ; but she never recovered, and iu
this manner we lost her.
The caliph did her the honour to weep
over her, not being able to refrain from
tears ; and before he left the room, ordered
all the musical instruments to be broken,
which was immediately executed. I stayed
with her corpse all night, and next morning
washed and dressed her for her funeral,
bathing her with my tears. The caliph had
her interred next morning in a magnificent
tomb he had erected for her in her lifetime,
in a place she had desired to be buried in.
"Now, since you teU me," said she, "the
prince of Persia's body is to be brought to
Bagdad, I will use my best endeavours that
he shall be interred in the same tomb."
The jeweller was much surprised at this
resolution of the confidant, and said, "Cer-
tainly you do not consider that the cahph
will never suflTer this." "You think the
thing impossible," replied she; "it is not :
you wUl alter your opinion when I tell you
that the caliph has given liberty to all her
slaves, with a pension to each for their
maintenance, and has committed to me the
care and keeping of my mistress's tomb,
and allotted me an annual income for that
purpose, and for my maintenance. Besides,
the caliph, who was not ignorant of the
amour between Schemselnihar and the prince,
aa I have already told you, without being
oflfendcd at it, will not be sorry if after her
deatli he be buried with her." To all this
the jeweller had not a word to say, yet
earnestly entreated the confidant to conduct
him to her mistress's tomb, that he might
say his prayers over her. When he came in
sight of it, he was not a little surprLsed to
find a vast concourse of people of both sexes,
that were come thither from all parts of
Bagdad. As he coidd not come near the
tomb, he said his prayers at a distance ; and
then going to the confidant, who was wait-
ing hard by, he said to her, "Now I am so
far from thinking that what you properly
m^
. i
228
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
proposed cannot be put in execution, that
you and I need only publish abroad what
we know of the amour of this iinfortunate
couple, and how the prince died much about
the same time with his mistress. Before his
corpse arrives, all Bagdad will concur to de-
sire that two such faithful lovers should not
be separated when dead, whom nothing
could divide in aflfectlon whilst they lived."
As he said, so it came to pass ; for as soon
as it came to be known that the corpse was
within a day's journey of the city, an infinite
number of i)eople went out to meet it above
twenty miles off, and afterwards walked be-
fore it till it came to the city gate ; where
the confidant, waiting for that purpose,
presented herself I ef ore the prince's mother,
and begged of her, in the name of the whole
city, who earnestly desired it, that she
would be pleased t(i consent that the bodies
of the two lovers, who had but one heart
whilst they lived, from the time their mutual
passion commenced, might be buried in the
same tomb now 1 / were dead. The
princess immeuiivctiy consented; and the
corpse of the prince, instead of being de-
posited in Us own bui-ying-place, was laid
by Schemselnihar' ride, n' .r i.t had been
carried along in precession at the head of
an infinite number of people of all ranks.
From that time all the inhabitants of Bagdad,
and ever, strangers from all parts of the
world where the Mahommedan religion pre-
vails, cease not to hold in the highest vene-
ration that tomb, and paid their devotion at
it.
This, sir, said Scheherazade, who now
perceived the day approach, is what I had
to relate to your rjnjesty concerning the
amour of the fair Sokemselnihar, mistress of
the caliph Haroun Airaschid, and the amiable
Ali Ebn Becar, prince of Persia.
When Dinarzade observed her sister, the
Bidtaness, had done speaking, she thanked
her in the most obliging manner for the
pleasure she had received from so interesting
a story. "If the sultan will but be pleased
to let me live tiU to-morrow," said Schehera-
zade, "I will relate that of Prince Camaralza-
man,* which you will find yet more agree-
able."
Here she stopped ; and the sultan, who
could not resolve to put her to death, de-
ferred hearing it till the following night.
»
The Two Hundred and Eleventh Night.
Next day, before it was light, and as soon
as she had been awaked by her sister, Sche-
herazade related to the sultan of the Indies
* This word signifles In Arabic, the Moon of the
Time, or the Moon of the Age.
the story of Camaralzaman, as she had pro>
mised.
THE STORY OP THE AMOURS OF CAMARALZA-
MAN, PRINCE OF THE ISLES OF THE CHIL-
DREN OF KHALEDAN, AND OF BADOURA,
PRINCESS OF CHINA.
Sir, said she, about twenty days' sail on
the coast of Persia, there are islands in the
main ocean called tho Islands of the Chil-
dren of Khaledan. These islands are divided
into four great provinces, which have all of
them very flourishing and popidous cities,
forming together a powerful kingdom. It
was formerly governed by a king named
Schahzaman,* who had four lawful wives,
aU daughters of kings, and sixty concu>
bines.
Schahzaman thought himself the most
happy monarch of the world, on accoimt of
his peaceful and prosperous reign. One
thing only disturbed his happiness; which
was, that he was advanced in years, and had
no children, though he had so many wives.
He knew not to what to attribute this bar-
renness ; and what increased his afiQiction
was, that he was Ukely to leave his kingdom
without a successor. He dissembled his
discontent a long while ; and this dissimu-
lation only heightened his uneasiness. At
length he broke silence ; and one day, after
he had complained bitterly 1 his misfortunes
to his grand vizier, he asked him if he knew
any remedy for it.
That wise minister replied, "If what
your majesty requires of me had depended
on the ordinary rules of human wisdom, you
hod soon had an answer to your satisfaction ;
but my experience and knowledge fall far
short of your question. The Divine Power
alone, who, in the midst of our prosperities,
wliich often tempt us to forget Him, ia
pleased to mortify us in some instance, that
we may address our thoughts to Him, ac-
knowledge His omnipotence, and ask of Him
what we can expect from Him alone. Your
majesty has subjects," proceeded he, "who
make a profession of honouring and serving
God, and suffering great hardships for His
sake ; to them I would advise you to have
recourse, and engage them, by alms, to join
their prayers with yours : it may be, some
one among them may be so pure and pleasing
to God as to obtain a hearing for your
prayers.
King Schahzaman approved this advice,
and thanked his vizier for it. He immedi-
ately caused rich alms to be given to every
conununity of these holy men in his domi-
nions; and having sent for the superiors,
and treated them with a frugal feast, de-
* That is to say in Persian, King of the Time, or
King of the Age.
ivice,
amedi-
' every
I domi-
teriors,
^t, de-
rime, or
THE AMOURS OF CARMARALZAMAN.
229
clared to them his intention, and desired
them to acquaint their devout men with it.
The king obtained of Heaven what ho
requested ; for in nine months' time he had
a son by one of his wives. To express his
gratitude to Heaven, he sent new alms to
the communities of devout Mussulmen, and
the prince's birthday was celebrated not
only in his capital, but throughout his do-
minions, for a whole week. The prince was
brought to him as soon as born, and he
found him so beautiful, that he gave him
the name of Camaralzamaii, or Moon of the
Age.
He was brought up with all imaginable
care ; and when he came to a proper age,
his father appointed him an experienced go-
vernor and able preceptors. These persons,
distinguished by their capacity, found in
him a ready wit, capable of receiving all the
instructions that were proper to be given
him, as well in relation to morals as other
knowledge which a prince ought to possess.
As he grew up, he learned all his exercises,
and acquitted himself with that grace and
wonderful address, as charmed all that saw
him, and particularly the sultan his father.
Having attained the age of fifteen years,
the sultan, who loved him so tenderly, and
gave him every day new marks of his affec-
tion, had thoughts of givmg him a still
greater, by resigning his throne to him, and
acquainted his grand vizier with his in-
tentions. "I fear," said he, "lest my son
should lose in the inactiv'*-y of youth those
advantages which nature and my education
have given him : therefore, since I am ad-
vanced in age, and ought to think of retire-
ment, I have thoughts of resigning the
government to him, and passing the remain-
der of my days in the satisfaction of seeing
him reign. I have undergone the fatigue of
a crown a long whUe, and think it is now
proper for me to retire. "
The grand vizier declined offering all the
reasons he could have alleged to dissuade
the sultan from such a proceeding ; on the
contrary, he agreed with him in opinion.
"Sir," replied he, "the juince is yet but
young ; and it would not be, in my humble
opinion, advisable to burthen him with the
weight of a crown so soon. Your majesty
fears, with great reason, his youth may be
corrupted in indolence ; but to remedy that,
do not you think it would be proper to
marry him? Marriage forms attachment,
and prevents dissipation. Your majesty
might then admit him of your coimcil, where
he would learn by degrees the art of reign-
ing ; and so be qualitied to receive your
authority, whenever, by your own experi-
ence, you shall think him qualified."
Schahzaman found this advice of his prime
minister's highly reasonable ; therefore sum-
moned the prince to appear before him at
the same time that he dismissed the grand
vizier.
The prince, who had been accustomed to
see his father only at certain times, without
being sent for, was a little startled at this
summons ; when, therefore, he came before
him, he saluted him wivh great respect, and
stood with his eyes fixed on the ground.
The sultan perceiving his constraint,
said to him in a mild way, ' ' Do you know,
son, for what reason I have sent for you ? "
The prince modestly replied, "God alone
knows the heart : I shall hear it from your
majesty with pleasure." "I sent for you,"
said the sultan, "to inform you I have an
intention of providing a proper marriage for
you : what do you tlunk of it ? "
Prince Camaralzamaii heard this with
great uneasiness ; it so surprised him, that
he paused and knew not what answer to
make. After a few moment.,' silence, he
replied, " Sir, I beseech you to pardon me,
if I sceiii surprised at the declaration you
have made to me. I did not expect such
proposals to one so young as I am ; and I
know not whether I could ever prevail on
myself to marry, 011 account of the trouble
incident to a married life, and the many
treacheries of women, which I have read of.
I may not be always of the same mind ; yet
I perceive it requires time to determine on
what your majesty requires of me."
Scheherazade would have gone on; but
finding the sultan beginning to rise, it being
day, she desisted, and reserved what she had
to say for the night following; when she
resumed her story, and said : —
The Two Hundred and Twelfthi Night.
Sir, prince Camaralzaman's answer extreme-
ly atUicted his father. He was not a little
grieved to see what an aversion he had to
marriage ; yet would not charge him with
disobedience, nor exert his paternal autho-
rity. He contented himself with telling him
he woxdd not force his inclinations, but give
him time to consider of the proposal, and
reflect, that a prince like him, destined to
govern a great kingdom, ought to take some
care to leave a successor ; and that, in giv-
ing himself that satisfaction, he communi-
cated it to his father, who would be glad to
see himself revive in his son and his issue.
Schahzaman said no more to the prince :
he admitted him into his council, and gave
him every reason to be satisfied. At the end
of the year, he took him aside, and said to
him, " My son, have you thoroughly con-
sidered of what I proposed to you about mar-
rying, last year ? Will you still refuse me
that pleasure I expect from your obedience,
and suffer me to die without giving me that
satisfaction ? "
0^
230
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The prince seemed less disconcerted than
before, and was not long answering his
father to this effect : "Sir, I have not ne-
glected to consider of your proposal ; but,
after the maturest reflection, find myself
more confirmed in my resolution to continue
as I am, without engaging in marriage. In
short, the infinite mischief I have read in
histories caused in the world by women, and
the continual mischiefs I still hear done by
them, are powerful motives for mo to have
nothing to do with them : so that I hope
your majesty will i)ardon me if I ])re8ume
to tell you it will be in vain to solicit me
any further about marriage." He stopped
here, and went out without staying to hear
what the sultan woidd answer.
Any monarch but Schahzaman would have
been very angry at such freedom in a son,
and would have made him repent it ; but he
loved him, and preferred gentle methods be-
fore he proceeded to compulsion. He com-
mimicated this new cause of discontent to
his prime minister. "I have followed your
advice," said he, "but Camaralzaman is fur-
ther than ever from complying with my
desires. He delivered his resolution in such
free terms that it required all my reason and
moderation to keep my temper. Fathers
who so earnestly desire children as I did
this son, are fools, who seek to deprive them-
selves of that rest which it is in their own
power to enjoy without control. Tell me,
I beseech you, how I shall reclaim a disposi-
tion so rebeUious to my will ? "
"Sir," answered the grand vizier, "pa-
tience brings many things about that before
seemed impracticable ; but it may be this
affair is of a nature not likely to suc-
ceed that way. Your majesty will have no
cause to reproach yourself for i>recipitation,
if you would give the prince another year to
consider of the matter. If in this interval he
return to his duty, you will have the great-
er satisfaction, as you will have employed
only paternal love to induce him ; and if he
still continue averse to your proposal when
this is expired, your majesty may propose it
to him in full council, that it is highly neces-
sary for the good of the state that he should
marry ; and it is not likely he wUl refuse to
comply with you before so grave an assem-
bly, which you honour with your presence."
The sultan, who so passionately desired to
see his son married, thought this long delay
an age ; however, though with much diffi-
culty, he yielded to his grand vizier's reasons,
which he could not disapprove.
Daylight, which began to appear, imposed
silence on Scheherazade : she renewed her
story the night following, and said to the
sultan Schariar : —
The Two Hundred and Thirteenth Night.
Sir, after the grand vizier was gone, sultan
Schahzaman went to the apartment of the
mother of prince Camaralzaman, to whom
he had often expressed his desire to see the
prince married. When he had told her, with
grief, how his son had refused to comply
with his wislies a second time, and the
indtdgence which, by the advice of his grand
vizier, he was inclined to shew him, he said,
" Madam, I know he has more confidence
in, and will hearken more to you than me ;
therefore I desire you would take an oppor-
ttmity to talk to liira seriously al)out it, and
convince him, that if he persists in his
obstinacy, he will oblige me to have recourse
to extremities which I should be sorry for,
and which may give him cause to re2)ent
having disobeyed me."
Fatima, for so was the lady called, ac-
quainted the prince the first time she saw
him, that she had been informed of his
second refusal to marry, and how much
chagrin he had occasioned his father on. that
account. "Madam," said the prince, "I
beseech you not to renew my grief upon
that head. I fear, in my present imeasiness,
something may escape me which may not
altogether correspond with the respect I owe
you." Fatima knew by this answer that
this was not a proper time to speak to him,
and therefore deferred what she had to say
to another opportunity.
Some considerable time after, Fatima
thought she had found a more favourable
ojiportunity, which gave her hopes of being
heard upon that subject. " Son," said she,
" I beg of you, if it be not disagreeable, to
tell me what reason j'ou have for your so
great aversion to marriage ? If it be only
the wickedness of some women, nothing can
be more unreasonable and weak. I will not
undertake the defence of those that ore bad;
there are a great number of them undoubt-
edly ; but itwoidd be the height of injustice
to condemn all the sex for their sakes.
Alas ! my son, you have in your books met
with many bad women, who have occasioned
great mischief, and I wiU not excuse them ;
but you do not consider how many mon-
archs, sultans, and other princes there have
been in the world, whose tyrannies, barbari-
ties, and cruelties astonished those that read
of them, as well as myself. Now, for one
wicked woman, you will meet with a thou-
sand tyrants and barbarians ; and what
torment do you think a good woman must
undergo, who is matched with any of these
wretches ? "
" Madam," replied Camartdzaman, " I
doubt not there are a great number of wise,
virtuous, good, affable, and well-behaved
women in the world : would to God they all
THE AMOURS OF CARMARALZAMAN.
231
resembled yon ! But what deters me is the
doubtful choice a man is obliged to make ;
and oftentimes one has not the liberty of
following his inclination.
*' Let us suppoBe, then, madam," continued
he, "that I had a mind to marry, as the
r ^tan my father so earnestly desires, v;hat
wife, think you, would he be likely to pro-
vide for me 1 Probably a princess, whom he
would demand of some neighbouring prince,
and who would think it an honour done him
to send him her. Handsome or ngly, she
mnst be taken ; nay, suppose no other
princess excelled her in beauty, who can be
certain that her temper would be good ; that
she woiild be atfable, complaisant, easy, ob-
liging, and the like? That her conversation
would generally turn on solid subjects, a.id
not on dress, fashions, ornaments, and a
thousand such fooleries which would disgust
any man of sense ? In a word, that she would
not be haughty, proud, arrogant, imperti-
nent, scornful, and waste an estate in frivo-
lous expenses, such as gay clothes, jewels,
toys, and foolish, mistaken magnificence.
"You see, madam," continued he, "by one
single ailicle, how many reasons a man may
have to be disgusted at marriage. Let this
princess be never so perfect, accomplished,
and irreproachable in her conduct, I have
yet a great many more leasons not to alter
my opinion and resolution."
" What, son," replied Fatima, " have you
then more reasons after those you have al-
ready alleged? I do not ioubtof being able
to answer them, and stojt your mouth with
a word." " You may proceed, madam," re-
plied the prince, ' ' and perhaps I may find a
reply to your answer."
" I mean, son," said Fatima, "that it is
easy for a prince who has had the misfortune
to marry such a wife as you describe to get
rid of her, and take care that she may not
ruin the state." " Ah, madam," rejdied the
prince, " but you do not consider what a
mortification it would be to a person of so
great quality, to be obliged to come to such
an extremity. Would it not have been more
for his honour and quiet, that he had never
run such a risk ?"
"But, son," said Fatim.T once more, " as
you take the case, I apprehend you have a
mind to be the last king of your race, who
have reigned so long and gloriously over the
isles of the children of Khaledan."
" Madam," replied the prince, "for my-
self I do not desire to survive the king, my
father ; and if I should die before him, it
would be no great matter of wonder, since
so many children have died before their pa-
rents. But it is always glorious to a race of
kings, that it should end with a prince wor-
,tby to be so, as I should endeavour to make
myself like my predecessors, and hke the
first of our race."
From that time Fatima had frequent con-
ferences with her son the prince on the same
subject ; and she omitted no opportunity or
argument to endeavour to root out his aver-
sion to tlie fair sex ; but he eluded all her
reasonings by such arguments as she could
not well answer, and continued in the same
mind.
The year expired, and, to the great regret
of the sultan, prince Camaralzaman gave
not the least proof of having changed his
sentiments, One day, therefore, when there
was a great council held, the prime vizier,
the other viziers, the principal officers of the
crown, and the generals of the army being
present, the sultan began to speak thus to
the prince. " My son, it is now a long while
since I have expressed to you my earnest
desire to see you married ; and 1 -.magined
you would have had more complaisance for
a father, who required nothing unreasonable
of you, than to oppose him so long. But
after so long resistance on your x)art, which
has almost worn out my patience, I have
thought fit to propose the same thing once
more to you in the presence of my council.
I> woidd have you consider that you ought
not to have refused this, not merely to
oblige a parent ; the well-being of my do-
minions requires it ; and the assembly here
present join with me to require it of you.
Declare yourself, then ; that, according to
your answer, I may take the i)roper mea-
sures."
The prince answered with so little reserve,
or rather with so much warmth, that the
sultan, enraged to see himself thwarted by
him in full council, cried out, " How, un-
natural son ! have you the insolence to talk
thus to your father and sultan ?" He ordered
the guards to take him away, and carry him
to an old tower that had been unoccupied
for a long while, where he was shut up, with
only a bed, a little furniture, some books,
and one slave to attend him.
Camaralzaman, thus deprived of liberty,
was nevertheless pleased he had the freedom
to converse with his books, and that made
him look on his confinement with indiffer-
ence. In the evening he bathed and said
his prayers ; and after ha^'ing read some
chapters in the Koran, with the same tran-
quillity of mind as if he had been in the sul-
tan's palace, he unilressed himself and went
to bed, leaving his lamp burning by him all
the while he slept.
In this tower was a weU, which served in
the daytime for a retreat to a certain fairy,
naimed Maimoune, daughter of Damriat,
king or head of a legion of genies. It was
about midnight when Maimoune sprang
lightly to the mouth of the well, to wander
about the world after her wonted custom,
where her curiosity led her. She was sur-
prised to see a light in prince Camaralza-
' )
i
232
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
man'a chamber. She entered, and without
■topping at tho slave who lay at the door,
approached tho bed, wliose nia),;uilicencu at-
tracted her ; but ahe waa still more surprised
at seeing anybody in it.
Prince Camarakamau had but half-covered
his face with the bi>d-clothes, which Mai-
mouno lifted up, and perceived tho finest
young man she had seen in all her rambles
through tho world. " What beauty, or ra-
ther what prodigy of beauty," said she with-
in herself, " must this youth a]>pear, when
the eyes, concealed by so well-formed eyo-
crimo can he
man of his high
lids, shall be open ! What
have committed, that a
rank can deserve to be treated thus rigour'
oualy ?" for sho had already heard his stoiy,
and could hardly believe it.
She could not forbear admiring the prince,
till, at length, having kissed him gently on
both cheeks, and in the middlo of the fore-
head, without waking him, she laid the bed-
clothes in tho order they were in before, and
took her flight into the air. As sho mounted
high to the middle region, sho heard a great
flapping of wings, whicli made her fly that
way ; and when ahe apiiroaclie J, she knew
it was a genie who made the noise, but it
was one of those that are rebellious against
God. As for Maimoune, she belonged to
that class whom the great Solomon compelled
to acknowledge him.
This genie, whose name was Danhasch,
and son of Schamhourasch, knew Maimoune,
and was seized with fear, being sensible how
much power she had over him by her sub-
mission to the Almighty. He would fain
have avoided her, but she was so near him,
he must either fight or yield. He therefore
broke sUence first.
"Brave Maimoime," said he, in the tone
of a suppliant, " swear to me in the name of
the great God that you will not hurt me,
and I swear also on my psvrt not to do you
any harm."
"Cursed genie," replied ]Maimbune, "what
hurt canst thou do me ? I fear thee not ;
but I will grant thee this favour — T will
Bwear not to do thee any harm. Tell me
iLan, wandering sjnrit, whence thou comest,
wha'u thou hast seen, and what thou hast
done this night." " Fair lady," answered
Danhasch, " you meet me in a good time to
hear something very wonderful."
The sultaness Scheherazade could go on
no further with her story, because day-light
began to appear; but the night following
she proceeded thus : —
The Two Hundred and Fourteenth Night.
THE Iir.STOKY OF THE PRINCESS OF CHINA.
Sir, said she to the sultan, Danhasch, the
genie rebellious against God, proceeded, and
said to Maimoune, "Since you desire it, I
will tell you. I come from the utmost limits
of China, which look on the last islands of
this hemisphere ; but, charming Maimoune,"
said Danhasch, who trembled with fear at
the sight of this fairy, so that he could hard-
ly speak, " promise me at least you will for-
give me, and let me go on after I have satis-
fied your demands."
" Go on, go on, cursed spirit," replied
.
P
I
THE PRINCESS OF CHINA.
233
n
Maimoune ; "go on, and fear nothing.
Dost thou think I am as perfidious an elf as
thyself, and capable of breaking the solemn
oath I have made? Be sure you tell no-
thing but what is true, ur I shall clip thy
winga, and treat thee as thou deservcst. "
Danhosch, a little lieartcued at the words
of Maimoune, said, "My dear lady, I will
tell you nothing but what is strictly true, if
you will, but have the goodness to hear mo.
Tho country of China, from whence 1 como,
is one of the largest and moat x>owerful
kingdoms of the earth, on which depend tho
utmost islands of this hemisphere, as I have
already told you. Tho king of this country
is at present Gaiour, who has an only daugh-
ter, the finest woman that ever was seen in
tho world, since it was a world. Neither
you nor I, nor your class nor mine, nor
*11 our respective genies, have expressions
strong enough, nor eloquence sufficient, to
draw any resemblance of this brilliant lady.
Her hair is brown, and of so great length,
that it reaches far below her feet, and so
thick, that it may bo fitly compared to one
of those fine clusters of grapes, whoso fniit
is so very large, when she has fastened it in
buckles on her head. Her forehead is as
smooth as the best polished mirror, and
admirably formed ; her eyes, level with her
head, are black, sparkling, and full of fire ;
her nose is neither too long nor too short,
and her mouth small, and of a vermillion
•colour; her teeth are like two rows of pearls,
and surpass the finest in whiteness. When
she moves her tongue to speak, she titters
a sweet and most agreeable voice, and ex-
presses herself in such terms, as sufficiently
indicate the vivacity of her wit. The whitest
alabaster is not fairer than her neck. In a
word, by this imperfect sketch, you may
guess there is no beauty likely to exceed her
in the world."
Any one that did not know the king,
father of this incomparable princess, would
be apt to imagine, from the great respect and
kindness he shews her, that he was en-
amoured with her. Never did a lover more
for the most beloved mistress than he has
been seen to do for her. The most violent
jealousy never suggested such measures as
his care to keep her from every one but the
man who is to marry her has put him upon
inventing and executing; and that the re-
treat which he has resolved to place her in
may not seem irksome to her, he has built
for her seven palaces, the most extraordinary
and magnificent that ever were known.
The first palace is of rock crystal ; the
second of brass ; the third of fine steel ; the
fourth of another sort of brass more valu-
able than the foregoing, and than steel ; the
fifth of touchstone ; the sixth of silver ; and
the seventh of massy gold. He has furnish-
.ed these palaces most sumptuously, each in
a manner proportionable to tho materials
that they are built of. Ho has filled the
gardens with parterres of grass and Uowers,
intermixed with pieces of water, water-
works, jets-d'eau, canals, cascades, and
several great groves of trees, where the eye
is lost in i)rosi)ect, and where tho sun never
enters, and all ditfercntly arranged. King
Gaiour, in a word, has shewn that bis pater-
nal love has led him to spare no expense.
Upon tho fame of this incom])arablo prin-
cess's beauty, tho most powerful neighbour-
ing kings sent ambassadors to request her in
marriage. The king of China received them
all in tho same obliging manner ; but as he
resolved not to marry his daughter without
her consent, and she did not liko any of the
parties, the ambassadors were forced to re-
turn as they came, as to tho subject of their
embassy ; they were perfectly satisfied with
the great honours and civilities they had
received.
"Sir," said tho princess to tho king her
father, "you have an inclination to see me
married, and think td oblige me by it ; but
where shall I find such stately palaces and
delicious gardens as I have with your ma-
jesty? Through your good pleasure, 1 am
under no constraint, and have the same
honours shewn to me as are pai 1 to yourself.
These aiO advantages I cannot expect to
find anywhere else, to whatsoever husband
I should give my hand : men love ever to
be masters, and I do not core to be com-
manded.
After divers more embassies on the same
occasion, there came one from the most rich
and potent king of all that had hitherto sent.
This prince the king of China recommended
to his daughter as a husband, urging many
powerful arguments to shew how much it
would be to her advantiige to accept him ;
but she entreated her father to dis2)enso with
her accepting him for tho same reasons as
before. He pressed her ; but, instead of
complying, she lost all the respect due to
the king her father : " Sir," said she, in
anger, " talk to me no more of this or any
other match, imless you woidd have me
plunge this poinard 'rx my bosom, to deliver
myself from your -i' ■<■ •tunities."
The king, greatlj .;,i:aged, said, "Daugh-
ter, you are mad, and I must treat you as
such." In a word, he had her shut up in a
single apartment of one of his palaces, and
allowed her only ten old women to wait
upon her, and keep her company, the chief
whereof hod been her nurse. And that the
kings, his neighbours, who had sent embas-
sies to him on this account, might not think
auy more of her, he despatched envoys to
them severally, to let them know how averse
his daughter was to marriage; and as he
did not doubt but she was retdly mad, he
charged them to make known in every
■' ill
t
liiii
•k
J;
i:
234
T//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
court, that if thero wvro any phyaiciau that
w<)\ild undertake to come uud uure liur, ho
should, if he surtcecded, have her for hia
pain I.
"Fair Maiinounc," continued DanhoHch,
"all that I have tuld you ia true ; anil I
have not failed to go every day regularly to
contemplate thiti incomparable lieaiity, to
whom I would be very sorry to do the least
harm, notwithstanding my natural inclina-
tion to mischief. (Jomo and scu her, i con-
jure you ; it would bo well worth your
while, when you find by yoiir own view I
asi !iu liar. 1 am ready to wait on you as a
guide, uL>d you have only to command mo.
I doubt not but you would tliink yourvulf
obliged to me for the sight uf a princess
unequalled for beauty.
Instead of answering Danhasch, Mai-
mouno burst out into violent laughter, which
lasted for some time ; and Danhasch, not
knowing what might be the occasion of
it, was astonished beyond measure. When
she had laughed her lill, she cried, " Good,
good, very good ! — you would have me then
believe all you have told me \ I thought you
designed to tell rao something surprising and
extraordinary, and you havo been talking
all this while of a mad woman. Fie, tie !
what would you say, cursed genie, if you
had seen the beautiful prince that I am just
come from seeing, and whom I love as ho
deserves ? I am confident you M'ould soon
give up the contest, and not pretend to com-
pare your i;hoice with mine."
"Agioeable Maiinoune," replied Dan-
hasch, " may I presume to ask you who is
this prince you speak of ? " " Know,"
answered Maimoune, "the same thing has
hap2)ened to him as to your princess. The
kiug his father would have married him
against his wiU ; but after much importu-
nity, he frankly told him he would have
nothing to do with a wife. For this reason
he is at this moment imprisoned in an old
tower, where I make my residence, and
whence I came but just now from admiring
him."
" I will not absolutely contradict you,"
replied Danhasch; "but, my pretty lady,
you must give me leave to be of opinion,
till I have seen your prince, that no mortal
upon earth can come up to the beauty of
my princess." "Hold thy tongue, cursed
sprite," replied Maimoune. "1 tell the once
more that can never be." " I v/Ul not con-
tend with you," said Danhasch; "but the
way to be convinced whether what I say is
true or false, is to accept of the proposal I
made you to go and see my princess, and
after that I will go with you to your prince.
" There is no need I should take so much
pains," replied Maimoune ; >' there is another
way to satisfy us both, and that is, for you
to bring your princess, and place her at my
prince's bed-side ; by this means it will be
easy for us to compare thum together, and
determine the dispute.
l)anhaach consfntcd to what Maimoune
had proposed, and determined to set out
immediately for C^hina upon that errand.
But Maimoune drew him aside, and told
him she must tirst show him the tower whi-
ther hu was to bring the princess. Tb
flew together to the tower ; and when M
moune had shewn it to Danhasch, she crieu,
"Go fetch your princess, and do it ((uickly,
for you shall find me here : but hear mo ; I
mean you should at least pay the wager, if
my i)rince is more beautiful than your prin-
cess, and I will pay it if your princess is
moro beautiful than my prince."
The day beginning to appear, Schehera-
zade was forced to leave otf ; but she re-
sumed her discourse the night following, and
said to the sultan of the Indies : —
The Two Hundred and Fifteenth Night,
Sir, Danhasch left Maimoune, and flew to-
wards China, whence he soon returned with
incredible 'jpeed, bringin;^ the fair princess
along with him asleep. Maimoune received
him, and introduced him into the chauib
of prince Cimorolzaman, where they plot
the princess by the prince's side.
When the prince and princess were thus
laid together, thero arose a great contest
between the genie and the fairy about the
preference of their beauty. They were some
time admiring aud comparing them without
speaking. At length Danhasch broke silence,
and said to Maimoune, "You see, and I
have already told you, my princess was hand-
somer than your prince ; now, I hope, you
are convinced of it. "
" How ! convinced of it ! " replied Mai-
moune ; "I am not convinced of it, and you
must bo blind if you cannot see that my
prince has the better in the comparison.
The princess is fair, 1 do not deny ; but if
you compare them together without preju-
dice, you will quickly see the ditt'erence."
" Though I should compare them never so
often," said Danhasch, "I could never change
my opinion. I saw at first sight what I see
now, and time will not make me see differ-
ently; however, this shall not hinder my
yielding to you, charming Maimoune, if you
desire it. I would have you yield to me as a
favour ! " "I scorn it," said Maimoune : " T
would not receive a favour at the hand of
such a wicked genie. I refer the matter to
an umpire, and if you will not consent, I
shall win by your refusal."
Danhasch, who was ready to have shewn
a difierent kind of complaisance for Mai-
moune, no sooner gave his consent, but
Maimoune stamping with her foot, the earth
THE PRINCESS OF CHINA.
235
f»
opened, and out cnnio a hidt-oua, hum])-
))a(:ki'(l, H(|iiintiri(;, ami lainu ^euit;, with six
horim on hiH licud, and ulaWH on liiH haniU
and feet. A3 Hoon aH lie wok coino out, and
the eartU hod cloHfd up, he, perceiving Mai-
tnoune, cost liiniHclf at her foot ; and thun,
riain^ up on one kncv, otiki'tl lior what hIiu
would {iluaHo to havu with him.
"l{iiie, Caaehciuifh," said Maimouno ; "1
lirought you hitiicr to duturmini! aditl'uruncu
between niu and thiH cureod Dauhoach.
Look on that bed, and tell nie, without ])ar-
tiality.'which i» tlui handaunu^Nt of those two
that lie there aalee]*, the young man or the
young lady."
C'aHehcAMch looked on the princo and
]irincegs with great attention, admiration,
and Hurpriao ; and after ho had considered
them a good while, without being able to
determine which waa the handsomer, he
turned to Maimounc, and said, '* Madam, I
must confess I should deceive you, and bt;-
tray myself, if ] pretended to soy one was a
whit handsomer than the other : the more I
examine them, the more it Hecms to mu
each ]>os8essc8, in a sovereign degree, the
beauty which is betwixt them ; and one has
not the least defect by which to say it yields
to the other. But if there be any dilTerence,
the best way to determine it is, to awaken
them one after the other, and to agree that
that ]ierson who shall express most love for
the other by ardour, eagerness, and passion,
shall be deemed to havu less beauty in some
respect."
This proposal of Coschcasch's pleased
equally both Maimotme and Dauhasch.
Maimoune then changed herself into a ilea,
and, leaping on the prince's neck, stung
him so smartly that he awoke, and put up
his band to the place ; but Maimounc
skipped away, and resumed her pristine
form, which, like those of the two genies,
was invisible, the better to observe what he
woidd do.
In drawing back Iiis hand, the jtrince
chanced to let it fall on that of the princess
)f China. He oi)ened his eyes, and was ex-
ceedingly surprised to find a lady lying by him ,
a lady of the greatest beauty. He raised
his head and leaned on bis elbow, the better
to consider her. Her blooming youth and in-
comparable beauty fired him in a moment
with a tlame of which he had never yet been
sensible, and from which he had hitherto
guarded himself with the greatest attention.
Love seized on his heart in the most lively
manner, insomuch that he coidd not help
crying out, "What beauty ! what charms !
my heart ! my soul ! " In saying which, he
kissed her forehead, both her cheeks, and
her mouth, with so little caution, that she
haA certainly been awaked by it, liad not
she slept sounder than ordinary, through the
enchantment of Danhasch.
" How 1 my jiri'tty lady," said the prinoo,
"(h)y(Ut notawakc attlicHt!teHtimiiiii>'Ho(h>ve
given you by prince Caniarid/amau ? Who-
Hoover you are, lie is not unworthy of your
atlectioii." }Iii wait going to awake her at
that iiiatant, but siidileiily refrained himself.
" I H not this Hhc, " said he, " that the sultan my
father would have liiul iiic marry? He was
in the wrong not to let me see her sooner;
I should not have oU'endcd him by my dis-
obedience and paHsionate language to him
in [lublic, and he would have sitared liim-
Hclf the confiisioii which I have occasioned
him."
The prince began to repent nincorely of
the fault he had eoinmitted, and was once
more U])on the point of awaking the ]>nnce8s
of China. "It may be," said he, recollecting
himself, "the sultan my father has a mind to
surprise me, and has sent this young lady to
try if I hod really that aversion to marriage
which I ]>retended. Who knows but he has
brought her himself, and is hid behind the
hangings, to discover himself, and make mo
aslianied of my dissimulation ? This second
fnilt woidd be greater tliim the first. At
I events, I will content myself with this
ring, as a remembrance of her."
He then gently drew olF a fine ring which
the princess had on her finger, and imme-
diately ])ut on one of his own in the place.
After this he turned his back, and was nut
long before he fell into a more profound
slefji than before, through the enchantment
of the genies.
As soon as ])rinco Camaralzaman was in a
sound sleep, IJauhasch transformed himself
into a flee in his turn, and went and bit the
princess so rudely on the lip, that she forth-
with awoke, started up, and opening her
eyes, was not a little surprised to see a man
lying by her side. From 8urpri.se she pro-
ceeded to admiration, and from admiration
to a transport of joy, at seeing so beautiful
and lovely a young man.
"What !"cried 8he,"i8 it you the king my
father has designed me for a husljand ? I
am indeed most unfortimate for not knowing
it before, for then I should not have made
him so angry with me, nor been so long
dejirived of a husbaud, whom I cannot for-
bear loving with all my heart. Wake then,
wake!" proceeded she, "for it does not be-
come a husbaud to sleeo so soumllv the first
night of his nuptiala."
.So saying, she took ])rince Caniaralzaman
by the arm, and shook him so violently,
that he would have awaked, had not Mai-
moune increased his sleej), and augmented
his enchantment. She shook him several
times, and finding that he did not awake,
she cried, "What is come to thee? what
jealous rival, envying thy happiness and
mine, has had recourse to magic to throw
thee into this unsurmouutable drowsiness
1 i
if*-''!'-
:
If'
If ■ ;'i
■r:
l!
r
236
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
■when thou shouldst be most awake ? " Then
she seized his hand, and kissing it eagerly,
perceived he had a ring upon his linger
which greatly resembled herw, and which
she was convinced was lior own, by seeing
she had another on her ficj;cr instead of it.
She could not comprehend how this ex-
change could be made ; yet she did not doubt
but it was a certain token of their marriage.
Tired with her fruitless endeavours to awake
the ])rince, and assured, as she thought, he
could not escape her; "Since, "said iihe, "I
tind it is not in my power to awake thee, I
will no longer try to disturb tliy repose, but
wait our next meeting." After having given
him a hearty kiss on the cheek, she lay
down again and soon fell asleep.
When Mainiounc saw that she could now
speak without fear of awaking the princess,
she cried to Danhasch, "Ah, cursed genie,
dost thou not now sec what thy contest is
come to ? Art thou not now convinced how
much thy princess is 'uferior to my prince
in charms ? But I pardon thee thy wager.
Another time believe me when I assert any-
thing." Then turning to Caschcasch, "As for
you," said she, "I thank you for yourtrouble :
take the princess, in conjunction with Dan-
hasch, and convey her back again to her bed,
from whence he has taken her." Danhasch
and Caschcasch did as they wore command-
ed, and Maimoune retired to her well.
The day beginnhig to appear, imposed
silence on the siUtauess .Scheherazade. The
sultan got up, aud next night she continued
her story as follows : —
The Two Hundred and Sixteenth Night.
Sir, said the sultaness, prince Camaralza-
man waking next morning, looked to see if
the lady whom he had seen the night before
were by him. When he found she was gone,
he cried out, "I thought indeed this was a
trick the king my father designed to jday
me. I am glad 1 was aware of it." Then
he waked the slave, who was still asleep,
aud bid him come and dress him, without
saying anything to him. The slave brought
a basin and water, and after he had washed
and said his prayers, he took a book aud
read some time.
After those usual exercises, he called the
slave, and said to him, "Come hither, and
look you do not tell me a lie. How came
the lady hither who lay Avith me to-night,
and who brought her?"
" My lord," answered the slave with great
.astoniajmcnt, "I know not what lady your
highness speaks of." "1 speak," said the
prince, "of her that came, or rather that
was brought hither, and lay with me to-
night." "My lord," rei)lied the slave, "j
ewear I know of no such lady ; and how
should she come in without my knowledge,
since I lay at the door? "
"You are a lying rascal," replied the
prince, " ami in the plot to vex and provoke
me the more." So saying, he gave him a
box on the ear, which knocked him down ;
and after having stamped upon him for some
time, at length tying the well-rope under
his arms, he plunged him several times into
the water. " I will drown thee," cried ho,
"if thoii dost not tell me speedily who this
lady was, and who brought her."
The slave, perplexed and half de!id, said
within himself, the prince must have lost
his senses through grief, and I shall not
escape if I do not tell him a lie. "My lord,"
then, cried he, in a suppliant tone, " 1 be-
seech your highness to spare my life, and I
will tell you the truth."
The prince drew the slave up, and pressed
him to tell liim. As soon as he was out of
the well, "My lord," said he, trembling,
"your highness must perceive it is impossible
for me to satisfy you in my present condi-
tion ; I beg you to give me leave to go and
change my clothes first." "I permit you,
but do it quickly," said the prince ; "and
be sure you conceal nothing."
The slave went out, and, having locked
the door upon the prince, ran to the palace
just as he was. The king was at that time
in discourse with his prime vizier, to whom
he had just related the grief in which he had
passed the night on accoxmt of his son's
di.sobedience and opposition to his wiU.
The minister endeavoured to comfort his
master, by telling him, the prince himself
had given him opportunity to reduce him.
" Sir," said he, " your majesty need not re-
pent of having treated your son after this
sort. Have but patience to let him continue
awhile in prison, and assure yourself his heat
of youth will abate, and he will submit to
all you require."
The grand vizier had just made an end o£
speaking when the slave came in, and cast
himself at king Schahzaman's feet. " My
lord," said he, "I am very sorry to be the
messenger of ill news to your majesty, which
I know must create you fresh affliction.
The prince is distracted, my lord ; what he
talks of a lady having lain with him all
night, and his treatment to me, as you may
see, too plainly proves it." Then he pro-
ceeded to tell all the particulars of what
prince Camaralzaman had said to him, and
the violence with which he had been treated,
in terms that made his story credible.
Tlie king, who did not expect to hear
anything of this afilictive kind, said to the
lirinie minister, "This is a very melancholy
turn, very different from the hopes you gave
me just now : go immediately, without loss
of time, see what is the matter, and come
aud give me an account."
riANHASCH CONVEYINO THE PRINCESS FROM CHIH A— Poge 236.
sases
THE PRINCESS OF CHINA,
237
The grand vizier obeyed instantly ; and
coming into the prince's chamber, he found
him sitting on his bed in good temper,
and with a book in his hand, which he was
reading.
After muttial salutations, the vizier sat
down by him, and said, "My lord, I wish
that a slave of yours was punished for
coming to frighten the king your father by
news that ho has brought him."
" What news is that," replied the prince,
" that could give my father so great alarm ?
I have much greater cause to complain of
that slave."
"Prince," answered the vizier, "God
forbid that the news which he has told your
father concerning you should be true ; in-
deed, I myself find it to be false, by the
good temper I observe you in, and which I
pray God to continue." "It may be," re-
plied the prince, " he did not make himself
well imderstood ; but since you are come,
who ought to know something of the matter,
give me leave to ask you, who was that lady
that lay with me last night ? "
The grand vizier was thunderstruck at
this question : however, he recovered him-
self and said, " My lord, be not surprised at
my astonishment at your question. Is it
possible, that a lady, or any other person in
the world, should penetrate by night into
this place, without entering at the door,
and walking over the body of your slave ?
I beseech you recollect yourself, and you
will find it is only a dream which has made
this impression on you."
" I give no ear to what you say," said the
prince, raising his voice ; "I must know of
you absolutely what is become of the lady ;
and if you scruple to obey me, I am in a
place where I shall soon be able to force you
to obey me."
At these stern words the grand vizier
began to bo under greater confusion than
before, and was thinking how to extricate
himself. He endeavoured to pacify the
prince by good words, and begged of him,
in the most humble and guarded manner, to
tell him if he had seen this lady.
"Yes, yes," answered the prince, "I have
seen her, and am very well satisfied you sent
her to tempt me. She played the part you
had given her admirably well, for I could
not get a word out of her. She pretended
to be asleep, but I was no sooner got into a
slumber, than she arose and left me. You
know all this : for I doubt not she has been
to make her report to you."
"My lord," replied the vizier, "I swear
to you nothing of this has been acted, which
you seem to reproach me with ; neither
your father nor I have sent this lady you
speak of ; permit me therefore to remind
your highness once more, you have only
seen this lady in a dream."
" Do you come to affront and contradict
me," said the prince, in a great rage, " and
to tell me to my face, that what I have told
you is a dream ? " At the same time he
took him by the beard, and loaded him with
blows, as long as he could stand.
The poor grand vizier endured with re-
spectful patience all the violence of his
lord's indignation, and coidd not help saying
within himself, "Now am I in as bad a
condition as the slave, and shall think my-
self happy, if I can, like him, escape from
further danger." In the midst of repeated
blows he cried out for a moment's audience,
which the prince, after he had nearly tired
himself with beating him, consented to give
him.
"I own, my prince," said the grand
vizier, dissembling, " there is something in
what your highness suspects ; but you cannot
be ignorant of the necessity a minister is
under to obey his royal master's orders : yet,
if you will but be pleased to set me at liberty,
I wUl go and tell him anything on your part
that you shall thhik fit to command me."
"Go then," said the prince, "and tell him
from me, if he pleases, I will marry the lady
he sent me, or rather that was brought to
me last night. Do this quickly, and bring
me a speedy answer." The grand vizier
made a profoimd reverence, and went away,
not thinking himself altogether safe till he
had got out of the tower, and shut the door
upon the prince.
He came and presented himself before
in
A
238
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
king Schahzaman, with a countenance that
sufficiently shewed he had been ill used, and
which the king could not behold without
concern. "Well," aaid the king, "in what
condition did you find my son ? " " Sir,"
answered the vizier, "what the slave reported
to your majesty is but too true." He then
began to relate his interview with Camaral-
zaman, how ho flew into a passion upon
his endeavouring to persuade him it was
impossible the lady he spoke of should have
got in to him ; the ill treatment he had
received from him ; how he had used him,
and by what means he made his escape.
Schahzaman, so much the more concerned
as he loved the prince with excessive tender-
ness, resolved to find out the truth of this
matter, and therefore proposed himself to
go and see his son in the tower, accompa-
nied with the grand vizier.
Here the sultaness stopped, perceiving
the day began to appear ; yet went on the
night following with the same story, telling
the sultan : —
The Two Hundred and Seventeenth Night.
Sir, prince Camaralzamcn received the king
his father, in the tower where he was con-
fined, with great respect. The king sat
down, and after he had made his son the
prince sit down by him, put several ques-
tions to him, which he answered with great
good sense. The king every now and then
looked on the grand viziur,. as intimating he
did not find his son had lost his wits, but
rather thought he had lost his.
The king at length spoke of the lady to
the prince. "My son," said he, " I desire
you to tell me what lady it was that lay with
you the other night, as I have been told."
"Sir," answered Camaralzaman, "I beg
your majesty not to give me more vexation
on that head, but rather to oblige me by
letting me have her in marriage : whatever
aversion 1 may hitherto have discovered for
women, this young lady has charmed me to
that degree, that I cannot help confessing
my weakness. I am ready to receive her at
your majesty's hands, with the deepest gra-
titude."
King Schahzaman was surprised at this an-
swer of the prince, so remote, as he thought,
from the good sense he had shewn before.
" My son," said he to him, " you fill me with
the greatest astonishment imaginable by
what you now say to me ; 1 swear to you
by my crown, that is to devolve upon you
after me, I know not one word of the lady
you mention ; and if any such has come to
you, it was altogether without my know-
ledge or privity. But how could she get
into this tower without my consent ? For
whatever my grand vizier told you, it was
only to appease you ; it must therefore be a
mere dream ; and I beg of you not to believe
otherwise, but recover your senses."
" Sir," replied the prince, "I should be for
ever unworthy of your majesty's favour, if
I did not give entire credit to what you are
pleased to say ; but I humbly beseech you
at the same time to give a patient hearing
to what I shall say to you, and then to judge
whether what I have the honour to tell you
be a dream or not."
Then prince Camaralzaman related to the
king his father after what manner he had
been awaked, exaggerating the beauty and
charms of the lady he found by his side, the
instantaneous love he conceived for her, and
the pains he took to awaken her without
effect. He did not conceal what had obliged
him to awake and fall asleep again, after he
had made the exchange of his ring with that
of the lady : shewing the king the ring, he
added, " Sir, your majesty must needs know
my ring very well, you have seen it so often.
After this I hope you will be convinced that
I have not lost my senses, as you have been
almost made to believe."
King Schahzaman was so perfectly con-
vinced of the truth of what his son had been
telling Inm, that he had not a word to say,
remaining astonished for some time, and not
being able to utter a syllable.
The prince took advantage of this oppor-
tunity, and said further, " Sir, the passion I
have conceived for this charming lady, whose
precious image I bear continually in my mind,
is so very great that I cannot resist it. I
entreat you therefore to have compassion on
me, and procure me the happiness of enjoy-
ing her."
"Son," replied the king, "after what I
have just heard, and whaii I see by the ring
on your finger, I cannot doubt but that your
paaaion is real, and that you have seen this
lady, who is the object of it. Would to
God I knew who she was, and I would make
you happy from this moment, and I should
be the happiest father in the world ! But
what means have I to come at the know-
ledge of her ? Where shall I find her, and
how seek for her ? How could she get in
here, and by what conveyance, without my
consent ? Why did she come to sleep with
you only to shew you her beauty, to kindle
a flame of love while she slept, and then
leave you while you were in a slumber?
These things, I must confess, are past my
finding out ; and if Heaven is not so favour-
able to us as to give some light into them,
we, I fear, must both go down to the grave
together." So saying, and taking the prince
by the hand, "Come, then, my son, let U8
go and afflict ourselves in conjunction ; you
with hopeless love, and I with seeing yon
grieve, and not being able to remedy your
affliction."
THE PRINCESS OF CHINA.
239
■
King Scbahzaman then led his son out of
the tower, and conveyed him to the palace,
where he was no sooner arrived, than in de-
spair for loving an unknown object he fell
sick, and took to his bed ; the king shut
himself up with him, and spent many a day
in weeping, without attending to the aifairs
of his kingdom.
The prime minister, who was the only
person that had admittance to him, came
one day and told him, the whole court, and
even the people, began to murmur at not
seeing him, and that he did not administer
justice every day as he was wont to do ;
adding, he knew not what disorder it might
occasion. "I humbly beg your majesty,
therefore," proceeded he, " to pay some at-
tention ; I am sensible your majesty's com-
pany is a great comfort to
the prince, and that his com-
pany is a mutual relief to
your grief ; but then you
must not run the risk of
letting all be lost. Permit
me to propose to your ma-
jesty, to remove with the
prince to the castle in a little
island near the port, where
you may give audience to
your subjects twice a week
only ; dui-iug these absences
the prince will be so agre >•
ably amused with the beauty,
prospect, and good air of the
place, that he will bear them
with the less uueasiuess.
King Schahzaman approv-
ed this proposal; and after
the castle, where he had not
resided for some time, had
been furnished, he removed
thitherwitli the prince ; and,
excepting the time that he gave audience, as
aforesaid, he never left him, but passed all
his time on his son's pillow, endeavouring
to comfort him in sharing his grief.
While matters passed thus in the capital
of king Schahzaman, the two genies, Dan-
hasch and Caschcasch, had carried the
princess of China back to the palace where
the king had shut iier up, and laid her in
her bed as before.
When she awaked next morning, and
found by looking to the right and to the left,
that prince Camaralzaman was not by her,
she cried out with such a voice to her
women as soon brought them to her bed.
Her nurse, who presented herself first, de-
sired to be informed what she would please
to have, and if anything disagreeable had
happened to her.
*' Tell me," said the princess, " what is be-
come of the young man that has passed the
night with me, and whom I lovo with all my
■oul ! " " Madam," replied the nurse, <* we
cannot understand your highness, unless you
will be pleased to explain yourself,"
" A young man, the best made and most
amiable," said the princess, " slept with me
last night, whom, with all my caresses. T
could not awake ; I ask you where he is ?"
"Madam," answered the nurse, "your
highness asks us these questions to jest with
us. I beseech you to rise." " I am in ear-
nest," said the princess, " and I must know
where this young man is." " Madam," in-
sisted the nurse, " you were alone when you
went to bed last night ; and how any man
could come to you without our knowledge,
we cannot imagine, for wo all lay about the
door of your chamber, which was locked,
and I had the key in my pocket."
At this the princess loss all patience, and
catching her nurse by the
hair of her head, and giving
her two or three sound cuffs,
she cried, " You shall tell
me where this young man is,
old sorceress, or I will beat
your brains out."
The nurse struggled to get
from her, and at last suc-
ceeded ; when she went im-
mediately, with tears in her
eyes, and her face all bloody,
to complain to the queen her
mother, who was not a little
surprised to see her in this
onndition, and asked who had
done this.
" Madam," began the
nurse, "you see how the
princess has treated me ; she
had certainly murdered me,
if I had not had the good
fortime to escape out of her
hands. She then began to
tell what had been the cause of all that
violent ppssion in the princess. The queen
was sur^irised to hear it, and coidd not guess
how she came to be so infatuated, as to
take that for a reality which coidd bo n<?
other than a dream. " Your majesty must
conclude from all this, madam," continued
the nurse, " that the princess is out of her
senses. You will think so yourself, if you
will go and see her."
The queen's affection for the princess was
too deeply interested in what she heard ; she
ordered the nurse to follow her ; and they
went together to the princess's palace that
very moment.
The BultauesB Scheherazade would have
gone on, but perceiving daylight appear,
she deferred what she had to say further
till the next night, when she said to the
sultan : —
T
li 3i
240
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The Two Hundred and Eighteenth Night.
Sir, the queen of China sat down by her
daughter's bed-side, immediately upon her
arrival in her apartment ; and after she had
informed herself about her health, began to
aak her what had made her so angry with
her nurse, as to treat her in the manner she
had done. "Daughter," said she, " this is
not right; and a great princess like you
should not suffer herself to be so transported
with passion."
" Madam," replied the princess, •* I plain-
ly perceive your majesty is come to mock
me ; but I declare I will never let you rest
till you consent I shall marry the young
man that lay with me last night. You must
know where he is, and therefore I beg of your
majesty to let him come in to me again."
"Daughter," answered the queen, "you
surprise me ; I know nothing of what you
talk of." Then the princess lost aU respect
for the queen; " Madam," replied she, "the
king my father and you have persecuted me
about marrying when I had no inclination ;
I now have an inclination, and I will have
this young man I told you of, for my hus-
band, or I will kill myself."
Here the queen endeavoured to calm the
princess by soft words. "Daughter," said
she, " you know well you are alone in this
apai tment ; how then could any man come
to you 1 " But instead of hearing her, the
princess interrupted her, and flew out into
such extravagancies as obliged the queen to
leave her, and retire in great affliction, to
inform the king of all that had passed.
The king hearing it, had a mind likewise
to be satisfied in person ; and coming to his
daughter's apartment, asked her if what he
had just heard was true. " Sir," replied
the princess, " let us talk no more of that ;
I only beseech your majesty to grant me the
favour that I may marry the young man I
lay with last night."
" What ! daughter," said the king, "has
any one lain with y ou last night ? " " How,
sir," replied the princess, without giving him
time to go on, " do you ask me if any one
lay with me last night? your majesty knows
that but too well. He was the finest and
best made youth the sun ever saw. T de-
sire him of you for my husband ; I entreat
you do not refuse me. But th.tt your ma-
jesty may not longer doubt whether I have
seen this young man, whether he has lain
me, whether I have caressed him, or whe-
ther I did not my utmost to awake him,
without succeeding, see, if you please, this
ring." She then reached forth her hand,
and shewed the king a man's ring on her
finger. The king did not know what to
make of all this; but as he had confined her
as mad, he began to think her more mad
than ever : therefore, without saying any-
thing more to her, for fear she might do vio-
lencc to herself or somebody about her, he
had her chained, and shut up more close
than ever, allowing her only the nurse to
wait on her, with a good guard at the door.
The king, exceedingly concerned at this
indisposition of his daughter, sought all pos-
sible means to get her cured. He assembled
his council, and after having acquainted
them with the condition she was in, " If
any of you," said ho, " is capable of under-
taking her cure, and succeeds, I will give
her to him in marriage, and make lum heir
to my dominions and crown after my de-
cease."
The desire of enjoying a handsome young
princess, and the hopes of one day govern-
ing so powerful a kingdom as that of China,
had a strange effect on an emir, already ad-
vanced in age, who was present at this coun-
cil. As he was well skilled in magic, he of-
fered the king to cure his daughter, and
flattered himself with success. " I consent,"
said the king ; "but I forgot to tell you one
thing, and that is, that if you do not suc-
ceed, you shall lose your head. It would
not be reasonable you should have so great
a reward, and yet run no risk on your part :
and what I say to you," continued the king,
"I say to all others that shall come after
you, that they may consider beforehand
what they undertake."
The emir, however, accepted the condi-
tion, and the king conducted him where the
princess was. She covered her face as soon
as she saw them come in, and cried out,
"Your majesty surprises me, in bringing
with you a man I do not know, and by whom
my religion forbids me to be seen. " " Daugh-
ter," replied the king, "you need not be
scandalised, it is only one of my emirs who
is come to demand you of me in marriage."
" It is not, I perceive, the person that you
have already given me, and whose faith is
plighted by the ring I wear," replied the
princess ; "be not ofit'ended that I will never
marry any other."
The emir expected the princess woidd
have said or done some extravagant thing,
and was not a little disappointed when he
heard her talk so calmly and rationally ; for
then he knew her disease was nothing but a
violent and deep-rooted love-passion. He
dared not explain himself to the king, who
woiUd not have sufifered the princess to give
her hand to any other than the person to
whom he wished to give her with hi« own
hand. He therefore threw himself at his
majesty's feet, and said, "After what I
have heard and observed, sir, it will be to
. no purpose for me to think of curing the
princess, since I have no remedies proper
for her malady ; for which reason I humbly
submit my life to your majesty's pleasure."
1
.tl
MARZA VAN.
241
The king, enraged at his incapacity, and the
trouble he had given him, caused him im-
mediately to be beheaded.
Home days after, his majesty, unwilling
10 have it said that he had neglected his
daughter's cure, put forth a proclamation in
his capital, importing, that if there were
any physician, astrologer, or magician, who
would undertake to restore the princess to
her senses, he need only come, and he should
be employed, on condition of losing his head
if he miscarried. He had the same published
in the other principal cities and towns of his
dominions, and in the courts of the princes
his neighbours.
The first that presented himself was an
astrologer and magician, whom the king
caused to be conducted to the princess's pri-
son by an eunuch. The astrologer drew
forth, out of a bag he carried under his arm,
an astrolabe, a small sphere, a chafing-dish,
several sorts of drugs proper for fumigations,
a brass pot, with many other things, and de-
sired he might have a fire lighted.
The ijrincess demanded what all these
preparations were for. " Madame," an-
swered the eunuch, " they are to exercise the
evil spirit that possesses you, to shut him up
in this pot, and throw him into the sea."
" Fool'ih astrologer," replied the princess,
I have uo occasion for any of your prepara-
tions, lut am in my perfect senses, and you
alone are mad. If your art can bring him
I love to me, I shall be obliged to you;
otherwise you may go about your business,
for I have nothing to do with you. " Ma-
dam," said the astrologer, "if your case be
so, I shall desist from all endeavours, be-
lieving the king your father can only remedy
your disaster in this particular." So putting
up his trinkets again, he marched away very
much concerned that he had so easily under-
taken to cure an imaginary malady.
Coming to give an account to the king of
what he bad done, he would not wait for the
eunuch to speak for him, but begivn thus
boldly : " According to what your majesty
published in your proclamation, and what
you were pleased to confirm to me yourself,
I thought the princess was distracted, and
depended on being able to recover her by
the secrets I have long been acquainted
with ; but I soon found she had no other
disease than that of love, over which my art
had no power; your majesty alone is the
physician can cure her, by giving her in mar-
riage the person whom she desires."
The king was very much enraged at the
astrologer, and had his head cut off upon
the spot. Not to fatigue your majesty with
repetitions, proceeded Scheherazade to the
sidtan, I will acquaint you in a few words,
that a hundred and fifty astrologers, physi-
cians, and magicians, came upon this ac
count, who all underwent the same fate;
and their heads were set upon poles on every
gate of the city.
THE STORY OP MARZA VAN, WITH THE SEQUEL
OF THAT OF THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN.
The princess of China's nurse, proceeded
the sultaness, had a son whose name was
Marzavan, and who had been foster-brother
to the princess, and brought up with her.
Their friendship was so great during their
childhood, and all the time they had been
together, that they treated each other as
brother and sister, as they grew up, even
some time after their separation.
This Marzavan, among other studies, had
from his youth been much addicted to judi-
cial astrology, geomancy, and the like secret
arts, wherein he became exceeding skilful.
Not content with what he had learnt from
masters, he travelled as soon as he was able
to bear the fatigue ; and there was hardly
any person of note in any science or art, but
he sought him in the most remote cities, and
kept company with him long enough to ob-
tain all the information he desired, so gref.t
was his thirst after knowledge.
After several years' absence in foreign
parts on this account, he returned to the
capital city of his native country, China ;
where seeing so many heads on the gate by
which he entered, he was exceedingly sur-
prised ; and coming home, demanded for
what reason they had been placed there;
but more especially he informed himself of
the condition of the princess his foster-sis-
ter, whom he had not forgotten. As he
could not receive an answer to one inquiry
without the other, he heard at length a gen-
eral account with much sorrow, waiting till
he could learn more from his mother, the
princess's nurse.
Here Scheherazade left off, seeing the day
appear ; but resumed her discourse the night
following thus :— •
The Two Hundred and Nineteenth Night.
Sir, said the sultaness, although the nurse,
mother to Marzavan, was very much em-
ployed about the princess, yet she uo sooner
heard her dear son was returned, but she
found time to come out, embrace him, and
converse with him a little. Having told
him, with tears in her eyes, what a sad con-
dition the princess was in, and for what rea-
son the king her father had confined her, he
desired to know of his mother if she could
not procure him a private sight of her royal
mistress, without the king's knowing it.
After some pause, she told him she could
say nothing to it for the present, but if he
would meet her next day at the same hour,
she would give him an answer.
i '<
■m
242
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The nurse knowing none could approach
the princess but herself, without leave of the
eunuch who commanilod the guard at the
gate, addressed herself to him, who she
knew was so lately appointed, that he could
know nothing of what had before passed at
the court of China. "You know," said she to
him, "I have brought up and suckled the
princess, and you may likewise have heard
that I had a daughter whom I brought up
along with her. This daughter has been
since married ; yet the princess still does her
the honour to love her, and would fain see
her, but she would do it without anybody's
perceiving her coming in or out."
The nurse woiUd have gone on ; but the
ennuch cried, "Say no more; I will with
pleasure do anything to oblige the princess :
go and fetch your daughter, or send for her
about midnight, and the gate shall be open
to you."
As soon as night came, the nurse went to
look for her son Marzavan ; and having
found him, dressed him so artificially in wo-
men's clothes, that nobody could know he
was a man. She carried him along with
her ; and the eunuch verily believing it was
her daughter, admitted them together.
The nurse, before she i)resented Mar-
zavan, went to the princess, and said, "Ma-
dam, this is not a woman I have brought to
you ; it is my son Marzavan in disguise, new-
ly arrived from his travels ; who, having a
great desire to kiss your hand, I hope your
highness will admit him to that honour."
"What! my brother Marzavan," said the
princess, with great joy: "come hither,"
cried she, "and take off that veil; for it is
not unreasonable sure that a brother and a
sister shoidd see each other without cover-
ing their faces."
Marzavan saluted her with profound re-
spect ; when she, without giving him time
to speak, cried out, "I am rejoiced to see
you retiu-ned in good health, after so many
years absence, and without sending the least
account all the while of your welfare, even
to your good mother."
"Madam," replied Marzavan, "I am in-
finitely obliged to your highness for your
goodness in rejoicing at my health : I hoped
to have heard a better account of your's,
than what, to my great affliction, I am now
witness of: nevertheless, I cannot but re-
joice that I am come seasonably enough to
bring your highness that remedy which you
stand so much in need of; and though I
should reap no other fruit of my studies and
long voyage, I should think myself fully
recompensed."
Speaking these words, Marzavan drew
forth out of his pocket a book and other
things, which he judged necessary to be
naed, according to the account he had had
irom his mother of the princess's distemper.
The princess, seeing him make all these
preparations, cried out, "What! brother,
are you then one of those that believe me
mad ? Undeceive yourself, and hear me."
The princess then began to relate to Mar-
zavan all the particulars of her story, with-
out omitting the least circumstance, even to
the ring which was exchanged for her's, and
which she shewed him. "I have not con-
cealed the least matter from you," quoth
she; "yet it is true, there is something
that 1 cannot comprehend, which has given
occasion for some persons to think me mad ;
but this is for want of attending to the rest,
which is literally as I tell you."
After the princess had done speaking,
Marzavan, filled with wonder and astonish-
ment, continued for some time with his eyes
fixed on the ground, without speaking a
word ; but at length he lifted up his head,
and said, "If it be as your highness says,
and which I do not in the least doubt, I do
not despair to procure you the satisfaction
you desu'o ; but I must first entreat your
highness to arm yourself with patience for
some time longer, till I shall return, till I
have travelled over kingdoms which I have
not yet visited ; and when you hear of my
return, be assured the object of your wishes
is not far off." So saying, Marzavan took
leave of the princess, and set out next
morning on his intended voyage.
He travelled from city to city, from pro-
vince to province, and from island to island ;
and in every j>lace he passed through he
could hear of nothing but the princess Bad-
oura (which was the princess of China's name)
and her history.
About four months after, our triaveller
arrived at Torf, a sea-port town, great and
populous, where he no more heard of the
princess Badoura, but all the talk was of
prince Camaralzaman, who was sick, and
whose history very much resembled her's.
Marzavan was extremely delighted to hear
this, and informed himself of the place where
the prince was to be found. There were two
ways to it ; one by land and sea, the other
by sea only, which was the shortest way.
Marzavan chose the latter ; and, embark-
ing on board a merchant ship, he arrived safe
in sight of king Schahzaman's capital ; but,
just before it entered the port, the ship struck
against a rock, by the unskilfulness of the
liilot, and foundered. It went down in sight
of prince Camaralzaman's castle, where were
at that time the king and his grand vizier.
Marzavan could swim very well ; and im-
mediately upon the ship's sinking, cast him-
self into the sea, and got safe on shore under
the castle, whA'e he was soon relieved by
the grand vizier's order. After he had
changed his clothes, and been well treated,
and was recovered, he was introduced to the
grand vizier, who had sent for him.
MARZAVAN.
243
Marzavoii being a young man of good air
and address, this minister received liim very
civilly ; and when he heard him give such
just and jjertincnt answers to what waa asked
of him, conceived a great esteem for him.
He also gradually jiereeived he possessed a
great deal of knowledge ; therefore said to
him, " From what I can understand, I per-
ceive you are no common man : you have
travelled a great way; woiUd to f!od you
had learned any secret ft>r curing a certain
sick person, who has greatly alUicted this
court for a long while ! "
Marzavan replied, "If he knew what
malady that was, he might perhaps find a
remedy for it."
Then the grand vizier related to him the
whole story of prince (.'amaralzaman, from
its origin, and concealed nothing of hia birth
so earnestly desired, hia education, the in-
clination the king his father had to see him
early married, his resistance and extraordi-
nary aversion to marriage, his disobeying
his father in fiUl council, his inipriaonmcut,
his pretended extravagances in prison,
which were afterwards changed into a vio-
lent jiassion for a certain unknown lady,
who, ho x>retended, had exchanged a ring
with him, though, for hia part, he verily
believed there waa no such person in the
world.
Marzavan gave great attention to all the
grand vizier said ; and waa inKnitely . jjoiced
to iind, that, by meana of hia shipwreck, he
had so fortunately lighted on the person be
was looking after. Ho saw no reason to
doubt that prince Camaralzaman waa the
man the princess of China was so violently
in love with, and that this princess was
ei^ually the object of his passion ; therefore,
without explaining himself further to the
vizier, he desired to see him, that he might
be better able to judge of his distemper and
its cure. "Follow me," said the grand
vizier, "and you will find the king with
him, who has already desired I should intro-
duce you to him."
The first thing that struck Marzavan on
entering the prince's chamber, was to find
him upon his bed languishing, and with his
eyes shut. Although he saw him in that
condition, and although the king his father
waa sitting by him, he could not help crying
out, "Heavens! was there ever a greater
resemblance ! " He meant to the princess
of China ; for it seeius the princess and
prince were much alike.
The words of Marzavan excited the
prince's curiosity so far, that he opened hia
eyes and looked upon him. Marzavan, who
hiA a ready wit, laid hold of that opportu-
nity, and made his compliment in verso
extempore, but in such a disguised maimer,
that neither the king nor grand vizier under-
stood anything of the matter. However, he
represented so nicely what had happened
to him with the princess of China, that the
prince had no reason to doubt he knew her, ■
and coidd give him tidings of her. This
made him so joyful, that the effects of it
shewed themselves in his eyes and looks.
The sidtaness had not time to proceed
any further that night ; but next night went
on with her story as follows : —
The Two Hundred and Twentieth Night.
SiK, said she to the sultan, after Marzavan
had finished his compliment in verse, which
surprised prince Camaralzaman so agreeably
his highness took the liberty to maJke a sigL'
• 1
i*
J,
244
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
to the king his father to go from the place
where he was, and let Marzavan sit by him.
The king, overjoyed at this alteration,
which gave him liopca of his Ron's speedy
recovery, quitted his ]>lace, and, taking
Marzavan by the hand, led him to it, oblige
ing him to sit in it. Tlien his majesty
demanded of him who he wos, and whence
he came; and upon Marzavan's answering
he was a subject of China, and came from
that kingdom, the king cried out, "Heaven
grant you may be able to recover my sou
from this profound melancholy, and 1 shall
be eternally obliged to you ; all the world
shall see how handsomely I will reward
you." Having said thus, he left the prince
to convci"se at fidl liberty with the stranger,
whilst he went and rejoiced with the grand
vizier upon this happy recontrc.
Marzavan, leani 'g down to the prince,
spoke low in his car thus : "Prince," said
he "it is time you should cease to grieve,
The lady for whom you suffer is the princess
Badoura, daughter of Gaiour, king of China.
This I can assure your highness from what
she has told me of her adventure, and what
I have learned of your's. She has suffered
no lesH on yoiu- account, than you on her's."
Here he began to relate all that he knew of
the princess's story, from the fatal night of
their extraordinary interview.
He omitted not to acquaint him, how the
king had treated those who had failed in
their pretensions to cure the princess of her
indisposition. " But your liighness is the
only person," added he, "that can cure her
effectuallj'', and may present yourself with-
out fear. However, before you imdertake so
great a voyage, I would have you perfectly
recovered, and then we will take such mea-
sures as are necessary. Think, then, im-
mediately of the recovery of your health."
This discourse had a marvellous effect on
the prince ; he found so great relief by the
hopes he conceived of speedily fulfilling his
desires, that he felt he had strength suffi-
cient to rise, and begged leave of his father
to dress himself with such an air, as gave
the old king incredible pleasure.
King Schahzaman could not refrain from
embracing Marzavan, without inquiring into
the means he had used to produce this won-
derful effect ; and soon after went out of the
prince's chamber with the grand vizier, to
publish this agreeable news. He ordered
public rejoicings for several days together,
and gave great largesses to his officers and
the people, alms to the poor, and caused the
prisoners to be set at liberty throughout his
kingdom. The joy was soon general in the
capital, and every corner of his dominions.
Prince Camaralzaman, though extremely
weakened by almost continual want oi sleep
and long abstinence from almost all food,
soon recovered his health. When he found
himself in a condition to undertake the
voyage, ho took Marzavan aside, and said,
"l)ear Marzavan, it is now time to perform
the promise you have made me. I bum
with im]iaticnco to see the charming prin-
cess ; and if you do not speedily give mo an
opportunity to i)ut an end to her torments
and my own, by setting out on our journey
immediately, I shall soon rela2)so into my
former condition. One thing still afflicts
me," continued he, "and that is the diffi-
culty I shall meet with in getting leave of
my father to go. This would bo a eniol dis-
appointment to me, if you do not contrive a
way to prevent it. You sec he scarce ever
leaves me."
At these words the prince foil to weep-
ing; and Marzavan said, "I foresaw this
difficulty ; let not your highness bo grieved
at that, for I will undertake to prevent it.
My principal design in this voyage was to
deliver the princess of China from her
malady, and this from all the reasons of
mutual atFection which we have borne to
each other from our birth, besides the zeal
and affection I otherwise owe her; and I
shoidd be wanting in my duty to her, if I
did not do my best endeavour to effect her
cure and your's, and exert my utmost skill.
This is then the means I have contrived to
obtain your liberty : you have not stirred
abroad for sometime, therefore let the king
your father understand you have a mind to
take the air, and ask his leave to go out on
a hunting party two or three days with me.
No doubt he will grant your request ; which
when he has done, order two good horses to
be got ready, one to mount, the other to
change, and leave the rest to me."
Next day prince Camaralzaman took hia
opportunity. He acquainted the king he
was desirous to take the air, and, if he
pleased, would go and hunt two or three
days with Marzavan. The king gave his
consent, but bid him be sure not to lie out
above one night, since too much exercise at
first might impair his health, and too long
absence create his majesty uneasiness. He
then ordered him to choose the best horses
in his stable, and himself took particular
care that nothing should be wanting. When
all was ready, his majesty embraced the
prince ; and having recommended to Mar-
zavan the care of him, he let him go. Prince
Camaralzaman and Marzavan were soon
mounted ; when, to amuse the two grooms
that led the fresh horses, they made as if
they would hunt, and so got as far off the
city and out of the road as was possible.
When night began to approach, they alight-
ed at a caravansera or inn, where they
supped, and slept till about midnight; when
Marzavan awaked the prince without awak-
ing the grooms, and desired his highness to
let him have his suit, and to take another
I
THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN,
J45
for himself, which was brought in his baj,'-
gage. Thus equipped, they mounted the
fresh horses, and after Marzavan had taken
ono of the groom's horses by the bridle, they
set out as hard as their horses could go.
At daybreak they were got into a forest,
where, coming to the meeting of four roads,
Marzavan desired the princo to wait for him
a little, and went into the forest. Ho then
cut the groom's horee's throat, and after
having torn the prince's suit, which ho had
put olF, besmearing it with blood, he threw
it into the liighway.
The jirince demanded his reason for what
ho had done. Ho told his highness he was
sure the king his father would no sooner
find that ho did
not return, and
come to know
that he wan de-
parted without
the grooniH, Ijut
he woidd sus-
pect something,
and immediately
send people in
quest of them.
' ' They that como
to this place,"
said he, "and
find this bloody habit, will conclude you
are devoured by wild beasts, and that
I have escaped to avoid the king's anger.
The king, persuading himself you are dead,
will stop further pursuit, and we may have
leisure to continue our journey without fear
of being followed. I must confess," con-
tinued Marzavan, "this is a violent way of
j>roceeding, to alarm an old father with the
death of his son, whom he loves so passion-
ately ; but his joy will be the greater when
he shall hear you are alive and hapi)y."
"Brave Marzavan," replied the prince, "I
cannot but approve such an ingenious strata-
gem, or sufficiently admire your conduct ;
I have fresh obligations to you for it."
The prince and Marzavan, well provided
with cash for their expenses, continued their
journey both by land and sea, and found no
other obstacle but the length of the time
which it necessarily took up. They, how-
ever, arrived at length at the capital of
China, where Marzavan, instead of going to
his lodging, carried the prince to a public
inn. They tarried there incognito three
days, to rest themselves after the fatigue of
the voyage ; during which time Marzavan
caused an astrologer's habit to be made for
the prince. The three days being expired,
they went together to the bath, where the
prince put on his astrologer's habit ; and
from thence Marzavan conducted him in
sight of the king of China's palace, where
he left him, to go and acquaint his mo-
ther, the princess Badoura's nurse, of his
arrival, to the end she might inform thu
princess,
The sultancss Scheherazjido had scarce ut-
tered these words, but she observed the day
to appear, which made her leave oil' ; but she
began again the night following, and said :— •
Tho Two Hundred and Twenty-First
Night.
Sib, prince Camaralzaman, instructed by
Marzavan what he was to do, and j)rovideil
with all he wanted as un astrologer, camo
next morning to tho gate of the king's
palace, before the guards and porters, and
cried aloud, " I am an astrologer, and am
como to effect a
euro ou the re-
spectable prin-
eoss< Badoura,
daughter of tho
most high and
mighty monarch
(iaiour, king of
China, on tho
conditions pro-
posed by his ma-
jesty, to marry
her if I succeed,
or else to h)se
my life for my fruitless and presumjituous
attempt."
Besides the guards and porters at the gate,
this novelty drew together a great number
of people about prince Camaralzaman. There
had no physician, astrologer, nor magician,
api)eared for a long time on this account,
deterred by the many tragical examples of
ill success that ajipeared before their eyes ;
it was therefore thought there were no more
of these professions in the world, or that
there were no more so mad as those that had
gone before them.
The prince's good mien, noblo air, and
blooming youth, made everybody that saw
him pity him. "What mean you, sir," said
some that were nearest to him, "thus to
expose a life of such promising expectations
to certain death ? Cannot the heads you
sec on all the gates of this city deter you
from such an undertaking ? In the name of
God, consider what you do ; abandon this
rash sittempt and begone."
The prince continued firm notwithstand-
ing all these remonstrances ; and .as he saw
nobody came to introduce him, he repeated
the same cry, with a boldness that made
everybody tremble. They all then cried,
"Let him alone, he is resolved to die ; God
have mercy upon his youth and his soul ! "
He then proceeded to cry out a third time
in the same manner, when the grand vizier
came in person, and introduced him to the
king of China.
As Boo:i .-<s the prince came into the king's
246
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ti
])resonc<>, ho howod niul kinsed the Krouinl.
Tho kint,', ^vlio, of nil tiiat had hitherto jirc-
BUini)tiH)ii8ly (.'Xiioscil thi'ir lives on tliin oe-
cosion, had not mcuii imo worthy to cast his
eyes upon Jujforo, folt real coin])a!<aion for
(irinco (jnniarnl/anian, on noeount of tho
danj^cr hi' was uhoiit to uiidrr;,'o. Hut aH
ho Raw him nioro (U'j^crvinj^ than ordinary,
he .slR'wt'd hiiu more honour, and made him
como and sit l)y him. " Youni^ man," .said
ho, " I can liardly heliovo you, at tliis a;,'e,
can hav(! ao((uired oxperifnce enoiiL;h to dare
attempt the cure, of my dau;;hter. f wisdi
you may snccoed, ami would j^ivo her to you
in marria'^'o witli all my heart, with the
tfi'oatest joy, nioro willim^ly than I shoidd
have (hiiKf to others that have olfered tlani-
sclvcs liefore yon ; hut 1 mu.st declara to
yim at tho samo time, witli great ccmcern,
that if you do not .succeed in your attempt,
notwithstanding J'o'ir noble appearonno and
your youth, you must h)8o your head."
"Sir," replied tho prince, "I have infinite
obligations to your majesty for the honour
you design mo, and the j,'reat goodness you
shew to a stran;,'er ; but I desire your
majesty to believe I would not liave come
from so remote a coimtry as I have done,
the name of which, perhaps, may be un-
known in your dominions, if I had not been
certain of tlu! cure I propose. AVhat would
not the world say of my fickleness, if, after
so great fatigues and dangers as I liave
undergone on this account, T should abandon
this generous enterprise ? Even your maj esty
would soon lose that esteem you have con-
ceived for me. If I must die, sir, I sliall
die with the satisfaction of not having lost
your esteem after I have merited it. I be-
seech your majesty, therefore, to keep mo
no hinger impatient to display the certainty
of my art, by the proof 1 am ready to give
of it."
Then the king commanded the eunuch,
who had tlie custody of the princess, to in-
liroduce prince Camaralzanian into her apart-
ment ; but before he would let him go, he
reminded him once more that he was at
liberty to renounce his enterprise ; but tlio
prince paid no regard, but, exijressing great
resolution and eiijerness, followed the
eunuch.
When they came to a long gallery, at the
end of which wap the princess's apartment,
the prince, who saw himself so near the ob-
ject of his wishes, who had occasioned him
so many tcai-s, pushed on, and got before
the eunuch.
The eunuch, redoubling his pace, with
much ado got up with him. " Whither
away so fast ? " cried he, taking him by the
arm; "you cannot get in without me ; and
it shoidd seem you have a great desire for
death, thus to run to it headlong. Not one
of all those many astrologers and magicians
I have introiluced before made such haste aa
your.self to a jdaee whither I feal- you will
conie but tor> wMin."
" I'Vienil," replied tho prince, lookint{
earnestly on the eunuch, and continunig liis
jiace, " this was because none of tlio astrolo-
gers you speak of were bo sure of their art
as I am of mine : tiiey were certain, indeed,
they hIiouM die if they did not succeed, but
they had no certainty of their success. On
this neeount, they had reason to tremble on
Hp]iroa(diing the jdace whither I go, and
will !■(' I am sure to linil my happiness." Ifo
liad just spoken these words as he wa.s at
the door. The eunuch opened it, and intro-
duced him into a great hall, whence was an
entrance into the juinccss's chamber, divided
from it only liy a piece of tapestry.
I'rince C'aniaralzaman stopped before he
entered, •peaking more softly to the eunuch,
for fear of being heard in tho jirinccss'a
chamber. "To convince you," said he,
"there is neither presumption nor whim,
nor youthful conceit in my undertaking, I
leave it to your own desire, whether I should
cure the [jrincess in your jiresence, or where
we are, without going any further."
The eunuch was amazed to hear the prince
talk to him with such confidence ; he left
olF insidting him, and said seriously to him,
" It is no matter whether you do it here or
there, provided the business is done : cure
her how j'ou will, you will get immortal
Inmonr by it, not only in this court, but over
all tho world."
The prince replied, "It will be best, then,
to cure her without seeing her, that you
may be witness of my skill. Notwltlistand-
ing my imp.atienco to see a princess of her
raidi, who is to be my wife, yet, out of re-
spect to you, 1 will deprive myself of that
jileasure for a little while." He was fur-
nished with everything projter for an astrolo-
ger to carry about him : taking pen, ink, and
liajier, out of his pocket, he wrote this
billet to the princess : —
Prince CamarcM nan to the Princesa of
o.. ';jfl!. I
" Adokable Puincess '
" Tho love-sick jirince ( .imau will
not trouble you with a 1 of the inex-
pressible pains that he li ndured ver
since that fatal night in wlucli lur < ' irms
deprived him of that liberty which ■ re-
solved to preserve as long as he lived. He
only tells you that he devoted his heart to
you in your charming slumbers ; those im-
portunate slumbers that hindered him from
beholding the brightness of your piercing
eyes, in spite of all his endeavours to oblige
you to open them. He presumed to present
you with his ring as a token of his passion ;
and to take your'a in exchange, which he
THE PRINCE C.IAfARALZAMAA'.
247
seniU ill tluH Itillet. If yoit will uiituleHoend
to rutiini it, as a recijirourtl (tloil^o of your
lovp, liu will fHtcfin hiiDHi'lf the ha|i|>i<-Nt of
nil liiVLTH. If nut, tlio 8onti>ncu of iloutli,
which your ri'fuHal brin^H liiin, will be re-
ci'ivi'il with tho uioru resii^iiation, hecnusu
ho (lii'n for love of you. JIu wftita iu your
niitculiainlirr for your answer."
When tho princo had tiuixhod his billet,
he folded it iiji, niid encloaed iu it tho
prinoi'HH'a rini;, without lettiuK the eunuch
see what ho did. When hu had sealed it, ho
gave it to him: "There, friend," Haid he,
"carry it to your mistress; if it does not
euro her as soon as she reads it, and sees
what is enclosed iu it, I ^'ivu you leave to
tell everybody that l am the most ii^noraiit
and impudent astrologer that ever was, is,
or ever will be."
Scheherazade was prevented from going
on with her story by the dawning day; but
the next night she continued it, and spoke
thiis to the sultan of the Indies ; —
The Two Hundred and Twenty-Second
Night.
Sir, the eunuch entering tho princess of
China's chamber, gave her tho packet he
received from prince C'umaralzamau. " Ma-
dam," said he, "the boldest astrologer that
ever lived, if I am not mistaken, is arrived
here, and pretends, that on reading this
letter, and seeing what is in it, you will be
cured ; I wish he may prove neither a liar
nor impostor."
The princess Badoura took this billot, and
opened it with a great deal of indilierence,
but when she saw the ring, she had not i)a-
tience to reail it through : she rose liatitily,
broke the chain that held her by struggling,
ran to the door and opened it. She knew the
prince, as soon as
she saw him, and
he knew her :
they presently
embraced each
other tenderly,
and without be-
ing able to speak
for excess of joy :
they looked on
one .another a
long time, won-
dering how they
met again after
their first inter-
view. The princess's nurse, who ran to
the door with her, made them come into
her chamber, where the princess Badoura
gave the prince her ring, saying, " Take
it, I cannot keep it without restoring your's,
which I will never part with : neither can
it be in better hands.
Tho eunuch went immediately to tell the
king of China what hail hap)H>ned. "Nir,"
said he, "all the iMtrologcrs and doctors who
have hitherto pretended to cure the princess,
were fools in comparison of tint last, Hu
mmle use neither of schemes norconjurationi,
of perfuiuen, or anything else, but cured her
without seeing Iut.'' Then he told the king
how he did it. The monarch was agreeably
surprised at tho news, and going jiresently
to the ])rineeHB's chamber, embraced her : ho
afterwards eml)raced the ]>rince, and, taking
his hand, joined it to tho princess's. " Happy
stranger," said tho king, "whoever you are,
1 will keep my word, and give you my daugh-
ter to wife ; though, by what 1 see in you,
it is im])o3Hiblo for mo to believe you are
really what you appear, and would have mo
believe you to bo."
Prince Camaralzaman thanked tho king
in the most humlilo expressions, that ho
might tho l)etter show his gratitude. "As
for my person," said ho, " I must own I am
not an astrologer, as your majesty very
judiciously guessed ; I only jmt on the habit
of one that I might succeed more easily in
my ambition to be allied to tho most potent
monarch in tho world. I was born a prince,
and the son of a king and of a cpieen ; my
name is Camaralzaman ; my father is Schali-
?aman, who now reigns over the islands
that are well known by the name of the
Islands of the (.'hildren of Khaledan." Ho
then told him his history, and how wonder-
ful was the rise of his love ; that the prin-
cess's was altogether as marvellous ; and that
both Avero conlirmed by the exchange of the
two rings.
When the prince had done speaking, the
king said to him, " This history is so extra-
ordinary, it deserves to bo known to pos-
terity ; t will take care it shall ; and the
original being deposited in my royal archives,
I will spread
copies of it a-
broad, that my
own 'kingdoms
and the kingdoms
nroimd me may
know it.
The maiTiage
was solemnised
the same day,
and the rejoic-
ings for it were
universal all over
the emj)ire of
China. Nor was
Marzavan forgotten : the king gave him
an honourable post in his coiirt imme-
diately, and a promise of further advance-
ment.
Prince Camaralzaman and the princess
Badoura enjo; ed the fulness of their wishes
in the sweet of narriage; and the king
■«SH
; J i
i;f'
:i' I
I 'i»'
i
248
THE ARAB/AN ALIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
kept continual feastings for several months,
to shew his joy on the occasion.
In the midst of these pleasures, prince
Camaralzaman dreamt one night ihat he saw
his father Schahzaman on his death-bed ready
to give lip tlie ghost, and heard him speak
thus to his attendants : " My son, to whom
I gave birth ; my son, whom I so tenderly
loved ; whom I bred vath so much fondness,
so much care, has abandoned me, and is him-
self the cause of my death." He awoke with
a great sigh, which awakened the princess,
who asked him the cause of it.
" Alas ! my love," credtlie prince, " per-
haps, in the very moment that I am speak-
ing, tlie king my father is no more." He
then acquainted her with his melancholy
dream, which occasioned him so much un-
easiness. The princess, who studied to
pleasu him in everything, did not immedi-
ately inform him she had contrived a way
to do it, fearing that the desire to see his
father again would make him take less de-
light in her company in a distant country,
she went to her own father that very day,
and finding him alone, kissed his hand, and
thus addressed herself to him : " Sir, I have
a favour to beg of your majesty, and I Ve-
seech you not to deny me ; but that you
may not believe I ask it at the solicitation
of the prince my husband, I assure you be-
forehand he knows nothing of my asking it
of you : it is, that you will give leave for
me to go with him and see king Schahza-
man, my father-in-law."
" Daughter," replied the king, " though I
shall be very sorry to part with you for so
long a time as a journey to a place so dis-
tant will take up, yet I cannot disapprove
of your resolution ; it is worthy of yourself,
notwithstiiuding the fatigue of so long a
journey : go, child, I give you leave, but on
condition that you stay no longer than a
year in king Schahzaman's court. I hope
the king will agree to this, that Ave shall al-
ternately see, he his son and his daughter-
in-law, and I my daughter and my son-in-
law."
The princess communicated the king of
China's consent to prince Camaralzaman,
who was transported to hear it, and gave
her thanks for this new token of her love.
The king of China gave orders for prepar-
ations to be made for the journey; and
when all things were ready he accompanied
the prince and princess several days' journey
on their way ; they parted at length with
great weeping on aU sides : the king embraced
them, and having desired the prince to bj
kind to his daughter, and to love her always
with the same passion he now loved her, he
left them to proceed on their journey, and,
to divert himself, hunted all the way as he
returned to his capital city.
When prince Camaralzaman and the
princess Badoura had dried up their tears,
they comforted themselves with the thoughts
how glad king Schahzaman would be to see
them, and how they should rejoice to see
the king.
They travelled about a month and at last
came to a meadow of great extei;*', planted
at convenient distances with tall trees, form-
ing an agreeable shade. The day being un-
usually hoi, Camaralzaman thought it best
to encamp there, and proposed it to Badoura,
who, having the same intention, the more
readily consented to it. They alighted in
one of the finest spots ; a tent was presently
set up ; the princess, rising from the shade
under which she sat down, entered it, and
the prince ordered his servants to pitch their
tents also, wLile they stayed there, and
went himself t.a give directions. The prin-
cess, weary w; th the fatigues of the journey,
bid her women untie her girdle, wluch they
laid down by her; and she falling asleep,
her attendants left her by herself.
Prince Camaralzaman having seen all
things in order, came to the tent where the
princess was sleeping; he entered, and sat
down without making any noise, intending
to take a nap himself; but observing the
princess's girdle lying by her, he took it up,
and looked upon the diamonds and rubies
one by one. In doing it, he saw a little
purse hanging to it, sewed neatly on the
stuff, and *ied fast with a riband ; he felt it,
and found there Avas something solid in it.
Desirous ro know what it was, he opened
the purse, and took out a cornelian, en-
graven with unknown figures and characters.
" This cornelian," said the prince to him-
self, " must be something very valuable, or
my princess would not carry it with so much
care." It was Bedoura's talisman,* which
the queen of China had given her daughter
as a charm, that would keep her, as she
said, from any harm as long as she had it
about her.
The prince, the better to look at the talis-
man, took it out to the light, the tent being
dark ; and while he was holding it up in his
hand, a bird darted down from the air and
snatched it away from him.
The day breaking, the sultaness Schehe-
razade said no more, leaving the continuation
of the story to the following night, when she
went on thus : — .
The Two Hundred and Twenty-Third
Night.
Your majesty will easily conceive the con-
cern and grief of prince Camaralzaman,
when he sav. the bir I lly away with tho
• A scheme of her nativity drawn from the constella-
tions of heaven.
THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN.
249
talisman.* He was more troubled at it than
words can express, and cursed his unseason-
able curiosity, by which
means his dear princess
had lost a treasure that
was so precious, and so
valued by her.
The bird having got
her prize, settled on
the ground not far off,
with the talisman in
her mouth. The prince
drew near it, in hopes
she would drop it ; but
as he approached, the
bird took wing, and
settled again on the
ground further off. Ca-
maralzaman followed
her, and the bird, hav-
ing swallowed the talis-
man, took a further
flight: the prince be-
ing very dexterous at
a mark, thought to kill
her with a stone, and
still followed her; the
further she flew, the
more eager he grew in
pursuing her, keejjing
her always in view.
Thus the bird drew
him along from hill
to valley, and val-
ley to hill, all day, every step leading him
out of the way from the field where he left
his camp, and the princess Badoura : and
instead of perching at night on a bush,
where he might probably have talien her,
she roosted on a high tree, safe from his
pursuit. The prince vexed to the heart for
taking so much pains to no purpose, thought
of returning to the camp ; but, said he to
himself, which way shall I return ? " Shall
I go down the hills and valleys which I
passed over ? Shall I wander in darkness ?
and will my strength bear me out ? How
durst I ajjpear before my prii.cess without
her talisman?" Overwhelmed with such
thoughts, and tired with the pursuit, sleep
came upon him, and he lay down under a
tree, where he passed the night.
He awoke the next mornirg before the
bird had left the tree ; and as soon as he saw
her on the wing, followed her again that
whole day, with no better success than he
had done the last, eating nothing but herbs
and fruits all the way as '.c went : he did
the same for ten days together, pui-suing the
bird, and keei)ing her in his 3ye from morn-
ing to night, lying always iinder the tree
where she roosted. On the eleventh day the
* There Is an adventure JIke this in the romance of
Peter of Provence, anJ the fair Mugdelena, which was
taken (torn the Arabic.
bird continued flying, and Camaralzoman ob*
serving her, he came near a great city, Wheu
the bird came to the
walls, she flew over
them, and the prince'
saw no more of her ;
8C he despaired of ever
recovering the princess
fiadoura's talisman.
Camaralzaman, whose
grief was beyond ex-
pression, went into the
city, which was built
on the sea side, and
had a fint port ; he
walked up and down
the streets without
knowing where he was,
or where to stop : at
last he came to the
port, in as great uncer-
tainty as ever what ho
should do. Walking
along the river side,
ho perceived the gate
of a garden open, and
an old gardener at work
in it; the good man
looking up, saw he was
a stranger and a Mus-
Bulman ; so he asked
him to come in, and
shut the door after
him.
Camaralzaman enteri and as the garden-
er bade him shut the 11 r, demanded of the
gardener why he was -o cautious. "Be-
cause," replied the old man, "I see you
are a stranger newly arrived, and a IMussid-
man ; and this city is inhabited for the
most part by idolaters, who have a mortal
aversion to us Musstilmen, and treat thoso
few of us that are here with great barbarity.
I suppose you did not know this ; and it is
a miracle that you have escaped as you havo
thus far, these idolaters being very ajit to
fall upon the Mussulinen that are sjtraugers,
or to draw them into a snare, unless those
strangers are instructed how to beware of
them. I bless (Jod who has brought yon
into a place of safety."
Camaralzaman thanked the honest gar-
dener for his advice, and the security he
offered him in his house ; he would have
said more, but the good man interrupted
him, saying, "Let us leave complimenting ;
you are weary, and must want to refresh
yourself. Come in and rest yourself." Ho
conducted him into his little hut ; and after
the ]irince had eaten heartily of what he set
before him, with a cordialitj- that charmed
him, he requested him to relate how he
came there.
Camaralzaman complied with hii request ;
and when he had ended his story, without
i'l
\i
il
1 1
2i;o
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
h,
concealing any part of it, he asked him
which was the nearest way to the king his
father's territories ; for it is in vain for me
to think of finding my princess where I left
her, after wandering eleven days from the
spot, by so extraordinary an adventure.
Ah ! continued he, how do I know she is
alive? and saying tlms, he burst into tears.
The gardener replied, there was no possibility
of his going thither by land, the ways were
so difficult, and the journey so long : besides
there was no accommodation for his subsist-
ence ; or, if there were, he must necessarily
pass through the countries of so many bar-
barous nations, that he would never reach
his father's. It was a year's journey from
the city where he was to any country inha-
bited only by Mussulmen ; that the quickest
passage for him would be to go to the isle of
Ebene, whence he might easily transport
himself to the Isles of the Children of Kliale-
dan ; that a ship sailed from the jjort every
year to Ebene, and he might take that
opportunity of returning to fliePa islands.
"The ship departed," said he, "but a few
days ago ; if you had come a little sooner,
you might have taken your passage in it.
If you will wait the year round, when it
makes the voyage again, and will stay with
me and accept of my house, such as it is,
you will be as welcome to it as to your
own."
Prince Camaralzaman was glad he had met
with such au asj'lum, in a vl.i/;*> where he
had no acquaint-
ance nor interest.
He accepted the
offer, and lived
with the gardener
till the time came
that the ship was
to sail to the Isle
of Ebene. He
spent his time in
working all day
in the garden,
and aU night in
sighs, tears, and
complaints, thuikiug of his dear princess
Badoura. We must leave him in this place,
to retui-n to the princess whom we left asleep
in her tent.
THE STORY OF THE PRINCESS BADOURA, AFTER
HER SEPARATION FROM PRINCE CAMARAL-
ZAMAN.
The princess slejit a long time, and when
she awoke, wondered that prince Camaral-
zaman was not with her ; she called her
women, and asked them if they knew where
he was. They told her they saw him enter
the tent, but did not see him go out again.
While they were talking to her, she took up
her girdle, found the little purse open, and
that the talisman was gone. She did not
doubt but Camaralzaman had taken it to see
what it was, and that he would bring it
back with him. She waited for him impa-
tiently tdl night, and could not imagine
what made him stay away from her so
long.
When it was quite dark, and she could
hear nothing of him, she fell into violent
grief ; she cursed the talisman, and him that
made it ; and, had not she been restrained
by duty, would have cursed the queen her
mother, who gave her such a fatal present.
She was the more troubled, because she
coidd not imagine how her talisman should
have caused the ijrince's separation from her;
she did not, however, lose her judgment,
and came to a courageous resolution, not
common with persons of her sex.
She only and her women knew of the
prince's being gone ; for his men were
reposing or asleep in their tents. The
princess feai'ing thoy would betray her, if
they had any knowledge of it, moderated her
grief, and forbid her women to say or do
anything that might create the least sus-
picion. She then laid aside her habit, and
put ou one of Prince Camai-alzaman's, being
so like him, that next day, when she came
abroad, his men took her for him.
She commanded them to pack up their
baggage and b^gin their march ; and when
all things were ready, she ordered one of
her women to go into her litter, she her-
self mounting on
horseback, and
riding by her
side.
They travelled
several months
by land and sea;
the princess con-
tinuing the jour-
ney under the
name of Camar-
ak.aman. They
took the island
of Ebene in their
way to the Isles of the Children of Khaledan.
They went to the capital of the islaud of
Ebene, where a king reigned whose name was
Armauos. The persons who first landed;
giving out that the ship parried prince Cam-
aralzaman, who was returning from a long
voyage, ami was forced in there by a storm,
the news of his arrival was presently carried
to court.
King Arraanos, accompanied by mo.st of
his courtiers, went immediately to wait on
the prince, and met the princess just as she
was landing, and going to the lodging that
had been taken for her. He received her as
the son of a king, who was his friend, and
witJi whom he always kept up a good un-
derstanding ; he conducted her to the palace
m
THE PRINCESS BADOURA.
251
where an apartment was prepared for her
and all her attendants, though she -would
fain have excused herself, and have lodged
in a private honae. He shewed her all pos-
sible honour, and entertained her three days
together with extraor.linary magnificence.
At the end of this time, King Armanos,
understanding that the princess, whom he
still took for Prince Camaralzaman, talked
of going abroad again to proceed on her
voyage, charmed with the air and qualities
of such an accomplished prince as he took
her to be, he took an opportunity when she
was alone, and spoke to her in this manner :
"You see, prince, that I am old, and cannot
hope to live long; and, to my great mor-
tification, I have not a son to whom I may
leave my crown. HeaA-en has only blest me
with one daughter, whose beauty cannot be
better matched than with a prince of your
rank and accompli shmenta. Instead of
going home, stay and take her from my
hand, with my crown, which I resign in
your favour, and stay with us. It is time
for me to rest, after having so long borne
it ; and nothing could be a greater pleasure
to me in my retirement, than to see my
people ruled by so worthy a successor to my
throne."
The sultaness Scheherazade would have
gone on, but the day appearing, prevented
her : the next night she continued her story,
speaking thus to the sultan of the Indies : —
The Two
Hundred and
Night.
Twenty-Fourth
Sir, the king of the Isle of Ebene's gene-
rous offer to bestow his only daughter in
marriage, and with her hia kingdom, on the
princess Badoura, who could not accept it,
because she was a woman, put her into un-
expected perplexity. She thought it would
not become a princess of her rank to unde-
ceive the king, and to own that she was not
prince Camaralzaman, but his wife, when she
assured him she was he himself, and whose
part she had hitherto acted so well. She
was also afraid to refuse the honour he offer-
ed her, lest being so much bent upon the
conclusion of the marriage, his kindness
might turn to aversion and hatred, and he
might attempt something even against her
life. Besides, she was not sure whether she
might not find prince Camaralzaman in the
court of king Schahzanian his father.
These considerations, added to the j)ros-
pect of obtaining a kingdom for the jirince
her husband, in case she found him again,
determined her to accept the proposal of
king Armanos, and marry his daughter : so
after having stood silent for some minutes,
she with blushes, which the king took for a
sign of modesty, answered, "Sir, I am in-
finitely obliged to your majesty for your
good opinion of me, for the honour you do
me, and the great favour you offer me,
which I caimot jiretend to merit, and dare
not refuse."
' ' But, sir, " continued she, ' ' I cannot accept
this great alliance on any other condition,
than that your majesty will assist me with
your counsels, and that I do nothing with-
out having first your approbation."
The marriage treaty being thus concluded
and agreed on, the ceremony was put off
till next day. In the meantime, princess
Badoura gave notice to her officers, who
still took her for prince Camaralzaman, what
she was about to do, that they might not be
surprised at it, assuring them the princess
Badoura consented to it. She talked also to
her women, and charged them to continue to
keep the secret she had intrusted them with.
The king of the Isle of Ebene, rejoicing
that he had got a son-in-law so much to his
satisfaction, next morning summoned his
council, and acquainted them with his design
of marrying his daughter to prince Camaral-
zaman, whom he introduced to them ; and
having made him sit down by him, told them
he resigned the crown to him, and required
them to acknowledge him for king, and
swear fealty to him. Having said this, he
descended from his throne, and the jjrincess
Badoura, by his order, ascended it. As soou
as the council broke up, the new king was
proclaimed through the city, rejoicings were
appointed for several days, and couriers
dispatched over all the kingdom to see the
same ceremonies observed with the same
demonstrations of joy.
At night there were extraordinary f eastings
at the palace, and the princess Haiatalnefous*
was led to the princess Baflnura, whom
everybody took for a man, dressed like a
royal bride. The wedding was solemnised
with the utmost splendour ; they were put
t'> bod, and left alone. In the morning, while
the iniuccss Badoura went to receive the
compliments of the nobility in the haU of
audience, where they congratulated her on
her marriage and accession to the throne,
king Armanos and his queen went to the
apartment of the new queen, their daughter,
and asked her how she s])ent the night. In-
stead of answering them, she held down her
head, and by her looks they saw plainly
enough she was disai)pointed.
King Armanos, to comfort the princess
Haiatalnefous, bid her not be troubled.
"Prince Camaralzaman," said he, "when he
landed here, might think only of going to
his father's court. Though we have engaged
him to stay by arguments with which he
ought to be well satisfied, yet it is probable
* This Is an Arabic word, which signifies the life of the
soul.
252
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
he grieves at being so suddenly deprived of
the hopes of seeing either his father or any of
his family. You must wait till those tirst
emotions of filial love are over ; ho will then
carry himself towards you as a good husband
ought to do."
The princess Badoura, under the name and
character of prince Camaralzaman, and the
king of Ebene, spent the whole day in receiv-
ing the compliments of the courtiers and
the nobility of the kingdom who were in and
about the city, and in reviewing the regidar
troops of her household ; and entered on the
administration of afiairs as king with so much
dignity and judgment, that gained her the
general applause of all who were witnesses
of her conduct.
It was evening before she returned to
queen Haiatalnefous's apartment, and she
perceived by the reception she gave her,
that the bride was not at all pleased with the
preceding night. She endeavoured to dissi-
pate her grief by a long conversation, in
which she employed all the wit she had (and
she jiossessed a good share of it) to persuade
her she loved her entirely : she then gave
her time to go to bed, and while she was un-
dressing herself, she went to her devotions :
her prayers were so long that queen Haiatal-
nefous was asleep before they were ended.
She then left olf, and lay down softly by the
new queen, without waking her, and was as
much afflicted at her being forced to act a
part which did not belong to her, as in the
loss of he.' dear Camaralzaman, for whom she
ceased not to sigh. She rose as soon as it
was day, before HaiatalnefoiB was awake :
and being dressed in her royal robes as king,
went to coimcil.
King Armanos, as he had done the day
before, came early to visit the queen his
daxighter, whom he found in tears : he
wanted no more to be informed of the cause
of her trouble. Provoked at the contempt,
as he thought, put upon his daughter, of
which he could not imagine the reason,
"Daughter," said he, "have patience for
another night. I raised your husband to
the throne, and can i)ull him down again,
and drive him thence with shame, unless he
gives you the satisfaction that he ought to do.
His usage of you has provoked me so much,
I cannot teU to what my resentment may
transport me ; the affront is as great to me
as to you."
It was late again before the princess
Badoura came to queen Haiatalnefous : she
talked to her as she had done the night be-
fore, and after the same manner went to her
devotions, desiring the queen to go to bed.
But Haiatalnefous would not be so served ;
she held her back, and obliged her to sit
down again : " What," said she, "you think
to deal by me this night as you have done
the two last ; tell me, I beseech you, what
can you dislike in a princess of my youth
and beauty, who not only loves but adores
you, and thinks herself the happiest of all
princesses of her rank in having so amiable a
prince for her husband ? Anybody but me
would be not merely offended, but shocked
by the slight, or rather the unpardonable
affront you have put upon me, and abandon
you to your evil destiny. However, though
I did not love you so well as I do, yet out of
pure good-nature and humanity, which
makes me pity the misfortunes of persons
for whom I am less concerned, I could not
forbear teUing you, that the king my father
is enraged against you for your carriage to-
wards me, and to-morrow will make you
feel the marks of his just anger, if you con-
tinue to use mo as you have hitherto done.
Do not therefore drive to despair a princess,
who, notwithstanding all your ill usage, can-
not help loving you."
This discourse embarassed the princess
Badoura inexpressibly. She did not doubt
of the truth of what Haiatalnefous had
said. King Armanos's coldness to her the
day before had given her but too much
reason to see he was higldy dissatisfied with
her. The only way to justify her conduct
was, to communicate her sex to the princess
Haiatalnefous. But though she had fore-
seen she should be under a necessity of
making such a declaration to her, she was
afraid how she would take it : but, consider-
ing that if Camaralzaman was alive, he must
necessarily touch at the Isle of Ebene in his
way to king Schahzaman his father's king-
dom, that she ought to preserve herself for
his sake ; and that it was impossible to do
this, if she did not let the princess Haiatal-
nefous know who and what she was, she re-
solved to venture the exi)eriment.
The princess Badoura stood as one that
was struck dumb, and Haiatalnefous, being
impatient to hear what she could say, was
about to speak to her again, when she
stopped her by these words: "Lovely and
too charming princess ! I own I have been
in the wTong, and I condemn myself for it ;
but I hope you will pardon me, and keep
the secret I am going to reveal to you for
my justification."
she then opened her bosom, and proceeded
thus : " See, princess, if a princess, a woman
like yourself, does not deserve to be for-
given. I beheve you will be so good, at
least when you know my story, and the
afflicting disgrace that forced me to act that
part you see."
The princess Badoura having discovered
herself entirely to the princess of the Isle of
Ebene, she again prayed her to keep the
secret, and to make as if she really was a
husband to her, till the prince Camaralzo-
man's arrival, which she hoped would be in
a little time.
THE PRINCESS BADOURA.
253
keep
"Princess," replied Ha'iatalnefous, "your
fortune is indeed strange, that a marriage,
80 happy as yours was, should be shortened
by so unaccountable an accident, after a
passion so reciprocal and full of wonders.
Pray Heaven you may meet with your hus-
band again soon, and assure yourself I will
keep religiously the secret committed to me.
It will be to me the greatest pleasure in the
worlil to be the only person in the great
kingdom of the Isle of Ebene, who knows
what and who you are, while you go on
governing the people as happily as you
Lave begun. I only ask of you at present
to be your friend," Then the two princesses
tenderly embraced each other, and after a
thousand expressions of mutual friendshi}),
lay down to rest.
According to the custom of the country,
the tokens of the consummation of the mar-
riage were to be produced and seen publicly.
The two princesses found out a way to get
over that difficulty : Queen Haiatalnefous's
women were deceived themselves next
morning, and deceived king Armanos, his
queen, and the whole court. From this
time princess Badoura rose in king Ar-
manos's esteem and affection, governing the
kingdom peaceably and prosperously to his
and his people's content.
The sidtancss of the Indies said no more,
day appearing ; but the night following she
continued her discourse in these words to the
sultan : —
The Two Hundred and Twenty-Fifth.
Night.
SiE, while things passed as already men-
tioned in the court of the Isle of Ebene,
prince Camaralzaman stayed in the city of
idolaters with the gardener, who liaci offered
his house for a retreat till the ship sf' ded for
that island.
One morning when the prince was up
early, and, as he used to do, was preparing
to work in the garden, the gardener jn-e-
vented him, saying, "This day is a great
festival among the idolaters, and because
they abstain from all work themselves, to
spend the time in their assemblies and pub-
lic rejoicings, they will not let the Mussul-
men work ; who, to gain their favour,
generally assist at their shows, which are
worth seeing. You will therefore have no-
thing to do to-day ; I leave yo.i here. As
the time approaches, in which the ship
uses to sail for the Isle of Ebene, T ■will go
to see some of my friends, and know when
it will depart, and secure you a passage in
it." The gardener put on his best jlothes,
and went out.
When prince Camaralzaman was alone,
instead of going out to take part in the
public joy of the city, the solitude he was
in brought to his mind, with more than usual
violence, the loss of his dear princess. He
walked up and down the garden sighing and
groaning, till the noise which two birds
made on a neighbouring tree tempted him
to lift up his head, and stop to see what was
the matter,
Camaralzaman was surprised to behold
a furious battle between these two birds,
fighting one another with their beaks, and
that in a very little while one of them fell
down dead at the foot of a tree : the bird
that was victorious took wing again, and
flow away.
In an instant, two other large birds that
had seen the fight at a distance, came from
the other side of the garden, and pitched on
the groimd, one at the feet and the other
at the head of the dead bird : they looked
upon it some time, shaking their heads in
token of grief ; after which they dug a grave
with their talons, and buried it.
When they had filled up the .grave with
the earth they had turned up to make it,
they flew away, and returned in a few
minutes, bringing with them the bird that
had committed the murder, the one holding
one of its wings in its beak, and the other
one of its legs ; the criminal all the while
crying out in a dolefid manner, and strug-
gling to escape. They carried it to the
grave of the bird which it had lately sacri-
ficed to its rage, and there sacrificed it in
just revenge for the murder it had com-
mitted. They with their l)eaka killed the
murderer. They then opened the belly, tore
out the entrails, left the body on the spot
unburied, and flew away.
Camaralzaman remained in a great
astonishment all the time that he stood
beholding this sight. He drew near the
tree where this scene had passed, and cast-
ing his eyes on the scattered entrails of the
bird that was last killed, he spied something
red hanging out of the stomach. Ho took
it up, and foimd it was his beloved princess
Badoura's talisman, which had cost hiia so
much pain and sorrow, and so many sighs,
since the bird snatched it out of his hand.
"Ah, cruel !" said he to himself, still look-
ing on the bird, "thou took'st delight in
doing mischief, so I have the loss reason to
complain of that which tliou didst to me :
but the greater it was, the more do I wish
well to those tluat revenged my quarrel on
thee, in punishing thee for the murder of
one of their own kind."
It is impossible to express prince Cama-
ralzaman's joy : "Dear princess," continued
he to himself, "this happy minute, which
restores to me a treasure so precious to thee,
is without doubt a presage of our meeting
again, and perhaps sooner than I think of.
Thank Heaven, who sent me this good for-
1
i:!
254
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
tune, and gives me the hope of the greatest
felicity that my heart can desire."
Saying this, he kissed the talisman,
wrapped it up in a riband, and tied it care-
fully about his arm. Till now he had been
almost every night a stranger to rest, his
trouble always keeping him awake, but next
night he slept soundly : ho rose somewhat
later the next morning than he used to do,
put on his working clothes, and went to the
gardener for orders. The good man bid him
root up an old tree which bore no fruit.
Camaralzamau took an axe, and began
his work. In cutting off a branch of the
root, ho found his axe struck ag.iinst some-
thing that resisted the blow, and made a
great noise. He removed the earth, and
discovered a broad plate of brass, under
which was a staircase of ten steps. He went
down, and at the bottom saw a cavity about
six yards square, with fifty brass urns placed
in order around it, each with a cover over it.
He opened them all, one after another, and
there was not one of them which was not
full of gold-dust.
He came out of ^,^ p"
the cave, rejoic- /fllHnl'ltV <k
ing that he had
found such a vast
treasure : he put
the brass plate
on the staircase,
and rooted up the
tree against the
gardener's re-
turn.
The gardener
had learned the
day before that
the ship, which was bound for the Isle
of Ebene, would sail in a few days, but the
certain time was not yet fixed. His friend
promised to let him know the day, if he
called upon him on the morrow ; and while
Camaralzaman was rooting up the tree, he
went to have his answer. He returned with
a joyful countenance, by which the prince
guessed he brought him good ne ws. " Son, "
said the old man, (so he always called him,
on account of the difference of years be-
tween him and the prince,) "be joyful, and
prepare to emiwrk in three days, the ship
will then certainly set sail : I have agreed
with the captain for your passage."
"In my present situation," replied Cam-
aralzaman, "you could not bring me more
agreeable news ; and in return, I have also
tidings that will be as welcome to you : come
along with me, and you shall see what good
fortune Heaven has in store for you."
The prince led the gardener to the place
where he had rooted up the tree, made him
go down into the cave, and when he was
there, showed him what a treasure he had
discovered, thanking Providence for reward-
ing his virtue, and the pains he had been at
for so many years. " What do you mean? "
replied the gardener : " do you imagine I
will take these riches as mine ? The pro-
perty of them is your's ; I have no right to
them. For fourscore years, since my father's
death, I have done nothing but dig in this
garden, and could not discover this treasure,
which is a sign it was destined for you, since
God has permitted you to find it. It suits
a prince like you, rather than me : I have
one foot in the grave, and am in no want of
anything. Providence has bestowed it upon
you, just when you are returning to that
country, which will one day be your own,
where yon will make a good use of it."
Prince Camaralzaman would not be out-
done in generosity by the gardener ; they
had a long dispute about it. At last the
prince solemnly protested, that he would
have none of it, unless the gardener would
divide it with him, and take half. The good
man, to please the prince, consented ; so
they parted it between them, and each had
twenty-five urns.
Having thus di-
vided it, " Son,"
said the gardener
to the prince, "it
is not enough
that you have got
this treasure : we
must now con-
trive ho w to carry
it so privately
aboard a ship,
that nobody may
know anything
of the matter,
otherwise you will run the risk of losing it.
There are no olives in the Isle of Ebene,
those that are exported hence are a good
commodity there : you know I have plenty
of them ; take what you will ; fill fifty pots,
half with the gold dust, and half with olives,
and I will get them carried to the ship when
you embark.
Camaralzaman followed this good advice,
and spent the rest of the day in packing up
the gold and the olive? in the fifty pots ; *
and fearing the tahsmon, which he wore on
his arm, might be lost again, he carefully
put it in one of the pots, marking it with a
particular mark, to distinguish it from the
other. When they were all ready to be
shipped, night coming on, the prince retired
with the gardener, and, talking together, he
related to him the battle of the birds, with
the circumstance of that adventure, by
which he had found the princess Badoura's
talisman again. The gardener was equally
surprised and joyful to hear it for his sake.
* This incident is Also much the same in tlie
romance of Peter of Provence and the taXr Mag-
delena.
THE PRINCESS BADOURA.
^55
Whether the old man was quite worn out
with age, or had exhausted himself too much
that day, the gardener had a very bad night.
He grew worse the next day ; and on the
third day, when the prince was to emV)ark,
was so ill, that it was i)lain he was nigh his
end. As soon as day broke, the captain of
the ship came in person, with several sea-
men, to the gardener's ; they knocked at the
garden-door, and Camaralzaman opened it
to them. They asked him where the pas-
senger was that was to go with him. The
prince answered, " I am he ; the gardener
who agreed with you for my passage is sick,
and cannot be spoken with. Come in, and
let your men carry those pots of olives
and my baggage aboard for me ; I will
ordy take leave of the gardener, and follow
you."
The seamen took up the pots and the bag-
gage, and the captain bid the prince make
haste, the wind being fair, and they stayed
for nothing but him.
When the caj)tain and his men were gone,
Camaralzaman went to the gardener to take
his leave of him, and thank him for all his
good ofKces ; but he found him in the ago-
nies of death, and had scarce time to bid
him rehearse the articles of his faith, which
all good Mussidmen do before they die.
The gardener did this, and exjiired in his
presence.
The prince being under the necessity of
embarking immediately, hastened to pay
the last duty to the deceased. He washed
his body, buried him in his own garden,
(for the Mahometans had no cemetery in the
city of the idolaters, where they were only
tolerated,) and, having nobody to assist him,
it was almost evening before he had put him
in the ground. As soon as he had done it,
he ran to the water-side, carrying with him
the key of the garden, designing, if he hail
time, to give it to the landlord ; otherwise
to deposit it in some trusty person's hand
before witness, that he might have it after
he was gone. When he came to the port,
he was told the ship sailed several hours be-
fore he came, and was already out of sight.
It stayed three hours for him, and the wind
standing fair, the captain durst not stay
longer.
Scheherazade would have continued her
discourse, but daylight breaking in, she was
obliged to give over for the present. At
night she resumed the story of prince Ca-
maralzaman's adventures, saying to the sul-
tan of the Indies : —
The Two Hundred and Twenty-Sixth
Night.
It is easy, sir, to imagine that prince Cama-
ralzamaa was exceedingly grieved to be
forced to stay longer in a country wliere lie
neither had nor wished to have any acquaint-
ance ; to think that he must wait another
twelvemonth for the opportimity he had
lost. But the greatest attliction of all was,
his having let go the princess Badoura's talis-
man, which he now gave over for lost. The
only course that was left for him to take
was, to return to the garden from whence
he came, to rent it of the landlord, and to
continue to cultivate it by himself, deploring
his misery and misfortimes. He hired a boy
to help him to do some i)art of the drudgery,
that he might not lose the other half of the
treasure, which came to him by the death of
the gardener, who died without heirs : he put
the gold dust in fifty other pots, which he
filled T.p with olives, to be ready against the
time of the ship's return.
While prince Camaralzaman began another
year of labour, sorrow, and impatience, the
ship, having a fair wind, continued her
voyage to the Isle of Ebene, and happily ar-
rived at the capital city.
The palace being by the sea-side, the new
king, or rather the pritices.s Badoura, espy-
ing the ship as she was entering into the
port, with all her flags, asked what vessel it
was ; she was answered, that it came annu-
ally from the city of the idolaters, and
generally was richly laden.
The princess, who always had prince
Camaralzaman in her mind amidst the glories
which surrounded her, imagined that prince
might be aboard, and resolved to go aboard
the ship and meet him, without discovering
herself to him, (for she doubted whether he
would know her again,) but to observe him,
and take proper measures for their making
themselves mutually known. Under pre-
tence of inquiring what merchandise was
aboard, and having the first sight of the
goods, and choosing the most valuable for
herself, she commanded a horse to be
brought, which she mounted, and rode to the
port, accompanied by several officers in
waiting at that time, and arrived at the port
j ust as the captain came ashore. She ordered
him to be brought before her, and asked
whence he came, how long he had been on
his voyage, and what good or bad fortune
he had met with in it ; if he had no stranger
of quality aboard, and particularly with what
his ship was laden.
The captain gave a satisfactory answer to
all her demands ; and as to passengers, as-
sured her there were none but merchants in
his ship, who used to come every year, and
bring rich stufi's from several parts of the
world to trade with, the finest linens,
painted and plain, diamonds, musk, amber-
gris, camphire, civet, spices, drugs, olives,
and many other articles.
The princess Badoura loved olives ex-
tremely : when she heard the cax)tain speak
}■ i|
' !|
s \ f
.
•I
.H
i
I'iii
ii
i
i
. ill)
l\ 4
n'l
256
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
of them, "Land them," said she ; "I will
take them off your hands. As to the other
^oods, tell the merchants to bring them to
me, and let me sec them before they dispose
of them, or shew them to any one."
The captain, taking her for the king of
the Isle of Ebeno, replied, " Sire, there are
fifty great pots of olives, but they belong to
a merchant whom I was forced to leave be-
hind. I gave him notice myself that I
stayed for him, and waited a long time, but
he not coming, and the wind offering, 1 was
afraid of losing it, and so set sail." The
jn-incess answered, "No matter; bring them
ashcxj ; we will make a bargain for them
however."
The captain sent his boat aboard, and in
a little time it returned with the pots of
olives. The princess demanded how much
the fifty pots might be worth in the Isle of
Ebene. " Sir," said the captain, "the mer-
chant ia very poor, and your majesty will do
Lim a singular favour if you give him a
thousand pieces of silver."
"To satisfy him," replied the princess,
" and because you tell me he is poor, I will
•order you a thousand pieces of gold for him,
which do you take care to give him." The
money was accordingly paid, and the jjots
■carried to the palace in her presence.
Night drawing on, the princess withdrew
into the inner paJace, and went to the prin-
cess Haiatalnefous's apartment, ordering the
fifty pots of olives to be brought thither.
She opened oae to let the princess Ha'iatal-
nefous taste them, and to taste them herself,
and ijoured them into a dish. Great was
her astonishment when she found the olives
were mingled with gold-dust. "Whan can
this mean ? " said she, " it is wonderful be-
yond comprehension." Her curiosity in-
creasing by so extraordinary an adventure,
she ordered Haiatalnefous's women to open
and empty all the pots in her presence ; and
lier wonder was still greater, when she saw
that the olives in all of them were mixed
with gold-dust ; but when she saw her talis-
man drop out of that in which the prince
had put it, she was so suriirised, that she
fainted away. The princess Haiatalnefous
and her women recovered the princess
Badoura, by throwing cold water in her face.
When she recovered her senses, she took the
talisman, and kissed it again and again ;
but not being willing that the princess
Haiatalnefous's women, who were ignorant
of her disguise, should hear what she said,
and it growing late, she dismissed them.
"Princess," said she to Haiatalnefous, as
soon as they were gone, "you, who have
heard my story, to be sure guessed it was at
the sight of the talisman that I fainted.
This is that talisman and the fatal cause of
my losing my dear husband, prince Camaral-
zaman : but as it was that which caused our
separation, so I foresee it will be the meona
of our approaching meeting."
The next day, as soon as it was light, she
sent for the captain of the ship ; and when
he came, spoke to him thus: "I want to
know something more of the merchant to
whom the olives belong, that I bought of
you yesterday. I think you told me you
left him behind you in the city of idolaters :
can you tell me what he does there ? "
" Yes, sire," replied the captain, "I can
speak on my own knowledge. I agreed for
his passage with a very old gardener, who
told me I should find him in his garden
where he worked \inder him. He shewed
me the place, and for that reason I told
your majesty he was poor. I went thither
to call him. I told him what haste I was
in, spoke to him myself in the garden, and
cannot be mistaken in the man."
"If what you eay is true," replied the
princess Badoura, "you must set sail this
very day for the city of idolaters, and fetch
me that gardener's man, who is my debtor ;
else I will not only confiscate all your goods
and those of your merchants, but your and
their lives shall answer for his. I have
ordered my seal to be put on the warehouses
where they are, which shall not be taken off
till you bring me that man : this is all I
have to say to you ; go, and do as I com-
mand you."
The captain could make no reply to this
order, the disobeying of which woidd be a
very great loss to him and his merchants.
He acquainted them with it; and they
hastened him away as fast as they coiUd,
after he had laid in a stock of provisions
and fresh watei' for his voyage. They were
so diligent, th.vt he set sad the same day.
He had a proipcrous voyage to the city of
the idolaters, -nhotc he arrived in the night.
When he was got as near the city as he
thought convenient, he would not cast
anchor, but let the ship ride off shore ; and
going into his boat, with six of his stoutest
seamen, he landed a little way off the port,
whence he went directly to Camaralzaman's
garden.
Though it was about midnight when he
came there, the prince was not asleep. His
separation from the fair princess of China,
his wife, afflicted him as usual. He cursed
the minute in which his curiosity tempted
him to touch the fatal girdle.
Thus did he pass those hours which are
devoted to rest, when he heard somebody
knock at the garden-door ; he ran hastily to
it, half dressed as he was ; but he had no
sooner opened it, but the captain and the
seamen took hold of him, and carried him
by force on board the boat, and so on ship-
board, where as soon as ho was safely lodged,
they set sail inunediately, and made the
best of their way to the Isle of Ebene.
THE PRINCESS B A DOUR A.
257
Hitherto Camaralzanian, the cai)taiii, aid
his men, had not said a word to ono another ;
at last the prineo })roko HJlonce, and asked
the captain, whom hu knew again, wliy
they had taken him away by force ? Tlie
ca])tain in his turn dema ided of the prince,
whether ho was not a d.^htor of the king of
Ebene ? " T, the kii.;; jf Ebcne's debtor ! "
replied Camaralzaman ui amazement ; " I do
not know him ; I liad never anythinj,' to do
with him in my life, and never set ifoot in
his kingdom." The captain answered,
" You shoidd know that better than I : you
will talk to him yourself in a little while;
till then, stay hero and have patience."
Scheherazade was obliged to stop here,
the siUtan of the Indies rising to attend to
his usual l)usiness. She resumed the story
at night, and thus wenc on : —
The Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh
Night.
Sir, I have told your majesty how prince
C'amaralzamau was taken out of his garden,
and carried on board ship forcil)ly. The
captain was not long on hia voyage back to
the Isle of Ebene. Though it was night
when he cast anchor in the port, he lauded
immediately, and taking prince C'amaral-
zamau ^\ith him, hastened to the palace,
where he demanded to be introduced to the
king.
The princess Badoura was withdrawn into
the iimer palace : however, as soon as she
had heard of the captain's return, and Ca-
maralzamau's arrival, she came out to speak
to him. As soon as she cast her eyes on the
prince, for whom she had shed so many
tears, she knew him in his gardener's habit.
As for the ])rince, who trembled in the pre-
sence of a king, as he thought her, to whom
he was to answer for an imaginary debt, it
coidd not enter into his thoughts, that the
person whom he so earnestly desired to see,
stood before him. If the princess had fol-
lowed the dictates of her inclination, she
would have run to him, and, by embracing,
discovered herself to him ; but she put a
constraint on herself, believing that it was
for the interest of both that she should act
the part of a king a little longer before he
made herself known. She contented her If
for the present to put him into the hands of
an officer, who was then in waiting, charging
him to take care of him, and use him "well,
till next day.
When the princess Badoura had provided
for prince C'amaralzaman, she turned about
to the captain, whom she was now to reward
for the important service he had done her.
She commanded another officer to go imme-
diately and take the seal off the warehouse
where his and Ms merchants' goods were,
and gave him a rich diamond, woi-th much
more than the expense he had been at in
both his voyages. She besides bid him keep
the thousand j)ieces of gold she had given
him for the pots of olives, telling him she
woidd make up the account with the mer-
chant whom he had brought with him.
This done, she retired to the princess of
the Islo of Ebene's apartment, to whom she
communicated her joy, praying her to keep
the secret still. She told her how »h<i in-
tended to manage the discovering of herself
to prince Camaralzaman, and giving the
kingdom to him ; adding, there was so vast
a dillerence between a gardener and a great
j)rince, as he is, that it may bo dangerous to
raise him at once from the lowest condition
of the people to the highest degree, however
justice rerpiired it should be done. The
princess of the Isle of Ebene was so far from
betraying her, that she rejoiced with her,
and entered into the design, assuring her she
woiUd with the greatest pleasure contribute
to it all that lay in her power, and that she
had only to say what she would desire of
her.
The next morning the princess of China
ordered i)rince Camaralzaman to be con-
ducted early to the bath, and then apparelled
in the robes of an emir or governor of a
jirovince. She commanded him to be intro-
duced into the council, where his fine person
and majestic ."'r drew all the eyes of the
lords there present upon him.
The princess Badoura herself was charmed
to see him again, as lovely as she had often
seen him, and that pleasure inspired to speak
the more warmly in his praise. When she
addressed herself to the council, having
ordered the prince to take his seat among
the CTuirs, she spoke to them thus: "My
lords, Camaralzaman, whom I have advanced
to the same dignity with you, is not unwor-
thy the place assigned him. I have known
enough of liim in my travels to answer for
him, and I can assure you he will make his
merit known to all of you, as well by his
valour, as by a thousand other brilliant
qualities, and the extent of his genius."
Camaralzaman was extretiu'ly amazed to
hear the king of the Isle of Ebene, whom he
was far from taking for a woman, nuich less
for his dear princess, name him, and declare
that he knew him, while he thought himself
certain he had never seen him before in his
life. He was much more surprised when he
heard him praise him so excessively. Those
praises, however, from the mouth of majesty,
did not disconcert him, though he received
them with such modesty, as shewed that he
deserved them, and did not grow vain upon
it. He prostrated himself before the throne
of the king, and rising again, " Sire," said
he, "I want words to express my gratitude
to your majesty for the honour you have
a
}
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'II
f
,' I
f-l
1:1
'li-i
i
Al
258
TY/^- ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
done me : I shall do all in my power to ren-
der myself worthy of your royal favour."
From tho council-board tlio iiriiiee waa
conducted to a palace, whiuh the princuss
Badoura had ordered to be iitted up for
bim ; where he found otliuurs ...id domestics
ready to ubcy his commands, a stablo full
of tine horses, and everything siiitubic to tho
quality of an emir. Whe". he was in his
closet, the steward of his household brought
him a strong box full of gold for his expeiiiies.
The less he conceived whence came his
great good fortune, the more lie aduiircd it,
but never once imagined that ho owed it to
the princuss of China,
Two or three days after, the princess Ba-
doura, that he might be nearer her ])crson,
and in a more distinguished post, made him
high treasurer, which office became lately
vacant. Ho behaved himself in his now
charge with so much integrity, yet obliging
'everybody, that he not only gained the
friendship of the great, but also the afl'eo-
tions of the people, by his uprightness and
bounty.
Camaralzamnn had been the hapi)iest man
in the world, to see himself in so high favour
with a foreign king as he conceived, and in-
creasing in the esteem of all his subjects, if
he had had his princess with him. In the
midst of this good fortune he never ceased
lamenting her, and grieved that he could
hear no tidings of her, eajJcciaUy in a coun-
try whore she must necessarily have come
in her way to his father's court, after thuir
separation, so aflliuting to both. He had
mistrusted somuthing, had the princess
Badoura still gone by tho name of L'amaral-
zaman, which she took with his habit ; but
on her accession to the tlirone, she changed
it, and took that of Armanos, in honour of
the old king, her father-in-law. She was
known now oidy by the name of the young
king Armanos. There were very few cour-
tiers who knew that she had eve'- been called
Camaralzaman, which name she assumed
when she arrived at the court of the Isle of
Ebene : nor had Camaralzaman so much
acquaintance with any of them yet, to in-
form himself further of her history.
The princess, fearing ho might do it in
time, and desiring that he should owe the
discovery of herself to herself oidy, resolved
to put on end to her own torments and his ;
for she hod observed, that as often as she
discoursed with him about the affairs of his
office, he fetched such deep sighs, as could
be addressed to nobody but her. She herself
lived in such a constraint, that she could
endure it no longer. Add to this the friend-
ship of the emirs and courtiers, the zeal and
a£fection of the people ; in a word, every-
thing contributed to her putting the crown
of the Isle of Ebene on his head, without
any obstacle.
Tho princess Badoura had no sooner taken
this resolution with the princess Haiatalne<
fous, than she tho same day took prince
Camaralzaman aside, saying, "I must talk
with you about an affair, Camaralzaman,
which requires much consideration, and on
whiuli I want your advice. As I do not see
how it can be done so conveniently as in the
night, come luther in the evening, and leave
word at home not to be waited for ; I will
take care to provide you a bed."
Camaralzaman came punctually to the
])alace at the hour appointed by the princess ;
she took him with her into the inner a])art-
ment, and having told the chief eunuch, who
prepared to foUow her, she had no occasion
for his service, and that he should only keep
the door shut, she carried him into a dif-
f I' rent ajiartment from tliat of the princess
Ilaintalnefous, where she used to slecj).
When tho prince and princess entered
the chamber, where there was a bed, she
.shut the door, and taking the talisman out
of a little box, gave it to Camaralzaman,
saying, " It is not long since an astrologer
presented me with this talisman ; you being
skilful in all things, may perhaps tell me
its use."
Camaralzaman took the talisman, and
drew near a lamp to view it. As soon as he
recollected it, with an astonishment which
gave the ])rince88 great pleasure, "Sire,"
said he to the prince, " your majesty asked
me what this talisman is good for. Alas !
it is only good to kill me with grief and
despair, if I do not quickly find the most
charming and lovely princess in the world,
to whom it belonged, whose loss it was the
occasion of to me by a strange adventure,
the very recital of which will move your
majesty to pity such an imfortunatc hus-
band and lover, if you wiU have patience to
hear it."
" You shall tell me that another time,"
replied the princess; "I am very glad to
tell you I know something of it already ;
stay here a little, and I will return to you in
a moment."
At these words she went into her closet,
put off' her royal turban, and in a few
minutes dressed herself like a woman ; and
having the girdle round her, which she had
on the day of their separation, she entered
the chamber.
Prince Camaralzaman immediately knew
his dear princess, ran to her, and tenderly
embraced her, crying out, " How much I
am obliged to the king who has so agreeably
surprised me ! " "Do not expect to see the
king any more," replied the princess, em-
bracing him in her turn, with tears in her
eyes ; " you see him in me ; sit down, and I
will explain this enigma to you."
They sat down, and the princess told the
prince the resolution she came to, in the
.' i
THE PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
259
field where they encanipctl the last time
they -were togt'ther, as hooii at) she perceived
she waited for him to no purpose ; liow she
went through with it till hIio arrived at the
Isle of Ehene, where she had been obliged
to marry the princess Hoiataliiefous, and
accept of the crown, which king Arnianos
offered her as a c ouditiou of the marriage :
how the princess, whoso merit she highly
extolled, took her declaration of her sex :
and how she found the talisman in the [mts
of olives mingled with the gokl-dust, which
she bought, and how the finding it was the
cause of her sending for him from the city of
the idolaters.
When she had done telling her adventure,
ahe obliged the prince to tell her by what
accident the talisman occasioned their sepa-
ration. Hu satisfied her inquiries ; and
when he had done, he upbraided her in the
kindest expressions for her cruelty in mak-
ing him langiiish so long without her ; she
excused herself with the reasons already
related ; after which, it growing late, they
went to bed.
Scheherazade seeing the day begin to dawn,
said no more, but the following night she
continued the story thus : —
The Two Hundred and Twenty-Eighth
Night.
SiE, the princess Badoura and prince Cama-
ralxaman rose next morning as so(m as it
was light, but the princess would no more
put on her royal robes as king ; she dressed
herself in the dress of a woman, and then
sent the chief eunuch to king Armanos, her
father-in-law, to desire he would give him-
self the trouble to come to her apartment.
When the king entered the chamber, he
was amazed to see there a lady that was
unknown to him, and the high treasurer
with her, who was not permitted to come
within the inner palace, nor any of the lords
of the court. He sat down and asked where
the king was.
The princess answered, " Yesterday I was
king, sir, and to-day I am only princess of
China, wife to the true prince Camaralza-
man, the true son of king Schahzaman. If
your majesty will have patience to hear both
our stories, I hope you will not condemn me
for putting an i.:uoceut deceit ui)on you."
The king bid her go on, and heard her dis-
course from the beginning to the end with
astonishment. The i)riuces8 finishing it, said
to him, " Sir, though in our religion women
do not easily comply with the liberty assumed
by men to have several wives ; yet if your
majesty will consent to give your daughter
the princess Haiatalnefous in marriage to
prince Camaralzaman, I will with all my
heart yield up to her the rank and quality of
queen, which of right belongs to her, and
content myself with the second place. If thia
precedence was not her due, I wouhl, how-
ever, give it her, after the obligati<m I have
to her for keeping my secret so generously.
If your majesty refers it to her consent, I
am sure of that, having already couNidted
her; and I will pass my word that she will
be very well satislled."
King Armanos listened to the princess
with astonishment, and when she had done,
turned about to prince Camaralzaman, say-
ini,', " Since the princess Badoura, your wife,
whom I have all along thought to be my son-
in-law, through a deceit of which I cannot
complain, assures nu', that shf will divide
your bed with my daughter, 1 have nothing
more to do, but to knuw n: you if you are
willing to marry her, aiiKl »oct?pt of the
crown, which the Mriucess B*ili'ura would
deservedly wear as ong as sh* ivod, if sho
did not (juit it «>u« 01 love t*. ou. ''Sir,"
replied jirince Caaaaralz.inian. ■•thouj,'h I
desir • iiothinc ■•• »amestlv as to see the king
V y father, yi t =ae obligations I have to your
majesty and the princcM Haiatalnefous are
so weighty I can refuse her nothing." Cama-
ralzaman was proclaimed king, and married
the same day with all possible demonstra-
tions of joy ; and hatl every reason to bo
well pleased with the princess Haiatalnefous'
beauty, wit, and love for him.
The two queens lived together afterwards
on the same friendly terms, and in the same
cordiality as they had done before, both be-
ing contented with king Caniaralzaman's
equal carriage towards them, and they alter-
nately were taken to his bed.
The next year each brought him a son at
the same time, and the births of the two
princes were celebrated with extraordinarj'
rejoicings : the first, which the princess
Badoura was delivered of, king Camaralza-
man called Amgiad (most glorious ;) and the
other, which was bom of queen Haiatalne-
fous, Assad (most happy.)
THE STORY OF THE PEIXCE.S AMGIAD AND
ASSAD.
The two princes were brought up with
great care ; and, when they were old enough,
had the same governor and the same instruc-
tors, in the arts and sciences which king
Camaralzaman woidd have them learn, and
the same master for each exercise. The
friendship, which from their infancy they
conceived for each other, occasioned an
uniformity of maimers and inclinations,
which increased it. When they were of an
age to have separate households, they loved
one another so tenderly, that they begged
king Camaralzaman to let them live toge-
ther. He consented to it. So they had the
same domestics, the same equipages, the
26o
THE ARADIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINAfENTS.
I f.
h\
8ain« n[iivrtriu'ut, iiinl the mxww tablu. Ca-
niArulitiuiini\ liad fornicil ho ^cmxI iiii ()[iiniiiii
«il' tlu'ir c'a[iacity mid integrity, tliat hu iiuiiU;
no Mcruplu of udiiiittiiii; tlu'iii into \m umm-
oil at oi>,'htc'i!n ycais olil, ami letting them,
by turii.H, jii'i'sidi' tlii'iv, wlidu Ik; liinwolf
took till' divi'i'.sioii of luiiitinif, or aiiiuiiud
himHulf witii liix qiiuciia at liiii houBca of
l)k'asuiu.
1"he two ]iriiici's biMiii; ii([iially liaiulsoiiie
and well niado Inmi their infancy, the two
<[iicena loved them with inorediblo tender-
ness, yet HO, that the princess liadoitrn liad
u f;reater kindneys for prince Ansad, quei'n
Haiatalnefous' son, than Uiv her own ; and
<iueen Hamtalnetous loved Anigiad, the
lirincesH fiadonra's son, better than her own
son Assad.
The two qneens tho\iglit at (irat that
inclination was nothinj; but a friendshii)
which proceeded from an excess of their
own friendship for each other, which tiicy
still preserved : but as the two ])rincu8
advanced in years, that friendship turned to
ft violent love, when they appeared in their
eyes to ]ioHse83 graces that blinded their
reason. They knew how criminal their pas-
sion was, and did all they could to resist it;
but the familiar intercourse with them, and
the lialjit of admiring, praising, aiul carress-
ing them from their infanc;,, which they
could not leave olf when they grew up,
inflamed their desires to such a height, that
tbey could neither eat, drink, nor sleeii. It
■was their and ihe princes' ill fortune, that
the latter, being used to be so treated by
them, had not the least suspicion of their
infamous passion.
The two qneens had not concealed from
each other this passion, but had not the
boldness to declare it verbally to each of
the princes she loved: they at last resolved
to do it by a billet, and availed themselves
of king Camaralzamau's absence to execute
their wicked design, when he was gone on
a hunting party for three or four days.
I'rince Amgiad presided at the council on
the day of king ( 'amaralzaman's departure,
and administered justice till two or three
o'clock in the afternoon j when he returned
to the jialace from the council chamber, an
eunuch took liim aside, and gave him a
billet from queen Haiatalnefous : Amgiad
took it, and read it with horror. "Traitor,"
said he to the eunuch, as soon as he had
read it through, "ia this the fidelity thou
owest thy master and thy king ? " At these
■words he ckew his sabre, and cut off his
Lead.
Having done this in a trans])ort of anger,
Le ran to the jirincess Badoura his mother,
she^wed her the billet, told her the contents
of it, and from whom it civme. Instead of
hearkening to him, she fell into a ^'i^ssion
herself, and said, " Son, it is all a calumny
and impoaturo; queen Hniatalnefouii ia a
very discreet princesH, and you aro very
bohl to talk to niu against her after this
rate." Tho prince, enraged at his mother,
cried, " You an^ both equally wicked, and
were it Mot for tlu' respect I owe my father,
this day should have been tli) last of
liaiataluefons's life."
(^uoen liadoura might have imagined by
tilt' example of her Hon Amgiail, tliat prince
.Vssad, who was not le.ts virtuous, would not
receive more favourably a declaration of
lovo like that which hul l)een made to his
brother. Yi^t that did not hinder her per-
sisting in HO abominable a design ; she thu
next liay wrote him a billet, which nhe trusted
to an old woman who had access to the
pahu.'i', to convey to him.
The old woman watched her opportunity
to give it him as ho was coming from the
ciunicil-chaiiiber, where he presided that day
in his turn ; the jirince took it, and reading
it, fell into such a rage, that, without giving
hiniHclf time to finish it, he ilrew his sabre,
and punished the old woman as she deserved.
He ran presently to his mother queen Haia-
talncfoiis's apartment with the billet in his
hand ; he would have shewn it to her, but
she did not give him time, crying out, " [
know what you mean ; you are as imper-
tinent as your brother Amgiad ; begone 1
and never come into my presence again. "
Assad stood as one thunderstruck at these
words, which he never exiiected. He was si>
transported with rage, that he had like to
have given very fatal dcmonatrations of his
anger ; but he contained himself, and ■with-
drew without making any rejily, fearing, if
he stayed, he might say something unworthy
the greatness of his soul. Amgiad had not
mentioned to him the billet which he re-
ceived the preceding day, and finding by
what his mother had said to him that she
■was altogether as criminal as queen Haia-
talnefous, he -^veiit to his brother, to chide
lum for not communicating the hated seciet
to him, and to miir^le his sorrow with his.
The two queens, rendered desperate by
finding in the two princes so much virtue,
which should have had an inlluence on
them, renounced all sentiments of nature
and mothers, and conspired together to de-
stroy them : they made tliiur women believe
the two princes had attempted their virtue :
they counterfeited the matter to the life by
their tears, cries, and curses ; and lay in the
same bed, as if the resistance they pretended
to have made had reduced them almost to
death's door.
But, sir, said Scheherazade, day appears,
and i)revent3 me saying more at this time.
■She ceased : and the next night continued
the story in this manner, addressing herself
to the sultan of the Indies : —
THE PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
:6i
The Two Hundred and Twenty-Ninth
Night.
Sir, wo left tho two untmtural ciuccnB
yt'ntordiiy rcsolvi'il on (U'Htroyiii>{ tlm two
princL'H tla'ir sons. Wlicu ( 'iiniiiralzaiimii
rutuniL'd to tho jinlftcu fn>m Imntiii'^', liu wan
vi'ry iinK'li HiiriiriMud to liiul tlicm in ln'il
toyothor, nil in tt'iirs, iiutin^' lU'siMiniU'noy so
well, that ho wna toiiohod with c()ni])nrt»ion,
llf ftokt'd thorn with enruostncss wlmt Imd
bappoiu'd to them.
At this (|ii('stic)n tho disaoinhlinn (pioons
wept and Hohliod nioro liittcily than hoforo ;
and after ho had proHscd thoni a<{ain and
again to toll him, (juoon Itadonra at last
answorod him : "Sir, our ;;riof is so woU
founded, that wo ou,t;ht not to seo tho liyht
of the sun, nor live a day, after tho vio-
lence that liati hoen ollered us l)y the nnpa-
rallelod brutality of the ]irinces your sous.
They formed a horrid dosii^'n, oncourai^od
Ijy your ah.senco, and had the boldness and
insolence to attempt our honour. Vour ma-
josty will excuse us from sayinfj any more ;
you may yuess the rest by our atUictioii."
Tho kiui,' sent for tho two i)rinci'S, and
La<l killed thorn both with his own hand, if
old kin:; Armanos his father-in-law, who was
by, had nut hold his hand. " .Sou," said ho,
what are yon goinjj to do? Will yon staiD
your hands and your palaco with your own
blood ? Thoro arc other ways of punisliing
them, if thoy aro really j^uilty."
lie ondoavoured tinis to a|i)ioaHn liim, and
di'sirod him to examine whothor they did
indeed commit the crime of which they woru
accused.
It was no hard thin^ for Camnral/amaii
V bo so much master of himself, as not to
bui 'her his own ciiildron : he ordered them
to b( out under arrest, and sent for an emit
called (liondar, whom ho commandocl to
carry them out of tho city, and put them to
death, at a great distance, and in what placo
ho pleased, but not to see him again, unleaa
ho briiiight their clothes with him, as u token
of his having executed his orders,
Oiondar travelled with them all night,
anil early next morning mailo them alight,
telling them, with tears in his eyes, tho
commands he had recoivtul. " Ilelievo mo,
princes," said ho, "it is a trying duty im-
posed on mo by your father, to execute this
cruel order: wouhl to Heaven I could avoid
it!" Tho princes replied, " Do your duty,
we know well ymi are not the cause of our
deaths, and forgive ynu with all luir hearts."
Then they embraced, and bade each other
the last adieu with so much tenderness, that
it was a long time before they could leave
one another's arms. I'rincc Assad was the
first who prepared himself for the fatal
stroke, " Begin with me, Giondar," said he,
"that I may not have the trouble to see my
dear brother Anigiad die." Amgiad opposed
it ; and Giondar could not, without weeping
more than before, be witness of this dispute
between them ; which shewed how perfect
and sincere their friendship was.
At last they thus determined the contest.
desiring Giondar to tie them together, and
l)ut them in the most convenient posturo
for him to give them the fatal stroke at one
blow. " Do not refuse the comfort of dying
together to two unfortunate brothers, who
from their birth have shared everything,
even their innocence," said tho generous
princes.
Giondar granted their request : he tied
them to each other, breast to breast; and
wmmm
mmmn
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262
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
wlien he had placed them so as hu thought
he might strike the blow with more surety,
and cut off their headp at once, ho asked
them if tlioy had anything to command him
before they died.
"We have only one thing to desire of
you," replied the princes; "which is, to
assure the kintr our father at your return,
that we are innocent ; but that we do not
charge him with our deaths, knowing he is
not well informed of the truth of the crime
with which we are accusecL"
Giondar promised to do what they woidd
have him, and drew hia sabre : his horse
being tied to a tree just by, started at the
sight of the sabre, which glittered against
the sun, broke his bridle, and ran away
with all speed into the country.
He was a very valuable good horse, and
so richly harnessed, that the emir could not
bear the loss of him. This accident so trou-
bled him, that instead of beheading the two
princes, he threw away his sabre, and ran
after his horse to catch him again.
The horse gjilloijped on before him, and
led him saveral miles out of his way into a
wtod. Giondar followed him, and the
horse's neighing roused a lion that was
asleep. The lion started up, and instead of
running after the horse, made d-'rectly to-
wards Giondar, who thought no jaore of his
horse, but how to save his life ai d avoid the
lion. He ran into the thickest of the wood,
the lion kee[iing him iii view, pursuing him
among the trees. In this extremity he said
to himself, " Heaven had not pimishtd me
in this manner, but to shew the innocence
of the i)rince3 whom I was commanded to
])ut to death ; and now, to my misfortune,
I have not my sabre to defend myself."
While Giondar was gone, the two princes
were seized with a violent thirst, occasioned
by the fear of death, notwithstanding their
noble resolution tu submit to the king their
father's cruel ordei".
Prince Amgiad told the prince his brother
there was a spring not far off. " Ah ! bro-
ther," said As? d, "we have so little time
to live, wliat need have we to quench our
thirst ? We can bear it a few minutes
longer."
Amgiad, taking no notice of his brother's
remonstrance, unbound himself, and unbound
the prince his l)rother whether he would or
no. They went to the spring, and having
refreshed themselves, heard the roaring of
the lion. They also heard Giondar's dread-
ful cries in the wood where he and the horse
were. Amgiad took up Giondar's sabre
which lay on the ground, saying to Assad,
" Come, brother, let us go and help poor
Giondar ; i)erhaps we may arrive soon
enough to deliver him from the danger in
which he now is."
The two princes ran to the wood, and
entered it just as the lion was going to fall
on Giondar. The beast, seeing prince
Amgiad advancing towards him with a
sabre mi his band, left his i)rey, and came
against him with fury. The prince met him
intrepidly, and gave him a blow so forcibly
and dexterously, that it felled him to the
ground.
When Giondar saw that he owed his life
to the two princes, he threw himself at their
feet, and thanked them, for the groat obli-
gation he had to them, in words which suf-
iiciently shewed his gratitude. " Princes,"
said ho, rising up and tissing their hands
with tears in his eyes. "God forbid that
ever 1 should attempt inything against your
lives, after you have so kindly and bravely
THE PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
263
saved mine. It shall never be said, that
the emir Giondar was guilty of such ingrati-
tude."
"The service we have done you," an-
swered the princes, "ought not to hinder
you from executing the orders yoti have re-
ceived ; let us lirst catch your horse again,
and then return to the place where you loft
us." They were at no great trouble to take
the horse, whoso mettle was abated with
running. When they had restored him to
Giondar, and were near the fountain, they
begged of him, and argued with him to do
as their father had commanded him ; but all
to no purpose. "I only take liberty to de-
sire you," said Giondar, " and I pray you
not to deny me, that you will divide ;./
clothes between you, and give nie y( m's,
and go iiO such a distance, that the king
your father may never hear of you more."
The princes were fo ced to comply with
his request. Each of them gave him his
clothes, and covjred themselves with what
he could spare them of his. He also gave
them all the money he had about him, and
took leave of them.
When the emir Giondar ]iarted from the
princes, he passed through the wood, where
Amgiad had killed tlie \wu, in whose blood
he dipped their clothes : which having done,
he proceeded on his way to the capital city
of the Isle o.^ Ebene.
At his arrival there, king Camaralzaman
asked if he hatl done what he ordered him.
Giondar replied, " .See, sir, the proofs of my
obedience;" giving him, at the same time,
the princes' clothes.
"How did they take the punishment I
commanded to be executed on themV"
Giondar answered, " With wonderful con-
stancy, sir, and resignation to the decrees of
Heaven, w' •/■'• s] ewed how sincerely they
made jiro^^'jsriiu; of their religion : but par-
ticularly -.villi great respect towards your
ma.jjsty, ma an inconceivable submission
to i,' c mteaoe of death. ' We die inno-
cent, Bi^id they ; ' but we do not murmii - ;
we take our death from the hand of Hcav
and forgive our father ; for we know /
well he has not been rightly informed ol vhe
truth.'"
Camaralzaman, sensibly touched at emir
Giondar's relation, bethought himself of [jut-
ting his hand in their pockets : ho began
with prince Amgiad' s, where he found a bil-
let open, which he read, hi no sooner
knew that queen Haiatalnefous writ it, as
well by a lock of her hair which was in it,
and by the hand-writing, but he was chilled
with horror. He then, trt;mbling, put his
hand into that of Assad ; and finding there
queen Badoura's billet, his surjtrise was so
great and sudden, that he fainted.
The sultaness Hcheherazade perceiving, as
she spoke these words, that day beg;in to
dawn, gave over speaking, and deferred the
continuation of the story tiU the next night :
when she resumed it in the following man-
ner, and said to the sultan of the Indies :—
The Two Hundred and Thirtieth Night.
Sir, never was grief equal to Camaralaa-
uian's when he was recovered from his iit.
"Baibarous father," cried he, "what hast
thou done ? Thou hast murdered thy own
children, thy innocent children ! Did not
their wisdom, their modesty, their obedience,
their submission to thy will in all things,
their virtue, all [)lead in their behalf ? Blind
and insensible father ! dost thou deserve to
live after the (;xecrable crime thou hast com-
mitted? I have brought this abomination
on my own head ; and Heaven chastises me
for not persevering in that aversion to
women in which I was born. And oh, ye
detosta1)le wives ! I will not, no I will not,
as yc deserve, wash oti' the guilt of your sins
with your blood ; yo are unworthy of my
rage ; but perdition seize me if ever I see
you more ! "
King Camaralzaman was a man of too
much religion to break his vow : he com-
manded the two queens to be lodged in
separate apartments that very day, where
they were kept under strong guards, and
ho never saw them again as long as he
lived.
While the kinir. of the Isle of Ebenr
afllicted himself for the loss of the princes
his sons, whose death he thought he had
been the author of, by his too rashly con-
demning them, the royal youths wandered
through deserts, endeavouring to avoid all
places that were inhabited, and to meet any
human creature. They lived on herbs and
wild fniits, and drank only foul laiu-water,
which they found in the cre\ices of the
rocks. They slept .inil watched by turns at
night, for fear of wilil beasts.
When they had travelled about a month,
they came to the foot of a frigJitful moun-
tain, of black stones, and to all appearance
inaccessible. They at last espied a so.'t of
])atli, but so narrow and <litticidt, that they
durst not venture up it. Tnis obliged them
to go along by the foot of tlio mountain, in
lioiies to find a more easy way to roach the
tii]i of it. They wont about it live days,
but could see nothing like a path, so they
were forced to return to that which tliey had
neglected. They still thouglit it would be
in vain for them to attempt going up by it ;
they deliljcrated what thoy siumld do a
long time ; and at last, encouraging one
another, resolved to ascend the hill.
The more they advanced, they thought it
was the higher and the more stec]), wliich
made them think several times of giving
264
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
over their enterprise. When the one was
weary, the other stopjied, and tliey took
breath together ; sometimes they were both
so tired, that they wanted strength to go
further : then, desjiairing of being able to
reach the to]), they thought tliey must lie
down and die of fatigue and weariness. A
few minutes after, wlien they found they
recovered strength, they animated each
other, and went on.
Notwitlistanding all their endeavours, and
their courage and perseverance, they could
not get to the top that day : night came on,
and prince Assad was so tired .and spout,
that he stojiped, and said to prince Amgiad,
"Brother, I can go no further; I am just
dying." " Let us rest ourselves," replied
l)rince Amgiad, "as long as you will, and
have a good heart ; it is but a little way to
the top, and the moon befriends us."
They rested themselves about half an hour,
and then Assad made a new effort, and once
more ascended what remained of the way to
/the mountain's summit, where they both at last
arrived, and lay down. Amgiad rose iirst,
and advancing, saw a tree at a little dis-
tance : he went to it, and found it was a
pomegrauate-trcc with large fruit upon it,
and a spring at the foot of it : ho ran to his
brother Assad to tell him the good news,
and conduct him to the tree by the fountain
side. They refreshed themselves there by
eating each a pomegranate, after which they
fell asleep.
When they awoke next morning, "Come,
brother," said Amgiad to Assad, "let us go
on ; I see the mountain is easier to be tra-
velled over on this side than the other ; all
our way now is down bill ; " but Assad wus
so tired with the last day's fatig\ie, that ho
wanted three days' repose to recover himself.
They spent them as they had done many
before, in discoursing on their mothers'
inordinate passion, which had reduced them
to such a deplorable state: "But," said
they, "since Heaven has so ■••Mlily declared
itself in our favour, we ougl. .,0 bear it with
patience, and comfort ourselves with hopes
that wo shall see an end of it."
After having rested three days, the two
brothers continued their travels. As the
mountain on that side was composed of
several stages of extensive fields, they were
five days in descending it, before they came
into the plain. They then discovered a
great city, fit which they rejoiced. "Bro-
ther," said Amgiad to Assad, "are not you
of my opinion, that you shoiUd stay in some
place out of the citj', where I may find you
again, while I go and learn the language,
and inform myself what is the name of the
city ? in what country we are ? and wlien I
come back, I will bring provisions with me.
It may not be safe for us to go there to-
gether."
"Brother," replied Assad, "your advica
is both safe and prudent, and I approve of
what you say ; but if one of us must part
from the other on that account, I will not
suffer it shall be you ; you must allow me
to go, or what shall I suffer, if any ill acci-
dent should hapi)en to you ? "
"But, brother," answered Amgiad, "the
same ill accident you fear for me, I have as
much reason to be afraid of for you ; I en-
treat you to let me go, and do you stay here
with ])atience." " 1 will never yield to it,"
said Assad ; "if any ill happen to me, it
will be some comfort to think you are safe."
Amgiad was forced to submit, and Assad
going towards the city, he stayed under the
trees at the foot of the mountain.
Prince Assad took the j)urse of money
which Amgiad had in charge, and went for-
ward towards the city. He had not gone
far in the first street, before he met with a
reverend old man with a cane in his hand :
he was neatly dressed, and the prince took
him for a man of note in the place, who
would not ])ut a trick upon him ; so he ac-
costed him thus : "Pray, my lord, which is
the way to the market-place? " The old
man looked on prince Assad, smiling :
"Child," said he, "it is plain you are a
stranger, or you would not have asked that
que.stion of me."
" Yes, my lord, I am a stranger," replied
Assad. The old man answei'cd, " You are
welcome then ; our country will be honoured
by the ]>redcnoo of so handsome a young man
as you are : tell me what Imsiiiess you have
at tho market-place."
"My lord," ie]>li('d Assad, "itisneartwo
months since my brother and I sit out irom
our own cnuntr) , which is a _gr(>at way from
hence : wo have not ceased travelling, and
we arrived here but to-day. My brother,
tired with such a long journey, .stays at the
foot of the mountain, and I am come to buy
some provision for him and me."
"8011," said the old man. " you could not
have come in a better time, anil I am glad
of it, for your and your brother's sake : I
made a feast to-day for some friends of mine,
and there is a great deal of victuals left un-
touched : come along with me ; you shall
eat as much as you please ; and when you
have done, I will give you enough to last
your brother and you several days : do not
sjiend your money, when there is no occa-
sion for it ; travellers are always in want of
it. WhUe you are eating, I will give you an
account of our city, whicli nobody can do
Ijetter than myself, who have borne all the
honourable ofKces in it. It is well for you
that you happened to light upon me ; for I
must tell you, all our citizens cannot so well
help and inform j'ou as I can : 1 can assure
you some of them are very wicked. Come
along, you shall see the ditl'erence between a
THE PRLVCES AMCfAD AND ASSAD.
261;
real hont-st man, as J aui, and Hucia as buast
of ))ein!,' -id, and are not."
" I ain iiitiuiti^ly obliged to yf.u," reiilied
Assad, "for your good will t"ward8 me;
I put myself entt-fly into your hands,
nnd am ready to ■."' with you where you
please."
The old man laughed in his sleeve to
think he had got the prince in his clutches ;
and as ho walked 1>y the side of him, and iiU
the way, lost he should perceive it, talked of
various subjects, to preserve the favourable
opinion Assad had of him. " Among other
tilings," said he, "it must be confessed you
Avere very fortunate to meet with me, rather
than with any other man. I thank Cod I
met with you : you will know why I say it
when you come to my house."
Thither they came ere it was loiig, and the
old man introduce<l Assad into a hall, where
were forty such old fellows as himself, who
made a circle round a flaming fire, which
they adored. The prince was not more
seized with .'lorror at the sight of so many
men mistaken'y adoring the creature for the
(.'reator, than with fe.ir of finding him-
self betrayctl and in such an abominable
place.
While Assad stood motionless with asto-
nishment, the old cheat saluted the forty
gray-headed men. "Devout adorers of lire,"
said he to them, "this is a happy day for
us. Where is Gazban? Call him."
He spake these words aloud, and a negro,
who waited at the lower end of the hall,
presently came up to him. This black was
(iazl)an ; who, as sofiu as he saw the discon-
solate Assad, imagined for what he was
called. He ran to him immediately, knocked
him down, and bound his hands with won-
derful activity. When he had done, "Carry
him down," said tlie old man, "and fail not
to order my daughters, Bostama, and (, 'av-
.nma, to give him every day a good bas-
tinado, with a loaf morning and night for
his subsistence : this is enough to keei) him
alive till the next ship dej)arts for the blue
sea and the liery mountain. He shall be
ottered up an agreeable sacrilice to our
divinity.''
The sultaness stojiped here for that time,
being interrupted l)y the approach of iiiorn-
ing : the ne.xt night she continued her dis-
course to the saltan of the Indies as f(jl-
I0W8 : —
The Two Hundred and Thirty-First
Night.
Sir, as soon as the old man had given the
cruel or<lor I spoke of yesterday, Oazban
hurried prince Assad inuler the hall, through
several doors, till they came to a dungeon,
down to which led twenty steps ; there he
l«ft him in chains of prodigious weight and
bigness, fastened to his feet. When he had
done, he went to give the old man's daughters
notice of it ; but their lather had before
sent for them, and given them their instruc-
tions liimself. " Daughters," said he to
them, " go down and give the Mussulman I
just now brought in the bastinado, as you
know how to do it : do not sjiare him ; you
cannot bettor shew your zeal for the worship
of the lire."
Bostama and ( 'avama, who were bred up
in their hatred to Musselmen, received this
order with joy. They descended into the
dungeon that very moment, stripped Assad,
and bastinadoed him unmercifully, till the
blood issued out of his wounds, and he was
almost dead. After this cruel execution,
they put a loaf of bread and a pot of Wiiter
by him, and retired.
Assad did not come to himself again for j.
long time ; when he did, he broke out into
a Hood of tears, deploring his misery. His
comfort however was, that this misfortune
had not happened to his brother Amgiad.
That prince waited for his brother till
evening with im]iatience : when it was two,
three, or f(mr of the clock in the morning,
and Assad did not return, he was like one in
despair. He spent the night in that dismal
conditicm ; and as soon as it was day,
went to the city, where he was surprised to
see but very few Mussulmen. He aco.isted
the Hrst he met, and asked him the name of
the place. He was told it was the city of
the Magicians ; so called from the great
number of magicians, who adored the tire,
and that there were but very fe\v Mussulmen.
Amgiad then demanded how far it was to
the Isle of Ebene. He was answered, four
months' voyage by sea, and a year's jo>irni>y
by land. TJie man ho talked to left him
hastily, having satislied him as to those two
questi<iiis, and went about his business.
Amgiad, who had been ))ut six weeks
coming from the Isle of Ebene with hi^^
brother Assad, could not compri'hend how
they reached this city in so little time, un-
less it was by enchantment, or tliat the
way .across the mountain was much short-
er, but not frequented because of its difli-
culty.
(ioing further in the town, he stopped at a
tailor's shop, whom he knew to bo a Mussul-
man by his dress, as he had known the man
he had talked to before. Having saluted
him, he sat down, and told the occasion of
the troid)le he was in.
When prince Amgiad had done talking,
the tailor replied, " If your brother has
fallen into the liands of some magician,
depend upon it you will never see him more :
he is lost past all recovery ; and I advise you
to comfort yourself as well as you can, and
to beware of falling into the same misfortune.
I
w
266
THE AHABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
! : i
M
To which end if you will hearken to me,
you shall stay at my house, and I will tell
you all the tricks of these magicians, that
you may take care of yoiu-self when you go
out. Amgiad, artlicted for the loss of his
brother, accei)ted the tailor's offer, and thank-
ed him a thousand times for his kindness to
him.
THE STORY OP PRINCE AMGIAD AND A LADY
OF THE CITY OF THE MAGICIANS,
Prince Amgiad did not go out of the
tailor's liouse for a whole mouth, except hia
host went with him. At last ho ventured
to go alone to the bath. As he was return-
ing home through a street where there was
nobody, he met a lady coming to him. See-
ing a handsome young man, fresh come out
of the biith, she lifted up her veil, and asked
him, with a smiling air, whither he was
going ; and ogled Mm all the while so amo-
rously, that Amgiad could not resist her
charms. "Madam," said he, "I am going
to my own house or yours, as you please."
" My lord," replied the lady, with an
agreeable smUe, " ladies of my (juality never
carry men to their own houses ; they always
go to the men's.
Amgiad was very much confounded at
this answer, which he did not expect ; he
durst not venture to take her home ^o his
landlord's house, fearing the good man would
be scandalised by it, and he shoiUd have lost
hia protection, of which he stood in great
need, considering he was iu a city where it
was so necessary for him to be always upon
his guard : he knew so little of the town,
that he could not tell where to carry her,
and he could not resolve to lose this lucky
adventure. In this uncertainty he deter-
mined to throw himself upon chance ; and
without making auy answer, he went before,
and the lady followed him. Amgiad led her
from street to street, from square to square,
till they were both weary witli walking : at
last they came to a etrect, at the end of
which was a great gate, shut np, opening to
a handsoiiie house, ami having a seat on each
side of it. Amgiad sat down on one of them,
as if to take breath ; and the lady, more
weary tliau lie, seated herself on the other.
When she had taken her seat, she asked
him whether that was his house. " You see
ic, madam," said Amgiiul. "Why do you
not open the gate then ? " repUed the lady ;
"what do you wait for?" "Fair lady,"
answered Amgiad, "I have not the key ; I
left it with my slave wlien I sent him on an
errand, and he cannot be come back yet :
beaides, I ordered him afterwards to get
something good for diimer ; so that I am
afraid we Hliall wait a longtime for him."
The ]irince met with so many difficulties
iu satiEfyiug his passion, that he began to
repent of it. He therefore contrived this
answer, in hopes that the lady would take
the hint, and out of resentment leave him,
and seek elsewhere for a lover ; but he was
mistaken.
" This is a most impertinent slave," said
madam, "to make us wait so long. T. will
chastise him myself as ho deserves, if you
do not, when he comes back: it is not
decent that I should sit here alone with a
man at a gate." Saying this, she arose, and
took uj) a stone to break the lock, which
was ouly of wood, and weak, according to
the fashion of the coimtry.
Amgiad did all he could to hinder her.
" What are you doing, madam V " said the
prince. " For Heaven's sake stay a little ! "
" Waat are you afraid of ? " replied the lady ;
"is it not your house ? It is no great matter
to break a wooden lock ; a new one will not
cost much." The lock she accordingly broke ;
and as soon as the door was open, entered
the house, and walked before him.
Amgiad gave himself over for a lost man,
when he saw the door forced ojien ; he
paused upon it, whether he should go into
the house or not, or make oflf as fast as he
could, to avoid the danger which he believed
was inevitable; and he was going to tly,
when the lady returned.
Seeing he did not enter, "Why do not
you come into your house ? " said she. The
])rince answered, " I am looking to see if my
slave is coming, fearing we have nothing
ready." "Come in, come in," said madam;
"we had better wait for him within doora
than without."
Amgiad, much against his will, followed
her into the house. Passing through a spa-
cious court, neatly paved, they mounted by
several steps into a grand vestibule, which
led to a large open hall, very well furnish-
ed, where he .and the lady saw a table
ready spread with all sorts of delicacies,
another heaped with fruit, and a sideboard
full of bottles of wine.
When Amgiad saw these preparations, he
gave himself up for lost. " Poor Amgiad,"
said he to himself, "thou wilt soon follow
thy dear brother Assad ! "
The lady, on the contrarj', transported at
the sight, cried out, " How, my lord, did
you fear there was nothing ready '.' You
see your slave ha^ done more than you
expected ; liut if I am not mistaken these
])reparations -,vere made for some utlur lady,
and not f(jr me : no matter, let her come ; I
l»romise you I will not be jealous ; I only
beg the favour of you that you will ivrmit
me to wait on her and you."
Amgiad, as much as he was troulded at
this accident, could not help laughing at
the lady's pleasantry. "Madam," said he,
thinking of something else that tormented
his mind, there is nothing in what you
■,A£*i= ajai
.r.««^..-,.
PRINCE AM G I AD AND A LADY.
267
fancy ; this is my common dinner, and no
extraordinary preparation, I assure you.
As he could not bring himself to sit down
at a table wliich was not prepared for him,
. 3 would have taken his seat on a sofa, but
the lady would not let him. " Come, sir,"
said she, " j'ou must be hungry after bath-
ing ; let us eat and enjoy ourselves."
Amgiad was forced to do what the lady
woidd have him ; tliey both sat down and
fell to. The lady having eaten a bit, took
a bottle and glass, poured out some wine,
and drauk to Amgiad : aud when she had
drank herself, she Idled another glass, and
gave it to Amgiad, wlio jdedged lier. The
more the prince thought of this adventure,
the more he was amazed that the master of
the house did not appear, and that so rich a
house, and so well j)rovided, shoidd be left
without a servant. " It will be lucky," said
he to himself, "if the master of the house
does not come till I am got clear of this in-
trigue." While he was occupied with these
thoughts, aud others more trou})le.Home, she
ate and drauk heai-tily, aud obliged him to
do the same. They were almost come to the
fruit, when the master of the house arrived.
It happened to be Bahader, master of the
horse to the king of the magicians : this
liouse belonged to him, but ho commonly
dwelt in another; and he seldom eamo here,
uidess to regalfc himself with two or three
chosen friends. He always sent jjrovisions
from his other house on such occasions, and
had done so this day by some of his servants,
who were just gone as the lady and Amgiad
entered it.
Bahader came as he used to do, in dis-
guise, aud without attendants, and a little
before the time appointed for his friends
coming : he was not a little surprised to
see the door of his house broken open. Ho
entered, making no noise, and hearing some
persons tidking and making merry in tlio
haU, he stole along under the wall, and put
his head half-way within the door to see
who they were.
Perceiving a young man aud a young
lady eating at his
table the victuals
that had been
provided for his
friends and him-
.self, and that
there was no
great harm done,
he resolved to di-
vert himself with
the adventure.
The lady's back
was a little turn-
ed from him, and
she did not see
the master of the horse, but Amgiad saw
him immediately. He had then the glass in
hia hand, and was going to drink it off ;
he changed colour at the sight of Bahader,
who made a sign to him not to say a, word,
but to come and speak with him.
Amgiiul drauk "'1 rose. "Where are
you going ? " said the lady. The princo
.answered, "Pray, madam, stay here a little;
I shall be back again in a minute ; a small
affair obliges me to go out at present." Baha-
der waited for him in the vestibule, and led
him into the court to talk to him without
being heard by the lady.
In saying these words, Scheherazade per-
ceived the sultan's time of rising was come ;
so she gave over the story till next night,
when she resumed it as follows :-—
The Two Hundred and Thirty-Second
Night.
Sib, when Bahader aud prince Amgiad were
in the court, Bahader demanded of the prir.ee
how the lady came into liis house, and why
they broke open his door. "My lord,"
replied Amgia<l, " you may very reasonably
think me guilty of a very unwarrantable
action ; but if you will have patience to hear
me, I hope m_- innocence will appear." He
tlien told him, in a few words, w hat had hap-
pened to liim, without disguising uuy part of
the truth ; .and to convince liiia that he was
not capable 01 committing such an action as
to break into a house, he told him plainly he
was a prince, and what Wcvs the reason of his
c jiing to thi' city of the magicians.
Bahader, who naturally loved strangers,
was transported witli au opportunity of ob-
liging one of Aui'^iad's rank and quality;
for by his air, his actions;, aud his well-
turned discourse, ho did not in the least
doubt of the truth of wluit he saitl. " Prince,"
said Bahader, " I am very glad 1 can oblige
you in so i)leasaut an adventure as this : far
from tlisturbing the feast, it wUl be a plea-
sure to me to contribute to your satisfaction
I in anything. Before I say any more on
I this subject, I am happy to inform you my
name is Bahader.
I ani master of
the horse to the
king of the ma-
gicians ; I com-
monly dwell in
anuther house
which I have in
this city, aud
come here some-
times to have the
more liberty with
my friends. You
have made this
lady l)flieve you
have a slave, though you liave none : I
will be your slave ; aud that this may
', ' ■
[M'li
268
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Rot disturb you, and to spare your ex-
cuses, I repeat again, that I ■will posi-
tively be so ; you will soon know my rea-
son for it. Go to your place, and con-
tinue to divert yourself ; wliou I return
again, and come before you in a slave's
habit, chide me for staying so long : do not
be afraid even to strike me. 1 will wait
Tipou you all the while you fire at table, till
night ; you shall sleep hero, and so shall the
lady, and to-mf)rrow morning you may send
her home Avith liouour. I shall afterwards
endeavour to do you more important ser-
vices : go and lose no time. " Amgiad would
have matin him an answer, but the master
of the liorse would not lot him, forcing him
to go to the lady. He had scarce got into
the hall before Bahador's friends, whom he
had invited, arrived. Bahader excused him-
self for not entertaining them that day, tell-
ing them thoy would approve of the reason
of it when they knew it, which shoidd be in
due time. Wlion tliey were gone, he wont
forth and dressed himself in a slave's habit.
I'rince Amgiad came to the lady much
better pleased at finding the house belonged
to a man of quality, who had received him
so courteously. Wlien he s.at down to the
table again, he said, "Madam, I beg a thou-
sand pardons for my rudeness : I was vexed
that my slave should tarry so long ; the
rascal shall pay for it, when he comes : I
will teach him to m.ake me stay so f(n- him."
"Let not that trouble you," said the
lady ; " so much the worse for him ; if he is
guilty of any faults, let liim pay for it ; do
not let us think of him ; we will enjoy our-
selves witlumt him."
They continued at the table with the more
pleasure, as Amgiad was under no ap]>rc-
liensions of the consequence of the lady's
indiscretion, who ought not to have broken
open the door, though it had been Amgiad's
own house. The prince was now as merry
as the 1; dy : thoy said a thousand pleasant
things, t nd drank more th.an they ate, till
Bahader arrived, disguised like a slave.
Bahader entered like a sl.ave who feared
his master's displeasure for staying out when
he had company with him : he fell down at
his feet, and kissed the ground, to implore
his clemency ; and when lie had done, stood
behind him with his hands across, in expec-
tation of his commands.
" .Sirrah," said Amgiad, with a fierce tone
and angry look, "is there such a slave as
you in all the world ? "Where have you
been ? What have you been doing, that
you came no sooner?"
" My lord," rejdied Bahader, " I ask your
pardon ; I was executing your orders, and
did not think you would come home so
early."
" You are a rascal," said Amgiad, " and
I shall break your bones, to teach you to lie
and to disappoint me." He then rose up,
took a stick, and gave him two or three
slight blows with it ; after which he sat
down to table again.
The lady was not satisfied with the chas-
tisement he bestowed on him. She also
rose, took the stick, and feU upon Bahaier
so unmercifully, that the tears came into his
eyes. Amgiad, offended to the last degree
at the freedom she took, and that she should
use one of the king's chief officers so ill,
cried out to her in vain, " Enough." She
continued striking him. "Let me alone,"
said she, "I will give him enough, and
teach him to be absent so long another
time." 8he continued beating him with
great fury, till Amgiad rose from the table,
and forced the stick out of her hand ; which
she did not part with without much strug-
gling. When she found she could beat Ba-
hader no longer, she sat down and railed at
and cursed liini.
Bahader wiped his eyes, and stood up to
fill out wine. When he saw they had done
eating and drinking, he took away the cloth,
cleared the hall, put everything in its place,
and, night coming on, lighted up the lamps.
Every time he came in, or went out, the
lady muttered and threatened him, and gave
him abusive language, to Amgiad's great
disliking, who would have hindered hex*,
but he could not. When it was time for
them to go to bed, Bahader prepared one
for them on the sofa, and withdrew into a
chamber, whore he laid himself down, and
it was not long before he fell asleep, having
been fatigued with his beating. Amgiad
and the lady entertained one another a good
half hour afterwards, and the lady wanted
to go forth before she went to bod. Passing
through the vestibule, sho heard Bahader
snore ; and having seen .•'. sabre hanging up
in the hall, sIk! turned baek again, and said
to prince Amgiad, " My lord, as you love
me, do one thing for me." "In what can
I serve you ? " replied the prince. The lady
answered, " Oblige me so far as to take
down this sabre, and cut ofl' yom- slave's
head with it." Amgiad was astonished at
such a proposal from a lady, not doubting
but it was the wine she had drunk that
l)roinpted it. " Madam," said he, " let my
slave alone ; he is not worthy of your no-
tice ; I have beat him, and you have beat
him : it is sufficient ; besides, I am very
well satisfied with him ; he does not use to
be guilty of such faults."
" That shall not do," replied the lady, in
violent fury ; the rogue shall die : if not by
yoiu' hands, by mine." Saying this, she
took down the sabre from tlio i)lace where
it hung, drew it out of the scabbard, and was
going to execute her wicked design.
Amgiad met her in the vestibule, saying,
" You shall be satisfied, madam, since you
PRINCE AMGIAD AND A LADY.
269
■will have it so ; but I should be sorry that
any one, beside myself, should kill my
slave," When she had given him the sabre,
•'Come, follow me," said he; make no
noise, for fear ■\v« wake him. They went
into J3ahader's chamber, where Amgiad, iu-
steml of striking him, struck at the lady,
and cut off her head, which fell upon Ba-
hader.
It was already dawn of day, and Schohc-
razaile jierceiving it, said no more at that
time. The next ni<.dit she resumed the dis-
coiu'se, and said to the aidtau Scbahriar : —
The Two Hundred and Thirty-Third
Night.
Sir, if the noise of the blow which Amgiad
gave the lady, in cutting off her head, had
not waked Bahader, her head falling upon
him would have done it ; he was amazed to
see Amgiad with a fjabre all bloody, and the
body of the lady lying headless on the
ground. The ])rince told him what had
passed, and ending his discourse, said, "I
had no other way to hinder this furious
■woman from killing you, but to take away
her hfe." "My lord," replied Bahader,
full of gratitude, " jiersons of your rank
and generosity are not capable of doing
such a wicked action as she desired of you.
You are my deliverer, and I cannot enough
thank you." After he had embraced him,
to shew him what sense he had of his obli-
gations to him, he said, "We must carry
this corpse out before it is quite day ; leave
it to me : I will do it." Amgiad would not
«igi"ee to that, saying, he would carry it away
himself, since he had struck the blow. ]3a-
hader replied, "You are a stranger in this
city, and cannot do it so well as one who is
acquainted here ; I must do it, if for no
other reason, yet for both our safeties, to
prevent our being questioned for her death :
stay you here, and if I do not come back
before day, you may lie sure the watch has
seized me ; and for fear of the worst, I will
by writing give this house and furniture for
your habitation ; you have nothing to do
but to live in it."
When he had w^ritten, signed, and deli-
vered the paper to jiriuce Amgiad, he put
the lady's body in a bag, head and all, laid
it ou his shoulder, and went out with it
from one street to another, taking the way
to the sea-side. He had not gone far before
he met with one of the judges of the city,
who was going the roiuids in person. Ba-
hader was stop]>ed by the judge's followers,
■who, opening the bag, found the body of a
murdered lady, bundled up with the hea<l.
The judge, who knew the master of the
horse, notwithstanding his disguise, took
him home to his house, and not daruig to
put him to death without telling the king of
it, because of his quality, ho carried him to
court as soon as it was day. When the
king had heard from the judge what a foul
action he had been guilt y of, as he believed
from the eircumstauces, he addressed the
master of tlie horse in these words : "Itia
thus, then, that thou murderest my subjects,
to rob them, and tlien thou woiddnt throw
their dead liodies into the sea, to hide thy
v.'llany ; let us rid them of him ; „'(), hang
him up immediately."
Innocent as Bahader ■wa'i, he took his
sentence of death with all imaginable resig-
nation, and said not a word to justify him-
self. The judge carried liim to his house,
aiul, ■while the gallows was preparing, he
sent a crier to publish throughout the city,
that at noon the master of the horse was to
be hanged for a murder connnittcd by him.
Prince Amgiad, who had in vain expected
Bahader's return, was struck with terriblu
consternation when he heard the erier pub-
lish the ajiiiroaching execution of the mas-
ter of the horse. " If," said he to himself,
" somebody must die for the death of such a
wicked ■woman, it is I, and not Bahader ; I
will never suffer an innocent man to be
punished for the gtiilty ; " and without deli-
berating any niore about it, he hastened ti>
the place of execution, whither the people
were running from all parts.
When Amgiad saw the judge bringing
Bahader to the gibbet, he went up to him,
and said, "I am come to tell you, and to
assure you, that the master of the horse,
whom j'ou are loading to execution, is wholly
innocent of tlie lady's death : I am guilty
of the crime, if it is one to have killed a
detestable w(maan, who would have murdered
Bahader;" and then he told him all as it
ha))pened.
1'ho prince having informed the judge
how he met her coming out of the bath; how
she was the cause of going into the master
of the horse's pleasure-house, and all that
had passed to the moment in which he was
forced to cut off her head, to save Bahader's
lil'e ; the judge ordered execution to be stop-
pod, and conducted Amgiad to the king,
taking the ma-ster of the horse with them.
The king had a mind to hear tlie story
from Amgiad himself; and the prince, the
better to prove his own innocence ?.v\ the
master of the horse's, took that opportunity
to discover who he was. and what had driven
him and his l)rother Assad to that city, with
all the accidents that had ))ofaIlen them, from
their departure from the capital city of the
Isle of Ebene, to the time in which he talked
to him.
The prince having done sjieaking, the king
said to him, "I rejoice that I have by this
mCtT .K. come to the knowledge of you ; I not
o) 1^ give you your own and my master of
I.ih
!vi|_;
m
f 'M
It!
m
270
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the horse's life, whom I commend for his
kindness to you, but I restore him to his
office ; and aw for you, prince, I declare you
my grand vizier, to make amends for your
father's unjust usage of you, though it is
also excusable, and 1 permit you to employ
all the authority I now give you to lind out
prince Assad."
Prince Amgiad having thanked the king
of the city and country of magicians for the
honour he had done him, and taking posses-
sion of his ofHce of grand vizier, he took
every possible means to find out the prince
his brother. He ordered the common criers
to promise a great reward to any one who
should bring forth prince Assad, or toll any
tidings of him. He sent men up and down
the country to the same purpose ; but not-
withstanding all his diligence, he coidd hear
no news of him.
THE SEQUEL OF THE STORY OF PRINCE ASSAD.
Assad 'v\ the meanwhile continued in the
dungeon in chains : Bostama and Cavama,
the cunning old conjuror's daughters, treat-
ing him daily with the same cruelty and
inhumanity as at first.
The solemn festival of the adorers of fire
api»roached ; and a ship was fitted out for
the fiery mountain as iisual : the captain's
name was Behram, a great bigot to that
roligion. He loaded it with proper merchan-
dise ; iind when it was ready to sail, he put
Assad in a chest, which was half full of
goods, a few crevices being left between the
beards for him to breathe, enough to keep
life lu him. This chest was r.towed in the
bottom 01 th ^ lioid, for the greater security.
Before the ship sailed, the grand vizer,
Amgiad, Assad's brother, who had been told
that the adorers of fire used to sacrifice a
Mussulman eveiy year on the fiery mountain,
suspected that Assad migiit have fallen into
their hands, and be designed a victim at
that bloody sacrifice ; wherefore he resolved
to search the ship in person. He ordered
all the passengers and seamen to be brought
upon deck, and commanded his men to search
all over the ship, which they did ; yet Assad
could not be found, he was so well concealed.
When the grand vizier had done search-
ing the vessel, she sailed, and as soon as
Behram was got out to sea, he ordered prince
Assad to bo taken out of the chest, and
fettered to secure him, fearing lest he should
fling himself into the sea in despair, since
he knew he was going to be sacrificed.
The wind was very favourable two or
three days, and then it turned contrary,
after which there arose a furious storm ; and
the vessel was not only driven out of her
course, but neither Behram nor his pUot
knew where they were. They were afraid
of splitting against the rocks, for in the
violence of the storm they discovered land,
and a dreadful shore before them. Behram
saw ho wa' driven into the port and capital
of queen iivlargiana, which was a great
mortification to him.
Tliis queen Margiann v.as a devout pro-
fessor of the Mohammedan religion, and a
mortal enemy to the adorers of fire. She
banished all of them out of her dominions,
and would not let any of their ships touch
at her ports.
It was no longer in the power of Behram
now to help putting into the port of this
queen's capital city, or else he had been
(lashed to pieces against the frightful rocks
that lay olFthe shore. In this eictremity he
held a coiincil with his pilot and seamen.
" My lads," said he, " you see to what a
necessity we arc reduced ; we must choose
one of these two things ; either resolve to be
swallowed up by the waves, or put into
queen Margiana's port, whose hatred to all
persons of our religion you very well know.
She will sertainly seize our vessel and put
ns all to death, without mercy. I see but
one likely way to escape her, which is, to
take ofT the fetters from the Mussulman we
have aboard and dress him like a slave.
When queen Margiana commands me to
come before her, and aska what trade I use,
I will tell her I deal in slaves ; that I have
sold all I had, but one, whom I keep to be
my clerk, because he can read and write.
She wid see him, to be sure, and lie being
handsome, and of her own religion, will have
pity on him. No doubt she will then ask
to buy him of me, and on this condition will
let us stay in the port till the weather is
fair. If any of you have anything else to
propose that will be of more advantage
to us, I am ready to hearken to it." The
p'lot and seamen applauded hia judgment,
and agreed to follow his advice.
The sultanesa Scheherazade was obliged
to stop here, because she saw day appoar :
she continued her story the night following,
addressing herself thus to the sultan of the
Indies : —
The Two Hundred and Thirty-Fourth
Night.
Sir, Behram commanded prince Assad's
chains to be taken ofT, and had him dressed
like ■>. slave very neatly, as became one who
was to pass for his clerk before the queen of
the country. They had scarce time to do
this, before the ship drove into the port, and
dropped anchor.
Queen Margiana's palace was so near the
sea-side, that her garden extended down to
the shore. She saw the ship anchor, and sent
to the cai tain to come to her, and the sooner
to satisfy her curiosity, waited for him in her
garden.
em
PRINCE ASSAD.
271
Bt hrani, who expected to he Bent for,
Ian. !(1 with iirince A.ssad; whom he required
to confirm what lie had said of his beinj; a
slave, and bin clerk. When he was intro-
duced to the queen, he threw himself at her
feet, ami informed htr of the necessity he
was in to put into her port ; that lie dealt
in slaves, and had Hold all he had but one,
which was Assad there present, whom he
kept for his clerk.
Tlie (jueen was taken with Assad from the
minute she first saw him, and was extremely
glad to hear tliat he was a slave ; resolving
to buy him, cost what it would. She asked
Assad what wa.s his name.
"Great qneen," replied Assad, with tears
in his eyes, "does your majesty ask what
my name was formerly, or what it is now?"
The queen answered, "Have you two names
then?'' "Alas! " it isbiittoo true, said Assad:
"I was once called Assad, (most happy;) and
now my i-.ame is Motor, (devoted to be
sacrificed.")
Margiana, not being able to find out the
true meaning of this answer, understood it
of his condition of a slave ; for she perceived
he had a great deal of wit. " Since you are
clerk to the captain," said she, "no doubt
you can write well : let me see your hand."
Behram had furnished Assad with i)en,
ink and ])a])or, as a token of his office, that
the qiieen might take him for what he de-
signed she should.
The prince stepped a little aside, and
wrote as follows, suitable to his wretched
circumstances : —
"The blind man avoids the ditch into
which the clear-sighted falls. Fools advance
themselves to honours by discourses which
signify nothing, while men of sense and -elo-
quence live in poverty and contempt. The
Mussulman with all liis riches is miserable.
The infidel triumphs. We cannot hope
things will be otherwise ; the Almighty has
decreed it should be so."
Assad presented the paper to queen Mar-
giana, who admired alike the moral of the
sentences and the goodness of the writing.
She needed no more to have her heart in-
flamed, and to feel a sincere concern for his
misfortunes. She had no sooner read it,
but she addressed herself to Behram, say-
ing " Do which you will, either sell me this
slave, or make a present of him to me ; per-
haps it will turn most to your account to
do the latter."
Behram answered insolently, tha'., he could
neither give nor sell him ; that he wanted
liis slave, and would keep him.
Queen Margiana, i)rovoked at his boldness,
would not talk to him any more about it.
She took the prince by the arm, and turned
him before her to the palace, sending
Behram word, that if he stayed the night in
her port, she would contiscate his goods, and
burn his ship. So he was forced to go back
to his vessel, and |)rc]iare to ]>ut to sea
again, notwithstanding the tempest was not
yet Laid.
Queen Margiana, on entering her palace,
commanded sui)])er to be got ready ; and
while it was providing, she ordered Assad to
be brought into her a()artment, where she
batle him sit down. Assad would have ex-
cused himself: "It docs not belong to a
slave," said he, "to presume to this honour."
" To a slave !" replied the queen : " you
were so a moment ago ; henceforward you
are no more a slave. Sit down near me,
and tell me the story of your life ; for by
what you wrote, and Ww. insolence of that
slave-merchant, I guess there is something
extraordinary in it."
Prince Assad obeyed her ; and, sitting
down, began thus: "Mighty queen, your
majesty is not mistaken in thinking there is
something extraordinary in the story of my
life : it is indeed more so than you can ima-
gine. The ills, the incredible torments, I
liave sufl'ered, and the death to whicl' I was
devoted, and from which I am delivered by
your royal generosity, will shew the great-
ness of my obligation to you, and never to
be forgotten. But before I enter into jiar-
ticulars of my miseries, which will strike
horror into the hearts of all that hear it,
I must trace the origin of them to its
source."
This preamble increased queen Margiana's
curiosity. The prince then told her of his
royal birth ; of his })rother Amgiad, and
their mutual friendship ; of their mothers'
criminal passion, which in a night turned
into inveterate hatred, the cause of all their
sufferings ; of the king his father's rage ;
how miraculously their lives wore saved ;
how he lost his brother ; how he had been
long imprisoned and tortured, and was only
discharged then to be sacrificed on the fiery
mountain.
When Assad had finished his discourse,
the queen was more thiftti ever enraged at
the adorers of fire. " Prince," said she,
"though I have always had an aversion to
the adorers of fire, yet hitherto I have had
some humanity for them ; but after their
barbarous usage of you, and their execrable
design to sacrifice you, I will henceforth de-
clare perpetual war against them."
She would have said more, but supper
being served in, she made prince Assad sit
down at table with her, t)eing charmed with
his beauty and eloquence, and touched with
a passion which she hoped soon to have an
opportunity of letting him see. " Prince,"
said she, "we must make you amends for
so many fasts and wretched meals, which
the pitiless adorers of fire forced you to
make ; you will want nourishment after
such sufiferings." With these and such like
I, i !
272
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
words «lio liulpod him at bui>|p(t ; and
ordered the jiriiico to drink a ^'ood di'iil <if
wine to recover his Bi)iritM ; l)y wliieh means
he dranit more than lie coidd well hear.
The cloth heiuf^ taken away, AHsad want-
ing to no ont, took an o]p))ortunity when
the qneeii did not see him. JLe descended
into the court, and, Heein;^ the t;arden-do(ir
open, went into it. JJein,i{ teniiiteil hy the
]ileaHantnes8 of tho jdauo, he walked thert! a
while. At last ho canio to a fountain,
where he washed his face and hands to re-
fresh himself, and lyin;,' down on the turf
round the fountain, fell aslee)>.
It waa almost night, and Jk'hram, deter-
mined to prevent tho queen from exccutin;;
lier threats, had weighed anchor, troubled
at the loss of Assad, by which ho was disaji-
poiuted of a most acceptable sacrilice. lie
comforted himself as well as he could with
tho thoughts that tho storm was over, and
that a land breeze favoured his getting oil'
from that coast. As soon an he was towed
out of tho port by tho help of his boat,
before it was hoisted uj) into the ship again,
"Stop, my lads," said he to the seamen in
it, "do not come on board again; I will
give you some casks to till with water, and
will wait for you." Tho sailors excused
themselves, for that they did not know
where to get water. Bohram had observed
while he was talking to the queen in tho
garden, that there was a fountain at the
end of it, near the port. "Go," said he,
" land before the palace-garden ; tho wall
is not above breast high ; you may easily
get over ; there is a basin in the middle of
the garden, where you may fill all your
barrels, and hand them aboard without
difficulty."
The sailors went ashore at the jJaco he
directed them to, and laying their casks on
their shoulders, easily got over the wall.
As they drew near the basin, they per-
ceived a man sleeping on the grass, and
knew him to be Assad, They immediately
divided themselves ; and while some of the
crew filled their barrels with as little noise
as possible, others surrounded Assad, and
watched to stop him if he should awake.
He was fast, and slept on, giving them
time to fill all their casks ; which, as soon
as they had fdled, they handed over tho
wall to others of their crew who waited
there to carry them aboard.
They next seized Assad, and bore him
away, without giving hhu time to recollect
liimself. They got him over the wall into
their boat with the casks, and rowed to the
ship. When they came near her they cried
out for joy, " Captain, sound your trumpets,
beat your drums ; we have brought you your
slave again."
Behram, who could not imagine how the
seamen could find and take him again, and
did not see Assad in the boat, it being night,
waited their coming on board with impa-
tience, to ask what they meant ; but when
he had seen him, ho could not contain him-
self, so great was his joy. He eouimanded
him to bo chained down again, without
staying to incpiirc how they camo by him ;
and having hoisted tho boat on board, sot
sail for the licry mountain.
The Hultaness ended her story hero for
that night, and the next resumed it ua
follows : —
The Two Hundrccl and Thirty-Fifth
Night.
SiK, I left off yesterday where IJehram was
making tho best of his way to tlio fiery
mountain, overjoyed that ho had recovered
his captive, prince Assad.
]u tho meanwhile queen Margiana w.as in
a dreadful fright : she did not much concern
herself at lirst, when she found ])rince Assad
was gone out, because she did not doubt
but he woiUd return in a little time. When
Some time had passed witliout his appear-
ing, she began to be uneasy, and commanded
her Women to look for him. They searched
all about without finding him ; and night
coming on, she ordered them to search again
with torches, which they did to as littlo
Iiurposo.
Queen Margiana waa so imjiatient and
alarmed, that she went with lights, and
iinding the garden-door ojien, went into it,
and walked all over it with her women, to
seek for him herself ; and passing by the
fountain and basin, Khe espied a sli})per,
which she took u]), and knew it to be i)riiicii
Assad's : her woman also said it waa his.
The water being spilt about the basin, maile
her believe that Bohram had carried him off
again. She sent immediately to see if ho
was still in the port ; and hearing he had
set sail a little before it was dai : , that he
lay to some time off tho shore, while he sent
hia boat for water from tho fountain, she
doubted no longer of the prince's ill fortune ;
so she sent word to the commander of ten
ships of war, which lay always ready in tho
])ort, to sail on the shortest notice, that she
would embark herself next morning .as soon
as it waa day. The commander lost no
time ; ordered the captains and subalterns,
seamen and soldiers, aboard, and was ready
to sail at the time appointed. She em-
b.arked ; and when the squadron was at sea,
told tho commander her intention ; "Make
.all the sail you can," said she, " and give
chase to the merchantman that sailed
yesterday evening out of this port : I. give
it to you to be plundered, if you take it ; if
not, your life shall answer it."
The ten ships chased Behram's two whole
PRINCE ASSAD.
273
days without Hceing her. Tho third ihiy in
tho iiioruiiig thuy diHcovored her, and at
noon had so surruundud hur, that «ho couhl
not cscaiic.
As soon as cruel Buhrani espied tho ten
.sliips of war, ho
doubted not it
was ([uecu Mar-
Ljiaiia'M Hiiuadron
in jiursuit of liiin ;
and upon that hu
ordered Assad to
bu bastinadoed,
which he did
every day, and
liad nf)t missed
once treatinj; him
so barbarously
since ho left tho poi-t of tho city of maj:;i-
c'ians. On siyht of these ships, he used him
more cruelly than before. He was uuich
perplexed what to do, when ho found he
was going to bo surrounded. To keej) Assad,
was to declare himself guilty ; to kill him
was as dangi-'rous, for ho feared some tokens
or other of it might bo seen, He therefore
commanded him to bo unfettered and brouglit
from tho bottom of tho hold where bo lay.
When he came before liim, "It is thou,"
aaid ho, "that art tlio cause of my being
pursued ; " and so saying, ho Hung him into
the sea.
Priuco Assad knowing how to swim, made
80 good use of his feet and hands, that he
got safe to shore ; tho waves seconding his
l)old exertions. The first thing ho did after
ho got on shore was to thank God, who had
delivered him from so great danger, and
once more rescued him out of tho hands of
tho adorers of tire. He then stripped him-
self, and wringing tho water out of his
clothes, he spread them on a rock, where,
by the heat of the sun, and the rock
together, they soon dried. After which ho
lay down to rest himself, deploring his
miserable condition, not knowing in what
country lie was, nor which way to turn
himself. He dressed himself again and
walked on, keejung as near the sea-sido as
he could. At last he came to a sort of path
which ho followed, and travelled ton days
through a country which was not inhabited,
still living on herbs, jtlants, and wild fruits.
At last he approached the banks of a rivulet
near a city, which he knew to be that of the
magicians, where ho had been so ill used,
and where his brother Amgiad was grand
vizier ; he was very glad of it, resolving not
to come near any of the adorers of fire, but
only to converse with Mussulmen ; for he
remembered he had seen some the first time
he entered the to^^•u. It being late, and he
knowing the shops were already shut, and
few peoj)lc in the streets, resolved to stay
in a burying-ground near the city, where
thoro wore several tombs built in the form
of mausoleums. Ho found tl>e door of one
of them open ; he entered it, and designed
to pass the iiiglit tliere,
"\Ve must now return to Behram's ship,
whicli was soon
suri'ounded on all
sides by ((Ucoii
Margiaua'a sipia-
<lroon, after ho
jiad thrown
l)rinei' .\ssad
overl)oard. Tho
sliip in whicli
(pieen Margin iii
was in ])erson
first boarded him,
and Behrani, be-
ing in no condition of dcrcnei! against ho
many, furled his sails in token of yielding.
The (pieeu lu^'sclf came aboard liiTu, and
demanded of him where the clerk was,
whom h(! had the boldness to take or cause
to 1)0 taivcn out of her very ]ialace. iJeh-
ram replied, "O queen! 1 swear l)y your
majesty, he is not in my ship : you will, by
searching it, see my innocence."
Margiana ordered tlie sliip to be searched
as narrowly as possible, but she could not
find the man whom she so ])assionately
longed to recover, as well out of lovo to
him, as out of that generosity which was
her distinguishing character. 8Iio was going
to kill Behram with her own hand, but re-
frained, contenting herself with seizing his
ship and cargo, and turning him and his men
on shore in their boat.
Behram and his seamen arrived at the
city of tho magicians the same night that
Assad did, stopped at the same l)urying-
ground, the city-gates being shut, intending
to stay in some tomb till the next day, when
they were opened again.
As Assad's ill luck would have it, Beh-
ram passed before that in which the prince
was sleeping, with his head wra])t up in his
habit : Assad awoke at the noise he made,
and asked, " Who 's there ? "
Behram knew him again presently. ' ' Hah,
hah ! " said he, "thou art the man who hast
ruined me for ever ; thou hast escaped
being sacrificed tliis year, but dejiend on it
thou shalt not escape tho next." Saying
this, he flew upon him, clajipod his handker-
chief into his mouth to prevent his making
a noise, and by the help of his seamen bound
him.
The next morning, as soon as tho city
gates were open, Behram and his men
easily carried Assad by a round-about way,
through streets wliero nobody was up, to
tho old man's house where he bad been so
inhumanly treated. As soon as ho got in,
be was again thrown into the same dungeon.
Behram acquainted the old fellow with tha
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274
T//E ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
aad occaaion of his return, and the ill buo-
oess of his voyage. The old rascal, upon
this, commanded his two daughters, Bna-
tama and Cavama, to treat him more cruelly
than before, if possible.
Assad was in a terrible surprise to find
himself in the hands of his old persecutors,
from whom he hail suffered so much, and
expected to undergo another time the tor-
ments from which he hoped that ho had
been delivered. He was bemoaning the
rigour of his destiny, when he saw Bostama
enter with a cudgel, a loaf, and a pitcher of
water. He was almost dead at the sight of
that unmcrcifid wretch, and the thoughts
of the daily sufferings he was to endure for
another year, after which he was to die the
most horrible death.
At these words the sultaness Scheherazade
saw the day berrin to appear, which inter-
rupted her story for the present. The next
night she continued it, addressing herself
thus to the sultan of the Indies : —
The Two Hundred and Thirty-Siith
Nyht.
Sir, Bostama dealt not so inhumanly by
prince Assad as she had done the first time
of his conlinemcnt. His cries, complaints,
and earnest entreaties to her to spare him,
joined with his tears, were so moving, that
bostama could not help being affected b^
them, and shedding tears with him. " My
lord," said she, covering his shoulders again,
"I ask a thousand pardons for my inhuman
treatment of you formerly, and for making
you now feel its effect. Till now I was
afraid of disobeying a father, who is un-
justly enraged against you, and resolved on
your destruction ; but at last I loathe and
abhor this barbarity. Be comforted ; your
evil days are over. I will endeavour, by
better treatment of you, to make amends
for all my crimes, the enormity of which
you will find I am convinced of. You have
hitherto looked on me as an infidel ; hence-
forth believe mc one of your own reUgion ;
having been converted by a slave, who is a
Mussulman. I hope your lessons will finish
my conversion. To shew my good inten-
tions, I first beg pardon of the true God
for all my sins, in deaUng so cruelly by
you, and I trust he will put it in my power
to set you entirely at liberty."
The prince was much comforted to hear
her talk thus : he thanked the Almighty for
the change wrought in her heart. He also
thanked her for her good disposition to-
wards him, and omitted no arguments
which he thought would have any eGFoct to
confirm her in them, by instructing her in
the Mussulman religion, and telling her his
whole atory, his high birth, and adventures
to that time. When he was convinced she
was fixed in her good resolution, he asked
her how she could hinder her sister Cavama's
knowing it, and treating him as barbarously
as she used to do ? " Let not that trouble
you," replied Bostama ; " I know how to
order mutters so that she shall never come
near you."
And as she said, she every day prevented
her coming down into the dungeon, where
she often visited the prince ; and instead of
carrying him bread and water, she brought
him the best wine and the choicest victuals
she could get, which was prepared by her
twelve Mohammedan slaves. Mho ate with
him herself from time to time, and did her
utmost to make his confinement comfort-
able.
A few days afterwards, Bostama, as she
stood at her father's door, heard the public
crier making jiroclamation ; but she could
not hear what it was about, being too far off.
As he came near her father's house, she
withdrew into it, holding the door half
open, perceiving he went before the grand
vizier Amgiad, brother to Assad ; who was
accompanied by several officers, and other
attendants walking before and behind him.
The crier, going a few ste{)s from the
house, repeated the proclamation with a
loud voice, as follows : — " The most excel-
lent and illustrious grand vizier is come in
person to seek for his dear brother, from
whom he was separated about a year ago ;
he is a young man of such a person ; if any
one has him in keeping, or knows where he
is, his excellency commands that they bring
him forth, or give him notice where he shall
find him, promising a great reward to the
l)erson that shall so do : if any one conceals
him, and he is found, his excellency declares
he shall be punished with death, together
with his wife, children, and all his family,
and his house be razed to the ground."
Bostama, as soon as she had heard this, shut
the door as fast as she could, and ran to
Assad in the dungeon. " Prince," said she,
with joy, "your troubles are at an end;
follow me immediately. " She had taken off
his fetters the first day he was brought in.
So the prince followed her into the street,
where she cried, "There he is! there he
IS
I"
The grand vizier, who was not far from
the house, reitimed. Assad knew him to be
his brother, ran to him, and embraced him.
Amgiad, who presently recollected him, re-
turned his eiubrace with all possible tender-
ness, made him mount one of his officer's
horses, who alighted for that pirrpose, and
conducted him in triumph to the palace,
where ho presented him to the king, by
whom he was advanced to the post of a
vizier.
Bostama would not retarn to her f atiier'a
i'^ !
PRINCE ASSAD.
275
house, which was the next day razed to the
ground, but kept prince Assad in sight, and
wns sent to the queen's apartment.
The old man her father, and fiehram, and
all their families, were brought before the
king, who condemned them to be beheaded.
They threw thumselves at his feet, and im-
plored his mercy. " There is no mercy for
you to expect," said the king, "unless you
renounce your adoring of lire, and profess
the Mohammedan religion."
They accepted the condition, and were
pardoned at the
intercession of As-
sad, in considera-
tion of 'Bostama'a
friendship ; for
whose Hako Cav-
ama's life, and
the lives of the
rest of their fami-
lies, were saved.
Amgiad, in
consideration of
Behram turning
Mussulman, and
to compensate for his loss, which he had
Buffered before he deserved liis favour,
made him one of his princi])al officers, and
lodged him in his house. Behram, being
informed of Amgiad and his brother As-
sad's story, proposed to his benefactor to
fit out a vessel to convey them to their
father king Camaralzaman's court. " For,"
said h'j, "the king must certainly have
heard of your innocence, and impatiently
desire to see you ere this ; otherwise we
can easily inform him of the truth before we
land ; and if he is still in the same mind you
can but return hither."
The two brothers accepted the proposal,
communicated it to the king of the city of
the magicians, who approved of it, and com-
manded a ship to be equipped. Behram un-
dertook the employment cheerfully, and
soon got in readiness to saiL The two
princes, when they understood the ship was
ready, waited upon the king one morning to
take tlieir leave of him. While they were
making their compliments, and thanking the
king for his favours, they were interrupted
by a great tumult in the city : and presently
an officer came to give them notice, that a
numerous army was advancing against the
city, noljody knowing who they were, or
whence they came.
The king being alarmed at the nmre, Am-
giad addressed himself to him thus : " Sir,
though I have just resigned into your ma-
jesty's hands the dignity of your first minis-
ter, with which you were pleased to honour
me, I am ready to do you all the service in
my power. I desire, therefore, that you
would be ploaaed to let me go and see who
thi« enemy ia, that oomes to attack yon in
your capital city, without having first de-
clared war. "
The king desired him to do so. Amgiad
departed from him immediately, witli a
very small retinue, to see what enemy ap-
proached, and what was the reason of their
coming.
It was not long before prin';e Amgiad de-
scried the army, which appeared very for-
midable, and which approached nearer and
nearer. The advanced guards received him
favomrably, and conducted him to a prin-
cess, who stop-
ped, and com-
manded her army
to halt, while she
talked with the
lirince; who, bow-
ing profoundly to
her, demanded if
she came rs a
friend or an
enemy ? If as an
e u e m y, w li a t
cause of com-
plaiut she had
against the king, his master ?
" I come as a friend," replied the princess,
" and have no cause of complaint against the
king of the city of the magicians : his teiTi-
tories and mine are so situated, that it is al-
most impossible for us to have any disputes.
I only come to require a slave, named Assad,
to be delivered up to me. He was carried
away by one Behram, a captain of a ship
belonging to this city, the most insolent
man in the world. I hope your king will
do me justice, when he knows I am Mor-
giana."
The prince answered, " Mighty queen, tho
slave whom you take so much pains to seek
for is my brother ; I lost him, and have found
him again. Come, and I will deliver him
up to you myself, and will do myself the ho-
nour to tell you the rest of the story : the
king my master will rejoice to see you."
The queen ordered her army to pitch their
tiuits, and enoamp where they were, and ac-
companied prince Amgiad to the city and
jialace, where he presented her to the king,
who received her in a manner becoming her
dignity. Assad, who was present, and knew
her as soon as he saw her, also paid his re-
sfwcts to her. She shewed great joy at the
sight of him ; and while they were thus en-
gaged, tidings came that an army more
powerful than the former approached on the
other side of the city.
The king of the magicians was more ter-
rified than before, understanding the second
army was more numerous than the first;
for he saw this by the clouds of dust they
raised, which hid the face of the heavens.
"Amgiad," cried ho, "what shall we do
now ? a new army comes to destroy u*."
I
I
276
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Amgiad guessed what the king meant ; he
mounted un horseback again, and galloppcd
towards the second army. Uo demanded of
the advanced guards to speak with their
general ; they conducted him to a king, for
such he was ho saw by the crown on his
head. When he drew near him, he alighted,
prostrated himself to the ground, and asked
what he required of the kiug, his master.
The monarch replied, " I am Gaiour, king
of China ; my desire to Icarn tidings of a
daughter, whoso name is Badoura, whom I
married to Camaralzaman, son of Schahza-
man, king of the isles of the Children of
Khalcdan, obliged mo to leave my domi-
nions. I suOfered that jirince to go sec his
father Schahzaman, king of the isles of the
Children of IChaledan, on condition he came
back in a year with my daughter ; from that
time I have heard nothing of them. Your
king will lay an infmite obligation on an
afllicted father, to tell him if he knows what
is become of them."
Prince Amgiad, jierceiving by hia dis-
course that tho king was his grandfather,
kissed his hand with tenderness, and an-
swered him thus : " Sir, I hope your ma-
jesty will pardon my freedom, when you
know that I take it only to pay my duty to
my grandfather : I am the son of Camaral-
zaman, king of the Isle of Ebene, and of
queen Badoiua, for whom you are thus
troubled ; and I doubt not but they are both
iu good health in their kingdom."
The king of China, overjoyed to see his
grandson, tenderly embraced him. Such a
meeting, so happy and unexpected, drew
tears from both. The king, inquiring on
what occasion he came into a strange coun-
try, the prince told him all that had hap-
pened to him and his brother Assad. When
ho had ended his relation, " My son," re-
plied the king of China, "it is not just that
such innocent princes as you are shoidd be
longer ill-used. Comfort yourself; 1 will
carry you and your brother home, and make
your peace. Return, and acquaint your
brother with my arrival."
While the king of China encamped in the
same place where prince Amgiad met him,
that prince returned to let the king of the
magicians, who waited for him impatiently,
know how he had succeeded.
The king was amazed that so mighty a
king as ho of China should undertake such a
long and troublesome journey, out of a de-
sire to see his daughter, and that he was so
near his capital. Ho gave orders to make
things ready for his reception, and went
forth to meet him.
While these things were transacting, a
great dust was seen on another side of the
town ; and suddenly news came of the ar-
rival of a third army, which obliged the king
to stop, and to desire the prince Amgiad
once more to see who they were, and on
what account they came. Amgiad went ac-
cordingly, and prince Assad accompanied
him. They found it was Camaralzaman
their father's army, with whom he waa
coming to seek for them. He was so
grieved for the loss of his sons, that at last
emir Giondar declared how he had saved
their lives, which made him resolve to go
«nd see towards what country the two
riuces had travelled.
The afflicted father embraced the two
princes with floods of tears of joy, which
put an end to those he had a long time shed
for grief. The princes had no sooner told
him the king of China, his father-in-law, was
arrived, but he, with them and a smaU
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
277
party, rode to wait upon him in his camp.
They had not gone far before they saw a
fourth army, advancing in good order, which
seemed to come from Persia.
Camaralzaman told the two princes to go
and see what army it was, and he would in
the meanwhile stay for them. They de-
parted immediately ; and, coming up to it,
were presented to the king to whom the
army belonged : and, after having saluted
him with due reverence, they den.anded on
what design he approached so near the king
of the magicians' cajjital. The grand vizier,
who was present, answered in the name of
the king his master, "The monarch to whom
you speak is Suliahzaman, king of the isles
of th') Children of Khaledan ; who has a long
time travelled, thus attended, to seek his
son, prince Camaralzaman, who left his do-
minions many years ago ; if you know any-
thing of him, you cannot oblige him more
than to acquaint him with it."
The princes only replied, that they would
bring him an answer in a little time ; and,
galloping biick as fast as they could, told
Camaralzaman it was king Schahzaman's
army, and that the king his father Avas with
it in person.
Wonder, surprise, joy, and grief, to have
left the king his father without taking leave
of him, hod such an effect on king Camaral-
zaman, that ho fainted as soon as he heard
he was so near. Prince Amgiad and prince
Assad, by their assiduities, at length brought
him to himself ; and when he had recovered
his strength, he went to his father's tent,
and threw himself at his feet.
Never was there a more moving interview
between a father and a son. Schahzaman
kindly upbraided Camaralzaman with un-
kindness in so cruelly leaving him ; and Ca-
maralzaman discovered a hearty sorrow for
the fault which love had urged him to com-
mit.
The three kings aud queen Margiana
stayed three days at the court of the king of
the magicians, who treated them magnifi-
cently. These three days were rendered
more remarkable by prince Assad's marriage
with queen Margiana, and prince Amgiad
with Bostama, for the service she had done
his brother Assad.
At last the three kings, and queen Iklar-
giana, with her husband Assad, returned to
their respective kingdoms. As for Amgiad,
the king of the magicians had such an affec-
tion for him, he would not part with him ;
and being very old, he resigned his crown to
him. Amgiad, when he had the supreme
authority, did his utmost to exterminate the
worship of lire, and establish the Mohamme-
dan religion throughout his dominions.
ASTERTISEMEXT.
The readers of the foregoing Tales were
tired with the interruption Dinarzade gave
them. This defect is now remedied, and
they will meet with no more interruptions
at the end of every night. It is sufficient to
know the design of the Arabian author who
first made this collection.
There are some of these Arabian Tales
where neither Scheherazade, sultan Schah-
riar, Dinarzade, nor any distinction by
nights, is mentioned ; which shews that all
the Arabians have not approved the method
which this author has used, and that many
of them have been tired with these repeti-
tions. Care has been taken to reform thi.t
in the following translation ; but, without
mentioning any other reasons, there were so
many and so great objections to proceeding
in that method, that we foimd it necessary
to alter it.
The reader must therefore be acquainted,
thiit Scheherazade goes now on always
without interruption.
TUB STORY OF NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR
TEKSIAN.
The city of Balsora was for many years
the capital of a kuigdom tributary to the
caliphs of Arabia. The king who governed
it in the days of the caliph Haroun Alraschid
was named Zinebi. They were cousins, the
sons of two brothers. Zinebi not thinking it
]iroper to commit the administration of his
affairs to one single vizier, made choice of
two, Khacau and Saouy.
Khacan was of a sweet, generous, and
afiablo temper, and took a pride in obliging,
to the utmost of his power, those with whom
he had any concern, without the least hin-
drance to justice, which he was obliged to
distribute ; so that he was imivcrsally re-
spected at court, in the city, and throughout
the whole kingdom ; and the praises he so
highly deserved were the general theme.
Saouy was of a quite different character :
he was always sullen and morose, and dis-
gusted everybody, without regard to W '
rank or quality. Instead of making himheii
beloved and admired for his riches, he was
so perfect a miser as to deny himself the
necessaries of life. In short, nobody could
endure him, and nothing good was said of
him. But what increased the people's hatred
against him the more, was his implacable
aversion to Khacan ; always interpreting in
the worst sense the actions of that worthy
minister, and endeavouring to do him all the
ill offices imaginable with the king.
One day, tdUa council, the king of B«l<
278
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
»
8ora amused himself with his two viziers and
some other members of the council. The
conversation turned upon the womei! slavrs
that are daily bought and sold, and are with
us ulmoflt accounted in the same rank with
our lawful wives. Some were of oiiiuion
that it wn8 enough if the slave so boii<.'lit
was l)eautifiil and well-shaped, to make
amends for the wives, which very often, on
account of alliance or interest in families,
men are obliged to marry, though they are
not always the greatest beauties, or possessed
of any perfection, either of mind or body.
Others maintained, and amongst the rest
Khacan, that neither beauty nor all bodily
perfections were the only tilings to be desired
in a slave, but that they ought to be accom-
panied with a great share of wit, pnidencc,
modesty, and agreeableness, and, if possible,
much pleasing knowledge. The reason they
gave for it was, that nothing coidd be more
agreeable to i)erson3 on whom the manage-
ment of important allairs depends, than,
after having spent the whole day in that
fatiguing employment, to have a companion
m their retirement, whose conversation is
not only pleasing, but useful and amusing :
"For, in short," continued they, "there is
but little difFerence between brutes and those
men who keep a slave only to look at, and
gr.atify a passion that we have in common
with them."
The king was entirely of their opinion
who spoke last, and he gave a proof of it,
by ordering Khacan to buy him a slave, a
perfect beauty, mistress of all those qnalifi-
tications they had just mentioned, and, in
particular, possessed of knowledge.
Saouy, jealous of the honour the king
had done Khacan, and being of a contrary
opinion, said, "Sire, it will be very diihcult
to find a slave so accom])1ished as your
majesty requires ; and shoidd they light
ui>on such a one, (as I scarce believe they
will,) she will be a cheap bargain at ten
thousand pieces of gold." " Saouy," replied
the king, " I perceive plainly you think it
too great a sum ; it may be so for you,
though not for me." Then, turning to his
high treasurer, he ordered him to send the
ten thousand pieces of gold to the vizier's
house.
Khacan, as soon as he came home, sent
for all the brokers who used to deal in
women slaves, and strictly charged them,
that if ever they met with a slave that
answered the description he gave them, they
should come and acquaint him with it. The
brokers, ])artly to oblige the vizier, and
partly for their own interest, promised to
use their utmost endeavours to fiq;! out one
to his liking. Scarce a day passed but they
brought him one ; but he always found some
' fault or other.
One day as Khacan was getting on horse-
back, vety early in the morning, to go to
conrt, a broker came to him, and catching
hold of the stirmp with great eagerness,
told him there was a Persian merchant
arrivc«l very hate the day before, who ha<l a
slave to sell, so surprisingly beautifid, that
she exci-l]<-d all women that his eyes hod
ever beheld: "And for wit and knowledge,"
a<lde<l he, " the merchant engages she shall
match the finest wits, and the most learned
l)er>on3 of the age."
Khacan, overjoyed at this news, wliich
m.i<le him hopt for a favour.able opportunity
of making his court, ordered him to bring
the slave to his palace against his return,
and continued liLs journey.
Tlic broker failed not to be at the vizier's
at the appointed hour ; and Khacan, finding
the lovely slave so much beyond his expec-
tation, immediately gave her the name of
the Fair Persian. As he had an infinite
deal of wit .ind learning, be soon perceived,
by her conversation, that it was in vain to
search further for a slave that sur])a8scd her
in any of the qualifications required by the
king, and therefore he asked the broker at
what rate the Persian merchant valued her.
"Sir," replied the broker, "he is a man
of few words in bargaining ; and he tells me,
that the very lowest price he can part with
her at is ten thousand pieces of gold. He
has also sworn to me, that without reckon-
ing liis care and pains, from the time of his
first taking charge of her, he has laid out
pretty near t'le sum u^ion her education, in
masters to accomplish both her body and
her mind, besides clothes and maintenance ;
and as he always thought her fit for a king,
so from her very infancy, when he first
bonght her, he has not 1)een sparing of any-
thing that might contribute towards advanc-
ing her to that high honour. She plays
ujion all sorts of instruments to perfection ;
she sings, dances, writes better than the
most celebrated authors, makes verses, and,
in short, there is scarce any book but she
has read ; so that there never was a slave
of so great a capacity heard of before."
The vizier Khacan, who understood the
merit of the Fair Persian better than the
courtier, who only rejiorted what he had
heard from the merchant, was unwilling to
drive oiF the bargain to another time ; and
therefore sent one of his servants to look
after the merchant, where the courtier told
him he was to be found.
As soon as the Persian merchant came,
"It is not for myself, but the king," said
the vizier Khacan, " that T buy your slave ;
but, however, yon must let him have her at
a more reasonable price than what you have
set ui>on her."
"Sir," replied the merchant, "I should
do myself an unspeakable honour in oiTering
her as a prewnt to his majesty, if it became
\' .
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
279
a penon in my situation to make him one of
what 80 inestimable value. I aak no more
than her educa-
tion and accom-
plishment have
cotit me ; and all
I have to say
is, that I he-
lie ve his majesty
will he extremely
pleased with the
puri-'hase."
The vizier Kha-
can would no lon-
ger stand l)ai'^ain-
ing with the mor-
ohant, hut jiaid
him the money
down immediate-
ly. "Sir," said
ho to the ^^zier,
upon taking hi3
leave of him,
" since the slave
is designed for tiie
king's use, give
me leave to tell
you, that being
extremely fatigu-
ed with our long
journey, you see her at a great disadvantage ;
and though she has not her equal in
the world for beauty, yet if you please to
keep her at your own house but a fortnight,
and take a little pains with her, she will
appear (ji ite another creature : after that
you may present her to the king with honour
and credit ; for which I hope you will think
yourself much obliged to me. The sun, you
see, has a little altered her complexion ; but
after two or three times bathing, and when
you have dressed her as you think proper,
she will be so changed, that she will apjiear
to your eyes iutinitely more charming than
now."
Khacan was much pleased with the advice
the merchant gave him, and was resolved to
follow it. Ho assigned the Fair Persian a
particular apartment near his lady's, whom
he desired to invite her to an entertainment,
and henceforth to treat her as a person
designed for the king ; he also entreated
her to get several suits of the richest clothes
for her that could be had, and that became
her best. Before he took his leave of the
Fair Persian, "Your happinei^, madam,"
said he, " cannot be greater than what I am
about to procure for you ; you Bhall judge
for yourself : it is for the king himself I
have purchased you, and I hope he will be
better pleased with possessing you thon I
Am in having discharged the commission his
majesty has honoured me with. I think it,
however, my duty to warn you, that I have
a son, who, though he does not want wit.
yet is young, insinuating, and forward;
and to caution you liow you sutfer him to
come neor yoxi."
The Fair Persian
thanked him for
his good advice ;
and after she had
given him an as-
surance of her in-
tention to follow
it, ho withdrew.
Noureddin, for
BO the vizier's son
was named, had
free access to his
mother's apart-
ment, with whom
he usually ate
his meals. He
was very genteel,
young, .agreeable,
and bold ; and
being master of
abundance of wit
and readiness of
expression, hod
the art of per-
suading others oa
he pleased. He
saw the Fair Per-
sian ; and from the first intTview, though
he knew his father had bought her pur-
posely for the king, and had declared the
same to him, yet he never used the least
endeavour to check the violence of his
]>assion. In short, he resigned himself
wholly to the power of her charms, by which
his heart was at first comiuered ; and, from
his first conversation with her, he resolved
to emi)loy his utmost endeavours to get her
from the king.
On the other hand, the Fair Persian had
no disUke to Noureddin. " The vizier," said
she to herself, "has done me honour to
])urcha8e me for the king of B.alsora ; but I
should have thought myself very happy if
he had designed me only for his own son."
Noureddin was not backward in making
use of the advantage of teeing and con-
versing with a beauty he was so passionately
enamoured with ; for he would never leave
her, till his mother forced him to do it. "My
son," said she, "it is not proper for a young
man like you to be .alw.ays in the women's
apartment : go, mind your studies, and
endeavour to qualify yourself to succeed
your father in his high jiosts and honours."
It being a great while since the Fair
Persian had bathed, upon account of her
long journey, the ^•izier's lady, five or six
days after she was purchased, ordered the
bath in her own house to be got ready pur-
posely for her. She sent her to it with many
other women slaves, who were charged by
1 the vizier's lady to be as attentive to her m
I
28o
THE ARABIAN NIGHTST ENTERTAINMENTS.
to herself; and, after bathing, to ]mt on
her a very rich suit of clothes that she had
provided for her. She was the more careful,
in order to ingratiate herself with her hiis-
band, by letting him see how much she
interested herself in everything that con-
tributed to liis pleasure.
As soon as she came out of the l)ath, the
Fair Persian, a thousand times more beauti-
ful than ever she appeared t<> Kliacan when
he bought her, went to make a visit to his
lady, who at first sight hardly knew her.
The Fair Persian kissed her hand in a very
graceful manner, and said to her, " Madam,
I know not how you like me in this ilrcss
you have ])leased to order for me ; but your
women, who tell mo it becomes me so ex-
tremely well they ahould scarce know me,
certainly ilattcr me : from you alone I esi»e':t
to hear the truth ; but, if what they say be
really so, I am indebted to you, madam, for
the advantage it has given me."
" Oh ! my daugliter," cried the vizier's
lady, transported with joy, "you have no
reason to believe my women have flattered
you : I am better skilled in beauty than
they: and, setting aside your dress, which
becomes you admirably well, jour beauty
is so much improved by the bath, that I
hanlly knew you myself. If I thought the
bath was warm enough, I would take my
turn ; for I am now of an age that reipiirea*
frequent use of it." "Madam," replied the
Fair Persian, " I have nothing to say to the
undeserved civilities yon have been pleased
to shew me ; but as for the bath, it is in
wonderful fine order ; and if you design to
go in, you have no time to lose, as your
women can inform you as well as I. "
The vizier's lady, considering that she had
not bathed for some days past, was desirous
to make use of that opportunity ; and acconl-
ingly she acquainted her women with her
intention, who immediately jtrepared ail
things necessary on such an occasion. The
Fair Persian withdrew to her apartment ;
and the vizier's lady, before she went to
bathe, ordered two little female slaves to
stay with her, with a strict charge, that if
Noureddin came, they should not give him
admittance.
While the vizier's lady was bathing, and
the fair slave alone in her apartment, in
came Noureddin, and not finding his mother
in her chamber, went directly to the Fair
Persian's, where he found the two little
slaves in the antechamber : he asked them
where his mother was ? They told him, in
the bath. "Where is the Fair Persian,
then ? " replied Noureddin. " In her cham-
ber," answered the slaves ; but we have
positive orders from your mother not to let
you go in."
The entrance into the Fair Persian's cham-
ber being only covered with a piece of tapea-
trr, Xoareddin went to lift it up, in order to
go in, bat was opjKtsed by the two slaves,
who cUpped themselves just before it, on
par}M»e to stop his passage : he presently
can;:ht bold of them both by the arms, and,
thrunin^ them out of the antechamber,
^>ck<r«l the door upon them. Away they
immtdiatiely ran, with a great outcry, to the
bath, ami with tears in their eyes, .lold their
ladr, that Xounxldin, having dr.ven them
away by force, was got into the Ff ir Persian's
chamber.
The rider's lady received tl.e astonishing
news <A her son's presumption with the
greatest concern. She immediately left off
bathing, aad, dressing herself with all pos-
sible tpettL came directly to the Fair Per-
sian's chamWr; but Ix'fore sho could get
thither, N'oureddin was gone.
The Fair Persian was extremely sur-
priicid to see the vizier's lady enter her
chamber all in tears, and in the utmost con-
fnnon. ** Madam," said she to her, "may
I presnme to ask the occasion of your con-
n.-em7 and what accident has happened in
the bath, that makes you leave it so soon ? "
"What!" cried the vizier's lady, "can
yoa s<o calmly ask that question, when my
son Noureddin has been with you alone in
T»ur chamber ? Can there happen a greater
mtsi^rtnne to him or me ?"
" I beseech you, madam," said the fair
slave, " what prejudice can this action of
NooredJin's do to you or him ? "
"How!" rephed the vizier's lady, "did
not my ha«baiid tell you that you were de-
sii^ned f <jir the king, and sufficiently cautioned
yon t't beware of Noureddin ?"
'•I have not forgot it, madam," replied
the Fair Persian; "but your son came to
tefl me the vizier, his father, had changed
his mind, and instead of reserving me for
the king, as he first designed, has made him
a present of my person. I easily believed
him, mailam ; for, oh ! think how a slave,
33 I am, aocostomed from my infant years
to the laws of servitude, could or ought to
Twist him ! I must own I did it with the
less nnwillingness on account of a violent in-
clioatiioin for him, which the freedom of con-
versati>:4i and daily intercourse has raised in
my sic^iaL I could, without regret, lose the
hope of ever being the king's, and think my-
self perfectly hap]>y in spending my whole
life with NourjJdin."
At this ditioourse of the Fair Persian's,
"Would to 'jod," cried the vizier's lady,
'•that what you say were true ! I should
hear it with joy ; but, believe me, Noured-
din is an impostor, and has deceived you ;
f<>r it is impossible his father should ever
make him the present he spoke of. Ah f
wretched y^nth, how miserable has he made
me ! bat more his father, by the dismal con-
seqacncei we most I'l expect to share with
n
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
281
koB : Neither my prayers nor tears will be
aUe to prevail, or obtain a pardon for him :
bat aa Boon as his father hears of his violence
to you, he will inevitably sacrifice }um to
his jttst resentment." At these words slio
fell to weeping bitterly ; and the slaves, who
were aa much afraid for Nourcddin as her-
self, bore her company,
A Uttle after this, in came the vizier
Rhacaa; and being surprised to tind his
lady and her slaves all in tears, and the Fair
Persian very melancholy, asked the reason
of it; but, instead of answcrint; him, his wifo
and his slaves kept on wce]>in,ir and lamcut-
ing. He was more astonished at this than
beft-ire : at lost addressing himself to his
wife, "I command you," said he, "to let
me know the occasion of your tears, and to
tell me the whole truth."
The poor disconsolate lady could no longer
refuse to satisfy her husband. "Sir," said
she, " first promise not to use roo imkindly
for what I*tcll you, since I assure you that
what has hapjiened has not been occasioned
by any fault of mine : " then, without staying
for his answer, "Whilst I was bathing with
my women," continued she, "your son, lay-
ing hold of that fatal opportunity to ruin ua
both, came hither, and made the Fair Per-
sian WLeve, that instead of reserving her
tor the '?ing, as you once designed, you had
given her to him as a present ; I do not say
what he did after such a notorious falsehood,
bnt shall leave you to judge of it yourself.
This is the cause of my atUiction, upon your
account, and his, for whom I want coniideuce
to implore your pardon."
It is impossible to express the vizier Kha-
can's distraction upon hearing of the inso-
lence of his son Noureddin. "Ah! "cried
he, beating his breast, and tearing his beard,
•' miserable son ! unworthy of life ! hast
thou at last thrown thy father from the
highest pinnacle of happiness into a mis-
fortune that must inevitably involve theo
ako in his ruin ? Neither will the king bo
satisfied with thy blood or mine, to avenge
the afiront offered to his royal person,"
His lady endeavoured to comfort him.
•'Afflict yourself no more about the matter,"
said she ; " I shall easily raise, with part of
my jewels, ten thousand pieces of gold, and
yoa may buy another slave, more beautiful,
and more worthy of the king."
"Ah!" replied the vizier, "could you
think me capable of being so extremely
afflicted at losing ten thousand pieces of
goU t It is not that loss, nor the loss of all
I am worth ; for that I should not feel ; but
the forfeiting my honour, more precious than
all the riches in the world," " However, me-
tliinkB," replied the lady, "a loss that can
be repaired by money cannot be so very
great,"
"How!" cried the vizier; "don't you
know ^aouy is my mortal enemy ; and as
soon as this affair comes to his knowledge,
do you think he will not exult over mo be-
fore the king? ' Vour majesty,' will he say to
him, 'is always talking of Khacan's zeal and
affection for your service ; but see what (v
proof he hoa lately given of his l)eing worthy
the regard you have hitherto shown him.
He has received ten thousand pieces of gold
to buy a slave with; and, to do him justice,
he has most honourably acquitted himself of
that commission, in buying the most beauti-
ful that ever eyes buhdd ; but, instead of
bringing her to your majesty, he has thought
it better to make a present of her to his son.
'Here, my son,' said he, 'take this slave,
since thou art more worthy of her than the
king.' Then with his usual malico will he
go on, 'His son has her now entirely in his
possession, and every day revels in her
arms, without the least disturbance. This,
sir, is the exact truth, that I have done my-
self the honour of acquainting you with ;
and if your majesty questions it, you may
easily satisfy youi-self.' Do you not plain-
ly see," ciiutinucd the vizier, "how, upon
such a malicious insinuation as this, I am
every moment liable to have my house forced
by the king's guards, and the F; ir Persian
taken from me, besides a thousand other
misfortunes that wi'.l unavoidably follow ? "
"Sir," replied the vizier's lady to her hus-
band, " I am sensible the malice of Saouy is
very great, and that, if he has but the least
intimation of this affair, he will certainly
give it a turn very disadvantageous to your
interest ; but how is it possible that he or
anybody else should come to the knowledge
of what has been privately transacted in
your family?" Suppose it comes to the
king's ears, and he should ask you about it ;
cannot you say, that upon a strict examuia-
tion you did not think the slave so fit for
his majesty's use as you did at the first view ;
that the merchant has cheated you ; that,
indeed, she has a great deal of beauty, but
is nothing near so accomplished as she was
reported to be? The king will certainly
believe what you say, and Saouy be vexed
to the soul, to SCO all his malicious designs
of ruining you eternally disappointed : take
courage then, and if you will follow my
advice, send for all the courtiers, tell them
you do not like the Fair Persian, and order
them to be as expeilitious as possible in get-
ting another slave."
The vizier Khacan, approving of this rea-
sonable advice, resolved to make use of it,
as his passion began to cool ; yet his in-
dignation against his son Noureddiu was not
in the least abated.
Noureddin came not in sight all that day,
and not daring to hide himself among his
young companions, lest his father should
search for him in their houseB, he went a
r
I
'1 I
\l
, I
282
T//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
little way ont of tovn, and t<vik sanctuary in
a jjanlen wliore ho had never l>een Jjeforp,
and where lie wflH totally unlcnown. Ho did
not ooinf linck till it was very Into, when he
know his fatlier was in bi'd ; and then his
miitlicr'.i wnin<'n, o|>oninK the d<M>r very
Hiiftly, let him in without any noi^e. }Io
went out next inomini: U-fore hirt father wa*
stirrinir : and this )>lan he inirsiied for a
wiiole month, to hi.<i threat niortilication. lu-
dci'd the women never llattered him, hut
toM him jil.'iuily, his father's an'j;er w.is as
j^iT.'it iis ever, and that he ])roteste<l, if he
camo iu hi^ eight, he would certainly kill
hin>.
Thoiinh the vizier's Lvly was informed by
her women of Noureddin's lyinu' every night
in the house, she durst not jmaume to en-
trer.t her lunband to pardon him. At l.iat
8ho ventured ; and one day g.iid t* him,
" I li.ive hitherto beensilent,
sir, not darin;; before to take
tlu! liberty of talkinir to you
about your son ; but now
^'ivo lue leave to ask you
what you desiim to do with
him? It is impossible for a
son to be more criminal to-
wards a father than Noured-
din has been towards ynu ;
he has robbed you of the
honour and satittfaction of
presenting; the king with a
slave 80 accomplishuil as tho
Fair Persian : this I ac-
knowledjie; but, after all,
are you absolutely resolved
to destroy him, and. instead
of a light evil no more to be
thought of, draw u]>on your-
self a far greater tiian per-
haps you at ]>reMeut ima-
gine ? Are you not arrai<l that the malicious
world, which inrpiires after the reason of
your son's absconiling, may find out the true
cause, which you are so desirous of conceal-
ing ''. and if that should hap^ien, you would
justly fall into a misfortune, which it is so
much your interest to avoid."
"Madam," said the vizier, "there is sound
reasoning in what you have nrgcd ; however,
I cannot think of pardoning Moureddin, till
I have mortified him as he deserves." "He
will be sutficieutly mortified," replied the
lady, " if you will put in execution what is
just come into my mind : you must know,
then, your son comes hither every night after
you are in bed ; he sleeps here, and steals
out every morning before you are stirring.
Wait for his coming in to-night, make as if
you designed to kill him ; uiK>n which I will
run to his assistance, and when he finds his
life entirely owing to my prayers and entrea-
ties, you may oblige him to take the Fair
Persian on what conditiona aoever 70a
]ileaRe : he loves her, and I am sensible the
fair slave has no aversion for him."
Khacan was very willing to make nse of
this stratagem. No, wiien Noureddio came
iu at the usual hour, before the door was
opened, he placed him.self liehind it; as soon
as he entered, ho rushed suchlerdy u]ion him,
and got him down under his feet. Noured-
din, lifting up his head, saw his father
with a d.aggcr in his hand, reiuly to stab
him.
In that instant came his mother, and
catching hold of the vizier's arm, "Sir, "cried
she, " what are you doing?" " Let me alone,"
replied the vizier, "that I m.ny kill this base
unworthy son." "You shall kill me lirst,"
cried tho mother; "never will I suder you to
imbrue your hands in your own blooil." Nou-
reddin improved this moment. " -My father,"
i.Tied he, with tears in his eyes, " 1 inqilore
your clemency and com-
]ia88ion ; nor must you deny
ine pardon, since I ask it in
His namo before whom we
must all api)ear at the last
day."
Khacan suflTered the dag-
ger to bo taken out of his
hand ; and aa soon .is Nou-
reddin was released, hethrew
himself at his father's feet,
and ki.s8ed them, to shew
how sincerely he repented of
having otlended him. "Nou-
re(hlin," said he, "return
thanks to your mother, since
it is purely for lior sjvke I
pardon you. I design also
to give you the Fair Persian,
on condition that you will
oblige yourself by an oath
not to look upon her any
longer aa a slave, but as your wife ; that
you will not sell her, nor ever be divorced
from her ; for she, having abundance of wit
<ind prudence, and much better conduct than
you, I am persuaded she will be able to
moderate those rash sallies of youth, which
are enough to ruin you."
Noureddin, who little expected tr be
treated after so kind and indulgent a .an-
ner, returned his father a thousand thanks,
with all the gratitude and sincerity imagin-
able ; and the vizier, the Fair Persian, and he,
were very well pleased and satisfied with the
match.
The vizier Khacan would not wait for the
king's asking him about the commi.ssion that
he had given him, but took particular care
to mention it often, representing to his ma-
jesty the many dilficulties he met with in
that affair, and how fearful he was of not
acquitting himself to his majesty's satisfac-
tion.' In short he managed the business
with so much address, that the king insen-
tii
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
283
■ibly for|;ot it ; and though Saouy luul ^nt
Momo Kmall informatiun of the matter, yet
Khncau woa 8u much in tlie king'u favour,
tliat he WA8 afraid to speak of it.
It wa8 now above a year that this nicu
nfTiiir \v\A Ik-oii kejit with greatt-r Nccrccy
than the vizier at linit exi)eutc<l, who lieiii;^
one day in the hiith, and Home inijiortoiit
liiisiiii'SH oMigiii^ liim to leave it, warm oh he
WUM, tlie air, wliich was tlieii a little cold,
stnu'k to luH breast, cauHed a detluxion to
fall \i|)oii liis lung's, which throw liim into n
violent fever, and coutiued him to his lied.
His illness increasiiifj every day, and jier-
ceiving ho had but a few moments to liv»', he
thns addressed himself to his son Noured<lin,
who never stirred from him during his wlmlo
>^iekness : " My S(m," said he, " 1 know not
whether T liave made a good use of the
riches heaven has blessed me with, but you
see they are not able t(» save me from the
hands of death : the last tiling I desire of
you with my dying breath is, that you would
be mindful of the iiromiso you made me
concernini; the Fair I'ersian, and in this
assurance I shall die content."
These weie the vizier Khacan's last words.
He died 11 few moments after, and left his
family, the court, and the whole city, in
great ailliction for his death. The king
lamented him as a wise, zealous, and faith-
ful minister ; and the wljole city bewailed
him as their protector and benefactor. Never
was there a funeral in Balsora solenmizcd
with greater pomp and magnitieence ; the
viziers and emirs, and in general all the
grandees of the court, strove for the honour
of bearing his colHn, one after another, ujion
their shoulders, to the place of burial ; and
both rich and poor accompanied him thither
with tears in their eyes.
Noureddin gave all the deraonstrations of
a sorrow equal to the loss he had lately
sustaine<l, and lived a great while without
ever seeing any company : at last he ad-
mitted of a visit from an intimate friend
of his. His friend endeavoured to comfort
him ; and finding him inclined to hear rea-
son, he told him, that having paid what was
due to the memory of his father, and fully
satisfied all that decency required of him, it
was now high time to apjiear aiiain in the
world, to converse with his friends, and
maintain a character suitable to his birth
andmcrit. "For," continued he, "we shoidd
ain both against the laws of nature and civil
society, and be thought insensible, if upon
the death of our fathers we neglect to pay
them what filial love requires at our hands ;
but having once performed that duty, and
put it out of the power of any man to re-
proach ua on that account, we are obliged
to return to our usual method of living.
Dry up your tears then, and re-assume that
wonted air of gaiety, which always inspires
with joy those that have the honour of your
conversatiim."
This advice aeeme^l vi'ry reasonable. Nou-
leddin woa easily ])orauaded to follow it ;
aixl if lie had followed it in all tlin regu-
larity it required, he wouM certainly have
avoided all the misfortunes that afterwards
befcl him. He treated his friend very nobly;
ami when he took his leave, Noure<ldin de-
sired him to come the next day, ami bring
three or four friends of their ac(|uaintance.
By this means hi; insensibly fell into thu
society of about ten young men jiretty neor
his own age, with whom he sjient his time
in c(mtiinial feasting and entertainments ;
and scarce a day passed but ho made every
one of them some consilerable present.
Sometimes, to obli<;e his friends, Nou-
reddin would send for the Fair Persian, who
notwithstanding her obedience to his com-
mand, never approved of his extravagant
way of living, but often s]>oke her mind
freely. "I question not," saiil she, "but
the vizier your father h:us left you an am])lo
fortune ; but great x\» it may bo, be not <lis-
pleased with your slave for telling you, that
at this rate of living you will ipiickly see an
end of it. AVe may sometimes indeeil treat
our friends, and be merry with them ; but
to make a dady practice of it is certainly
the high road to ruin and destruction : for
your own honour and re]iutation, you woidd
do better to follow the footstejis of your
deceased father, that in time you may rise
to that dignity by which he has ac(|uired so
much glory and renown."'
Noureddin hearkened to the Fair P'-roian's
discourse with a smile : and when she had
done, " My charmer," said lie, with the same
air of mirth, " say no more of that ; let us
talk of nothing but mirth and pleasure. In
my father's lifetime I was always under
restraint ; and I am now resolved to enjoy
the liberty I so much sighed for before his
death. It is time enough for me to think
of leading the sober, regular life you talk of;
and a man of my age ought to taste the
pleasures of youth."
What contributed still more to the ruin of
Noureddin's fortune, was his imwillingness
to reckon with his steward ; for whenever
ho brought in his accounts, lie stiU sent him
away without examining them : " Go, go,"
said he, "I trust wholly to your honesty;
only take care to let me have wherewith to
make merry."
"You are the master, sir," replied he,
" and I but the steward ; however, you
would do well to think upon the proverb,
He that spends much, and has but little,
must at last insensibly be reduced to poverty.
You are not contented with keeping an ex-
travagant table, but you must lavish away
your estate with both hands : and were your
coffers as large as mountains, they would
i^
I'
m
:i>.^
384
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
not be sufBcirnt to maintain you." " Be-
gone," rv]ilic«l Nourctldin ; " I want not your
grave K-swtns ; only take care to provide
gMxl eatint; and drinking, and truublo your
head no further aUiut the reat."
In the meantime Noureddin's fricndii were
constant Kiiesta at lu« table, oiul never fail-
ed to take mlvaotaftv of the eaiiineHfl of his
temper. They praisetl and llattered him,
vxtoUini; his most inditTerent actions : but,
nlM>ve all, they took iiarticular care to com-
mend whatever heliinKe<l to him ; and in
this they found their account. "Sir," said
one of them, "I came the other day by your
estate that lies in such a place ; notliin;{ can
be so magniiicent ur so handsonu'ly furnish-
ed as your house ; and the ^^arden belong-
ing to it is a ]>aradi.'<e uiion earth." " I am
very glad it pleases you," said Noureddiu :
"bring me pen, ink, and paper; without
more wurd.1, it is at your service ; I make
you a present of it." No sooner ha<l others
commeudetl one of his houses, baths, and
public buildings erectctl for the use of
strangers, the yearly revenue of which was
very considerable, but he immediately g.ivo
them away. The Fair Persian could not
forbear letting liim know how much injury
he did himself ; but, iuste.id of hearkening
to her, he continued his extr.tv.igancies, and
the first oi>iH>rtunity that olFereil, squander-
ed aw.iy the little he hatl left.
In short, Noure«ldin did nothing for a
whole year but feast and make merry;
wasting and consuming, after a prmligal
manner, the great we.ilth th.it his prede-
cessors and the goo«l vizier his father had
with so much pains and care acquired and
prc8ervc«L
The j-ear was but just expired, when
Bomcbo<Iy one day knocked at the hall door,
where he and his friends were at dinner
together by themselves, having sent away
the sLiTcs, that they might enjoy a gi'eatcr
liberty.
One of his friends offered to rise ; but
Nourcddin, 8tc]>ping before him, ojieued the
door himself. It seems it was the steward ;
and Xoure<Ulin, going a little out of the
hall, to know bis business, left the door half
open.
The friend that offered to rise from his
seat, seeing it was the steward, and being
curious to know what he had to say to Nou-
reddin, placetl himself between the hangings
and the door, where he plainly overheard
the steward's discourse to his master.
" Sir," said he, " I ask a thousand pardons
for coming to disturb you in the height of
your pleasore ; but what I have to say is of
such importance that I thought myself bound
in duty to acquaint you with it. I am come,
ur, to make up my last accounts, and to tell
you, that what I iJl along foresaw, and have
often warned yon of, is at last come to paas.
I have not the smallest piece loft of all the
sums I have rcceivetl from you for your
exi>cnses ; the other funds you assignoti mo
are all exhausted. The farmer*, and thi>s«
that owe you rent, have made it so plainly
appear to mo that you have assignetl over
to others what they hehl of you, that it is
impossible for mu to get any more of them
on your account Here are my IxHiks ; if
you please, examine them ; and if you wish
I should continue useful to you, assign mo
other fumk, or else give mo leave to quit
your service." Nourctldin was so astonished
at his discourse, thiit he gave him no answer.
The friend, wlio had In-en listening all this
while, and had heard every syllable of what
the steward saitl, immediately came in, and
told the comjiany what he had overheard.
" It is your business, gentlemen," said he,
" to make your use of this caution ; for my
part, I declare to you this is the last visit I
design ever to make Nourcddin." "Nay,"
replied they, " if matters go thus, we have
OS little business here as you ; and for the
future shall take care not to trouble him
■with our company."
Nourcddin returned presently after ; yet,
notwithstanding all his efforts to carry it
pleasantly to his guests, he could not dis-
semble the matter ; but they plainly jier-
ceived the truth of what they had heanl.
Ho was sc.ircc sat down in his place, but
one of hid friends rose up : "Sir," said he,
" I am sorry I cannot have the honour of
keeping you company any longer ; and
therefore I hope you will excuse my rude-
ness in leaving you so soon." " What
urgent aflair," replied Nourcddin, " obhgc»
you to be going so soon ? " " My wife, sir,"
said he, " is brought to bed to-d.ty ; and
upon such an occasion, you know, a hus-
band's company is always necessary." So,
making a very low bow, away he went. A
minute afterwards, a second took his leave,
with another excuse. The rest did the
same, one after another, till at Lost not
one uf those ten friends that had hitherto
kept Noureddiu company was left in the
room.
As soon as they were gone, Nourcddin,
little BU8i)ecting the resolution they had
formed never to see him again, went directly
to the Fair Persian's apartment ; to whom,
in private, he related all the steward had
told him, and seemed extremely concerned
at the ill state of his affairs. " Sir," said the
Fair Persian to him, ' ' allow me to say, you
would never take my advice, but always
managed your concerns after your own way,
and now you see the fatal consequence of it.
I find I was not mistaken when I presaged
to what a miserable condition yon would
bring yourself at last ; but what afflicts me
the more ia, that at present you do not aee
the worst of your miBfcatonea. Whenever I
you
ways
way,
of it.
laged
ould
I me
t MO
•I
NOURFDnry and the fair pfrsian.
28s
IircmiintMl frci-ly to iin|)art my tlioui(litH to
yoii, ■ I^>t iiR l)v im-rry,' Nniil you, 'ami iiii-
I trove till' tiiiif tliikt Kortuiii' oH'i-M us ; |)i'r-
in|*H hIic will Hot olwnyH \w ho |iroilii;al in
lierfavuun:' luit, wan 1 iiow to bluiiii', in
tt^Uiii^ you that we arv nurHi'lvc-t the innkiTM
of our own fortuiK'fi, l>y a pruilciit inaiiagu-
iiiPiit of thfiii ? Vou \'. Hiilil Hot lii'arkfU to
III*-, au<l I was forced to let you go on, how-
♦jvtT ri'liu.'tantly."
" I must own," rcplit'il Nourorlilin, " I was
cxtrcnu'ly in the wroui; in not following; tliu
a<lvici> that you, out of your adniirablu |iru-
tlenue, gave niu. It is truo 1 liavo H|ii'nt
my estate ; liut you <lo not consiiler, it in
anion;; a chosen Het of frienils whom I havo
lon^ known, and who, I am ]>er8ua(l"d, have
more generosity and gratitude in then^ ' ' . n
to ahandon me in distress \ ' " Sir," repl' '
the Fair IVrsiaii, " if you havo nothing l)i .
thti gratitude t>f your friendii to de^jend on,
your caae ii deiiiH-rato ; for, helievf . , that
hope is ill-grouuded, aud you will mc ro
yourself in time."
To this Noureddin replird, "C!iari.ii;' ,
I'eraian, [ have a better oiiinioii of my
riends' generosity than you : tomorrow '..
design to make a visit to them nil, lieforo
the usual time of their coming hither ; and
you Hhall see me return with a rotind sum,
that they will assist mc with. 1 am resolved
to alter my way of living, and, with the
money they lend mc, set up iu somo busi-
ness."
Next mominj; Xourcddin failed not to
visit his ten friends, who lived in the very
same street. He knocked at the first door
he came at, where one of the richest of them
lived. A slave came to the door; but
before he would ojwn it, he asked who was
there. "Tell your master," said he to the
elave, " it is Noureddin, the late vizier Kha-
can's son.'' The slave opened the door, and
shewed him into a hall, where he left him,
to go tell his master, who was in an inner
room, that Noureddin was come to wait on
him. "Noureddin ! " cried he, in a disdain-
fid tone, loud enough for Noureddin to liear
it, with surprise ; "go, tell him I am not at
home ; and whenever he comes hither, be
sure you give him the same answer." The
slave came back, and told Noureddin he
thought his master was within, but he was
mistaken.
Noureddin come away ui the greatest con-
fusion. "All! base, 'ingrateful wTetch!"
cried he, " to treat me so to-day after the
vows and protestations of friendship that he
made me yesterday." He went to another
door, but that friend ordered his slaves also
to say he was gone out. He had the same
answer at the third ; and, in short, all the
rest denied themselves, though every one
was at home at the some time.
Noureddin now began in eameut to reflect
with liiiiiHulf, and scu the folly of relying
upon the )iroteiitatioiiii of atkuliiiirnt that
IiIh false friends had noli'iiiiily made liiin iu
tl .! time of his prosperity, wlii'ii ho eould
treat them so Hiiinptuously, and loiul them
with favours. "It is very true," said lii> to
himself, with teai-s in his eyes, " that a for-
tunate mail, as I was, may lie compared to a
tree laden with fniit, which, as long as thrre
is any on its biuiglis, jicopli! will Im crowd-
ing round, and gatlieriiig ; but, as hooii as it
is stiipped of all, they iiiimediutrly leave it,
and go to another." He Minotliered his pas-
sioii as much U4 juissiblo whilo hu was
abroad ; but no sooner was he got home,
than liu gave a Io(is>! to his allliction, and
discovered it to the l''air I'ersi-xn.
The Fair I'ersian, seeing him so evtiviiu'Iy
cniiceriied, fancied he had not louiid hit*
friends HU ready to assist him as he cspeeted.
"Well, sir," said she, "are you now con-
vinced ' ^ Uie truth of wli;it I told you?"
"Ah ' cried he, " my dear, thou liast been
t - ) irue a projilietess ; for not one of them
would know me, see me, cr speak to inc.
VVlin could ever havo believed, that ])crsoiis
BO highly obliged to me, ami on wlioin I
have spent my estate, cf>uM have used mo
io barbarously? I am distracted, and I
fear comi it^ing some action unworthy my-
self, in the depl. i,il)ic and desperate condi-
tion I ;.m reduced to, wil'iout the assistaueo
of your i:rudent advice." " Sir," replied the
Fair Persian, "I see no other way of su]i])ort-
ing yourself in your misfortunes, but selling
oH' yuiir slaves and furniture, and living on
the money thry jjroduce, till Heaven points
out somo other means to deliver you from
your jwescnt misery."
Noureddin was very loth to make use of
this expedient ; but what could ho do in tlio
necesHitoiiB circumstances he was in ? He
first sold ofl" his slaves, those unprofitable
mouths, which would have been a greater
cxjiense to him than in his ]iresent condition
ho could bear. Ho lived on the money for
somo time ; aud when it was all spent, ho
ordered his goods to be carried into the
maiket-placc, where they were sold for half
their worth, though there were among them
several valuable things that cost immense
sums. Upon this he lived a considerable
time ; but that supply failing at last, he had
nothing left by which he could raise any
more money, of which ho complained to
the Fair Persian in the most sorrowful
expressions.
Noureddin little expected the answer this
prudent woman made him. " Sir," said she,
"I am your slave; and you know that the
late nzier your father gave ten thousand
pieces of gold for me. I know I am a
little sunk in value since that time ; but I
1)elieve I shall sell for pretty neai' that sum.
Let me entreat you, then, instantly to carry
-IP" l«ll_.
286
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
me to the Il)'^rket, and expose me to sole, and
with the money that yon get for me, irhich
■will be very considerable,
you may turn merchant
in some city where you
are not known, and by
that means find a way of
living, if not in splen-
dour, yet with happiness
and content."
" Lovely and adorable
Persian," cried Noured-
din, "is it possible you
can entertain such a
thought ? Have I given
you such slender proofs
of my love, that you
shoidd think me capable
of so base an action ? But
suppose me so vile a
wretch, could I do it with-
out being guilty of per-
jury, after the oath I have taken to my late
father never to sell you? I ooidd sooner
die than break it, and part with you, whom
I love infinitely beyond myself ; though, by
the unreasonable proposal you have made
me, you shew me that your love is by no
means reciprocal."
"Sir," replied the Fair Persian, "lam
convinced that your passion for me is as
violent as you say it is ; and Heaven, jvho
knows with what reluctance I have mude
this proposal, that makes you think »q
hardly of me, is my witness, that mine is
as great as yours ; but to silence your
reasons at once, I need only bid you remem-
ber, that necessity has no law. I love you
to that degree, that it is impossible for you
to love me more ; and be assured, that to
what ill aster soever I shall belong, my love
for you will always continue the same ; and
if you are ever able to redeem me, as I hope
you may, it wUl be the greatest pleasure in
the world to bo restored to you again. I
confess it is a fatal and cruel necessity to
which we are driven ; but I see no other
way of freeing ourselves from the misery
that involves us both."
Noureddin, who was con^'inced of the
truth of what the Fair Persian had said, and
that there was no other way of avoiding a
shameful poverty, was forced to yield to her
proposal. Accordingly he led her to the
market where the women slaves are exposed
to sale, with a regret that cannot easily be
expressed. He applied himself to a broker,
named Hagi Hassan. " Hagi Hassan," said
he, " here is a slave that I have a mind to
sell; prythee see what they will give for
her."
Hagi Hassan desired I^oureddm and the
Fair Persian to walk into the room; and
when she pulled off the veil that oovered
herfaoe, "Sir," said Hagi Hassan to Noured*
din, in a great surprise, " if I am not miB<
taken, this is the slave your father, the late
vizier, gav j ten thousand
pieces of gold for. " Nou-
reddin assured him it was
the same ; and Hagi Has-
san gave him some hopes
of selling her at a good
rate, and promised to use
all his art to raise her
price as high as he coiUd.
Hagi Hassan and Nou-
reddin went out of the
room ; and Hagi Hassan
locked the Fair Persian
in. He went immediately
after the merchants ; but
they being busy in buy-
ing slaves that came from
different countries,
Greeks, Franks, Afri-
cans, Tartars, and others,
he was forced to stay till the market
was done. When the sale was over, and
the greatest part of them were got together
again, "My masters," said he to them, with
an air of gaiety in his looks and actions,
"everything that is round is not a nut;
everything that is long is not a fig ; all that
is red is not fiesh, and all eggs are not fresh :
it is true you have seen and bought a great
many slaves in your lives, but you never
yet saw one comparable to her I am going to
tell you of. She is the very pearl of slaves.
Come, follow me, and you shall see her
yourselves and judge at what rate 1 shall
cry her.''
The merchants followed Hagi Hassan into
the apartment where the Fair Persian was ;
and as soon as they beheld her, they were
so suri)rised at her beauty, that at the first
word they unanimously agreed that four
thousand pieces of gold was the very lowest
price they could set upon her. The mer-
chants left the room; and Hagi Hassan,
who came out with tiiem, without going
any farther, proclaimed with a loud voice,
" Four thousand pieces of gold for the Per-
sian slave."
None of the merchants had yet offered
anything, and they were considting together
about what they might afford to give for
her, when the vizier Saouy appeared. Per-
ceiving Noureddin in the market, said he to
himself, " Noureddin is certainly still making
money of his goods (for he knew he had
exposed them to sale,) and is come hither
to buy a slave with it." He advanced for-
ward just as Hagi Hassan began to proclaim
a second time, "Four thousand pieces of
gold for the Persian slave."
The vizier Saouy, who oonoluded by the
high price, that the slave must be extraor-
dinarily beautiful, was very desirous to see
her; so spurring his hone fonrord, he rode
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
287
up to Hagi Hassan, who was sorrounded by
the merchants. " Open the door," said he,
"and let me see the uiave." It was not the
custom to shew a slave to a particular
person after the merchants had seen her and
were treating for her ; but none of them
durst dispute their right with the vizier :
and Hagi Hassan was obliged to open the
door, and made a sign to the Fair Persian
to come forward, that Saouy might have a
sight of her, without alighting from his horse.
The vizier was astonished at the sight of
so beautiful a slave; and knowing the
broker's name, (having formerly dealt with
him,) "Hagi Hassan," said he, "is it not
at four thousand pieces of gold that you cry
her?" "Yes, sir," answered he; "the
merchants just now agreed that I should
put her up at that price. I wait their
advai-.ce on it ; and I question not but they
wUl give a great deal more."
"If nobody oft'ers more I will give that
sum," replied Saouy, looking upon the mer-
chants at the same time with a cotmtenance
that forbad them to advaiice any more. He
was so universally dreaded, that nobody
durst speak a word, even to complain of ha
encroaching upon their privilege.
The vizier Saouy having stayed some
time, and finding none of the merchants
outbid him, " What do you stay for? " said
he to Hagi Hassan. "Go, look after the
seller, and strike a bargain with him at four
thousand pieces of gold, or inquire if he de-
mands more ; " not knowing yet the slave
belonged to Noureddin.
Hagi Hassan, having locked the chamber-
door, went to confer with Noureddin.
"Sir," said he to him, "I am very sorry to
bring you the ill news of your slave's being
just going to be sold for nothing." " How
so?" rejilied Noureddm. "Why, sir," said
Hagi Hassan, " you must know, that the
business at first went on well ; for as soon
as the merchants had seen your slave, they
ordered me, without hesitation, to cry liur
at four thoiisand pieces of gold : accordingly,
I cried her at that price, and presently the
vizier Saouy came, and his presence has
stopped the mouths of aU the merchants,
who seemed inclinable to raise her, at least
to the same price your deceased father gave
for her. Saouy will give no more than four
thousand pieces ; and it is much against my
inchnatiou that I am come to tell you the
despicable price he offers. The slave indeed
is your own ; but I will never advise you to
part with her upon those terms, since you
and everybody else are sensible of her being
worth infinitely more ; besides, hn is base
enough to contrive a way to trick you out
of the money."
"Hagi Hassan," replied Noureddin, "I
un highly obliged to thee for thy advice ;
do not thmk I will ever sell my ilavo to any
enemy of our family : my necessities, indeed,
are at present very great; but I would
sooner die in the utmost poverty than con-
sent to the delivering her up to him. I
have only one thing to beg of thee, who art
skilful in all the turns and shifts of sale,
that thou woiddst jjut me iu a way to pre-
vent the sale of her."
"Sir," said Hagi Hassan, "there is no-
thing more easy : you must pretend, that,
being in a violent passion with your slave,
you swore to expose her in the market ; and,
for the sake of your oath, you have now
brought her hither, without any intention of
selling her. This will satisfy everybody,
and Saouy will have nothing to say against
it. Come along with me, then ; and just as
I am presenting her to Saouy, as if it were
by your own consent, pull her to you, give
her two or three blows, and send her home."
"I thank thee for thy counsel," said Nou-
reddin; "and thou shalt see I will make
use of it."
Hagi Hassan went back to the chamber ;
and having in two words acquainted the
Fair Persian witlx their design, that sho
might not be surjn-ised at it, he took her by
the hand, and led her to the vizier Saouy,
who was still on horseback at the door.
"Sir," said he, "here is the slave; she is
yours ; take her."
The words were scarce out of Hagi Has-
san's mouth, but Noureddin, catching hold
of the Fair Persian, pulled her to him, and
giving her a box on the ear, "Come hither,
impertinence," said he, " and get you home
again ; for though your ill humour obliged
me to swear I should bring you hither, yet
I never intended to sell you. I have busi-
ness for you to do yet ; and it will be time
enough to part with you when I have no-
thing else left."
This action of Noureddin put the vizier
Saouy into a violent passion. "Miserable
debauchee," cried he, "wouldst thou have
me beUeve thou hast anything else left to
make money of but thy slave ? " And, at the
same instant, spurring his horse directly
against him, endeavoured to have carried
off the Fair Persian. Noureddin, nettled to
the quick at the aflfront the vizier had put
upon him, quitted the Fair Persian, and
laying hold of his horse's bridle, made him
run two or three paces backwards. "Vile
dotard," said he to the vizier, " I would tear
thy sold out of thy body this moment, were
it not out of respect for the crowd of pcojile
here present."
The vizier Saouy being loved by nobody,
but hated by all, there waj not one among
them bub as pleased to see Noureddin mor-
tify him a little ; and by signs they gave him
to understand, that he might revenge himself
upon him as much as he pleased, for nobody
would interfere in their qiutrreL
ii
u
I
v
\i
t
illil
288
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Saoay endeavoured to make Noureddin
quit the bridle ; but he being a lusty, vigo-
rous man, and encouraged by those that
stood by, 2>ulled him otf his horse iu the
middle of a brook, gave him a thousand blo\y8,
and dashed his head against the stones till it
waa all over blood. The slaves that waited
u])on the vizier would have drawn their sci-
mitars, and have fallen upon Noureddin, but
the merchants interposing, prevented them.
"What do you mean?" said they to him ;
"do you not see that one is a vizier, the
other a \'izier'a son ? Let them fight it out
between themselves ; perhaps they will be
reconciled one time or other : whereas if you
had killed Noureddin, you'' master, with all
Ms greatness, could not have been able to
protect you against the law."
Noureddin, having given over beating the
vizier Saouy, left him in the middle of the
brook ; and taking the Fair Persian, marched
home with her, attended by the people, with
shouts and acclamations for the action he had
performed.
The vizier Saouy, cruelly bruised with the
blows he had received, made shift to get up,
by the assistance of his slaves, and had the
mortification to sec himself besmeared with
blood and dirt. He leaned upon the shoiU-
dera of two slaves, and iu that condition went
straight to the palace, in the sight of all the
people, vith greater confusion, because no-
body pitied him. As soon as he reached the
king's apartment, he began to cry out, and
call for justice, after a lamentable manner.
The king ordered him to be admitted ; and
as soon as he came, he asked him who it was
that had abused and put him into that miser-
able pickle. " Sire," cried Saouy, " it is the
favour of your majesty, and being admitted
into your sacred councda, that has occasioned
me to have been so barbarously treated."
"Say no more of that," replied tha king;
" only let me hear the whole story simply as
it is, and who the ofifender is ; and if he is in
the wrong, you may depend upon it he shall
be severely punished."
" Sire," said Saouy then, telling the whole
matter to his own advantage, " having an
occasion for a cook-maid, I went to the mar-
ket of women slaves to buy me one : when I
came thither, there was a slave just cried at
four thousand i)ieces of gold : I oidered them
to bring the slave before me ; and I think
my eyes never did nor wiU Jaehold a more
beautiful creature. I had no sooner exa-
mined her beauty with the highest satisfac-
tion, but I immediately asked to whom she
belonged ; and upon inquiry I found that
Noureddin, sou to the late vizier Khacan,
had the disposing of her.
" Sire, your majesty may remember, that
about two or three years ago you gave that
vizier ten thousand pieces of gold, strictly
charging him to buy you a slave with it.
The money, indeed, was laid out upon this
very slave ; but instead of bringing her to
your majesty, thinking his son deserved her
better, he made him a present of her. Nou-
reddin, since his father's death, having
wasted his whole fortune in riot and feast-
ing, has nothing left but this slave, which he
at 'ost resolved to part with, and she was to
be sold in his name. I sent for him ; and,
without mentioning anything of his father's
prevarication, or rather treachery, to your
majesty, I in the civilest manner said to
him, ' Noureddin, the merchants, I perceive,
have imt yoiu: slave up at four thousand
pieces of gold ; and I question not, but in
emulation of each other, they will raise the
price considerably ; let me have her for the
four thousand pieces ; T am going to buy her
for the king, our lord and master : this will
be a handsome opportunity of making your
court to him ; and his favour will be worth
a great deal more than, the merchants can
propose to give you.'
" Instead of returning me a civil answer,
the insolent wretch, beholding me with a
fierce air, ' Decrepit villain,' said he, ' I
would rather give my slave to a Jew for
nothing, than to thee for money.' ' Nou-
reddin,' replied I, without passion, though I
had some reason to be a little warm, ' you do
not consider, that in talking at this rate you
atTront the king, who raised both your father
and me to the honours we have enjoyed.'
"This admonition, instead of softening
him, only provoked him to a higher degree :
so that, falling upon me like a madman,
without regard to my age or rank, he pulled
me off my horse, beat me as long as he
coidd stand over me, and has put me into
this miserable plight yoiu' majesty sees me
in. I beseech you to consider, that upon
your account I have been so publicly
affronted." At the end of these words he
held down his head and turned away, to shed
a shower of tears.
The abused king, highly incensed against
Noureddin by this relation, full of malice
and artifice, discovered by his countenance
the violence of his anger; and turning to the
captain of his guards, who stood near him,
"Take forty of your soldiers," said he, "and
immediately go plunder Noureddin's house,
and having ordered it to be razed to the
ground, bring him and his slave along with
you to me."
The captain of the guards was not gone
out of the king's presence, when an officer
belonging to the court, who overheard the
order that had been given, got before him.
His name was Sangiar; and he had been
formerly a slave of the vizier Khacan, who
had introduced him at court, where by
degrees he raised himself.
Sangiar, full of gratitude for his old mas-
ter, and aflfection for Noureddin, whom ho
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
289
remembered a child, and being no stranger
to Saouy'a hatred to Khacan's family, could
not hear the order without concern. "This
action of Noureddin's," said he to himself,
"may not be altogether so black as Saouy
has represented it. Ho has prejudiced the
king against him, who will certainly put
him to death, without allowing him time to
justify himself." He made so much haste
to Noureddin's house, as to get thither soon
enough to acquaint him with what had
passed at court, and give him time to pro-
vide for his own and the Fair Persian's
safety. He knocked so violently at the
door, that Noureddin, who had been a great
while without any servant, ran immediately
to open it. " My dear lord," said 8angiar,
"here is no more safety for you in Balsora ;
you must lose no time, but depart hence this
moment."
"How so?" replied Noureddin. "What
is the reason I must bo gone so soon V "
" Make haste away, sir," said Sangiar, "and
take your slave with you. In short, Saouy
has been just now acquamting the king, after
his own way of telling it, all that passed
between you and him, and the captain of
the guard will be here in an instant, with
forty soldiers, to seize you and the Fair
Persian. Take these forty pieces of gold to
assist you in finding out some other place of
safety. I would give you more if I had it
about me. Excuse my not staying any
longer ; I leave you with great reluctance ;
but it is for the good of us both. I have so
much interest with the captain of the guards,
that he will take no notice of me." Sangiar
gave Noureddin but just time to thank him,
and away he went.
Noureddin presently acquainted the Fair
Persian with the absolute necessity of their
going that moment. She only stayed to put
on her veil, and then they both stole out of
the house together, and were so lucky as not
only to get clear of the city without the least
notice being taken of their escape, but also
safely to arrive at the mouth of the Euphra-
tes, which was not far off, where they cm-
barked in a vessel that lay ready to weigh
anchor.
They were no sooner on shipboard, but
the captain came on deck amongst his pas-
sengers. "Children," said ho to them,
"are you all hero? have any of you any
more business to do in the city, or have you
left anything behind you?" "They were
all there," they answered him, " and ready;
so that he might sail as soon as he pleased."
When Noureddin came on board, the first
question he asked was, whither the ship was
bound, and being told for Bagdad, he re-
joiced at it. The captain, having weighed
anchor, set sail; and the vessel, with a
very favourable wind, lost sight of Bal-
sora.
Let us now see how matters went at
Balsora, while Noureddin and the Fair Per-
sian made their escape from the fury of the
enraged king.
The captain of the guards came to Nou-
reddin's house, and knocked at the door ; but
nobody coming to open it, he ordered his
soldiers to break it open, who immediately
obeyed him, and rushed in. They searched
every hole and comer of the house ; but
neither he nor the Fair Persian were to bo
found. The captain of the guards made
them inquire of the neighbours ; and he
himself asked if they had seen them lately.
It was all in vain ; for if they had seen him
go out of his house, so universally beloved
was Noureddin, that not one of them would
have said the least word to his prejudice.
While they were rifling the house, and level-
ling it to the ground, he went to acquaint the
king with the news. "Look for them," said
he, "everywhere; for I am resolved to
have them."
The captain of the guards made a second
search after them, and the king dismissed
the vizier Saouy with honour. "Go home,"
said he to him; "trouble yourself no far-
ther to punish Noureddin : I will revenge
his insolence,"
Without delay the king ordered to be
proclaimed throughout the whole city a
reward of a thousand i)ieces of gold for any
person that should apprehend Noureddin and
the Fair Persian, with a severe pimishment
upon whoever should conceal them. But
after all his pains and diligence, no tidings
could be hejird of them ; and the vizier Siiouy
had only the comfort of seeing the king
espouse his quarrel.
In the meantime, Noureddin and the Fair
Persian, after a prosperous voyage, landed
safe at Bagdad. As soon as the captain
came within sight of that city, pleased that
his voyage was at an end, "Rejoice, my
children," cried be to the passengers, "yon-
der is that great and wonderful city, where
there ia a perpetual concourse of people from
all parts of the world : there you shall meet
with innumerable crowds, and never feel
the extremity of cold in winter, nor the
excess of heat in summer, but enjoy an
eternal spring with all its flowers, and the
delicious fruits of autumn." When the ves-
sel came to anchor, a little below the city,
the passengers went ashore, each to their
respective place of abode. Noureddin gave
the captain five pieces of gold for his passage,
and went ashore also with the Fair Persian ;
but being a perfect stranger in Bagdad, he
was at a loss for a lodging. They rambled
a considerable time along by the gardens
that bordered on the Tigris ; and keeping
close to one of them that was enclosed with
a very fine long wall at the end of it, they
turned into a street well paved, where they
290
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
•\ !
I
perceived a garden-door, and a cLarmiug
fountain near it.
The door, wliicli was very magnificent,
happened to be shut, but the porch was
open ; in which there was a sofa on each
side. " This is a very convenient place for
us," said Noureddin to the Fair Persian ;
" night comes on apace ; and though we
have eaten nothing since our landing, I am
for passing the night here, and to-morrow
we shall have time enough to look for a
lodging: what say you to it?" "Sir," re-
plied the Fair Persian, "you know your
wishes are mine ; let us go no farther, since
you are willing to stay here." Each of them
having drank a draught of water at the
fountain, they laid themselves down upon
one of these sofas ; and after a little chat,
being invited by the agreeable murmur of
the water, they fell fast asleep.
I The garden belonged to the caliph : and
in the middle of it there was a jjavilion,
called the Pavilion of Pictures, because its
chief ornaments were pictures, after the Per-
sian manner, drawn by the most celebrated
painters in Persia, whom the caliph had sent
for on purpose. The stately hall within this
pavilion was lighted by fourscore windows,
with a lustre in each : but these were only
lighted when the caliph came thither to spend
the evening ; and the weather was so very
calm, that not a breath of air was stirring.
Then they made a glorious illumination, and
could be seen at a great distunce in the
country on that side, and by great part of
the city.
There was but one person that had the
charge of this fine garden ; and the office
was at this time held by a very aged officer,
named Scheich Ibrahim, whom the caUph
himself, for some imjjortant service, put into
that employment, with strict charge not to
let all sorts of people in, but especially to
sufifer nobody either to sit or lie down on the
sofas at the outward door, that they might
•always be clean ; and whenever he found
anybody there, to punish them severely.
Some business had obliged this officer to
go abroad, and he was not yet returned.
When he came back there was just daylight
enough for him to discern two persons asleep
upon one of the sofas, with both their heads
imder a piece of lincu to defend them from
the gnats. " Very well," said Scheich Ibra-
him to himself, "these people disobey the
caliph's orders : but I will take cai'o to teach
them better manners. Upon this he opened
the door very softly, and a moment after
returned with a swinging cane in his hand,
and his sleeve tucked up to the elbow : he
was just going to lay on them both with all
his might, but withholding his arm, he began
to reason with himself after this manner :
" Thou wast going to strike, without reflec-
tion, these people, who perhaps are strangers,
destitute of a lodging, and utterly ignorant
of the caliph's order : so that it would be
advisable to know first who they are."
Upon this be gently lifted up the linen that
covered their heads, and was astonished to
see a young man so well shaped, and n
young woman so bcautif id ; he then waked
Noureddin, by pulling him softly by the
feet.
Noureddin, presently lifting up his head,
and seeing an old man wi' i a long white
beard standing at his feet, got up, and throw-
ing himself upon his knees and taking his
hand, kissed it. "Good father," said he,
"Heaven preserve you!" "What do you
want, my son ? " replied Scheich Ibrahim ;
"who are you, and whence came you?"
" We are strangers newly arrived," answered
Noureddin, "and we would fain tarry here
till to-morrow." " This is not a proper place
for you," said Scheich Ibrahim ; " come in
with me, and I will find one fitter for you to
sleep in than this ; and the sight of the gar-
den, which is very fine, will i>lease you, when
you see it to-morrow by daylight." "la
this garden your own ? " said Noureddin.
"Yes," replied Scheich Ibrahim, smiling;
"it is an inheritance left me by my father ;
pray walk in, for I am sure you will not re-
pent seeing it."
Noureddin rose up to thank Scheich Ibra-
him for the civility he had shewn them ; and
afterwards the Fair Persian and he went into
the garden. Scheich Ibrahimlockedthedoor,
and going before, led them to a spot from
whence, at one view, they might see the dis-
2)03ition, grandeur, and beauty of the whole
garden.
Noureddin had seen very fine gardens in
Balsora, but never any comparable to this.
Having satisfied his curiosity, as he was
walking in one of the walks, he turned about
to the officer that was with him, and asked
him what his name was. As soon as he told
him it was Scheich Ibrahim, "Scheich Ibra-
him," said he to Mm, " I must confess this is
a charming garden indeed. Heaven send you
long to enjoy the pleasures of it ; we cannot
sufficiently thank you for the favour you
have done us by shewing us a place so well
worth seeing ; however it is but just that
we should make you some amends for your
kindness : here are two pieces of gold ; take
them, and get ua something to eat, that we
may be merry together."
At the sight of the two pieces of gold,
Scheijh Ibrahim, who was a great admirer of
that metal, laughed in his sleeve : he took
them, and leaving Noureddin and the Fair
Persian by themselves, went to provide what
was necessary, for he was alone. Said he to
himself with great joy, "These are onerous
people ; I should have done very wrong, if,
through imprudence, I bad iU-treated and
driven them away. A tenth part of the
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
291
money will suflBco to treat them ; and the
rest I will keep for my pains.
While Scheich Ibrahim was gone to fetch
jjomcthing for his own supper, as well as for
his guests, Noureddin and the Fair Persian
walked up and down the garden, till at last
they came to the pavilion of pictures that was
in the middle of it. They stood awhile to
admire its wonderful structure, size, and lof-
tiness ; and after taking a full view of it on
every side, they went up a great many steps
of fine white marble, to the hall-door, which
they found locked.
They were but just got to the bottom of
the steps, as Scheich Ibrahim returned loaded
with provisions. ".Scheich Ibrahim," said
Noureddin, in great surprise, " did you not
tell us that this was your garden ? " "I did, "
replied Scheich Ibrahim, "and do so still."
" And does this magnificent pavilion also be-
long to you ? " said Noureddin. Scheich Ibra-
him was staggered at this unexpected ques-
tion. " If," said he to himself, " I shoidii say
it is none of mine, they will ask me how I
can be master of the garden and not of the
pavilion." As he had made them believe the
garden was his, he said the same of the pavi-
lion, "My son," said he, " the pavilion is
not distinct from the garden, but they both
belong to me." "If so," said Noureddin,
' ' since you invite
us to be your
guests to-night,
do ns the favour
to shew us the
inside of it ; for
if we may judge
by the outward
appearance, it
must certainly
be extraordinari-
ly magnificent."
It would have
beena great piece
of incivility in
Scheich Ibrahim
to have refused
Noureddin that
favour, after
what he had al-
ready done for
him : moreover,
he considered
that the caliph
not having given
liim notice, ac-
■cording to his
usual custom, it
was likely he would not be there that night,
and therefore resolved to treat his guests,
and sup with them in that room. He laid
the provisions upon the first step, while he
went to his apartment for the key; he
soon returned with a light and opened the
door.
Noureddin and the Fair Persian entered
the hall ; and finding it so surprising, were
never tired with admiring the beauty and
richness of the place. Indued, without saying
anything of the pictures, which were admir-
ably well dr.' na, the sofas were very noble
and costly ; and besidea lustres that were
fixed to every window, there was between
each bar a silver arm with a wax candle in
it. Noureddin could not behold these glori-
ous objects, without recollecting his former
splendour, and sighing.
In the meantime Scheich Ibrahim was
getting ready ; and the cloth being laid upon
a sofa, and everything in order, Noureddin,
the Fair Persian, and he, sat down and ate
together. When supper was done, and they
had washed their hands, Noureddin opened
the casement, and calling the Fair Persian to
him, " Come hither, my dear," said he, "and
with mo admire the charming prospect and
beauty of the garden by moonlight ; nothing
can be more agreeable. " She came to him ;
and they both enjoyed the view ; while
Scheich Ibrahim was busy in taking away
the cloth.
When Scheich Ibrahim came to his guests
again, Noureddin asked him whether he had
any liquor to treat them with. ' ' What liquor
would you have ! " replied Scheich Ibra-
him : "sherbet?
I have the best
in the world :
but sherbet, you
know, my son, is
never drunk after
Bupper."
" I know that
very well," said
Nom-eddui; "it
is not sherbet
but another sort
of liquor, that we
ask you for; and
I am surprised at
you not under-
standing me."
"It is wiue then
you mean?" said
Scheich Ibrahim.
"You guess
right, " replied
Noureddin;"and
if you have any
oblige i^ with a
bottle : you know
a bottle after
supper is a very
proper companion to spend iho hours with
till bed-time."
" Heaven defend me from keeping wine in
my house," cried Scheich Ibrahim, "and
from ever coming to a place where any is 1 A
man who, like me, has been a pilgrimage four
times to Mecca, has renounced wine for ever."
293
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS,
"You ■would do '8 a singidar kindness,"
said Noureddin, "in getting a little for our
own drinking ; and if it be not too much
trouble I will out you in a way how you may
do it, without going into an inn, or so much
as laying your hand upon the vessel that
contains it." "Upon tliat condition I will
do it," replied Scheich Ibrahim ; " only let
me know what I am to do."
"Why, then," said Noureddin to him, "we
just now saw an ass tied to the entrance of
your garden, which certainly must be your .",
and which you may make use of in this
extremity. Hero are two pieces of gold
more : take them, and lead your ass with the
panniers to the next inn ; you may stand at
as great a distance as you please ; do but
give something to the first person that conies
by, and desire him to go with your ass to the
inn, and get two i^itchers of wine : put one
in one pannier, and another in another, which
he must pay for out of the money you give
him, and so let him bring the ass back to
you : you will have nothing to do but to
drive the beast hither before you ; we will
take the wine out of the panniers. By this
means you will do nothing that will give you
any scruple."
The two last pieces of gold that Scheich
Tbrahim was going to receive wrought won-
derfully upon his mind. "Ah! my son,"
cried he, after Noureddin had done speaking,
"you have an excellent contrivance; and
had it not been for your invention, I should
never have thought of this way of getting you
Rome wine without any scruple of conscience."
Away he went to execute the orders, which
he did, in a little time ; and, upon his return,
Noureddin went down the stairs, and, taking
the pitchers out of the panniers, carried
them into the hall.
Scheich Ibrahim, having led the ass back
to the place from whence he took him, came
back again. "Scheich Ibrahim," said Nou-
reddin to him, "we cannot enough thank you
for the trouble we have already given you,
but we want something yet." "What is
that," replied Scheich : "what more service
caul do you?" "We hare no cups to drink
out of," said Noureddin ; "and a little fruit,
if you had any, would be very acceptable."
"Do but say what you have a mind to,"
replied Scheich Ibrahim, "<ind you shall
have everything to yotir heart's content."
Down v,-ent Scheich Ibrahim, and in a
short time spread f t-iMp f"'' their -.tith
beautiful procelaia dishes, full of all sorts
of delicious f .uits, besides gold and silver
cups to drink out of ; and having asked
them if they wanted anything else, he
withdrew, though they pressed him earnestly
to stay.
Noureddin and the Fair Persian sat down
again, and drank each a cup apiece. They
were mightily pleased with the wine. • ' WeD,
my dear," said Noureddin to the Fair Per-
sian, " are we not the most fortunate persons
in the world, after so many dangers, to meet
with so charming and agreeable place? Let
us be merry, and think no more on the hard-
ships of our voyage. Can my happiness be
greater in this world, than to have you on
one side of me, and my glass on the other?"
They drank freelj', and diverted themselves
with agreeable conversation, each singing a
sonjr.
Both having very jood voices, but espe-
cially the Fair Persian, their singing attracted
Scheich Tbrahim, who had stood hearkening
a great while on the steps, without discover-
ing himself. He could contain himself no
longer, but thrusting his head in at the door,
"Courage, sir," said he to Nouretldin, whom
he took to be quite drunk, "I am glad to seo
you so pleased."
"Ah, .Scheich Ibrahim," cried Noureddin,
turning to him, "you are a glorious man,
and we are extremely obliged to you. We
d.ire not ask you to drink a cup ; but walk
in ; come, sit down, and let us have the hon-
our at least of your company." " Go on, go
on," said Scheich Ibrahim; "the pleasure
of hearing your songs is sufficient for me."
Upon this he immediately retired.
The Fair Persian, perceiving Scheich Ibra-
him through one of the windows, standing
ui>on the steps without the door, told Nou-
reddin of it. "Sir," said she, "you see
what an aversion he has for wine ; yet I
question not in the least to make him drink
some, if you will do as I would have you."
Noureddin asked her what it was, "Do
but say the word," replied he, "and I am
ready to do what you i)lease." "Prevail
with him, then, only to come in and bear us
company ; sometime after fill up a bumper,
and give it him ; if he refuses it, drink it
yourself, pretend to be asleep, and leave the
rest to me."
Noureddin understood the Fair Persian's
design, and called to Scheich Ibrahim, who
came again to the door. "Scheich Ibrahim,"
said he, "we are your guests; you have en-
tertained as in the most obliging manner in
the world, and will you now refuse our solici-
tations to honour us with your company?
We do net ask you to drink, but only the
favour of seeing you."
Scheich Ibrahim being at last prevailed
upon, came into the hall, and sat down upon
the edge of a sofa that stood nearest to the
door. "You do not sit well there," said
Noureddin, "and we cannot have the honour
of seeing you ; pray come nearer, and sit you
down by the lady ; she will like it much."
"I will obey you," replied Scheich Ibrahim;
so coming forward, simpering, to think he
should be seated near so beautiful a crea-
ture, he placed himself at some distance
from the Fair Fersian. Noureddin desired
U %,
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
293
a song of her, in return for the honour that
Scheich Ibrahim had done them; and sho
sung one that charmed him.
When the Fair Persian had ended her
song, Noureddin poured out a cup of wine,
and presented it to Scheich Ibrahim.
"Scheich Ibrahim," said he, "I entreat you,
drink this to our healtlis," "Sir," replied he,
starting back, aa if he abhorred the very
flight of the wine, "I beseech you to excuse
me ; I have abready told you that I have
forsworn the use of wine these many years."
"Then since positively you will not drink
our healths," said Noureddin, "give me
leave to drink yours."
While Noureddin was drinking, the Fair
Persian cut half an apple, and presented it
to Scheich Ibrahim. "Though you refused
drinking," said she, "yet I believe you wUl
not refuse tasting this apple ; it is very ex-
cellent." Scheich Ibrahim had no power to
refuse it from so fair a hand, but taking it
with a very low bow, put it in his mouth.
She said a great many pleasant things upon
the occasion ; and Noureddin, falling back
upon the sofa, pretended to fall fast asleep.
The Fair Persian presently advanced to-
wards Scheich Ibrahim, and speaking in a
low voice, "Look at him," said she; "thus,
in all our merry parties he constantly serves
me ; and no sooner has he drank a cup or
two, but he falls asleep, and leaves me
alone ; but I hope you will have the good-
ness to keep me company till he awakes."
At this the Fair Persian took a cup, and
filling it with wine, ofiFered it to Scheich
Ibrahim. "Here," said she, "drink off this
to my health ; I am going to pledge you."
Scheich Ibrahim made a great many difficul-
ties, and begged her to excuse him from
drinking : but she pressed him so, that,
overcome by her charms and entreaties, he
took the cup, and drank off every drop of
the wine.
The good old man loved a chirping cup to
his heart, but was ashamed to drink among
strangers. He often went to the tavern in
private, as many other people do ; and he
■did not take the precaution Noureddin re-
commended, but went directly to an inn,
where he was well known (night serving him
instead of a cloak,) and saved the money
that Noureddin had ordered him to give the
messenger that was to have gone for it.
While Scheich Ibrahim was eating the
half apple after his draught, the Fair Per-
sian filled him out another, which he received
with less difficulty than the former, but
made none at all at the third. In short, a
fourth was drank before Noureddin started
up from hia pretended sleep ; and bursting
out into a violent fit of laughter, and look-
ing upon him, "Ha! ha!" said he, "Scheich
Ibrahim, have I caught you at lost? Did
you not tell me you had forsworn wine?
you have drank it all up from
and now
me."
Scheich Ibrohim, not expecting to be sur-
prised after that manner, blushed a little ;
however, that did not spoil his draught ; but
when he had done, " Sir," said he to Nou-
reddin, laughing, " if there is any crime in
what I have done, it lies at this fair lady's
door, not mine ; for who could possibly resist
so many charms?"
The Fair Persian, who perfectly under-
stood Noureddin, took Scheich Ibrahim's
part. "Let him talk," said sho : " Scheich
Ibrahim, take no notice of him, but let us
drink on and be merry." A while after,
Noureddin filled out a cup for himself and
the Fair Persian ; but when Scheich Ibrahim
saw that Noureddin had forgot him in his
turn, he took his cup, and presenting it to
the Fair Persian, "Madam," said he, "do
you pretend I cannot drink as well as you?"
At these words of Scheich Ibrahim, Nou-
reddin and the Fair Persian were ready to
split their sides with laughing. Noureddin
poured him out some wine, and they sat
laughing, chatting, and drinking, tUl pretty
near midnight. About that hour the Fair
Persiivn began to take notice that there was
but one candle upon the table. "Scheich
Ibrahim," said she to the good old officer,
"you have aflforded us but one candle, when
there are so many wax lights yonder ; pray
do us the favour to light some of thtm, that
we may see a little better what we are
doing."
Scheich Ibrahim, making use of the liberty
that wine inspires when it gets into the head,
and not caring to be interrupted in his dis-
course with Noureddin, bade the Fair Per-
sian light them herself. "It is fitter for a
young person like you to do it," said he,
' ' than for me ; but be sure not to light above
five or six, for that is enough." Up rose the
Fair Persian immediately, and taking a wax
candle in her hand, lighted it with that
which stood upon the table ; and, without
any regard to Scheich Ibrahim's order, lighted
up the whole fourscore.
By and by, while Scheich Ibrahim was
entertaining the Fair Persian with some
other discourse, Noureddin took his turn to
desire him to light up some of the candles in
the lustres, not taking notice that all the
wax lights were already in a blaze. "Cer-
tainly," replied Scheich Ibrahim, "you must
be very lazy, or less vigorous than I am, that
you are not able to light them yourself : get
you gone, and light them ; but be sure you
light no more than three." To work he
went ; but instead of that number, he lighted
them all, and opened the shutters of the
fourscore windows, before Scheich Ibrahim,
who was deeply engaged with the Fair Per-
sian, knew anything of the matter.
The caliph Haroun Alraschid being not
294
THE ARABIAN X/GHTST ESTERTAINATENTS.
yet gone to bed, was in a room at hia palace
by the river Tigris, from whence he cooU
command a view both of the garden ami
pavilion. He accidentally opened the case-
ment, and was extremely suqirisetl at setin:;
the pavilion illuminated ; and at tirst. by the
greatness of the Ught, thought the city wa.4
on Are. The grand vizier Giafar wa^ still
with him, who oidy waited for hia goin^; Xo
rest, and then designed to go home t«KC.
The caliph, in a great rage, called the vizier
to him. ♦' Careless vizier," said he, "come
hither, come hither ; look upon the pavQion
of pictures, and tell me the reason of its
being illuminated at this hour, now I am not
there."
The grand vizier Oiafar, upon this news.
fell into a violent trem))Iing, fearing some-
thing else was the matter : but when he
came nearer, an<I with his own eyes saw the
truth of what the caliph had told him, he
was more alarmed than before. Some ex-
cuae must )<e made to appease the caliph's
anirer. "Commander of the true believers,"
said h{% " all that I can say to your majesty
aljout this matter is, that some five or six
dajB a;:o Scheich Ibrahim came to acquaint
me. that he had a design to assemble the
ministers uf his mosque, to assist at a cere-
mony he was ambitious of ]>erforming in
year majesty's auspicious reign. I asked
him if 1 could be any way serviceable to him
in this afiair ; upon which he entreated me
Xf> get leave of your majesty to perform the
ceremony in the pavilion. I sent him away
with leave to hold the assembly, telling him
I would take care to acquaint your majesty
with it ; and I ask pardon for having quite
forgotten it. Scheich Ibrahim," continned
he, "has certainly made choice of this day
for the ceremony ; and after treating the
ministers of his mosque, he was willing to
indulge them with the sight of this illumina-
tion."
"Giafar," said the calijjh, with a tone
that plainly shewed his anger was a little
mollitied, " according to your own account,
you have committed three faults that are
unpardonable ; the first, in giving Scheich
Ibrahim leave to perform this ceremony in
my pavilion, for a person in such an otfice
as his is not worthy of so great an honour ;
the second, in not ac<iiiainting me with it ;
and the third, in not giving into the good
oM man's intention. For my part, I am
pjrsuaded he only did it to try if he coold
get any money towards bearing the charge
o t it ; but that never came into your head ;
and sore I shall not wrong him in allowing
him to revenge himself for not having
obtained the expense of the night's illumi-
nation.''
The grand vizier Giafar, overjoyed to hear
the caliph put the matter upon that footing,
very uriilingl}' owned the faults he reproach-
ed him with, and freely confessed he was to
blame in not giving Scheich Ibrahim a few
pieoes of gold, "Since the case is so,"
added the caliph, "it is just that thou
shooldst be punished for thy mistakes, but
thy punishment shall be light : thou shiUt
spend the remainder of the night, as I mean
to d<«. with these honest people, whose com-
pany I shall be well pleased with ; and while
I am patting on a citizen's habit, go thou
and disguise thyself with Mesrour, and come
both of yoa along with me." The vizier
Giafar would have persuaded him it was
late, and that all the company would be
gone before he could get thither; but the
caliph said he would positively go. The
rizier, who knew that not a syllable of what
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
295
he had said was true, began to be in great
oon»tematiou ; hut there was no reply to be
nude, and go he must.
The cali])b, then, disguised like a citizen,
with the grand vizier Oiafur, and Mesrour,
chief of the eunuchs, stole out of the palace
together. They rambled through the streets
of Bagdad till they came to the garden ; the
door, through the carelessness of 8oheich
Ibrahim, was open : he having forgot to shut
it when he came back from buying the wine.
The caUph was very angry at it. "Giafar,"
said he to the grand vizier, "what excuse
have you for the door being open at this un-
eeaconable hour ? Is it possible that Scheich
Ibrahim makes a custom of leaving it thus
all night ? 1 rather believe the hurry of the
feast has been the occasion of this neglect. "
The caliph went into the garden ; and
when he came to the pavilion, resolving not
to go into the hall till he knew what was
doing there, he consulted with the grand
vider whether it was not his best way to
cUmb up into one of the trees that was near
it, to make a discovery. The grand vizier,
casting his eyes upon the door, perceived it
stood half open, and told the caliph. It
seem.? Scheich Ibrahim had left it so, when
he was jirevailed ujjon to come in and bear
Xoureddin and the Fair Persian company.
The caliph, laying aside his first design,
stole softly up to the hall-door, which stand-
ing half ojicu, he eould see all the company
that were within, without being discovered
himself.
But how was he surprised, when he saw a
lady of incomparable beauty and a handsome
young man sitting at the table, with Scheich
Ibrahim by them. Scheich Ibrahim held a
cup in his hand. "My fair lady," said he
to the Fair Persian, "a true toper never
drinks without singing a song first : if you
please to hear, I wUl give you one of my
best songs."
Scheich Ibrahim sung : and the caliph
was the more surprised because, till that
moment, he never knew of his drinking
wine, but always took him for a grave solid
man, as he seemed to be to outward ai)pear-
anoe. The caUph retired from the door with
the same caution as he made his approaches
to it ; and coming to the grand vizier Gia-
far, who was standing upon the steps a little
lower, "Come up," said he to him, "and see
if those within yonder are the ministers of
the mosque, as you would have made me
believe."
By the tone of voice in which the caliph
^Mke these last words, the vizier understood
that things went ill on his side : however,
he went up the steps ; but when he had
peeped in at the door, and saw all the three
sittiug in that condition, he trembled for
fear of his life. He went back to the caliph,
bat in so great confusion, that he knew not
what to say. " What riotous doings are
here?" said the caliph to him : "who ar»
these people that have presumed to take the
liberty of diverting themselves in my garden
and pavilion ? I must however confess, I
never saw two persons more beautiful or
better paired in my life ; and therefore,
before I discover my anger, I will inform
myself better, and know who they arc, and
the reason of their being here." He went
to the door rvgain to observe them more nar-
rowly; and till' vizier, who followed, stood be-
hind him, while he fixed his eyes upon them.
They both ])lainly heard every word that
Suheioh Ibrahim said to the Fair Persian.
" Is there anything, my charming lady,
wjmting to render the pleasure of the even-
ing more complete ? " " Nothing but a
lute," rej)licd the Fair Persian; "and me-
thinks, if you could get me one, all would
be very well." "Can you play upon it?"
said Scheich Ibrahim. "Fetch me one,"
replied the Fair Persian ; " and you shall
hear whether I can or not."
Scheich Ibrahim, without stirring very far
from his place, took a lute out of a press,
and presented it to the Fair Persian, who
began to tunc it. The calijih, in the mean-
time, turning to the grand vizier, "Giafar,"
said he, " the young lady is going to play
uj)on the lute ; and if she perform well, I
will forgive her, and the young man for her
sake ; but as for thee, I will have thee hang-
ed." " Commander of the true believers,"
replied the grand vizier, "if that is your in-
tention, I wdsh to God she may play ill."
"Why so?" said the caliph. "Because,"
replied the grand vizier, "the longer we hve
in this world, the more reason we shall have
to comfort ourselves with the hojies of dying
in good sociable company." The caliph,
who loved a repartee, began to laugh at
this ; and putting his ear to the opening of
the door, he listened to hear the Fair Persian
play.
The Fair Persian began in a style, that,
from the moment of her toucliing the lute,
the caliph perceived she did it with a mas-
terly hand. Afterwards she began to sing
an air ; and accompanying the lute with her
voice, which was admirably fine, she sung
and played with so much skill and sweet-
ness, that the caliph was quite ravished to
hear her.
As soon as the Fair Persian had finished
her song, the caliph went down the steps,
and the vizier Giafar followed him. When
he came to the bottom, "I never," said he to
the vizier, ' ' heard a more ch arming voice, or a
lute better touched in my life. Isaac,* whom
I thought the most skilful player in the
world, does not come up to her, I am so
• A famous pinyrr on the Inte. who lived at Bag-
dad in the reign of the caliph.
mam
296
TNE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
charmed with her muRic, that I will go in
and hear her play bcfuro mc. Wo must,
therefore, consider how I can do it."
"Commander of the true believers," said
the grand vizier, "if you shoidd go in, nnd
Scheich Ibrahim chanco to know you, he
would infallibly die with the fright." " It
is that that hurts mc," replied the calijih ;
"and I should be loth to be the occasion of
his <lcath, after so many years' service. A
thought is just come into my head, that may
succeed : stay here M-ith Mesrour, and wait
for me in the next walk."
The neighbourhood of the Tigria Latl given
the caliph an opportunity of turning a suih-
cient quantity of water imder a stately
bridge into his garden, to make a jiiece of
water well terraased, whither the choicest
fish of the whole river used to retire. The
fishermen knew it very well, and would have
given the world to fish there ; but the calii>^i
hod expressly charged Scheich Ibrahim not
to sufl'cr any of them to come near it.
However, that very night, a fisherman,
passing by the garden-door which the caliph
had left open as he found it, made use of
this opportunity, and, going in, went directly
to the conaL
The fisherman immediately fell to work
with his casting nets, and was just ready to
draw them, when the caliph, fearing what
would be the effect of Scheich Ibrahim's
negligence, l>ut willing to make use of it to
bring his design about, came to the same
place. The fisherman, in spite of his dis-
guise, knew him, and, throwing himself at
his feet, humbly implored his pardon, and
excused himself upon the account of his
poverty. " llise," said the caliph, "and be
not afraid ; only draw your nets, that I may
see what fish you have got"
The fisherman, recovered of his fright,
qiuckly obeyed the caliph's orders. He
-drew out five or six very large fishes ; and
the caliph choosing the two biggest, tied
them together by the head with the twig of
» tree. After this, said he to the fisherman,
"Give me thy clothes, and here tak" mine."
The exchange was soon made ; and the
caliph being dressed like a fisherman, even
to his boots and turban, " Take thy nets,"
said he to the fisherman, "and get thee
about thy business."
When the fisherman, very well pleased
with his good fortune, was gone, the caliph,
taking the two fishes in his hand, went to
look after the grand vizier Giafar and Mes-
rour ; he stopped at the grand vizier, who,
not knowing him, asked him what he wanted,
and bid him go about his business. The
caliph fell a laughing ; by which the vizier
finding it to be him, " Commander of the
true believers," said he, "is it possible it
can be you? I knew you not ; and I ask a
thousand pardons for my rudeness. You
are so disguised, that you may venture into
the hall, without any fear of being discovered
by Scheich Ibrahim." "Stay you here with
Mesrour," said the caliph, " whilo I go
yonder and play my part. "
The caliph went up to the hall, and
knocked at the door. Nourcddin hearing
him first, told Scheich Ibrahim of it, who
asked who was there. The caliph 0|)cned
the door, nnd stepping a little way into the
hall to shew himsflf, " Scheich Ibrahim,"
said he, " I am the fisherman Kerini, who,
being informed of your design to treat some
of your friends, have brought you two very
fine fishes, fresh caught, to ask if you have
any occasiim for them."
Nourcddin and the Fair Persian, mightily
pleased to hear him name fish, " Pray," said
she to Scheich Ibrahim, "let him come in,
that we may look at them." Scheich Ibra-
him, by this time, was incapable of asking
this counterfeit fisherman how or which way
he came thither, his wholu thought being
oidy to oblige the Fair Persian. With much
ado he turned his head towards the door,
being quite drank, and, in a stammering
tone, calling to the caliph, whom he took to
be a fisherman, "Como hither, thou nightly
thief," said he, "and let ns see what thou
hast got."
The caliph went forward, and counter-
feiting all the actions of a fisherman to a
nicety, pr rented the two fishes. " These
are very fine ones indeed," said the Fair
Persian ; " and if they were well dressed
and seasoned, I should be glad to eat some
of them." " The lady is in the right on it,"
answered Scheich Ibrahim ; " but what can
you do with your fish, unless it were
dressed? Go dress it thyself, and bring it
to us ; thou wilt find everything necessary
in my kitchen."
The caliph went back to the grand vizier.
"Giafar," said he, " I have been very well
received ; but they want the fish to be
dressed. I will take care to dress it my-
self," said the grand vizier, "and they shall
have it in a moment." " Nay," replied the
caliph, "so eager am I to accomplish my
design, that I will take that trouble myself;
for since I have personated the fisherman so
well, sure I can play the cook for once. In
my younger days, I dealt a little in cookery,
and always came off with credit." So say-
ing, he went directly towards Scheich Ibra-
him's lodgings, and the grand vizier and
Mesrour followed him.
They all three fell to work ; and thongh
Scheich Ibrahim's kitchen was not very
large, yet there was everything in it that
they wanted. The fish was quickly cooked ;
and the caliph served it up, putting to every
one's plate a lemon to squeeze in the sauce
if they thought proper. They all eat very
heartily, but especially Nourcddin and the
md vizier.
very well
to be
33S it my-
_ shaU
|e])lied the
iplish my
myself ;
lierman so
lonce. In
cookery.
So say-
ncli Ibra-
lizier and
Id thongh
lot very
it that
r cooked;
; to every
lie sauce
; very
and the
NOUREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
297
Fair Persian : and the caliph stood before
them.
As soon 08 the ropast was over, Nourcd-
din, looking upon the caliph, "Fishennan,"
said ho, "there never was bettor fish eaton ;
and you have done \\» the fjroatest favour in
the world." At the sanio time, putting; his
hand into his bosom, and pulling out a purso
of thirty jiiecos of gold, the remainder of
forty that Sangiar, tlie ofRcor of tho king of
Balsora. had given him just upon his depar-
ture, " Take it," said ho to him ; " if I had
any more, thou shouldst have it; had I
known thee in my pro8i)erity, I woidd have
taken care to secure tliee from ever want-
ing : do not refuse the small present I make
thee, but accept of it as kindly as if it was
much greater."
The caliph took tlio purse, and thanked
Noureddin ; and perceiving by the woight
that it contained gold, *'Sir," saidhetohim,
"I cannot enough thank you for your
liberality, and I think myself very fortunate
in having to do with a i)er8on of your
generosity ; but before I take tny leave I
have a favour to ask, which I bog you not
to deny me. Yonder is a lute, which makes
me believe that tho lady understands play-
ing upon it ; and if you can prevail M-ith
her to i)lay but one tune, I shall go away
perfectly satisfied ; for a lute, sir, is an
instrument T am particidarly fond of."
"Fair Persian," said Noureddin, immedi-
ately addressing himself to her, "I ask that
favour of you, and I hope you will not re-
fuse me." She took up the lute without
more entreaties, and putting it presently in
tune, played and sung with such an air, as
charmed the very soul of the caliph. After-
wards she played upon the lute without
singing, but with so much strength and
softness, that transported him into an
ecstacy.
When the Fair Persian had given over
playing, the caliph cried out, "What a
voice ! what a hand ! what skill ! was there
ever liner singing, or better playing upon the
lute ? Never was there any seen or heard
like it."
Noureddin, who was accustomed to give
all that belonged to him to persons who
praised him, "Fisherman," said he, "I find
thou hast some taste for music ; since thou
art so delighted with her performance, she
is thine; I make thee a present of her."
At the same time he rose up, and taking his
robe, which he had laid by, was going away,
and leaving the caliph, whom he believed to
be no other than a fisherman, in possession
of the Fair Persian.
The Fair Persian was extremely surprised
at Noureddin's liberality : she took hold of
him, and, looking tenderly at him, " Whither,
sir," said she, "are you going? Sit down
in your place, I entreat you, and hearken to
what I am going to sing and play." He did
as she desired him ; and then the Fair Per-
sian, touching the lute, and looking u],)on
him with tears in her eyes, sung some verses
that she liad made extempore, to reproach
him with his indifTorence, and tho eaniiiea8
as well as cruelty witli which ho resigned
hor to Kerim. She only hinted without ox-
plaining herself any further to a lishormau
as Kerim was ; for she, as well as Noured-
din, was ignorant of his being the caliph.
When she had done playing, she put the lute
down by her, and clapped a handkerchief to
her face, to hide the tears she could not
help shedding.
Noureddin made no answer to all those
reproaches, but by his silence soomed to de-
clare ho ditl not repent of what he had done.
The caliph, surprised at what he had heard,
"Sir," said he, "as far as I see, this beauti-
ful, rare, antl accomplished lady, that so
generously you have made me a present of
just now, is your slave, and you are hor
master." "It is very true, Kerim," replied
Noureddin; "<ind thou wouldst be more
surprised than thou art now, should I tell
thee all the misfortunes that liavo happened
to me upon her account." "Ah ! I beseech
yo»i, sir," replied the caliph, still behaving
like a lishcnuan, " oblige me so far as to let
me hear part of your story."
Noureddin, who had already oliliged him
in several things of more consequence, was
so complaisant as to relate the whole story
to him. He began with the vizier his
father's buying the Fair Persian for tho
king of Balsora, and omitted nothing of
what he had done, or what had happened
to him from that time to their arrival at
Bagdad, and to that very moment he was
talking to him.
When Noureddin had ended his story,
"And whither are you going now?" said
the caliph." "Where Heaven shall direct
me," answered Noureddin. " If you will
believe me," replied the caliph, "you shall
go no further, but, on the contrary, you
must return to Balsora. I will write a
short letter, which you shall give the king
in my name : you shall see, upon the read-
ing it, he will give you a very handsome re-
ception, and nobody will dare to speak
against you."
"Kerim," said Noureddin, "what thou
hast told me is very singular : I never heard
that a poor fisherman, as thou art, had any
correspondence Avith a king." "Be not
astonished at that," replied the caliph :
"you must know, that we both studied
together under the same masters, and were
always the best friends in the world. It is
true, fortime has not been equally favour-
able to us ; she has made him a king, and
me but a fisherman. But this inequality
has not lessened our friendship : he has
298
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
iM.
often expreaed % rcMlincM and detiro to
advance my fortiuio, litit I alwaya rufiiH«>d
it ; and am bcttt-r |ileaat-d with tin- aatiiifnc-
tion uf knowing that he will nevi-r deny liie
whatever I auk for the ai-rvicc and udvaataKi-
of my friendii : lot me do it, and you ithull
Mc tliu aiiccfis."
Nourcddin conm-nttnl to what the crdiph
\m\ |>ruiM>sod ; and there Ix'inK evcrythiiiir
neci-Mory for writin;; in the hall, the cnli|ih
wrote a letter to the kin>; of Italaora ; at the
top of which, near the ed>{e of the paper, he
]ilace<l this form, in three Hniiill ehnrnot<TH,
" In the name of the nioHt nieruifid (!otl," to
ahcw he would be absttlutcly obeyed.
The letter of ('<ilii>h Ifurmni Alraschid to
the Kiii'j 0/ JiaUord,
"Haroun Alrasehid, son of Mandi, scndft
thin letter to Malioninicd Zinelii, hia cousin,
Ati soon as Noure<ldin, son to the late vizier
Khacau, the bearer, has delivered you this
letter, and you have rewl it, ]iull off the
royal mantle, ]iut it on his slumldcrs, and
place bim in thy neat without foU. Fare-
WeU."
The cali]ih folded up the letter, and scaled
it; and p\-ing it to Nuureddin, without ray-
ing uuythinj; of what was in it, " Go," smd
he, " embark inimediotely in a vessel tliiit
is ready to go of}', (aa there did eonstantly
every day at the same hour ;) 3-ou may
sleep when you are olmard."'
Noureddiii took the letter, and aw.iy he
'went, with the little money he hud about
him when Sangiar gave him his purse ; and
the Fair Persian, distracted with grief at his
departure, retired to one of the sofas, and
fell to weeping bitterly.
Noureddin was scarce gone out of the hall,
when Seheich Ibrahim, who had been silent
during the whole transaction, looking stead-
fastly upon the cali|>h, whom he still took
for the fisherman Kerim, " Hark 'e," said
he, ' ' Kerim, thou bast brought us two
fishes that are worth twenty pieces of copper
at most, and thou hast got a purse and a
slave ; but dost thou think to have it all
for thyself ? I here declare, that 1 will go
halves with thee in the slave ; and .as for tlie
purse, shew me what is in the inside : if it
is silver, thou shall have one piece for thy-
self ; but if it is gold, I will have it all, and
give thee in exchange some pieces of copper
which I have in my inu-se."
For the better understanding of what fol-
lows, said Scheherazade, interrupting herself
here, we must observe, that the caliph, be-
fore his serving up the tish, had despatched
the grand vizier Giafar to his palace, wdth
orders to get four slaves, with a rich habit,
and to wait on the other side of the pavilion
till he gave a signal with his finger against
the window. The grand vizier performed
hiH conunistiion, and he, Menrour, and the
four slaves, waited at the ap|iointed place,
ex|)ecting the sign.
iiut to return to my story, said the sid-
taneHg. The caliph, still personating the
liHlierman, answered .Seheieh llirahini lioldl}',
" I know not what there is in the purse ;
gold or silver, you shall freely go my halves ;
but an to the slave, 1 will have her all to my-
self ; and if you will not accept these condi-
tions, you Khali have nothing."
Seheieh Il>raliim, enraged to the last de-
gree at this insolence, considering him only
OS a tiHhernian, snatched up one of the china
dishes which wore on the table, and Hung it
At the caliph's head. The c.ilii>h ea.>«ily
avoided the blow, being thrown by a ]H>rsou
in li(pior ; but the dish striking against the
wall, wiis dashed into a thousand ]iieees.
."^cheich Ibrahim grew more enraged at
having missed his aim ; and, catching up
the candle that stoo<l u|)on the table, rose
from his seat, au<l went staggering down a
pair of back stairs to look for a c.-uie.
The caliph took this opportunity, and
striking his hands against the window, tli<!
grand vizier, Alcsrour, and the four slaves
were with him in a trice ; the shaves quickly
pulled ulF the lishennnn's chtthes, and ]iut
on him the habit they had brought. They
h.ad not <|nite dressed the caliph, who had
seated himself iqion the throne th.it was iu
the hall, but were very busy about him,
when Seheieh Ibrnhiui, spurred on by inte-
rest, came back, with a swinging cane in his
hand, with which he dcsi^nied t»> p.ay the
jiretended fisherman soundly ; but inxtead of
finding him, he saw his clothes in the middle
of the hall, and the caliph upon his throne,
with the grand vizier nnd Mesrour on each
side of him. He stood awhile gazing upon
this unexpected sight, doubting whether he
was awake or asleep. The caliph fell a
laughing at his a-stonishmcnt ; and calling to
him, " Seheieh Ibrahim," said he, " what
dost thou want ? whom dost thou look
after?"
Seheieh Ibrahim, no longer doubting that
it was the caliph, immediately threw himself
at his feet, with his face and long beard to
the ground. " Commander of the true be-
lievers," cried he, " your vile slave has of-
fended you ; but he implores your clemency,
and asks a thousand pardons for his oftence. "
As soon as the slaves had made an end of
dressing him, ho came down from his throne,
and a<lvancing towards him, "Rise," said
he ; "I forgive thee."
The caliph then addressed himself to the
Fair Persian, who had suspended her sorrow
as soon as she understood that the garden
and pavilion belonged to that prince, and
not to Seheieh Ibrahim, as he had all along
made her believe, and that it was he himself
NOVREDDIN AND THE FAIR PERSIAN.
299
png that
r himself
card to
rue be-
' has o£-
["inency,
bffence."
end of
\ throne,
said
to the
■ sorrow
garden
|ce, and
along
I himself
diiguisoil in the li.ihcrniau'i clnthuM. *' Fair
IVrMJan," iiuiil he, " riHe, and follow me : by
wliat you have httely Keen, you nuijht to
know who I am, anil to beheve tliat I am
nlHive takin;^ any lulvnnta^'e of tlie ]ireKerit
which Noitreddin, with a ){i tienmity not to be
|>aralK'KiI, has ma<b' me 4if your perNon. I
have vent him to KalHoru to be kin^ tlicre ;
and when 1 have ^'iven him the deHpiUelii-H
neceH.sury for hiii eHtaliliitliment, you hIiuU
^» thither and be i|ueeii. In the nieaiitiiue,
I am (.'oin;^ to order an a]>.irtment for you in
my jialace, whi're you Hhall bo treated ac-
cordinij to your dexert."
This «h>course encouraged the Fair Per-
iiian, am) comforted her very HeUHibly. Tho
joy fur tho advancement uf Nouroddin,
whom she |ia8iiionately loved, to so hi^'h uu
honour, m:uk> her sullicient amends for her
allliction. The colijih kept his ]iromiHe, and
recommended her to the cure of his lady Zo-
Iteide, whom he acijuaiuted with the e^iteem
ho hatl lately entertained for Noureddin.
Noureddin"s return to lUlsora was more
fortunate, and Hpeedier by soiuu dayn, than
he could have expected. U]ion hi.s arrival,
without visiting any of his friends or rela-
tions, he went directly to the i>nlace, where
thu king at that tinu> was ^'ivin^ piililic au-
dience. With the letter held up in his hand,
he pressed throuj;h the crowd, who presently
made way for him to come forward and tU'-
liver it. The king took aiid ojiened it, and
his colour changed in reading it : he kissed
it thrice, and was just about to obey the ca-
li]>h'B orders, when he bethought himself of
shewing it to the vizier Saouy, Koureddiu's
irrcconeilealde enemy.
Saouy, who h;ul discovered Noureddin,
and began to conjecture, with great uneasi-
ness, what might be thu design of his coming,
was no less surprised than the king at the
order contained in the letter ; and being as
much concerned in it, he thought that very
moment U]>on a way to evade it. He pre-
tended not to have read the letter <|uite
through, and therefore, desiring a second
view of it, he turned himself a little on ono
side, as if he wanted a better light, and,
without being perceived by anybody, dex-
terously tore oft' from the top of it the form
that shewe<l the caliph would be absolutely
obeyed, and putting it into his mouth, swal-
lowed it.
After this egregious piece of villany. Saouy
turned to the king, and giving him the letter,
"Sir," said he to him, in a low voice, "what
does your majesty intend to do ? " " What
the caliph has commanded me," replied the
king. " Have a ciire, sir," said the wicked
vizier, "what you do. It is true, this is
the caliph's hand, but the form is not to it."
The king had observed that very well, but
in his confusion, he thought his eyes de-
ceived him vhen he saw it was gone.
"Sir," continued the vizier, "wo have nr
renNon to doidit liut that the ('alijih, upon
the complaints he has made a'^aiust your
niaji'Nty and me, has granted him this letter
]iurely to get rid of him, and not with nny
intention of having the order contitini'd in it
executed. Ilesidis, we must eonsiiler he has
sent no express with a patent ; and without
tliat, thu order is of no force. And kIucu a
king like your maji'sty wan never deposed
without that formality, any other man as
Well Its Noureddin might come with n forged
letter : let who will bring such a letter a»
this, it ought not to be put in execution.
Your majesty may depenil ui)on it, ihat is
never done ; and I will takt; upon myself all
the cinisefinence of disojieying this order."
King Ziuel)i, eiwily |)er8uailed by thi.s per-
nicious counsel, left iNoiirecUlin entirely to
thu discretion of the vizier Saouy, who led
him to his house after w very insulting man-
ner; where, alter causing him to be bastina-
doed till he was almost deail, he ordered him
to a prison, wlieie no eominauded him to be
jiut in 111.' darkest and ileepest dungeon,
with a strict charge to the jailor to give
him nothing but bread and water.
When Nouieildin, half dead with tho
strokes, came to himself, and found what a
nasty dungeon he was in, he bewailed hia
mist'ot'tunes in thu mo.st pathetic manner.
"Ah I li.sheruian," cried he, " how hast thou
cheated me, and how eivsy have 1 been in
believing theo : (Jould 1, after the civility
I shewed thee, cxitect so inhuman and bar-
barous usage ? However, may Heaven
reward thee : for I cannot persuade myself
that thy intention was so bast! ; and I will
with patience wait the end of my alUictions."
The i)oor disconsolate Noure<ldin remained
six wholu days in this miserable condition ;
ond Saouy did not forget that he had con-
fined him there ; but being resolved to ])ut
him to a shameful death, and not daring to
do it by his own authority, to accomplish
his villanous design, he loade<l some of his
slaves with rich presents, which he, at the
head of them, went and ])reseutcd to the
king. "Behold, sire," said he, with the
blackest malice, "what the new king has
sent you upon his accession to the crown,
and begs your mojesty to aecopt of it."
The king, taking the matter just as Saouy
intended it, "What!" replied he, " is that
wretch still living ? I thought you had put
him to death already." "Sire, 1 have no
power," answered the vizier, "to take any
person's life away ; that only belongs to
your majesty." " Go," said thu king, "be-
head him instantly ; I give you full ou-
thority." " Sire," replied the vizier Saouy,
" I am infinitely obliged to your majesty for
the justice you do mo ; but since Noureddin
has publicly affronted me, I humbly beg the
favour that hia execution moy bo performed
^
300
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
!i f 1
before the palace, and that the criers may
publish in every quarter of the city, tliat
everybody may be satistied he has made a
sufficient reparation for the affront." The
king granted his request ; and the criers, in
performing their office, diffused an universal
sorrow through the whole city. The mem-
ory of his father's virtues being yet very
fresh among them, no one could hear with-
out horror and indignation that the son was
going to suffer an ignominious death, through
the villany and instigation of the vizier
Saouy.
Saouy went in person to the prison, ac-
companied with twenty slaves, ministers of
his cruelty, who took Noureddin out of the
dungeon, and i)u^ him upon a shabby horse
■without a saddle. When Noureddin saw
himself in the hands of his enemy, ' ' Thou
triumphest now," said he, " and abusest thy
power ; but 1 trust in the truth of what is
•written in one of our books, ' You judge
unjustly, and in a little time you shall be
judged yourself.'" The vizier Saouy, who
really triumphed in his heart, "What, inso-
lent?" said he, " darest thou insult me yet?
but go, I pardon thee, and care not what-
ever happens to me, so I have the pleasure
of seeing thee lose thy head in the public
view of all Balsora. Thou oughtcst also to
remember what another of our books says,
* What signifies if one dies the next day after
the death of his enemy ? ' "
The vizier, still implacable in his hatred
and enmity, surrounded by part of his slaves
in arms, ordered Noureddin to be conducted
by the other, and went himself towards the
palace. The people were ready to fall upon
Lim as he went along ; and if anybody had
set the example, they would certainly have
stoned him to death. When he had brought
him to the place of suffering, which was to
be in sight of the king's apartment, he left
him in the executioner's hands, and went
straight to the king, who was in his closet,
ready to glut his eyes with the bloody spec-
tacle he had prepared.
The king's guard and the vizier's slaves,
•which made a circle round Noureddin, had
much ado to -withstand the people, who
made all possible efforts, but in vain, to
break through them, and carry him off by
force. The executioner coming up to him,
" Sir," said he, " I hope you will forgive
me ; I am but a slave, and cannot help
doing my duty. If you have no occasion
for anything more, I beseech you prepare
yourself ; for the king is just going to give
me orders to strike the blow."
The poor unfortunate Noureddin, at that
cruel moment, looking round upon the peo-
ple, "Will no charitable bodj'," cried he,
"bring me a little water to quench my
thirst?" which immediately they did, and
banded it up to him upon the scaffold. The
vizier Saouy, perceiving this delay, called
out to the executioner from the king's closet-
window, where he had planted himself,
"Strike! what dost thou stay for?" At
these barbarous and inhuman words the
whole place echoed with loud imprecations
against him ; and the king, jealous of his
authority, made it appear, by enjoining him
to stay awhile, that he was angry at his
presumption. But there was another rea-
son ; for the king that very moment, casting
his eye to a large street that faced him, and
joining to the place of execution, he saw
about the middle of it a troop of horsemen
come gallopping full speed towards the
palace. "Vizier," said the king immediately,
"look yonder; what is the meaning of those
horsemen ? " Saouy, who knew not what it
might be, earnestly pressed the king to give
the executioner the sign. "No," rejilied
the king; "I will first know who those
horsemen are." It was the vizier Giafar,
with his train, who came in person from
Bagdad by the caliph's order.
To understand the occasion of this minis-
ter's coming 'io Balsora, we must observe
that after Noureddin's departure with the
caliph's letter, the caliph the next day, nor
several days after, never thought of sending
him the patent that he mentioned to the
Fair Persian. He happened one day to be
in the inner palace, which was that of the
women, and passing by tho apartment, he
heard the sound of a line voice. He listened
to it ; and ho had no sooner heard the words
of one complaining for the absence of some-
body, than he asked the officer of the
eunuchs that attended him, who that woman
•was that belonged to that apartment ? The
officer told him it was the young stranger's
slave, •whom ho had sent to Balsora to be
king in the room of Mohammed Zincbi.
"Ah ! poor Noureddin," cried the caliph
presentl}', " I had forgot thee ! but haste,"
said he to the officer, "and bid Giafar come
to me : " the vizier was •with him in an
instant. As soon as he came, "Giafar,"
said he, " I have hitherto neglected sending
the patent to Noureddin, which was to con-
firm him king of Balsora : but we have no
time now to draw up one ; therefore im-
mediately take post-horses, and, with some
of your servants, mako what haste you can
to Balsora. If Noureddin is no longer ahve,
but put to death by them, order the vizier
Saouy to be hanged ; but if he is living,
bring him to me with the king and the
vizier."
The grand vitier stayed no longer than
just to get on horseback ; and being at-
tended by a great train of officers belonging
to his house, he set off for Balsora, where
ho arrived in the manner and at the time
already mentioned. As soon as he came to
the palace-yard, the people cleared the way
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
301
for him, crying out, "A pardon for Noured-
din ; " and with his whole train he rode into
the palace, even to the very stairs, where
he alighted.
The king of Balsora, knowing him +1 be
the caliph's chief minister, went to meot him,
and received him at the entrance of his
apartment. The first question the vizier
asked, was, "If Noureddin was living? and
if he was, that he might be sent for." The
king made answer he was alive, and gave
orders to have him brought in. Accord-
ingly he soon made his appearance as he
was, tied and bound with cords. The grand
vizier Giafar caused him to be untied, and
setting him at liberty, ordered the vizier
Saouy to be seized, and bound him with the
same cords.
The grand vizier Giafar lay but one night
in Balsora ; the next day he set out again
for Bagdad ; and, according to the order
he had received, carried Saoiiy, the king of
Balsora, and Noui-eddin, along with him.
As soon as he came to Bagdad, ho presented
them all to the caliph ; and after he had
given him an account of his journey, and
particularly the miserable condition he found
Noureddin in, and his ill usage by the advice
and malice of Saouy, the caliph desired
Noureddin to behead the vizier himself.
"Commander of the true believers," said
NourKldin, -'notwithstanding the injury
this wicked man has done me, and the mis-
chief he endeavoured to do my deceased
father, I should think myself the basest of
mankind, ii' I had stained my hands with
his blood.-' The caliph was extremely
pleased with hie qenerosity, and ordered
justi ;e to be done (,y the executioner's hand.
The caliph would fain have sent Noured-
din back to Balsora to have been king there :
but Noureddin humbly begged to be excused
from accepting of the offer. "Commander
of the true believers," said Noureddin,
"the city of Balsora, after the misfortunes
that have happened to me there, will be so
much my aversion, that I beioech your ma-
jesty to give me leave to keep the oath that
I have made, of never returning thither
again ; and I shall think it my greatest
glory to serve near your roj'al person, if j'ou
are pleased to allow me the honour." The
caliph consented to it; and placing him
among the number of those courtiers who
were his greatest favouiitcs, restored the
Fair Persian to him again. To all these
favours he added a plentiful fortune ; and
he and the Fair Persian lived together to
their dying day, with all the happiness they
could desire.
As for the king of Balsora, the caliph
contented himself with only letting him see
how careful he ought to be in the choice of
his viziers, and so sent him back into his
kingdom.
THE STORY OF BEDEU, I'llIXCE OF PERSIA,
AND GIAIIAURE, I'UIXCESS OF SAIIANDAL.
Persia is a country of so vast extent,
that their ancient monarchs have, not with-
out some colour of reason, assumed the
haughty title of King of Kings. For, not
to mention those subdued by their r.rm8,
there are kingdoms and provinces whose
kings are not only tributarj% but also in as
great subjection as governors in other na-
tions are to kings.
One of these kings, wiio in the beginning
of his reign had signalized himself by many
glorious and successful conquests, enjoyed
so profound a peace and tranquillity, as ren-
dered him the happiest of monarchs. The
only thing in -rvhich he thought himself un-
fortunate was, that amongst all his wives,
not one of them ever brought him a son ;
and being now far advanced in years, he was
desirous of an heir to succeed him after his
death. However, lie had above a hundred
ladies, all lodged iu separate apartments,
after a magniHcent manner, with women-
slaves to wait upon, and eunuclis to guard
them ; yet, notwithstanding all his endea-
vours to please and gratify them in every
tiling, there was not one that answered his
expectation. He had women very often
brought him from the most remote coun-
tries ; and if they pleased him, he not only
gave the merchants their full price at first
word, but loaded them with honours, fa-
vours, and benedictions, in hopes that at
last he might be so liapjjy as to meet with
one by whom he migli*-. have a son. Thero
was scarce any act ol charity but what he
jierformed, to prevail with Heaven. He
gave immense sums to the poor, besides
large donatives to the religious of his reli-
gion ; buildiug for their use many noblo
colleges richly endowed, in hopes of obtain-
ing by their 2>rayers what he so earnestly
desired.
One day, according to the custom of his
royal predecessors, during their residence in
their capital city, he huld an assemljly of
his courtiers, at which all the ambassadors
and strangers of quality aljout the court
were present ; and where they not only en-
tertained one another with tallcing of news
and politics, but also of the sciences, iiistory,
poetry, literature, and whatever else was
capable of diverting the mind after the most
agreeable manner. Upon tliat ilay an eu-
nuch came to acquaint him with the arrival of
a certain merchant from a far country, who,
having brought a slave along with him, de-
sired leave to shew her to his majesty, "Give
him admittance instantly," said the king,
"and after the assembly is over I will talk
with him.'' The merchant was introduced,
and seated in a couveuieut place, from
! ■>
S
jI:
:
-' i
?02
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
whence he might easily have a full view of the
king, and hear him talk familiarly to those
that stood near his person. The king observed
this nile to all stranjjers, with a design that
by degrees they might grow acquainted with
him ; so that, when they saw with what
freedom and civility he addressed himself to
all, they might be encouraged to talk with
him in the same manner, without being the
least surprised at the pomp and splendour
of his appearance, which was enough to
deprive those of their power of speech that
were not used to it. He treated the am-
bassadors also after the same munner. Ho
ate with them, and during the r >past asked
them several questions concerning their
health, their journej', .and the particularities
of their country. After they had been thus
encouraged, he gave them audience.
When the assembly was over, and all the
company retired, the merchant, who was
the only person left, fell prostrate before the
king's throne with his face to the earth,
wishing his majesty an accomplishment of
all his desires. As soon as he rose up, the
king asked him if the news of his having
brought a slave for him was true, and
whether she was handsome.
" Sire," replied the merchant, "I doubt
not in the least but your majesty has very
beautiful women, since you search every
comer of the earth for them ; but I may
boldly affirm, without overvaluing my mer-
chandise, that you never yet saw a woman
that coidd stand in competition with her for
shape and beauty, agreeable qualifications,
and all the perfections that she is mistress of."
"Where is she ?'' said the king : "bring her
to me instantly." "Sire," rejilied the mer-
chant, "I have delivered her into the hands
of one of the chief eunuchs ; and your ma-
jesty may send for her at your pleasure."
The fair slave y.'as immediately brought
in ; and no sooner had the king cast his eyes
on her, but he was charmed with her beau-
tiful and easy shape. Ho wont presently
into a closet, whither the merchant, with a
few eunuchs, followed him. The fair slave
wore a red satin veil striped with gold over
her face; and when the merchant had taken
it off, the king of Persia beheld a lady that
surpassed in beautj', not only his present
ladies, but all that he ever had before. Ho
immediately fell passionately in love with
her, and bid the merchant name his price.
"Sire," said he, "1 gave a thousand
pieces of gold to the person of whom I
bought her ; and in my three years' journey
to your court, I reckon I have spent as
much ; but I shall forbear setting any price
to so great a monarch ; and therefore, if
your majesty likes her, I humbly beg you
would accept of her as a present." " I am
highly obliged to you," replied the king ;
"but it is never my custom to treat mer-
chants, who come hither purely for my
pleasure, after so ungenerous a manner : I
am going to order thee ten thousand pieces
of gold ; will that be sufficient ? " " Sire,"
answered the merchant, " I should have es-
teemed myself very happy in your majesty's
acceptance of her for nothing, yet I dare not
refuse so generous an offer. I shall not fail
to publish it in my own country, and in
every place through which I pass." The
money was presently paid ; iind before he
departed, the king made him put on a rich
suit of cloth of gold.
The king caused the fair slave to be
lodged in the finest apartment next his o^wn,
and gave particular orders to the matrons,
and the women slaves appointed to attend
her, that after bathing they should dress
her in the richest habit they could find, and
carry her the finest pearl necklaces, the
brightest diamonds, and other the richest
precious stones, that she might choose those
she liked best.
The officious matrons, whose only care
was to please the king, were astonished at
her beauty ; and being well versed therein,
they told his majesty, that if he would allow
them but three days, they would engage to
make her so much hau ' 3omer than she was
at present, that he could scarce know her
again. The king could hardly deprive him-
self of Vrhe pleasure of enjoying her so long ;
but at last he consented, upon condition they
would be as good as their word.
The king of Persia's capital was situated
in an island ; and his palace, which was
very magnificent, was built upon the sea-
shore : his apartment looked upon that
element ; and the fair slave's, which was
pretty near it, had also the same prospect,
and it was the more agreeable, upon the
account of the sea's beating almost against
the foot of the wall.
At the three days' end the fair slave,
magnidcontly dressed and sot off, was al6ne
in her chamber, sitting upon a sofa, and
leaning against one of the windows that
faced the sea, when the king, being informed
that he might visit her, came in. The slave
hearing soniel)ody walk in the room, with an
air quite diffoiont from that of the women-
slaves, Avho had hitherto attended her, im-
mediately turned her head about, to see who
it was. She knew him to be the king ; but
without discovering the least surprise, or so
much as rising from her seat to salute or
receive him, as if ho had been the most in-
(lifFeront person in the world, she put herself
in the same posture again.
The king of Persia was extremely ear-
prised to see a slave of so beauteous a form
so very ignorant of the world. He attributed
this to the narrowness of her education, and
the little care tlvat was taken of instructing
her in the first rules of civility. He went to
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
303
her at the window, where, notwithstanding
the coldnesa and indifference with wliich she
had just now received him, she suffered her-
self to be admired, caresiied, and embraced
OS much as he })lease(l.
In the midst of these amorous embraces
and tender endearments, this monarch paused
awhile, to gaze upon, or rather to devour
her with his eyes. " My goddess ! my
angel ! my charmer ! " cried the king ;
" whence came you, and where do those
happy parents live that brought into the
world so surprising a masterpiece of nature
as you are ? Ah ! how I love you, and shall
always continue to do so. Never did I feel
for a woman what I now feel for you ; and
though I have seen, and do see every day, a
vast number of beauties, yet never did my
eyes behold so many charms in one single
person, which have so transported me out of
myself, that I shall entirely devote myself to
you. My dearest life," continued he, " you
neither answer, nor by any visible token
give me the least reason to believe that you
are sensible of the many demonstrations I
have given you of the violence of ay pas-
sion ; neither will you turn your eyes on me
to afford mine the pleasure of meeting them,
and to convince you that it is impossible to
love more than [ do you. Why will you
still keep this obstinate silence, which chills
me ? and whence jiroceeds the seriousness,
or rather sorrow, that to)-ments me to the
soul ? Do you mourn for your country, your
friends, or your relations ? Alas ! is not the
king of Persia, who loves aud adores you,
capable of comforting, and making you
amends for the loss of everything in the
world?"
What protestations of love f oever the king
of Persia made the fair slave, or all he could
say, to oblige her to speak to him, she con-
tinued her astonishing reserve ; and keeping
her eyes still fixed upon the ground, would
neither look at him nor utter a word.
The king of Pei..ia, charmed with the
purchase he had made of a slave that
pleased him so well, pressed her no further,
in hopes that by treating her kindly, he
might prevail upon her to change her mind.
He presently clapped his hands ; and the
women that waited in an outward room en-
tered : he commanded them to bring in sup-
jicr. When it was on the table, " My soul,"
said he to the slave, " come hither and sup
with me." 8hc rose from her seat ; and
being seated over-against the king, his ma-
jesty hel])ed her, before he began eivting him-
self ; and so he did of every dish during the
whole supper. The slave ate as well as the
king, but still with downcast eyes, and
without speaking a word ; though ho often
asked her how she liked the eutci'tainment,
and whether it was dressed according to her
taste.
The king, willing to change the discourse,
asked her what her name was, how she
liked the clothes and the jewels she had on,
what she thought of her apartment aud the
rich furniture, and whether the prospect oi
the sea was not very agreeable ? but to all
these questions she answered not a word ; so
that the king Avas at a loss what to think of
her silence. He imagined, at first, that per-
haps she might be dumb : " but then," said
he to himself, "can it be possible that Heaven
should form a creature so beautiful, so per-
fect, and so accomplished, yet, at the same
time, with so great an imperfection ? Were
it, however, so, I coidd not love her with a
less passion than I do."'
When the king of Persia rose from the
table, he washed his hands on one side, while
the fair slave washed hers on the other. He
took that tinxe to ask tlie women that held
the basin ami napkin, if ever they had heard
her speak. One of them presently made an-
swer, "Sire, we have neither seen her open
her lips, nor heard her speak any more than
your majesty has just now ; we have ren-
dered her oiu- services in the bath ; we have
combed and dressed her head, ])ut on her
clothes, and waited ui)on her in her cliamber,
but she has never opened her lips, so much
as to say, 'that is well,' or '1 like this.'
We have often asked her, ' Madam, do you
want anything ? is there anything you wish
for ? Do but ask, and command us : ' but
we have never been able to draw a word
from her. We cannot tell whether her si-
lence proceeds from pride, sorrow, stupidity,
or dumbness ; and this is all we can inform
your majesty of."
The king of Persia was more astonished at
hearing this than he was before : however,
believing the slave might have some cause
of sorrow, he was willing to endeavour to
divert and amuse her. Accordingly he
made a very splendid assembly, to wliich all
the ladies of the court came ; and those who
were skilful in playing upon musical instru-
ments performed their parts, while others
sung or danced, or did both together : at
last, they played at all sorts of games, which
mightily diverted the king. The fair slave
was the only person that took no ])leasure in
these diversions ; she never stirred out of her
place, but with her eyes fi.xed on the ground
with so much indifference, that all Ihc ladies
were no less surprised than the king. After
the assembly was over, every one retired to
her ajiartment ; and the king, wl o was left
alone with the fair slave, lay wiu; her that
night.
The next morning the king of Persia rose
more pleased than ever he had beer with all
his women he had seen before, and more
enamoured with the fair slave than he wag
the day before. Indeed, he soon made it
appear, by resolving henceforth to attach
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
liimself only to her ; and he performed his
resolution. On the very same day he dis-
miased all his other women, giving every one
of them their jewels, and other valuable
things, besides a considerable fortune, with
free leave to marry whom they thought fit ;
and only kept the matrons and a few other
elderly women to wait upon the fair slave.
However, for a whole year together, she
never aflforded him the pleasure of one single
word ; yet the king continued his assiduities
to please her, with all the complaisance ima-
ginable, and to give her the most signal
proofs of a violent passion.
The year was now expired, when the king
sitting one day by his mistress, protested to
her that his love, instead of being diminished,
grew every day more violent. " My queen,"
said he, ' ' I cannot divine what your thoughts
are : but nothing is more true, and I swear
to you, that having the happiness of posses-
sing you, there remains nothing for me to
desire : I esteem my kingdom, groat as it is,
less than an atom, when I have the pleasure
of beholding you, and of telling you a thou-
sand times, that I adore you. I desire not
that my words alone should oblige you to
believe me. Surely you can no longer doubt
it, after the vast number of women who were
in my palace, whom I have sacrificed to your
beauty. You may remember it is about a
year since I sent them all away ; and I re-
pent of it as little even now I am talking
with you, as I did the first moment of their
departure ; and I never shall repent. No-
thing would be wanting to complete my
happiness and crown my joy, would you but
speak one single word to me, by \vhich I
might be assured that you thought yourself
at all obliged to me. But how can you
speak to me if you arc dumb ? and alas ! I
feel too fearful this is the case. How can I
doubt, since you still torment me with
silence, after a whole year's entreating you
continually to sjjcak to me ? If it is impos-
sible for me to obtain of you that consolation,
may Heaven at least grant me the blessing
of a son by you, to succeed me after my
death. I find mj^self growing old every day,
and I begin already to want one to assist me
in bearing the weight of my crown. Still I
cannot conceal the great desire I have of
hearing you speak ; for something within
me tells me you are not dumb : and I be-
seech, I conjure you, dear madam, to break
through this long silence, and speak but one
word to me ; and after that I care not how
soon I die."
At this discourse the fair slave, •who, ac-
cording to her usual custom, had hearkened
to the king with downcast eyes, and had
given him cause to believe not only that she
was dumb, but that she had never laughed
in her life, began to smile a little. The king
of Persia perceived it with a surprise that
made him break forth into an exclamation
of joy ; and no longer doubting but that sh
was going to speak, he waited for that happy
moment with an eagerness and attention that
cannot easily be expressed.
At last the fair slave, breaking her long-
kept silence, thus addressed herself to the
king : " Sire," said she, " I have so many
things to say to your majesty, that, having
once broke silence, I know not where to be-
gin. However, in the first place, I think
myself in duty bound to thank you for all
the favours and honours you have been
pleased to confer upon me, and to implore
Heaven to bless and prosper you, to prevent
the wicked designs of your enemies, and not
suffer you to die, after hearing me speak,
but to grant you a long life. After this,
sire, I cannot give you a greater satisfaction
than by acquainting you that I am with
child ; and I wish, as you do, it may be a,
son. Had it never been my fortune to have
been pregnant, I was resolved (I beg your
majesty to pardon the sincerity of my inten-
tion) never to have loved you, as well as to
have kept an eternal silence ; but now I love
you as I ought to do."
The king of Persia, ravished to hear the
fair slave not only speak, but tell him tidings
in which he was so nearly concerned, em-
braced her tenderly, " Shining light of my
eyes," said he, " it is impossible for me to
receive a greater joy than what you have
now given mc : you have spoken to me, and
you have declared your being with child,
which I did not expect. After these two
occasions of joy, I am transported out of
myself,"
The king of Persia, in the transport of his
joy, said no more to the fair slave. He left
her, but in such a manner as made her per-
ceive his intention was speedily to return :
and being willing that the occasion of his
joys should be made public, he declared it to
his oiTicers, and sent in all haste for the
grand vizier. As soon as he came, he or-
dered him to distribute a thousand pieces of
gold among the holy men of his religion,
who made vows of poverty ; as also among
the hospitals and the poor, by way of re-
turning thanks to Heaven : and his will was
obeyed by the direction of that minister.
After the king of Persia had given this
order, he returned to the fair slave again.
" Madam," said he, " pardon me for leaving
you so abruptly, since you have been the
occasion of it ; but I hope you will indulge
me with some conversation, since I am desir-
ous to know of you several things of much
greater consequence. Tell me, my dearest
soul, what were the powerful reasons that
induced you to persist in that obstinate si-
lence for a whole year together, though
every day you saw me, heard me talk to
you, ate and drank with me, and every
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BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
305
night lay with me ? I shall pass by your not
speaking; but how you could carry your-
eelf so as that I could never discover whether
you were sensible of what I said to you or
no, I confess, surpasses my understanding ;
and I cannot yet comprehend how you could
contain yourself so long : therefore I must
conclude the occasion of it to be very extra-
ordinary."
"To satisfy the king of Persia's curiosity,"
replied this fair person, "think whether or
no to be a slave, far from my own country,
without any hopes of ever seeing it again, —
to have a heart torn with grief, for being
separated for ever from my mother, my
brother, my friends, and my acquaintance, —
are not these sufiicient reasons for my keep-
ing a sUence your majesty has thought so
siirange and unaccountable? The love of
our native country is as natural to us as that
of our parents ; and the loss of liberty is in-
supportable to every one who is not wholly
destitute of common sense, and knows how
to set a value on it. The body indeed may
be enslaved, and under the subjection of a
master, who has the power and authority in
his hands ; but the will can never be con-
quered, but remains free and unconfined,
depending on itself alone, as your majesty
has found an instance of it in me ; and it is
a wonder that I have not followed the ex-
ample of abundance of unfortunate wretches,
whom the loss of liberty has reduced to the
melancholy resolution of procuring their
own deaths a thousand ways, by a liberty
which cannot be taken from them."
"Madam," replied the king, " lam con-
vinced of the truth of what you say ; but
till this moment I was of opinion, that a
person beautiful, well-shaped, of good im-
derstanding, like yourself, whom her evil
destiny had condemned to be a slave, ought
to think herself very happy in meeting with
a king for her master."
"Sire," replied the fair slave, "whatever
the slave is, as I have already observed to
your majesty, there is no king on earth can
tyrannize over her will. But when you speak
of a slave mistress of charms enough to caj)-
tivate a monarch, and induce him to love
her ; if she is of a rank infinitely below him,
I am of your o])iuion, she ought to think
herself happy in her misfortunes : but what
happiness can it be, when she considers her-
self only as a slave, torn from a parent's
arms, and perhaps from those of a lover, her
passion for whom death only can extin-
guish? But when this very slave is in no-
thing inferior to the king that bought her,
your majesty shall then judge yourself of the
rigour of her destiny, her misery, and her
aorrow, and to what desperate attempts the
anguish of despair may drive her."
The king of Persia, astonished at this dis-
course, "Mad»m,"said he, "can it be pos-
sible that you are of royal Idood, as by your
words you seem to intimate ? Explain the
whole secret to me, I beseech you, and no
longer augment my impatience. Let me in-
stantly know who are the hai)py parents of
so great a prodigy of beauty ; who are your
brothers, your sisters, and your relations ;
but, above all, what your name is."
" Sire," said the fair slave, " my name is
Gidnare* of the Sea ; and my father, who
is now dead, was one of the most potent
monarchs of the ocean. When he died, he
left his kingdom to a brother of mine, named
Saleh, t and to the queen my mother, who
is also a princess, the daughter of another
puissant monarch of the sea. We enjoyed
a profoimd i)eace and tranquillity tlurough
the whole kingdom, till a neighbouring
prince, envious of our happiness, invaded
our dominions with a mighty army ; and
penetrating as far as our capital, made him-
self master of it ; and we had but just time
enough to save ourselves in an impenetrable
and inaccessible place, with a few trusty
officers who did not forsake us in our
distress.
"In this retreat, my brother was not neg-
ligent in contriving all manner of ways to
drive the imjust invader from our domi-
nions. One day taking mo into his closet,
" Sister," said he, "the events of the smal-
lest undertakings are always dubious. As
for my own part, I may fail in the attempt
I design to make to recover my kingdom ;
and I shall be less concerned for my own
disgrace, than what may possibly happen to
you. To prevent it, and to secure you from
all accident, 1 woiUd fain see you married
first : but in the miserable condition of our
affairs at present, I see no probability of
matching you to any of the i)riuces of the
sea ; and therefore I should be very glad if
you woidd concur with my oj)inion, and
think of marrying to some of the princes of
the earth. I am ready to contribute all
that lies in my power towards it; and I am
certain there is not one of them, however
powerfiU, but, considering the beauty you
are mistress of, would be proud of sharing
his crown with you."
At this discourse of my brother's, I fell
into a violent passion. "Brother," said I,
"you know that I am descended, as well as
you, by both father and mother's side, from
the kings and queens of the sea, witliout any
mixture of alliance with those of the earth ;
therefore I do not design to marry below
myself, any more than they did ; and I took
an oath to that effect as soon as I had un-
derstanding to inquire into the nobleness
and antiquity of our family. The condition
to which we are reduced shall never oblige
* Oulnara, in Amb.c, is a rose or pomegranate
flower,
t Saleb, in Arabic, signiBes good.
rt
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
me to alter my resolution ; and if you perish
in the execution of your design, I am pre-
pared to fall with yon, rather than to
follow the advice I so little expected from
you."
My brother, who was still earnest for the
marriage, however improper for me, endea-
voured to make me believe, that there were
kings of the earth who were nowise inferior
to those of the sea. This put me into a
more violent passion, which occasioned him
to say several bitter reflecting things, that
nettled me to the quick. He left me, as
much dissatisfied with myself as he could
possibly be with me; and in this peevish
mood I gave a spring from the bottom of
the sea, up to the Island of the Moon.
Notwithstanding the violent discontent
that made me cast myself upon that island,
I lived content in retirement. But in spite
of all my precautions, a person of distinc-
tion, attended by his servants, surprised me
sleeping, and carried me to his own house.
He expressed much love to me, and omitted
nothing which he thought might induce me
to make a return to his passion. When he
saw that fair means would not prevail upon
me, he attempted to make use of force ; but
I soon made him repent of his insolence. So
at last he resolved to sell me ; which he did
to that very merchant who brought me
hither and sold me to your majesty. He
was a very prudent, courteous, humane per-
son ; and during the whole of the long jour-
ney, never gave me the least reason to
complain.
"As for your majesty," continued the
princess Gulnare, "if you had not shown me
all the respect you have hitherto paid (for
which I am extremely obliged to your good-
ness,) and given me such undeniable marks
of your affection, that I could no longer
doubt of it; if you had not immediately
sent away your women, I hesitate not to tell
you plainly, that I should not have remained
with you. I would have thrown myself into
the sea out of this very window, where you
accosted me when you first came into this
apartment, and I would have gone in search
of my mother, my brother, and the rest of
my relations. 1 should have persisted in
thi lesign, and I would infallibly have put
it iii execution, if after a certain time I had
found myself deceived in the hopes of being
with child ; but now, in the condition 1 am
in, all I could say to mj' mother or brother,
would never convince them that I have been
a slave to a king like your majesty. They
woidd never believe it, but would for ever
upbraid me with the crime I have volun-
tarily committed against my hononr. How-
ever, sire, be it a prince or princess that I
shall bring into the world, it will be a pledge
to engage me never to be parted from your
majesty ; and therefore I hope you will no
longer look npon me as a alave but as a
princess worth your alliance."
After this manner the princess Gulnare
discovered herself to the king of Persia, and
iini8he<l her story. "My charming, my
adorable princess," cried he, "what won-
ders have I heard ! and what ample matter
for my curiosity to ask a thousand ques-
tions concerning those strange and unheard-
of things which you have related to me t
But first, I ought to thank you for your
goodness and patience in making trial of
the truth and constancy of my passion. I
thought it impossible for me to love yon
more than I did ; but since I know you to
be so great a princess I love you a thousand
times more. Princess ! did I say? Madam,
yon are no longer so, but you are my queen
— the queen of Persia; and by that title
yon shall soon be proclaimed throughout the
whole kingdom. To-morrow the ceremony
shall be performed in my capital, with a
pomp and magnificence that was never yet
beheld ; which will plainly shew that you,
are my queen and my lawful wife. This
should long ago have been done, had you
sooner convinced me of my error ; for from
the first moment of my seeing you, I have
been of the same opinion as now, to love
you always, and never to place my affections
on any other.
"But that I may satisfy myself, and pay
you all the respect that ia your due, I be-
seech you, madam, to inform me more par*
ticnlarly of the kingdom and people of the
sea, which are altogether unknown to me.
I have heard much talk, indeed, of the in-
habitants of the sea, but I always looked
upon it as nothing but a tale or fable ; but,
by what you have told me, I am convinced
there is nothing more true ; and I have a
very good proof of it in your own person,
who are one of them, and are pleased to con-
descend to be my wife ; which is an honour
no other inhabitant on the earth can boast
of besides myself. There is one thing yet
which puzzles me ; therefore I must beg the
favour of yon to explain it ; that is, I can-
not comprehend how it is possible for yoa
to live or move ' x the water without being
drowned. There are very few amongst us
who have the art of staying tmder water ;
and they would surely perish, if, after a cer-
tain time, according to their activity and
strength, they did not come up again."
"Sire," replied the queen Gulnare, "I
shall with pleasure satisfy the king of Persia.
We con walk at the bottom of the sea with
as much ease as you can upon land; and we
can breathe in the water as you do in the
air ; so that instead of suffocating us, as it
does you, it absolutely contributes to the
preservation of our lives. What is yet more
remarkable is, that it never wets our clothes ;
so that when we have a mind to visit the
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
307
earth, we have no occasion to dry them.
Our common language is the same with tliat
of the writing engraved upon the seal of the
great prophet Solomon, the son of David.
I must not forget to tell you further, that
the water does not in the least hinder us from
seeing in the sea ; for we can open our eyes
without any inconvenience ; and as we have
quick, piercing sight, we can discern any ob-
ject as clearly in the deepest part of the sea,
as upon land. We have also there a succes-
sion of day and night ; the moon a£fords us
her light, and even the planets and the stars
appear visible to us. I have already spoken
of our kingdoms ; but as the sea is much
more spacious than the earth, so there are a
greater number of them, and of greater
extent. They are divided into provinces ;
and in each province there are several great
cities, well peopled. In short, there are an
iufiinite number of nations, differing in
manners and customs, aa well as upon the
earth.
The palaces of the kings and princes are
very sumptuous and magniiicent, Some of
them are of marble of various colours ; others
of rock-crystal, with which the sea abounds,
mother-of-pearl, coral, and of other materials
more valuable ; gold, silver, and aU sorts of
precious stones, are more plentiful there than
on earth. I say nothing of the pearls, since
the largest that ever was seen upon earth
would not be valued amongst us ; and none
but the very lowest ranks of citizens would
wear them.
As we have a marvellous and incredible
agility to transport ourselves whither we
please in the twinkling of an eye, we have
no occasion for any carriages or riding horses ;
not but the king has his stables, and his stud
of sea-horses ; but they are seldom made use
of, except upon public feasts, or rejoicing
days. Some, after they have trained them,
take delight in riding them, and shew their
skill and dexterity in races ; others put them
to chariots of mother-of-pearl, adorned with
an infinite number of shells of all sorts, of
the liveliest colours. These chariots are
open ; and in the middle there is a throne
upon which the king sits, and shews himself
to the public view of his subjects. The
horses are trained up to draw by themselves ;
so that there is no occasion for a charioteer
to guide them. 1 pass over a thousand other
curious particidars relating to these marine
countries, which would be very entertaining
to your majesty ; but you must permit me
to defer it to a future leisure, to speak of
something of much greater consequence ;
which is, that the method of delivering, and
the way of managing the women of the sea
in their lying-in, is quite different from
those of the women of the earth ; and I am
afraid to trust myself in the hands of the
midwives of this country : therefore since
my safe delivery equally concerns us both,
>vith your majesty's permission, I think it
proper, for greater security, to send for my
mother and my cousins to assist at my
labour ; at the same time to desire the king
my brother's company, to whom I have a
great desire to be reconciled. They will bo
very glad to see mo again, after I have
related my story to them, and when they
understand I am wife to the mighty king of
Persia. I beseech your majesty to give me
leave to send for them ? I am sure they will
be happy to pay their respects to you ; and
I venture to say you will be extremely
pleased to see them. "
"Madam," repUed the king of Persia,
"you are mistress ; do whatever you please ;
I wiU endeavour to receive them with all the
honours they deserve. But I would fain
know how you would acquaint them with
what you desire, and when they wiU arrive,
that I may give orders to make preparation
for their reception, and go myself in person
to meet them." "Sire," replied the queen
Gulnare, "there is no need of these cere-
monies ; they will be here in a moment ; and
if your majesty will but step into the closet,
and look through the lattice, you shall see
the manner of their arrival."
As soon as the king of Persia was in the
closet, queen Gulnare ordered one of her
women to bring her a fire-pan Mdth a little
fire. After that she bid her retire and shut
the door. When she was alone she took a
piece of aloes out of a box, and put it into
the fire-pan. As soon as she saw the smoke
rise, she repeated some words unknown to
the king of Persia, who observed with great
attention all that she did. She had no
sooner ended, but the sea began to be dis-
turbed. The closet thct the king was in
was so contrived, that looking through the
lattice on the same side with the windows
that faced the sea, he could plainly perceive
it.
At length the sea opened at some distance ;
and presently there rose out of it a tall, hand-
some young man, with whiskers of a seargreen
colour ; a Uttle behind him, a lady, advanced
in years, but of a majestic air, attended by
five young ladies, nothing inferior in beauty
to the queen Gulnare.
Queen Gulnare immediately came to one
of the windows, and saw the king her bro-
ther, the queen her mother and the rest of
her relations, who at the same time i)erceived
her also. The company came forward, borne,
as it were, upon the surface of the waves.
When they came to the edge, they nimbly,
one after another, sprung to the window,
from whence the queen Gulnare had retired
to make room for them. King Saleh, the
queen her mother, and the rest of her rela-
tions, embraced her tenderly, with tears in
their eyes, on their first entrance.
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS* ENTERTAINMENTS.
After queen Gulnare harl received them
with all imaginable honour and made them
sit down upon a
Bofa, the queen
her mother ad-
dressed herself to
her : " Daugh-
ter," said slie,
" I am overjoyed
to see you again
after so long an
absence ; and I
am confidant that
your brother and
your relations are
no less so. Your
leaving us with-
out acquainting
anybody with it,
involved us in in-
expressible con-
cern ; and it is
impossible to tell
you how many
tears we have
shed upon that
account. We
know of no other
reason that could
induce you to
take such a surprising resolution, but what
your brother told iis of the conversation
that passed between him and you. The
advice he gave you seemed to him at that
time very advantageous for settling yon hand-
somely in the world, and very suitable to the
then posture of our affairs. If you had not
ai)proved of his proposal, you ought not to
have been so much alarmed ; and, give me
leave to tell you, you took the thing in a
quite different light from what you ought
to have done. But mo more of this discourse ;
it serves only to renew the occasion of o:^'
sorrow and complaint, which we and you
ought to bury for ever in oblivion : give na
now an account of all that has happened to
you, since we saw you last, and of your pre-
sent situation ; but especially let us know if
you are satisfied."
Queen Guluare immediately threw herself
at her mother's feet ; and after rising and
kissing her hand, "Madam," said she, "I
own I have been guilty of a very great fault,
and I am indebted to your goodness for the
pardon which you are pleased to grant me.
What I am going to say, in obedience to your
commands, will soon convince you, that it
is very often in vain for us to have an aversion
for certain measures ; 1 have myself experi-
ence, that the only thing I had an abhorrence
to, is just that to which my destiny has led
me." She related the whole of what had
befallen her since she quitted the sea in a
violent passion for the earth. As soon as she
had made an end, and had acquainted them
with her having been sold to the king of
Persia, ia whose palace she was at present,
"Sister," said the
king her brother,
•'you have been
very much to
blame to suffer so
many indignities,
but you can blame
nobody but your-
self ; you have it
in your power
now to free your-
self ; and T can-
not but admire
your patience,
that you could
endure so long a
slavery. Rise,
and return with
us into my king
dom, that I have
reconquered from
the proud usurper
who had made
himself master of
it."
The king of
Persia, who heard
these words from
the closet where he stood, was in the ut-
mcist alarm. "Ah! "said he to himself,
" I am ruined ; and if my queen, my GiU-
nare, hearkens to this advice, and leaves me,
I shall surely die ; for it is impossible for me
to live without her, and they want to deprive
me of her." Queen Gulnare soon put him
out of his fears.
"Brother," said she, smiling, "what I
have just now heard gives me a greater proof
than ever I had of the sincerity of your
friendship for me : I coidd not brook your
prr'i»osing to me a match with a jirince of
the earth ; now I can scarce forbear being
angry with you for advising me to break the
engagement I have made with the most
pnissant and most renowned monarch in the
world. I do not speak here of an engagement
between a slave and her master ; it would
be easy to return the ten thousand pieces of
gold that I cost him ; but I speak now of a
contract lietween a wife and a husband, and
a wife who has not the least reason to com-
plain. He is a rehgious, wise, and temperate
king, and has given me the most essential
demonstrations of his love. What can be a
greater instance of the violence of his pas-
sion than sending away all his women (of
which he had a great number) immedi-
ately upon my arrival, and confining him-
Klf only to me? I am now his wife,
and he has lately declared me queen of
Persia, to share with him in his councils ;
besides I am pregnant, and if Heaven per-
mitB me to give Um a son, that will be an-
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
309
other motive to engage my affections to him
the more.
" So that, brother," continueil the queen
Guhiare, " instead of following your aclvice,
you see I have all the reason in the world,
not oidy to love the king of Persia as pas-
sionately as he loves me, but also to live and
die with Iiim, more out of gratitude than
dut}-. I hojie then neither my mother, nor
you, nor any of my cousins, will disapprove
of the resolution or the alliance 1 have made,
which will be an equal honour to the kings
of the sea and earth. Excuse mo for giving
you the trouble of coming hither from the
bottom of the deep to communicate it to
you, and ft>r the pleiisure of seeing you after
so long a separation."
"Sister," replied king Saleh, "the pro-
posal I made you of goin;^ back with us
into my kingdom, upon the recital of your
advc-utures, (which I could not hear without
concern,) was only to let you see how much
we all love you, and how much I in particu-
lar honour yon, and that nothing in the
world is 80 dear to me as your hai)pines3.
Upon the same account, then, for my own
part, I cannot condemn a resolution so
reasonable and so wortliy of yourself, after
what you have told us of the king of Persia,
your husband, and the great obligations you
have 'lO him ; and I am persuaded that the
qnefj our mother will be of the same
opinion."
The queen confirmed what her son h;i(.
jast sj)oken, and addressincf herself to q''.en
Golnare, said, "I am very gl^l to hear you
are pleased ; and I have nothinj: else to add
to what your brother has just s.vid to you.
I should have been the iirst to have con-
demned you, if you had not expressed all
the gratitude you owe to a monarch that
loves you so passionately, and has done such
great things for you."
As the king of Persia, who was still in
the closet, had been extremely concerned for
fear of losing his beloved queen, so now he
seas transported with joy at her resolution
never to forsake him ; aud having no room
to doubt of her love after so open a declara-
tion, he began to love her more than ever,
and resolved to express his gratitude in every
possible way.
While the king wivs indulging incredible
pleasure, queen Gulnare clapped her hands,
and presently in came some of her slaves
whom she had ordered to bring in a colla-
tion : as soon as it was served up, she invited
the queen her mother, the king her brother,
and her cousins, to sit down and take part
of it They began to reflect, that without
asking leave, they were got into the palace
of a mighty king, who had never seen nor
heard of them, and that it would be a great
piece of rudeness to eat at his table without
him. This reflection raised a blush in their
faces, and in their emotion, their eyes glow-
ing like fire, they breathed flames at their
mouths and nostrils.
This unexpected sight put the king of
Pei-sia, who was totally ignorant of the
cause of it, into a dreadful consternation,
yueen Gulnare suspecting this, and luider-
standing the intention of her relations, rose
from her scat, and told them she woidd bo
back in a moment. She went directly to
the closet, and by her presence recovered the
king of Persia from his surprise, " Sir," said
she, " I doubt not but that your majesty is
well j)leased with the acknowledgment I
have lately made of the many favours for
which I am indebted to you. I might have
complied with the wishes of my relations,
and gone back with them into their do-
minions; but I am not capable of such
ingr.atitude, for which I should have been
the first to have condemned myself." "Ah !
my queen," cried the king of Persia, "speak
no more of your obligations to me : you
have none. [ am under so great to you,
that I shall never be able to repay or express
tliem. I never thought it possible you
could have loved me so tenderly as you do,
and as you have made appear to me in the
most expressive manner." "Ah! sir," re-
plied the queen Gidnarc, " coiUd I do less
than I have done ? I fear I have not done
enough, considering all the honours that
your majesty has heaped upon me ; and it
is impossible for me to remain insensible of
your love after so many convincing iiroofs
as you have given me."
" But, sir," continued queen Gidnare, "let
us droj) this, and give me leave to assure
you of the sincere friendship tliat tne queen
my mother, and the king my brother, are
pleased to honour you with ; they earnestly
desire to see you, and tell you so themselves;
I intended to have sopie conversation with
them by ordering a banquet for them, before
I introduced them to your majesty, but
they are very impatient to pay their respects
to you ; and therefore I desire your majesty
would be pleased to walk in, aud honoiu"
them with your presence."
" Madam," said the king of Persia, " I
should be very glad to salute i)ersons that
have the honour to be so nearly related to
you, but I am afraid of the flames that they
breathe at their mouths aud nostrils."
"Sir," replied the queen, laughing, "you
need not in the least be afraid of those
flames, which are nothing but a sign of their
imwillingness to cat in your paLace, without
your houourmg them with your presence,
and eating with them."
The king of Persia, encouraged by these
words, rose up, and went into the chamber
with his queen Gulnare. She presented him
to the queen her mother, to the king her
brother, and to her other relations, who
^^^m'^mmm
tmmfmm
■HOT
310
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
instvntly tbrcw themselves at his feet, with
their faces to the ground. II.^ king of
Persia ran to them, and lifting them up,
embraced them one after anotbir. After
they were all seated, king Salih began,
"Sir," said he to the king of Persia, "we
are at a loss for words to express our joy,
to think that the queen my sister, in her
disgrace, should have the happiness of fall-
ing under the protection of so powerful a
monarch. We can assure you she is not
unworthy of the high rank you have been
pleased to raise her to ; and we have always
had so much love and tenderness for her,
that we could never think of parting with
her to any of the puissant princes of the
sea, who have often demanded her in mar-
riage before she came of age. Heaven has
reserved her for yon, sir, and we have no
better way of returning thanks to it for the
favour it has done her, than beseeching it
to grant your majesty a long and happy life
with her, and to crown you with prosperity
and satisfaction.
" Certainly," replied the king of Persia,
" Heaven reserved her purely for me, as you
observe. I love her with so tender and
violent a passion, that I am satisfied I never
loved any wom.in till I saw her. I cannot
sufficiently thank either the queen her
mother, or you, prince, or your whole
family, for the generosity with which you
have consented to receive me into an al-
liance 80 glorious to me as your's." So
sa]ring, he invited them to take part of the
collation, and he and his queen sat down at
the table with them. After the collation was
over, the king of Persia conversed with
them till it was very late ; and when they
thought it convenient to retire, he waited
upon them himself to the several apart-
ments he had ordered to be prepared for
them.
The king of Persia treated hia illustrious
guests with continual feasts; in which he
omitted nothing that might shew his gran-
deur and magnificence, and insensibly pre-
vailed with them to stay with him till the
queen was brought to bed. VThen the time
of her lying-in drew near, he gave particular
orders that nothing should be wanting that
was necessary upon such an occasion. At
night she was brought to bed of a son, to
the great joy of the queen her mother, who
assisted at the labour ; and as soon as he
was dressed in swaddling-clothes, which were
very magnificent, went and presented him
to the king.
The king of Persia received this present
with a joy easier to be imagined than ex-
pressed. The young prince being of a
beautiful countenance, he thought no name
so proper for him as that of Beder, which
in the Arabian language signifies the Full
Moon. To return thanks to Heaven, he
was very liberal in his alms to the poor,
and caused the prison doors to be set open,
and gave all his slaves of both sexes their
liberty. He distributed vast sums among
the ministers and holy men of his religion.
He also gave largo donations to his courtiers,
besides a great dual that was thrown
amongst the people ; and by proclamation
ordered rejoicing for several days to be kept
through the whole city.
One day after the queen was up again, aa
the king of Persia, queen Gulnaro herself,
the queen her mother, king Saleh her
brother, and the princesses their relations,
were discoursing together in her majesty's
bedchamber, the nurse came in with the
young prince Beder in her arms. King
Saleh no sooner saw him, but he ran to
embrace him ; and taking him in his arms,
fell to kissing and caressing him with the
greatest demonstration of tenderness. He
took several turns with him about the room,
dancing and tossing him about, when all of
it sudden, through a transport of joy, the
window being open, he sprung out, and
plunged with him into the sea.
The king of Persia, who expected no
such sight, set up a hideous cry, verily
believing he should either see the dear
prince his son no more, or else that he
should see him drowned; he was like to
have died of grief and affliction. "Sir,"
said queen Gulnare, (with a quiet and undis-
turbed countenance, the better to comfort
him,) "let your majesty fear nothing; the
young jtrince is my son as well as your's,
and I do not love him less than you do.
You see I am not alarmed ; neither in truth
ought I to be so. He nins no risk, and you
- vill soon see the king his uncle appear with
him again, and bring him back safe and
sound. Although he be bom of your blood,
he is equally of mine, and will have the
same advantage his imcle and I have, of
living equally in the sea and upon the land."
The queen his mother, and the princesses
his relations, confirmed the same thing ; yet
all they said had no efiect on the king's
fright, from which he could not recover
tiU he saw prince Beder appear again before
him.
The sea at length became troubled, when
immediately king Saleh arose with the yoimg
prince in his arms, and holding him up in
the air, he re-entered at the same window
he went out at. The king of Persia being
overjoyed to see prince Beder again, and
astonished that he was as calm as before he
lost sight of him, king Saleh said, "Sir, was
not your majesty in a great fright, when
you first saw me plunge into the sea with
the prince my nephew ? " "Alas ! prince,"
answered the king of Persia, "I cannot ex-
press my concern. I thought him lost from
that very moment, and you now restore life
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
3"
to me by brinpng him ni^ain." " I thought
AH much," replied king Salch, "though you
had not the least reason to apprehend any
clanger ; for, before I phingcd into tho sea
with him, I pronounced over him certain
mysterious words which were cngravoa on
the seal of the great Solomon, tho son of
David. We practise tho like in relation to
aU those children that are bom in the regions
at tho bottom of tho sea, by virtue wliereof
they receive the same privileges that we
have over those people who inhabit tho
«arth. From what your majesty has ob-
Berved, you may easily see what advantage
your son prince Beder has acquired by his
birth on the part of his mother, queen
Gulnare my sister, fo" as long as he lives.
And as often as he plea<4es, he will bo at
liberty to plunge into the sea, and traverse
the vast empire it contains in its boaom."
Having so spoke, king Saleh, who had
restored prince Beder to his nurse's arms,
opened a box he had fetched from his
palace in the little time he had disappeared,
which was filled with three hundred dia-
monds, as large as pigeon's eggs, a like
number of rubies of extraordinary size,
AS many emerald wands, each half a foot
long and with thirty strings or necklaces of
pearl, consisting each of ten feet. " Sir,"
said he to the king of Persia, presenting
him with this box, " when I was first sum-
moned by the queen my sister, I knew not
what part of the earth she was in, or that
she had the honour to be married to so great
a monarch. This made us come empty-
handed. As we cannot express how much
we have been obliged to your majesty, I
beg you to accept this small token of grati-
tude in acknowledgment of the many par-
ticiUar favours you have been pleased to
^ew her, wherein we take equal interest."
It is impossible to express how greatly the
king of Persia was surprised at the sight of
.so much riches, inclosed in so little compass.
"What! prince, " cried he, "do you call so
inestimable a present a small token of your
gratitude, when you never have been in-
debted to me? I declare once more, you
have never been in the least obliged to me,
neither the queen your mother, nor you. I
esteem myself but too happy in the consent
you have given to the alliance I have con-
uracted with you. Madam," continued he,
turning to Gulnare, "the king your brother
has put me into the greatest confusion ; and
I would, beg of him to permit me to refuse
his present, were I not afraid of disobliging
him : do you therefore endeavour to obtain
his leave that I may be excused accepting
it"
" Sir," replied king Saleh, " I am not at
all surprised that your majesty thinks this
present so extraordinary. I know you are
not accustomed upon earth to see precioug
stones of this quality and quantity ; but if
you knew, as I do, the mines whence these
jewels were taken, and that it is in my
])owcr to form a treasure greater than those
of all the kings of tho earth, you would
wonder we should have the boldness to make
you a present of so small a value. I beseech
you, therefore, not to reganl it in that re-
spect, but on account of t)ie sincere friend-
ship which obliges us to offer it to you, and
nut give us the mortification of refusing it."
These engaging expressions obliged the king
of I'crsia to accept the ])re8ont : for which
ho returned many thanks both to king Saleh
and the queen his mother.
A few days after, king Saleh gave the
king of Persia to understand that the queen
his mother, the princesses his relations, and
himself, could have no greater pleasure than
to spend their whole lives at his court ; but
that, having been so long absent from their
own kingdom, where their presence was ab-
solutely necessary, they begged of him not
to take it ill if they took leave of him and
queen Gulnare. The king of Persia assured
them he was very sorry that it was not in
his power to return their visit in their own
dominions ; but added, "As I am verily per-
suaded you will not forget queen Gulnare,
but come and see her now and then, I hope
I shall have the honour to see you again
more than once."
Many tears were shed on both sides upon
their separation. King Saleh departed first ;
but the queen his mother, and the princesses
his relations, were fain to force themselves,
in a manner, from the embraces of queen
Gulnare, who could not prevail with herself
to let them go. This royal company were
no sooner out of sight, but the king of Per-
sia said to queen Gidnare, "Madam, I
should have looked upon the person that
had pretended to pass those upon me for
true wonilers, of which I myself have been
eye-witness from the time I have been hon-
oured with your illustrious family at my
court, as one who would have abused my
credulity. But I cannot refuse to believe
my own eyes, and shall remember it as long
as I live, and never cease to bless Heaven
for directing you to me, in preference to any
other prince."
Young prince Beder was brought up and
educated in the palace under the care of the
king and queen of Persia, who both saw him
grow and increase in beauty, to their great
satisfaction. He gave them yet greater
pleasure as he advanced in years, by his con-
tinual sprightliness, by his agreeable man-
ners, and by the justness and vivacity of his
wit in whatever he said ; and this satisfaction
was the more sensible, because king Saleh
his uncle, the queen his grandmother, and
the princesses his relations, came from time
to time to partake of it.
!l
!(
3»2
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Ho wu easily taught to rcatl and write,
and wan iiutructed with tho samu facility in
all tho KicDcc>t that bc-camo a priucu of his
rank.
When he arrived at the age of fifteen, lie
ac((iiittod hiinsi'If in all his oxerciHi-s with
intinitc-ly In-tter atldrcHs and )rracu than hi.s
mOHtern. Hu waa withal very wise ami pru-
dent. The kiu^, who ha<l almost from his
cradle diacoven-d in him those virtues, so
necessary for a monarch, ami who moreover
began to ]>erceive tho infirmities of old ago
coming u|M)n himself every ilay, would not
stay till death gave him possession of his
throne, but purposed to resign it to him.
He had no great dilficulty to make his coun-
cil consent to it ; and the {woplu heard this
resolution with so much the more joy, as
they conceived pnnce Binler worthy to go-
vern them. In a word, as tho king had not
for a long time apjieared in public, they hail
all the o]i|K)rtunity to ol>ser\-e he had not that
dis«lainful, proud, and crabbed air, which
most princes have, who look upon ;ill below
them with scorn and contempt. They saw,
on the Contrary', that he treated all mankind
with that goodness which invited them to
approach him ; that he heard favourably all
who had anjrthing to say to him ; that ho
answered everybody with a goodness that
waa pec'.iliar to him ; and that hn refused
nobo<ly anything that had the least appear-
ance of justice.
The day for the ceremony was appointed,
when, iu the midst of the whole assembly,
which was then more numerous than ordi-
n.iry, the king of Persta, then sitting on his
throne, came down from it, took the crown
from oiT his head, i)ut it on that of ]>rincc
Beder, and having seated him in his place,
kissed his hand, as a token that he resigned
his authority to him. After which he took
his place among the crowd of viziers and
emirs below the throne.
Hereupon the viziers, emirs, and other
principal officers, came imm-'ilately and
threw themselves at the new kju.'.s feet,
taking each the oath of liil'iity aocc^ling to
their rank. Then the grand \ izi«'v made n,
report of divers imjiortant rva'^u-c ,, on which
the young king gave judgufciit with that
admirable prudence and sagacity, that sur-
prised idl the council Ho. T.ext turned out
several governors convicte^i of mal-.tdminis-
tration, and put others in their room, with
that wonderful and just discernment, as
exacted the acclamations of everybody ;
which were so much the more honourable,
as flattery had no share in them. He at
length left the council, accompanied by the
late king his father, and went to wait on his
mother, queen Gulnare, at her apartment.
The queen no sooner saw him coming with
his crown upon his head, but she ran to him,
and embraced him with a great deal of ten-
derness, wishing him a long and prosperous
rei«n.
The first year of his reign king Beder ac-
quitted himself of all his royal functiims with
great aHsidiiity. .Above all, he took care to
iuforni himself of the state of his airaira, and
all that might any way cuntribute towards
the happiness of his ])ro|)le. Next year,
having left the administration to his coun-
cil, \inder the direction of the old king his
father, he went out of his capital city, under
pretince of diverting himself with hunting ;
l>ut his real intentiou was to visit all the pro-
vinces of his kingdiini, that he might reform
all abuses there, establish goml order and
discipline everywhere, and take from all ill-
minded princes, his neighbours, any oppor-
tunities of attempting anything against tho
security and trantjuiliity of his subjects, by
shewing himself on his frontiers.
It retpiired no less than a whole year for
this young king to execute a design so
worthy of him. Soon after his return, the
old king his father fell so dangerously ill,
that he knew at once he should never re-
cover. He waited for his last moment with
great tranquillity, and his only care was to
recommend to the ministers, and other lords
of his son's court, to persevere in the fidelity
they had sworn to him ; and there was not
one but willingly renewed his oath as freely
as at first. He died, at length, to the great
grief of king Beder and cpieen Gulnare,
who caused his corpse to be borne to a
stately mausoleum, worthy of his rank and
dignity.
The funeral obseqiiios ended, king Beder
foimd no difficulty to comjily with that an-
cient custom in Persia to mourn for the dead
a whole month, and not to be seen by any-
body during all tluit time. He hail mourned
the death of his father his whole life, had ho
hearkened to his excessive atiliction, and had
it been right for a great prince thus to aban-
don himself to it. During this interval, tne
queen, mother to queen Gulniu-e, and i>.i.ig
Saleh, together with the princesses their re-
lations, arrived at the Persian court, and
took a great part of their aflliction, before
they ofTered any consolation.
When the month was expired, the king
could not refuse admittance to the grand
■vizier and the other lords of his court, who
besought him to lay aside his mourning, to
shew himself to his subjects, and take upon
him the administration of affairs as before.
He shewed so great reluctance to their
request, that the grand ^•izie^ was forced to
take upon him to say to him, " Sir, it were
needless to represent to your majesty, that
it belongs only to women to persist in j)er-
petual mourning. We doubt not but you
are fuUy convinced of that, and that it is
not your intention to follow their example.
NeiUier our tears nor your's are capable of
PEDER, PR/XCE OF PERSIA.
313
n'«torin>{ life t<> the k<'«><1 king your fntluT,
though wo hIioiiM Innu'iit liim all our dayN.
Hu hiM un(liT;;i>iic tliv ciiniini)ii law of all
mt'ii, which Nuliji-cts them t<> ]iay tliu imlis-
IicnsoMu trihutt! of di-ath. Yet we cannot
»ay aliHolutely that he ia deatl, Hince we hoo
bim in your sacred iiersoii. He did not him-
self dnnht, when he waHdyinu, Imt ho »hould
revi'.r III you ; ond to your majesty it he-
lonjfi t'l shew that lie was not deceived."
King Heder could 110 longer oppose such
pressing instances : ho laid osidu his mourn-
ing haliit immediately; and, after hu had
resumed the royal liahit and ornamentH, he
began to provide for the neeessitiea of his
kingdom and suhjccts with tlio Bamu asni-
duity 08 hefore his father's death. Ho ac-
quitted himself with universal ajtprobation ;
And aa ho was exact in maintaining the ordi-
nances of his jiredeccssor, the jieoiile did not
perceive they had changed their sovereign.
King Soldi, who was returned to hit) <Io-
minions in the se.i with the queen his mo-
ther and the princesses, no sooner sow that
king Beder hod resumed the government, out
he, at the end of the year, come alone to
visit him ; and king Beder and (jueeii (Jul-
noro were overjoyed to see him. One even
ing, when they rose from table, they talked
of vorious m.itters.
King Saleh fell insensibly on the ])roisea
of the king his nephew, ond expressed to the
queen his sister how glad ho was to sec him
govern so prudently, which had acquired him
80 great reputation, not only among his
neighbours, but more remote princes. King
Beder, who could not bear to hear himself
so well spoken of, and not being willing,
through good manners, to interrupt tliii
king his uncle, turned on one side, and
feigned to be asleep, loaning his head against
a cushion that was behind him.
From these commcudations, which re-
garded only the wonderful conduct and sur-
prising genius of king Beder, king Saleh
come to spook of tho perfections of his body,
■which ho extolled as prodigies, having no-
» thing e^iU!»1 co them upon earth, or in oil tho
kingdoms imdcr the waters, with which ho
was acquainted.
"Sister," said he, in an ocstacy, "he is
so handsome, as you well know, I wonder
you have not thought of marrying him ere
this : if I mistake not, ho is in his twentieth
j'oar ; and, at that age, no jtrince like him
ought to be suffered to be without a wife.
I will think of a match for him myself, since
you will not, and marry him to some princess
of our lower world, that may be worthy of
him."
"Brother," replied queen Gulnare, "yoii
call to my remembrance a thing, which I
must own I have never thought of to this
very moment. As he never discovered any
inclination for marriage, I never thought of
mentioning it to him ; ami I am glad yoii
have M|iokon of it to me. I like your pro-
posing one of our princi'sst's ; and I desire
you to name one so beautiful and accom-
plished, tliattho king my son may bu oliligu'l
to love her."
" I know one that will suit," reiilicdking
Sjili'h, softly; "but lieforo I tell you who
she is, let us see if tlu< king my nephew bo
OHleup or not, and I will tell you afterwords
why it is necessary we .should tako that pn'-
caution." Queen (iujiiare tunied about and
looked upon her son, and thought she had no
rcnson to doulit but hu was in a profound
sleep. Kinii ISedc-r, nuverthclcss, for from
sleeping, redoubled his attention, unwilling
to lose anything the king his uncle soid with
so much secrecy. " Tlieiv is no necessity for
your speaking so low," safd the (pu'en to tho
king her brother ; "you may speak out with
freedom, without fear of being heard."
" It is by no nuMiis proper," rei>lied king
Saleh, "that the king my nephew shoulil a»
yet have any knowledgu of what f am going
to say. Love, you know, sonietinies enters
at tho ear ; and it is not necessary he should
thus conceivo a passion for this lady I om
alioiit to name. lii(l< ed I sec many dilliuul-
ties to bo sitriiiounteil, not on the lady's
jiart, as I hope, but 011 that of her father.
I need only niontiou to you thu jirincess
(iiauhara,* daughter of thu king of Sa-
niandal."
" How ! brother," replied queen f Julnare,
"is not the princess Giauhara yet married? ]
renieiuber to have seen her a little before 1
left your palace ; she was then about eigh-
teen months ohl, and surprisingly beoutiful,
and must needs bo thu wonder of tho world,
if her charms have increased c(jually with her
years. The few years she is older than the
king my son ought not to prevent us from
doing our utmost to bring the match about.
Let mo but know the difficulties that are
to bo surmounted, ami we will surmount
thorn."
"Sister," replied king Saleh, "the greatest
difficulty is, that thu king of Samaiulal is in-
supi)ortal>ly vain, looking upon all others aa
his inferioi's ; it is not likely wo shall easily
get hini to enter into this alliance. For my
I)ort, I will go to him in person, and demand
of him tho princess his daughter; and, in
case he refuses her, wo will address ourselves
elsewhere, where we shall be more favourably
heard. For this reason, as you may per-
ceive," added he, " it is as well for tho king
my nephew not to know anything of our de-
sign, lest he should fall in love with the
princess Giauhara, till we hove got the con-
sent of the king of Samandal, and we after-
wfirds not be able to obtain her for him,"
* "Giaub&ra," in Arabic, signiQes a "precloua
stoue."
I
. (
f:
314
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
t
'■^A\
,41
They discoursed a little longer upon this
point, and before they parted, agreed that
king Saleh should forthwith return to his
own dominions, and demand the princess
Giauhara of the king of Samandal her father,
for the king of Persia his nephew.
This done, qtieen Gulnare and kingSaleb,
who verily believed king Beder asleep,
agreed to awake him before they retired ;
and he dissembled so well, that he seemed to
wake from a ])rof ound sleep. He had heard
every word they said, and the character they
gave of the princess Giauhara had inflamed
his heart with a new passion. He had con-
ceived such an idea of her beauty, that the
desire of possessing her made him pass the
night very uneasy, without closing his eyes.
Next day king Saleh would take leave of
queen Gulnare and the king his nephew.
The young king, who knew the king his
iincle would not have departed so soon but
to go and promote without loss of time his
ha}>piness, changed colour when he heard
him mention his departure. His passion
was become so violent, it would not suflFer
Mm to wait so long time for the sight of his
mistress as would be required to accomplish
the marriage. He more than once resolved
to desire his uncle to bring her away with
him : but as he did not care to let the queen
his mother understand he knew anything
of what had passed, he desired him only to
stay with him one day more, that they might
liunt together, intending to take an oppor-
tunity to discover his mind to him.
The day for hunting was set, and king
Beder had many opportunities of being alone
with his imcle to declare his mind to him ;
but he had not the courage to open his mouth
to acquaint him with his design.
Tn the heat of the chase, when king Saleh
WHS separated from him, and not one of his
officers and attendants were near him, he
alighted near a rivulet ; and having tied his
horse to a tree, which, with several others
growing along the banks, afforded a very
pleasing shade, he laid himself down on the
grass, and gave free course to his tears,
which flowed in grea^ abundance, accompa-
nied with many sighs. He remained a good
while in this condition, absorbed in thought,
•without speaking a word.
King Saleh, in the meantime, missing the
king his nephew, began to be much con-
cerned to know what was become of him ;
but could meet no one who could give any
tidings of him. He therefore left his com-
pany to go in search of him, and at length
perceived him at a distance. He had ob-
served the day before, and more plainly that
day, that he was not so lively as he used to
be ; that he was more pensive than ordinary ;
and that, if he was asked a question, he
either answered not at all, or nothing to the
purpose : but he never in the least suspected
the cause of all this alteration. As soon aa
he saw him lying in that disconsolate pos-
ture, he immediately guessed he had not
only heard what passed between him and
queen Gulnare, but was become passionately
in love. He hereupon alighted at some dis-
tance from him, and having tied his horse to
a tree, took a compass, and came upon him
so softly, that he heard him pronounce the
following words :
"Amiable princess of the kingdom of Sa-
mandal," cried he aloud, "I have no doubt
had but an im;)crfect sketch of your incom-
parable beauty ; I hold you to be still more
beautiful in preference to all the princesses
in the world, and to excel them as much as
the sun does the moon and stars. I would
this moment go and offer you my heart, if
I knew where to find you : it belongs to you,
and no princess shaU be possessor of it but
you."
King Saleh would bear no more ; he ad-
vanced immediately, and discovered himself
to king Beder. ' ' From what I see, nephew,"
said he, " you heard what the queen your
mother and I said the other day of the
princess Giauhara. It was not our inten-
tion you should have known anything ; and
we thought you were asleep." "My dear
uncle," replied king Beder, " I heard every
word, and have sufficiently experienced the
effect you foretold ; which it was not in
your power to prevent. I detained you on
purpose to acquaint you with my love before
your departure ; but the shame to disclose
to you my weakness, if it be any to love a
princess so worthy of my love, sealed up my
mouth. I beseech you, then, by the friend-
ship you profess for a prince who has the
honour to be so nearly allied to yoa, that
you would jiity me, and not wait to procure
me the consent of the divine Giaiihara, till
you have gained the consent of the king of
Samandal that I may marry his daughter,
unless you had rather see me die with love
for her, before I have a sight of her."
These words of the king of Persia greatly
embarrassed king Saleh. He represented
to him how ditiicult it was to give him the
satisfaction he desired, and that he could
not well do it without carrying him along
with him ; which might be of dangerous
consequence, since his presence was so abso-
lutely necessary in his kingdom. He con-
jured him, therefore, to moderate his passion,
till such time as he had put things into a
train to satisfy hin'' assuring him he would
use his utmost diligence, and would come to
acquaint him in a few days. But these
reasons were not sufficient to satisfy the
king of Persia. "Cruel uncle," ^aid he, "I
find you do not love me so much as you pre-
tended, and that you had rather see me did
than grant the first request I ever made
you,"
soon as
ate
P08-
lad
not
im
and
SEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
315
"I am ready to convince j'our majesty,"
replied king Salch, "that I woidd do any-
thing to serve you ; but as for carrying you
along with me, I cannot do that till I have
spoken to the queen your mother. What
would she say of you and me ? If she con-
sents, I am ready to do all you woxdd have
me, and 1 will join my entreaties to your's."
"You cannot be ignorant," replied the king
of Persia, "that the queen my mother would
never willingly part with me ; and therefore,
this excuse of your's does but further con-
vince me of your unkindness. If you do
really love me, as you would have me to
believe you do, you must return to your
kingdom immediately, and carry me along
with you."
King Saleh, finding himself obliged to
yield to his nephew's importimity, drew
from his linger a ring, on which were en-
graven the same mysterious names of God
that were upon Solomon's seal, that had
wrought so many wonders by their virtue.
"Here, take this ring," said he, "put it
upon your finger, and fear neither the waters
of the sea, nor their depth. The king of
Persia took the ring, and when he had puf
it on his finger, king Saleh said to him,
" Do as I do." At the same time they both
mounted lightly up into the air, and made
towards the sea, which was not far distant,
whereinto they both plunged.
The sea-king was not long getting to his
palpce, with the king of Persia, whom he
immediately carried to the queen's apart-
ment, and presented him to her The king
of Persia kissed the queen his grandmother's
hands, and she embraced him with great
demonstrations of joy. " I do not ask you
how you do," said she to him ; "I see you
are very well, and I am rejoiced at it ; but
I desire to know how my daughter, your
mother, queen Culnare, does?" The king
of Persia * . k ; %t care not to let her know
he cam- ;-way /•' '1. rat taking leave of her ;
o'l the 'jontra; y, ho told her the queen his
■;u'iti> ;"• Tr.,1 in perfect health, and had en-
]i '.'.i;. J ira to pay her duty to her. Then
thj quei ,n jiresented him to the princesses ;
ami wl' Ip hi was in conversation with them,
she lef(, him, and went with king Saleh into
a closie' , who told her how the king of Per-
sip. hart fallen in Jove with the princess Giau-
hara, upon the bare relation of her beauty,
and contrary to his intention ; that he had
brought him along with him, without being
able to hinder it ; and that he v/a3 ^oing iu
concert measures to procure the rrinoe»B for
him in marriage."
Although king SaleL wa" rjdo hinv jus-
tice, perfectly innocent of tt'.i; kiag of Per-
sia's passion, yet the (; ■i;u c, u'd hardly
forgive his indiscretiou in .menti nlng ihe
princess Giauhara bef )re h'>-n. "Your m-
prudence is not to be TovgiTiv'' a>ud •''j to
him: "can you think that the king of
Samandal, v iose character is so well known,
will have greater consideration for you, than
the many kings he has refused his daugl.ter
to, with such evident contempt ? Would you
have him send you away with the same con-
fusion?"
"Madam," replied king Saleh, "I have
already told you it was contr:;ry to my in-
tention that the king my nephew heard
what I related of the beauty of the princess
Giauhara to the queen my sister. The fault
is committed, and we must consider what a
violent passion he has for this princess, and
that he will die with grief and affliction, if
we do not speedily obtain her for him by
every possible means. For my part, I shall
omit nothing that can contribute to it, since
I was, though innocently, the cause of the
malady ; I will therefore do all that I can
to remedy it. I hope, madam, you will
approve of my resolution, to go myself and
wait u ion the king of Samandal, with a rich
present of precious stones, and demand the
princess his daughter of him for the king of
Persia your grandson. I have some reason
to believe he will not refuse me, but wiU be
pleased at an alliance with one of the great-
est potentates of the earth."
"It were to have been wished," replied
th3 queen, "that we had not been under a
necessity of making this demand, since the
success of our attempt is not so certain as
we could desire ; but since my grandson's
peace and content depend upon it, I freely
give my consent to it. But, above all, I
charge you, since you well know the
humour of the king of Samandal, that you
take care to speak to him with due respect,
and in a manner that cannot (wssibly offend
him."
The queen prepared the present herself,
composing it of diamomds, rubies, emeralds,
and strings of pearls ; all which she put into
a very neat and very rich box. Next morn-
ing king Saleh took leave of her majesty and
the king of Persia, and departed with a
chosen and small troop of officers, and other
attendants. He soon arrived at the king-
>"" i. ,'1. the palace of the king of Samandal,
■« - relayed not to give him audience im-
mediately upon his arrival. He rose from
his throne as soon as he perceived him ; and
kirg Saleh, forgetting his character for some
mdments, knowing whom he had to deal
With, prostrated himself at his feet, wishing
hm the accomplishment of all his desires.
The king of Samandal immediately stooped
i: take him up, and after he had placed him
by him on his Icit hand, he told him he was
tvelcome, and asked him if there was any-
thing he could do to serve him.
"Sir," answered king Saleh, "though I
should have no other motive than that of
payiLig my respects to the most potent, most
!'' I
'■i
!i-;
3i6
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
\vm
prudent, and most valiant prince in the
world, feeble would be my expressions how
mucb I iionour your majesty. Could you
penetrate into my inmost soid, you would
be convinced of the great veneration I have
for you, and the ardent desire to testify my
attachment." Havinj^ spoke these words,
lie took the box of jewels from one of his
servants, and having opened it, presented it
to the king, imploring him to accei)t of it
for his sake.
"Prince," replied the king of Samandal,
" you would not make me such a present
without you had a request proportionable to
it to propose. If there be anything in my
power, you may freely command it, and I
shall feel the greatest pleasure in granting
it. Sxjeak, and tell me frankly wherein
I can serve you."
" I must own ingenuously," replied king
Saleh, " I have a boon to ask of your
majesty ; and I shall take care to ask
nothing but what is in your power to grant.
The thing depends so absolutely on your-
self, that it woidd be to no purpose to ask
it of any other. I ask it then with all
possible earnestness, and I beg of you not to
refuse it me." "If it be so," replied the
king of Samandal, "you have nothing to do
but acquaint me what it is, and you shall
see after what manner I can oblige when it
is in my power."
"Sir," said king Saleh, " after the con-
fidence yoxir majesty has been pleased to
encourage me to put in your good-will, I
will not dissemble any longer, that I came to
beg of you to honour our house with your
alliance by the marriage of your honourable
daughter the princess Giauhara, and to
strengthen the good understanding that has
so long subsisted between our two crowns."
At these words the king of Samandal burst
out a laughing, falling back in his throne
against a cushion that supported him, and
with an imperious and scornful eair, said to
king Saleh, " King Saleh, I have always
hitherto thought you a prince of great sense,
wisdom, and prudence; but what you say
convinces me how much I was mistaken.
Tell me, I beseech you, where was yoiu* wit
or discretion, when you formed to yourself
so great a chimera as you have but now pro-
posed to me ? Could you conceive a thought
only of aspiring in marriage to a princess,
the daughter of so great and powerfid a king
as I am? You ought to have considered
better beforehand the great distance between
ua, and not run the risk of losing in a
moment the esteem I always had for your
person. "
King Saleh was extremely nettled at this
affronting answer, and had much ado to
restrain his resentment ; however, he re-
plied with all possible moderation, "God re-
ward your majesty aa you deserve ! I have
the honour to inform you, I do not demand
the princess your daughter in marriage for
myself ; had I done so, your majesty and the
princess ought to have been so far from being
oiTended that you should have thought it an
honour done to both. Your majesty well
knows I am one of the kings of the sea as
well as yourself ; that the kings my ancestors
yield not in antiquity to any other royal
families ; and that the kingdom I inherit
from them is no less potent and flourishing
than it has ever been. If your majesty had.
not interrupted me, you had soon i ' . itrjtood
that the favour I ask of you was nut for my-
self, but for the young king of Persia my
nephew, whose power and grandeur, no less
than his personal good qualities, cannot be
unknown to you. Everybody acknowledges
the princess Giauhara to be the most beauti-
ful person under heaven : but it is no less
true, that the yoimg king of Persir, my ne-
phew, is the best made and most accor.'Dlished
prince on the land. Thus the fav ■ - that is
asked being likely to redour. ' '^ jlx to the
honour of your majesty and . ■jiKince-jyour
daughter, you ought not to douUb tlirtt your
consent to an alliance so equal will be ujani-
mously approved in all the kingdoms of the
sea. The princess is worthy of the king of
Persia, and the king of Persia is no less worthy
of her. No king or prince in the world can
dispute her with him."
The king of Samandal had not let king
Sak'h go on so long after this rate, had not
the rage he put him in deprived him of aU
power of speech. He was some time longer
before he could iind his tongue, so much was
he transported with passion. At length,
however, he broke out into outrageous and
injurious expressions, unworthy of a great
king. " Dog ! " cried he, "dare you talk to
me after this manner, and so much as men-
tion my daughter's nan.e in my jjresence ? Can
you think the son rf your sister Gulnare
worthy to come in competition with my
daugliter? Who a.e you? Who was your
father ? Who is you r sister ? And Vv ho your
nephew ? Was not hit> father z. uog, and a son
of a dog, like you? Guards, seize the insolent
wretch, and cut oflf Lis head."
The few officers th.it were about the king
of Samandal were immediately going to obey
his orders, when kii;g Saleh, who was in the
flower of his age, nimble and vigorous, got
from them, befjre they could draw their
sabres ; and, L.aving readied the palace-gate,
he there found a thousand men of his reht'
tions and friends, well armed and equipped,
who were just arrived. The queen his mo-
ther havin^^ considered the small number of
attendants he took with him, and moreover
foreseeing the bad reception he noidd pro-
bably have from the kiug rl Samandal, had.
sent these troops to prct>;ct and defend b-.c^
in case of danger, c^ ''er'ng them tc makd
[■
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
317
baste. Those of hia relations who were at the
head of this troop had reason to rejoice at
their seasonable arrival, when they beheld
him and his attendants come running in great
■disorder, and pursued. "Sire," cried his
friends, the moment he joined them, "what
is the matter ? We are ready to revenge you ;
you need only command us."
King Saleh related his case to them in as
few words as he could, and putting himself
at the head of a large troo]), he, while some
seized on the gates, re-entered the palace as
before. The few ofKcers and guards who had
pursued him, being soon dispersed, he re-en-
' tered the king of Samandal's apartment, who,
being abandoned by his attendants, was soon
seized. King Saleh left sufficient guards to
secure his person, and then went from apart-
ment to apartment, to search after the prin-
cess Giauhara. But that princess, on the first
alarm, had, together with her women, sprung
lip to the surface of the sea, and escaped to
the desert island.
While this passed in the palace of the king
of Samandal, those of king Saleh's attendants
who had fled at the first menaces of that
king put the queen mother into terrible con-
sternation, upon relating the danger her son
was in. King Beder, who was by at that
time, was the more concerned, in that he
looked upon himself as the principal author
of all the mischief that might ensue ; there-
fore, not caring to abide the queen's presence
any longer, he, while she was giving the
orders necessary to th;»*( conjuncture, darted
lip from the bot-
tom of the sea;
and, not knowing
how to find his
way to the king-
dom of Persia, he
happened to light
on the same island
where the princess
Oiauhara had
saved herself.
The prince, not
a little disturbed
in uiind, went and
isdated himself un-
dVr the shade of
a large tree sur-
rounded with div-
ers others. Whilst
he was endeavour-
ing to recover him-
self, he hoard
somebody talking,
but was too far off
to understand
what was said.
He arose and ad-
vanced softly to-
wards the place whence the sound came,
where, among the branches, he x'^i^ceived
a beauty that dazzled him. " Doubtless,"
said he, within himself, stopping and con-
sidering her with great atteiuion, "this
must be the princess Giauhara, whom fear
has obliged to abandon her father's palace ;
or, if it be not, she no less deserves my
hearty love." This said, he came forward,
and discovering himself, approached the prin-
cess with profound reverence. " Madam,"
said he, "I can never sufficiently thank
Heaven for the favour it has done me in pre-
senting to my eyes this day so much beauty.
A greater happiness coxdd not have befallen
me than this opportunity to offer you my
most humble services. I beseech you, there-
fore, madam, to accept them, it being impos-
sible that a lady iu this solitude should not
want tassistance."
" True, my lord," replied Giauhara, very
sorrowfully ; " it is not a little extraordinary
for a lady of my quality to be in this situa-
tion. I am a princess, daughter of the king
of Samandal, and my name is Giauhara. I
was at ease in my father's palace, and my
apartment, when aU of a sudden I heard a
dreadful noise : news was immediately
brought me, that king Saleh, I know not for
what reason, had forced the palace, seized
the king my father, and murdered all the
guards that made any resistance. I h?.d only
time to save myself, and escape hither from
his violence,"
At these words of the princess, king Beder
began to be concerned that he had qiutted
his grandmother so hastily, without staying
to hear from her
an explanation of
the news that had
been brought her.
But he was, on
the other hand,
overjoyed to find
that the king hia
uncle had rendered
himself master of
the king of Sam-
andal's person, not
doubting but he
wotild consent to
give up the prin-
cess for his liberty.
"Adorable prin-
cess," continued
he, "your concern
is most just, but
it is easy to put
an end both to
that and your
father's captivity.
You will agree
with me, when I
shall tell you that
I am Beder, king
of Persia, and king Saleh is my uncle : I as-
sure you, madam, he has no design to seize
n\
318
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
upon the king your father's dominions ; his
only intent is to obtain of him, that I may
have the honour and happiness of being his
son-in-law. I had already given my heart to
you, upon the bare relation of your beauty
and charms : and now, far from repenting of
what I have done, I beg of you to accept it,
and to be assured that I will love you as long
as I live. I dare flatter myself you will not
r<%fu8e this favour, but be ready to acknow-
ledge that a king, that quitted his dominions
purely on your account, deserves some ac-
knowledgment. Permit me, then, beauteous
princess, to have the honour to go and pre-
sent you to the king my uncle ; and the king
your father shall no sooner have consented to
our marriage, but king Saleh will leave him
sovereign of his dominions as before."
This d'^claration of king Beder did not pro-
duce tii feet he expected. It is tr"?, the
princess , ioo>'ar tsan' him, than his person
and air, ; ,c:' grace wherewith he
accosted her. ', > uv3r to look on him as one
who would no . I e been disagreeable to
her; but when she heard from hia own
mouth that he had been the occasion of the
ill treatment her father had suffered, of the
grief and fright she had endured, and espe-
cially the necessity she was reduced to of
flying her country, she looked upon him as
an enemy with whom she ought to have no
manner of converse. Whatever inclination
she might have to consent to this marriage,
which he desired, she determined never to
yield to it, in consideration that one of the
reasons that her father might have had
against this match might be, that king Beder
was son of a king of the earth ; and therefore
she resolved to submit entirely to his will in
that particular.
She would not, however, let king Beder
know her resentment, and only sought an
occasion to deliver herself dexterously out
of his hands ; and seeming in the meantime
to have a great kindness for him. "Are
you then, sir," said she, with all possible
civility, "son of the queen Gulnare, so famous
for her wit and beauty ? I am glad of it,
and rejoice that you are theflon of so worthy
a mother. The king my father was much
in the wrong so strongly to oppose our
union : he could not have seen you, but he
must consent to have made us both happy."
Saying so, she reached forth her hand to
him as a token of friendship.
King Beder, believing himself arrived at
the very pinnacle of happiness, held forth
his hand, and taking that of the princess,
stooped down to kiss it, when she, pushing
him back, and spitting in his face for want
of water to throw at him, said, "Wretch,
quit that form of a man, and take that of a
white bird, with a red bill and feet." Upon
her pronouncing these words, king Beder
was immediately changed into a bird of that
sort, to his great surprise and mortification.
"Take him," said she to one of her wo-
men, "and carry him to the Dry Island."
This island was only one frightful rock,
where there was not a drop of water to be
had.
The waiting woman took the bird, and
in executing her princess's orders, had com-
passion on king Beder's destiny. "It would
be great pity," said she to herself, "to let
a prince, so worthy to live, die of hunger
and thirst. The princess, so good and
gentle, will, it may be, repent of this cruel
order when she comes to herself : it were
better that I carried him to a place where
he may die a natural death." She according-
ly carried him to a well-frequented island,
and left him in a charming plain, planted
with all sorts of fruit trees, and watered by
divers rivulets.
Let us return to king Saleh. After he
had sought a good while for the princess
Giauhara, and ordered others to seek for
her, to no purpose, he caused the king of
Samandal to be shut up in his own palace,
under a strong guard; and having given
the necessary orders for governing the king-
dom in his absence, he returned to give the
queen his mother an account of what he
had done. The first thing he asked upon
his arrival was, "Where the king hia
nephew was ? " and he learned with great sur-
prise and vexation that he had disappeared.
" News being brought me," said the queen,
"of the danger you was in at the palace of
the king of Samandal, wliilst I was giving
orders to send you other troops to avenge
you, he disappeared. He must have been
frightened at hearing of your being in so
great danger, and did not think himself in
sufficient seciurity with us."
This news exceedingly aiSicted king
Saleh, who now repented of his being so
easily wrought upon by king Beder as to
carry him away with him without his
mother's consent. He sent everywhere
after him, but whatever dihgence was used,
he could hear no tidings of him ; and instead
of the joy he conceived at having carried on
so far the marriage, which he looked upon
as his own work, his grief for this accident
was more mortifying. Whilst he was under
this suspense about his nephew, he left his
kingdom under the administration of his
mother, and went to govern that of the
king of Samandal, whom he continued to
keep with great vigilance, though with all
due respeot to his character.
The same day that king Saleh returned to
the kingdom of Samandal, queen Gulnare,
mother to king Beder, arrived at the court
of the queen her mother. The princess
was not at all surprised to find her son did
not return the same day he set out ; it being
not imoommon for Mm to go farther than
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
319
he proposed in the heat of the chase ; but
when she saw he neither returned the next
day, nor the day after, she began to be
alarmed, as may easily be imagined from her
affection for him. This alarm was aug-
mented, when the ofBcers, who had accom-
panied the king, and were obliged to return
after they had for a long time sought in
vain both for him and his uncle, come and
told her majesty they must of necessity have
come to some harm, or must be together in
some place which they could not guess,
since, whatever diligence they had used,
they could hear no tidings of them. Their
horses indeed they had found, but as for
their persons, they knew not where to look
for them. The queen, hearing this, had
resolved to dissemble and conceal her afflic-
tion, bidding the officers to search once
more with their utmost diligence ; but in
the meantime, saying nothing to anybody,
she plunged, into the sea, to satisfy herself
as to the suspicion she YlsA that king Saleh
must have carried away his nephew along
with him.
This great queen would have been more
affectionately received by the queen her
mother, had she not, upon first sight of
her, guessed the occasion of her coming.
" Daughter," said she, "I plainly perceive
you are not come hither to visit me ; you
come to inquire after the king your son ;
and the only news I can tell you will aug-
ment both your grief and mine. I no sooner
saw him arrive in our territories, but I re-
joiced ; yet, when I came to understand he
had come away without your knowledge, I
began to participate with you in the concern
you must needs suffer." Then she related
to her with what zeal king Saleh went to de-
mand the princess Giauhara in marriage for
king Beder, and what happened upon it,
till her son disappeared. "I have sent dili-
gently after him," added she, " and the king
my son, who is but just gone to govern the
kingdom of Samandal, has done all that lay
in his power. All our endeavours have
hitherto proved imsuccessful, but we must
hope nevertheless to see him again, perhaps
when we least exjject it."
Queen Gulnare was not satisfied with this
hope : she looked upon the king her dear son
as lost, and she lamented him bitterly, lay-
ing all the blame upon the king his imole.
The queen her mother made her consider
the necessity of her not yielding too much
to her grief. " The king your brother,"
said she, "ought not, it is true, to have
talked to you so inconsideretely. about that
marriage, nor ever have consented to carry
away the king my grandson, without ac-
quaintiag you before ; yet, since it is not
certain that the king of Persia is absolutely
lost, you ought to neglect nothing to pre-
serve his kingdom for him : lose, then, no
more time, but return to your capital ; your
presence there will be necessary, and it will
not be hard for you to preserve the public
peace, by causing it to be published that the
king of Persia was gone to visit his grand-
mother."
This was sufficient to oblige queen Gid-
nare to yield to it. She took leave of the
queen her mother, and was got back to the
palace of the capital of Persia before she
had been missed. She despatched imme-
diately persons to recall the officers she had
sent after the king, and to tell them she
knew where his majesty was, and that they
should soon see him again. She also caused
the same report to be spread throughout
the city, and governed, in concert with
the prime minister and council, with the
same tranquillity as if the king had been
present.
To return to king Beder, whom the
princess Giauhara's waiting-woman had
carried and left in the island before men-
tioned ; that monarch was not a little sur-
prised when he found himself alone, and
under the form of a bird. He esteemed
himself yet more unhappy, in that he knew
not where he was, nor in what part of the
world the kingdom of Persia lay. But if he
had known, and sufficiently knew the force
of his wings, to hazard the traversing so ex-
tensive watery regions, and had reached it,
what could he have gained, but the mortifi-
cation to continue still in the same ill plight,
not to be accounted so much as a man, in
lieu of being acknowledged for king of Per-
sia. He was forced to remain where he
was, and live upon such food as birds of his
kind were wont to have, and to pass the
night on a tree.
A few days after, a peasant that was
skilled in taking birds with nets chanced to
come to the place where he was ; when per-
ceiving so fine a bird, the like of which he
had never seen, though he had followed that
sport for a long while, he began greatly to
rejoice. He employed all his art to become
master of him ; and at length succeeded and
took him. Overjoyed at so great a prize,
which he looked upon to be of more worth
than all the other birds he commonly took,
by reason of its being so great a rarity, he
shut it up in a cage, and carried it to the
city. As soon as he was come into the mar-
ket, 'a citizen stopt him, and asked him how
much he would have for that bird.
Instead of answering, the peasant de-
manded of the citizen, what he would do
with him incoseheshouldbuyhim? " What
wouldst thou have me to do witli him," an-
swered the citizen, "but roast and cat him ? "
" If that be the case, " replied the peasant, ' ' I
suppose you would think me very well j>aid,
if you should give me the smallest piece of
silver for him, I set a much higher value
i
■; ' I.
k ■
t r
,! s
li ■
320
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
upon liim, and you should not have him for
A piece of gold. Although I am advanced
in years, I never saw such a bird in my life.
I intend to make a present of him to the
king; he will know the value of him better
than you."
Without staying any longer in the market,
the peasant went directly to the palace, and'
placed himself exactly before the king's
apartment. His majesty being at a window
where he could see all that passed in the
court, no sooner cast his eyes on this beau-
tiful bird, than he sent an officer of his
eunuchs to buy it for him. The officer
going to the peasant, demanded of him how
much hi would have for that bird ? " If it
is for his majesty," answered the peasant,"!
humbly Veg of him to accept it of me as a
present, and I desire you to carry it to him."
The officer took the bird to the king, who
foimd it SI great a rarity, that he ordered
the same officer to take ten pieces of gold,
and cnriy them to the peasant, who departed
very v.- '' satisfied. The king ordered the
bird ., , ■ ■'. put into a magnificent cage, and
gave it corn and water in rich vessels.
His majesty being then ready to mount
onJio'-seback t-^ .'o a-hunting, had not time
to co)i... r th ' ijira, therefore had it brought
to him as soon as he came back. The officer
brought the cage, and the king, that he
might the better view the bird, took it out
himself, and perched it upon his hand.
Looking earnestly upon it, he demanded of
the officer, if he had seen it eat. " Sir," re-
plied the officer, "your majesty may observe
the vessel with his food is still full, and I
have not observed that he has touched any
of it. Then the king ordered him meat of
divers sorts, that he might take what he
liked best.
The table being spread, and dinner served
up just as the king had given these orders,
as soon as the plates were placed, the bird,
clapping his
wings, leaped off
the king's hand,
flew upon the
table, where he
began to peck
the bread and
victuals, some-
times on one
plate, and some-
times on another.
The king was
so surprised, that
he immediately
sent the officer
of the eunuchs
to desire the
queen to come
and see this won-
der. The officer related it to her majesty,
and she came forthwith : but she no sooner
saw the bird, than she covered her face with
her veil, and would have retired. The king,
surprised at her j»roceeding, as there were
none present in the chamber but the eu-
nuchs and the women that followed her,
asked the reason of it.
".Sir," answered the queen, "your majes-
ty will no longer be surprised, when you
understand this bird is not, as you take it,
a bird, but a man." "Madam," said the
king, more astonished than before, "you
mean to banter me ; but you shall never per
suade me that a bird can be a man." "Sir,"
replied the queen, "far be it from me to
banter j-our majesty ; nothing is more cer-
tain than what I have had the honour to teU
you. I can assure your majesty, it is the
king of Persia, named Bcder, son of the
celebrated Gidnare, priucess of one of the
largest kingdoms of the sea, nephew of Saleh,
king of that kingdom, and grandson of queen
Farasche, mother of Gulnare and Saleh ; and
it was the princess Giauhara, daughter of the
king of Samandal, who thus metamorphosed
him into a bird." That the king might no
longer doubt of what she affirmed, she told
him the whole story, how and for what rea-
son the princess Giauhara had thus revenged
herself for the ill treatment which king Saleh
had used towards tho king of Samandal her
father.
The king had the less difficulty to believe
this assertion of the queen, in that he knew
her to be a skilful magician, one of the great-
est in the world. And as she knew every-
thing which passed in it, he was always by
her means timely informed of the designs of
the kings his neighbours against him, and
prevented them. His majesty had compas-
sion on the king of Persia, and earnestly
besought his qiieen to break the enchant-
ment, that he might return to his own form.
The queen consented to it with great
willingness. "Sir," said she to the king, "be
pleased to take
the bird into
your closet, and
I will shew you
a king worthy of
the consideration
you have for
him." The bird,
which had ceased
eating, and at-
tended to what
the king and
queen said, woidd
not give his ma-
jesty the trouble
to take him, but
hopped into the
closet before him,
and the queen
came in soon after, with a vessel full of water
in her hand. She pronounced over the vessel
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
321
goiue words unknown to the king, till the
water began to boil ; when she took some of
it iu her hand, and sprinkling a little iipon
the bird, said, "By virtue of these holy and
mysterious words I have just pronounced,
and in the name of the Creator of heaven and
earth, who raises the dead, and supports the
universe, quit that form of a bird, and re-
assume that which thou hast received from
thy Creator."
The words were scarce out of the (pieen's
mouth, but, instead of a bird, the king saw
a young prince, of good shape, air, and mien,
liing Ueder immediately feirnpon his knees,
and thanked God for the favour that had
been bestowed upon him. Then he took the
king's hand, who helped him uj), and kissed
it in token of gratitude ; but the king em-
braced him with great joy, and testified to
him the satisfaction he had to see him. He
would then have made his acknowledgments
to the queen, but she was already retired to
her apartment. The king made liim sit at
the table with him, and after dinner was
over, he prayed him to relate to him how
the princess Giauhara could have the inhu-
manity to transform into a bird so amiable a
prince as he was ; and the king of Persia im-
mediately satisfied him. When he had done,
the king, provoked at the proceeding of the
princess, could not help blaming her. "It
was commendable," said he, "iu tlie princess
of Samandal not to be insensible of the king
her father's ill treatment, but to carry her
vengeance so far, aud especially against a
prince who was not cidpable, was what she
coidd never be able to justify herself for.
But let us have done with this discourse, and
tell me, I beseech you, in what I can further
serve you."
"Sir," answered king Beder, "my obliga-
tion to your majesty is so great, that I ought
to remain with you all my life to testify my
gratitude; but since your majesty sets no
limits to your generosity, I entreat you to
grant me one of your ships to transport me
to Persia ; where I fear my absence, which
has been but too long, may have occasioned
some disorder, and that the queen my mother,
from whom I concealed my departure, may
be dead of grief, under the imcertainty
whether I am alive or dead."
The king granted what he desired with
the best grace imaginable, and immediately
gave orders for equipping one of his largest
ships, and the best sailer in his numerous
fleet. The ship was soon furnished with all
its complement of men, provisions, and am-
munition ; and as soon as the wind became
fair, king Beder embarked, after having
taken leave of the king, and thanked him
for all his favours.
The ship sailed before the wind for ten
days together, which made it advance con-
siderably without iuteiTuption : the eleventh
day the wind changed, and becoming very
violent, there followed a funous tempest.
The ship w.is not only driven out of its
course, but so violently tossed, that all its
masts were brought by the board, and dri-
ving along at the pleasure of tho wind, it at
length struck against a rock and bulged.
The greatest part of the people were in-
stantly drowned. Some few were saved by
swimming, and others by getting on pieces
of the wreck. King Beder was among the
latter, when after having been tossed about
for some time by the waves and currents,
under great imcertainty of his fate, he at
length perceived himself near the shore, and
not far from a city that seemed large. He
excited his remaining strength to reach the
laud, and was at length so fortunate to como
so near, as to be able to touch the ground
with his feet. He immediately abandoned
his piece of wood, wliicu had been of so great
service to him ; but when he came pretty
i!ear the shore, he was greatly surprised to
see }\orses, camels, mules, asses, oxen, cows,
bidls, aud other {vnimals crowding to the
shore, and putting themselves in a posture
to oppose his lauding. He bad the utmost
difficulty to conquer their obstinacy and force
his way ; but at length he succeeded, and
sheltered himself among the rocks till he
had recovered his breath, and dried his
clothes in the sun.
When the prince advanced to enter the
city, he met with the same opposition from
these animals, who seemed to intend to
make him forego his design, and give him to
understand it was dangerous to proceed.
King Beder, however, got into the city
soon after, and saw many fair and spacious
streets, but was suqtrised to find no man
there. This made him think it was not with-
out cause that so many animals bad opposed
his passage. Going forward, nevertheless,
lie observed divers shops open ; which gave
him reason to believe the place was not so
destitute of inhabitants as he imagined. He
approached one of these shops, where several
sorts of fruits were exposed to sale, and
saluted very courteously an old man that was
sitting there.
The old man, who was busy about some-
thing, lifted up his head, and seeing a youth
who had an cappearance of grandeur in his
air, started, and asked him whence he came,
and what business had brought him there.
King Beder satisfied him in a few words ;
and the old man further asked liim if he hati
met anybody on the road. "You are the
first person 1 have seen," answered the king ;
"and I cannot comprehend how so fine and
large a city comes to be without inhabitants."
" Come in, sir ; stay no longer upon the
threshold," replied tho old man, " or perad-
venture some misfortune may ha|)pen to you.
I will satisfy your curiosity at leisure, .and
>.>l
Miil
J
— » » ■«»«
322
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
give you a reason why it is necessary yoa
should take this precaution."
King Bedcr would not be bid t\rice : he
entered the shop, and sat down by the old
man. The latter, who had learnt from him
an account of his misfortunes, knew he must
want nourishment, therefore inunediAt«Iy
presented him what was necessary to recover
his strength ; and although king Beder vas
very earnest to know why he had taken the
precaution to make him enter the shopi, he
would nevertheless not be prevailed apoa to
tell him anything till he hod done eating,
for fear \\^r sad things he had to relate
might baulk his appetite. In a word, when
he found he ate no longer, he said to him,
"You have great reason to thank G<A yon
got hither without any ill accident." "Alas!
why ? " replied king Beder; very much sur-
prised and alarmed.
\ "Because," answered he, "this chy k
called the Q%ty of Enchantments, and go-
verned not by a king, but a queen ; who is
not only one of the finest of her sex, but
likewise a notorious and dangerous sorceress^
You wll be convinced of this," a.Ide»l he,
"when you know that these horses, moles,
and other animals that you have seen,
are so many men like you and me, whom
she has transformed by her diabolical art.
And when young men like you enter the
city, she has persons planted to stop and
bring them, either by fair means or force,
before her. She receives them in the most
obliging manner ; she caresses them, regales
them, and lodges them magnificently, and
gives them so many reasons to believe that
she loves them, that she never fails of suc-
cess. But she does not suffer them long to
enjoy this happiness. There is not one of
them but she has transformed into some
animal or bird at the end of forty days.
You told me all these animals presented
themselves to oppose your landing, and hin-
der your entering the city. This was the
only way they could make yon comprehend
the danger you were going to expose your-
self to, and they did all in their power to
divert you."
This account exceedingly a£Sicted the
young king of Persia. "Alas!" cried he,
"to what extremities has my iU fortone
reduced me ! I am hardly freed from one
enchantment, which I look back upon with
horror, but I find myself exposed to another
much more terrible. " This gave him occasion
to relate his story to the old man more at
length, and to acquaint him of his birth,
quality, his passion for the princess of
Samandal, and her cruelty in changing him
into a bird the very moment he hail aten
her and declared his love to her.
When the prince came to sjieak of his
good fortune in finding a queon who broke
the enchantment, the old man, to encou-
rage him, said, "Notwithstanding all I have
told you of the magic queen be true, that
ought not to give you the least disquiet,
since I am generally beloved throughout
the city, and am not unknown to the queen
herself, who has much respect for me ;
therefore it was your peculiar happiness
led you to address yourself to me rather
than elsewhere. You are secure in my
house, where I advise you to continue, if
you think fit ; and provided you do not
stray from hence, I dare assure you, you
will have no just cause to complain of my
insincerity ; so that you are under no sort
of constraint whatsoever."
King Beder thanked the old man for his
kind reception, and the protection he was
pleased so readily to afford him. He sat
down at the entrance of the shop ; where he
no sooner appeared, but his youth and good
person d' w the eyes of all that passed that
way. Many stopped and complimented the
old man on his having acquired so fine a
slaTe, as they imagined the king to be ; and
they were the more surprised, as they could
not comprehend how so beautiful a youth
could escape the queen's knowledge. " Be-
lieve not," said the old man, "this is a
slave ; you all know that I am not rich
enough, nor of rank to have one of this con-
sequence. He is my nephew, son of a
brother of mine that is dead ; and as I had
no children of my own, I sent for him to
keep me company." They congratulated
his good fortune in having so fine a young
man for his relation ; but could not help
teUing him they feared the queen would
take him from him. " You know her well,"
said they to him, "and you cannot be
ignorant of the danger to which you are
exposed, after all the examples you have
seen. How grieved woidd you be, if she
should serve him as she has done so many
others that we know of ! "
"I am obliged to you," replied the old
man, "for your good- will towards me, and
I heartily thank you for the care you seem
to take of my interest ; but I shall never
entertain the least thought that the queen
will do me any injury, after all the kindness
she has professed for me. In case she hap-
pens to hear of this young man, and speaks
to me about him, I doubt not she wUl
cease to think of him, as soon as she comes
to know he is my nephew."
The old man was exceedingly glad to
hear the commendations they bestowed on
the young king of Persia. He was as much
a^ected with them as if he had been his
own son ; and he conceived such a kindness
for him, as augmented every day during the
stay he made with him. They had lived
about a month together, when king Beder,
) sitting at the shop door, after his ordinary
manner, queen Labe, (so was this magic
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
323
qneen namea,) happened to como by with
great pomp. The young king no sooner
jierceived the guards coming before her,
but he arose, and going into the shop, asked
the old man what all that show meant.
" The queen is coming by," answered he ;
" but stand still, and fear nothing."
The queen's guards, clothed in purple
uniform, and well armed and mounted,
marched in four files, with their sabres
drawn, to the number of a thousand ; and
every one of their officers, as they passed
by the shop, saluted the old man : then
followed a like number of eunuchs, habited
in brocaded silk, and better mounted, whose
officers did the old man the like honours.
Next came as many young ladies on foot,
equally beautiful, richly dressel, and set off
with precious stones. They marched grave-
ly, with half pikes in their hands ; and in
the midst of them appeared queen Labe, on
s horse glittering with diamonds, with a
golden saddle, and a housing of inestimable
value. All the young ladies saluted the
old man as they passed by him ; and the
queen, struck with the good mieu of king
Beiler, stopped as soon as she came before
the shop. "Abdallah,'' (so was the old man
named,) said she to him, "tell me, I beseech
thee, does that beautiful and charming
slave lielong to thee ? and is it long that
thou hast been in possession of him ? "
Abdallah, before he answered the queen,
threw himself on the ground, and rising
again, said, "Madam, it is my nephew, son
of a brother I had, who has not long been
dead. Having nu children, I look upon
him as my son, and sent for him to come
and comfort me, intending to leave him
what I have when I die."
Queen Labe, who had never yet seen any
one to compare with king Beder, and began
to conceive a mighty passion for him,
thought immediately of getting the old man
to abandon him to her. " Father," quoth
she, "will yon not oblige me so far as to
make me a present of th's young man ? Do
not refuse me, I conjure you ; and I swear
by the fire and the light, I will make him so
great and powerful, that no individual in
the world ever arrived at such good fortune.
Although my purpose were to do evil to
all mankind, yet he shall be the sole excep-
tion. I trust you will grant me what I
desire, more on the account of the friend-
ship I know you have for me, than for the
esteem you know T always had, and shall
ever have, for your person."
"Madam," replied the good Abdallah,
*• I am infinitely obhged to your majesty
for all the kindness you have for me, and
the honours you propose to do my nephew.
He is not worthy to approach so great a
queen, and I humbly beseech your majesty
to excuse him."
"AbdaJlali," replied the queen, " I aU
along flattered myself you loved me ; and I
coidd never have thought you would have
given me so evident a token of your slight-
ing my request. But I here swear once
more by the fire and light, and even by
whatsoever is most sacred in my religion,
that I will pass on no farther till I have
conquered your obstinacy. I understand
very well what raises your apprehensions ;
but I promise you shall never have occasion
to repent having obUged me in so sensible a
manner."
Old Abdallah was exceedingly grieved,
both on his own account and lung Beder's,
for being in a manner forced to obey the
queen. "Madam," replied he, "I would
not willingly have your majesty entertain
an ill opinion of the respoct I have for you,
and my zeal always to contribute whatever
I can to oblige you. I put ax! entire confi-
dence in your royal word, and I do not in
the least doubt but you will keep it. I only
beg of your majesty to delay doing this great
honour to my nephew till you shall again
passthis way," "That shall be to-morrow,"
said the queen ; who incUned her head, as a
token of her being pleased, and so went for-
ward towards her palace.
When queen Lal>e and all her attendants
were out of sight, the crood Alxlallah said to
king Beder, "Son, (for so he was wont to
call him, for fear of some time or other dis-
covering him when he spoke of him in pub-
lic,) it has not been in my power, as you
may have observed, to refuse the queen what
she demanded of me with so great earnest-
ness, to the end I might not force her to em-
ploy her magic both against you and myself
openly or secretly, and treat you, as much
from resentment to you as to me, with more
signal cruelty than all those she has had in
her power till now, as I have already told
you. But I have some reason to believe she
will use you well, as she promised me, on
accoiint of that particular esteem she pro-
fesses for me. This you may have seen by
the respect shewn, and the honours paid me
by all her court. She would be a cursed
creature indeed, if she should deceive me ;
but she shall not deceive me unrevenged,
for I know how to be even with her."
These assurances, which appeared very
doubtful, were not sufficient to support
king Beder's spirits. " After all you have
told me of this queen's wickedness," replied
he, "you cannot wonder if I am somewhat
feaiiid to approach her: I should, it may
be, slight all you could tell me of her, and
suffer myself to be dazzled by the lustre of
grandeur that surrounds her, did I not know
by experience what it is to be at the mercy
of a sorceress. The condition I was in,
through the enchantment of the princess
Giauhara, and from whence I was delivered
1:
324
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
i;l
only to enter almost immciliatcly into an-
other, baa made me look upon such a fate
with horror." His tears hindered him from
going on, and sutlicicntly shewed with what
reimgnaucu he liehcld himself in a manner
under a fatal necessity of beiuj; delivered to
queen Labc.
"Son," re])lied old Abdallali, "do not
afllict yourself ; for thouj^h I must own
there is no great stress to be laid upon
the promises and oaths of so perlidious a
queen, yet I must withal acquaint you, her
power extends not to me. She knows it
full well herself ; and that is the reason,
and uo other, that she pays me so great re-
siKJCt. I can quickly hinder her from doing
you the least harm, if she should be perfidi-
ous enough to attem|)t it. You may depend
upon me ; and, provided you foUow exactly
the advice I shall give you, before I abandon
you to her, she shall have no more power
over you than she has over me."
The magic queen did not fail to pass by
the old man's shop the next day, with the
same ])omp as the day before, and Abdallali
waited for her with great resjiect. "Father,"
cried she, stopping just against him, " you
may judge of my impatience to have your
nephew with me, by my punctual coming
to put you in mind of your promise. I
know you are a man of your word, and
I cannot think you will break it with
me."
AbdaUah, who fell on his face as soon as
he saw the queen approaching, rose up when
she had done speaking ; and as he would
have nobody hear what he had a mind to say
to her, he advanced with great respect as far
as her horse's head, and then said softly,
"Puissant queen! I am persuaded your
majesty will not be offended at my seeming
unwillingness to trust my nephew with you
yesterday, since you cannot be ignorant of
the reasons I had for it ; but I conjure you
to lay aside the secrets of that art which
you possess in so wonderful a degree. I re-
gard my nephew as my own son ; and your
majesty woidd reduce me to despair, if you
should deal with him as yuu have done with
others."
"I promise you I will not," replied the
queen ; "and I once more repeat the oath I
made yesterday, that neither you nor your
nephew shall have any cause to be offended
at me. I see plainly," added she, "you are
not yet well enough acquainted with me ;
you never saw me yet but through a veil ;
but as I find your nephew worthy of my
friendship, I will shew you I am not any
way unworthy of his." With that she
threw off her veil, and discovered to king
Beder, who caiue near her with Abdallah,
an incomparable beauty. But king Beder
was little charmed. "It is not enough,"
said he within himself, "to be beautiful;
one's actions ought to correspond in regu-
larity with one's features."
Whilst king Beder was making t'aese re-
flections, with his eyes fixed on quien I^be.
tlio old man turned towards him, and taking
him by the arm, presented him to her ma-
jesty. " Hero he is, madam," said he ;
"and I beg of your majesty once more to
remember ho is my nephew, and to let him
come and see mo sometimes." The queen
promised ho should ; and to give a further
mark of her gratitude, she caused a bag of
a thousand pieces of gold to bo given him.
He excused himself at first from receiving
them, but she insisted absolutely upon it,
and he covJd not refuse her. She had caused
a horse to be brought as richly harnessed as
her own, for the king of Persia. Whilst he
was mounting him, "I forgot," said the
queen to Abdallah, to ask you your nephew's
name: pray how is ho called?" He an-
swered, his name was Beder (the full moon :)
her majesty replied, " Sure your ancestors
were mistaken ; they ought to have given
you the name of Shems" (the sun.)
When king Beder was mounted, he would
have taken his post behind the queen, but
she would not suffer him, and made him
ride on her left hand. She looked upon
Abdallah, and after having made him an
inclination with her head, she set forward on
her march.
Instead of observing a satisfaction in the
people's faces at the sight of their sovereign,
king Beder took notice that they looked at
her with contempt, and even cursed her.
" The sorceress," said some, " has got a new
subject to exercise her wickedness upon :
will Heaven never deliver the world from
her tyraimy ? " ' ' Poor stranger ! " cried out
others, "thou art much deceived if thou
thiukest thine happiness will last long. It
is only to render thy fall more terrible, that
thou art raised so high." Thb talk gave
king Beder to understand Abdallah had told
him nothing but the truth of queen Labe :
but as it now depended no longer on himself
to escape the mischief, he committed himself
to divine Providence and the will of Heaven
respecting his fate.
The magic queen arrived at her palace ;
whither she was no sooner come, but she
alighted, and giving her hand to king Beder,
entered with him, accompanied by her wo-
men and the officers of her eimuchs. She
herself shewed him all her apartments,
where there was nothing to be seen but
massy gold, precious stones, and furniture
of wonderful magniticeuce. When she had
carried him into her closet, she led him out
into a balcony, from whence he observed a
garden of surjirising beauty. King Beder
commended all he saw with a great deal of
wit, but nevertheless so that he might not
be discovered to be any other than old Ab-
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
325
dallnh'ti noplicw. They diacourscd of indif-
ferent matters, till the queen was infonned
that dinner was upon table.
The queen and kinj; Heder arose, and went
to place themselves at the table, which was
of massy gold, and the dishes of the same
metal. They began to eat, but drank hardly
at all tUl the dessert camo, when the queen
caused a cuj) to be filled for her with excel-
lent wine. >Sho to(>k it and drank to king
Beder's health ; and then, without putting
it out of her hand, caused it to be tilled again,
and presented it to him. King Bcdcr re-
ceived it with profound resjiect, and by a
very low bow siguilied to lier majesty that
he in return drank to her health.
At the same time ten of queen Labo's
women entered
with musical in-
struments, witli
which and their
voices they mado
an ogrecable con-
cert, while they
continued drink-
ing till late at
night. At length
both began to bo
so heated with
wine, that king
Beder insensibly
forgot he had to
do with a magio
queen, and looked
upon her only as
the most beauti-
ful queen h6 ever
saw. As soon as
the queen per-
ceived she had wrought him to the pitch
she desired, she made a sign to her eunuchs
and women to retire. They obeyed, and
king Beder and she lay together.
Next morning the queen and king Beder,
as soon as they rose, went to the bath ; and
when they came out, the women who had
served the king there presented him with
fine linen and a magnificent habit. The
queen likewise, who was more splendidly
dressed than the day before, came to receive
him ; and they went together to her apart-
ments, where they had a good repast brought
them, and spent the remainder of the day in
walking in the garden, and in various other
amusements.
Queen Labe treated king Beder after this
manner for forty days, as she had been ac-
customed to do all her lovers. The fortieth
night, as they were in bed together, she, be-
lieving he was really asleep, arose without
making any noise ; but he was awake, and,
perceiving she had some design upon him,
watched all her motions. Being up, she
opened a chest, from whence she took a
little box f»dl of a certain yellow powder ;
taking some of the jiowder, she laid a train
of it across the chamber, and it immediately
Howed in a rivulet of water, to the groat
astonishment of king Beder. He trembled
with fear, but btill jjretended to sloep, that
ho might not discover to the sorceress ho
was awake.
(^ueen Labe next took up some of the
water in a vessel, and poured it into a basin,
where there was flour ; with which she made
a ]>aste, and kneaded it for a long time ; then
she mixed with it certain dnigs, which she
took from diflcrent boxes, and mode a cake,
which she put into a covered baking-pan.
As she had taken care first of all to make a
good fire, she took some of the coals, and
set the pan upon them ; and while the cake
was baking, she
put up the vessels
and boxes in their
places again ; and
on her pronounc-
ing certain words,
the rivulet, which
ran along the end
of the room, ap-
jieared no more.
When the cako
was baked, she
tr)ok it olT the
coals, and carried
it into her closet,
and afterwards
returned to bed
again to king Be-
der, who dissem-
bled so well, that
she had not the
least suHpicion
that he had seen anything of what she had
done.
King Beder, whom the pleasures and
amusements of a court bad made to forget
his good host Abdolliih, began now to think
of him again, and believed he had more than
ordinary occasion for his advice, after all
he had seen the queen do that night. As
soon as he was up, therefore, he expressed a
great desire to go and see his imcle, and
begged of her majesty to iiermit him.
"W'A'-: -ny dear Beder," cried the queen,
"art \..u '.hen already tiretl, I will not say
with living in so superb a palace as mine is,
where you must find so many pleasures, but
with the company of a queen, who loves you
so passionately as I do, and has given you
many marks of aflfection ?"
"Great qxieen," answered king Beder,
" how can I be tired of so many favours and
graces as your majesty perpetually heaps
uiJon me ? So far from it, that I desire this
permission, madam, purely to go and give
my uncle an account of the mighty obliga-
tions I have to your majesty. I must own,
likewise, it is partly for this further reason.
t
.^26
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
(.;ii
that my nncic loving mo wi tenderly, an I
well know he dfieii, anil I having been a)>-
Rcnt from him now forty dsyH, without once
seeing him, I would nut give him reason to
think that I conKcnt to remain longer with-
out seeing him." "Oo," naid the rjucen,
"you have my consi-ut ; Imt you will not
be long before you rettim, if you consider I
cannot possibly live without you." This
said, she ordered him a horse richly cajiari-
■one<l, and he departed.
Old Ah<lallah was overjoyed to see king
fieder. Without regard to his ipiality, he
embraced him tenderly, and king Bedcr re-
turned the like, that nobody might doubt
but that he was his nephew. As soon as
they were sat down, " Well," said Abdallah
to the king, " how have you done, and how
have you ]iaased your time with that iutidel
sorceress?"
" Hitherto," answered king Beder, " I
mnst needs own she has been extraordinary
kind to me, and has done all she could to
persuade me that she loves mc entirely ; but
I observed something last night, which gives
me jnst reason to 8U8]>ect that all her kind-
ness hitherto is but dissimulation. Whilst
she thought mo asleep, although I was
really awake, she stole from me with a grertt
deal of precaution, which made me susjiect
her intention, and therefore I resolved to
watch her, still feigning myself asleep."
Going on with hia discourse, he related to
Abdallah how and after what manner he had
seen her make the cake ; and then added,
••Hitherto," said he, " I must needs confess,
I had almost forgotten, not only you, but all
the advice you gave me concerning the
wickedness of this queen ; but this last ac-
tion of hers gives me reason to fear she
neither intends to observe any of her pro-
mises or solemn oaths to you. I thought of
yon immediately, and I esteem myself happy
in that I have obtained permission to come
to yon."
" You are not mistaken," replied old Ab-
dallah, with a smile, which shewed he did
not himself believe she would have acted
otherwise; " nothing is capable of obliging
a periidious woman to amend. But fear no-
thing ; I know the way to make the mis-
chief she intends you fall u]>on herself. You
are alarmed in time ; and you could not
have done better than to have recourse to
me. It is her ordinary practice to keep her
lovers only forty days ; and after that time,
instead of sending them home, to turn them
into animals, to stock her forests and parks ;
but I thought of measures yesterday to pre-
vent her doing you the same harm. The
earth has borne this monster long enough,
and it is now high time she should be treated
as she deserves."
So sajring, Abdallah put two cakes into
king Beder's hands, bidding him keep them
to make nse of as he should direct " You
told nie," continued he, "the sorceress made
a cake last night ; it was for you to eat, de-
pend upon it ; but take great care you do
not touch it. Nevertheless, do not refuse
to receive it when Hlie olTcni it you ; but in-
stead of tasting it, break off part of one of
tlie two I shoJl give you, unolwen'ed, and
eat that. Ah soon as site thinks you have
swallowed it, she will n"t fail to attempt
transforming you into s< "\i\, but she
sliall not succeed ; whicl. she sees, she
will immediately turn the thing into plea-
santry, as if what she had done was only
out of joko to frighten you ; but she will
conceal a mortal grief in her heart, and
think she omitted something in the com]>o-
sition of her cake. As for the other cake,
you shall make a present of it to her, and
press her to eat it ; which she will not refuse
to do, were it only to convince you she does
not mistrust you, though she has given you
so much reason to mistrust her. When she
has ate of it, take a little water in the hol-
low of your hand, and throwing it in hor
face, say, • Quit that form you now wear,
and take that of such or such animal,' as
you shall think fit ; which done, come to
me with the animal, and I will tell you what
you shall do afterward."
King Bedcr told Abda^ in the most
ex]>re8sive terms, the gi ligations he
had to him, for his en< ' to defend
him from the power of a pesiuent sorceress ;
and after some further discourse, took his
leave of him, and retarned to the palace.
Upon his arrival, he understood that the
queen waited for him with great im]iatience
in the garden. He went to her, and she no
sooner perceived him, but she came in great
haste to meet him. " My dear Beder," said
she, " it is said, with a great deal of reason,
that nothing shews more the force and ex-
cess of love than absence from the object
beloved. I have had no quiet since I saw
you, and it seems ages since I have been
separated from you. If you had stayed ever
so little longer, I was preparing to come and
fetch you once more to my arms."
" Madam," replied king Beder, " I can as-
sure your majesty I was no less impatient to
rejoin you ; but I coidd not refuse to stay a
little longer with an uncle that loves me, and
had not seen me for so long time. He
would have kept me still longer, but I tore
myself away from him, to come where love
calls me. Of all the collations he prepared
for me, T have only brought away this cake,
which I desire your majesty to accept."
King Beder had wrapped up one of the two
cakes in a handkerchief very neatly, took it
out, and presented it to the queen, saying,
" I beg your majesty to accept of it."
" I do accept it with all my heart," replied
the queen, receiving it, " and will eat it with
BEDER, PRINCE OF PI.RSfA.
i-7
pleaauro (or yonnt and your ^ond uncloV
»»ko ; but bijfort) I t4wto of it, 1 iluiiru you
for niy luiko will uat a piceo of this, which I
havu inaUo for you durin;{ your ahsfiice."
" Fair qui'cii," aiuiwcrfd kinj{ boder, ruceiv-
iiiK it with ^reat rvs|H-ct, "such haiuU ax
your inujcHty's can uever make anything
hut what in exouUunt ; and I cannot HuiH-
ci»'ntly Acknowlcd^u the favour you do nic."
King Bc-dt-r then artfully HubNlitutod in
thu place of the quecn'M cake the other which
old Abdollah had given him ; and having
broken oiT a piece, ho put it in hia mouth,
and cried, while ho was eating, "Ah! ({ueen,
I never tasted anything so charming in my
life." They being near a cascade, the sor-
ceress seeing liim swallow ouu bit of the
cake, and ready tu eat another, took a little
water iu the palm of her hand, and throwing
it in the king's face, said, " Wretch ! (|uit
that form of a man, and take that of a vile
horse, blind and lame. "
These words not having the desired ef-
fect, the sorceress was strangely suq>riucd to
find king Ueder still in the same form, and
that he only started for fear. Her checks
reddened ; and as she saw that she had
missed her aim, "Dear Ueder," cried she,
"this is nothing, recover youi If. I did
not intend you any harm; I only did it to
see what you would say. I should be the
most miserable and most execrable of wo-
men, should I attempt so black a deed ; I
do not only say, after all the oaths I have
sworn, but even after so many testimonies
of love as I have given you. '
"Puissant queen," replied king Beder,
"persuaded as I am that what your ma-
jesty did was only to divert yourself, yet I
could not help being surprised. What could
hinder me from l>eing a little moved at the
pronouncing of so strange a transformation?
But, madam," continued he, "let us drop
this discourse ; and since I have ate of your
cake, would you do me the favour to taste
mine?"
Queen Labe, who could not better justify
herself than by shewing this mark of confi-
dence in the king of Persia, broke off a
piece of his cake, and ate it. She had no
sooner swiillowed it, but she appeared much
troubled, and remained, aa it were, motion-
less. King Beder lost no time, but took
water out of the same basin, and throwing
it iuher face, cried, " Abominable sorceress !
quit that form of a woman, and be turned
instantly into a mare."
The same instant queen Labe was trans-
formed into a very beautifid mare ; and her
confusion was so great to find herself in that
condition, that she shed tears in great abun-
dance, which perhaps no marc before had
ever been known to do. She bowed her
head to the feet of king Beder, thinking to
move him to compassion ; but though he
cuuld have l>eun b<> moved, it wan rtti«olutely
out of his |)owi'r in repair tli< uuschiof he
hud done. He li-d her into the stable be-
longing to the pahii-r, and [ml )ior into tho
hiindtt of a groom, to bridle and ^.tildlc ; but
of all the bridlcH which the grooiu tried upon
her, not one would lit bur. This made him
(.'iiUMC two horses to be saddled, one fcjr tho
groom, and the other for himHi'lt ; and the
groom led the mare after him to old Abdal-
Uh's.
Abdallah, seeing at a distance king Beder
coming M'ith the mare, doubted not but ho
had done what ho advised him, "Cursed
sorceresH ! " Miiid ho immediately to himself,
in a transport of joy, " Meavcn has at length
punished thee as thou deNervcst." King
Ik'dcr alighted at Abdalliili's door, and
entered with him intu the shop, embracing
and thanking him for all the Hignal services
he had done him. He related to him the
whole matter, with all its circumstances,
and moreover told him he could find no
bridle lit for the mare. Abdallah, who had
one for every horse, bridled the mare him-
self ; and as soon as king Beder had sent
back the groom with the two horses, he said
to him, "My lord, you have no reason to
stay any longer in this city ; mount the
mare, aud return to your kingdom. 1 have
but one thing more to recommend to you,
and that is, if you shoidd ever happen to
part with the mare, be sure not to give up
the bridle." King Beder promised to re-
member it ; and having taken leave of the
good old man, he departed.
The young king of Persia no sooner got
out of the city, but he began to roilect with
joy on the deliverance he had had, and that
he had the sorceress in his power, who had
given him so much cause to tremble. Three
days after he arrived at a great city, where,
entering the suburbs, he met a venerable old
man, walking on foot towards a pleasure-
house he had there. " Sir," said tho old
man, stopping him, "may I presume to ask
from what j)art of the world you come ? "
The king stopped to satisfy him ; and as
they were discoursing together, an old
woman came u]), who, stopping likewise,
wept and sighed bitterly at the sight of the
mare.
King Beder and the old man left off dis-
coursing to look ou the old woman, whom
the king asked what cause she hail to lament
so much? "Alas! sir," replied she, "it is
because your mare resembles so perfectly
one my son had, and which I still mourn
the loss of on his account, aud should think
yours were the same, did I not know she
was dead. Sell her to me, I beseech you ;
I will give you more than she is worth, and
thank you too."
"Good woman," replied king Beder, "1
am heartily sorry I cannot comply with
it
!
mm.
328
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
your request ; my inare is not to be sold."
" Alas ! sir," continued the old woman, "do
not refuse me this favour for the love of God.
My son and I shall certainly die with grief
if you do not grant it." "Good woman,"
replied the king, " I would grant it with all
my heart, if I was disposed to part with so
good a beast ; but if I were so disposed, I
believe you would hardly give a thousand
pieces of gold for her, and I could not sell
her for less." " Why should I not give so
much?" rei)lied the old woman : "if that
be the lowest price, you need only say you
will take it, and I will fetch you tho
money."
King Beder, seeing the old woman so
poorly dres'.ed, could not imagine she could
find the money ; therefore to try her, he
said, "Go fetch me the money, and the
mare is yours." The old woman immedi-
ately imloosed a i)urse she had fastened to
her girdle, and desiring him to alight, bid
him tell over tho money ; and in case he
found it came sliort of the sum demanded,
she said her house was not far off, and she
could qu'.ckly fetch the rest.
Tho surprise king Beder was in at the
sight of this purse was not small, " Good
w^oman," said he, " do you not perceive I
have bantered you all this whUe? I will
assure you my mare is not to be sold."
The old man, who had been witness to all
that was said, now began to speak. "Son,"
quoth he to king Beder, "it is necessary you
shoidd know one thing, which I find you
are ignorant of, and that is, that in this city
it is not permitted to any one to toll a lie,
on any account whatsoever, on jiain of death.
You cannot refuse taking this good woman's
money, and delivering your mare, when slie
gives you the sum according to the agree-
ment ; and this you had better do without
any noise, than expose yourself to what may
ensue."
King Beder, sorely afflicted to find him-
self thus trapped by his rash proffer, alighted
with great regret. The old woman stood
ready to seize the bridle, and immediately
\inbridled the mare ; and taking some water
in her hand from a stream that ran in the
middle of tho street, she threw it in the
marc's face, uttering these words : " Daugh-
ter, quit that strange shape, and re-assume
thy own." Tlie transfonnation was eflFected
in a moment ; and king Beder, who awooneri
as soon as ho saw queen Labe appear, would
havo fallen to tho ground, if the old man
had not hindered him.
The old wo7nan, who was mother to queen
Labe, and had instructed her in all her
magic secrets, had no sooner embraced her
daughter, but to shew her fury, in an in
stant she, by wliistling, caused to rise a
genie of a gigantic form and stature. This
genie immediately took king Beder on one
shoulder, and tho old ■woman with the magio
queen on the other, and transported them in
a few minutes to the palace of queen Labe
in the City of Enchantments.
The magic queen immediately fell lipou
king Beder, reproaching him grievously in
the following manner : "Is it thus, ungrate-
ful wretch, that thy unworthy uncle and
thou repay me for all the kindnesses I have
done for you ? I shall soon make you both
feel what you deserve." She said no more,
but taking water in her hand, threw it in
his face with these words : " Come out of
that shape, and take that of a vile owl."
These words were soon followed by the
effect ; and immediately she commanded
one of her women to shut up the owl in a
cage, and give him neither meat nor drink.
The woman took the cage, and, without
regarding what the queen ordered, gave him
both meat and drink ; and being old Ab-
dallah's friend, she sent him word privately
how the queen had treated his nephew, and
her design to destroy both him and king
Beder, that he might give orders to prevent
it, and secure himself.
Abdallah know no common measures
would do with queen Labe : he therefore
did but whistle after a certain manner, and
there immediately arose a vast giant, with
four wings, who, presenting himself before
him, asked what he would have with him ?
" Lightning," said Abdallah to him, (for so
was the gonie called,) " I command you to
preserve the life of king Beder, son of queen
Gulnare. Go to the palace of the magio
queen, and transport immediately to the
capital of Persia the compassionate woman
who has the cage in custody, to the end she
may inform queen Gulnare of the danger
tho king her son is in, and the occasion he
has for her assistance. Take care not to
frighten her when you come before her,
and acquaint her from me what she ought
to do."
Lightning immediately disappeared, and
got in an instivnt to the palace of the magic
queen. He instructed the woman, lifted her
up into the air, and transported her to tho
capital of Persia, wheru Ln placed her on the
terrace that answered to the apartment
where queen Gulnare was. She went down
stairs to the apartment, and she there found
queen Gulnare and queen Farasche, her
mother, lamenting their mutual misfortunes.
She made them a profound reverence ; and
by the relation she gave them, they soon
understood tlie groat need king Beder was
in of their assistance.
Queen Gulnare was so overjoyed at the
news, that, rising from her seat, she went
and embraced the good woman, telling her
how much she was obliged to her for the
service she had done her.
Then, going immediately out, she com-
BEDER, PRINCE OF PERSIA.
329
the
mnndcd the tnimpcts to sound, and the
drums to beat, to acquaint the city that the
king of Persia would suddenly return safe to
his kingdom. She then went again, and
found king Saleh her brother, whom Faraache
had caused to come speedily thither by a
certain fumigation. " Brother," said she to
him, " the kii-o your nephew, my dear son,
is in the City of Enchantments, under the
power of queen Labo. Both you and I mus\,
go to deliver him, for there is no time to be
lost."
King Saleh forthwith assembled a puissant
body of his marine troops, who soon rose
out of the sea. He also called to his assist-
ance the genics his allies, who ajjpeared
with a much more numerous army than his
own. As soon as the two armies were
joined, he put himself at the head of them,
with queen Farasche, queen Gulnare, and
the princesses, who would all have their
share in this action. Tliey then lifted them-
selves i-.p into the air, and soon i)0ured down
on the palace and City of Enchantments,
where the magic queen, her mother, and all
the adorers > I fire, were destroyed in an
instant.
Queen Gulnare had ordered the woman
who brought her the news of queen Labe's
transforming and imprisoning her son to
follow her close, and bid her, in the confu-
sion, only go and seize the cage, and bring
it to her. This order was executed as she
wished ; and queen Gulnare was no sooner
in possession of the cage, but she opened it,
and took out the owl, saying, as she
sprinkled a little water upon him, "My
dear son, quit that strange form, and resume
thy natural one of a man."
In a moment, queen Gidnare no more saw
the hideous owl, but king Beder her son.
She immediately embraced him with an ex-
cess of joy, her tears supplying more forcibly
the place of words. She coiUd not find in
her heart to let him go ; and queen Farasche
was obliged to force him from her in her
turn. After her, he was likewise embraced
by the king his uncle and his relations.
Queen Gulnare's first care was to look out
for old Abdallah, to whom she had been
obliged for the recovery of the king of Per-
sia, and who being brought to her, she said
to him, "My obligations to you, sir, have
been so great, that there is nothing within
my power but I would freely do for you as
a token of my acknowledgment. Do but
satisfyrae in what Icanserve you." "Great
queen," replied Abdallah, "if the lady whom
I sent to your majesty will but consent to
the marriage I offer her, and the king of
Persia will give me leave to reside at his
court, I will spend the remainder of my
days in his service." Then the queen turned
to the lady, who was present, and finding
by her modest shame that she was not
averso to the match proposed, she caused
them to join hands, and the king of Persia
and she took cure of their fortune.
This marriage occasioned the king of Per-
sia to speak thus to the queen : " Madam,"
said he, " I am heartily glad of this match
which your majesty has just made. There
remains one more, which I desire you to
think of." Queen Gulnare did not at first
comprehend what marriage he meant ; but
after a little considering, she said, "Of
yours, you mean, son? I consent to it
with all my heart." Then turning, and
looking on her brotlier's sea attendants, and
the genies who were still present, "Go,"
said she, "and traverse both sea and land,
to find out the most lovely and amiable
princess, worthy of the king my son, and
come and tell us."
" Madam," replied king Beder, "it is to
no purpose for them to take all that pains :
you have no doubt heard that I have already
given my heart to the princess of Samandal,
upon tiie bare relation of her beauty. I
have seen her, and do not repent of the pre-
sent I then made her. In a word, neither
earth nor sea, in my opinion, can furnish a
l)rincess like her. It is true, upon my declar-
ing my love to hei", she treated me in a way
that would have e.^.^'uguished any flame less
strong than mine. But I hold her excused ;
she could not treat me with less rigour, after
imi)risoning the king her father, of which I
was the innocent cause. But, it niay be, the
king of Samandal may have changed his reso-
lution ; and his daughter the princess may
consent to love me, when she sees her father
has agreed to it."
" Son," replied queen Gidnare, " if only
the princess Giauliara can make you hanpy,
it is not my design to oppose you. The king
your uncle need only have the king of
Samandal brought, and we shall soon see
whei;her he bo still of the same untractable
temper."
Strictly as the king of Samandal had been
kept during his captivity by king Saleh'a
orders, yet he always had great respect
shewn him, and was become very familiar
with the officers who guarded him. King
Saleh caused a dialing «lish of coals to be
brought, into which he threw a certain com-
position, uttering at the same time some mys-
terious words. As soon as the smoke began
to arise, the palace shook, and immediately
the king of Samandal, with king Saleh's
officers, appeared. The king of Persia cast
himself at the king of Samandal's feet, and
kneelingsaid, "It ia no longer king Saleh that
demands of your majesty the honour of your
alliance for the king of Persia; it is the
king of Persia himself that humbly begs that
boon ; and I persuade myself your majesty
will not persist in being the cause of the
death of a king, who can no longer live if he
.5 '
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330
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
does not share life with the amiable princess
Giauhara."
The king of Samandal did not long suffer
the king of Persia to remain at his feet. He
embraced him, and obliging him to rise, said,
"I should be very sorry to have contributed
in the least to the death of a monarch who is
so worthy to live. If it be true that so pre-
cious a Ufe cannot be preserved without the
possession of my daughter, Uve, sir," said he;
"she is your's. She has always been obedient
to my will, and I cannot think she will now
oppose it. " Speaking these words, he ordered
one of his officers, whom king Saleh had per-
mitted to be about him, to go and look for
the princess Giauhara, and bring her to him
immediately.
The princess continued where the king of
Persia had left her. The officer perceived
her, and brought her soon with her women.
The king of Samandal embraced her, and
said, "Daughter, I have provided a husband
for you ; it is the king of Persia you see there,
the most accomplished monarch at present
in the universe. The preference he has given
you to all other princesses obliges us both to
express our gratitude."
"Sir," replied the princess Giauhara,
*' your majesty well knows I never have pre-
sumed to disobey your will in anything : I
shall always be ready to obey you ; and I
hope the king of Persia will forget my ill-
treatment of him, and consider it was duty,
not inclination, that forced me to it."
The nuptials wert> celebrated in the palace
of the City of Enchantments, with the greater
solemnity, that all the lovers of the magic
queen, who resumed their pristine forms as
soon as ever that queen ceased to live, assisted
at them, and came to return their thanks to
the king of Persia, queen Gulnare, and king
Saleh. They were all sons of kings or princes
or persons of high rank.
King Saleh at length conducted the king
of Samandal to his dominions, and put him
in possession of them. The king of Persia,
at the height of his wishes, returned to his
capital with queen Gulnare, queen Farasche,
and the princesses : and queen Farasche and
the princesses continued there till king tSaleh
came to reconduct them to his kingdom
under the waves of the sea.
THE HTSTOKY OF GANEM, SON TO ABOr AYOUB,
AND KNOWN BY THE SCRNiUlIE OP i.OVE's
SUAVE.
Sir, said Scheherazade to the sultan of the
Indies, there was formerly at Damascus a
merchant, who had by care and industry
acquired great wealth, on which he lived in
a very honourable manner. His name was
Abou Ayoub, and he had one son and a
daughter. The son was at first called
Ganem, but afterwards surnamed Lovi'a
Slave. His person was graceful, and the
excellent natural qualities of his mind had
been improved by able masters, whom his
father had taken care to provide him. The
daughter's name was Alcolomb, signifying
liavlsher of Hearts, because Lor beauty was
so perfect, that whoever saw her could not
but love her.
Abou Ayoub died, and left immense
riches : a hundred loads of brocades and
other silks that lay in his warehouse were
the least part of it. The loads were ready
made up, and on every bale was written in
large characters " Fcr Bagdad."
Mohammed, the son of Soliman, surnamed
Zinebi, reigned at that time at Damascus,
the capital of Syria. His kinsman Uaroun
Alraschid, whose residence was at Bagdail,
had bestowf ^t kingdom ou him as his
tributary.
Soon after the death of Abou Ayoub,
Gauem, discoursing with his mother about
their domestic affairs, and amongst the rest
concerning the loads of merchandise in the
warehouse, asked her the meaning of what
was written upon each bale. "My son,"
answered his mother, " your father used to
travel sometimes into one province, and
sometimes into another ; and it was custom-
ary with hira, before he set out, to write the
name of the city he designed to repair to on
every bale. He had provided all things to
take a journey to Bagdad, and was upon the
point of setting out when death " She
had not power to finish ; the lively remem-
brance of the loss of her husband would not
permit her to say more, and drew from her
a shower of tears.
Ganem could not see his mother so sen-
sibly affected, without being himself equally
so. They continued some time silent ; but
at length he recovered himself, and as soon
as he found his mother calm enough to listen
to him, he directed his discourse to her, and
said, " Since my father designed these goods
for Bagdad, and is no longer in being, to
put his design into execution, I will prepare
myself to perform that journey ; and I am
of opinion it wiU be proper for me to hasten
my departure, for fear those commodities
shoidd perish, or that we lose the oppor-
tunity of selling them to the best advantage."
Abou Ayoub's widow, who tenderly loved
her son, was much surprised at this reso-
lution, and replied, " My dear chUd, I can-
not but comiuend you for designing to fol-
low your father's example : but consider
that you are too young, inexperienced, and
unaonustomed to the fatigue of traveUing.
Besides, can you think of leaving me, and
adding to that sorrow with which I am
already oppressed ? Is it not better to sell
those goods to the merchants of Damascus,
and take up with a moderate profit, than to
expose yourself to the danger of perishing ? "
GANEM, SON TO ABOU A YOUB.
OJ'
It was in vain for her to opxK>se Gapem's
resolution by the strongest arguments ; they
had no weight with him. An incHnation to
travel, and to accompUsh himself by a
thorough knowledge of the world, urged
him to set out, and prevailed over all his
mother's remonstrances, her entreaties, and
even her tears. He went to the market
where the slaves are sold, and bought such
as were able-bodied, hired a hundred camels,
and having provided all other necessaries, he
entered upon his journey with five or six
merchants of Damascus, who were going to
trade at Bagdad.
Those merchants, attended by all their
slaves, and accompanied by several other
travellers, made up such a considerable cara-
van, that they had nothing to fear from the
Bedouin Arabs, who make it their only pro-
fession to range the country, and to attack
and 2>lunder the caravans when they are not
strong enough to repulse them. They had
no other difficulty to encounter, but the
usual fatigues of a long journey, which were
easily forgotten when they came in sight of
the city of Bagdad, where they arrived in
safety.
They alighted at the most magnificent
and most frequented khan in the city ; but
Ganem, who chose to be lodged conveniently,
and by himself, took no apartment thore.
He only left his goods there in a warehoub",
for their greater security, and hired a very
fine house in the neighbourhood, richly fur-
nished, having a garden which was very
deliglitful, on account of the many water-
works and shady groves that were in it.
Some days after this young merchant had
been settled in his house, and perfectly re-
covered of the fatigue of his journ^, he
dressed himself genteelly, and repaired to
the public place, where the merchants met
to buy and sell. A slave followed him,
carrying a parcel of fine stuffs and silks.
The merchants received Ganem very cour-
teously, and their syndic, or chief, to whom
he first made application, took and bought
all his parcel, at the price set down in the
ticket annexed to every piece of stuff. Ga-
nem continued his traile so successfully, that
he sold all the goods he exposed daily.
He had but one bale left, which he had
caused to be carried from the warehouse to
his own house, and then went to the public
rendezvous, where he found all the shops
shut. This seemed somewhat extraordinary
to him ; and having asked the cause of it,
was told that one of the first merchants whom
he knew was dead, and that all his brother
traders were gone to his funeral.
Ganem inquired for the mosque where
the prayer was to be made, and whence the
body was to be conducted to the grave ; and
having been told, sent back his slave with
the goods, and walked towards the mosque.
He got thitiier before the prayers were ended,
which were said in a hall hung with black
satin. The corpse was taken up, and fol-
lowed by the kindred, the merchants, and
Ganem, to the place of burial, which was at
a great distance without the city. It was a
stone structure in form of a dome, purposely
built to receive the bodies of all the family
of the deceased ; and being very small, they
had pitched tents all about it, that all the
company might be sheltered during the cere-
mony. The monument was opened, and the
corpse laid into it, after which it was shut
up again. Then the iman, and other minis-
ters of the mosque, sat down in a ring on
carpets, in the largest tent, and said the rest
of the jjrayers. They also read the chapter
of the Koran appointed for the burial of the
dead. The kindred and merchants sat round,
in the same manner, behind the ministers.
It was near night before all was ended :
Ganem, who had not expected such a long
ceremony, began to be uneasy, and the more
so, when he saw meat served up in memory
of the deceased, according to the custom of
Bagdad. He was also told that the tents
had not been set up oidy against the heat of
the sun, but also against the evening dew,
because they should not return to the city
before the next morning. Those words per-
plexed Ganem : " I am a stranger, " said he to
himself, " and have the reputation of being
a rich merchant ; thieves may take the op-
portunity of my absence, and go rob my
house. My slaves may be tempted by so
favourable an opportunity ; they may run
away with all the gold I have received for
my goods, and whither shall I go to look for
them?" FuU of these thoughts, he ate a
few monthfuls hastily, and dexterously slip-
ped away from the company.
He made all possible haste ; but, as it
often happens that tlie more a man puts on,
the less he advances, he mistook his way,
and went astray in the dark, so that it was
near midnight when he came to the lity
gate ; which, to add to his misfortune, was
shut. That disappointment was a fresh
affliction to him, and ho was obliged to look
for some convenient place to pass the rest of
the night in, and wait till the gate was
opened. He wont into a burial-place, so
spacious that it reached from the city to
the very place he was come from. He ad-
vanced to some higli walls, which enclosed
a small field, being the jjcculiar burial-])lace
of a family, aud in which there Wivs a palm-
tree. There was an infinite number of other
particular burial-places, the doors whereof
they did not take care to fasten. Ganem,
finding that the burial-place where the palm-
tree grew was open, went into it, and shut
the door after him. He lay down on the
grass, and did all he coidd to sleep ; but the
uneasiness at being absent from home woiUd
, I
I
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332
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
not permit him. He got up, and after hav-
ing passed before the door several times, he
opened it, ■without knowing why, and im-
mediately perceived at a distance a light,
■which seemed to come towards him. He ■wiis
startled at that sight, put to the door, ■which
had nothing to secure it but a latch, and got
np as fast as he could to the top of the palm-
tree ; looking upon that as the safest retreat
imder his j>resent apprehensions.
No sooner ■was he got iip than, by the help
of the light which had frightened him, he
plainly perceived three men, ■whom by their
habit he knew to be slaves, come into the
burial-place. One of them ■went foremost
■with a lanthom, and the two others followed
him, being loaded with a chest, between five
and six feet long, ■which they carried on their
shoulders. They set it down, and then one
of the three slaves said to his comrades,
"Brothers, if yoti will be advised by me, ■we
■will leave the chest here, and return to the
«ity." "No, no," replied another, "that is
not executing our mistress's orders; ■we may
have cause to repent not doing as we ■were
commanded. Let us bury the chest, since
■we are so enjoined to do." The t^wo other
slaves complied. They began to break
ground ■with the tools they had brought for
that puqiose. When they had made a deep
trench, they put the chest into it, and cover-
ed it with the earth they had taken out ;
then departed, and returned home.
Ganem, who from the top of the palm-
tree had heard every -word the slaves had
spoken, could not
tell what to think
of that adventure.
He concluded that
the chest must con-
tain something of
value, and that the
person to whom it
belonged had some
particular reasons
for causing it to be
buried in that ceme-
tery. He resolved
immediately to sa-
tisfy his curiosity,
came down from the
palm-tree, the de-
parture of the slaves
having dissipated
his fear, and fell to work upon the pit,
plying his hands and feet so well, that in
a short time he xmcovered the chest, but
found it secured ■with a great padlock. This
new obstacle to the satisfying of his curiosity
was no small mortification to him, yet he
was not discouraged ; but the day beginning
then to appear, he saw several great pebbles
about the burial-place. He picked out one,
with which he easily knocked off the pad-
lock, and then with much impatience opened
the chest. Ganem was strangely surprised,
when, instead of finding money in it, he
discovered a young lady of incomparable
beauty. Her fresh and rosy complexion,
and her gentle regidar breathing, satisfied
him she was alive ; but he could not conceive
why, if she were only asleep, she had not
waked at the noise he made in forcing oflE
the padlock. Her habit was so costly, with
bracelets and pendants of diamonds, and a
necklace of true pearl, so large, that he made
not the least doubt of her being one of the
principal ladies about the court. At the
sight of so beautiful an object, not only
compassion and natural inclination to re-
lieve persons in danger, but something
more powerful, which Ganem coidd not
then account for, prevailed on him to afford
that young beauty all the assistance in his
power.
He first shut the gate of the burial-place,
which the slaves had left open ; then return-
ing, took the lady in his arms out of the
chest, and laid her on the soft earth he had
thro^wn off the said chest. As soon as the
lady was laid do^wn, and exposed to the air,
she sneezed, and by the motion in turning
her head, there came from her mouth a
liquor, with ■which her stomach seemed to
have been loaded ; then opening and rubbing
her eyes, she, with such a voice as charmed
Ganem, whom she did not see, cried out,
" Zohorob Bostan, Schagrom Margian, Casa-
bos Souccar, Nouron Nihar, Naginatos Sohi,
Nouzetos Zaman, why do you not answer ?
where are you ? "
These were the
names of six female
slaves that used to
wait on her, and
signified. Flower of
the Garden, Branch
of Coral, Sugar (Jane,
Light of the Day,
Morning Star, and
Delight of the Sea-
son. She called
them, and wondered
that nobody answer-
ed; but at length
looking about, and
perceiving she was
in a burial-place, she
was seized with fear.
"What !" cried she, much louder than be-
fore, "are the dead raised? Is the day
of judgmeni come? What a wonderful
change is this from evening to morning !"
Ganem did not think fit to leave the lady
any longer in her perplexity, but presented
himself before her with all possible respect,
and in the most courteous manner. " Ma-
dam," said he, "I am not able to express
n^y joy for having happened to be here to do
you the ser\'ico I have done, and to offer you
GANEM, SON TO ABOU A YOUB.
333
t "
day
rl"
all the assistance you may stand in need of
under your present circumstances."
In order to persuade the lady to repose a
confidence in him, he, in the first place, told
her who he was, and what accident had
brought him into that place. Next he ac-
quainted her with the coming of the three
slaves, and how they had buried the chest.
The lady, who had covered her face with
her veil as soon as Ganeiu appeared, was ex-
tremely sensible of the oblij;ations she owed
him. "I return thanks to God," said she,
•' for having sent so worthy a person as you
are to deliver me from death, but since you
have begun so charitable a work, I conjure
you not to leave it imperfect. Let me beg
of you to go into the city, and provide a
muleteer, to come with his mide, and carry
me to your house in this chest ; for should
I go witli you on foot, my dress being diffe-
rent from that of the city ladies, some one
might take notice of ic, and follow me, which
it highly concerns me to itfevcnt. When I
shall be in your house, I v,ill give you an
account of myself ; and in the meantime be
assured that you have ujt obliged an un-
grateful person."
Before the young merchant left the lady,
he drew the chest out of the pit, which he
filled up with earth, laid her again in the
chest, and shut it in such a manner, that it
did not look as if the padlock had been
forced off; but for fear of stifling her, he
did not put it quite close, leaving room for
the air to get in. Going out of the burial-
place, he drew the door after him ; and the
city gate being then open, soon found what
he sought for. He returned with speed to
the burial-place, and helped the muleteer to
lay the chest across his mule, telling him, to
remove all cause of suspicion, that he came
to that place the night before, with another
muleteer, who, being in haste to return
home, had laid down the chest in the burial-
place.
Ganem, who, since his arrival at Bagdad,
had minded nothing but his business, wj.s
BtUl unacquainted with the power of love,
and now felt the first attacks of it. It had
not been in his power to look upon the yoiuig
lady without being dazzled ; and the mieasi-
ness he felt at following the muleteer at a
distance, and the fear lest any accident
might happen by the way, that should de-
prive him of his conquest, taught him to
um-avel his thoughts. It was an extraordi-
nary satisfaction to him, when, being arrived
safe at home, he saw the chest unloaded.
He dismissed the muleteer, and having
caused a slave to shut the door of his house,
he opened the chest, helped the lady out,
gave her his hand, and conducted her to his
apartment, lamenting how much she must
have endured in tliat close confinement. "If
I have su(rcrcd,"said she, "I have satisfaction
suillcient in what you have done for me,
and in the pleasure of seeing myself out of
danger."
Though Ganem's apartment was very
richly furnished, the ?ady did not so much
regard that as she did tlie handsome presence
and engaging mien of her deliverer, whose
politeness and obliging behaviour heightened
her gratitude. She sat do-vn on a sofa, and,
to begin to give the merchant to understand
how sensible she was of the service done her,
she took off her veil. Ganem, on his part,
was sensible of the favour so lovely a lady
did in uncovermg her face to him, or rather
felt he had already a most violent passion for
her. Whatever obligations she owed him,
ho thought himself more than requited by
so signal a favour.
The lady dived into Ganem's thoughts,
yet was not at all alarmed, because he ap-
peared very respectfid. He, judging she
might have occasion to cat, and not willing
to trust any but himself with the care of en-
tertaining so charming a guest, went out
with a slave to an eating-house, to give di-
rections for a treat. From thence he went
to a fruiterer, where he chose the finest and
best fruit ; buying also the choicest wine,
and the same bread that was eaten at the
caliph's table.
As soon as he returned home, he, with his
own hands, made a pyramid of the fruit he
had bought, and serving it up himself to the
lady in a large dish of the finest china- ware,
" Madam," said he, " be pleased to make
clioice of some of this fruit, while a more
solid entertainment, and more worthy your-
self, is made ready." He would have con-
tinued standing before her, but she declared
she would not touch anything unless he sat
down and ate with her. He obeyed ; and
when they had eaten some small matter,
Ganem observing that the lady's veil, which
she laid down by her on a sofa, was em-
broidered along the edge with golden letters,
begged her leave to look on that embroideiy.
The lady immediately took up the veil, and
delivered it to him, asking him whether he
could read. " Madam," replied he, with a
modest air, " a merchant would be ill quali-
fied to manage his business if he could not
at least read and -WTite." "Well, then,"
said she, "read the words which are em-
broidered on that veil, which gives me an
opportunity of telling you my story."
Ganem took the veil, and read these words,
"I" am yours, and you are mine, thou de-
scendant from the prophet's uncle." That
descendant from the prophet's uncle was the
caliph Haroun Alraschid, who then reigned,
and was descended from Abbas, Mohammcd'a
uncle.
When Ganerii perceived the meaning of
these words, " Alas ! madam,*' said he, in a
melancholy tone, "I have just saved your
P
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
life, and this writing is my death ! I do not
comprehend all the mystery ; but it con-
vinces me I am the most unfortunate of men.
Pardon, madam, the liberty I take of telling
you this. It was impossible for me to see
you without giving you my heart. You are
not ignorant yourself, that it was not in my
power to refuse it you, and that makes my
presumption excusable. I proposed to my-
self to touch your heart by my respectful
behaviour, my care, my complaisance, my
assiduity, my submission, my constancy ;
and no sooner had I formed the flattering
design, than I am robbed of aU my hopes.
I cannot long survive so great a misfortune.
But, be that as it will, I shall have the
satisfaction of dying entirely yours. Pro-
ceed, madam, I conjure you, and give me a
full information of my unhappy fate."
He could not utter those words without
letting fall some tears. The lady was moved,
but was so far from being displeased at the
declaration he made, that she felt secret joy :
for her heart began to yield. However, she
concealed it, and, as if she had not regarded
what Ganem said, " I should have been very
cautious," answered she, "of shewing you
my veil, had I thought it would have given
you so much uneasiness ; and I do not per-
ceive that what I have to say to you can
make your condition so deplorable as you
imagine.
" You must understand," proceeded she,
"in order to acquaint you with my story,
that my name is Fetnah, (which signifies
torments, ) which was given me at my birth,
because it was judged that the sight of me
would one day occasion many calamities.
You cannot be a stranger to it, since there
is nobody in Bagdad but knows that the
caliph Haroun Alraschid, my sovereign lord
and yours, had a favourite so called.
" T was carried into his palace in my ten-
derest years, and I have been brought up
there with all the care that is usually taken
with such persons of my sex as are destined
to reside there. I made no little progress in
all they took the pains to teach me ; and
that, with some share of beauty, gained me
the affection of the caliph, who allotted me
a particular apartment adjoining to his own.
That prince was not satisfied witli such a
mark of distinction ; he appointed twenty
women to wait on me, and as many eunuchs ;
and ever since he has made me such consi-
derable presents, that I saw myself richer
than any queen in the world. You may
judge by what I have said, that Zobeide,
the caliph's wife and kinswdman, could not
but be jealous of my happiness. Though
Haroun has all the regard imaginable for
her, she has taken every possible opportu-
nity to ruin me.
" Hitherto I had secured myself against all
her snares, lint at length I iAl ttnder the last
effort of her jealousy, and, were it not for
you, I had now been exposed to inevitable
death. I question not but she had corrupted
one of my slaves, who last night, in some
lemonade, gave me a drug, which causes
such a dead sleep, that it is easy to dispose
of those who have taken it ; for that sleep is
so profound, that nothing can dispel it for
the space of seven or eight hours. I have
the more reason to judge so, because natur-
ally I am a very bad sleeper, and apt to
wake at the least noise.
"Zobeide, the better to put her design in
execution, has laid hold of the opportunity
of the absence of the caliph, who went lately
to put himself at the head of his troops, to
chastise some neighbouring kings, who have
formed a league to make war on him. Were
it not for this opportunity, my rival, out-
rageous as she is, durst not have presumed
to attempt anything against ray life. I
know not what she will do to conceal this
action from the caliph, but you see it highly
concerns me that you should keep my secret.
My life depends on it. I shall be safe in
your house, as long as the caliph is from
Badgad. It concerns you to keep my ad-
venture private ; for should Zobeide know
the obligation I owe you, she woidd punish
you for having saved me.
"When the caliph returns, I shall not need
to be so much upon my guard. I shall find
means to acquaint him with all thiit has hap-
pened, and I am fully persuaded he will be
more earnest than myself to requite a ser-
vice which restores me to his love."
Aa soon as Haroun Alraschid's beautiful
favourite had done speaking, Gauem began,
and said, " Madam, I return you a thousand
thanks for having given me the information
I took the liberty to desire of you ; and I
beg of you to believe, that you are here in
safety ; the sentiments you have inspired in
me are a pledge of my secrecy.
" As for my slaves, I own there is cause
to suspect them ; they may perhaps fail of
the fidelity they owe me, should they know
by what accident, and in what place I had
the hajipiness to find yoii ; but it is impos-
sible they should guess at that. Nay, I dare
assure you, that they will not have the cu-
riosity to inquire after it. It is so natural
for young men to purchase beautiful slaves,
that it will be no way surprising to them to
see you here, as believing you to be one,
and that I have bought you. They will
also believe that I had some particidar rea-
sons for bringing you home as they saw I
did. 8et your heart, therefore, at rest, as to
that point, and remain satisfied that you
shall be served with all the respect that is
due to the favourite of so great a monarch
as ours is. But how great soever he is,
give me leave, madam, to declare, that
nothing will be capable of making mc roc.-il]
Ul
•acf i^a^f^iT -^r ■yii'i'w--^***^ :
•'■m-TKSB^afm^
■t (]
GANEM, SON TO ABOU A YOUB.
335
the present I Lave made you of my heart.
I know, and shall never forget, that ' what
belongs to the master is forbidden to the
slave,' but I loved you before you told me
that you were engaged to the caliph : it is
not in my power to overcome a passion
which, though now in its infancy, bas all the
force of a love strengthened by a perfect
correspondence. I wish your august and
most fortunate lover may avenge you of the
malice of Zobeide, by calling you back to
him ; and when you shall be restored to his
wishes, that you may remember the unfor-
tunate Ganem, who is no less your conquest
than the caliph. Powerful as that prince is,
1 flatter myself he wUl not be able to blot
me out of your remembrance. He cannot
love you more passionately than I do ; and
I shall never cease to burn for you, into
whatever part of the world I go to expire,
after having lost you."
Fetnah perceived that Ganem was under
the greatest of afflictions, and it affected
her ; but considering the uneasiness she was
likely to bring upon herself, by prosecuting
the discourse upon that subject, which might
insensibly lead her to discover the inclina-
tion she felt in herself for him ; "I perceive, ' '
said she, " that this conversation gives you
too much uneasiness ; let us change the dis-
course, and talk of the infinite obligation I
owe you. I can never sufficiently express
my satisfaction, when I reflect that, without
your assistance, I should never again have
beheld the light of the sun."
It was happy for them both that somebody
just then knocked at the door : Ganem went
to see who it was, and found it was one of
his slaves, to acquaint him that the enter-
tainment was ready. Ganem, who, by way
of precaution, would have none of his slaves
come into the room where Fetnah was, took
what was brought, and served it up himself
to his beautiful guest, whose soul was
ravished to behold what attention he paid
her.
When they had eaten, Ganem took away,
as he covered the table; and having deli-
vered all things at the chamber door to his
slaves, " Madam," said he to Fetnah, " you
may now perhaps desire to take some rest ;
I will leave you, and when you have reposed
yourself, you shall find me ready to receive
your commands."
Having spoken these words, he left her,
and went to purchase two women-slaves.
He also bought two parcels, one of fine linen,
and the other of all such things as M'ere pro-
per to make up a toilet fit for the caliph's
favoiu-ite. Having conducted home the two
women-slaves, he presented them to Fetnah,
saying, ' ' Madam, a person of your quality
cannot be without two waiting maids, at
least, to serve you j be pleased to accept of
these."
Fetnah admiring Ganem's attention, "My
lord," said she, " I perceive you are not one
that will do things by halves : you add, by
your courtesy, to the obligations I owe you
already ; but I hope I shall not die ungrate-
ful, and that Heaven will soon put me into
a condition to return all your acts of gene-
rosity."
When the women-slaves were withdrawn
into a chamber adjoining, where the young
merchant sent them, he sat down on the
sofa where Fetnah was, but at some distance
from her, in token of the greater res|)ect.
He then began again to discourse of his pas-
sion, and said very moving things on the
invincible obstacles which robbed him of all
his hopes. "I dare not so much as hope,"
said he, "by my passion, to excite the least
sensibility in a heart Uke yours, destined for
the greatest prince in the world. Alas ! it
would be a comfort to me in my misfortunes,
if I could flatter myself that you have not
looked upon the excess of my love with in-
difference." "My lord," answered Fetnah
— "Alas! madam," said Ganem, interrupt-
ing her at the word lord, "this is the second
time you have done me the honour to call
me lord : the presence of the women-slaves
Iiindcred me the first time fiom taking no-
tice of it to you : in the name of God,
madam, do not give me this titJe of honour;
it does not belong to me : treat me, I be-
seech you, as your slave : I am, and shall
never cease to be so."
"No, no," replied Fetnah, interrupting
him in her turn, ' ' I shall be cautious how I
treat after that manner a man to whom I owe
my life. I should be ungrateful, could I say
or do anything that did not become you.
Leave me, therefore, to follow the dictates
of my gratitude, and do not require it of
me that I misbehave myself towards you,
in return for the benefits I have received. I
shall never be guUty of it ; I am too sensible
of your respectful behaviour to abuse it ;
and I will not hesitate to own, that I do not
look upon all your care with indifference.
You know the reasons that condemn me to
silence."
Ganem was ravished at that declaration ;
he wept for joy, and not being able to find
expressions significant enough, in his own
opinion, to return Fetnah thanks, was satis-
fied with telling her, that as she knew what
she owed to the caliph, he, on his part, was
not ignorant that "what belongs to the
master is forbidden to the servant."
Night drawing on, he rose up to fetch a
light, which he brought in himself, as also
some collation, as is the custom in the city
of Bagdad, where, having made a good meal
at noon, they passed the evening with eat-
ing some fruit, and drinking a glass of
wine, and agreeable conversation till bed-
time.
I
^1
11
m
I'l
336
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
They both sat clown at table, and at iirst
complimented each other on the fruit as they
presented it reciprocally. The excellency of
the wine insensibly drew them both on to
drink; and having drunk two or three
glasses, they agreed that neither should
take another glass without singing some air
iirst. Gauem sung versos he coiu]iosed «jr-
tempore, expressive of the vehemence of his
passion ; and Fetuah, encouraged by his ex-
ample, composed and sung verses relating to
her adventure, and always containing some-
thing which Gancm might take in a sense
favourable to him ; except this, she most
exactly observed the fidelity due to the ca-
liph. The collation held till very late, and
the night was far mlvanccd Wfore they
thought of parting. Gancm then withdrew
to another apartment, leaving Fetnah where
she was, the women-slaves he had bon^ht
coming in to wait upon her.
They lived together after this manner
several days. The young merchant went
not abroad, unless upon business of the ut-
most consequence, and even for that tofik
the time when his lady was at her rest ; for
he could not prevail upon himself to lose a
moment that might be spent in her com-
pany. All hia thoughts were taken up with
his dear Fetnah, who, on her side, gi^■ing
way to her inclination, confessed she had ni>
less aiTcction for him than he had for her.
However, fond as they were of each other,
their respect for the cndiph kept them within
due boimds, which still heightened their
passion.
Whilst Fetnah, thus snatched from the
jaws of death, passed her time so agreeably
with Ganeni, Zobeide was not without
some apprehensions in Haroun Alraschid's
palace.
No sooner had the three slaves, entrusted
with the execution of her revenge, carried
away the chest, without knowing what was
in it, or so much as the least curiosity to in-
quire into it, (aa being used to pay a blind
obedience to her commands,) than she was
seized with a tormenting uneasiness; a
thousand perplexing thoughts disturbed her
rest ; sleep fled from her eyes, and she spent
the night in contrivini; how to conceal her
crime. "My consort," said she, "loves
Fetnah more than ever he did any of his
favourites. What shall I say to him at his
return, when he inquires of me after her ? "
Many contrivances occurred to her, but none
were satisfactory. Still she met with diffi-
culties, and knew not where to fix. There
lived with her an ancient lady, who had bred
her up from her infancy. As soon as it was
day she sent for her, and having entrusted her
with the secret, said, "My good mother, you
have always assisted me with your advice ;
if ever I stood in need of it, it is now,
when the business before you is to still my
thoughts, distracted by a mortal anxiety,
and to shew me some way to satisfy the
caliph."
"My dear mistress," replied the old
woman, " it had been much better not to
have run yourself into the difliculties you
labour under ; but since the thing is done,
the best is to say no more of it. All that
must now be thought of is how to deceive
the commander of the believers ; and I am
of opinion, that you immediately cause a
wooden image resembling a dead body to bo
carved. We will shroud it up in old linen,
and when shut up in a coiFni, it shall be
buried in some part of the palace ; then shall
you immediately cause a marble monument
to be built, in the form of a dome, over the
burial-place, and erect a figure, which shall
be covered with a black cloth, and set about
with great candlesticks and large wax tapers.
There is another thing," added the old lady,
"which ought not to be forgot: you must
put on mourning, and cause the same to be
done by all your own and Fetnah's women,
your eunnchs, and all the officers of the
palace. When the caliph returns, and sees
you all and the palace in mourning, he will
not fail to ask the occasion of it. Then will
you have an oi)portunity of insinuating your-
self into his favour, by saying it was out of
respect to him that you paid the last honours
to Fetnah, snatched away by sudden death.
You may tell him you have caused a mauso-
leum to be built, and, in short, that you have
jvtid all the last honours to his favourite, as
he would have done himself had he been
present. His passion for her being extra-
ordinary, he will certainly go to shed tears
upon her grave; and perhaps," added the
old woman, "he will not believe she is
really dead. He may, perhaps, suspect you
have turned her out of the palace through
jealousy, and look upon all the mourning as
an artifice to deceive him, and prevent hia
making search after her. It is likely he will
cause the coffin to be taken up and opened,
and it is certain he will be convinced of her
death, as soon as he shall see the figure of
a dead body buried. He will be pleased with
all you shall have done, and express his
gratitude. As for the wooden image, I will
undertake to have it cut myself by a carver
in the city, who shall not know what use it
Ls to be put to. As for your part, madam,
order Fetnah's woman, who yesterday gave
her the lemonade, to give out, among her
Companions, that she has just found her mis-
tress dead in her bed ; and to the end that
they may only think of lamenting, without
offering to go into her chamber, let her add,
she has already acquainted you with it, and
that you have ordered Mesrour to cause her
to Ije buried."
As soon as the old lady had spoken these
words, Zobeide took a rich diamond ring out
^mmBmMn"-
^"
GANEM, SON TO ABOU A YOUB.
337
of her casket, and putting it on her finger,
and embracing her in a transport of joy,
said, ''How infinitely am I beholden to you,
my good mother ! I should never have
thought of so ingenious a contrivance. It
cannot fail of success, and I begin to recover
my peace of mind. I leave the care of the
wooden figure to you, and will go myself to
order the rest."
The wooden image was got ready with as
much expedition as Zobeide could have
wisheil, and then conveyed by the old lady
herself into Fetnah's bed-chamber, whore she
dressed it like a dead body, and put it into
a coffin. Then Mesrour, who was himself
deceived by it, caused the cofiin and the
representation of Fetnah to be carried away,
and buried with the usual ceremonies in the
place appointed by Zobeide, the favourite's
women weeping iind lamenting, she who had
given her the lemonade setting them an
example by her cries and howlings.
That very day Zobeide sent for the archi-
tect of the palace and of the caliph's other
houses, and, according to the orders he
received from her, the mausoleum was
finished in a very short time. Such potent
princesses as the consort of a monarch,
■whose power extended from east to west,
are always punctually obeyed in whatsoever
they command. She soon put on mourning
with all the court ; so that the news of
Fetnah's death was quickly spread all over
the city.
Ganem was one of the last who heard of
it; for, as I have before observed, he hardly
ever went abroad. Being, however, at
length informed of it, " Madam," said he to
the caliph's fair favourite, "you are believed
in Bagdad to be dead, and I do not question
but that Zobeide herself believes it. I bless
Heaven that I am the cause, and the happy
witness of your being alive ; and would to
God, that, taking the advantage of this false
report, you would share ray fortime, and go
far from hence to reign in my heart ! But
whither does this pleasing transport carry
me ? I do not consider that you are born to
make the greatest prince in the world happy,
and that only Haroun Ah-aschid is worthy of
you. Supposing you could resolve to give
him up for me, and that you would follow
me, ought I to consent to it ? No, it is my
part always to remember that "what belongs
to the master is forbidden to the slave."
The lovely Fetnah, though moved by the
tenderness of the passion he expressed, yet
prevailed with herself not to answer it. " My
lord," said she to him, "we cannot obstruct
Zobeide's triumphing. I am not at all sur-
prised at the artifice she makes use of to
conceal her guilt : but let her go on ; I flat-
ter myself that sorrow will soon follow her
triumph. The caliph will return, and we
•h^ find the means privately to inform him
of all that has happened. In the meantime
let us be more cautious than ever, that she
may not know I am alive. I have already
told you the consequences."
At the end of three months the caliph
returned to Bagdad with glory, having van-
quished all his enemies. Ho entered the
palace with impatience to see Fetnah, and to
lay all his new laurels at her feet ; but was
amazed to see all the officers he had left
behind him in mourning. He was struck
without knowing the cause ; and his concern
was redoubled, coming into the apartment of
Zobeide, he espied that princess coming to
meet him in mourning, vith all her women.
He immediately asked lier the cause of it,
with much agitation. "Commander of the
believers," answered Zobeide, " I am in
moiu-ning for your slave, Fetnah ; who died
so suddenly, that it was impossible to apply
any remedy for her distemper." She would
have proceeded, but the caliph did not give
her time, being so surprised at the news,
that he cried out, and fainted in the arms of
Giafar, his grand vizier, who attended him.
But soon recovering himself, ho with a
feeble voice, which sufficiently expressed his
extreme grief, asked where his dear Fetnah
had been buried. "Sir," said Zobeide, "I
myself took care of her funeral, and spared
no cost to make it magnificent. I have
caused a marble mausoleum to be built over
her grave, and will attend you thither, if
you desire it."
The caliph woidd not permit Zobeide to
take that trouble, but contented himself to
have Mesrour conduct him. He went thi-
ther just as he was, that is, in his camp
dress. When he saw the figure covered with
a black cloth, the wax lights round it, and
the magnificence of the mausoleum, he was
amazed that Zobeide should have performed
the obsequies of her rival with so much
pomp ; and being naturally of a jealous
temper, he suspected his wife's generosity,
and fancied his mistress might perhaps be
yet alive ; that Zobeide, taking the advan-
tage of his long absence, might have turned
her out of the palace, ordering those she had
entrusted to conduct her, to convey her so
far off that she might never more be heard
of. This was all he suspected ; for he did
not think Zobeide wicked enough to have
attempted the life of his favourite.
The better to discover the tnith himself,
this prince ordered the figure to be removed,
and caused the grave and the coffin to be
opened in his presence ; but when he saw
the linen wrapped round the wooden image,
he durst not proceed any further. This reli-
gious caliph thought it would be an irreligi-
ous act to suffer the body of the dead lady
to be touched ; and this scrupulous fear
prevaUed over his love and curiosity. He
doubted not of Fetnah's death. He caused
(
si.
;fi
t I
f, :i
i
338
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the coffin to be shut ap Sjraiii, the grave to
be tilled, and the figure to be placed as it
was before.
The caliph, thinking himself obliged to
pay some respect to the tomb of his favour-
ite, sent for the ministers of religion, the
officers of the palace, and the readers of the
Koran ; and, whilst they -were collecting
together, he remained in the mausoleum,
moistening with his tears the earth that
covered the phantom of his mistress. When
all the persons he had sent for were come, he
stood before the figure, and they about it re-
cited long prayers ; after which, the readers
of the Koran read several chapters.
The same ceremony was performed every
day for a whole month, morning and even-
ing, the caliph being always present, with
Giafar the grand vizier, and the principal
officers of the court, all of them in mourn-
ing, OS well as the caliph himself, who all
the ^ime ceased not to honour the memory of
Fetnah with his tears, and would not hear of
any business.
The last day of the month, the prayers and
reading of the Koran lasted from morning
till break of day the next morning ; and
at length, when all was done, every man
returned home. Haroun Alraschid, being
tired with sitting up so long, went to take
some rest in his apartment, and fell asleep
on a sofa, between two of the court ladies,
one of them sitting at the bed's head, and the
other at the feet, who, whilst he slept, were
working some embroidery, and observed a
profound sUence.
She who sat at the bed's head, and whose
name was Nouron-Nihar, (that is. Dawn of
the Day, ) perceiving the caliph was asleep,
whispered to the other called Kagmatos
Sohi, (signifying Morning-Star,) "There is
great news ! The commander of the be-
lievers, our master, wiU be overjoyed when
he awakes, and hears what I have to tell
him : Fetnah is not dead ; she is in perfect
health." "O heavens!" cried Morning-
Star, in a transjiort of joy, " is it possible
that the beautiful, the charming, the incom-
parable Fetnah, should be still among the
living ? " Moming-Star uttered these words
with so much vivacity, and so loud, that the
caliph awaked. He asked why they had
disturbed his rest? "Alas! my sovereign
lord," answered Moming-Star, " pardon me
this indiscretion ; I could not without trans-
port hear that Fetnah is still alive ; it
caused such emotion in me, that T could not
conceal it." " What then is become of
her," said the caliph, " if she is not dead? "
" Chief of the believers," replied Dawn of
the Day, " I this evening received a note,
not signed, from a person unknown, but
written with Fetnah's own hand, who gives
me an account of her melancholy adventure,
and orders me to acquaint you with it. I
thought fit, before I fidfilled my commission*
to let you take some few moments' rest, be-
lieving you must stand in nee<l of it, after
your fatigue ; and" — "Give mo that note,"
said the caliph, interrupting her eagerly ;
" you were wrong to defer delivering it to
me."
Dawn of the Day immediately presented
to him the note, wliich he opened with much
impatience, and in it Fetnah gave a par-
ticidar account of all that had befallen her,
but enlarged a little too much on the care
Ganem took of her. The caliph, who was
naturally jealous, instead of being provoked
at the inhumanity of Zohoide, was more con-
cerned at the infidelity he fancied Fetnah
had been gxiilty of towards him. " Is it so?"
said he, after reading the note ; " the jter-
tidious wretch has been four months with «
young merchant, and has the effrontery to
boast of his attention to her. Thirty days
are past since my return to Bagdad, and she
now bethinks herself of sending me news of
herself. Ungrateful creature ! whilst I spend
the days in bewailing her, she passes them
in betraying me. Go to ; let us take ven-
geance of a false woman, and that bold youth
who affronts me." Having spoken these
words, that prince rose up, and went into a
great hall where he used to appear in pub-
lic, and give audience to the great men of
his court. The first gate was opened, and
immediately all the courtiers, who were
waiting without, entered. The grand vizier
came in, and prostrated himself before the
throne the caliph sat on. Then rising, he
stood before his master, who, in a tone
which denoted he would be instantly obeyed,
said to him, "Giafar, your presence is requi-
site for putting in execution an important
affair I am about to commit to you. Take
four hundred men of my guards along with
you, and first inquire where a merchant of
Damascus lives, whose name is Gonem, the
son of Abou Ayoub. When you have learnt
it, repair to his house, and cause it to be
razed to the foundations ; but first secure
Ganem, and bring him hither, with my slave
Fetnah, who has lived with him these four
months. I will punish her, and make on
example of that insolent man, who has
presumed to fail in respect to me."
The grand vizier having received this
positive command, made a low bow to the
caliph, having his hand on his head, in token
that he would rather lose it than disobey
him, and departed. The first thing he did
was to send to the syndic of the dealers in
foreign stuffs and fine silks, for the new ones
bought of Ganem, with strict orders, above
all things, to find out the street and house
he lived in. The officer he sent with these
orders, brought him back word, that he had
scarce been seen for some months, and no
man knew what could keep him at home, if
mumgmm^.
m
GANEM, SON TO ADOU A YOUB.
339
he was there. The same officer likewise
told Giafar where Guiieiu lived, mid the
name of the widow who had let him the
house.
Upon this exact information, that minis-
ter, without loHiug time, marched with the
Boldiera the cali]>h had ordered him to take,
went to the judge of the police, whom he
caused to hear hnu com])any, aud attended
by a great number of car[ieiitcr8 and ma-
sons, with the uecessory tools for roziug a
house, came to that where Uanem lived ;
and hading it stood single, ho posted his
soldiers round it, to j)revent the young mer-
chant's making his escape.
Fetuah and Gouem had just dined : the
lady was sitting at a window next the street;
hearing a noise, she looked out through the
lattice, and seeing the graiul vizier draw
near, with all his attendants, slie concluded
she was their object as well as (Innem. >She
perceived her note had been received, but
had not expected such an answer, having
ho])cd that the caUph would have taken the
matter in a diflerent light. >She knew nut
how long that prince had been come honu^ ;
and though she was acquainted with liis
jealous tem|)er, yet she apprehended nothing
on that account. However, the sight of the
grand vizier and the soldiers made her trem-
ble, not indeed for herself, but for Gauem ;
she did not question clearing herself, pro-
vided the cahph would but hear her. As
for Gaiieui, whom she loved less out of gra-
titude than inclination, she plainly foresaw
that his incensed rival would see, aud miglit
be apt to condemn him, upon account of his
youth and person. FuU of that thought, she
turned to the young merchant, and said,
"Alas! Ganem, Ave ore undone! it is you
and I that are sought after." He presently
looked through the lattice, and was seized
with dread when he beheld the caliph's
guards, with their naked scimitars, and the
grand vizier, with the civil magistrate, at
the head of them. At that sight he stood
motionless, aud had not power to utter one
word. "Ganem," said the favourite, "there
is no time to be lost ; if you love me, put on
the habit of one of your slaves immediately
and daub your face and arms with soot ; —
then put some of these di&hes on your head ;
you may be taken for a servant belonging to
the eating-1 juse, and they will let you pass.
If they happen to ask you where the master
of the house is, answer, without any hesita-
tion, that he is within." "Alas ! madam,"
answered Ganem, less concerned for himself
than for Fetnah, "you only take care of me
— ^what will become of you?" "Let not
that trouble you," replied Fetnah; "it is
my part to look to that. As for what you
leave in this house, I will take care of it,
and I hope it wlU be one day faithfidly re<
stored to you, when the caliph's anger shall
be over ; but do you avoid his fury. The
orders he gives in the heat of p.iKhion are
always fatal." The young merchant's afUic-
tioii was MO great, that he knew imt what
course to lix upon, ami would certainly Jiavc
sutt'ered himself to have been seized liy the
caliph's soldiers, had not Fetnah pressed
him to disguise himself. He submitted to
her persuasioiis, put on the habit of a slave,
daubed himself with soot ; and it wa.s hij;h
time, for they were knocking at tlie door,
and all they coiUd do was to embruco each
other tenderly. They were both ho over-
whelmed with sorrow, that they could not
utter one word. Thus they parted. Ganem
went out with some diHlies on liix head ; he
was taken for the servant of an eating lionse,
and noljody offered to stop him. Uii the
contrary, the grand vizier, wo was the first
that met him, gave way and let him pass,
little thinking that he was the man he
looked for. Those who were behind the
grand vizier made way lis he hiwl done,
and thus favoured his escajie. He got
si)eedily to one of the city gates, »"•' ;•;
clear away.
Whilst he was making the best of his way
from the grand vizier (Jiafar, that minister
came into the room where Fetnah was sit-
ting on a sofa, and where there were many
chests full of Ganem's clothes, and of tlie
money he made of his goods.
As soon as Fetnah saw the grand vizier
come into the room, she fell Hat <jii her face,
and continuing in that jwHture, as it wore,
ready to receive her death, "My lord," said
she, "I am ready to undergo the sentence
passed against me by the commander of the
believers ; you need only make it known to
me." " Madam," answered triafar, falling
also down till she liad raised herself, "God
forbid any man sliould presume to lay pro-
fane hands on you. I do not intend to offer
you the least harm. I have no farther or-
ders than to entreat you will lie jiloased to go
with me to the palace, and to conduct you
thither, with the merchant that lives in this
house." "My lord," replied the favourite,
"let us go ; I am ready to follow you. As
for the yoimg merchant, to whom I am in-
debted for my life, he is not here ; he has
been gone about a inontli since to Damascus,
whither his business called him, and he has
left these chests you see under my care till
he returns. I conjure you to cause them to
be carried to the palace, and order them to
be secured, that I may perform the promise I
made him to take all possible care of them."
"You shall be obeyed," said Giafar ; and
immediately sent for porters, whom he com-
manded to take up the chests, and carry
them to Mesrour.
As soon as the porters were gone, he
whispered the civil magistrate, committing
to him the care of seeing the house razed,
•i
n
m
- 'I'
W'
»;i
340
THE ARAU/AN N/G/fTS' ENTERTAINAfF.NTS.
but tint to catiHu dili^ont Roarch to bo nia<Ia
fur Oanctn, who, lie siiNpoctt-il, luiglit bo hid,
iiotwitlMtandin}; what Fctiiah had ti)I<l him.
Tht-n he wunt out, taking this yoiiiij^ lady
with hiu, attended by the two alaveH that
waited on her. An for (ianem's slaves, they
were not regarded ; they ran in anion^ tho
crowd, and it woa not kuowii what became
of them.
No sooner was Oiafar out of the lioiise,
than the masons and car|>entera bei^an to
raze it, and did their business so ctt'cetually,
that, in a few hours, none of it remained.
But the civil ma^'istrate, not finding (tanem,
after the stricteat search, sent to acquaint
the grand %'izier with it, before that minister
reached the palace. "Well," said Haroun
Alraschiil, seeing him come into his closet,
"have you executed my orders?" "Yes,
sir," answered (iiafar; "tho house Gancm
lived in is levelled with the grounil, and I
have brought you your favourite Fetnah ;
she is at your closet door, and T will call her
in, if you command me. As for the young
merchant, we could not lind him, tjiough
everj' ]>lace has been searched ; and Fetnah
affirms, that he has been gone a mouth to
Damascus."
Never was any man in such a passion as
the cali])h, when he heard that Ganeni had
made his e.sca))e. As for his favourite, being
posscsseil that she had been false to him, he
would neither see nor speak to her. " Mes-
rour," said he to the chief of the eunuchs,
who was then present, "take the ungratefid,
the perfidio\is Fetnah, and go shut her up in
the dark tower." That tower was within the
precinct of the palace, and commonly served
as a prison for the favourites who any way
offended the cali]>h.
Mesrour l)eing used to execute his sove-
reign's orders, though never so unjust, with-
out making any answer, obeyed this with
some reluctance. He signified his concern
to Fetnah, who was the more grieved at it,
because she hatl reckoned that the caliph
would not refuse to 8])cak to her. .She was
obliged to submit to her hard fate, and to
follow Mesrour, who conducted her to the
dark tower, and there left her.
In the meantime, the enraged caliph dis-
missed his grand vizier, and, only hearken-
ing to his passion, writ the follow ing letter
with his own hand to the king of >Syria, his
cousin and tributary, who resided at Da-
mascus : —
The Letter from the Ciiliph Haroun Al-
ranchid to Mohammed Zinehi, King of
Syria,
"Corsix,
"This letter is to inform you, that a mer-
chant of Damascus, whose name is Ganem,
the son of Abou Ayoab, has seduced the
most amiable of my women slaves, called
Fetnah, and ii lied. It is my wiM, that when
you have read my letter, you causn search to
l)e made for (Janeni, and secure him. When
he is in your jtowcr, you shall cause him to
be loaded with irons, and, for three days
successively, let him receive lifty strokes
with a bull's pizzlo. Then let him be led
through all parts of the city, with a crier,
crying, 'This is the smallest punishment the
commander of the believers inlliets on him
that offends his lord, and debauches one of
his slaves.' After that, you shall send him
to me under a strong guard. It is my will
that you cause his house to be ]ilundered;
and when it shall be Vazed, order the mate-
rials to be carried out of the city into the
middle of tho plain. Besides this, if ho has
father, mother, sister, wives, daughters, or
other kindred, cause them to be 8tri]>ped ;
and when they are naked, expose them
three days to the whole city, forbidiling any
person, on pain of death, to afford them any
shelter. I expect you will without delay
execute my command.
"Haroun Alr.vsciiid."
The caliph having written this letter, sent
it away by an express, ordering him to make
all jiossible sjiecd, and to take pigeons along
with him, tliat he might the sooner hear
what had been done by Mohammed Zinebi.
The pigeons of Bagdad have this pecu-
liar quality, that, though they be carried
never so far, they rettim to Bagdad .as soon
as they are turned loose, especially w-hen
they have young ones. A letter rolled up is
made fast imder their wing, and by that
means, advice is S]>eedily received from such
places as it is desired.
The caliph's courier travelled night and
day, as his master's impatience recjuired;
and being come to Damascus, went directly
to king Zinebi's palace, who sat ujion his
throne to receive the caliph's letter. The
courier having delivered it, Mohammed,
looking upon it, and knowing the hand,
stood lip to show his respect, kissed the let-
ter, and laid it on his head, to ilenote he was
r ,ly submissively to ol>i\ " onlers con-
t-" ""dinit. He opr ait, -ving read
ii, immedi.iti ' ■ de* aded from his throne,
and, Avitli'"'' ^me, mounted on horse-
back, wit .icipal officers f s house-
hold. H .^ont for the civil .ristrate,
who cami him ; ar 1 then he went di-
rectly to Gaii( Ki's hoi I 0, attended by all his
guards.
That young merchant .-< mother had never
heard or received any letter from him since
he left Damascus ; but the other merchants
with whom he went to Bagdad were re-
turned, and all of them told her they had
left her son in perfect health. However,
seeing he did not return himself, and neg-
-•xj^ii'mr'":.fm^
GANEAf, SON TO AHOU A VOUD.
341
If ctiii)( to writB, the teiuler uuitliur could not
but l>e iH.>rima<li>(l that he woh (kml, and wim
m> fully convinced of it in her iniit>;iniitiiiii,
that she went into mourning. iShu bewailed
(ianem iut if Hhe ha<l seen him die, and had
herself cloxetl his eyes ; never mother ox-
liresscd greater sorrow ; and so far was shu
from seeking any comfort, that she delighted
in iudul;:iM;{ her .torrow. She caused a donio
to be built in the middlu of the court be-
lon;i;inf; to her hou.se, in which she placed a
li(;uro rejireHentiiig her son, and covered it
with black cloth. She sjient the greatest
jiart of the days and nights in weeping under
that dome, as if her son had been buried
there ; the beautiful Alcolomb, or Ravisher
of Hearts, her daughter, boro her company,
and mixed her tears with hers.
It was now some time since they had thus
devoted themselves to sorrow, and since thu
neighbourhooil, hearing their cries and la-
mentations, pitied such tender relations,
when king Mohammed Zinebi knocked at
the door, which being opened by a slave be-
longing to the family, he went briskly into
the house, imiuiriug for Uaucm, the son of
Abou Ayoub.
Though the slave had never seen king
Ziucbi, she easily guessed by his retinue that
this must be one of the principal officers in
Damascus. *' My lord," said she, " that
Gonem you inquire for is dead ; my mis-
tress, his mother, is in that moniunent you
see there, actually lamenting the loss of
him." The king, not regarding what was
said by the slave, caused all the house to be
diligently searched by his guanls for Ganem.
Then he advanced towards the moniunent,
where he saw the mother and daughter sit-
ting on a mat by the figure which repre-
sented Ganem, and their faces appeared to
him bathed in tears. These poor women
immediately veiled themselves as soon as
they beheld a man at the door of the dome ;
but the mother knowing the king of Damas-
cus, got up, and ran to cast herself at
his feet. " My good lady," said he, " I was
looking for your son Ganem ; is he here ? "
"Alas! sir," cried the mother, "it is a long
time since he has ceased to be ; would to
Go<l T had at least put him into his coffin
with my own hands, and had the comfort of
having his bones in this monument ! O my
son, my dear son ! " She would have said
more, but was oppressed with so violent
sorrow, that she was not able.
Zinebi was moved, for he was a prince of
a mild nature, and had much compassion for
the sufferings of the unfortunate. "If Ga-
nem alone is guilty," thought he to himself,
"why should the mother and the daughter,
who are innocent, be punished '' Ah !
cruel Haroun Alroschid ! what a mortifica-
tion do you put upon me, in making me the
executioner of your vengeance, obliging me
to persecute persons who have not oH'ended
you!"
The guards whom the king hiul ordered
to searuii for (ianem, came and told him
their search was witimut any suceess, Mo
was fully convinced of tiiis — the tears of
till ISO two women would not leave him any
room to doubt. It dJHtracted hiiu to be ob-
liged to execute thu caliph's ordiT. " My
good liuly," said he to (Janein's mother,
"come out of this monument with your
daughter ; it is no jilace of safety for you."
They went out, and he, to secure them
against any insult, took oil' his own robe,
which was very large, and covered them
both wiuh it, bidding them keep close to
him. Then he ordered the jiopulace to bo
let in to plunder, which was performed with
the utmost rapaciousness, and with shouts,
which terrified Ganem's mother and sister
thu more, because they knew not the reason
of it. The rabble carried off the richest
goods, chests full of wealth, fine Persian and
Indian carpets, cushions covered with cloth
of gold and silver, tino china ware; in short,
all was taken oway ; nothing was left but
the bare walls of the house ; and it was a
dismal 8j)ectacle for the unha]>py ladies, to
see all their goods plundered, without know-
ing why they were so cruelly treated.
When the house was plundered, Moham-
med ordered the civil magistrate to raze the
house and monument ; and while that was
doing, he carried away Alcolomb and her
mother to his palace. There it was he re-
doubled their affliction, acquainting them
with the caliph's will. "He commands me,"
said he to them, "to cause you to be stripped,
and exposed stark naked for three days to
the view of the jjeoplo. It is with the ut-
most reluctance that I execute that cruel and
ignominious sentence." The king delivered
those words with such an air, as plainly
made it appear his heart was really jiierced
with grief and compassion. Though tha
fear of being dethroned prevented his fol-
lowing the dictates of his pity, yet he in some
measure moderated the rigour of Haroun
Alraschid's orders, causing large shifts,
without sleeves, to be made of coarse horse-
hair for Ganem's mother and his sister Al-
colomb.
The next day, these two victims of the
caliph's rage were stripjied of their clothes,
and their horse-hair shifts put upon them ;
their head-dress was also taken away, so
that their dishevelled hair hung Heating on
their backs. Alcolomb had the finest hair
in the world, and it hung down to the
ground. In that condition they were ex-
posed to the people. The civil magistrate,
attended by his officers, were along with
them, and they were conducted through the
city. A crier went before them, who every
now and then cried, "This is the punishment
li
r I
I!
I
fiil
(
342
T/fE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
due to those who have drawn on themselves
the indignation of the commander of the
believers."
Whilst they walked in this manner along
the streets of Damascus, with their arms and
feet naked, clad in such a strange garment,
and endeavouring to hide their confusion
under their hair, with which they covered
their face?, all the peojile were dissolved in
tears ; more especially the lailies, looking on
them as innocent persons, through their lat-
tice-windows, and being particularly moved
by Alcolomb's youth and beauty, made the
air ring with their dreadful shrieks as they
passed before their houses. The very child-
ren, frightened at those shrieks, and at the
spectacle that occasioned them, mixed their
cries with that general lamentation, and
added new horror to it. In short, had ?,n
enemy been in Damascus, putting all to f re
and sword, the consternation could not ha\ o
been greater.
It was near night when that dismal scene
concluded. The mother and daughter were
both conducted hack to king Mohammed's
palace. Kot being used to walk bare-foot,
they were so spent, that they lay a long tinio
In a swoon. The queen of Dama&cus, highly
afflicted at their misfortune, notwithstand-
ing the caliph's prohibition to relieve them,
sent some of her women to comfort them,
with all sorts of refreshments and wine to
recover their spirits.
The queen's women found them still in a
swoon, and almost past receiving any benefit
by what they offered them. However, with
much difficulty, they were brought to them-
selves. Ganem'a mother immediately re-
turned them thanks for their courtesy. ' ' My
good lady," said one of the queen's ladies to
her, "we are highly concerned at your afHic-
tion, and the queen of Syria, our mistress,
has done us a favour in employing us to assist
you. We can assure you, that princess is
much ailiicted at your mibrortunes, as well
as the king her consort." Ganem's mother
entreated the queen's women to return her
majesty a thousand thanks from her and her
daughter Alcolomb ; and then directing her
discourse to the lady that spoke to her,
"Madam," said she to her, "the king has
not told me why the chief of the believers
inflicts so many outrages on us ; pray be
pleased to tell us what crimes we have been
guilty of." " My good lady," answered the
other, "the origin of your misfortimes pro-
ceeds from your son Ganem. He is not dead,
as you imagine. He is accused of hav-ing
stolen the beautiful Fetnah, the best beloved
of all the king's favourites ; and he having,
by timely flight, withdrawn himself from
that prince's indignation, the punishment is
fallen on you. AH the world condemns the
caliph's resentment, but all the world fears
him ; and you see king Zincbi himself dares
not resist his orders, for fear of incurring
his displeasure. AU we can do is to pity
you, and exhort you to have patience."
"I know my son," answered Ganem's
mother; "I have educated him very care-
fully, and in that resptot which is due to
the commander of the believers. He has
not committed the crime he is accused of :
I dare answer for his innocence. But I will
give over murmuring and complaining, since
it is for him that I suffer, and he is r.)t dead.
Ganem ! " added she, in a transport of love
and joy, "my dear son Ganem ! is it possible
that you are still alive ? I am no longer con-
cerned for the losis of my goods ; and how
extravagant soever the i. aliph's orders may
be, I forgive him all the severity of them,
provided Heaven has preserved my son. I
am only concerned for my daughter ; her
sufferings alone afflict me : yet I believe her
to be so good a sister as to follow my ex-
ample."
At hearing these words, Alcolomb, who.
i^^m mmmmmt .
' i«l!ii|IWIWIllllillWLMt.^
>\"
I
GANEM, SON TO ABOU A YOUB.
343
till then, had appeared insensible, turned to
her mother, and clasping her arms about
her neck, " Yes, dear mother," said she " I
will always follow your example, whatever
extremity your love for my brother brings
you to."
The mother and daughter thus inter-
changing their sighs and tears, continued a
considerable time in such moving embraces.
In the meantime the queen's women, who
were much moved at that spectacle, omitted
no persuasions to prevail with Ganem's
mother to take some sustenance. She ate
a morsel out of com^daisance, and Alcolomb
did the like.
The caliph having ordered that Ganem's
kindred should be exposed three days suc-
cessively to the sight of the people, in the
condition already mentioned, Alcolomb and
her mother aii'orded the same spectacle the
second time next day, from morning till
night. But that day and the following,
things did not pass after the same manner :
the streets, which at first had been fuU of
people, were now quite empty. All the
merchants, incensed at the ill usage of Abou
Ayoub's widow ftnd daughter, shut up their
shops, and kept themselves close within
their houses. The ladies, instead of looking
through their lattice windows, withdrew
into the back parts of their houses. There
was not a soid to be seen in the public
places those unfortunate women were car-
ried through. It looked as if aU the inhabi-
tants of Damascus had abandoned their city.
On the fourth day, king Mohammed
Zinebi, who was resolved jJunctuaUy to
obey the caliph's orders, though he did not
approve of them, sent criers into all quarters
of the city to make proclamation, strictly
forbidding all the inhabitants of Damascus,
and strangers, of what condition soever,
upon pain of death, and having their bodies
cast to the dogs to be devoured, to receive
Ganem's mother and sister into their houses,
or to give them a morsel of bread or a drop
of water, and, in a word, to afford them the
least support, or hold the least correspon-
dence with them.
When the criers had performed what the
king had enjoined them, that prince ordered
the mother and the daughter to be turned
out of the palace, and left to their choice to
go where they thought tit, As soon as they
appeared, all persons fled from them, so
great an impression had the late prohibition
made upon them all. Tliey easily perceived
that everybody shunned them ; but not
knowing the rcasnn of it, were much sur-
prised ; and \h'-\r amazement was the greater,
when coming into any street, or among
many persons, they recollected some of their
best friends, who presently vanished with
as much haate as the rest. "What is the
meaning of this ? " said Ganem's mother :
" do we carry the plague about us? Must
the unjust and barbarous usage we have re-
ceived render us odious to our fellow-citi-
zens ? Come, my child," added she, "let
us depart from Damascus with all speed ;
let us not stay any longer in a city where
we are become frightful to our very
friends."
The two wretched ladies, discoursing
after this manner, came to one of the ex-
tremities of the city, and retired to a ruined
house, there to pass the night. Thither
some Mussulmen, out of charity and com-
passion, resorted to them after the day was
shut in. They carried them provisions, but
durst not stay to comfort them, for fear of
being discovered, •'nd punished for disobey-
ing the calii)h's orders.
In the meantime king Zinebi had let fly
a pigeon to give Haroim Alraschid an ac-
count of his exact obedience. He informed
him of all that had been done, and conjured
him to direct what he would have done with
Ganem's mother and sister. He soon re-
ceived the caliph's answer the same way,
which was, that he banish them from
Damascus for ever. Immediately the king
of Syria sent men to the old house, with
orders to take the mother and daughter,
and to conduct them three days' journey
from Damascus, and there to leave them,
forbidding them ever to return to the city.
Zinebi's men executed their commission,
but being less exact than their master, in the
strict performance of every tittle of Haroun
Alraschid's orders, they in pity gave Alco-
lomb and lior mother some small pieces of
money to ly them some subsistence, and
each of ti wa. bag, which they hung about
their necks, to carry their provisions.
In this miserable condition they came to
the first village. The peasants' wives flocked
about them, and as it appeared through their
disguise that they were people of some fa-
shion, they asked them what was the oc-
casion of their travelling after that manner,
in a habit that did not seem to l>elong to
them. Instead of answering the question
put to them, they fell to weeping, which
only served to heighten the curiosity of the
peasants, and to move their compassion.
Ganem's mother told them what she and
her daughter had endured; at which the
good countrywomen were sensibly afflicted,
and endeavoured to comfort them. They
treated them as well as their poverty would
perm:'., took off their horse-hair shifts, which
were very uneasy to them, and put on them
others which they gave them, with shoes,
and something to cover their heads, and
save their hair.
Having expressed their gratitude to those
charitable women, Alcolomb and her mother
departed from that village, taking short
journeys towards Aleppo. They used at
I' I
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I \i
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f ■
'f\
344
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
night to retire near or into the mosques,
•where they passed the night on the mat, if
there was any, or else on the bare pavement;
and sometimes put up in the public places
appointed for the use of travellers. As for
sustenance, they did not want it, for they
often came to places where bread, boiled
rice, and other provisions, are distributed to
all travellers who desire it.
At length they came to Aleppo, but
would not stay there, and continuing their
journey towards the Euphrates, crossed that
river, and entered into Mesopotamia, which
they traversed as far as Moussoul. Thence,
notwithstanding all they had endured, they
proceeded to Bagdad. That was the place
they had fixed their thoughts upon, hoping
to find Ganem there, though they ought not
to have fancied that he was in the city
where the caliph resided : but they hoped,
because they wished it ; their affection for
Mm increasing instead of diminishing, in
spite of their misfortunes. Their conversa-
tion was generally about him, and they in-
quired for him of all they met. But let us
leave Alcolomb and her mother, and return
to Fetnah.
She was Sicill confined close in the dark
tower, ever since the day that had been so
fatal to Ganem and her. However, as dis-
agreeable as her jirison was to her, it was
much less grievous than the thoughts of
Ganem's misfortune, the uncertainty of
whose fate was a killing afHicti'^n to her.
There was scarce a moment in v/liich she did
not lament him.
The caliph was accustomed to walk fre-
quently at night, within the enclosure of his
palace, for he was the most inquisitive prince
ia the world, and sometimes by those niqht-
walks, he came to the knowledge of things
that happened in his palace, which would
otherwise never have come to his ear : one
of those nights, in his walk, he happened to
pass by the dark tower, and fancying he
heard somebody talk, he stopped, and drew
near the door to listen, and distinctly heard
these words, which Fetnah, whoso thoughts
were always on Ganem, uttered with a loud
voice : "0 Ganem, too unfortunate Ganem!
where are you at this time? whither has thy
cruel fate led thee ? Alas ! it is I that have
made you wretched ! Why did you not let
me perish miserably rivther than afford me
your generous relief ? Wliat melancholy re-
ward have you received for your care and
respect ! The commander of the faithful,
who ought to have rewarded, persecutes
you ; and in return for haviu* always re-
garded me as a person reserved for his bed,
you lose all your goods, and are obliged to
seek for safety in flight. O caliph, barbar-
ous caliph, what will you say for yourself,
when you shall appear with Ganem before
the tribunal of the Supreme Judge, and the
angels shall testify the truth before your
face ? All the power you are now invested
with, and which makes almost the whole
world tremble, will not prevent your being
condemned and punished for your violent
and unjust proceedings." Here Fetnah
ceased her complaints, her sighs 'and tears
putting a stop to her utterance.
This was enough to make the caliph re-
flect. He plainly i)erceived, that if what ho
heard was true, his favourite must be inno-
cent, and that he had been too hasty in giv-
ing such orders against Ganem and his
family. Being resolved to be rightly in-
formed in an affair which so nearly con-
cerned him in point of equity, on which he
valued himself, he immediately returned to
his apartment, and that moment ordered
Mesrour to repair to the dark tower, and
bring Fetnah to him.
By this command, and much more by the
calii)h's manner of speaking, the chief of
the eunuchs guessed that his master de-
signed to pardon his favourite, and take her
to him again. He was overjoyed at it, for
he loved Fetnah, and had been much con-
cerned at her disgrace ; and therefore flying
instantly to the tower, "Madam," said he to
the favourite, with such an air as expressed
his satisfaction, "be pleased to follow me ; I
hope you will never more return to this vile
dark tower ; the commander of the faithful
wishes to speak with you, and I draw from
it a happy omen."
Fetnah followed Mesrour, who conducted
her into the caliph's closet. She prostrated
herself before that prince, and so continued,
her face bathed in tears. " Fetnah," said
the caUph, without bidding her rise, " I think
you charge me with violence and injustice.
Who is he that, notwithstanding the regard
and respect he had for me, is in a miserable
condition ? Speak freely ; you know the
natural goodness of my disposition, and that
I love to do justice."
By these words the favourite saw plainly
that the caliph had heard what she had said ;
and laying hold on so favourable an oppor-
tunity to clear her dear Ganem, " Com-
mander of the true believers," said she, " if
I have let fall any word that is not agreeable
to your majesty, I most humbly beseech you
to forgive me ; but he whose innocence and
wretched state you desire to be informed of,
is Ganem, the imhapjjy son of Abou Ayoub,
merchant of Damascus. He is the man that
saved my life, and afforded me a safe sanc-
tuary in his house. I must own, that from
the first moment he saw me, he perhaps de-
signed to devote himself to me, and con-
ceived hopes of engaging mo to admit his
services. I guessed at this by the eagerness
he shewed in entertaining me, and doing
me all the good offices which I wanted
I under the circumstances I was then in ; but
^».i
. 'v<mmmms^s^'^y*mm^Tr--''-^^
CANEAf, SON TO ABOU A YOUD.
345
as soon as he heard that I had the honour to
belong to you, ' Ah madam,' said he, ' that
which belongs to the master ia forbidden to
the slave.' From that moment, I owe this
justice to his virtue ; his behaviour was al-
ways suitable to his words. However, you,
commander of the true believers, well know
with what rigour you have treated him, and
you will answer for it before the tribunal of
God."
The caliph was not displeased with Fetnah
for the freedom of those words. " But may
I," answered he, "rely on the assurance you
give me of Ganem's virtue ? " "Yes," re-
plied Fetnah, " you may. I would not for
the world conceal the truth from you ; and
to prove to you that I am sincere, I must
make a confession to you, which perhaps
may displease you ; but I beg pardon of
your maj esty beforehand. " " Speak, daugh-
ter," said Uaroun Alraschid ; " I forgive you
all, provided you conceal nothing from me."
"Well, then," replied Fetnah, "let me in-
form you that Ganem's respectful behaviour,
joined to all the good offices he did me,
gained him my esteem. I went further yet :
you know the tyranny of love. I felt some
tender inclination rising in my breast. He
perceived it, but far from availing himself of
my frailty, anc' notwithstanding the flame
which consumed him, he still remained
steady in his duty ; and all that his passion
could force from him was those words I
have already told your majesty, ' That
which belongs to the master is forbidden to
the slave.' "
This ingenuous confession might have pro-
voked any other man than the caliph ; but it
completely appeased th.at prince. He com-
manded her to rise, and making her sit by
him, " Tell me your story," said he, " from
the beginning to the end." She did so with
much art and spirit, passing slightly over
what regarded Zobeide, and enlarging on the
obligation she owed to Ganem ; the expense
he had been at for her ; and above all, she
highly extolled his discretion, endeavouring
by that means to make the caliph sensible
that she had been imder the necessity of re-
maining concealed in Ganem's house to de-
ceive Zobeide. She concluded with the
young merchant's escape, which she plainly
told the caliph she had compelled him to,
that he might avoid his indignation.
When she had done speaking, that prince
said to her, " I believe all you have told
me ; but why was it so long before you let
me hear from you ? Was there any need of
staying a whole month after my return, be-
fore you sent me word where you were ? "
"Commander of the true believers," an-
swered Fetnah, " Ganem went abroad so
very seldom, that you need not wonder we
were not the first that heard of your return.
Besides that, Ganem, who took upon him to
deliver the letter I wrote to Nouron Nihar,
was a long time before he could find un op-
portunity of putting it into her own hands."
"It is enough, Fetnah," replied the
caliph; "I acknowledge my faidt, and
would willingly make amends for it, by
heaping favours on that young merchant of
Damascus. Consider, therefore, what I can
do for him. Ask what you think tit, and I
will grant it." Hereupon the favourite fell
down at the caliph's feet, with her face to
the ground ; and rising again, said, " Com-
mander of the true believers, after returning
your majesty thanks for Ganem, I most
humbly entreat you to cause it to be pub-
lished throughout your dominions, that you
pardon the son of Abou Ayoub, and that hu
may safely come to you. " "I will do more,"
rejoined that prince; " in requital for hav-
ing saved your life, and the respect he haa
shewn for me, to make amends for the loss
of his goods, and, in short, to repair the
wrong I have done to his family, I give him
to you for a husband." Fetnah had no
words expressive enough to thank the caliph
for his generosity : she then withdrew into
the apartment she had occupied before her
melancholy adventure. The same furniture
was still in it ; nothing had been removed :
but that which pleased her most was to find
there Ganem's chests and packs, which Mes-
rour had taken care to convey thither.
The next day Haroun Alraschid ordered
the grand vizier to cause proclamation to bo
made throughout all his dominions, that ho
pardoned Ganem, the son of Abou Ayoub ;
but this proved of no effect, for a long time
elapsed without any news of that young
merchant. Fetnah concluded, that he had
not been able to siu-vive the pain of losing
her. A dreadful uneasiness seized her mind ;
but as hope is the last thing which forsakes
lovers, she entreated the caliph to give her
leave to seek for (janem herself ; which be-
ing granted, she took a purse with a thou-
sand pieces of gold out of her casket, and
went one morning put of the palace, mounted
on a mule she had out of the calii)h's stables,
very richly accoutred. Black eunuchs at-
tended her, with their hands on each side
upon the mule's rump.
Thus she went from mosriue to mosque,
bestowing her alms among the devotees of
the Mohammedan religion, desiring their
prayers for the aceomplishuient of an alTair
on which the happiness of two persons, she
told them, depended. She sjjcnt the whole
day and the thousand pieces of gold in giv-
ing alms at the mosi-|ue3, and returned to
the palace in the evening.
The next day she took another purse of
the sa!ue value, and, in the like equipage as
the day before, went to the place where all
the jewellers' shops were, and stopping at
the door without alighting, sent one of hep
'i'l
i i
■ I
I ■
IK
IM
346
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
black cunnchs for the syndic or chief of them.
That syndic, who was a most charitable man,
and spent above two-thirds of his income in
relieving poor strangers, whether they hap-
pened to be sick or in distress, did not make
Fetnah wait, knowing by her dress that she
was a lady belonging to the palace. " I ap-
I)ly myself to you," said she, putting the
purse into his hands, " as a person whose
piety is cried up throughout the city. I de-
sire you to distribute that gold among the
poor strangers you relieve ; for I know yoa
make it your business to assist poor stran-
gers who aj)ply to your charity. I am also
satisfied that you prevent their wants, and
that nothing is more agreeable to you than
to have an opportunity of relieving their
misery." "Madam," answered the syndic,
" I shall obey your commands with plea-
sure ; but if you desire to exercise your cha-
rity in person, and will be pleased to step to
my house, you will there see two women
worthy of your compassion : I met them
yesterday as they were coming into the city ;
they were in a deplorable condition, and it
moved me the more, because I thought they
were persons of rank. Through all the rags
that covered them, notwithstanding the im-
pression the sun has made on their faces, I
discovered a noble air, not to be commonly
found in those poor people T relieve. I car-
ried them both tj my house, and delivered
them to my wife, who was of the same
opinion with me. She caused her slaves to
provide them good beds, whilst she herself
washed their faces, and gave them clean
linen. We know not as yet who they are,
because we wish to let them take some rest
before we trouble them with our questions."
Fetnah, without knowing why, felt a
curiosity to see them. The syndic would
have conducted her to his house, but she
would not give him the trouble, and was
satisfied that a slave of his should shew her
the way. She alighted at the door, and fol-
lowed the syndic's slave, who was gone be-
fore to give notice to his mistress, she being
then in the chamber with Alcolomb and her
mother ; for they were the persons the syndic
bad been speaking of to Fetnah.
The syndic's wife, being informed by the
slave that a lady from the palace was in her
house, was going out of the room to meet
her; but Fetnah, who had followed the slave
close, did not give her time : and coming
into the chamber, the syndic's wife prostrated
herself before her, to express the respect she
had for all that belonged to the caliph.
Fetnah took her up, and said, " My good
lady, I desire you will let me speak with
those two strangers that arrived at Bagdad
last night." " Madam," answered the syn-
dic's wife, " they lie in those two little beds
you see close by each other." The favourite
immediately drew near the mother's, and
viewing her carefully, " Good woman," said
she, " r come to offer you my assistance : I
ha\re a considerable interest in this city, and
may be of service to you and your com-
panion." " Madam," answered Ganem's
mother, " I perceive by your obliging offers
that Heaven has not quite forsaken us,
though we had cause to believe it, after so
many misfortunes as have befallen us."
Having uttered these words, she wept so
bitterly that Fetnah and the syndic's wife
could not forbear letting fall some tears.
The caliph's favourite having dried up
hers, said to Ganem's mother, "Be so kind
as to tell us your misfortunes, and recount
your story. You cannot give the relation
to any persons better disposed than we are
to use all possible means to comfort you."
" Madam," replied Abou Ayoub's disconso-
late widow, " a favourite of the commander
of the true believers, a lady whose name is
Fetnah, is the occasion of all our misfor-
tunes." These words were like a thunder-
bolt to the favourite; but suppressing her
.agitation and concern, she suffered Ganem's
mother to proceed in the following manner :
— " I am the widow of Abou Ayoub, a mer-
chant of Damascus : I had a son called
Ganeni, who, coming to trade at Bagdad,
has been accused of liaving carried off that
Fetnah. The caliph has caused search to be
made for him everywhere, to put him to
death ; and not finding him, has written to
the king of Damascus, to cause our house to
be plundered and razed, and to expose my
daughter and me three days successively
stark-naked to the populace, and then to
banish us out of Syria for ever. But how
unworthy soever our usjvge has been, I should
still be comforted, were my son alive, and I
could meet with him. What a pleasure
would it be for his sister and me to see him
again ! Embracing him, we should forget
the loss of our gooils, and all the evils we
have suffered for him. Alas ! I am fully per-
suaded he is only the innocent cause of them,
and that he is no more guilty towards the
caliph than his sis'er and I."
"No doubt of it," said Fetnah interrupt-
ing her there, "he is no more guilty than
you are : I can assure you of his innocence ;
for I am that very Fetnah you so much com-
plain of ; who, through some fataUty in my
stars, have occasioned you so many misfor-
tunes. To me you must impute the loss of
your son, if he is no more ; but if I have
occasioned your misfortune, I can in some
measure relieve it. I have already justified
Ganem to the caliph ; that prince has caused
it to be proclaimed throughout his domi-
nions, that he pardons the son of Abou
Ayoub ; and doubt not he will do you as
much good as he has done you harm. You
ore no longer his enemies. He waits for
Ganem to requite the service he has done
mi^immm0miiff^Sil^'^Qsmmt^:^r'''''^^'
GANEM, SON TO ABOU A YOUB.
347
me, by uniting our fortunes ; lie gives me to
him for his consort ; therefore look on me
as your daughter, and permit me to vow
eternal friendship to you." Having so said,
she bowed down on Oanem's mother, wlio
was so astonished, that she could return no
answer. Fetnah held her a long time in her
arms, and only left her to run to the other
bed to embrace Alcolomb, who, sitting up,
held out her arms to receive her.
When the caliph's charming favourite had
given the mother and daughter all the
tokens of affection they could expect from
Ganom'a wife, she said to them, " C'exse
both of you to afflict yourselves : the wealth
Ganem had in this city is not lost ; it is in
my apartment in the i)alace : 1 know all the
treasure of the world cannot comfort you
without Ganem ; I judge so of his mother
and sister, if I may judge of them by my-
self. Blood is no less powerful than love in
great minds ; but why should we dcsjjair of
seeing him a^ain ? We shall find him ; the
happiness of meeting with you makes me
conceive fresh hopes. Perhaps this is the
last day of your sufferings, and the be-
ginning of a greater felicity than you en-
joyed in Damascus, when Ganem was with
you."
Fetnah would have gone on, when the
syndic of the jewellers came in : "Madam,"
said he to lier, ' ' I come from seeing a very
moving object ; it is a young man, whom a
camel-driver has just carried to the hospital
at Bagdad : he was bound with cords on a
camel, because he hatl not strength enough
to sit on him. They had already unbound
him, and were carrying him into the hospital,
when I happened to pass by. I went up to
the young man, viewed him attentively, and
fancied his countenance was not altogether
imknown to me. I asked him some ques-
tions concerning his family and his country ;
but aU the answers I could get were only
sighs and tears. I tu )k jiity on him, and by
being so much used tr sick people, perceived
that he had need to i.ave particular care
taken of him. I would not jiermit him to
be put into the hospital ; for I am too well
acquainteil with their way of managing the
sick, and am sensible of the incapacity of the
physicians. I have caused him to be brought
home to my house, by my slaves ; and they
are now, bj' my orders, in a private room
where I placed him, putting on some of my
own linen, and treating him as they would
do me."
Fetnah's heart leaped at these words of
the jeweller, and she felt a sudden emotion,
for which she could not account : " Shew
me," said she to the syndic, "into that sick
man's room ; I should be glad to see him."
The syndic conducted her, and whilst she
was going thither, Ganem's mother said to
Alcolomb, "Alas' daughter, wretched as
that sick stranger is, your brother, if he be
living, is not perhaps in a more happy con-
dition."
The caliph's favourite, coming into the
chamber where the sick man W!is, drew near
the bed, in which the syndic's slaves had
already laid him. She saw a young man,
whose eyes were closed, his countenance
pale, disfigured, <ind l)athed in tears. She
gazed earnestly on him, her heart beat, and
she fancied she beheld Ganem ; but yet she
would not believe her eyes. Though she
found something of Ganem in the object
she beheld, yet in other respects he appeared
so different, that she durst not imagine it
was he that Lay before her. Unable, how-
ever, to withstand the earnest desire of
being satisfied, " Ganem," said she, with a
trembling voice, "is it you I behold?"
Having spoken those words, she stopped to
give the young man time to answer ; bnt
observing that he seemed insensible, "Alas!
Ganem," added she, " it is not you that I
talk to ! My imagination being overcharged
with your image, has given this stranger a
deceitful resemblance. The son of A boa
Ayoub, though never so sick, would know
the voice of Fetnah." At the name of
Fetnah, Ganem (for it was really he) opened
his eyes, and turned his face towards the
person that sjiokc to him ; and knowing the
caliph's fpvourite, "Ah ! madam," said he,
" by what miracle" He could say no more ;
such a sudden transport of joy seized him,
that he fainted away. Fetnah and the syndic
did all they could to bring him to himself;
but as soon as they perceived he began to
revive, the syndic desired the lady to with-
draw, for fear lest the sight of her should
heighten Ganem's distemper.
The young man, having recovered his
senses, lookeil all around, and not seeing
what he looked for, cried out, " What is
l)ecome of you, charming Fetnah ? Did you
really api)ear before my eyes, or was it only
an illusion?" "No, air," said the syndic,
"it was no illusion. It was I that caused
that lady to withdraw, but you shall see her
again, as soon as you are in a condition to
bear her sight. You now stand in need of
rest, and nothing ought to obstruct your
taking it. The situation of your affairs is
altered, since you are, as I suppose, that
Ganem, in favour of whom the commander
of the true believers has caused a proclama-
tion to be made in Bagdad, declaring that
he forgives him what is past. Be satisfied
for the present with knowing so much ; the
lady who just now spolce to you will ac-
quaint you with the rest ; therefore think of
nothing but recovering yoiir health ; I will
contribute all in my power towards it."
Having spoken these words, he left Ganem
to take his rest, and went himself to provide
for him all such medicines as were proper
!: [1
II
348
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
to recover his strength, exhausted by hard
living and toil
During that time Fetnah was in the room
with Aluolomb and her mother, where almost
the same scene was acted over again ; for
when Ganem's mother nnderatood that the
sick stranger whom the syndic had just
brought into hia house was Ganem himself,
she was so overjoyed, that she also swooned
away; aud when, with the assistance of
Fetnah and the syndic's wife, she was again
com.e to herself, she woiUd Lave got up, to
go and see her sun ; but the syndic coming
in, hindered her, representing that Ganem
was so weak and emaciated, that it would
endanger his life to excite in him those emo-
tions which must be the consequence of the
unexpected sight of a beloved mother and
sister. There was no occasion for the syn-
dic's saying any more to Ganem's mother ;
as soon as she was told that she could not
converse with her son without hazarding his
life, she ceased insisting to go and see him.
Then Fetnah said, "Let us bless Heaven for
having brought us all together into one
place. I will return to the palace to give
the caliph an account of all these adventures,
and to-morrow morniag I will return to
you." This said, she embraced the mother
and the daughter, and went away. As soon
OS she came to the palace, she sent Mesrour
to request a private audience of the caliph,
which was immediately granted ; and being
brought into that prince's closet, where Jje
was alone, she prostrated herself at his feet,
with her hands on the ground, according to
custom. He commanded her to rise, and
having made her sit down, asked whether
she had heard any news of Ganem? "Com-
mander of the true believers," said she, "I
have been so successful, that I have found
him, as also his mother and sister." The
calii)h was curious to know how she coidd
find them in so short a time, and she satis-
tied his curiosity, saying so many things in
commendation of Ganem's mother and sister,
that he desired to see them, as well as the
young merchant.
Though Haroun Alraschid was passionate,
and in his heat sometimes guilty of cruel
actions ; yet in return, he was just, and the
most generous prince in the world, as soon
as his anger was over, and he was made sen-
sible of the wrong he had done. Having
therefore no longer cause to doubt but that
he hail imjustly persecuted Ganem and his
family, and having publicly wronged them,
he resolved to make them public satisfac-
tion. "I am overjoyed," said he to Fetnah,
" that your search has proved so successful ;
it is a mighty satisfaction to me, not so
much for your sake as for my own. I will
keep the promise I have miide you. You
shall marry Ganem, and I here declare
you are no longer my slave ; you ore free.
Go back to that young merchant, and as
soon as he has recovered his health, you
shall bring him to me, with hia mother and
sister."
The next morning early Fetnah repaired
to the syndic of the jewellers, being impa-
tient to hear of Ganem's health, and to tell
the mother and daughter the good news she
had for them. The first person she met
wiih was the syndic, who told her that
Ganem had rested very well that night ; and
that his distemper proceeded altogether from
melancholy ; and the cause being removed,
he would soon recover his health.
Accordingly the son of Abou Ayoub was
much amended. Rest, and the good medi-
cines he had taken, but, above all, the
ditfereut situation of his mind, had wrought
so good an ellect, that the syndic thought
he might without danger see his mother, his
sister, and his mistress, provided he was
prepared to receive them ; because there
was ground to fear, that, not knowing his
mother and sister were at Bagdad, the sight
of them might occasion too great surprise
and joy. It was therefore resolved that
Fetnah should first go alone into Ganem's
chamber, and then make a sign to the two
other ladies to appear, when she thought it
was proper.
Matters being so ordered, the syndic an-
nounced Fetnah's coming to the sick man,
who was so transported to see her, that he
was again near fainting away. " Well, Ga-
nem," said she, drawing near to his bed, you
have again found your Fetnah, whom you
thought you had lost for ever," "Ah,
madam," eagerly interrupting her, "what
miracle has restored you to my sight ? I
thought you were in the caliph's palace j
that prince has doubtless listened to you.
You have dispelled his jealousy, and he haa
restored you to his favour."
' ' Yes, my dear Ganem, ' ' answered Fetnah,
" I have cleared myself before the commander
of the true believers, who, to make amends
for the wrong he has done you, bestows me
on you for a wife." These last words occa-
sioned such an excess of joy in Ganem, that
he knew not for a whUe how to express him-
self, otherwise than by that passionate silence
so well knr vn to lovers. At length he broke
out in these words: "Beautiful Fetnah,"
cried he, "may I give credit to what you
tell me ? May I believe that the caliph
really resigns you to Abou Ayoub's json ? "
"Nothing is more certain," answered the
lady. "That prince, who before caused
search to be made for you, to take away
your life, and who in his fury caused your
mother and your sister to suffer a thousand
indignities, desires now to see you, that he
may reward the respect you had for him ;
and there is no question to be made but that
he will load your family with his favours,"
.^-^mmmmsmmfe^ ^^Kmw T'^:''''^ ' ii.in i "<« wi .. i i
CAN EM, SON TO ABOU AYOUB.
349
Ganem asked what the caliph had done to
his mother and sister, which Fetnah told him ;
and he could not forbear letting fall some
tears at that relation, notwithstanding the
thoughts which arose in his mind at the news
of being married to his mistress. But when
Fetnah informed him that thoy were actually
in Bagdad, and in the same house with him,
he ajipcared so impatient to sec them, that
the favourite could no longer defer giving
him that satisfaction ; and accordingly called
them in. They were at the door, only wait-
ing for that moment. They came in, went
up to Ganem, and embracing him in their
turns, kissed him a thousand times. What
tears were shed amidst those emjjraces !
Ganem's face was bathed with them, as well
OS his mother's and sister's ; and Fetnah let
fall abundance. The syndic himself and his
wife were so moved at the spectacle, that
they could not forbear weeping, nor suffi-
ciently admire the secret workings of Provi-
dence, which brought together into their
house four persons whom fortune had so
cruelly parted.
When they had all dried up their tears,
Ganem drew fresh toiTcnts by the recital
of all he had suffered from the day he left
Fetnah till the moment the syndic brought
him to his house. He told them, that
having taken refuge in a small village, he
there fell sick ; that some charitable pea-
sants had taken care of him, but fin<ling he
did not recover, a camel-driver had xinder-
taken to carry him to the hospital at
Bagdad. Fetnah also told them all the un-
easiness of her imprisonment : how the
caliph, having heard her talk in the tower,
had sent for her into his closet, and how she
had cleared herself. In conclusion, when
they had related what accidents had befallen
them, Fetnah said, "Lot lis bless Heaven,
which has brought us all together again, and
let us think of nothing but the happiness
that attends us. As soon as Ganem has
recovered his health he must appear before
the caliph, with his mother and sister ; but
as they are not in a condition to be seen, T
wUl make some provisions for them. I desire
you to stay a moment."
This said, she went away to the palace,
and soon returned to the syndic's with a
purse containing a thousand pieces of gold,
which she delivered to the syndic, desiring
him to buy clothes for the mother and
daughter. The syndic, who was a man of
a good taste, chose such as were very hand-
some, and had them made up with all
speed. They were finished in three days,
and Ganem finding himself strong enough
to go abroad, prepared for it ; but on the
day he had appointed to pay his respects to
the caliph, when he was making ready, with
his mother and sister, the grand xvasx
Giafar came to the syndic's house.
That minister came on horseback, attended
by a great number of officers. " Sir," said
ho to Ganem, as soon as ho came in, " I am
come from the commander of the true be-
lievers, my master and yours ; the orders I
have differ very much from those which I do
not care to revive in your memory ; I am to
bear you company, and to present you to the
caliph, who ia desirous to see you. Ganem
returned no other answer to the vizier's
compliment, than by profoundly bowing his
head, and then mounted a horse brought
from the caliph's stables, which he managed
very gracefully. The mother and daughter
were mounted on mules belonging to the
palace, and whilst Fetnah on another mule
led them a by-way to the prince's court,
Giafar conducted Ganem another way, and
brought him into the hall of audience. The
caliph was there sitting on his throne, en-
compassed with emirs, ^^ziers, and other
attendants and courtiers, Arabs, Persians,
Egyptians, Africans, and Syrians, of his
own dominions, not to mention strangers."
When the vizier had conducted Ganem to
the foot of the throne, that young merchant
paid his obeisance, prostrating himself with
his face to the ground, and then rising, made
a handsome compliment in verse, which,
though esiemipore, met with the approbation
of the whole court. After his comidiment,
the caliph caused him to draw near, and said
to him "I am glad to see you, and desire to
hear from your own mouth where you found
my favourite, and all that you have done for
her." Ganem obeyed, and appeared so sin-
cere, that the caliph was convinced of his
sincerity. That prince ordered a very rich
vest to be given him, according to the cus-
tom observed with those who are atlmitted
to audience. After which he said to him,
"Ganem, I will have you live in my court."
"Commander of the true believers," an-
swered the young merchant, "a slave has no
will but his master's, on whom hia life and
fortune depend." The caliph was highly
pleased with Ganem's answer, and assigned
him a considerable pension. Then the prince
came down from his throne, and causing
only Ganem and the grand vizier to follow
him, went into his own apartment.
Not questioning but that Fetnah was
there, with Abou Ayoub's widow and daugh-
ter, he caused them to be called in. They
prostrated themselves before him : he made
them rise ; and was so taken with Alco-
lomb's beauty, that, after viewing her very
attentively, he said, "I am so sorry for hav-
ing treated your charms so unworthily, that
I owe them such a satisf.action as may sur-
pass the injury I have done them. I take
you to Avife ; and by that means shall punish
Zobeide, who shall become the first cause of
your good fortune, as she was of your past
sufierings. This is not all," added he, turn-
!f
\ 15
Si''
if;:
350
THE ARABIAN XIGHTS" ENTERTAINMENTS.
ing towards Ganem' 8 mother: "you are still
young ; I believe you will not rliai<«in to be
allied to my grand vizier : I give you to
Giafar, and you, Fetnah, to Ganem. Let a
cadi and witness be called, and the three
contracts be drawn up and signed immediate-
ly. Ganem would have represented to the
caliph, that it would be honour enough for
his sister to be one of his favourites ; but
that prince was resolved to marry her."
He thought this such an extraordinary
story, thftt he ordered a famous historian to
commit it to writing with all its circnm-
stances. It was afterwards laid up in his
library, and many copies being transcribed
from that original, it became ]iubUc.
After Scheherazade had finished the his-
tory of Ganem, son of Abou Ayonb, the sul-
tan of the Indies expressed his sati-sfaction :
"Sir," said the sultaness, "since this story
has pleased you, I humbly entreat your ma-
jesty to be pleased to hear that of Zeyn
Alaanam and the King of the Genii, which
will afford you equal pleasiure : " Schahriar
consented ; but as day began to appear, it
was deferred tiU the following night, when
she began as follows : —
THE HISTORY OP PHINCE ZEYX ALASXAM XSli
THE KING OF THE GEXII.
A KINO of Balsora, who possessed great
wealth, and was well beloved by his subjects,
had no children, which was a great aflliction
to him ; and therefore he made presents to
all the holy persons in his dominions, to en-
gage them to beg a son for him of Heaven ;
and their prayers being tifectual, the queen
proved with child, and was ha])pily delivered
of a prince, who was named Zeyn Alasnam,
which signifies Ornament of the Statues.
The king caused all the astrologers in his
kingdom to be assembled, and ordered them
to calculate the infant's nativity. They
found by their observations that he would
live long and be very brave, but that all
his courage would be little enough to carry
Tiitn through the misfortunes that threateneil
him. The king wag not dauuted at this
prediction : "My son," said he, "is not to
be pitied, since he will be brave : it is fit
that princes should have a taste of mis-
fortunes ; for adversity tries virtue, and they
are the better qualified to reign."
He rewarded the astrologers, and dismiss-
ed them ; and caused Zeyn to be educated
with the greatest care imaginable, appoint-
ing him able masters as soon as he was of
age to receive their instructions. In short,
he proposed to make him an accomplished
prince, when on a sudden this good king fell
sick of a distemper which all the skill of his
physicians could not cure. Perceiving his
disease was mortal, he sent for his son, and
among other things advised him rather to
endeavour to be beloved than to bo feared by
his people ; not to give ear to flatterers ; to
be as slow in rewarding as in punishing, be-
cause it often ha]>pen8 that monarchs, mis-
led by false appearances, load wicked men
with favours, an'1 oppress the innocent.
As soon as the king was dead, prince Zeyn
went into mourning, which he wore seven
days, and the eighth he ascended the throne,
taking his father's seal off the royal treasury,
and putting on his own, beginning thus to
taste the sweets of ruling, the pleasure of
seeing all his courtiers bow down before him,
and make it their whole study to shew their
real and obedience. In a word, the sove-
reign power was too agreeable to him. He
only regarded what his subjects owed to him,
without considering what was his duty to-
wards them, and consequently took little
care to govern them well. He wallowed in
all sorts of debauchery among the voluptu-
ous youth, on whom he conferred the prime
employments of the kingdom. He lost all
command of his power. Being naturally
prodigal, he set no bounds to his grants, so
that his women and his favourites insensibly
drained his treasury.
The queen his mother was still living, a
discreet, wise princess. She had several
times unsuccessf idly tried to check her son's
prodigality and debauchery, giving him to
anderstand, that, if he did not soon take
another course, he woidd not only squander
his wealtli, but would also alienate the minds
of his people, and occasion some revolution,
which perhaps might cost him his crown and
his life. What she had foretold was very
near falling out : the people began to mur-
mur against the government, and their mur-
murs had certainly been followed by a gene-
rjil revolt, had not the queen had the address
t^ prevent it. But that princess being ac-
quainted with the ill posture of affairs, in-
ft'-Tiicathe king, who at last suffered himself
to be prevailed upon. He committed the
government to discreet aged men, who knew
iiow to keep the people within the boimds
of duty.
Zeyn, seeing all his wealth consumed,
repented that he had made no better use of
it. He fell into a deadly melancholy, and
nothing could comfort him. One night he
saw in a dream a venerable old man coming
towards him, who with a smiling counten-
ance said, "Know, Zeyn, that there is no
sorrow but what is followed by mirth, no
misfortune but what in the end brings some
happiness. If you desire to see the end of
your affliction, get up, set out for Egy^it, go
to Grand Cairo; a great fortune attends you
there."
The prince, when he awaked in the morn-
ing, was struck with his dream, and spoke
of it very seriously to his mother, who only
laughed at it. "My son," said she to him,
^mm-m^wmm^^^t^^smimB,^
PRINCE ZEYN ALASNAM.
351
"would you now go into Egypt on the faith
of that fine dream ? " " Why not, madam ? "
answered Zeyn : "do you imagine all dreanu
are chimerical ? No, no, some of them are
mysterious. My iireceptora have told me a
thousand Htories, which will not i>ennit me
to doubt of it. Besides, though I were not
otherwise convinced, I could not forbear
giving some credit to my dreams. The old
man that appeared to me had something
supernatural : he was not one of those men
whom nothing but age makes venerable ;
there appeared a divine air about his person.
In short, he was such a one as our great
prophet is represented ; and if you will have
me tell you what I think, T believe it was
he, who, pitying my affliction, designs to
relieve it. I rely on the confidence he has
inspired me with. I am full of his promises,
and have resolved to follow his advice."
The queen endeavoured to dissuade him, but
in vain. The prince committed to her the
government of the kingdom, set out one
night very privately from his palace, and
took the road to Cairo, without suffering any
person to attend him.
After much trouble and fatigue, he ar-
rived at that famous city, like which there
are few in the world, cither for extent or
beauty. He alighted at the gate of a
mosque, where, being spent by weariness, he
lay down. No sooner was he fallen asleep,
than he saw the same old man, who said to
him, "I am pleased with you, my son; you
have given credit to my words. You have
come hither without being deterred by the
length or the diflSculties of the way : but
know I have not put you upon undertaking
such a long journey with any other design
than to try you. I find you have courage
and resolution. You deserve I should make
you the richest and happiest prince in the
world. Return to Balsora, and you shall
find immense wealth in your palace. No
king ever possessed so much as there is."
The prince was not pleased with that
dream. ' ' Alas ! " thought he to himself, when
he awaked, "how much was I mistaken?
That old man, whom I took for our prophet,
is no other than the production of my dis-
turbed imagination. My fancy was so full
of him, that it is no wonder I have seen him
again. I had best return to Balsora : what
should I do here any longer? It is very
happy that I told none but my mother the
motive of my journey : should become a
jest to my people, if they knew it."
Accordingly, he set out again for his
kingdom, and as soon as he arrived there,
the queen asked him whether he returned
well pleased ? He told her all that had hap-
pened, and was so much concerned for
having been so credulous, that the queen,
instead of adding to his vexation by re-
proving or laughing at him, comforted him.
"Forbear afflicting yourself, my son," said
she : "if God has appointed you riches, you
will have them without any trouble. Be
easy ; all that I recommend to you is, to be
virtxious ; renounce the delights of dancing,
music, and high coloured wine : shun all
these pleasures; they have already almost
ruined you; apply yourself to make your
subjects happy ; by securing their happiness
you will establish your own."
Prince Zeyn swore he would for the fu-
ture follow his mother's advice, and be di-
rected by the wise viziers she had made
choice of to assist him in supporting the
weight of the government. But the very
night after he returned to his palace, he saw
the old man the third time in a dream, who
said to him, "The time of your iirosperity
is come, brave Zeyn : to-morrow morning,
as soon as you are u]), take a little pick-axe,
and go dig in the late king's closet ; you
will there find a mighty treasure."
As soon as the prince awaked, he got up,
ran to the queen's apartment, and with
mnch eagerness told her the new dream of
that night. "Re.ally, my son," said the
queen, smiling, "that is a very po' Hive old
man ; he is not satisfied with having deceived
you twice ; have you a mind to believe him
again?" "No, madam," answered Zeyn, "1
give no credit to what he has said ; but I
will, for my own satisfaction, search my
father's closet." "I really fancied so," cried
the queen, laughing heartily ; "go, my son,
satisfy yourself ; my comfort is, that work is
.lot so fatiguing as the journey to Egypt."
"Well, madam," answered the king, "I
must own that this third dream has restored
my confidence, for it is connected with the
two others : let us examine the old man's
words. He first directed me to go into
Egypt; there he told me he had put me
upon taking that journey only to try me.
'Return to Balsora,' said ho; 'that is the
place where you are to find treasures : '
this night he has exactly pointed out to me
the place where they are : these three
dreams, in my opinion, are connected. After
all they may be chimerical ; but I woidd
rather search in vain than blame myself as
long as I live for having, perhaps, missed of
great riches by being unseasonably incredu-
lous."
Having spoken these words, he left the
queen's apartment, caused a pick-axe to be
brought him, and went alone into the late
king's closet. Ho fell to breaking up the
ground, and took up above half the square
stones it was paved with, and yet saw not
the least appearance of what he sought
after. He ceased working, to take a little
rest, thinking within himself, "I am much
afraid my mother had cause enough to
laugh at me." However, he took heart, and
went on with his labour; nor had he cause
ll
352
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
to rcp' nt ; for on a siuldi'n, he discovered a
white stone, which he took up, and under it
found a door, made fast witlt a steel pmllock,
which he broke with the pick axe, and
opened the door, wliich covere<l a Btnircaso
of white marble. He immediately lij^'hted a
candle, and wont down those stairs into a
room, the floor whereof was laid with tiles
of china-ware, and the roof and walls were
of crystal ; but he particularly tixed his eyes
upon four shelves, a little raised above the
level of the floor, on each of which there
were ten urns of jioqjhyry. He fancied
they were full of wine ; " Well," said he,
"that wine must be very old; I do not
question but it is excellent. He went up to
one of the unis, took off the cover, and with
no less joy than surprise, perceived it was
full of pieces of jjold.* He searched all the
forty, one after another, and found them full
of the same coin, took out a handful, and
carried it to the (juecn."
That i)rincess, it may be imagined, was
amazed when the king gave her an accoujit
of what he had seen. " O ! my son," waid
she, "take heed you do not lavish away all
that treasure foolishly, as you have already
done the royal treasure. Let not your
enemies have so much occasion to rejoice."
"No, madam," answered Zeyn, "I will from
henceforward live after such a manner as
shall be pleasing to you."
The queen desired the king her son to
conduct her to the wonderful subterraneous
place, which the late king her husband had
made with such secrecy that she had never
heard the least of it. Zeyn led her to the
closet, down the marble stairs, and into the
chamber where the urns were. She observed
everything with the eye of curiosity, and in
a comer spied a little urn of the same sort of
stone as the othcra. The prince had not be-
fore taken notice of it, but opening, found in
it a golden key. "My son," said the queen,
"this key certainly belongs to some other
treasure : let us look all about ; perhaps we
may discover the use it is designed for."
They examined the chamber with the ut-
most exactness, and at length found a key-
hole in one of the jiauels of the wall, and
guessed it to be that to which the key
belonged. The king immediately tried, and
as readily opened the door, which led into a
chamber, in the midst of which were nine
pedestals of massy gold, on eight of which
stood as many statues, each of them made
of a single diamond, and from them came
finch a brightness that the whole room was
perfectly light.
"0, he.ivens ! " cried Zeyn, in astonish-
ment, "where could my father find such
rarities ? " The ninth pedestal redoubled
this amazement, for it was covered with a
piece of white satin, on which were written
* Seqcins.
these words, "Dear son, it cost nao much
toil to got these eight statues ; but though
they are extraordinarily beautiful, you must
inxlerstand that there is a ninth in the world
which surpasses them all : that alone is
worth more than a thousand such as these ;
if you desire to be master of it, go to the
city of Cairo in £gy])t : one of my old slaves,
whoso name is Mobarec,* lives there ; you
will easily And him ; the first person you
meet will shew you his house : And him out,
and tell him all that has befallen you : he
will know you to be my son, and he will
conduct you to the place where that won-
derful statue is, which you will get with
safety."
The prince having read these words, said
to tho queen, " I should bo sorry to be with-
out that ninth statue ; it must certainly be
a very rare piece, since all these together
are not of so great value. I will set out for
Grand Cairo ; nor do I believe, madam, thot
you will oppose my design." "No, my son,"
answered the queen, "I am not against it :
you are certainly under the special protec-
tion of our great prophet ; he will not suffer
you to perish in this journey. Set out when
you think fit : your viziers and I will take
care of the government during your absence."
The prince made ready his equipage, but
would take only a small number of slaves
with him.
Nothing remarkable bcfel him by the way,
but arriving at Cairo, he inquired for Mo-
barec. The people told him he was one of
the wealthiest inhabitants of the city ; that
he lived like a great lord ; and that his house
was open, especially for strangers. Zeyn
was conducted thither, knocked at the gate,
which a slave opened, and said, "A^''hat is
it you want, and who are you ? " "I am a
stranger," answered the prince, "and having
heard much of Lord Mobarec's generosity,
am come to take up my lodging with him."
The slave desired Zeyn to stay awhile, and
went to acquaint his master, who ordered
him to desire the stranger to walk in. The
slave returned to the gate, and told the
prince he was welcome.
Zeyn went in, crossed a livrgo court, and
entered into a hall magnificently fiu^ished,
where Mobarec met with him, and received
him very courteously, returning thanks for
the honoiu" he did liira in acce^jting a lodg-
ing in his house. The prince, having an-
swered his compliment, said to Mobarec, " I
am son to the late king of Balsora, and my
name is Zeyn Alasnam." "That king," said
Mobarec, "was formerly my master; but,
my lord, I never knew of any children he
had: what is your age?" "lam twenty
years old," answered the prince. "How
* "Mobarec" Is the name of a Mohammedan saint,
and of several Arabian writen mentioned by d'Uer-
belot
m^m^^mimmm'S^^-i^i*''^^!^^^-
It.
;r-
PRINCE ZEYN ALASNAAf.
353
long i» it since you left my father's court? "
"Almost two-and-twciity years,'' rei)lieJ
Mobareo ; "l)ut how can yuu convince mo
that you are his son?" "My fatlier," re-
joined Zeyn, "liail a subtorrancous place
under his cloaet, in which I have found forty
porphyry urns of jjold." "And what more
is there?" said Mobarcc. "Tliero are," an-
swered the prince, " nine pedestals of jaas-
sivo '{old ; on eight whereof there are eight
diumond statues ; and on the ninth is a piece
of white satin, on which my father has
■written what I am to do to get another
statue, more valuable than all those together.
You know where that statue is ; for it is
mentioned on the satin that you will conduct
mo to it."
As soon as he had spoken these words,
Mobarec fell down at his feet, and kissing
one of his hands several times, said, "I bles»
God for having brought you hither : I kni.w
you to be the king of Balsora's son. If you
will go to the place where the wonderful
statue is, I will conduct you ; but you must
lirst rest here a few days. This day I treat
the great men of the court ; we were ".*: table
when word was brought mo of yo'.i- being at
the door. Will you vouchsafe to come and
be merry with us '!" "I shall be very glad,"
replied Zeyn, "to be admitted to your feast."'
Mobarec immediately led him under a dome
where the company was, seated him at the
table, and served him on the knee. Tho
great men of Cairo were surprised, and
whispered to one another, " Who is this
stranger, to whom Mobarec i)ay8 so much
respect ? "
When they had dined, Mobarec, directing
his discourse to the company, sfiid, "Great
men of Cairo, do not think much to see me
serve this young stranger after this manner :
know that he is the son of the king of Bal-
sora, my master. Hia father purchased me
with his money, and died without making
me free ; so that I am still a slave, and con-
sequently all I have of right belongs to this
young prince, his solo heir." Here Zeyn
interrupted him: "Mobarec," said he, "I
declare, before all these lords, that I make
you free from this moment, and that I re-
nounce all right to your person, and all you
possess. Consider what you would have me
do more for you." Mobarec then kissed the
ground, and returned the prince most hearty
thanks. Wine was then brought in ; they
drank all day; and towards the evening
presents were distributed among the guests,
who then went away.
The next day Zeyn said to Mobarec, " I
have taken rest enough. I came not to Cairo
to take my pleasure ; my design is to get
the ninth statue : it is time for us to set out
in search of it." "Sir," said Mobarec,"! am
ready to comply with your desires; but you
know not what dangers you must encounter
to make this precious conquest." "What-
soever tho danger may be," answorod tho
prince, "I have resolved to imdertaku it : I
will cither jicrish or succeed. All that liap-
pons ill this world is by God's dirt'ctiun.
Do yon but bear mo comjjany, and let your
resolution be eqiiiil to mine."
Mob.irec, liuding him determined to set
out, called his servants, and ordered them to
make ready his equipage. Then the prince
and he performed the ablution, or washing,
and tho ]irayer enjoined, which is called
Far/. ; and tiiat done they set out. By
tho w.ay they took notice of abundance of
strange and wimderful things, and trav.'lled
many days ; at tho end whereof, being como
to a delightful spot, they alighted from their
horses. Then .Slobarec said to all the ser-
vants th.it attonded them, "Do you stftV la
this jilacc, uiiil take care of our equip,igt> till
wo return." Tbcit lie said to Zeyn, " Ni'W,
sir, li't UN two go i>a by ourselves. Wf ;ire
near the dreaclt'ui place, where the ninth
stikBue in k'?pt. You will stand in need of
all yiiur courage. '
Tliey soon i-anie to a lake : !Mobaroc si\t
j.'.'wu i>n the brink of it, saying to the prince,
'■ We must cross this sea." " How can we
cross it," answered Zeyn, " w'nen we have
no boiit?" "You will see one appear in a
moment," replied Mobarec : "the enchanted
boat of the king of tho genii will come for
us. But do not forget what I am going to
s.ay to you : you must observe a profound
silence : do not spe.ak to tho boatman,
though his figure seem never so strange
to you : whatsoever extraordinary circum-
stance you observe, say nothing ; for I tell
you beforehand, that if you utter the least
word, when we are embarked, the boat will
sink down." " 1 shall take care to hold my
peace," said the prince, "you need only tell
me what I am to do, and I wiU strictly ob-
serve it." j
While they were talking, he spied on a.
sudden a boat on the lake, and it was made
of red sandal wood. It had a mast of fine
amber, and a blue satin Hag : there was only
one boatman in it, whose head was like an
elephant's and his body like a tiger's. When
the boiit was come up to the prince and Mo-
b.arec, the monstrous boatman took them up
one after another with his trunk, and put
them into his boat, and carried them over
the lake in a moment. He then again took
them up with his trimk, set them on shore,
and immediately vanished with his boat.
" Now we may talk," said Mobarec : "the
island we are on belongs to the king of the
genii ; there are no more such in the world.
Look round you, prince : can there be a more
delightful place? It is certainly a lively
representation of the charming place God
has appointed for the faithful observers of
our law. Behold the fields adorned with
Z
li
'i
354
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
all lorta of ilowers aiul tMlorifcroua ])Iants :
admire those ki'autiful trues, whosu duliuiDua
fruit mtkt-K the branches ht-nil down to tho
gruund; cujuy the iileasures of those har-
inooious songs formed in the air, by a thou-
sand birds of as many vurioii!) sorts, un-
known in other coiiutrivs." Zuyn could
not iutliciuutly admire the beauties of thoso
with wtiich he was Hurrounded, and still
found something new, aa he advanced far-
ther into tlu! island.
At length they came Iwfore a ])ala('«! made
of tine emeralds, encomi)asijed with a ditch,
on the banks whereof, at certain distances,
were planted such tall trees, that they
shaded the whole palace. Before the gate,
which was of massy gold, was a bridge,
matle of one single shell of ii iish, though
it was at least six fathoms long, and thrt^e in
breadth. At the head of the bridge at'xxl a
company of genii, of a prodigious height,
who guarded the entrance into the castle
with great chibs of China steel.
" Let lis go no farther," said Mobaree ;
"these gt'iiii will knock im down, and in
order to i)revent their coming to us, we
must perform a magical ceremony." He
then drew out of a ])urse, which ho had
under his garment, four long slips of yellow
tatfeta ; one he |nit about his middle, and
laid the other on his back, giving the other
two to the ]irince, who did the like. Then
Mobarvc laid oi> the ground two large table-
cloths, ou the edges whereof he scattered
some precious stones, musk, and amber.
Then he sat down on one of tliosc cloths,
and Zeyn ou the other ; and Mobaree said
to the prince, " I shall now, sir, conjure the
king of the genii, who lives in the palace
that is before ua : may he come in a peace-
able mood to us ! I confess I am not with-
out apprehension about the reception he may
give us. If our coming into this island is
displea-siug to him, he will apiicar in the
shape of a dreadful monster ; but if he ap-
proves of your design, he will shew himself
in the shape of a handsome man. As soon
as he appears before us, you must rise and
salute him, without going off your cloth ; for
you would certainly perish should you stir
off it. You must say to him, ' (Sovereigii
lord of the genii, my father, who was your
servant, has been taken away by the angel
of death : I wish your majesty may protect
me, as you always protected my father.' If
the king of the genii," added Mobaree, "ask
you what favour you desire of him, you must
answer, ' Sir, I most humbly beg of you to
give me the ninth statue.' "
Mobaree, having thus instructed prince
Zeyn, began hia conjuration. Immediately
their eyes were dazzled with a long flash of
lightning, -which was followed by a clap of
thunder. The whole island was covered
with a thick darkness, a furious storm of
wind blew, a drooilful cry was heani, the
island felt a shock, and there was such au
earth<|uake as that which Asraycl is to cause
on the day of judgment
Zeyn was startled, and began to look upon
tliat noise as a very ill omen ; when Mo-
baree, who knew better than he what to
think of it, began to smile, and said, "Take
courage, my prinrt> ; all goes well." In
short, that very moment, the king of the
genii ap|i*'ared in th-' shape of a very hand-
some man, yet there wa^ something of •
sternness in his air.
As soon OS prince Zeyn had mailc him the
com|ilinii'iit he had been t.iUKlit liy Mobaroc,
the king of the genii smiling, answered,
" My son, I loved your father, and every
time he came to ])ay mu his respects, I pre-
sented him with a statue, which he carried
away with hiiu. I havi- no less kindness for
you. I oljliged your father, some days before
he died, to write that which you read on the
piece of white satin. I promised him to re-
ceive you under my protection, and to give
you the ninth statue, which in beauty sur-
passes those you have already. I have be-
gun to perform my promise to him. It was
I whom you saw in a dream, in the shape of
an old man : I caused you to open the sub-
terraneous place, where the urns and the
statues ore : I have a great share in all that
has befallen you, or rather am the occasion
of it. I know the motive that brought you
hither : you shall obtain what you desire.
Though I had not i)romised your father to
give it, I would willingly grant it to you :
but you must lirst swear to me by all that
is sacred, that you will return to this island,
and that you will bring a maid that is in her
fifteenth year, and who has never known
man, nor desired to know any. She must
also be perfectly beautiful : and you so much
a master of yourself, as not even to desire
to enjoy hur, as you are conducting her
hither."
Zeyn took the rash oath that was required
of him. " But, my lord," said he then,
"suppose I shoidd be so fortimato as to
meet with such a maid as you require, how
shall I know that I have found her?" "I
own," answered the king of the genii, smil-
ing, "that you might be mistaken in her
appearance : that knowledge is above tho
sons of Adam, and therefore I do net mean
to depend upon your judgment in that par-
ticular : 1 w Ul give you a looking-glass,
■which will be more certain than your con-
jectures. AVhen you shall have seen a
maiden fifteen years of age, perfectly beau-
tifid, you shall only need look into the
glass, in which you shall see her figure. If
she be chaste, the gloss will remain clean
and unsidlied; but if, on the contrary, it
suUies, that will be a certain sign that she
has not always been prudent, or at least
^s>pmmm^mm^r"3immi^r:
to
tho
leaa
par-
ass,
!on-
a
iau-
the
If
eon
it
she
I
PRINCE ZEYN ALASNAM.
355
that rIic lioii <lciir(>(l to ci'Omu to he no. Do
not forget till* iiuth you havu tuki^ii : kcc))
it like a man of lionoiir ; otliiTwiHu I will
taku away your life, am iiiiich kiiuliii'HH an 1
havoforyou." rrinoo Zryu AlaMuam )iro-
toRtcil a;jaiii that hu would fnitlifully krop
hiH wonL
Thi'ii th(> kinn of thu Kcnii (U'livered to
him a lookiii^-^laDH, gayiii^', " My son, you
limy ri'turu when you ])U"iao ; there is the
^'laHH you arc to make use ot." Zeyii and
Moharei! took leave of the kin^Ot the ^enii,
ami went towards tiu; lake. The Soatman
with the elephant's head l>roU){ht tii < hoat,
and carrie<l them over the lake as ho had
done before. They joined their aervanta,
and returned with them a^ain to (Jairo.
Prince Alasnam rested a few days at Mo-
borec's house, and then said to him, "Let
us go to Hagdad to seek a maiden for the
king of tho nenii." "Why, are we not at
Orand Cairo ?" said Mobarec : " shall we not
there tind beautiful maidens enough ? "
"You are in the right," answered the
prince; "but how shall wo do to find
where they arc?" "Do not trouble your-
self about that, sir," answered Mobarec ;
" I know a very shrewd old woman, whom
I will eutrusit with that atl'air, and she will
acquit herself well."
Accordingly the old woman found means
to shew the prince a considerable number of
beautiful maidens of fifteen years of age ;
but when he had viewed them, and came to
consult his hmking-gloss, the faithful tuiich-
atone ot their virtue, the glass always ap-
peared sullied. All the maidens in the
court and city, that were in their fifteenth
year, underwent the trial one after another,
and the glass never remained bright and
clear.
When they saw there were no chaste
maids to be found in Cairo, they went to
Bagdad, where they hired a magnificent pa-
lace ill f)ne of the chief quarters of the city,
and began to live splendidly. They kept
open house ; and after all people had eaten
in the palace, the fragments were carried to
the dervises, who by that means had com-
fortable subsistence.
There lived in that quarter an iman, whose
name was BoubekirMuezin, a vain, haughty,
and envious person : he hated the rich, only
because he was poor, his misery making
him angry at his neighbours' prosperity.
He heard talk of Zeyn Alasnam, and of
the plenty his house afforded. This was
enough for him to take an aversion to that
prince ; and it proceeded so far, that one
day, after the evening prayer in the mosque,
he said to the people, " Brethren, I have
been told there is come to live in our ward.
a stranger, who every day gives away im-
mense sums. How do we know but that
this unknown person is some villain, who
haa committed a groat robbery in his own
ooiiiitry, and cmnes liithcr to eiijny liim-
self? Let us take eare, brethren: if the
caliph should bo infornu'd tiiat such a man
is in our ward, it is to be feared he will
punish us for not acquainting hiiu with it.
1 declare, for my part, I wasli my hands of
it ; and if anything should happen aiiiiHs, it
shall not lie at my door." The multitude,
who are easily led away, with one voice
cried to Boubekir, " It is your biiHiness,
doctor : do you acquaint the council with
it." The iman went home well pleased, and
drew up a memorial, resolving to present it
to the caliph next day.
But Mobarec, who had been at jiroyers,
and heard all that was said by the doctor, as
well as tlie rest of tho company, ]iut live
hundred pieces of gold int.; a handkerchief,
made up with a parcel of several silks, and
went away to Hnubekir's house. The doctor
asked him in a harsh tone, what he wanted.
"Doctor," answered Mobarec, with an ob-
liging air, and at the same time putting into
his hand the gold and the silk, " [ am your
neighi)our ami your servant : I come from
prince Zeyn, who lives in this ward : he has
heard of your worth, and has ordered me to
come and tell you that he desires to bo ac-
quainted with you, and in the meantime de-
sires you to accept of this small present."
Boubekir was transported with joy, and an-
swered Mobarec thus : "Be pleased, sir, to
bog the prince's pardon for me : I am
ashamed I have not yet been to see him ;
but I will atone for my fault, and wait on
him to-morrow."
Accordingly the next day, after morning
prayer, he said to the peojile, " You must
understand, brethren, that no man is without
some enemies : envy pursues those chiefly
who are very rich. The stranger I spoke to
you about yesterday in the evening is no ill
man, as some ill-designing persons would
have persuaded me : he is a young prince
endowed with every virtue. It behoves us
to take care how we go and give any ill ac-
count of him to the caliph."
Boubekir having thus wiped off the ill
impression he had the <lay before given the
people concerning Zeyn, returned home, put
on his best ap])arel, and went to visit that
young prince, who gave him a courteous
reception. After several compliments had
passed on both sides, Boubekir said to the
prince, "Sir, do you design to stay long at
Bagdad ?" "I shall stay," answered Zeyn,
" till I can find a maid, fifteen years of age,
perfectly beautiful, and so chaste, that she
has not only never known a man, but even
never desired to know him." " You seek
after a great rarity," replied the iman ;
" arul I should be apt to fear your search
would prove unsuccessful, did I not know
where there is a maid of that character.
w
T
356
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Her father was formerly vizier ; but lie has
left the court, and lived a long time in a
house by itself, whore he .applies himself
solely to the education of his daughter. If
you please, i will go ask her of him for you :
I do not question but he will be overjoyed
to have a son-in-law of your quality."
" Not so fast," said tlie prince, " I shall not
marry that maid before I know whether I
like her As for her beauty, I can depend
on you ; but what assurance can you give
me in relation to her virtue?" "What
assurance do you require ? " said Boubekir.
"I must see her face," Jinswered Zeyn ;
"that is enough for me to form a resolu-
tion." " You arc skilful, then, in physiog-
nomy?" replied the iman, smiling. "Well,
come along with me to her father's : I will
desire him to let you see her one moment in
his iiresence."
Muczin conducted the prince to the
vizier's ; who, as soon as he was acquainted
with the prince's birth and design, called
his daughter, and made her take ott" her veil.
Never had the young king of Balsora beheld
such a perfect and striking beauty. He
stood amazed : and since he could then try
whether the maid was as chaste as fair, he
pulled out his glass, which remained bright
and unsullied.
When he perceived he had at length found
such a person as he desired, l;e entreated the
vizier to grant her to him. Immediately
the. lady was s mt for, and came; the con-
tract was sigued, and the marriage prayer
said. After ■'vhich ceremony, Zeyn carried
the vizier to his house, where he treated him
magnificently, and gave him considerable
presents. Next he sent a prodigious quan-
tity of jewels to the bride by Mobarec,
who brought her to his house, where the
wedding was kept with all the pomp that
became Zoyn's quality. When all the com-
pany was dismissed, Mobarec said to his
master, "Let us begone, sir; let us not stay
any longer at Bagdad, but return to Cairo ;
remember the promise you made the king
of the genii." " Let us go," answered the
prince; "I must take care to perform it
exactly : yet I must confess, my dear
Mobarec, that if I obey the king of the
genii, it is not without reluctance. The
person I have married is charming, and I
am tempted to carry her to Balsora, and
I>lace her on the throne." "Alas! sir,"
answered Mobarec, "take heed how you
give way to your inclination : make yourself
master of your passions, and whatsoever it
cost you, be as good as your word to the
king of the genii." "Well, then, Mobarec,"
said the jirince, "do you take care to conceal
that lovely maid from me ; let her never
appear in my sight; jierhaiis I have already
seen too much of her."
Mobarec made all ready for their depar-
ture ; they returned to Cairo, and thence set
out for the island of the king of the genii.
When they were there, the maid, who had
performed the journey in a horse-litter, and
whom the prince had never seen since his
wedding-day, said to Mobarec, "Where are
we ? Sliall we be soon in the dominions of
the prince my husband ? " "Madam," an-
swered Mobarec, " it is time to undeceive
you. Prince Zeyn married you only in
order +0 get you from your father : ho did.
not engage his faith to you, to make yo\i
Sf)vereign oj Balsora, but to deliver you to
the king of ihe genii, who has asked of him
a virgin of yoiir character." At these words
she began to weep bitterly, which moved
the prince and Mobarec. " Take pity on
me," said she ; " I am a stranger ; you will
be accountable to God for your treachery
towards me."
Her tears and complaints were of no
effect, for she was presented to the king of
the genii, who having gazed on her with
attention, said to Zeyn, " Prince, I am satis-
fied with your behaviour ; the virgin you
have brought me is beautiful and chaste, and
I am pleased with the force you have put
upon yourself to be as good as your word to
me. Return to your dominions, and when
you shall enter the subterraneous room,
whore the eight statues are, you shall f.nd
the ninth wliich I promised you. I will
make my genii carry it thitiier." Zeya
thanked the king and returned to Cairo
with Mobarec, but did iiut stay long there ;
his impatience to see the ninth statue made
him hasten his departure. However, he
could not but often think of the young
virgin he married ; and, blaming himself
for having deceived her, he locked upon
himself as the cause and instrument of her
misfortune. "Alas!" said he to himself,
' ' I aave taken her from a tender father, to
sacrilice her to a genie. t) incomparable
beauty ! you deserve a better fate."
Prince Zeyn, disturbed with these thoughts,
at length reached Balsora, where his sub-
jects made extraordinary rejoicings for his
return. He went directly to give an ac-
count of his journey to his mother, who
was in a ''apture to hear he hf, ^. obtained
the ninth statue. "Let us go, my son,"
said she, " let us go see it, for it is certainly
in the chamber underground, since the king
of the genii told you you should find it
there." The young king and his mother,
being both impatient to see that wonderful
statue, went down to the subterraneous
place, and into the room of the statues ;
but how great was their surprise, when,
instead of a statue of diamonds, they espied
on the ninth pedestal a most beautiful virgin,
whom the prince knew to be tl.e same ho
had conducted to the island of the genii !
" Prince," said the young maid, " you are
''aJB^USttSkr^^^ fc
'^^MS^^m SSBSBwS mmy m'i
'«^:
r.-*;^*'
cmvanrnp
■"ll'M lif.W/li
- ,.......... ..■TT-^i.^-. J jj..— — ^^.-
CODADAD AND HIS BROTHERS.
357
linly
king
it
;her,
srful
eoua
Lies ;
hen,
pied
•gin,
ho
nii !
are
aurprised to see me here ; yon expected to
have fonnd something more precious than
me, and I question not but that you now
repent liaving taken so much trouble : yon
expected a better reward." " Madam,"
answered Zeyn, "Heaven is my witness,
that I more than once was like to have
broken my word with the king of the genii,
to keep you to myself. Whatsoever be the
value of a diamond statue, is it worthy
the satisfaction of enjoying you ? I love
you above all the diamonds and wealth in
the world."
Just as he was done speaking, a clap of
thimder was heard, which shook that subter-
raneous place. Zeyn's mother was frighted,
but the king of the genii immediately apjiear-
ing, dispelled her fear. " Madam," said he
to her, "I protect and 1 ivo yonr son: I
had a mind to try whetL- .-. at his age, he
could subdi.e his passions. I know the
flharms of this young lady have wroui;ht on
him, and ibat he did not punctually keep
the promise he had made me, not to desire
to enjoy licr ; but I am too well acquainted
with the frailty of the human nature. This
is the ninth statue I designed for him ; it
is more rare and precions than the others.
Live," said he, (directing his discou'-TC to
the young prince,) "live happy, Zeyn, . i h
this young lady, who is your wife ; and if
you would have her true and constant to
you, love her always, and love her only.
Give her no rival, and I will answer for her
fidelity." Having spoken these words, the
king of the genii vanished, and Zeyn, en-
chanted with that young lady, consummated
the marriago the same day, and caused her
to be procUimed queen of Ealsora. Those
two ever-f.vithful and loving consorts lived
together many years.
THZ HISTORY OP CODADAD AND UlS
BUOTIIERS.
Those who have written the history of the
kingdom of Diarbekir inform us, i ' there
formerly reigned in the city of li. 'an a
most magnificent and potent king, who
loved his subjects, anil was 'qually beloved
by them. He was endued v.ith all virtues,
and wanted nothing to complete his hap-
piness but an heir. Though he had the
finest women in the world in his seraglio, yet
was he destitute of children. He continu-
ally prayed to Heaven for them ; and one
night in his sleep, a comely person, or rather
a prophet, appeared to him, and said, "Your
prayers arc heard ; you have obtained what
you desired : rise as soon as you awake, go
to your prayers, and make two genuflexions;
then walk into the garden of your palace,
call your gardener, and bid him bring you a
pomegranate ; eat as many of the seeds as
you please, and your wishes shall be accom-
phshed."
The king calling to mind his dream when
he awaked, returned thanks to Heaven, got
up, went to prayers, made two genuflexions,
and then went down into his garden, where
he took fifty pomegranate seeds, which he
counted and ate. He had fifty wives who
shared his bed ; they all proved with child ;
but there was one called Pirouze, who did not
appear to 1)8 pregnant. He took an aversion
to that lady, and woidd have her put to
death. "Her barrenness," said he, " is a
certain token that Heaven does not judge
Pirouzi worthy to bear a prince ; it is my duty
to deliver the world from an object that is
odious to the Lord." He had taken this
cruel resolution, but his vizier diverted him
from putting it in execution ; representing to
him that all women were not of the same
constitution, and that it was not impossible
but that Pirouze might be with child, though
it did not yet appear. " Well," answered the
king, "let her live; but let her depart my
court; for I cannot endure her." "Your
majesty," replied the ^'izier, "may send her
to prince Samer, your cousin." The king
approved of his advice ; he sent Pirouze to
Samaria, with a letter, in which he ordered
his cousin to treat her well, and in case she
proved with child, to give him notice of her
being brought to bed.
No sooner was Pirouze arrived in that
country, but it appeared that she was with
child, and at length she was delivered of a
most beautiful prince. The prince of Sama-
ria wrote immediately to the king of Harran,
to acquaint him with the birth of that son,
and to congratidate him on that occasion.
The king was much rejoiced at it, and an-
swered prince Samer as follows : — " Cousin,
all my other wives have each been delivered
of a prince ; so that we have a great number
of children here. I desire you to breed up
that of Pirouzii, to give him the name of
Codadad,* and to send hiiu to me when I
send for him."
The prince of Samaria spared nothing that
might inij)rove the education of his nephew.
He taught him to ride, draw the bow, and all
the other things becoming the son of a king ;
so that Codadad, at eighteen years of age,
was looked upoi as a prodigy. The j'oung
prince, being inspired with a cotii je wor-
thy his birth, said one day to his mother,
" Madam, I begin to grow weary of Sa-
maria ; I feel a passion for glory ; give mo
leave to go seek it amidst the jierils of war.
My father, the king of Harran, has many
enemies ; some neighbouring jjrinces wisli
to disturb his repose. Why does he not call
me to his assistance ? Why does ho leave
me here so long in infancy ? Must I spend
* Given of God.
%
358
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
my life here in sloth, when all my brothers
have the happiness to be fighting by his
side?" " My son, " answered Pirouii, "I
am no less impatient to have your name
becorre famous ; I coidd wish you had
already signalised yourself against your
father's enemies ; but we must wait till he
requires it. " "No, madam," replied Coda-
dad ; " I have already waited but too long.
I long to see the king, and am temiited to
go offer liim my service, as a young stranger :
no doubt but he will accept of it, and I will
not discover myself till I have performed a
thousand glorious actions. I desire to merit
his esteem before he knows who I am."
PirouzS approved of his generous resolution,
and Codadad one day departed from Sama-
ria, as if he had been going a-hunting,
without acquainting prince Samer, for fear
he should thwart his design.
He was mounted on a white horse, which
had a gold bit and shoes; his housing was of
blue satin embroid-
ered with pearls ;
the hilt of his sci-
mitar was of one _ ".
single diamond, -lij^
and the scabbard
of sandal-wood, aU
adorned with emer-
alds and rubies, and
on his shoulder he
carried his bow and
quiver. In this
equipage, which
greatly set off his
good person, he ar-
rived at the city of
Harran, and soon
found means to
offer his service to
the king ; who, be-
ing charmed with
his beauty and ad-
vantageous pre-
sence, and perhaps, indeed, by natural sym-
pathj', gave him a favourable reception, and
asked his name nnd quality. "Sir, " answered
(Jodadad, " I p. . ion to an emir of Grand Cairo :
an inclination to travel has made me quit ray
country, and imderstanding, in my passage
through your dominions, that you were en-
gaged in war with some of your neighbours,
I am come to your court, to offer your
majesty my service." The king shewed him
extraordinary kindness, and gave him an
employment in his troop.
The young prince soon signalised his bra-
very. He gained the esteem of the officers,
and was admired by the soldiers. And hav-
ing no less wit than courage, he so far
advanced himself in the king's affection, as
to become his favourite. All the ministers
and other courtiers daily resorted to Cod-
adad, and were so eager to purchase his
friendship, that they neglected the king's
other sons. Those princes could not but re-
sent it ; and imputing it to the stranger, they
all conceived an implacable hatred against
him ; but the king's affection daily increas-
ing, he was never weary of giving him fresh
testimonies of it. Ho always would have
him near him ; lie admired his discourse,
ever full of wit and discretion ; and to shew
his high opinion of his wisdom and prudence,
he committed to his care the other princes,
though he was of the same age as they ; so
that Codadad was made governor of his
brothers.
This only served to heighten their hatred.
" Is it come to this," said they, " that the
I king, not satisfied with loving a stranger
more than us, will have him to be our
. governor, and not allow us to do anything
I without his leave? This is not to be en-
I dnred. We must rid ourselves of this
1 stranger." " Let us go together, " said one
of them, " and de-
spatchhim." "No,
no," answered an-
other ; "we had
better be cautious
how we sacrifice
oursclve.s. His
death would render
us odious I . . !.
king, who in '.'l,^'^I'
would declaim ud
all unworthy to
reign. Let us de-
stroy the stranger
artfully. We will
ask his leave to go
hunting, and when
at a distance from
the palace, we will
proceed to some
other city and stay
there some time.
Thekiiii, will won-
der at our absence, and perceiving we do
not return, he may jierliaps jnit the stranger
to death, or at least will turn him out of the
court, for suffering us to leave the palace."
All the jirinces applauded this artifice.
They went together to Codadad, and desited
him to give them leave to take the diversion
of hunting, promising to return the same
day. Pirouzu's son was taken in tlie snare,
and granted the leave his bvothers dt)»iired.
They set out, but never returned. They had
been throe days absent, when the king asked
Codadad where the princes were, for it was
long since he had seen them. " Sir," an-
swered Codadad, after making a profound
reverence, " they have been hunting these
three days, but they promised mo they
would return sooner." The king grew un-
easy, and his uneasiness increased when he
perceived the princes did not return tho
,1
■ -^c^tna ^^ ^ -^s ^
/
I
COD AD AD AND HIS BROTHERS.
359
;t day. He ci.nld not check iiis anger :
•* IncLjcreet strang-r," said he to Codiulad,
*" why did yon let my sons go -without
bearing them company? Is it thus you
diwohiirge the tnist I havf n-'post-d in you ''.
Gf) seek them iiruuediately, and bring them
to m«e, or you are a dead man."
fbKM words chilled with fi'ar I'irouze's
unforttmate son. He armed himself, went
out of the city, and, like a shepherd who haA
lost his iOck, searched all the country for his
brothers, inquiring at every village whether
they had b^en seen ; and hearing no news of
them, abandoned himself to the most ;>.vely
grief. "Alas! my brothers," said iu',
" what is liecome of you? Are you faUun
into the hands of our enemies ? Am I
come to the court of Harran to be the oc-
casion of giving the king so much anxiety?"
He was inconsolable for having given the
princes leave to go a-hunting, er for not
having borne them company.
After some days spent in fruitless search,
he came to a i)lain of prodigious extent, in
the midst whereof was a palace built of black
marble. He drew near, and at one of the
windows spied a most beautiful lady, but set
off with no other ornament than her own
beauty; for her hair was dishevelled, her gar-
ments torn, and on her countenance ai^ieared
all the marks jf the greatest afHiction. As
soon as she saw Codadad, and judged he
might hear her, she directed her discourse to
him, saying, " Young man, get away from
this fatal jilace, or you will soon fall into
the hands of the monster that inhabits it :
a black, who feeds only on human blood,
resides in this palace ; he seizes all persons
wiiom their ill fate conducts to this plain,
and shuts them up in his dark dungeons,
wlu-nce they are never releaced bu+ to be
devoured by him."
"Madam," answered Codadad, " tell mc
who you are, and be not concerned for any
more." " I am a young woman of (juality
of Grand Cairo," replied the lady; "I was
passing by this castle yeaterclay, in my
way to Bagdad, and met with the black,
who killed all my servants, and brought me
hiLher : I wish 1 hatl nothing but death to
fear ; but to add to my calamity, this mon-
ster would jiersuade me to love him, and, in
case 1 do not yield to-morrow to his bru-
tality, 1 must expect the last violenc .. Once
more," added she, "make y ur escape:
the black will soon return ; he is gone out
to jiursue some travellers ue espied at a dis-
tance on the plain. Lose no time ; I know
not whether you can escape him by a speedy
flight."
She had scarce done speaking these words
before the black apjjcared. He was a man
of monstrous bulk, and of a dreadful aspect,
mounted on a mighty Tartar horse, and bore
such a large and heavy scimitar, that none
but himself could make use of it. The prince
seeing him, was amazed at his monstrous
stature, directed his prayers to Heaven to
assist liini, then drew his scimitar, and firmly
awaited the black, who, despising so incon-
siderable an enemy, ciilled to him to yield
himself without fighting : but Codadad by
his countenance shewed that he was resolved
to defend his life ; f(.r he drew near, and gave
him a great cut on the knee. The black, feel-
ing himself wounded, uttered such a dreadful
shriek as made all the plain resound. He
grew furious, and foamed with rage, and
raisiiig himself in his stirruiis, made at Co-
dadad with liis dreadful scimitar. The blov
was so violent that it would have put an end
to the young prince, had not he avoided it
%
\ i
\
360
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I!! ' '•' i|
I ii!
by a sudden spring which he made his horse
take. The scimitar made a horrible hissing
in the air : but before the black could have
time to make a second blow, Codadad let
fall one on his right arm with such fury,
that he cut it off. The dreadful scimitar full
with the Jiand that held it, and the black,
yielding under the violence of the stroke,
lost his stirrups, and made the earth shaka
with the noise of his fall. The prince
alighted at the same time, and cut off his
enemy's head. Just then the lady, who had
been a spectator of that combat, and was
still ofFering up her earnest prayers to Hea-
ven for that young hero, whom she admired,
gave a shriek of joy, and said to Codadad,
"Prince, (for the dangerous victory you have
obtained convinces me, as well as your noble
air, that you are of no common rank, ) finish
the work you have begun : the black h.';,s the
keys of this castle ; take them, and deliver
me out of prison." The prince searched the
wretch's pockets, as he lay stretched on the
ground, and found several keys.
He opened the first door, and went into a
court, where he met the lady coming to meet
him : she woidd have cast herself at his feet,
the better to express her gratitude ; but he
would not permit it. She commended his
valour, and extolled him above all the heroes
in the world. He returned her compliments,
and she appeared still more lovely to him
near at hand than at a distance. T know not
whether she felt more joy at being delivered
from the desperate danger she had been in,
than he for having done so considerable a
service to so beautiful a person.
Their discourse was interrupted by dismal
cries and groans. " What do I hear ? " said
Codadad : "whence come those miserable
cries, which pierce my ears? " " My lord,"
said the lady to him, pointing to a little door
in the court, "they come from thence. There
are I know not how many wretched persons
whom fate has made to fall into the hands
of the black. They are all chained, and
the monster drew out one every day to
devour."
"It is an addit'on to my joy," answered
the young prince, "to understand that my
victory will save the lives of those unfortu-
nate persons. Come along with me, madam,
to partake in the satisfaction of giving them
their liberty. You may judge by yourself
how welcome we shall be to them." Having
.so said, they advanced towards the door of
the dungeon, and the nearer they drew, the
more distinctly they heard the complaints of
the prisoners. Codadad pitying them, and
impatient to put an end to their sufferintrs.
presently put one of the keys into the lock.
He (lid not take the right one at first, and
therefore he took another ; which noise made
all those uufortui'ate creatures, — concluding
it was the black who came, according to cus-
tom, to bring them some meat, and at the
same time to seize one of them to eat himself,
— redouble their cries and groans. Lament-
able voices were heard, which seemed to come
from the centre of the earth.
In the meantime, the prince had opened
the door, and went down a very steep stair-
case into a large and deep vault, which
received some feeble light from a little win-
dow, and in which there were above a hun-
dred persons, bound to stakes, and their
hands tied. " Unfortunate travellers," said
he to them, " wretched victims, who only
expected the moment of an apj)roaching
cruel death, give thanks to Heaven, which
has this day delivered you by my means. I
have slain the black by whom you were to
be devoured, and am come to knock off
your irons." The prisoners hearing these
words, all together gave a shout mingled
with joy and surprise. Codadad and the
lady began to unbind them ; and as soon as
any of them were loose, they helped to take
off the fetters from the rest ; so that in a
short time they were all at liberty.
They then kneeled down, and having
returned thanks to Codadad for what he had
done for them, went out of that dungeon ;
and when they were come into the court,
how was the prince surprised to see among
the prisoners those he was in search of, and
almost without hopes to find ! "Princes,"
cried ho, "am I not deceived? Is it you
whom I behold ? May I flatter myself that
it will be in my iiower to restore you to the
king your father, who is inconsolable for
the loss of you ? But will he not have some
one to lament ? Are you all here alive?
Alas ! the death of one of you will suffice
to damp the joy I feel for having delivered
you."
The forty nine princes all made themselves
known to Codadad, who embraced them one
after another, and told them how uneasy
their father was on account of their absence.
They gave their deliverer tdl the commenda-
tions he deserved, as did the other prisoners,
who could not find words exj^ressive enough
to declare their gratitude. Codadad, with
them, took a view of the whole castle, where
was immense wealth ; curious silks, gold
brocades, Pei-sian carpets, China satins, and
an infinite quantity of other goods, which
the black had taken from the cat ..vans he
had plundered ; a considerable jiart whereof
belon:5ed to the prisoners *' dadad had then
set free. Every man knew and claimed his
property. The prince restored them their
own, and divided the rest of the merchan-
dise among them. Then he said to them,
"How will y(ni do to carry away your
goods? We are here in a desert place, and
there is no likelihood of your getting horses."
" My lord," answered one of the prisoners,
" the black robbed us of our camels as will
't \
!SSSS
PRINCESS OF DERYABAR.
361
ns our goods, and perhaps they may be in
the stables of this castle." "This is not un-
likely," replied Codadad ; "let iia see."
Accordingly they went to the stal)le3, where
they not only found the camels, but also the
horses belonging to the king of Harran'a
sous. There were some black slaves in the sta-
bles, who seeing all the prisoners released, and
guessing thereby that their master had been
kiUod, fled through bye- ways well known to
them. Nobody minded to pursue them. All
the merchants, overjoyed that they had re-
covered their goods and camels, together
with their liberty, thought of nothing but
prosecuting their journey; but first repeat-
ed their thanks to their deliverer.
When they were gone, Codadad, directing
his discourse to the lady, said, "What ]>lace,
madam, do you desire to go to ? Whither
were you bound when you were seized by
the black? I intend to bear you company to
the place you shall chose for your retreat,
and I question not but that all these princes
will do the same." The king of Harran's
sons protested to the lady that they would
not leave her till she was restored to her
friends.
" Princes," said she, "T am of a country
too remote from hence; and, besides that, it
would bo abusing your generosity to oblige
you to travel so far. I must confess tu at I
have left my native country for ever. I told
you awhile ago that I was a lady of Grand
Cairo ; but since you have shewn me so
much favour, and I am so highly obliged to
you," added she, looking upon Codadad, "I
should be much in the wrong in concealing
the truth from you. I am a king's daugh-
ter. An usurper has possessed liimself of
my father's throne, after having murdered
him, and I have been forced to Hy to save
my life."
Then Codadad and his brothers desired
the princess to tell them her story, assuring
h'Hr they felt a particular interest in her mis-
fortunes, and were determined to spare for
nothing that might oontributo to render her
more happy. After thanking them for their
repeated protestations of readiness to serve
her, she could not refuse to satisfy their
curiosity, and began the recital of her ad-
ventures in the following manner : —
THE HIPTORY OF THE PRiyCESS OF DERYABAR.
There is in a certain island a great city
called Deryabar ; it lias been long governed
by a potent, magnilieent, and virtuous king.
That prince had no children, which was the
only thing wanting to make him happy. He
continually addressed his prayers to heaven,
but heaven granted his requests by halves ;
for the queen his wife, after a long expecta-
tion, brought forth a daughter.
I am the unfortunate princess : my father
was rather troubled than pleased at my birth ;
but he submitted to the will of God, and
caused me to be educa*'ed with all possible
care, being resolved, s:aco he had r ) son,
to teach me the art of ruling, that I might
supply his place after his death.
One day, when '-. . »vas taking the diver-
sion of hunting, he espied a wild ass, which
he chaseci , lost his company, and was car-
ried .iv.'.iy so far by his eagerness aa to ride
on till right. He then alighted, and sat
down at the entrance of a wood, into which
he observed the ass had taken. No sooner
was the day shut in than he discovered
among the trees a light, which made him
conclude that he was not far from some vil-
lage. He rejoiced at it, hoping that he
might pass the night there, and find some
person to send to his followers to acquaint
them where he was ; and accordingly he got
up, and walked towards the light, which
served to guide him.
He soon found he had been deceived, that
light being no other than a fii-e lighted in a
hut; however, he drew rear, and, with
amazement, beheld a greac black man, or
rather a dreadful giant, sitting on a sofa.
Before the monster was a great pitcher of
wine, and he was roasting an ox he had
newly killed. Sometimes he drank out of
the pitcher, and sometimes he cut slices off
the ox, and ate them. But that which most
drew the king my father's attention was a
beautiful woman whom ho saw in the hut.
She seemed ovcrwlieluied with grief ; her
hands were bound, and at her feet was a
little child, about two or three years old,
who, as if he was sensible of his mother's
misfortunes, wept without ceasing, and rent
the air with his cries.
My father, moved with ihat pitiable ob-
ject, thought a'u tirst to have gone into the
hut, and attacki<l the giant ; but, consider-
ing how unequal the combat would be, he
sti>])i)e(l, and resolved, since he had not
strength enough to prevail by open force, to
use art. In the meantime, the giant hav-
ing emptied the pitcher, and devoured above
half the ox, turned to the woman, and said,
" Beautiful princess, why do you oblige me
by your obstinacy to treat you with seve-
rity 1 It is in your own ])ower to be happy.
You need only to resolve to love and be
true to me, and I shall treat you with more
mildness." "Thou hideous satyr," answered
the lady, "never expect that time should
wear away my abhorrence of thee. Thou
wilt ever l)e a monster in my eye?." To
these words she added so many reproaches,
that the giant grew enniged. " This is too
much," cried he, in a furious tone; "my
love despised is turned into rage. Your
hatred has at last excited mine ; I find it
triumphs over my desires, and that I now
wish your death more ardently than your
1';^'
tmm
mn^^m^
7
m
362
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
enjcyment." Having spoken these wonls,
he t'Jok the wretched lady by the hair, hold
her up with one hand in tlie air, and draw-
ing his scimitar with the other, was just
going to strike off her head, when the king
my father let fly an arrow, which jiierced
the giant's breast, so that he staggered, and
droi)ped down dead.
My father entered the hut, unbound the
lady's hands, inquired who she was, and how
she came thither. "My lord," said she,
''there are along the sea-coast some families
of Saracens, who live under a prince, who is
my husband : this giant you have kdled was
one of his principal officers. The wretch fell
desperately in love with me, but took esjie-
cial care to conceal his passiim till he could
put in execution the design he had formed
of stealing me away. Fortune oftener fa-
vours wicked designs than virtuous resolu-
tions. The giant one day surprised me and
my child in a Ijye-place. He seized us both,
and, to disajjpoint the search he well knew
my husband would cause to be made for me,
he removed from the country inhabited by
those Saracens, and. brought us into this
wood, where he has kept me some days.
Deplorable as my condition is, 'tis still a
great satisfaction to me to think that the
giant, though so brutal and amorous, never
used force to obtain what I always refused
to his entreaties. Not but that he has a
hundred times threatened that he would
have recourse to the worst of extremities, in
case he could not otherwise prevail upon nie ;
and I must confess to you, that awhile ago,
when I provoked his anger by my words, I
was less concerned for iny life than for my
honour.
"This, my lord," said the prince of the
Saracens' wife, "is the faithful accoimt of
my misfortunes ; and I question not but you
wiU think me worthy of your compassion,
and that you will not repent having so gene-
rously relieved me." "Madam," answered
my father, "be assured your troubles have
affected me, a.'id I will do all in my [lower to
make you happy again. To-morrow, as soon
as day appears, we will quit this wood, and
endeavour to fall into the road which leads
to the great city of Deryabar, of which I am
sovereign ; and if you think fit, you shall be
lodged in my palace, till the prince your
husband comes to claim you. "
The Saracen lady accepted the offer, and
the next day followed the king my father,
who found all his retinue upon the skirts of
the wood, they having spent the night in
searching after him, and being very uneasy
because they coidd not find him. They were
no less rejoiced to meet with than amazed to
to sec him with a lady, wlio.se beauty sur-
prised them. He told them how he had
fojuid her, and the risk he ran in approach-
ing the hut, where he mi;st certaiiily have
lost hia life had the giant spied him. One
of his servants took up the lady behind him,
and another carried the child.
Thus they arrived at the palace of the
king my fatljer, who assigned the beautiful
Saracen lady an a])artment, and caused her
child to be carefully educated. The lady
was not insensible of the king's goodness to
her, and expressed as much ^Tatitude as he
coidd desire. She had at first ajipeared very
unea.sy, .I'jd impatient that her husliand did
not clainv her ; but by degrees shn lost that
uneasiness. The respect my fathci paid her
dispelled her im])atiencc ; and I am of opi-
nion she woidd at last have blamed fortune
more for restoring her to her kindred than
she did for removing her from thera.
In the meantime, the lady's son grew up;
he was very handsome, and, not wanting wit,
found means to please the king my father,
who conceived a great friendship for him.
AU the courtiers perceived it, and guessed
that that young man might in the end oe my
hiuiband. In this idea, and looking on him
already as heir to the crown, they made their
court to him, and every one endeavoured t j
gain his favour. He soon saw into their
designs, grew conceited of himself, and, for-
getting the distance there was between our
conditions, flattered himself with the hopes
that my father was fond enough of him to
I)refer him before all the princes in the world.
He went further ; for the king not being
forward enough in offering me to him as soon
as he could have wished, he had the boldness
to ask me of him. Whatsoever pimishment
his insolence deserved, my father was satis-
fied with telling him he had other thoughts
in relation to me, and shewed him no further
resentment. The youth was incensed at this
refusal ; the vain fellow resented the con-
tempt, as if he had asked some maid of
ordinary extraction, or as if his birth had
been equal to mine. Nor did he stop here,
but resolved to be revenged on the king,
and, with unparelleled ingratitude, con-
spired against him. In short, he murdered
him, and caused himself to be proclaimed
king of Deryabai", by a great number of
malcontents, whom he encouraged. The
first thing he did, after ridding himself of
my father, was to come into my apartment,
at the head of a party of the cons])ira-
tors. His design was either to take my life,
or oblige me to marry him. Whilst he
was busy murdering my father, tlio grand
vizier, who had been always loyal to his
master, came to carry me away from the
palace, and secured me in a friend's house,
till a vessel he had pnnided was ready to
sail. 1 then left the island, attended only
by a governess and that generous minister,
who chose rather to follow his master's
daughter, and share in her misfortimes, than
to submit to a tyrant.
:
iiclMWl
•r
PRINCESS OF DERYABAR.
363
The grand vizier ilesij;nc(l to carry mc to
the courts of the neighbouring kingB, to im-
plore their oaHistancc, and excite them to
revenge my father's death ; but heaven did
not ajiprove a ruHohition we thought so just.
When wo had been but a few days at sea,
there arose such a furious storm, that, in
sjiite of all the mariners' art, our vessel, car-
ried away by the violence of the winds and
waves, was dashed iu pieces against a rock.
I will not spend time in describing our ship-
wreck. I can but faintly represent to you
how my governess, the gra^d vizier, and all
that attended nie, were swallowed up by the
sea. The dread I was soized with did not
permit me to observe all the horror of our
condition. I lost my senses ; and whether
I was thrown upon the coast u])on any i)art
of the wreck of our ship, or whether Hea-
ven, which reserved me for other misfor-
tunes, wrought a miracle for my deliverance,
I found myself on shore when my senses
returned.
Misfortunes very often make us forget our
duty. Instead of returning thanks to God
for HO singular a favour shewn me, I only
lifted up my eyes to heaven, to complain
because I had been jireserved. I was so far
from bewailing the vizier and my governess,
that I envied their fate ; and dreadful imagi-
nations by degrees prevailing over my rea-
son, I resolved to cast myself into the sea :
I was ujion the point of dtiing so, when I
heard behind me a great noise of men and
horsef I looked about to see what it might
be, and espied several armed horsemen,
among whom was one mounted on an Arabian
horse. He had on a garment embroidered
with silver, a girdle set with precious stones,
and a crown of gold on his head. Though
his habit had not convinced me that he was
chief of the company, I should have judged
it by the air of grandeur which ai)peared in
his person. He was a young man extraordi-
narily well-shaped, and perfectly beautiful.
Surprised to see a j'oung lady alone in that
place, he sent some of his officers to ask who
I was. I answered only by weeping. The
shore being covered with the wreck of our
ship, they conclude<l some vessel had been
cast away there, and that I was certainly
some person that had escaped v ith my life.
This conjecture, and my inconsolable condi-
tion, excited the curiosity of those officers ;
•who began to ask me a thousand questions,
with assurances that their king was a gene-
rous prince, and that I. should receive conso-
lation in his court.
The king, impatient to know who I was,
grew weary of expecting the return of his
officers, and drew near to me. Ho gazed on
me very earnestly, and observing that I did
not give over weeping and afflicting myself,
■without being able to return an answer to
their questions, he forbid them troubling me
any more: and directing his discourse to me,
"Madam," said he, " I conjure you to mo-
derate your excessive affliction. Though
heaven in its wrath has laid this calamity
upon you, it does not behove you to despair.
I beseech you shew more resolution. For-
tune, which has hitherto persecuted you, is
inconstant, and may soon change. I dare
assure yo\i, that if your misfortunes are
capable of receiving any relief, you shall
find it in my donii'iions. My ])alaee is at
your service. You shall live with the (jueeu
my mother, who will endeavour by her kind-
ness to ease your afl'iction. I know not yet
who you are ; l)ut T lind I already take an
interest in you."
I thanked the young king for his good-
ness to me, accepted the obliging oilers he
made me; and to convince him that I was
nt)t unworthy of them, told him my condi-
tion. I descriijcd to him the insolence of
the young Saracen, and found it was enough
to recount my misfortunes, to excite com-
passion iu him, and aU his officers who heard
me. Whe.'i I had done siieaking, the ])rince
began again, assuring me that he was deeply
concerned at my misfortunes. Then he con-
ducted me to his ])alace, and jiresented me
to the queen his mother, to whom I was
obliged again to repeat my misfortunes, and
to renew uiy tears. The <pieen seemed very
sensil'le of my trouble, and conceived ex-
treme afl'ection for me. On the other hand,
the king her son fell desperately in love with
me, and soon ott"ere<l me his jierson and his
crown. I was so taken up with the thoughts
of my calamities, that the jirince, though so
lovely a person, did not make so great an
impression on me as he might ha\e done at
another time. However, gratitude prevailed
on me; I did not refuse to make him happy,
and our wedding was kept with all imagin-
able splendour.
When all the ]ioople were taken up with
the celebration of their sovereign's nujitials,
a neighbouring prince, his enemy, made a
descent by night on the island witli a great
number of troops. That formidable enemj'
weia the king of Zanguebar. He surprised
those ])eople, and cut to pieces all the king
my husband's subjects. He was very neav
taking us both. We escaped very narrowlj,
for he had already entered the pala c with
some of his followers; but we found ."jeans
to slij) away, and to get to the sea-co;ist,
where we threw ourselves into a lisliing-
boat we had the g''-.l f-rtime to meet ivith.
Two days we were driven about liy the
winds, without knowing what would become
of us. The third day we espied a vessel
making toward.s us under sail. We rejoiced
at lir.st, believing it had been a merchant
ship which might take us aboard ; but what
was our astonishment, when, as it drew
near, we saw ten or twelve armed pirates
A',
3^4
THE ARABIAX XIGHTS" ENTERTAINMENTS.
'1 11
fcppear on the deck. Having boanled, five
or six of thcni loajicil into cur boat, seized
ns, bound the prince, and conveyed ns into
their ship, whore they inimeiliattly took off
my veil. My youth and features touchctl
them, and thoy all declared how much they
were charmed at the sii,'ht of me. Instead
of casting lots, each of them claimeil the pre-
ference, and mo as his right. The dispute
grew warm, and they came to blows alont
nie, and fought like madmen. The deck
was soon covered with dead bodies, and
they were all killed but one, who being left
solo possessor of mo, said, " You are mine,
I will carry you to Grand Cairo, to deliver
you to a friend of mine, to whom I have
I)romi3ed a beautiful slave. But who," ad-
ded he, looking ujiou the king my husband,
" is that nianV "What relation does he bear
to you? Are you allied by blood or love*"
"Sir," answered I, "he is my husband"'
" If so," replied the pirate, «' in pity I must
rid myself of him : it would be too great an
aflliction to him to see you in my friend's
arms." Having siiuken these words, he took
np the inihappy jirince, who was bound, and
threw him into the sea, notwithstanding all
my endeavours to hinder him.
I shrieked in a dreadfid manner at the
wight of that cruel action, and h.id certainly
cast myself headlong into the sea, but that
the pirate held me. He plainly saw that
was my design, and therefero bound me
"with cords to the main - mast, and then
hoistuig sail, made towards the land, and
got ashore. He unbound me, and le<l n.e
to a little town, where ho bought cameL?,
tents, and slaves, and then set out for
Grand Cairo, designing, as he still said, to
l)rcsent me to Lis friend, according to his
Ijroniise.
We had been several days iipon the road,
when, as we were cross-
ing this plain yester-
day, we espied the
black who inhabited
this castle. At a dis-
tance we took him for
a tower, and when near
us could scarce believe
him to be a man. He
drew his vast scimi-
tar, and summoned the
pirate to yield himself
prisoner, with all his
slaves, and the lady he
was conducting. The
pirate was daring ; and
being seconded by all
his slaves, who pro-
mised to stand by him,
he attacked the black. The combat lasted a
considerable time ; but at length the pirate
fell under his enemy's deadly blows, as did
all his slaves, who chose rather to die than to
forsake him. The black then conducted
me to the castle, whither he also brought
the jiirate's body, which he ate that night
for his suj>i>er. After that inhuman meal,
perceiving that I ceased not weeping, he
said to me, " Young lady, prejiare to satisfy
my desires, rather than continue thus to
aiilict yourself. Make a virtue of necessity,
and comply : I will give you till to-morrow
to consider. Let me then find you comforted
for all j'our misfortunes, and overjoyed for
having been reserved for my bed." Having
spoken these words, he conducted mo to a
chamber, and went to bed in his own, after
locking up all the castle doors. He opened
them this morning, and presently locked
them again, to pursue some travellers he
perceived at a distance ; but it is likely they
made their escape, since he was coming
alone, and without any booty, when you
attacked him.
Aa soon as the princess had put an end to
the recital of her adventures, Codadad de-
clared to her that he was deeply concerned
at her misfortunes. "But, madam," added
he, "it shall be your own fault if you do
not live at ease for the future. The king
of Harran's sons offer you a safe retreat in
the court of the king their father ; be pleased
to accept of it. You will be there cherished
by that prince, and respected by all; and if
you do not disdain the affection of your de-
liverer, permit me to make you a present of
it, and to marry you before all these princes ;
let them be witnesses to our contract." The
princess consented to it, and the marriage
was concluded that very day in the castle,
where they found all sorts of provisions.
The kitchens were full of flesh and other
eatables the black used to feed on when
he W.TS weary of feeding on human bodies.
There was also a variety of fruits, excellent
in their kinds ; and to
complete their plea-
sure, abundance of de-
licious wine and other
liquors.
They all sat down at
table ; and after having
eaten and drank plen-
tifully, they took along
with them the rest of
the provisions, and set
OTit for the king of
Harran's court : they
travelled several days,
encamping in the pleaa-
antest places they could
find, and they were
within one day's jour-
ney of Harran, when,
having halted and drank all their wine,
being under no longer concern to make it
hold out, Codadad, directing his discourse
to all his company, "Princes," said he,
rrrsi
^^f^mmmmmm
PJfLVCESS OF DERYAIiAR.
365
•• I have too long concealed from you who
I am. Bchf)l(l your brother L'odadnd !
I have received my beiiif, as well as
yo\i, from the king of Harran ; the I'riiico
of Samaria has brought mo up, and the
Princess I'ironze is my mother. Madam,"
a<ldcd he, applying himself to the I'rinccas
of Deryabar, "do you also forgive me for
having concealed my birth from you ? Per-
haps, by discovering it sooner, I might have
pre\ented some disagreeable rellections,
which may have been occasioned by a match
you may have thought unequal." "!No, sir,"
answered the princess : "the opinion I at first
conceived of you heightened every moment,
and you did not stand in need of the extrac-
tion you now discover to make nje happy."
The i>rince9 congratulated Codadad on his
birth, and expressed much satisfaction at the
knowledge of it. But, in reality, instead of
rejoicing, their hatred of so amiable a brother
•was increased. They met together at night
in a bye-place, whilst Codadad and the prin-
cess his wife l.ay fast asleep in their tent.
Those ungrateful, those envious brothers,
forgetting that, had it not been for the brave
son of Pirouze, they must have been devoured
by the black, agreed among themselves to
miirder him. "We have no other course to
choose," said one of those wicked brethren ;
•'for the moment our father shall come to un-
derstand that tliis stranger he is already so
fond of is our brother, and that he aloue
I has been able to destroy a giant, whom we
j could not all of us together conquer, he will
heap favours and a thousand i)raises on him,
and declare him his heir, to the prejudice of
all his brothers, who will be obliged to ob( y
I and fall down before him." Besides those he
added many other words, which made such
an impression on their jealous minds, that
they immediately repaired to Codadad, then
fast asleep, stabbed him in a thousand places,
and leaving him for dead in the arms of the
princess of Deryabar, proceeded on their
journey for the city of Harran, where they
arrived the next day.
The king their father conceived the
greater joy at their return, because he had
despaired of ever seeing them again : he
asked what had been the occasion of their
stay ? But they took care not to acquaint
him with it, making no mention oither of
the black or of Codadad ; and only said,
that being curious to see difTerent countries,
they had spent some time in the neighbour-
ing cities.
In the meantime Codadad lay in his tent
drowTied in his own blood, and little dilFering
from a dead man, with the princess his wife,
who seemed to^be in not much better con-
dition than he. She rent the air with her
dismal shrieks, tore her hair, and bathing
her husband's body with her tears, — "Alas !
Codadad, my dear Codadad," cried she, "is it
you whom I behold just departing this life?
What cruel hands have jiut you into thin
condition? Can I believe these are your
brothei-8, who have treated you ho \iumerci-
fully, the.se brothers whom thy valour haa
saved '.' !No, they are rather devils, who,
under the characters so dear, came to murder
you. O barbarous wretches ! whosoever you
are, how coidd you make so ungrateful a
return for the service he has done you ? But
why should [ complain of your brothers,
unfortunate Codadad! I alone am to blamo
for your death. You would join your fate
with mine, and all the ill fortune that at-
tends me since I left my father's ])alace haa
fallen upon yon. heaven! which has-
condemned me to lead a life full of adven-
tures and calamities, if you will not jiermit
me to have a consort, why do you ])ermitme
to find one? Behold, you have now robbed
me of two, just as 1 began to be attached to
them."
By these and other moving expressions,
the wretched princess of Deryabar vented
her sorrow, fixing her eyes on the deplorable
Codadad, who could not hear her ; but ho
was not dead, nid his consort observing that
he still breathed, ran to a large town she
espied in the plain, to iuquire for a surgeon.
She was directed to one, who went immedi-
ately with her ; but when they came to the
tent, they could not find Cudailad, which
made them conclude he had been dragged
away by some wild beast to devour him.
The princess renewed her comi)laint3 ajid
lamentations in a most dismal manner. The
surgeon was moved, and being unwilling to
leave her in that frightful condition, i)ro-
posed to her to return to the town, offering
lier his house and service.
She suffered hei'self to bo prevailed on.
The surgeon conducted her to his house,
and without knowing, as yet, who she was,
treated her with all imaginable courtesy and
respect. He used all his rhetoric to comfort
her, but it was in vain to think of removing
her sorrow, which was rather heightened
than diminished. "Madam," said ho to her
one day, " be pleased to recount to mo your
misfortunes : tell me your country and your
condition. Perhaps I may give you some
advice, when I am acquainted with all the
circumstances of your calamity. You do
nothing but afflict yourself, without con-
sidering that remedies may be found for tho
most desperate diseases."
The surgeon's words were so efficacious,
that they wrought on the princess, who re-
counted to him all her adventures ; and
when she had done, the surgeon directed hia
discourse to her: "Madam," said he, "since
they are so, give me le.ave to tell you that
you ought not thus to give way to your
sorrow ; you ought rather to arm yourself
with resolution, and perform what the name
,
iil
366
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
!• i
I
m
J
and the duty of a wife re(|nirc of you. You
arc bound to avt-ii)'!' your liUHband, If you
pk'.iso, I will wait on you as your H(iuiri'.
Let us fjo to the kin;,' of HarrnnH court ; ho
is a ^o<hI and just jiriiifc. You neud only
rt'iirt'sent to him, in lively coloursi, liow
prince C'odadad has heen treated by his
brothers. I am persuaded he will do you
justice." " I Hidiniit to your reasons," an-
swereil the jtrincess : "it is my duty to en-
deavour to aven;.;e C'odadad ; and since you
arc so olili^ing and so generous as to olVer
to bear lue coini)any, I am rea<ly to set out."
No sooner liad she lixed this resolution, than
the surj^eon onU>red two camels to be made
reaily, on which the princess and he mounted
and repaired to Ilarran.
They alighted at the lirst caravansera they
found, and in(|uiring of the host what news
at court, — " It is," said lie, " in very great
perplexity. The king had a son, who lived a
long time with him as a stranjjjer, and none
can tell what is become of that young prince.
One of the king's wives, called Pirouze, is
his mother : she has made all possible in-
cpiiry, but to no puri)o.se. All men are con-
cerned at the lo.ss of that prince, l>ecause he
had great merit. The king has forty-nine
other sons, all by dilferent mothers, but not
one of them has virtue enough to comfort
the king for the death of C'oiladad ; 1 say
his death, because it is impossible he should
be still alive, since no news has been heard
of him, notwithstanding so much search has
been made after him."
The surgeon having heard this account
from the host, concluded that the beat
course the princess of Deryabar could take
■was to wait upon Pirouze ; but that step
■was not without some danger, and required
much precaution ; for it was to be feared,
that if the king of Harran's sons should
happen to hear of the arrival of their sister-
in-law, and her design, they might cause
her to be conveyed away before she could
speak to Codadad's mother. The surgeon
■weighed all tht;se circumstances, and con-
sidered what risk he might run himself ; and
therefore that he might mftnage matters
■with discretion, he desired the princess to
stay in the ciu-avanseni, whilst he went to
the palace, to observe which might be the
safest way to conduct her to Pirouz^.
He went accordingly into the city, and
■was walking towards the palace, like one
led only by curiosity to see the court, when
he espied a lady mounted on a mule richly
accoutred. She was followed by several
ladies mounted also on mules, with a great
number of giiards and black slaves. All
the people made a lane to see her ]iass along,
and saluted her by prostrating themselves
on the ground. The surgeon paid her the
same respect, and then asked a calender,
who hajipened to stand by h^Ti, whether
that lady was one of the king's wives?
" Yes, brother," answered the calender,
"she is one of the king's wived, and the
most honoured and beloved by the ]>eople,
because she is mother to ])rince (Jodatlad, of
wluun ycm must have heard."
The surgeon asked no more ipiestions,
but followed Pirouze to a moscpu', into
which she went to <listribute alms, and
assist at the public jjrayers the king ha<l
ordered to be made for the safe return of
(Jodadad. The people, who were highly
concerned for that young piijice, ran iu
crowds to join their vows to the j»rayers of
the })rie8ts, so that the mosipie was quite
fu'l. The surgeon broke the throng, and
advanced towards Pirouzt's guards. Ho
stayed out the prayers, and when that
princess went out, he stei)ped up to one of
her slaves, and whispered him in the ear,
" Brother, I have a secret of moment to
impart to the princess Pirou/e ; may not I,
by your means, be Introduced into her
apartment?" "If tlmt secret," answered
the slave, " relates to prince C'odadad, I
dare promise you shall have aiulience of her
this very day ; but if it concerns not him,
it is needless for you to endeavoiir to be
introduced to her ; for her thoughts are all
engrossed by her son, and she will not heijr
talk of any other subject." " It is only
about that dear son," replied the surgeon,
" that I wish to speak to her." " If so,"
said the slave, " you need only follow us
to the palace, and you shall soon speak to
her."
Accordingly, as soon as Pirouze was re-
turned to her apartment, that slave ac-
quainted her that a person unknown had
some important matter to communicate to
her, and that it related to prince Codadad.
No sooner had he uttered these words, than
Pirouze exj)res3ed her impatience to see that
stranger. The slave immediately conducted
him into the princess's closet, who ordered,
all her women to withdraw, except two,
from whom she concealed nothing. As soon
as she sa^w the siu^^on, she asked him
eagerly what news he had to tell her of
C'odadad? "Madam," answered the sur-
geon, after having prostrated himself on the
ground, "I have a long account to give you,
and such as will suii)rise you." Then he
told her all the particulars of what had
passed between C'odadad and his brothers,
which she listened to with eager attention;
but when he came to speak of tli". murder,
that tender mother fainted away on the
sofa, as if she had herself been stabbed like
her son. Her two ■women used proper
means, and soon brought her to herself.
The surgeon continued his relation; and
wlieu he had ended it, Pirouze said to him,
"Go back to the princess Deryabar, and
assure her from me that the king shall soon
^
J^i.iv<4?'i-^.
Wi!^:
PRINCESS OF DERYABAR.
367
own her for hiB <laui,'hti'r-iii-law ; anil as for
yourHclf, ))u OHHiiri'd that your aerviucs Hhall
bo wi'll ri'wanloil."
When tlif 8>irj{i'on was k""<'. I'inm/i' rc-
iiiaiiii'd (in thi. Nofa, in wiicli a Htate of aDIic-
tion iui may oasily lio imaHincil ; anil yicldiim
to her ti'ii(l«rno8s at the rt'cullfution of
Codadad, "Oh, my Hon," said hho, "1 must
never then i'X|)i'i;t to hco you more! AIbh!
whi'H i gave you li'avo to di'i)art from .Sa-
maria, and you took K'ave of mc, T did not
iuiagiiK! that so mifortunate a death awaited
you at Huch a diHtancc from me. Unfor-
tunate Ccidailad! Wliy did you K'ave nie!
You woukl not, it is true, have ae(|uired so
much renown; but you luul ))een Htill alive,
and not have coBt your mother so many
tears." Wliilo she uttered these wordH,
she wept bitterly; and her two eoiilidants,
moved by her grief, mingled their tears
with hers.
Wliilst tliey wore all three, as it were,
vying in atlliction, the king eamu into the
closet, and seeing tlieni in that condition,
asked I'irouze whether she had received any
bwl news concerning C'odadad ? "Alas!
sir," said she, "all i.s over: my son has lost
his life, and to add to my sorrow, I cannot
pay him the funeral rites ; for, in all a])-
pcarance, the wild beauts have devoured
him." Then she told him all that she had
beard from the surgeon, and did not fail to
enlarge on the inhuman maniuir in which
Cotladad had Ijeeu m\irdered by his brothers.
The king did not give I'irouzo time to
finish her relation, but, transported with
anger, and giving way to his passion,
"Madam," said he to the princes.t, "those
perfidious wretches who cause you to shed
these tears, and are the occasion of the
mortal grief to their father, shall soon feel
the pnnishmeut due to their gnilt." The
king having spoken these words, with in-
dignation in his countenance, went directly
to the presence-chamber, where all his cour-
tiers attended, and such of the people as
had any petitions to present to him. They
were ail astonished to see him in that pas-
sion, and thought his anger had been kindled
against his people. Their lieai'ts were
chilled with fear. He ascended the throne,
and causing his grand vizier to draw near,
" Hassan," said he, " I have some orders
for you: go immediately, take a thousand
of my guards, and seize all the princes, my
sons ; shut them up in the tower appointed
for a prison for murderers, and let this be
done in a moment." AU who were present
trembled at hearing this extraordinary com-
mand; and the grand vizier, without an-
swering one word, laid his hand on his
head, to express Ins obedience, and went
out of the hall to execute his orders, which
very much surprised him. In the mean-
time the king dismissed those who attended
for audience, and dt'chtred he wo\dd not
hear of any business for a nmntli to come,
lie wiw still in the liall wiicn llie vizier
r< turned. "Are all my sons," said that
prince, "in the towerV" " They are, sir,"
answered the vi/ier: "I hove obeyed yotir
orders." "This is not all," replied the
king, — "I have further commands for you ;"
and so saying ho went out of the hall of
audience, and returned to Tirouze's apart-
ment, with tho vizier following him. He
asked that jirinccsa where Codadad's widow
hail taken up her lodging ? I'irouze's women
told him, for tlus surgecm had not forgot
*hat in his relation. Then the king turning
to hia minister, "(!o," said he, "to that
caravansera, and bring a yoinig princess,
who lodges tliere, but treat her witli all the
respect due to her (piality."
The vizier was not long in performing
what ho was onlered. >Ie mounted on
horseback with all the emirs aiul courtiers,
and repaired to the caravansera, where tho
princess of Deryabar was, whom he ac-
(juainted with his orders; and presented
her, from the king, a line white mule, whose
saddle and bridle were adorned with gold,
rubies, and di.imonds. She momited it, and
went to tho ])alace, attended by all those
great men. The surgeon l)ore her company,
mounted on a beautiful Tartar horse, which
the vizier had provided for him. All tho
people were at their windows, or in the
streets, to see that noble cavalcade; and it
being given out that the princess, whom
they conducted in such state to court, was
Codadad's wife, the city resoimded with
acclamations, the air rung with shouts of
joy, which woidd h.ave been turned into
lamentations had that prince's fat;d adven-
ture been known; so much was he beloved
by all.
Tho princess of Deryabar found tho king
at the palace gate, waiting to receive her :
he took her by the hand, and led her to
PirouziVs apartment, where a very moving
scene took place. Codadad's wife found her
ailliction redouble u])ou her iit tlie sight of
her husband's father and mother : as, on
tho other hand, those jjarents could not
look on their son's wife without being much
afl'ected. She cast herself at the king's feet,
and having bathed them with tears, was so
overcome with grief, that she was not able
to speak one word. Pirouzo was in no
better state. She seemed to be penetrated
with sorrow ; and the king, moved Ity those
atFecting objects, gave way to his own
weakness. 'I'hose three persons, mingling
their teivrs and sighs, for some time observed
a silence, which appeared equally tender
and jiitifid. At length the princess of
Deryabar, being somewhat recovered, re-
counted the adventure of the castle, and
Codadad's disaster. Then she demanded
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368
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
1
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justice for tho treachery of tho princes.
"Yes, madam," said the king to her, "those
ungiatef ul wretches shall perish ; bnt Coda-
dad's death must first be made public, that
the punishment of Lis brothers may not
cause my subjects to rebel ; aiul though wo
have not my son's body, we will not omit
paying him the lost duties." This said, he
directed his discourse to the vizier, and or-
dered him to build a dome of white marble,
in a delightful plain, in the midst of which
the city of Harran stands. Then he ap-
pointed the princess of Deryabar a hand-
some apartment in his palace, acknowledg-
ing her for his daughter-in-law.
Hassan caused the work to be carried on
with such diligence, and employed so many
workmen, that the dome was soon finished.
Within it was erected a tomb, on which was
placed a figure representing Codadad. When
all was completed, the king ordered prayers
to be said, and appointed a day for the
obsequies of his son.
On that day all the inhabitants of the
city went out upon the plain to see that
ceremony performed, which was after tho
following manner. The king, attended by
his vizier and the principal lords of the
court, proceeded towards the dome, and
being come to it, he went in and sat down
with them on carpets made of black satin
with gold flowers. A great body of horse-
guards, haneiug their heads and looking
down, drew ap close about the dome, and
marched round it twice, observing a pro-
found silence ; but at the third round they
halted before the door, and all of them with
a loud voice pronounced these words : " O
prince ! son to the king, could we by dint
of sword, and human valour, relieve your
misfortune, we would bring you back to
life ; but the King of kings has commanded,
and the angel of death has obeyed." Hav-
ing uttered these words, they drew off to
make way for a hundred old men, all of
them mounted on black mules, and wearing
long grey beards. These were anchorites,
who lived all their dayq concealed in caves.
They never appeared in the sight of the
world but when they were to assist at the
obsequies of the kings of Harran, and of the
princes of their family. Each of these
venerable persons carried on his head a book,
which he held with one hand. They took
three turns round the dome without uttering
one word; then stopping before the door,
one of them said, " O prince! what can we
do for thee ? If thou couldst be restored to
life by prayer or learning, we would rub our
grey beards at thy feet, and recite prayers ;
but the King of .he universe has taken thee
away for ever."
This said, the cirl men moved to a dis-
tance from the dome, and immediately fifty
beautiful young maidens drew near to it;
each of them was mounted on a little white
horse ; they wore no veils, and carried gold
boskets, full of all sorts of precious stones.
They also rode thrice round the dome, and
halting at the same place as the others had
done, the youngest of them spoke in the
name of all, as follows : " O prince ! once so
beautiful, what relief can you expect from us ?
If we could restore you to life by our charms,
we would become your slaves. But you are
no longer sensible to beauty, and have no
more occasion for us."
When the young maids were withdrawn,
the king and his courtiers arose, and having
walked thrice round the figure representing
Codadad, the king spoke as follows: "Q
my dear son, light of my eyes, I have then
lost thee for ever ! " He accompanied these
words with sighs, and watered the tomb
with his tears ; his courtiers weeping with
him. Then the gate of the dome was shut,
and all the people returned to the city.
Next day there were public prayers in all
the mosques, and the same was continued
for eight days successively. On the ninth
the king resolved to cause the princes his
sons to be beheaded. All the people, in-
censed at their cruelty towards Codadad,
inijiatiently expected to see them executed.
The scafTolds were erecting, but the execu-
tion was respited, because, on a sudden,
news was brought that the neighbouring
princes, vho had before made war on the
king of Harran, were advancing with more
numerous forces than tho first time, and
were not then far from the city. It had
been long known that they were preparing
for war, but their preparations caused no
alarm. This news occasioned a general
consiemation, and gave new cause to lament
the loss of Codadad, who had signalised
himself in the former war .against thoso
enemies. "Alas!" said they, "were tho
brave Codadad alive, we should little regard
those ])rince8 who are coming to surprise
us." The king, nothing dismayed, raised
men with all possible speed, formed a con-
siderable army, and being too brave to
await the enemy's coming to attack him
within his walls, marched out to meet them.
They, on their side, being informed by their
advanced parties, that the king of Harran
was marching to engage them, halted in the
plain, and formed their aruiy.
As soon as the king discovered them, ho
also drew up his forces, and ranged them
in order of battle. The j'gnal was given,
and he attacked them with extraordinary
vigour; nor was the opposition inferior.
Much blood was shed on both sides, and
the victory remained long dubious ; but at
length it seemed to incline to the king of
Harran's enemies, who, being more numer-
ous, were upon the point of surrounding
him, when a great body of horse appeared
1
sed
on-
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lim
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ran
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Bin
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of
PRINCESS OF DERYABAR.
369
on the plain, and drew near the two armies
in good order. The sight of that fresh
party daunted 1>oth sides, not knowing what
to think of them : but their doubts were
soon cleared ; for those horsemen flew upon
the flank of the kiug of Harran's enemies
with such a furious charge, that they soon
broke and routed them. Nor did. they Rtop
here ; they jjursucd them, and cut most of
them in pieces.
The king of Harran, who had attentively
observed aJJ thot passed, admired the bravery
of those horsemen, whose unexpected arrival
had given the victory to his side. But, above
all, he was charmed with their chief, whom
he had seen flghting with more than ordin-
ary valour. He longed to know the name
of that generous hero. Impatient to see
and thank him, he advanced towards him,
but perceived he was coming to prevent
him. The two princes drew near, and the
king of Harran discovering Codadad in that
brave warrior who had just assisted him, or
rather defeated his enemies, became motion-
less with joy and surprise. "Sir," said
Codadad to him, "you have sufficient cause
to be astonished at the sudden appearance
before your majesty of a man whom i>er-
haps you concluded to be dead. I should
have been so, had not heaven preserved me
still to serve you against your enemies."
"O! my son," cried the king, "is it pos-
sible that you are restored to me ? Alas !
I despaired of seeing you any more." So
say'ug, he stretched out his arms +0 the
young prince, who flew to such a tender
embrace.
"I know all, my son," said the king
again, after having long held him in his
arms. "I know what return my sons have
made you for the service you did in deliver-
ing them out of the hands of the black ; but
you shall be revenged to-morrow. Let us
now go to the palace : your mother, Avhom
you have cost so many tears, expects me,
to rejoice with us for the defeat of our ene-
mies. What a joy will it be to her to be
informed that my victory is your work ! "
"Sir," said Codadad, "give me leave to
ask you how you could know the adventure
of the castle ? Have any of my brothers,
repenting, owned it to you?" "No," an-
swered the king ; " the princess of Deryabar
has given us an account of everything, for
she is in my palace, and came thither to
demand justice against your brothers."
Codadad was transported with joy to un-
derstand that the princess his wife was at
the court. " Let us go, sir," cried he to
his father in a rapture ; "let us go see my
mother, who waits for us. I am impatient
to dry up her tears, as well as those of the
princess of Deryabar."
The king immediately returned to the
city with his "nny, which he dismissed, and
re-entered his palace victorious, amidst the
acclamations of the peo}ile, who followed
him in crowds, praying to heaven to prolong
his life, and extolling Codadad to the skies.
These two princes found Pirouzi' and her
daughter-in-law waiting for the king to con-
gratulate him ; but words cannot express
the transports of joy they felt when they
saw the young prince come with him : their
embraces were mingled with tears of a very
diH'erent kind from those they had before
shed for him. When these four persons had
sufficiently yielded to all the emotions that
the ties of blood and love inspired, they
asked Pirouze's sou by what miracle he came
to be still alive?
He answered, that a peasant, moimted
on a mule, happening accidentally to come
into the tent where he lay senseless, and
perceiving him alone, and stabbed in several
placcH, had made him fast on his mule, and
carried him to his house, where he applied
to his wounds certain herbs, chewed, which
recovered him in a few days. " When I
found myself well," added he, " I returned
thanks to the peasant, and gave him all the
diamonds I had. Then I drew near to the
city of Han-an ; but being informed by the
way that some neighbouring princes had
gathered forces, and were coining to fall
upon the king's subjects, I made myself
known to the villagers, and stirred up those
people to undertake his defence. I armed
a great number of young men, and heading
them, happened to come in at that time
when the two armies were engaged."
When he had done speaking, the king
said, "Let us return thanks to God for
having preserved Codadad ; but it is re-
((uisite that the traitors, who woidd have
destroyed him, shoidd perish this day."
"Sir," answered the generous son of Pir-
ouze, " though they are wicked and ungrate-
ful, consider they are your own flesli and
blood; they are my brothers; I forgive
their offence, and beg you to pardon them.".
Tliis generosity drew tears from the king,
who caused the people to be assembled,
and declared Codailad his heir. Then he
ordered the jirinces, who were prisoners, to
be brought, loaded with irons. Pirouzi's
son struck oflf their chains, and embraced
them all successively, with as much sin-
cerity as he had done in the court of the
black's castle. The people were charmed
with Codadad's good disposition, and loaded
him with applause. The surgeon was next
nobly rewarded, in requital of the services
he had done the princess of Deryabar.
The sidtaness Scheherazade, having re-
lated the story of Ganem with so much ad-
dress, and in so agreeable a manner, that the
sultan of the Indies could not forbear show-
Lug the pleasure that relation gave him,
said tu that monarch, "I doubt not but
>A
370
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
your majesty is very well satisfied to find
the caliph Horoun Alraschid change his
sentimeuts in favuur of Uanum, his muther,
and sister ; aud I believe you may be sen-
sibly atfected with their misfortunes, and
the ill-treatment they received ; but I am
persuaded, if your majesty would hear the
story of the Sleeper Awakene<l, it would,
instead of exciting all those emotions of in-
dignation aud compassion in your breast,
on the contrary, afford you much mirth and
diversion." The sultan, who promised him-
self some new adventures from the title of
this story, woidd have heard it that morn-
ing, but perceiving day approach, deferred
it till the next ; when Dinarzade called upon
her sister, who began her story in these
words: —
THE STORY OF THE SLEEPER AWAKENED.
Tn the reign of the caliph Haroun Alras-
chid there lived at Bagdad a very rich mer-
chant, who, having married a woman ad-
vanced in years, had but one son, whom he
named Abou Hassan, and educated with
great restraint. When his son was thirty
years old, the merchant died, and left him
his sole heir, and master of great riches,
which his father had amassed together by
much frugahty and close a]>plicatiou to busi-
ness.
Abon Hassan, whose views and inclina-
tions were very different from those of his
father, determined to make another use of
liis wealth; for as his father had never
allowed him any money but what was just
necessary for subsistence, and he had always
envied those young persons of his age who
wanted for nothuig, aud who debarred them-
selves from none of those pleasures to which
youth ore too much addicted, he resolved in
his turn to distinguish himself by extrava-
gances proportionable to his fortune. To
this end he di^'ided his riches into two
parts: with one-half he bought houses in
town, and land in the country, with a pro-
mise to himself, never to touch the income
of his estate, which was considerable enough
to live upon very handsomely, but lay it aU
by as he received it ; with the other half,
which consisted in ready money, he de-
signed to make himself amends for the time
he had lost in the severe restraint in which
his father had always kept him.
With this intent, Alwn Hassan formed a
society in a few days with people of his age
and condition, and thought of nothing but
how to make their time pass agreeably.
Every day he gave them splendid entertain-
ments, at which the most delicate meats
were served up, and the most exquisite
wines flowed in plenty, "while concerts of
the best vooal and instrumental music by
performers of both sexes heightened their
pleasures, and this young band of debau-
chees, with the glasses in their hands, joined
their songs with the music, thus forming a
concert with the instruments ; and these feasts
generally ended with ballH, to which the best
dancers of Bagdad of both sexes were invited.
These entertainments, renewed every day,
were so expensive to Abon Hassan, that ho
could not support the extravagance above a
year ; and the great sum which he had con-
secrated to this prodigality, and the year,
ended together. Ah soon as ho left off keep-
ing this table, his friends forsook him;
whenever they saw him they avoided him,
and if by chance ho met any of them and
went to stop them, they always excused
themselves on some pretence or other.
Abon Hassan was touched more by this
strange behaviour of his friends, who had
forsaken him so basely and ungratefully,
after aXL the ]>rotestations of friendship they
had made him, and their inviolable at-
taclunent to his service, than for all the
money he hod so foolishly squandered away :
he went melancholy and thoughtf id, his head
hanging down, and his countenance expres-
sive of deep vexation, into his mother's
apartment, and sat down at the end of a
sofa at a distance from her. "What is the
matter with you, son?" said his mother,
seeing him in this condition. "Why are you
so altered, so dejected, aiid so different from
yourself ? You could not certainly be more
concerned, if you had lost all you had in the
world. I know you have lived very pro-
fusely, and believe aU your money is s^jcnt ;
you have yet a good estate ; aud the reason
that I did not so very much oppose your
irregular way of living was, that I knew the
wise precaution you had taken to preserve
half your substance. I do not, therefore,
see why you should plunge yourself into this
deep melancholy."
At these words Abon Hassan melted into
tears ; and in the midst of his sighs, cried
out, "Ah ! mother, I see at lost by sad ex-
perience, how insupportable poverty is ; I
am sensible that it deprives us of joy, as the
Betting of the sun does of light. As poverty
makes us forget all the commendations and
fine things said of us before our fall, it makes
us endeavour to conceal ourselves, ond spend
our nights in tears and sorrow. In short, a
poor man is looked upon, both by friends
and relations, as a stranger. You know,
mother, how I have treated my friends for
this year past ; I have entertained them
with all imaginable generosity, till I have
spent all my money, and now they have left
me, when I can treat them no longer. When
I tell them tlmt I have no more means to
continue their mirth, I mean the money I
laid by to employ in such purposes. F«»
my estate, I thank heaven for having given
me the grace to keep the oath I have made
d into
cried
ad ex-
is ; I
aa the
verty
18 and
akes
spend
nrt, a
iends
now,
ds for
them
have
left
hen
to
I
Few
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
371
not to enter iijion that to spend it so fool-
ishly ; and now I shall keep that oath, and
know how to make gowl use of what is left.
But first I will try how far my friendti, who
deserve not that I should call them so, will
carry their in;;ratitude. I will go to them
one after another, and when I have repre-
sented to them what I have done for their
sakes, I will ask them among them to make
me up a sum of money, to relieve me out of
the miserable condition I have reduced my-
self to, to please them ; but aa I have already
said, I will not take these steps, but to try
if I can find any sentiment of gratitude re-
maining in them."
" I do noj pretend, son," said Abon Has-
san's mother, " to dissuade you from execut-
ing your design ; but I can tell you before-
hand, that you hove no ground for hope.
Believe nie, yoii will find no relief but from
the estate you have reserved. I see you do
not, but will soon know those i>eopIc, which
among jMirsous of your sort are gencnilly
called friends, and I wish to heaven you
may know it in the manner I desire ; that
is to say, for your own good." " Mother,"
replied Abon Ifassan, " I am persuaded of
the truth of what you say, but shall be more
certain of a fact which concerns me so nearly,
when I shall inform myself better of their
baseness and insensibility." Abon Hassan
went immediately to his friends, whom he
found at home ; representing to them the
great need he was in, and begged of them to
draw their purse-strings to assist him. He
promised to give every one bonds to pay
them the money they lent him, as soon as
their ail'airs were made up ; giving them to
understand at the same time, that it was, in
a great measure, upon their accounts that
he was so distressed, that he might the more
jwwerfidly excite their generosity ; and for-
got not to allure them with the hopes of be-
ing once again entertained in the same man-
ner as before."
Not one of his bottle companions was
affected with the arguments which the af-
flicted Abon Hassan made use of to persuade
them ; and he had the murtilication to find,
that many of them told him plainly they did
not know him.
He returned home again full of grief and
indignation ; and going into his mother's
apartment, said, " Ah ! madam, you were
right ; instead of friends, I have found none
but perfidious ungratefid wretches, who de-
serve not my friendship, which I renounce,
and promise you I will never see them more. "
He resolved to be as good as his word, and
took every precaution to avoid falling into
the same inconvenience; taking an oath
never to give an inhabitant of Bagdad any
entertainment again wlule he lived. He
drew the strong box in which he had put the
rents he had received from his estate from
the place where he had ])laced it in reserve,
and put it in the room of that ho had emp-
tied, and resolved to take out every day no
more than was suflieieut to defray the ex-
pense of a single person to sup with him,
who, according to the oath he had taken,
was not to be any man of Bagdad, but a
stranger that came into Bagdad the same
day, and must take his leave of him the
next morning after one night's meal.
According to this project, Abon Hassan
took care every morning to provide whatever
was necessary for this treat, and towards the
close of the evening went and sat at the end
of Bagdad bridge ; and as soon as he saw a
stranger, of whatever rank or condition he
was, he accosted him civilly, and invited him
to sup and lodge with him that night ;
and after having informed him of the law
he hod imposed upon himself, took him home
with him. The repast with which Al)on
Hassan regaled his guests was not costly,
but always sufficient, with plenty of good
wine, and generally lasted till the night was
jiretty well advanced ; when, instead of en-
tertaining his guest with the allairs of state,
his family, or business, as is too frequent,
he aflected to talk only of indiil'erent agree-
able subjects. Ho was naturally of so gay
and so pleasant a tem])er, that he could give
the most agreeable turns to conversation on
every subject, and make the most melan-
choly persons merry. When he sent away
his guests the next morning, he always said,
"God preserve you from all sorrow wherever
you go ; when I invited you yesterday to
come and sup with me, I informed you of
the law I have imposed on myself ; therefore
do not take it ill if I tell you, that we must
never see one another again, nor drink to-
gether, either at home or any other house,
"for reasons best known to myself ; so God
conduct you."
Abon Hassan was very exact in the obser-
vation of this oath, and never looked upon
or s])oke to the strangers he hod once en-
tertained ; wherover he met them in the
streets, the squares, or any public assem-
blies, he aflected not to see them, and turn-
ed away to avoid them, that they might not
speak to him, or he have any communication
with them. He had acted for a long time
after this manner, when, one afternoon, a
little before sunset, as he sat ujxtn the
bridge acconling to custom, the caliph Har-
oun Alraschid came by, but so disguised
that it was imi)088ible to know him ; for
that monarch, though his chief ministers
and officers of justice acquitted themselves
of their duty very punctually, would never-
theless inform lumself of everything, and
for that purpose often disguised himself in
different wayn, and walked through the city
and suburbs of Bagdad, sometimes one way
and sometimes another. That day, being
372
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the first of the month, ho was dressed like
a merchant of Moussel, who had hut just
disembarked, and was followed by a tall
stout black slave.
As the caliph had in his disguise a grave
and respectful air, Abon Hassan, who
thought him to be a Moussel merchant, rose
up, and, after having saluted him with a
graceful air, and kissed his hand, said to him,
" Sir, I congratulate you on your happy ar-
rival ; I beg you to do me the honour to go
and sup with me, and repose yourself at my
house this night, after the fatigue of your
voyage :" and to oblige him not to refuse him
that favour, he told him his custom of en-
tertaining the iirst stranger he met with.
The caliph found something so odd and
singular in Abon Hassan's taste, that he was
very desirous to know the bottom of it ; and
without quitting the character of a mer-
chant, told him that he could not better
answer that great civility, which he did not
expect at his arrival at Bagdad, than by
accepting the obliging otler that he made
him ; that he had only to lead the way, and
he was ready to follow him.
■ Abon Hassan, who knew not that the
guest which chance presented to him was
80 very much above him, treated the caliph
as his equal, carried liim home, and led him
into a room very neatly furnished, where he
set him on a sofa, in the most honourable
place. Supper was ready, and the cloth
laid. Abon Hassan's mother, who took
upon herself the care of the kitchen, sent
\ip three dishes ; the first was a capon and
four large pidlets, which was set in the mid-
dle ; and the second and third, placed on
each side, were a fat roasted goose and
broiled pigeons. This was all ; but they
were good of the kind, and well flavoured,
with proper sauces.
Abon Hassan sat down over against his
guest, and he and the caliph began to eat
heartily of what they liked best, without
speaking or drinking, according to the cus-
tom of the country. When they had done
eating, the caliph's slave brought them water
to wash their hands : and in the meantime,
Abon Hassan's mother cleared the table, and
brought up a dessert of :J1 the various sorts
of fruits then in season ; as grapes, peaches,
apples, pears, and various pastes of dried
almonds, &c. As soon as it grew dark, wax
caudles were lighted, and Abon Hassan, after
charging his mother to take care of the
caliph's slave, set on bottles and glasses.
Then Abon Hassan, sitting down with the
pretended Moussel merchant again, filled out
a glass of wine, before he touched the fruit ;
and holding it out in his hand, said to the
caliph, still taking him for a merchant of
Moussel, "You know, sir, that the cock
never drinks before he calls to his hens to
come and drink with Mm ; I invite you to
follow my example. I do not know what you
may think ; but, for my part, I cannot reckon
him a wise man who does not love wine.
Let us leave those sort of people to their dull
melancholy humours, and seek for mirth,
which is only to be found in a brimmer."
While Abon Hassan was drinking, the
caliph, taking the glass that was set for him,
said, " You are an honest fellow ; I like your
pleasant temper, and expect you will fill me
as much." Abon Hassar as soon as he had
drunk, filled the caliph's glass, and giving it
to him, "Taste this wine, sir," said he ; "I
will warrant it good." " I am very well per-
suaded of that," replied the caliph, laughing;
"you know how to choose the best." "Oh,"
replied Abon Hassan (whUo the caliph was
taking off his glass), "one need only look in
your face to see you have seen the world, and
know what good living is. If," added he in
Arabic verse, "my house could tliink and ex-
press its joy, how happy would it be to pos-
sess you, and, bowing before you, would cry,
How overjoyed am I to see myself honoured
with the company of so well-behaved and so
polite a personage, and for meeting with a
man of your merit."
The caliph, who was naturally lively, was
mightily diverted with these sallies of Abon
Hassan's, and took great pleasure in pro-
moting drinking, often asking for wine,
thinking that when it began to work, he
might, by his conversation, satisfy his curio-
sity. In order, therefore, to enter into con-
versation, he asked him his name, his busi-
ness, and how he spent his life. "My name,
sir," replied he, "is Abon Hassan. I lost my
father, \&ho was a merchant of Bagdad, and
though he was not the richest, yet he lived
very comfortably. When he died, he left
me money enough for my station to live free
from ambition ; but as he always kept a very
strict hand over me in his lifetime, I was
willing, when he was gone, to make up the
time I thought I had lost. Notwithstanding
this," continued Abon Hassan, "I was more
prudent than most young people are, who
give themselves up to debauchery without
any thought, and pursue it till they reduce
themselves to the utmost poverty, and are
forced to do penance all the rest of their
lives after. To avoid this misfortune, I
divided what I had left me into two parts,
land and ready money. I destined the ready
money to supply the expenses of my ac-
quaintance. I meditated, and took a fixed
resolution not to touch my rents. I associ-
ated with young people of my own age, and
with my ready money, which I spent pro-
fusely, treated them splendidly every day ;
and, in short, spared for no sort of pleasure.
But all this did not last long; for by the
time the year was out, I had got to the bot-
tom of my box, and then all my table-friends
vanished. I made a visit to every one of
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
171
them Bucccssivcly, and represented to tLcra
the miserable condition I was in, but none
of them made an offer to relieve me.
" Upon this, I renounced their friendship,
and retrenched so fnr as to live within the
compass of my income, and botmd myself
to keep company with none but the first
stranger I cuuld meet with coming that day
into Bagdad, and to entertain him but one
day and one night. I have told you the rest
before ; and [ thank my good fortune this
day for meeting with a stranger of so much
worth."
The caliph was very well satisfied with
this information, and said to Abon Hassan,
"I cannot enough commend the mcaRures you
have taken, and the prudence with whiuh
you have acted, by forsaking your debau-
chery, — a conduct rarely to bo met with in
young persons ; and I esteem you the more
for being so faithful to yourself. It was a
slippery path you trod in, and I cannot
enough admire how, after having seen the
end of your ready money, you hjvd so great
command over yourself not to enter ui)on
your rents, or even your estate. In short,
I must own, I envy your happiness. You
are the happiest man in the world, to enjoy
every day the company of some one honest
man, with whom you can discourse freely
and agreeably, and to whom you give an
opportunity to declare, wherever he goes,
how handsomely he was received by you.
But, we talk too long without drinking;
come, drink, and pour out a glass for me."
In this manrer the caliph and Abon Has-
san conversed together, drinking and talking
of indifferent pleasant subjecb;, till the night
was pretty far advanced ; when the caliph,
pretending to be fatigued after his journey,
told his host he stood in need of a little rest.
"But," added he, "as I would not deprive
you of yours on my account, before we part
(because to-morrow I may be gone before you
are stirring), I shoidd be glad to shew you
how sensible 1 am of your civility, and the
good cheer and hospitality you have shewn
me. The only thing that troubles me is,
that I know not which way to make you
any acknowledgment. I beg of you, there-
fore, to let me understand how I may do it,
and you shall see I will not be ungrateful ;
for it is impossible but a man like you must
have some business, some want, or wish for
something agreeable to you. Speak freely,
and open your mind ; for though I am but
a merchant, it may be in my power to oblige
you myself, or by some friend."
To these offers of the calijih, Abon Has-
san, taking him still for a Moussel mer-
chant, replied, " I am very well persuaded,
my good sir, that it is not out of compli-
ment that you make me these generous
tenders; but, upon the word of an honest
man, I assure you, I have nothing that
troubles me, no business, nor desires, and I
ask nothing of anybody. I have not the
least ambition, as I tohl you before, and am
satisfied with my condition ; therefore, I caa
only thank you for your obliging proffers,
and the honour you have done me to c<>mo
and take a slight repast with me. Yet
I must tell you," pursued Abon H.i.<!<an,
" there ia one thing gives me uneaiiness,
without, however, disturbing my rest. You
must know the town of Bagdad is divided
into ([uarters, in each of which there is a
mosque, with an iman to perform prayers at
certain hours, at the head of the quarter
which assembles th.ere. The iman of the
division I live in is a great old man, of an
austere countenance, and the greatest hyi>o>
crite in the world. Four old men of this
neighbourhood, who are people of the Kame
stamp, meet rej^idarly every day at thi*
iman's house. Tliere they vent their slander,
calumny, and malice against me and the
whole quarter, to the disturbance of the
peace of a neighbourhood, and the promo-
tion of dissention. Some they threaten,
others they frighten, and, in short, wculd be
lords paramount, and have every one govern
himself according to their caprice, though
they know not how to govern themselves.
Indeed, I am sorry to see that they mediUe
with anything but their koron, and do not
let the world live quietly."
" Well, I suppose," said the caliph, "yon
wish to have a stop put to this disorder?"
" You have guessed right," antwered Abon
Hassan, "and the only thing I should pray for
would be to be caliph but for one day, in the
stead uf our sovereign lord and master Haroun
Alraschid, the commander of the faithful.'*
" What woidd you do if you was?" said «ihe
caliph. " I would make examples of them,"
answered Abon Hassan, " to the satisfaction
of all honest men. I would punish the four
old men with each a hundred bastinadoes on
the soles of their feet, and the iman with
four hundred, to teach them not to disturb
and abuse their neighbours any more."
The caliph was extremely well pleased
with this thought of Abon Hassan's ; and as
he loved adventures, he longed to make this
a very singular one. " Indeed," said he,
" I approve very much of your wish, which
I see proceeds from an upright heart, that
cannot bear to see the malice of wicked
people go unpunished ; I could like to see it
take etlect, and it is not so imjwssible a
thing as you may imagine. I am persuaded
that the caliph would willingly put his
authority for twenty-four hours into yoor
hands if he knew your good intentions, and
the good use you would make of it. Though
a foreign merchant, I have credit enough to
contribute in some degree to the execution
of this plan." "I see," said Abon Hassan,
" you laugh at my foolish fancy, and the
T
374
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS'.
caliph himself would laugh at my extrava-
gance ton, if ho knew it; yet it would be a
means of informinj^ him of the behaviour of
the iman and his companions, and induue
him to chastise them."
" Heaven forbid," replied the caliidi,
"that I, wh<» have Iteen so handsomely en-
tertained by you, should laugh at you ; nei-
ther do I believe, as much a stranger as I
am to you, that the calipli would bo dis-
pleased ; but let us leave olf tallying; it is
almost midnight, and time to go to l)ed."
"With all my heart," said Abon Hassan,
" I would not be any hiiulranco to your
going to rest ; but there is still some wine in
the bottle, and if you ]>lease we will drink
it o£f tirst, and then retire. The only tiling
that I have to recommend to you is, that
when you go out in the morning, if I am
not up, you will not leave tlie door open,
but give ycmrself the trouble of shutting it
after you." This tlie caliph promised to tlo ;
and while Abon Hassan was tftlking, took
the bottle and two glasses, and filled his own '
first, saying, "Here is a cup of thanks to
you," and then filling the other, put into it
artfully a little powder, which he had about
him, and giving it to Abon Hassan, said,
' You have taken the pains to KU for me all
this night, and it is the least I can do to save
you the trouble ouce : I beg you to take
this glass ; drink it off for my sake."
Abon Hassan took the glass, and to show
his guest with how much pleasure he re-
ceived the honour he did him. whipt it off
at once, but had scarcely set the glivss upon
the table, but the powder began to work,
and he fell into so sound a sleep, that his
head knocked against his knees so suddenly,
that the caliph could not help laughing.
The caliph ordered the slave he had brought
along with him, — and who came again into
the room as soon as he had supped, and had
been there to receive his orders, — to take him
upon his back, and follow him ; but to be
sure to observe the house, that he might
know it again, when lie was ordered to bring
him back ; and in this manner the caUph,
followed by the slave with Abon Hassan
upon his back, went out of the house, but
without shutting the door after him as Abon
Hassan desired him, and went directly to his
palace, and by a private door into his own
apartment, where all the officers of his cham-
ber were waiting for him, whom he ordered
to undress him and put him in his bed^ which
they immediately performed
Then the caliph sent for all the officers
and ladies of the palace, and said to them,
" I would have aU those, whose business it
is to attend my levee, wait to-morrow morn-
ing upon this man, who lies in my bed, and
pay the bame respect to him as to myself,
and obey him in whatever he commands ;
let him be refused nothing that he asks for,
and bo 8])oken to and answered in every-
thing he says or does, as if he was the com-
mander of the faithful. In short, I expect
that you look iipon him as the true caliph
and eonnnauder of the faithful, without re-
garding nic ; and above all things, mistake
not in the least circumstance.*'
The officera and ladies, who jiresently un-
derstood that the caliph had a mind to diver c
I'.imself, answered him by low bows, a'ld
then withdrew, every one jireparing to con-
tribute to the best of their power to per .orm
their respective parts adroitly.
The caliph, returning to hia palace, sent
for the grand vizier : " Giafar," said he, "I
have sent for you to instruct you, and to
prevent your being surprised to-morrow when
you come to audience, to see this man that
is laid here in my bud, seated on my throne
in my royal robes : accost him with the same
reverence and respect you j>ay to myself ;
observe and punctually execute whatever he
bids you do, the same as if I commanded
you. He will exercise great liberality, and
commission you with the distril)ution of it
Do all he bids j'ou, even if his liberality
should extend so for oa to empty all the
coffers in my treasury ; and rememl)er to
ac(]uaint all my emirs, and all the officers
without the palace, to pay him the same
honour at audience as to myself, and to
carry on the matter so well, that he may
not perceive the least thing that may inter-
rupt this diversion which 1 design myself."
After the grand vizier retired, the caliph
went to bed in another apartment, and gave
Mesrour, the chief of his eunuchs, the orders
which he was to execute, that everything
might succeed as he intended, to gratify the
wish of Abon Hassan ; that he might see
how Abon Hassan would use the power and
authority of the caliph for the short time he
desired to have it. Above all, he charged
him not to fail to awake him at the usual
hour, before he awakened Abon Ha-ssan, be-
cause he had a mind to be present when he
arose.
Mesrour failed not to do as the caliph had
commanded ; and as soon as the caliph went
into the room where Abon Hassan lay, he
])laced himself in a little raised closet, from
whence he could see all that passed. All
the olficers and ladies, who were to attend
Abon Hassan's levee, went in at the same
time, and took their posts according to their
rank, with great silence, and ready to acqiut
themselves of their respective duties, as if it
was the caliph who was going to rise.
As it was just daybreak, and time to
rise to morning prayer before sunrise, the
officer that stood nearest the head of the bed
]mt a sponge steeped in vinegar to Abon
Hassan's nose, who presently turning his
head about, without opening his eyes, with
a little effort discharged a kind of phlegm,
T
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
375
▼hich was roccive<I in n littlu pilden basin
before it full on thu caqiot. Thia won the
usual effect of thu calipli'd ]iowiU>r, tho sleo])
lasting lunger or shorter, in iiro])ortion to
tho (lose. When Abim Huttsan laid down
Ills head on the bolster, he opened hia eyes ;
and by the small daylight that apiieared, he
fouml himself in a lar^'e handxoni^ room,
magnificently fiirniHhed, the ceiling of which
was finely painted iu the Arabesque ])attern,
adorned with vases of gold and silver, and
the Hoor covered with a rich silk tapestry,
and surrounded by a great many young and
handsome ladies, many of them having in-
struments of music in their hands, and black
eunuchs richly clothed, all standing with
great modesty and respect. After casting
his eyes on the covering of the bed, he per-
ceived it was cloth of gold, richly embossed
with pearls and diamonds, and by the bed
lay, on a cushion, a habit of the same stutl's
and trimmings, with a caliph's turban.
At the sight of these glittering objects
Abon Hassan was in the most inexpressible
confusion and amiuement, and looked upon
all he saw as a dream ; yet such a dream as
he wished it not to be. "So," said he to
himself, "I am caliph; but," added he, re-
collecting himse i, "it is only a dream, the
effect of the wish I entertained my guest
with last night ; " and then he turned himself
about, and shut his eyes to sleep again. At
the same time the eunuch said, very respect-
fully, "Commander of the faithful, it is time
for your majesty to rise to jx'ayers ; the
morning begins to advance."
These words very much suri)rised Abon
Hassan. "Am I awake, or do I sleep?"
said he to himself. " Ah, certainly, I am
asleep ! " continued he, keeping his eyes
shut ; " there is no reason to doubt of it"
Immediately the eunuch, who saw he
gave him uo answer, and had no inclination
to get up, said again, " Your majesty must
permit me to repeat once more that it is
time to rise to morning prayer, unless yoii
choose to let it pass; the sun is just rising,
and you never neglect this duty." " I am
mistaken," said Abon Hassan ])resently: "I
am not asleep, but awake ; for those that
sleep do not hear, and I hear somebody speak
to me :" then opening his eyes again, he saw
plainly by broad daylight, what he had seen
but indistinctly before ; and started up, with
a smiling coimtenance, like a man overjoyed
at a sudden promotion. The caliph, who
saw him, penetrated his thoughts with great
delight;
Then the young ladies of the palace pros-
trated themselves with their faces to the
ground before Abon Hassan, and those who
had the instruments of music in their hands
wished him a good morrow, by a concert of
soft flutes, hautboys, theorboes, and other
hatmonious instruments, with which he was
enchanted, and in such an ecstasy, that he
knew not where he was, nnr whether he was
himself ; l)ut reverting to his first idea, ho
still doubted whether what he saw and heard
was a dream or reality. He clapped his hands
before his eyes, and lowering his head, said
to himself, " What means all this? Where
am 1 ? and to whom does this palace belong?
What can these eunuchs, handsoinu well-
ilressed otticcrs, beautiful ladies, and musi-
cians, mean ? How is it possible for me not
to distinguish whether I am in my right
senses, or in a dream ? "
When he took his hands from his eyes,
opened them, and lifted u]> his head, the sun
shone full in at the chainl>er window ; and at
that instant, Mesrour, the chief of the eu-
nuchs, came in, prostrated himself liefore
Abon Hassan, and said, "Commander of the
faithful, your majesty will excuse me for re-
presenting to yon, that you used not to rise
so late, and that the time of prayer is over.
\i your majesty has not had a bad night,
and has not been indisposed, it is time to
ascend your throne and hold council aa
usual ; all your generals, governors, and
other great olHcers of state, wait your pre-
sence in the council-hall."
At this discourse of Mesrour's, Abon Has-
san was verily persuaded that he was neither
asleep nor m a dream ; but at the same time
was not less embarrassed and confused imder
this uncertainty what steps to take : at last,
looking earnestly at Mesrour, said he to him
in a serious tone, " Who is it you speak to,
and call the commander of the faithful ? I
do not know you, and you must mistake me
for somebody else."
Any person but Mesrour woiUd have been
dashed at these questions of Abon Hassan's ;
but he had been so well instructed by the
cali|)h, that he played his part to a wonder.
"My worthy lord and master," said he,
" your majesty only speaks thus to try me.
Is not your majesty the commander of the
faithful, monarch of the world from East to
West, and vicar on earth* to the prophet
sent of God? Mesrour, your poor slave,
has not forgotten you, after so many years
that he has had the honour and hapi)ines8
to serve and pay his respects to your majesty.
He would think himself the most unhappy
of men if he has incurred your displeasure,
and begs of you most humbly to remove his
fears ; but had rather suppose that you have
been disturbed by some troublesome dream
to-night."
Abon Hassan burst out a laughing at these
words of Mesrour's, and fell backwards upon
the bolster, which pleased the caliph so much
that he would have laughed aa loud him-
self, if he had not been afraid of putting a
stop too soon to the pleasant scene he pro-
mised himself.
• Muter of the world sbove and beknr.
ii D
.if,"*
V,
i .'i
376
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Abon Ilouon, when ho had tired himaclf
with laughing;, sat tiii a^'aiii, and 8|)uakiii);; to
a little etuiiiuk that Htuud by hiin, block as
Mearour, Haid, "iiark yc, tell ino who I
am?" "Sir," answered tlio little boy mo-
destly, *' your majcRty is the coininauder of
the believers, and (jod's vicar on earth,"
"You are a little liar, black face," said Abon
Hassaii. Then he called the lady that stood
nearest to him: *'Come hither, fair one,"
Raid he, holding out his hand, " liito the end
of my linger, that I may feel whether I am
asleep or awake."
The lady, who knew the caliph saw all
that passc(l, was overjoyed to have an oppor-
tunity of shewing her power of diverting
him, and went with a grave countenance,
and putting his finger between her teeth, she
bit it so hanl that she put him to violent
pain. Snatching his hand quickly back
again, he said, "I tiiul I am awake, and not
asleep. But by what miracle am I become
caliph in a night's time? This is certainly the
most strange and surprising thing in the
world ! " Then addressing himself to the
same lady, he said, "I conjure you, by the
protection of God, in whom you tnist as
well as I, not to hide the truth from me ; am
I really the commander of the faithful?"
" It is so true," answered the lady, "that
we, who are your slaves, are amazed to iir.d
that you wUl not believe yourself to be so."
" You are a deceiver," replied Abon Hassan ;
" I know very well who I am."
As the chief of the cuntinhs perceived that
Abon Hassan had a mind to rise, he olfercd
him his hand, and helped him to get out of
bed. No sooner were his feet set on the
floor, but the chamber rang again with the
repeated acclamations of the officers and
ladies, who cried out altogether, " Com-
mander of the faithful, God give your ma-
jesty agood day." "O heaven! " cried Abon
Hassan, "what a strange thing is this! Last
night I was Abon Hassan, and this morning
I am the commander of the believers ! I
cannot comprehend this sudden and surpris-
ing change." Presently some of the officers
began to dress him ; and when they had
done, Mesrour led him through all the eu-
nuchs and ladie.1, who were ranged on both
sides, quite to the council chamber door,
which was opened by one of the officers.
Mesrour walked before him to the foot of
the throne, where he stopped, and 2>utting
one hand under one arm, while another
officer who followed did the same by the
other, they helped him to ascend the throne.
Abon Hassan sat down amidst the acclama-
tions of the officers, who wished him all
happiness and prosperity, and turning to the
right and left he saw the officers of the
guards ranged in good order, and making a
fine apjiearance.
The caliph in the meantime came out of
the closet where ho was hid, and went into
another, which looked into the council-hall,
from whence he could see and hear all that
passed in council, where his grand vizier
presided in his place when he was prevented
by illness from attending in person. What
]ileaHed him highly was to see Abon Hassan
lill his tlirono with almost as much gravity
as himself.
As soon as Abon Hasitnn had seated him-
self, the grand vizier (iiafar prostrated him-
self at the foot of the throne, and rising and
addressing himself to him, said, "Com-
mander of the faithful, Cod shower down
lilessings on your majesty in this life, re-
ceive you into his paradise in the other
world, and confound your enemies."
Abon Hassan, after all that had happened
that morning, and these words of the grand
vizier, never doubted but that ho was caliph,
OS ho wished to be ; and so without examin-
ing any farther, how, or by what adventure,
or sudden change of fortune, he immediately
began to exercise his power, and looking
very gravely ui>on the vizier, asked him
what ho had to say? "Commander of the
faithful," replied the grand vizier, "the
emirs, viziers, and other officers who are of
your majesty's council, wait at the door till
your majesty gives them leave to come in
and pay their accustomed respects to you."
Abon Hassan presently ordered the door to
be opened, and the grand vizier turning, and
addressing himself to the officers who waited
for orders, said, "Chief of the door-keepers,
the commander of the faithful orders you to
do your duty."
When the door was opened the viziers,
emirs, and principal officers of the court, all
dressed magnificently in their habits of cere-
mony, went in their order to the foot of the
throne, and paid their respects to Abon
Hassan; and bowing their heads down to
the carpet, kneeling on one knee, saluted
him with the title of the commander of the
faithful, according to the instructions of the
grand vizier, and afterwards took their seats.
When this ceremony was over, and they
were all placed, there was a profound si-
lence. The grand vizier, always standing
before the throne, began, according to the
order of papers in his hand, to make his
report of atfaiis, which at that time were of
very little consequence. Nevertheless, the
caliph could not but admire how Abon
Hassan acquitted himself in his great post
without the least hesitation or embarrass-
ment, and decided so well in all matters, as
his own good sense suggested the request
was or was not proper to be granted. But
before the grand vizier had finished his re>
port, Abon Hassan perceived the judge o£
the police, whom he knew by sight, sitting
in his place, "Stop," said he to the grand
vizier, interrupting him, "I have an order
V
'^
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
m
of consequence to give to the judge uf the
jioHce." The judge of the {xiliee i)erceiving
tbat Abon ilnaaaii looked at bini, and Iicar-
ing his name mentioned, arose from oiT liia
seat, ami went gravily to the foot of the
throne, where he prostratud himaelf with hia
face to the ground. "Judge of the police,"
said Abon Hassan, "go immediately to suuh
a quarter in sueh a street, where you will
find a uio8(iue, and seize the imau of the
mosque and four old graybeards, and give
eauh of the old men a hundred boittinadoca
with a bull's piz/.lc, and the imau four hun-
dred. After that, mount them all live,
clothed in rags, upon camels, with their
faces to the tails, and lead them through
the whole city, with a crier before them,
who shall proclaim with a loud voice, 'This
is the punishment of all those who trouble
their heads with other people's atfairs, and
moke it their business to create diaturbances
and misunderstandings in families in their
neighbourhood, and do them all the mischief
iu their power.' My intention is also, that
you enjoin them to leave that quarter, and
never to set foot in it more ; and while your
lieutenant is cuiuluctiug them through the
town, return, and give mo an account of
the execution of my orders." The judge of
the police laid his hand upon his head to
shew hia obedience to execute that order on
pain of losing his head if ho failed, and
prostrating himself a second time, went
away.
The caliph was extremely well pleased at
the firmness with which this order was
given, and jwrceived that Abon Hassan was
resolved not to lose the opportunity of
punishing the iman and the other four old
hypocrites of his quarter. In the meantime
the grand vizier went on with his report,
and had just finished, when the judge of
the police came back from executing his
commission. He approached the throne
with the usual ceremony, and said, "Com-
mander of the faithful, I found the imon
and his four companions in the mosque,
which your majesty pointed out; and for
a proof that I have punctually obeyed your
commands, I have brought an instrument
signed by the principal inhabitants of that
quarter." At the same time he pulled a
paper out of his bosom, and presented it to
the pretended caliph.
Abon Hassan took the paper, and reading
it over cautiously, with the names of the
witnesses, who were all people that he knew
very well, said to the judge of the police,
smiling, " It is well ; I am satisfied ; return
to your seat. These old hypocrites," said
he to himself, with an air of satisfaction,
"who thought fit to censure my actions,
and find fault with my entertaining honest
people, deserved this punishment." The
caliph all the time penetrated his thoughts,
and fi'lt inconceivable joy in this pleoaaut
expedition.
Thi'u .\bon Hnas.iu, addrfsaiug himself to
the grand vizier, saii), "Oo to the high trea-
surer for a purae of a thouxaud jiiccca of
gold, and carry it to tlu: mother of one Abon
Haasan, who is known by the name of tho
dAnuuhee ; she lives in the same ((uarter to
which I sent the judge of the police. Cio,
and return immediately."
The grand vizier, after laying liis hand
uiH>n his head, and prostrating himself lie-
fore the throne, went to the high treasurer,
who gave him the numey, which ho onlered
a slave to take, and to follow him to AI>oii
Hassan's mother, to whom he gave it, say-
ing only, "The caliph makes you this pre-
sent" She received it with tho greatest
surprise imaginable. She could not tell what
to think of this liberality of the caliph's,
antl was totally ignorant of what passed iu
the jtalacc.
During the grand vizier's absence, tho
judge of the jiolice made the usual ri'jtort of
hia oflice, which loated till the vizier re-
turned. As soon OS he come into the council-
chnmber, and hod assured Abon Hassan ho
had executed hia ordera, Mesrour, the chief
of tho eunuchs, who returned to the palace
after he had conducted Abon Haaaan to tho
council, came again, and made a sign to the
viziers, the emirs, and other olliccrs, that
the council waa over, and that they ni'gut
all retire ; which they did by making the
same proatratiou at the foot of the throne oa
when they entered.
Abon Haasan sat not long on the caliph's
throne, but came down from it, supported
in the same manner as he went up, by
Mesrour and another officer of the eunuchs,
who attended him back again to the apart-
ment from whence he came, preceded all
the way by the grand vizier. But he had
scarce made a few 8te]>.H, when he was taken
with a pressing occasion ; upon which they
shewed him into a neat closet, paved with
marble ; whereas the apartment where he
was was covered with rich carpets, like the
other apartments of the jialacc. They gave
him a pair of drawers of silk, embroidered
with gold, which it waa usual to put on be-
fore going in there. He took them, and as
he knew not tho uao of them, he put them
into one of his sleeves, which were very
wide. As it often happens that a trifle ex-
cites laughter sooner than a matter of con-
sequence, the grand vizier, Mesrour, and all
the officers of the palace near him, had like
to have burst into laughter, and spoiled all
the sport; but they contained themselves,
and the grand vizier was obliged at last to
explain to him, that he must put on the
drawers before he went into tho private
closet.
While Abon Hassan was there, the grand
378
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
vixier wuiit to thn caliph, whi» had alrcatly
taken aiKithfr ittnticiii to ulim-rvo Alxui llait-
•an withiiiit lieini; rfi-ii, niid uci|uaitite<l hitii
with wlint hail iiavoil, which thu caliph I'u-
joyi'il t'xrci-tlinuly.
When Aboil IliiNNitn cnnioniitof tho cioiirt,
Mearoiir went l'i-lort> liiiii, to mIh'w liiiii thii
way into tin inner npartini-iit, where tliero
Wiut n tulile Hpit'ikil ; Meveriil eiiniiclii rail he-
foru to tell the niiisit'iikiii* tiiat thu Hhain
caliph wa.i cnniin^', who iiiinieiliately heiiaii
a concert of vocal ami iiiMtruiiiental inuitiu,
with which Aliou llaMHan wan no eliarinud
anil traiiHporteil, that he could not tell what
to think of ail he naw and heard. "If thiii
is a dream," Maid hu, *' it is a h>n>{ ono. lint
certainly,'' continued he, "it is no dreniii ;
fur 1 can hcu and feel, walk and hear, and
arpie rua.Honahly : w hatever it ii*, I triiHt in
Oud ; yet I cannot lieliuve hut I am thu coni-
niander of the faithful, for no other jierson
conid live in this N|)leniloui-. Thu honour
and resjiect that has heen shewn me, and
the ohedienco paid tu my cuminands, arc
suHicieiit proofs.
In short, Ahoii Haasan took it for panted
that hu was caliph and the commander of
the faithful ; and was fully convinced of it,
when hu entered that magniticent and 8])a-
cious hall, which was linely i)aiiited with
the hri{{hteHt cidoura intermixed with )(ol<l.
Hcven hands of female musicians, more
Iteautifnl than the others, wore ]>laced
round the hall, and as many gold branches
hunx ilown from the ceiling, which was
painted with blue and gold, intermixed with
wonderful eircct. In thu middle of the hall
was spread a table covered with massy gold
])latcs and dishes, which scented thu hall
with the spices and amber wherewith the
meat was seasoned ; and seven young and
most beautiful ladies, dressed in thu richest
habits of the most vivid colours, stood round
this table, each with a fau in her hand, to
fan Abon Hassan when at dinner.
If ever mortal was charmed, Abon Hassan
was when he entered that stately hall. At
every step he took, he could not help stop-
ping to contemplate at leisure all the won-
ders that regaled his eyes, and turned tirst
to one side, and then again on the other;
which gave the caliph, who viewed him with
attention, very great pleasure. At last, he
went and sat down at the table, and pre-
sently, all the hidies that stood by it began
to fan the new caliph. He h)oked tirst at
one, and then at another, and admired the
grace with which they acquitted themselves.
He told them with a graceful smile, that he
believed one of ohem was enough to give
him all the air he wanted, and would have
six of the ladies sit at table with him, three
on his right band, and three on his left; and
he placed them at it, so that, as the table
was round, which way soever he turned,
hi* eyes might be saluteil with agreeable
objectx.
The six ladie* olieyed, and sat down at
the table; and Abmi llossun, taking notice
that out of reHjM'ct they did not eat, liel|>ed
them himself, and invited them to eat in the
most presHiiKj and oliliL(iiig terms. After-
wnrdx, hu anked their iinmes, which they
told him were Alabasti'r Neek, rural Lips,
Moon Face, SniHliine, Kye'n l>eli;;ht. Heart's
Delight, and she who fanned him was .Sugar-
(v'aiiu. Thu miiny soft thiui^x he said u[H>n
their names shewed him to bu a man of
spriu'htly wit, and it is not to be wondered
how very much it inrreaxed the n>Hi>ect
which the caliph (who saw everything) had
already conceived for him.
When the ladies saw that Abon Hassan
had done eating, one of them said tu the
nuniiclui who waited, "The commander of
the faithful will go into the hall wheru the
dessert is — bring some water ;" upon which
tliey all rose from the table, aiul takiui; from
the eunuch, one a gold baxiii, another a
ewer of the same metal, and a third a towel,
kneeled down before Abon Hassan, and j>ro-
sented thuin to him to wash his hands, who,
aa soon as he had done, got up, and after a
eunuch had ojiened thu (h>or, went, ])receded
by Musroiir, who never left him, into an-
other hall, as large as thu former, adorned
with ])aintings by the best masturs, and fur-
nished with gohl and silver vesxeLs, carpets,
and other rich furniture. There, seven
ditlerent bands of mutiic began a concert as
soim as Abon Hassan apjieared. In this
hall, there were seven other large lustres,
and a table in the middle, covered with
dried sweetmeats and the choicest and most
ex(|iiisito fruits of the season, raised in pyra-
mids, in seven gold basins ; and seven ladies
more beautiful than the others standing
round it, each with a fan in her liand.
These new objects raised still greater
admiration in Abon Hassan than before ;
who, after he had made a full stop, and
given the roost seusible marks of his sur-
jirise and astonishment, went directly to the
table, where sitting down, he gazed a con-
siderable time at the seven ladies, with an
embarrassment that ]ilainly shewed he knew
not which to give the preference to. At
last, he ordered them all tu lay aside their
fans snd sit down, and cat with him, telling
them, that it was not so hot but he could
spare them that trouble.
When the ladies were all placed about
him, the tirst thing he did was to ask their
names, which were different from the other
seven, and expressed some perfection of
mind or body, which distinguished them
from one another ; upon which he took an
opportunity, when he presented them with
fruit, &c., to say something smart. "Eat
this fig for my sake," said he to Chain oi
,
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
379
Hvarta, who nat on hU rijzht hand ; " ftitil
roiidiT thf fc'tti-rs, with which you IoaiIoI
ina the tinit mumnnt I mw you, umre iiip-
]N>rtahle." Tlipii |irvM>iitiiit( a hunch u(
Krn|H>s to Soul'* Tonnvut, •' Tako this oliu-
tvr (if ^rapvf," Mid he, " on ctiiiilitioii you
instantly nUate thv tornifutii which I sulFcr
for your nakc;" nnd iwt on to the re^t.
By these wonli Alnm Hajuiaii nmru nud
more ])hM<wd and tlivt-rtcd tht> c.-ili|ih, who
woa dfhh'ht<-d with hi* word* nnil n<.-tioiifl,
and i)h>nMcd to think h« ha>l found in liini
a man who diverted Liin *o agreeahly, nn<l
BUXi;t>.itc<l to hini a ineth(Nl uf heiug Ustter
acquiiintt'd uitli him.
After Ahoii llai.tan hail taKt<-d of all the
fruitu in tlie hntin, ho ijot u]) and fuUowad
Mesrour, who never left him, i''to a thinl
hall, much more mai{niiiu«>ntly fumiMhed
than tlie other two ; where he was received
by tb ■ same nunilicr of muaiciAOs and la<li«s,
who Mtood round a tahle covered with i
manner of wet xweetmeata. After lu ii
looked about hiiu with new nonder, lie od-
vancei! to the taMe, the muaic ]il.tyiu;{ oil
the tin<u till he H,-it dowi.. The Heven lotliea,
hy \\\A order, sat down with him, and oa 'le
could not shew tliem the tuniT civilily tan he
had done to the rest, they helped theniHelvea,
as he desired tlieni, to what they liked Kent ;
and he afterwards informed hiniftelf of th.-ir
names, wliich plea.s<-d him a<4 much as the
others had done, and led him to say as inany
Boft things to them, to the great diversion
of the calipli, who lost not a word.
By this time the day liejjinning to close,
Abon Hassan was conducteil into a fourth
hall, much .iiorc snitcrb and maj^nilicently
furnished, lighted with wax cancllex in seven
great gold lustres, which gave a glorious
light. The like was not seen in the other
halls, because it was not necessary. Abim
Hassan found the s.tme numl>er of musicians
here as he had done in the other three halls,
performing in concert in the most lively
manner, and seeming to inspire greater joy ;
nnd he saw as many ladies &tanding rouml a
table covered with seven gold b.-Lsins filled
with cakes, dried sweetmeats, and all such
things as were proper to promote drinking.
There he saw, which he had not observed in
any of the other halls, a Waufet, which wa-s
set out with seven large silver flagons full
of the choicest wines, and by them seven
crystal glasses of the finest workmanship.
Hitherto in the three iil.^L halls Abon
Hassan drank nothing but water, acconling
to the custom obser\'ed at Bagdad, from the
highest to the lowest, and at the caliph's
court, never to drink wine till the evening ;
all who transgress this rule being accounted
debauchees, nnd dare not shew themselves
in the day time. This custom is the more
laudable, as it requires a clear head to apply
to business in the course of the day ; and as
no wine i« drunk till evening, no tlrunken
peoplti are itet'n iu tlie streets in o|Hin day
making distiirl>ani.'e.i iu the city.
As aoiMi as Alxin llatnun entered the
fourth hall, he went to thu table anil sat
down, and was a \»\vi time iu a kind of
ecstasy at the sight of those iteveu bulies
who Nuri'iiunded liiui, and wen' much inure
beaiitit'nl than all he beheld in thu other
lialls. Iii> was very desirous to know all
their nuines ; but as the nnisi ! played thi^n
BO very loud, and pai'ti('iilurl,\ the tambour,
that he eoidtl not hear tli.'ui speak, hu
clappeil liis hands as a hIl' i for them to
leave olT play in;', and a prof^uuil silence en-
sued. Then takini; by the liainl the lady
wh<> stood on thu right next to him, ho
!• her sit down by him, nnd pre.Henting
li Tlth a cake, asked her n uiie. "Coni-
ra.:uder of the faithful," said Uie lady, " I
,tm called Cloater of Pearls." 'No name,"
rep'i' 1 Abon ' «.san, "could have n.^re pro-
perly exiir ', ,ed your worth ; and indeed your
tm* 'I exceed the tinest jiearls. Cluster of
I'l ' I'l," added he, "since that is jour name,
(>•'' .(B me with a glass of wine from your
'\\\t hand, and take another with me." The
lodv went presently to the beaufet and
brougiit liim a glass of wine, which she ]ue-
seiited to him v ii'i a )ilea.sant air. Abon
Hassan took thu glas.s tviih n smile, and
lo(ik'ng]iiwsi(oiately upon her, 6..iil, "Cluster
of I'earls, I drink your health ; 1 desire you
to fill out as much for yourself, and ]iledgo
me.' She ran to the beaufet, and retiiined
with a g!-.3b iu her hr.ud ; but before she
drank, she sang a song, which charmed hici
as much by the sweetness of her voice as by
its novelty.
After Abon Hassan had drunk, he made
another lady sit down, and presenting her
with what she chose in the basins, askeil
her name, which she told him was Morning
.Star. " Your bright eyes," said he, " shine
with greater lustre than that star whose
name ytui bear. Do me the jileasure to
bring me some wine;" which she did with
the best grace iu the world. Then turninjj
to the third lady, whose name was U.aylight,
he onlered her to do the same, and so on to
the seventh, to the extreme satisfaction of
the caliph.
When they had oil filled him a glass round,
Cluster of I'earls, whom he had just ad-
dressed, went to the beaufet, poured out a
glass of wine, and putting iu a pmch of the
same powder the caliph had used the night
before, presented it to Abon Hassan ; "Com-
mander of the faithful," said she, " I beg of
your majesty to take this glass of wine, and
before you drink it off, do me the favour to
hear a song I have mode to-day, and which
T flatter myself may not displease you. I
never sung it before this evening." "With
all my heart," said Abon Hassan, taking the
\M
380
TNE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
glaas, "and as comr.: nder of the faithful,
£ command you to sing it; for I am per-
suaded that so beautiful a lady as yourself
cannot make a song which does not abound
■with wit and pleasantry." The lady took a
lute, and tuning it to her voice, sang with
so much justness, grace, and expression, that
AbuQ Hassan was in perfect ecstasy sdl the
time, and was so much delighted, that he
ordered her to sing it again, and was as m acb
charmed with it as at Arst.
When the lady had done, Abon Hassan
drank, off his glass, and turning his head to>
wards her, to give her those praises which
he thought due to her, was prevented by the
powder, which operated so suddenly, that
his mouth was wide open, and his eyes close
shut; and dropping his head on the table
like a man overcome with sleep, he slept as
profoundly as the day before at the same
time the caliph gave him the powder. One
of the ladies stood ready to catch the glass,
which fell out of his hand; and then the
caliph, who took a greater satisfaction in this
scene than he had promised himself, and was
all along a spectator of what had passed,
came into the hall to them, overjoyed at the
success of his plan. He ordered Abon Has-
san to be dressed again in his own clothes,
and to be carried back again to his own
house by the same slave that brought him,
charging him to lay him on a sofa in the
same room, without making any noise, and
to leave the door open when he came away.
The slave took Abon Hassan upon his
shoulders, and carried him home by a back
door of the palace, placed him in his own
house as he was ordered, and returned with
speed, to acquaint the caliph what he had
done. "Well," said the caliph, "Abon
Hassan wished only to be caliph for one day,
to punish the iman of the mosque of his
quarter, and the four scheiks or old men who
had displeased him : I have procured him the
means of doing this, and he ought to be con-
tent."
In the mean time, Abon Hassan, who was
laid upon his sofa by the slave, slept till very
late the next morning. When the powder
was worked off, Abon Hassan waked and
opened his eyes, and finding himself at home,
was in the utmost surprise. " Cluster of
Pearls! Morning St^r! Coral Lips! Moon
Face!" crii-d he, calling the ladies of the
palace by their names, as he remembered
thom; "where are you? Come hither."
Abon Hassan called so loud, that his mo-
ther, who was in her own apartment, heard,
and running to him upon the noise he made,
said, "What ails you, son? what has hap-
pened to you?" At these words Abon Has-
san lifted up his head, and looking haughtily
at his mother, said, "Good woman! who is
it you call son?" "Why, you," answered
his mother, very mildly; " are not you Abon
Hassan, my sun? It is strange that you
have forgot yourself so soon." " I your
son, old trull ! " replied Abon Hassan ; "you
are a liar, and know not what you say ! I
am not Abon Hassan, I tell you, but the
commander of the faithful ! "
" Hold your tongue, son," answered the
mother; "one would think you are a fool
to hear you talk thus." " You are an old
fool yourself," replied Abon Hassan; " I tell
you once more I am the commander of the
faithful, and God's vicar on earth! " "Ah !
child," cried the mother, "is it jxwsible
that I should hear you utter such wordn
that shew you are distracted ! What evil
genius possesses you, to make you talk at
this rate? Cod bless you, and preserve you
THE SLEEPER AWAKENED.
381
from the power of Satan. You are my son
Abon Hassan, and I am your mother."
After she had made use of all the argu-
ments she could think of to bring him to
himself, and to shew how great an error he
was in, she said, "Do not you see that the
room you are now in is your own, and is not
like a chamber in a palace fit for the com-
mander of the believers, and that you have
never left it since you was bom, but lived
quietly at home with me? Think seriously
of what I say, and do not fancy things that
are not, nor ever can be. Once more, my
son, think seriously of it."
AboD Hassan heard all these remonstran-
ces of his mother very patiently, holding
down his eyes, and clapping his hands under
his chin, like a man recollecting himself, to
examine the ti ath of what he saw and heard.
At last, he said to his mother, just as if he
was come out of a deep sleep, and with his
hand in the uame posture, " I believe you
are right ; methinks I am Abon Hassan, you
are my mother, and I am in my own room."
Then looking at her again, and at every ob-
ject before him, he tidded, " I am Abon
Hassan, there is no doubt of it, and I can-
not comprehend how this fancy came into
my head."
The mother really believed that her son
was cured vf that disorder of his mind,
which she usoribed to a dream, and began
to laugh with him, and ask him questions
about this dream ; when all on a sudden he
started up, and looking crossly at his mo-
ther, said, " Old sorceress, you know not
what you saj'. 1 am not your son, nor you
my mother. You deceive yourself, and would
deceive me. I tell you I am the commander
of the faithful, and you shall rnver persuade
me to the contrary ! " " For Heaven's sake,
son," said the mother, " let xis leave off this
discourse ; recommend yourself to God, for
fear some misfortune should happen to us ;
let us talk of something else. I will tell
you what happened yesterday in our quar-
ter to the iman of the mosque, and the four
scheiks our neighbours ; the judge of the
po'ice came and seized them, and gave each
of \hom I know not how many strokes with
a bull's pizzle, while a crier proclaimed,
' That was the punishment of all those who
troubled themselves about other people's
business, and employed themselves in setting
their neighbours at variance : ' he afterwards
led them through ill the streets, and ordered
them never to come into our quarter again."
Abon Hassan's mother little thought her son
had any share in this adventure, and there-
fore turned the discourse on purpose to put
him out of the conceit of being the com-
mander of the faithful; but instead of effac-
ing that idea, che rather recalled it, and
impressed it more deeply in his imagination
that it was not imaginary, but real.
Abon Hassan no sooner heard this rela-
tion, but he cried out, " I am neither thy
son, nor Abon Hassan, but certainly the
commander of the believers. I cannot doubt
of it after what you have told me. Know
then that it was by my order that the imau
and the four scheiks were punished; and I
tell you I am certainly the commander of the
faithful; therefore tell me no more of its
being a dream. I was not asleep, but as
much awake as I am now. You do me a
pleasure to confirm what the judge of the
poUce told me he had executed punctually
according to my order ; and I am overjoyed
that the iman and the four scheiks, those
great hypocrites, were so chastised, and I
should be glad to know how I came here.
God be praised for all things! I am cer-
tainly commander of the f aitWul, and all thy
arguments shall not conviuce me of the con-
trary,"
The mother, who coidd not divine or ima-
ginewhyher son so strenuously and positively
maintained himself to be caliph, never dis-
puted but that he had lost his senses, when
she found he iusisted so much upon a thing
that was so incredible ; and in this thought,
said, "I pray God, son, to have mercy upon
you ! Pray do not talk so madly. Beseech
God to forgive you, and give you grace to
talk more reasonably. What would the
world say to hear you rave in this manner?
Do you not know that 'walls have ears?' "
These remonstrances only enraged Abon
Hassan the more ; and he was so provoked
at his mother, that he said, ' ' Old woman, I
have bid you once already to hold your
tongue. If you do not, I shall rise and give
you cause to repent it all your lifetime. I
am the caliph and the commander of the
believers ; and you ought to believe me when
I say so."
Then the good woman perceiving that he
was more distracted than ever, abandoned
her.s< If to tears, and beating her face and
breast, expressed the utmost grief and asto-
nishment to see her son in that terrible
state. Abon Hassan, instead of being ap-
])eased, and being moved by his mother's
tears, on the contrary lost all the respect
due from a son to his mother, and getting
up hastily, and laying hold of a cane, ran to
his mother in great fury, and, in a threaten-
ing manner, that would have frightened
every one but a mother so partial to him,
said, " Tell me i)rcsently, wicked woman,
who I am?" " I do not believe, son," re-
plied she, lookiii^ ""t him tenderly, and void
of fear, "that you are so abandoned by
God as not to know your mother, who
brought you into the world, and to mistake
yourself. You are indeed my son Abon
Hassan, and are very much in the wrong to
arrogate to yourself the title which belongs
only to our sovereign lord the caliph Horoun
382
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Alroschid, after the noble and generous pre-
sent the monarch made us yesterday. In
short, I forgot to tell you, that the grand
vizier Giafar came to me yesterday, and put-
ting a purse of a thousand pieces of gold into
my hands, bid me pray for the commander
of the faithful, who made me that present ;
and does not this liberality concern you
more than me, who have but a short time
to live?"
At these words Abon Hassan grew quite
mad. The circumstance of the caliph's
liberality his mother told him of, persuaded
him more than ever that he was calixih, re-
membering that he had sent the vizier.
" Well, old hag," cried he, "will you be con-
vinced when I tell you I sent you those
thousand pieces of gold by my grand vizier
Giafar, who obeyed my commands, as I was
commander of the ^ithful? But instead of
believing me, you endeavour to distract me
by your contradictions, and maintain with
obstinacy that I am your son ; but you shall
not go long unpunished." After these word^,
he was so unnatural, in the height of his
frenzy, as to beat her cruelly witli his cane.
The poor mother, who could not have
thought that her son would have come so
soon from words to blows, called out for help
so loud, that the neighbours ran in to her
assistance. Abon Hassan con'^iuued to beat
her, at every stroke asking her if he was the
commander of the faithful ? To which she
always answered tenderly, that ho was her
son.
By that time the neighbours came in,
Abon Hassan's rage began to abate. The
first who entered the room got between him
and his mother, and taking the cane out of
his hand, said to him, " What are you doing,
Abon Hassan? Have you lost aU fear of God,
and your reason? Did ever a son so well
brought up as you dare to strike his mo-
ther? Are you not ashamed so to treat
yours, who loves you so tenderly?" Abon
Hassan, still full of fury, looked at him that
spoke without returning an answer ; and
then, staring on all the rest of his neigh-
bours that followed him, said, "Who is
that Abon Hassan you speak of? Is it me
you call by that name?"
This question disconcerted the neighbours
a little. "How ! " said he who spoke first,
' ' do not you know your mother, who brought
you up, and with whom you have always
lived ? " "Begone, you are impertinent peo-
ple," rei>lied Abon Hassan ; " I neither know
her nor you, and will not know her. I am not
Abon Hassan ; I am the commander of the
faithful, and will make you know it to your
cost."
At this discourse the neighbours no longer
doubted that he was mad ; and, to prevent
his being guilty of the like actions, seited
him, notwithstanding his resistance, and
bound him hand and foot. But though
apparently disabled from doing any mis-
chief, they did not choose to leave him
alone with his mother. Two of them ran
for the keeper of the hospital for mad folks,
who came presently with chains, handcuffs,
a bull's pizzle, and a great many attendants.
When they entered the room, Abon Hassan,
who little expected such treatment, strug-
gled to unloose himself ; but after his keeper
had given him two or three smart strokes
upon the shoulders with the bull's pizzle,
he lay so quiet, that the keeper and his
people did what they would with him. As
soon as they had bound and manacled him,
they took him with them to the hospital.
When he was got out of his house into the
street, the people crowded round him ; one
buffeted him, another boxed him, and others
called him fool and madman. To all this
treatment he replied, "There is no greatness
and power but in God most high and
almighty. I am treated as a fool, though I
am in my right senses. I suffer all these in-
juries and indignities for the love of God."
He was conducted to the hospital, where he
was lodged in an iron cage ; but before he
was shut up, the keeper, who was hardened
to such terrible execution, regaled him
without pity with fifty strokes of the buU's
•pizzle on his shoulders, which he repeated
every day for three weeks, bidding him
remember that he was not the commander
of the faithful. "I am not mad; but if I
did waut your assistance, nothing would
so effectually make me mad, as your cruel
treatment of me. I want not your advice,"
said Abon Hassan.
Abon Hassan's mother went every day to
see her son, and coidd not forbear crying to
see hiin fall away daily, and to hear him
sigh and complain at the hardships he
endured. In short, his shoulders, back, and
sides, were so black and bruised, that he
could not turn himself. His mother would
wUliiigly have talked with him, to comfort
him, and to sound him whether he still
retained the notion of being caliph; but
whenever she opened her mouUi, he stopped
her with so much fury, that she was forced
to leave him, and return home inconsolable
at his obstinacy.
By degrees those strong and lively ideas
which Abon Hassan entertained, of having
been clothed in the caliph's habit, and
having exercised his authority, and been
punctually obeyed and treated like the true
caliph, and which persuaded him when he
awaked that he was so, all began to wear
away insensibly. Sometimes he would say
to himself, " If I was the caliph and com-
mander of the believers, how came I, vhen
I awaked, to find myself at home, dressed lu
my own apparel ? Why should I not have
been attended by eimachs, and their chief,
THE SLEEPER AWAKENED.
383
and a crowd of beautiful ladies? Why
ahoidd my grand vizier Giafar, and all those
emirs and governors of provinces, who pros-
trated themselves at my feet, forsake me?
Undoubtedly, if I had any authority over
them, they would have delivered me long
ago out of this miserable condition I am in ;
certainly I ought to look ui>on all as a
dream. It is true 1 commanded the j udge
of the police to })uni8h tlie iman, and the
four old men his companions ; I ordered
Giafar the grand vizier to carry my mother
a thousand ])iece3 of gold ; and all my com-
mands were executed. All these things arc
obstacles to my believing it a dream, and I
cannot comprehend it ; but there are so many
things that I cannot comprehend, nor ever
shall, that I will put my trust in God, who
knows all things."
Abon Hassan was taken up with these
thoughts and reflections when his mother
name to see him. She found him so much
altered and emaciated, that she let fall a
torrent of tears ; in the midst of which she
saluted him as she used to do, and he re-
turned her salute, which he had never done
before, since he hn,d been in the hospital.
This she looked upon to be a good sign.
"Well, my son," said she, wiping her tears,
"how do you do, and how do you find
yourself? Have you renounced all those
whims and fancies which the devil had put
into your head?" "Indeed, mother," re-
plied Abon Hassan, very rationally and
calmly, and in a tone expressive of his grief
for the excesses he had been transported to
against her, " I acknowledge my error, and
beg of you to forgive the execrable crime
which I have been guUty of towards you,
and which I detest. I ask pardon also of
my neighbours that I have abused. I have
been deceived by a dream ; but by so extra-
ordinary a one, and so like to truth, that I
venture to affirm any other person, to whom
such a thing might have happened, would
have been guilty of as great or greater ex-
travagances ; and I am this instant so much
per^dexed about it, that while I am speaking
I can hardly persuade myself but that what
has happened to me was a matter of fact, so
like was it to what happens to i)eople who
are broad awake. But whatever it was, I
do and shall always look upon it as a dream
and an illusion. I am convinced that I am
not that shiulow of a caliph and commander
of the faithful, but Abon Hassan your son,
the son of a person whom 1 have always
honoured till that fatal day, the remem-
brance of which will cover me with confu-
sion, and whom I shaU honour and respect
all my life as I ought."
At tiliese sensible words, the tears of sor-
row and affliction which the mother of Abon
Hassan had so long shed were changed into
those of joy, to find her son so well reco-
vered. "My son!" cried she, transported
with pleasure, " my satisfaction and com-
fort to hear you talk so reasonably is inex-
pressible ; and it gives me as much joy as if
I had brought you into the world a second
time ; but I must tell you my opinion upon
this adventure, and observe one thing which
you may not have taken notice of : the
stranger that you brought home with you
one evening to sup with you, went away
without shutting your chamber-door after
him, as you desired him ; which I bulieve
gave the devil an opportunity to enter, and
throw you into that horrible illusion you
were in : and, therefore, my son, you ought
to return God thanks for your deliverance,
and beseech Him to keep you from falling
again into the snares of the evil spirit."
" You have found out the source of my
misfortunes," answered Abon Hassan. " It
was that very night I had this dreivm which
turned my brain. I bid the merchant ex-
pressly to shut the door after him ; and now
I tind he did not do it. I am persuaded, as
well as you, the devil, finding it open, came
in, and filled my head full of these fancies.
The peojde of Moussel, from whence this
merchant came, may nob know how we at
Bagdad are well convinced that the devil is
the cause of troublesome dreams when we
leave our chamber-doors open. But since,
mother, you see I am, by the grace of God,
so well recovered, for God's sake get me out
of this hellish place, and deliver me from the
hand of this executioner, who will infallibly
shorten my days if I stay here any longer."
The mother, glad to hear her son was so
well cured of his foolish imagination of be-
ing caliph, went immediately to the keeper,
and assuring him that he was very sensible
and well, he came and examined him, and
released him in her presence.
When Abon HasHau came home, he staid
within doors some days, to recover his health
by better living than he had found in the
hospital. But when he had recovered his
strength, and felt no more effect of the
harsh treatment he had suffered in his con-
fniement, he began to be weaiy of spending
his evenings alone. He jjresently entered
again upon the same way of living as before ;
winch was, to jjrovide enough every day to
regale a new stranger at night.
The day on which Abon Hassan renewed
his custom of going about sunset to the foot
of Bagdad bridge to stop the first stranger
that offered, and desire him to do him the
honour of supping with him, happened to
lie the first day of the month, which was the
day that the caliph calways set apaii; to go
in disguise out of some of the city gates to
observe with his own eyes what was com-
mitted contrary to the good government of
the city, as he had established and regulated
it at the beginning of his reign. He had not
m
I I
I
i
■it)
384
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
been long arrived at the bridge, and sat him-
self on a bench which was fixed to the para-
pet, when, looking about him, he perceived
the cali]>h disguised again like a Moiissel
merchant, and followed by the same slave.
Persuaded that all his misfortunes were ow-
ing to the caliph's (whom he took for a mer-
chant) leaving his door open, he shuddered
4it the sight of him. " God preserve me ! "
said he to himself ; "if I am not deceived,
there is the magician again that enchanted
me ! " and thereupon he got up, and looked
over the parapet into the river, that he might
not see him till he was x>ast.
The caUph, who had a mind to carry on
the diversion he had received by Abon Has-
san, had taken care to inform himself of
all that had happened when Abon Hassan
awaked at home, and conceived a great plea-
sure at the relation given him, especially at
his being sent to a madhouse, and the treat-
ment he received there. But as this mo-
narch was both j ust and generous, and had
taken a great liking to Abon Hassan, as ca-
pable of contributing further to his amuse-
ment, and had doubted whether, after re-
nouncing his pretended character of a caliph,
he would return to his usual manner of living,
he designed, with a view to get him nearer
him, to dress himself again like a merchant
of Moussel, the better to execute his plan.
He perceived Abon Hassan at the same time
that he saw him, and i)resently guessed by
his action that he was angry with him, and
wanted to shun him. This made him walk
close to the parapet Abon Hassan leaned
■over ; and when he came nigh him, he put
his head over to look him in the face. ' ' Ho,
brother Abon Hassan," said he "is it you?
I greet you ! Give me leave to embrace
you?" "Not I," replied Abon Hassan,
briskly, without looking at the pretended
Aloussel merchant; " I do not greet you ; I
wiU have neither your greeting nor your
embraces. Go along ! "
" What ! " answered the caliph, " do you
not know me ? Do you not remember the
evening we spent together at your house
this day month, where you did me the hon-
our to treat me very generously ? " " No,"
replied Abon Hassan in the same tone, " I
do not know you, nor what you talk about;
go, I say again, about your business."
The caliph was not to be dashed with this
rude behaviour of Abon Hassan, He knew
very well the law he had imposed on him-
self, never to have any commerce again with
a stranger he had once entertained ; but
though Abon Hassan had declared so much
to him, he jireteudcd to be ignorant of it.
" I cannot believe," said he, " but you must
know me again ; it is not possible that you
should have forgotten me in so short a time.
Certainly some misfortune has befallen you,
which inspires you with this aversion for
me. However, you ought to remember, that
I shew my gratitude by my good wishes, and
that I offered you my interest, which is not
to be slighted, in an affair which you had
very much at heart."
" I do not know," replied Abon E ossan,
" what your interest may be, and I have no
desire to make use of it ; but I am ser aible
the utmost of your good wishes ended in
making me mad. In God's name, I say,
once more, go your way, and trouble me no
more."
" Ah ! brother Abon Hassan," replied the
caliph, embracing him, "I do not intend to
part with yon in this manner; since I have
had the good fortune to meet with you a
second time, you must exercise the same
hospitality towards mo again, that you
shewed me a month ago, when I had the
honour to drink with you."
" I have protested against it," said Abon
Hassan, *' and have so much power over my-
self, not to receive a second time such an
unlucky man as yon. You know the pro-
verb, ' Take up your drum and begone.'
Make the application to yourself. How
often must I repeat it ? God be with you !
You have been the cause of my misfortune,
and I will not venture myself with you
again." ' ' My good friend Abon Hassan, " said
the caliph, embracing him again, ' ' you treat
me in a way I little expected. I beg of yoxi
not to talk to me in this harsh manner, but
be persuaded of my friendship. Do me the
favour to tell me what has happened to you ;
for I assure you, I wished you well, and still
do so ; and would be glad of an opportunity
to make you any amends for the trouble I
have caused you, if it has been really my
fault." Abon Hassan yielded to the press-
ing instances of the caliph, and bid him sit
down by him. " Your incredulity and im-
portunity," said he, "have tired my pa-
tience ; and what I am going to tell you will
shew you that I do not accuse you wrong-
fully."
The caliph sat down by Abon Hassan,
while he told him all that had happened to
him, from his waking in the ^a\a.Q& to hia
waking again in his own house, all as a mere
dream, with all the circumstances which the
caliph knew as well as himself, and which
renewed his pleasure. He enlarged after-
wards upon the impression that dream of
being caliph ard commander of the faithful
made uiiou him, which, he said, threw him
into such extravagances, that his neighbours
were obliged to bind him as a madman, and
carry him to a madhouse, where he was
treated in a way that must seem very bar-
barous. "But," said he, " what will sur-
prise ynu, and what you little think of, is,
that it was altogether your fault that these
things fell out ; for, if you remember, I de-
sired you to shut the door after you, which
lira
ind
ur-
is,
ese
de-
ich
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
385
you neglected, and the devU, finding it open,
put this dream into my head, which, though
it was very agreeable, was the cause of the
misfortune I complain of : you, therefore,
for your negligence, are answerable for the
horrid and detestable crime I was guilty of
in lifting my hand against my mother, whom
I might have killed, and coiniuitted parri-
cide, (I blush for sliame when I think of it,)
only because she said I was her son, and she
would not acknowledge me for the com-
mander of the faithful, as I thought, and
positively insisted on to her that I was.
You are the cause of the offence I have
given my neighbours, when, running in at
the cries of my poor mother, they surprised
me bent on knocking her down ; which
would never have happened, if you had
token care to shut my chamber door when
you went away, as I desired you. They
would not have come into my house without
my leave ; and, what troubles me most of
all, they would not have been witnesses of
my folly. I should not have been obliged
to strike them in my own defence, and they
woidd not have bound and fettered me to
carry me and shut me up in the hospital for
madmen, where I assure you every day that
I remained confined in that hell, I received
a score of strokes with a bull's pizzle." Abon
Hassan recounted his coin^jlaints with great
heat and vehemence to the caliph, who
knew better than he what had passed, and
was delighted to find that he had succeeded
so well in his plan to throw him into the va-
garies he still was in. He could not help
bursting out a-laughing at the simpUcity
wherewith he related them.
Abon Hassan, who thought that his story
should rather move compassion, and that
every one ought to be as much concerned
at it as himself, very much resented the
pretended Moussel merchant's laughter :
"What ! " said he, " do you make a jest of
me, and laugh in my face, or do you believe
I laugh at you when I speak seriously ? If
you want proof of what I advance, look here
yourself, and see whether or no I tell you
the truth : " with that, stooping down and
baring his shoulders, he shewed the caliph
his scars and weals the bull's i}izzle had
made.
The caliph could not behold those objects
without horror. He pitied poor Abon Has-
san, and was sorry he had carried the jest
so far. " Come, rise, dear brother," said he
to him very seriously, and embrocing Abon
Hassan heartily in his arms ; "let us go to
your house, and enjoy the happiness of be-
ing merry with you to-night ; and to-mor-
row, if it please God, all things will co
weU."
Abon Hassan, notwithstanding his reso-
lution and oath never to admit the same
stranger a second time, could not resist the
caresses of the caliph, whom he always took
for a merchant of Moussel. "I will con- '
sent," said he, "if you will swear to shut
my door after you, that the devil may not
come in to distract my brain again." Tho
caliph promised thau he would ; upon which
they both got up, walked towards the city,
and, followed by the caliph's slave, reached
Abon Hassan's house by the time it waa
dark.
The caliph, the more to engage Abon
Hassan, said to him, "Place a confidence in
me ; I x^romisc you on my honour I will not
break my word. After this, you need not
hesitate to trust in a person like me, who
wishes you all happiness and prosperity, of
which you will see the etFects." "1 desire
not that," said Abon Hassan, stopping him
short. " I yield to your imi)ortunity ; but
I dispense with your good wishes, and beg
you in God's name to form none for me.
All the mischief that has hitherto befallen
me arose purely from those you already ex-
pressed for me, and from your leaving the
door open." " Well," replied the caliph,
still laughing at the misguided imagination
of Abon Hassan, " since you will have it so,
be it so; I promise you I will form none."
" You do me pleasure by speaking so," said
Abon Hassan ; "I desire no more; I shall
be more than satisfied pro\ided you keep
your word, and I shall forgive you all the
rest."
As soon as Abon Hassan entered the
doors, he called for his mother and for cau-
dles, and desired his guest to sit down U2)on
a sofa, and then placed himself by him. A
little time after, su^jper was brought up, and
they both fell to without ceremony. When
they had done, Abon Hassan's mother clear-
ed the table, set on a small dessert of fruit,
wine and glass'es by her son, and withdrew,
and appeared no more. Abon Hassan first
filled his own glass, and then the caliph's ;
and after they had drunk some time, and
talked of indi&'erent matters, the caliph per-
ceiving that his host grew warm with liquor,
began to talk of love, and asked him if he
hail ever felt that passion.
" Brother," replied Abon Hassan, famili-
arly, thinking his guest was his equal, " I
never looked upon love or marriage but as a
slavery, to which I was always unwilling to
submit ; and must own to you, that I never
loved anything but good cheer and good
wine ; in short, to divert and entertain my-
self agreeably with my friends. Yet I do
not tell you that I am so indifferent to mar-
riage or incapable of attachment, if I could
meet with a woman of such beauty and sweet-
ness of temper as her I saw in my dream on
that fatal night I first received you into my
house, and you, to my misfortune, left my
door open, who would pass the whole night
with me drinking, singing, and playing on
■ .
3 B
f
I
586
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Bome instrument, and in agreeable couver-
aation, and who would study to please and
divert me : I believe, on the contrary, I
should change aU my i '.difTerence into a per-
fect attachment to such a person, and, I
think, should live very happily with her.
But where is such a woman to be found but
in the calix>h'a palace, or in those of the
grand vizier or some great lords of the court,
who want no money to provide them ? I
choose therefor") to stick close to my bottle,
which is a much cheaper pleasure, and which
I can enjoy as ^vell as they." Saying these
words he tilled out his own and the caUph's
glass, and said, " Come, take your glass, and
let us pursue this charming pleasure."
When they had dnmk olf their wine, " It
is great pity," sail the caliph, "that so gal-
lant a man as you, who owns himself not
insensible of love, should lead so solitary a
life." "I prefer the easy quiet life I live,"
replied Abon Hassan, "before the company
of a wife, whose beauty might not please me,
and who, besides, might create me a great
deal of trouble by her imperfections and ill-
humour." The conversation lasted a long
time, and the calii)h seeing Abon Hassan
had drunk up to the pitch he desired, said,
"Let me alone, since you have the same
good taste as every other honest man, T
warrant you I wiU find you one that shall
please you." Then taking Abon Hassan's
glass, and putting a pinch of the same pow-
der into it again, filled him up a bumper,
and presenting it to him, said, " Come let
us drink beforehand the fair lady's health,
who is to make you happy. I am sure you
will like her. "
Abon Hassan took the glass laughing, and
shaking his head, said, "Be it so ; since
you desire it, I cannot be guilty of so great
a piece of inciviUty, nor disoblige a guest of
so much merit in such a trifling matter. I
will drink the lady's health you promise me,
though I am very well contented as I am,
and do not rely on your promise." But no
sooner had Abon Hassan drunk off Ms bimi-
per, than he was seized with as deep a sleep
as before, and the cohph ordered the same
slave to take him and carry him to the
palace. The slave did so, and the caliph,
who did not intend to send back Abon Has-
san as before, shut the door after him, as he
had promised them, and followed him.
When they arrived at the palace, the
caliph ordered Abon Hassan to be laid on a
sofa, in the fourth hall, frorti whence he was
carried home fast aslerp a mouth before;
but flrst he bade them put him on the same
habit which he acted the caliph in, which
was done forthwith before him. He then
sent everybody to bed, and charged all the
eunuchs, officers, ladies, and musicians who
were in the hall when he drank the last
glass of wine which had put him to sleep.
to be there by day-break, and to take care
to act their parts well when he shoidd awake.
He then went to bed, charging Mesrour to
awake him before they went into the hall,
that he might conceal himself in the closet
as before.
Mesrour, at the hour appointed, awakened
the caliph, who immediately rose, and went
to the hall where Abon Hassan lay fast
asleep, and when he bad placed himself in
his closet, Mesrour and the other officers,
ladies, and musicians, who waited for him,
went in, and placed themselves about the
sofa, so as not to hinder the caliph from
seeing what passed, and noticing all his
actions.
Things being thus disposed, and the
caUph's powder having had its effect, Abon
Hassan began to awake without opening his
eyes, and threw off the phlegm, which was
received in a gold basin as before. In that
moment the seven bands of musicians joined
their charming voices to the sound of haut-
boys, fifes, flutes, and other instruments,
forming a very agreeable concert. Abon
Hassan was in great surprise to bear that
delightful harmony; but when he opened
his eyes, and saw the lad'^s and officers
about him, whom he thouglit he knew
again, his amazement increased. The hall
that he was in seemed to be the same he
saw in his first dream, and he observed the
same lustres, and the 3ame furniture and
ornaments.
The concert ceased, to give the caliph an
opportunity of attending to the countenance
of his new guest, aud all that he might say
in his surprise. The ladies, Mesrour, and
all the officers of the chamber, waited in
X)rofound and respectfid silence. Abon Has-
san bit his finger, aud cried loud enough
for the caliph to hear him, " Alas ! I am
fallen again into the same dream and illu-
sion that happened to me a month ago, and
must expect again the bull's pizzle and iron
cage at the madhouse. Almighty God,"
added he, "I commit myself into the hands
of thy divine providence. He was a wicked
man that I entertained at my house last
night, who has been the cause of this illu-
sion, and the hardships I must undergo.
The base wretch swore to shut the door after
him, but did not, and the devd came in and
has turned my brain with this wicked dream
of being commander of the faithful, and
"♦^^bor phantoms which bewitch my eyes.
God confound thee, Satan, and crush thee
under some mountain of stones."
After these last words, Abon Hassan
closed hie eyes, and remained some time
thoughtful and very much perplexed ; then
opening them again, and looking about him,
cried out a second time, with less surprise,
and smiling at the various objects before
him, " Great God ! I commit myself into the
i
tv^
« i L* ■ ■■ .i.j i iwMW i ^-jauAj'jujuijj
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
387
''I '
hands of thy providence ; preserve me from
the temptation of Satan." Then shutting
them again, he said, "I know what I will
do. I will go to sleep until Satan leaves me,
and returns as he come, were I to wait till
noon." They did not give him time to go
to sleep again, as he h»l promised himself ;
for Strength of Hearts, one of the ladies
whom he had seen before, approached, and
sitting down on the sofa by him, said to him
resi>ectfuUy, " Commander of the faithful, I
entreat your majesty to forgive me for tak-
ing the liberty to tell you not to go to sleep ;
day appears, and it is time to rise." " Be-
gone, Satau ! " answered Abon Hassan, rais-
ing his voice ; but looking upon the lady,
he said, " Ts it me you call the commander
of the faithful ? Certainly you take me for
somebody else." " It is to your majesty I
give t-iat title," replied the lady, " to whom
it belongs, as you are sovereign of the Mus-
sulman world, and I am yoar most humble
slave. Undoubtedly," added she, " your
majesty means to divert yourself by pretend-
ing to have forgotten yourself, or this is the
effect of some troublesome dream ; but if
you would but open your eyes, the mists
which may disturb your imagination will
soon be dispelled, and you will lind yourself
in yoitt own palace, surrounded by your
officers and slaves, who all wait your com-
mands ; and that your majesty may not be
surprised to find yourself in this hall, and
not ill ^ed, I beg leave to tell you that you
fell so suddenly asleep last night, that we
were lU'wUling to wake you, to conduct you
to your t'L amber, but laid you carefully upon
the sofa." In short, she said to him so
many things that appeared probable, that
at last he sat up, opened his eyes, and re-
collected her and aU the ladies agivin. They
all drew near, and she who spoke first, re-
suming the discourse, said, " Commander of
the faithfiU, and vicar of the prophet on
e<irth, be not displeased if I acquaint your
majesty once more that it is time to rise,
for day appears."
•' You are very troublesome and impor-
tunate," replied Abon Hassan, rubbing his
eyes. "I am not the commander of the
faithful, but Abon Hassan ; I know it well,
and you shall not persuade me otherwise."
" We do not know that Abon Hassan your
majesty speaks of, nor desire to know him,"
answered the lady; "but we know you to
be commander of the believers, and you can-
not persuade us to the contrary."
Abon Hassan, looking about, and finding
himself in the same hall, attributed all he
aaw and heard to such a dream as he had
before, and very much feared the dreodfid
consequences. " God have mercy on me 1 "
said he, lifting up his hands and eyes, like a
man who knew not where he was ; "I commit
myself into His hands. I cannot doubt,
after what I have seen, but that the devil,
who came into my chamber, imssesses me,
and filla my imagination full of all these
visions."
The caliph, who saw him all the time, and
heard these exclamations, 1)egan laughing so
heartily, that he had much ado to forbear
bursting into loud laughter.
Abon Hassan, laying himself down again,
and shutting his eyes, the same lady again
said, " Commander of the faithful, since
you:.' majesty does not rise, after we have,
according to our duty, informed you it was
day, and the despatch of business requires
your presence, we shall use the liberty you
give us in such cases." Then taking him
by one arm, and calling to one of the other
ladies to do the same by the other, they
lifted him up, and carried him into the
middle of the hall, where they set him on
his breech, and taking all hands, danced and
skipped round him, while the music played
and rattled in his ears.
Abon Hassan was in an inexpressible per-
plexity of mind, and said, " What ! am I in-
deed caliph, and commander of the faith-
ful?" And in the imcertainty he was in,
woidd have said something more, but the
music was so loud, that he could not be
beard. At lost he made a sign to String of
Pearls and Morning Star, two of the ladiea
who were dancing, that he wanted to speak
with them ; upon which they forbore, and
went to him. " Do not lie, now," said he,
" but tell me truly who I am ?"
" Commander of the faithful," replied
Morning Star, " yoiir majesty means either
to surprise us, by asking this question, as if
you did not know that you are commander
of the faithful, and the vicar on earth of the
prophet of God, master of both worlds, — that
whereon we now are and that to come after
death, — or else you must have had some very
extraordinary dream to-night, which has
made you forget who you are ; which may
very well be, considering that your majesty
has slept longer to-night than ordinary ; how-
ever, if you will give me leave, I will re-
fresh your memory with what passed yes-
terday." Then she told him how he went
to the council, punished the iman and the
four old men, and sent a present by his
grand vizier of a thousand pieces of gold to
the mother of one Abon Hassan ; what he
did in the inner part of the palace, and what
passed at the three meals which he took in
the three halls, and how in the fourth " your
majesty did us the honour to make us sit
down by you, to hear our songs, and receive
wine from our hands, until your majesty
fell so fast asleep, as Strength of Hearts
has told you. From that time your ma-
jesty has continued, contrary to custom, in
a sound sleep until now. Strength of Hearts,
all your other slaves, and the ofiQcera pre-
i
388
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
sent, can contirm what I say, and it is now
time you should go to prayers."
" Very well," replied Abon Hassan, shak-
ing his head; "you would have me believe
all this ; but I tell you, you are all fools, or
mad, and that is great pity, for you are
very pretty. Since I saw you I have been
at home, where I used my mother so ill
that they sent me to a mad-house, and kept
me there three weeks against my will, aijd
beat me every day with a bull's pizzle, and
yet you would moke me believe all this to
be a dream." "(Joniraander of the faithful,"
answered Mcming Star, "you are mistaken ;
we are all ready to swear by all that your
majesty holds most dear that all you tell is a
dream. You never stirred out of this hall
since yesterday, but slept hero all night
long."
The confidence with which the lady as-
sured Abon Hassan that all she said was
truth, and that he had never been out of the
hall since that time, made him not know
what to believe, but bewildered his senses.
"O Heaven!" said he to himself, "am I
Abon Hassan, or the commander of the
faithful ? Almighty God, enlighten my un-
derstanding, and inform me of the truth,
that I may know what to tnist to." Then
he uncovered his shoulders, and shewed the
ladies the livid weals of the blows he had
received. "Look," said he, "judge whe-
ther these strokes [could come to me in a
dream, or when I was asleep. For my part,
I can affirm that they were real blows ; I
feel the smart of them yet, and that is a
testimonial there is no room to doubt of.
Now, if I received these strokes in my
sleep, it is the most extraordinary thing in
the world, and suq)asses my comijrehen-
sion."
In this uncertainty, Abon Hassan called
to one of the officers that stood round him :
"Ccme hither," said he, "and bite the tip
ot my ear, that I may know whether I am
asleep or awake." The officer obeyed him,
and bit so hard, that he made him cry out
horridly ; the music struck up at the same
time, and the officers aT>d ladies all began
to sing, dance, and skip about Abon Hassan,
and made such a noise, that he was in perfect
enthusiasm, and played a thousand merry
tricks. He tore off his caliph's habit, threw
off his turban, and jiunped up in his shirt
and drawers, and taking hold of two of the
ladies' hands, fell a dancing and singing, and
jimiping and cutting capers, that the caliph
could not contain himself, but burst into so
violent laughter at this sudden pleasantry
of Abon Hassan, that ho fell backwards,
and mod e a greater noise than all the musi-
cians together. He was so long before he
coiUd clieck himself, that it had like to have
hurt hiri. At^ast he got up, and opened the
lattice, md putting out his head, cried out,
" Abon Hassan, Abon Hassan, have you a
mind to kill me with laughing?"
As soon as the caliph's voice was heard,
everybody was silent, and Abon Hassan
among the rest, who, turning his head to
see from whence the voice came, knew the
caliph, and the Moussel merchant, but was
not in the least dashed ; on the contr,ary, he
found that he was awake, and all that had
ha]>pened to him was matter of fact, and
not a dream. He entered into the caliph's
pleasantry and intention. "Ha! ha!" said
he, looking at him with good assurance, "you
are a merchant of Moussel, and complain
that I would kill you; you have been the
occasion of my using my mother so ill, and
being sent to a mad-house. It was you who
treated the iman and the four scheiks in the
manucr they were used, and not me ; I wash
my hands of it. It was you who have been
the cause of all my disorders and sufi'erings :
in short, you are the aggressor, and I the
injured person."
" Indeed, you aro in the right of it, Abon
Hassan," answered the caliph, laughing all
the while; "but to comfort you, and make
you amends for all your troubles, I call
Heaven to witness, I am ready and willing
to make you what reparation you please to
ask." After these words, he came out of the
closet into the hall, and ordered one of his
most magnificent habits to be brought, and
commanded the ladies to dress Abon Hassan
in it ; and when they had dune so, he said,
embracing him, "Thou art my brother; ask
what thou wilt, and thou shalt have it."
"Commander of the faithful," replied Abon
Hassan, " I beg of your m.ajesty to do me
the favour to tell me what you did to dis-
turb my brain in this manner, and what was
your design; for it is a thing of the greatest
importance for me to know, that I may per-
fectly recover my senses."
The caliph wa.s ready to give him that satis
faction, and said, "First, you are to know,
that I often disguise myself, and particularly
at night, to observe if all goes right in Bag-
dad ; and as I wish to know what passes in
its environs, I set apart the first day of every
month to make a tour about it, sometimes
on one side, and sometimes on another, and
always return by the bridge. The evening
that you invited me to supper, I had been
taking my rounds, and in our conversation
you told me, that the only thing you wished
for was to be caliph for four-and-twenty
hours, to punish the iman of your mosque
and his four counsellors. I fancied that this
desire of yours woidd afford me a great deal
of diversion, and thought immediately how
I might procure you that satisfaction. I
had about me a certain powder, which im-
mediately throws the person who takes it
into a sound sleep for a certain time. I put
a dose of it, without being perceived by you.
I
—t..
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
3«9
'>
into the last gloM I presented you, upon
which you fell fast asleep, and I ordered my
slave to carry you to my palace, and came
away without shutting the door. I have no
occasion to repeat what happened at my
palace when you awaked, and during the
whole day till evening; but after you liad
been regaled by my orders, one of the slaves
who waited on you put another dose of the
same powder at night into a gloss she gave
you ; you fell asleep as before, and the same
slave carried you home, and left the door
open. You have told me all that happened
to you afterwards. I never imagined that
you coidd have suffered so much us you have
done. But as I have a great regard for you,
I will do everything to comfort you, and
make you forget all your suifcrings ; think
of what I can do to please you, and ask me
boldly what you wish. "
"Commander of the faithful," replied
Abon Hassan, "how great soever my tor-
tures may have been, they are all blotted out
of my remembrance, as soon as I understand
my sovereign lord and master had any shore
m them. I doubt not in the least of your
majesty's bounty; but as interest never gov-
erned me, and you give me liberty to ask a
favour, I beg that it may be that of having
access to your person, to have the hoppi-
uess of admiring, all my lifetime, your
grandeur."
This last proof of disinterestedness in Abon
Hassan completed the esteem the caliph had
entertained for him. "I am pleased with
your request," said the caliph, "and gront
you free access to my person at all times and
all hours." At the san^.? time, he assigned
him an apartment in the palace, and, in
regard to his pension, told him that he
would not have him apply to his treasurer,
but come always to him for an order upon
him; and immediately ordered his private
treasurer to give him a purse containing a
thousand pieces of gold. Abon Hassan made
a low bow ; and the caliph left him to go to
counciL
Abon Hassan took this opportimity to go
and inform his mother of his good fortune,
and what had happened, which he told her
was not a dream ; for that he had actuoUy
been caliph, and had acted as such, and re-
ceived all the honours, and thot she had no
reason to doubt of it, since he had it con-
lirmed by the caliph himself.
It was not long before this story of Abon
Hassan was spread all over Bagdad, and
carried into all the provinces both far and
near, without the omission of a single cir-
cumstance.
The new favourite, Abon Hassan, was
always with the caliph; for, as he was a
man of a pleasant temper, and created mirth
wherever he went by his wit and pleasantry,
the caliph could not live without him. He
formed no party of diversion without him,
and sometimes carried him along with him,
to see his consort Zobeide, to whom he had
told his story, which so highly pleased him,
as it did Zobeide ; who observed tliat every
time ho came with the caliph, he ha<l his
eyes always fixed upon one of her slaves,
called NouzhatoiU'&ouadat, (whicli is to say,
re.ntwed pleamire,) and resolved to tell the
caliph of it. "Commander of the faithful,"
said thot princess one day, "you do not ob-
serve so well OS me, that every time Abon
Hassan attends you in your visits to me, he
never keeps his eyes off Noiizhatoul-ftouadat,
and makes her blush, which is almost a cer-
tain sign that she entertains no aversion for
him. If you a])prove of it, wo will make a
match between them."
"Madam," replied the caliph, "you put
me in mind of a thuig which I ought to have
done before now. I know Abon Hassan's
opinion respecting maiTioge from himself,
and have always promised him a wife that
should please him. I am glad you men-
tioned it ; for I know not how I came to
forget it. But it is better that Abon Hassan
should follow his own inclination, and choose
for himself ; and if Nouzhatoul-flouadat is
not averse to it, we ought not to hesitate
upon their marriage ; and since they are
both present, they have only to s.iy that
they consent."
Abon Hassan threw himself at the caliph's
and Zobeide's feet, to shew the sense he had
of their goodness to him ; and, rising up,
said, "I cannot receive a wife from better
hands, but dare not hope that NouzhatoiU-
^ouadat will give me her hand as readily as
I give her mine." At these words he looked
upon the princess's slave, who shewed by
her respectful silence, and the sudden blush
that arose in her cheeks, that she was dis-
posed to obey the caliph and her mistress
Zobeide.
The marriage was solemnised, and the
nuptials celebrated in the palace with great
rejoicings, which lasted several days. Zo-
beide, in pleasure to the caliph, made her
slave considerable presents, and the caliph
did the same to Abon Hassan. The bride
was conducted to the apartment the caliph
had assigned Abon Hassan, who waited for
her with all the impatience of a bridegroom,
and received her with the soimd of all sorts
of instruments, and musicians of both sexes,
who made the air echo again with their
concert.
After these feasts and rejoicings, which
lasted several days, the new-married couple
were left to pursue their loves in peace.
Abon Hassan and his spouse were charmed
with each other, and lived together in per-
fect imion, and seldom were asunder, but
when either he paid his respects to the ca.
liph, or she to Zobeide. hideed, Nbuzha
(
%
i A
IS
I
il
390
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
tool-Aouadat wm ondiied with every qiiali-
ficAtion capable of gaining Abon Hawan'H
love and attaohniont, and was juRt audi a
wife aa he described to the caliph, and fit to
■it at the head of hia table. With these
dispositions they could not fail to pass their
lives agreeably. They kept a gocnl table,
covered with the nicest and choicest raritieH
in season, by an excellent cook, who took
upon him to provide everything. Their
■ideboard was always stored with exquisite
wines, placed within their reach when at
table, where they enjoyed themselves in an
agreeable t6te-&-t6te, and afterwardr' enter-
tained each other with some pleasantry or
other, which made them laugh more or less,
as they had in the day met with something
to divert them ; and in the evenings, which
they consecrated to mirth, they had gene-
rally some slight repast of dried sweetmeats,
choice fruits, and cakes ; and at each glass
invited each other by new songs to drink,
and sometimes accompanied their voices with
a lute, or other instrument, which they
could both touch.
Abon Hassan and Nouzhatoul-Aouadat led
this pleasant life a long time, unattentive to
expense, when the caterer, who disbursed all
the money for these expenses, brought them
in a long bill, in hope of having an advance
of money. They found it, too late, to be so
considerable a sum, including their wedding
clothes and jewels for the bride, that all the
presents that the caliph and the princess
Zobeide had given them at their marriage
were but just enough to pay him. This
made them reflect seriously on what was
post, which, however, was no remedy for
the present evil. But they agreed to pay
the caterer; and having sent for him, paid
him aU they owed him, without considering
the difficulty they would be in immediately
after.
The caterer went away very well pleased
to receive so large a sum of ready money,
though Abon Hassan and his wife were not
so well satisfied with seeing the bottom of
their purse, but remained a long time silent,
and very much embarrassed to find them-
selves reduced to that condition the very
first year of their marriage. Abon Hassan
remembered that the caliph, when he took
him into the palace, promised never to let
him want any thing ; but when he considered
how prodigtd he had been of his money in
80 short a time, he was unwilling to expose
himself to the shame of letting the caliph
know the ill use he had made of what he had
given him, and that he wanted more. Be-
sides, he had made over his patrimony to his
mother, as soon as the caliph received him
near his person, and was afraid to go to her,
lest she should find that he had returned to
the same extravagance he had been guilty
of after his father's death. His wife, on the
other hand, looked upon Zobeide's genero-
sity, and the liberty she had given her to
marry, at more than a sufficient recompense
for her service, and thought she had not •
right to ask any more.
Abon Hassan at last broke silence, and,
looking upon his wife, said, " I see you are
in the same embarrassment as myself, and
are thinking what we must do in thin un-
happy juncture, when our money fails us so
unexi>eutedly. I do not know what your
sentiments may be, but mine are, let what
will happen, not to retrench our expenses in
the least ; and I .believe you will come into
my opinion. The point is, how to sup[iort
them without stooping to ask the caliph or
Zobeide ; and I think I have fallen on the
means ; but we must both assist each other."
This discourse of Abon Hassan very much
pleased his wife, and gave her some hopes.
"I was thinking so as well as you," said
she, " but durst not explain my thoughts,
because I did not know how to help our-
selves ; and must confess that what you tell
me gives me a great deal of pleasure. But
since you say you have found out a way,
and my assistance is necessary, you need
but to tell me, and will do all that lies in
my power."
" I was sure," replied Abon Hassan, "that
you woiUd not fail in this business, which
concerns us both ; and, therefore, I must tell
you, this want of money has made me think
of a plan which will supply us with some, at
least for a time. It consists in a little trick
wo will put, I upon the caliph, and you upon
Zobeide, and at which, I am sure, they will
both be diverted, and it wiU answer very
well to lui. You and I will both die." " Not
I indeed," interrupted Nouzhatoul-Houadat ;
" you may die by yourself, if you will ; I am
not so weary of this life, and, whether you
ore pleased or not, will not die so soon. If
you have nothing else to propose than that,
you may do it by yourself ; for I assure you
I shall not join you."
"You are a woman, I mean, of such viva-
city and wonderful quickness," replied Abon
Hassan, "that you scarce give me time to
explain my design. Have but a little pa-
tience, and you shall find that you will be
ready enough to die such a death as I mean ;
for surely you could not think I meant a
real death?" "Well," said his wife, "if it
is but a sham death you design, I am at your
service, and you may depend on my zeal to
second you in this manner of dying ; for T
must tell you truly, I am very unwilling to
die, as I apprehended you at first."
" Be but easy a little," said Abon Hassan,
" and I will tell you what I propose. I will
feign mj^elf dead, and you shall lay me out
in a white sheet, in the middle of my cham-
ber, with my turban upon my face, my feet
towards Mecca, and just ready to be ouried
^
^ .•■>r;WKK3WW?r
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
391
^
out to burial. When you have done ao, you
muit cry, and shed tcara, na ia uaual iu audi
oaaes, and tear your olothea and hair, or pre-
tend to do it, and go all iu tears, with your
hair loose about your earn, to Zoboide. Tl>o
princess will ask you the oauao of your
grief ; and when you have told her, with
words intermixed with sighs, she will pity
you, and give you some money to defray the
expense of my funeral, and a x>iece of good
brocade to cover my body with, that my in-
terment may be the more magnificent, and
to make you a habit in the room of that she
saw you had torn. As soon as you return
with the money and the brocade, I will-get
up, and lay you in my place, and go and act
the same part with the caliph as you have
done with Zobeide ; and I daresay the ca-
liph will be as generous tome as Zobeide has
been to you."
When Abon Hassan had explained his
plan, "I think," replied Nouzhatoul-ftoua-
dat, "it will be a pleasant trick, and I am
much mistaken if the caliph and Zobeide will
not like us for it. Let us put it in execu-
tion. Leave me to myself ; I will play my
part at least as well as I expect you will
youi-8, and with as much zeal and atten-
tion, AS the benefit we expect from it is
great."
NoiizhatouI-&ouadat liked this project very
well, and said to Abon Hassan, " Come, lose
no time; strip to your shirt and breeches,
while I prepare a sheet. I know how to
bury as well as anybody ; for while I was in
Zobeide'a service, and any of my fellow-slaves
died, I had the conducting of the funeral."
Abon Hassan did as his wife bid him, and
laid himself flat on his back on the sheet
which his wife had spread on the carpet in
the middle of the room. As soon as he had
crossed his arms, his wife wrapped him up,
turned his feet towards Mecca, and put a
piece of fine muslin and his turban upon his
face, 80 as to leave his breath free, so that
nothing seemed wanting but to put him in a
coiiiu, and carry him out to be buried. After
this she pulled off her head-dress, and, with
tears in her eyes, and her hair dishevelled,
and seeming to tear it ofif, with a dismal cry
and lamentation, beating her face and breast
with all the marks of the most lively grief,
ran across the court to Zobeide's apartments ;
who, hearing the voice of a person crying
very loud, commanded some of her women
to see who it was; who returned and told
her that it was Nouzhatoul-Aouadat, who
was coming in a deplorable condition.
The princess, impatient to know what had
happened to her, rose np immediately, and
went to meet her at the door of her ante-
chamber. Nouzhatoul'&ouadat played her
part to perfection. As soon as she saw Zo-
beide, who held the door open, she redoubled
her cries, tore her hair off by handfuls, beat
her face and breaat, and threw herself at her
feet, bathing them with her tears,
Zolwide, ama/ed to ace her alnvo in auoh
extraordinary atHiotion, asked what had hap-
pened to her; but instead of answering, she
continuetl her sighs and sobs, and at last,
feigning to strive to check them, said, with
words interniptod with sighs, "Alas! my
most honoured lady and mistress, what
^'reator misfortune could have befell mo than
this, which obliges me to throw myself at
your luKhness's feet? Gotl prolong your
days, my most respectable princess, in per-
fect health, and grant you many happy years 1
— Abon Hassan ! poor Abon Hassan ! whom
you honoured with your esteem, and gave
me for a husband, ia no more 1 "
At these last words, Nouzhatoul-ftouodat
redoubled her tears and sighs, and threw
becself again at the princess's feet. Zobeide
was extremely surprised at this news. "Abon
Hassan dend!" cried she; " that healthy,
agreeable, pleasant man ! Indeed I did not
in the least expect his death so soon; he
seemed to promise a long life, and well de-
served to enjoy it." Then she also burst
into tears, as did all her women, who had
been often witnesses of A))on Hassan's pleas-
antriey, when the caliph brought him to see
the princess Zobeide ; and all together con-
tinued a long time bewailing the loss of him.
At length the princess Zobeide broke silence.
"Wicked woman !" cried she, addressing her-
self to the false widow, ' ' perhaps you have
occasioned his death ! Your ill temper has
given him so much vexation, that you have
at last brought him to his grave." Nouz-
hatoul-ftouadat seemed much hurt at the re-
proaches of Zobeide. "Ah, madam," cried
she, " I do not think I ever gave your ma-
jesty, all the time I was your slave, the least
reason to entertain so disadvantageous an
opinion of my conduct to a husband who
was so dear to me. I should think myself
the most wretched of women if you were
persuaded of this. I behaved to Abon Has-
san as a wife shoiUd do to a husband for whom
she has a sincere affection ; and I may say,
without vanity, that I had for him the same
regaid he had for me, which proved he loved
me with equal affection. 1 am persuaded he
would, were he alive, justify me fully to
your majesty; but, madam," added she, re-
newing her tears, "his time was come, and
that was the only cause of his death."
Zobeide had really observed in her slave
an uniformly equal temper and mildness,
great docility and zeal for her service, which
shewed she was rather actuated by inclina-
tion than duty. She hesitated not to believe
her on her word, and ordered her treasurer
to fetch a hundred pieces of gold, and a
piece of rich brocade.
The slave soon returned with the purse
and piece of brocade, which, by Zobeide's
392
THE ARABIAN NrCHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
order. Mho put into Noiizlintaul-ftouadat'a
luuid, who throw horpplf again at tho prin-
ceu's foot, and thanked her with f^rcat latin-
faction, to think itlia hod Huccouded mo well.
"Oo," Bald Zol)eide, '* make iiio of that
brocade to covor tho corpno of your hus-
band, and with that monuy liiiry him hand-
Homuly, and on hu dvMcrvt'B, Moderate tliu
tranM]M>rt8 of your atllictiuus; I will take
care of you."
Aa Moon as Nnu7;hato\iI-ftouadat got out of
tho princcHg'a jiroMonce, she dried up hnr
tears, jnd returned with joy to Abon Has-
san, t6 ifivo him an account of hor );ood suo-
CCH8. When she came homo. Mho burst out
a laughing to see hor husband still stretched
out in tho middle of tho lloor ; she ran to
him, and bid him rise and seo tho fruits of
his trick. Ho rose, and rejoiced with his
wife at tho sight of tho puno and brocade.
Unable to contain herself at tho success of
her artifico, "Come, husband," said she,
laughing, "let me act tho dead part, and
aee if you can manage the caliph as well as
I have done Zobeide."
"That is tho temper of all women," re-
plied Abon Hassan, "who, wo may well say,
have always tho vanity to believe they can do
things better than men, tho\igh, at tho same
time, w'tat good they do is l)y their advice.
It would be odd indeed if I, who laid this
plot myself, could not carry it on as well as
you. But let us lose no time in idle dis-
course; lie down in my place, and see if I
do not come off with as much applause."
Abou Hassan wrai)i)ed up his wife as she
had done him, and, with his turban unrolled,
like a man in tho greatest aflliction, ran to
the caliph, who was holding a private coun-
cil with the grand vizier Giafar, and other
confidential viziers. He presented himself at
the door, and the officer, knowing he had
free access, opened it. Ho entered holding
with one hand his handkerchief before his
eyes, to hide the feigned tears, which trickled
down his cheeks, and striking his breast with
the other, with exclamations expressing ex-
traordinary grief.
The caliph, who was used to see Abon
Hassan with a merry countenance, was very
much 8uri)rised to see him in that sorrowful
state. He interrupted the business of the
council to ask him the cause of his grief.
"Commander of tho faithful," answered
Abon Hassan, with rei>eatcd sighs and sobs,
"God preserve your majesty on the throne,
which you fill so gloriously! a greater ca-
lamity could not have befallen me than what
I now lament. Alas ! Kouzhatoul-ftouadat,
whom you in your bounty gave me for a wife,
to pass the rest of my days with, alas ! " — at
this exclamation Abon Hassan pretended to
have his heart so f uU that he could not utter
one syllable more, but poured forth a flood
of tears.
Tho calipli, who presently underatoofl that
Ation.Hauan camo to tell him of the death
of his wife, seemed very much concerned,
and said to him, with an air which nhewod
how much ho regretted her loss, "God l)e
merciful to her: she was a good slave, and
wo gavo her to you with an intention to
make you hapjty : she deserved a longer
life." Then tho tears ran down his face, so
that ho was obliged to pull out his handker-
chief to wipe them off. The grief of Abon
Hassan, and the tears of the caliph, excited
those of Giafar and tho other viziers. They
bewailed tho death of Nouzhatoul Aouadat,
who, on her part, was impatient to hear how
Ab(m Hassan succeeded.
The caliph had the samo thought of the
husband that Zobcido had of tho wife, and
imn<;ined that ho had occasioned her death.
"Wretch!" said he, in a tone of indigna-
tion, "have you not been tho cause of your
wife's death by your ill-treatment of her?
Can I doubt it? You ought at least to have
had some regard for tho ])rince8s my con-
sort, who loved her more than tho rest of
her slaves, and consented to give her to you.
What a return for her kindness ! "
"Commander of tho faithful," replied
Abon Hassan, affecting to weep more bitterly
than before, "can your majesty for a mo
ment suppose that Abon Hassan, whom you
have loaded with your favours and kindness,
and on whom you have conferred honours ho
could never have aspired to, can have been
capable of such ingratitude? I loved Nouz-
hatoul ftouadat my wife as much on these
accounts as for the many good qualities she
possessed, and which drew from rao all tho
attachment, tenderness, and love she de-
served. But, my lord," added he, " she was
to die, and God would no longer suffer mo
to enjoy a happiness for which I was in-
debted to your majesty and your beloved
consort."
In short, Abon Hassan dissembled so well,
that tho calijjh, who had never heard how
extravagantly he and his wife had lived, not
in the least doubting his sincerity, ordered
his treasurer, who was present, to give Abon
Hassan a [>ursc of a hundred pieces of gold,
and a piece of brocade. Abon Hassan im-
mediately cast hi-iself at the caliph's feet,
and thanked him for his present. " Follow
the treasurer," said that monarch ; "throw
tho brocade over the corpse, and with the
money shew the last testimony of thy love
for thy wife."
Abon Hassan made no reply to these ob-
liging words of the caliph, but retired with
a low bow, and followed the treasurer; and
as soon as he had got the purse and piece of
brocade, went home very well pleased with
having found out so quick and easy a way
of supplying his necessity, which hod given
him so much uneasiness.
\
''\":mtiPmrm^
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
393
Noiizhatoul-&<>ua<lat, weary with \y\x\% lo
litng in tho ]MMture, nevvr waited till AlM>n
Xaiman bid her ria« ; but a« aoon as iho
heard tho diior n\y>m, );ot up and ran to her
hiulMtnd, and onkml him if lie had imixmcd
on the caliph on well oil she did on Zobeide?
" You Rpe," said he, shewin'^ her the stuff,
and 8hakin<{ the purse, " that 1 can act a
sorrowful husband for a living wife as well
oa you can a weepin>{ widow for a huHbanil
lint deoil." Alxin HoMtan, however, was not
without his fears, that this double trick of
theirs might Ih) attende<l with some illconsc-
•luenccM. He thoui^ht it would not l>c amiss
to put his wife on her guard as to what
nii^ht ha|i|ien, that they might act in c(m-
cert. "For," adde<l he, "the better wo
Buccecd in embarrassing tho caliph and Zo-
beide, the more they will be pleaaed at lost,
and jMsrhaps may shew their satisfaction
1)> a greater liWrality." And this last con-
aideration induced them to carry on this
feint further.
The caliph, though he hod a great deal of
btminess to transact in council, was never-
theless so impatient to go and condole with
tl<c princess uiH>n the death of her slave,
that ho rose up as soon as Abon Ilossnn was
gone, and jtut olf the council to another
<lay. "Follow me," said he to Mesrour,
who always attended him wherever he went,
and was in all his councils; "let us go and
share with the princess the grief which the
death of her slave Nouzhatoul-iluuadat cauaes
her."
Accordingly they went to Zobeide's apart-
ment, whom the caliph found sitting on a
aofa, very much atllicted, and still in tears.
" Madam," said the caliph, going up to her,
"it is unnecessary to tell you how much I
partake with you in your ailliction ; since
you are not insensible that what gives you
pleasure or trouble has the same effect on
me. But we arc all mortal, and must sur-
render up to God that life which He has
given us, when He rer|uires it. Nouzhatoul-
ilouadat, your faithful slave, was endued
with qualifications thatdeserved your esteem,
and I cannot but approve your expressing it
after her death ; but consider, all your grief
will not bring her to life again. Therefore,
madam, if you love me, and will take my
advice, be comforted for this loss, and take
more care of a life which you know is jtre-
cious to me, and constitutes all the hapjii-
ness of mine.''
If the princess was charmed with these
tender sentiments which the caliph expressed
in hia compliments, she was amazed to hear
of Nouzhatoul-touadat's death. This news
threw her into so great surprise, that she
was not able to return an answer for some
time. At last recovering, she replied, with
an air expressive of aurprise, " Commander
of the faithful, I am very sensible of all your
toniler sentiments; but give me leave to say,
I cannot comprehend the news you tell mo
of tho deatii of my slave, wiio in in perfect
health. My ntlliction is for tlu^ deatli of
Aliou Hassan, her husband, your fa^imritc,
whom I esteem, ns niucii for the rci^nrd you
havftfor him, an beenuHe you were ko kind as
to bring mo nci|uainted with him, who hoa
so often (liverteil me very agreeably, and for
whom I have as great a value aH yourself.
But, sir, the little concern you shew for hia
death, and your so soon forgetting a man in
whoso company you have so often told me
you took BO much pleasure, amaxes and sur-
prises mo ; and this iuHensibility seems thu
greater, by thu deceptiim you put upon
mo in changing his death for that of my
slavo."
The caliph, who thought that ho was i>er-
fectly well iufifrmcd of tho deatli of tho
slave, and had junt reason to believe so, be-
cause ho had both seen and heard Abon
HasMaii, fell a laughing, and shrugi^ing up
his shouldei's, to hear Zobeido talk after this
manner. "Mesrour," said he, turning him-
self alxuit to that euniu'li, " what tlo you
think of the princess '.< discourse? Do not
women sometimes lose their sennes? for, in
short, you havo heard and seen all as well as
myself." Then ttirning about to Zobeide,
"Madam," said he, "shed no more tears
for Abon Hassan, for I can assure you ho is
well ; but rather bewail the tleath of your
dear slave. It is not many moments since
her husband canio all in tears, and tho moat
inexpressible afiliction, to tell ino of tho
death of his wife. I gave him a purse of a
himdred pieces of gold, and a i)iece of bro-
cade, to comfort him, and bury her with;
and Mesrour here, who was by, can tell you
the same."
The princess took this discourse of the
caliph's to be all a jest, and '^^hought ho had
a niiud to impose ujion her. "Commander
of the faithful," replied she, "though you
are used to banter, I must tell you this ia
not a proper time for it. What I tell you
is very serious ; I do not talk of my slave's
death, but of Abon Hassan, her husband's,
■whose fr.to I bewail, and so ought you too."
" I, madam," said the caliph, imtting on a
grave countenance, "I tell you without
raillery that you are deceived ; Nouzhatoid-
&ouadat ia dead, and Abun Hassan is alive,
and in perfect health."
Zobeide was very much piqued at this dry
answer of the caliph. " Commander of the
faithful," replied she, smartly, "God pre-
serve you from continuing longer in this
mistake ; surely you woiUd make me think
your mind is not as usual. Give me leave
to re])eat to you once more, that it is Abon
Hassan who is dead, and that my slave
Kouzhatoul-Aouadat, his widow, ia living.
It is not an hour ago since she went from
M
'
\
Mi
I
394
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
hence. She came here in so disconaolate a
state, that the sight of her was enough to
have drawn tears from my eyes, if she had
not told me her affliction, accompanied with
innumerable sighs. All my women who
wept with me, can bear me witness, and tell
you also that I made her a present of a hun-
dred pieces of gold, and a piece of brocade ;
and the grief which you found me in was
upon the death of her husband ; and just
that instant that you came in, I was going
to send you a compliment of condolence. "
At these words of Zobeide, the caliph
cried out, in a fit of laughter, "This, madiim,
is a strange piece of obstinajy; but," con-
tinued he, seriously, " you may depend upon
Nouzhatoul-ftouadat's being dead." "I tell
you, no, sir," replied ZoLeide instantly ; "it
is Abon Hassan that is dead, and you shall
never make me believe o;herwise."
Upon this the caliph's anger rose in his
countenance. He sat himself upon the sofa,
at some distance from the princess, and
speaking to Mesrour, said, "Go imme-
diately, and see which it is, and bring me
word; for though I am certain that it is
Nouzhatoul-d,ouadat, I would ruthdr take
this way than be any longer obsUnately
positive about a matter which I am per-
fectly satisfied of." No sooner bad the
caliph commanded, than Mesrour was gone.
"You will see," continued he, addressing
himself to Zobeide, " in a moment which of
us is right." "For my part," replied Zo-
beide, "I know very well that I am in the
right, and you wUl iind it to be Abon Has-
san." "And for myself," replied the caliiih,
"I am so sure that it is Nouzhatoul-^ouadat,
that I wiU lay you what wager you will, that
Abon Hassan is well."
" Do not think to come ofif so," said Zo-
beide; "I accept your wager, and I am so
well persuaded of his death, that I would
willingly lay the dearest thing in the world
against what you will, though it were of less
value. You know what I have at my dis-
posal, and what I value most ; propose the
bet, and I will stand to it."
"Since it is come to that," said the caliph,
" I will lay my garden of pleasures against
your palace of paintings, though the one is
worth much more than the other." " Is the
question at present," replied Zobeide, " if
your garden is more valuable than my
palace? That is not the point. You have
made choice of what you thought fit be-
longing to me, as an equivalent against what
you lay ; I accept the wager, and will not
go back; I take God to witness." The
c£.liph took the same oath, and both waited
till Mesrour returned.
While the caliph and Zobeide were dis-
putmg so earnestly and ^ith oo much
warmth, Abon Hassan, who foresaw their
difference, was very attentive to whatever
might happen. As soon as he perceived
Mesrour through a window, against which
he sat talking with his wife, and observed
that he was coming directly to their apart-
ment, he presently guessed what he vui
coming about, and bid his wife make ha&te
to act the dead part once more, as they had
agreed on, without loss of time; in short.,
they were so pressed, that Abon Hassan hail
much ado to wrap up his wife, and lay tho
piece of brocade which the caliph had giveii
him upon her, before Mesrour came. As
soon as he had done that, he opened the
door of his ai)artment, and with a melan-
choly, dejected countenance, and his hand-
keicluef before his eyes, went and sat down
at the head of the pretended deceased.
By that time he was seatid, Mesrour come
into the room. The dismal sight which met
his eyes gave him a secret joy, on account of
the errand the caliph sent him on. As soon
as Abon Hassan perceived him, he rose up
to meet him, and kissing his hand out of re-
spect, said, sighing and groaning, ' ' You see
me, sir, in the greatest affliction that ever
could befall me ; the death of my dear wife,
Nouzhatoid-^ouadat, whom you honoured
with your favours."
Mesrour, affected by this discourse, could
not refuse some tears to the memory of the
deceased. He lifted up the cloth a little at
the head, which was uncovered, and peeping
under it, let it down again, and said, with a
deep sigh, " There is no other god but G^d;
we must all submit to His will, and every
creature must return to Him. Nouzhatoul-
douadiit, my good sister," addetl he, sighing,
"thy days have been very few: God have
mercy on thee." Then turning to Abon
Hassan, who was all the time in tears, " We
may well say," said he, " that women some-
times have whims, and lose their senses in a
most unpardonable manner; for Zobeide,
good mistress as she is, is in that situation
at present : she will maintain to the caliph
that you are dead, and not your wife ; and
whatever the caliph can say to the contrary,
he caauot persuade her otherwise. He called
me to witness and contirm this truth ; for
you know I was by w!ien you came and told
him the sorrowful news; but all signifies
nothing. They are both positive; and the
caliph, to convince Zobeide, has sent me to
know the truth, but I fear I shall not be be-
lieved ; for when women once take up a
thing, they are not to be beat out of it."
" God keep the commander of the faith-
ful in the possession and right use of his
senses," replied Abon Hassan, still sighing
and crying ; " you see how it is, and that £
have not imposed upon his majesty. And
I wish to heaven," continued he, "to dis-
semble the better, that I had no occasion to
tell him the melancholy and affecting news.
Alas ! I cannot enough express my irrepar
?
^^'■wMVMva
THE SLEEPER AWAKENED.
?
395
,.
able loss." "That is true," replied Mes-
vour, " and I can assure you I take a great
share in your afiSiction; but you must be
comforted, and not abandon yourself to your
grief. I leave you with reluctance, to re-
turn to the caliph ; but I beg the favour of
you not to bury the corpse till I come again ;
for I will assist at the interment, and ac-
company it with my prayers." Mesrour
went to give an account of his message.
Abon Haiisau waited on him to the door,
and told him that he did not deserve the
honour that he intended him ; and for fear
Mesrour should return to say something
else to him, he followed him with his eyes
for some time, and when he saw him at a
distance, returned to his wife, and released
her. "This is already," said he, "anew
scene of mii-tb, but I fancy it will not be
the last ; for certainly the princess Zobeide
will not believe Mesrour, but will laugh at
him, since she has too substantial a reason
to the contrary ; therefore we must expect
some new event." WhUe Abon Hassan was
talking thus, Kouzhatoul-^ouadat had time
to put on her clothes again, and both went
and sat down on a sofa opposite to the win-
dow, where they could see all that passed.
In the meantime, Mesrour reached Zo-
beide's apirtment, and going into her closet
laughing, clapped his hands like one who
had something very agreeable to tell.
The caliph, who was naturally impatient,
would presently be informed of the truth of
the matter, for he was piqued a little at the
princess's confidence ; therefore, as soon as
he met Mesrour, " Vile slave," said he, " is
this a time to laugh ? Why do not you tell
me whi'ih is dead, the husband or the wife? "
" Commander of the faithfid," answered
Mesrour, putting on a serious countenance,
" it is Nciuzhatoul-douadat who is dead, for
the loss of whom Abon Hassan is as much
afflicted as when he appeared before your
majesty." The caliph, not giving him time
to pursue his story, interrupted him, and
cried out, laughing heartily, " Good news !
Zobeide, your mistress, was a moment ago
possessed of the palace of paintings, and
now it is mine. She staked it against my
garden of pleasures s?ice you went; there-
fore you could not have done me a greater
pleasure. I will tak care to reward you;
but give me a true account of what you
saw."
" Commander of the faithfid," said Mes-
rour, "when I came to Abon Hassan's apart-
ment, I found the door open, and he was
bewailing the death of his wife Nouzhatoul-
ftouadat. He sat at the head of the deceased,
who wpa laid out in the middle of the room,
with herfeet toN^'ards Mecca, and R-as covered
with that piece of brocade which your ma-
jesty made a present o' ic Abon Uassau.
After I had expreaaed the sharb T i .ok in
this grief, I went and lifted up the pall at
the head, and knew Nouzhatoul-aouadat,
though her face was very much swelled and
changed. I exhorted Abon Hassan in the
best manner I could to be comforted ; and
when I came away, I told him I would at-
tend at his wife's funeral, and desired him
not to remove the corpse till I came. This
is all I can tell your majesty." " I ask no
more," said the caliph, laughing heartily,
" and I am very well satisfied with your
exactness." Then addressing himself to Zo-
beide, "Well, madam," said he, "have you
yet anything to say against so certain a
truth ? Will you always believe that Nouz-
hatoul4ouadat is alive, and that Abon Has-
san is dead ? And will you not own that
you have lost your wager?"
" How, sir," rei)lied Zobeide, who woidd
not believe one word that Mesrour said,
"do you think that I regard that imper-
tinent fellow of a slave, who knows not
what he says? T am not blind or mad.
With these eyes I saw Nouzhatoul-&ouadat
in the greatest affliction: I spoke to her
myself, and she told me that her husband
was dead." " Madam," replied Mesrour,
" I swear to you by your own life, and that
of the commander of the faithful, which are
both dear to me, that Nouzhatoul-c^ouadat
is dead, and Abon Hassau is living."
"Thou liest, base, despicable slave!" said
Zcbeide, in a rage, ' ' and I will confound thee
immediately ; " and thereupon, clapping her
hands together, she called her women, who
all came in. "Come hither " said the prin-
cess to them, " and speak the truth. Who
was that who came and spoke with me a little
before the caliph came here ?" The women
all answered that it was poor afflicted Nouz-
hatoul-douadat. "And what," added she,
addressing herself to her that was treasurer,
' ' did I order you to give her ? " " Madam, "
answered the treasurer, "I gave Nouzha-
toul-douadat, by your orders, a purse of a
hundred pieces of gold, and a piece of bro-
caile, which she carried away with her.''
"Well, then, sorry slave," said Zobeide to
Mesrour, in a great passion, " what have
you to say to all this ? Whom do you think
now I ought to believe, you or my treasurer,
my other women or myself?"
Mesrour did not want for arguments to
contradict the princess ; but as he was afraid
of provoking her too much, he chose rather
to be silent, though he was satisfied within
himself that the wife was dead, and not the
husband.
All the time of this dispute between Zo-
beide and Mesrour, the caliph, who heard
the evidence on both sides, which each party
insisted on, and was persuaded of the con-
trary of what the princess said, because he
hail himself seen and spoken to Abon Has-
san, and because of w^hat Mesrour had told
■A 4
^,avi
l¥
396
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
him, laughed hcnrtily to see Zobeide so ex-
asperated against Idesrour. "Madam," said
he to Zobeide, " once more I repeat that I
know not who was the author of that say-
ing, ' That women sometimes lose their
wits,' but I am sure you make it good.
Mesrour came just now from Abon Hassan's,
and tells us that he saw Nouzhatoul-flouadat
lying dead in the middle of the room, Abon
Hassan alive, and sitting by her ; and yet
you will not believe this evidence, which
nobody can reasonably refuse. I cannot
comprehend this conduct."
Zobeide would not hear what the caliph
represented. ' ' Pardon me, commander of the
faithful," replied she, " if I suspect you. I
see very well that you have contrived with
Mesrour to vex me, and to try my patience.
And as I perceive that his report was con-
certed between you, T beg leave to send a
person to Abon Hassan's to know whether
or not I am in the wrong."
The caliph consented, and the princess
charged with this important commission an
old nurse, who had lived with her from her
infancy, and was now present among the
rest of her women. " Hark ye, nurse,"
said she, "you see my dispute with the
commander of the faithful, and me and
Mesrour ; I need tell you no more. Go to
Abon Hassan's, or rather to Nouzhatoul-
douadat's, for Abon Hassan is dead, and
clear up this matter for me. If you bring
me good news, a handsome present is your
reward; make haste, and return immedi-
ately."
The nurse set out, to the great joy of the
caliph, who was delighted to see Zobeide in
this embarrassment ; but Mesrour, extremely
mortified to find the princess so angry with
him, did all he coxdd to api)ease her, and to
make her and the caliph both satisfied with
him. He was overjoyed when Zobeide sent
the nurse ; because he was persuaded that
the report she would make woidd agree with
his, and serve to justify him, and restore
him to her favour.
In the meantime, Abon Hassan, who
watched the window, perceived the nurse
at a distance, and guessing that she was
sent by Zobeide, called his wife, and told
her that the princess's nurse was coming to
know the truth. " Therefore," said he,
"make haste and lay me out." Accord-
mglyNouzhatoul-aouadatdid so, and covered
him with the piece of brocade Zobeide had
given her, and i)ut liis turban upon his face.
The nurse, eager to acquit herself of her
commission, came at a good round pace, and
entering the room, perceived Nouzhatoul-
&ouadat all in tears, her hair dishevelled,
and set at the head of her husband, beating
her breast, and with all the expressions of
•violent grief.
The good old nurse went directly to
the false widow. "My dear Nouzhatoul-
aouadat," said she, with a sorrowful face,
"I come not to interrupt your grief and
tears for a husband whom you loved so
tenderly." "Ah! good mother," replied
the counterfeit widow, "you see my mis-
fortune, and how unhappy I am by the loss
of my beloved Abon Hassan. Abon Hassan,
my dear husband!" cried she, "what have
I done that you should leave me so soon?
Have I not always preferred your will to my
own? Alas! what will become of poor
Nouzhatoul-aouadat ? ' '
The nurse w.os in great surprise to see
evsrything quite the reverse of what the
chief of the eunuchs had told the caliph.
"This black-faced Mesrour," cried she, lift-
ing up her hands, "deserves to be con-
founded for having made so great a dififer-
ence between my good mistress and the
commander of the faithful, by the noto-
rious lie he told them. I must tell you,
daughter," said she, "the wickedness of that
villain Mesrour, who has asserted, with an
inconceivable impudence, before our good
mistress, that you were dead, and Abon
Hassan was alive ! "
"Alas ! my good mother," cried Nouz-
hatoul-^ouadat, "I wish to heaven that it
was true ! I should not be in this sorrowfid
state, nor bewail a husband so dear to me I "
At these words she burst out into tears, and
by her redoubled tears and cries feigned
most desperate sorrow.
The nurse was so much moved by her
tears, that she sat down by her, and cried
too. Then gently lifting up the turban and
cloth, looked on the face of the corpse :
"Ah! poor Abon Hassan," she cried, cover-
ing his face again, "God have mercy upon
thee ! Adieu, child," said she to Nouz-
hatoul-ftouadiit ; "if I could stay longer
with you, I would with all my heart ; but
I am obliged to return immediately, to de-
liver my mistress from the uneasiness that
black villain has occasioned her, by his im-
pudent lie, assuring her with an oath that
you was dead."
As soon as the nurse was gone, and had
pulled the door after her, and Nouzhatoul-
^ouadat thought she would not come back
agrin, she wiped her eyes, and released
Abon Hassan, and then they both went and
sat down on a sofa against the window, ex-
pecting what would be the end of this trick,
and to be ready to act according as things
should turn out.
The nurse, in the meantime, made all the
haste she could to Zobeide. The pleasure
of carrying the princess good news, and still
more the hopes of a good reward, added
wings to her feet, and running into the
princess's closet quite out of breath, she
gave her a true account of all she had seen.
Zobeide hearkened to the old woman's rela-
I
>K.w-«Kmm^'-.
'
THE SLEEPER A WAKENED.
397
tion with a most sensible pleasure; and
when she had done, she said, with a tone
which shewed she had won her cause, "Re-
peat it once more before the caliph, who
looks upon us all to be fools, and would
make us believe we have no sense of reli-
gion, nor fear of God ; and tell your story
to that wicked black slave, who had the in-
solence to assert a falsity, though I knew it
to be one."
Mesrour, who expected the nurse's report
would prove favourable on his side, was
very much mortified to find it so much the
contrary. He was also vexed at the anger
Zobeide expressed against him, for a thing
which he thought himself surer of than any-
body, that he was glad of having an oppor-
tunity of speaking his mind freely to the
nurse, which he durst not do to the princess.
"Old toothless," said he to the nurse, "you
are a liar, and there is no truth in what you
saj'; for I saw with my own eyes Nouz-
hatoul-douadat laid out in the middle of the
room."
"You are a notorious liar yourself," re-
plied the nurse, with au insulting air, "to
dare to maintain so great a falsity before my
face, who am just come from seeing Abon
Hassan dead, and laid out, and left his wife
alive." "I am not an impostor," replied
Mesrour; "it is you who endeavour to lead
lis all into error."
"What impudence," said the nurse, "to
dare to tell me I lie in the presence of their
majesties, when I saw just now with my
own eyes the fact I have had the honour
to tell them." "Indeed, nurse," answered
Mesrour again, "you had better held your
tongue, for you certainly doat."
Zobeide, who could not support tins want
of respect in Mesrour, who, without any
regard to her, treated her nurse so injuri-
ously in her presence, wl.uout giving the
nurse time to reply to so gross an affront,
said to the caliph, "Commander of the faith-
ful, I demand justice for this insolence to us
both." She was so enraged she could say no
more, but burst into tears.
The caliph, who had heard all this dis-
pute, thought it very intricate. He mused
some time, and could not tell what to think
of so manj' contradictions. The princess,
for her part, as well as Mesrour, the nurse,
and all the women slaves who were present,
were as much puzzled, and remained silent.
At last the caliph resumed the business, and
addressing himself to Zobeide, said, "I see
very well we are all liai-s : myself first, and
then you, Mesrour, and you, nurse ; or at
least it seems not one can be believed more
than the other ; therefore let us go ourselves
to know the truth, for I can see no other way
to clear up these doubts."
So saying, the caliph rose up, the prin-
cess followed him, and Mesrour went before
to open the doors. "Commander of the
faithful," said he, "I am overjoyed that your
majesty has taken this course ; and shall be
much more, when I shall make it plainly
appear to the nurse, not that she doats,
since the expression is unfortunately dis-
pleasing to my good mistress, but that her
report is not true."
The nurse wanted not a reply. "Hold
your tongue, black face," said she; "you
doat yourself."
Zobeide, who was very much provoked Jit
Mesrour, could not bear to hear him attack
her nurse again, without taking her part :
"Vile slave," said she, "say what you will,
I maintain my nurse says the truth, and look
upon you as a mere liar." " Madam," re-
plied Mesrour, " if nurse is so very certain
that Nouzhatoul-aouadat is aUve, and Abou
Hassan is dead, I will lay her what she dares
of it." The nurse was as ready as he : "I
dare," said she, "take you at your word;
let us see if you dare unsay it." Mesrour
stood to his word ; and they laid a piece of
gold brocade with silver liowers before the
caliph and the princess.
The apartment the caliph and Zobeide
came out of, though distant from Abon
Hassan's, was nevertheless just over against
it, and Abon Hassan coidd j)erceive them
coming, and told his wife he was very much
mistaken if the caliph and Zobeide, preceded
by Mesrour, and followed by a great number
of women, were not coming to do them the
honour of a visit. She looked through a
lattice, and saw them. Though her husband
told her beforehand, she seemed frightened,
and cried out, "What shall we do? we are
ruined." "Fear nothing," replied Abon
Hassan ; " have you forgot already what wo
agreed on? We will both feign ourselves
dead, and you shall see all will go well. At
the slow rate they come, we shall be ready
before they get to the door. Accordingly,
Abon Hassan and his wife wrapped up
and covered themselves with the i)iece8
of brocade, and waited patiently for their
visitors.
Mesrour, who came first, opened the door,
and the caliph and Zobeide, followed by
their attendants, entered the room, but
were extremely surprised, and stood mo-
tionless, at the dismal sight which presented
itself to their view, not knowing what to
make of it. At last, Zobeide, breaking si-
lence, said to the caliph, "Alas! they are
both dead! You have done so much," con-
tinued she, looking at the caliph and Mes-
rour, "to endeavour to make me believe tnat
my dear slave was dead, that I find it is true
at last: grief for losing her husband has
certainly killed her." ' ' Say rather, madam,"
answered the caliph, prepossessed to the con-
trary, " that Nouzhatoul-9.ouadat died first,
and the afflicted Abun Hassan sank under
398
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I
1:1
his grief, and could not survive his dear
wife ; you ought, therefore, to agree that
you have lost your wager, and your palace
of paintings is mine."
"Hold there," answered Zobeide, warmed
at being contradicted by the caliph ; "I will
maintain it, you have lost your garden of
pleasures to me. Abon Hassan died first;
since my nurse told you, as well as me, that
she saw her alive, and crying for the death
of her husband."
The dispute of the caliph and Zobeide
brought on another between Mesrour and
the nurse, who had wagered as well as they,
and each pretended to win, and came at last
to abuse each other very grossly.
At last the caliph, reflecting on what had
passed, began to think that Zobeide had as
much reason as himself to maintain that she
had won. In this embarrassment of not
being able to find out the truth, he ad-
vanced towards the two corpses, and sat
down at the head, searching after some ex-
pedient that might gain him the victory over
Zobeide. "I swear," cried he, presently
after, "by the holy name of God, that I
will give a thousand pieces of gold to him
that can tell me which of these two died
first."
No sooner were these words out of the
caliph's mouth, but he heard a voice under
Abon Hassan's piece of brocade say, "Com-
mander of the faithful, I died first ; give me
the thousand pieces of gold." At the same
time he saw Abon Hassan throw oif the piece
of brocade, and come and prostrate himself
at his feet, while his wife did the same to
Zobeide, keeping on her piece of brocade
out of decency. The princess at first
shrieked out, so that she frightened .all
about her; but, recovering herself at last,
expressed great joy to see her dear slave
rise again, just when she was almost in-
consolable at having seen her dead. "Ah!
wicked Nouzhatoul -ftouadat," cried she,
"what have I suffered for your sake?
However, I forgive you from my heart,
since you are not dead."
The caliph, for his part, was not so much
surprised when he heard Abon Hassan's
voice ; but thought he should have tlied
with laughing at this imravelling of the
mystery, and to hear Abon Hassan ask so
seriously for the thousand pieces of gold.
"What ! Abon Hassan," said he, continuing
to laugh aloud, "hast thou conspired against
my life, to kill me a second time with
laughing? How came this thought into
your head, to surprise Zobeide and me thus,
when we least thought of such a trick ?"
"Commander of the faithful," replied
Abon Hassan, " I will declare to your ma-
jesty the whole truth without the least re-
serve. Your majesty knows very well that
I always loved to eat and drink well, and
the wife you gave me rather increased than
restrained that inclination. With these dis-
positions your majesty may easUy suppose
we might spend a good estate ; and to make
short of my story, we were not in the least
sparing of what your majesty so generously
gave us. This morning, accounting with
our caterer, who took care to provide every-
thing for us, and paying what we owed him,
we found we had nothing left. Then reflec-
tions on what was past, and resolutions to
manage better for the future, crowded into
our thoughts ; we formed a thousand pro-
jects, all which we rejected. At last, the
shame of seeing ourselves reduced to so low
a condition, and not daring to tell your ma-
jesty, made us contrive this trick to relieve
our necessities, and to divert you with it,
which we hope your majesty will be pleased
to pardon us."
The caliph and Zobeide were very well
ratisfied with Abon Hassan's sincerity, and
not sorry for what was done ; and then Zo-
beide, who had all along been very serious,
began to laugh at the thoughts of Abon
Hassan's scheme. The caliph, who had not
ceased laughing at the singularity of this
adventure, rising up, said to Abon Hassan
and his wife, " Follow me ; I will give you
the thousand pieces of gold I promised you,
for joy to find you are not dead." Zobeide
desired him to let her make her slave a pre-
sent of the same sum, for the same reason.
By this means Abon Hassan and his dear
wife Nonzhatoul-aouadat long preserved the
favour of the caliph Haroun Alraschid and
the princess Zobeide, and by their libe-
ralities were Ui..do capable of pursuing their
pleasures.
THE STOEY OF ALADDIN ; OR, THE WONDERFUL
LAMP.
In the capital of one of the large and rich
provinces of the kingdom of China, the
name of which I do not recollect, there lived
a tailor, whose name was Mustapha, with-
out any other distinction but that which his
profession afforded him, and so jioor, that
he could hardly, by his daily labour, main-
tain himself and family, which consisted of
a wife and son.
His son, who was called Aladdin, had
been brought up after a very careless and
idle manner, and by that means had con-
tracted many vicious habits. He was wick-
ed obstinate, and disobedient to his father
and mother, who, when he grew up, could
not keep him within doors ; but he would
go out early in the morning, and stay out
all day, playing in the streets and public
places with little vagabonds of his own age.
When he was old euough to learn a trade,
his father, not being able to put him out to
any other, took him into his own shop, and
-i:«mmmmf*-
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
399
shewed him how to use hia needle ; but
neither good words nor the fear of chastise-
ment were capable of fixing his lively genius.
All that his father coiUd do to keep him at
home to mind his work was in vain ; for no
sooner was his back turned, but Aladdin
was gone for that day. Mustapha chastised
him, but Aladdin was incorrigible ; nnd his
father, to his great grief, was forced to
abandon him to his libertinism ; and was so
much troubled at not being able to reclaim
him, that it threw him into a fit of sickness,
of which he died in a few months.
The mother of Aladdin, iiuding that her
son would not follow his father's business,
shut up the shop, sold oif the implements of
that trade, and with the money she got for
them, and what she could get by spinning
cotton, thought to maintain herself and her
son.
Aladdin, who was now no longer re-
strained by the fear of a father, and who
cared so little for his mother, that whenever
she chid him he would liy in her face, gave
himself entirely ovei to dissi}>ation, and was
never out of the streets from his companions.
This course he followed till he was fifteen
years old, without giving his mind to any
thing whatever, or the least reflection on
what would become of him. In this situa-
tion, as he was one day playing according to
custom, in the street, with his vagabond
troop, a stranger x^assing by stood still to
observe him.
This stranger was a famous magician,
called by the writer of this story the African
Magiciau ; and by that name I shall call him
with the more propriety, as he was a native
of Africa, and had been but two days come
from thence.
Whether the African magician, who was
a good physiognomist, had observed in
Aladdin's countenance something which was
absolutely necessary for the execution of the
design he came about, he inquired artfully
about his family, who he was, and what
were his inclinations; and wlien he had
learned all he desired to know, he went up
to him, and taking him aside from his com-
rades, said to him, "Child, was not your
father called Mustapha the tailor ?" — " Yes,
sir," answered Aladdin, "but he has been
dead a long time."
At these words, the African magician
threw his arms about Aladdin's neck, and
kissed him several times with tears in his
eyes. Aladdin, who observed his tears,
asked him. What made him weep ? " Alas !
my son," cried the African magician, with a
sigh, "how can I forbear? I am your
uncle ; your good father was my own bro-
ther, I have been a great many years
abroad travelling, and now I am come home
with the hopes of seeing him, you tell me
he is dead. I assure you it is a sensible
grief to me to be deprived of the comfort 1
expected. But it is some relief to my atfeo-
tion, that as far as I can remember him, I
knew you at first sight, you arc so like him ;
and I see I am not deceived." Then he
asked Aladdin, putting his hand into his
purse, where his mother lived ; and as soon
as Aladdin had informed him, he gave him a
handful of small money, saying to him,
" Go, my son, to your mother, give my love
to her, and tell her that I will come and see
her to-morrow, if I have time, that I may
have the satisfaction of seeing where my
good brother lived so long, and ended his
days."
As soon as the African magician left his
new-ado])ted nephew, Aladdin ran to his
mother, overjoyed at the money his imcle
had given him. " Mother," said he, " have
I an uncle?" "No, child," replied his
mother, "you have no uncle by your father's
side or mine." "I am just now come,"
answered Aladdin, " from a man who says
he is my uncle by my father's side, assuring
me that he is his brother. He cried and
kissed me when I told him my father was
dead ; and to shew you that what 1 tell you
is truth," added he, pulling out the money,
"see what he has given me; he charged
me to give his love to you, and to tell you,
if he has any time to-morrow, he wiU come
and pay you a visit, that he may see at the
same time the house my father lived and
died in." "Indeed, child," replied the
mother, " your father had a brother, but he
has been dead a long time, and I never heard
of another."
The mother and son talked no more then
of the African magician ; but the next day
Aladdin's uncle foimd him playing in an-
other part of the town with other children,
and embracing him as before, put two
pieces of gold into his hand, and said to
him, "Carry this, chUd, to your mother,
and tell her that I will come and see her to-
night, and bid her get us something for
supper ; but first shew me the house where
you live."
After Aladdin had shewed the African
magician the house, ho carried the two
pieces of gold to his mother, and when he
had told her of his uncle's intention, she
went out and bought provisions ; and con-
sidering she wanted various vessels, she
went and borrowed them of her neighbours.
She spent the whole day in preparing the
supper; and at night, when it was ready,
she said to Aladdin, " Perhaps your tmcle
knows not how to find our house, go and
see for him, and bring him •? you meet with
him."
Though Aladdin had shewed the magician
the house, he was very ready to go, when
somebody knocked at the door, which
Aladdin immediately opened ; and the ma-
n:
■I
400
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
with wine and all
he brought for a
gician came in, loaded
sorts of fruits, which
dessert.
After the African magician had given
what he brought into Aladdin's hands, he
saluted his mother, and desired her to shew
him the place where his brother Mustapha
used to sit on the sofa ; and when she had
so done, he presently fell down and kissed
it several times, crying out with tears in his
eyes, " My poor brother ! how unhappy am
I, not to have come soon enough to give you
one last embrace ! " Aladdin's mother de-
sired him to sit down in the same xilace, but
he would not. "No," said he, "I shall
take care how I do that ; but give me leave
to git here over against it, that if I am de-
prived of the satisfaction of seeing the
master of a family so dear to me, I may at
least have the pleasure of seeing the place
where he used to sit." Aladdin's mother
pressed him no farther, but left him at his
liberty to sit where he pleased.
When the magician had made choice of a
place, and sat down, he began to enter into
discourse with Aladdin's mother. •' My
good sister," said he, "do not be surprised
at your never having seen me all the time
you have been married to my brother, Mus-
tapha, of happy memory. I have been forty
years absent from this country, which is my
native ])lace, as well as my late brother's;
and during that time have travelled into the
Indies, Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt, and
have resided in the finest towns of those
countries, and afterwards crossed over into
Africa, where I made a longer stay. At last,
as it is natural for a man, how distant soever
it may be, to remember his native country,
relations, and acquaintance, I was very de-
sirous to see mine again, and to embrace my
dear brother; and finding I had strength
and courage enough to undertake so long a
journey, I immediately made the necessary
preparations for it, and set out. I will not
tell you the length of time it took me, all
the obstacles I met with, and what fatigues
I have endured, to come hither ; but no-
thing ever mortified and afflicted me so
much as the hearing of my brother's death,
for whom I always had a brotherly love and
friendship. I observed his features in the
face of my nephew, your son, and distin-
guished him from a number of children with
whom he was at play ; he can tell you how
I received the most melancholy news that
ever reaciied my ears. But God be praised
for all things ! it is a comfort to me to find
him again in a son, who has his most re-
markable features."
The African magician, perceiving that
Aladdin's mother began to weep at the re-
membrance of her husband, changed the
discourse, and turning towards Aladdin,
asked him his name. " I am called Alad-
din," said he. " Well, Aladdin," repUed the
magician, " what business do you follow ?
Are you of any trade ?"
At this question Aladdin hung down his
head, and was not a little dashed when his
mother made answer, "Aladdin is ar. idle
fellow ; his father, when alive, strove all he
could to teach him his trade, but could not
succeed ; and since his death, notwithstand-
ing all I can say to him. he does nothing
but idle away his time in the streets, as you
saw him, without considering he is no longer
a child ; and if you do not make him
ashamed of it, and make him leave it off, I
despair of his ever coming to any good. He
knows that his father left him no fortime,
and sees me endeavour to get bread by
spinning cotton every day ; for my part, I
am resolved, one of these days, to turn him
out of doors, and let him provide for him-
self."
After these words, Aladdin's mother burst
out into tears ; and the magician said,
" This is not well, nephew ; you must think
of helping yourself, and getting your liveli-
hood. There are a great many sorts of
trades ; consider if you have not an incli-
nation to some of them ; perhaps you did
not like your father's trade, and would pre-
fer another: come, do not disguise your
sentiments from me; I will endeavour to
helx> you." But finding that Aladdin re-
turned no answer, — "If you have no mind,"
continued he, "to learn any trade, and
prove an honest man, I wiU take a shop for
you, and furnish it with all sorts of fine
stufi's and linens, and set you to trade with
them ; and with the money you make with
them, lay in fresh goods, and then you will
live after an honourable way. Consult your
own inclination, and tell me freely what you
think of it : you shall always find me ready
to keep my word."
This proposal greatly flattered Aladdin,
who mortally hated work, and had sense
enough to know that such sort of shops were
very much esteemed and frequented, and
the owners honoured and resiiected. He
told the magician he had a greater inclina-
tion to that business than to any other, and
that he should be very much obliged to him
all his life for his kindness. " Since this
profession is agreeable to you," said the Afri-
can magician, " I will carry you along with
me to-morrow, and clothe you as richly and
handsomely as the best merchants in the
city, and after that we will think of opening
a shop as I mean. "
Aladdin's mother, who never till then
could believe that the magician was her
husband's brother, no longer doubted it after
his promises of kindness to her son. She
thanked him for his good intentions; and
after having exhorted Aladdin to render
himself worthy of his uncle's favour by his
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
401
good behnriour, served up aupper, at which
they talked of several indifferent matters ;
and then the magician, who saw that the
night was pretty far advanced, took his leave
of the mother and son, and retired.
He came again the next day, as he pro-
mised, and took Aladdin along with him to
a great merchant, who sold all sorts of
clothes for different ages and ranks ready
made, and a variety of tine stuffs. He asked
to see some that suited Aladdin in size ; and
after choosing a suit which he liked best,
and rejecting others which he did not think
handsome enough, he bid Aladdin choose
those he preferred. Aladdin, charmed with
the liber^ity of his new uncle, made choice
of one, and the magician immediately bought
it, and all things prox)er to it, and paid for it
without haggling.
When Aladdin found himself so hand-
somely equipped from top to toe, he re-
turned his uncle all imaginable thanks ;
who, on the other hand, promised never to
forsake him, but always to take him along
with him ; which he did to the most fre-
quented places in the city, and particularly
where the capital merchants kept their shops.
When he brought him into the street where
they sold the richest stuffs, and finest linens,
he said to Aladdin, "As you are soon to be
a merchant as well as these, it is proper you
should frequent these shops, and be acquaint-
ed with them." Then he shewed him the
' largest and finest mosques, and carried him
to the khans or inns where the merchants
and travellers lodged, and afterwards to the
sultan's palace, where he had free access ;
and at last brought him to his own khan,
Avhere, meeting with some merchants he
had got acquainted with since his arrival,
he gave them a treat, to bring them and his
pretended nephew acquainted.
This treat lasted till night, when Aladdin
would have taken his leave of his uncle to
go home, but the magician would not let
him go by himself, but conducted him safe
to his mother, who, as soon as she saw him
so finely dressed, was transported with joy,
and bestowed a thousand blessings upon the
magician for being at so great an expense
upon her chUd. "Generous relation," said
she, " I know not how to thank you for
your liberality. I know that my son is not
deserving of your favours ; and was he never
so grateful, and answered your good inten-
tions, he would be unworthy of them. For
sny part," added she, " I thank you with all
my soul, and wish you may live long enough
to be a witness of my son's gratitude, which
he cannot better shew than by regulating his
conduct by your good advice."
"Aladdin," replied the magician, "is a
good boy, and minds well enough, and I be-
lieve we shall do very well ; but I am sorry
for one thing, which is, that I cannot per-
form to-morrow what I ])romi8ed, because it
is Friday, and the shops will be shut up,
and therefore we cannot hire or furnish one,
but let it alone till Satunlay. But I will
call on him to-morrow, and take him to
walk in the gardens, where people of the
best fashion generally walk. Perhaps he
has never seen these amusements, he has
only hitherto been among children ; but now
he must see men." Then the African magi-
cian took his leave of the mother and the
son, and retired. Aladdin, who was over-
joyed to be so well clothed, anticipated the
pleasure of walking in the gardens which
lay about the town. He had never been out
of the town, nor seen the environs, which
were very beautiful and pleasant.
Aladdin rose early the next morning and
dressed himself, to be ready against his
uncle calling on him ; and after he had waited
some time, he began to be impatient, and
stood watching fo>- him at the door ; but as
soon as he perceived him coming, he told
his mother, took his leave of her, and ran to
meet him.
The magician caressed Aladdin when he
came to him. " Come along, my dear child,"
said he, " and I will shew you fine things."
Then he led him out at one of the gates of
the city, to some large fine houses, or rather
palaces, to each of which belonged beautiful
gardens, into which anybody might go. At
every house he Cfime to, he asked Aladdin if
he did not think it fine ; and Aladdin was
ready to answer when any one presented it-
self, crying out, " Here is a finer house,
uncle, than any we have seen yet." By this
artifice the cunning magician got Aladdin a
pretty way into the country ; and as he had
a mind to carry him farther, to execute his
design, he took an opportunity to sit down
in one of the gardens by a fountain of clear
water, which discharged itself by a lion's
mouth of bronze into a great basin, pretend-
ing to be tired, the better to rest Alatldin.
"Come, nephew," said he, "you must be
weary as well as me ; let us rest ourselves,
and we shall be better able to walk."
After they had sat down, the magician
pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with
cakes and fruit, which he had provided on
purpose, and laid them on the edge of the
basin. He broke a cake in two, gave one
half to Aladdin, and ate the other himself ;
and in regard to tlie fruit, he left him at
liberty to take which sort he liked best.
During this short repast, he exhorted his
nephew to leave off keeping company with
children, and seek that of wise and prudent
men, to improve by tlieir conversation ;
"for," said he, "you will soon be at man's
estate, and you cannot too early begin to
imitate their conversation." When they had
eaten as much as they liked, they got np^
and pursued their walk through the gardcnfv
aq
402
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINAfENTS.
If
m
-which were separated from one another only
by Bmall ditches, which only marked out the
limits without interrupting the communica-
tion ; 80 great was the contidence the in-
habitants reposed in each other. By this
means, the African magician drew Aladdin
insensibly beyond the gardens, and crossed
the country, till they almost came to the
mountains.
Aladdin, who had never been so far in his
life before, began to find himself much tired
with so long a walk, and said to the magi-
cian, " Where are wo going, uncle ? we have
left the gardens a great way behind us, and
I see nothing but mountains ; if we go much
farther, I do not know whether I shall be
able to reach the town again." " Never
fear, nephew," said the false imcle ; "I will
shew you another garden, which surpasses
all we have yet seen ; it is not far off, it is
but a little step ; and when wo come there,
you will say that you would have been sorry
to have been so nigh it, and not seen it."
Aladdiu was soon persuaded ; and the magi-
cian, to make the way seem shorter and less
fatiguing, told him a great many stories.
At last they came between two mountains
of moderate height and equal size, divided
by a narrow vtJley, which waa the place
where the magician intended to bring Alad-
din, to put into execution a design that had
brought him from Africa to China. "We
will go no farther now," said he to Aladdin:
"I will shew you here some very extraor-
dinary things, and what nobody ever saw
before ; which, when you have seen, you
will thank me for ; but while 1 strike fire,
do you gather up all the loose sticks you
can see, to kindle a fire with."
Aladdin found there so many dried sticks,
that before the magician had lighted a
match, he had gathered up a great heap.
The magician presently set them on fire,
and when they were all in a blaze, the magi-
cian threw in some incense he had about
him, which raised a great cloud of smoke,
which he dispersed on each side, by pro-
nouncing several magical words which Alad-
din did not understand.
At the same time, the earth trembled a
little, and opened just before the magician
and Aladdin, and discovered a stone about
half a yard square, laid horizontally, with a
brass ring fixed into the middle of it, to raise
it up by. Aladdin waa so frightened at
what he saw, that he would have run away;
but as he was to be serviceable to the magi-
cian, he caught hold of him, scolded him,
and gave him such a box on the ear, that he
knocked him down, and had like to have
beat his teeth down his throat. Poor Alad-
din got up again trembling, and with tears
ia his eyes, said to the magician, "What
have I done, uncle, to be treated after this
severe maimer?" "I have my reasons for
it," replied the magician ; " I am your uncle,
and supply the place of your father, and you
ought to make no reply. But, child, " added
he, softening, "do not be afraid of any-
thing ; for I shall not ask anything of you,
but that you obey me pimctually, if you
would reap the advantages which I intended
you should." These fair promises calmed
Aladdin's fears and resentment; and when
the magician saw that he was come to him-
self, he said to him, " You see what I have
done by virtue of my incense, and the words
I pronounced. Know, then, that tinder this
stone there is hid a treasure which is des-
tined to be yours, and which will make you
richer than the greatest monarch in the
world : this is so true, that no other person
but yourself is permitted to touch this stone,
and to pull it u^) and go in ; for I am forbid
ever to touch it, or set foot in this treasure
when it is opened; so you must, without
faH, punctually execute what I tell you, for
it is a matter of great consequence both to
you and me."
Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard
the magician say of the treasure, which was
to make him happy for ever, forgot what
was past, and rising up, said to the magician,
"Well, \mcle, what is to be done? command
me, I am ready to obey you." " I am over-
joyed, child," said the African magician,
embracing him, "to see you take the reso-
lution ; come, take hold of the ring, and lift
up that stone. Indeed, uncle," rei>lied Alad-
din, "I am not strong enough to lift it; you
must help me." "You have no occasion for
my assistance," answered the magician ; "if
I help you, we shall be able to do nothing :
you must lift it up yourself : take hold of
the ring, only pronounce the names of your
father and grandfather, then lift it up, and
you will find it will come easily." Aladdin
did as the magician bade him, and raised
the stone with a great deal of ease, and laid
it on one side.
When the stone was puUed up, there ap-
peared a cavity of about three or four feet
deep, with a little door, and steps to go
down lower. " Observe, my son," said the
African magician, " what I am going to say
to you : go down into that cave, and when
you are at the bottom of those steps, you
will find a door open, which will lead you
into a large vaulted place, divided into three
great halls, in each of which you will see
four large brass vessels placed on each side,
full of gold and silver, but take care you do
not meddle with them. Before you go into
the first hall, be sure to tuck up your gown,
and wrap it well about you, and then go
through the second into the third without
stopping. Above all things, have a care
that you do not touch the waUs, so mach<as
with your clothes; for if you do, you will
die instantly. At the end of the tlurd hall.
u
:-vmf*nmmm>:-
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
403
you will find a door, which leads into a gar-
den planted with tine trees loaded with fruit;
walk directly across the garden by a path
which will lead you to five steps that will
bring you upon a terrace, where you will
see a niche before you, and in that niche a
lighted lamp. Take the lamj) down, and
put it out ; when you have thrown away the
wick, and poured out the liquor, put it in
your breast, and bring it to me. Do not be
afraid that the liquor -will spoil your clothes,
for it is not oil, and the lamp will be dry as
soon as it is thrown out. If you have a
mind to any of the fruit of the ga -den, you
may gather as much as you please."
After these words, the magician drew a
ring oif his finger, and put it vpon one of
Aladdin's, telling him that it 11 as a preser-
vative against oil evil, while he observed
what he had i>rescribed to him. After this
instruction, he said, "Go down boldly, child,
and we shall both be rich all our lives."
Aladdin jumjicd into the cave, went down
the steps, and found the three halls just as
the African magician had described them.
He went through them with all the precau-
tion the fear of death coidd inspire, if he
failed to observe iiJl that he was told very
carefully ; crossed the garden without stop-
ping, took down the lamp from the niche,
threw out the wick and the liquor, and, aa
the magician told him, put it in his bosom.
But as he came down from tht t-^'Tacp, see-
ing it was perfectly dry, he stojiped in the
garden, to observe the fruit, which .'le only
had a glimpse of in crossing it. All the trees
were loaded with extraordinary fruit, of dif-
ferent colours on each tree : some bore fruit
entirely white, and some clear and tran-
sparent as crystal; some pale red, and others
deeper; some green, blue, and purple, and
others yellow ; in short, there was fruit of
all colours. The white were pearls; the
clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep
red, rubies ; the paler, balla.s ruliies ; * the
green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises; the
jjurple, amethysts; and those that were of
yellow cast, sapphires; and so of the rest.
All these fruits were so large and beauti-
ful, that nothing was ever seen like them,
Aladdin was altogether ignorant of their
value, and would have preferred figs and
grapes, or any other fruits, before them ;
and though he took them only for coloured
glass of little value, yet he was so pleased
with the variety of the colours, and the
beauty and extraordinary size of the fruit,
that he had a mind to gather some of every
sort ; and accordingly filled his two pockets,
and the two new purses his uncle had bought
for him with the clothes which he gave hun ;
and as he could not put them in his pockets,
he fastened them to his girdle. Some he
* Ballas mbles are rubies of the brightest colonr.
wrapped up in the skirts of his gown,
which was of silk, large and wrapping, and
crammed his breast as full as it could hold.
Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with
riches he knew not the valuo of, returned
through the three halls with the same pre-
caution, and made all the haste he could,
that he might not make his iincle wait, and
soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where
the African magician awaited him with the
utmost impatience. As soon as Aladdin sav
him, he cried out, "Pray, imcle, lend me
your hand to help me out." ' ' Give me the
lamp first," replied the magician ; " it will
be troublesome to you." " Indeed, uncle,"
answered Aladdin, " I cannot now; it is not
troublesome to me ; bnt I will as soon as I
am up." The African magician was so ob-
stinate, that he woidd have the lamp before
he woiUd help him up ; and Aladdin, who
had encumbered himself so much with his
fruit, that he could not well get at it, re-
fused to give him it till he was out of the
cave. The African magician, provoked at
this obstinate refusal of the lad, fiew into a
terrible passion, and threw a little of his in-
cense into the fire, which he had taken care
to keep in, and no sooner pronounced two
magical words, but the stone which had
closed the mouth of the cave moved into its
} lace, with the earth over it, in the same
manner as it lay at the arrival of the magi-
cian and Aladdin.
This action of the African magician's
plainly shewed liim to be neither Aladdin's
uncle, nor Mustapha, the tailor's brother,
but a true African, a native of that part of
the world. For as Africa is a coimtry whose
inhabitants delight most in magic of any
other in the whole world, he had applied
himself to it from his youth ; and after
about forty years' ejq)erienoe in enchant-
ments, works of geomancy, fumigations,
and reading of magic books, he had found
out that there was in the world a wonderful
lamp, the possession of which would render
him more powerful than any monarch in the
world, if he could obtain it ; and by a late
operation of geomancy, he found out that
this lamp lay concealed in a subterraneous
place in the midst of China, in the situation,
with all the circumstances, already described.
Fully persuaded of the truth of this dis-
covery, he set out from the farthest part of
Africa, and, after a long and fatiguing jour-
ney, came to the town nearest to this trea-
sure. But though he had a certain know-
ledge of the place where the lamp was, he
was not permitted to take it himself, nor to
enter the subterraneous place where it was,
but must receive it from the hands of another
person. For this reason, he addressed him-
self to Aladdin, whom he looked upon as a
young lad of no consequence, and fit to serve
his purpose ; resolving, as soon as he got the
'li' f
ill
li.
404
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
lamp into his hands, to sacrifice poor Aladdi a
to his avarice and wickedness, by making
the fumigation mentioned before, and saying
those two magical words, the ciTect of which
was to remove the stone into its place again,
that he might have no witness of the trans-
action.
The blow he gave Aladdin, and the autho-
rity he assumed over him, was only to use
him to fear him, and to make him obey him
the more readily, and give him the lamp as
soon as ho asked for it. But his too great
precipitation in executing his wicked inten-
tion on poor Aladdin, and his fear lest some-
body should come that way during their
dispute, and discover what ho wished to
keep secret, produced an effect quite con-
trary to what he proposed to himself.
when the African magician saw that all
his great hopes were frustrated for ever, he
returned that same day for Africa ; but went
quite round the town, and at some distance
from it, for fear lest some persons who had
seen him walk out with
the boy, seeing him coine
bock without him, should
entertain any jealousy of
him, and stop him.
According to all ap-
pearances, there was no
prospect of Aladdin being
any more heard of. But
the magician, when he
contrived liis death, had
forgotten the ring he put
on his finger, which pre-
served him, though ho
knew not its virtue ; and
it is amazing that the loss
of that, together with the
lamp, did not drive the
magician to despair ; but
magicians are so much
used to misfortunes, and
events contrary to their
wishes, that they do not lay them to heart,
but still feed themselves all their lives with
unsubstantial notions and chimeras.
As for Aladdin, who never suspected this
bad usage from his pretended uncle, after all
his caresses, and what he had done for him,
his surprise is more easily to be imagined
than expressed by words. When he found
himself buried alive, he cried, and called out
to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give
him the lamp ; but all in vain, since his
cries could not be heard by him, and he re-
mained in this dark abode. At last, when
he had quite tired himself with crying, he
went to the bottom of the steps, with a
design to get into the garden, where it was
light ; but the door, which was opened be-
fore by enchantment, was now shut by the
same means. Then he redoubled his cries
and tears, and sat down on the steps, with-
out any hopes of ever seeing the light again,
and in a melancholy certainty of passing
from the present darkness into that of a
speedy death.
Aladdin remained in this state two days,
without eating or drinking, and on the third
day looked upon death as inevitable.
Clasping his hands with an entire resigna-
tion to the will of God, he said, "There is
no strength or jjower but in the great and
high God." lu this action of joining his
hands, ho rubbed the ring which the magi-
cian put on his finger, and of which he knew
not yet the virtue, and immediately a genie
of an enormous size and frightful look rose
out of the earth, his head reaching the vault,
and said to him, "What wouldst thou have
with me ? I am ready to obey thee as thy
slave, and the slave of all who have the ring
on thy finger; I, and the other slaves of
that rin/j,"
At another time, Aladdin, who had not
been used to such visions, would have been
so frightened, that he
would not have been able
to speak at tlio sight of
so extraordinary a figure ;
but the danger he was in
made him answer with-
out hesitation, "Whoever
thou art, deliver mo from
tliis place, if thou art
able." Ho had no sooner
made an end of these
words, but the earth op-
ened, and he found him-
self on the very spot where
the magician first brought
him.
It was some time be-
fore Aladdin's eyes could
bear the light, after having
been so long in total dark-
ness ; but after he had
endeavoured by degrees
to support it, and began to look about him,
he was very much surprised not to find
the earth open, and could not compre-
hend how he had got so soon out of its
bowels. There was nothing to be seen but
the place where the fire had been, by
which he could nearly judge whereabouts
the cave was. Then faiming himself about
towards the town, he perceived it in the
midst of the gardens that surrounded it,
and knew the way back by which the magi-
cian had brought him to it ; then, returning
God thanks to see himself once more in the
world, where he never more expected to be,
he made the best of his way home. When
he got within his mother's door, the joy to
see her, and his faintness for want of susten-
ance for three days, made him faint, and
he remained for a long time as dead. His
mother, who had given him over for lost or
F
S
1
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
405
(lead, aeeing him in this condition, omitted
nothing tu bring him to himself again. As
soon as ho recovered, tlio first words ho
spake were, "Proy, mother, give me some-
thing to eat, for I have not put a morsel uf
anything into my mouth these three days."
His mother broii^lit what she had, and set
it before him. "My son, "said she, "be not
too eager, for it is dangerous ; cat but a little
at a time, and take care of yourself. Bo-
sides, I woiUd nut have you talk ; you will
have time enough to tell me what has hap-
pened to you when you are recovered. It
is a great comfort to me to see you again,
after the aiilictiou I have been in since Fri-
day, and the pains I have taken to learn
what hod become of you, ever since I found
it was night, ond you were not returned."
Aladdin took his mother's advice, and
ate and drank moderately. When he had
done, " Mother," said he to her, "I cannot
help com[)lai:.ing of you, for abandoning me
so easily to the discretion of a man who had
a design to kill me, and who at this very
moment thinks my death certain. You be-
lieved he was my uncle, as well as I ; and
what other thoughts could we entertain of a
man who was so kind to me, and made such
advantageous proffers? But I must tell
you, mother, he is a rogue and a cheat, and
only did what he did, ami made me all those
promises, to accomplish my death ; but for
what reason neither you nor I can guess. —
For my part, I can assui'e you I never gave
him any cause to deserve the least ill-treat-
ment from him. You shall judge of it your-
self, when you have heard all that passed
from the time I left you, till he came to the
execution of his wicked design. "
Then Aladdin began to tell his mother all
that happened to him from Friday, when
the magician took him to see the palaces
and gardens about that town, and what fcU
out in the way, till they came to the place
between the two mountains, where the great
prodigy was to be performed ; how, with in-
cense which the magician threw into the fire,
and some magical words :''hich he pro-
nounced, the earth opened, and discovered
a cave which led to an inestimable treasure.
He forgot not the blow the magician gave
him, and in what manner he softened again,
and engaged by great promises, and putting
a ring on his finger, to go down into the
cave. He did not omit the least circum-
stance of what he saw in crossing the three
halls and the garden, and his taking the
wonderful lamp, which he pulled out of his
bosom and shewed to his mother, as well as
the transparent fnut of different colours,
which he had gathered in the garden as he
returned, two purses full of which he gave
to his mother. But, though these fruits
were precious stones, brilliant as the son,
snd the reflection of a lamp which then
lighted the room might have led them to
think they were of great value, she was as
ignorant of their worth as hor son, and cared
nothing for them. She had been bred in a
middling rank of life, and her husband's
poverty prevented her being posaessctl of
such things, nor had she, or her relations or
neighbours ever seen them, so that wo must
not wonder that she looked on them as things
of no value, and only pleasing to the eye by
the variety of their colours.
Aladdin put them behind one of the
cushions of the sofa he sat upon, and con-
tinued his story, telling his mother, that
when he returned and presented himself at
the mouth of the cave, upon his refusal to
give the magician the lamp till ho had got
out, the stone, by his throwing some incense
into the fire, and using two or three magical
words, stopped it up, and the earth closed
again. He could not help bursting into tears
at the representation of the miserable con-
dition he was in, to find himself buried alive
in a dismal cave, till by the touching of his
ring, tlie virtue of which he was then an
entire stranger to, he, properly speaking,
came to life again. When he had made on
end of his story, he said to his mother, " I
need say no more ; you know the rest. This
is my ailventure, and the danger I have been
exposed to since you saw me."
Aladdin's mother heard with so much
patience as not to interrupt him this sur-
XJrising and wonderful relation, notwith-
standing it coiUd be no small affliction to a
mother, who loved her son tenderly; but
yet in the most moving part, which dis-
covered the perfidy of the African magician,
she could not help shewing, by marks of the
greatest indignation, how much she detested
him; and when Aladdin had finished his
story, she broke out into a thousand re-
proaches against that vUe imposter. She
called him perfidious traitor, barbarian, as-
sassin, deceiver, magician, and an enemy
and destroyer of mankind. ' ' Without doubt,
child," added she, "he is a magician, and
they are plagues to the world, and by their
enchantments and sorceries have commerce
with the devil. Bless God for preserving
you from his wicked designs ; for your death
would have been inevitable, if you had not
called upon him, and implored his assist-
ance." She said a great deal more against
the magician's treachery ; but finding, whUe
she talked, her son Aladdin, who had not
slept for three days and nights, began to
nod, she put him to bed, and soon after
went to bed herself.
Aladdin, who had not had one wink of
sleep while he was in the subterraneous
abode, slept very heartily all that night, and
never waked till the next morning ; when
the first thing that he said to his mother
was, he wanted something to eat, and that
rf
4o6
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
■ho oould not do liiin a greater ])loa8uru than
to f[>ve him hia bruakfaHt. " Alaa I cliild,"
•aid ihe, " I havo not a bit o( bread to nivu
you, you atu u|) ali the iiroviMioax I had iu
the houao yuiturday ; but have a littlu
patience, and it iihull not bii long before I
will bring you Homu : I have a littlu cotton,
which [ havo ti|)un ; I will go and null it, and
buy bread, and Hoiuethirig for oiirdiuuer."
"Mother," rq)!iud Aladdin, "keep your
cotton against niiother time, and give niu the
lamp I brou;^ht homo yusLurday ; I will go
and sell it, aud thu niouuy I ■hall get for it
will Burvu both for bruukfaat and diunur, and
perhaps supper too."
Aladdin'H mother took the lamp, and said
to her Bon, " Hore it is, but it is very dirty ;
if it was a little cloanor I believe it would
bring something more." Shu took a little
fine sand aud water to clean it ; but had no
Booucr begun to rub it, but in an instant a
hideous genie of gigantic size appeared bo-
fore her, and said to her in a voice like
thunder, " What wouldst thou have ? I am
ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the
sLive of all those who have that lamp in
their hands ; I, and the other slaves of the
lamp."
Aladdin's mother was not able to speak at
the sight of this frightful genie, but fainted
away ; when Aladdin who had once before
■cen such another genie in the cavern, with-
out losing time or reiluctiun, snatched the
lamp out of his mother's hands, aud said to
the genie boldly, " 1 am hungry ; bring me
something to eat." The gcuio disappeared
immediately, and in an instant returned
with a large silver basin on his head, and
twelve covered plates of the same metal,
which contained Home excellent meats : six
large white loaves on two other plates, and
two bottles of wine, aud two silver cups iu
each hr ud. All these things he placed upon
a table, and disappeared ; and all this r'.as
done before Aladdin's mother cantso out -f
her swoon.
Ahiddin went presently, and fetch. J ; ome
water, and threw it in her face, to r'jjover
her : whether that or the smell of the meats
the genie procured brought her to life again,
it was not long before she cami to herself.
" Mother," said Aladdin, "do not mind this ;
it is nothing at all ; get up, aud come and
eat ; here is what will put you in heart, and
at the same time satisfy my extreme hun-
ger : do not let such fine meat be cold, but
faU to."
His mother was very much surprised to
see the great basin, twelve plates, six loaves,
and the two bottles and cu]>8, and to smell
the delicious odour which exhaled from the
plates. " Child," said she to Aladdin, "to
whom are we obliged for this great plenty
and liberality ? Has the sultan been made ac-
quainted with our poverty, and had compas-
sion on u»V "It is no matter, mother,"
■aid Aladdin ; " lot us lit down and cat ; for
you havo almost as much nued of a good
l)rfakfaitt aa myself ; whuu we havo done, 1
will tell you." Accordingly, both mother
and son Hat down, and ate with the better
stomach, as the table was so well funiished.
liut all the tioio Aladdin's mother coidd not
forbear lookin'^ at and admiring the basin
and plates, though she could not well tuU
whether they were silver or any other metal,
HO little accustomed were she aud her son to
tee such, and the novelty more than the
value attracted their attention.
In short, the mother and sun sat at break-
fast till it was diunur-timo, and then they
thought it would bo best to put the two
mcaU together; yet after this, they found
they should have cnougli left for supper, aud
two meals for the next day.
When Aladdin's mother had taken away
and set by what was left, she went and sat
down by her son on the sofa. " Aladdin,"
said she, " I oxjiect now that you should
satisfy my impatience, and tell mo exactly
what passed between the genie and you
while I was iu a swoon ; " which he pre-
sently compUed with.
She was in as great amazement at what
her sou told her, as at the a|>pearanco of the
genie; and said to him, "But, son, what
have we to do with genies? I never in my
life heard that any of my acquaintance had
ever seen one. How came that vile genie to
address himself to me, and not to you, to
whom he had appeared before in the cave?"
• ' Mother, " answered Aladdin, ' ' the genie you
saw is not the same who appeared to me,
though he resembles him iu size : no, they
had quite different persons and habits ; they
belong to different masters. If you remem-
ber, he that I first saw called himself the
slave of the ring on my linger ; and this you
saw called himself the slave of the lamp you
had in your hand : but I believe you did not
hear him, for I think you fainted away as
soon as he began to speak."
"What!" cried the mother, "was your
lamp, then, the occasion of that cursed genie
addressing himself rather to me than to
you ? Ah ! my son, take it out of my
sight, and put it where you please. I
will never touch it. I had rather you would
sell it, than run the hazard of being fright-
ened to death again by touching it : and if
you would take my advice, you would part
also with the ring, and not have anything to
do with genies, who, as our prophet has told
us, are only devils."
" With your leave, mother," replied Alad-
din, "I shall now take care how I sella
lamp, as I was going to do, which may be
80 serviceable both to you aud me. Have
not you been an eye-witness of what it hath
procured us, and it shall still continue to
\:
ALADDIS; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
407
f iimub u* with auljtutence and maintenancu.
You niAy iiu|>|M>ai>, aa I )1», tlmt my falau
and wicked uuclu wimid not Lave taken so
much paiiiM, and undertaken ho \»\\% and
todioui a journey, if it ha<l not l>een tu ^ct
into liiH ])OHaciMiou thiM Wonderful lianqi,
vrhich k<r 1 -uferred l^fore all tlic pd<l and
■ilver wli li ho knew was in kia halla, and
which I have wen with my own eyes. He
knew too well the merit and worth of this
lamp, not to prefer it to so great a treoNuru ;
and since chnncc hath diovovered the virtue
uf it to IIS, let us make a prolitaldc use of
it, without makiiii; any great stir, and <lraw-
ing the envy and jealousy of our neii^'hlMuirs
ujion us. However, since the geiiies fri^lit
you so much, I will take it out of your sight,
and put it where I may tind it when I want
it. As for the ring, I cannot resolve to part
with that neither ; for, without that, you
hod never seen me again ; and though I am
olive now, ])erhai)8, if it was gone, 1 might
not be so some moments hence ; therefore I
hope you will give me leave to keep that,
and to wear it always on my linger. Who
knows what dangers you and 1 may be ex-
posed to, which neither of us can foresee,
and which it may deliver us from?" As
Aladdin's arguments were just, and hod a
great deal of weight in them. Lis mother
had nothiug to say against them, but only
replied that he might do what hu pleased,
but, for her part, she would have nothing
to do with genies, but would wash her
hands of them, and never say anything
more about them.
By the next night they had eaten all the
provisions the genie had brought ; and the
next day Aladdin, who could not bear the
thoughts of hunger, took one of the silver
plates under his coat, and went out early to
sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew whom
he met in the streets, took him aside, and
pulling out the ]>l.ite, asked him if he would
buy it. The cunning Jew took the plate
and examined it, and no sooner fonnd that
it was good si'ver, but he asked Aladdin
how much he v.vlued it at. Aladdin, who
knew not the value of it, and never had been
used to such traffic, told him he would trust
to his judgment and honour. The Jew was
somewhat confounded at this plain dealing ;
and doubting whether Aladdin understood
the material, or the full value of what he
offered him to sell, he took a piece of gold
out of hia purse, and gave it him, though it
was but the sixtieth part of the worth of the
plate. Aladdin took the money very eagerly,
and, as soon as he got it in his ]K>cket, re-
tired with so much haste, that the Jew, not
content with the exorbitancy of his profit,
was vexed he had not penetrated into Alad-
din's ignorance, and was going to run after
him, to endeavour to get some change out
of the piece of gokl; but Aladdin ran bo
fast, and had got so far, that it would havo
been imptmsililc for him to overtake him.
lii'foru Aliiddin went Immu to his mother
he called nt a baker's, boiiglit a lonf, changed
his money, and went humc, and gave tho
rest to his motlior, who went and ))ought
liniviNJonH enough to last th«m Knnio time.
After this iiianuur they livcil, till Aliiddiit
had Hold thf twi'lvo pUitos, «mu at a time, to
the .lew, for tho same money; who, after tho
tlFHt time, durst not oiler him less, for fear
of losing HO good a cimp. When ho had
sold the last plate, ho had recourse to thn
b.%<<in, which weighed ten times us much an
the plate, and would have carried it to his
old purchaHer, but that it was toe largo and
cunibersome ; therefore he was obliged to
bring him home with him to his mother's,
where, after tho Jew had examined tho
weight of the baHin, ho livid down ten pieces
of gold, with which Aladdin was very well
satislied.
They lived on these ton piecjs in a frugal
manner a pretty while ; and Aladdin, who
had been used to an idle life, left oti' playing
with young lads of his own ago ever Hince
his atlventuro with the African magician.
Ho spent his time in walking a)>out, and
talking with peo]>le with whom he had got
acquainted. iSoinetimes hu would stop at
the most capital merchants' sho^w, where
people of distinction met, and listen to their
discourse, by which he gained some little
knowledge of the world.
When all the money was spent, Aladdin
had recourse again to the lamp. He took it
in his hand, looked for the same place where
his mother hod rubbed it with the sand, and
rubbed it also, and the genie immediately
appeared, and said, " What wouldst thou
have? 1 am ready to obey thee as thy
slave, and the slave of all those who have
that lamp in their hands — I, and the other
slaves of the lamp." "I am hungry," said
Aladdin ; " bring me something to eat."
The genie disappeared, and presently re-
turned with a basin, and the same number
of covered plates, &c., and set them down
on a table, and vanished again.
Aladdin's mother, knowing what her son
was going to do, went out at that time about
some business, on purpose to avoid being in
the way when the geuie came ; and when
she returned, which was not long after, and
found the tcble and sideboard so furnished a
second time, was almost as much surprised
as before, at the prodigious efl'ect of the
lamp. However, she sat down with her son,
and when they had eaten as much as they
had a mind to, she set enough by to lost
them two or three days.
As soon as Aladdin found that their pro-
visions and money were spent, he took one
of these plates, and went to look for his Jew
chapman again ; but passing by a goldsmith's
If !
J
ii »n " »M y . iy*ii»w »"
"T
408
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
shop who hod the character of a very fair
oud liones' innn, the goldamith perceiving
hiui, called to him, and said, "Sly lad, I
have often observed you go by, loaded aa
you are at present, and talk with such a
Jew, and then come back again empty-
handed. I imagine that you carry some-
thing that you sell to him ; but perhaps you
do not know what a rogue he is, and that
he is the greatest rogiie among all the Jews,
and is so well known, that nobody will have
anything to do with him. What T. tell you
is for your own good. If you will shew me
what you now carry, and it is to be sold, I
will give you the full worth of it ; or I will
direct you to other merchants who will not
cheat you."
The hopes of getting more money for hia
plate induced Aladdin to jiull it from under
his coat, and shew it to the goldsmith. The
old man, who at first sight saw that it was
made of the finest silver, asked him if he
had sold any such as that to the Jew, and
Aladdin told him plainly that he had sold
him twelve such, for a piece of gold each.
" What a villain ! " cried the goldsmith ;
"but," added he, "my son, what is past
cannot be recalled. By shewing you the
value of this plate, which is of the finest
silver we use in our shops, I will let you see
how much the Jew has cheated you."
The goldsmith
took a pair of
scales, weighed
the plate, and af-
ter he had told
Aladdin how
much an oimce
of fine silver con-
tained and was
worth, he demon-
strated to him
that hii> plate was
worth by weight
sixty pieces of
gold, which he
paid him down
immediately. "If
you dispute my
honesty, " said he,
"you may go to
any other of our
trade, and if he
gives you any
more, I will be
bound to forfeit
twice as much;
for we gain only
the fashion of the plate that we buy, and
that the fairest dealing Jews do not."
Aladdin thanked him for his good advice,
80 greatly to his advantage, and never after
went to any other person, but sold him all
his plates and the basin, and had as much
for theiu as the weight came to.
Though Aladdin and his mother had in
inexhaustible treasure of money in their
lamp, and might have had whatever they
had a mind to every time it failed, yet they
lived with the same frugality as before,
except that Aladdin went more neat : as for
his mother, she wore no clothes but what
she earned by her spinning cotton. After
their manner of living, we may easily sup-
pose that the money Aladdin had sold the
plates and basin for was sufficient to main-
tain them some time. They went on for
many years by the help of the produce
Aladdin, from time to time, made of his
lamp.
During this time Aladdin frequented the
shops of the principal merchants, where they
sold cloth of gold and silver, and linens,
silk stuffs, and jewellery, and oftentimes
joining in their conversation, acquired a
complete knowledge of the world, and as-
sumed its manners. By his acquaintance
among the jewellers, he came to know that
the fine fruit which he had gathered when
he took the lamp, were not coloured glass,
but stones of extraordinary value. For as
he had seen all sorts of jewels bought and
sold in their shops, but none that were so
beautiful or so large as his, he found, that
instead of coloured glass, he possessed an in-
estimable treasure; but had the prudence
not to say any-
thing of it to any
one, not even to
his mother.
One day, as Al-
addin was walk-
ing about the
town, he heard an
order of the sul-
tau's published,
for all people to
shut up their
shops and houses,
and keep within
doors, while the
princess Badroul-
b oud our,* the
sultan's daugh-
te)-, went to the
baths and back
again.
This public or-
der inspired Alad-
tV;. with a great
curiosity to see
the princess'sf ace,
which he could
not do without getting into the house of
some acquaintance, and through a window ;
but this did not satisfy him, when he con-
sidered that the princess, when she went
to the baths, had a veU on : but to gratify
* Which ia to Bay, the Full Hoon of Full Hoont.
mfmim
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
409
Ilia curiosity, he presently thought of a
scheme which succeeded ; that was, to place
himself behind the door of the bath, which
was so situated that he could not fail of
seeing her face.
Aladdin had not waited long before the
princess came, and he could see her plainly
through a chink of the door without being
seen. She was attended with a great crowd
of ladies, slaves, and eunuchs, who walked
on each side, and behind her. When she
came within three or four paces from the
door of the baths, she took off her veil, and
gave Aladdin an opportunity of a full look
at her.
Till then Aladdin, who had never seen
any woman's face but his mother's, who was
old, and never could boast of any such
features, thought that all women were like
her, and could hear people talk of the most
surprising beauties without being the least
moved ; for whatever words are made use
of to set off the merit of a beauty, they can
never make the same impression as the
beauty herself.
But as soon as Aladdin had seen the prin-
cess Badroulboudour, his sentiments were
very much changed, and his heart could not
withstand all those inclinatious so charming
an object inspires. The princess was the
most beautiful brunette in the world; her
eyes were l^rge, lively, and sparkling ; her
looks sweet and modest ; her nose was of a
just proportion and without a fault; her
mouth small, her lips of a vermillion red,
and charmingly agreeable symmetry ; in a
word, all the features of her face were per-
fectly regular. It is not therefore surprising
that Aladdin, who had never seen, and was
a stranger to so many charms, was dazzled,
and his senses quite ravi<?l)ed with such an
assemblage. Witi . II v . . ■ io Derfeotions the
princess had so -'wunab . ^ravp^s so majestic
an air, tL-\t the eight jf htr was sufficient
to inajiini rodr ?-; ••.
After tl-..^ \.- »D :;ess had passed by Aladdin
and entertc tu( biths, he remained some
time astoniuhec', an^i. in a kind of ecsti>8y,
retracing and mprii.ting the idea of so
charming an cbj !ct deeply in his mind. But
at last onneideri'ig that the princess was gone
past him, and ihat when she returned from
the bath her back would be towards him,
and then v^'iled, he resolved *o nuit his post
and go home. But when be came there, he
could not conceal his uneasiness so well >at
that IJ'. mother perceived it, ^.ad was veiy
much surprised to see him po mucli. ao"'*
thoughtful and melancholy thuu usv.fl ; i^-.d
asked him what had happened ^' him ti
make him so, or if he was ill. A3ad'! a
returned her no answer, but kat i^^aisrily
down on the sofa, and remained m thtj .: mo
condition, fuU of the image of the crion .\.g
Badvoulboudour. His mother, w;^o \v ;.:
dressing supper, pressed him no more.
When it was ready, she set it on the table
before him ; but perceiving that he gave no
attention to it, she bid him eat, and had
much ado to persuade him to change hi»
plaub ; and when he did, he ate much less
than usual, and all the time cast down his
eyes, and observed so profound a silence,
that she could not possibly get the least word
out of him in answer to all the questions
she put, to find the reason of so extraordi-
nary an alteration.
After Slipper, she asked him again, why
he was so melancholy, but could get no in-
formation, and he determined to go to bed,
rather than give her the least satisfaction.
Without examining how Aladdin passed the
night, his mind full as it was with the beau-
tiful charms of the princess Badroulboudour,
I shall only observe that as he sat next day
on the sofa, q>\ er against his mother, as she
was spinning cotton, he spoke to her in these
words: "1 i)erceive, mother, that my silence
yesterday has very much troubled you ; I
was . lot, nor am I sick, as I fancy you be-
lieved ; but I can teU yon, that what I felt
then, and now endure, is worse than any dis-
ease. I cannot tell well what ails me, but
doubt not what I am going to tell you Vt'ill
inform you.
" It was not known in this quarter of the
town, and therefore you could know nothing
of it, that the princess Badroulboudour, the
sidtan's daughter, was to go to the baths
after dinner. I heard this as I walked about
the town, and an order was issued, that, to
pay all the respect that was due to that
princess, all the shops should be shut up in
her way thither, and everybody keep within
doors, to leave the streets free for her and
her attendants. As I was not then far from
the bath, I had a great curiosity to see the
princess's face ; and as it occurred to me that
the princess, when she came nigh the door
of the bath, \"ould pull her veil off, I re-
solved to get oiihind that door. You know
the situation oi the door, and may imagine
that I ^. 'c a full view of her, if it
happened as 1 expected. The princess threw
off her veil, and I hatl the happine-xs of see-
ing her lovely face w'th the greatest satis-
faction imaginable. This, mother, was the
cause of my melancholy and silence yester-
day; I Idve the princess wiih so much
violence, ihat I cannot express it; and as
u,y lively passion mcreases every moment,
t ca.injt live without the possession of the
lunip'.'le princess Badroulboudovr, and am
r>'>:ulved to ask her in marriage of the sultau
hijr father."
Maddin's mother listened with attention
Ic what her son told hi v; but when he talked
,,i asking the princess Badroulboudour in
marriage of the sultan, she could not help
bursting out into a loud laugh. Aladdin
\
\ "
i ■,!
7
^T^
<<.-'
11
'
11 -V
, 1
i
;
410
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
would have gone on with liis discourse, but
ehe interrupted him. " Alas ! child," said
she, "what are you thinking of? you must
be mad to talk so."
"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin,
"that I am not mad, but in my right senses :
T foresaw that you would reproach me with
this folly and extravagance ; but I must tell
you once more, that I am resoU ed to demand
the princess BadroiUboudour of tbe sultan
in marriage, and your remonstrances shall
not prevent me."
"Indeed, son," replied the mother, seri-
ously, " I cannot help telling you, that you
have quite forgot yourself ; and if you would
put this resolution of yours in execution, I
do not see who you can get to venture to
propose it for you." "You yourself," re-
plied he immediately. " I go to the sultan ! "
answered the mother, amazed and surprised.
"I shall take care how I engage in such an
affair. Why, who are you, son," continued
ahe, "that yon can have the assurance to think
of your sultan's daughter? Have you forgot
that your father was one of the poorest tailors
in the capital, and that I am of no better ex-
traction ? and do not you know that sultans
never marry their daughters but to princes,
sons of sultans like themselves?"
"Mother," answered Aladdin, "1 have
already told you that I foresaw all that you
have said, or can say : and tell you again,
that neither your discourse nor your remon-
strances shall make me change my mind. I
have told you that you must ask the prin-
cess Badroulboudour in marriage for me : it
is a favour I desire of you, with all the re-
spect I owe you ; and I beg of you not to
refuse me, unless you would rather see me
in my grave, than by so doing give me new
life."
The good old woman was very much em-
barrassed, when she found Aladdin so obsti-
nately ])ersisting in so foolish a design.
"My son," said she again, "I am your
mother, who brought you into the world,
and there is nothing that is reasonable but
I would readily do for you. If I was to go
and treat about your marriage with some
neighbour's daughter, whose circumstances
were equal with yours, I would do it with
all my heart ; and then they would expect
you should have some little estate or for-
tune, or be of some trade. When such poor
folks as we are have a mind to marry, the
first thing they ought to think of is how to
live. But without reflecting on the mean-
ness of your birth, and the little merit and
fortune you have to recommend you, you
aim at the highest pitch of fortune ; and
your pretensions are no less than to demand
in marriage the daughter of your sovereign,
who with one single word can crush you to
pieces. I say nothing of what respects
yourself, I leave you to reflect ou what
you have to do, if you have ever eo little
thought. I come now to consider what
concerns myself. How could so extraordi-
nary a thought come into your head, as
that I should go to the sultan, and make a
proposal to him, to give his daughter in
marriage to you ? Suppose I had, not to say
the boldness, but the impudence to present
myself before the sultan, and make so e; ..'a-
vagant a request, to whom should I address
myself to be introduced to his majesty ? Do
you not think the first pei'son I should speak
to would take me for a mad woman, and
chastise me as I should deserve? Suppose
there is no difficulty in presenting myself to
an audience of the sultan, as I know the.re is
none to those who go to ask justice, which
he distributes equally among his subjeati' ■ I
know too that to those who ask somf *a' 1, \",
he grants it with pleasure when h' .^c , it is
deserved, and the persons are woiwiiy of it.
But is that your case ? and do you think yea
have deserved the favour you would have me
ask for you ? are you worthy of it ? What
have you done to deserve such a favour?
What have you done either for your prince
or country? How have you distinguished
yourself? If you have done nothing to
merit so great a favour, nor are worthy of
it, with what face shall I ask it ? How can
I open my mouth to make the proposal to
the sultan ? His majestic presence and the
lustre of his court would presently silence
me, who used to tremble before my late
husband your father, when I asked him for
anything. Here is anot'ier reason, my
son, which you do not think of, which is,
nobody ever goes to ark a favour of the
siiltan without a present; ; for by a present,
they have this advantage, that if for some
particular reasons the favour is de?'.i°d, they
are sure to be heard. But what presents
have you to make? And if you had any
that was worthy of the least attention of so
great a monarch, what proportion could it
bear to the favour you would ask ? There-
fore, reflect well on what you are about,
and consider, that you aspire to a thing
which is impossible for yoxi to obtain."
Aladdin heard very calmly all that his
mother could say to endeavour to dissuade
him from his design, and after he had weighed
her representation in all points, made an-
swer : "I own, mother, it is great rashness
in me to presume to carry my pretensions
so far ; and a great want of consideration, to
ask you with so much heat and precip'^Anoy
to go and make the proposal of my iKarriagt,,
to the sultan, without first taking proper
measures to procure a fav jurable reception,
and therefore beg your ] A^n. But be not
surprised, that through th«- violence of my
passion I did not at first sigh see everythi:;g
that was necessary to be done, to procure
me that happinen I seek after. I lovo the
^y
1 1
t
T^
7
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
411
princess Badroulboudour beyond all you can
imagine; or rather I adore her, and shall
nhvays persevere in my design of manying
her; which is a thing I have determined and
resolved on. I am obliged to you for the
hint you have given me, and look upon it as
the first step I ought to take to i)rocure me
the happy success I promise myself.
"You say, it is not customary to go to
the sidtan w.'+bout a present, and that I
have nothing worthy of his acceptance. As
to what you say about the present, I agree
with you, and own that I never thought of
it ; but as to what you say that I have no-
thing fit to present him with, do not you
think, mother, that what I brought home
with rue that day on which I was delivered
from an inevitable death, may be an agree-
able present, I mean those things you and I
both took for coloured glasses ; but now I
am undeceived, and can tell you that they
are jewels of an inestimable value, and fit
for the greatest monarchs. I know the
worth of them by frequenting the jewellers'
shops ; and you may take my word for it,
all the jewels that I saw in the most capital
jewellers' shops were not to be compared to
those we have, either for size or beauty, and
yet they value them at an excessive price.
In short, neither you nor I know the value
of ours, but be it as it will, by the little
experience I have, I am jjcrsuaded that they
will be received very favourably by the
sultan : you have a large 2)orcclain dish fit
to hold them ; fetch it, and let us see how
they will look, when we have ranged them
according to their different colours."
Aladdin's mother fetched the china dish,
and he took the jewels out of the two purses
in which he had kept them, and placed them
in the dish. But the brightness and lustre
they had in the day-time, and the variety
of the colours, so dazzled the eyes both of
mother and son, that they were astonished
beyond measure ; for they had only seen
them by the light of a lamp; for though
Aladdin had seen them hang on the trees
like fruit, beautiful to the eye, yet as he was
but a boy, he did not take much notice of
them ; but looked on them only as trinkets.
After they had admired the bea;ity of this
present some time, Aladdin said to his mo-
ther, "Now you cannot excuse yourself from
going to the sultan, under the pretext of not
having a present to make him, since here is
one which will gain you a favourable recep-
tion."
Though Aladdin's mother, notwithstand-
ing the beauty and lustre of the present,
did not believe it so valuable as her son
esteemed it, she thought it might neverthe-
less be agreeable to the sultan, and foimd
that she could not have anything to say
against it, but was always thinking of the
request Aladdin wanted her to make to ^
sultan by favour of his present. "My son,"
said she, " I cannot conceive that yoiu" pre-
sent will have its desired effect, and that the
sultan will look upon me with a favourable
eye ; and I am sure, that if I attempt to ac-
quit myself on this message of yours, I shall
have no power to open my mouth ; and
therefore I shall not only lose my labour,
but the present, which you say is so extra-
ordinary, and shall return home again in
confusion, to tell you that your hopes are
frustrated. I have told you the consequence,
and you ought to believe me; but," added
she, "I will exert my best endeavour to
please you, and wish 1 may have power to
ask the sultan as you would have me ; but
certainly he will either laugh at me, or send
me back like a fool, or be in so great a rage,
as to make us both the victims of his fury."
8he used a great many more arguments to
endeavour to make him change his mind ;
but the charms of the i>rincess Badroulbou-
dour had made too great an impression on
his heart to dissuade him from his design.
Aladdin persisted in desiring his mother to
execute his resolution, and she, as much out
of tenderness as for fear he should be guilty
of a greater piece of extravagance, conde-
scended to his request.
As it was now late, and the time of day
for going to the sultan's palace was past,
it was put off till the next. The mother
and son talked of different matters the re-
maining part of the day ; and Aladdin took
a great deal of paina to encourage his mo-
ther in the task she had undertaken to go
to the sultan ; while she, notwithstanding
all his arguments, could not persuade herself
she could ever succeed ; and it must be con-
fessed she had reason enough to doubt.
" Child," said she to Aladdin, " if the sultan
should receive me as favourably as I wish
for your sake, and should hear my proposal
with calmness, and after this kind reception
should think cf asking me where lie your
riches and your estate, (for he will sooner
inquire after that than your person,) — if, I
say, he should ask me the question, what
answer would you have me return him ! "
" Let us not be uneasy, mother," replied
Aladdin, " about what may never happen.
First, let us see how the sultan receives,
and what answer he gives you. If it should
BO fall out, that he desires to be informed of
all that you mention, I have thought of an
answer, and am confident that the lamp,
which hath subsisted us so long, will not
fail me in time of need."
Aladdin's mother coidd not say anything
against what her son tlien proposed ; but
reflected that the lamp might l)c capable of
doing greater wonders than just providing
victuals for them. This consideration satis-
lied her, and at the same time removed all
the difficulties which might have prevented
11
i!
412
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS,
her from undertaking the aervice she had
promised her son with the sultan; when
Aladdin, who penetrated into his mother's
thoughts, said to her, " Above all things,
mother, be sure to keep the secret, for
thereon depends the success we have to ex-
X)ect ;" and after this caution, Aladdin and
his mother parted to go to bed. But violent
love, and the great prospect of so immense
a fortune, had so much possessed the son's
thoughts, that he could not rest as well as
he could have wished. He rose at daybreak,
and went presently and awakened his mo-
ther, pressing her to get herself dressed to
go to the sultan ii%lace, and to get in
first, as the grand • ■ tpv ihc ovUer viziers,
and all the great itAte, went in
to take their seats iu tu' :van, where the
sultan always assisted in i' 1.
Aladdin's mother did all her son desired.
She took the china dish, in which they had
put the jewels the day before, tied up in two
napkins, one finer than the other, which was
tied at four comers for more easy carriage,
and set forwards for the sultan's palace, to
the great satisfaction of Aladdin. When
she came to the gates, the grand vizier, and
the other viziers and most distinguished
lords of the coiu't, were just gone in ; and,
notwithstanding the crowd of people who
had business at the divan was extraordina-
rily great, she got into the divan, which was a
large spacious hall, the entry into which was
very magnificent. She placed herself just
before the sultan, grand vizier, and the great
lords, who sat in that council, on his right
and left hand. Several causes were called,
according to their order, and pleaded and
adjudged, until the time the divan generally
broke up, when the sultan rising, dismissed
the council, and returned to his apartment,
attended by the grand vizier; the other
viziers and ministers of state returned, as
also did all those whose business called them
thither ; some pleased with gaining their
causes, others dissatisfied at the sentences
pronounced against them, and some in ex-
pectation of theirs being heard the next
sitting.
Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan rise
and retiw, and all the people go away,
judged rightly that he would not come again
that day, and resolved to go home. When
Aladdin saw her return with the present
designed for the sultan, he knew not at first
what to think of her success, and in the fear
he was in lest she should bring him some ill
news, he had not courage enough to ask her
any questions, till hia mother, who had
never set foot into the sultan's palace before,
and knew not what was every day practised
there, freed him from his embarrassment,
and said to him, with a great deal of sim-
plicity, "Son, I have seen the sultan, and
am very well persuaded he has seen me too ;
for T placed myself just before him, and
nothing could hinder him from seeing me ;
but he was so much taken up with all those
who talked on all sides of him, that I pitied
him, and wondered at his patience in hearing
them. At last I believe he was heartily
tired, for he rose up suddenly, and would
not hear a great many who were ready pre-
pared to speak to him, but went away, at
which I was very well pleased, for indeed I
began to lose all patience, and was extremely
tired with staying so long. But there is no
harm done ; I wiU go again to-morrow ; i)er-
ha])B the sultan may not be so busy."
Though Aladdin's passion was very vio-
lent, he was forced to be satisfied with this
excuse, and to fortify himself with patience.
He had at least the satisfaction to find that
his mother had got over the greatest difii-
culty, which was to procure access to the
sultan, and hoped that the example of those
she saw speak to him would embolden her
to acquit herself better of her commission
when a favourable opportunity offered to
speak to him.
The next morning she went to the sidtan's
palace with the present, as early as the day
before, but when she came there, she found
the gates of the divan shut, and imderstood
that the council sat but every other day,
therefore she must come again the next.
This news she carried to her son, whose only
relief was to guard himself with patience.
She went six times afterwards on the days
appointed, placed herself always directly be-
fore the sultan, but with as little success as
the first time, and might have perhaps come
a thousfind times to as little purpose, if the
sultan himself had not taken a particular
notice of her : for it is very probable that
only those who came with petitions ap-
proached the sultan, and each pleaded their
cause in its turn, and Aladdin's mother was
not one of them.
That day at last, after the council was
broke up, when the sultan was returned to
his own apartment, he said to his grand
vizier, *' I have for some time observed a
certain woman, who comes constantly every
day that I go into council, and has some-
thing wrapped up in a napkin : she always
stands up from the beginning to the break-
ing up of the council, and a£Fect3 to place
herself just before me. Do you know what
she wants?"
" Sir," replied the grand vizier, who knew
no more than the sultan what she wanted,
but had not a mind to seem uninformed,
"your majesty knows that women often
form complaints on trifies ; perhaps this
woman may come to complain to your ma-
jesty, that somebody has sold her some bad
flour, or some such trifling matter." The
sultan was not satisfied with this answer,
but replied, " If this woman comes again
mm^
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
413
next council-day, do not fail to call her,
that I may hear what she has to say." The
grand vizier, made answer by kissing his
hand, and lifting it up above his head, signi-
fying his willingness to lose it if he failed.
By this time, Aladdin's mother was so
much used to go to the council, and stand
before the sultan, that she did not think it
any trouble, if she coidd but satisfy her son
that she neglected nothing that lay in her
power to please him: so the next council-
day she went to the divan, and placed her-
self before the sultan as usual ; and before
the grand vizier had made his report of
business, the sultan perceived her, and com-
passionating her for having waited so long,
he said to the vizier, " Before you enter
upon any business, remember the woman I
spoke to you about ; bid her come near, and
let us hear and dispatch her business tirat."
The grand vizier immediately called the chief
of the officers, who stood ready to obey his
commands ; and pointing to her, bid him go
to that woman, and tell her to come before
the sultan.
The chief of the officers went to Aladdin's
mother, and, at a sign he gave her, she fol-
lowed him to the foot of the sultan's throne,
where he left her, and retired to his place by
the grand vizier. Aladdin's mother, by the
example of a great many others whom she
saw salute the sultan, bowed her head down
to the carpet, which covered the steps of
the throne, and remained in that posture till
the sultan bid her rise, which she had no
sooner done, than the sultan said to her,
"Good woman, I have observed you to stand
a long time, from the beginning to the
rising of the divan; what business brings
you here?"
At these words, Aladdin's mother pro-
strated herself a second time ; and when she
got up again, said, " Monarch of monarchs,
before I tell your majesty the extraordinary
and almost incredible business which brings
me before your high throne, I beg of you to
pardon the boldness or rather impudence of
the demand I am going to make, which is
so uncommon, that I tremble, and am
ashamed to propose it to my sultan." In
order to give her the more freedom to ex-
plain herself, the sidtan ordered everybody
to go out of the divan but the grand vizier,
and then told her that she might speak with-
out restraint.
Aladdin's mother, not content with this
favour of the sultan's to save her the trouble
and confusion of speaking before so many
people, was notwithstanding for securing
herself against his anger, which, from the
proposal she was going to make, she was
not a little apprehensive of; therefore re-
suming her discourse, she said, " I beg of
your majesty, if you should think my de-
maud the least injurious or offensive, to as-
sure me first of your pardon and forgiveness."
"Well," replied the sultan, "I will forgive
you, be it what it will, and no hurt shall
come to you : speak boldly."
When Aladdin's mother had taken all
these precautions, for fear of the sultan's
anger, she told him faithfully how Aladdin
had seen the princess Badroulboudour, the
violent love that fatal sight had inspired
him with, the declaration he had mode to
her of it when he came home, and what re-
presentations she had made to dissuade him
from "a passion no less injurious," said she,
"to your majesty, as sultan, than to the
princess your daughter. But," continued
she, ' ' my son, instead of taking my advice
and reflecting on his boldness, was so obsti-
nate as to persevere in it, and to threaten
me with some desperate act, if I refused to
come and ask the princess in marriage of
jH)ur majesty ; and it was not till after on
extreme violence on myself, I was forced to
have this complaisance for him, for which I
beg your majesty once more to pardon not
only me, but forgive Aladdin my son, for
entertaining such a rash thought as to aspire
to so high an alliance."
The sultan hearkened to this discourse
with a great deal of mildness, without shew-
ing the least anger or passion ; but before
he gave her any answer, he asked her what
she had brought tied up in that napkin.
She took the china dish, which she had set
down at the foot of the throne, before she
prostrated herself before him ; she untied it,
and presented it to the sultan.
The sultan's amazement !»nd surprise were
inexpressible, when he saw so many large,
beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in
one dinh. He remained for some time mo-
tionless with admiration. At last, when he
had recovered himself, he received the i)re-
sent from Aladdin's mother's hand, and
crying out in a transport of joj', "How rich
an<l bow beautiful ! " After he had admired
and handled all the jewels, one after another,
he turned about to his grand vizier, and
shewing him the dish, said, " Look here,
and confess that your eyes never beheld any
thing so rich and beautiful before." The
vizier was charmed. "Well," continued the
sultan, " what s.iyest thou to such a present?
Is it not worthy of the princess my daughter?
And ought I not to bestow her on one who
values her at so great price?"
These words put the grand vizier into a
strange agitation. The sultan had some
time before signified to him his intention of
bestowing the princess his daughter on a son
of his ; therefore he was afraid, and not
without grounds, that the sultan, dazzled by
so rich and extraordinary a present, might
change his mind. Thereupon, going to him,
and whispering him in the ear, he said to
him, "Sir, I cannot but own that the pre-
ii
till 'i
Ii'i'-?S
1 'k \
414
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
sent ia worthy of the princess ; but I beg of
your majesty to grant mc three months be-
fore you come to a resolution. I hope, before
that time, my son, on whom you have had
the goodness to look with a favourable eye,
will be able to make a nobler present than
Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your
majesty."
The sultan, though he was very well per-
suaded that it was not possible for the vizier
to provide so considerable a present for his
son to make the princess, yet he hearkened
to him, aiid granted him that favour. 80
turning about to Aladdin's mother, he said
to her, "Good woman, go home, and tell
your son that I agree to the proposal you
have made me; but I cannot marry the
princess my daughter till some furniture I
design for li*^- ''■e got ready, which cannot
be finished , e three months ; but at the
expiration ot that time come again."
Aladdin's mother returned home much
more overjoyed than nhe could have ima-
gined, for .'J.- '00k. v. upon her access to the
sultan as a thing ijipossible ; and besides,
she had met witli a favourable answer, in-
stead of the refusal and confusion she ex-
pected. From two circumstances Aladdin,
when he saw his mother return, judged that
she brought him good news : the one was,
that she returned sooner than ordinary; and
the next was, the gaiety of her countenance.
"Well, mother," said he to her, "may I
entertain any hopes, or must I die with de-
spair?" When she had pulled off her veil,
and had sat herself down on the sofa by him,
she said to him, "Not to keep you long in
suspense, son, I will begin by telling you,
that instead of thinking of dying, you have
every reason to be very well satisfied."
Then pursuing her discourse, she told him
how that she had an audience before every-
body else, which made her come home so
soon ; the precautions she had taken lest she
should have displeased the sultan, by making
the proposal of marriage between him and
the princess Badroulbovidour, and the favour-
able answer she had from the caliph's own
mouth ; and that, as far as she could judge,
the present wrought that powerful effect.
"But when I least exj)ected it," said she,
"and he was going to give me an answer,
the grand viziar whispered him in the ear,
and 1 was afraid it might be some obstacle to
his good intentions towards us."
Aladdin thought himself the most happy
of aU men, at hearing of this news, and
thanked his mother for all the pains she had
taken in the piursuit of this affair, the good
success of which was of so great importance
to his peace. Though, through his impa-
tience to enjoy the object of his passion,
three months seemed an age, yet he disposed
himself to wait with patience, relying on the
sultan's word, which he looked upon to be
irrevocable. But all that time he not only
counted the hours, days, and weeks, but
every moment. When two of the three
months were past, his mother one evening
going to light the lamp, and finding no oil
in the house, went out to buy some, and
when she came into the city, found a general
rejoicing. The shops, instead of being shut
up, were open, dressed with foliage, every
one striving to shew their zeal in the most
distinguished manner. The streets were
crowded with officers in habits of ceremony, _
mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each
attended by a great many footmen. Alad-
din's mother asked the oil-merchant what
was the meaning of all those doings,
"Whence came you, good woman," said he,
"that you don't know that the grand vizier's
son is to marry the princess Badroulboudour,
the sultan's daughter, to-night? She will
presently return from the baths ; and these
officers that you see, are to assist at the
cavalcade to the palace, where the ceremony
is to be solemnised."
This was news enough for Aladdin's mo-
ther. She ran, till she was quite out of
breath, home to her son, who little suspected
any such thing. " Child," cried she, " you
are undone ! you depend upon the sultan's
fine promises, but they will come to no-
thing." Aladdin was terribly alarmed at
these words. " Mother," replied he, " how
do you know the sultan has been guilty of a
breach of promise?" "This night," an-
swered the mother, " the grand vizier's son
is to marry the princess Badroulboudour."
She then related how she had heard it ; so
that from all circumstances he had no reason
to doubt the truth of what she said.
At this account, Aladdin was thunder-
struck. Any other man would have sunk
imder the shock; but a secret motive of
jealousy soon roused his spirits, and he be-
thought himself of the lamp, which had till
then been so useful to him ; and without
venting his rage in empty words against the
sultan, the vizier, or his son, he only said,
" Perhaps, mother, the vizier's son may not
be so hajipi to night as he promises himself :
while I go mto my chamber a moment, do
you go and get supper ready." She accord-
ingly went about it, and ^e guessed that
her son was going to make use of the lamp,
to prevent, if possible, the consummation of
the marriivge.
When Aladdin had got into his chamber,
he took the lamp, and rubbed it in the same
place as before, and immediately the genie
appeared, and said to him, "What woiddst
thou have ? I am ready to obey thee as thy
slave, and the slave of all those who have
that lamp in their hands ; I and the other
slaves of the lamp." "Hear me," said
Aladdin; "thou hast hitherto brought me
I whatever I wanted as to provisions; but
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
415
now I have business of the greatest import-
ance for thee to execute. I have demanded
the princess Badroulboudour in marriage of
the sultan her father : he promised her to
me, but he asked three months' time ; and
instead of keeping that promise, has this
night, before the expiration of that time,
married her to the grand vizier's son. I
have just heard this, and have no doubt of
it. What I ask of you is, that as soon as
the bride and bridegroom are in bed, you
bring them both hither in their bed."
"Master," replied the genie, " I will obey
you. Have you any other commands?"
"None at present," answered Aladdin ; and
then the genie disappeared.
Aladdin went down stairs, and supped
with his mother, with the same tranquillity
of mind as usual ; and after supper, talked
of the princess's marriage as of an affair
wherein he had not the least concern ; and
afterwards returned to his own chamber
again, and left his mother to go to bed ; but
he, for his part, sat up till the genie had
executed his orders.
In the meantime, everything was prepared
with the greatest magnificence in the sul-
tan's palace, to celebrate the princess's nup-
tials ; and the e'.'ning was spent with all
the usual ceremonies and great rejoicings till
midnight, when the grand vizier's son, on a
signal given Lim by the chief of the prin-
cess's eunuchs, slipped away from the com-
pany, and was introduced by that officer
into the princess's apartment, where the
nuptial bed was prepared. He went to bed
first, and in a little time after, the sultaness,
accompanied by her own women, and those
of the princess, brought the bride, who,
according to the custom of new married
ladies, made great resistance. The sultaness
herself helped to undress her, put her into
bed by a kind of violence ; and after having
kissed her, and %vi3hed her good night, re-
tired with all the women, and the last who
came out shut the door.
No sooner was the door shut, but the
genie, as the faithful slave of the lamp, and
punctual in executing the command of those
who possessed it, without giving the bride-
groom the least time to caress his bride, to
the great amazement of them both, took up
the bed, and transported it in an instant into
Aladdin's chamber, where he set it down.
Aladdin, who waited impatiently for this
moment, did not suffer the vizier's son to
remain long in bed with the princess. ' ' Take
this new married man," said he to the genie,
"and shut him up in the house of office, and
come again to-morrow morning after day-
break. " The genie presently took the vizier's
son out of bed, and carried him in his shirt
whither Aladdin bid him ; and after he had
breathed upon him, which prevented his
stirring, he left him there.
Great as was Aladdin's love for the prin-
cess Badroulboudour, he did not talk much
to her when they were alone ; but only snid
with a passionate air, "Fear nothing, ador-
able princess ; you are here in safety ; for,
notwithstanding the violence of my passion,
which your charms have kindletl, it shall
never exceed the bounds of the profound re-
spect I owe you. If I have been forced to
come to this extremity, it is not vrith any
intention of affronting you, but to prevent
an unjust rival's possessing yon, contrary to
the sultan your father's promise in favour of
me."
The princess, who knew nothing of these
particulars, gave very little attention to what
Aladdin could say. Tb j fright and amaze-
ment of "0 unexjiGcted an aflventure had put
her into such a condition, that he coiUd not
get one word from her. However, he un-
dressed hiinself, and got into the vizier's
son's place, and lay with his 1)ack to the
princess, i)utting a sabre between himself
and her, to shew that he deserved to be
punished, if he attempted anytiiing against
her honour.
Aladdin, very well satisfied with having
thus deprived hia rival of the happiness he
had fiattered himself with enjoying that
night, slept very quietly, though the prin-
cess Badroulboudour never passed a night
so ill in her life ; and if we consider the con-
dition the genie left the grand A-izier's son
in, we may imagine that the new bridegroom
spent it much worse.
Aladdiu had no occasion the next morn-
ing to rub the lamp to caU the genie ; he
came at the hour appointed, and just when
he had done dressing himself, and said to
him, " I am here, master ; what are your
commands ? " " Go," said Aladdin, " fetch
the vizier's son out of the place where you
left him, and put him into his bed again,
and carry it to the siUtan's palace, from
whence you brought it. " The geuie presently
returned with the vizier's son. Aladdin
took up his sabre, the bridegroom was laid
by the princess, and in an instant the nup-
tial bed was transported into the same
chamber of the palace from whence it had
been brought. But we must observe, that
all this time the genie never appeared cither
to the princess or the grand ^•izier's .son. His
hideous form would have made them die
with fear. Neither did they hear anything
of the discourse between Aladdin and him ;
they only perceived the motion of the bed,
and their transpoi-tation from one place to
another ; which we may well imagine was
enough to frighten them.
As soon as the genie had set down the
nuptial-bed in its proper place, the sultan,
curious to know how the princess his daugh-
ter had spent the wedding-night, opened the
door to wish her good morning. The grand
, ....X-Jl l il l— III
>mmmmmmmm»ms
tmtmmmm
mmmmmm miu^K, " ' ' i ^
416
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
vizier'8 son, who was almost perished with
cold, by standing in his shirt all night, and
had not had time to warm himself in bed, no
sooner heard the door open, but he got out
of bed, and ran into the wardrobe, where he
had undressed himself the night before.
The sultan went to the bed-side, kissed the
princess between the eyes, according to
custom, wishing her a good-morrow, and
asked her, smiling, how she had passed the
night. But lifting up her head, and looking
at her more earnestly, he was extremely
surprised to see her so melancholy, and that
neither by a blush nor any otLer sign she
could satisfy his curiosity. She oily cast at
him a sorrowful look, expressive of great
affliction or great dissatisfaction. He said
a few words to her; but finding that he
could not get a word from her, he attributed
it to her modesty, and retired. Nevertheless,
he suspected that there was something extra-
ordinary in this silence, and thereupon went
immediately to the sultancss's apartment,
and told her in what a state he found the
princess, and how she received him. *' Sir,"
said the sultancss, "your majesty ought not
to be surprised at this behaviour ; all new
married people always have a reserve about
them the next day ; she will be quite an-
other thing in two or three days' time, and
then she will receive the sultan her father
as she ought ; but I wiU go and see her,"
added she ; "I am veiy much deceived if
she receives me in the same manner."
As soon as the sultaness was dressed, she
went to the princess's apartment, who was
still in bed. She undrew the curtain, wished
her good-morrow, and kissed her. But how
great was her surprise when she returned no
answer ; and looking more attentively at her,
she perceived her to be very much dejected,
which made her judge that something had
happened which she did not iicderstand.
"How comes it, child," said the sidtaness,
♦'that you do not return my caresses?
Ought you to treat your mother after this
manner ? And do you think I do not know
what may have happened in your circum-
stances? I am apt to believe you do not
think so, and something extraordinary has
happened: come, tell me freely, and leave
me no longer in a painful suspense."
At last the princess Badroulboudour broke
silence with a great sigh, and said, "Alas!
madam, most honoured mother, forgive me
if I have failed in the respect I owe you.
My muid is so full of the extraordinary
things which have befallen me this night,
that I have not yet recovered my amaze-
ment and fright, and scarce know myself."
Then she told her how the instant after she
and her husband were in bed, the bed was
transposed into a dark dirty room, where
he was taken from her and carried away,
where she knew not, and she was left alone
with a young man, who, after he had said
something to her, which her fright did not
suffer her to hear, laid himself down by her,
in her husband's place, but first put his
sabre between them; and in the morning
her husband was brought to her again, and
the bed was transported back to her own
chamber in an instant. "All this," said
she, "was but just done, when the sultan
my father came into my chamber. I was
so overwhelmed with grief, that I had not
power to make him one word of answer;
therefore I am afraid that he is offended at
the manner in which I received the honour
he did me ; but I hope he will forgive me,
when he kno > my melancholy adventure,
and the miserable state I am in at present."
The sultaness heard all the princess told
her very patiently, but would not believe it.
"You did well, child," said she, "not to
speak of this to your father : take care not
to mention it to anybody, for you will cer-
tainly be thought mad if you talk at this
rate." "Madam," replied the princess, "I
can assure you I am in my right senses:
ask my husband, and he will tell yoii the
same story," " I will," said the sultaness ;
"but if he should talk in the same man-
ner, I shall not be better persuaded of the
truth. Come, rise, and throw off this idle
fancy ; it will be a fine story indeed, if all
the feasts and rejoicings in the kingdom
should be interrupted by such a vision. Do
not you hear the trumpets sounding, and
drums beating, and concerts of the finest
music ? Cannot all these inspire you with
joy and pleasure, and make you forget all
the fancies you tell mo of?" At the same
time, the sultaness called the princess's
women, and after she had seen her get up,
and set her at her toilet, she went to the
sultan's apartment, and told him that her
daughter had got some odd notions in her
heiui, but that there was nothing in them.
Then she sent for the vizier's son, to know
of him something of what the princess had
told her; but he, thinking himself highly
honoured to be allied to the sidtan, resolved
to disguise the matter. "Son-in-law," said
the sultaness, " are you as much infatuated
as your wife?" "Madam," replied the
vizier's son, "may I be so bold as to ask the
reason of that question?" "Oh! that is
enough," answered the sultaness; " I ask no
more, I see you are wiser than her."
The rejoicings lasted all that day in the
palace, and the sultaness, who never left the
princess, forgot nothing to divert her, and
induce her to take part in the various diver-
sions and shows ; but she was so struck with
the idea of what had happened to her that
night, that it was easy to see her thoughts
were entirely taken up about it. Neither
was the grand vizier's son's affliction less,
but that his ambition v.ade him disguise i^
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
417
and nobody doiibted but he was a liappy
bridegroom.
Aladdin, who was well ac([iiftinted with
what passed in the palace, never disputed
but that the new-married couple were to lie
together again that night, notwithstanding
the troublesome adventure of the night be-
fore ; and therefore, having as great an in-
clination to disturb them, he had recourse
til his lamp, and when the genie appeared,
and offered his service, he said to him, "The
grand vizier's son and the princess Badroul-
boudour are to lie together again to-night :
go, and as soon as they are in bed, bring the
bed hither, as thou didst yesterday."
The genie obeyed Aladdin as faithfully
and exactly as the day before : the grand
vizier's son passed the night as coldly and
disagreeably as before, and the princess had
the mortification again to have Aladdin for
her bedfellow with the sabre between them.
The genie, according to Aladdin's orders,
came the next morning, and brought the
bridegroom and laid him by his bride, and
then carried the bed and new-married couple
back again to the jialace.
The sidtan, after the reception the prin-
cess Bailroulboudour had given him that
day, was very anxious to know how she
jiassed the second night, and if she would
give him the same recej)tion, and therefore
went into her chamber as e.arly as the morn-
ing before. The grand vizier's son, more
ashamed and mortified with the ill success
of this last night, no sooner heard him com-
ing, but he jumped out of bed, and ran
hastily into the wardrobe. The sultan went
to the princess's bed-side, and after the car-
esses he had given her the former morning,
bid her good-morrow. "Well, daughter,"
he said, "are you in a better humour than
you was yesterday morning?" Still the
princess was silent, and the sultan perceived
her to be more troubled, in greater confusion
than before, and doubted not but that some-
thing very extraordinary was the cause; but
provoked that his daughter should conceal
it, he said to her in a rage, with his sabre
in his hand, "Daughter, tell me what is the
matter, or I will cut off your head imme-
cUately."
The princess, more frightened at the me-
naces and tone of the enraged sultan, than
at the sight of the drawn sabre, at last broke
silence, and said, with tears in her eyes,
"My dear father and sultan, I ask your
majesty's pardon if I have offended you, and
hope, that out of your goodness and clemency
you will have compassion on me, when I
have told you in what a miserable condition
I have spent this last night and the night
before."
After this preamble, which appeased and
affected the sultan, she told him what had
Happened to her in so moving a manner,
that he, who loved her tenderly, was most
sensibly grieved. She added, "If your ma-
jesty doubts tlie truth of thin account, you
may inform youi-self from my iiuab.'vnd, who,
I am persuaded, will tell you tie same
thing."
Tlie sultan immediately felt all the ex-
treme uneasiness so surprising an adventure
must have given the princess. "Datighter,"
said he, "you are very much to blame for
not telling me this yesterday, since it con-
cerns me as much fis yourself. I did not
marry you with an intention to make you
miserable, but that you might enjoy all the
happiness you deserve ;ind might hope for
from a husband, who to me seemed agree-
able to you. Efface all ^\\mz<\ troublesome
ideas out of your memory ; I will take care
and give orders that you shall have no more
such disagreeable and insupportable nights."
As soon as the sultan got back to his own
apartment, he sent for the grand vizier.
" Vizier," said he, " have you seen your son,
and has he not told you anything?" The
vizier replied, "No." Then the sultan re-
lated all that the princess Badroulboudour
had told him, and afterwards said, "I do
not doubt but that my daughter has told me
the truth ; but nevertheless I should be glad
to have it confirmed by your son; therefore
go and ask him how it was."
The grand vizier went immediately to his
son, and communicated to him what tho
sultan had told him, and enjoined him to
conceal nothing from him, but to tell him
the whole truth. " I will disguise nothing
from you, father," replied the son, "for
indeed all that the princess says is true ;
but what relates particularly to myself she
knows nothing of. After my marriage, I
have passed two such nights as are beyond
imagination or expression; not to mention
the fright I was in, to feel my bed lifted uj)
four times, and transported from one place
to another, without being able to guess how
it was done. You shall judge of the miser-
able condition I was in, to jiass two whole
nights in nothing but my shirt, standing in
a kind of privy, unable to stir out of the
place where I was put, or to make the least
movement, though 1 could not perceive any
obstacle to prevent me. Yet I must tell
you that all this ill-usage does not in the
least lessen those sentiments of love, respect,
and gratitude I entertain for the princess,
and of which sh^ is so deserving ; but I
must confess, that notwithstanding all the
honour and splendour that attends my
marrying my sovereign's daughter, I would
much rather die, than live longer in so great
an alliance, if I must undergo what I have
already endured. I do not doubt but that
the princess entertains the same sentiments,
and that she will readily agree to a separa-
tion, which is so necessary both for her
!i
418
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
repoBo and mine. Therefore, father, I beg
you, by the same tendurucss you had for
mo to procure we 80 great an honour, to get
the Bultan'a consent that our uiarriage may
bo declared null and void."
Notwithatanding the grand vizier's ambi-
tion to have hia sou allied to the uultan, the
firm resolution he saw ho had formed to bo
separated from the priacess, moile him nut
think it proper to propose to him to have a
little patience for a few days, to sec if this
di«api>ointment would not have an end ; but
left liim to go and give the sidtan on account
of what he had told him, assuring bim that
all was but too true. Without waiting till the
sultan himself, whom he found pretty much
disposed to it, spoke of breaking the mar-
riage, he begged of him to give his son leave
to retire from the palace; alleging fur an
excuse, that it was not just that the prin-
cess sboidd be a moment longer exposed to
so terrible a persecution upon his son's ac-
count.
The grand vizier found no great difficulty
to obtain what be asked. From that instant
the sultan, who had determined it already,
gave orders to put a stop to all rejoicings in
the palace and town, and sent expresses to
all parts of his dominions to countermand
his first orders ; and in a short time all re-
joicings ceased.
This sudden and unexpected change gave
rise, both in the city and kingdom, to various
speculations and inquiries; but no other
account could be given of it, except that
both the vizier and his son went out of the
palace very much dejected. Nobody but
Aladdin knew^the secret. He rejoiced with-
in himself for the happy success procured
for him by his lamp, which now he had no
more occasion to rub to produce the genie,
to prevent the consummation of the mar-
riage, which he had certain information was
broken off, and that his rival had left the
palace. But, what is most particular, nei-
ther the sultan nor the grand vizier, who had
forgotten Aladdin and hia request, had the
least thought that he had any hand in the
enchantment which caused the dissolution
of the marriage.
Nevertheless, Aladdin waited till the three
months were completed, which the sultan
had appointed for the consummation of the
marriage between the princess Badroulbou-
dour and himself ; but the next day sent his
mother to the palace, to remind the sultau
of his promise.
Aladdin's mother went to the palace, a;
her son had bid her, and stood before the
divan in the same place as before. The sul-
tan no sooner cast his eyes upon her, but he
knew her again, and remembered her busi-
ness, and how long he had put her off;
therefore, when the grand vizier was begin-
ning to make his report, the sultan inter-
rupted him, and said, "Viz* -., I see the
good woman who made mo the present some
months hence ; forbear your report till I
have heard what she has to say." The
vizier then, looking about the divan, pre-
sently perceived Aladdin's mother, and sent
the chief of the oflicers for her,
Aladdin's mother came to the foot of the
throne and prostrated herself as usual, and
when she rose up again, the sultan asked her
what she would have. "Sir," said she, " I
come to represent to your majesty, in the
name of my son, Aladdin, that the three
mouths, at the end of which you ordered
me to come again, are expired ; and to beg
you to remember your promise."
The sultan, when ho took this time to
answer the reipiest of this good woman, the
first time he saw her, little thought of hear-
ing any more of a marriage whicli ho ima-
gined must ))e very disagreeable to the i)rin-
cesM, when he only considered the meanness
and poverty of Aladdin's mother in her dress,
not above the common run ; but this sum-
mons for him to be as good as his word was
somewhat embarrassing to him ; he declined
giving an answer till he had consulted his
vizier, and signified to him the little inclina-
tion he had to conclude a match for his
daughter with a stranger whose fortune be
supposed to be very mean indeed.
The grand vizier freely told the sultan his
thoughts on the matter, and said to him,
"In my opinion, sir, there is an infallible
way for your majesty to avoid a match so
disproportionable, without giving Aladdin,
were he better known to your majesty, any
cause of complaint ; which is, to set so high
a value upon the princess, that were he
never so rich, he could not come up to it.
This is the only way to make him desist
from so bold, not to say rash, an undertak-
ing, which he never weighed before he en-
gaged in it."
The sultan, approving of the grand vizier'a
advice, turned about to Aladdin's mother,
and after some reflection, said to her, "Good
woman, it is true sultans ought to be as
good as their words, and I am ready to keep
mine, by making your son happy by the
marriage of the j)rincess, my daughter. But
as I cannot marry her without some valuable
consideration from your son, you may tell
him, I will fulfil my promise as soon as he
shall send me forty basins of massy gold,
brimful of the same things you have already
made me a present of, and carried by the
like number of black slaves, who shall be
led by as many young and handsome well-
made white slaves, all dressed magniiicently.
On these conditions, I am ready to bestow
the princess, my daughter, on him ; there-
fore, good woman, go and tell him so, and I
will wait till you bring me his answer."
Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
419
eecoml tiniu before tlio siiltnn'H throne, niul
retireil. In licr way home, aho laiiglieil
witliiii hpr$ic'l[ nt her hoh'h foolish imagina-
tion. " Where," said she, " can ho got so
many such large gold basins, and enough of
that coloured glass to till them ? Must he
go again to that subterraneous abode, the
entrance into which is stopped up, ond
gather tiiem off *ho trees ? But where will
he get 80 many such slaves as the sultan
requires? It is altogether out of his power,
and I believe he will not be well satisfied
with my embassy this time." When she
came home, full of these thoughts, she said
to her son, "Lideed, child, I would not
have you think any farther of your marriage
with the princess Badroulboudour. The
sultan received me very kindly, and I believe
he was well inclined to you ; but if I am
not very much deceived, the grand vizier
has maile him change his mind, as you will
guess from what I have to tell you. After
I had represented to his majesty that the
three months were expired, and begged of
him to remember his jiromise, I observed
that ho whispered with his grand vizier
before he gave me this answer." Then she
gave her son an exact account of what tne
sultan said to her, and the conditions on
which he consented to the match. After-
wards she said to him, " The sultan expects
your answer immediately ; but," oontinued
flhe, laughing, " I believe he may wait long
enough."
"Not so long, mother, as you imogine,"
replied Aladdin ; ' ' the sultan is mistaken if he
thinks by this exorbitant demand to prevent
my entertaining thoughts of the princess. I
expected greater ditiiciUties, and that he
would have set a higher jirice upon that in-
comparable princess. But I am very well
pleased ; his demand is but a trifle to what
I could haVe done for her. But while I
think of satisfying his request, go and get
us something for dinner, and leave the rest
to me."
As soon as Aladdin's mother was gone out
to market, Aladdin took up the lamp, and
rubbing it, the genie appeared, and oflered
his service as usual. "The sultan," said
Aladdin to him, " gives me the princess, his
daughter, in marriage ; but demands first of
me forty large basins of massy gold, brim-
ful of the fruits of the garden from whence
I took this lamp you are slave to ; and these
he expects to have carried by as many black
slaves, each preceded by & young handsome
well-made white slave, richly clothed. Go,
and fetch me this present as soon as possible,
that I may send it to him before the divan
breaks up," The genie told him his com-
mand should be immediately obeyed, and
disappeared.
In a little time afterwards the genie re-
turned with forty black slaves, each bearing
on his head a basin of massy gold of twenty
marks' weight, full of pearls, diamonds,
rubies, and emeralils, all larger and more
beautiful than those presented to the sultan
before. Each basin was covered with a
silver stuff, embroidered with flowers of
gold : all these, and the white slaves, quite
filled the house, which was but a small one,
and the little court before it, and the little
garden behind. The genie asked Aladdin
if he had any other commands. Aladdin
telling him that he wanted nothing farther
then, the genie disappeared.
When Aladdin's mother came from mar-
ket, she was in a great suq)rise to 8('(> so
many people and such vast riches. As soon
OS she had laid down her provisions, she
was going to pull off her veil ; but Aladdin
prevented her, and said, "Mother, let us
lose no time : but before the sultan and the
divan rise, I would have you return to the
palace, and go with this present, as the
dowry he asked for the princess Badroul-
boudour, that he may judge by my diligence
and exactness of the ardent and sincere zeal
I have to procure myself the honour at this
alliance." Without waiting for his mother
making a reply, Aladdin opened the street-
door, and mode the slaves walk out ; a white
slave followed always by a black one with a
basin on his head. When they were all got
out, the mother followed the last black slave,
and he shut the door, and then retired to
his chamber, full of hopes that the sultan,
after this present, which was such as he re-
quired, would at length rcueive him as his
son-in-law.
The first white slave that went out of
the house made all the people, who were
going by and saw him, stop ; and before
they were all got out of the house, the
streets were crowded with spectators, who
ran to see so extraordinary and noble a sight.
The dress of each slave was so rich, both
for the stuff and the jewels, that those who
were dealers in them valued each at no less
thai' 1 '"illion of money ; besides the neat-
ncF n J propriety of the dress, the good
grauc, noble air, and delicate shape and pro-
portion of each slave was imparalleled ;
their grave walk at an equal distance from
each other, the lustre of the jewels, which
were large, and curiously set in their girdles
of massy gold, in beautiful symmetry, and
those ensigns of precious stones in their
hats, which were of so particular a taste,
put the crowds of spectators into so great
admiration, that they could not be weary of
gcizing at them, and following them witli
their eyes as far as possible ; but the streets
were so crowded with people that none
could move out of the spot they stood on.
As they were to pass through a great many
streets to go to the palace, a great part of
the city, had an opportunity of seeing them.
'Mi ''
i4 i
4.'>o
r///i AKArUAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINAfENTS.
As soon ns thu lirHt of thosu 8lnvi>H nrrived
ftt tliu [laliicu jratf, thu jiortiTH fortnud tluan-
BulvoA into oriliT, and tuok him fur a kin^',
by the riclinoMS nnd tnai^niticunco of liiit
holiit, and wuru K<>'"K t" !(>'<'* ^'>» '»^'<> "^ I''"
garment ; but thu aliivc, who waa instructvd
by tho Renin, jirevcntt'd tlicin, and said,
*'Wo are only HlavuB ; our inuHtur will aji-
pear at a proper time."
Then this slavi', followeil by the rest,
advanced into thu second court, which was
very spacious, and in which tho sultan's
household was ranf;cd during tho sitting of
the divan. Tho niagniliconce of tho officers,
who stood at tho liead of their troops, was
very much eclipsed by tho slaves who bare
Aladdin's present, of which they themselves
made a {tart. Nothing was ever seen so
beautiful and brilliant in tho sultan's palaco
before ; and all the lustre of the lords of his
court was not to be compared to them.
As tho sultan, who had been informed of
their march, and coming to tho palace, had
given orders for them to bo admittetl when
they came, they met with no obstacle, but
went into the divau in good order, one part
filing to the right and the other to the left.
After they had all entered, and had I'ormed
a great semicircle before the sultan's tiirone,
the black HJaves laid tho basins on the car-
pet, and all prostrated themselves, touching
the carpet with their foreheads, and at the
same time the white slaves did the same.
When they all rose again, the l)lack slaves
nneovcrcd tho basins, and then all stood
with their arms crossed over their breasts
with great rawlesty.
In the meantime, Alatldin's mother ad-
vanced to the foot of the throne, and having
paid her respects, said to tho sultan, "Sir,
my son Aladdin is sensible this present,
which he has sent your majesty, is much
below the princess Badroulboudour's worth ;
but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty
will accept of it, and make it agreeable to the
princess, with the greater contidence that he
has endeavoured to conform to the conditions
you were pleased to impose on him."
The sultan waa not able to give the least
attention to this compliment of Aladdin's
mother. The moment he east his eyes on
the forty basins, brimful of tho most pre-
cious, brilliant, and beautiful jewels he had
ever seen, and the fourscore slaves, who ap-
peared, by the comeliness of their persons,
and the richness and magnificence of their
dress, like so many kings, he was so struck,
that he could not recover from his admira-
tion ; but, instead of answering the compli-
ment of Aladdin's mother, addressed himself
to the grand vizier, who could not any mora
than the sultan comprehend from whence
Biich a profusion of riches could come. —
*' Well, vizier," said he aloud, " who do you
think it con be that has sent me so extra-
ordinary a present, and neither of us know?
Do you think him worthy of the princess
Haih'oulboudour, my daughter?"
The vizier, notwitlistauding his envy and
grief to seo a stranger preferred to bo the
sultan's son-in-law before his son, durst not
disguise his sentiment Ft was too visible
that Aladdin's ])re.sen '< re than suffi-
cient to merit liia be .oeived into that
great alliance; therefore, ado])ting tho sul-
tan's sentiments, he returned this answer : " I
am so far, sir, from having any thoughts
that the i)erson who has made your majesty
so noble a present is unworthy of the honour
you woidd do him, that I should l)e bold to
say ho deserved much more, if I was not
persuaded that tho greatest treasure in tho
world ought not to be put in a lialanco with
tho princess, your majesty's daughter." —
This advice was ai)plauded by all the lords
who were then in council.
The sultan made no longer hesitation, nor
thought of informing himself whether Alad-
din was endowed with all the qualifications
requisite in one who aspired to be his son-
in-law. The sight alone of such immcnso
riches, and Aladdin's dil'-'euce in satisfying
his demand, without st' ^ the least diffi-
culty on the exorbitii ditions he had
imposed on him, easil ,ded him that
he could want nothing to render him accom-
])lished, and such as he desired. Therefore,
to send Aladdin's mother back with all tho
satisfaction she could desire, he said to her,
"(Jood woman, go and tell your sou that I
wait to receive him with open arms and em-
brace him ; and the more haste he makes to
come and receive tho princess my daughter
from my hands, the greater pleasure he will
do me."
As soon as Aladdin's mother retired, over-
joyed as a woman in her condition must be,
to see her son raised beyond all expectations
to such great fortune, tho sultan put an end
to the audience for that day ; and, rising
from his throne, ordered that the princess's
eunuchs should come and carry those basins
into their mistress's apartment, whither he
went himself to examine them >vith her at
his leisure. The fourscore slaves were not
forgotten, but were conducted into the pa-
lace ; and some time after, the sultan, tell-
ing the princess Badroulboudour of their
magnificent appearance, ordered them to be
brought before her apartment, that she
might seo through the lattices he exagge-
rated not in his account of them.
In the meantime Aladdin's mother got
home, and shewed in her air and counten-
ance the good news she brought her son.
" My son," said she to him, "you have now
all the reason in the world to be pleased :
you are, contrary to my expectations, ar-
rived at the height of your desires, and you
know what I always told you. Not to keep
ALADDlNi OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
421
you too Inn;; ill siiiiioiise, the aultan, with
the a]ii>rohati<<n of tho whole court, haa do-
ciarcil that you an- worthy to ]H>Hsvi)it the
princess Bailroulbouilotir, and wnitx tu em-
brace you, and conclude your tnarria^'o ;
therefore you must think of making' soniu
preparations for that interview, that may
answer the liii;h ojiinion he lias formed of
your jierson ; and after tlic wondero I have
seen you do, I am jiersua^Icd nothing can be
wanting. But I must not for){ut to tell you,
the sultan waits for you with great imi^a-
ticnce, therefore lose no time to ^o to him."
Aladdin, charme<l with this news, and full
of the object which jiossi-sscd his soul, made
his mother very little reply, but retired to
bis chant)>cr. There, after he had rubbtd
his lamp, which had never failed him in
•whatever he wished for, the obeilient genie
ap|ieared. "Genie," snid Aladdin, "I want
to bathe immediately ; ami you must after-
wards provide me the richest and most mag-
niticent habit ever woni by a monarch."
No sooner were the words out of his mouth,
but the genie rendered him, a well as him-
self invisible, and trans]>ort> 1 him into a
bath of the finest marble of all sorts of
colours, where he was undressed, witliout
seeing by whom, in a neat and 8]iaciou8 hall.
From the hall he was led to the bath, wliich
was of a moderate heat, and he was there
rubljed and washed with .ill sortH of scented
•water. After lie liad passed through several
degrees of heat, he came out, quite a dirt'er-
ent man from what he was before. His skin
was clear, white, and red, and his body light-
some and free ; and when he returned into
the hall, he found instead of his own, a suit,
the magniticeuce of which very much sur-
prised him. The genie helped him to dress,
and when he hotl done, transported him bock
to his own chaml>er, where he asked him if
he had any other commands. "Yes," an-
swered Aladdin ; " I expect you should
bring me as soon as jiossible a horse, that
surpasses in beauty and goodness the best
in the sultan's stables, -with a saddle, bridle,
and housing, and other accoutrements worth
a million of money. I want also twenty
slaves, as richly clothed as those who car-
ried the present to the sidtau, to -walk by
my side, and follow me, aiul twenty more
such to go before me in two ranks. Besides
these, bring my mother six women slaves to
•wait on her, as richly dressed at least as any
of the princess Badroulboudour's, each loaded
with a complete suit lit for any sidtaness. I
want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten
purses. Go, and make h.iste."
As soon as Aladdin had given these orders,
the genie disai)i)eared, and presently returned
with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom
carried each a purse with one thousand pieces
of gold, and six •women slaves, each carrying
on her head a different dress for Aladdin's
mother, wrapped up in a piece i-f silver stufl,
and jiresunted them all to Aladdin.
Of the ten pursim Aluddiu took but four,
which he gave to his mother, telling her
those were to supply her with tii'irssariea ;
the other six he left in the hands of the
slaves who brought them, with an order to
throw them by handfiils among tho people as
they went to the sultan's palace. The six
slaves who carried the purses he ordered
likewise to march before him, three on tho
right hand and three on the left. After-
wards he presented the six women slaves to
his mother, telling her they ■were her slaves,
and that the dresses they had brought were
for her use.
When Aladdin had thus settled matters,
he told the genie he would call for him when
ho wanted him, and thereupon tho genie dis-
appeared. Aladdin's thoughts now were
only of answering, ns soon as possible, the
desire tho sultan had shewn to see him. Ho
despatched one of the forty slaves to tho
palace, •with an order to aiUlress himself to
the chief of tho olHcers, to know when ho
might liavo the honour to come and tlirow
himself at the sultan's feet. The slave soon
acquitted himself of his message, and brought
for answer that tho sidtan waited for him
•with imiiatience.
Aladdin immediately mounted his horse,
and began his march in tho order wo have
already described ; and though he never was
on a horse's back before, ho appeared with
such extraordinary grace, that the most ex-
perienced horseman would not have taken
him for a novice. The streets through which
he was to pass were almost instantly tilled
with an innumerable concourse of people,
who made the air eclio with their acclama-
tions, especially every time the six slaves
who carried the puraes threw handfuls of
gold into the air on both sides. Neither did
these acclamations and shouts of joy come
only from those who scrambled for tho
money, but from a superior rank of people,
who could not forbear applauding publicly
Aladdin's generosity. Not only those •who
knew him once when he i)layed in the streets
like a vagabond, did not know him again ;
those who saw him but a little while before
hardly knew him, so much were his features
altered : such were the effects of the lamp,
as to procure by degrees to those who pos-
sessed it perfections agreeable to the rank
the right use of it advanced them to. Much
more attention 'was jiaid to Aladdin's person
than to the pomp and magnificence of his
attendants, which had been taken notice of
the day before, when the slaves walked ia
procession with the present to the sultan.
Nevertheless the horse was very much ad-
mired by good judges, who know not how
to discern his beauties, without being daz-
zled with the jewels and richness of the fur-
422
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
:;! '
niture: and when the report was every-
where spread about, that the sultan was
going to give the princess Badroulboudoiir
in marriage to him, nobody regarded his
birth, nor envied his good fortune, so worthy
he seemed of it.
When he arrived at the palace, everything
was prepared for his reception; and when
he came to the second gate, he would have
alighted from off his horse, agreeable to the
custom observed by the grand vizier, the
generals of the armies, and governors of
provinces of the first rank ; but the chief of
the officers, who waited on him by the sultan's
order, prevented him, and attended him to the
council hall, where he helped him to dis-
mount; though Aladdin opposed him very
much, but could not prevail. The officers
formed themselves into two ranks at the
entrance of the hall. The chief put Aladdin
on his right band, and through the midst of
them led him to the sultan's throne.
As soon as the sultan perceived Aladdin,
he was no less surprised to see him more
richly and magnificently clothed than ever
he had been himself, than surprised at his
good mien, fine shape, and a certain air of
unexpected grandeur, very different from the
meanness his mother appeared in.
But notwithstanding, liis amazement and
surprise did not hinder him from rising off
his throne, and descending two or tlirce
steps quick enough to prevent Aladdin's
throwing himself at his feet. He embraced
him with all the demonstrations of friend-
ship. After this civility, Aladdin would
have cast himself at his feet again ; but
he held him fast by the hand, and obliged
him to sit between him und the grand
vizier.
Then Aladdin, resuming the discourse,
said, " I receive, sir, the honour which your
majesty out of your great goodness is pleased
to confer on me ; but permit me to tell you,
that I have not forgotten that I am your
slave; that I know the greatness of your
power, and that I am not insensible how
much my birth is below the splendour and
lustre of the high rank to which I am raised.
If in any way," continued he, "I could
have merited so favourable a reception, I
confess I owe it merely to the boldness
which chance inspired in me to raise my
eyes, thoughts, and desires to the divine
princess, who is the object of my wishes.
I ask your majesty's pardon for my rashness,
but I cannot dissemble, that I should die
with grief if I should lose my hopes of see-
ing them accomplished."
' • My son, '.' answered the sultan, embracing
him a second time, " you would wrong me to
doubt for a moment of my sincerity : your
life from this moment is too dear to me not
to preserve it, by presenting you with the
remedy which is at my disposal. I prefer
the pleasure of seeing and hearing you before
all your treasure added to mine."
After these words the sultan gt.«e a
signal, and immediately the air echoed with
the sound of trumpets and hautboys, and
other musical instruments : and at the same
time the sultan led Aladdin into a magnificent
haU, where there was prepared a noble feast.
The siUtan and Aladdin ate by themselves,
the grand vizier and the great lords of the
court, according to their dignity and rank,
waited all the time. The conversation
turned on different subjects; but all the
while the sultan took so great a pleasure in
seemg him, that he hardly ever took his eyes
off him ; and throughout all their conversa-
tion Aladdin shewed so much good sense,
as confirmed the sidtan in the good opinion
he had of him.
After the feast, the sultan sent for the
chief judge of his capital, and ordered him
to draw up immediately a contract of mar-
riage between the princess Badroulboudoui
his daughter, and Aladdin. Tn the mean-
time the sultan and he entered into another
conversation on various subjects, in the
presence of the grand vizier and the lords of
the court, who all admired the solidity of
his wit, the great ease and freedom where-
with he delivered himself, and the beautiful
thoughts, and his delicacy in expressing
them.
When the judge had drawn up the con-
tract in all the requisite forms, the sultan
asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace,
and solemnise the ceremonies of marriage
that day. To which he answered, "Sir,
though great is my impatience to enjoy your
majesty's goodness, yet I beg of you to give
me leave to defer it till I have built a palace
fit to receive the princess in ; I therefore
desire you to grant me a convenient spot of
ground near your palace, that I may come
the more frequently to pay my respects to
you, and I will take care to have it finished
wiiXi all diligence." " iso.i," said the sultan,
"take what ground you think proper; there
is laud enough before my palace ; but con-
sider, I cannot then see you so soon united
with my daughter, which woidd complete
my joy." After these words he embraced
Aladdin again, who took his leave with as
much politeness as if he had been bred up
and had alwayb lived at court.
Aladdin mounted his horse again, and
returned home in the same order he came,
with the acclamations of the people, who
wished him all happiness and prosperity.
As soon as he dismounted, he retired to his
own chamber, took the lamp, and called the
genie as before, who in the usual manner
made him a tender of his service. " Genie,"
said ALiddin, "I have all the reason in the
world to commend your exactness in execut-
ing hitherto punctually whatever I have
%\
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
423
asked you to do ; but now, if you have any
regard for the lamp your mistress, you must
shew, if possible, rnore zeal and diligence
than ever. T wo' \i have you build me, as
soon as you can, a palace over against and
at a proper distance from the sultan's, fit to
receive my spouse, the princess Bailroulbou-
dour. I leave the choice of the materials to
you, that is to say, porphyry, jasper, agate,
lapis lazuli, and the finest marble of the
most varied colours, and of the rest of the
building. But I expect, that in the highest
storey of this palace you shall build me a
large hall with a dome, and four eqiial fronts ;
and that, instead of layers of bricks, the
walls be m&de of massy gold and silver, laid
alternately ; that each front shall contain six
windows, the lattices of all which, excei)t
one, must be left unfinished and imperfect,
and shall be so enriched with art and sym-
metry, with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds,
that they shall exieed everything of the kind
that has ever been seen in the world. I
woidd have an inner and outer court before
this palace, and a curious garden ; but above
all things take care t'-iat there be laid in a
place which you shall point out to me, a
treasure of gold and silver coin. Besides,
this palace must he well provided with kit-
chens, and offices, store- houses, and rooms
to keep choice furniture in, for every season
of the year. I must have stables full of the
finest horses, with their equerries and grooms,
and hunting equipage. There must be offi-
cers to attend the kitchens and offices, and
women slaves to wait on the princess.
You understand what 1 mean ; therefore go
about it, and come and tell me when all is
finished."
By the time Aladdin had instructed the
genie with his intentions respecting the
building of his jmlace, the sun was set. The
next morning by break of day, Aladdin,
whose love for the princess would not let
him sleep, was no sooner up, but the genie
presented himself, and said, " Sir, your
palace is finished ; come and see how you
like it." Aladdin had no sooner signified
his consent, but the genie transported him
thither in an instant, and he found it so
much beyond his expectation, that he could
not enough admire it. The gonie led him
through all the apartments, where he met
with nothing but what was rich and magni-
ficent, with officers and slaves, aU dressed
according to their rank and the services to
which they were appointed. Then the genie
shewed him the treasury, which was opened
by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw heaps of
purses, of different sizes, piled up to the
top of the ceiling, and disposed 4n most
pleasing oi-der. The genie assured him of
the treasurer's fidelity, and the.ire led him
to the stables, where he shewed him some
uf the finest horses in the world, and the
grooms busy in dressing them ; from thence
they went to the store-houses, which were
filled with all necessary provisions, both for
the food and ornament of the horses.
When Aladdin had examined the palace
from top to bottom, and particularly the
hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and
found it much beyond whatever he could
have imagined, he said to the genie, "Genie,
no one can be better satisfied than I am ;
and indeed I shoidd be very much to blame
if I foimd .iny faidt. There is only one
thing wanting, which I forgot to mention ;
that is, to lay from the sultan's palace to the
door of the apartment designed for the prin-
cess, a carjiet of fine velvet for her to walk
upon." The genie immediately disappeared,
and Aladdin saw what he desired executed
that minute. Then the genie returned and
carried Aladdin home, before the gates of the
sultan's palace were opened.
When the porters, who had always been
used to an open prospect, came to open the
gates, tliey were amazed to find itobstructed,
and to see a carpet of velvet spread for a
great way. They d'/' not immediately see
what it meant ; but when they could discern
Alatldin's palace distinctly, their surprise
was increased. The news of so extraordi-
nary a wonder was presently spread through
the palace. The grand vizier, who came
soon after the gates were open, was no less
am.ized than other people at this novelty,
but ran and acquainted the sultan, and en-
deavoured to make him believe it to be all
enchantment. "Vizier," replied the sultan,
" why will you have it to be enchantment ?
You know as well as I, that it is Aladdin's
palace, which I gave him leave to build, to
receive my daughter in. After the proof we
have had of his riches, can we think it
strange that he should build a palace in so
short a time ? He has a mind to surprise us,
and let us see whixt wonders are to be done
with ready money every day. Confess
sincerely with me that that enchantment you
talk of proceeds from a little envy. " The
hour of going to council put an end to the
conversation.
When Aladdin had been conveyed home
and had dismissed the genii', he found his
mother up, and dressing herself in one of
those suits that were brought her. By the
time the stdtan came from the council,
Aladdin had prepared his mother to go to
the palace with her slaves, and desired her,
if she saw the sultan, to tell him she came
to do herself the honour to attend the jirin-
cess towards evening to her palace. Accord-
ingly she went; but though she and the
women slaves who followed her were all
dressed like sultanesses, yet the crowd was
nothing near so great, because they were all
veiled, and had each an upper garment on,
agreeable to the richness and magnificence
424
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
of their habits. As for Aladdin, he mounted
his horse, knd took leave of his paternal
house for ever, taking care not tp forget his
wonderful lamp, by the assistance of which
he had reaped such advantages, and arrived
at the utmost height of his wishes, and went
to the palace in the same pump as the day
before.
As soon as the porters of the sultan's
palace saw Aladdin's mother, they went and
informed the sultan, who presently ordered
the bands of trumpets, cymbjvls, drums, fifes,
and hautboys, placed in different parts of
the palace, to play and beat, so that the
air resounded with concerts, which inspired
the whole city with joy : the merchants
began to adorn their shops and houses with
fine carpets and cushions, and bedeck them
with boughs, and prepare illuminations
against night. The artists of all sorts left
their work, and the peojJe all repaired to
the great space between the sultan's and
Aladdin's palace ; which last drew all their
attention, not only because it was new to
them, but because there was no comparison
between the two buildings. But their
amazement was, to comprehend by what
unheard-of miracle so magniticent a palace
should be so soon built, it being ajiparent to
all that there were no prepared materials,
or any foundations laid, the day before.
Aladdin's mother was received in the
palace with honour, and introduced into the
princess Badroulboudour's apartment, by the
chief of the eunuchs. As soon as the prin-
cess saw her, she went and saluted her, and
desired her to sit down on her sofa; and
while her women made an end of dressing
her, and adorned her with the jewels Aladdia
had presented her with, a noble collation was
served up. At the same time, the sultan,
who had a mind to be as much with his
daughter as possible before he parted with
her, came and paid her great respect. Alad-
din's mother had often talked to the sidtan,
in public, but he had never seen her with
her veil off, as she was then ; and though
she was somewhat advanced in years, she
had the remains of a good face, which
shewed what si " d been in her youth.
The sultan, who ,. always seen her dressed
very meanly, no., to say poorly, was sur-
prised to find her as richly and magnificently
clothed as the princess his daughter. This
made him think Aladdin equally prudent
and wise in whatever he undertook.
When it was night, the princess took her
leave of the sultan her father : their adieus
were tender, and accompanied with tears.
They embraced each other several times,
and at last the princess left her own apart-
ment, and set forward for Aladdin's palace,
with his mother on her left hand, followed
by a hundred women slaves, dressed with
surprising magnificence. All the bands of
music, which played from the time Aladdin's
mother arrived, joined together, led the pro-
cession, followed by a hundred chiaoux, and
the like number of black eunuchs, in two
files, with their officers at their head. Four
hundred of the sultan's young jiages carried
flambeaux ou each side, which, together
with the illuminations of the sultan's and
Alatldin's palaces, made it as light as day.
In this order the princess walked on the
carpet, which was spread from the sultan's
palace to Aladdin's, preceded by bands of
musicians, who, as they advanced, joining
with those on tUv- terraces of Aladdin's
palace, formed a concert, which, extraordi-
nary and confused as it appeared, increased
the joy not only of the crowd assembled in
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
425
the great square, but of all that were in the
two palaces, the town, and a great way
round about it.
At length the princess arrived at the new
palace. Aladdin ran with all imaginable joy-
to receive her at the entrance of the apart-
ment appointed for him. His mother had
taken care to point him out to the princess,
ill the midst of the officers that surrounded
him, and she was charmed with his person
as soon as she saw him. " Adorable prin-
cess," said Aladdin to her, accosting her,
and saluting her respectfully, " if T have
the misfortune to have displeased you by
my boldness in aspiring to the possession of
80 lovely a princess, and my sultan's daugh-
ter, I must tell you, that you ought to
blame your bright eyes and charms, not
me." — " Prince, as I may now call you,"
answered the princess, " I am obedient to
the will of my father ; and it is enough for
me to have seen you, to tell you that I obey
without reluctance." *
Aladdin, chai-med with so agreeable and
satisfactory an answer, would not keep the
jirincess standing after she had walked so
far, which was more than she was used to
do; but took her by the hand, whiuh he
kissed with the greatest demonstrations of
joy, and led her into a largo hall, illumi-
nated with an infinite number of wax
candles, where, by the care of the genie, a
noble feast was served up. The plates were
«f massy gold, and contained the most deli-
cate meats. The vases, bivsins, and goblets,
with which the beaufet was furnished, were
gold also, and of exqui.iite workmanship,
and all the other ornaments and embellish-
ments of the hall were answerable to this
great wealth. The princess, dazzled to see
80 much riches collected in one place, said
to Aladdin, " I thought, prince, that no-
thing in the world was so beautiful as the
8ultan my father'.s palace ; but the sight of
this hall alone is suflicient to shew I was
deceived."
Then Aladdin led the princess to the place
appointed for her, and as soon as she and
his mother were sat down, a band of the
most harmonious instruments, accompanied
with the voices of beautiful ladies, began a
concert, which lasted without intermission
to the end of the repast. The princess was
80 charmed, that she declared sho never
hea.'d anything like it in the sultan her
father's court; but she knew not that the
musicians were fairies chosen by the genie,
«lave of the lamp.
When the supper was ended, and the table
taKen away, there entered a company of
dancers, who danced, according to the cus-
tom of the country, several figure dances,
c Jing with a dancing man and woman, who
performed their parts with surprising light-
ness and agility, and shewed all the address
they were cai)al)le of. About midnight,
Aladdin, according to the custom of that
time in China, rose up and presented his
hand to the princess Badroulboudour to
dance with her, and to finish the ceremonies
of their nuptials. They danced with so
good a grace, that they were the admiration
of all the company. When they left oft",
Aladdin did not let the princess's hand go,
but led her to the apartment where the
nuptial bed was prepared. The princess's
women helped to undress her, and put her
to bed : Aladdin's officers did the same by
him, and then all retired. Thus ended the
ceremonies and rejoicings at the marriage
of Aladdin with the princess Badroid-
boudour.
The next morning when Aladdin awaked,
his valets-de-chambre presented themselves
to dress him, and brought him another habit
as rich and magnificent as that he wore the
day before. Then he ordered one of the
horses appointed for his use to be got ready,
mounted him, and went in the midst of a
large troop of slaves to the sultan's palace.
The sultan received him witli the same
honours as before, embraced him, placed
him on the throne near him, and ordered in
breakfast. Aladdin replied, " I beg your
majesty will dispense with me from accept-
ing that honour to-day ; I came to ask you
to come and take a repast in the princess's
palace, attended by your grand vizier, and
all the lords of your court." The sultan
consented with pleasure, rose up imme-
diately, and, as it was not far off, went
thither on foot, with Aladdin on his right
hand, the grand vizier on his left, preceded
by the chiaoux and principal officers of his
palace, and followed by all the great lords of
his court.
The nearer the sultan approached Ala''-
din's i)al<ace, the more he was struck with
its beauty, but was much more amazed when
ho entered it ; and could not forbear break-
ing out into exclamations of approbation.
But when he came into the hall with the
four-and-twenty windows, into which Alad-
din had invited him, and had seen tlio orna-
ments, and, above all, cast his eyes on the
windows, enriched with diamonds, rubies,
emeralds, all large perfect stones ; and when
Aladdin had observed to him, that it was as
rich on the outside, he was so much sur-
prised, that he remained some time motion-
less. After he recovered himself, he said
to his vizier, "Is it possible that there
should bo such a stately palace so nigh my
own, and I be an utter stranger to it till
now?" "Sir," replied the grand vizier,
" your majesty may remember that the day
before yesterday, you gave Aladdin, whom
you accepted for your son-in-law, leave tt«
build a palace over against your own, and
that very day at sunset there was no palace
426
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
on this apot, and yesterday I bad the hon-
our first to tell you that the palace was built
and finished." "I remember it," replied
the sultan, "but never imagined that the
palace was one of the wonders of the world ;
for where in all the world besides shall we
find walls built of courses of maasy gold and
silver, instead of courses of brick, stone, or
marble ; and diamonds, rubies, and eme-
ralds set thick about the windows ? There
never was anything mentioned like it in this
world before."
The Bultan would examine and admire
the beauty of all the windows, and counting
them, found that there were but three-and-
twenty windows that were so richly adorned,
and he was greatly astonished that the
twenty-fourth was left imperfect. "Vizier,"
said he, for that minister made a point of
never leaving him, "I am surprised that a
hall of this magnificence should be left thus
imperfect. " " Sir, " replied the grand vizier,
•' without doubt Aladdin only wanted time
to finish this window like the rest; for it is
not to be supposed but that he has sufiScient
jewels for it, and that he will set about it
the first opportunity."
Aladdin, who had left the sultan to go
and give some orders, returned just as the
vizier had given that prince his supposed rea-
sons. " Son," said the sultan to him, " this
hall is the most worthy of admiration of
any hall in the world ; there is only one
thing that surprises me, which is, to find
one of the windows unfinished. Is it from
the forgetfulness or negligence of the work-
men, or want of time, that they have not
put the finishing stroke to so beautiful a
piece of architecture?" "Sir," answered
Aladdin, " it was for none of these reasons
that your majesty sees it in this condition.
The thing was done by design, and it was
by my orders that the workmen left it thus,
since I had a mind that your majesty should
have the glory of finishing this hall and the
palace also together, and I beg of you to
approve of my good intention, that I may
remember the favours I have received from
you." "If you did it w'th this intention,"
replied the sultan, " I take it kindly, and
will give orders about it immediately." He
accordingly sent for the most considerable
jewellers and goldsmiths in his capital.
In the meantime, the sultan went out of
this hall, and Aladdin led him into that
where he had regaled the princess Badroul-
boudour on their wedding-day. The prin-
cess came immediately afterwards, and re-
ceived the sultan her father with an air that
shewed how much she was satisfied with
her marriage. Two tables were immediately
spread with the most delicious moats, all
served up in gold dishes. The sidtan, prin-
cess, Aladdin, and the grand vizier, sat
down at the first, and all the lorda of the
court at the second, which was very long.
The sultan was very mnch pleased with the
meats, and owned he had never oaten any-
thing more excellent. He said the same of
the wines, which were delicious ; but what
he most of all admired was four large beau-
fets, profusely furnished with large flagons,
basins, and cups, all of massy gold, set with
jewels. He was l)esides charmed with seve-
ral bands of music, which were ranged along
the hall, and formed most agreeable con-
certs.
When the sultan rose from table, he was
informed that the jewellers and goldsmiths
he had sent for attended ; upon which he
returned to the hall, and shewed them the
window which was unfinished. " I sent for
you," said he, "to fit up this window in as
great perfection as the rest ; examine them
well, and make all the despatch you can, to
make them all alike."
The jewellers and goldsmiths examined
the other three-and-twenty windows with
great attention, and after they had consulted
together to know what each could furnish, they
returned, and presented themselves before the
sultan, whose principal jeweller, undertak-
ing to speak for the rest, said, " Sir, we are
all wiUiug to exert our utmost care and in-
dustry to obey your majesty ; but among us
all we caimot furnish jewels enough for so
great a work." " I have more than are
necessary," said the sultan; "come to my
palace, and you shall choose what are fit-
ting."
When the sultan returned to his palace,
he ordered his jewels to be fetched out, and
the jewellers took a great quantity, particu-
l.arly those which Aladdin had made him a
present of, which they soon used, without
making any great advance in their work.
They came again several times for more,
and in a month's time had not finished half
their work. In short, they used all the
jewels the sultan had of his own, and bor-
rowed of the vizier, and yet the work was
not half done.
Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's
endeavours to make this window like the
rest were in vain, and that he never could
compass it with credit, sent for the jewellers
and goldsmiths, and not only bid them de-
sist from their work, but ordered them to
undo what they had begim, and to carry aU.
their jewels back to the sultan and to the
vizier. They undid in a few hours what they
had been eix weeks about, and retired, leav-
ing Aladdin alone in the hall. He took the
lamp, which he carried about him, and
rubbed it, and presently the genie appeared.
"Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to
leave one of the four-ond-twenty windows
of this hall imperfect, and thou hast exe-
cuted my commands punctually ; now, I
would have thee make it like the rest."
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
427
The genie immediately disappeared. Alad-
din went out of the hall, and returning soon
after into it, he found the window, as he
wished it to be, like the others.
In the meantime, the jewellers and gold-
smiths reached the palace, and were intro-
duced into the sultan's presence, where the
first jeweller, presenting the jewels which
he had brought back, said, in the name of
all the rest, " Sir, your majesty knows how
long we have been upon the work you was
pleased to set us about, in which we used all
imaginable industry. It was far advanced,
when Aladdin obliged us not only to leave
oflF, but to undo what we had already begun,
and bring your majesty your jewels back."
The sultan asked tliem if Aladdin gave them
any reason for so doing, and they answering
that he had given them none, he ordered a
horse to be brought to him presently, which
he mounted, and rode to Aladdin's palace,
with some few attend.ants on font by his
side. When he came there, he alighted at
the staircase, which led up to the hall with
the twenty-four windows, and went directly
up to it, without giving previous notice to
^addin ; but it happened that at that very
juncture Aladdin was opportunely there, and
had just time to receive him at the door.
The sultan, without giving Aladdin time
to complain obligingly of his not giving him
notice, that ho might have acquitted himself
with the more duty and respect, said to him,
♦' Son, I come myself to know the reason
why you left so noble and magnificent a hall
as this is imperfect."
Aladdin disguised the true reason, which
was, that the sultan was not rich enough in
jewels to be at so great an expense, but said,
"It is true your majesty saw this hall un-
finished, bat I beg of you now to see if any-
thing is wanting."
The sidtan went directly to the window
which was left imperfect, and when he found
it like the rest, he fancied that he was mis-
taken, and examined the two windows on
each side, and afterwards all the four-and-
twenty ; and when he was convinced that
the window, which several workmen had
been so long about, was finished iu so short
a time, he embraced Aladdin, and kissed
him between his eyes. " My son," said he,
"what a man you are to do such surjmsing
things always in the twinkling of an eye !
There is not your fellow iu the world. The
more I know yoU, the more I admire you."
Aladdin received these praises from the
sultan with a great deal of modesty, and re-
plied in these words : " Sir, it is a great
honour to me to deserve your majesty's
good-will and approbation, and I assure you
I shall study to deserve them more."
The sultan returned to his palace as he
came, but would not let Aladdin go back
with him. When he came there, he found
his grand vizier waiting for him, to whom
he related the wonder he had been a witness
of with the utmost admiration, and in such
terms as left that minister no room to doubt
but that the fact was as the sultan related
it ; though he was the more confirmed in
his belief that Aladdin's palace was the effect
of enchantment, as he told the sultan the
first moment he saw it. He was going to
repeat the same thing again, but tlie sidtan
interrupted him, and said, " You told me
so once before. I see, vizier, you have not
forgot your son's marriage to my daughter."
The grand vizier plainly saw how much the
sultan was prejiossessed, and therefore
avoided any disputes, and let him remain in
his own o{)inion. The sultan, as certain as
he rose in a morning, went into the closet
to look at Aladdin's palace, and would go
many times in a day to contemplate and
admire it.
All this time, Aladdin did not confine
himself iu his palace, but took care to shew
himself once or twice a week in the town,
by going sometimes to one mosijue, and
sometimes to another, to prayers, or to pay
a visit to the grand vizier, who affected to
pay his court to him on certain days, or to
do the principal lords of the court the hon-
our to return their visits, after he had re-
galed them at his i)alace. Every time he
went out, he c.nv.aed two slaves, who walked
by tii6 side of his horse, to throw handfuls
of money among the people, as he passed
through the streets and squares, which were
generally on those occasions crowded. Be-
sides, no one came to his palace gates to ask
alms, but returned satisfied with his liber-
ality. In short, he so divided his time, that
not a week passed but Aladdin went either
once or twice a hunting, sometimes in the
environs of the city, sometimes farther oflf;
at which times the villages through which
he passed felt the effects of his generosity,
which gained him the love and blessings of
the people ; and it was common for tliem to
swear by his head. In short, witliout giving
the least umbrage to the sultan, to whom he
paid all imaginary respect, it might he said
that Aladdin, by his affable behaviour and
liberality, had won the affections of the peo-
ple, and was more beloved than the sultan
himself. With all these good qualities he
shewed a courage and a zeal for the public
good which could not be auflicieutly ap-
plauded. He gave sufficient proofs of both
in a revolt on the borders of that kingdom :
for he no sooner understood that the sultau
was levying an army to disperse the rebels,
but he begged the command of it, which he
found no difficulty to obtain. As soon as
he was at the head of the army, he marched
against the rebels with so much expedition,
that the sultan heard of the defeat of the
rebels before he had received an account of
428
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
his arrival in the nrmy. And though this
action rendered his name famous throughout
the kingdom, it made no alteration in his
disposition ; but he was as affable after his
victory as before.
Aladdin had behaved himself after this
manner several years, when the African
magician, who undesignedly had been the
instrument of raising him to so high a jiitch
of fortune, bethought himself of him in
Africa, whither, after his expedition, he re-
turned; and though he was almost per-
suaded that Aladdin died miserably in the
subterraneous abode where he left him, yet
he had the curiosity to inform himself about
his end with certainty ; and as he was a
great geomancer, he took out of a cupboard
a square covered box, which he made use of
in his geomantic observations, then sat him-
self down on his sofa, set it before him, and
uncovered it. After ho had prepared and
levelled the sand which was in it, with an
intention to discover whether or no Aladdin
died in the subterraneous abode, he cast tho
points, drew the figures, and formed a horo-
scope, by which, M'ben he came to examine
it, he found that Aladdin, instead of dying
in the cave, had escaped out of it, lived
splendidly, was very rich, had married a
princess, and was very much honoured and
respected.
The magician no sooner understood by
"the rules of his diabolical art, that Aladdin
had arrived to that height of good fortune,
but a colour can.e into his face, and he cried
•out in a rage, "This poor sorry tailor's son
has discovered the secret and virtue of the
lamp ! I believed his death to be certain,
but find too plainly he enjoys the fruit of
my labour and study. But I will prevent
his enjoying it long, or perish in the at-
tempt. He was not a great while deliberat-
ing on what he should do ; but the next
morning mounted a barb which was in his
stable, set forwards, .and never stopped but
just to refresh himself and horse, till he ar-
rived at the capital of China. He alighted,
took up his lodgings in a klian, and stayed
there the remainder of the day and the
night, to refresh himself after so long a
journey.
Tlie next day his first object was to in-
quire what people said of Aladdin ; and,
taking a walk through the town, he went
to the most public and frequented places,
where people of the best distinction met to
drink a certain warm liquor, which he had
drank often when he was there before. As
soon as he sat down, he was presented with
a glass of it, which he took ; but, listening
at the same time to the discourse of the
company on each side of him, he heard
them talking of Aladdin's palace. When he
had drank off his glass, he joined them ;
and, taking this opportunity, asked them
particularly what palace that was they spuka
so advantageously of. "From whence come
you ?" said the person to whom he addressed
himself ; "you must certainly be a stranger,
not to have seen or heard talk of prince
Aladdin's palace, (for he was called so after
his marriage with the princess BodroiUbou-
dour.) I do not say," continued the man,
"that it is one of the wonders of the world,
but that it is the only wonder of the world,
since nothing so grand, rich, and magnifi-
cent was ever seen. Certainly you must
have come from a great distance, not to have
heard of it ; it must have been talked of all
over the world. Go and see it, and then
judge whether I have told you more than
the truth." "Forgive my ignorance," re-
plied the African magician; "T arrived
here but yesterday, and came from the
farthest part of Africa, where the fame of
this palace had not reached when I came
away. For the affair which brought me
hither was so urgent, that my sole object
was to get here as soon as I could, without
stopping anywhere, or making any acquaint-
ance. But I will not fail to go and see it ;
my impatience is so great, I will go imme-
diately ond satisfy my curiosity, if you will
do me the favour to shew me the way
thither."
The person to whom the African magician
addressed himself took a pleasure in shew-
ing him the way to Aladdin's palace, and he
got up, and went thither instantly. When
he came to the palace, and had examined it
on all sides, he doubted not but that Alad-
din had made use of the lamp to build it.
Without attending to the inability of Alad-
din, a poor tailor's son, he knew that none
but the genies, the slaves of the lamp, the
attaining of which he had missed, coidd
have performed such wonders ; and, piqued
to the quick at Aladdin's happiness and
greatness, he returned to the khan where he
lodged.
The next thing was to know where the
lamp was ; if Aladdin carried it about with
him, or where he kept it ; and this he was
to discover by an operation of geomoncy.
As soon as he entered his lodging, ho took
his square box of sand, which he always
carried along with him when he travelled,
and after he had performed some operations,
he knew that the lamp was in Aladdin's
palace ; and so great was his joy at the
discoverj', that he could hardly contain
himself. "Well," said he, "I shall have
the lamp, and I defy Aladdin's preventing
my carrying it ofl", and making him sink to
his original meanness, from which he has
taken so high a flight."
It was Aladdin's misfortune at that time
to be gone a hunting for eight days, of which
only three were expired, which the magician
came to know by this means. After he had
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
429
performed this operation, which gave him
80 much joy, he went to the master of the
khan, entered into discourse with iiim on
indifferent matters, and, among the rest,
told him ho had been to see Aladdin's pa-
lace ; and, after exaggerating on all that he
had seen most surprising and most striking
to him and all the world, he added, "But
my curiosity leads me farther, and I shall
not be easy till I have seen the person to
whom this wonderful edifice belongs."
"That will bo no difficult mivtter," replied
the master of the khan; "there is not a
day passes but he gives an opportunity when
he is in town, but at present he is not at
home, and has been gone these three days
on a hunting-match, which will last eight."
The magician wanted to know no more :
he took his leave of the master of the khan,
and returning to his own chamber, said to
himself, " This is an opportunity I ought by
no means to let slip, but will make the best
use of it." To that end he went to a maker
and seller of lamps, and asked for a dozen
of copper lamps. The master of the shop
told him he had not so many by him, but if
he would have patience till the next day, he
would get him so many agamst any time he
liad a mind to have them. The magician
appointed his time, and bid him take care
that they shoidd be handsome and well po-
lished. After promising to pay him well,
he returned to his inn.
The next day the magician called for the
twelve lamps, paid the man his full price
for them, put them into a basket which he
brought on purpose, and, with the basket
hanging on his arm, went directly i> Alad-
din's palace ; and when he came near it, he
began crying, "Who will change old lamps
for new ones?" As he went along, he ga-
thered a crowd of children about him, who
hooted at him, and thought him, as did all
who chanced to be passing by, mad or a fool,
to offer to change nev.' lamps for old ones.
The African magician never minded
their scoffs and hootiugs, or all they could
say to him, but Jtill continued crying, " Who
will change old lamps for new ones?" He
repeated this so ofi.en, walking backwards
and forwards about the princess Badroid-
boudour's palace, that the princess, who
T.as then in the hall with the four-and-
twenty windows, hearing a man cry some-
thing, and not being able to distinguish his
words, by reason of the hooting of the chil-
dren and increasing mob about him, sent
one of her women slaves down to know what
he cried.
The slave was not long before she re-
turned, and ran into the hall, laughing so
heartily, that the princess coidd not forbear
herself. " Well, giggler," said the princess,
"will you tell me what you laugh at?"
" Madam," answered the slave, laughing still,
" who can forbear laughing, to see a fool,
with a basket on his arm, fiUl of fine new
lamps, asking to exchange them for old ones?
The children and mob crowding about him
so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise
they can by deriding him."
Another woman slave, hearing this, said,
"Now you speak of lamps, I know nob
whether the princess may have observed it,
but there is an old one upon the cornice, and
whoever owns it will not be sorry to find a
new one in its stead. If the princess has a
mind, she may have the pleasure to try if
this fool is so silly as to give a new lamp for
an old one, without taking anything for the
exchange."
The lamp this slave spoke of was Alad-
din's wonderful lamp, which he, for fear of
losing it, had laid upon the cornice before
he went hunting ; which precaution he ma<le
use of several times before, but neither the
princess, the slaves, nor the eunuchs, had
ever taken notice of it. At all other times
but hunting, he carried it about him, and
then, indeed, he might have locked it up;
but other people have been guiltj of as great
oversights, and will be so to the end of time.
The princess Badroulboudour, who knew
not the value of this lamp, and the interest
that Aladdin, not to mention hers.^lf, had {0
keep it safe from everybody else, entered
into the pleasantry, and bid a eunuch take
it, and go and make the exchange. The
eunuch obeyed, went out of the hoU, and
no sooner got to the palace gates, but he
saw the African magician, called to him, and
shewing him the old lamp, said to him,
" Give me a new lamp for this."
The magician never doubted but this wa3
the lamp he wanted. There coidd be no
othei" such in this palace, where all was
gold or silver. He snatched it eagerly out
of the eunuch'p hand, and thrusting it as far
as he coidd ' ..co his breast, offered him his
basket, and bid him choose which he liked
best. The eunuch picked out one, and car-
ried it 'to the princess Batlroulboudour ; but
the exchange was no • sooner matle, than the
place rung with the shouts of the children,
deriding the magician's folly.
The African magician gave everybody
leave to laugh as much as they pleased ; he
stayed not long about Aladdin's palace, but i
made the best of his way, without crying
any longer, " New lamps for old ones." His
end was answered, and by his silence he got
rid of the children and the mob.
As soon as Le got out of the square be-
tween the two palaces, he skulked down the
streets which were the least frequented ; and
having no more occasion for his lamps or
basket, set all down in the midst of a street
where nobody saw him ; thea scouring down
another street or two, he walked till he came
to one of the city gates, and pursuing his
♦30
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
way through the suburbs, which were very
long, he bought some provisions liefore lie
left the city, got into the Helds, and turned
into the roail which led to a lonely remote
place, where he stopped for a time, to exe-
cute the design he came about, never caring
for his horse, which he left at the khan ; but
thinking himself perfectly compensated by
the treasure he had acquired.
In this place the African magician passed
the remainder of the day, till the darkest
time of night, when ho pulled the lamp out
of his breast, and rubbed it. At that sum-
mons, the genie appeared, and said, "What
woiildst thou have? 1 am ready to obey
thee aa thy slave, and the slave of all those
who have that lamp in their hands ; both I
and the other slaves of the lamp." "I com-
mand thee," replied the magician, "to tran-
sport me immediately, and the palace which
thou and the other slaves of the lamp have
built in this town, such as it is, and with all
the people in it, to such a jdace in Africa."
The genie mode no reply, but with the as-
sistance of the other genies, the slaves of
the lamp, transported him and the palace
entire immediately to the place he appointed
in Africa ; where we will leave the magician,
palace, and the princess Badroulboudour, to
speak of the surprise of the sultan.
As soon as the sultan rose the next morn-
ing, according to custom, he went into his
closet, to have the pleasure of contemplating
and admiring Aladdin's palace ; but when
he first looked that way, and, instead of a
palace, saw an empty space, such as it was
before the palace was built, he thought he
was mistaken, and rubbed his eyes : he
looked again, and saw nothing more the se-
cond time than the first, though the weather
was fine, the sky clear, and the daybreak
beginning to appear had made all objects
very distinct. He looked through the two
openings on the right and left, and saw no-
thing more than he had formerly been used
to see out of them. His amazement was
80 great, that he stood for some time turning
his eyes to the spot where the palace had
stood, but where it was no longer to be seen.
He could not comprehend how so large a
palace as Aladdin's, which he saw plainly
every day, and but the day before, should
vanish so soon, and nDt leave the least re-
mains behind. "Certainly," said he to him-
self, " I am not mistaken ; it stood there : if
it had tumbled down, the materials would
have lain in heaps ; and if it hatl been swal-
lowed up by an earthquake, there would be
some mark left." Whatever was the case,
though he was convinced that no palace
stood there, he could not help staying there
some time, to see whether he might not be
mistaken. At last he retired to his apart-
ment, not without looking behind him before
he quitted the spot, and ordered the grand
vizier to be fetched in all haste ; and in the
meantime sat do'viii, his mind agitated by
so many different thoughts, that he knew
not what to resolve on.
The grand vizier did not make the sultan
wait long for him, but came with so much
precipitation, that neither he nor his attend-
ants, aa they passed by, missed Aladdin's
palace ; neither did the porters, when they
opened the palace gates, observe any altera-
tion.
When he came into the sultan's presence,
he said to him, " Sir, the haste in which
your majesty sent for me makes me believe
something very extraordinary has happened,
since you know this is council-day, and I
shall not fail attending you there very soon."
"Indeed," said the sultan, "it is something
very extraordinary, as you aay, and you will
allow it to be ao : tell me what has become
of Aladdin's palace." "Aladdin's palace!"
replied the grand vizier, in great amaze-
ment; "I thought as I passed by it, it stood
in its uaual place : such substantial buildings
are not so easily removed." "Go into my
closet," said the sultan, "and tell me if you
can see it."
The grand vizier went into the closet,
where he was struck with no less amaze-
ment than the sultan had been. When he
was well assured that there was not the
least appearance of this place, he returned
to the sultan. "Well," said the sultan,
"have you seen Aladdin's palace ?" "Sir,"
ansnrered the vizier, "your majesty may re-
member that I had the honour to tell you,
that that palace, which was the subject of
your admirtvtion, with all its immense riches,
was only the work of magic and a magician ;
but your majesty would not pay the least
attention to what I said."
The sultan, who could not deny what the
grand vizier had represented to him, flew
into the greater passion. "Where is that
impostor, that wicked wretch," said he,
" that I may have his head cut off imme-
diately." "Sir," replied the grand vizier,
"it is some days since he came to take his
leave of your majesty; he ought to be sent
to, to know what is become of his palace,
since he cannot be ignorant of what has been
transacted." " That is too great an indul-
gence," replied the sidtan ; "go and order
a detachment of thirty horse, to bring him
to me loaded with chains." The grand
vizier went and gave orders for a detach-
ment of thirty horse, and instructed the
officer who commanded them how they were
to act, that Aladdin might not escape them.
The detachment pursued their orders ; and,
about five or six leagues from the town, met
him returning from hunting. The officer
went up to him, and told him that the sul-
tan was so impatient to see him, that he had
sent them to accompany him home.
ALADDIN; OR, THE IVONDKRFUL LAMP.
431
Aladdin hod not tho least suspicion of the
true reason of their meeting him, but pur-
sued his -way hunting ; but when he came
M'ithin half a league of the city, the detach-
ment surrounded him, and tho otficer ad-
dressed himself to him, and said, " Vrince
Aladdin, it is with great regret that I de-
clare to you the sultan's order to arrest you,
and to carry yoii before him as a criminal.
T. beg of you not to take it ill that we aci^uit
ourselves of our duty, and to forgive us."
Aladdin, who felt himself innocent, was
very mucli surprised at this declaration, and
asked the ofHcer if he knew what crime he
was accused of, who rei)lied he did not.
Then Aladdin, finding that his retinue was
much inferior to this detachment, alighted
off his horse, and said to the officer, " Exe-
cute your orders; T am not conscious that I
have committed any crime against the sul-
tan's person or government." A large long
chain was immediately put about his neck,
and fastened round liis body, so that both
his arras were pinioned down; then the
officer put himself at the head of the detach-
ment, and one of the troopers taking hold of
the end of the chain, and proceeding after
the officer, led Aliiddin, who was obliged to
follow him on foot, into the town.
When this detachment entered the suburbs,
the people who saw Aladdin thus led as a
state criminal, never doubted but that Lis
head was to be cut off; and as he was gene-
rally beloved, some took sabres and other
arms ; and those who had none, gathered
stones, and followed the detachment. The
lost five of the detachment faced about to
dibperse them ; but their numbers presently
increased so much, that the detachment be-
gan to think that it would be well if they
could get into the sultan's palace before
Aladdin was rescued; to prevent which, ac-
cording to the different extent of the streets,
they took care to cover the ground by ex-
tending or closing. In this manner they
arrived at the palace square, and there drew
lip in a line, and faced about till their officer
and the trooper that led Aladdin hod got
within the gates, which were immediately
shut.
Aladdin was carried before the sultan, who
waited for him, attended by the grand vizier,
in a balcony; and as soon as he saw him, he
ordered the executioner, who waited there
on purpose, to cut off his head without hear-
ing him, or giving him leave to clear him-
self.
As soon as the executioner had taken oflf
the chain that was fastened about Aladdin's
neck and body, and laid down a skin stained
with the blood of the many criminals he
had executed, he made Aladdin kneel down,
and tied a bandage over his eyes. Then
drawing his sabre, he took his measures to
strike the blow, by flourishing it three times
in the air, 'waiting for the sultan's giving the
signal to separate his head from his body.
At that instant, the grand vizier, perceiv-
ing that the populace had forced the guard
of horse, and crowded the great square be-
fore the palace, and were scaling the walls
in several places, and beginning to pull them
down, to force their way in, ho said to the
sultan, before he gave the signal, " I beg of
your majesty to consider what you are going
to do, since you will harwd your palace
being forced ; and who k.iows what fatal
consequence may attend it?" " My palaae
forced ! " replied the sultan ; "who can have
that boldness?" "Sir," answered the grand
vizier, " if your majesty but cast your eyes
towards the great square, and ou the palace
walls, you will know the truth of what I
say."
The sultan was so frightened when he saw
so great a crowd, and perceived how enraged
they were, that he ordered the executioner
to put his sabre immediately in the scab-
bard, and to unbind Aladdin; and at the
same time bid the chiaoux declare to the
people that the sultan had i)ardoned him,
and that they might retire.
Then all those who had already got upon
the waUs, and were witnesses of what had
passed, abandoned their design, and got
quickly down, overjoyed that they had saved
the life of a man they dearly loved, published
the news among the rest, which was pre-
sently confirmed by the chiaoux from the
top of the terraces. The justice which the
sultan had done to Aladdin soon disarmed
the popidace of their rage ; the tumult
abated, and the mob disjiersed.
When Aladdin found himself at liberty,
he turned towards the balcony, and percejv-
ing the sultan, raised his voice, and said to
him in a moving manner, " I beg of your
majesty to add one favour more to that
which I have already received, which is, to
let me know my crime." "Your crime!"
answered the sidtan; "perfidious wretch!
do you not know it ? Come up hither, and
I will shew it you."
Aladdin went up, and presenting himself
to the sidtan, the latter going before him
without looking at him, said, "FoUow me;"
and then led him into his closet. When he
came to the door, he said, "Go in; yon
ought to know whereabouts your palace
stood ; look round, and tell me what is be-
come of it."
Aladdin looked round, but saw nothing.
He perceived very well the spot of ground
his palace had stood on ; but not being able
to divine how it should disappear, this ex-
traordinary and surprising event threw him
into so great confusion and amazement, that
he could not return one word of answer.
The sultan growing impatient, said to him
again, " Where is your palace, and what is
432
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Ijfcomo of niy danjjhter ? " Then Aladdin,
Lreokinj; silence, said to him, *' Sir, I see
vtiry well, and own that the palace which I
have built is not in the same place it was,
but is vaiiiHhed ; neither can I tell your
majesty where it may be, but can assure
you I have no hand in it."
" I am not so much concerned about your
palace," rei)liod the sultan ; "I value my
daughter ten thousand times before it, and
would have you find her tint, otherwise I
will cause your head to be struck off, and no
consideration shall prevent it."
" I beg of your majesty," answered Alad-
din, "to grant mo forty days to make my
inquiries ; and if in that time I have not
the success I wish for, I will come again,
and offer my head at the foot of your throne,
tc bo disposed of at your pleasure." "I
give you the forty days you ask for," said
the sultan ; " but think not to abuse the
favour I shew you, by imagining you shall
escape my resentment : for I will find you
out in whatsoever part of the world you
are."
Aladdin went out of the sultan's presence
with great humiliation, and in a condition
worthy of pity. He crossed the courts of
the palace, hanging down his head, and in
so great confusion, that he durst not lift up
his eyes. The principal officers of the court,
who had all professed themselves his friends,
and whom he had never disobliged, instead
of going up to him to comfort him, and offer
him a retreat in their Louses, turned their
backs on him, as much Co avoid seeing him,
as lest he shoidd know them. But had they
accosted him with a word of comfort, or
offer of service, they would have no more
known Aladdin. He did not luiow himself,
and was no longer in his senses, as plainly
appeared by asking everybody he met, and
at every house, if they had seen his i)alace,
or could tell him any news of it.
These questions made everybody believe
that Aladdin was mad. Some laughed at
him, but people of sense and humanity, par-
ticularly those who had had any connexion
of business or friendship with him, really
pitied him. For three days he rambled
about the city after this manner, without
coming to any resolution, or eating anything
but what some good people forced him to
take out of charity.
At last, as he could no longer, in his un-
happy condition, stay in a city where he had
formerly made so fine a figure, he quitted it,
and took the road to the country ; and after
he had traversed several fields in a frightful
nnoertainty, at the approach of night he
ca ne to a river side. There, possessed by
hi; despair, he said to himself, "Where
shall I seek my palace ? In what province,
country, or part of the world, shall I find
that and my dear princess, whom the sultan
expects from me? I shall never succeed;
I had better free myself at once from sa
much fruitless fatigue and such bitter grief
which preys upon mo." He was just going
to throw himself into the river, but, as a
good Mussulman, true to his religion, he
thought he could not do it without first
saying his jjraycrs. Going to prepare him-
self, he went first to the river side to wash
his hands and face, according to custom.
But that place being stt'ej) and slippery, by
reason of the water's beating against it, he
slid down and had certainly fallen into the
river, but for a little rock which projected
about two feet out of the earth. Happily
also for him, he still had on the ring which
the African magician put on his finger be-
fore he went down into the subterraneous
abode to fetch the precious lamp, which had
not been taken from him. In slipping down
the bank he rubbed the ring so hard by
holding on the rock, that immediately the
same genie appeared whom he saw in the
cave where the magician left him. " What
would thou have?" said the genie. "I
am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the
slave of all those that have that ring on
their finger j both I and the other slaves of
the ring."
Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an appa-
rition he 80 little exj)ected in the despair he
was in, replied, "Save my life, genie, a.
second time, either by shewing me to the
place where the palace I have caused to be
built now stands, or immediately transport
it back where it first stood." " What yoii
command me," answered the genie, " is not
in my power ; I am oidy the sla^") of the
ring; yo\i must address yourself to the
slave of the lamp." "If it be so," replied
Aladdin, " I command thee, by the power
of the ring, to transport me to the place
where my palace stands, in what part of
the world soever it is, and set me down
under the princess Badroidboudour's win-
dow." These words were no sooner out of
his mouth, but the genie transported him
into Africa, to the midst of a large meatlow,
where his palace stood, a small distance
from a great city, and set him exactly imder
the windows of the princess's apartment,
and then left him. All this was done almost
in on instant.
Aladdin, notwithstanding the darkness of
the night, knew his palace and the princess
Badroidboudour's apartment again very well ;
but as the night was far advanced, and all
was quiet in the palace, he retired to some
distance, and sat down at the foot of a large
tree. There, full of hopes, and reflecting
on his happiness, for which he was indebted
to pure chance, he found himself in a much
more peaceable situation than when he was
arrested and carried before the sultan, deli-
veved from the danger of losing his life.
\
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
433
He amused himself for some time with these
agreeable thouglits ; but not Imving slept
for live or nix days, he was not able to resist
the drowsiness which canio upon him, but
fell fast asleep where ho was.
The next morning, as soon as day appeared,
Aladdin was ajjrecably awakened, not only
by the singing of the birds whicli had roosted
in the tree under which he had passed tho
night, but all those which perched in the
thick trees of the palace garden. When he
cast his eyes on that wonderful edifice, he
felt an inexpressible joy to think he should
soon be master of it again, and once more
possess his dear princess Badroulboudour.
Pleased with these hopes, he immediately
got U]), went towards tho princess's apart-
ment, and walked some time under her win-
dow, in exi)ectation of her rising, that ho
miglit ace her. During this expectation, he
began to consider with himself from whence
the cause of his misfortune proceeded ; and
after mature rellection, he no longer doubted
that it was owing to his having jmt his lamp
out of his sight. Ho accused himself of
negligence, and the little care he took of it,
to let it be a moment away from him. But
what puzzled him most was, he coidd not
imagine who had been so jealous of his hap-
piness. He would soon have guessed this,
if he had known that both he and his
palace were in Africa, tho very name of
which would soon have made him remember
the magician, hia declared enemy ; but the
genie, the slave of the ring, had not made
the least mention of the name of the place,
nor had Aladdin asked him.
The princess Badroulboudour rose earlier
that morning than she had done since her
transportation into Africa by the magician,
v,'hose presence she was forced to support
once a day because he was master of the
palace ; but ahe had always treated him so
harahly, that he dared not reside in it. As
she was dressing, one of the women, looking
through the window, perceived Aladdin, and
presently ran and told her mistress. The
princess, who could not believe the news,
went that moment herself to the window,
and seeing Aladdin, immediately opened it.
The noise the princess made in opening the
window made Aladdin turn hia \vn\A that
way, who, knowing the princess, saluted her
with an air that expressed hia joy. "To lose
no time," said she to him, " I have sent to
have the private door opened for you. En-
ter and come up ; " and then shut the win-
dow.
The private door, which was just under
the princess's apartment, was soon opened,
and Aladdin was conducted up into the prin-
cess's chamber. It is impoaaible to express
the joy of those lovers at seeing each othor.
after a separation which they both thought
was for ever. They embraced several times,
and shewed all tho luarki of a sincore love
and tendernesa, after an event so unfurcseen
and melancholy. After these embracings,
and shedding tears of joy, they sat down,
and Aladdin, beginning the dincourse, said,
"I beg of you, princess, in God's name, be-
fore we talk of anything else, to tell p't",
both for your own sake, the sultan your
father's, and mine, what has becnnio of an
old lamp which I left upon the cornleo in
the hall of tho four-and-twenty windows,
before I went to hunting."
"Alas! dear husband," answered tho
princess, •' I am afraid our misfortune is
owing to that lamp : anil what grieves me
most is, that T have been the cause «f it."
" Princess," replied Aladdin, "do not blame
yourself, aince it was entirely my faidt, and
I ought to have taken more care of it. But
let us now think only of repairing the loss :
tell me what has happened, and into whnse
hands it has fallen."
Then tho princess Badroulboudour gave
Aladdin an accoiuit how she changed the old
lani|) for a new one, which she ordered to be
fetched, that he might see it, and how the
next morning sho found herself in the un-
known country they were then in, which
she was told waa Africa, by tho traitor who
had transported her thither by his magic
art.
"Princess," said Aladdin, internipting
her, " you have informed me who the traitor
is, by telling me we are in Africa. He ia
the most perfidious of all men ; but thia is
neither a time nor place to give you a full
account of hia villainies. I desire you oidy
to tell me what he has done with the lamp,
and where he has put it." "He carries it
carefidly wrapt up in his bosom," said the
princess; "and thia I can assure you, be-
cause he pidlcd it out before me, and shewed
it to me in triumph."
"Princess," said Aladdin, "do not be
displeased that I trouble you with so many
questions, since they are equally im])ortant
both to you and me. But to come to what
most particularly concerns me. Tell me, I
conjure you, how so wicked and perfidious
a man treats you?" "Since I have been
here," replied the princess, '' he comes once
every day to see me ; and I am persuaded
the little satiafaction he receivea from his
visits makea him come no oftener. AU his
discourse tends to persuade me to break that
faith I have pledged to you, and to take him
for a husband ; giving me to understand, I
ought not to entertain any hopes of ever
seeing you again, for that you were dead,
and had had your head struck off by the
sultan my father's order. Ho added, to jus-
tify himself, that you were an ungrateful
wretch ; that your good fortune was owing
to him, and a great many other things of
that nature, which I forbear to repeat; but
434
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
M he received no other anawcr from mo but
grievoiu) comi>laiiit8 and imwn, ho was always
forced to retiru with oh little HatiHfuctioii ax
he come. I doubt not Iuh intcMitiun iH to
allow mo time to van(|uiHli my uriuf, in
hopes ofturwnrdi* tliat I may change my
Hontimcnttt ; and if I ])or8overe in an olinti-
nate rtifimul, to use violiaice. But my dear
huH))and'a iircsenco removes all my din-
quiets."
"I am ecmfident it Ih not in vain," replied
Aladdin, " sinco my princesH'H fears are re-
moved, and I tliiiik 1 have found the means
to deliver you from both your enemy and
mine : to execute this desi^'ti, it is necessary
for me to go to the town. [ shall return by
noon, and then will communicate my design
to yon, ond tell you what must be done* by
you to ensure success. But that you may
not be surpriHod, I think it projier to ac-
quaint you that 1 shall change my upparel,
and beg of you to give orders that I m.vy not
wait long at the private door, but that it
may bo opened at the first knock ;" all which
the princess jiromised to observe.
When Aladdin had got out of the palace
by that door, he looked round about him on
all sides, and j)erceiving a peasant going into
the country, he hiistened after him ; and
when he had overtaken him, made a jiroposal
to him to change clothes, which the man
agreed to. They went behind a hedge, luid
there made the exchange. The countryman
went about his business, and Aladdin to the
city. After traversing several streets, he
came to that part of the town where all sorts
of merchants and artisans had their particu-
lar streets, according to their trades. He
went into that of the druggists ; and going
into one of the largest and best furnished
shops, asked the druggist if he had a certain
powder which he named.
The druggist, looking upon Aladdin by his
habit to be very jjoor, and that he had not
money enough to pay for it, told him he had
it, but that it was very dear ; upon which
Aladdin, penetrating his thoughts, pulled
out his i)urse, and shewing him some gold,
asked for half a drachm of the powder;
which the druggist weighed, and wrapt up
in a piece of paper, and gave him, telling
him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin
put the money into his hand, and staying
no longer in the town but just to get a little
refreshment, returned to the palace, where
he waited not long at the private door.
When he came into the princess's apartment,
he said to her, " Princess, perhaps the aver-
sion you tell me you have for your ravisher,
may be an objection to your executing what
T am going to propose to you ; but give me
leave to tell you, it is proper that you shoidd
at this juncture dissemble a little, and do
violence to your inclinations, if you would
deliver yourself from him, and give my lord
the sultan, your father, the aatisfaotion of
seeing you again.
*' If you will take my advice," continued
he, "dress youmclf this mnmunt in one of
your richest habits, and whin the African
magician comes, make no dittiuulty to give
him the best reception ; receive him with
an open countenance, without ail'ectation or
constraint, yet mo us that, if there remains
any cloud of allliction, he may imagine time
will dittsipate it. In your conversation, let
him undiM'Ntand tliat you strive to forget
me; and that he maybe tlie more fully con-
vinced of your sincerity, invito him to sup
with you, and give him to understand you
should be glad to taste some of the best
wines of his country. He will ])re8ently go
to fetch you some. During his absence, put
into one of the cups like that you are accus-
tomed to drink out of, this powder, and set-
ting it by, charge the slave you design that
night to attend you, upon a signal you shall
agree upon with her, to bring that cup to
you. When the magician and you have
eaten and drank as much as you choose, let
her bring you the cuj), and change cups with
him. Ho will take it as so great a favour
that he will not refuse you, and wUl empty
the cup ; but no sooner will he have drank
it oft', than you will see him fall backwards.
li you have any reluctance to drink out of
his cup, you may i)retend only to do it,
without fear of being discover(;d ; for the
effect of the powder is so quick, that he wiU
not have time enough to know whether you
drink or not."
When Aladdin had finished, " I own,"
answered the princess, " I shall do myself a
great violence in consenting to make the
magician such advances as I see are abso-
lutely necessary for me to make ; but what
cannot one resolve to do against a cruel
enemy? I will therefore follow your ad-
vice, since both my repose and yours depend
on it." After the princess had agreed to
the measures proposed by Aladdin, he took
tus leave of her, and wen' •■ ' iient the rest
f the day in the t ighbou of th<' palace
till it was I. 'ht .. nen he might safely return
to thi int.
Thi oji Badroulboud . who waa
not 01. jonsolable to be . ^ arated from
her deu; ^l>and, v 'lom she loved from the
first mouu / an ntiU continued to love
more out of iuclii ii^n than duty, but also
from the sultan her father, who had always
shewed a tender and paternal love for her,
had, ever since that cruel separation, lived
in great neglect of her person. She had
almost, as one may say, forgot the neatness
so becoming persons of her sex and quality,
porticidarly after the first time the magician
paid her a visit ; and she understood by som
of the women, who knew him again, that it
was he who took the old lamp in exchange
ALADDIN: OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
435
for a nuw one, whiuk uoturi(iu« cheat reii-
durctl the- aight uf him inurt! al)hiirru(l. Huvv-
cvvr, the a)i|>i>rtunity of tokiu^ tia- ruvun^u
he ilvaerveil imioiilt than iihu diirHt hope for,
m'ulo her renolvc to ((ratify Ala<l<liii. Ah
•ooii, therefiire, on he \sa» K<>i»'t x'>l' "'t''
down at her tmlet, ftiid waa drensed l»y her
women to the lust lulvantu^e, in the richuHt
hal>it, most Hiiitaliht to her ik-Hi^ai. Her
girdle wan of the liiiest and larijeHt dIamoudN
iet in ^{ohl, whieh Hho aiiitcd with a neck-
lace of i»earls, Hix ou a Bide, ao well j)roi)or-
tioned to that in the middle, which was the
largest and nioHt valiiahle, that the ^reateiit
Bultanesse.i and <|ueen8 would have been
I>roud to have l)ceu adorned with only two
of the amailest. Her braceletn, which were
of diamondn and ruhi^'a intermixed, answer-
ed admirably to the riuhneaa of the girdle
and necklace.
When the princeaa Badroulboudoiir waa
completely dresseil, she consulted her jilass
and Women u|mn her adjuatmunt; and when
ahe fonnd she wanted no charms to flatter
the foolish pasiiiou of the African magician,
ahe sat down ou a aofa, expecting his
arrival.
The magician came at the usual hour, and
08 soon as he entered the great hall, where
the princess waited to receive him, ahe rose
u]) in all her beauty and charms, and pointed
with her hand to the moat honourable i)lace,
waiting till he sat down, that ahe might sit
at the same time, which woa a piece of civil-
ity ahe had never shewn him before.
The African magician, dazzled more with
the lustre of the princess's eyes than the
glittering of the jewela with which she waa
adorned, waa very much 8uq>ri8ed. The
majeatic and graceful air with which she
received him, ao opposite to her former be-
haviour, quite coafouiuled him.
When he had sat down, the princess, to
free him from his embarrassment, broke
silence first. Looking at him all the time in
a manner suiKcient to make him believe
that he was not so odious to her aa she hod
given him to luidcrstand before, said to him,
" You are, doubtless, amazed to find me so
much altered to-day from what I used to be ;
but your surprise will not be so great when
I actpiaint you that I am naturally of a dis-
position so opposite to melancholy and grief,
sorrow and uneasiness, that I always strive
to put them aa far away as possible when I
find the subject of them is past. I have re-
flected on what you told me of Aladdm's
fate, and know the sultan my father's tem-
per ao well, that I am persuaded, with you,
that Aladdin could not escape the terrible
effects of his rage ; therefore ahould I con-
tinue to lament him all my life, my teara
cannot recall him. For this reaaon, after I
have paid all the duties my love requires of
me to his memory, now he is in the grave,
I think I ought to eudeuvoiir to comfort my-
Holf. Th''He are the motives c.f the ehange
you see ih me ; and to lictriii to east off all
melancholy, 1 am resitlved t<> liaiii.iii it en-
tirely ; and persuaded you will bear mo
company to-nii;ht, I have ordered a supper
to be prepared ; but as 1 havt! no wiiiea but
of Cliina, I have a great desire to taste of
the product of .\frica, whero 1 now am, and
doubt not you will get some of the best."
TliL" .\fricau magician, who looked upon
the ha))piiiesH of coming so soon and ao
easily into the princess Jladrindboudour's
good graces as ini|)OHsible, could not think
of Words expressive enough to testify how
sensible he was of her favours : but to put
an end the sooner to a conversation which
would have embi>rnuised him, if he had en-
gaged farther in it, he turned it upon the
wines of Africa, and said, " Of all the ad-
vantages Africa can boiist, that of ]iro(lucing
the moxt excellent wines is one of the prin-
cipal. I have a vessel of seven years old,
which has never been broached ; and it ia
indeed not )iraising it too much to say it ia
the finest wine in the world. If my prin-
cess," added he, "will ^ive me leave, I will
go and fetch two bottles, ami return again
immediately." " I should be sorry to give
you that trouble," replied the princess, "you
jiad better send for them." " It is necessary
I should go myself," answered the African
magician; "for nobody but myself knows
where the key of the cellai- is laid, or has
the secret to unlock the door." "If it be
so," said the jtrincess, "make haste back
again ; for the longer you stay, the greater
will be my impatience, and we shall sit down
to supper as soon as you come back."
The African magician, full of hopes of his
cx])ected haj>piness, rather Hew than ran,
and returned <iuickly with the wine. The
lirincess not doubting in the least but he.
would make haste, put with her own hand
the i)owder Aladdin gave her into the cui>
that was set a[)art for that purpose. They
sat down at the table opposite to each other,
the magician's back towards the beaufet.
The princess presented him with the best ot
the table, and said to him, "Jf you please,
T will entertain you with a concert of vocal
and instrumental music : but as we are only
two, I think conversation may be more
agreeable." This the magician took aa a
new favour.
After they had eaten some time, the
princess called for some wine, and drank
the magician's health ; and afterwards said
to him, " i^'deed you was in the right to com-
mend your wi^:". since I never tasted of any
ao delicious in my life." ' ' Charming princess, "
said he, holding in hia hand the cup which
had been presented to him, "my wine be-
comes more exquisite by your approbation
of it. " " Then drink my health," replied the
(
%
•fi
436
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
imnceas; "youwilltimlliiuderstauJ wines."
He drank the princess's health, and return-
ing the cup, said, "I think myself happy,
princess, that I reserved this wine for so
good au occasion ; and I own I never
befoi-e drank any so excellent in every re-
spect."
When, they had drank two or thrae cups
morp. a-piece, the princess, who had com-
pletely charmed the African magician by her
civility and obliging behaviour, gave the
signal to the slave who served them with
wine, bidclir.g her bring the cup which had
been filled for herself, and at the same time
bring the magician a full cup. When they
both had their cups in their hands, she said
to him, "I know not how you here express
your loves when drinking together as we
are : with us in China, the lover and his
mistress reciprocally exchange cups, and drink
each other's health : " at the same time she
presented to him the cup which was in her
hand, and held out her hand to receive his.
He for his part hastened to make the ex-
change Avith the more pleasure, because he
looked upon this favour as the most certain
token of an entire conquest over the prin-
cess, which raised his hapjjiness to its
height. Before he drank, he said to her,
with the cui) in his hand, " Indeed, princess,
we Africans are not so refined in the art of
love as you Chinese ; and instructing me in
a lesson I was ignorant of, inf oi'ms me ho\^
Kensible I ought to be of the favour done
me. I shall never, lovely princess, forget
my recovering, by drmkuig out of your cup,
that life, which your cruelty, had it con-
tmued, would have made me despair of."
Tlie princess Badroulboudour, who began
to be tired with this barefaced declaration
of the African magician, interrupted him,
by saying, " Let us drink first, and then say
what you will afterwards ; " and at the same
time set the cup to her lips, while the Afri-
can magician, who was eager to get his wine
off first, drank up the very last drop. In
finishing it he had reclined his head back, to
shew his eagerness, and remained some time
in that state. The princess kej^t her cup at
her lips, till she saw his eyes turn in his
head, and he fell backwards hfeless.
The princess had no occasion to ordo. the
back-door to be o])ened to Aladdin ; for her
women were so disposed from the great
hall to the foot of the staircase, that the
word was no sooner given, that the African
magician was fallen backwards, but the
door opened that instant.
As soon as Aladdin entered the hall, he
saw the magician stretched backwards on
the sofa. The princess Badroulboudour
rose from her seat, and ran overjoyed to
him, to embrace him ; but he stopped her,
and said, "Princess, it is not yet time;
oblige me by retiring to your apartment,
and let me be left alone a moment, while I
endeavour to transport you back to Chine as
quickly as you were brought from thence.''
"When the princess, her women, and
eunuchs, were gone out of the hall, Aladdin
shut the door, and going directly to the dead
body of the magician, opened his vest, and
took out the lamp carefully wrapt up, as the
princess told him, and unfolding and rub-
bing it, the genie immediately appeared.
" Genie," said Aladdin, "I have called thee
to command thee, on the part of thy good
mistress this lamp, to transport this palace
presently into China, to the same place from
whence it was brought hither." The genie
bo ^ed his head in token of obedience, and
diiappoared. Immediately the palace was
transported mto China, and its removal was
Oidy felt by two little shocks, the one when
it was lifted up, the other when it was set
down, and both m a very short interval of
time.
Aladdin went down to the princess's apart-
ment, and embracing her, said, " I can as-
sure you, princess, that your joy and mine
will be complete to-morrow morning." The
princess, who had not quite supped, guessing
that Aladdin might be hungry, ordered the
meats that were served up in the great hall,
and were scarce touched, to be brought
down. The princess and Aladdin ate as
much as they thought fit, and drank in like
manner of the African magician's old wine ;
during which time their discoiu-se could not
be any otherwise than satisfactory, "^nd then
they retired to their own chamber.
From the time of the transportation of
Aladdin's palace, and of the princess Bad-
roulboudour in it, the sultan, that princess's
father, was inconsolable for the loss of her,
as he considered it. He hardly slept night
or day, and instead of taking measures to
avoid everything that could keep off his
afHiction, he, on the con rary, indulged in
it ; for whereas before he used to go every
morning into his closet, to please himself
with that agreeable prospect, he went now
many times in the day, to renew his tears,
and plunge himself into the deepest 'iielan-
choly, by the idea of no more seeing that
which once gave him so much pleasure, and
rertecting how he had lost what was the
most dear to him in this world.
The very morning of the return of Alad-
din's palace, the sultan went by break of
day into his closet, to indulge his sorrows.
Collected in himself, and in a pensive mood,
he cast his eyes in a melancholy manner
towards the place where he remembered
the palace once jtood, expecting only to see
J a open space ; but perceiving that vacancy
filled up, he at first imagined it to be the
effect of a fog ; but looking more attentively,
he was convinced beyond the power of
doubt that it was his son-in-law's palace.
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
437
Then joy and gladness succeeded to sorrow
and grief. He returned immediately into
his apartment, and ordered a horse to be
saddled and brought to him in all haste,
which he mounted that instant, thinking he
could not make haste enough to get to Alad-
din's palace.
Aladdin, who foresaw what would happen,
rose that morning by daybreak, put on one
of the mest magnificent habits his wardrobe
afforded, and went up into the hall of twenty-
four windows, from whence he perceived the
sultan coming, and got down soon enough
to receive him at the foot of the great stair-
case, and to help him to dismount. "Alad-
din," said the sultan, "I cannot speak to
you till I have seen and embraced my
daughter."
He led the sultan into the princess Bad-
roulboudour's apartment, who, having been
told by him, when he rose, that she was no
longer in Africa, but in China, and in the
capital of the sultan her father, had just
done dressing herself. The sidtan embraced
her with his face bathed in tears of joy ; and
the princess, on her side, gave him aU the
testimonies of the extreme iJeasure the sight
of him gave her.
The sultan was some time before he could
open his lip.?, so great was his surprise and
joy to find his daughter again, after he had
given her up for lost; and the princess, after
seeing her father, let fall tears of joy.
At last the sultan broke silence, and said,
"I Avould believe, daughter, your joy to see
me makes you seem so little changed, as if
no misfortune had befallen you ; for a large
palace cannot be so suddenly transported as
yours has been, without great fright and
terriole anguish. I would have you tell nie
all that has happened, and conceal nothing
from me."
The iirinccss, who took great pleasure in
giving the sultan the satisfaction he de-
manded, said, "Sir, if I appear so little
altered, I beg of your majesty to consider
that 1 received new life yesterd.ay morning
by the presence of ray dear husband and
deliverer Aladdin, whom I looked upon and
bewailed as lost to me ; and the happiness of
seeing and embracing vliom has almost re-
covered me to my tornier state of health.
But my greatest trouble was only to find
myself forced from your majesty and my
dear husband ; not only in respect to the in-
clination I boro ^'o my husl)and, bi.t from
the uneasiness I laboured under besides, for
fear that he, thoogh innocent, should feel
the efll'octs of your anger, to which I knew
he was left exposed. I suflfered but little
from the insolence of the wretch who had
carried mo off; for having secured the
ascendant over him, I always put a stop to
his disagreeable discourse, and was aa little
constrained as I am at present.
"As to what relates to my transportation,
Aladdin had no hand in it ; I myself am tho
innocent cause of it." To persuade the sultan
of the truth of what she said, she gave him
a full account how the African magician dis-
guised himself like a seller of lamps, and
offered to change new lamps for old ones ;
and how she amused herself in making that
exchange, being entirely ignorant of the
secret and importance of that lamp ; how
the palace and herself were carried away
and transported into Africa, with the Afri-
can magician, who wns recollected by two
of her women and the eanuch who made tho
exchange of the lamp, when he had the bold-
ness to pay her the first ^-isit, after the suc-
cess of his audacious enterprise, to propose
himself for her husband ; how he persecuted
her till .AJaddin's arrival ; how he and she
concerted measures together to get the lamp
from him again, which he carried about him ;
and the success they had ; and particularly
by her dissimulation, inviting him to supper
and giving him the cup with the powder jire-
paredforhim, "For the rest," added she, "I
leave it to Aladdin to give you an account."
Aladdin had not much to tell the sultan,
but only said, "When the private door was
opened, I went up into the great hall, where
I found the magician lying dead on tho sofa;
as I thought it not proper for the p'-incess
to stay there any longer, I desired her to
go down into lier own apartment, with her
women and uuchs. As soon as I was
alone, and h taken the lamp out of the
magician's breast, I made use of the same
secret he had done to remove the palace,
and carry off the princess ; and by tliat
means the palace was brcmght into the same
l)lace where it stood before ; and I have the
happiness to bring back the princess to your
majesty, as you commanded me. But that
your majesty may not think that I impose
upon you, if you will give yourself the
trouble to go up into the h.ill, you shall see
the magician punished as he deserved."
The sultan, to be assured of the truth,
rose up instantlj-, and went np into the hall,
wliere, when lie saw the African magician
dead, and his face already livid by tho
strength of tlie poison, he embraced Alad-
din with great tendernes:,, and said, "My
son, be i it displeased at my proceedings
against you ; tliey arose from my paternal
love, and therefore you ought to forgive the
excesses to which it hurried me." "Sir,"
rejdied Aladdin, "I have not tho least
reason to conqilain of your majesty's con-
duct, since you did nothing but what your
duty required of you. This infamous magi-
cian, the basest of men, w.is the sole cause
of my niisfortune. When your majesty haa
leisure, I will give you an accoiuit of ano-
ther villainous action ho was guilty of to
me, which was no less black and base tl'.uu
438
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
this, from which I was preserved by the
grace of God in a very particular manner."
"I will take an opportunity, and that very
shortly," replied the sultan, "to hear it;
but in the meantime let us think only of
rejoicing, and the removal of this odious
object"
Aladdiu ordered the magician's dead car-
cas to be removed and thrown on the dung-
hill, for the birds and beasts to prey upon.
In the meantime the sultan commanded the
drums, trumpets, cymbals, and other instru-
ments of music, to announce the public joy,
and a feast of ten days to be proclaimed
for joy of the return of the princess Bad-
roulboudour, and Aladdin with hie; palace.
Thus Aladdin escaped a seeoad xime the
almost inevitable danger of losing his life :
but this was not the last, since he ran as
great a hazard a third time, the circum-
stances of which I shall reLate.
The African magician had a younger
brother, who was as great a necromjvncer,
and even surpassed him in villainy and per-
nicious designs. As they did not live to-
gether, or in the same city, but oftentimes
when one was in tlie east the other was in
the west, they failed not every year to inform
themselves, by their art of necromancy,
where each other was, how they did, and
whether they stood in need of each other's
assistivnce.
Some time after the African m.igician had
failed in his enterprise against Aladdin's
happiness, liis younger brother, who liad not
heard any tidings of him for a year, and was
not in Africa, but in a distant country, had
the curiosity to know in what part of tlie
world he was, how he did, and what he
was doing ; and as he, as well as his brother,
always carried a geomantic square instru-
ment about him, he prepared the sand,*
* "Reml," or "Unml," sipniflcs "sam] prcpnrcil."
or a preparation of srikI, on whicli are marked certain
points serving for a kind oC divination, wliieh we cull
"geoniancy:" and tlie Arabs, Komans, iuul Turks,
"c'con ttlraml." These points, disjiosed in a certain
number on many unequal lines, arc descrilied also with
a pen on paper ; and the jierson who practises divina-
tion by this art is oailed " Rammul."— />'7i»'6efof, ort.
" Baml."
cast the points, and drew the figures. On
examining the houses, he found that his
brother was no longer living ; by another
house, that he had been poisoned, and died
suddenly ; and by another, that it was in
the capital of the kingdom of Clxina ; and
that the person who poisoned him was of
mean birth, and married to a princess, a
sultan's daughter.
When the magician had after this manner
informed himself of his brother s fate, he
lost no time in useless regret, which coidd
not restore Itim to life again; but resolving
immediately to revenge his death, he took
horse, and sot forwards for China : where,
after crossing plains, rivers, mountains,
deserts, and a long tract of country with
out stopping, he arrived after incredible
fatigues.
When he came to the cajjital of China,
which his knowledge of geomancy pointed
out to him, and being certain he had not
mistaken any other kingdom for it, he took
a lodging. Tlie next day he went out, and
walked through the town, not so much to
observe the beauties, whicli were indifi'erent
to liim, but with an intention to take proper
measures to execute his i)eniicioiis designs.
He introduced himself into the most fre-
quented i)laces, where he listened to every-
body's discviurse. In a place where people
resorted to divert themselves witli all sorts
of games, and where some are conversing
wliile others play, he heard some persons
talk of the virtue and piety of a woman
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
439
called Fatima, who had retired from the
world, and of the miracles she performed.
As he fancied that this woman might be
serviceable to him in the project he had in
his head, he took one of the company aside,
and desired him to tell him more particularly
who that holy woman was, and what sort of
miracles she performed.
"What!" said the person to whom he
addressed himself, "have you never seen
or heard talk of her? She is the admira-
tion of the whole town, for her fasting, her
austerities, and her exemplary life. Except
Mondays and Fridays, she never stirs out of
her little cell ; and on those days on which
she comes into the town, she does an infinite
deal of good ; for there is not a person who
has the headache, but is cured by her laying
her hand upon them."
The magician wanted no further informa-
tion. He only asked the person in what
part of the town this holy woman's cell was.
After he had shewn him it, and he had con-
cluded and determined on the detestable de-
aiiin he had in his head, and that he might
know the way again, and be fully informed,
he watched all her steps the first day she
went out after he had made this inquiry,
without losing sight of her till evening, when
he saw her re-enter her cell. When he had
fully observed the place, he went to one of
those houses where they sell a certain hot
liquor, and where any person may pass the
night, particularly in the great heats, when
the people of that country prefer lying on a
mat to a bed. About midnight, after the
magician had satisfied the master of the
house for what little he had called for, he
went out, and proceeded directly to the cell
of Fatima, the holy woman, the name she
was known by throughout the town. He
had no difficulty in opening the door, which
was only fastened with a latch, and he shut
it again after he had got in, without any
noise; and when he entered the cell, per-
ceived Fatima by moonlight lying in the air
on a sofa, covered only by an old mat, with
her head leaning against the wall. He
awakened her and clapped a dagger to her
breast.
Poor Fatima, opening her eyes, was very
much surprised to see a man witli a dagger
at her breast ready to stab hor, and wlio
said to her, " If you cry out, or make the
least noise, I will kill you; but get up and
do as I bid you."
Fatima, who had lain down in her clothes,
got up trembling with fear. " Do not be so
much frightened," said the magician, "I
only want your habit ; give it me presently,
and take mine." Accordingly Fatima and
he changed clothes. Then he said, " Colour
my face as yours is, that I may be like you ;"
but perceiving that the poor cre;iture could
not help trembling, to encourage her, he
said, "I tell you again you need not fear
anything : I swear by the name of God I
will not take away your hfe." Fatima
lighted her lamp, made him come into the
cell, and taking a pencil and dipping it into
a certain liquor, rubbed it over his face, and
assured him the colour would not change,
and that his face was of the same dye as her
own : after which she put her own head-
dress on his head, with a veil, with which
she shewed him how to hide his face as he
passed through the town. After this, she
put a long string of beads about his neck,
which hung down to the middle of his body,
and giving him the stick she used to walk
with, in his hand, brought him a looking-
glass, and bid him look if he was not as Uke
her as possible. The magician found him-
self disguised as he wished to be ; but he
did not keep the oath he so solemnly swore
to the good Fatima ; but instead of stab-
bing her, for fear the blood might discover
him, he strangled her ; and when he found
she was dead, threw her body into a cistern
just by the cell.
The magician, thus disguised like the holy
woman Fatima, spent the remainder of the
night in the cell, aftev he had committed so
horrid a murder. The next morning, two
hours after sunrise, though it was not a day
the holy woman used to go out on, he crept
out of the cell, being well persuaded that
nobody would ask him any questions about
it ; or, if they should, he had an answer
ready for them. As one of the first things
he did after his arrival was to find out
Aladdin's palace, where he was to execute
his designs, he went directly thither.
As soon as the people saw the holy woman,
as they imagined him to be, they presently
gathered about him in a great crowd. Some
begged his blessing, otliers kissed his hand,
and others, more reserved, only the hem of
his garment ; while otliers, whether their
heads ached, or they had a mind to be pre-
served against that distemper, stooped for
him to lay his hands upon them ; which he
did, muttering some words in form of prayer :
and, in short, counterfeited so well, that
everybody took him for the holy woman.
After frequently stojiping to satisfy these
kind of people, who received neither good
nor harm from this impositinn of hands, he
came at last to the square before Aladdin's
palace. The crowd wae so great that the
eagerness to get at him increased in propor-
tion. Those who were the most zealous and
strong forced their way through the crowd
to get room. There were such quarrels, and
so great a noise, that the i)rincess, who was
in the hall of four-and-t'wenty windows,
heard it, and asked what was the matter ;
but nobody being able to give her an ac-
count, she ordered them to go and see, and
inform her. One of lier women looked out
440
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
of a window, and then told her it was a
great crowd of people that were gathering
about the holy woman, to be cured of the
headache by the impositiou of her hands.
The princess, who had for a long time
heard a great deal of this holy woman, but
had never seen her, conceived a great curio-
sity to have some conversation with her,
which the chief of the eunuchs perceiving,
told her it was an easy matter to bring her
to her, if she desired and commanded it;
and the xirincess shewing a desire, he imme-
diately sent four eunuchs for the pretended
holy woman.
As soon as the crowd saw the eunuchs
coming, they made way, and the magician
perceiving also that they were coming for
him, advanced to meet them, overjoyed to
find his plot took so well. "Holy woman,"
said one of the eunuchs, "the princess wants
to see you, and has sent ua for you." " The
princess does me too great an honour," re-
plied the false Fatima; "I am ready to
obey her command," and at the same time
followed the eunuchs to the palace.
When the magician, who imder a holy
garment disguised a wicked heart, was intro-
duced into the weat hall, and perceived the
princess, he began a prayer, which contained
a long enumeration of vows and good wishes
for the princess's health and i)rosperity, and
that she might have everything she desired.
Then he displayed all his deceitful, hypo-
critical rliett)ric, to insinuate himself into
the princess's favour under the cloak of piety,
which it was no hard matter for him to do ;
for as the princess herself was naturally
good, she was easUy persuaded that all the
world was like her, especially those who
made profession of serving God in solitary
retreat.
When the pretended Fatima had made an
end of his long harangue, the princess said
to him, "I thank you, good mother, for
your prayers; I have great confidence in
them, and hope God will hear thciu. Come,
and sit by me." The false Fatima sat down
with affected modesty : then the princess,
resuming her discourse, said, "My good
mother, I have one thing to ask you, which
you must not refuse me ; which is, to stay
with me, that you may entertain me with
your way of living ; and that I may learn
from your good examisle how to serve God."
"Princess," said the counterfeit Fatima, " I
beg of you not to ask what I cannot consent
to, without neglecting my prayers and devo-
tions." "That shall be no hindrance to
you," answered the princess; "I have a
great many apartments imoccupied ; you
shall choose which you like best, and shall
have as much liberty to perform your
devotions as if you were in your own
cell"
The magician, who wanted nothing more
than to introduce himself into Aladdin's
palace, where it would bo a much easier
matter for him to execute his pernicious
designs, under the favour and protection of
the princess, than if he had been forced to
come and go from the cell to the palace, did
not urge much to excuse himself from ac-
cepting the obliging offer the princess made
him. "Princess," said he, " whatever re-
solution a poor wretched woman, as I am,
may have made to renounce the pomp and
grandeur of this world, I dare not presume
to oppose the will and commands of so pious
and charitable a princess."
Upon this the princess, rising up, said,
"Come along with me, I will shew you what
empty apartments I have, that you may
make choice of which you like best. " The
magician followed the princess BadroiUbou-
dour, and of all the apartments she shewed
him, made choice of that which was the
worst furnished, saying that it was too
good for him, and that he only accepted of
it to please her.
Afterwards the princess would have
brought him back again into the great hall
to make him dino with her ; but he consi-
dering that then he should be obliged to
shew his face, which he had always taken
care to hide ; and fearing that the princess
shoidd find out that he was not Fatima, he
begged of her earnestly to dispense with
him, telling her that he never eat anything
but bread and dried fruits, and desiring to
eat that slight repast in his own .ai)artmeut ;
that the princess granted him, saying, " You
may be as free here, good mother, as if you
were in your own cell : I will order you a
dinner, but remember I expect you as soon
as you have finished your repast."
After the princess had dined, and the false
Fatima had been informed by one of the
eunuchs that she had risen from the table,
he failed not to wait upon her. " My good
mother," said the j)rincess, " I am overjoyed
to have the company of so holy a woman as
yourself, who will confer a blessing upon this
l)alace. But now I am speaking of this
palace, pray how do you like it? And before
I show you it all, tell me first what you
think of this hall."
Upon this question, the counterfeit Fatima,
who, to act his part the better, affected to
hang down his head, without so much as
ever oiice lifting it up, at last looked up,
and surveying the hall from one end to the
other, when he had examined it well, said
to the princess, "As far as such a solitary
being as I can judge, who am imacquainted
with what the world calls beautiful, this hall
is truly admirable and most beautiful; there
wants but one thing." "What is that, good
mother?" answered the princess Badroul-
boudour ; " teil me, T conjure you. For my
part I always believed, and have heard say,
\
ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
441
it wanted nothing ; but if it docs, it shall be
supplied."
"Princess," said the false Fatima, with
great dissimulation, " forgive me for the
liberty I have taken ; but my opinion is, if it
can be of any importance, that if a roc's egg
was hung up in the middle of this dome,
this hall would have no parallel in the four
quarters of the world, and your palace would
be the wonder of the universe."
" My good mother," said the princess,
•' what bird is a roc, and where may one
get an egg ?" " Princess," replied the pre-
tended Fatima, " it is a bird of prodigious
size, which inhabits the top of mount Cau-
casus ; the architect who built your palace
can get you one."
After the princess Badroiilboudour had
thanked the false Fatima for whnt she be-
lieved her good advice, she conversed with
her upon other matters ; but could not for-
get the roc's egg, which she made account
to tell Aladdin of when he returned from
hunting. He had been gone six days, which
the magician knew, and therefore took ad-
vantage of his absence; but he returned
that evening, after the false Fatima had
taken leave of the princess, and retired to
his apartment. As soon as he arrived, he
went directly up to the princess's apartment,
saluted and embraced her, but she seemed
to receive him coldly. " My princess," said
he, " I think you are not so cheerful as you
used to be. Has anything happened during
my absence which has displeased you, or
given you any trouble or dissatisfaction ?
In the name of God, do not conceal it from
me. I will leave nothing undone that is in
my power to please you." " It is a trifling
matter," replied the princess, " which gives
me so little concern th ,t I could not have
thought you could hav j perceived it in my
countenance ; but since you have unexpect-
edly discovered some alteration, I will no
longer disguise a matter of so little conse-
quence from you.
" I always believed, as well as you," con-
tinued the princess Badroidboudour, "that
our palace was the most superb, magnificent,
and complete in the world ; but I will tell
you now what I find fault with, upon exa-
mining the hall of four-and-twenty windows.
Do not you think with me, that it would be
complete if a roc's egg was hung up in the
midst of the dome?" "Princess," replied
Aladdin, " it is enough that you think there
wants such a thing. You shall see by the
diligence used to repjvir that deficiency, that
there is nothing which I would not do for
your sake."
Aladdin left the pvincess Badroulboudour
that moment, and went up into the hall of
four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out
of his bosom the lamp, which, after the
danger he had been exposed to, he always
carried about him, he nibbed it ; upon which
the genie immediately appeared. " Genie,"
said Aladdin, "there wants a roc's egg to
be hvmg up in the midst of the dome. I
command thee, in the name of this lamp, to
repair the deficiency." Aladdin had no
sooner pronounced these words, but the
genie gave so loud and terrible a cry, that
the hall shook, and Aladdin could scarce
stand upright. "What! wretch," said the
genie, in a voice that would have maile the
most imdaunted man tremble, "is it not
enough that I and my companions have done
everything for you, but you, by an unheard-
of ingratitude, must command me to bring
my master, and hang him up in the midst
of this dome ? This attempt deserves that
you, your wife, and your palace, should be
immediately reduced to ashes ; but you are
hap]iy in not being tlie author of this re-
quest, and that it does not come from your-
self. Know, then, that the true author is
the brother of the African magician, your
enemy, whom you have destroyed as he
deserved. He is now in your jialace, dis-
guised in the clothes of the holy woman Fa-
tima, whom he murdered : and it is he who
has suggested to your wife to make this per-
nicious demand. His design is to kill j'ou,
therefore take care of yourself. " After these
words, the genie disappeared.
Aladdin lost not a word of what the genie
had said. He had heard talk of the holy
woman Fatima, ,ind how she jiretended to
cure the headache. He returned to the
princess's apartment, and without mention-
ing a word of what had happened, he sat
down, and complained of a great pain which
had suddenly seized his head ; upon which
the princess ordered the holy woman to bo
presently fetched, and then told him how
that Iioly woman came to tlio palace, and
that she had appoiiitecl her an apartment.
When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin
said, " Come hither, good mother ; I am glad
to see you here at so fortunate a time : I am
tormented with a violent pain in my head,
and request your assistance, by the confi-
dence I have in your good prayers, and hope
you will not refuse me that favour wliich
you do to so many persons afilicted with
this distemper." So saying, he rose up, but
held down his head. Tlie counterfeit Fatima
advanced towards him, with his hand all the
time on a dagger concealed in his girdle
under his gown ; which Aladdin observ-
ing, he seizuil his hand before he bad drawn
it, pierced him to the heart with his own
dagger, and then threw him down on the
floor dead.
" My dear husband, what have you done?"
cried the princess in suqirise. " You have
killed theholy woman." " No, my princess,"
answered Aladdin, without emotion, "I have
not killed Fatima, but a wicked wretch, that
442
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I B<
would have assassinated me, if I had not pre-
vented him. This wicked man," added he,
uncovering his face, " has strangled Fatima,
whom you accused me of killing, and dis-
guised himself in her clothes, to come and
murder me : but that you may know him
better, he is brother to the African magician."
Then Aladdin told her how he came to know
those particidara, and afterwards ordered the
dead body to be taken away.
Thus was Aladdin delivered from the per-
secution of two brothers, who were magi-
cians. Within a few years afterwards the
sultan died in a good old age, and as he left
no male children, the princess Badroulbou-
dour, as lawful heir of the cro^vn, succeeded
him, and communicating the power to
Aladdin, they reigned together many years,
and left a numerous and illustrious posterity
behind them.
"Sir," said the sultaness Scheherazade,
after she had finished the story of the
Wonderful Lamp, "your majesty without
doubt has observed in the person of the
African magician a man abandoned to the
unbounded passion for possessing immense
treasures by the most unworthy means. On
the contrary, your majesty sees in Aladdin,
a person of mean birth raised to the regal
dignity by making use of the same treasures,
which came to him without his seeking, but
just as he had an occasion for them to com-
pass the end proposed ; and in the sultan
you will have learnt what dangers a just
and equitable monarch runs, even to the risk
of being dethroned, when, by crying in-
justice, and against aU the rules of equity,
he dares, by an unreasonable precipitation,
condemn an innocent person to death, with-
out giving him leave to justify himself. In
short, you must abhor those two wicked
magicians, one of whom sacrificed his life to
attain great riches, the other his life and re-
ligion to revenge him, and both received the
chastisements they deserved."
The sultan of the Indies signified to his
spouse the sultaness Scheherazade, that he
was very much delighted with the prodigies
he had heard of the Wonderful Lamp, and
that the stories which she told him every
night gave him a great deal of jileasure.
Indeed they were all diverting, and for the
most part seasoned with a good moral. He
found that the sultaness knew how to in-
troduce them, and was not sorry that she
gave him an opportunity of suspending, by
this means, the execution of a vow he had
made, never to keep a woman above one
night, and put her to death next day. His
only thought was to see if he could exhaust
her store.
With this intention, the next morning he
prevented Dinarzade, and awakened the
mdtaness himself, asking her if she was at
the end of all her stories. " At the end of
my stories, sir t " replied the siUtaness, sur-
prised at the question, " I am far from that,
and the number of them is so great, that I
cannot tell your majesty how many I have
yet left ; but am afraid you M'ill be sooner
jired with hearing, than I with telling
them."
" Do not let that fear disturb you," an-
swered the sultan ; " but let us hear what
you have now to tell me."
The sultaness Scheherazade, encouraged
with these words, said, " I have often enter-
tained your majesty with the adventures of
the famous caliph Haroun Alraschid, who
had a great many in his time ; but, among
the rest, I think none more worthy of your
hearing than the following" : —
THa ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN
ALRASCHID.
Your majesty cannot be insensible, but
must have experienced, that we are some-
times in such extraordinary transports of
joy, that we presently communicate that
passion to those about us, or easily partake
of theirs ; and sometimes our melancholy is
so great, that we are insupportable to our-
selves, and are so incapable of giving any
one a reason that should ask it, that we
cannot account for it ourselves.
The caliph was one day in one of these
latter fits, when his faithful and favourite
grand vizier Giafar came to him. That
minister finding him alone, which was sel-
dom the case, and perceiving, as he came
nearer to him, that he was in a very melan-
choly humour, and never lifted up his eyes,
he stopped till he would vouchsafe to look at
him.
At last the caliph cast his eyes upon Gia-
far, but presently turned them away again,
and remained in the same posture motionless
as before.
The grand vizier observing nothing in the
caliph's eyes which regarded him personally,
took the 'berty to speak to him, and said,
"Commander of the faithful, will your ma-
jesty give me leave to ask whence proceeds
this melancholy, of which you always seemed
to me so little susceptible?"
"Indeed, vizier," answered the caliph,
clearing up his coimtenance, " I am very
little subject to it, and had not perceived it
but for you, and will remain no longer in it.
If no new affair brought you hither, you
will do me a pleasure by inventing some-
thing to dispel it."
" Commander of the faithful," replied the
grand vizier, " my duty obliged me to wait
on you, and I take the liberty to remind
your majesty, that this is the day which
you have appointed to inform yourself of the
good government of your capital and its
THE CALIPH HAROUN ALRASCHID.
443
environs ; and this occasion very oppor-
tunely presents itself to dispel those clouds
which obscure your natural gaiety. "
" You do well to remind me," replied
the caliph, " for I had entirely forgotten it :
go and change your dress, while I do the
same."
They each put on the habit of a foreign
merchant, and xmder that disguise went out
by a private door of the ])alace -garden, which
led into the fields. After they had gone
round the outside of the city to the banks
of the Euphrates, at a sufficient distance
from the city gate, on that side, without
having observed anything disorderly, they
crossed the river in the first boat they me!;
with, and making another tour on the other
side, came over the bridge, which formed
the communication betwixt the two parts of
the town.
At the foot of the bridge they met with
an old blind man, who asked alms of them ;
the caliph turned about, and put a piece of
gold into his hand. The blind man pre-
sently caught hold of his hand, and stopped
him. " Charitable person," said he, " who-
ever you are, whom God hath inspired to
bestow alms on me, do not refuse the favour
I ask you, to give me a box on the ear, for
I deserve that and a greater punishment."
After these words, he let the caliph's hand
go, that he might strike, but, for fear he
should pass on without doing it, held him
fast by his clothes.
The caliph, surprised both at the request
and action of the blind man, said, "I can-
not acquiesce with your request. I will not
lessen the merit of my charity, by treating
you as you would have me." After these
words, he endeavoured to get away from the
blind man.
The blind man, who expected this reluct-
ance of his benefactor, by the long experi-
ence he had, exerted himself to hold him.
"Sir," said he, "forgive my boldness and
importunity ; I desire you would either give
me a box on the ear, or take your alms back
again, for I cannot receive it but on that con-
dition, without breaking a solemn oath which
I have sworn to God ; and if you knew the
reason, you would agree -with me, that the
punishment is very slight."
The caliph, not caring to be detained any
longer, yielding to the importunity of the
blind man, gave him a very slight blow :
whereupon he immediately let him go, and
thanked and blessed him. When the caliph
and vizier had got some small distance from
the blind man, the caliph said to the vizier,
"This blind man must certainly have some
very substantial reasons, which make him
behave himself in this manner to all who
give him alms. I should be glad to know
them ; therefore return and tell him who I
am, and bid him not fail to come to my
palace about prayer-time in the afternoon,
that I may have some talk with him."
The grand vizier went back, bestowed his
alms on the blind man, and after he had
given him a box on the ear, told him the
caliph's order, and then returned again to
the caliph.
When they came into the town, they
found in a square a great concourse of spec-
tators, looking at a handsome well-shaped
young man, who was mounted on a mare,
which he rode full speed round the place,
spurring and whipping the poor creature so
barbarously, that she was all over sweat and
blood.
The caliph, amazed at the inhnmanity of
the young man, stopped to ask the jieople if
they know why ho used the mare so ill ; but
could learn nothing, except that for some
time past he had every day, at the same
hour, treated her after the same manner.
As they went along, the caliph bid the
grand vizier take particidar notice of the
place, and not fail to order the young man
to come the next day, at the hour appointed
to the blind man. But before the caliph
got to his palace, he observed in a street,
which he had not passed through a long
time before, an editice newly built, which
seemed to him to be the palace of some of
the great lords of the court. He asked the
grand vizier if he knew to whom it be-
longed; who answered he did not, but
would inquire : and thereupon asked a
neighbour, who told liim that the house
was one Cogia Hassan's, sumamed AJhab-
bal, upon account of his profession of rope-
making, which he had seen him work at
himself, when poor, and that without know-
ing how fortune had favoured him, he had
got such great wealth, that he defrayal
honourably and S])lendiilly the expenses he
had been at in building.
The grand vizier rejoined the caliph, and
gave him a fidl account of what he had
heard. "I must see this Cogia Hassan Al-
habbal," said the caliph, "tlierefore go and
tell him, vizier, to come to my palace, at
the same hour you have ordered the other
two." Accordingly the vizier obeyed.
The next day, after afternoon prayers, the
caliph retired to his own apartment, and the
grand vizier introduced the three persons we
have been speaking of, and presented them
to the c<ali])h.
They all three prostrated themselves before
the caliph, and when they rose up again, the
caliph asked the blind man his name, who
answered, it was Baba Abdalla.
"Baba Abdalla," replied the caliph, "your
manner of asking alms seemed so strange to
me yesterday, that if it had not been for
some certain considerations, I should not
have complied with your request, but should
have prevented you from giving any more
444
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
offence to the public. I ordered you to come
hither, to know from yourself what induced
you to make that indiscreet oath you have
told me of, that I may judge whether you
have done well, and if I ought to sutfer you
to continue a practice that appears to me
to set so ill an example. Tell me freely
how so extravagant a thought came into
your head, and do not disguise anything
from me, for I will absolutely know the
truth."
Baba Abdalla, intimiuiiK.d by this repri-
mand, cast himself a second time at the foot
of the caliph's throne, with his face to the
ground, and when he rose up again, said,
"Commander of the faithful, I most humbly
ask your majesty's pardon for my boldness,
in daring to require, and almost force you
to do a thing which indeed ajipoars so con-
trary to reason. I acknowledge my crime ;
but as I did not tlien know your majesty, I
implore your clemency, and hope you will
consider my ignorance.
"As to the extravagance of my action, I
own it, and that it must seem strange to
mankind ; but in the eye of God it is a very
slight penance I have enjoined myself, for
an enormous crime I am guilty of, and for
which, if all the people in the world were
each to give me a box on the ear, it would
not be a sufficient atonement. Your ma-
jesty will judge of it yourself, when, in
telling my story, in obedience to your com-
mands, I shall let you know what that
heinous crime was."
TUE STOEY OF THE BLIND MAN BABA
ABDALLA.
Commander of the faithful, continued
Baba Abdalla, I was born at Bagdad, and
had a pretty fortune left me by my father
and mother, who died a few days after each
other. Though I was then but very young,
I did not squander away my fortune as most
young men do, in idle expenses and de-
bauchery ; on the contrary, I neglected no
opportunity to increase it by my industry.
At last I became rich enough to purchase
fourscore camels, which I let out to mer-
chants for caravans, who paid me well for
every journey T went with them throughout
the extent of your majesty's dominions.
In the midst of this happiness, and with
an ardent desire of growing much richer, as
I was returning one day with my camels
unloaded from Balsora, whither I had
carried some merchandise that were to be
embarked for the Indies, I met with good
pasturage, at some distance from any habi-
tation ; made a halt there, and let them
graze for some time. While I was seated, a
dervise, who was walking to Balsora, came
and sat down by me to rest himself. I
asked him from whence he came, and where
lie was going, and he put the same que»
tions to me; and when wo had satisfied
each other's curiosity, we produced our pro-
visions and eat together.
During our repast, after we had talli-'>d of
many indifferent things, the dervise told me
that he knew of a treasure a small distance
from thence, where there were such im-
mense riches, that if all my fourscore camela
were loaded with gold and jewels that
might be taken from it, it would not seem
as if anything had been taken away.
This good news surprised and charmed
me at the same time ; and I was so over-
joyed, that I could scarce contain myself.
I could not believe that the dervise was
capable of telling me a falsity ; therefore I
fell upon his neck, and said, " Good dervioe,
I know you value not the riches of this
world, therefore what service can the know-
ledge of this treasure be to you ? You are
alone, and cannot carry much of it away
with you; shew me where it is; I will load
all my camels, and as an acknowledgment
of the favour done me, will present you with
one of them."
Indeed I offered very little, but after he
had communicated that secret to me, my
desire of riches was become so violent, that
I thought it a great deal, and looked ujion
the seventy-nine camel loads which I re-
served for myself, aa nothing in comparison
of what I allowed him.
The dervise, though ho saw my avarice,
was not, however, angry at the unreasonable
offer I had made him, but replied, without
the least concern, "You are sensible, bro-
ther, that what you offer me is not propor-
tionable to the kindness you ask of me. I
ir>:glit have chosen whether I would commu-
nicate my secret to you, and have kept the
treasure to myself : but what I have told
you is sufficient to shew you my good inten-
tions, and that it is still in my power to
oblige you, and make you remember me, by
making both our fortunes, I have another
proposition more just ^'\ equitable to make
to you ; it lies in your own breast whether
or no you will agree to it,
"You say," continued the dervise, "that
you have fourscore camels. I am ready to
carry you to the place where the treasure
lies, and we will load them with as much
jewels and gold as they can well carry, on
condition, that when they are so loaded,
you will let me have one-half, and you take
the other j after which we will separate,
and carry our camels where we think fit.
You see there is nothing but what is strictly
equitable in this division ; for if you give
mo forty camels, you will get by my means
wherewithal topirchase thousands more."
I could not but agree there was a great
deal of justice in what the dervise said : but,
without considering what riches I should
THE BLIND MAN BABA ABDALLA.
445
gain in accc|iting of the condition ho pro-
posed, I could not witliout reluctance think
of parting with my forty camels, especially
when I considered that the dervise would
then bo as rich as myself, and that I was
lieforehand making an ungrateful return for
a favour, purely gratuitous, which I had not
yet received from the dervise. But there
Avas no time to hesitate ; I must cither
accept of the proposal, or resolve to repent
ftU my lifetime after of losing, by my own
fault, an opportunity of obtaining a great
fortune. That instant 1 went and collected
all my camels ; and after we had travelled
some time, we came into a large spacious
valley, the entrance into which was so nar-
row, that two camels could not go abreast.
The two mountains which formed this valley
terminated in a semicircle, but wove so high,
craggy, and impracticable, that there was
110 fear of being seen by any one.
When we came between these two moun-
tivins, the dervise said to me, " Stop your
camels, and make them lie down, that we
may load them the easier, and I will proceed
to discover the treasure."
I did as the dervise bid me ; and going to
him soon after, found him with a match in
one hand, gathering sticks to light a lire ;
which ho had no sooner done, than he east
some incense into it, and pronouncing cer-
tain words, which I did not understand,
there presently arose a thick cloud. He
divided this cloud, when the rock, though of
a prodigious perpendicular height, opened
like two folding doors, and exposed to view
a magnificent palace in the hollow of the
mountain, which seemed to be rather the
workmanship of genies then men ; for no
man could ever have thought of auch a bold
and surprising work.
But this, I must tell your majesty, was
an after-thought, which did not occur to me
at the moment. I did not even stoj) to ad-
mire the immense riches which I saw on all
sides ; and, without staying to observe the
just regularity in which the treasures were
ranged, like an eagle seizing her prey, I fell
upon the first heap of golden money that I
was near to, and begiin to fill the sack I had
in my hand aa full as T thought I coidd
carry it. The sacks were '1 large, and with
my good-will I would have filled them all ;
but I was obliged to proportion my burden
to the strength of my camels. The dervise
did the same ; but I perceived he paid more
attention to the jewels, and as he told me
the reason, I followed his example, and we
took away much more jewels than gold. —
When we had filled our sacks, and loaded
our camels, we had nothing left to do but to
ohut up the treasure, and go our way.
But before we parted, the dervise went
again into the treasury, where there were a
great many Avrought vessels of gold of dif-
ferent shapes and materials. I observed
that ho took out of one of these vessels a
little box of a certain wood, which I knew
not, and put it into his breast ; but first
shewed me that it contained only a kind of
pomatum.
The dervise used the same ceremony to
shut the treasury as he had done to open it ;
and after he jironounced some certain words,
the doors of the treasury shut again, and the
rock seemed as whole and entire as be-
fore.
Then we divided our camels. T put my-
self at the head of the forty which I reserved
for myself, and the dervise at the head of
the rest which I had given him. We came
out of the valley by tlie same way we M'ent
in, and travelled together till M'e came to
the great road, where we wore to part ; the
dervise to go to Balsora, and I to Bagdad.
To thank him for so great a kindness, I
made use of the most expressive terms,
testifying my gratitude for the preference
he had given me before all other men, in
letting me have a share of such riches. We
embraced each other with great joy, and
taking our leave, went our different ways.
I liad not gone many paces to overtake
my camels, which went on the track I put
tin ill into, before the demon of ingratitude
and envy took possession of my heart, and
I ioplored the loss of my forty camels, and
much more the riches wherewith they were
loaded. The dervise, said I to myself, has
no occasion for all these riches ; he is mas-
ter of the treasure, and may have as much
as he pleases. So I gave myself up to the
blackest ingraticude, and determined imme-
diately to take the camels with their loading
from him.
To execute this design, I first stopped
my own camels, and afterwards ran after
the dervise, and called to him as loud as I
could, giving him to understand that I had
something material to say to him, and niado
a sign to him to .stop his, and stay for me ;
which he accordingly did.
When I came up to him, I said, "Brother,
I had no sooner parted from you, but a
thought came into my head, which neither
of us had reflected on before. You are a
good dervise, used to live in tranquillity,
disengaged from all the cares of the world,
and intent only upon serving God. You
know not, perhaps, what trouble you have
taken upon yourself, to take care of so many
camels. If you would take my advice, you
would keep but thirty ; you will find them
sufficiently troublesome to manage. Take
my word ; I have had experience."
"I believe you are right," replied the der-
vise, who found he was not able to contend'
with me ; "I own I never thought of it. I
begin already to be uneasy at what you have
represented to me. Choose which ten you
('
446
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
please, and take tlictn, and go on in Qod'a
keeping."
I set ten aport ; and after I had driven
them off, I put thorn in the road to follow
ray others. I could not have iumgined that
the dcrvise would lie so easily persuaded to
I)art with his camels, which increased my
covetousness, and made me Hatter myself
that it wotdd be no hard matter to j^et tun
more. Wherefore, instead of thanking him
f or his jn-esent, I said to him again, "Brother,
the interest I take in your repose is so great,
that I caiuiot resolve to jiart with you with-
out desiring you to consider once more how
difllcult a thing it is to govern thirty loaded
camels, especially for you, who are not used
to such work ; you will find it much better
to return me as many more back as you
have done already. What I tell you is not
for my own sake and interest, but to do you
the greater jileasure. Ease yourself tlieu of
the camels, and leave them to me, •N\ho can
manage a hundred as well as one."
My discourse had the desired effect upon
the dcrvise, who gave me, without any hesi-
tation, the other ten camels; so that he had
but twenty left, and I was master of sixty,
and might boast of greater riches than many
sovereign princes. Any one would have
thought I should now have been content ;
but, as a person afllicted with a dropsy, the
more he drinks the more thirsty he is, so I
became more greedy and desirous of the
other twenty camels.
I redoubled my solicitations, prayers, and
importunities, to make the dervise conde-
scend to grant me ten of the twenty, which
he did with a good grace ; and as to the
other ten he had left, I embraced him,
kissed him, and caressed him, conjuring
him not to refuse me, but to complete the
obligation I should ever have to him, so that
he crowned my joy by giving me them also.
"Make a good use of them, brother," said
the dervise ; "and remember that God can
take away riches as well as give them, if we
do not assist the poor, whom He reduces to
their situation on purpose that the rich may
merit by their charity a greater recompense
in the other workl. "
My blindness was so great that I could
not profit by so wholesome advice. I was
not content, though I had my forty camels
again, and knew they were loaded with an
inestimable treasure. But a thought came
into my head, that the little box of pomatum
which the dervise shewed me had something
in it more precious than all the riches which
I was obliged to him for. The place from
whence the dervise took it, said I to myself,
and his care to secure it, makes me believe
there is something mysterious in it. This
determined me to do something to obtain it.
I had just embraced him, and bade him
adieu ; and as I turned about from him, I
said, " What will you do with that little box
of pomatum ? It Reems such a trifle," said I,
"it is not worth your carrying away. I en-
treat you to make me a present of it ; for
what occasion has a dervise, as you are, who
has renounced the vanities of the world, for
pomatum ?"
Would to Heaven ho had refused mo that
box ! But if he had, I was stronger than
him, and was resolved to have taken it from
him by force j that for my complete satisfac-
tion it might not be suid he had carried away
the smallest part of the treasure.
The dervise, far from denying me, pre-
sently pulled it out of his bosom, and pre-
senting it to me with the best grace in the
world, said, " Here, take it, brother, and
be content : if I coidd do more for you, you
needed but to have asked for it ; I am reatly
to satisfy you."
When I had the box in my hand, I open-
ed it, and, looking at the pomatum, said to
him, "Since you are so good, I am sure yon
will not refuse me this one favour, to tell
mc the ]iarticular use of this pomatum."
' ' The use is very surprising and wonderful, "
replied the dervise : "if you apply a little of
this pomatum round the left eye, and upon
the lid, you will see all the treasures con-
tained in the bosom of the earth ; but if you
apply it to the right eye, it will make you
blind."
I would make the experiment myself :
" Take the box," said I to the dervise, " and
apply some of this pomatum to my left eye ;
you understand how to do it better than I,
for I long to experience what seems so in-
credible to me." Accordingly I shut my
left eye, and the dervise took the trouble to
apply the pomatum. When he had done,
I opened my eye, and was convinced he had
told me truth. I saw immense treasures,
and such prodigious riches, so diversified,
that it is impossible for me to give an ac-
count of them ; but as I was obliged to keep
my right eye shut with my hand, and that
tired me, I desired the dervise to apply some
of the pomatum to that eye.
"I am ready to do it," said the dervise;
" but you must remember what 1 told you,
that if you put any of it upon your right eye,
you woiUd immediately be blind; such is
the virtue of the pomatimi."
Far from being persuaded of the truth of
what the dervise said, I imagined, on the
contrary, that there was some new mystery
whichhe meant to hide from me. "Brother,"
replied I, smUing, " I see plainly you wish
to mislead me : it is not natural that this
pomatum should have two such contrary
effects."
" The thing is as I tell you," replied the
dervise, taking the name of God to bear
witness: "you ought to believe me, for I
cannot disguise the truth."
THE BLIND MAN BABA ABDALLA.
447
I would ncit bt'liove the dervise, who
spoke like an honest oion. My iuHurniount-
able desire uf seeing at my case all the
treasures in the world, and perhaps of en-
joying that ])k'usuru as often as I had a
mind, hod suuh an elfeut upon me, that 1
could not hi'arken to his remonstrances, nor
1)0 persuaded of what was, however, but too
true, as to my great misfortune I soon ex-
perienced.
T peraumled myself that if that pomatum,
by being applied to the left eye, hud the
virtue of shewing me all the treasures of
the earth, by being applied to the right, it
might have the jjower of jnitting them in
my disposal. I'ossessed with this thought,
I obstinately pressed the dervise to apply
the pomatum to my right eye ; but ho an
positively refused me. " Brother," said he,
"after I have done you so much service, I
cannot resolve to do you so great an injury :
consider with yourself what a misfortune it
is to be deprived of one's eye-sigh*- , lio not
reduce me to tlu; hard necessity of obliging
you in a thing which you will rei)ent of all
your life after."
1 persisted in my obstinocy, and said to
him, in strong terms, " Brother, I earnestly
desire you to lay aside all the difficulties
you start. You have granted me most ge-
nerously all that I have asked of you hi-
therto, and woidd yon have me go away
dissatisfied with you at last about a thing
of so little consequence ? For God's sake,
grant me this last favour; whatever hap-
pen.s, I will not lay the blame on you, but
take it upon myself alone."
The dervise made all the resistance pos-
sible ; but seeing that I was able to force
him to do it, he said, " Since you will abso-
lutely have it so, I will satisfy you ; " and
thereupon he took a little of the fatal poma-
tum, and applied it to my right eye, which
I kept shut ; but, alaa ! when I came to
open it, I coidd distinguish nothing with
either eye but thick darkness, and became
blind as you see me now.
"Ah ! dervise," cried I that moment,
"what you foretold me ia but too true.
Fatal curiosity ! " added I, " maatiable
desire of riches ! into what an abyss of
mfseries have you oast me ! I am now sen-
sible what a misfortune I have brought upon
myself; but you, dear brother," cried I,
addressing myself to the dervise, "who are
so charitable and good, among the many
wonderful secrets you are acquainted with,
have you not one to restore to me my sight
again?"
"Miserable wretch!" answered the der-
vise, "if you would have been advised by
me, you would have avoided this misfortune,
but you have your deserts; the blindness
of your mind was the cause of the loss of
your eyes. It is true I have secrets, and
you, in the little time I have been with you,
might know I have ; but I have none to
restore you to your sight. L'ray to (jod, if
you believe there is ouv ; it ia Iff alone that
can restore it to you. 111! gavo you riches,
of which you were lui worthy, and takes
them from you again, and will, by my
hand.s, give them to men not so ungrateful
as you."
'['lie dervise said no nKU-e, and I had no-
thing to reply. Il(! left me to myself, over-
whelmed with confusion, and plunged in in-
expresHiblf grief. After he had collected my
camels, he carried them away, and pursued
the road to Balnora.
I desireil him not to leave mo in that mi-
serable eoudiiion, but to conduct me at least
to the lir.st oa.-4V)W!t ; l)ut he wa.4 deaf to my
pra> rs and entreaties. Thus, doprivcn of
Bi:.'b,t, and all I had in the world, I should
hu'-e died with ilHictiou and hunger, if the
Df.t, ilay a caravan returning from Balsora
!:.i.i iu>t rei'eived me charitably, and brought
aie back t" Bagdad.
After this nminier was I reduced without
remedy from a condition worthy the envy of
princes for riches and maguilicence, though
not for power, to beggary without resource.
I had no other way to subsist, but must re-
solve to ask charity, which 1 have done till
now. But to expiate my oll'ence against
God, I enjoined myself, by way of penance,
a box on the ear from every charitable per-
son that should commiserate my condition.
This, commander of the faithful, is the
motive which seemed so strange to your
m.tjesty yesterday, and for which I ought
to incur your indignation. I ask your pardon
once more as your slave, and submit to re-
ceive the chastisement I deserve. And if
you vouchsafe to pronounce anything on
the penance I have imposed upon myself, I
am ready to undergo it, since I am per-
suaded you think it too slight and much too
little for my crime.
When the blind man had made an end of
his story, the caliph said, " Baba Abdalla,
your sin is great ; but, God be praised, you
know both the enormity of that and your
penance. It is enough. You must continue
it henceforth, not ceasing to ask of God
pardon for it in every prayer your religion
obliges you to say daily ; and that you may
not be prevented by the care of getting your
living, I will settle a charity on you during
your life of four silver drachmas a day,
which my grand vizier shall give you ; there-
fore do not go away, but wait till ho has
executed my orders."
At these words, Baba Abdalla prostrated
himself before the caliph's throne, and rising
up, returned him thanks, and wished him
aU happiness and prosperity.
The caliph Haroim Alraschid, very well
satisfied with the story of Baba Abdalla and
448
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
13
r
tho (lorvise, mMresHed himsulf to the young
man who iihoI Iuh nian^ hi> ill, nnd asked him
liis nniiiu ; tu which hu replied it wiia Sidi
Noiiman. •
*' Sidi Nonninn, then," said tho caliph, " I
have scon lioraes exercised all my life, and
have often exercised them myself, but never
after ho barharouH a manner :m yon ye.stcr-
day treated your mare in tin: full square, t(»
the great oll'ence of all the Hi)ectator3, who
nmrnuired loudly at it. 1 myself was not
less displeoseil, and had like, contrary to my
intention, to have discovered who I was, to
have remedied that disorder. By your air
and behaviour you do not seem to bo a bar-
barous and cruel man ; and therefore T would
fain lieliove that you had reason for what
you did, HJnci^ I am informed that this was
not the fir.st time, but that you practise tho
same thing every day. I would know what
is the cause, and sent for you for that pur-
pose, that you shoidd tell mo the truth, and
disguise nothing from me."
Sidi Nonnian soon understood what the
ealiph demanded of him. Tho relation was
l)ainful to him. He changed coloiir several
times, and could not help shewing how
greatly ho was embarrassed. Howover, he
must re.-«,'ve to tell his story ; but beforo ho
spoke, he prostrated himself beforo tho ca-
liph's tlirone, and after ho rose up again,
endeavoured to speak, to satisfy the calij)h,
1)ut was so confounded, not so much at the
presence of tho caliph, as by the nature of
his relation, that ho was speechless.
The caliph, notwithstanding his natural
impatience to bo obeyed, showed not the
least anger at Sidi Nonman's silence ; he
saw plainly that he either had not assurance
to speak before him, or was intimidated by
the tone of his voice ; or, in short, that there
was something to be concealed in his story.
" Sidi Nonman," said the caliph, to en-
courage him, "recollect yourself; but tell
your story as if you were speaking not to
me, but to your most familiar friend. If
there is anything in your relation which
troubles you, and you think I may bo of-
fended at it, I pardon you now : therefore
be not uneasy, but speak boldly and freely,
and disguise nothing."
Sidi Nonman, encouraged by these last
words of the calii)h, said, "Commander of
the faithful, whatever apprehensions a man
may be under at your majesty's presence,
I am sensible that respectful apprehension
would not deprive mcof the use of my speech,
80 as to fail in my obedience to you, in giving
j'ou satisfaction in any other matter but
this you now ask of mo. I dare not say I
am the most perfect of men ; yet I am not
wicked enough to have committed, or to
have had an intention of committing any-
* In the French it is SIdl Noumnn, and Noman ia
the name of a king of one of the dynasties in Ilcrbelot.
thing against tho laws, to fear their seve-
rity ; and yet I coimot »ay I am exempt
from sin through ignoriincu. In this caHe I
do not say that Idi,'('nd upon your majesty's
pardon, but will submit myself to your jus-
tice, and reo'ivo the punishment I deserve,
J own that tl." manner in which I have for
Home time trc:ited my marc, and which your
majesty was witness of, is strange and cruel,
au(l sets an ill example : but I hope you will
think tho motive well grounded, and that I
aiji more worthy of compassion than chas-
tisement : but not to keep your majesty
any longer in Huapense by a long preamble,
I will tell you my story."
THE HTOKY OF SIDI NONMAN.
CoMMANDEU of the faithful, said Sidi
Nonman, I shall not trouble your majesty
with my birth, which is not illustrious
enough to merit your attention. For my
fortiuie, my parents, by their good economy,
left me enough to live on like an honest
man, free from ambition, or being burden-
some to any one.
AVith these advantages, tho only thing
that I wanted to render my happiness com-
l)letc, was an amiable wife, who might share
tliem with me ; but that was a blessing it
did not please Ood to grant mo : on the con-
trary, it was my misfortune to have one
who, the very next day after our wedding,
began to exercise my patience in a manner
not to be conceived by any one that has not
had the same trial.
As it is a custom for us to marry without
seeing or knowing whom we are to marry,
your majesty is sensible that a husband has
no reason to complain, when he finds that
tho wife that has been chosen for him is not
horribly ugly and deformed, and that her
carriage, wit, and behaviour make amends
for ivny slight imperfections of the body.
Tho first time I saw my wife with her face
uncovered, after she was brought home with
the usual ceremonies to my house, I rejoiced
to find that I had not been imposed upon in
the description of her person, which pleased
me, and she was perfectly agreeable lo my
inclination.
The next day after our wedding, when
our dinner was served up, which consisted
of several dishes, I went into the room
where the cloth was laid, and not finding
my wife there, ordered her to be called.
After making me wait a long time, at last
she came. I dissembled my impatience, and
we sat down to table, and I began with tho
rice, which I took up with a spoon, as
usual.
On the other hand, my w-'a, instead of
making use of a spoon, as everybody does,
puUed a little case out of her pocket, and
took out of it a kind of ear-picker, with
SIDI NONMAN.
449
which ilio picked up the rice, nud put it iuto
her mnuth, ){raiii by grain.
■Surjiriiiod at this manner of catinj,', I
Hftid t4» her, " Aniinft," which was lior nauto,
" are yim uiu-d t« cot rice ho in your family,
or (h> you do it hccouso you ari' a httic cotor,
or wouhl you count the griiiu that you may
not eat more at one time than u'lother? If
you do it out of KavingneM.^, or t> teach mo
not to h(! extrava;,'ant, you liavo i. > reason
tu fear that, and 1 can assure you vu shall
not ruin ourselves that way. We have, (iod
he thanked, enough to live at our ease,
without depriving ourselves of necessaries.
Do not restrain yourself, my dear Amiiia,
but eat OS you see me eat." The kind man-
ner in ■which I mode these remonstrances
might have i)roduced some obliging answer;
liut she, without saying n word, continued
to eat after the s.ime manner. At last, to
make me the more uneiusy, she ate a grain
of rice occasionally ; and instead of eating
any of the other meats with me, she only
now and then put xomu crumbs of bread into
her mouth, but not so much as a sparrow
would have eaten.
I was very much provoked at her obsti-
nacy ; but yet, to indulge and excuse her, I
imagined that she had not been used to eat
with men, much more with a husband, before
whom she might perhaps have been taught
to restrain herself ; but at the same time
thought she carried it too far out of pure
simplicity. I fancied again that shu might
have breakfasted late, or that she might
have a mind to eat alone, and more at
liberty. These considerations prevented me
from saying any more to her then, to ruflle
her temper, or to shew any sign of dissatis-
facticm. After dinner I left her, but not
with an air that shewed any displeasure.
At supper she did the same thing ; and
the next day, and every time we ate toge-
ther, behaved herself after the same manner.
I knew it was impossible for a woman to
live on so little food as she took, and that
there was some mystery in it, which I did
not understand. This made me resolve to
dissemble ; I appeared to take no notice of
her actions, in hopes that time would bring
her to live with me as I desired she should.
But my hopes were in vain, and it was not
long before I was convinced they were so.
One night, when Amina thought me fast
asleep, she got out of bed softly, and dressed
herself with great precaution, not to make
a noise for fear of waking me. I could not
comprehend what her design was, but curio-
sity made me feign a sound sleep ; and as
soon as she had dressed herself, she went
softly out of the room without making any
noise.
As soon as she was gone out, I got up,
threw my gown over my shoulders, and had
time enough to see by a window, that looked
into my courtyard, that she opened the street
door and went out.
I ran presently down to the (bior, which
she left half o|ien, and followed her by moon-
light, till I saw her go into a burying-ground
just by our house. 1 got to the end of the
wall, taking care not to be seen, and looking
over, saw .\niina with a goule.
Your majesty knows that the gnides of
both sexes iiro wandering deuions, which
generally infest old buildings ; from whence
they rush out, by surprise, on people that
])ass by, kill them, and eat their llesh ; and
fot want of such prey, will sometimes go in
the night into burying-grounds, and feed
upon dead bodies which they dig up.
I was in a terrible 8ur|irise to see my wife
with this goule. They dug up a dead body
which had been buried but that day, and
the goule cut ofl" pieces of the llesh, which
they ate together by the grave-side, con-
versing together very quietly during their
cruel and inhuman repast. But I was too
far off to hear their tliscourse, which must
have been as ntrunge as their repast, the
remembrance of which still makes me shud-
der.
When they had made an enil of this hor-
rible feast, they threw the dead body into
the grave again, and filled it up with the
earth they had dug out. I left them at their
work, and made haste home, and leaving
the door half oiien, as I found it, went into
my chamber, and to bed again, where I
pretended to bo fast asleep.
Soon afterwards Amina returned without
the least noise, undressed herself, and came
to bed again, rejoiced, as I imagined, that
she had succeeded so well without being
discovered.
My mind was so full of the idea of so bar-
barous and abominable an action as I had
seen, that I felt a great reluctance to lie by
a person who had been guilty of it, and was
a long time before I could fall asleep again.
However, I got a short nap ; but waked at
the first call to public prayers at daybreak,
got up, uressed myself, and went to tho
mosque.
After prayers, I went out of the town,
and spent tlie morning in walking in tho
gardens, and thinking what I shoidd do toi
oblige my wife to change her manner of life.
I rejected all the violent measures that camo
into my thoughts, and I resolved to use all
gentle means to cure that unhappy inclina-
tion of hers : and these thoughts brought
me insensibly home by dinner-time.
As soon OS Amina saw me come in, she
ordered dinner to be served np ; and as I
saw she persisted in the same manner of
eating rice by single grains, I said to her,
with all the moder?,tion possible, *' You
know, Amino, what reason I have to be sur-
prised, when, the next day after our mar-
2 F
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450
7'///: ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
riage, I )aw you eat rice iu so small a quan-
tity, and in a manner wliich would have
offended any other husband but me. You
know, also, I ccmtented myself with telling
you that I was uneasy at it, and desired
you to eat of the other meats, which I
ordered to be dressed several ways, to endea-
vour to suit you" taste ; and I cam sure my
table did not want for variety : but all my
remonstrances have had no elFect upon you,
and you persist in your old way. I have
said nothing, because I would not constrain
you, and should bo sorry that anything I
no\7 say should make you uneasy ; but tell
me, Amiua, I conjiu-e you, are not the meats
served up at my table better than dead
flesh?"
I had no sooner pronounced these last
words, but Amina, who perceived that I had
watched her last night, liew into a rage be-
yond imagination. Her face was as red as
scarlet, her eyes ready to starb out of her
head, and she foamed with passion.
The terrible condition I saw her in fright-
ened me so much, that I stood motionless,
and was not able to defend myself against
the horrible wickedness she ine'iitated
against me, ind which Mill furprise your
majesty. 1 .1 the violence of li'T passion,
she dipped ner hand into a basiu of water,
which stood just by her, and muttering be-
tween licr teeth some words, which I could
not hear, she threw some water in my face,
and said to me in a furious tone, "Wretch,
receive the ])uniRhmeut of thy curiosity, and
become a dog."
No sooner had Amina, whom I knew not
to be a sorceress till then, pronounced these
diabolical words, but I was immediately
changed into a dog. My amazement and
surprise at so sudden and unexpected a
change prevented my thinking at lirst of
providing for my safety, till she took up a
great stick to beat me, with which she laid
oj. such heavy blows, that I wonder they did
not kdl me. I thought to have escaj)ed her
rage by running into the yard ; but she
pursued me with the same fury, and, not-
withstanding all my activity, I could not
avoid her bloM's. At last, when she was
tired of running after me and beating me,
and i.'i despair tliat she had not killed me,
ivs she desired, she thought of a new way to
do it. She half opened the street door, that
she might scjueeze me to death in it, as I
ran out to preserve my life. Dog as 1 was,
I presently perceived her pernicious design ;
and as present danger inspires a presence of
mind, to elude her vigilance I watched her
face and motions so well, that I took my
opportunity, and passed through quick
enough to save my life, and escape her
malice, though she pinched the end ot my
taU.
The pain I felt made me cry out rnd howl
as I ran along the streets, which brought all
the dogs out upon me, and I got bit by seve-
ral of them ; but to avoid their pursuit, I
ran into the shop of a man who sold boiJad
sheep's heads, tongues, and feet, where I
saved myself.
Tiie man at first took my part with much
compassion, by driving away the dogs that
followed me, and woidd have run into his
house. iJy first care was to creep into a
corner to liide myself ; but I found not the
sanctuary and ])rotectiou I hoped for. My
host was one of those extravagantly super-
stitious persons who think dogs unclean
creatures, and if by chance one should hap-
2)en to touch them in the streets, cannot use
soap aiid water enough to wash their gar-
ments clean. After the dogs who chased
me were all dispersed and gone, he did all
he could to drive m. out of his house that
day ; but I was hid, and out of his reach, and
spent that night in his shop in spite of him ;
and indeed I had need of rest, to recover
after Amina's ill-treatment.
But not to weary your majesty with tn-
tling circumstances, I shall not particularise
the melancholy reflections 1 made <n my
metamorphosis ; but only tell you, that my
host going out the next morning to lay in a
stock of sheep's heads, tongues, and trotters,
when he returned he opened his shop, and
v.hile he was laying out his goods, 1 crept
out of my comer, and got among some other
dogs of the neighbourhood, who had follow-
ed my host by the scent of his meat, and
surrounded the shop, in exjtectation of ha-' •
ing some thrown to them. I joined them,
and put myself among them in a begging
posture. My host observing me, and con-
sidering that I had eaten nothing while I
lay in the shop, distinguished me from the
rest, by throwing me larger pieces of meat,
and oftener than the other dogs. After he
had given me as much as he thought lit, I
looked at him earnestly, and wagged my
tail, to shew him I begged he would repeat
his fa-ours. But he was ' iflexible, and
opposed my entrance with a stick in his
hand, and w ith so unkind a look, that I was
forced to go and seek a new habitation.
Some houses farther I stopped at a baker's
shop, who was of a lively gay temper, quite
the reverse of the other man, who was eaten
up with melancholy. He was then at break-
fast, and though I made no sign that I asked
for anything, he threw nje a bit of bread.
Instead of catching it up greedily, as other
dogs do, I looked at him, moving my head
and wagging my tail, to shew my gratitude,
at which he was mightily pleased, and
sraUed, Though I was not hungry, I ate
the pi'ce of bread to please him, and I ate
slowly, 10 shew him that it was out of re-
spect to him. He observed this, and let me
continue near the shop. I sat down and
SIDI NONMAN.
451
tiinietl myself to the street, to shew him 1
only tlicn wanted his protection ; which he
not only gr.inted, but by his caresses en-
couraged me .0 come into the house. This
I did in a way that shewed it was with his
leave. He was pleased, and shewed me a
place where to lie, which I took possession
of, and kept while I lived with him. I was
always well treated ; and whenever lie
breakfasted, dined, or supped, I had my
share of provisions ; and, for my part, I
loved him, and was as faithful as gratitude
required of me. I always had my eyes upon
him, and he scarce stirred out of doors, or
went into the city on busines' , 'jut I was at
his heels. I was the more ( . ;;i'.t, because I
perceived my attention pleayed liim ; for
whenever he went out, without giving me
time to set. him, he would call Chance,
which was the name he gave -me.
At this name I used to spring from my
place, jump, and cajier, and run before the
door, and never ceased fawning on him till
he went out; and then I always either fol-
lowed him, or ran before him, always look-
ing at him to shew my joy.
I had lived some time with this bakti',
when a woman came one day into the shop
to buy some bread, and giving my master a
piece of bad money, among some good, he
perceived i*, returned it, and asked for
another.
The woman refused to take it again, and
afhrmed it to be good. The baker main-
tained the c'jnti'ary, and in the dispute told
the woman he was sure that the piece of
money was so visibly false, that his dog
coidd distinguish it ; uj^on which he called
Chance, Chance, and I jumped immediately
„" 'Jm. counter, and the baker throwing the
iUo; fly down before me, said, " See, and tell
me M hich of these pieces is bad ! " I looked
o\ er all the pieces of money, and then set
i:iy paw upon that which was bad, •■ •'rated
it from the rest, looking in my masti , face
to shew it him.
The baker, who only called me to banter
the woman, was very miich surprised to see
m« BO immediately pitch upon the ))ad
money. The woman tluis onvictcd had
nothing to say for herself, but was oidiged
to give another j)iecc instead of the bad one.
As soon as she was gone, my master called
in some neighbours, and enlarged very much
upon my capacity, telling them what had
happened.
The neighboiirs all desired to make the
experiment, and of all the bad money they
shewed me, mixed with good, there was not
one on which I did not set my paw, and
separate the barl money from the good.
The woman for her pai't was sure to tell
everybody she met what had hajipened ; in-
somuch that the fame of my skill in distin-
guishing good money from bad was not only
spread throughout the neighbourhood, but
over all that part of the town, and insensibly
through the whole city.
I had business enough every day ; for I
was obliged to shew my skill to all customers
that came to buy bread of my master. In
short, my rei)utation procured my master
more business than he could manage, and
brought him customers from the most dis-
tant parts of the town ; and this run of
business lasted so long, that my master owned
to his friends and neighbours that I was a
treasure to him.
My little knowledge made many people
envy my master's good fortune, and lay
traps to steal me away, which obliged him
always to keep mo in his sight. One day
a woman came, out of curiositj', to buy some
bread like the rest, and seeing me sit upon
the counter, threw down before me six pieces
of money, among which was one that was
bad. I sejjarated it presently from the good,
and setting ray paw upon it, looked in the
woman's face, as much as to say, " Is it not
so?" The woman, looking at me, replied,
" Yes, you are in the right ; it is bail."
And staying some time in the shop, to look
at and admire me, at last paid my master
for his bread, antl when she went out of the
shop, made a sign, unknown to him, for me
to follow her.
I was always attentive to any means to
deliver 1 lyself out of so strange a metamor-
phosis, and had obsoi-ved that the woman
examined ine with an extraordinary atten-
tion. I imagined that she might know some-
thing of my misfortune, and the melancholy
condition I was reduced to ; however, I let
her go, and contented mj'self with looking
at her. After walking two or three steps,
she turned about, and seeing tliat I only
looked at her, without stirring out of my
place, she made me another sign to follow
her.
Without deliberating any lonrter, and ob-
serving that my master the baker was busy
cleaning his oven to put bread into it, and
did not mind me, I jumped off the counter,
and followed the woman, who seemed over-
joyed.
After I had got some way, she s; pped at
a house, opened the door, and called to me
to come in, saying, " You will not repent
following me." When I had got in, she shut
the do(,r, and carried me to her cham})er,
where I saw a beautiful younj^ lady working
em))roidery. This Indy, <vlio was daughter
to the charitable woman wiio had In'ought
me from the baker's shop, was a verj' skilful
magician, as I found afterwards.
"Daughter," said the mother, "I have
brought you the famous baker's dog, that
can tell good money from bad. You know
I gave you my thoughts on that matter
when I first heard of him, and told you I
f:
11 !
I
i
452
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
fancied he was a man changed into * dog by
some wicked trick. To-day I bethought my-
self of going to bny some bread of that baker,
and was myself a witness of the wonders
performed by this dog, who has mnde such
extraordinary noise in Bagdad. What say
you, daughter, am I deceived in my conjec-
ture?" "Mother, you are not," answered
the daughter, ' ' and I will make it appear so."
The young lady immediately got up, jiut
her hand into a basin of water, and throwing
some upon me, said, "If thou wert born a
dog, remain so ; but if thou wert born a
man, resume thy former shape by the virtue
of this water, " At that instant the enchant-
ment was broken, and I became a man as
before.
Penetr.ated with the greatness of this kind-
ness, I threw myself at my deliverer's feet ;
and after I had kissed tlie hem of her gar-
ment, I said, "My dear deliverer, I am so
sensible of your exceeding and unparalleled
goodness towards a stranger, as I am, that I
beg of you to tell me yourself what I shall
do to shew my gratitude ; or rather dispose
of me as a slave, to whom you have a just
right, since I am no more my own, but en-
tirely yours : and that you may know who I
am, I will tell you my story in as few words
as possible."
Aftei' I had told her who I was, I gave her
an account of my marriage with Amina, of
the complaisance I shewed her, my patit n c
in bearing with her humour, hci' extra-
ordinary behaviour, and the indignity with
which she treated me out of inconceivable
■wickedness, anil tinished my story with my
transformation, and thanking her mother for
the inexpressible happiness she had procured
me.
"Sidi Nonman," said the daughter to me,
"let us not talk of the obligation you say
you owe me ; it is enough for me that I have
done any ?■ ice to so honest a man as you
are. But let us talk a little of Amina your
wife. I was acquainted with her before your
marriage ; and as I know her to be a magi-
cian, she alfo is sensible that I have some
knowledge of that art, since we both learnt
it of the same mistress. We often meet at
the baths, but as our tempers are different,
I avoid all opportunities of contracting an
intimacy with her, which is no diliioult
matter, as she does the same by me. I am
not at all surprised at her wickedness ; but
what I have already done for you is not
sufficient; I will complete what I have be-
gim. It isj not enough to have broken the
enchantment by which she has exchided yo\i
from the society of men. You must punish
her as she deserves, by going home again,
and assuming the authority which belongs
to you. I will give you the proper means.
Converse a little with my mother till I come
back."
My deliveress went into a closet, and
while she was there, I repeated my obliga-
tion to the mother as well as daughter. She
said to me, " You see my daughter has as
great skill in the magic art as Amina ; but
makes so good a use of it, that you would
be suqirised to know the good she has done,
and daily does with it. This induces me to
lot her practise it ; for I should not permit
her, if I perceived she made an ill use of it
in the smallest instance."
The mother began to relate some of the
wonders she had seen her do, when she came
into the room again, with a little bottle in
her hand. " Sidi Nonman," said she, "my
books, which I have been consulting, tell me
that Amina is now abroad, but will be at
home presently. They also inform me, she
pretended before your servants to be very
uneasy at your absence, and made them
believe that at dinner you recollected some
business which obliged you to go out again
immediately; that as you went out, you left
the door open, and a dog came into the hall
where she was at dinner, and she beat him
out with a great stick.
"Take this little bottle and go home imme-
diately, and wait in your own chan • ■■ i'-'\
she comes in, which will not be long. Ad
soon as .she comes home, run down into the
yard, and meet her face tn face. In lier sur-
prise to see you return so unexpecttdly, she
will turn her back to ran away ; then be sure
to have the buttle ready, and throw some of
the li(|Ui)r it contains upon her, pronouncing
a* the same time these words boldly. ' Jle-
eive the chastisitnent of thy wickedness.'
i will tell you no more; you will see the
effect."
After these words I took my Ii-avo of my
benefactress and her mother, with all the
testimonies of the most i)er[ect gratitude,
and a sincere prf;teatation never to forget my
obligation to them ; and then went home.
All things hajipened as the young magi-
cian foretold. Amina was not long before
she came home. As she came up the yard,
I met her with the water in my hand. As
soon as she saw me, she shrieked out ; and
as she turned about to run to the door, I
threw the licpior upon Jier, pronouncing the
words which the young magician taught me,
ind she was instantly changed into the same
mare which your majesty saw me upou
yesterday.
At that inst.ant, in the surprise she was in,
I seized her by the mane, and notwithstand-
ing her resistance, led her into the stable,
where I put a halter upou her head, and
when I had tied her to the rack, reproach-
ing her with her baseness, I chastised her
with a whip till I was tired, aiul punished
her every day since after the same manner.
"I hope, commander of the faithful," con-
tinued iSidi Kouman, making au end of his
COGIA HASSAN ALHABBAL.
453
storj-, "your majesty will not disapprove of
my conduct, and will think I have shewn so
wickeiii and pernicious a woman more in-
<lnlfren<ee than she deserved."
AVhnn the calij)!! found that Sidi !Nouinan
had ) more to say, he said to him, "Your
story is very singular, and the wickedness
of your v.ife inexcusable ; therefore I do not
absolutely condemn the chastisement you
have hitherto given her ; but I would !~ave
you consider how great a jiunishment it is to
be reduced to the condition of beasts, and
wish you would be content with that chas-
tisement. I would order you to go and
address yourself to the yoimg magician, to
wave the enchantment and metamorphosis
she has inflicted, ))ut that I know the obsti-
nacy and incorrigible cruelty of magicians of
both st'xes, who abuse their art ; and were
T not ajiprehensive that the second etl'ect of
;/Our wife's revenge would be more violent
nhan the first."
The caliph, who was naturally mild and
compassionate to all sufferers, after he had
declared his mind to Sidi Nonman, addressed
himself to the third person the grand vizier
Giafar had sum'noned to attend him. " Co-
gia Hassan," said ho, "passing yesterday
by your house, it seemed so magnificent that
I had a curiosity to know to whom it be-
longed, and was told that you, whose trade
is so mean that a man can scarce get his
bread by it, have built this house after you
had followed this trade some years. I was
likewise informed that you make a good
use of the riches God has blessed you with,
and your neighbours speak well of you.
"All this pleases me well," added the
caliph, "and T am jiersiiaded that the means
by which Providence has been ])leased to
bestow thene gifts on you must have been
very extraordinary. 1 am curious to know
them from your own mouth, and sent for
you on purpose to have that satisf.action.
Speak sincerely, that when I know your
story, I may rejoice in your good fortune.
" But that you may not suspect my curio-
sity, and believe that I have any other in-
terest than what I tell you, I declare, that
far from having any pretensions, I give you
my word you shall enjoy freely all you have
got."
On these assurances of the caliph, Cogia
Hassan prostrated himself before his throne,
with his forehciid down to the carpet, and
when he rose up again, said, " Commander
of the faithful, any other person but myself
might have lieeu alarmed .at having been
summoned to appear before your majesty;
but knfiu ing that my conscience was clear,
and that I had committed nothing against
the laws nor your majesty, but, on the con-
trary, had always the most respectful senti-
ments and the profoundest veneration for
ycur person, my only fear was, that I should
not be able to support the lustre ot your
throne. But nevertheless, on the ])ublic re-
port of your majesty's receiving favourably,
and hearing the meanesj of your subjects, I
took courage, and never doubted but I should
have confidence enough to give you all the
satisfaction you should re(iuire of me. Be-
sides, your majesty has J^iven me a proof of
your goodness, by granting me your j)rotec-
tion before you know whether 1 deserve it.
Nevertheless, I hope you will retain the
advantageous sentiments you have of me,
when, in obedience to your command, I shall
relate my adventures to you. "
After this little compliment ti conciliate
the caliph's good-will an \ attention, and
after some moments' recollection, Cogia Has-
san resumed his discourse in the following
THE STORY OF COGIA HASS.VX ALHABBAL.
Commander of the faithful, said he, that
your majesty may the better understand by
what means I arrived at the happiness I now
enjoy, I ought to accpiaint you, there are
two intimate friends, citizens of Bagdad,
now alive, who can testify the truth of what
1 shall tell you, and to whom, after God, the
author of all good, I owe my prosperity.
These two friends are called, the one Saadi,
the other Saad. Saadi, who is very rich,
was always of opinio'.i, that no man could be
hapiiy in this world without great riches, to
live independent of every one.
Saad was of another ojiinion ; he agreed
that riches were necessary in life, but main-
tained that the hajipiness of a man's life con-
sisted in virtue, without any furtlier attach-
ment to worldly goods than what were
necessary in life, and to do gcjod withal.
Saad himself is one of this number, and
lives very happily and cont'-nted in his
station ; and tiiough Saadi is infinitely more
rich, their friendship is very sincere, and the
richest sets no more value on himself than
the other. They never had any other dis-
jiute but on this point ; in all other things
their union has been very strict.
One day as they were talking upon this
subject, as I have since been informed by
ther.i both, Saadi atlirmed that poverty pro-
ceeded from men's being born poor, or
spending their fortunes in luxury and de-
baiichery, or by some of those unforeseen
fatalities which are not extraordinary. "My
opinion," said he, "is that most people'.^
poverty is owing to their wanting at first a
sufficient sum of money to raise them above
want, by employing their industry to im-
prove it: for," said he, "if they once had
such a sum, and made a right use of it, they
would not only live well, l)ut would infallibly
grow rich in time."
Saad could not come into his sentiments.
■l
'
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!il
454
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
"The way," said lie, " which you projiose
to make a poor man rich, is not so certain aa
you imagme. Your plan is very hazardous,
and I can bring many good arguments
against your opinions, but that they will
carry us too far. I believe, with as much
probability, that a poor man may become
rich by other means, as well as by money ;
and there are pcoi)le •^vho have raised as
great and surprising fortunes by mere
chance, as others have done by money,
with aU their good economy and manage-
ment to increase it by the best conducted
trade."
"Saad," replied Saadi, "I see wo shall
not come to any determination by my per-
sisting in opposing my opinion against yours.
I will make an ex])erimeut to convince you,
by giving, for example, a sum of money to
some artisan, whose ancestors from father to
son have always been poor, and lived only
from day to day, and died as arrant beggars
as they were born. If I have not the suc-
cess I exi)eet, you shall try if you will have
better by the means you shall use."
Some days after this dispute, these two
friends happened to walk out together, and
passing tlirough the street, where I \,'as at
work in my stall, at my trade of rope-
making, which I learnt of my father, who
learnt of his, and he of his ancestors ; and
by my dress and equipage it was no hard
matter for them to guess at my poverty.
Saad, remembering isaadi's engagement,
said, "If you have not forgot what you said
to me, there is a man," pointing to me,
"whom I can remember a long time work-
ing at his trade of roi)e-making, and in the
same poverty : he is a worthy siibject for
your liberality, and a j)roper person for you
to make your experiment upon." "I re-
member it so well," rejilied Saadi, "that I
have ever since carried a sufficient sura
about me to do it, but only waited for au
opportunity of being together, tliat you
might be witness of the fact. Let us go to
him, and know if he is really necessitous."
The two friends came to mo, and I, seeing
that they had a mind to speak to me, left off
work. They both accosted me with the
common salutation, and Saadi wishing me
peace, asked me my name.
I returned their salutation, and answered
their question, saying to him, "Sir, my
name is Hassan ; but by reason of my trade,
I am cdmnumly known by the name of Has-
san Alhabbal."
" Hassan," replied Saadi, " as there is no
trade but what a man may live by, I doubt
not but yours produces enough for you to
live well ; and I am amazed that the long
time you have worked at your tratle, you
have not saved enough to lay in a good
stock of hemp to extend your manufacture
and employ more hands, by the prolit of
whose work you would soon increase your
income."
"Sir," replied I, "you will be no longer
amazed I have not saved money, and taken
the way you mention to become rich, when
you come to know that let me work as hard
as I can from morning till night, I can hardly
get enough to keep my family in bread and
pulse. I have a wife and live children, not
one of which is old enough to be of the least
assistance to me. I must keep them and
clothe them, and in our poor way of living,
they still want a thousand necessaries, which
they cannot do without. And though hemp
is not very dear, I must have money to buy
it. This is the first thing I do with any
money I receive for my work ; otherwise, if
I should neglect to do so, I and my family
must starve.
"Now judge, sir,"added I, "if it is possible
that I should save anything for myself and
family : it is enough that we are content
with the little God sends us, and that we
have not the knowledge nor desire of what
we want, but can live as we have always
been bred up, and are not reduced to beg."
When I had given Saadi this account, he
said to me, "Hassan, I am not so much
surj)rised as I was, aiul I comj)rehend what
obliges you to bo content in your station.
But if 1 shoidd make a present of a purse of
two hundred pieces of gold, would not you
make a good use of it? and do not you be-
lieve that with such a sum you could become
soon as rich as the princii)al of your pro-
fession ?"
•' Sir," replied I, "you seem to be so good
a gentlemau that I am persuaded you would
not banter me, but that the offer you make
me is serious ; and I dare say, without pre-
suming too much upon myself, that a much
less sum would be sufficient to make me not
only as rich as the priuciiDal of our profes-
sion, but that in time I should be richer than
all of them in this city together, though
Bagdad is so large and poi)ulous."
The generous Saadi shewed me imme-
diately that in what he said he was serious.
He pulled a purse out of his bosom, and
putting it into my hands, said, "Here, take
this purse ; you \iiLi liud it contains two
hundred pieces of gold : I pray God bless
you with them, and give you grace to make
the gooil use of them I desire ; and believe
me, my friend Saad, whom you see here,
and I, shall both take great pleasure in find-
ing they may contribute towanis making you
more happy than you now are."
Commander of the faithful, when I had
got the jmrse, the ffrst thing I did was to
put it into my bosom ; but the transport of
™y j"y 'w*s so great, and I was so much
penetrated with gratitude, that my speech
failed me, and I could give my benefactor
no other token of my gratitude than to catch
COGIA HASSAN ALHABDAL.
455
hold of the hem of hia garment and kiss it ;
but he drew it from me ; and he and his
friend pursued their walk.
. .8 soon as they were gone, 1 returned to
my work again, and my first thought was,
what I should do with my 2)xirse to keep it
safe. I had in my poor house neither box
nor cupboard to lock it up in, nor any other
place where I could be sure it would not be
discovered if I hid it.
In this ]ierplexity, as I had been used, like
many poor people of my sort, to put the
little money I had in the folds of my turban,
I left my work, and went into the house,
under pretence of wrapping my turban up
anew. And I took such precautions that
neither my wife nor children saw what I
was doing. But first I laid aside ten pieces
of gold for present necessaries, and wrapt
the rest up in the folds of the linen which
went about my cap.
The principal expense I was at that day,
was to lay in a good stock of hemp, and
afterwards, as my family had eaten no flesh
meat a long time, I went to the shambles,
and bought somethinr; for supper.
As I was carrying the meat I had bought
home in my hand, a famished kite flew upon
me, and would have taken away my meat,
if I had not held it very fast ; but alas ! I
had better parted with it than lost my
money ; the faster I held my meat, the
more the bird struggled to get it, drawing
me sometimes on one side, and sometime.^
on another; but would not quit the prize,
till imfortunately by my efforts the turban
fell on tlie ground.
The kite immediately let go his hold, and
seizing on my turban before I could pick it
up, flew away with it. I cried out so loud,
that I frightened all the men, women, and
children in the neighbourhood, wlio joined
their shouts and cries to make the kite (juit
his hold ; for by that means those sort of
voracious birds are often forced to quit
their prey. But our cries did not frighten
this kite ; ho carried off my turban, and we
soon lost sight of him before he dropt it,
and it would have been in vain for me to
fatigue myself with running after him.
T went home very melancholy at the loss
of my turban and money. 1 wiis obliged to
buy a new turb.an, which diminished the
small remainder of the ten pieces ; for I had
laid out a deal in hemp. The little that was
left was not sufficient to give me reason to
gratify the great hopes I had conceived.
But what troubled me most was the little
satisfaction I .should be aljle to give my
benefactor for liis ill-placiil generosity, when
he shoidd come to liear what a misft)rtune I
had met with, which he woiUil jierhaps look
upon as incredible, and conseciueatly au idle
excuse.
While the remainder ^f the ten pieces
lasted, my little family and I lived the bet-
ter for it ; but I soon relapsed into the same
poverty, and the same inability '^^ extricate
myself from wretchedness. However, I
never murmured nor repined. God, said
T, was pleased to gi'e me riches when I
least expected them • He has thought fit to
take them from riie again almost at the
same time, because it so pleased Him, and
they were at His disposal ; j'et I will praise
His name for all the benefits I have received,
as it was His good pleasure, and submit my-
self, as I have even done liitherto, to Hia will.
These were my sentiments, while my wife,
from whom I could not keep secret the loss
I had sustained, was inconsolable. In my
trouble I had told my neighbours, that when
I lost my turban, I lost a hundred and ninety
pieces of gold ; ' nt as they knew my poverty,
and could not comprehend how I should have
got so great a sum by my work, they only
laughed at me.
About six months after this my misfor-
tune, which I have related to your majesty,
the two friends walking through that part
of the town where I lived, the neighbour-
hoou put .Saad in mind of me. " We are
now," said he to Saadi, "not far from the
street where Hassan Alhabbal lives ; let us
call and see what use he made of the two
hundred pieces of gold you gave him, and
whether they have enabled him to take any
steps towards bettering his fortune."
"With all my heart," replied Saadi; "I
have been thinkiuj; of him some days, and
it will be a great pleasure and satisfaction
to me to have you with me, as a witness of
the proof of my proposal. You will see a
great alteration. I expect we shall hardly
know him again."
Just as Saadi said this, these two friends
turned the corner of the street, and Saad,
who perceived me first at a distance, said to
his friend, "I believe you reckon without
your host. I see Hassan Alhabbal, but can
discern no change in his pereon, for he is as
ill-dressed as when we saw him before ; the
only difference that I can perceive is, his
turban looks something better. Observe
him yourself, and see whether I am in the
wroQg."
As they drew niglier to me, Saadi saw me
too, and found .Saad waa in the right, but
could not tell to what he should attribute
the little alteration he saw in my person ;
and was so much amazed, that he coidd not
speak when he came up to me. " WeU,
Hassan," s.aid Saad, "we do not ask you
how affairs go since we saw you last ; with-
out doubt they are in a better train."
"Gentlemen," replied I, addressing my-
self to tiiem both. " I liave the great morti-
fication to tell you, that your desires, wishes,
and hopes, as well as mine, have nut had the
success you had reason to expect, and I pro-
il'
i
456
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
miaed myself; you will HCarce believe the
extraordinary adventure that has befallen
me. I assure you, nevertheless, on the word
of an honest man, and you ought to believe
me, for nothing is more true than what 1
am going to tell you." Then I related to
them my adventures, with the same circum-
BtanceH I had the honour to tell your majesty.
Saadi rejected my discourse, and said,
"Hassan, you joke with me, and would
deceive me ; for what you say is a thing
incredible. What have kites to do with
turbans ? they only search for something to
satisfy their hunger. You have done as all
Buch sort of people as you generally do : if
they have made any extraordinary gain, or
any good fortune happens to them, which
they never expected, tlipy throw aside their
work, take their pleasure, and make merry,
while the money lasts ; and when they have
eaten and drank it all out, are reduced to
the same necessity and ■want as before. You
would not be so miserable, but because you
deserve it, and render yourself unworthy of
any good action done to you."
"Sir," replied I, "I bear all these re-
proaches, and am ready to bear as many
more, if they were more severe, and all with
the more patience, because I do not think
I deserve them. The thing is so publicly
known in this part of the town, that there
is nobody but can satisfy you of the truth
of it. If you inquire, you will find that I
do not impose upon you. I own, I never
heard talk of kites flying away with turbans ;
but this has actually happened to me, as a
great many other things, which do not fall
out every day, and yet have actually hap-
pened."
Saad took my part, and told Saadi a great
many as surprising stories of kites, some of
which he afKrmed he knew to be true, inso-
H) ach that at last he pulled his i)urse out of
his bosom, and counted out two hundred
piv^ces of gold into my hand, which I put
into my bosom for want of a purse.
When Saadi had told me out that sum, he
said to me, " Hassan, I make you a present
of these two hundred pieces ; but take care
to put them in a safer place, that you may
not lose them so unfortunately as you have
done the others, and employ them in such
a manner that they may procure you the ad-
vantages that the others would have done."
I told him that the obligation of this his
second kindness was much greater than I
deserved, after what had happened, and that
I should be sure to make good use of his
advice. I would have said a great deal
more, but he did not give me time, but went
away, and continued his walk with his
friend.
As soon as they were gone, T left off work
and went home, and finding neither my wife
nor children within, I pulled out my money.
put ten pieces by, and wrapt up the rest in
a clean linen cloth, tying it fast with a knot ;
but then I was to consider where I should
hide this linen cloth, that it might be safe.
After I had considered some time, I be-
thought of laying it at the bottom of a great
earthen vessel full of bran, which stood in
a corner, where I imagined neither my wife
nor children would look into. My wife came
home soon after, and as I had but very little
hemp in the house, I told her I should go
out to buy some, without saying anything
to her about the two friends.
While I was out, a sand- man, who sella
scouring sand, Wiiich women use in baths,
passed through our street, and called, "Sand,
ho ! " My wife, who wanted some, called
him; but as she had no money, she asked
him if he would make an exchange of some
sand for some bran. The sand-man asked
to see the bran. My wife shewed him the
pot ; the bargain was made ; she had the
scouring sand, with which she filled a lean-
to which I had made to the house, and the
sand-man took the pot and bran along with
him.
Not long after, I came home, loaded with
as much hemp as I could carry, and followed
by five porters loaded also with the same.
After I had satisfied them for their trouble,
I sat down to rest myself, and, looking
about me, could not see the pot of bran.
It is impossible for me to exi)res8 to your
majesty my surprise, and the effect it had
on me at the moment, I asked my wife
hastily what was become of it : and she told
me the bargain she had made wjth the
sand-man, which she thought to be a very
good one.
"Ah ! unfortimate woman ! " cried T, "you
know not the injury you have done me,
yourself, and our children, by making that
bargain, which has ruined us quite. You
thought only of selling the bran, but with
the bran you have enriched the sand man
with a hundred and ninety pieces of gold,
wliich Saadi with his friend came and made
me a second present of."
My wife was like one stark mad when
she knew what a fault she had committed
through ignorance. She cried, beat her
breast, and tore her hair jvnd clolhcs. "Un-
happy wretch that I am," cried she, " am I
lit to live after so horrid a mistake? Where
shall I find this sand -man ? I know him
not ; I never saw him in our street before.
Oh! husband," added she, " you w.os very
much in the wrong to be so reserved in a
matter of such importance. This had never
happened, it you had communicated the
secret to me." In short, 1 should never
make an end of my story, if I were to tell
your majesty what her grief made her say.
You are not ignorant how eloquent women
often are in their alliictions.
COGIA HASSAN ALHABBAL.
457
"Wife," said I, "moderate your grief ;
l)y your weeping and howling you will alarm
all the neighbourhood, and there is no rea-
son they Hhould be informed of our misfor-
tunes. They will only laugh at us, instead
of pitying us. We had best bear our loss
l)atiently, and submit ourselves to the will
of God, and bless Him, for that out of two
hundred pieces of gold which He had given
US, He has taken back but one hundred and
ninety, and left us ten, v/hich, by the use I
shall make of them, will be a great relief to
us."
My wife at first did not relish all these
my arguments ; but as time softens the
greatest misfortunes, and makes them more
supportable, she at last grew easy, and had
almost forgotten them. " It is true," said I
to her, ' ' we live but poorly ; but what have
the rich which we have not ? Do not we
breathe the same air, enjoy the same light,
and the same warmth of the sun ? There-
fore what conveniences have they more than
we, that we should envy their happiness ?
They die as well as we. In short, while we
live in the fear of God, as we should always
do, the advantage they have over us is so
very inconsiderable, that we ought not to
regard it."
1 will not tire your majesty any longer
with my moral refl( .'ions. My wife and I
comforted ourselves, and I pursued my trade
with as much alacrity as before these two
mortifying losses, which followed one an-
other so quickly. The only thing that
troubled me sometimes was, how I should
look Saadi in the face when he should come
and ask me how much I had improved his
two hundred pieces of gold, and advanced
my fortune by his liberality. I saw no
remedy but to resolve to submit to the con-
fusion I should feel, though it was by no
fault of mine, this time, any more than be-
fore, that this misfortune had hajipuned.
The two friends stayed away longer this
time than the former, though Saad had often
spoken to Saadi, who alw.ays put it off ;
"for, said he, "the longer we stay away,
the richer Hassan will be, and I shall have
the greater satisfaction."
Saad, who had not the same opinion of
the effect of his friend's generosity, made
answer, " You fancy then that your preser.t
will have been turned to a better account
this time than before. I would advise you
not to flatter yourself too much, for fear you
should be more sensibly mortified if it should
prove otherwise." "Why," replied Saadi,
"kites do not tly away with turbans every
day ; and Hassan will be more cautious this
time."
"I do not doubt of it," replied Saad;
' ' but, " added he, ' ' there are other accidents
that neither you nor I can think of ; there-
fore, I say again, moderate your joy, and
do not depend too much on Hassan's good
success; for to tell you what I think, and
what I always thought (whether you like to
hoar it or not,) I have a secret foresight,
that you will not have succeeded, and that
I shall succeed better than you in proving
that a poor man may sooner becMme rich by
any other means than by money "
In short, one day, when Saad and Saadi
were together, and were disputin :; upon this
subject, Saad observed that enough had been
said : " I am resolved," said he, "to inform
myself this very day what has passed ; it is
time for walking ; let us not lose it, but go
see which of us has lost the wager." I saw
them at a distance, was terribly conceraed,
and was just going to leave my work, and
to run and hide myself. However, I appear-
ed very earnest iit work, made as if I had
not seen them, and never lifted up my eyes
till they were close to me, and had saluted
me, and then 1 coidd not help it I hung
down my head, and told them my last mis-
fortune, with all the circumstances, and
that I was as poor as when they first saw
me.
"After that," I added, "you may say that
I ought to have hid my money in another
place than in a pot of bran, which was car-
ried out of my hoiise that same day ; but
that pot had stood there many years, and
had never been removed, whenever my wife
parted with the bran. Could I guess that a
sand-man should come by that very d.iy, and
my wife would have no money, and would
make such an exchange ? You may indeed
allege, that I ought to have told my wife of
it ; but I will never believe that such pru-
dent persons, as I am persuaded you are,
would have given me that advice ; and if I
had put my money anywhere else, what cer-
tainty could I have had that it woiUd be
more safe ?
" 1 see, sir," said I, addressing myself to
Saadi, "that it has pleased God, whose
ways are secret and impenetrable, that I
should not be enriched by your liberality,
but that I must be poor ; however, the obli-
gation is the same as if it had wrought the
desired effect."
After these words, I was silent ; and Saadi
replied, "Though I would persuade myself,
Hassan, that all you tell lis is ;i ue, and not
ov. ing to your debauchery or ill manage-
ment, yet I must not l)e extravagant, and
ruin myself for tlic sake cf an experiment.
I do not regret in the least the four hundred
pieces of gold I gave you to raise you iu the
world. I did it with respect to God, with-
out expecting any recompense 1)ut the plea-
sure of doing good. If anything mokes me
repent 'X is that I did not address myself to
anot'.ijr, who might have made a better use
of ly charity." Then turning about to his
fiiend, " Saad," continued he, " you may
458
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
know by what I have said that I do not
entirely give up the caiiac. You may now
make your experiment, and let me see, that
there are wayw, besides giving money, to
make a i)oor man's fortune in the way we
both mean. Let Hassan be the man. I
dare say, whatever you give him he will not
be richer than he was with four hundred
pieces of gold." Saad liad a i)iece of lead in
his hand, which he shewed Saadi. "You
saw me," said he, " take up this piece of
lead, which I found on the ground ; I will
give it to Hassan ; and you shall see what
it is worth."
Saadi burst out a laughing at Saad.
" "What is that bit of lead worth?" said he ;
"a farthing? What can Hassan do with
that?" Saad presented it to me, and said,
"Take it, Hassan, let Saadi laugh ; you will
tell us some news of the good luck it has
brought one time or another." I thought
Saad was in jest, and had a mind to divert
hims.^lf ; however, I put the lead in my
pock-jt, and thanked him. The two friends
pursued their walk, and I fell to work
again.
At night when I pulled off my clothes to
go to bed, the piece of lead, which I had
never thought of from the time he gave it
me, tumbled out of my pocket. 1 took
it up, and laid it on the first place that was
nearest to me. The same night it happene<l
that a fisherman, a neighbour, mending his
nets, found a piece of lead wanting ; and it
being too late to buy any, since the shops
were shut up, and he must either fish that
night or his family go without bread the
next day, he called to his wife, and bid her
inquire among the neighbours for a piece.
She went from door to door on both sides of
the street, but could not get any, and came
back again to tell her husband so. He asked
her if she had been to several of their neigh-
bours, naming them, and among the rest
Hassan Alhabbal's house. "No, indeed,"
said the wife, " I have not been there ; that
was too far ofi^, and if I had gone, do you
think T should have found any ? I know by
experience they never have anything when
one wants it." "No matter," said the
fisherman; "you are an idle hussy; you
must go there ; for though you have been
there a hundred times before, without get-
ting anything, you may chance to get what
we want now. You must go."
The fisherman's wife weut out grumbling
and growling, came and knocked at my
door, and waked me out of a sound sleep.
I asked her what she wanted. " Hassan
Alhabbal," said she, as loud as she could
bawl, "my husband wants a bit of lead to
mend his nets with ; and if you have a
piece, desires you to give it him."
The piece of lead which Saad had given
me was so fresh in my memory, and had so
lately dropt out of my clothes, that I couM
not forget it. I told my neighbour I ha<l
some ; and if she would stay a moment, my
wife should give her what she wanted. Ac-
cordingly, my wife, who was wakened by
the noise as well as myself, got tip, and
groping about where I directed her, found
the lead, opened the door, and gave it to
the fisherman's wife, who was so overjoyed,
that she promised my wife, that for the
kindness she did her and her husband, she
would answer for him we should have the
first cast of the nets.
The fisherman was so much rejoiced to
see the lead, which he so little expected,
that he very much approved his wife's pro-
mise. He finished mending his nets, and
went a fishing two hours before day, accord-
ing to custom. At the first throw he caught
but one fish, about a yard long, and propor-
tionable in thickness ; and afterwards hatl a
great many successful casts ; but of all the
fish he took, none eaine up in rAz^ ctiual to
the first.
When the fisherman had done fishing, he
went home, where his first care was to think
of me. I was extremely surprised, when at
my work, to see him come to me with
a large fish in his hand. ' ' Neighbour, " said
he, "my wife promised you last night, in
return for your kindness, whatever fish I
should catch at my first throw ; and I ap-
pioved her promise. It pleased God to
send me no more than this one for you,
which I desire you to accept of, such as it
is. I wish it had been better. Had He sent
me my net full, they should all have been
yours."
"Neighbour," said I, "the bit of lea<l
which I sent you was such a trifle, that it
ought not to be valued at so high a rate ;
neighbours should assist each other in their
little wants. I have done no more for you
than I shoidd have expected from you had
I been in such a case ; therefore I woidd re-
fuse your present if I was not persuaded
you gave it me freely, and that I should
oflfend you if I did so ; and since j'ou will
have it so, I take it, and I return you my
hearty thanks."
After these civUities, I took the fish, and
carried it home to my wife. " Here," said
I, "take tliis fish, which the fisherman our
neighbour has made me a present of, in re-
turn for the little bit of lead he sent to us
for last night : I believe it is all that we can
ex])ect from the present Saad made me yes-
terday, promising me that it would bring
me good luck ; " and then I told her what
had passed between the two friends.
My wife was very much startled to see
so large a fish. " What would you have me
do with it ? " said she. " Our gridiron is only
fit to broil small fish ; and we have not a
pot big enough to boU it." " That is your
if
COGIA HASSAN ALHABBAL.
459
bujineas," answered I ; " ilruss it as yon
will, I shall like it either way ; " and then I
went to my work again.
In gutting tlie fish, my wife found a largo
diamond, wliich, when she washed it, she
took for a jiiece of glass : indeed she had
heard talk of diamonds, but if she liad ever
seen or liandled one, she wouhl not have
known how to distinguish them. >She gave
it to the youngest of our chihlreu for a jilay-
thing, and his brothers and sisters handed
it about from one to ancjther, to admire the
brightness and beauty of it.
At niglit when the lamp was lighted, and
the children were still jilaying with the dia-
mond, they i)erceived that it gave a light,
when my wife, who was getting them their
supper, stood between them and the lamp ;
xiljon which they snatched it from one an-
other to try it ; and the younger ones fell a
crying, that the elder ones would not let
them havt- it long enough. But as a little
matter amuses children and makes them
squabble and fall out, my wife and I took
no notice of their noise, which presently
ceased, when the bigger ones supped with
us, and my wife had given the younger each
their share.
After supper, the children got together
again, and began to make the same noise.
Then I called to the eldest, to know what
was the matter, who told me that it was
about a piece of glass, which gave a light
when ids back was to the lamp. I bid him
bring it to me, and made the ex]>eriment
myself ; and it api)eared so extraordinary to
me, that I asked my wife wliat it was. She
told me it was a piece of glass, Avhich she
found in gutting the lish.
I thought no more than she but that it
was a bit of glass, but I was resolved to
make a farther experiment of it ; and there-
fore bid my wife to i)ut the lamj) in the
chimney, which she did, and stiU found
that the supposed piace of glass gave so
great a light, that we might see to go to
bed without the lamp. So I jjut it out, and
placed the bit of glass upon the chimney to
light us. "Look," said I, "this is another
advantage that Saadi's friend's ])iece of lead
procures us : it wUl spare us the exjiense
of oil."
When the children saw the lamp was put
out, and the bit of glass supplied its place,
they cried out so loud, and made so great a
noise with astonishment, that it was enough
to alarm the neighbourhood ; and before
my wife and I could quiet them we were
forced to make a greater noise, nor could
we silence them till we had put them to bed ;
and after talking a long while m their way
about the wonderful light of a bit of glass,
they fell asleep. After they were in bed,
my wife and I went t'l bed by them ; and
next morning, without thinking any more of
the glass, I went to my work as usual;
wh'ch ought not to seem strange for such a
man as I, who had never seen any diamonds,
or. if 1 had, never attended to their value.
But before \ proceed, I must tell your
majesty, that there was but a very slight
partition wall between my house and my
iiext neighbour's, who was a very rieli .lew
and a jeweller ; and the chamber that ho
and his wife lay in joined to ours. They
were both in bed, anil the noise my children
made awakened them.
The next morning the jeweller's wife came
to mine to complain of being disturbed out
of their first sleep. "Good neighbour
Ilachael," which was the Jew's wife's name,
said my wife, "I am very sorry for what
haiipenod, and hope you wUl excuse it; you
know it was the children, and they will
laugh and cry for a trille. Come in, and I
will shew you what was the occasion of all
the noise."
The Jewess went in with her, and ray wile
taking the diamond, (for such it really was,
and a very extraordin.u'y one,) oflf the chim-
ney-piece, gave it into her hands. " See
here," said she ; " it was this piece of glass
that caused all the noise ;" and while the
JowojS, who understood all sorts of pre-
cious stones, was examining this diamond
with admiration, my wife had told her how
she found it in the tish's belly, and what had
hajjpened.
" Indeed, Aischach," (which was my wife's
name,) said the jeweller's wife, giving her
the diamond again, " I believe as you do, it
is a piece of glass ; but as it is more beautiful
than common glass, and I have just such
another piece at home, I wdl buy it, if you
will sell it."
The children, who heard them i,alking of
selling their plaything, presently interrupted
their conversation, crying and begging their
mother not to ])art with it, who, to quiet
them, promised she would not.
The Jewess being thus prevented in her
bargain by my children, went away, but
first whispering my wife, (who followed her
to the door,) if she had a mind to sell it, not
to shew it to anybody without ac(iuaiuting
her.
The Jew went out early in the morning to
his shop in that part of the town where the
jewellers all resorted to. Thither his wife
w ent to him, and told him the discovery she
had made. She gave him an account of the
size and weight of it as near as she could
guess, and of its beauty, water, and lustre,
and particularly of the light which it gave
in the night, according to my wife's account,
which was the more credible as she was un-
informed.
The Jew sent his wife immediately to
treat, and to offer her a trifle at first, as she
should think fit, and then to raise her price
460
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I ,i^'
liy ilfj,'r(;L'H ; but )iu sure to l)ring it, cost
what it wciiild. Acuonlingly liiH wife ciiiiic
a^jaiii to mine privately, iiiul, without huj)-
jiosinj; that Hhc was (li'toriniiuMl to mi'H tho
iliauiond, aHked licr if nIic would take twenty
pieeos of fjold for that \\'ww of j^las.s.
My wife, thinking' tlm huiu ho fonsideralilt!
for n moro pii-co of jjlasa, aa shf tliouglit it,
would not Muiki! any barj^aiu ; Imt told luT
sho could not part with it, till bIio liad
spoken with me. In tli'! meantime 1 came
from my work to dinner. As they were
talkinj^ at the door, my wife stopped me,
anil asked niu if I would sell tho pieeo of
glass she had found in tho lish's belly for
twenty i)ieoe8 of gold which our neighbour
otTered her. I returned no answer ; but
rellected immediately on tho assurance with
which 8aad, in t^ivinj; me tho piece of lead,
told mo it would make my fortune. Tho
Jew Avonjan, faneyini,' that the low jirico
she liad ottered was tho reason I made no
rei)ly, said, " I will j^ive you lifty, neigh-
bour, if that will do."
As soon as I found that she roso presently
from twenty to fifty, I told her that I ex-
pected a great deal more. "Well, neigh-
bour," said she, " I will give you a hundred,
and that is so much, I know not whether
my husband will bear mo out." At this
new advance, I told her I would have a
hundred thousand i)ieees of gold for it;
that I saw plainly that the diamond was
worth a great deal more ; but to oblige her
aiul her husband, as they were neighbt)iirs,
1 would limit myself to that price, which I
was determined to have ; and if they re-
fused to give it, other jewellers should have
it, who would give a great deal more.
The Jewess conlirmed me in this my re-
solution by her eagerness to conclude the
bargain : and by coniing up at several bid-
dings to fifty thousand pieces, which I re-
fused. "I can offer you no more," said
she, "without my husband's consent. He
will be at home at night ; and I would beg
the favour of you to let him see it, which I
promised."
At night when the Jew came homo, his
wife told him what she had done ; that she
had got no forwarder with my wife or me ;
that she offered, and I refused, fifty thou-
sand pieces of gold ; and that I had pro-
mised to stay till night at her request. Ho
observed the time when I left off work, and
came to me. "Neighbour Hassan," said
he, "I desire you would shew me the dia-
mond your wife shewed to mine. " I brought
him in, and shewed it him. As it was very
dark, and my lamp was not lighted, he knew
presently, by the light the diamond gave,
and by the lustre it cast in my hai d, that
liis wife had given him a true account of it.
He looked at find admired it a long time.
"Well, neighbour," said he, "my wife tells
mo vho offered you fifty thousand piecea
of gold ; 1 will give you twenty thousand
nu)ro."
"Neighbour," said 1, "your wife can tell
you that I value my diamond at a hundred
thousand jiieces, and 1 will take nothing
less." Ho haggled a long time with me, in
hopes that I would make some abatement :
but tinding at la.st that 1 was jjositive, and
for fear that [ should shew it to other jewel-
lers, as I eertaiidy shoidd have done, ho
would not leave mo till the bargain was
concluded on my own terms. Ho told mo
that ho had not so much money at home,
but would pay it all to me by that time to-
morrow, ond that very instant fetehed two
bags of a thousand pieces each, as an ear-
nest ; and tho next day, though I d j not
know how ho raised the nu)iu,>y, whether ho
borrowed it of his friends, or let some other
jewellers into partnership with him, ho
brought mo tho sum we agreed for, at the
time appointed, and I delivered to him the
diamond.
Having thus sold my diamond, and being
rich, infinitely beyond my hoi)os, 1 thanked
God for His bounty and liberality; and would
have gone and thrown myself at Saad's feet
to express my gratitude, if I had known
where he lived ; as also at Saadi's, to whom
I was first obliged, though his good intention
had not the same success.
Afterwards I thought of the good use I
should make of so considerable a sum. My
wife, with tho vanity natural to her sex,
pri)posed immediately to I)uy rich clothes
for her and her children ; and to purchase a
house, and furnish it handsomely. I told
her we ought not to begin with such ex-
penses; "for," said I, "money is made to be
spent, so as that it may produce a fund
which we may draw from without its failing.
This I intend, and shall begin to-morrow."
I spent all that day t 1 tho next in going
to the people of my own trade, who worked
as hard every day for their bread as I had
done ; and giving them money beforehand,
engaged them to work for me in different
sorts of rope-making, according to their skill
and ability, with a promise not to make them
wait for their money, but to pay them as
soon as their work was done.
By this means I engrossed almost all the
business of Bagdad, and everybody was
pleased with my exactness and i)unctual
payment.
As so great a number of workmen must
])roduce a great deal of work, I went and
hired w.ii'ehouses in several parts of the
town to hold my goods, and ap2)ointed over
each a clerk, to sell both wholesale and
retail ; and by this economy received a con-
siderable prolit and income. Afterwards, to
unite so many warehouses in one ])lace, I
bought a largo house, which stood upon a
COG/A JIASSAN AIJfAnPAL.
461
KU'ikt (Iciil of ^'roiiiul, but wan ruinuiis, imlUul
it down, and built that wliiuli your ina-
JL'sty Maw yi'stordny, wliicli tliou.L;h it niakoH
HO great an apiicarauco, conaists, for the
nioHt i)art, of wuruhoUMi's for my busiucHH,
witli apartniuiits juat uecussary for mysi'lf
aiul family.
.Somctimi! after T bad b'ft my jioor <»M
habitation, and removed to this new one,
.Saad and Saadi, who liad bcaruo thoui^ht of
iiie from tlie bnat time tliey liad been with
me, as they were oiu' (biy walkinj^ toj;other,
and jiaHsinj:; by our street, reHolved to call
ujion nu' : but how great wan their Burprise
when they did not see mu at work, as they
used to lind me ! They naked what was
become of me, and if I wan alive or dead?
Their amazement was redoubled when they
were told I was beuomo a great nu'rchaut,
and was no longer called plain Hassan, but
Cogia Hassan Alhabbal, which was to soy,
Merchant Hassan Hope-maker, and that I
hail built in a street, which was named to
them, a house like a palace.
The two friends went directly to the
street, and in the way, as Saadi could not
imagine that the bit of lead which Saad had
given me could have been the raising of my
lortuno, ho said to him, " I am overjoyed to
have made Hassan Alhabbal's fortune : but
I cannot forgive the two lies he told me, to
f^et four hun<lred jiicces instead of two ; for
I nor nobody else can attribute it to the
piece of lead you gave him."
"So you think," replied Saad ; "but so
do not I. I do not see why you should do
Cogia Hassan so much injustice as to take
him for a liar. You must give me leave to
believe that he told us the truth, and dis-
guised nothing from us, and that the ](iece
of lead which I gave him is the cause of his
l^L'sperity; and you will liad ho will pre-
eently tell us so."
In this discourse the two friends came into
the street where I lived, and asked where-
abouts my house stood ; and being shewed
it, and conBidoring the front, they had much
atlo to believe it.
They knocked at the door, and my porter
opened it ; and Saadi, fearing to be guilty of
nuleness in taking the house of a iu)blcnian
for that he was inquiring after, said to the
porter, " We are informed that this is Cogia
Hassan Alhabbal's house; tell us if we are
not mistaken." " You are very right, sir,"
said the i)orter, ojjening tlie door wider ;
" it is the same : come in ; he is in the hall,
and any of the slaves will point him out to
you."
I had no sooner set my eyes upon the two
friends, but I knew them. I rose from my
seat, ran to them, and woiUd have kissed the
hem of their garments, but they would not
BufTer it, but embraced me. I invited them
to sit down on a sofa made to hold fourper-
KouH, wliich won placed fidl in view of my
garden. I desired them to sit ilown, and they
would have me take the place of honour.
I assured them that t had not forgot that I
was ])oor llasHHM .\lhabl)al, nor the oliliga-
tioiiH I had to tlierii ; but were this not tho
case, I knew the res[(ect duo to them, and
begged them not to expose me. They sat
down in the proper iilace, and I over against
them.
Then Saa<li, addressing himself to me, saiil,
"Cogia Hassan, 1 cannot cxjiress my joy to
see you in the condition I wished you when L
twice made you a jiresent of two humlred
pieces of gold, with which I nu'au not tii
upbraid you ; and I am ])ersu!ideil that those
four hundred pieces have made this wonder-
ful change in your fortune, which I see with
pleasure. One thing vexes me, which is, [
cannot comi)reheud the reason why you
should twice disgt:iso tlu^ truth from me,
alleging that your losses were the etl'ect of
misfortunes which still seem to me incre-
dible. Was it not because, when we were
together the last time, you had so littlo
advanced your small income with each of
the two hundred pieces of gold, that you
were ashamed to own itV 1 am willing to
believe this, and wait to be conlirmed in my
opinion."
Saad heard this discourse of Saadi's with
imiiatieuce, not to say indign.ation, which
he shewed by casting down his eyes, and
shaking his head ; he did not, hr)wever, in-
terrupt him. When he had done, he said
to him, "Forgive me, Saivdi, if 1 anticipate
Cogia Hassan, before he answers you, to tell
you that I admire yo'ir prepossessions against
his sincerity, and that you still i)er8ist in not
believing the as'-....auc"a he has already given
you, I lipi-- told you before, and I repeat
■■*• '.. y.ju once more, that 1 believe those two
.1" '.dents which befell him upon his bare
relation ; and whatever you may say. I am
jiersuaded they are true; butiet him speak
himself, and tell wliich of us does him jus-
tice."
After this discourse of the two friends, I
said, addressing myself to them both, "(ien-
tlemen, I should condemn myself to perpe-
tual silence, on the exi>lanation you ask of
me, if I was not certain the dispute you
argue upon my account cannot break that
friendship which subsists between you ;
therefore I will declare to you the truth,
since you require it ; and with the same
sincerity as before." Then I told them every
circumstance, as your majesty has heard,
without forgetting the least.
All my protestations had no effect on
Saadi, to cure him of his prejudice. "Cogia
Hassan," replied Saadi, "the adventure of
the fish, and diamond found in his belly,
appears to me as incredible as the kite's fly-
ing away with your turban, and the ex-
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
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1.25
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2.5
2.2
1.8
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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
33 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 872-4503
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462
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
change of the scouring-sand. Be it as it
will, I am eqnally convinced that you arc
no longer poor, but rick, as I intended you
should be, by my means ; and I rejoice sin-
cerely."
As it grew late, they got up to take their
leave ; when I stopiied them, and said,
" Gentlemen, there is one favour I have to
ask, and I beg of j'ou not to refuse to do me
the honour to stay and take a slight supper
■with me, and a bed to-night, and to-morrow
I will carry you by water to a small country
house, which I bought for the sake of the
air, and we will return the same day on my
horses."
"If Saadhas no business that calls him
elsewhere," said Saadi, "I consent." Saad
told him that nothing should prevent his
enjoying his company. We have only to
send a slave to my house, that we may not
be waited for. I provided a slave ; and
while they were giving their orders, I went
and ordered supper.
While it was getting ready, I shewed my
benefactors my house and all my offices,
which they thought very extensive, con-
sidering my fortune. I call thpm both
benefactors without distinction, because
without Saadi, Saad woidd never have given
me the piece of lead; and without Saad,
iSaadi woidd not have given me the four
hundred pieces of gold, to which I attribute
the rise of my good fortune. Then 1 brought
them back agr.'n into the hall, where they
asked me several questions about my busi-
ness ; and [ gave them such answers as sa-
tisfied them.
During this discourse, my servants came
to tell me that supper was served up. I led
them into another hall, where they admired
the manner in which it was lighted, the
beaufet, and the entertainment I had pro-
vided. I regaled them also with a concert
of vocal and instrumental music during the
repast, and afterwards with a company of
dancers, and other entertainments, endea-
vouring to shew them as much as possible
my gratitude.
The next morning, as we had agreed to set
out early to enjoy the fresh air, we repaired
to the river side by sunrise, and went on
board a pleasure-boat well caq)eted, that
waited for us ; and in less than an hour and
a half, with six good rowers, and the stream,
we arrived at my country-house.
When we went ashore, the two friends
stopped to observe the beauty of the outside
of my house, and to admire its advantageous
situation for the prospects, which were nei-
ther too much limited nor too extensive, but
such as made it very agreeable. Then I
carried them into all the apartments, and
shewed them all the outhmues and conveni-
ences ; with all which they were very well
pleased.
Afterwards wo walked in the gardens,
where what they were most taken M-ith was
a grove of orange and lemon trees, loaded
with fruits and flowers, which were planted
at equal distances, and watered by a canal of
fresh water, which was cut from a pleasant
river just by. The close shade, the fragrant
smell which perfumed the air, the soft mur-
murings of the water, the harmonious notes
of an intinite number of binls, and many
other agreeable circumstances, struck them
in such a monner, that they frequently stop-
ped to express how much they were obliged
to me for bringing them to so delightful a
place, and to congratulate me upon my great
acquisitions, with other compliments. I led
them to the end of that grove, which was
very long and broad, where I shewed them
a wood of large trees which terminated my
garden, and afterwards a summer-house,
o})en on all sides, shadeil with a cluster of
palm-trees, but not so as to spoil the pro-
spect ; then I invited them to walk in, and
repose themselves on a sofa covered with
carpets and cushions.
Two of my boys, whom I had sent into the
country with a tutor, for the air, left us, to
go into the wood bird-nesting ; and seeing
a nest which was built in the branches of a
great tree, they attempted to get at it ; but
as they had neither strength nor address to
accomplish it, they shewed it to the slave
who waited on them, and never left them,
and bid him climb the tree for it ; who,
when he came to it, was very much surprised
to find it built in a turban. However, he
took it, and brought it down with him, and
shewed it to my children ; and as he thought
that T. might like to see a thing that was so
imcommon, he gave it to the eldest boy to
bring to me.
I saw the children at a distance, coming
back to us, overjoyed to have gotten a nest.
"Father," said the eldest lad, "we have
found a nest in a turban." The two friends
ard I were very much surprised at the no-
velty ; but I much more, when I knew the
turban to be that which the kite flew away
with. After I had examined it well, and
turned it about, I said to my guests, " Gen-
tlemen, have you memories good enough to
remember the turban I had on the day you
did me the honour first to sneak to me?"
"I do not think," said Saad, "that either
my friend or I gave any attention to it ; but
if the hundred and ninety pieces of gold are
in it, we cannot doubt of it.
"Sir," replied I, "there is no doubt but
it is the fiame turban ; for, besides that I
know it very well, I feel by the weight it is
too heavy to be any other, and you will per-
ceive this, if you give yourself the trouble
to take it in your hand." Then, after tak-
ing out the birds, and giving them to the
children, T put it into his bands, and he gave it
COGIA HASSAN ALHABBAL.
463
toSaadi. " Indeed," said Saadi, "I believe j "Now, sir," added T, taking the turban
it to be your turban, which I shall l>e better a;;;ain, "observe very wt-ll, before I touch
convinced of when I see the hundred and ' it, that it is of no very fresh date in the
ninety pieces of gold." | tree ; and the state in which you see it, and
m
to
lit
the neat so neatly made in it, without hav-
ing been touched by the haud of man, are
sufficient proofs that the kite dropt or laid
it in the tree ever since that day he took it
from off my head, and the branches hindered
it from falling to the ground. Excuse my
making this remark, since it concerns me so
much to remove all suspicions of fraud on
my part." Saad backed me in what I urged,
and said, " Saadi, this regards you, and not
me, for I am verily persuaded that Cogia
Hassan does not impose u^Kin us."
While Saad was talking, I pulle<l oiF the
linen doth which was wrapped about the
cap of the turban, and took out the purse,
which Saadi knew to be the same he gave
me. I emptied it on the carpet before them,
and said, "There, gentlemen, there is the
money; coimt it, and see if it be right."
Which Sood did, and found it to be a him-
dred and ninety pieces of gold. Then Saadi,
who could not deny so manifest a truth, ad-
dressing himself to me, said, " I agree, Cogia
Hassan, that this money could not serve to
enrich you; but the other hundred and
ninety pieces, which you would make me
believe you hid in a pot of bran, might."
" Sir," answered I, " I have told you the
truth in regard to both sums. You would
not have me retract, to make myself a liar."
"Cogia Hassan," said Saad, "leave Saadi
to his own opinion ; I consent with all my
heart that he believe you are obliged to him
for one part of your good fortune, by means
of the last sum he gave you, provided he
will agree that I contributed to the other
half by the bit of leatl and will not pretend
to dispute the valuable diamond found in
the tiah's belly." " 1 agree to it," answered
Saadi; "but still you must give me liberty
to believe that money is not to be amassed
without money."
" What," replied Saad, " if chance should
throw a diamond in my way worth fifty
thousand pieces of gold, and I should have
that sum given me for it, con it be said I
got that sum by money ? "
They disputed no further then ; but we
rose up, and went into the house, just as
dinner was ready. After dinner, I left my
guests together, to pass away the heat of the
day more at their liberty, and with greater
composuit, '.vhile I went to give orders to
my housekeeper and gardener. Afterwards
I went to them again, and we talked of in-
different matters till it grew a little cooler ;
when we returned into the garden for fresh
air, and stayed till sunset. Then we all
mounted on horseback, and got to Bagdad
by moonlight two hours after, followed by
one of my slaves.
It happened, by I know not what negli-
gence of my servants, that we were then out
of oats, and the storehouses were all shut
up ; when one of my slaves, seeking about
the neighbourhood for some, met with a pot
of bran in a shop, bought the bran, and
brought the pot along with him, promising
to cvry it back again the next day. The
slave emptied the bran into the manger,
and, dividing it with his hands among the
horses, felt a linen cloth tied up, and very
heavy : he brought the cloth to me in the
condition that he found it, and presented it
1;
if
464
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
to me, telling me that it might ]>erha]is be
the cloth he had ofteu heard me talk of
among my friends.
Overjoyed, I said to my two benefactorH,
"Gentlemen, it lioa pleased God that yon
shonld not part from mo before you were
fully convinced of the truth of what I have
assured you. There are the other hundred
and ninety pieces of gold which you gave
me," continued I, addressing myself to Saadi;
" I know it very well by the cloth, which I
tied up with my own hands;" and then I
told out the money before them. I ordered
the pot presently to be brought to me, and
knew it to be the same; and sent to my
wife to ask if she recognised it, ordering
them to say nothing to her of what had hap-
pened. She knew it immediately, and sent
me word that it was the same vase she had
exchanged full of bran for the scouring-
earth.
Saadi readily submitted, and renounced
his incredulity, and said to Saad, " I yield
to you, and acknowledge that money is not
always the means of becoming rich."
When Saadi hod done, I said to him, " I
dare not propose to return you the three
hundred and eighty pieces of gold which it
hath pleased God should be found, to unde-
ceive you 08 to the opinion of my honesty.
I am persuaded that you did not give them
to me with an intention that I should return
them ; and, for my part, I ought to be very
well content with what Providence has sent
me from other quarters, and I do not design
to make use of them ; but, if you approve of
it, to-morrow I will give them to the poor,
that God may bless us both."
The two friends lay at my house that night
also; and next day, after embracing me,
went to their own houses, very well pleased
with the reception I had given them, and to
find I did not make au ill use of the riches
Heaven had blessed me with. I thanked
them both, and looked upon the leave they
gave me to cultivate a friendship with them,
and to visit them, as a great honour.
The caliph Haroun Alraschid was so at-
tentive to Cogia Hassan's story, that he hod
not perceived the end of it but by his sJence.
"Cogia Hassan," said he, "I have not for
a long time heard anything that has given
me so much pleasure, to see the wonderful
ways by which God gave thee thy riches, to
make thee happy in this world. Thou
oughtest to continue to return Him thanks,
by the good use thou makest of His blessings.
I am glad I can tell thee, that the same
diamond which made thy fortune is now in
my treasury; and, for my part, I am happy
to know how it came there : but because
there may remain in Saadi some doubts on
the singidarity of this diamond, which I looK
upon to be the most precious and valuab'.e
thing I am master of, I would have you carry
him with Saad to my treasurer, who shall
shew it them, to remove Saadi's unbelief,
and to let him see that money is not the only
certain means of making a poor man ridi in
a short time, without taking a great deal of
pains. I would also have you to tell the
keeper of .my treasury this story, that ho
may get it put into writing, and that it may
be kept with the diamond."
After these wortle, the caliph signified to
Cogia Hassan, Sidi Nonman, and liaba Ab-
daJla, by bowing of his head, that he was
satisfied with them ; who all took their
leaves, by jirostrating themselves at the
throne, and then retired.
mE STORY OF All BABA AXD THE FORTY
ROBBERS DESTROYED BY A SLAVE.
In a town in Persia, there lived two brothers,
one named Cassiro, the other Ali Baba. Their
father left them no great property ; but as
he had divided it equally between them, it
shoidd seem their fortune would have been
equal ; but chanco directed otherwise.
Cossim married a wife, who soon after
their marriage, became heiress to a plentiful
estate, and a good shop and warehouse full
uf rich mercliandise ; so that he all at once
become one of the richest and most consi-
derable merchants, and lived at his ease.
Ali Babo, on the other hand, who married
a woman as jioor as himself, lived in a very
mean habitation, and had no other means to
maintain his wife and children but his daily
labour, by cutting of wood in a forest near
the town, and bringing it upon three asses,
which were his whole substance, to town to
sell.
One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest,
and had just cut wood enough to load his
asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of
dust, which seemed to approach towards
him. He observed it very attentively, and
distinguished a large body of horse coming
briskly on ; and though thoy did not talk of
robbers in that country, Ali Baba began to
think that they might prove so ; and, with-
out considering what might become of his
asses, he was resolved to save himself. He
climbed uj) a large thick tree, whose
branches, at a little distance from the
groimd, divided in a circular form so close
tc> one another, that there was but little
siiaoe between them. He placed himself in
tb.e middle, from whence he coidd see all
that passed without being seen ; and this
tree stood at ti:e bottom of a single rock,
which was very high above it, and so steep
and craggy that nobody coidd climb up it.
This troop, who were all well mounted
and well armed, came to the foot of this
rock, and there dismounted. Ali Baba
counted forty of them, and, by their looks
and equipage, never doubted they were
ALI BABA A.\D THE FORTY ROBIiERS.
465
thieves, Nor was he mistaken in his opi-
nion ; for they were a troop of )«.inditti,
who, without doing any hurt to the neigh-
bourhood, rob)>ed at a distance, and made
that place their rendezvous ; and what con-
firmed him in this opinion was, every man
unbridled his horse, and tied him to some
shrub or other, and hung about his neck a
bag of corn, which they brought behind
them. Then eacli of them took his port-
manteau, which seemed to Ali Baba to be
full of gold and silver by their weight. One,
who was most personable amongst them, and
whom he took to be their cajitain, came with
his portmanteau on his back under the tree
in which Ali Bab:t war hid, and, making his
way tlirough some shrubs, pronounced these
wonls so distinctly, "Ojifn, Semme,"* that
Ali Baba heard him. As soon as the ca]<tain
of the robbers had uttered these words, a
door opened ; and after he had made all his
troop go in before him, he followed theui,
and the door shut again of itself.
The robbers stayed some time within the
rock ; and Ali Baba, who feared that some
one, or all of them together, should come
out and catch him, if he should endeavour
to make his escape, was obliged to sit pa-
tiently in the tree. He was, nevertheless,
tempted once or -twice to get down, and
mount one of their horses, and lead another,
driving his asses before him with all the
hasto he could to town ; but the imcertainty
of the event made him choose the safest
way.
At last the door opened again, and the
forty robbers came out. As the capttin
went in last, he came out first, and stood to
see them all ])a.48 by him; and then Ali
Baba heard him make the door close, by
pronouncing these words, "Shut, Sf^ame."
Every man went and bridled his horse,
fastening his portmanteau and mounting
again ; and when the captain saw them all
ready, he put himself at their head, and
they returned the same way they came.
Ali Baba did not immediately quit his
tree; for, said he to himself, they may have
forgotten something and come back again,
and then I shall be taken. He followed
them with his eyes as far as he could see
them ; and after that stayed a considerable
time before he came down; remembering
the words the captain of the robbers made
use of to cause the door to open and shut,
he had the curiosity to try if his pronouncing
it would have the same effect. Accordingly
he went among the shrubs, and perceiving
the door concealed behind them, he stood
before it, and said, " 0;>«>, Se«ame." The
door instantly flew wide open.
Ali Baba, who expected a dark dismal
place, waa very much surprised to see it
* "SeuiDtt" Is • sort of com.
well lighted and spacious, cut out by men's
hands in form of a vault, which received the
light from an opening at the top of the rock,
cut in like manner. He saw all sorts of
provisions, and rich bales of merchandises
of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable carpet-
ing, piletl upon one another ; and, above all,
gokl and silver in great heaps, and money in
great leather puraes. The sight of all these
riches made him believe that this cave had
been occupied for ages by robbers, who
succee<lc<l one another.
Ali Baba did not stand long to consider
what he should do, but went immediately
into the cave, and as soon as he was in, the
door shut again. But this did not disturb
him, because he knew the secret to oj)en it
again. He never regarded the silver, but
made the best use of his time in carrying
out as much of the gold coiii, which was in
bags, at several times, as he thought his
three asses could carry. When he had done,
he collected his awes, which were dispersed,
and when he had loaded them with the
b<igs, laid the wood on them in such a man-
ner that they could not lie seen. When he
had done, he stood l)efi;re the door, and pro-
nouncing the wortls, "Shut, Semme," the
door closed after him, for it had shut of itself
while he was within, and remained oiHjn
while he was out. He then made the best
of his way to town.
When Ali Baba got home, he drove his
asses into a little yard, and shut the gates
very carefr'ly, threw off the wood that
covered the bags, carried them into his
house, and ranged them in order before his
wife, who sat on a sofa.
His wife handled the bags, and finding
them full of money, susitected that her hus-
band had been robbing, insomuch that when
he had brought them all in, she could not
help saying, "Ali Baba, have you been so
unhappy as to"— ^" Be quiet, wife," inter-
rupted Ali Baba ; '' do not frighten yourself :
I am no robber, unless he can be one who
steals from robbers. You will no longer
entertain an ill opinion of me, when I shall
tell you my good fortune." Then he emptied
the bags, which raised such a great heap of
gold as dazzled his wife's eyes : and when
he had done, he told her the whole adven-
t»»re from the beginning to the end ; and,
above all, recommended to her to keep it
secret.
The wife, recovered and cured of her
fears, rejoiced with her husband at their
good luck, and would count the money
piece by piece. " Wife," replied Ali Babik
**you do not know what you undertake,
when you pretend to count the money ; you
will never have done. I will go and dig a
hole and bury it ; there is no time to be
lost." "Yon are in the right of it, hus-
band," replied the wife ; " but let iu know,
10
ft
II
if I
i
W
Nil
HI
11
f
466
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
aa nigh as possible, huw much we have. I
wiU go and l>orrow a small measure in the
neighbourhood, and measure it, while yon
dig the hole." " What you are going to do
is to no i)uqK>8C, wife," said Ali Baba; "if
you would taiie my advice, you had better
let it alone ; but be nure to keep the secret,
and do what you please."
Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law
Cassim, who lived just by, but was not then
at home ; and aildressing herself to his wife,
desired her to lend her a measure for tK little
while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether
she would have a great or a small one. The
other asked for a small one. She bid her
stay a little, and she woidd readily fetch
one.
The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew
very well Ali Baba's poverty, she was curi-
ous to know what sort of grain his wife
wanted to niea.sure, and bethought herself
of artfiUly putting some suet at the bottom
of the measure, and brought it to her with
on excuse, that she was sorry that she ha<)
made her stay so long, but that she could
not tind it sooner.
Ali Baba's wife went home, set the mea-
sure upon the heap of gold, and filled it and
emptied it often, at a small distance upon
the sofa, till she had done : and she was
very well satisKed to Hud the number of
measures amounted to so many as they did,
and went to tell her husband, who hud
almost linished digging the hole. While
Ali Baba was burying the gold, his wife, to
shew her exactness and diligence to her
siater-in-law, carried the measure bock
again, but without taking noti<7c that a
piece of gold stuck at the bottom. "Sister,"
said she, giving it to her agaiu, " you see
that I have not kept your measure long : I
am obliged to you for it, and return it with
thanks."
As socm as Ali Baba's wife's back was
turned, Cassim's wife looked at the bottom
of the measure, and was in an inexpressible
surprise to lind a piece of gold stuck to it.
Envy immediately jMjsscssed her breast.
" What :" said he, " has Ali Baba gold so
X>Ientif ul as to measure it ? Where bos that
X)oor wretch got all this gold?" Cassim,
ner husband, was not at home, as I said
before, but at his shop, which he left always
in the evening. His wife waited for him,
and thought the time an age ; so great was
her impatience to tell him the news, at which
he would be as much surprised.
When Cassim came home, his wife said
to him, " Cassim, I warrant you, you think
yourself rich, but you are much mistaken ;
Ali Baba is infinitely richer than you ; he
does not count his money, but measures it."
Cassim desired her to explain the riddle,
which she did by telling him the stratagem
she had made use of to make the discovery,
and shewed him the piece of money which
w.s so (lid a coin that they could not tell in
what prince's reign it was coined.
Cassim, instead of being pleased at his
brother's ]>roR]>erity, omceired a mortal
jealousy, and could not sleep all that night
for it, but went to him in the morning be-
fore sunrise. Now Cas.'tim, after be married
the rich widow, never treate<l Ali Baba as a
brother, but forgot him. " Ali Baba," said
he, accosting him, " you are very reserved
in your affairs : you [iretent. to be minerably
poor, and yet you measure gold." " How,
brother ! " rei>lied Ali Baba ; " I do not know
what you mean : expl.-iin yonrself." " Do
not pretend ignorance," reiJied Cassim,
shewing him the piece of gold his wife ha<l
given him. " How many of these pieces,"
added ho, " have you ? My wife found this
at the bottom of the measure you borrowed
yesterday."
By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that
Cassim and his wife, through his own wife's
folly, knew what they had so much reason
to keep secret ; but what wa« done could
not be recalled ; therefore, without shewing
the least 8ur]>rise or trouble, he confea8e<l
all, and told his brother by what chance he
had discovered this retreat of the thieves,
and in what place it was ; and offered him
])art of his treasure to keep the secret. "I
expect OS much," replied Cassim, haughtily ;
" but I will know exactly where this trea-
sure is, and the signs and tokens how I may
go to it myself when 1 have a mind ; other-
wise I will go and inform against yon, and
then you will not only get no more, but will
lose {jl you have got, and I shall have my
share for my information.''
Ali Baba, more out of his natural gooti
temper, than frightened by the insulting
menaces of a barbarous brother, told him all
he desired, and even the very words he was
to make use of to go into the care, and to
come out again.
Cassim, who wanted no more of Ali Baba,
left him, resolving to be beforehand with
him, and hojiing to get all the treasure to
himself. He rose early the next morning, a
long time before the sun, and set oat with
ten mules loaded with great chests, which he
designed to rill : })roposing to carry many
more the next time, according to the riches
he found ; and followed the road which Ali
Baba had told him. He was not long before
he came to the rock, and found oat the place
by the tree, and other marks his brother bad
givenhim. Whcnhe came to thedoor, hepro-
nounced these words, "Open, H'tAnmr,^ and
it opened ; and when he was in, shut again.
In examining the cave, he was in great
admiration to rind much more riches than
he apprehended by All Baba's relation. He
was so covetous and fond of riches, that he
coiUd have spent the whole day in feasting
AU BAftA AXD THE FORTY ROIUiliRS.
467
his eyi'M with sk macb tnavorc, if the
thdU^'lita that ht> came t>> carry nuote away
witli him, iiiul lo.iilin.' hi* uul*^ had not
hindered him. M«- laid a» many ba^ of
gold 08 lie could carry away at the door,
and cominj^ at loHt t>> tiftm tl>«- duor, hix
thoughts were so full <ii th« erieat tiehei« he
should i)(i880M.s, tiiat hf. c>>nVl iMt tliiiik of
thenejessary woril ; l>;it in.-«Jej»l '^ "fi^^jumf'''
said, " (>iifii, I'lirifij," an'i »a» rtry much
amazed to tind that the Aitnr difl DtA o]H'n,
but romaiiii'd tant nhut. \lf iuibmI eeveral
sortH of ^ain, all Iiat the ri^ht, and the door
would not open.
Caaaim never expected mch an aiocident,
and was so fri;^hti'ncd at the t\xaser he waa
ill, that the more be enrleav'jKired \*t re-
member the word ^* fitnamf," the niinre Lis
memory was confoumied, and h« bad as
much forgotten it as if he bad never beard
it in his life l)cfore. He threw d<rwn the
bags he had loailed him^ieLf with. andwaJk<ni
hastily up and down the cave, with'^at hav-
ing the least regard to all the rscbe* that
were round him. In thU nti^^raSJf coxtditiun
we will leave him, bewaiba^ hit fate, and
I'ndeserving of pity.
About noon the robbers retamad t» their
cave, aud at some dirttance inim it saw
Cassim's mules stratr^Iin:; lAtnat the ruck,
with great chests on thf ir badu.. Alarmed
at this novelty they ga'lopjtcd fuO spt«d to
the cave. They drove away the mules,
which Cassim had neslxKSted to fasten,
and they strayed away tLmojdi the forest
80 far that they were aooo out of si^ht.
The robbers never gave thetaKlre* the
trouble to pursue the miiieit : tiBi»y were more
concerned to know who they kielaa.^*^ t».
And while some of them aearchied alxNtt the
rock, the captain and the rest w*ut directly
to the door, with tluir naketl aalnre* in their
hands, and pronouncing the w>jiids. itcf^tened.
Cassim, who he.ird the noitK' of the
horses' feet from the middle of the cave,
never doubted of the comini; of the robbers,
aud his approaching death; bat wac re-
solved to make one elTort t>> ei<ca}w from
them. To this end he itfM-nl i«ady at the
door, and nosooncr heard thewoni "jv*a»»*,"
which he had forgotten, and saw the door
open, but he jumped >)ri3kly oat, aord threw
the captain down, but could ni< <:?ica|*e the
other robbers, who with thttr i*J/rt» soon
deprived him of life.
The tirst care of the rohhm aSiet this
was to go into the cave. They found all
the bags wiiich (Ja-smm harl biof^Eht to the
door, to be more ready to Uxkl hi* moles
with, and carrie<l them all K»<rfc a^sain to
their places, without perceiring what Ali
Baba had taken away l)efore. Then bid-
ing a council, and deliberating npxfn this
matter, they guessed that Ca«Rm, ^ben he
was in, could not get out atj-atn ; bat they
could not imagine how he got in. It came
into their heads that he might have got
down by the top of the cave ; but the
ojwning by which it received light wan so
high, and the top of the rock so inaccessible
without, besides that nothing xbcwed that
he bad done so, that they believed it im-
jtracticablc for them to tiud out. That he
came in at the door they could not satisfy
themselves, unless he had the secret of
making it open. In short, none of them
could imagine which way he entered ; for
they were all persuaded that nolxxly knew
their secret, little imagining that Ali Baba
had watched them. But, h.iwcver it hap-
]>ened, it was a matter of the greatest im-
I>ortance to them to secure their riches.
They agreed therefore to cut C'assim's bo<ly
into four ({uarter.s, and to hang two on one
side, and two on the other, within the door
of the cave, to terrify any jhtsou that
should attempt the same thing, determining
not to return to the cave till the >tench of
the body wa.s completely exhaled. They
had no sooner taken this re.si>lution, bnt
they executed it ; and when they had no-
thing more to dctfiin them, they left the
])lace of their retreat well closed. They
mounted their horses, and">-ent to ))eat the
roads again, and to attack the caravans
they should meet.
In the meantime, Cassim's wife was very
uneasy when night came, and her husband
had not retunKnl, She ran to AH Baba in
a terrible fright, and said, " I believe, bro-
ther-in-law, that you know that l^assim,
your brother, is gone to the forest, and upon
what account : it is now night, and he is not
returned : I am afraid some misfortune has
come to him." Ali Baba, who never disput<!d
but that his brother, after what he ha<l said
to him, would go to the forest, decline<l
going himself that day, for fear of giving
him any umbrage ; therefore told lier, with-
out any reflection upon her husband's un-
handsome behaviour, that she need not
frighten herself, for that cert-ainly (Jassim
did not think it proper to come into the town
till the night should be pretty far advanced.
Cassim's wife, considering how niuch it
concerned her husband to keep this thing
secret, wiis the more easily persujuled to
believe him. iShe went home again, and
waited patiently till midnight. Then her
fear redoubled with grief the more sensible,
because she durst not vent it, nor shew it, bnt
was forced to keep it secret from the neigh-
bourhood. Then, as if her fault had been
irreparable, she repented of her foolish curi-
osity, and curaed her desire of penetrating
into the affairs of her brother and sister-in-
law. She spent all that night in weeping ,
and as soon as it was day, went to them,
telling them, by her tears, the cause of her
ooming.
1
rn
i
II
flL
i
^
468
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
AH Baba did not wait for hia sister-in-law
to desire him to go and seo what was become
of Cosaim, but went immediotcly with liis
three asses, begging of her first to moderate
her affliction. He went to the forest, and
when lie came near the rock, and having
seen neither hia brother nor liis niuloa in Iiia
way, he wa« very much surprixcd to see
some blood spilt by the door, which he took
for an ill omen ; but when he had pronounced
the word, and the door opened, he was much
more startled at the dismal sight of his bro*
ther's quarters. He was not long in deter-
mining how he should pay the lost dues to
his brother, and, without remembering the
little brotherly friendship he had for him,
went into the cave, to iind something to
wrap them in, and loaded one of his asses
with them, and covered them over with wood.
The other two asses he loaded with bags of
gold, covering them with wood also as before,
and then bidding the door shut, came away ;
but was so cautious as to stop some time at
the end of the forest, that he might not go
into the town before night. When he came
home, he drove the two asses loaded with
gold into his little yard, and left the c.tre of
unloading them to liis wife, while he led the
otuer to his sister-in-law's.
Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was
opened by Morgiana, a cunning, intelligent
slave, fruitful in inventions to ensure suc-
cess in the most diilicidt undertakings ; and
Ali Baba knew her to be such. Wlien he
came into the court, he imloaded the ass,
and taking Morgiana aside, said to her,
" The first thing I ask of you is an inviolable
secrecy, which you will find is necessary
both for your mistress's sake and mine.
Your master's body is contained in these
two bimdles, and our business is, to bury
him aa if he died a natural death. Go tell
your mistress T want to speak with her ;
and mind what I say to you."
Morgiana went to her mistress, and Ali
Baba followed her. "Well, brother," said
she, with great impatience, " what news do
you bring me of my husband? I perceive
no comfort in your countenance." '' Sister,"
answered Ali Baba, "I cannot tell you any-
thing before you hear my story from the
Ijeginning to the end, without speaking a
word ; for it is of as great importance to you
as to me to keep what has happened secret."
"Alas! "said she, "this preamble lets me
know that my husband is dead ; but at the
same time I know the necessity of the secrecy
you require of me, and I must constrain
myself : say on ; I will hear you."
Then Ali Baba told his sister the success
of his journey, till he came to the finding
of Cassim's body. " Now," said he, " sister,
I ha"e something to tell you, which will
afflict yoit much the more, becatise it is
what you so little expect; but it cannot
now be remedied ; and if anything can com-
fort yoit, I offer to put that little which
God hath sent mo, to what you have, and
marry you : assuring you that my wife
will not be jealous, and that wo shall
live happily together. If this proposal is
agreeable to you, we must think of acting
so, as that my brother should apj^car to
have died a natural death. I think you
may leave the management of it to Mor-
giana, and T will contribute all that lies m
my power."
What could Cassim's widow do better
than accept of this proposal? For though
her first husband had left behind him jdenti-
ful substance, this second was mucli richer,
and by the discovery of this treasure might
be much more so. Insteml of rejecting the
offer, she looked upon it as a reasonable
motive to comfort her ; and drj-ing up her
tears, which began to flow abundantly, and
suppressing the outcries usual with women
who have lost their husbands, shewed Ali
Baba she approved of his proposal. Ali
Baba left the widow, and recommended to
Morgiana to act her part well, and then
returned home with his ass.
Morgiana went out at the same time to
an apothecary, and asked him for a sort of
lozenges, which he prepared, and were very
efficacious in the most dangerous distempers.
The apothecary asked her who was sick at
her master's. She replied with a sigh, " Her
good master Cassim himself : that they
knew not what his distemper was, but that
he could neither eat nor speak." After
these wonls Morgiana carried the lozenges
home with her, and the next morning went
to the same apothecary's again, and, with
tears in her eyes, asked for an essence which
they used to give to sick people only when
at the last extremity. " Alas ! " said she,
taking it from the apothecary, " I am afraid
that this remedy will have no better effect
than the lozenges, and that I shall lose my
good master."
On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his
wife were often seen to go between Cassim's
and their own house all that day, and to
seem melancholy, nobody was surprised in
the evening to hear the lamentable shrieks
and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana,
who told it everywhere that her master was
dead.
The next morning, soon after day ap-
peared, Morgiana, who knew a certain old
cobbler that opened his stall early, before
other people, went to him, and bidding him
good-morrow, put a piece of gold into his
hand. " Well," said Baba Mustapha, which
was his name, and who was a merry old
fellow, looking on the gold, though it was
hardly daylight, and seeing what it was,
" this is good hansel : what must I do for
it? I am ready."
F
ALI BAIiA AND THE FORTY ROBBERS.
469
"Balm Mustapha," gaid Morgiana, "you
must taLc witli you your sewing tackle, and
go with nu< ; but I inuat tell you, I shall
blindfold yuu when you come to such a
place."
Baba Mu8ta]>ha seemed to bogglo a little
at these words. "Oh, ho!" ruidicd he,
" you would have mo do something against
my conscience, or against my honour."
"God forbid," said Morgiana, putting an-
other ])iece of gold into his hand, "that I
shoidd ask anything that is contrary to your
honour ; only come along with me, and fear
nothing."
Bal)a Mustapha went with Morgiana,
who, after she had bound his eyes with a
handkerchief, at the place she told him of,
carried him to her deceased master's house,
and never unloosed his eyes till he came
into the room where she had put the corpse
together. " Baba Mustaplia," said she,
"you must make haste, and sew these quar-
ters together ; and when you have done, I
will give you another piece of gold."
After Baba Mustapha had done, she blind-
folded him again, gave him the third piece
of gold, as she promised, recommending
secrecy to him, carried him back to the
place where she first bound his eyes, pulled
otf the bandage, and let him go home, but
watched him that he returned to his stall,
till he was quite out of sight, for fear he
should have the curiosity to return and
do<lge her, and then went home.
By the time Morgiana had warmed some
water to Wiish the body, Ali Baba came
with incense to embalm it, and bury it with
the usual ceremonies. Not long after, the
joiner, according to Ali Baba's orders,
brought the coiiin, wliicli Morgiana, that he
might find out nothing, received at the door,
and helped Ali Baba to put the body into
it ; and as soon as he hod nailed it up, she
went to the mosque to tell the imau that
they were ready. The people of the mosque,
whose business it was to wash the dead,
offered to perform their duty, but she told
them it was done already.
Morgiana liad scarce got home before the
iman and the other ministers of the mosque
came. Four neighbours carried the corpse
on their shoulders to the burying-ground,
following the imau, who recited some
I>rayer8. Morgiana, as a slave to the de-
ceased, followed the corpse, weeping, beat-
ing her breast, and tearing her hair ; and Ali
Baba came after with some neighbours, who
often relieved the others in carrying the
corpse to the burying-ground.
Cassim's wife stayed at home mourning,
uttering lamentable cries with the women of
the neighbourhood, who came according to
custom during the funeral, and, joining
their lamentations with hers, tilled the
quarter far and near with Borrow.
In this manner Cassim's melancholy <U',ith
was concealed and hushed up between Ali
Baba, his wife, Cosiini's widow, and Mor-
giana, with so much contrivance, that no-
body in the city had tlie least knowledge or
suspicion of it.
Three or four days after the funeral. Ali
Baba removed his few goods to his brother'a
widow's house ; but the money he had taken
from the robbers ho conveyed thither by
night ; and soon after the marriage with liis
siHter-in-law was jiublished ; and as these
marriages are common in our religion, no-
body was sun'riseil.
As for Cassim's shop, Ali Baba gave it to
his own eldest son, who had been some time
out of his a]i])renticeship to a great merchant,
promising him withal, that if he man.iged
well, he would soon give him a fortune to
marry very advantageously according to his
situation.
Let us now leave Ali Baba to enjoy the
beginning of liis good fortune, and return to
the forty robburH.
They came again at the appointed time to
visit their retreat in the forest ; but how
great was their surprise to find Cassim's
body taken away, and some of their bags
of gold. "We are certainly discovered,"
said the captain, "and shall be undone, if
we do not take ciiVe, and speedily apply
some remedy ; otherwise we shall iiiBonsibly
lose all the riches which our ancestors have
been so many years amassing together with
so much pains and danger. All that we can
think of this loss which wc have sustained
is, that the thief whom we have surprised
had the secret of ojiening the door, and we'
came luckily as he was coming out : but his
body being removed, and with it some of
our money, plainly shews that he has an
accomplice ; and as it is likely that there
were but two who had got this secret, and
one has been caught, we must look nar-
rowly after the other. What say you to
it, my lads?"
All the robbers thought the ca])tain'a
proposal so reasonable, that they unani-
mously approved of it, and agreed that they
must lay all other enterprises aside, to follow
this closely, and not give it up till they had
succeeded.
" I expected no less," said the captain,
"from your courage and bravery; but,
first of all, one of you who is bold, artful,
and enterprising, must go into the town
dressed like a traveUer and stranger, and
exert all his contrivance to try if he can
hear any talk of the strange death of the
man whom we have killed, as he deserved,
and to endeavour to find out who he was,
and where he lived. This is a matter of
the first importance for us to know, that
we may do nothing which we may have
reason to repent of, by discovering our-
ill
»
(, •!
rif
It
m
vX
LU
' .
'1
■A
'\i (1
470
THE ARARIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAISMENTS.
mIto in a cuuntn- where we liavo livvd ho
Imdk niiknoMii, auil wlicrc wu Luvu hd iiiiicU
reiMon U> coutiiiue ; Ijiit to worn that iiiaii
wbw ahail take u|>ou hiiusulf this uoiiiiiiiD-
ataa, and tu |irweut our In-iii^f duuuivod hy
Li' (iTiug iM a false rt-|Mirt, uhieh may lie
the canae uf our ruiu, I ask you all, if you
(io not think it lit, that in that cane he shall
•ttlMnit t4t sulftfr death 7"
Witlir>at vaitiu;; for the HufTraifca of his
coaipaaii>a>, one of the rohlieris started up,
and aaid, *' I suhmit to this law, and thiuk
it an honour to ex|Mi»e my life, by takinjj
Mich a c>iniiiiii>'>ioii u]><<ii lue ; hut reniuinliur,
at leaat, if I do not succeeil, that I neither
wanted courage nor good-will to servo thu
troop.""
Alter this robber bad received ^rcat com-
niendatii>n* from the c-a]it.iiu aud his com-
radea, he dis^iaed himself so that nobody
woukl take him f-ir what he was ; and takiiijj
his leave of the trotip that uii^lit, went into
tlie town just at daybreak ; and walked tip
and down till he came to fiaba Mustapha's
•tall, which was always o{>un before any of
the shoi^ of the town.
Baba Mu«ta]>ha waa set on his seat with
an awl m kis baud, just >;oiug to work.
The robber saluted hini, biddinj^ him good-
morrow ; and peceiriug that he was very
old, he said, "Honest man, you begin to
work rery early : is it possible that any one
of your ;^;e can see so well ? I question, if
it was tumewLat lighter, whether you could
aee to stitch.*'
"Certainly, "replied BabaMustapho, "you
must be a stranger, aud do not know luc, for
old aa I am, I have extraordinary good eyes ;
and you will not doubt it when I tell you
that I sewed a dead body together iu a
place where I had not so much light as I
have now."'
The robljer was overjoye<l to think that
he had a>ldn;ssed himself, at his lirst coming
into the town, to a man who gave him the
intelliirencv he waute<l, without asking him.
" A dead iKMJy : ' replieil he with amazement,
to make h m explain him.self. ' ' What coidd
you sew up a dead body for?" added he ;
" you mean you sewed up his winding-sheet."
"No, no," answered Baba Mustapha, "I
know what I say ; you w ant to have me to
speak out, iMit you shall know no more."
The PLtbljer wantetl uo greater insight to
be persuaded that he luul discovered what he
came alf^int. He pulled out a piece of gold,
and putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand,
said to him, " I do not want to know your
secret, though I can assure you I would not
divoljje it, if yon trusted me with it. The
only thing which I desire of you is to do me
the faronr to shew me tbe house where you
stitched up the dead body."
" If I would do you that favour which you
aak of me : " replied Baba MuBta2>ha, hold-
ing the money in his hauil, ready to return
it, "I assure you I cannot; and yuu may
believe me, on my woriL I was carried to a
certain place, where they tirst blindfolded
me, and then leil me to thu house, and
brought me back again after the same man-
ner ; therefore yi-u see the impos^iibility of
duiiii; what you desire."
"Well," replied the robber, "you may
remember a little of the way that yon was
leil blindfold. Come, let me lilind your eyes
at the Hame place. We will walk together
by the same way and turnings ; perliajisyou
may reiiuniber some (lart ; and as everybody
ou;r|it to lie |>aid for their trouble, there is
another piece of gold for you. Gratify me
in what 1 ask you." .'^o saying, he put an-
other piece of gold into his hand.
The two pieces of t;old were great temiita-
tions to Baba ^lustai'ha. He looked at them
a long time iu hi.s hand, without saying a
word, thinking with himself what ho should
do ; but at last he pulled out his purse, and
|iut them in. " I cannot assure you," said
he to the robber, "that I remember the way
exactly ; but, since j^ou desire it, I will try
what I eon do." At these words Baba Mus-
tapha rose u|i, to the great satisfaction of
the robber, and without shutting up his
shop, where he had nothing valuable to lose,
he led the robber to the jilocc where Mor-
giana bound his eyes. "It was here," said
Bai>a Mustapha, " I was blindfolded ; and I
turned .is you see me." The robber, who
had his handkerchief ready, tied it over his
eyes, and walked by him till he stopped,
partly leading him, and partly guided by
him. " 1 thmk," said Baba Mustapha, "I
went no farther," ami he hatl now stopped
directly at Ca^im's house, where AK I3aba
lived then ; ujion which the thief, before he
pulled otf the bond, marked the door with a
piece of chalk, which he had ready iu his
hand ; and when he p idled it off, he asked
htm if he knew whose house that was : to
which Baba Mustapha re])lied, that as ho
did not live iu that neighbourhood, he could
itot tell.
The robljer, finding he could discover no
more from Baba Mustaj)ha, thanked him for
the trouble he had given him, and left him
to go back to his stall, while he returned to
the forest, persuaded that he should be very
well received.
A little after the robber and Baba Musta-
pha parted, Morgiaita went out of Ali Baba's
house for something, and coming home again,
seeing the mark the robl>er hod made, she
stopped to ol)serve it. " What is the mean-
ing of this mark ? " said she to herself :
"somebody intends my master no good, or
else some boy has been playing the rogue
with it : with whatever intention it was
done," added she, "it is good to guard
against the wont." Accordingly she went
AU BABA AND THE FORTY ROnnERS.
471
and fetchotl n ]>it<oi* <if chalk, nnd innrkvil
two or three doors on i-ach rtido in tho samo
manner, witliout aaying a word to lii-r nioster
or mistreM.
In the nu-antitno the thief rejoined his
troop a^'nin in the forest, and tol<l them the
j^ood HiU'cess he had ; ex)>atiatinK ii]>on Ids
f;ood fortnnc, in meetinj; so sotm with the
only person wlio coidd inform him of M'hat
he wanted to know. All the rohhers listened
to him with the utmost satinfaction ; when
the captain, after commending his diligence,
oddresain); himself to them all, said, " Com-
rades, we have no time to lose r let us all set
off well armed, without its appearing who
we are ; and that we may not j,'ivc any sus-
picion, let one or two >jo privately into the
town together, and a))point the rendezvous
in the great square ; nnd in the meantime
our comrade, who brought us the good
news, and I, will go and tind out the house,
that we may considt what is best to be
done."
This speech nnd i>lan was apjirovod by
all, and they were soon ready. They liled
off in small i)arcel8 of two or three, at the
proper distance from each other : and all
got into the town without being in the least
suspected. The cajitain, and lie that came
in the morning aa a s]>y, came in last of all.
He led the ca])tain into the street where he
had marked AH Baba's house, and when
they came to one of the houses which Mor-
giana had marked, he pointed it out. But
going a little farther, to prevent being taken
notice of, the captain observed that the next
door was chalked after the same manner,
and in the same place : and shewing it to
his guide, asked him which house it was,
that, or the iirst. The guide was so con-
founded, that he knew not what answer to
make ; and much less, when he and the
captain saw five or six houses besides marked
after the same manner. He assured the
captain, with an oath, that lie Iiad marked
but one, and coidd not tell who had chalked
the rest so like to that which he marked,
and owned, in that confusion, he could not
distinguish it.
The captain, finding that their design
proved abortive, went directly to the place
of rendezvous, and told the first of his troop
that he met, that they hod lost their labour,
and must return to their cave the same way
08 they came. He himself set them the
example, and they all returned as they
came.
When the troop all got together, the
captain told them the reason of their return-
ing; and presently the conductor was de-
clared by all worthy of death. He con-
demned himself, acknowledging that he
ought to have taken better precaution, and
kneeled dovm to receive the stroke from him
' that was appointed to cut off hia head.
But as it was the safety of the troop that
an injury should not go unpuniMliiHl, another
of the gang, vli'i ]iromiHeil himst'lf that ho
should succeed In'tter, presented himself,
and his oiler being aecepteil, he M'ent and
corrupted Itaba Muittapliii, n.i the other hod
done; and being shewn the house, marked
it, in a place nioru remote from sight, with
red chalk.
Not long after, Morgiana, whoso eyes no.
tiling could escape, went out, and seeing the
red chalk, and arguing after the same man-
ner ■with herself, mnrkeil the other neigh-
bours' houses in the same ]>lace and manner.
The rol>bcr, at his return to his company,
valued himself very much upon the precau-
tion he had taken, which lie looked upon
as an infallible way of distinguishing .\li
liaba's house from his neighbours' ; anil the
captain and all of them thought it must suc-
ceed. They conveyed themselves into the
town in the same ninnni>r as before ; and
when tlio robber and his ca]itain came to
the street, they found the same ditiicidty ;
at which the captain was enragcil, and the
robber in aa great confusion as his prede-
cessor.
Thus the captain and his troop were forced
to retire a second time, and much more dis-
satisHed ; and the rob1>er, as the author of
the mistake, underwent the same punish-
ment, which he willingly sultmitted to.
The captain, having lost two brave fel-
lows of his troop, was afraid of diminishing
it too much by pursuing this plan to get
information about Ali Baba's house. He
found, by their examide, that their heads
were not so good as their hands on such
occasions, ami therefore resolved to take
upon himself this important commission.
Accordingly ho went and addressed him-
self to Baba Mustaplia, who did him the
same piece of 8er^•ice he had done to the
former. He never amused himself with set-
ting any particular mark on the house, but
examined and observed it so carefidly, by
]).issing often by it, that it was imixissible
for him to mistake it.
The captain, very well satisfied with his
journey, antl informed of what he wanted to
know, returned to the forest ; and when he
came into the cate, where the troop waited
for him, he said, "Now, comrades, nothing
can prevent our full revenge ; I am certain
of the house, and in my way hither I have
thought how to put it in execution, and if
any one knows a better exjiedient, let him
communicate it." Then he told them his
contrivance; and as they approved of it, he
ordered them to go into the towns and vil-
lages about, and buy nineteen mnlea, and
thirty-eight large leather jars, one full, and
the others all empty.
In two or three days' time the robbers
purchased the mulen and jars, and as the
II'
.'«
1^ !
472
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
noatlu of Uw jan were rather t<M) narrow
fur kis puqMJtr, tbt- captain caiiietl thoin
\»t be wwlrnwl; ami after haviii^; put una of
bia men int<i «racb, with the wea|K>Mii whiuli
be tb»Uf(bt lit, leaving <)|>en the Meain which
bad Immto undone to leave them r<Him to
Ijreatbe, be nil>lM-<l the jan on the uutsidu
with oil from Uit full veitsel.
Tiling lieinf; thua |irepariMl, when the
nineteen mule* were loadetlwith thirty-Roven
robber* in jan and the jar of oil, the unp-
tain, aa their driver, let out witii thuni, niid
reached the town by the duik of the even-
inK, »* be intended, lie led them through
the atreeta till be came to Ali Uaba's, at
wbriae door be desi^e<l to have 'kiiockcil ;
but waa prevented by hia aittiiig there, after
•ap|ier, Vt take a little freHli air. He stop-
ped hia mulea, and addresMHl himself to him,
and aaid, " I have brought some oil here, a
great way, to aell at to-morrow's market ;
and it is now so late, that I do not know
where to lodge. If I iihould not be trouble-
some to you, do me the favour to let mo
{Mus the nit(bt with yon, and 1 shall bo very
much obliged to you."
Thoagh Ali Kaim ba<I seen the captain of
the robliers in the forest, and hod heard him
s]ieak, it waa imi»«siible for him to know
faint in the disguise of an oil-merchant. He
told him he should be welcome, and imme-
diately opened his gate* for the mules to go
into the yard. At the same time he called
to a slave he had, and ordere<l him, when
the mules were unloa<led, not only to put
them into the stable, but to give them corn
and hay ; and then went to Morgiana, to
bid her ^«i a good hot supper for his gucHt,
and make him a good be<l.
He did more. To make bis guest aa wel-
come aa pnaaible, when he saw the cai>tain
had unloaded his mules, and that they were
put into the stable as he ordered, and he
was looking for a place to jiass the night in
the air, he brought bim into the hall wliere
he received his com|«any, telling him he
would not suffer him to be in the court.
The captain excused himself, on pretence of
not being troublesome ; but really to have
room to execute his design, and it was not
tin after the moitt pressing imi>ortunity that
he yielded. Ali Baba, not coutent to keep
company with the man who had a design on
his life, till supper was ready, continued
talking with bim till it was ended, and re-
peating hilt offer of senrioe.
The captain rose up at the aame time, and
went with him to the door ; and while Ali
Baba went into the kitchen to Apeak to Mor-
giana, he went into the yard, under pretence
of looking at his mules. Ali Baba, after
charging Morgiana afresh to take great care
of his guest, said to her, "To-morrow morn-
ing I design to go to the bath before day :
take care my lathing linen be ready, and
give them to Abdalla, (whiuii waa the slave**
name,) and make mu houiu good broth against
I coniu bock." After this ho went to bed.
In the nu-antiniu, the captain of the rob-
bers went from the stable to give his |)coplo
orders what to do ; and lH<giuning at the
first jar, and so on to the last, said to ooch
man, " As soon as I throw some stones out
of thu chamber window wlicro I lie, do not
fail to cut the jar open with the knife you
have about you, pointed and sharitonod for
thu ]iurpo8o, and come out, and 1 will be
presently with you." After this he returned
into the kitchen, and .Morgiana taking up a
light, C(mducted him to \m chamber, where,
after she hod oxked him if he wanteil any-
thing, she left him ; and he, to avoid any
suspicion, put thu light out soon after, and
laid himself down in his clothes, that he
might bu tho more ready to rise again.
Morgiana, remembering Ali Uaba'n orders,
got his bathing linen ready, and ordered
Abdalla, who was not then gone to bed, to
set on tho pot for the broth ; but while she
scummed the pot tho lamp went out, and
thero was no more oil in tho house, nor any
caiuUes. What to do she did not know, for
the broth must be made. Abdalla, seeing
her very uneasy, said, "Do not fret and
teazo yourself, but go into the yard, and
take some oil out of one of tho jars."
Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice ;
and while ho went to bed, near Ali Baba's
room, that he luiglit bo the better able to
rise and follow Ali Bubn to the bath, she
took the oil-]>ot, and went into the yard ;
and OS who came nigh tho lirst jar, the rob-
ber within said softly, " la it time ? "
Though the robber spoke low, Morgiana
was struck with the voice the more, because
the captain, when he unloaded the mules,
opened this and all the other jars, to give air
to his men, who were ill enough at their
ease, without wanting room to breathe.
Any other slave but Morgiana, so sur-
pri8o<l aa hIio waa to find a man in a jar,
instead of the oil she wanted, would have
mode such a noise, as to have given an
alarm, which woiUd have been attended
with ill consequences ; whereas Morgiana,
apprehending immediately the im])ortance
of keeping the secret, and the danger Ali
Baba, his family, and she herself were in,
and the necessity of applying a speedy re-
medy witliout noise, conceived at once the
moans, and collecting herself without shew-
ing the least emotion, answered, " Not yet,
but presently." She went in this manner
to all the jars, gi\'ing the same answer, till
she came to the jar of oil.
By this means, Morgiana found that her
master Ali Baba, who thought that he had
entertained an oil-merchant, had admitted
thirty-eight robbers into his house ; looking
on this pretended merchant as their captun.
'
AU II ABA AND THE FORTY ROnPERS.
473
8he mode what hnatu mIio could to till her oil-
pot, and rc'turni-<l into her kitchvn ; wherp,
M loon oa ihe hwl li^htod hur laiiip, iiliu tonic
ft V,nnX kuttlu, and wviit aKoin to thu oil-
jar, tilled thu kottlo, and let it on a threat
wood tiro to boil ; and oa aoou oa it hoiled,
went and |Kiured enough into every j:ir to
atiHo and destroy the rohhcr within.
When thia action, worthy (<f thu courage
of Morgiaiia, wim exocutud without any
noiae, oa ahu hod projected, alio returned
into the kitchen with thu empty kettlu, and
ahut thu door ; an<l having put Out thu great
Are ahu hod ma4lu to boil thu oil, and leaving;
jufit enovigh to uiaku thu broth, ]iut out also
thu lamp, and leniained ailent ; reaolving
:iot to \t,o to bed till aho hod obaervcd what
woa to follow throujfh a window of thu kit-
chen, which opened into thu yard, oii far a<i
thu darkneaa of thu nijL;ht permitted.
She had not waited .t (piarter of an hour,
before the captain of tliu robbera waked,
got up, and ojtened the window ; and find-
ing no light, and hearing no noiao, or any
o'-i- stirring in the hoUHC, gave the aignal,
by tiirowiiig httlu atonea, auvern! of which
hit the jars, aa iio doubted not by the aound
they gave. Then he liatened, and hearing
nor perceiving anything whereby he could
judge that hia companioua stirred, ho began
to grow very uneaay, and threw atonea
again a second and third time, and could
not comprehend thu reason that none of
them should answer to hia signal. Cruelly
alarmed, he went softly down into thu yard,
and going to the tirat jar, and asking thu
robber, whom he thought alive, if he was
aalecp, he amelled tho hot boiled oil, which
sent forth a steam out of tho jar, and knew
thereby that his plot to murder Ali Baba
and plunder his house was diacovored. Exa-
mining all the jars, one after another, hu
found that all his gang were dead ; and by
the oil he missed out of the last jar, ho
guessed at the means and manner of their
deaths. Enraged to despair at having failed
in his design, he forced the lock of a door
that led from tho yard to the garden, and,
climbing over the walls of several gardens,
at last made his escape.
When Morgiana heard no noise, and found,
after waiting some time, that the ca]>tain
did not return, ahe guessed that ho chose
rather to make his escape by the gardens
than by the street door, which was double-
look'.v!. Satisfied and pleased to ha<>. suc-
ceeded 80 well, and secured the house, she
went to bed, and fell asleep.
Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed
by" his slave, went to the baths, entirely
ignorant of the amazing accident that had
happened at home; for Morgiana did not
think it right to wake him before, for fear
of losing her opportunity; and afterwards
she th< ight it needless to disturb him.
When he returned fmni tliii butln, aud
thu Bun hoil risen, hu was very niuiii aiir-
priaed to aeu thu oil-jnrH, and that tho mer-
chant waa not g< 'lu with the niuIeH. Ilo
asked Morgiana, who opened th<: door, and
hod let all thinga atand as they were, that
ho might sen them, the reoaun nf it. *' My
good uiaater," answered ahu, "(!iid preaervu
you and all your family. You will Im better
informed of what you wiah to know, when
you havu seen what I havu to Hhew you,
if you will give youraelf thu trouiile to fol-
low mo."
Aa aoon as Morgiana had shut tho door,
Ali Itaba followed her; and when shu brou;{ht
him into thu yard, ahu bid him look into thu
first jar, an 1 aeo if there was any oil. Ali
Baba t!' ' , and seeing a man, atarted bai^k
frightenei!. uid cried out. " Do not bo
afraid, ' aai< I vlorgiana; "thu man you seu
there can n<'ither do you nor anybody ulao
an}' ' Trm. Hu is dead." " Ah, Morgionu,"
Htt' di Baba, " wh. ' i» it you shew me'.'
Explain the 'iu;ar'i.„'of it to niu." " I will,"
replied Mm ana. "Moderate your aato-
nishmcn*^, a i di imt excite the ciirioaity of
your ii>.-ii{hl>ourH; for it is of great import-
aucu to k( op thia ali'air secret. Loot: iu all
the other jai .''
Ali Baba examined all the other jars, oiio
aftc" another; and when . j c^mi' to that
which had the oil in it, he found it pimli-
Kioualy aunk, and atood for sotuu time mo-
tionless, sometimes looking on tht jars, and
sometimes on Morgiana, without utayin^ a
word, so groat wan hi.t surprise ; at last,
when ho had recovered himself, ho aaid,
" And what has become of tho merchant?"
"Merchant ! " answered she ; "he is as much
one as I am. 1 will tell you who ho is, and
what is become of him ; but you had bt'tter
hear the story in your own chamber ; for it
is time for your health that you had your
broth, after your bathing."
While Ali Baba went into his chamber,
Morgiana went into tho kitchen to fetch tho
broth, and carry it to him ; but before he
would drink it, ho lirst bid her satisfy his
impatience, and tell him the story with all
its circumstances ; and she obeyed him.
"Last night, sir," said she, "when you
were gone to bed, I got your bathing linen
ready, and gave them to Abdalla ; after-
wards I set on the pot for the broth, and as
I was skimming the {)ot, the lamp, for want
of oil, went out ; and as there was not a drop
more iu the house, I looked for a candle,
but cotdd not find one. Abdalla, seeing me
vexed, put me iu mind of the jars of oil
which stood in the yard. I took the oil-pot,
and went directly to the jar which stood
nearest to . me ; and when I came to it, I
heard a voice within it say, *Is it time?'
Without being dismayed, and cGmprchend-
iug immediately the malicious intention of
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474
T//£ ARAB/AAT NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the pretended oil-merchai.i., I answered,
•Not yet, but presently.' Then I went to
the next, and another voice asked me the
same question, and I returned the same an-
swer ; and so on, till I came to the last,
which I found full of oil, with which I filled
my pot.
"When I considered that there were thirty-
.seven robbers in the yard, who only waited
for a signal to be given by tlie captain,
wliom you took to bo an oil-merchant, and
entertained so handsomely, I thought there
was no time to be lost. I carried my i)ot of
oil into the kitchen, lighted the lamp, and
afterwards took the biggest kettle I had,
went and filled it full of oil, and set it on
the fire to boil, and then went and poured
as much into each jar as was sufficient to
prevent them from executing the pernicious
design they came about : after this T retired
into the kitchen, and put out the lamp ;
but, before I went to bed, I waited at the
' window to know what measures the pre-
tended merchant would take.
"After I had watched some time for the
signal, he threw some stones out of the win-
dow against the jars, and neither hearing
nor j)erceiving anybody stirring, after
throwing three times, he came down, and
T saw him go to every jar, after which,
through the darkness of the night, I lost
sight of him. I waited some time longer,
and finding that he did not return, I never
doubtetl but that, seeing he had missed his
aim, he had maile his escape over the walls
of the garden. Persuaded that the house
was now safe, I went to bed.
"This," said Morgiana, •' is the account
you asked of me ; and I am convinced it is
the consequence of an observation which I
had made for two or three days before, but
did not think tit to acquaint you with ; for
when I came in one morning early, I found
our street-door marked with white chalk,
and the next morning with red ; and both
times, without knowing what was the inten-
tion of those chalks, I marked two or three
neighbours' doors on each hand after the
same manner. If you refiect on this, and
what has since happened, you will find it to
be a plot of the robbers of the forest, of
whose gang there are two wanting, and now
they are reduced to three : all this shews
that they had sworn your destruction, and
it is proper you should stand upon your
guard, while there is one of them alive : for
my part, I shall not neglect anything neces-
sary to your preservation, as I am in duty
bound."
When Morgiana had left off speaking,
Ali Baba was so sensible of the great service
she had done him, that he said to her, " I
will not die without rewarding you as you
deserve : I owe my life to you, and for the
first token of my acknowledgment I give
you your liberty from this moment, tiU I
can complete your recompense as I intend.
I am persuaded, with you, that the forty
robbers have laid all manner of snares for
me : God, by your meanu, has delivered me
from them, and I hope will continue to pre-
serve me from their wicked designs, and by
averting the danger which threatened me,
will deliver the world from their persecution
and their cursed race. All that we have to
do is to bury the bodies of these pests of
mankind immediately, and with all the
secrecy imaginable, that nobody may sus-
])ect what is become of them. But that
Abdalla and I will undertake."
Ali Baba's garden was very long, and
shaded at the farther end by a great number
of large trees. Under these trees he and
the slave went and dug a trench, long and
wide enough to hold all the robbers, and as
the earth was light, they were not long in
doing it. Afterwards they lifted the bodies
out of the jars, took away their weapons,
carried them to the end of the garden, laid
them in the trench, and levelled the ground
again. When this was done, Ali Baba hid
the jars and weapons ; and as for the mules,
as he had no occasion for them, he sent
them at different times to be sold in the
market by his slave.
While Ali Baba took these measures to
prevent the public from knowing how he
came by his riches in so short a time, the
captain of the forty robbers returned to the
forest, in most inconceivble mortification ;
and in the agitation, or rather confusion, he
was in at his success, so contrary to what
he had promised himself, he entered the
cave, not being able, all the way from the
town, to come to any resolution what to do
to Ali Baba.
The loneliness of the dark place seemed
frigh^'ful to him. "Where are you, my
brave lads," cried he, "old companions of
my watchings, inroads, and labour ? What
can I do without you ? Did I collect you to
lose you by so base a fate, and so unworthy
your courage? Had you died with your
sabres in your hands, like brave men, my
regret had been less. When shall I get so
gallant a troop again ? And if I could, can
I undertake it without exposing so much
gold and treasure to him who hath already
enriched himself out of it? I cannot, I ought
not to think of it, before I have taken away
his life. I will undertake that myself, which
I could not accomplish with so powerful
assistance ; and when I have taken care to
secure this treasure from being pillaged, I
will provide for it new masters and succes-
sors after me, who shall preserve and aug-
ment it to all posterity." This resolution
being taken, he was not at a loss how to
execute it ; but, »!wy in his mind, and full of
hopes, he slept all that night veiy qnietly.
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY ROBBERS.
475
When he waked early next morning, as he
had proposed, he dressed himself agreeably
to the project he had in his head, and went
tu the town, and took a lndgin(; in a khan.
And as he expected what hod happened at
Ali Baba's might make a great noise in the
town, he asked his host, by way of discourse,
what news there wos in the city. Upon
wliich the innkeeper told liim a great many
things, which did not concern him in the
least. He judged by this, that the reason
why Ali Baba kept this atTair so secret was
for fear people should know where the trea-
sure lay, and the means of coming at it ; and
because he knew his life would be sought
upon account of it. And this urged him the
more to neglect nothing to rid iiimself of so
dangerous a ])erson.
The next thing that the captain had to do
was to provide himself with a horse, to con-
vey a great many sorts of rich stuffs and
fine linen to his lodging, which he did by a
great many journeys to the forest, but with
all the necessary precautions imaginable to
conceal the place whence he brought them.
In order to dispose of the merchandise,
when he had amassed them together, he
took a furnished shop, which ha}))>ened to be
opposite to that which M'as Cassim's which
Ali Baba's son had not long occupied.
He took upon him the name of Cogia
Houssain, and, as a new comer, was, accord-
ing to custom, extremely civil and com-
plaisant to all the merchants his neighbours.
And as Ali Baba's son was young and hand-
Bome, and a man of good sense, and was
often obliged to converse with Cogia Hous-
sain, he soon made tliem acquniuted with
him. He strove to cultivate his friendship,
more particularly when, two or three daye
after he was settled, he recognised Ali Baba,
who came to see his son, aud stopped to talk
with him as he was accustomed to do ; and
when he was gone, he learned from his son
who he was. He increased his assiduities,
caressed him after the most engaging manner,
made him some small presents, and often
asked him to oine and sup with him; and
treated him ver - handsomely.
Ali Bciba's son did not care to lie under
such obligation to Cogia Houssain without
making the like return ; but was so much
straitened for w.int of room in his house,
that ho could not entertain him so well as
he wished ; and therefore acquainted his
father Ali Baba with his intcniiou, and told
him that it did not look well for him to
receive such favours from Cogia Houssain
without inviting him again.
Ali Baba, with great pleasure, took the
treat i{)on himself. "Son," said he, "to-
morrow, (Friday,) which is a day that the
shops of such great merchants as Cogia
Houssain and yourself are shut, get him to
take a walk with you after dinner, and as
you come back, pass by my door, and call
in. It will look l)etter to have it happen
j accidentally, than if you gave him a formal
invitation. I will go and order Morgiana to
proWde a supper."
The next day, after dinner, Ali Bab.i's son
and (I'ogia Houssain met by ap|>ointment,
and took their walk, and a:^ they returned,
Ali Baba's son led Cogia Houssain through
the street where his father lived ; and when
they came to the house, he stop{>ed and
knocked at the door. " This, sir," said he,
" is my father's house ; who, uinm the ac-
count I have given him of your friendship,
charged me to ])rocure him the honour of
your acquaintance ; and I desire you to atld
this pleasure to those I am already indebted
to you for."
Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Hous-
sain to introduce himself into Ali Baba's
house, that he might kill him without hazard-
ing his own life or making any noise ; yet
he excused himself, and offered to take his
leave. But a slave having o])ened the door,
Ali Baba's son took him obligingly by the
hand, and in a manner forced him in.
Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a
smiling countenance, and in the most obliging
manner he could wish. He thanked him for
all the favours he had done his son ; adding
withal, the obligation w.-w the greater, as he
was a young man not very well acquainted
with the world, an<l that he might contribute
to his information.
Cogia Houssain returned the compliment,
by assuring Ali Baba, that though hia son
might not have acquired the experience f>f
older men, he ha<l goo<l sense equal to the
experience of many others. After a little
more conversation on different subjects, he
offered again to take his leave ; when Ali
Baba, stoj)ping him, said, " Where are you
going, sir, in so much haste? I beg you
would do me the honour to sup with me,
though what I ha > c to give you is not worth
your acceptance ; but such as it is, I hope
you will acce])t it as heartily as I give it."
"iSir," replied Cojiia Houssain, "I am tho-
roughly persuaded of your good-will ; and
if I ask the favour of you not to take it ill
that I do not accept of your obligin'? invita-
tion, I beg of you to believe that it does not
proceed from any slight tir intention to
affront, but from a certain reason, which
you would ajiprove of if you knew it."
"And what may that reason be, sir," re-
plied Ali Baba, " if I may l)e so bold as
to ask you?" "It is," .. ""wered Cogia
Houssain, "that T can eat no viL-tuals that
have any salt in them ; therefore judge how
I should look at your table." "If that is the
only reason," said Ali Baba, "itonghtnot
to deprive me of the honour of your com-
pany at 8up])er ; for, in the finti. place,
there is no salt ever put into my bread, and
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476
T//E ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ioT the meat we shall have to-night, I pro-
mise you there shall be none. I will go
and take care of that. Therefore you must
do me the favour to stay ; I will come again
immediately."
Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and
ordered Morgiana to put no salt to the meat
that was to be dressed that night ; and to
make quickly two or throe ragouts besides
what he had ordered, but be sure to put no
salt in them.
Morgiana, who was always ready to obey
her master, could not help, this time, seem-
ing somewhat dissatisfied at his new order.
"Who is this difficult man," said she, "who
eats no salt with his meat ? Your supper
will be spoiled, if I keep it back so long."
" Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied Ali
Baba, "he is an honest man; therefore do
as I bid you."
Morgiana obeyed, though with no little
reluctance, and had a curiosity to see this
man who ate no salt. To this end, when she
had done what she had to do in the kitchen,
and Abdalla laid the cloth, she helped to
carry up the dishes ; and looking at Cogia
Houssain, knew him at the first sight to be
the captain of the robbers, notwithstanding
his disguise ; and examining him very care-
fully, perceived that he had a dagger hid
under his garment. "I am not in the least
amazed," said she to herself, "that this
wicked wretch, who is my master's greatest
enemy, would eat no salt with him, since
he intends to assassinate him; but I will
prevent him."
When Morgiana had sent up the supper
by Abdalla, while they were eating, she
made the necessary preparations for execut-
ing one of the boldest acts which could be
thought on, and had just done, when Abdalla
came again for the dessert of fruit, which
she carried up, and as soon as Abdalla hafl
taken the meat away, set it upon the table ;
after that, she set a little table and three
glasses by Ali Baba, and going out, took
Abdalla along with her to go to sup together,
and to give Ali Baba the more liberty of con-
versation with his guest.
Then the pretended Cogia Houssain, or
rather captain of the robbers, thovight he
had a favourable opportunity to kill Ali
Baba. " I will," said he to himself, "make
the father and son both drunk; and then
the son, whose life I intend to spare, will
not be able to prevent my stabbing his
father to the heart; and while the slaves
are at supper, or asleep in the kitchen, I
can make my escape over the gardens as
before."
Instead of going to supper, Morgiana,
who penetrated into the intentions of the
counterfeit Cogia Houssain, would not give
him leave to put his villainous design in
execution but dresseu herself neatly with a
suitable head-dress like a dancer, girded her
waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which
there hung a poniard with a hilt and guard
of the same metal, and put a handsome
mask on her face. When she had thus dis-
guised herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take
your tabor, and let us go and divert our
jiaster and his sou's guest, as we do some-
times when he is alone."
Abdalla took his tabor, and played before
Morgiana all the way into the hall, who,
when she came to the door, made a low
curtsey, with a deliberate air, to make her-
self be taken notice of, and by way of asking
leave to shew what she could do. Abdalla,
seeing that his master had a mind to say
something, left ofiF jJaying. "Come in,
Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia,
Houssain see what you can do, that he may
tell us what he thinks of you. But, sir,"
said he, turning towards Cogia Houssain, "do
not think that I put myself to any expense
to give you this diversion, since these are my
slave and my cook and housekeeper ; and I
hope you will not find the entertainment
they give »ib disagreeable."
Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this
diversion after supper, began to fear that he
should not have the opportunity that he
thought he had found ; but hoped, if he
missed it now, to have it another time, by
keeping up a friendly correspondence with
the father and son ; therefore, though he
could have wished Ali Baba would have let
it alone, he pretended to be obliged to him
for it, and had the complaisance to express
a pleasure at what he saw pleased his host.
As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and
Cogia Houssain had done talking, he began
to play on the tabor, and accompanied it
with an air ; to which Morgiana, who was
an excellent dancer, danced after such a
manner, as would have created admiration
in any other company but that before which
she now exhibited, among whom, perhaps,
none but the false Cogia Houssain was in
the least attentive to her.
After she had danced several dances with
the same i)ropriety aud strength, she drew
the poniard, aud holdmg it in her hand,
divnciug a dance, in which she outdid her-
self, by the many dififereut figures and light
movements, and the surprising leaps and
wonderful exertions with which she accom-
panied it. Sometimes she presented the'
poniard to one's breast, aud sometimes to
another's, and oftentimes seeming to strike
her own. At last, as if she was out of
breath, she snatched the tabor from Abdalla
with her left hand, and holding the dagger
in her right, presented the other side of the
tabor, after the manner of those who get a
livehhood by dancing, and solicit the libe-
rality of the spectators.
Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the
AU BABA AND THE FORTY ROBBERS.
A77
tabor, as did also his son ; and Cogia Houa-
flain, seeing that she was coming to him,
had pulled his purse out of his bosom to
make her a present ; but while he was put-
ting his har.d into it, Morgiana, with a
-courage and resolution worthy of herself,
plunged the poniard into his heart
Ali Baba and his son, frightened at this
action, cried out aloud. ' ' Unhappy wretch !"
exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done to
ruin me and my family ? " "It was to i)reserve
you, not to ruin you," answered Morgiana ;
"for see here,"said she, (opening Cogia Hous-
sain's garment, and shewing the dagger,)
*' what an enemy you had entertained !
Look well at him, and you will find him to
be both the pretended oil-merchanf, and the
captain of the gong of forty robbers. Re-
member, too, that he would eat no salt with
you ; and what woidd you have more to per-
suade you of his wicked design ? Before I
saw him, I suspected him as soon as you
told me you had such a guest. I saw him,
and you now find that my suspicion was not
groundless."
Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new
obligation he had to Morgiana for saving his
life a second time, embraced her: "Mor-
giana," said he, " I gave you your liberty,
and then promised you that my gratitude
should not stop there, but that I would soon
complete it. The time is come for me to
give you a proof of it, by making you my
daughter-in-law." Then addressing himself
to his son, he said to him, " I believe you,
son, to be so dutiful a child, that you will
not refuse Morgiana for your wife. You see
that Cogia Houssain sought your friendship
with a treacherous design to take away my
life ; and if he had succeeded, there is no
doubt but he would have sacriticed you also
to his revenge. Consider, that by marrying
Morgiana, you marry the support of my
family and your own."
The son, far from shewing any dislike,
readily consented to the marriage ; not only
because he woidd not disobey his father, but
that his inclination prompted him to it.
After this, they thought of burying the
captain of the robbers with his comrades,
and did it so privately that nobody knew
anything of it till a great man]^' years after,
when not any one had any concern in the
publication of this remarkable history.
A few days afterwards, Ali Baba cele-
brated the nuptials of his son and Morgiana
with great solemnity and a sumptuous feast,
and the usual dancing and spectacles ; and
had the satisfaction to see that his friends
and neighbours, whom he invited, had no
knowledge of the true motives of that mar-
riage ; but that those who were not unac-
quainted with Morgiana's good qualities
commended his generosity and goodness of
heart.
Ali Baba forbore, a long time after this
marriage, from going again to the robbers'
cave, from the time he brought away his
brother Cassim, and some bags of gold on
three asses, for fear of finding them there,
and being surprised by them. He kept
away after the death of the thirty-seven
robbers and their captain, supposing the
other two robbers, whom he could get no
account of, might be alive.
But at the year's end, when he found they
had not made any attempt to disturb him,
he had the curiosity to make another jour-
ney, taking the necessary precautions for his
safety. He mounted his horse, and when
he came to the cave, and saw no footsteps of
men or horses, he looked upon it as a good
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478
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
sign. He alighted off his horse, and tied
him to a tree ; and presenting himself be-
fore the door, and pronouncing these words,
•' Open, Sesame," the door opened. He went
in, and by the condition he found things in,
he judged that nobody had been there since
the false Cugia Houssain, when he fetched
the goods for his shop, and that the gang of
fttrty robbers was completely destroyed, and
never doubted he was the only person in the
world who had the secret of opening the
cave, and that all the treasure was solely at
his disposal ; and having brought with him
a wallet, into which he put as much gold as
his horse could carry, he returned to town.
Afterwards Ali Baba carried his son to
the cave, taught him the secret, which they
handed down to their posterity ; and using
their good fortune with moderation, lived in
great honour and splendour, holding the
greatest offices of the city.
THE STORY OF ALI COCIA, A MERCHANT OF
BAGDAD.
In the reign of the caliph Haroun Alraschid,
there lived at Bagdad a merchant whose
name was Ali Cogia, that was neither one of
the richest nor the meanest sort. He was a
bachelor, and lived in the house which was
his father's, master of his own actions, con-
tent with the profit he made by his trade.
But happening to dream a dream for three
nights together, that a venerable old man
come to him, .and, with a severe look, repri-
manded him for not having made a pilgrim-
age to Mecca, he was very much troubled.
As a good Mussulman, he knew he w.ts
obliged to undertake a pilgrimage ; but as
he had a house, shop, and goods, he had al-
ways believed that they might stand for a
sufficient reason to excuse him, endeavour-
ing by his charity, and other good works, to
atone for that neglect. But after this dream,
his conscience was so much pricked, that the
fear lest any misfortune should befall him,
made him resolve not to defer it any longer ;
and to be able to go that year, he sold off
his household goods, his shop, and with it
the greatest part of his merchandise, re-
serving only some, which he thought might
turn to a better account at Mecca; and
meeting with a tenant for his house, let that
also.
Things being thus tlisposed, he was ready
to go when the Bagdad caravan set out for
Mecca : the only thing he had to do was to
secure a sum of a thousand pieces of gold,
which would have been troublesome to
carry along with him, besides the money he
had set apart to defray his expenses on the
road, and for other purposes. To this end
he made choice of a jar of a proportionable
size, put the thousand pieces of gold into it,
and covered them over with olives. When
he had closed the mouth of the jar, he car-
ried it to a merchant, a particular friend of
his, and said to him, "You know," brother,
"that in a few days I set out with the cara-
van, on my pilgrimage to Mecca. I beg the
favour of you, that you woidd take cha^-ge
of a jar of olives, and keep it for me till I
return." The merchant promised him *.e
would, and in an obliging manner said,
" Here, take the key of my warehouse, and
set your jar where you please. I pro-
mise you shall fiud it there when you come
again."
On the day the caravan was to set out,
Ali Cogia joined it, with a camel loaded
with what merchandise he thought fit to
carry along with him, which served him to
ride on, and arrived safe at Mecca, where he
visited, along with other pilgrims, the tem-
ple so much celebrated and frequented by
Mussulmans of all nations every year, who
come from all parts of the world, and ob-
serve religiously the ceremonies prescribed
them ; and when he had acquitted himself
of the duties of his pilgrimage, he exposed
the merchandise he had brought with him,
to sell or exchange them.
Two merchants jjassing by, and seeing
Ali Cogia's goods, thought them so tine and
choice, that they stopped some time to look
at them, though they had no occasion for
them ; and when they had satisfied their
curiosity, one of them said to the other, as
they w*e going away, "If this merchant
knew to what profit these goods would turn
at Cairo, he would carry them thither and
not sell them here, though this is a good
mart."
Ali Cogia heard these words ; and as he
had often heard talk of the beauties of
Egypt, he was resolved to take the oppor-
tunity of seeing them, and taking a journey
thither. Therefore, after having packed up
his goods again, instead of returning to Bag-
dad, he set out for Egypt, with the caravan
of Cairo ; and when he came thither, he
found his account in his journey, and in a
few days sold aU his goods to a greater ad-
vantage than he hoped for. With the mo-
ney he bought otliere, with an intent to go
to Damascus ; and while he waited for the
opportunity of a caravan, which was to set
forward in six weeks, he saw all the rarities
at Ciiiro, as also the pyramids ; and sailing
up the Nile, vieweJ the famous towns on
each side of that river.
As the Damascus caravans took Jerusalem
in their way, our Bagdad merchant had the
opportunity of visiting the temple, looked
upon by all the Mussulmans to be the most
holy, after that of Mecca, whence this city
takes its name of Noble Holiness,
Ali Cogia found Damascus so delicious a
place, abounding with fine meads, pleasantly
I watered, and delightful gardens, that it ex-
ALT COG/A.
479
ceeded the descriptions given of it in history.
Here he mode a long abode, but neverthe-
less had not forgot his native Bagdad : for
which place he set out, and arrived at
Aleppo, where he mode soiue stay ; and
from thence, after having passed the Eu-
l>hrates, he bent his course to Moussoul,
with an intention, in his return, to come by
a shorter way down the Tigris.
When Ali Cogia came to Moussoul, the
Persian merchants, with whom he travelled
from Aleppo, and with whom he had con-
tracted a great friendship, had got so great
an ascendant over him by their civilities and
agreeable conversation, that they easily per-
suaded him not to leave thum till they came
to Schiraz, from whence he might easily re-
turn to Bagdad with a considerable profit.
They led him through the towns of Sultania,
llei, Coam, Caschan, Ispahan, and from
thence to Schiraz ; from whence he had the
complaisance to bear them company to
India, and so came back again with them to
Schiraz; insomuch that, including the stay
he made in every town, he was seven years
absent from Bagdad, whether he then re-
solved to return.
All this time his friend, with whom he
had left his jar of olives, neither thought of
him nor them; but just at the time when
he was on the road with a caravan from
Schiraz, one evening, when this merchant
was supping at home with his family, the
discourse happened to fall upon olives, his
wife was desirous to eat some, saying she
had not tasted any for a long while. "Now
you speak of olives," sjtid the merchant,
"yuu put me in mind of a jar which Ali
Cogia left with me seven years ago, when
he went to Mecca; and put it himself in
my warehouse for me to keep for him
against he returned. What is become of
him I know not; though, when the cara-
van came back, they told me he had gone
to Egypt. Certainly he must be dead,
since he has not returned in all this time ;
and we may eat the oUves if they prove
good. Give me a plate and a candle, and
I will go and fetch some of them, and we
will taste them."
"Foi God's sake, husband," said the wife,
"do not commit so base an action; you
know that nothing is more sacred than
what is committed to one's care and trust.
You say Ali Cogia has been gone to Mecca,
and is not returned ; but you have been
told that he is gone into Egypt; and how
do you know but he may be gone farther?
As you have no news of his death, he may
return to-morrow, for anything you can tell :
and what a disgrace woiild it be to you and
your family if he should come, and you not
restore him his jar in the same condition he
left it ! I declare I have no desire of the
olives, and will not taste of them; for when
I mentioned them, it was only by way o
discourse : besides, do you think that they
can be good, after they have been kept so
long? They must be all moiddy, and
s^Kviled ; and if Ali Cogia should return, as
I have a strong persuasion i.e will, and
shoidd find they have been opened, what
will he think of your honour? 1 beg of you
to let them alone."
The wife hail not argued so long with her
husband, but that she read his obstinacy in
his face. In short, he never regarded what
she said, but got up, took a caudle and a
plate, and went into the warehouse. "Well,
husband," said the wife again, "remember
I have no hand in this buHiness, and that
you cannot lay anything to my charge, if
you should have- cause to repent of this
action."
The merchant's ears were deaf to these
remonstrances of his wife, and he persisted
in his design. When he came into the
warehouse, he opened the jar, and found
the olives all mouldy ; but to see if they
were all so to the bottom, he turned some
of them upon the plate, and by shaking the
jar, some of the gold tumbled out.
At the sight of the gold, the merchant,
who was naturally covetous, looked into the
jar, and jterceived that he hail shaken out
almost all the olives, and what remained
was tine gold coin. He immediately put
the olives into the jar again, covered it up,
and returned to his wife. "Indeed, wife,"
said he, "you was in the riglit to say that
the olives were all mouldy ; for I found it
so, and have made up the jar just as Ali
Cogia left it ; so that he will not perceive
that they have been touched, if he shoidd
return." " You had better have taken my
advice," said the wife, "and not meddled
with them. God grant no mischief comes
of it!"
The merchant was not more atfectcd with
his wife's last words than he liad been by
her former, but s])ent almost the whole
night in thinking how he might appropriate
Ali Cogia's gold to his own use, and keep
possession of it in case Ali Cogia should
return and ask him for the jar. The next
morning he went and bought some olives of
that year, took out the old and the gold,
and filled the jar with the new, covered it
up, and put it in the same place where Ali
Cogia left it.
About a month after the merchant had
committed so base an action, for which he
was to pay dear, Ali Cogia arrived at Bag-
dad ; and as he had let his house, he alight-
ed at a khan, choosing to stay there till
he had signified his arrival to his tenant,
and he had provided himself with another
house.
The next morning Ali Cogia went to pay
a visit to the merchant his friend, who ro-
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THE ARABIAN ' NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ceived him in the most obliging manner ima-
ginable ; and expressed a preat deal of joy
at his return, after so man> years' absence ;
telling him that he had begun to lose all
hojies of ever seeing him again.
After the usual compliments on both sides
on such a meeting, Ali Cogia desired the
merchant to return him the jar of olives
which he had left with him, and to excuse
the liberty he hnd taken in giving him so
much trouble.
" My dear friend, Ali Cogia," replied the
merchant, "you are to blame to make all
these apologies ; your vessel has been no in-
convenience to me : on such an occasion I
shoiUd have made as free with you : there,
take the key of my warehouse ; go and take
it ; you will find it in the same place where
you left it."
Ali Cogia went into the merchant's ware-
house, took his jar, and after having returned
him the key, and thanks for the favour he
liad done him, returned with it to the khan
where he lodged ; and opening the jar, and
putting his hand down as low as the iiieces
of gold lay, was very much surprised to find
none. At first he thought he might, per-
haps, be mistaken ; and, to discover the
truth, poured out all the olives into all his
travelling kitchen-utensils, without so much
as finding one single piece of money. His
astonishment was so great, that he stood for
some time motionless ; then lifting up his
hands and eyes to heaven, he cried out, " Is
it possible that a man, whom I took to be
my good friend, should be guilty of so base
an action?"
Ali Cogia, cruelly alarmed at the fear of
80 considerable a loss, returned immediately
to the merchant. "My good friend," said
he, "be not surprised to see me come back
80 soon. I own the jar of olives to be the
same put into your magazine ; but with the
olives I put a thousand pieces of gold into
it, which I do not find. Perhaps you might
have occasion for them, and employ them
in trade : if so, they are at your service ;
only put me out of my pain, and give me an
acknowledgment, after which you may pay
me again at your own convenience."
The merchant, who exi)ected that Ali
Cogia woidd come with such a complaint,
had meditated an answer. " Friend Ali
Cogia," said he, " when you brought your
jar of olives to me, did I touch it I ■lid liou
I give you the key of my warehouse ? did
not you carry it there yourself, and did not
you find it in the same place, covered in the
same manner as when you left it ? And if
you put gold in it, you should have found it
again. You told me that they were olives,
and I believed it. This is all I know of the
matter : you may believe me, if you please j
but I never touched them."
Ali Cogia made use of all the mild waytj
he could think of to oblige the merchant to
do him right. ' ' I love peace and quietness,"
said he to him, " and shall be very sorry to
come to those extremities which will bring
the greatest disgrace upon yon : consider
that merchants, as ire are, ought to abandon
all interest to preserve a good reputation.
Once again I tell yon, I should be very much
concerned if your obstinacy shall oblige me
to force you to do me justice; for I would
rather almost lose what is my right than
have recourse to law."
"Ali Cogia," replied the merchant, "you
agree that you left a jar of olives with me ;
and now you have taken it avay, you come
and ask me for a thousand jiieces of gold.
Did you ever tell me that such a sum was in
the jar ? I did not even know that they
were olives, for yon never shewed them to
me. I wonder you do not as well ask me
for diamonds and pearls instead of gold :
begone about your business, and do not raise
a mob about my shop : " for some jiersons
had already stopped. These last words were
pronounced in so great heat and passion, as
not only made those who stood about the
shop already stay longer, and created a great
mob, but the neighbouring merchants came
out of their shops to see what was the dis-
pute between Ali Cogia and the merchant,
and endeavoured to reconcile them ; and
when Ali Cogia had informed them of his
grievance, they asked the merchant what he
had to say.
The merchant owned that he had kept the
jar for Ali Cogia in his warehouse, but de-
nied that ever he meddled with it; and
swore that he knew it was full of olives
only because Ali Cogia told him so, and bid
them all bear witness of the insult and
affront offered him. " You bring it upon
yourself," said Ali Cogia, taking him by
the arm ; " but since you use me so basely, I
cite you to the law of God, Let us see whe-
ther you will have the assurance to say the
same thing before the cadL"
The merchant could not refuse this sum-
mons, which every good Mussulman is bound
to observe, or be declared a rebel against
religion, but said, "With all my heart; we
shall soon see who is in the wrong."
Ali Cogia carried the merchant before the
cadi, before whom he accuse*! him of cheat-
ing him of a thousand pieces of gold, which
he had left with him. The cadi asked him
if he had any witnesses ; to which he repUed,
that he had not taken that precaution, be-
cause he believed the person he trusted his
money with to be his friend, and always took
him for an honest man.
The merchant made the same defence he
had done before the merchants his r.<>igh-
bours, offering to make oath that he never
had the money he was accused of, and that
he did not so much as know there was such
ALI COGIA.
481
I
bring
a Biim ; upon which the ca«Ii tM>k hii oath,
and (lismisBcd him acqaitt«i4.
Ali Cogia, extremely m»rtiti«Kl to find that
he must sit down with »> c»ittii(l«rabl« a loss,
protested against the 9«itt6iK«, dt^larinii; to
the cadi that he would a;'|i«al to the cahph
Haroun Alraschid, who wunkl do Lim jus-
tice; which ]irotestation the cadi only looked
upon as the elFect of the ct>nun<i>D resentment
of all tliosc who lose their diu«. and thought
he had done his duty in acquitting a ]>erBou
who hod been accused withuut witne£i$eB.
While the merchant rttnrnid faoiue, tri-
umphing over Ali Co<aa, and orerj«yed at
hia good fortune, Ali Cogia went and drew
up a petition ; and the next day, ol^scrv'ing
the time when the caliph came from noou
prayers, he placed himself in the street he
was to pass thronuh, anJ hoblin;; out his
hand with the petition, an 'jfficier appointed
for that purpose, who alway* j;otuj before
the caliph, came and t'xA it to present it.
As Ali Cogia knew that :t was the caliph's
custom to read the petiti»D.i at Lis return to
the i)alacc, he went into the court, and
waited till the officer who haul taken the
petition read it, and came >>t3.\. of the cali]ih's
apartment, who told him tb£t th*- caliph had
appointed an hour to hear him next day :
and then asking him vbere tlie merchant
lived, he sent tt> notify to him to attend at
the same ';ime.
That same evenini, the caliph, the grand
vizier Giafar, and Mearotir, the -jhief of the
eunuchs, went all fus'^'^^nA through the
town, as I have already t»>ld yonr majesty it
ysas his custom occaaiooally to do ; and,
passing throiigh a street, the caliph heard a
noise, and mending his paoe, he came to a
gate, which led into a little court ; through
a hole he perceived tea or twelve children
playing by moonlight.
The caliph, who was curious to know at
what play the children played, sat down
upon a stone bench juat by ; and, still look-
ing through the hole, he heard one of the
briskest and liveliest of tine children say,
" Let us play at the cadi. I wiH 3>e the cadi ;
bring Ali Cogia and the mercLaat who
cheated him of the thousand piie«es of gold
before me. "
These words of the chilfl put the cali]th in
mind of the petition Ali CVgia had given
him that day, and made him redouble his
attention to see the L^sne of the triaL
As the affair of Ali Cogia and the mer-
chant made a great noise in Bag<lad, it had
not escaped the children, who aJl accei)ted
the proposition with Joy, and agreed on the
part each was to act Xo4t one of them re-
fused him that made the proposal to be
cadi ; and when he had taken his seat, which
he did with oil the seemin;; grat i t y of a cadi,
another, as an officer of the cogrt, [«<esented
two before him; one as Ali Cogia, and the
other 08 the merchant against whom he com-
plained.
Then the pretended cadi, directing his
discourse to the feigned Ali Cogia, asked
him what he had to lay to that merchant's
charge.
Ali Cogia, after a low bow, informed the
young cacli of the fact, and related every
particular, and afterwards begged that ho
would use his authority that he might not
lose so considerable a sum of money.
Then the feigned cadi, turning about to
the merchant, asked him why he did not re-
turn the money which Ali Cogia demanded
of him.
The feigned merchant alleged the same
reasons aa the real merchant had done before
the catli himself, and offered to confirm by
oath that -vviiat he had said was truth.
"Not so fast," replied the pretended cadi ;
" before you come to your oath, I shouM be
glad to see the jar of olives. Ali Cogia,"
said he, addressing himself to the lad who
acted that part, "have you brought the
jar?" "No," replied he. " Then go and
fetch it immediately," said the other.
The pretended Ali Cogia went inmiedi-
ately, and returning aa soon, feigned to set
a jar before the cadi, telling him that it was
the same he left with the accused person,
and took away again. But, to omit no part
of the formality, the supposed ca<li a-sked
the 'aerchant if it wiis the same ; and .is by
his silence he seemed not to deny it, he or-
dered it to be opened. He that represented
Ali Cogia seemed to take off the cover, antl
the pretended cadi made as if he looked into
it "They are fine olives," said he; "let
me taste of them ; " and then pretending to
eat of them, added, "They are excellent;
but," continued he, "I cannot think that
olives will keep seven years, and be so good :
send for some olive-merchants, and let me
hear what is their oi)inion." Then two boys,
as olive-merchants, presented themselves.
" Are you olive-merchants ? " said the sham
cadi. "Tell me how long olives will keep
to be fit to eat!"
"iSir," replied the two merchants, "let
us tike what care we can, they will hardly
be worth anything the thinl year, for then
they have neither taste nor colour." " T£
it be so," answered the cadi, " look into that
jar, and tell mo how long it is since those
olives were put into it."
The two merchants pretended to examine
and to taste the olives, and told the cadi
they were new and good. " You are mis-
taken," said the young cadi ; "Ali Cogia
says he jiut them into the jar seven years
ago."
"Sir," replied the merchants, "we can
assure you they are of this year's growth ;
and we will maintain there ia not a merchant
in Bagdad but will say the same."
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The feigned merchant that was accused
would have objected against the evidence of
the olive -merchants ; but the feigned ctwli
would not Buffer him. "Hold your tongue,"
said he; "you are a rogue; let him be
hanged." Then the children put an cud to
their play, clapping their hands with great
joy, and seizing the feigned criuiiual to carry
him to execution.
Words cannot express how much the ca-
liph Haroun Alraschid admired the sagacity
and sense of the boy who had passed so just
a sentence, in an affair which was to be
pleaded before him the next day. He with-
drew, and rising off the bench he sat on, he
asked the grand vizier, who heard all that
liassed, what he thouglit of it. " Indeed,
commander of the true believers," answered
the grand vizier Giafar, " I am surprised to
find so much sagacity in one so yomig."
"But," answered the caliph, "do you
know one thing ? I am to pronounce sen-
tence in this very cause to-morrow ; the true
Ali Cogia presented his petition to me to-
day; and do you think," continued he,
"that I can give a better sentence?" " I
think not," answered the vizier, "if the case
is as the children represented it." " Take
notice then of this house," said the caliph,
" and briiif,' the boy to me to-morrow, tlxat
he may ti y this cause in my presence ; and
also order the cadi, who acquitted the
roguish merchant, to attend, to learn his
duty by a chUd. Take care likewise to bid
Ali Cogia bring his jar of olives with him,
and let two olive-merchants be present."
After this charge he pursued his rounds,
without meeting with anything else worth
his attention.
The next day the vizier went to the house
where the caliph had been a witness of the
children's play, and asked for the master of
it ; but he being abroad, his wife came to
him. He asked her if she had any children.
To which she answered she had three, and
called them. "My brave boys," said the
vizier, "which of you was the cadi when
you played together last night ? " The
eldest made answer he was; but, not know-
ing why he asked the question, coloured.
"Come along with me, my lad," said the
grand vizier; "the commander of the faith-
ful wants to see you."
The mother was in a great fright when
she saw the grand vizier would take her sou
with him, and asked him upon what account
the caliph wanted him. The grand vizier
encouraged her, and promised her that he
should return again in less than an hour's
time, when she would know it from himself.
"If it be 30, sir," said the mother, "give
me leave to dress him first, that he may be
fit to appeiir before the commander of the
faithful ; " which the vizier readily complied
with.
As soon 08 the child was dressed, the vi-
zier carried him away, and presented him to
the caliph, at the time he had appointed to
hear Ali Cogia and the meruhant.
The caliph, who saw that the boy was
dashed, to encourage him, said, " Come to
me, child, and tell me if it was you that de-
termined the affair between Ali Cogia and
the merchant that cheated him of his money.
I saw and heard you, and am very well
jileased with you." The boy answered mo-
destly that it was he. " Well, my son,"
replied the caliph, "come and sit down by
me, and you shall see the true Ali Cogia
and the true merchant."
Then the caliph took him by the hand,
and set him on the throne by him, and asked
for the two parties. When they were called,
they came and jjrostrated themselves before
the throne, bowing their heads quite down
to the carpet that covered it. Afterwards
the calph said to them, " Plead each of you
your causes before this child, who will hear
and do you justice ; and if he should be at
a loss, I will rectify it."
Ali Cogia and the merchant pleaded one
after the other; but when the merchant
proposed his oath as before, the child said,
" It is too soon ; it is proper that we should
see the jar of olives."
At these woi-ds, Ali Cogia presented
the jar, placed it at the caliph's feet, and
opened it. The caliph looked upon the
olives, and took one and tasted it. After-
wards the merchants were called, who
examined the olives, and reported that
they were good, and of that year. The
boy told them that Ali Cogia affirmed that
it was seven years since he put them up ;
and they returned the same answer as the
children who represented them the night
before.
Though the merchant who was accused
saw plainly that these merchants' opinions
wotdd condemn him, yet he would say some-
thmg in his own justification. But the
child, instead of ordering him to be hanged,
looked at the caliph, and said, "Commander
of the faithful, this is no jesting matter ; it
is your majesty that must condemn him to
death, and not me, though I did it yesterday
in play. "
The caliph, fully satisfied of the mer-
chant's villany, delivered him into the hands
of the ministers of justice to be hanged.
This sentencre was executed upon him, after
he had confessed where he had hid the
thousand pieces of gold, which were restored
to Ali Cogia. , Then the monarch, most just
and eqiutable, turning to the cadi, bid him
learn of that child to acquit himself more
exactly of his duty; and embracing the
boy, sent him home with a purse of a hun-
dred x'ieces of gold, as a token of his libe-
rality.
THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
4«3
THE 8T0BY OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
The Nevrouz,* or the New Day. which ia
the lirst of the year and sprinj;, is observed
oa an ancient and solemn feast throughout
all Persia, which has been continued from
the time of idolatry ; and our prophet's re-
ligion, pure as it is, and true as we hold it,
has not been able to abolish that heathenish
custom, and the superstitious ceremonies
which are observed, not only in the ^reat
cities, but celebrated with extraordinary
rejoicings in every little town, village, and
hamlet.
But the rejoicings arc the most extraordi-
nary at the court, for the variety of new and
surprising sights ; insomuch that strangers
are invited from the neighbouring states,
and the most remote parts, by rewards and
liberality of the king, towards those who
we the most excellent in their invention
and contrivance. In short, nothing in the
rest of the world can come nigh them in
magnificence.
On one of these feast days, after the most
ingenious artists of the country had repaired
to Schiraz, where the court then resided,
and h.vl entertained the king and all the
court with their siglits, and had been boun-
tifully and liberally rewarded according to
their merit and to their satisfaction by the
king, when the assembly was just breaking
up, an Indian appeared at the foot of the
throne, with an artificial horse richly bridled
and saddled, and so well made, that at first
sight he looked like a living horse.
The Indian i>rostrated himself before the
throne, and pointing to the horse, said to
the king, " Though, sir, I present myself
the last before your majesty, yet I can as-
sure you that nothing that has been shewn
to-day is so wonderful as this horse, on which
I beg your majesty will be pleased to cast
your eyes." " I see nothing more in the
horse," said the king, " but the natural re-
semblance the workman has given him, which
the skill of another workman may do as well
or better."
" Sir," replied the Indian, " it is not for
Lis outward form and appearance that I re-
commend my horse to your majesty's exa-
mination 08 wonderful, but the use I know
how to make of him, and whiit any other
person, when I have communicated the
secret to him, may do as well. Whenever
I mount him, be it where it will, if I wish
• "Nevrouz," or the New Day, is the name which
the ancient Persians gave to the first da? of theiryear,
which was solar. Oiari>;chiil, kinf; of the first dynasty
of the Pischdadians, instituted tlie solemnity of tlie Nev-
rouz, which is still celebrated by the Persians, though
they are Mohammedans, und consequently obliged
to use the Arabian year, which is lunar. The first day
was fixed in the vernal equinox, at the point when the
ran enters into the first degree of Aries. There is an-
other NeTrouz of the autumnal equinox. — i>'irer-
Mot.
to transport inyself through the air to the
most distant \yaxt of the worlil, I can do it
in a very short time. This, sir, is the won-
der of my horse ; a wonder which nobody
eVor hear<l si>eak of, and which I offer to
she>v your majesty, if you command me."*
The king of Per-sia, who w.is fond of every-
thing that was curious, and, after the many
wonilerful things he had seen and desired to
see, had never seen or heard anything that
came up to this, told the Indian that nothing
but the experience of what he told should
convince him ; and that withal he w.is ready
to see him perform what he promised.
The Indian presently put his foot into the
stirrup, and mounted his horse with a great
deal of activity ; and when he hiid got the
other foot into the stirrup, and had fixed
himself in the saddle, he asked the king of
Persia where he pleased to send him.
About three leagues from .Schiraz there
was a high mountain, discernible from the
large square before the palace, where the
king and his court, and a great concourse of
people, then were. "Do you see that moun-
tain ?" said the king, jwinting to the hill;
"go to it, it is not a great w.ay off, but it is
far enough to judge of the haste you can
make in going and coming. But because it
is not possible for the eye to follow you so
f.ir, for a certain sign that you have been
there, I expect that you will bring me a
branch of a palm-tree that grows at the
bottom of the hill."
The king of Persia hod no sooner declared
his will, but the Indian turned a peg, which
was in the hollow of the horse's neck, j ust by
the pummel of the saddle, and in .in instant
the horse rose off the ground, and carried
his rider into the air like lightning to such
a height, that those who had the strongest
sight could not discern him, to the admira-
tion of the king and all the spectators.
Within less thon a quarter of an hour they
saw him come agahi with the palm branch in
his hand ; but before he came quite down,
he took two or three turns in the air over
the spot, amid the acclamations of all the
people ; then descended upon the same spot
of ground whence he set off, without re-
ceiving the least shock from the horse to
• Chaucer's Squire's Tale, the poem by which Milton
describes and characterises him, is founded on this
adventure. The imagination of this story consists in
Arabian fiction, engrafted on Gothic chivalry. Nor is
ttiis Arabian fiction purely the sport of arbitrary fancy,
it is, in a great measure, founded on Arabian learning.
The idea of a horse of brass took its rise from the me-
chanical knowledge of the Arabians, and their experi-
ments in metals. The poets of romance, Lydgate and
Gower, who deal in Arabian ideas, describe the Trojan
horse to be made of brass. — Wartoris Hist, of Engliih
J'oetry, vol. i. pp. 398-4tK).
Cliaucer lias borrowed only the description of the
horse, and the two pins, the ascending one in his ear,
and the use to be made of him. That Chancer never
finished the story is more than probable, from Milton's
speaking of it as left untold, which does not apply to
loss after finishing.
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THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTA/XAfENTS.
tliaorder him. He dismounted ; and goinf;
up to the throne, prostrated hiuisulf, and
lai*l the branch of the pahn>tree at the king's
feet.
The king of PcrHia, who was an cyc-wit-
new, with no less admiration thuii astonish-
ment of this uuhcard-of sight which the
Indian had exhiliitc-d, coucL'ivcd a great de-
Mre to have the horse ; and as ho pursuadud
himself that he should nut lind it a dillicidt
matter to treat with the Indian about him,
for whatever sum of money he should valuu
him at, he began to look uj>ou him as the
mo«t valuable thing in Lis treasury. " To
judge of thy horse by his outward ajjpcor-
ance,'' said he to the Indian, "I did not
think him so much worth my considera-
tion. As you shewed me his merits, I am
obliged to you for undeceiving mu ; and to
shew yon how much I esteem him, I will
buy him of you, if he is to be sold."
" Sir," replied the Indian, " I never
doubted that your majesty, who has the
character of the most judicious prince on
earth, would set a just value on my work
as soon as I had shewn you on what account
he was worthy your attention. I also fore-
saw that you would not only admire and
commend him, but would desire to have
him. For my part, sir, though I know the
true value of him, and that my being master
of him will render my name iuimortid in the
world, yet I am not so fond of him but I
can resign him, to gratify that noble passion
of your majesty; but in making this de-
claration, I have another to add, without
which I cannot resolve to part with him,
and perhaps you may not approve of it.
" Your majesty will not be displeased,"
continued the Indian, "if I tell you that I
did not buy this horse, but obtained him of
the inventor and maker, by giving I'im my
only daughter in marriage, and promising at
the same time never to sell him ; but, if I
parted with him, to exchauge him for some-
thing that I shoidd like."
The Indian would have gone on, but at
the word exchange, the king of Persia inter-
rupttrd him: "I am willing," said he, "to
give you what you will ask in exchange.
You know my kingdom is large, and con-
tains many great, rich, and populous cities ;
1 will give you the choice of which you hke
best, in full sovereignty for the rest of your
life.^
This exchange seemed royal and noble to
the whole court, but was much below what
the Indian proposed to himself, who had
raised hia thoughts much higher. " I am
infinitely obliged to your majesty for the
offer yon make me," answered he, "and
cannot thank you enough for your gene-
rosity; yet I must beg of you not to be
angry with me, if I take the boldness to tell
you, that I cannot resign to you my horse,
but by receiving the hand of the i>rincei'S
your daughter ns my wife : this is tlio only
price at which I con give up my pro^terty iu
Lim."
The courtiers a)>out the king of Persia
could not forWar laughing alo\ul at this ex-
travagant demand of the Indian ; but the
prince Firouz Schah, the king's eldest son,
and presumptive heir to the crown, could
not hear it without indignation. The king
was of a very diflerent opinion, and thought
he might sacritice the princess of Persia to
the Indian, to satisfy his curiosity. He re-
maincti, however, undetermined, considering
what he should do.
Prince r'rouz Scliah, who saw his father
hesitating wuat answer he should make, be-
gan to fear lest he should comply with the
Indian's demand, and looked upon it as not
only injurious to the royal dignity and his
sister, but also to himself ; therefore, to an-
ticipate his father, he said, " Sir, I hope
your majesty will forgive me for daring to
ask you, if it is possible that your majesty
should hesitate a moment about a denial to
so insolent a demand from such an insigni-
ficant fellow, and scandalous juggler; and
that you should give him reason to flatter
himself a moment with being allied to one
of the most powerfid monarclis in the world?
I beg of you to consider what you owe to
yourself, anl to your own blood, and the
high rank of your ancestors."
"Son," replieil the king of Persia, "I
very much approve of your remonstrance,
and am very sensible of your zeal for pre-
serving the lustre of your noble birth ; but
you do not consider enough the excellence
of this horse, nor that the Indian, if I should
refuse him, may make the oiTer somewhere
else, where this nice point of honour may be
waved. I shall be iu the utmost despair if
another jmnce should boast of having ex-
ceeded me in generositj', and deprived me of
the glory of jwssessing a horse, which I
esteem as the most singular and wonderful
thing iu the world. I wiU not say I consent
to grant him what he asked. Perhaps he
has not made up his mind upon this exorbit-
ant demand ; and, putting my daughter the
princess out of the question, I may make
another agreement with him that will an.
swer his purpose as welL But before I
strike the bargain with him, I should be
glad that you woidd examine the horse ; try
him yourself, and give me your opinion ; I
doubt not he will permit"
As it is natural for us to flatter ourselves
in what we desire, the Indian fancied, by
what he heard the king of Persia say, he
was not entirely averse to his alliance, by
taking the horse at his price ; and that the
prince, who, instead of being against it,
might become more favourable to him, and
not oppose the desire the king seemed to
THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
485
have ; nnrl to shew ho con§i>nted to it with a
ffveai (leal of pleasure, ho expressed much
joy, ran before the ]irince to help him to
mount, and showed him how to guide and
manage the horse.
The i)rinco mounted the horse with
wonderful address, without the Indian
nssiRting him ; and no sooner hod ho got
his feet in both stirrups, but, without stay-
ing for the Indian's advice, he turned the
peg ho had seen him use, and mounted into
the air as quick as an arrow shot out of
a bow by the stoutest and most adroit
archer; and in a few moments the king,
court, and tho numerous assembly, lost
sight of him. Neither horse nor prince
were to bo seen ; and tho king of Persia
made vain eiTorts to discern them : when
the Indian, alarmed at what had happened,
prostrated himself before the throne, and
forced the king to look at him, and give
attention to what he said. "Sir," said he,
"your majesty yourself saw that the prince
was so hasty, that he would not permit me
to give him tho necessary instructions to
govern my horse. From what he saw mo
do, he would shew that he wanted not my
advice to set off. He was too willing to
shew his address, but knows not the way
which 1 was going to shew him, how to
turn the horse about and bring it back
again. Therefore, sir, tho favour I ask of
your majesty is, not to make me accountable
for what accidents may befall him : you are
too just to impute to me any misfortune that
may attend him,"
This discourse of the Indian very much
surprised and afHicted the king of Persia,
who saw the danger his son was in to be in-
evitable, if, as the Indian said, there was
another secret to bring him back again, that
was different from that which carried him
away ; and asked, in a passion, why he did
not cah him back the moment he went.
"Sir," answered the Indian, "your ma-
jesty saw as well as I with what swiftness
the horse and the prince flaw away. The
surprise I was then, and still am in, deprived
me of the use of my speech ; and, if I could
have s^wken, he had got too far to hear me.
If he had heard me, he knew not the secret
to bring him back, which, through his im-
patience, he would not stay to learn. But,
air," added he, "there is room to hope that
the prince, when he finds himself at a loss,
will perceive another peg, and, as soon as he
turns that, the horse will cease to rise, and
wUl descend to the ground, and he may turn
him to what place he pleases by guiding
him with the bridle."
Notwithstanding all these arguments of
the Indian, which carried great appearance
of probability, the king of Persia was
terribly frightened at the evident danger his
son was in. "I suppose," replied he, "it
is vpry uncertain whether my son perceives
the other peg, and makes a right use of it :
may not the horse, instead of lighting upon
the ground, fall upon some rock, or tumble
into tho sea with him ?"
" .Sir," replied the Indian, " I can deliver
your majesty from this apprehension, by
assuring you that the horse crussca scan
without ever falling into thorn, and always
carries his rider wherever ho has a mind to
go. And your majesty may assure yourself,
that, if the prince does not find out the
other peg which I mentioned, tho horse will
carry him where he pleases to go. It is not
to be supposed ho will go anywhere but
where he can find assistance, and make him-
self known."
"Bo it as well," replied tho king of Persia.
"As I cannot depend upon tho assurance yon
give me, your head shall answer for my son's
life, if ho does not return safe and sound in
three days' time, or thrt I can certainly hear
that he is alive." Then he ordered his
ofiiccrs to secure his person, and keep him
close prisoner ; after which he retired to his
palace, extremely grieved that tho feast of
Nevrouz shoidd afford him and his court so
much sorrow.
In the meantime prince Firouz Schah was
carried through the air with i)rodigious
swiftness, as was said before ; and in less
than an hour's time ho had got so high, that
ho could not distinguish anything on the
earth, but mountains and jdains S'^cmed
confounded together. It was then ho began
to think of returning from whence he came,
and thought to do it by turning the name
peg tho contrary way, and pulling thi bridle
at the same time. But when he fourd that
the horse still rose with tho same swiftness,
his astonishment was extremely greut. He
turned the peg several times, one way and
the other, but all in vain. It was thtn h(»
grew sensible of his fault, in not taking the
necessary precautions to guide the horse,
before he mounted him. Ho immediately
apprehended the great danger he was in,
but that apprehension did not deprive him
of his reason. He examined the horse's
head and neck with great attention, and
perceived behind the horse's right ear an-
other peg, smaller and less discernible than
the other. He turned that peg, and pre-
sently perceived that he descended in the
same oblique manner as he mounted, but
not so swiftly.
Night had overshadowed almost half an
hour that part of the earth over which the
prince then was, when he found out and
turned the small peg ; and as the horse de-
scended, he by degrees lost sight of the sun,
till it grew quite dark ; insomuch that, in-
stead of choosing what place he would go
to, he was forced to let the bridle lie upon
the horse's neck, and wait patiently till he
■
i
r •
r
1=
''i
486
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
■ligkted, thoa^h not without tho <lr«<a(l lest
H ahoukl Ur iu the* dcwrt, a river, or tho «oa.
At Uat tb<: horae aliKhteil and it(i]>{iod
■ft«r miduight. Mid ]iriiiuo Firuiiz fScliah
diamountcd very f«int and hungry, liavin^r
•■ten nothing since the niorniiiK when hi-
oune out 9I the jmUcu with his fntiicT tu
Miirt at the festival. The first thiii(( ho
had to do in this darkness uf the ni^ht waH
to endearuur to tiud out where he was ;
when h<- found himself to bo on the terrocu
of a n>a;niil>cent palace, surruiinilcd with a
balustrade of wliite marble, breast high ;
and gn<|iinj{ about, found a pair of stairs
which let down into the ]>alacc, tho door of
which was ball oi*en.
None but prince Firouz Scliali would have
Tenturcd to go down those stairs, so dark na
it was, and iu the danger he exposed himself
to from friends or foes. But no considera-
tion could stop him. I do not oome,
■aid he to Iiimself, to do anybody any
harm ; and certainly, whoever meets or
sees me first, and tinds that I have no arms
in my hands, will not attempt anything
against my life, before they hear what I
have to say for myself. After this redco-
tion he ojaened
the door wider,
without making
any noise, and
went softly down
the stain, that
he might not a-
waken anylxtdy;
and when he
came to a land-
ing-place on the
staircase, he
found the door of
a great hall, that
bad a light iu it,
open.
The prince
atofiped at the
door, and listen-
ing, heard no
other noise than
the snoring of
some people who
.Tfre fast asleep.
He advanced a
little into the
room, and, by
the light of a lan-
tern, saw that those persons whom he heard
more were black eunuchs, with naked sabres
laid by them ; which was enough to inform
him tiiat this was the guard chamber of
some queen or princess; which latter it
proved to be.
In the next room to this the princess lay,
as appeared by the light he saw, the door
being open, throngh a thin silken curtain,
which drew before the doorway, whither
]>rinou Firouz Mchali advanced on tip-toe,
without waking the eunuchs. Hu put by
the curtain, and went in ; and without stay*
ing to observe the mai{nilieenou of the cham-
ber, which wnM what hu did not much re-
gard, he gave his attention to Numethiiig of
greater importanoc. He saw a great many
beiU ; only one of theiu on a sofu, tliu rest
on tliu floor. Tho prinecis lay iu thu first,
and her women in the otlierH.
This distinction was enough to direut tho
princu in his clioicc. He crept softly to the
bud without waking either the ]iriiioe«H or
her women, and beheld a beauty bo extra-
onlinary and Hurprising, that ho was charm-
ed and intlanit'd witli love at tho first HJght.
U heavens ! said hu to himself, Iuvh my fate
brought me hither to deprive me of my
liberty, which hitherto 1 havu always pre-
served ? How con 1 avoid a certain slavery,
when those eyes shall open, sinuo without
doubt they coniplutu thu lustre uf this
ossomblagu of charms ? I must ((uiokly
resolve, sinoo I cannot stir without being
my own murderer ; for so has ucceiisity or-
dained.
After tbcw reflections on his situation,
and on the prin-
cess's beauty, and
examining the
condition of his
heart, ho fell on
his knees, and
taking hold of
the princess's
shift sleeve, out
of which came
an arm as white
as snow, X'uHcd
it gently towards
him. Tho prin-
cess opened her
eyes, and seeing
a handsome, well-
shaped, comely
man on his knees,
sho was in great
surprise ; yet
seemed to show
no sign of fear.
The prince
made use of this
favourable mo-
ment, bowed his
head down to the
ground, and, rising, said, "llespectable prin-
cess, by the most extraordinary and wonder-
ful adventure imaginable, you see here at
your feet a suppliant prince, the son of the
king of Persia, who was yesterday morning
with his father in his court, at the celebra-
tion of a solemn feast, and is now in a strange
country, in danger of his life, if you have not
the goodness and generosity to give him your
assistance and protection. These I implore,
^
THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
4»7
iwlorablo iirinccM, with the coiilidcnco tlmt
you will nut ri'fiiMv iiio, I havo tho nioru
Kroiinil t<i iiLTHimtlu niyiicif tlint «<> much
hvauty ami iiiikjcHty, niul Muoh cliariu«, can-
not iMitvrtaiu tho K'aHt inhumanity."
Thin iirinccRH, to wlioin princu Firouz
8ohali 10 happily addruiHud hiniNtilf, waa thu
IirinccHH of K^UKnl, »Iilf»t dau^jhlcr of tho
kin){ of that kinu'ilom, who hail Imilt thiH
palaoo a iniall illHtaiicK from IiIh capital,
whither hIic went to taki^ tlui lionftit <if thu
country. After mIu< had hcanl tin- princu
with all the candour he could df«irc, the
replied with e«iual guudnciM, " I'rinot), you
aro not in a barbarous country ; take cour-
age : hospitality, humanity, and iHilitoucss
aro to bo met with in tlio kingdom of Bengal,
as well as in that of Persia. It \» not I who
grant you tho protection you ask ; you
not only have found it in my palace, but
throughout the whole kingdom ; you may
believe me, and depend upon what I
Bay."
The prince of Persia would Imve thanked
the jirincess of Bengal lor Lor civility, and
the favour she did him, and had already
bowed down his head to return the compli-
ment, but slie would not give him leave to
speak. "Notwithstanding I desire," said
she, " to know by what miracle you have
come hither from the capital of Persia in so
short a time, and by what enchantment you
have been able to penetrate so far as to come
to my apartment, and to have deceived thu
vigilance of my guards ; yet as it is impos-
sible but yon must want some refreshment,
and looking upon you as a welcome guest,
I will wave my curiosity, and give orders
to my women to regale yon, and shew you
an ax)artmcnt where you may rest yourself
after your fatigue, and bo better able to
satisfy my cnriosity."
The princess's women, who awaked at tho
first words which the prince addressed to
the princess, were in the utmost surprise to
see a man at the princess's bolster, as they
could not conceive how he got thither with-
out waking them or the eunuchs. They no
sooner comprehcndi'd tho princess's inten-
tions, than they dressed themselves ))resently,
and wero ready to obey her commands, as
soon as shu gave them. They each took a
wax candle, of which there were great num-
bers lighted up in tho room ; and after the
prince had taken leave very respectfully,
they went before him, and conducted him
into a handsome chamber ; where, while
some were jireparing tho bed, others went
into the kitchen ; and notwithstanding it was
so unseasonable an hour, they did not make
I)rinco Firouz Scliah wait long, but brought
him presently all sorts of meat ; and when
he had eaten as much as ho chose, they re-
moved the table, and left him to taste the
sweets of rciiose, after shewing him several
jiresses, where he might find whatever he
wanted.
1 n tho meantime, the princess of Bengal
was so struck with the charms, wit, polite-
ness, and other good qualities which she dis-
covered in that short conversation with the
prince, that she could not sleep ; but when
her women came into her room to go to bed,
again asked them if they had taken care of
him, and if he wanted anything ; and parti-
cularly what they thou'jht of him.
The women, after they had satisfied her
as to the first articles, answered as to the
last, " We do not know what you may
think of him, but, for our parts, we think
you would be very happy if the king your
father would marry you to so amiable a
Iv
\\
1 L
' *l
488
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
prince ; for there is not a princo in all the
kingdom of Bengal to bo compared to him ;
nor can we hear that any of the neighbour-
ing princes are worthy of you."
This flattering discourse was not displeas-
ing to the princess of Bengal ; but as she
had no mind to declare her sentiments to
them, she imposed silence upon them, tell-
ing them they talked without reflection,
bidding them to go to bed and let her sleep.
The next day, the first thing the princess
did as soon as she was up, was to sit down
to her toilet. She took more pains in dress-
ing and adjusting herself at the glass than
ever she had done in her life. She ne', er had
tried her women's patience so much before,
by making them do and undo the same thing
several times. "Certainly," eaid she to
heraelf, "if the prince, as I ptrceive, was
uikeu with me in my dishabiUc', he will be
charmed with me when I am dr<:S3ed." She
adorned her head, neck, armfi, and waist
with the finest and largest fliamonds she
had. The habit she made use of was one
of the richest stuffs of the Indies, of a most
beautiful colour, and made OLly for kings,
princes, and princesses. After she had con-
sulted her glass a long time, and asked htr
women, one after another, if anything was
wanting to her attire, she sent to know if
the prince of Persia was awake ; and as she
never doubted but that, if he was up and
dressed, he Avould ask leave to come and
pay his respecis to her, she charged the
messenger to tell him she would make him
the visit. And she had her reasons for this.
The i)rince of Persia, who by that night's
rest had recovered the fatigue he had under-
gone the day before, had just dressed him-
self, when lie received the princess of Ben-
gal's comiiliments by one of her women.
Without giving the lady who brought the
■•.nessage leave to communicate it, he asked
her if it was proper for him tHen to go and
pay his respects to the princess ; and when
the lady had acquitted herself of her errand,
he replied, "It bhall be as the princess
thinks fit : I came here to be solely at her
pleasure."
As soon as the princess of Bengal under-
stood that the prince of Persia waited for
her, she immediately went to pay him a visit.
After mutual compliments on both sides, the
prince asking pardon for having waked the
princess out of a profound sleep, and the
princess inquiring after his health, and how
he rested, the princess sat down on a sofa,
as did also the prince, though at some dis-
tance, out of respect.
Then the princess, resuming the discourse,
said, " I vould have received you, prince,
in the chamber in which you found me in
bed last night ; but as the chief of my
eunuchs has the liberty of coming into it,
"uid never comes further without my leave,
through my impatience to hear the surpris-
ing adventure which procures me the happi-
ness of seeing you, I chose to come hither
that we may not be interrupted ; therefore
I beg of you to give me that satisfaction,
which will highly oblige me."
Prince Firouz Schah, to gratify the prin-
cess of Bengal, began his discourse with the
solemn and annual feast of the Kevrouz, re-
lating all the sights worthy of her curiosity,
which had amazed the court of Persia and
the whole town of Schiraz. Afterwards he
came to the enchanted horse ; the descrip-
tion of which, with the account of the won-
ders t}ie Indian ])erformed on him before so
august an asserably, convinced the princess
that nothing of that kind could be imagined
more surprising in the world. 'You may
well think, charming jirincess," continued
the prince of Persia, "that the king my
father, who cares not what he gives for
anything that is rare and curious, would be
very desirous to purchase such a horse, as
indeed he was. He asked thu Indi.an what
he would have for him ; who made him an
extravagant reply, telling him that he had
not bought him, but taken him in exchange
for his only daughter, and could not part
with him but on the like condition, which
was, to have his consent to marry the prin-
cess my sister.
" The crowd of courtiers, who stood about
the king my father, healing the extrava-
gance of this proposal, laughed loudly at
it; and I, for my part, conceived so great
indignation, that I could not disguise it ;
and the more, because I saw that the king
my father was considering with himself what
answer he should give him. In short, I be-
lieve he would have granted him what he
asked, if I had not in the most lively terms
represented to him how injurious it would
be to his honour ; yet my remonstrance
could not bring him entirely to quit his
design of sacrificing the princess my sister
to so despicable a jierson. He fancied he
should bring me over to his opinion, if once
I could comprehend, as he imagined he did,
the singular worth of this horse. With
this view he would have me look at him,
and mount him, and make a trial of him
myself.
' ' To please my father, I mounted the horse,
and as soon as I was upon his back I put
my hand upon a peg, as I had seen the In-
dian do before me, to make the horse
mount into the air, never staying to take
instructions of the owner. The instant
I touched the peg, the horse mounted with
me into the air as swift as an arrow shot
out of a bow, and I was presently at such
a distance from the earth, that I could
not distinguish any object. By the swift-
ness of the motion I was for some time un-
apprehensive of the danger to which I was
THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
4S9
1
exposed ; but when I grew sensible of it, I
endeavoured to turn the peg the contrary
■way. But tlie experiment would not answer
my expectation, and still the horse mounted
with me, and carried me a greater distance
from the earth. At last I perceived another
peg, which I turned, and then I grew sen-
sible that the horse declined towards the
earth, and presently found myself so sur-
rounded with darkness, that it was impos-
sible for me to guide the horse. In this
condition I laid the bridle on his neck, and
trusted myself to the will of God to dispose
of my fate.
"Not long after the horse alighted, and I
.cot off his back, and examining whereabouts
I might be, perceived myself on the terrace
of thid palace, and found the door of the
staircase half open. I came softly down the
stairs, and seeing a door open by a small
light, put my head into the room, and saw
some cimuchs asleep, and a great light in
another room. The necessity I was under,
notwithstanding the inevitable danger I was
threatened with, if the eunuchs had waked,
inspired me with the boldness, or rather
rashnes.s, to cross that room to get to the
other.
"It is needless, princess," added the
prince, " to tell you the rest, since you are
not unacquainted with all that passed after-
wards. But I am obliged in duty to thank
you for your goodness and generosity, and
to beg of you to let me know how I may
shew my gratitude. According to the law
of nations, I am already your slave, and
cannot make you an offer of my person ;
there only remains my heart : but, alas !
princess, w aat do I say ? My heart is no
longer my own, your charms have forced it
from me ; but in the aame manner, as I will
never ask for it again, I yield it up : give
me leave, therefore, to declare you mistress
both of my hed'-c and inclination."
These last words of the pnnce Firouz
Schah were ^)ronounced ivith such an air and
tone, that the princess of Bengal never
doubted a moment of the effect she expected
from her charms ; neither did she seem to
resent the irecipitate declaration of the
prince of Persia. Her blushes served but to
heighten her beauty, and render hei more
amiable in the eyes of the prince.
As soon as she had recovered herseit, she
replied, " Prince, you have given me a sen-
sible pleasure, by telling me those surprising
wonderful things. But, on the other hand,
I can hardly forbear ahuddering, when I
think on the height you was in the air ; and
though I have the good fortune to see you
here safe and well, I was in pain till you
came to that part wl sre the Indian horse
alighted on my palace leads. The same
thing might have happened in a thousand
other places. I am glad that cba:>Co haa
given me the preference to the whole world,
and the opportimity of letting you know
that it could not have conducted you to any
place where you could have been received
more agreeably, and with greater pleasure.
"But, prince," continued she, "I should
think myself offended, if I believed that the
thought you mentioned of loehig my slave
Wi-w serious, and that it did not proceed from
your politeness rather than from a sincerity
of sentiment ; for, by the reception I gave
you yesterday, you might assure yourself,
you are here as much at liberty as in the
midst of the court of Persia.
"As to yoiur heart," a(.lded the princess of
Bengal, in a tone which shewed nothing less
than a refusal, "as I am persuaded that you
have not lived so long without disix'sing of
it, and that you could not fail of making
choice of a princess who deserves it, I should
be very sorry to give you an occasion to be
guilty of infidelity to her."
Prince Firouz Schah would have protested,
that when he left Persia, he was master of
his own heart ; but, at that instant, one of
the princess's ladies in waiting came to tell
her that dinner was served up.
This interruption delivered the prince and
princess from an explanation which would
have been equally embarrassing to both of
them, and of which they stood not in need.
The princess of Bengal was fully convinced
of the prince of Pei-sia's sincerity ; and the
prince, though the princess had not explained
herself, judged, nevertheless, by some words
she let fall, and the favourable manner she
heard him, that he had no reason to com-
plain.
As the latly held the door open, the prin-
cess of Bengal said to the prince of Persia,
rising off her scat, as he did also from his,
" I am not used to dine so early : but as I
fancied you might have had but an indififer-
ent suppfir last nijjht, I ordered dinner to be
got ready sooner than ortlinary." After
this compliment, she led him into a magnifi-
cent hall, where a table was laid, and set off
with great plenty of choice and excellent
viands ; and as soon as they were sat down,
a great many beautiful slaves of the ])rincess,
richly dressed, began a most agreeable con-
cert of vocal and instrumental music, which
lasted the whole time cf dinner.
This concert was so sweot and well man-
aged, that it did not in the least interrupt
the prince and jtrtncess's conversation. All
dinner-time their sole concern was to help
and invite each other to eat : the prince, for
his part, served the princess with the choicest
of everything, and strove to outdo her in
civility, both by words and actions, which
she returned again, with a great many new
compliments : and in this reciprocal com-
niorcn of mutual civilities and attentions,
! ;'->-e made a greater progress in both, than
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
a concerted interview would have pro-
moted.
When they rose from the table, the jirin-
cesa carried the prince into a large and mag-
nificent closet, finely embellished with paint-
ings in blue and gold, of a just symmetry,
and richly furnished; there they both sat
down upon a sofa which afforded a most
agreeable prospect into the palace garden,
which prince Firouz Schah admired for the
vast variety of flowers, shrubs, and trees,
which were full as beautiful as those of
Persia, but quite different. Here taking the
opportunity of entering into a conversation
with the princess, he said, " I always be-
lieved, madam, that no part of the world but
Psrsia afforded such stately palaces and
beautiful gardens ; but now I see that other
great monarcbs know as well how to build
mansions suitable to their power and great-
ness ; and if there is a difference in the
manner of building, there is none in the
grandeur and magnificence."
"Prince," replied the princess of Bengal,
" as I have no idea of the palaces of Persia,
I cannot judge of the comparison you have
made of mine, to tell you my opinion of it.
But however sincere you seem to be, I can
hardly think it just ; but rather incline to
believe it a comjdiment : I will not despise
my palace before you ; you have too good
an eye, too good a taste, not to form a sound
judgment. But I assiu'e you I think it very
indifferent, when 1 compare it with the king
my father's, which far exceeds it for gran-
deur, beauty, and richness ; you shall tell
me yourself what you think of it, when you
have seen it ; as chance has brought you
BO nigh to the capital of this kingdom, I
do not doubt you wish to see it, and make
my father a visit, that he may pay you all
the honour due to a prince of your rank
and merit."
The princess flattered herself, that by ex-
citing in the prince of Persia a curiosity to
see the palace of Bengal, and to visit her
father in it, the king, seeing him so hand-
some, wise, and accomphshed a prince,
might perhaps resolve to propose an alliance
with him, by offering her to him as a wife.
And as she was well persuaded she was not
indifferent to the prince, and that he would
be pleased with the proposai, she hoped to
attain to the utmost of her wishes, and pre-
serve all the decorum becoming a princess,
who would appear resigned to the will of her
king and father ; but the prince of Persia did
not return her an answer according to her
expectation.
"Princess," rei>lied the prince, "the pre-
ference which you give to the king of
Bengal's palace to your own, is enough for
me to believe it much exceeds it : but as to
the proposal of my going and paying my
respects to the king your father, I should
not only do myself a pleasure, but an honour.
But judge, princess, yourself, would you
advise me to present myself before so great
a monarch, like an adventurer, without
attendants, and a train agreeable to my
rank?"
"Prince," replied the princess, "let not
that give you any pain ; if you will but go,
you shall want no money to have what train
and attendants you please : I will furnish
you; and we have traders here of all na-
tions in great numbers, and you may meke
vhat choice you please, to form your house-
held."
Pi-ince Firouz Schah penetrated into the
princess of Bengal's intention, and this sen-
sible mark she gave him of her love, still
augmented his passion, which, notwith-
standing its violence, mode him not forget
his duty. But without any hesitation he
replied, "Princess, i should most willingly
accept of the obliging offer you make me,
for which I cannot enough shew my grati-
tude, if the iineasiness my father must feel
on account of my absence did not prevent
me. I should be unworthy of the goodness
and tenderness he has always had f r me,
if I shoiUd not return as soon as possible to
calm his fears. I know him so well, that
whde I have the happiness of enjoying the
conversation of so lo.-ely a princess, I am
jjcrsuaded that he is plunged into the
deepest grief, and has lost all hopes of see-
ing me again. I hope you will do me the
justice to believe, that I cannot, without
ingratitude, and being guilty of a crime,
dispense with going to restore to him that
life, which a too long deferred return may
have endangered.
"After this, princess," continued the
prince of Persia, " if you will permit me,
and think me worthy to aspire to the happi-
ness of becoming your husband, as the king
my father has always declared that he never
would constrain me in my choice, I should
find it no difficult matter to get leave to re-
turn, not as a stranger, but as a prince, to
contract an alliance with him by our mar-
riage ; and I am persuaded that he will be
overjoyed when I tell him with what gene-
rosity you received me, though a stranger in
distress."
The i)rincess of Bengal was too reasonable,
after what the prince of Persia had said, to
insist any longer in i)ersuading him to pay
a visit to the king of Bengal, ur to ask any-
thing contrary to his duty and honoxir. But
slie was very much alarmed to find that he
thought of so sudden a departure ; fearing
that if he took his leave of her so soon, in-
stead of remembering his promise, he woidd
forget her when he ceased to see her. To
divert him from it, she said to him, " Prince,
my intention of proposing a visit to my fa-
ther was not to oppose so just an excuse as
THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
491
that you give me, and which I did not fore-
see. I should have rendered myself an ac-
complice of the crime, had I thought of it,
but I cannot approve of your thinking to go
so soon as yoii propose ; at least, grant mc
the favour I ask, of a little longer acquaint-
ance ; and since I have had the happiness to
have you alight in the kingdom of Bengal,
rather ihaix in the midst of a desert, or on
the top of some steep craggy rock, from
■which it •would have been impossible for
you to descend, I detire you will stay long
enough to enable you to give a better account
at the court of Persia of what you have seen
here."
The sole end the princess of Bengal had in
this discourse was, that the prince of Persia,
by a longer stay, might become insensibly
more passionately enamoured of her channs,
hoping thereby that his ardent desire of re-
turning would diminish, and then he might
be brought to appear in jJubUc, and pay a
visit to the king of Bengal. The prince of
Persia could not well refuse her the favour
she asked, after the kind reception she bad
given him ; but was so complaisant a"? to
comply with her request ; and the princess's
thoughts were only how to render his stay
agreeable by all the diversions she could
imagine.
Nothing went forward for several days
but festivals and balls, and concerts of music,
accompanied with magnificent feasts, and
collations, walks in the gardens, or hunting-
2)artiea in the palace park, which abounded
with all sorts of game, stags, hinds, and fal-
low-deer, and other beasts peculiar to the
kingdom of Bengal, which the princess could
pm'sue without danger. After the chase,
the prince and princess met in some beauti-
ful spot in the park, where a carpet was
spread, and cushions laid for their accommo-
dation. There resting themselves, after their
violent exercise, and recovering themseb !S,
they conversed on various subjects. The
princess took great pains to turn the conver-
sation on the grandeur, power, riches, and
government of Persia ; that from jjrince
Firouz Schah's discourse she might have an
opportunity to talk of the kingdom of Ben-
gal, and its advantages, and engage him to
resolve to make a longer stay tliere ; but she
was disappointed in her expectations.
In short, the prince of Persia, without the
least exaggerations, gave so advantageous
an account of the extent of the kingdom of
Persiiv, its magnificence and riches, its mili-
tary force, its commerce by sea and land
with the remote parts of the world, some of
which were unknown to him ; the vast num-
ber of large cities it contained, almost as
populous as that which the king had chosen
for his residence, where he had juilaces fur-
nished ready to receive him at all seasons
of the year, so that he had Jiiis choice always
to enjoy a perpetual spring ; that before ho
had done, the princess found the kingdom
of Bengal to be very much inferior to that
of Persia, in a great many instances. When
he had finished his relation, he begged of her
to entertain him with a description of Bengal ;
which, after a great deal of entreaty from
the prince, she compUed with.
The princess gave jirince Firouz Schah
that satisfaction ; but by lessening a great
many advantages the kingdom of Bengal
was well known to have over that of Persia,
she let him know the dis[iosition she felt to
accompany him, so that he believed she
would consent at the first proposition he
should make ; but he thought it woidd not
be i>roper to make it till he had shewed her
so much complaisance as to stay with her
long enough to make the blame fall on her,
in case she wished to detain him longer from
returning to his father, as he was in duty
bound to do.
Two whole months the prince Firouz
Schah abandoned himself entirely to the will
of the princess of Bengal, yielding to all the
amusements she contrived for hiui, ior she
neglected nothing to divert him, as if she
thought he had nothing else to do but to
pass his whole life with her in this manner.
But after that time, he declared seriously he
could not stay .any longer, and beg,i,'ud of her
to give him leave to return to his father,
repeating again the promise he had made
her to return soon in a style worthy of her
and himself, and to demand her in foiiu in
marriage of the king of Bengal.
" And, princess," replied the prince of
Persia, " that you may not suspect the truth
of what I say, and that by my asking this
leave, you may not rank me among those
fals'j lovers who forget the object of their
love as soon as they are absent from them,
bui. to shew that my passion is real, and not
feigned, and that life cannot be pleasant to
me when absent from so lovely a princess,
whose love to me I cannot doubt is mutual,
I would presume, if I was not afraid you
would be oflfeuded at my request, to ask the
favour of taking you along with me."
As the prince Firouz Schah saw that the
princess blushed at tbese last words, and
that without any mark of anger she liesitated
at the step she shoiUd take, he proceeded,
and said, "Princess, as for the king my
fathers consent, and the reception lie wiU give
you, I venture to assure you he will receive
you with pleasure into his alliance ; and as
for the king of Bengal, after all the love
and tender regard he has always expressed
for you, he must be the reverse of what you
have described him, an enemy to your re-
pose and happiness, if he should not receive
in a friendly manner the embassy which my
father wiU send to him for his approbation
of our marriage."
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THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The princess of Bengal returned no an-
swer to this discourso of the prince of
Persia ; but her silence, and eyes cast down,
were sufficient to inform him that she had
no reluctance to accompany him into Persia,
but consented. The only difficulty she had
was, that the prince knew not well enough
how to govern the horse, and she was appre-
hensive of being involved with him in the
same difficulty as when he made the experi-
ment. But the prince soon removed her
fear, by assuring her she might trust herself
with him, for that after the experience he
had had, he defied the Indian himself to
manage him better. She thought, therefore,
only of concerting measures to get off with
him so secretly, that nobody belonging to
the palace should have the least suspicion of
their detign.
The next morning, a little before day-
break, when all in the palace were asleep,
they went upon the terrace of the palace.
The prince turned the horse towards Persia,
and placed him whore the princess could
«asdy get up behind him ; which she had no
sooner done, and was well settled with her
Arms about his waist, for her better security,
but he turned the peg, and the horse mounted
into the air, and making his usual haste,
iinder the guidance of the ]irince, in two
hours' time the prince discovered the capital
of Persia.
He would not alight at the great square
from whence he set out, nor in the sultan's
palace, but directed his course towards a
pleasure-house at a little distance from the
town. He led the princess into a handsome
apartment, where he told her, that to do her
sCl the honour that was due to her, he would
50 and iuform his f iither of their arrival, and
return to her immediately. He ordered the
housekeeper of the palace, who was then
present, to provide the princess with what-
ever she had occasion for.
After the prince had taken his leave of the
princess, he ordered a horse to be saddled,
which he mounted, after sending back the
housekeeper to the princess with orders to
provide her breakfast immediately, and then
set forwards for the palace. As he passed
through the streets, he was received with
acclamations by the people, who were over-
joyed to see him again. The sultan his
father was gi\-ing audience, when he appeared
before him in the midst of his council, who,
as well as the sultan and the whole court,
had been in mourning ever since he had
been absent. The siUtan received him, and
embracing him with tears of joy and tender-
ness, asked him, *♦ What was become of the
Indian's horse?"
This question gave the prince an oppor-
tunity to tell him the embarrassment and
danger he was in when- the horse mounted
into the air with him, and how he arrived at
last at the princess of Bengal's palace, with
the kind reception he met with there : that
the motive which obliged him to stay so
long with her, was, the complaisance she had
shewn not to disoblige him, so that after
promising to marry her, he had persuaded
her to come with him into Persia. " But,
sir," added the prince, "I have promised
that you woiild not refuse your consent, and
have brought her with me on the Indian's
horse, to a palace where your majesty often
goes for your pleasure ; and have left her
there, till I could return and assure her that
my promise was not in vain."
After these words, the prince prostrated
himself before the sidtau to gain his con-
sent, but his father raised him up, embraced
him a second time, and said to him, " Son,
I not only consent to your marriage with
the princess of Bengal, but wUl go and meet
her myself, and thank her for the obligation
I in particular have to her, and will bring
her to my palace, and celebrate your nuptials
this day."
Then the sidtan gave orders for his court
to go out of mourning, and make prepa-
rations for the princess's entry ; that the
rejoicings should begin with a grand con-
cert of mUitary music, and that the Indian
should be fetched out of prison and brought
before him. When the Indian was brought
before the sultan, he said to him, "I secured
thy person, tliat thy life, though not a
sufficient victim to my rage and grief, might
answer for that of the prince my son, whom,
thanks to God ! I have found again : go,
take your horse, and never let me see your
face more."
As the Tndi...i had learned of those who
fetched him out of prison, that prince Firouz
Schah was returned, and had brought a prin-
cess behind him on his horse, and was also
informed of the place where he had alighted
and left her, and that the sultan was making
preparations to go and bring her to his
palace ; as soon as he got out of the sultan's
jiresence, he bethought himself of being
beforehand with him and the prince ; and,
without losing any time, went directly to the
palace, and addressing himself to the house-
keeper, told him, he came from the sultan
and prince of Persia, to fetch the princess of
Bengal, and to carry her behind him through
the air to the sultan, who waited in the
great square of his palace to gratify the
whole court and city of Schiraz with that
wonderful sight.
The housekeeper, who knew the Indian,
and that the sultan had imprisoned him,
gave the more credit to what he said, be-
cause he saw that he was at liberty. He
presented him to the princess of Bengal ; who
no sooner understood that he came from the
prince of Persia, than ahe consented to what
that prince, as she thought, desired of her.
tl
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THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
493
The Indian, overjoyed at his success, and
the ease with which he hml accomplished his
villainy, mounted his horse, took the prin-
cess behind him, with the assistance of the
housekeeper, turned the peg, and presently
the horse mounted into the air with him and
the princess.
At the same time the sultan of Persia,
followed by his court, was on the road from
his OAvn palace to the palace svhere the prin-
cess of Bengal was left, and the prince of
Persia was advanced before, to prepare the
princess of Bengal to receive him, when the
Ind'-n, to brave them both, and revenge
.self for the ill-treatment he hail received,
, he pretended, passed over their heads
with his prize.
When the sultau of Persia saw the ravisher,
he stopped. His surprise and afUiction were
the more sensible, because it was not in his
power to make him repent of so high an
affront. He loaded him with a thousand
imprecations, as also did all the courtiers,
who were witnesses of so signal a piece of
insolence and unparalleled viUainy.
The Indian, little moved with their curses,
which just reached his eai's, continued his
way ; while the sultan, extremely mortified
at so gi-eat an injury, and to lind ho could
not punish the author, returned back to his
palace.
But what was prince Firouz Schah's grief
to see the Indian carry away the princess of
Bengal whom he loved so passionately, that
he could not live without her ! At the sight
of an object so little expected, he was thun-
derstnick, and before he could deUberate
with himself whether he should let fly aU
the reproaches his rage coidd invent against
the Indian, or bewail the deplorable fate of
the princess, or ask her pardon for not taking
better precaution to preserve her, who had
trusted herself to his care in a manner sufli-
ciently expressive of her love, the horse was
out of sight. He could not resolve what to
do, whether he should return to the sidtan's
palace, and shut himself up in his apartment
to give himself entirely up to his atiliction,
without attempting to pursue the ravisher,
to deliver the princess, and punish him as
he deserved. But as his generosity, love,
and courage would not suffer this, he con-
tinued on his way to the palace where he
had left his princess.
When he came there, the housekeeper,
who was by this time convinced of his cre-
dulity, and that he was deceived by the
Indian, threw himself at his feet with tears
in his eyes, and accused himSelf of the
crime, which he thought he had committed,
and condemned himself to die by his hand.
"Rise up," said tae prince to him, "I do
not impute the loss of my princess to thee,
but to my own simplicity. But not to lose
time, fetch me a dcrvis's habit, and take
care you do not give the least hint that it is
for me."
Not far from this palace there stood a
convent of dervises, the sheik or superior
of which was the i»alace-kecper's particidar
friend. He went to this sheik, and telling
him that a considerable officer at court, and
a man of worth, to whom he had been very
much obliged, and wished to favour, by
giving him an opportunity to withdraw from
the sultan's rage, he easily got a complete
dcrvis's habit, and carried it to prince
Firouz Schah. The prince immediately
pulled off his own clothes, and put it on ;
and being so dbguiscd, and provided with a
box of jewels, which he had brought as a
present to the princess, he left the palace in
the evening, uncertain which way to go, but
resolved not to return till he had found out
his princess, and brought her back again.
But to return to the Indian : he governed
his enchanted horse so well that day, that
he arrived early in a wood, near the capital
of the kingdom of Cashmere. Being him-
gry, and concluding the princess was also,
he alighted in that wood, in an open part of
it, and left the princess on a grassy spot, by
a ri\-ulet of clear fresh water.
During the Indian's absence, the princess
of Bengal, who knew that she was in the
power of a base ravisher, whose violence she
dreaded, thought of getting from him, and
seeking out for some sanctuary. But .is she
had eaten scai'ce anything on her arrival at
the pleasant palace in the morning, she was
so faint that she could not execute her
design, but was forced to abandon it, and
to stay where she was, without any other
resource than her courage, and a linn reso-
lution rather to sutler death than to be un-
faithful to the prince of Persia. When the
Indian returned, she did not wait to be asked
twice, but ate with him, and recovered her-
self enough to answer with courage to the
insolent language he began to hold to her
when they had done. After a great many
threats, as she saw that the Indian was pre-
paring to use violence, she rose up to make
resistance, and, by her cries and shrieks,
drew about them a company of horsemen,
which happened to be the sidtan of Cash-
mere and his attendants, who, as they were
returning from hunting, happily for the
princess of Bengal, passed through that part
of the wood, and ran to her assistance, at the
noise she made.
The sultan addressed himself to the Indian,
•and asked him who he was, and what he
pretended to do with the lady. The Indian,
with great impudence, repUed that she was
his wife ; and what had any one to do ivith
his quarrel with her ?
The princess, who neither knew tJie rank
nor quality of the person who came so
seasonably to her relief, told the Indian ho
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T//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
was a liar; and said to the sultan, "Sir,
■whoever you are that heaven has sent to
my assistance, have compassion on a prin-
cess, and give no cndit to that impostor.
Heaven forbid that I should be the wife
of so vile and despicable an Indian ! a
wicked magician, that hath taken me
aTay from the prince of Persia, to whom
I was going to be married, and hath brought
me hither on the enchanted horse that you
see."
The princess of Bengal had no occasion
to say any more to persiiade the sultan of
Cashmere that what she told him was truth.
Her beauty, majestic air, and tears spoke
sufficiently for her. The sultan of Cash-
mere, justly enraged at the insolence of the
Indian, ordered his guards to surround him
and cut off his head ; which sentence was
immediately executed the more easily, as
the Indian, just released from prison, was
unprovided with any weapon to defend him-
self.
The princess, thus delivered from the per-
secution of the Indian, fell into another no
less afUicting to her. The sultan, after he
had ordered her a horse, carried her with
him to his palace, where he lodged her in
the most magniliccnt apartment, next his
own, and gave her a great number of women-
slaves to attend her, and a guard of eunuchs.
He led her himself into the apartment he
assigned her ; where, without giving her
time to thank him for the great obligation
she had to him, he said to her, "As I am
certain, princess, that j'ou must want rest,
I will here take my leave of you till to-mor-
row, when you will be better able to give
me all the circumstances of this strange ad-
venture ; " and then left her.
The princess of Bengal's joy was inex-
pressible to find she was so soon freed from
the violence of a man she could not look
upon without horror. She flattered herself
that the sultan of Cashmere would complete
his generosity by sending her back to the
prince of Persia, when she told him her
story, and asked that favour of him ; but
she was very much deceived in these hopes,
for the sultan of Cashmere resolved to marry
her the next day ; and for that end had
ordered rejoicings to be- made by daybreak,
by beating of drums and sounding of trum-
pets, and other instruments expressive of
joy, which not only echoed through the
palace, but throughout the city.
The princess of Bengal was awakened by
these tumidtuoiis concerts, but attributed
them to a very different cause from the true
one. When the sultan of Cashmere, who
had given orders that he should be informed
when the princess was ready to receive a
visit, came to jiay her one ; and after he had
inquired after her health, he acquainted her
that all these rejoicings were to render their
nuptials more solemn, and, at the same
time, desired her to ajiprove of them. This
discourse put her into so great consternation
that she fainted away.
The women-slaves who w.;re present ran
to her assistance ; and the sultan did all he
could to bring her to heriolf again, though
it was a long time before they could. But
when she recovered, rather than break the
jiromise she had made to prince Firouz
Schah, by consenting to marry the sultan
of Cashmere, who had proclaimed their nup-
tials before he ha<l asked her consent, she
resolved to feign madness. She began to
say the most extravagant things before the
sultan, and even rose off her seat to fly upon
him ; insomuch that the sultau was very
much surprised and aiSicted that he had
made such a proposal so unseasonably.
When he found that her frenzy rather in-
creased than abatcfl, he left her with her
women, charging them never to leave her
alone, but to take great care of her. He
sent often that day to know bow she did,
but received no other answer but that she
was rather worse than l>etter. In short, at
night she seemed much worse than she had
been all day, insomuch that the sultan of
Cashmere was disappointed of the happiness
he promised himself.
The princess of Bengal continued to talk
wildly, and shew other marks of a disorder-
ed mind, next day and the following ones ;
so that the sultan was obliged to send for
all the physicians belonging to his court, to
consult them about her disease, and to ask
them if they could cure her.
The physicians all agreed that there were
several sorts and degrees of this distemper,
some curable and others not ; and told the
sultan that they coidd not judge of the prin-
cess of Bengal's unless they saw her ; upon
which the sultan ordered the eunuchs to in-
troduce them into the princess's chamber,
one after another, according to their rank.
The princess, who foresaw what would
happen, and feared that, if she let the phy-
sicians come near her to feel her pulse, the
least experienced of them would soon know
that she was in a good state of health, and
that her madness was only feigned, flew into
such a rage and passion, that she was ready
to tear out their eyes who came near her;
so none of them durst approach her.
Some of them, who pretended to Ije more
skilful than the rest, and boasted of judging
of diseases only by sight, ordered her some
potions, which she made the less difficulty
to take, well knowing she could be sick or
well at pleasure, and that they conld do her
no harm.
When the t>ultan of Cashmere saw that
his court physicians conld not core her, he
called in the most noted and experienced of
the city, who had no better success. Af-
THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
495
terwards he sent for the in««t {amoiiB iu the
kingdom, who met with n«> Wtter recejitiou
than the others frooi th* i»rinc.e«s, and what
they ordered had no l*feittr efl*»ct. After-
wards he dcspatche*! exprewes to the courts
of neighbouring princes, with tine princess's
case, to be di^itributietl anoKung the most fa-
mous physician.-i, with a proiniv! of a hand-
some reward to any of them who should
come and cure the primtusaa cf liengal, be-
sides travelling charge*.
A great many phynciaiss came from all
parts, and undertook the core : but none of
them coidd boa^t of better sot-oesB than their
fellows, or of restorinc; the jurmcess's facul-
ties, since it was a ca.se that did iu>t depend
on their sklLL, but on the will of the princess
herself.
During this interval, prince Firouz Schah,
disguised in the habit o>t a dervis, had tra-
velled through a great manr provinces and
towns, full of grief ; ami having endured a
great deal of fatigue, not knowing which
way to direct hi,-» ci>ar3e, or if he did not
takn the very o[>p»>site rbod frcin what he
ought, to hear the titling* he sought. He
made diligent inquiry aittr her at every
place he came to, till at last, ])assing
through a great town in In<iiaj he heard
the people talk very mneh of a jtrincess of
Bengal, who ran mad toy tbe day of the
celebration of her naptiaL^ with the sultan
of Cashmere. At the name of the jirincess
of Bengal, and suppoaiov that there was no
other princess of Bengal than her upon
whose account he undertook Ms travels, he
set forwards for the kingdn^m of Cashmere,
on this common report ; and on his arrival
at the capital city, he went and lodged at a
khan, where the same day bf was t<jld the
story of the princess oi Bengal, and the un-
happy fate of the Indian, which he richly
deserved. By all the ciitramstances, the
prince knew he could nM \mt deceived, but
that she was the same ptinoess ha had sought
so long after.
The prince of Persia, beine informed of
all these particulars, provided himself against
the next day with a physician's habit, and,
having let his beard gr>>w daring his travels,
he passed for a physician ; and, through the
greatness of his impatience to see the prin-
cess, went to the sultan's paJaee, where,
jiresenting himself to the chief of the officers,
he told him that perhapn it might l>e looked
upon as a very bold undertaidng in him to
o£fer himself as a physician to attempt the
cure of the princess after so many had f aUed ;
but that he hoped some specifics, which he
had had great experience of, and success
from, would effect the core. The chief of
the officers told him he was very welcome,
that the sultan would receive him with
pleasure, and that ii be should have the
good fortune to restore the fidncess to her
former health, he might expect a consider-
able reward from the sultan his master's
liberality: "Stay a moment," added he,
" I will come to you again presently."
It had been a long time since any ])hysi-
ciau had offered himself ; and the sultan of
Cashmere with great grief had liegun to
lose all hope of ever seeing the i)rinces3 of
Bengal restored to her furnier health, that he
might marry her, and shew how much he
loved her. He ordered the officer to introduce
to him the physician he had announced.
The prince of Persia was presented to the
sultan of Cashmere in the habit and dis-
guise of a physician ; and the sidtan, with-
out Avasting time in suportluous discourse,
after having told him the princess of Bengal
could not bear the sight of a physician with-
out falling into the most violent transports,
wliich increased her distemper, carried him
into a closet, from whence, through a win-
dow, he might see her without being seen.
There prince Fii'ouz 8cliah saw his lovely
princess sit carelessly singing a song with
tears in her eyes, in which she dei>lored her
unhappy fate, which dej)rived her, i)erhaps
for ever, of the object she loved so tenderly.
The prince was so sensibly affected at the
melancholy condition he found his dear
princess in, that he wanted no other signs
to comprehend that her distemper was
feigned, and that it was for love of him that
she was under so grievous a constraint.
When he came out of the closet, he told the
sultan that he had discovered the nature of
the princess's distemper, and that she was
not incurable ; but added withal, that he
must speak with her in private, and by
himself ; and, uotwithstanduig her violent
fits at the sight of physicians, he hoped she
woidd hear and receive him favourably.
The sidtan onlercd the princess's chamber
door to be opened, and prince Firouz Schah
went in. As soon as the princess saw him,
(taking him by his habit to be a physician,)
she rose up in a rage, threatening him, and
giving him the most abusive language. He
made directly towards her; and when he
was nigh enough for her to hear him, for ho
did not wish to be heard by any one else,
he said to her, in a low voice, and in a most
respectf id manner, to make hor beheve him,
"Princess, I am not a physician, but the
prince of Persia, and am come to procure
you your liberty."
The princess, who presently knew the
sound of the voice, and the upper features
of his face, notwithstanding he had let his
beard grow so long, grew calm at once, and
a secret joy and i)leasure overspread her
face, the effect of seeing the person she so
much desired so unexpectedly. Her agree-
able surprise deprived her for some time of
the use of her speech, and gave prince
Firouz Schah time to tell her as briedy aa
I I,
It!
n
;iii
w
I
m
496
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Iiossible bow dcsimir seized him when he
Baw the Indian carry her away ; the resohi-
tion he took afterwards, to leave everything
to find her out wherever she was, and never
to return home till ho had found her, and
forced her out of the hands of the perfidious
wretch ; and by what j;ood fortune at last,
after a long and fatiguing journey, he had
the satisfaction to find her in the palace of
the sultan of Cashmere. Ho then desired
the princess to inform him of all that hap-
]>ened to her from the time she was taken
away till that moment wlien he had the
happiness to converse with her, telling her
that it was of the greatest importance to
know this, that he might take the most
proper measures to deliver her from the
tyranny of the sultan of Cashmere.
The princess of Bengal told the prince
how she was delivered from the Indian's
violence by the sultan of Cashmere, as he
was returning home from hunting ; but how
ill she was treated the next day, by a decla-
ration he had made of his precipitate design
to marry her that very day, without the
least civil office of asking her consent ; that
this violent and tyrannical conduct put her
into a. swoon ; after which she thought she
had no other way than what she had taken
to preserve herself for a prince to wlioni she
had given her heart and faith, or die rather
than marry the sultan, whom she neither
loved nor ever coidd love.
Then the prince of Persia asked her if she
knew wliat was become of the horse after
the Indian's death. To which she answered
that she knew not what orders the sultan
had given about it ; but believed, after the
accoimt she had given him of it, he would
take care of it.
As prince Firouz Scliah never doubted
but that the sultan bad the boi-se, he com-
municated to the princess bis design of
making use of it to carry them both back
into Persia ; and after they had consulted
together on the measures they were to take,
and that nothing might prevent the execu-
tion of them, they agreed that the princess
should dress herself the next day, and re-
ceive the sultan >.ivilly when he brought him
to her, but without speaking to him.
The sultau of Cashmere was overjoyed
when the prince of Persia gave him an ac-
count of what eifect his first visit had to-
wards the cure of the princess of Bengal.
And the next day, when the princess received
him after such a manner as persuaded him
her cure was far advanced, be looked upon
him as the greatest physician in the world ;
and seeing her in this state, contented him-
self with telling her how rejoiced be was to
see her so likely soon to recover her health
completely. He exhorted her to follow the
directions of so thoughtful a physician, to
complete what he bad so well begun ; and
then retired, without waiting for ber an-
Bwer.
The prince of Persia, who attended the
sultan of Cashmere out of the princess's
chamber, as ho accompanied him, asked
him if, without failing in due respect, ho
might inquire how the princess of Bengal
came into the dominions of Cashmere thus
alone, since ber own country lies so far off.
This be said on purpose to introduce some
discourse about tlie enchanted horse, and to
know wliat was become of it.
The sultan of Cashmere, who could not
penetrate into the priuco of Persia's motive
for asking that question, concealed notliing
from him ; but told him much the same
story as the princess of Bengal bad done ;
adding, that he bad ordered the enchanted
horse to be kept safe in his treasury as a
great curiosity, though he knew not the use
of it.
"Sir," replied the pretended physician,
"the information which your majesty gives
rae affords me a means of curing the prin-
cess. As she was brought hither on this
borse, and the horse is enchanted, she bath
contracted something of the enchantment,
which can be dissipated only by certain in-
cense which I am acquainted with. If your
majesty would be pleased to entertain your-
self, your court, and the people of your
capital with the most surprising sight that
ever was seen, let the horse be brought into
the great square before the palace, and leave
the rest to me. I promise to shew you,
and all that assembly, in a few moments'
time, the princess of Bengal as well in
body and mind as ever she was in ber life.
But, the better to effect what I propose, it
woidd be proper that the princess should l-j
dressed as magnificently as possible, and
adorned with the best jewels your majesty
has." The sultan would have undertaken
much more difficult things to have arrived
at the enjoyment of bis desires, as be ex-
pected to do soon.
The next day the enchanted horse was,
by bis order, taken out of the treasury, and
placed early in the great square before the
palace. A report was spread through the
town that there was something extraor-
duiary to be seen, and crowds of people
flocked thither from all parts, insomuch
that the sultan's guards were placed to pre-
vent disorder, and to keep space enough
roimd the borse.
The sultan of Cashmere, surrounded with
all bis nobles and ministers of state, was
placed on a scaffold erected on purpose.
The princess of Bengal, attended by a vast
number of ladies which the sidtan had as-
signed ber, went up to the enchanted borse,
and the women helped ber to get upon its
back. When she was fixed in the saddle,
and hod the bridle in her band, the pre-
\\\
PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU.
497
tended physician placed round the horse a
great many vessels full of flrr, which he had
ordered to bo brought, nnd going round it,
he cast a strong and grateful perfume into
those oota ; then, r jUected in himself, with
downcaiit eyes, and his hands upon his
breast, he ran tliree times about the horse,
making as if he pronounced certain words.
The moment the pots sent forth a dark cloud
of pleasant smell, which so surrounded the
princess, that neither she nor the horse were
to be diacemed, watching his opportunity,
the prince jumped nimbly up behind her,
and, reaching his hand to the peg, turned
it; and just as the horse rose with them
into the air, he pronounced these words,
which the sultan heard tlistinotly : " Sultan
of Cashmere, when you would marry prin-
cesses who implore your protection, learn
lirst to obtain their consent."
Thus the prince of Persia recovered and
delivered the princess of Bengal, and carried
her that same day to the capital of Persia,
where ho alighted in the midst of the palace,
before the king his father's apartment, who
deferred the solemnisation of the marriage
no longer than till he could make the prepa-
rations necessary to render the ceremony
pompous and magnificent, and express the
interest he took in it.
After the days appointed for the rejoicing
were over, the king of Persia's first care was
to name and appomt an ambassador to go to
give the king of Bengal an account of whut
was past, and to demand his approbation
and ratification of the alliance contracted by
this marriage ; which the king of Bengal
took OS an honour, and granted with great
pleasure and satisfaction.
THE STORY OF PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY
PARI BANOU.*
There was a sultan who had peaceably
filled the throne of India many years, and
had the satisfaction, in his old age, to have
three sons, the worthy imitators of his vir-
tues, who, with the princess his niece, were
the ornaments of his court. The eldest of
the princes Was called Houssain, the second
Ali, the youngest Ahmed, and the princess,
bis niece, Nouronnihar.+
The princess Nouronnihar was the daugh-
ter of the younger brother of the sultan, to
whom the sultan in his lifetime allowed a
considerable revenue. But that prince had
not been married long before he died, and
left the princess very young. The sultan,
in consideration of the brotherly love and
friendship that had always subsisted between
them, besides a great attachment to his
j>erson, took upon himself the care of his
* Two Persian nronls, which signify the same, as the
"female fairy," or "genie."
t An Ai-abian word, that signifies "daylight."
daughter's education, and brought her up
in his palace with the three princes ; where
h«r singiUar beauty and personal accom-
plishments, joined to a lively wit and irre-
proachable virtue, distinguished her among
all the princesses of her time.
The sultan, her uncle, proposed to marry
her when she arrived at a proper ago, and
to contract an alliance with some neigh-
bouring prince by that means, and was
thinking seriously on that affair, when he
perceived that the three princes his sons
loved her passionately. He was very much
concerned, but his grief did not proceed
from a consideration that their passion pre-
vented his forming the alliance he designed,
but the difficulty he foresaw to make them
agree, and that the two youngest should
consent to yield her up to their elder bro-
ther. He spoke to each of them apart ; and
after having remonstrated on the impossibi-
lity of one princess being the wife of three
persons, and the troubles they would create
if they persisted in their passion, he did all
he could to persuade them to abide by a
declaration of the princess in favour of one
of them, or to desist from their pretensions,
and to think of other matches, which he left
them free liberty to choose, and suiTer her
to be married to a foreign prince. But as
he found them obstinate, he sent for them
all together, and said to them, "Children,
since for your good and quiet I have not
beetx able to persuade you no longer to
4\8pire to marry the princess your cousin,
aid as I have no inclination to make use of
my authority, to give her to one preferable
before the other two, I fancy I have thought
of a proper expedient which will j)lease you
all, and preserve the union among you, if
you will but hear me, and follow my advice.
I think it woidd not be amiss if every one
travelled separately into different countries,
so that you might not meet each other ; and
as you know I am very curious, and deUght
in everything that is rare and singular, I
promise my niece in marriage to him thai
shall bring me the most extraordinary rarity;
so that as chiince may lead you to form your
own judgment of the singularity of the things
which you bring, by the comparison you
make of them, you \yill have no difficulty
to do yourselves justice by yielding the pre-
ference to him who has deserved it ; and for
the expense of travelling, I will give each of
you a sum agreeable to your birth and the
purchase of the rarity you shall go in search
after; which shall not be laid out in an
equipage and attendants, which, by discover-
ing who you are, would not only deprive
you of the liberty to acquit yourselves of the
inquiry you go about, but prevent your ob-
serving those things which merit your atten-
tion, and may be most useful to you."
As the three princes were always submis-
SI
rr ri
I
t ■'
s n
m
f!"Ul
il
498
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
1.';
•ive jutd obedient to the sultan's will, and
e*ch flattered himitelf fortune mifrht pi ove
faTouroble to him, and give him the jhw les-
uon of the princess Noiironnihar, they all
consented to it The sultan gave them the
money he promised them ; and that very
day tiiey isitued orders for the preparations
for their travels, and took leave of the sul-
tan, that they might be ready to set out
coriy next morning. They all went out at
the some gate of the city, each dressed like
a merchant, attended by a trusty officer,
dressed like a slave, and all well mounted
and equipped. They went the first day's
journey together, and Hiept at the first inn,
where the rood divided into three different
tracks. At night when they were at supper
together, they all agreed to travel for a year,
and to moke that inn their rendezvous ; and
that the tirst that came should wait for the
rest ; that as they had all three taken leave
together of the sultan, they might all return
together. The next morning by break of
day, after they had embraced and wished
each other reciprocally good success, they
mounted their horses, and took each a differ-
ent road.
Prince Houssoin, the eldest brother, who
had heard wonders of the extent, strength,
richer, aud splendour of the kingdom of
Bisnagar, bent his course towards the Indian
coast ; and, after three months' travelling,
joining himself to different caravans, some-
times over deserts and barren mountains,
and sometimes through populous and fertile
countries, arrived at Bisnagar, the capital
of the kingdom of that name, and the resi-
dence of its king. He lodged at a khan
appointed for foreign merchants, and having
I»rnt that there were four principal divi-
sions where merchants of all sorts kept their
shops, in the midst of which stood the castle,
or rather the king's palace, on a large extent
of ground, as the centre of the city, and sur-
rounded with three courts, and each gate
distant two leagues from the other, he went
to one of these quarters the next day.
Prince Uoussain could not view this quar-
ter without admiration. It was large, and
divided into several streets, all vaulted and
shaded from the sun, and yet very light.
The shops were all of the same size and pro-
portion ; and all that dealt in the same sort
of goods, as well as all the artists, lived in
one street.
The multitude of shops stocked with all
kinds of merchandise, such as the finest
linens from several x^^i^ of India, some
painted in the most lively colours, and
representing men, landscapes, trees, and
flowers; silks and brocades from Persia,
Cliina, and other places; porcelain from
Japan and China, foot carpets of all sizes ;
surprised him so much, that he knew not
how to believe his own eyes ; but when he
camo to the shops of the goldsmiths and
jewellers (for those two trades were exer-
cised by the some merchants,) ho was in a
kind of ecstocy, to behold such prodigious
quantities of wrought gold and silver, and
was dazzled by the lustre of the {jcarls, dia-
monds, rubies, emeralds, and other precious
stones exiMsed to sale. But if he was
amazed at seeing so many riches in one
place, he was much more suq)ri8ed when he
come to judge of the wealth of the whole
kingdom, by considering, that except the
brahmins, and ministers of the idols, who
profess a life retired from worldly vanity,
there was not an Indian man or woman,
through the extent of that kingdom, but
wore necklaces, bracelets, and ornaments
about their legs and feet, made of pearls,
and other precious stones, which appeared
with the greater lustre, as they were Itlacks,
which tiolour admirably set off their brilliancy.
Another thing prince Houssain particu-
larly admired, was the great number oi rose-
sellers, who crowde<l the streets ; for the
Indians are so great lovers of that flower,
that not one will stir without a nosegay of
them in his hand, or a garland of them on
his head ; and the merchants keep them in
pots in the shops, so that the air of the
whole quarter, however large, is perfectly
perfumed.
After prince Houssain had run through
that quarter, street by street, his thoughts
fully employed on the riches he had iieen,
he was very much tired ; which a merchant
perceiving, civUly invited him to sit down in
his shop. He accepted his offer; but had
not br;en seated long before he saw a crier
pass by with a piece of carpet on his arm,
about six feet square, and cry it at thirty
purses. The prince called to the crier, and
asked to see the carpeting, which seemed to
him to be valued at an exorbitant price, not
only for the size of it, but the meanness of
the stuff. When he had examined it weU,
he told the crier, that he could not compre-
hend how so small a piece of carj^eting, and
of so indifferent an appearance, could be set
at so high a price.
The crier, who took him for a merchant,
replied, " Sir, if this price seems so extrava-
gant to you, your amazement will be greater
when I tell you I have orders to raise it to
forty purses, and not to part with it under."
" Certainly," answered prince Houssain, " it
must have something very extraordinary in
it, which I know nothing of." "You have
guessed it, sir," replied the crier, '' and will
own it when you come to know, that who-
ever sits on this piece of carpeting may be
transported in an instant wherever he desires
to be, without being stopped by any ob>
stacle."*
* Tbis cixcnmstance has been also brougbt Into Su-
PRINCE AHMED. AND THE FAIRY PARI liANOU.
499
and
■it
At tbJM diHCounp of thu crier, the princo
of thu Indict), cunsiduriii),' that .thu prinuipal
motive of his travel won to carry the sultun
bis father homo lomo singular rarity, thought
that he could not meet witli any which would
give him more satisfaction. " If the carpet-
ing," said ho to thu crier, "ho8 the virtue
you assign it, I slioll not think forty purses
too much ; but shall make you a present
besides." " Sir," replied the crier, *' I have
told you the truth ; and it will bo an easy
matter to convince you of it, as soon as you
have made the bargain for forty purses, on
condition I shew you tlie experiment. But
as I suppose you have not so much with you,
and to receive them I must go with you to
the khan where you lodge, with the leave
of the niitstcr of the sliop, we will go into
the back shop, and I will spread the carpet-
ing ; and when we have both sat down, and
you have formed tlie wish to be transported
into your apartment at the khan, if we are
not transported thither it shall be no bar-
gain, and you shall be at your liberty. As
to your present, as I am paid for my trouble
by the seller, 1 shall receive it as a favour,
and be very much obliged to you for it."
On the credit of the crier the princo ac-
cepted the conditions, and concluded the
bargain ; and having obtained the master's
leave, they went into his back shop : they
both sat down on the carpeting ; and as
soon as the princo formed hi.s wish to bo
transported into his apartment at the khan,
he presently found himself and the crier
there in the same situation ; and as he
wanted not a more suiHcient proof of the
virtue of the carpeting, ho counted to the
crier forty purses of gold, and gave him
twenty pieces for himstlf .
In this manner prince Houssoiu became
the possessor of the carpeting, and was
overjoyed that at his arrival at Bisnagar he
had found so rare a piece, which he never
rope, and copied by the Normans. Duke Richard, sur-
nauied "KIchurd sans peur," walkini; one eveninji in
the forest of Muiilineaux, near one of liia castles, on the
banks of tlie Seine, witli his courtiers, hearing n prodi-
)f ious noise comin); towards him, sent one of his esquires
to know what was the matter, wlio brought him word
that it was a company ot people under u leader or king.
Rii^hard, with five hundred of his bravest Nuruians,
went out to see u sight whicli the peasants were so
accustomed to that they viewed it two or three times a
week without fear. The sight of the troop, preceded
by two men, who spread a cloth on the ground, made
all the Normans run away, and leave the duke alone.
Ho saw the strangers form themselves into a circle on
the cloth, and on a.sking who they were, was told they
were the spirits of Charles V., king of France, and his
servants, condemned to expiate their sins by fighting
all night against the wicked and the damned. Uichard
desired to be of their party, and receiving a strict
charge not to quit thu cloth, was conveyed with them
to Mount Sinai, where, leaving them without quitting
the cloth, he said his prayers in the church of St Cathe-
rine's Abbey there, while they were fighting, and re-
turned with them. In proof of the truth of this story,
he brought back half the wedding-ring of a knight in
that convent, whose wife, after six years, concluded
him dead, and was going to take a second husband.
doubted would gain the posHesNlou of Noii-
rounihar. In short, he lonked upon it as an
impossible thing fort)i<.- princes, his younger
brothers, to meet with iiiiytliing to be com-
pared with it. It was in hi.s jiower, by
sitting on this cariieting, to bo at the place
of rendezvous that very day ; but as he woh
obliged to stay there for his brotli(!r«, an they
had agreed, and as he was curious to see the
king of Bisnagar and his court, and to in-
form himself of tlio strength, laws, customs,
ind religion of the kingdom, he chose to
make a longer abode there, and to spend
some months in satisfying his curiosity.
It was a custom of the king of Bisnagar
to give all strange merchants access to his
person once a week ; and by that title prince
Uoussain, who would not Ihj known, saw
him often : and as thi.s princo was hand-
some, witty, and extremely polite, ho easily
distinguished himself among the merchants,
and was preferred before them all by the
sultan, who addressed himself to him, to be
informed of the person of tho sultan of the
Indies, and of the government, strength, and
riches of his dominions.
Tho rest of his time the jirince spent in
seeing what was most remarkable in and
about thu city ; and among those thingH
which were most worthy of admiration, he
visited a temple of idols, remarkable for
being built all of brass. It was ten cubits
8f[uaro, and iifteen high ; and the greatest
ornament to it was an idol of the height of
a man, of massy gold : its eyes were two
rubies, set so artificially, that it seemed to
look at those who looked at it, on which
side soever they turned : besides this, there
was another not less curious, in a village, in
the midst of a plain of about ten acres,
which was a delicious garden full of roses
and the choicest flowers, surrounded with a
small wall breast high, to keep the cattle
out. In the midst of this ]ilain was raised a
terrace, man's height, so nicely pavetl, that
the whole pavement seemed to be but one
single stone. A temple was erected in tho
middle of this terrace, with a dome about
fifty cubits high, which might be seen for
several leagues round. It was thirty cubits
long, and twenty broad, built of red marble,
highly iiolished. The inside of the dome
was adorned with three rows of fine paint-
ings, in good taste, and there was not a
place in the whole terajjle but what was em-
bellished with painting.s, basso relievos, and
figures of idols from top to bottom.
Every night and morning there were
superstitious ceremonies performed in this
temple, which were always succeeded by
sports, concerts of music, dancing, singing,
and feasts. The ministers of the temple,
and the inhabitants of the place, had no-
thing to subsist on but the ofTerings of
pilgrims, who came in crowds from the
; I
,1' I
500
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
\' 1
mnat diaUnt part* of the kingdom to per-
furm their vuwa.
I'rince Iloiusain wai alio spectator of a
•oletnn featt, which wan culehratod every
year at the court of liianogar, at whiuh all
the govcmoni of provinccH, commantlcrfl of
fortiticd places, all gtivcmora and judges of
towna, and the brahniinR most celebrated for
their learning, were obliged to be present ;
and some lived so far off, that they were
fwur mouths in coming. This aar,enibly,
com|toaed of such innumerable multitudes
of Indiana, met in n plain of vast extent,
was a glorious sight, as far oa thn eyo could
reach. In the "cntrc of this plain was a
square of great length and breailth, closed
on one side by a largo scaiToIding of nine
storeys, supporte<l by forty pillars, raised
for the king and his court, and those stran-
gers he admitted to audience once a week ;
within it was adorned and furnished magni-
ficently ; and on the outside were painted
fine landscapes, wherein all sorts of beasts,
birds, and insects, even flics and gnats,
were drawn very naturally. Other scaffolds
of at least four or five storeys, and painted
almoat all alike, formed the other three
sides. But what was more particular in
these scaffoldii, they could turn them, and
make them change their situation and de-
corations every hour.
On each side of the square, at some little
distance from each other, were ranged 1000
elephants, sumjituously harnessed, and each
having upon his bock a square wooden
castle, finely gilt, in which were musicians
and stage-players. The trunks, ears, and
bodies of these elei)hant8 were painted with
cinnabar and other colours, representing
grotesque figures.
But what prince Houssain most of all ad-
mired, as a proof of the industry, address,
and inventive genius of the Indians, was to
see the largest of these elephants sttvn'i with
his four feet on a post fixed into th'.; eiif*'i,
and standing out of it above two feet, pl'/-
ing and beating time with his trur'r tc the
music. Besides this, he admiral fir other
elephant as big as this, set upon a board,
which was laid across a strong beam about
ten feet high, with a great weight at the
other end, which balanced hiin, while he
kept time, by the motions of his body and
trunk, with the music, as well as the other
elephant. The Indians, after having fastened
on the counterpoise, had drawn the other
end of the boaid down to the ground, and
made the elephant get upon it.
Prince Houssain might have made a longer
stay in the kingdom and court of Bisnagar,
where he would have been agreeably diverted
by a great variety of other wonders, till the
last day of the year, whereon he and his
brothers had appointed to meet. But he
vas so well satisfied with what he had seen,
and his thr)UghtH ran ho much upon the ob-
ject of his love, tliat after his good success
in meeting with this caq)eting, the beauty
and charms of the princess Nouri)unihar in-
creased every day the violence of liis passion,
and he fancied he should be the more easy
and happy the nearer he was to her. After
ho had satisfied the master of the khan for
his apartment, and told him the hour when
he might come for the key, without telling
him how lu! should go, lie shut the door, put
the key on the outside, and spreading the
carpeting, ho and the otHcer ho had brought
with him snt down on it, and as soon as ho
bad formed his wish, were transported to
the inn at which ho and his brothers were
to meet, and whuro ho jiaHsed for a merchant
till they came.
Prince Ali, prince Ploussain's second bro-
ther, who designed to travel into Persia, in
conformity to the intention of the sultan of
the Indies, took that road, having three days
after ho parted with his brothers joined a
caravan ; and after four months' travelling,
arrived at 8chiraz, which was then the
capital of the kingdom of Persia; and
having in the way contracted a friendship
with some merchants, jiosHed for a jeweller,
and lodged in the same khan with them.
The next morning, while the merchants
opened their boles of merchandise, prince
Ali, who travelled only for his pleasure, and
had brought nothing but necessaries with
him, after he had dressed himself, took a
walk into that quarter of the town where
they sold precious stones, gold and silver
works, brocades, silks, fine linens, and other
choice and valuable merchandise, and which
was at Schiraz called the bczestein. It was
a spacious and well-built place, arched over
and the arches supported by large i)illars ;
round which, as well as along the walls,
within wid without, were shops. Prince
Ali soon rambled through the bezestein, and
with admiration judged of the riches of the
place by the prodigious quantities of the
most precious merchandise that were there
exposed to view.
But among all the criers who passed back-
wards and forwards with several sorts of
goods, offering to sell them, he was not a
little surprised to see one who held in his
hand an ivory tube, of about a foot in length,
and about an inch thick, and cried it at
thirty purses. At first he thought the crier
mad, and to inform himself, went to a shop,
and said to the merchant, who stood at the
door, "Pray, sir, is not that man" (pointing
to the crier, who cried the ivory tube at
thirty purses) "mad? If he is not, I am
very much deceived." "Indeed, sir," an-
swered the merchant, " he was in his right
senses yesterday ; and I can assure you he ia
one of the ablest criers we have, and the
most employed of any, as being to be con-
PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU,
501
lldod in, when Anything vnlimlilc ii to be
■old ; and, if hu crii'H tiie ivory tiibo at
thirty iiurncH, it nuut bo worth aa niuuh, or
nioro, on some account or otiior which docs
not a)i{)cnr. Ho will come liy jirogcntly, and
we will ciill him, and you BliallmitiHfy your-
«elf : in the meantiiin nit down on my lufa,
and rent yourself."
Princo Ali occepted of the merchant's
o1)li){in)( oiler, and presently afterwards tiio
crier paased by. The merchant called him
by his name ; and, pointing; to tho prince,
Haid to him, "Toll that (gentleman, who
a«ked mo if you were in your ri^ht Renses,
what yon mean by crying that ivory tube,
which scorns not to bo worth much, nt thirty
purses. I shotild bo very much amazed
myself, if I did not know you were a sen-
sible man." Tho crier, addressing himnelf
to princo Ali, said, " Sir, you oro not tho
only person that takes me fur a madman on
the account of this tube ; you shall judge
yourself whether I am or no, when I have
told yon its property ; and I hojio you will
value it at ns high a ])ricu as those I have
shewed it to already, who hod as bod on
opinion of me as you have.
"First, sir," pursued tho crier, presenting
the ivory tube to the prince, " observe that
this tube is furnished with a glass at both
ends ; and consider that, by looking through
one of thorn, you seo whatever object you
wish to behold." "I am," said the prince,
"ready to make you all proper reparation
for tho scandal T. have thrown on you, if
yon will make the truth of what you ad-
vance appear ; " and, as he had tho ivory
tube in his hand, after he had looked at the
two glasses, he said, "Shew me at which
of these ends I must look, that I may be
satisfied." The crier presently shewed him ;
and he looked through, wishing, at the same
time, to see the sultan his father, whom ho
immediately beheld in perfect health, sitting
on bis throne, in the midst of his council.
Afterwards, as there was nothing in tho
world so dear to him, after tho sultan, as the
princess Nouronnihar, he wished to seo her ;
and saw her sitting at her toilet, laughing,
and in a pleasant humour, with her women
about her.*
•From such a story as this wns probably borrowed
the strange knight's " Mirror of Glass," mentioned by
Chaucer in the Squire's Tale, brought with the Indian
with the wonderful horse. The virtues of that mirror
were, that men might sec when any adversity befell the
kingdom or the king, and who is a friend or foe ; and
any la<Iy might see if the object of her love were false.
This mirror was carried up iuto the principal tower,
and there fixed for use. Such a one Oower ascribes
to Virgil, who set It upon a marble pillar at Rome for
■Imllar purposes ; and with this corresponds "Merlin's
Olassle Mirror," in Spenser, (P. Q. II. 24,) and the globe
shewn to De Oama in the I<uciad.— irarton'f Hiitoru
of EnglUK Pottry, 1. 406, 407.
Such a mirror is said by the Oriental writers to have
been possessed by Giamschid, one of their wings, Jiy
which he and his people knew natural and supernatui^l
tbinga (Herbelot, «'n voce.) Our great couDtryman,
Princo Ali wanted no othir proof to inr-
■node him that this tube was thu moNt valu-
able thing, not only in thu uity of Schirax,
but in all tho world ; and believed that, if
he should neglect to purchime it, ho should
never meet again with sueli another rarity.
He Hoid to thu crier, " I am very sorry
that I slunild have entertained no batl an
opinion of you, but hopo to make you
amends by buying tho tube, for I shiiulil bo
sorry if anybody else had it : so tell me tho
lowest price thu seller has fixed upon it ; and
do not give yournelf any further trouble to
hawk it about, but go with me, and I will
j)ay you tho mimoy." Tho crier asNured
him, with an oath, that his last orders wero
to tak(! no less than forty purses ; and, if ho
disputed the truth of what he said, ho would
carry him to his omjiloyer. The prince be-
lieved him, took him with him to the khan
where ho Imlged, tolt! him out the money,
and received tho tube.
Princo Ali was overjoyed at his bargain ;
and persuaded himself that, as his brotherM
would not be able to meet with anything so
rare and admirable, the princess Nouronni-
har would be tho recompenso of his fatiguo
ond trouble. Ho thought now of only visit-
ing the court of Persia incognito, and seeing
whatever was curious in and about Schiraz,
till tho caravan with which he cume returned
back to tho Indies. Ho had satiHtied his
curiosity, when tho caravan was ready to set
out. The prince joined them, and arrived
happily without any accident or trouble,
otherwise than tho length of the journey
and fatigue of travelling, at the place of
rendezvous, where he found princo Houssain,
and both waited for prince Ahmed.
Princo Ahmed took the road of Samar-
cande ; and the next day after his arrival
there, went, as his brothers had <lone, into
the bezestein ; where he had not walked
long, but he heard a crier, who had an arti-
ficial apple in his hand, cry it at five-and-
thirty purses. He stopped the crier, and
said to him, " Let me seo that ap{>le, and
tell me what virtue or extraordinary pro-
perty it has, to be valued at so high a rate."
" Sir," said the crier, giving it into his hand,
" if you look at tho outside of the apple, it
is very inconsiderable ; but if you consider
its jiroperties, virtues, and the great use and
benefit it is of to mankind, you will say it
Kogcr Bacon, In his "Opus Mnjus," a work entirely
founded on the Aristotelian and Arabian philosophy,
describes a variety of specula, and explains their con-
struction aud uses. This is the most curious and ex*
traoi'iiinary part of Bacon's book, written about 127U.
Uis Optic Tube, In which he pretended to see futuro
events, was famous in his time, and long afterwards,
and chiefly contributed to give him the name of a
magician. lie asserts that "all things arc known by
perspective." A mirror In the head of a monstrous
fowl shewed the Mexicans their future Invaders
the Spaniards ; and C. Agrippa, in such a mirror,
shewed the Earl of Surrey, Geraldlne, sick on a couch.
— Warton, ib.
: 4
'|! \ i
Ii
r
11 'ii i
1 11
502
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
is invaluable, and it is certain that he who
poscesL"'* it is master of a great treasure.
li o^rrca all sick persona of the most mortal
diseases, whether fever, pleurisy, plague, or
other malignant distempeis ; and if the pa-
tient is dying, it will recover him imme-
diately, and restore him to perfect health :
and this is done after the easiest manner in
the world, merely by the patient's smelling
the apple."
"If one may believe you," replied prinf.e
Ahmed, " the virtues of this apple are won-
derful, and it is indeed invaluable : but
what ground has a plain man like myself,
who may wish to become the purchaser, to
be i)er8uaded that there is no disguise nor
exaggeration in the high praises you bestow
on it." " Sir," replied the crier, "the thing
is known and averred by the whole city of
iSamarcande ; but, without going any farther,
ask all these merchants you see here, and
hear what they say ; you will find several
of them will tell you, they had not been
alive this day if they had noti made use of
this excellent remedy; and, that you may
the better comprehend what it is, I must
tell you, it is the fruit of the study and ex-
perience of a celebrated philosopher of this
city, who applied himself all his lifetime to
the knowledge of the virtues of plants and
minerals, and at last attained to this com-
position, by which he performed such sur-
prising cures in this city as wUl never be
forgotten ; but died suddenly himself, before
he could apply his own sovereign remedy,
and left his wife and a great many young
children behind him in very indifferent cir-
cumstances ; who, to support her family,
and provide for her children, has resolved to
sell it"
While the crier was telling prince Ahmed
the virtues of the artificial apple, a great
many persons came about them, and con-
firmed what he said ; and one among the
rest said he had a friend dangerously ill,
whose life was despaired of, which was a
favourable opportunity to shew piince Ah-
mtd the experiment. Upon which prince
Ahmed told the crier, he would give him
forty parses if he cured the sick porson by
smdling it.
The crier, who had orders to sell it at that
price, said to prince Ahmed, "Come, sir,
let 118 go and make the experiment, and the
apple shall be yours ; and I say this with
the greater conlidence, as it is an undoubted
fact that it wUl always ?iavc the same effect
as it already has, had as often as it has been
employed to recover from death so many
sick persons whose life was despaired of."
In ahort, the expei'iment siicceeded ; and
the prince, after he had counied out to the
orier forty purses, and the other had de-
livered the apple to him, waited with the
greatest' im|.atience for the first caravan that
should return to the Indies. In the mean-
time he saw all that was curious at and
about Samarconde, and princi])aUy the valley
of Sogda,* so called from the river which
waters it, and is reckoned by the Arabians
to be one of the four jiaradises of the world,
for the beauty of its Helds and gardens, and
the fine palaces, and for its fertility in
fruit of all sorts, and all the other pleasures
enjoyed there in the fine season.
At last prince Ahmed j incd himself to
the first caravan that returned to the Indies,
and, notwithstanding the inevitable incon-
venionces of so long a journey, arrived in
perfect health at the inn where the princes
Houssain and Ali waited for him.
Prince Ali, who came there sometime
before prince Ahmed, asked prince Hous- |
sain, who got thither the first, how long he
had been there ; who told him three months :
to which he replied, "Then certuinly you
have not been very far." " I will tell you
nothing now," said prince Houssam, "where
I have been, but only assure you I was
above three months travelling to the place
I went to." "But then," replied prince
Ali, "you made a short stay there." "In-
deed, brother," said prince Houssain, "you
are mistaken ; I resided at one place above
four or five months, and might have stayed
longer." "Unless you flew back," replied
prince Ali again, "I cannot comprehend
how you can- have been three mouths here,
as you would make me believe."
"I tell you the truth," added prince
Houssain, "and it is a riddle which I shall
not explain to you till our brother Ahmed
comes; when I will let you know what
rarity I have brought home from my travels.
For your part, I know not what you have
got, but believe it to be some trifle, because
T do not perceive that your baggage is
increased." "And pray what have you
brought?" replied Prince Ali; "for I can
see nothing but an ordinary piece of carpet-
ing, with which you cover your sofa, and
therefore I think I may retui'n your raillery ;
and, as you seem to make what you brought
a secret, you cannot take it amiss that I
do the same with respect to what I have
brought. "
"I look upon the rarity I have purchased,"
replied })rince Houssain, " to excel all others
* " Sojd Sainarcnnd," or the plain of Ramarcande,
is on the north side of that city, an'> irom it the pro-
vince called by the ancients ■■Sogdians" took its
name. The Oriental writerii say, that this plain or
valley is one of the four paradises or most delightful
places in the world, as well as the plain and valley
of Damascus, which is called " Oauthnh." They make
it vight days' journey in extent ; and it is covered on
every side witli gardens full of Iruit of admirable beauty
and variety, or corn-lields and pastures ever green,
the soil being watered by springs and rivulets issu-
ing from a large and principal river called "Cai,"
running through the middle of the plain. A number
of populous towns and villages, full of industrious
cultivators of the soil, overt.iread this rich volloy. —
UtrMoi.
PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU.
503
■whatever, and should not make any diffi-
culty to shew it you, and make you agree
that it is 80, and at the eame time tell you
Low I came by it, without being in the least
apprehensive that that which you have got
is to be preferred to it. But it is proper
that we should stay till our brother Ahmed
arivves, that we may all communicate our
good fortune to each other."
Prince Ali would not enter into a dispute
with prince Houssain on the preference he
gave his rarity, but was satiatied and per-
suaded, that, if his perspective glass was not
IireferaWe, it was impossible it should be
inferior to it ; and therefore agreed to stay
till prince Ahmed arrived, to produce hu
purchase.
When prince Ahmed came to his brothers,
And they had embraced with tenderness, and
complimented each other on the happiness
of meeting together at the same place they
set out from, prince Houssain, as t'le elder
brother, assumed the discourse, and said to
them, "Brothers, we shaU have time enough
hereafter to entertain ourselves with the
particulars of our travels : let us come to
that which ia of the greatest importance for
us to know; and, as I do not doubt you
remember the principal motive which en-
gaged us to travel, let us nut conceal from
each other the curiosities we have brought
home, but shew them, that we may do our-
selves justice beforehand, and see to which
of ns the sultan our father may give the
preference.
"To set the example," continued prince
Houssain, " I will teU you that the rarity
which I have brought from my travels to
the kingdom of Bisnagar, is the carpeting
on which I sit, which looks but ordinary,
and makes no show ; but, when I li&ve dc-
-clared its virtues to you, you .U !■ . ivnck
with admiration, and will eoti'is y j c. i.'t
heard of anything JiVe it. In short, who-
ever sits on it, aa i»"j <?r. '.' ri desires to be
transported to any p'.< .j, tt<- it ever so far
off, is immediately camtsd thitier. I made
the experiment myself bei .re 1 paid down
the forty purses, which I r. ost r.-adily gave
for it; and when I haH. f , lly satisfied my
curiosity, at the f ourt of Visnagar, and had
a mind to return, I made use of no other
carriage than this wonderful carpet for my-
self and servant, who can tell you how long
we were coming hither. I will shew you
both the experiment whenever you please.
I expect that you shall tell me whetb'r
what you have brought is to be oomparet!.
with this carpet."
Here prince Houssain made an end cf
commending the excellency of his carpet ;
and prince Ali, addj-essing himself to hiia,
said, "I must own, brother, that your csv-
pet is one of the most surprising things
imaginable, if it has, aa I do not doubt in
the least, that property you speOx. cf. But
you m:ist allow that there may be other
things, I will not say more, but at least as
wonderful, in another way ; and to convince
you there are, here is an ivory tube, which
appears to the fj--. no more a rarity than
your carpet, and yet ments great attention ;
it cost me as much, and I am as well satis-
fied with my purchase as yon can be with
yours ; and you will be so just as to own
that I have not been cheated, when you
know by experience that by looking at one
end you see whatever object you wish to
behold. I would not have you take my
word," added prince Ali, presenting the
tube to him; "take it, make trial of it
yourself."
Prince Houssain took the ivory tube from
prince Ali, and clapped that end to his eye
which prince Ali shewed him, with an in-
tention to see the princess Xouronnihar, and
to know how she did ; when prince Ali and
pri.ice Anmed, who kept their eyes fixed
upon him, were extremely surprised to see
his countenance change on a sudden in such
a manner ss expressed an extraordinary sur-
prise and affliction. Prince Houssain would
not give them time to ask what was the
matter, but cried out, "Alas! princes, to
what purjMse have we undertaken so long
and fatiguing journeys, but with the hope
of being recompensed by the possession of
-the charming Nourounihar, when in a few
moments that lovely princess will breathe
her last. 1 saw her in her bed, surrounded
by her women and ennuchs, who were all in
tears, and seem to expect nothing less than
to see her give up the ghost. Take the tube,
behold yoiirselves the miserable state she is
i'l, and mingle your tears with mine. "
Prince Ali took the tube out of prince
Houssain's hand, and after he had seen the
same object with a sensible grief, presented
it to prince Ahmed, -vho took it, to behold
the melancholy sight 'which so much con-
cerned them all.
When prince Ahmed h;';d taken the tube
out of prince Ali'? •>t<''- . ind saw that the
princess Nouronnihai _ — .* was so near, he
addressed himself to his two brothers, and
said, " Princes, the princess Kouronnihar,
equally the object of our vows, is indeed
just at de.-'.th's door ; Imt provided we make
haste, and lose no time, we may preserve
'u^\ life." Then l'° t ok the artificial apple
out .^f his ' osom, j.nd shewing it to the
prince-; his brothjr<i. said to them, "This
'^irle w'licL yov see here cost me as much
ani wjre t.'ia''. eit'.\er the carpet or tube.
The (fpcitunity i^hich now presents itself
to sh"- you 'ts wonderful virtue, makes me
rot 'f£fret t e forty purses I "^vb for it
B.t: ni.'t tT' /veep you longer in sospense, it
/.tts > ; e ixtue, if a sick person smells it,
);hou\l< '" the last Agonies, to restore him to
u
\
\\\
504
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
11 v\
perfect health immediately. I have made
the experiment, and can shew you it»
wondeiiul effect on the person of x'^incess
Nouroniiihar, if we make all due haste to
assist her,"
'• If that is all," replied prince Houssain,
"we cannot make more despatch than by
transporting ourselves instantly into her
chamber by the means of my carpet. Come,
lose no time ; sit down on it by me ; it is
large enough to hold us all three : but
first let us give orders to our servants to
set out immediately, and join us at the
palace."
As soon as the order was given, prince
Ali and prince Ahmed went and sat down by
prince Houssain ; and as their interest was
the same, they all three framed the same
wish, and were transported into the princess
Nouronnihar's chamber.
The i)re8ence of the three princes, who
were so little expected, frightened the prin-
cess's women and eunuchs, who could not
comprehend by what enchantment three men
shoidd be among them; for they did not
know them at firat ; and the eunuchs were
ready to fall upon them, as people who had
got into a part of the palace where they
were not allowed to come ; but they
presently recollected and found their mis-
take.
Prince Ahmed no sooner saw himself in
Nouronnihar's chamber, and perceived that
princess dying, but he rose off the tapestry
as did also the other two princes, and went
to the bed-side, and put the apple under her
nose. Some moments after, the princess
opened her eyes, and turned her head from
one side to another, looking at the persons
who stood about her ; she then rose up in
the bed and asked to be dressed, with the
same freedom and recollection as if she had
awaked out of a sound sleep. Her women
presently informed her, in a manner that
shewed their joy, that she was obliged to the
three princes her cousins, and particularly to
prince Ahmed, for the sudden recovery of
her health. She immediately expressed her
joy to see them, and thanked them alto-
gether, and afterwards Prince Ahmed in
particular. As she desired to dress, the
princes contented themselves with telling
her how great a pleasure it was to them to
have come soon enough to contribute each
in any degree towards relieving her out
of the immediate danger she was in, and
what ardent prayers they had offered for
the continuance of her life, and afterwards
they retired.
Whilst the princess was dressing, the
princes went to throw themselves at the
sultan their father's feet, and pay their re-
spects to him ; but when they came before
him, they foimd he had been previously in-
formed of their unexpected arrival by the
chief of the princess's eunuchs, and by what
means used by them the princess had been
perfectly cured. The sultan received and
embraced them with the greatest joy, both
for their return and the wonderful recovery
of the princess his niece, whom he loved as
if she had been his own daughter, and who
had been given over by the physicians. After
the usual compliments, the princes presented
each the rarity which he had brought : prince
Houssain his carpet, which he had taken
care not to leave behind him in the princess's
chamber; prince Ali his ivory tube, and
prince Ahmed the artificial apple ; and after
each had commended his present, when they
put it into the sultan's hands, they begged
of him to pronounce their fate, and declare
to which of them he would give the princess
Nouronnihar for a wife, according to his
promise.
The sultan of the Indies having kini!'
heard all that the princes had to say u
favour of their rarities, without interrupting
them, and being well informed of what had
happened in relation to the princess Nouron-
nihar's cure, remained some time silent, as if
he was thinking on what answer he should
make. At last he broke silence, and said to
them, in terms full of wisdom, " I would
declare for one of you, my children, with a
great deal of pleasure, if I could do it with
justice; but consider whether I can. It is
true, prince Ahmed, the iirincess my niece is
obliged to your artificial apple for her cure ;
but let me ask you, whether you could have
been so 8er\'iceable to her, if you had not
known by prince All's tube the danger she
was in, and if prince Houssain's cvj^t had
not brought you to her so soon ? Your tube,
prince Ali, informed you and y nir brothers
that you were likely to lose the princess your
cousin, and so far she is greatly obliged to
you.
"You must also grant that that knowledge
would have been of no service without the
artificial apple and the caqjct. And for you,
prince Houssain, the princess would be very
ungrateful, if she should not shew her sense
of the serviceableness of your carpet, which
was so necessary a means towards producing
a cure. But consider, it would have been of
little use, if you had not been acquainted
with the princess's illness by prince AU's
tube, and prince Ahmed had not applied his
artificial apple. Therefore, as neither the
carpet, the ivory tube, nor the artificial
apple, have the least preference one before
the other, but, on the contrary, there is a
perfect equality, I cannot grant the princess
to any one of you ; and the only fruit you
have reaped from your travels is the ^lory of
having equally contributed to res* >re her to
health.
"If this be true," added the sultr i, "you
sec that I must have recourse to otht. means
PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PART BANOU.
505
to determine me with certainty in the choice
I ought to make among you ; and as there
is time enough between this and night, I
will do it to-day. Go, and get each of you
a bow and arrow, and repair to the great
plain out of the city, where the horses are
exercised. 1 will soon come to you ; and I
declare I will give the princess Nouronnihar
to him that shoots the farthest.
"I do not, however, forget to thank you
all in general, and each in particular, for
the present you brought me. I have a great
many rarities in my closet already, but no-
thing that comes up to the singularity of the
caqiet, the ivory tube, and the artificial
apple, which shall have the first places
among them, and shall be preserved care-
fully, not only for pure curiosity, but to
make an advantageous use of them upon
all occasions."
The three princes had nothing to say
agaiust the decision of the sultan. When
they were out of his presence, they each
provided themselves with a bow and arrow,
which they delivered to one of their officers,
and went to the plain appointed, followed by
a great concourse of people.
The sultan did not make them wait long
for him; and as soon as he arrived, prince
Houssain, as the eldest, took his bow and
ariov ind shot first. Prince Ali shot next,
an .' mucli beyond him ; and prince Ahmed
I-"- *, >i all : but it so happened that nobody
••'1 I see where his arrow fell; and not-
•■». njBiJindiTig all the diligence that was used
by himS'eU and everybody else, it was not
to bd found far or near. And though it was
believed that he shot the farthest, and that
he therefore deserved the princess Nouron-
nihar, it was however necessary that his
arrow should be found, to make the matter
more evident and certain; and, notwith-
standing his remonstrances, the sidtan de-
termined in favour of prince Ali, and gavn
orders for preparations to be made for the
solemnising of the nuptials, which were
celebrated a few days after with great mag-
n '^csnce.
Prince' Houssain would not honour the
fefist with his presence ; his passion for the
princess Nouronnihar was so sincere and
Uiely, that he could scarce support with
patience the mortification of seeing the
princess in the arms of prince Ali, who, he
said, did not desen-e her better, nor loved
her more than himself. In short, his grief
was so violent and insupportable, that he
left the court, and renounced all right of
succession to the crown, to turn dervis,
aud put himself imder the discipline of a
famous sheik, who had gained a reputation
for his exemplary life, and had taken up his
abode, and that of his disciples, whose num-
ber was great, in an agreeable solitude.
Prince Ahmed, urged by the same motive^
did not assist at prince Ali and the princess
Nouronnihar's nuptials, any more than his
brother Houssain, but did not renounce the
world as he had done. But as he could not
imagine what could become of his arrow, he
stole away from his attendants, and resolved
to search after it, that he might not have
anything to reproach himself with. With
this intent, he went to the place where the
princes Houssain and Ali's were gathered
up, and going straight forward from thence,
looked carefully on both sides of him. He
went so far, that at last he began to think
his labour was in vain ; yet he ccidd not
help going forwards, till he came to some
steep craggy rocks, which would have ob-
liged him to return, had he been ever so
♦ «»
m
5o6
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
desirous to procewL They were situated in
a barren country, about four leagues distant
from whence he set out.
When prince Ahmed came nigh to these
rocks, he perceived an arrow, which he ga-
thered up, looked earnestly at it, and was in
the greatest astonishment to lind that it was
the same he shot. Certainly, said he to
himself, neither I nor any mau living could
shoot an arrow so far ; and finding it laid
flat, not sticking into the ground, he judged
that it had rebounded from the rock. There
must bo some mystery in this, said he to
himself again, and it may be to my ad-
vantage. Perhaps fortune, to make me
amends for depriving me of what I thought
the greatest happii of my life, may have
reserved a greater b 'ng for my comfort.
As these rocks w<-' "■ sha.-p points
and indentures becwij < . r:., the prince,
full of these thoughts, ea :,.'>"; into one of
the cavities, and looking aioiut, cast his
eyes on an iron door, which seemed to have
no lock. He feared it was fastened, but
pushing against it, it opened, and discovered
an easy descent, but no steps, which he
walked down, with his arrow in his hand.
At first, he thought he was going into a
dark place, but presently, a quite different
light succeeded that which he came out of ;
and entering into a spacious square, at about
fifty or sixty paces distant, he perceived a
magnificent palace, the admirable structure
of which he had not time to lock at ; for at
the same time a lady of majestic port and
air, and of a beauty to which the richness of
her clothes and the jewels which adorned
her person added no advantage, advanced as
far as the porch, attended by a troop of
ladies, of whom it was difficult to distinguish
which was the mistress.
As soon as prince Almied perceived the
lady, he hastened to pay his respects, and
the la<ly on her part, seeing him coming,
prevented him. Addressing hor discourse
to him first, and raising her voice, she said
to him, "Gome near, prince Ahmed; you
are welcome."
It was no small surprise to the prince to
hear himself named in a palace he had never
heard of, though so nigh to his father's
capital, and he could not comprehend how
he should be known to a lady who was a
stranger to him. At last be returned the
lady's compliment, by throwing himself at
her feet, and rising up again, said to her,
" Madam, I return you a thousand thanks
for the assurance you give me of a welcome
to a place where I had reason to believe my
imprudent curiosity had made me penetrate
too far. But, madam, may I, without being
guilty of rudeness, presume to ask you by
what adventure you know me? and that
you, who live in the same neighbourhood
with me, should be so little known by me?"
" Prince," said the lady, " let us go into the
hall ; there I will gratify you in your reqiiest
more commodiously for us both."
After these words, the lady led prince
Ahmed into the hall, the noble structure of
which, and the gold and azure which em-
bellished the dome, and the inestimable
richness of the furniture, appeared so great
a novelty to him, that he could not enough
express his admiration, by crying out, that
he had never in his life beheld anything like
it, and believed that nothing was to be com-
pared to it. "I can assure you," replied
the lady, "that this is but a small part of
my palace, and you will say so when you
have seen all the apartments. " Then she sat
down on a sofa ; and when the prince at
her entreaty had seated himself by her, she
said, "You are surprised, you say, that I
should know you, and not be known by
you; but you will be no longer surprised
when I inform you who I am. You cannot
be ignorant that your religion teaches you
to believe that the world is inhabited by
genies as well as men : I am the daughter
of one of the most powerful and distinguished
of these genies, and my name is Pari Banou ;
therefore you ought not to wonder that I
know you, the sultan your father, the princes
your brothers, and the princess Nouronnihar.
I am no strar^ger to your loves or your tra-
vels, of which T could tell you all the cir-
cumstances, since it was I myself who ex-
posed to sale the artificial apple which you
bought at Samarcande, the carpet which
prince Houssain met with at Bisnagar, and
the tube which prince Ali brought from
Schiraz. This is sufficient to let you know
that T am not unacquainted with anything
that relates to you. The only thing I have
to add is, that you seemed to me worthy of
a more happy fate than that of possessing
the princess Nouronnihar; and that you
might attain to it, I was present when yon
drew your arrow, and foreseeing it would not
go beyond prince Houssain's, I took it in
the air, and gave it the necessary motion, to
strike against the rocks near which you
found it. It is in your power to tivaU your-
self of the favourable opportunity which it
presents to make you happy."
As the fairy Pari Banou pronoimced these
last words with a different tone, and looked
at the same time tenderly upon prince
Ahmed, with downcast eyes and a modest
blush on her cheeks, it was not difficult for
the prince to comprehend what happiness
she meant. He presently considered that
the princess Nouronnihar could never be hia,
and that the fairy Pari Banou excelled her
infinitely in beauty, attractions, agreeable-
ness, transcendent wit, and, as far as he
could conjecture by the magnificence of the
palace where she resided, in immense riches.
He blessed the moment that he thought of
rRTNCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU.
507
eeeking after his arrow a second time, and
yielding to lus inclination, 'which drew him
towards the new ohject which had fired his
heart, " Madam," replied he, " should!, all
my life, have had the happiness of being
your slave, and the admirer of the many
charms which ravish my soul, I should think
myself the happiest of men. Pardon me the
boldness which inspires me to ask this fa-
vour, and do not refuse to admit into your
court a prince who is entirely devoted to
you."
" Prince," answered the fairy, " as I have
been a long time my own mistress, and hnve
no dependence on my parents' consent, it is
not as a slave that I would admit you into
my court, but asi master of my person, and
all that belongs to me, by pledging your
faith to me, and taking me to be your wife.
I I hope yon will not take it amiss that I an-
; ticipate you in making this proposal. I am,
as I said, mistress of my will ; and must
add, that the same customs are not observed
among fairies as among other ladies, in whom
it would not have been decent to have made
such advances ; but it is what we do, and
we suppose we confer obligation by it."
Prince Ahmed made no answer to this
discourse, but was so penetrated with grati-
tude, that he thought he could not express
it better than by coming to kiss the hem of
her garment ; which she would not give him
time to do, but presented her hand, which
he kissed a thousand times, and kept fast
locked in his. «' Well, prince Ahmed," said
she, "will you not pledge your faith to me,
as I do mine to you ?" "Yes, madam," re-
plied the prince, in an ecstacy of joy, " what
can I do better, and with greater pleasure ?
Yes, my sultancss, my (jiieen, I -will give it
you with my heart, without the least re-
serve. " " Then, " answered the fairy, ' ' you
are my husband, and I am your wife. Our
marriages are contracted with no other
ceremoniea, and yet are more firm and in-
dissoluble than those among men witli all
their formalities. But, as I suppose," pur-
sued she, " that you have eaten nothing to-
day, a slight repast shall be served up for
you while preparations are making for our
nu])tial feast this evening, and then T. will
shew you the apartments of my palace, and
you shall judge if this hall is the smallest
part of it."
Some of the fairy's women who came
into the hall with them, and gtiessed her
intentions, went immediately out, and re-
tamed presently with some excellent meats
and wines.
When prince Ahmed had eaten and drank
as much as he cared for, the fairy Pari
Banou carried him through all the apart-
ments, where he saw diamonds, rubies,
emeralds, and all sorts of fine jewels, inter-
mixed with pearls, agate, jasper, porphyry.
and all kinds of the most precious marbles ;
not to mention the richness of the furniture,
which was inestimable ; the whole disposed
with such profusion, that the prince, instead
of ever having seen anything like it, acknow-
ledged that there could not be anything in
the world that could come up to it.
"Prince," said the fairy, "if you admire
my pal.ice so much, which is indeed very
beautiful, what would you say to the palaces
of the chief of our genies, which are much
more beautifid, spacious, and magniticent?
I could also charm you with my garden ;
but we will leave that till another time.
Night draws near, and it will be time to go
to supper."
The next hall which the fairy led the
prince into, and where the cloth was laid
for the feast, was the only apartment the
prince had not seen, and it was not in the
least inferior to the others. At his entrance
into it, he admired the infinite number of
wax candles perfumed with amber, the
multitude of which, instead of being con-
fused, were placed with so just sjrmmetry,
as formed an agreeable and pleasant sight.
A large beaufet was set out with all sorts of
gold plate, so finely wrought, that the work-
manship was much more valuable than the
weight of uhe gold. Several chorusses of
beautiful women richly dressed, and whose
voices were ravishing, began a concert,
accompanied with all kinds of the most har-
monious instnmients he had ever heard.
Wlien they were set down to table, the
fairy Pari Banou took care to help prince
Ahmed to the most delicious meats, which
she named as she invited him to eat of
them, and which the prince had never heard
of, but found so exquisite and nice, that he
commended them in the highest terms, cry-
ing that the entertainment which she gave
him far surpassed those among men. He
found also the same excellence in the wines,
which neither he nor the fairy tasted of till
the dessert was served up, which consisted
of the choicest sweetmeats and fruits.
After the dessert, the fairy Pari Banou
and prince Ahmed rose from the table, which
was immediately carried away, and sat on a
sofa, at their ease, with cushions of fine
silk, curiously embroidered with all sorts of
large flowers, laid at their backs. Presently
after a great number of genies and fairies
danced before them to the door of the cham-
ber where the nuptial bed was made ; and
when they came there, they divided them-
selves into two rows, to let them pass, and
after that retired, leaving them to go to bed.
The nuptial feast was continued the next
day ; or rather the days following the cele-
bration were a continual feast, which the
fairy Pari Banou, who coidd do it with the
utmost ease, knew how to diversify, by new
dishes, new meats, new concerts, new dances.
11
i
\
5o8
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
new shows, and new diversions ; which were
all so extraordinary, that prince Ahmed, if
he had lived a thousand years among men,
could not have imagined.
The fairy's intention was not only to give
the prince essential proofs of the sincerity of
her love, and the violence of her passion, by
80 many ways ; but to let him see, that as
he had no pretensions at his father's court,
he could meet with nothing comparable to
the happiness he enjoyed with her, indepen-
dent of her beauty and her charms, and to
attach him entirely to herself, that he might
never leave her. In this scheme she suc-
ceeded so well, that prince Ahmed's passion
was not in the least diminished by posses-
sion ; but increased so much, that if he had
been so inclined, it was not in his power to
forbear loving her.
At the end of six months, prince Ahmed,
who always loved and honoured the sultan
his father, cou.:; .1 a great desire to know
how he did ; .iU. . aj that desire could not be
satisfied without his absenting himself to go
and hear it in persoii, he mentioned it to the
fairy, and desr -• "* she v ,iJ '' give him leave.
This discour.^'.. alanaed the fairy, and
made her fear it was only an excuse to leave
her. She said to him, "What disgust can
I have given yon to oblige you to ask me
this leave ? Is it possible you should have
forgotten that you have pledged your faith
to me, and that you no longer love one who
is so passionately fond of you ? Are not the
proofs I have repefitedly given you of my
affection sufhcicnt Y "
"My qv.een," replied the prince, "T am
perfectly convinced of your love, and should
be unworthy of it, if I did uot testify my
gratitude by a reciprocal love. If you are
offended at the leave I asked, I entreat you
to forgive \w;, and I will make all the repa-
ration I an capable of. I did not do it with
any inten^nn of displeasing you, but from
a motive of respect towards my father, whom
I wish to i'ree from the affliction my so long
abse'jce must have overwhelmed him in ;
which must be the greater, as I have reason
to presume he believes that lam dead. But
sine 5 you do not consent that I should go
arid afford him that comfort, I will do what
you will, and there is nothing in the world
thitt I am not ready to do to please you."
Prince Ahmed, who did not dissemble,
and loved her in his heart as much as he
had assured her by these words, no longer
insisted on the leave he hod asked ; and the
fairy expressed her satisfaction thereat. But
as he could not absolutely abandon the design
he had formed to himself, he frequently took
an opportunity to speak to her of the great
qualitic:itions of the sultan his father : and
above all, of his particidar tenderness towards
him, in hopes he might at length be able to
move her.
As prince Ahmed supposed, the sidtan of
the Indies, in the midst of the rejoicings on
account of ]irince All's and princess Nouron-
nihar's nuptials, was sensibly afflicted at the
absence of the other two princes his sons,
though it was not long before he was inform-
ed of the resolution prince Houssaiu had
taken to forsake the world, and the place he
had made choice of for his retreat. As a
good father, whose happiness consists in
seeing his children about him, especially
when they are deserving of his tenderness,
he would have been better pleased had he
stayed at his court, about his person ; but as
he could not disapprove of his choice of the
state of perfection in which he hnd engaged,
he supported his absence more patiently.
He made the most diligent search after
prince Ahmed, and despatched couriers to
all the provinces of lus dominions, with
orders to the governors to stop him, and
oblige him to return to court : but all the
pains he took had not the desired success,
and his trouble, instead of diminishing,
increased. He would often talk with his
grand vizier about it ; and say to him,
"Vizier, thou knowest I always loved Ah-
med the best of all my sons ; and thou art
not insensible of the means I have used to
find him out, without success. My grief is
so lively, I shall sink under it, if thou host
not compassion on me : if thou hast any re-
gard for the preservation of my life, I con-
jure thee to assist and advise me."
The grand vizier, no less attached to the
person of the sultan, than zealous to acquit
himself well of the administration of the
affairs of state, considering how to give his
sovereign some ease, bethought himself of a
sorceress, of whom he bad heard wonders,
and proposed to send for her to consult her.
The sultan consented, and the grand vizier,
after he had sent for her, introduced her to
him himself.
The sultan said to the magician, "The
affliction I have been in since the marriage
of my son prince All to the princess Xouron-
nihar, my niece, on account of the absence
of prince Ahmed, is so well known, and so
public, that undoubtedly thou canst be no
stranger to it. By thy art and skill canst
thou tell me what is become of him ? If he
is alive, where is he ? What he is doing ?
and if I may hope ever to see him again ? "
To this the sorceress made answer, " It is^
impossible, sir, for me, though never so skil-
fid in my profession, to answer immediately
the questions your majesty asks me; but
if you allow till to-morrow, I will give aa
answer." The sultan granted her the time,
and sent her away, with a promise to recom-
pense her well, if her answer proved accord-
ing to his desire.
The magician returned the next day, and
the grand vizier presented her a aecond time
PRTXCE AH.\TED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU.
509
'The
to the BiUtan. "Sir," said she, "notwith-
standing all the diligence I have used in
applying the rules of my art, to obey your
majesty in what yon d«^re to know, I have
not been able to discorer anything more
than that prince Ahmed £• alive. Thin
is very certain, and yon may depend on it ;
but as to the place where he ia, I cannot find
it out."
The sultan of the Indies was obliged to be
satisfied with this anawer; which left him
in the same uneasiness a» before as to the
prince's fate.
To return to prince Ahmed. He so often
entertained the fairy Pari Banoa with talk-
ing about the sultan his father, without
epeaking any more of his desire to see him,
that she fully comprehended what he meant ;
and perceiving this restraint be put upon
himself, and his fear of displeasing her after
her first refusal, she first inferred that his
love for her was, by the repeated proofs ho
had given her, sincere; and then judging
by herself the injustice she was guilty of in
opposing a son's tenderness for his father,
and endeavouring to make him renounce
that natural inclination, she resolved to
grant him the leave which she saw he
always so ardently desired. One day she
said to him, "Prince, the leave you have
asked me to go and see the sultan your
father gave me a jnst fear that \i was only
a pretext to shew yonr inconstancy, and to
leave me, and that was the sole motive for
my refusing you; bnt now I am so fully
convinced by yonr actions and words, that
I can depend on your constancy, and the
steadiness of yonr love, I change my resolu-
tion, and grant yon that leave, upon con-
dition that you will swear to me first that
your absence shaD not be long. You ought
not to be concerned at this condition, as if
I asked it out of dMrnst I do it only
because I know that it will give you no
uneasiness, convinced as I am, as I have
already told you, of the sincerity of your
love."
Prince Ahmed would hare thrown him-
self at the fairy's feet to shew his gratitude,
but she preventeii him. " My sultaness,"
said he, "I am sensible of the great favour
you grant me, but want words to return the
thanks I wish. Supply this defect, T con-
jure yon, and whatever you can suggest to
yourself, be persuaded I think much more.
You may believe that the oath will give me
no uneasiness, and I take it more willingly,
nince it is not possible lot me to live with-
out you. I go, but the haste I will make to
return shall shew yon that it is not for fear
of being foresworn, but that I follow my in-
clination, which is to lire with you for ever;
and if I am absent some time with your
consent, I shall always avoid the trouble a
too long absence will create me."
Pari Banou was the more charmed with
these sentiments of Prince Alnned, because
they removed the suspicions she had enter-
tained of him, fearing that his earnest de-
sire to go and see the sultan bin father was
only a pretext to break his faith with her.
— " Prince," saidshe, "go when you please ;
but first do not take it amiss that I give you
some advice how you shall behave yourself
where you are going. First, I do not think
it proper for you to tell the sultan your
father of our marriage, nor of my quality,
nor the place where you are settled. Beg
of him to be satisfied with knowing you are
happy, and that you desire no more ; and
let him know that the sole end of your visit
is to make him eaoy about your fate."
She appointed twenty horsemen, well
mounted and equipped, to attend him.
When all was ready, prince Ahmed tooK his
leave of the fp'ry, embraced her, and re-
newed his promise to return soon. Then
his horse, which was most finely caparisoned,
and was as beautiful a creature as any in
the sultan of the Indies' stables, was brought
to him, and he mounted him with an- extra-
ordinary grace, with great pleasure to the
fairy ; and after he had bid her a last adieu,
set forward on his journey.
As it was not a great way to his father's
capital, prince Ahmed soon arrived there.
The people, glad to see him again, received
him with acclamations of joy, and followed
him in crowds to the sultan's apartment.
The sultan received and embraced him with
great joy ; complaining at the same time,
with a fatherly tenderness, of the affliction
his long absence had been to him, which he
said was the more grievous, for that fortune
having decided in favour of prince Ali his
brother, he was afraid he might have com-
mitted some act of despair.
" Sir," replied prince Ahmed, "I leave it
to your majesty to consider, if, after having
lost the princess Nouronnihar, who was the
only object of my desires, I could resolve to
be a witness of prince Ali's happiness. If I
had been capable of so unworthy an action,
what would the court and city have thought
of my love, or what your majesty ? Love is
a passion we cannot throw off when we wiU ;
it rules and governs us, and wiU not give a
true lover time to make use of his reason.
Your majesty knows, that when I shot my
arrow, the most extraordinary thing that
ever befell anybody happened to me, that in
so large and level a plain as that where the
horses are exercised, it should not be pos-
sible to find my arrow. I lost the cause, the
justice of which was as inuch due to my
love as to that of the princes my brothers.
Though thus vanquished by the caprice of
fate, I lost no time in vain complaints ; but,
to satisfy my perplexed mind, in the adven-
ture which I could not comprehend, I gave
r.
I. «
Mi
5IO
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
my attendants the Blip, and returned back
a^ain alone to luck for my arrow. I aoiight
all about the ]>lace where Prince Uouii&aiu'B
and prince Ali's arrows were found, and
where I imagined mine must have fallen ;
but all my labour was in vain. I was not
discouraged, but continued my search on the
same ground in a direct line, and looked
carefully about where I could guess it might
have fallen ; and after this manner had gone
above a league, without being able to meet
with anything like an arrow, when I reflected
that it was not possible that mine should
fly so far. I stopped, oud asked myself
whether I was in my right senses, to flatter
myself with having strength enough to shoot
an arrow so much farther than any of the
greatest heroes in the world were aile to do.
After I had argued thus with myself, I was
ready to abandon my enterprise ; but when
I was on the ]ioint of x)utting my resolution
in execution, I found myself dra>vn forward
almost against my will ; and after having
gone four leagues to that part of the plain
where it is bounded by rocks, I perceived
an arrow. I ran and took it up, and knew
it to be the same which I had shot, but
which had not been found in the time or
place that it should have been. For from
thinking your majesty had done me any in-
justice in declaring for my brother prince
Ali, I interpreted what had happened to me
quite otherwise, and never doubted but there
was a mystery in it to my advantage ; the
discovery of which I ought not to neglect,
and which I found out without going farther
from the spot. But as to this mystery, I
beg your majesty will not take it ill that
I am silent, and that you will be satisfied
to know from my own mouth that I am
happy, and content with my fate.
" In the midst of all my happiness, the
only thing that troubled me, or was capable
of disturbing me, was the uneasiness I feared
your majesty was in, upon account of my
leaving the court, and your not knowing
what was become of me. I thought it my
duty to satisfy you on this point. This was
the only motive which brought me hither ;
the only favour I ask of your majesty is to
give me leave to come often and pay you my
respects, and inquire after your health."
" Son," answered the sultan of the Indies,
" I cannot refuse you the leave you ask me,
but I should much rather you would return
and stay with me. At least, tell me where
I may hear of you, if you should fail to
come, or when I may think your presence
necessary." "Sir," replied prince Ahmed,
" what your majesty asks of me is part of
the mystery I spoke to your majesty of. I
beg of you to give me leave to remain silent
on this head ; for I shall come so frequently
where my duty calls, that I am afraid I shall
sooner be thought troublesome, than be ac-
cused of negligence in my duty, when my
presence may be necessary."
The sultan of the Indies pressed prince
Ahmed no more, but said to him, "Son, I
penetrate no further into your secrets, but
leave you at your liberty. I oon only tell
you, that you could not do me a greater
pleasure than to come, and, by your pre-
sence, restore to me the joy I have not felt
for a long time ; and that you shall always
be welcome when you come, without inter-
rupting your business or your pleasure."
Prince Ahmed stayed but three days at
the sultan his father's court, and the fourth
returned to the fairy Pari Banou, who re-
ceived him with the greater joy, as she did
not expect him so soon. His diligence
made her condemn herself for suspecting his
want of fidelity She never dissembled in
the least, but frankly owned her weakness
to the prince, and asked Us pardon. So
perfect was the union of these two lovers,
thnt they had but one will between them.
A month after prince Ahmed's return
from paying a visit to his father, as the fairy
Pari Banou hod observed, that since the
time that the prince gave her an account of
his journey, and his conversation with his
father, in which he asked his leave to come
and see him from time to time, he had never
spoken of the sultan, as if there had been
no such person in the world, whereas before
he was always speaking of him, she thought
he forbore on her account ; and therefore
took an opportunity to say to him one day,
"Tell me, prince, have you forgotten the
sultan your father ? Do not you remember
the promise you made to go and see him
from time to time? For my part, I have
not forgotten what you told me at your re-
turn, and put you in mind of it, that you
may not be long before you acquit yourself
of yoiu: promise for the first time."
"Madam," replied prince Ahmed, with
the same lively tone as the fairy spoke to
him, " as I know I am not guilty of the
forgctfulness you speak of, I rather choose
to be thus reproached, however undeserved-
ly, than expose myself to a refusal, by shew-
ing unseasonably a desire for what it might
have given you pain to grant." " Prince,"
said the fairy, "I would not have you in
this affair have so much consideration for
me, since it is a month since you have seen
the sultan your father. I think you should
not be longer than a month before you re-
new your visit. Pay him another visit to-
morrow, and after tliat go and see him once
a month, without speaking to me, or waiting
for my leave. I readily consent."
Prince Ahmed went the next morning
with the same attendants as before, but
much finer, and himself more magnificently
mounted, equipped, and dressed, and was
received by the sultan with the same joy
PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU.
-JII
and Batisfaction. For several months ho
constantly paid him visits, and always in a
richer and more brilliant cquipivi^e.
At lost some viziers, the sidtan's favour-
ites, wl- judged of prince Ahmed's gran-
deur and power by the figure he made,
abused the liberty the sultan gave them of
speaking to him, to make him jealous of his
son. They represented to him that it was
but common prudence to know -where the
prince had retired, and how he could afford
to live at such a rate, since he had no
revenue nor income assigned him, and that
he seemeil to come to court only to brave
him, by affecting to shew that he wanted
nothing of him to live like a prince, and
that it was to be feared he might stir up
the people's favour, and dethrone him.
The sultan of the Indies was so far from
thinking that prince Ahmed could be capable
of so wicked a design, as his favourites
would make him believe, that he said to
them, "You are mistaken; my son loves
me, and I am the more assured of his ten-
derness and fidelity, as I have given him no
reason to be disgusted."
Upon these last words, one of the favour-
ites took an opportunity to say, " Your
majesty, in the opinion of the most sensible
people, could not have taken a better
method than what you have done with the
three princes, respecting their marriage with
the princess Nouronnihar ; but who knows
whether prince Ahmed has submitted to his
fate with the same resignation as prince
Houssain? May not he imagine that he
alone deserved her, and that your majesty,
by leaving that matter to be decided by
chance, has done him injustice ?
"Your majesty may say," added the
malicious favourite, " that prince Ahmed
has given no sign of dissatisfaction; that
our fears are vain ; that we are too easily
alarmed, and are to blame to suggest to you
suspicions of this sort, which may, perhaps,
be unfounded, against a prince of your
blood. But, sir," pursued the favourite,
"it may be also these suspicions may be
well grounded. Your majesty is sensible,
that in so nice and important an affair, you
cannot be too much upon your guard, and
should take the safest course. Consider, it
is the prince's business to dissemble, amuse,
and deceive you ; and the danger is the
greater as the prince resides not far from
your capital ; and if your majesty gave but
the same attention that we do, you may ob-
serve that every time he comes, he and his
attendants are fresh, and their clothes and
their horses' housings are clean and bright,
as if they were come from the maker's hands,
and their horses look as if they had only
been walked out. These are sufficient signs
that prince Ahmed does not come a great
way; so that we should think ourselves
wanting in our duty if we did not make our
humble remonstrances, that, for your own
preservation and the good of your people,
you might take such measures as you shall
think fit."
When the favourite had made an end of
this long speech, the sultan said, " Be it as
it wiU, I do not believe my son Ahmed is so
wicked as you would persuade me he is ;
however, I am obliged to you for your good
advice, and do not doubt that it proceeds
from a good intention."
The sultan of the Indies said this, that hia
favourites might not know the impressions
their discourse had made on his mind. He
was, however, so much alarmed by it, that
ho resolved to have prince Ahmed watched,
unknown to his grand vizier. For this lud
he sent for the female magician, who was
introduced by a private door into his closet,
" You told me the truth," said he, "when
you assured mo my son Ahmed was alive,
for which I am obliijed to you. You must
do me another pleasure. I have seen him
since, and he comes to my court every
month ; but I cannot learn from him where
he resides, and I did not wish to force his
secret out of him, but believe you are cap-
able of satisfying my curiosity, without
letting him, or any of my court, know
anything of the matter. You know that
at this present time he is here with me, and
is used to go away without taking leave of
me, or any of my court. Go immediately
upon the road, and watch him so well, as
to find out where he retires, and bring me
word."
The magician left the sultan, and knowing
the place where prince Ahmed found his
arrow, went immediately thither, and hid
herself near the rocks, so that nobody could
see her.
The next morning prince Ahmed set out
by daybreak, without taking leave either of
the sidtan or any of his court, according to
custom. The magician seeing him coming,
followed him with her eyes, till on a sudden
she lost sight of him and his attendants.
The steepness of the rocks formed an in-
surmountable barrier to men, whether on
horseback or on foot, so that the magician
judged that there were but two ways ; either
that the prinoe retired into some cavern, or
into some place under ground, the abode of
genies or fairies. When she thought the
prince and his attendants were out of sight
and returned into the cavern or subterra-
neous place she imagined, she came out of
the place where she had hid herself, and
went directly to the hollow way where she
had seen them go in. She entered it, going
and returning several times, and proceeding
to the spot where it terminated in many
windings, looking carefully about on all
sides. But notwithstanding all her dili-
I
512
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
genoe, she could perceive no opening, nor
the iron gate which priDce Ahmed disco-
vered : for this door was to be seen by and
opened to none but men, and only to such
wen whose presence wos agreeable to the
fairy Pari Banou, and not at all to women.
The magician, who saw it was in vain for
ker to search any farther, was obliged to be
satisfied with the discovery she hod made,
and returned to give the sultan an account.
When she hod told him what she had done,
she added, "Your majesty may easily under-
atand, after what I have had the honour to
tell you, it will be no difficult matter to give
yon the satisfaction you desire concerning
prince Ahmed's conduct. I will not tell you
now what I think, but choose to let you know
in » way that will not suffer you to doubt of
it To do this, I only ask time, and that
yon will have patience, and give me leave to
do it without inquiring what measures I de-
sign to take."
The sultan was very well pleased with the
magician's conduct, and said to her, "Do
yon as you think lit ; I will wait patiently
the event of your promises." And to en-
courage her, he made her a present of a dia-
mond of great value, telling her it was only
an earnest of the ample recompense she
should receive when she had done him that
important piece of service, which he left to
her management.
As prince Ahmed, after he had obtained
the faiiy Pari Banou's leave to go to the
sultan of the Indies' court, never failed once
a month, and the magician knowing the
time, went a day or two before to the foot
of the rock, where she lost sight of the
prince and his attendants, and waited there
with an intention to execute the project she
had formed.
The next morning prince Ahmed went out
as osnal at the iron gate, with the same at-
tendants as before, and passed by the magi-
cian, whom he knew not to be such ; aud
seeing her lie with her head upon the rock,
and complaining as if she was in great pain,
he pitied her, turned his horse about, and
went to her, and asked her what was the
matter with her, and what he could do to
relieve her.
The artful sorceress, without lifting up
her head, looked at the prince in a manner
to increase his compassion, already excited,
and answered in broken words and sighs, as
if she could hardly fetch her breath, that she
was going to the city, but in the way thither
was taken with so violent a fever, that her
strength failed her, and she was forced to
stop and lie down where he saw her, far
from any habitation, and without any hopes
of assistance.
"Good woman," replied prince Ahmed,
" yon are not so far from help as you ima-
gine. I am ready to assist you, and convey
you where you shall not only have all prs-
sible care taken of you, b«it where you will
find a speedy cure ; only get up, and '- 1 one
of my people take you behind him."
At these words, the magician, who pre-
tended sickness only to know where the
prince lived, what he did, and what was his
situation, did not refuse the charitable offer
he made her so freely ; and, to shew her ac-
ceptance of it rather by her actions than by
her words, she made many affected efforts
to get uvi. pretending that the violence of
her illness prevented her. At the same
time, two of the prince's attendants alight-
ing off their horses, helped her up, and set
her behind another. They mounted their
horses again, and followed the prince who
turned back to the iron gate, which was
opened by one of his retinue, who rid before.
When he came into the outward court of
the fairy's palace, without dismounting him-
self, he sent to tell her he wanted to speak
with her.
The fairy Pari Banou came with all ima-
ginable haste, not knowing what mode
prince Ahmed return so soon; who, not
giving her time to ask him the reason, said,
"My princess, I desire you would have
compassion on this good woman," pointing
to the magician, who was taken off the horse
by two of his retinue : " I found her in the
condition you see her in, and promised her
the assistance she stands in need of. I re-
commend her to your care, and am persuaded
that you, from inclination, as well as at my
request, will not abandon her."
The fairy Pari Banou, who had her eyes
fixed upon the pretended sick woman all the
time that the prince was talking to her, or-
dered two of her women who followed her
to take her from the two men that held
her, and carry her into an apartment of the
palace, and take as much care of her as of
herself.
AVhilst the two women executed the fairy's
commands, she went up to prince Ahmed,
and whispering him in the ear, said,
"Prince, I commend your compassion,
which is worthy of you and your birth. I
take great pleasure in gratifying your good
intention ; but give me leave to tell you, I
am afraid it will be but ill rewarded. This
woman is not so sick as she pretends to be ;
and I am very much mistaken if she is not
sent hither on purpose to occasion you great
trouble. But do not be concerned, let what
wiU be devised against you ; be persuaded
that I will deliver you out of all the snares
that shall be laid for you. Go aud pursue
your journey."
This discourse of the f aiiy's did not in the
least alarm prince Ahmed. " My princess,"
said he, " as I do not remember I ever did,
or designed to do, anybody an injury, I can-
not believe anybody can have a thought of
d(
fo
r«
fn
w
PRINCE A HATED, AND THE FAIRY PARI DANGC.
sn
doing me one ; but if they have, I shall not
forbear doing good, win-never I havo an op-
portunity." Si) snyinj;, ho took leave of the
fairy, and set forward a^aiu fi>r bin father's
capital, where ho soon arrived, and waa
received as usual by the sultan, who con-
strained himself as much as possible, to dis-
guise the trouble arising from the suspicions
buggcsted by his favourites.
In the meantime, the two women to
whom the fairy Pari Banoii had given her
orders carried the magician into a very iino
apartment, richly furnished. First, tliey set
her down upon a sofa, with her back su])-
])orted with a cushion of gold brocade, while
they made a bed on the same sofa before
her, the quilt of which was finely embroi-
dered with silk, the sheets of the tiuest linen,
and the coverlet cloth of gold. When they
had put her into bed, (for the old sorceress
luretcnded that her fever was so violent, sho
could not help herself in the least,) one of
the women went out, and returned soon again
with a china cup in her hand, full of a cer-
tain liquor, which she presented to the ma-
gician, while the other helped her to sit up.
"Drink this liquor," said she; "it ia the
water of the fountain of lions, and a sove-
reign remedy against all fevers whatsoever.
You will find the effect of it in less than an
hour's time."
The magician, to dissemble the better,
took it, after a great deal of entreaty, as if
she was very much averse to take that
potion ; but at last she took the china cup,
and shaking her head, as if she did great
violence to herself, swallowed the liquor.
When she was laid down again, the two
women covered her uj). "Lie quiet," said
she who brought her the china cup, "and
get a little sleep if you can. We will leave
you, and hope to find you perfectly cured
when we come an hour hence."
The magician, who came not to act a
sick part long, but only to discover prince
Ahmed's retreat, and what made him leave
his father's court, being fully satisfied in
what she wanted to know, would willingly
have declared that the potion had then had
its effects, so great was her desire to return
to the sultan, to inform him of the success of
her commission ; but as she had been told
that the potion did not operate immediately,
she was forced to wait the women's return.
The two women came agaui at the time
they said they should, and found the magi-
cian up and dressed, and seated on the sofa,
who, when she saw them open the door of
the apartment, cried oun;, "O the admirable
potiou ! it has wrought its cure much sooner
than you told me it would, and I have waited
a long time with impatience, to desire you
to carry me to your chantible mistress, to
thank her for her kindness, for which I shall
always be obliged to her, since, being thus
cured as by a miracle, I would not logo time,
but prosecute my journoy."
The two women, who were fairies as well
aa their mistress, after tliey had told thu
magician how glad they were that she was
cured so soon, walked before her, and con-
ducted her through several apartments, all
more superb than that wherein she lay, into
a large hall, the most richly and nuigniti-
cently furniMlied of all tho palace.
Pari Bauou was seated in this hall, on a
throne of massy gold, enriched with dia-
monds, rubies, and pearls of an extraordi-
nary size, and attended on each hand by a
great number of beautiful fairies, all richly
dressed. At' the sight of so much majesty,
thu magician was not only dazzled, but was
so struck, that after she had prostrated her-
self before the throne, she could not open
her lips to thank the fairy, aa she proposed.
However, Pari ISanou saved her the trouble,
and said to her, " Ciood woman, I am glad I
had an opportunity to oblige you, and to see
you are able to pursue your journey. I will
not detain you ; but perhaps you may not
be displeased to sec my palace : foUow my
women, and they will shew it you."
The old sorceress, who had not power nor
courage to aay a word, prostrated herself a
second time, with her head on the carpet
that covered the foot of the throne, and so
took her leave, and was conducted by the
two fairies through all tho same apartments
which were shewn to prince Ahmed at hia
first arrival there, and at sight of their un-
common magnilicence she made frequent
exclamations. But what surprised her most
of all was, that the two fairies told her, that
all she saw and admired so much was a
mere sketch of their mistress's grandeur and
riches ; and that in the extent of her do-
minions she had so many palacea that they
could not tell the number of them, all of dif-
ferent plana and architecture, aud equally
mt^nificent and superb. In talking of many
other particular" they led her at last to the
iron gate at .vhich prince Ahmed brought
her in, and after she J-nd taken her leave of
them, and thanked uH'-.v for their trouble,
they opened it, uj" jshed her a good
journey.
After the magician had gone a little way,
she turned back again to observe the door
and know it again, but all in vain ; for, as
was before observed, it was invisible to her
and all other women. Except in this cir-
cumstance, she was very well satisfied with
executing the commission she had under-
taken, and i^osted away to the sidtan.
When she came to the capital, she went by
a great many by-ways to the private door of
the palace. The sultan being informed of
her arrival, sent for her into his apartment,
and perceiving a melancholy hang upuii her
countenance, he thought she had not suc-
I !:
■?,
•2 K
i
5«4
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ce«ded, and said to hur, " By your looks I
gueu that yuiir journey liiix l)vcn to no piir-
poai;, oud that you hnvo not nimle thu dis-
corery I cxpuotcd from your diligonuo."
*'J*ir," replied the inngiuian, "your niajwity
muHt givo nie leave to rcpri'sent to you,
tliat you ought not to judgo by my lookn
whether or no I have acquitted myself well
in the exectition of the conimaudH you weru
pleaHe<l to honour me with ; but by the
faithful rei>ort I Rhall make you of all that
haH ha|ii>ened to me, and liy which you will
tind that 1 have not neglected anything that
could render me worthy of your opiiroba-
tion. Tlie melancholy you observe in my
{ace proceeds from another cause than the
want of success, which 1 hope your majesty
will have all the reason in the world to be
content with. I do not tell yon the cause ;
the relation I am going to give will, if you
have patience, inform you of it."
Then the magician related to the sultan
of the Indies how she pretended to 1)8 sick,
prince Ahmed compassionating her, had her
carried into a subterraneous abode, and pre-
sented and recommended her himself to a
fairy of incomparable beauty, desiring her
by her care to restore her hetUth. Then she
told him with how much coiidescenMiou iXw.
fairy j'resently ordered two fairies that at-
tended her, to take care of her, and not to
leave her till she was rec(jvered ; •' which
great condescension," said she, "could pro-
ceed from no other person but from a wife to
a husband." Afterwards the old sorceress
failed not tn exaggerate on her surjiriso at
the front of the palace, which she said had
not its fellow in the world, while the two
faines held her by each arm, like a sick
penon, as she feigned to be, that could not
walk or support herself. She gave a par-
ticular account of the care they took of her,
after they had led her into another a]>art-
ment; of the potion they made her drink,
and of the quickness of her cure, which she
pretended as well as her sickness, though
■he doubted not the virtue of the draught ;
the majesty of the fairy seated on a throne,
brilliant with jewels, the value of which ex-
ceeded all the riches of the kingdom of the
Indies, and all the other riches beyond
computation contained in that vast palace.
Here the magician, finishing the relation
of the snccesB of her commission, and con-
tinuing her discourse, said, "What does
your majesty think of these unheard-of
riches of the fairy ? Perhaps you will say,
yon are stnivk with admiration, and rejoice
at the good fortune of prince Ahmed your
son, who enjoys them in common with the
fairy. For my part, sir, I beg of your ma-
jesty to forgive me, if I take the liberty to
remonstrate to you, that I think otherwise,
and that I shudder when I consider the
miafortunes which may happen to you from
it. And this is the cause of the melancholy
whieh I could not so well dissemble, but
that you soon perceived it. I would believe
that prince Ahmed, by liis own good dispo-
sitiou, is incapable of undertaking anything
against your majesty ; but who can answer
that thu fairy, i)y her attractions and ca-
resses, and thu intluenco f>b» has already
over him, may not inspire ' ^ a dan-
gerous design of dethninii c majesty
and seizing the crown of the indies? This
is what your majesty ought to consider as a
serious utfuir of the utmost im]>ortanco,"
Though the sultan of thj IndieH was very
well iiersuaded that prince Ahmed's natural
disposition was good, yet he could not hul])
being moved at the discourse of the old
sorceress, and said, " I thank you for the
pains you liavo taken, and your wholesome
caution. I am so sensible of the great
imi)ortanco it is to me, that I shall take
advice upon it."
He was consulting with his favourites,
when he was told of the magician's arrival.
He ordered her to follow him to them. He
acquainted them with what he had learnt,
and communicated to them also the reason
ho had to fear the fairy's inflvnco over the
]>rince, and asked them what -lures they
thought most ])r(iper to be 1 t prevent
HO great a misfortune. Onf favour-
ites, taking upon himself to speak for the
rest, said, " Your majesty knows who must
be the author of this mischief. In order to
prevent it, now he is in your court, and in
yoTir power, you ought not to hesitate to
put him under arrest. I will not say, take
away his life, for that would make too much
noise ; but make him a close prisoner while
he lives." This advice all the other favour-
ites unanimously applauded.
The magician, who thought it too violent,
asked the sultan leave to speak, which being
granted, she said, " Sir, I am persuaded the
zeal of your counsellors for your majesty's
interest makes them propose arresting prince
Ahmed ; but they will not take it amiss if
I ofTer to your and their consideration, that
if you arrest the prince, you must also de-
tain his retinue. But they are all genies.
Do they think it will be so easy to surprise,
seize, and secure their persons ? Will they
not disappear, by the property they possess
of rendering themselves invisible, and trans-
port themselves instantly to the fairy, and
give her an account of the insult offered her
husband ? And con it be supposed she will
let it go imrevenged ? But would it not be
better, if by any other means, which might
not make so great a noise, the sultan coidd
secure himself against any Ul designs princ6
Ahmed may have against him, and not in-
volve his majesty's honour, or anybody sus-
pect him of any ill design ? If his majesty
has any coufidence in my advice, as genies
rnrxcF ahmed, and the fairy pari basou.
515
nnd fairipR cnii do tliin;;a imprncticn)))!) to
men, hi- will ])i(|u« princu AlinicirH lioiiour,
tiiiil engasu him, l>y mcanii of tlio fiiiry, to
jirociiri' certftin mlviHit(ij,'o«, iincU'r iirotonco
of deriving a j^roat return, for which he will
l>c ol)lii,'e<l to him. For ('«nm]ilv, every
time your majesty takt>a tlm Held, you are
obliged to bo at n great expense, not only
in ])avilions nnd tents for yourselves and
army, but likewise in mules nnd camels,
and other beasts of burden, to carry their
ba;,'gage. Might not you engage him to use
his interest with the fairy to jirocuro you a
tent whioh might bo carried in a man's
}mnd, and whiuh should be bo large as to
shelter your whole army ?
"I need say no more to your majesty. If
the prince brings such a tent, you may
make a great many other demands of the
same nature, so that at last he may sink
iinder the dilHculties nnd the impossibility
of executing thorn, however fertile in means
nnd inventions the fairy who has enticed
him from you by her enchantments may
be ; so that in time he will be ashamed to
ajipear, and will be forced to pass the rest
of his life with his fairy, excluded from any
commerce with this world ; nnd then your
majesty will have nothing to fear from him,
nnd cannot be reproached with so detest-
nble nn action as the shedding of n son's
blood, or confining him in n prison for life."
When the magician had finished her
speech, the sultan asked his favourites if
they had anything better to propose ; nnd
finding them all silent, determined to follow
the mngiuiaii's advice, as the most reason-
able and most agreeable to his mild manner
of government.
The next day, when the prince came into
his father's presence, who was talking with
his favourites, and had sat down by him,
after a conversation on different subjects,
the sultan addressing himself to prince
Ahmed, said, " Son, when you came and
dispelled those clouds of melancholy which
your long absence had brought upon me,
you made the place you had chosen for your
retreat a mystery to me. I was satisfied
with seeing you again, and knowing that
you was content with your condition, and
■wished not to penetrate into your secret,
•which I found you did not care I should. I
know not what reason you had thus to treat
a father, who ever did and still contimies to
express what interest he takes in your hap-
piness. I know your good fortune. I re-
joice with you, and very much approve of
your conduct in marrying a fairy so worthy
of your love, and so rich and powerful,
xis I am informed. Powerful as I am,
it was not possible for me to have procured
80 great a match for you. Now you are
raised to so high a rank, as to be envied by
everybody, but a father like me, I not only
desiri) you to preserve tin" good understand-
ing we have lived in hithiTto, but that you
will use nil your eredit with your fairy to
obtain for me her assiMtuiiw when 1 may
want it. 1 thi-refore will make a trial of
your interent this diiy.
*' You are not InHPUHible at what a great
expense, not to say trouble to my generals,
oflioers, and myself, every time I take the
field, they provide tents nnd pavilions, nnd
mules and cameN, and other beints of bur-
den, to carry them. If you consider the
pleasure you would do me, I am jiersuiuled
you c'lultl easily jirocure from her a pavilion
that might be carried in n man's hand, and
which would extend over my whole army ;
e8i)ecially when you let her know it i^^ for
me. Though it may be a dillicult thing,
she will not refuse you. AH the world
knows fairies are capable of doing most
extraordinary thingn."
Prince Ahmed never exi)ected that the
sidtan his father woidd have asked such a
thing, which at first siylit appeared to him
HO dilticult, not to say imposHible. Though
la knew not absolutely how great the power
of genies and fairies was, he doubted whether
it extended so far as to furnish such n tent
as his father desired. Moreover, he liail
never asked anything like it of the fairy Pari
Bauou, but was satislicd with the continual
jiroofs she had given him of lier passion, nnd
lie forgot nothing to persuade her that his
heart perfectly corresponded, without any
views of interest, beyond maintaining him-
self in her good graces : therefore he was in
the greatest embarrassment what answer to
make. At last he rejdied, "If, sir, I have
concealed from your majesty what ha])pened
to me, and what course I took after the find-
ing my arrow, the reason was, that I thought
it was of no great importance to you to be
informed of them ; and though I know not
how this mystery has been revealed to you,
I cannot deny but your information is very
just. I have married the fairy you speak of.
I love her, and am persuaded she loves mo.
But I can say nothing as to the infiuence
your majesty believes I have over her. It
is what I have not yet made an experiment
of, nor thought of, and shoidd bo very glad
you would dispense with my undertaking it,
and let me enjoy the happiness of loving and
being loved, with all the disinterestedness
I proposed to myself. But the demand of a
father is a command upon every child, who,
like me, thinks it his duty to obey him in
everything. And though it is with the
greatest reluctance imaginable, I will not
fail to ask my wife the favour your majesty
desires, but will not promise you to obtain
it ; and if I should not have the honour to
come again to pay you my respects, that
shall be the sign that I have not had success :
but beforehand, I desire you to forgive me,
%
. \ I
mi
i
tjA'-
M
ft
I
516
T'//^' ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
and consider that yon yourself have reduced
mo to this extremity."
"Son," replied the sultan of the Indies,
"I should be very sorry that what I ask of
you should give you reason to cause me the
grief of never seeing you more. I find you
do not know the power a husband has over
a wife ; and yours would sliew that her love
to you was very indifferent, if she, with the
power she has as a fairy, should refuse you
so trifling a request as this I desire you to
ask of her for my sake. Lay aside your
fears, which proceed from your believing
yourself not to be loved so well as you love
her. Go ; only ask her. You will find the
fairy loves you better than you imagine ; and
remember, that people, for want of asking,
often lose great advantages. Think with
yourself, that as you love her, you could re-
fuse her nothing; therefore, if she loves you,
she will not deny your requests."
All this discourse of the sultan of the
Indies could not persuade prince Ahmed,
who would rather he would have asked any-
thing else, than to expose him to the hazard
of displeasing his dear Pari Banou ; and so
great was his vexation, that he left the court
two days sooner than he used to do.
When he returned, the fairy, to whom he
always before appeared with a gay counte-
nance, asked him the cause of the alteration
she perceived in his looks ; and finding, that
instead of answering her, he inquired after
her health, to avoid satisfying her, she said
to him, " I wUl answer your question when
you have answered mine." The prince de-
clined it a long time, protesting that nothing
was the matter with him ; but the more he
denied it, the more she pressed him, and said
to him, " I cannot bear to see you in this
condition : tell me what makes you so un-
easy, that I may remove the cause of it,
whatever it may be : for it must be very
extraordinary if it is out of my power,
tinless it be the death of the sultan your
fatlier; in that case, time, with all that I
will contribute on my part, will comfort
you."
Prince Ahmed coidd not long withstand
the pressing instances of the fairy. "Ma-
dam," said he, "God prolong the sultan my
father's life, and bless him to the end of his
days. 1 left him alive, and in perfect health ;
therefore that is uot the cause of the melan-
choly you perceive in me. The sultan is the
occasion of it, and I am the more concerned,
because he has imposed upon me the dis-
agreeable necessity of importuning you.
First, you know the care I have taken, with
yovu" approbation, to conceal from him the
happiness I have to see you, to love you, to
deserve your favour and love, and to have
received the pledge of your faith, after hav-
ing pledged my faith with you. How he
has been informed of it I cannot tell."
Here the fairy Pari banou interrupted
prince Ahmed, and said, "But I know. Re-
member what I told you of the woman who
made you believe she was sick, on whom
you took so much compassion. It is she who
has acquainted the sultan your father with
what you have taken so much care to hide
from him. I told you she was no more sick
than you or I, and she has made it appear
so; for, in short, after the two women,
whom I charged to take care of her, had
given her the water, sovereign against all
fevers, which, however, she had no occasion
for, she pretended that water had cured her,
and was brought to take her leave of mo
that she might go the sooner, to give an
account of the success of her undertaking.
She was in so much haste, that she woiUd
have gone away without seeing my palace,
if I had not, by bidding my two women
bhew it to her, given her to understand that
it was worth her seeing. But go on, and
tell me what is the necessity your father has
imposed on you to be so importunate, which
I desire you will be persuaded you can never
be."
"Madam," pursued prince Ahmed, "you
may have observed that hitherto I have been
content with your love, and have never
asked you any other favour : for what, after
the possession of so amiable a wife, can I
desire more ? I know how great j'our power
is, but I have taken care not to Tnake a trial
of it. Couoider, then, I conjure you, that
it is not me, but the sultan my father, who,
indiscreetly, as I think, asks of you a pa-
vilion large enough to shelter him, his court,
and army, from the violence of the weather,
when he takes the field, and which a man
may carry in his hand. Once more, remem
ber it is not I, but the sultan my father, who
asks this favour."
"Prince," replied the fairy, smiling, "I
am sorry that so small a matter should dis-
turb you. and make you so imeasy as you
appeared to me. I see plainly two things
have contributed towards it : oi.o ?=- the
law you have imposed upon yourself, to be
content with loving me and being loved by
me, and to deny yourself the liberty of ask-
ing me the least favour that might try my
power. The other, I do not doubt, what-
ever you may say, was, you thought that
what your father asked of me was out of
my power. As to the firct, J commend you
for it, and shall love you tho better, if pos-
sible, for it ; and for the second, I must tell
you that what the sultan your father asks
of mo is a trifle ; and upon occasion, I can
do much more difficult things. Therefore,
be easy and persuaded, that far from think-
ing myself importuned, I shall always take
a great deal of pleasure in whatever you
can desire me to do for your sake." Then
the fairy sent for l;er treasurer, to whom.
PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU.
517
vhen she came, she said, "Nourgihan,"*
(which was her name,) "bring me the largest
]^<aviliou in my treasury." Nourgihan re-
turned presently with a jjavilion, which
could not only be held, but concealed n the
palm of the hand, when it was closed, and
presented it to her mistress, who gave it
prince Ahmed to look at.
When prince Ahmed saw the pavilion,
which the fairy called the largest in her
treasury, he fancied she had a mind to banter
him, and his surprise appeared presently in
his countenance ; which Pari Banou per-
ceiving, burst out a laughing. " What !
jirince," cried she, "do you think 1 jest
with you ? You will see presently that I
am in earnest. Nourgihan," said she to her
treasurer, taking the tent out of jnince
Ahmed's hand, "go and set it up, ■'■■liat the
prince may judge whether the sultan his
father will think it large enough."
The treasurer went out immediately with
it from the palace, and carried it to such a
distance, that when she had set it up, one
end reached to the palace. The prince, so
far from thinking it small, found it large
enough to shelter two armies as numerous as
that of the sidtau his father ; and then said
to Pari Banou, "I ask my princess a
thousand pardons for my incrediUity : after
what I have seen, I believe there is nothing
impossible to you." " You see," said the
fairj', " that the pavilion is larger than your
father may have occasion for ; but you are
to observe, that it has one property, that it
becomes larger or smaller, according to the
army it is to cover, without applying any
hands to it."
The treasurer took down the tent again,
reduced it to its tii'st size, .ind brought it,
and put it into the prince's hands. He took
it, and without staying any longer than till
the next day, mounted his horse, and went
with the usual attendants to the sultan his
father.
The sultan, who was persuaded that such
a tent as he asked for was beyond all possi-
bility, was in great surprise at the prince's
diligence. He took the tent, and after he
had admired its smallness, hia amazement
was so great, that lie could not recover him-
self when he had'set it up in the great plain
before mentioned, and found it large enough
to shelter an army twice as large as he could
bring into the field. Looking upon this cir-
cumstance to be a superliuity that might be
troublesome in the use, prince Ahmed told
him, that its size would always be propor-
tionable to his army.
To outward appearance the sultan ex-
pressed great obligation to the prince his son
> Nourgihan Bignifics "light of tlie world ;" it wns
the nnme of the wife of Ochiingliir, son of Acbiir,
king of India, whom she governed by her prudence.—
HtrbtXat.
for so noble a present ; desiring him to re-
turn his thanks to the fairy Pari Banou ;
and to shew what u value he set on it, he
ordered it to be carefully laid up in his
treasury. But within himself he conceived
a greater jealousy than what his flatterers
and the magician ha<l suggested to him ;
considering that by the fairy's assistance,
the prince his son might perfonn things that
were infinitely above his own power, not-
withstanding his greatness and riches ; there-
fore, more intent upon his ruin, he went to
consult the magician again, who advised him
to engage the prince to bring him some of
the water of the fountain of lions.
In tlie evening, when the sultan was sur-
rounded as usual by all the court, and the
prince came to pay his respects among the
rest, he addressed himself to him in these
words: "Son," said he, "I have alreatly
expressed to you how much T am obliged to
you for the present of the tent you have
procured me, whicli I look upon as the most
valuable tiling in my treasury : but j'ou
must do one thing more for me, which wiU
be no less agreeable to me. I am informed
that the fairy your siiouse makes use of a
certain water, called the water of the fouu-
tain of lions, which cures all sorts of fevers,
even the most dangerous ; and as I am per-
fectly well iiersuaded my health is dear to
you, I do not doubt but you will ask her for
a bottle of that water for me, and bring it
me, as a sovereign i-emedy, which I may
make use of when I have occasion. Do me
this other important piece of service, and
thereby complete the duty of a good son
towards a tender father."
Prince Ahmed, who believed that the sul-
tan his father would have been s.itisfied with
so singular and itseful a tent as that which
he had brought, and that he M-ould not have
imposed any new task ujion him which
might hazard the fairy's displeasure, was
thunderstruck at this new request, notwith-
standing the assurance she had given him of
granting him whatever lay in her power.
After a long silence, he said, " ] beg of
your majesty to be assured, that there is
nothing I would not undertake to procure
you, which m.iy cont.iljute to the prolonging
of your life, but I coidd wish it might not
bo by the means of my wife. For this
reason I nare not promise to bring the
water. All I can do is, to assure you I will
ask it of her ; but it will be with as great
reluct.aiice as when I asked for the tent."
The next morning prince Ahmed returned
to the fairy Pari Banou, and related to her
sincerely and faithfully all that had passed
at the sultan his father's court, from the
giving of the tent, which he told her he re-
ceived with the utmost giatitude for the
favour she had done him, to the new request
he had charged him to make for hinu And
I
5i8
THE ARABIAN NIGf'TS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
when he
princesa,
had done, he added, "But, my
I only tell you this as a plain
account of what passed between me and
my father. I leave you to your own plea-
sure, whether you will gratify or reject
this his new desire. It shall be as you
please."
"No, no," replied the fairy Pari Banoa,
"I am glad that the sultan of the Indies
knows t^at you are not indifferent to me.
I will satisfy him, and whatever advice the
magician can give him, (for I see that he
hearkens to her), he shaU find no fault with
you or me. There is a great deal of wicked-
ness in this demand, as you will understand
by what t am going to tell you. The foun-
tain of lions is situated in the middle of a
court of a great castle, the entrance into
which is guarded by four fierce lions, two of
which sleep alternately, while the other two
are awake. But let not that frighten you.
I will give you means to pass by them with-
out any danger."
The fairy Pari Banou was at that time
very hard at work with her needle ; and as
she had by her several clews of thread, she
took up one, and presenting it to prince
Ahmed, said, "First take this clew of
thread : I will tell you presently the use of
it. In the second place, you must have two
horses ; one you must ride yourself, and the
other you must lead, which must be loaded
with a sheep cut into four quarters, that
must be killed to-day. In the third place,
you must be provided with a bottle, which
I will give you, to bring the water in. Set
out early to-morrow morning, and when you
have passed the iron gate, throw before you
the clew of thread, which will roll till it
comes to the gates of the castle. Follow it,
and when it stops, as the gates will be open,
you will see the four lions. The two that
are awake will, b/ their roaring, wake the
other two. Be not frightened, but throw
each of them a quarter of the sheep, and
then clap spurs to your horse, and ride to
the fountain. Fill your bottle without
alighting, and then return with the same
expedition. The lions will be so busy eat-
ing, they will let you pass by them."
Piinee Ahmed set out the next morning
at the time appointed him by the fairy, and
followed her directions punctually. When
he arrived at the gates of the castle, he dis-
tributed the quarters of the sheep among the
four lions, and passing through the midst of
them with intrepidity, got to the fountain,
filled his bottle, and returned as safe and
sound as he went. When he had got a little
distance from the castle gates, he turned
about, and perceiving two of the hons com-
ing after him, he drew his sabre, and pre-
pared himself for defence. But as he went
forwards, he saw one of them turned out of
the road at some distance, and shewed by
his head and tail that he did not come to
do him any harm, but only to go before
him, and that the other stayed behind to
follow. He therefore put his sword again
into its scabbard. Guarded in this manner,
he arrived at the capital of the Indies ; but
the lions never left him till they had con-
ducted him to the gates of the sultan's
palace ; after which they returned the same
way they came, though not without frighten-
ing all that saw them, who fled cr hid them-
selves, to avoid tiiem, though they walked
gently, and shewed no signs of fierceness.
A great many officers came to attend the
prince, while he dismounted, and conducted
him to the sultan's ap& at, who was at
that time conversing wit'i. .< favourites. He
approached the throne, ^id the bottle at
the sultan's feet, and kissed the rich carpet
which covered the footstool, and rising, said,
" I have brought you, sir, the salutary water
which your majesty so much desired to keep
among your other rarities in your treasury ;
but at the same time wish you such extra-
ordinary health, as never to have occasion to
make use of it."
After the prince had made an end of his
compliment, the sultan placed him on his
right hand, and then said to him, " Son, I
am very much obliged to you for this valu-
able present; as also for the great danger
you have exposed yourself to upon my ac-
count, which I have been informed of by the
magician, who knows the fountain of lions ;
but do me the pleasure," continued he, "to
inform me by what address, or rather by
what incredible power, you have been pre-
served."
" Sir," replied prince Ahmed, " I have no
share in the compliment your majesty is
pleased to make me ; all the honour is due
to the fairy my spouse, and I take no other
merit than that of having followed her good
advice." Then he informed the siUtanwhat
that advice was, by the relation of this his
expedition, and how he had conducted him-
self. When he had done, the stdtan, who
shewed outwardly all the demonstrations of
joy, but secretly became more and more
jealous, retired into an inward apartment,
where he sent for the magician.
The magician, at her arrival, saved the
sr.ltan the trouble to tell her of the success
of prince Ahmed's journey, which she had
heard of before she came, aud therefore was
prepared with the infallible means. This
thought she communicated to the sultan,
who declared it the next day to the prince,
in the midst of all his courtiers, in these
words — " Son," said he, " I have one thing
more to ask of you ; after which, I shall ex-
pect nothing more from your obedience, nor
your interest with your wif»* This request
is, to bring me a man not above a foot and
a-half hi^h, and whose beard is thirty feet
PRINCE AHMED, AND THE FAIRY PARI BANOU.
519
nor
long, who carries upoujiis shoulders a bar of
iron of Hve hundredweight, which he uses
as a quarter-staff, and who can speak."
Prince Ahmed, who. did not believe that
there was such a man in the world as his
father described, would gladly have excused
himself ; but the sultan persisted in his de-
mand, and told him the fairy coidd do more
incredible things.
Next day the prince returned to the sub-
terraneous kingdom of Pari Banou, to whom
he told his father's new demand, which, he
said, he looked upon to be a thing more im-
possible than the two first : "for," added
he, "I cannot imagine there is or can be
such a man in the world : without doubt, he
has a mind to try whether T am silly enough
to go about to seek it ; or if there is such a
man, he seeks my ruin. In short, how can
he suppose that I should lay hold of a man
so small, armed as he describes ? what arms
can I make use of to reduce him to submis-
sion? If there are any means, I beg you
will tell me how I may come off with hon-
our this time also."
"Do not affright yourself, prince," replied
the fairy; "you ran a risk in fetching the
water of the fountain of lions for your father ;
but there is no danger in finding out this
man. It is my brother, Schaibar, who is so
far from being like me, though we both had
the same father, that he is of so violent a
nature, that nothing can prevent his giving
bloody marks of his resentment for a slight
offence ; yet, on the other hand, is so good
as to oblige any one in whatever they desire.
He is made exactly as the sultan your father
has described him ; and has no other arms
than a bar of iron of five hundred pounds
weight, without which he never stirs, and
which makes him respected I will send for
him, and you shall judge of the truth of
what I tell you ; but be sure to p^'epare
yourself not to be frightened at his extra-
ordinary figure, when you see him." "What !
my queen," replied prince Ahmed, "do you
say Schaibar is your brother ? Let him be
ever so ugly or deformed, I shall be so far
from being frightened at the sight of him,
that I shall love and honour him, and con-
sider him as my nearest relation."
The fairy ordered a gold chalfing-dish to
be set with a fire in it under the porch of her
palace, with a box of the same metal, which
was a present to her, out of which, taking
some incense, and throwing it into the fire,
there arose a thick cloud of smoke.
Some moments after, the fairy said to
prince Ahmed, "Prince, there comes my
brother ; do you see him ? " The prince
immediately perceived Schaibar, who was
but a foot and a half high, coming gravely
with his heavy bar on his shoulder; his
beard thirty feet long, which supported it-
self before him, and a pair of thick mus-
taches in proportion, tucked up to his ears,
and almost covering his face : his eyes were
very small like a pig's, and deep simk in
his head, which was of an enormous size,
and on which he wore a pointed cap: be-
sides all this, he had a hiunp behind and
before.
If prince Ahmed had not known that
Schaibar was Pari Banou's brother, he would
not have been able to look at him without
fear ; but knowing first who he was, he
waited for him with the fairy, and received
him without the least concern.
Schaibar, as he came forwards, looked at
the prince with an eye that woidd have
chilled his soul in his body, and asked Pari
Banou, when he first accosted her, wh» that
man was ! To which she replied, " He is
my husband, brother; his name is Ahmed ;
he is sou to the sultan of the Indies. The
reason why I did not invite you to my wed-
ding was, I was unwilling to divert you from
the expedition you were engaged in, and
from which I heard with pleasure you re-
turned victorious; on his account I have
taken the liberty now to call for you."
At these words, Schaibar, looking on
prince Ahmed with a favour.able eye, which
however diminished neither his fierceness
nor savage look, said, " Is there anything,
sister, wherein I can serve liim? he has
only to speak. It is enough to me that he
is your husband, to engage me to do for him
whatever he desires." " The sidtan his
father," replied Pari Banou, "has a curio-
sity to see you, and I desire he may be your
guide to the sidtan's court." "He needs
but lead me the way; I will follow him,"
replied Schaibar. "Brother," replied Pari
Banou, " it is too late to go to-day, there-
fore stay till to-morrow morning; and in
the meantime, as it is fit you should know
aU that has passed between the sidtan of the
Indies and prince Ahmed since our marriage,
I will mform you this eveniag."
The next morning, after Schaibar had
been informed of all that was proper for him
to know, he set out with prince Ahmed,
who was to present him to the sultan. When
they arrived at the gates of the capital, the
people no sooner saw Schaibar, but they ran
and hid themselves in their shops and
houses, shutting their doors ; while others,
taking to their heels, communicated their
fear to all they met, who staid not to look
behind them, but ran too ; insomuch that
Schaibar and prince Ahmed, as they went
along, found all the streets and squares
desolate till they came to the palace, where
the porters, instead of preventing Schaibar
from entering, ran away too ; so that the
prmce and he advanced without any obstacle
to the councd-hall, where the sultan was
seated on his throne and giving audience.
Here likewise the ofBcera, at the approach
f.\
i
H.
520
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
w
I!
of Schaibar, abandoned their posts, and gave
them free admittance.
Schaibar, carrying his head erect, went
fiercely up to the throne, without waiting to
be presented by prince Ahmed, and accosted
the sultan of the Indies in these words :
"You have asked for me," said he ; " see,
here I am : what would you have with
me?"
The sultan, instead of answering him,
clapped his hands before his eyes and turned
away his head, to avoid the sight of so ter-
rible an object. Schaibar was so much pro-
voked at this imoivil and rude reception,
after he had given him the trouble to come
so far, he instantly lifted up his iron bar,
and saying, " Speak," then let it fall on his
head and killed him, before prince Ahmed
cotild intercede in his behalf. All that he
could do was to prevent his killing the grand
vizier, who sat not far from him on his right
hand, representing to him that he had always
given the sultan his father good advice.
These are they then," said Schaibar, "who
gave him bad ; " and as he jironounced these
words, he killed all the other viziers on the
right and left, flatterers and favourites of
the sultan, who were prince Ahmed's ene-
mies. Every time he struck, he killed some
one or other, and none escaped but they
who, not rendered motionless by fear, saved
themselves by flight.
When this terrible execution was over,
Schaibar came out of the councLl-hall into
the midst of the court-yard with the iron
bar upon his shoulder, and looking at the
grand vizier, who owed his life to prince
Ahmed, he said, "T know here is a certain
female magician, who is a greater enemy of
the i)rince my brother-in-law than all those
base favourites I have ch.astised ; let her be
brought to me presently." The grand vizier
immediately sent for her, and as soon as she
was brought, Schaibar said, knocking her
down with the iron bar, " Take the reward
of thy pernicious counsel, and learn to feign
sickness again :" he left her dead on the spot.
After this he said, "This is not yet enough';
I will treat the whole city after the same
manner, if they do not immediately acknow-
ledge prince Ahmed my brother-in-law for
their sultan, and sultan of the Indies. " Then
all that were present made the air ring with
the repeated acclamations of " Long life to
sultan Ahmed ;" and inimediately after he
was proclaimed through the whole town.
Schaibar made him be clothed in the royal
vestments, installed him on the throne, and
after he had made all swear homage and
fidelity to him, went and fetched his sister
Pari Banou, whom he brought with great
pomp, and made her to be owned sidtanuss
of the Indies.
As for prince Ali and princess Nouronni-
har, as they had no hand in the conspiracy
against prince Ahmed, who was now
avenged, nor knew of any such conspiracy,
prince Ahmed assigned them a considerable
province, with its capital, where they spent
the rest of their lives. Afterwards he sent
an oflScer to prince Houssain, to acquaint
him with the change, and make him an offer
of which i)rovince he liked best ; but that
prince thought himself so happy in his soli-
tude, that he bid the officer return the sul-
tan his brother thanks for the kindness he
designed him, assuring him of his submis-
sion ; and that the only favour he desired of
him was to give him leave to live retired in
the place he had made choice of for his
retreat.
THE STORY OF THE SISTERS \TOO ENVIED
THEIR YOUNGER SISTER.
There was a prince of Persia, named Khos-
rouschah,* who, Avhen he fii-st came to his
crown, in order to obtain a knowledge of
the world, took great jJeasure in night ad-
ventures. He often disguised himself, at-
tended by a trusty minister, disguised like
him, and rambled through the whole city,
and met with a great many particular ad-
ventures, which, said Scheherazade to the
sidtan, I shall not at present entertain
your majesty with ; but I hope you will
hear with pleasure what happened to him
upon his first ramble, which was in a little
time after his accession to his father's throne,
who, dying in a good old age, left him heir
to the kingdom of Persia.
After the ceremonies of his deceased fa-
ther's funeral-rites, and his own coronation,
were over, the new sultan Khosrouscliah, as
well from inclination as duty, went out one
evening, attended by his grand vizier, dis-
guised like himself, to t)bserve what passed.
As he went through a street in that part of
the to\vn inhabited only by the meaner sort
of people, he heard some people talking
very loud ; and going up close to the house,
from whence the noise came, and looking
through a crack in the door, perceived a
light, and three sisters sitting on a sofa,
conversing together after supper. By what
the eldest said, he presently understood the
subject of their discourse was wishes; "for,"
said she, "since we have got upon wishes,
mine shall be to have the sultan's baker for
my husband, for then I shall eat my fiU of
that bread, which, by way of excellence, ia
called the sultan's bread : let us sec if your
tastes are as good as mine." "For my
part," replied the second sister, I "wish I
was the sultan's chief cook's wife, for then
I should eat of the most excellent ragouts ;
and as I am persuaded that the sultan's bread
• " Khosrou," " Kliosrau." or "Khosrev," Is a name
common to P'.iiny kinir.s of Persia, imd the "Kliosvoea"
of tlie (jreek historiiius.
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 521
is common in the palace, I should not want
any of that; therefore you see, sister," ad-
dressing herself to her eldest sister," that I
have a better taste than you."
Then the youngest sister, who was very
beautiful, and had more charms and wit than
the two eldest, spoke in her turn : "For my
part, sisters," said slic, " I shall not limit
my desires to such trifles, but take a higher
flight ; and since wo are upon wishing, I
wish to 1)6 the sultan's wife. I would make
him father of a prince, whose hair shoi.ld be
gold on one side of his head, and silver on
the other ; when he cries, the tears that fall
from his eyes shall be pearl ; and when he
smiles, his vermilion lips shall look like a
rosebud fresh blown."
The three sisters' wishes, particularly the
youngest's, seemed so singular to the sultan
Khosrouschah, that he resolved to gratify
them in their desires ; and without commu-
nicating this his design to his grand vizier,
he charged him oulj' to take notice of the
house, and bring the three sisters before him
the next day.
The grand vizier, in executing the sidtan's
orders, would but just give the three sistera
time to dress themselves to .ippear before
him, without teUing them the reason. He
brought them to the palace, and presented
tliem to the sultan, who said to them, "Do
you remember the wishes you mode last
night, when you were all in so pleasant a
mood? Speak the truth ; I must know what
they were."
At these unexpected words of the sultan,
the three sisters were very much confound-
ed. They cast down their eyes and blushed,
and the colour which rose in the cheeks of
the youngest quite captivated the sultan's
heart. Modesty, and fear lest they might
have offended the sultan by their discourse,
kept them silent. The sultan perceiving it,
to encourage them, said, "Fear nothing, I
did not send for you to distress you ; and
siuce I see that is the effect of the question
I ask you, without my intending it, and I
know the wish of each, I will relieve you
from your fears. You," added he, "that
wished to be my wife, you shall have your
desire this d<ay ; and j'ou," continued he,
adilressing himself to the two eldest sisters,
" you shall also be married to my chief baker
and cook."
As soon as the sultan had declared his
pleasure, the youngest sister, setting the
eldest an example, threw herself at the sul-
tan's feet, to express her gratitude. "Sir,"
said she, "my wish, since it has come to
your majesty's knowledge, was only by way
of conversation and amusement. I am un-
worthy of tne honour you do me, and ask
pardon for my boldness." The two other
sisters would have excused themselves also ;
but the sultan, interrupting them, said,
" Jfo, no ; it shall be so ; every one's wish
shall be fulfilled."
The nuptials were all celebrated that day,
as the sultan hail resolved, but after a dif-
ferent manner. The youngest sister's were
solemnised with all the rejoicings usual^at
the marriages of the sultans of Persia ; and
those of the other two sisters according to
the quality and distinction of their husbands ;
the one as the sultan's chief baker, and the
otlier as head cook.
The two elder sisters felt strongly the dis-
proportion of their marriages to that of
their younger sister. This consideration
made them far from being content, though
they were arrived at the utmost height of
their wishes, and much beyond their hopes.
(!t
i >
Mi
523
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
They gave themselveB up to an excess of
jealousy which not only disturbed their joy,
but was the cause of great troubles and aitiic-
tions to the sultaness their younger sister.
They had not an opportunity to communi-
cate their thoughts to each other upon the
preference the sultan had given her to their
prejudice, but were altogether employed in
preparing themselves for the celebration of
their marriages. Some days afterwards,
when they had an opportunity of seeing each
other at the public baths, the eldest sister
said to the other, "Well, sister, what say
you to our sister's great fortune ? Is not
she a tine person to be a sultaness?" "I
must own," said the other sister, " I cannot
conceive what charms the sultan could dis-
cover in her, to be bo bewitched by a young
jatle. You know in what a state we have
both seen her. Was it a reason suifi-
cient for him not to cast his eyes on you,
because she was somewhait younger than
us? You were as worthy of his bed;
and in justice he ought to have preferred
you."
" Sister," said the elder, " I should not
have said anything if the sultan had but
pitched upon you ; but that he should choose
that hussy, is what grieves me. But I will
revenge myself : and you, I think, are as
much concerned as me; therefore I would
have us contrive measures together, that we
may act in concert in a common cause, and
communicate to me what you think the
likeliest way to mortify her, whUe I, on my
side, will inform you what my desire of re-
venge shall suggest to me. "
After tliis wicked plot, the two sisters saw
each other very frequently, and always con-
sulted how they might disturb and interrupt
the happiness of the sultaness their yoimger
sister. They proposed a great many ways ;
but in deliberating about the manner of
executing them, they found so many diffi-
culties, that they durst not attempt them.
In the meantime, they often went together
to make her visits, with a detestable dissimu-
lation, and every time gave her all the marks
of friendship they could imagine, to persuade
her how overjoyed they were to have a
sister raised to so high a fortune. The sul-
taness, for her part, always received them
with all the demonstrations of esteem and
value they could expect from a sister who
was not puffed up with her high dignity, and
loved them as cordially as before.
Some months after her marritage, the sul-
taness foimd herself to be with child. The
sultan expressed great joy, which was com-
municated to all the court, and spread
throughout the capital of Persia. Upon
this news the two sisters came to pay their
compliments, and entering into discourse
with their sister about her lying-in, they
proffered their service to deliver her, desir-
ing her, if she waa not provided with a mid-
wife, to accept of them.
The sultaness said to them most obligingly,
" Sisters, I should desire no better, if it
was absolutely in my power to mako choice
of you. I am, however, obliged to you for
your goodwill, but most submit to what
the sultan shall order on this occasion. Let
your husbands employ their friends to make
interest, and get some courtier to ask this
favour of the sultan ; and if he speaks to me
about it, be assured that I shall not only
express the pleasure he does mc, but thank
him for making choice of you."
The two husbands applied themselves to
some courtiers their patrons, and begged of
them to use their interest to procure their
wives the honour they aspired to. Those
patrons exerted themselves so much in their
behalf, that the sultan promised them to
consider of it, and was as good as his word ;
for in conversation with the sultaness, he
told her that he thought her sisters were the
most proper petsomt to assist her in her
labour ; but would not name them before
he asked her consent. The sultaness, sen-
sible of the deference the sultan so obligingly
paid her, said to him, " Sir, I was prepared
to do as your majesty shall please to com-
mand me. But since you have been so kind
as to think of my jisters, I thank you for
that regard you have shewn them for my
sake ; and therefore I shall not dissemble,
that I had rather have them than strangers."
Then the sultan Khosrouschah named the
sultaness's two sisters to be her midwives ;
and from that time they went backwards
and forwards to the palace, overjoyed at the
opportunity they should have of executing
the detestable wickedness they had medi-
tated against the stdtaness their sister.
When the sultaness's reckoning was out,
she was safely delivered of a young prince,
as bright as the day ; but neither his inno-
cence nor beauty were capable of moving
the cruel hearts of the merciless sisters.
They wrapped him np carelessly in his
blankets, and put him into a basket, which
they abandoned to the stream of a small
canal which ran under the sultaness's apart-
ment, and declared she was delivered of a
little dead dog, which they ijroduced. This
disagreeable news was announced to the
sultan, who conceived so much anger there-
at, as might have proved fatal to the sul-
taness, if his grand vizier had not represented
to him that he could not, without injustice,
make her answerable for the caprices of
nature.
In the meantime, the basket in which the
little prince was exposed was carried by the
stream beyond a wall which bounded the
prospect of the sidtaness's apartment, and
from thence floated with the current down
the gardens. By chance the intendant of
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 523
the sultan's garden, one of the principal and
most considerable officers of the kingdom,
walking in the garden by the side of this
canal, and perceiving a bauket floating, call-
ed to a gardener, who vas not far off, and
bid him come presently to him, and reach
him that basket, which he shewed him, that
he might see what was in it. The gardener,
with a spade which he had in his hand,
brought the basket to the side of the canal,
took it up, and gare it to him.
The intendant of the gardens was ex-
tremely surprised to see in the basket a
child, which, though be easily knew it to be
but just bom, had rery fine features. This
officer had been married several years, and
though he had always be«n desirous of hav-
ing children. Heaven had never blessed him
with any. Thi^ accident interrupted his
walk : he made the gardener follow him
with the child ; and when he came to his
own house, which was situate<l at the en-
trance into the gardens <.*f the palace, he
went into his wife's apartment. "Wife,"
said he, " as we have no children of our own,
God has sent ns one. I recommend him to
you, provide him a none presently, and take
as much care of him as if he were our own
son ; for, from this moment, I acknowledge
him as such ' The intendant's wile received
the child w ith great joy, and to^ik particular
pleasure ir the care of him. The intendant
himself would not inquire too narrowly
whence the child came. He saw plainly it
came nut far off the sultaness's apartment ;
but it was not his bosinesg to examine too
closely into what had paesed, tior to create
disturbances in a place where i>i.ace wa'< so
necessary.
The year after the snltaness was brought
to bed of another prince, on whom the uuua-
tural sisters had no more compassion than
on his brother ; but exposed him likewise in
n basket, and set him adrift in the canal,
pretending this time that the sultaness was
delivered of a cat. It was happy also for
this child that the intendaat of the gardens
was walking by the canal side, who had it
carried to his wife, and charged her to take
as much care of it as of the first ; which
suited as well her inclination, as it was a^ee-
able to the intendant.
The sultan of Persia was more enraged
this time against the sultaness thau Lsfore,
and she had felt the effects of his anger, if
the grand vizier's remonstrances had not
pr*- -ailed.
The third time the sultaness lay in she
was delivered of a princes!!!, which innocent
babe underwent the same fate as the princes
her brothers ; for the two sisters being de-
termined not to put an end to their detest-
able schemes, till they had seen the sultaness
their younger sister at least cast off, turned
out, and humbled, exposed this child alao on
the canal. But the princess was preserved
from certain death by the compassion and
charity of the intendant of the gardens, as
well as the two princes her brothers.
To this inhumanity the two sisters added
a lie and deceit as before. They produced
a piece of wood, and affirmed it to be a
false birth which the sultaness was de-
livered of.
The sultan Khosrouachah coidd no longer
contain himself, when he wfis informed of
the new extraordinary birth. "What ! " said
he, "this woman, unworthy of my bed, will
fiU my palace with monsters, if I let her
live any longer ! No, it shall not be," added
he : "she is a monster lierself, and I must
rid the world of her." He pronounced this
sentence of death, and ordered the grand
vizier to see it executed.
The grand vizier, and the courtiers who
were present, cast themselves at the sultan's
feet, to beg of him to revoke that sentence.
" Your majesty, I hope, will give me leave,"
said the grand vizier, " to represent to you,
that the laws which condemn persona to
death were made to punish crimes : the
three extraordinary labours of the sultaness
are not crimes ; fur in what can she be said
to have contributed towards them ? A great
many other women have had, and have the-
same every day, and are to be pitied ; but
not punished. Your majesty may abstain
from seeing her, and let her live. The
.affliction in which she will spend the rest of
her life, after the loss of your favour, will be
a ])unishment great enough."
The sultan of Persia considered with him-
self, and found that it was injustice in him
to condemn the sultaness to death for extra-
ordinary births, and said, " Let her live
then ; I will give her life ; but it shall be
on this condition, that she shall desire to
die more than once every day. Let a wooden
shed be built for her at the gate of the prin-
cipal mosque, with iron bars to the windows,
and let her be put into it, in the coa^'sest
habit ; and every Mussulman that shall go
into the mosque to prayers shall spit in her
face. If any one fail, I will have him ex-
posed to tlie same punishment ; and that I
may be punctually obeyed, I charge you,
vizier, to appoint persons to see this done."
The sidtan pronuunced this last sentence
in such a tone, that the grand vizier durst
not open his mouth ; and it was executed,
to the great satisfaction of the two envious
sisters. A shed was buUt, and the sultaness,
truly worthy of compassion, as soon as her
month was up, was put into it, and exposed
ignominiously to the contempt of the people;
which usage, as she did not deserve,
she bore with a constancy which excited
the admiration, as well as compassion, of
those who judged of things better than the
vulgar.
1
524
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The two princes anil the princess were
nursed and brought up by the intendant of
the gardens and his wife, with all the ten-
derness of a father and mother ; and as they
advanced in age, they all 8hewe<l marks of
superior greatness, and the princess in par-
ticular, a charming beauty, which discovered
itself every day by their docility and good
inclinations above triHes, and different from
those of common children, and by a certain
air which could only belong to i>rinces and
|irinccsses. All this increased the aflfections
«f the intendant and his wife, who called
the eldest prince Bahmau, and the second
Perviz, both of them names o£ the most an-
cient sultans of Persia, and the princess Pa-
rizade, which name also liad been borne by
several stUtanesscs and princesses of the
kingdom.*
As soon as the two princes were old
enough, the intendant provided proper mas-
ters to teach them to read and write ; and
the princess their sister, who was often with
them when they were learning their lessons,
shewing a great desire to learn to read and
write, though much younger than they, the
intendant was so much taken with that dis-
position of hers, that he employed the same
master to teach her also. Her emidation,
vivaeity, and piercing wit, made her in a
little time as great a proHcient as her bro-
thers.
From that time, the brothers and sister
had all the same masters in all the other
fcrts, in geography, poetry, history, even the
secret sciences ; all which came so easily to
them, and in a little time they made so won-
derfid a progress, that their masters were
amazed, and frankly owned, that if they
held on so but a little longer, they could
teach them no farther. At the hours of re-
creation, the pi-inceas learned to sing, and
play upon all sorts of instruments ; and
when the princes were learning to ride, she
would not permit them to have that advan-
tage over her, but went through all exer-
■cises with them, learning to ride, bend the
bow, and dart the reed or javelin, and
oftentimes outstrip them in the race.
The intendant of the gardens was so over-
joyed to find his adopted children so accom-
plished in all the perfections of body and
mind, and that they answered so well the
■charge he had been at upon their education,
that he resolved to be still at a greater ex-
pense ; for whereas he had till then been
oontent only with his lodge at the entrance
• "Bahaman" was the name of the sixth king of
Persia of tlie second dynasty of the Caianides, and
signifies "just" and "bencHcent;" being, according
to some writers, only an epitliet of " Ardscliir Diraz-
dest" or " Artaxerxes Longimanus." lie is said to have
reigned 112 years, and to have l)cen contemporary with
Hippocrates and Galen.— //erte?o(.
" Parlziulch," the " I'arisatis " of the Persians, signi-
fies ''born of a fairy."— /(/cm
"Pcrvis" has the same origin.
of the garden, and kept no country-house,
he purchased a country-seat at a small dis-
tance from the city, surrounded with a large
tract of arable land, meadows, and woods.
As the house was not suiiiciently handsome
nor convenient, he pidled it down, and
spared no expense to make it magnificent.
He went every day to hasten, by his pre-
sence, the great number of workmen he
employed ; and as soon as there was an
apartincnt ready to receive him, he passed
several days together there, when his pre-
sence was not necessary at court ; and by
the same exertions, the house was furnished
in the richest manner, answerably to the
magnificence of the edifice. Afterwards he
made gardens, according to the plan drdwn
by himself, after the manner of the great
lords in Persia. He took in a large com-
pass of ground for a park, which he walled
round, and stocked with fallow deer, that
the princes and princess might divert them-
selves with hunting when they pleased.
When this country-seat was finished and
lit for habitation, the intendant of the gar-
dens went and cast himself at the sultan's
feet, and, after rejiresenting to him how
long he had served him, and the infirmities
of age which he found growing upon him,
he begged he would permit him to resign
his charge into his majesty's hands, and re-
tire. The sultan gave him leave with the
more pleasure, because he was satisfied
with his long services, both in his father's
reign and his own ; and when he granted it,
he asked him what he should do to recom-
pense him. "Sir," replied the intendant of
the gardens, "I have received so many
obligations from your majesty, and the late
sultan your father, of happy memory, that
I desire no more than the hononr of dying
in your favour."
He took his leave of the sultan Khos-
rouschah, and afterwards returned to the
country retreat he had built with the two
princes, Bahman and Perviz, and the prin-
cess Parizade. His wife had been dead some
years, and he himself had not lived above
six months with them, before he was sur-
prised by so sudden a death, that he had
not time to give them the least account of
their birth, which he had resolved to do;
as necessary* to oblige them to continue
to live, as they had then done, agreeable
to their rank and condition, and the edu-
cation he had given them, and to their own
inclination.
The princes Bahman and Perviz, and the
princess Parizade, who knew no other father
than the intendant of the sidtan's gardens,
regretted and bewailed him as such, and
paid him all the honours in his funeral ob-
sequies which their love and filial gratitude
required of them. Content with the plen-
tiful fortune he left them, they lived to-
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 525
gether in the same perfect union, free from
the ambition of distingiiisliing themselves at
court, with a view to places of honour and
dignity, which they might easily have ob-
tained.
One day, when the two princes were
hunting, and the princess Parizade stayed
at home, a religious old woman came to the
gate, and desired leave to go in to say her
[trayers, it being then the hour. The ser-
vants went and asked the princess's leave,
who ordefed them to shew her into the ora-
tory, which the iutcndant of the sultan's
gardens had taken care to fit up in his
house, for want of a mosque in the neigh-
bourhood. She bade them also, after the
good woman had finished her prayers, shew
her the house and gardens, and then bring
her to her.
The religious old woman went into the
oratory, said her prayers, and when she
came out again, two of the princess's wo-
men, who waited on her, invited her to see
the house and gardens ; which civility she
accepted of, and followed them from one
apartment to another, and observed, as a
person who understood what belonged to
furniture, the nice arrangement of every-
thing. They conducted her also into the
garden, the disposition of which she found
so new and well planned, that she admired
it, observing that the person who drew it
must have been an excellent master of his
art. Afterwards she was brought before
the princess, who waited for her in the great
hall, which, in propriety, beauty, aiul rich-
ness, exceeded aU she had admired before in
the apartments.
As soon as the princess saw the devout
woman, she said to her, " My good mother,
come near and sit down by me. I am over-
joyed at the happiness of having the oppor-
tunity of profiting for some moments by the
good example and discourse of such a person
as you, who has taken the right way, by
dedicating yourself to the service of God. I
wish everybody were as wise."
The religious woman, instead of sitting
upon a sofa, would only sit upon the edge
of it. The princess would not permit her
to do so, but rising from her seat, and
taking her by the hand, obliged her to come
and sit by her. The good woman, sensible
of the civility, said, " Madam, I ought not
to have so much respect shewn me ; but
since you command me, and are mistress
of your own hoxise, I obey you." When
she had sat down, before they entered into
any conversation, one of the princess's wo-
men brought a little low table of mother of
pearl and ebony, with a china dish full of
cakes upon it, and a great many others set
round it full of fruits in season, and wet and
dry sweetmeats.
The princess took up one of the cakes,
and jiresonting her with it, said, "Eat, good
mother, and ihake choice of what you like
best; you had need to eat after coming so
far." "Madam," replied the good woman,
"I am not iised to eat such nice things;
but will not refuse what God baa me sent by
so liberal a hand as yours."
While the religious woman was eating,
the princess ate something too, to bear hev
company, and asked her a great many ques-
tions upon the exercise of devotion which
she i)ractised, and how she lived : all which
(jueations she answered with great modesty.
Talking of several things, at last she asked
her what she thought of the house, and how
she liked it.
"Madam," answered the devout woman,
"I must certainly have very bad taste to
disapprove anything in it, since it is beaii-
tiful, regidar, and magnificently furnished,
with exactness and judgment, and all its
ornaments adjusted in the best manner. Its
situation is an agreeable spot, and no garden
can be more delightful ; but yet if you will
give me leave to speak my mind freely, I
will take the liberty to tell you that this
house would be incomparable if it had three-
things which are wanting to it." "My
good mother," replied the princess Parizade,
"what are those three things ? I conjure
you, in God's name, to tell me what they
are : I will spare nothing to get them, if it
be possible."
"Madam," replied the devout woman,
"the first of those three things is the
speaking bird, which is called Bulbulkezer,
and is so singular a creature, that it can
draw round it all the singing birds of the
neighbourhood which come to accompany
his song. The second is, the singing tree,
the leaves of which are so many mouths,
which form a harmonious concert of dif-
ferent voices, and never cease. The third
is the yellow water of gold colour, a single
droj) of which being poured into a vessel
pro]ierly prepared, in whatever part of the
garden, it increases so that it fills it imme-
diately, and rises up in the middle like a
fountain, which continually plays in it, and
yet the basin never overflows."
"Ah! my good mothei"," cried the prin-
cess, "hownnich am I obliged to you for
the knowledge of these things ! Tliey are
surprising, and I never before heard there
were such curious .ind wonderful things in
the world ; but as T am well persuaded that
you know where they are, I expect that you
should do me the favour to tell me."
"Madam," replied the good woman, "I
shoidd be unworthy the hospitality you
have with so much goodness shewn me, if
I should refuse to satisfy your curiosity in
that point ; and am glad to have the honour
to tell you that these three things are to be
met with in the same spot, on the confines
526
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
of this kingdom, towards India. The road
to it lies before your honse, and whoever
yea send needs but to follow it for twenty
days, and on the twentieth let him but ask
the first person he meets where the speaking
bird, singing tree, and yellow water are, and
he will be informed." After these words,
she rose from her seat, took her leave, and
went her way.
The princess Parizade's thoughts were so
taken up with what the religious woman
had told her of the speaking bird, singing
tree, and yellow water, that she never per-
ceived she was gone, till she wanted to ask
her some question for her better information ;
for she thought that what she had told her
was not a sufficient reason for exposing her-
tself by undertaking a long journey possibly
to no purpose. However, she would not
send aft^T her to fetch her back, but en-
deavoured to remember all she had told her ;
and when she thought she had recollected
every word, she took real pleasure in think-
ing of the satisfaction she should have, if
she could get these wonderful things into
her ]>08se88ion ; but the difficulties she ap-
prehended, and the fear of not succeeding,
made her very uneasy.
She was lost in these thoughts, when Ler
brothers returned from hunting; who, when
they entered the great hall, instead of find-
ing her lively and gay, as she used to be,
were amazed to see her so pensive, and
hang down her head as if something trou-
bled her.
"Sister," said prince Bahman, *' what is
become of all your mirth and gaiety ? Are
you not well ? or has some misfortune be-
fallen you ? Has anybody given you rea-
son to be so melancholy ? Tell us, that we
may know how to act, and give you some
rehef. If anybody has affronted you, we
will resent it."
The princess Parizade remained in the
same posture sometime without answering ;
but at last lift«d up her eyes to look at her
brothers, and then held them down again,
telling them nothing disturbed her.
"Sister," said prince Bahman, "you con-
ceal the truth from us ; there must be some-
thing of consequence. It is impossible, for
the short time we have been absent, we
could observe so sudden a change, if nothing
was the matter with you. You would not
have us satisfied with the unsatisfactory
answer you have given us : do not conceal
anything from us, unless you woidd have
us believe that you renounce the friendship
and strict union which have hitherto subsisted
Ijetween us from our infancy."
The princess, who had not the smallest
intention to break with her brothers, would
not suffer them to entertain such a thought,
but said, "When I told you notlxing dis-
turbed me, I meant, nothing that was of
any great importance to you ; but to me it
is of some consequence ; and since you press
me to tell you by our strict union and friend-
ship, which are so dear to me, I will. You
think, and I always believed so too, that
this honse, which our late father built for
us, was complete in everything, and that
nothing was wanting. But this day I have
learned that it wants three things, which
would render it so perfect, that no country-
seat in the world could be compared with it.
These three things are, the speaking bird,
the singing tree, and the yellow water."
After she had informed them wherein con-
sisted the excellency of these three rarities,
"a religious woman," added she, "has made
this discovery to me, and told me the place
where they arc to bo found, and the way
thither. Perhaps you may imagine those
things to be trifles, and of little consequence
to render our house complete, and that,
without these additions, it will always be
thought fine enough with what it already
contains, and that we can do without them.
You maj think as you please ; but I cannot
help telling you that I am i)ersuaded they
are absolutely necessary, and I shall not be
easy without them. Therefore, whether you
value them or not, I desire you to give me
your opinion, and consider what person you
may think proper for me to send on this
conquest."
"Sister," replied Prince Bahman, "no-
thing can concern you in which we have
not an equal interest. It is enough you
have an earnest desire for the things you
mention, to oblige ns to tiike the same in-
terest ; but if you had not, we feel our-
selves inclined of our own accord, and *or
our own particular satisfaction. I am per-
suaded my brother is of the same opinion,
and therefore we ought to undertake this
conquest, as you call it ; for the importance
and singularity of it deserve that name. I
will take that charge upon myself; only
tell me the place, and the way to it, and I
will defer my journey no longer than tUl
to-morrow."
" Brother," said prince Perviz, " it is not
convenient that you, who are the head and
support of the family, should be absent so
long. I desire my sister would join with
me to oblige you to abandon your design,
and allow me tc undertake it. I hope to
acquit myself as well as you, and it w^ill be
a more regular proceeding." " I am per-
suaded of your good-wiU, brother," replied
prince Bahman, " and that you will acquit
yourself as well as me in this journey ; but
I have resolved on it, and will do it. You
shall stay at home with our sister, and I
need not recommend her to yon." He spent
the remainder of that day in making pre-
parations for his journey, and informing
himself from the princess of the directions
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 527
the devout woman left her, that he might
not miss his way.
The next morning eorly, prince Bahman
mounted his horse, and prince Perviz and
the princess Parizade, who would see him
sot out, embraced, and wished him a good
jouniey. But in the midst of their adieus,
the princess recollected one thing which she
had not thought on before. "Brother,"
said she, "I had quite forgotten the ac-
cidents M-hich attend travellers. Who
knows whether I shall ever see you again?
Alight, I l)eseech you, and give up thij
journey. I woiUd rather be deprived of
the sight and possession of the speaking
bird, singing tree, and yellow water, than
run the risk of never seeing you more."
'•Sister," replied prince Bahman, smiling
at the sudden fears of the princess Parizade,
"my resolution is fixed, and were it not, I
should determine upon it now, and you
must allow me to execute it. The acci-
dents you speak of befall only those who
are unfortunate. It is true, I may be of
that number ; but there are more who are
not so than who are, and I may be of the
fonner number. But as events are uncer-
tain, and I may fall in this undertaking, all
I can do is to leave you this knife."
Then prince Bahman, pulling a knife out
of his pocket, and i)resenting it in the sheath
to the princess, oaid, "Take this knife,
sister, and give yourself the trouble some-
times to pull it out of the sheath : while
you see it clean as it is now, it shall be a
sign that I am alive ; but if you find it
stained with blood, then you may believe
me dead, and indulge me with your prayers."
The princess Parizade could obtain no-
thing more of prince Bahman. He bade
adieu to her and prince Perviz for the last
time, and rode away well mounted, armed,
and equipped. When he got into the road,
he never turned to the right hand nor to
the left, but went directly forwards toward
India. The twentieth day he perceived on
the roadside a hideous old man, who sat
under a tree some small distance from a
thatched house, which was his retreat from
the weather.
His eyebrows were white as snow, and so
was the hair of his head ; his whiskers co-
vered his mouth, and his beard and hair
reached down to his feet. The nails of his
hands and feet were grown to an extensive
length ; his flat broad hat, like an umbrella,
covered his head. He had no clothes, but
only a mat thrown round his body.
This old man was a dervis, who had for
many years retired from the world, and had
neglected himself to give himself up entirely
to the service of God ; so that at last he was
become what we have described.
Prince Bahman, who had been all that
morning very attentive to see if he could
meet with anybody that could give him in-
formation of the place ho was, going to,
stopped when he came near the dervis, as
the first person he hud met, and alighted
from olF his horse, in conformity to the
directions the religious woman had given
the ])rinceBa Parizade ; and leading liis horae
by the bridle, advanced towards him, and
saluting him, said, "God prolong your days,
good father, and grant you the accouq)lish-
nient of j'oiir desires."
The dervis returned the jmnce's saluta-
tion, but so unintelligibly, that he could not
understand one word he said : prince Bah-
man perceiving that this difficulty proceeded
from the dervis's whiskers hanging over his
mouth, and unwilling to go any farther
without the instructions he wanted, ho
pulled out a jiair of scissors he had about
him, and having tied his horse to a branch
of the tree, said to the dervis, "Good
dervis, I want to have some talk with
you ; but your whiskers prevent my under-
standing what you say ; and if you will con-
sent, I will cut oft' some part of thum and
of your eye-brows, which disfigures you so
nnich, that you look more like a bear than
a man."
The dervis did not oi)pose the prince, but
let him do it ; and when the ])rince had cut
off as much hair as he thought fit, he per-
ceived that the dervis had a good com-
plexion, and that he did not seem so old as
he really was. "Good dcrvi.9," snid he,
" if I had a gloss, I would shew you how
young you look : you are now a man,
but before, nobody could tell what you
were."
The kind behaviour of prince Bahman
made the dervis smile, and return his com-
pliment. "Sir," said he, "whoever you
are I am infinitely obliged to you for the
good office you have done me, and am ready
to shew my gratitude, by doing anything in
my power for you. You must have alighted
here upon some account or other. Tell me
what it is, and I will endeavour to serve you
if I can."
"Good dervis," replied prince Bahman,
" I have come a great way, and am in search
after the speaking bird, the singing tree,
and the yeUow water ; I know these three
things are not far from hence, but cannot
tell exactly the place where they are to
be found : if you know, I conjure you
to shew me the way, that I may not mis-
take it, and lose my labour after so long a
journey."
The prince, while he spoke, observed that
the dervis changed countenance, held down
his eyes, and looked very serious, and, in-
stead of making any reply, remained silent ;
which obliged him to say to him again,
"Good father, I fancy you heard me; tell
me whethtr you know what I ask you, that
i y
528
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I may not lose my time, and iiifurrn iiiyHulf
■omcwhero cIho."
At last the derviH broke siluncc. " 8ir,"
■aid Le t<i princo iSnliiiinn, " V know tliu
way you ask of inu ; but the frifiuli<lii|i
which I conceivud for you tlio tirat inoini'iit
I aaw you, and which is Kf^wn 8troiij5i!r by
the service you liavc done me, kept nie in
Busj>ensc, wla-ther I Hhouhl k'vu you the
■atisfaction you desire." " What motive can
hinder you?'' repliud the princo; "and
what (liiFicuIties do you linil in bo duing ?"
" I will toll you," replied the dervis ; " the
dan;;er you arc going to expose yourself to
is p-eater than you cuii believe. A great
number of gentlemen, of a.s much bravery
and courage as you can have, passed by
here, and OHkcd me the same ([iieution you
do now. When 1 had used all my endea
roars to persuade them to desist, tliey would
not believe mo ; at last, I have yioldud to
their imi>ortunities ; I was compelled to
shew them the way, and I can assure you
they have all perislicd, and I have not seen
one come back again. Therefore, if you
have any regard for your life, take my ad-
vice, go no farther, return homo."
Prince Bahman persisted in his resolution.
••I will not believe," said ho to the dervis,
"but that your advice is sincere. 1 am
obliged to you for the friendship you express
for me ; but whatever may bo the danger
you tell me of, nothing shall make ine change
my intention : whoever attacks mo, I am
well armed, and can say I am as brave as
anyone." "But they who shall attack you are
not to be seen," replied the dervis, "for
there are a great many of them ; how will
you defend yourself against invisible per-
sons?" "It is no matter," answered the
prince ; "all you say shall not jtersuade me
to do anything contrary to my duty. Since
you know the way, I conjure you once more
to tell me, and not refuse me that favour."
When the dervis found he could not pre-
vail upon prince Bahman, and that ho was
obstinately bent to jjursue his journey, not-
withstanding the wholesome advice ho gave
hint, he put his hand into a bag that lay by
him, and pulled out a bowl, which he pre-
sented to him. "Since I cannot prevail on
you to hear me and take my advice," said
he, "take this bowl, and when you are on
horseb.\ck throw it before you, and follow it
to the foot of a mountain, where it will stop.
As soon as the bowl stops, alight, and leave
yonr horse with the bridle over his neck,
and he will stand in the same place till you
return. As you go up the hill, you will see
on your right and left hand a great quantity
of large black stones, and will hear on all
sides of you a confusion of voices, which will
say a thousand injurious things to you to
discourage you, and prevent your climbing
np to the top of the hill : but take care, and
be not afraid ; a)id, above all things, do not
turn your head to look 1)chind you j for in
that instant you will be changed into such a
black stono as tlmso you see, which are all
HO many gontlenu'n, who had failed in thin
enterprise, as I told you. If you escape tho
danger which I give you but a slight descrip-
tion of, that you might reflect ou it, and get
to tho top of the mountain, you will see iv
cage, and in that cage is the bird you seek :
ask him where are tho singing tree and the
yellow water, and he will tell you. I have
iKithiug more to say ; this is what you have
to do, and tho danger you have to avoid ; but
if you would believe me, you would take my
advice, and not expose your life. Consider
onco more while you have time, that the
ditliuulty is almost insuperable, and attached
to a condition which may bo counteracted
t^ven by inadvertence, as you may easily
comju'ehend."
" I am very much obliged to you for your
repeated advice," rciilied princo Bahman,
after ho had received the bowl, "but can-
not follow it, However, I will endeavour
to conform myself to that part of it which
bids mo not look behind me as I go up, and
I lio|)o to come and see you again soon, and
thank you more when I have got what I am
in search after." After these words, to
which tho dervis made > other answer
than that he should be overjoyed to see liini
again, and wished that might bo the case,
he mounted his horse, took his leave of tho
dervis with a low bow, and threw tho
bowl before him.
The bowl rolled away to the last with as
much swiftness as when princo Bahman livst
delivered it out of his hand, which obliged
him to put his horso to the same pace to
follow it without losing sight of it, and when
it came to the foot of the mountain which
tho dervis named, it stopped. The prince
alighted from oil" his horse, which never
stirred from the spot, though he had the
bridle on his neck ; and having first surveyed
the mountain, and seen the black stones, he
beg." *o climb up it; but had not <;one four
steps, 'ofore he hoard tli ,•,• tione I
by tao uervis, tlii
Some said, ' ' ^^
where is ho
do not let hi
catch him, k
voice like thunu
I'-ch 1 oould MLU u'<l)od\.
that fool going ?
iiat would hi 'ave?
Others, "Si him,
iin;" and others with a
"Thi' assassin! mur-
derer!" while soni. in n lining tone, cried,
"No, no; do not hurt Imn , let the pretty
fellow 1)038 ; the cage and bird are kept for
him."
Notwithstanding all those troublesome
voices, princo Bahman mounted with cou-
rage and resolution for some time, but the
voices increasing with so loud a din so near
him, both behind and before, at last he was
seized with fear, his legs trembled under
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 529
liini, ho stagijered, and preBently finding that
his Htrength failed him, he forgut thu
ilcrvis's advice, turned about to run down
the hill, and waa that iuHtant changed into
a hiack Ntono, — a metamorphoBis wliiuh had
happened to so many nioro before him who
hnd attempted the same thing. His horso
likewise underwent the 8amo chango.
From the time of prince Bahman's de-
parture, the princess I'arizado always wore
the knife and sheath inherg'rdlc, and pulled
it out several times in a day to know whether
her brother M-as alive. iShe hnd the conso-
lation to understaiu! ho was in i>erfuct
health, ond to talk t)f him fretjuently with
prince I'erviz, who sometimes prevented her
by asking her what news.
On the fatal day that prince Bahroan was
metamorphosed into a stone, as prince Fer-
viz and the princess were talking together
in the evening, as usual, the prince desired
his sister to pull out the knife, to know how
their brother did. The princess drew out
the knife, and looking upou it, and seeing
the blood run down the point, was seized
with 80 much horror and grief, that she
threw it down. "Ah! my dear brother,"
cried she ; "I have been the cause of your
death, and shall never see you more ! How
unhappy am I ! Why did I tell you of the
speaking bird, singing tree, and yellow
■water ? or rather, of what importance was it
to me to know whether the religious woman
thought this house ugly or handsome, or
complete or not? I wish to heaven she had
never addressed luTself to rao I Deceitful
hypocrite!" added she, "is this the return
you have made mo for the kind reception I
gave you ? Why did you tell me of a bird,
a tree, and a water, which, imaginary aa
I am persuaded they are, by my dear
brother's death, yet disturb me, by your
enchantment."
Prince Perviz was aa much afflicted at the
death of Prince Bahman oa the princess ;
but not to waste time in needless regret, as
he knew by the princess's sorrow that she
still passionately desired the }iosses8ion of
the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the
golden water, he interrupted her, and said,
" Sister, our regret for our brother Bahman
is vain and useleas ; our grief and lamenta-
tions cannot restore him to life ; it is the
will of God, and we must submit to it, and
adore the decrees of the Almighty without
searching into them. Why should you now
doubt of the truth of what the holy woman
told you ? do you think she spoke to you of
three things that were not in being? and
that she invented them on purpose to de-
ceive you, who had given her no cause to do
so, but received her with so much goodness
and civility ? Let ua rather believe that our
brother's death is owing to some ffiJi, vi
bis, or some accident, which we cannot con-
ceive. It ought not therefore to prevent ua
from pursuing our object. I offered to go
this journey, and am in the same mind still ;
his examiilo haa no effect uiion my rciolu-
tion ; to-morrow I will go myself."
The princoaa did all she oould to disauado
prince I'erviz, conjuring him not to expose
her to the danger of losing two brotlieri in-
stead of one ; but he was resolvt'il, and all
the remonstrances she could ur;4u had no
effect u]H>n him. Before ho went, that she
might know what success he ha<l, as she did
that of his brother by the knife, ho left her
a string of a hundred pearls, telling her,
that if they would not run when she told
them upon the string, but remain tixed, that
should be a certain sign he had undergone
the same fate oa hia brotj^r; but at the
samn time told her, ho hoped that woidd
never hap]>en, but that he should have the
happiness to see her again, to their mutual
satisfaction.
Prince Perviz, on the twentieth day from
hia setting out, met with the same dervia
in the same jdaco his brother Bahman had
done before him. He went directly up to
him, and after ho hod saluted him, asked
him if he could tell him where to tind the
8])eaking bird, the singing tree, and the
golden water? The dervia made the aame
dilHcultics and remonstrances he had done
to prince Bahman, telling him, that a young
gentleman, who very much resembled him,
was with him a short time before; that,
overcome by his importunity and pressing
instances, he shewed him the way, gave him
a guide, and told him how he should act to
succeed ; but that he hod not seen him since,
and doubted not but he had shared the same
fate as all before liim.
" Good dervis," answered jjrinco Perviz,
' ' I know whom you speak of ; ho was my
elder brother, and I am informed of the cer-
tainty of his death, but know not what it
was." " I can tell you," replied the dervis ;
" he was changed into a black stone, as all
I speak of have been ; and you must expect
the same change, unless you observe more
exactly than he has done the good advice I
gave him, in case you persist in your resolu-
tion, which I once more entreat you to re-
nounce."
" Dervis," said prince Perviz, " I cannot
enough express how much I am obliged to
you for the care you take of my life, who
am a stranger to you, and have done nothing
to deserve your kindness : but I must tell
you, I have thoroughly considered this en-
terprise before I undertook it, and I cannot
give it up ; therefore I beg of you to do me
the same favour you have done my brother.
Perhaps I may have better success in follow-
ing the directions I expect from you."
" Since I cannot prevail with you," said the
dervis, " nor persuade you to give up your
3 h
nn
Mil
530
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
obstinate resolution, if my age did not pre-
vent me, and I could stand, I would get up
to reach you a bowl I have here, which
will shew you the way."
Without giving the dervis time to say
more, the prince alighted from his horse, and
went up to the dervis, who had taken a bowl
out of his bag, in which he had a great many
others, and gave it him, with the same direc-
tions he had given prince Bahman; and,
after warning him not to be frightened at
the voices he should hear, without seeing
anybody, however threatening they might
be, but to continue his way up the hill till
he saw the cage and bird, he let him go.
Prince Ferviz thanked the dervis, and
when he had remounted his horse, and taken
his leave, he threw his bowl before his horse,
and spurring him at the same time, followed
it. When the bowl came to the bottom of
the hill, it stopped, and the prince got off his
horse, and stood some time to recollect the
dervis's directions. He encouraged him-
self, and began to wrik up with a resolution
to reach the top ; but before he had gone
above six steps, he heard a voice, which
seemed to be very near him, as of a man
behind him, say, in an insulting tone, " Stay,
ntsh youth, that I may pimish you for your
boldness."
Upon this affront, the prince forgetting
the dervis's advice, clapi)ed his hand upon
his sword and drew it, and turned about to
revenge himself ; but had scarce time to see
that nobody followed him, before he and his
horse were changed into black stones.
In the meantime the princess Farizade,
several times a day after her brother Ferviz
set out, strung over her chaplet which she
received from his hand the day he set out ;
and when she had nothing else to do, she
told the grains over her lingers, one after
another. She did not omit it at night, but
when she went to bed put it about her neck;
and in the morning when she awoke counted
over the pearls again to see if they would
slide.
The day that prince Ferviz was changed
into a stone, she was pulling over the pearls
as she used to do, when all of a sudden she
could not stir them, and never doubted that
it was a certain token that the prince her
brother was dead. As she had determined
before what to do, in cose it should so happen,
she lost no time in outward show of grief,
which she concealed as much as possible;
but having disguised herself in man's apparel,
armed and equipped, she mounted her horse
the next morning, having told her ser-zants
■he should return in two or three days, and
took the same road her brothers had done
before her.
The princ'jss, who had been used to ride
on hoisebaok in hunting, supported the fa-
tigue of Bo long a journey better than other
ladies could have done; and as sl'e made
the same days' journeys as her brothers, she
also met with the dervis on the twentieth
day. When she came near him, she alighted
off her horse, and leading him by the bridle,
went and sat down by the dervis, and after
she had saluted him, she s»'.J, "Good
dervis, give me leave to rest myself by you ;
and do me the favour to tell me if you have
not heard that there are somewhere here-
abouts a speaking bird, a singing tree, and
golden water."
"Madam," answered the dei-vis, "for so
I must call you, since by your voice I know
you to be a woman disguised in man's
apparel, I thank you for your compliment,
and receive the honour you do mo with great
pleasure. '/ know the place very well where
these thinr.'.s you speak of are to be found :
but what ) aakes you ask me this question ? "
"Good dervis," replied the princess, "I
have had such an advantageous relation of
them given me, that I have a very great
desire to possess them." " Madam," repUed
the dervis, "you have been told the truth.
These things are more singular and surpris-
ing than they have been represented to you ;
but you have not been acquainted with the
diihculties which must be surmounted in
order to obtain them. If you had been
fully informed of them, you woiild not have
undertaken so troublesome and dangerous
an en^'erprise. Take my advice; go no
farther ; return, and do not urge me to con-
tribute, towards your ruin."
"Good father," said the princess, " I have
come a great way, and should be sorry to
letum home without executing my design.
You talk of difBculvies, and danger of my
life ; but you do not tell me what those
difficulties arc, and wherein the danger con-
sists. This is what I desire to know, that I
may consider of it, and judge whether I can
or cannot trust my courage and strength to
undertake it."
Then the dervis repeated to the princess
Farizade what he haid said to the princes
Bahman and Ferviz, exaggerating the diffi-
culties of climbing up to the top of the
mountain, where she was to muke herself
mistress of the bird, which would inform her
of the singing tree and golden water; the
noise and din of the terrible threatening
voices which she would hear on all sides of
her, without seeing anybody ; and in short,
the great quantity of black stones, alone
sufficient to strike terror into her and every
one else. He entreated her to reflect, that
these stones were so many brave gentlflmcr';
so metamorphosed, for omitting to observe
the principal condition for success in that
undertak' jg, which was, not to look behind
them before they had got possession of the
cage.
When the dervis had done, the princess
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 531
princess
princes
the diffi-
of the
herself
iform her
ater; the
reatening
Bides of
iu short,
es, alone
,nd every
lect, that
intlflmcr..
observe
in that
ik behind
m of the
princess
replied, "By what I comprehend from your
discourse, the difficulty of succeeding in
this affair is, first, the getting up to the
cage, without being frightened at the ter-
rible din of voices I shall hear ; and secondly,
not to look behind me : for this last, 1 ho2)e
I shall be mistress enough of mj'self to ob-
serve it. As to the first, I own that those
voices, such as you rejircsent them to be,
are capable of striking terror into the most
imdaunted ; but as in all enterprises and
dangers eA'ery one may use contrivance, I
desire to know of you if I may make use of
it in one of so great importance to me."
"And what is that you would make use
of?" said the dervis. "To stop my ears
with cotton," answered the princess, "that
the voices, however loud and terrible they
may be, may make less impressiou on my
imagination, and my mind may remain free
from that disturbance which might make
nif lose the use of my reason."
"Madam," replied the dervis, "of all the
persons who have addressed themselves to
me to ask the way, I do not know that ever
any one made use of the contrivance you
propose. All I know is, they all perished.
If you persist in your design, you may make
the experiment. You will be fortunate if it
succeeds; but I woidd advise you not to
expose yourself to the danger."
"My good father," replied the princess,
" nothing prevents my persisting in my de-
sign. 1 am sure my contrivance wiU succeed,
and am resolved to try the experiment. No-
thing remains for me but to know which
way I must go, a favour I conjure you not
to refuse me." The dervis exhorted her
again, for the last time, to consider well
what she was going to do ; but finding her
resolute, he took out a bowl, and presenting
it to her, said, "Take this bowl; mount
your horse again, and when you have thrown
it before you, follow it through all its wind-
ings, till it stops at the bottom of the moun-
tain, and there do you stop, light off your
horae, and ascend the mountain. Go, you
know the rest ; but be sure not to forget to
avail yourself of what I have told you."
After the princess Parizade had thatiked
the dervis, and taken her leave of him, she
mounted her horse, threw the bowl bef(>rc'
her, and followed it till it stopped at the loot
of the mountain.
The princess alighted off her horse, stop-
ped her ears witli cotton; and after she had
well examined the way she was t) keep to
get up to the top, she began with a moderate
pace, and walked up with intrepidity. She
heard the voices, and perceived the great
service the cotton was to her. The higher
she went, the loudei and more numerous
the voices seemed ; but they were not cap-
able of making any impression on her. She
heard a great many af&onting speeches and
raillery very disagreeable to a woman, which
she only laughed at. "I mind not," said
she to herself, "all that can be s.tid, were it
•worse ; I only laugh at tbeni, and shall jiur-
sue my way." At last she got so high, that
she began to perceive the oage and bird,
which endeavoured with the voices, to
frighten her, crying in a thunJeiing voice,
notwithstanding the smallnesa of its size,
"Retire, fool, and come no higher."
The princess, encouraged more by this
object, redoubled her haste. ^Vhen she saw'
herself just at her journey's end, she got to
the toj) of the mountain, whore the g. .and
was level; and running directly to the cage,
and clapping her hand upon it, cried, "Bird,
I have you, in spite of yon, and you shall not
escape me."
When the princess Panzade was pulling
the cotton out of her eai-s, the bird said to
her, "Brave lady, be not angry with me for
joining with those who exerted themselves
to preserve my hberty. Though ke['t in a
cage, I was content with my condition ; but
since I am destined to be a slave, I would
rather be j-ours than any other ]>erson's in
the world, cince you have obtained me so
courageously and so worthily. From this
instaftt I swear inviolable fideUty to you,
and an entire submission to your commands.
I know who you are, and will tell you. You
do not know yourself who you are; but the
time will come when I shall do you a piece
of service, which I hope you wi" thiuk your-
self obliged to me for. For i roof of my
sincerity, tell me what you dt . e, and I am
ready to obey you."
The princess's joy was the more inexpres-
sible, because the conquest she had made
had cost her the lives of two beloved
brothers, and given her more trouble and
danger than she could have imagined before
she tried it, notwithstanding what the der-
vis had represented to her. " Bird," said
she, "it was my intention to have told you
that I wish for many things which are rf
the last importance to me ; and am over-
joyed that you have shewn j-our good will
and prevented me. I have been told that
there is not far off a golden water, the i>ro-
perty of which is very wonderful ; before all
things, I ask you to tell me where it is."
The bird shewed her the jilace, which was
just by, and she went and f- i-'d a httle silver
flagon which she had brought along with
her. She retunied to the bird, and saitl,
"Bird, this is not enough ; I want also the
singing tree : tell mr,- where it is." "Turn
about," said the bird, "and you will see be-
hind you a wood, where you will find this
tree." The princess went into the wood,
and by the harmonious concert she heard,
soon knew the tree among many others, but
it was very large and high. She came back
to the bird, and said to it, "Bird, I have
■•""•1
53'
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I
I
1^
h
I I
found the singing tree, but I can neither pull
it up by the roots nor carry it." The bird re-
plied, "It is not necessary that you should
take it up by the roots ; it is enough that
you break ofiF a branch, and carry it to plant
in your garden ; it will take root as soon as
it is put into the earth, and in a little time
will grow to as fine a tree as this you see,"
When the princess Parizade had in her
hand the three things which the religious
woman had told her of, and for which she
had conceived so great a desire, she said
again to the bird, "Bird, all you have done
for me yet is not enough. You have been
the cause of the death of my two brothers,
who must be among the black stones which
I saw as I came up the hill, I wish to take
them home with me."
The bird seemed reluctant to satisfy the
princess in this point, and, indeed, made
some difficulty to do it. "Bird," said the
princess, " remember you told me that you
were my slave. You are so ; and your life
is in my disposal." " 1 cannot controvert
that truth," answered the bird; "but, al-
though what you now ask of me is more
difficult than aU the rest, yet I will do it for
you. Cast your eyes around," added he,
"and look if you can see a little pitcher."
"I see it already, " said the princess. ' ' Take
it then," said he, "and as you go down the
hill, spill a little of the water that is in it
upon every black stone, and that will b" cut
way to find your brothers again."
The princess Parizade took up the pitcher,
and carried with hfr the cage and bird, the
flagon of golden water, and the branch of
the singing trer ; and as she went down the
hill, spilt p lititle of the water on every black
stone, which was changed immediately into
a man ; and as she did not miss one stone,
aU the liorses, both of the princes, her bro-
thers, and of the other gentlemen, resumed
their former shape. She presently knew
prince Bahman and jirince Perviz, as they
did her, and ran to embrace her. She re-
turned their embraces, and expressed her
zimazenient. "What do you here, my dear
brothers?" said she. They told her they
had been asleci), "Yes," replied she, "and
if it had not been for me, perhaps you might
have slept till the day of judgment. Do not
you remember that you came here to fetch
the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the
yellow water ? and did not you see, as you
came along, the place covered with black
stones ? Look and see if there be any now.
The gentlemen you see here, and their horses
which surround us, and you yourselves, were
these black stones. If you desire to know
how this wonder was performed," continued
she, shewing the pitcher, which she set
down at the foot of the mountain, having no
further use for it, "it was done by virtue of
the water which was in this pitcher, with
which I sprinkled every stone. After I had
made this speaking bird (which you see in
this cage) my slave, by his directions I
found out the singing tree, a branch of which
I have now in my hand, and the yellow water,
which this flagon is filled with ; but being
still unwilling to return home without taking
you with me, I constrained the bird, by the
power I had over him, to afford me the
means. He told me where to find this
pitcher, and the use I was to make of it.
Prince Bahmau and prince Perviz knew
by this discourse the obligation they had to
the princess their sister, as did all the other
gentlemen, who were collected round, and
heard all that was said; and expressed to
the princess, that, far from envying her hap-
piness in the conquest she had made, and
they all aspired to, they thought that they
could not any otherwise acknowledge the
favour she had done them, or better express
their gratitude to her for restoring them to
life again, than by declaring themselves all
her slaves, and that they were ready to obey
her in whatever she shoidd command,
"Gentlemen," replied the princess, "if
you had given any attention to my discourse,
you might have observed, that I had no
other intention in what I have done than to
find out my brothers again; therefore, if
you have received any benefit, you have no
obligation to me for it, and I have no further
share in your compliment than your polite-
ness towards me, and I return you my thanks,
as I ought. In other respects, I look upon
each of you individually as persons free, as
you were before your misfortunes ; and I
rejoice with you for the happiness which
has accrued to you by my means. Let us,
however, stay no longer in a place where
we have nothing to detain us, but monnt
our horses, and return to our respective
homes."
The princess Parizade shewed them the
way. She went and took her horse, which
stood in the same place where she left him.
Before she mounted, prince Bahmau, who
would help her, desired her to give him the
cage to carry. "Brother," replied the prin-
cess, "the bird is my slave, and I will carry
him myself; if you will take the pains to
carry the branch of the singing tree, there it
is ; only hold the cage while I get on horse-
back." When she had mounted her horse,
and prince Bahman had given her the cage,
she turned about and said to prince Perviz,
" I leave the flagon of golden water to your
care, if it will not be too much trouble for
you to carry." Prince Perviz took charge
of it with pleasure.
When prince Bahman and prince Perviz,
and all the gentlemen, had ruoimted their
horses, the princess Parizade waited for
some of them to lead the way. The two
princes paid that compliment to the gentle-
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 533
I your
blc for
Perviz,
their
ed for
lie two
Mntle-
men, and they again to the princess, who,
finding that none of them would accept of
the honour, but that it was reserved for her,
addressed herself to them, and said, "Gen-
tlemen, I expect that some of you should
lead the way;" to which one who was
nearest to her, in the name of the rest, re-
plied, "Madam, were we ignorant of the
respect due to your sex, yet, after what you
have done for us, there is no respect we
would not willingly pay you, notwithstand-
ing your modesty : we entreat you no longer
to deprive us of the happiness of following
you."
"Gentlemen," said the princess, "I do
not deserve the honour you do me, and ac-
cept it only because you desire it." At the
same time, she led the way, and the two
princes and gentlemen foUowed her without
the least distinction.
This illustrious company called upon the
dervis, as they passed by, to thank him for
his good reception and wholesome advice,
which they all foimd to be sincere. But he
was dead; whether of old age, or because
he was no longer necessary to shew the way
to the obtaining the three rarities w'''.ch the
princess Parizade was possessed of, did not
appear. They pursued their way, but les-
sened in their numbers every day. The
gentlemen, who, as we said before, had
come from different countries, after seve-
rally repeating their obligations to the prin-
cess and her brothers, took leave of them
one after another as they approached the
road they had come. The princess and the
two princes made the best of their way.
As soon as the princess came home, she
placed the cage in the garden, just by the
hall ; and the bird no sooner began to sing,
but he was surrounded by niglitiiigales,
chaflBnches, larks, linnets, goldfinches, and
a great many birds of the country. As for
the l)ranch of the singing tree, it was no
sooner set in the midst of the parterre, a
little distance from the house, but it took
root, and in a short time became a large
tree ; the leaves of which soon gave as har-
monious a concert as those of the tree from
which it was gathered. As to the flagon of
the yellow golden water, a large ba^in of
beautiful marble was made in the midst of
the ptorterre ; and when it was finished, the
princess poured into it all the yellow water
that was in the fiagon, which increased and
swelled so much, that it soon reached up to
the edges of the basin, and afterwards
formed in the middle a, fountain twenty
feet high, which fell again into the basin
perpetually, without running over.
The report of these wonders was presently
spread abroad in that neighbourhood ; and
as the doors of the house and those of the
gardens were shut to nobody, a great num-
ber of people came to admire them.
Some days after, when the princes Bah-
mf»n and Perviz had recovered from the
fatigue of their journeys, they resumed their
former way of living; and as their usual
diversion was hunting, they mounted their
horses, and went for the first time since
their return, not in their own park, but two
or three leagues from their house. As they
pursued their sport, the sultan of Persia
came up hunting on the same spot of groimd
that they had made choice of. When they
perceived by the number of horsemen in
different places that he would soon be up,
they resolved to leave off their chcose, and
retire to avoid meeting him ; but in the
very road they took, they chanced to meet
him in so narrow a way, that they could not
turn away nor retreat without being seen.
In their surprise, they had only time to
alight, and prostrate themselves before the
sultan, without lifting up their heads to look
at him. The sultan, who saw they were as
well mounted and dressed as if they had
belonged to his court, had the curiosity ta
see their faces. He stopped, and commanded
them to rise. The princes rose up, and
stood before the sultan with an easy and
gracefid air, accompanied with respectful,
modest countenances. The sultan took some
time to view them from head to foot, before
he spoke ; and ivfter he had admired their
good air and mien, he asked them who they
were, and where they lived.
"Sir," said prince Bahman, "we are the
sons of your majesty's late intendantof your
gardens ; ivnd we live in a house which he
built, a little before he died, for us to live
in, till we should be fit to serve your majesty,
and ask of you some employ when oppor-
tunity offered."
"By what T perceive from you," replied
the sultan, "you love hunting." "Sir,"
answered prince Bahman, " it is our common
exercise, and what none of your majesty's
subjects, who intend to bear arms in your
armies, ought according to the ancient cus-
tom of the kingdom to neglect." The sultan,
charmed with so prudent an answer, said,
"Since it is so, I should be glad to see you
hunt game ; make choice of what you like."
The princes mounted their horses again,
and followed the sultan ; but had not gone
far before they met a great many wild beasts
together. Prince Bahman chose a lion, and
prince Perviz a bear ; and pursued them
with so much intrepidity, that the sultan
was suqirised. They came up with their
game nearly at the same time, and darted
their javelins with so much skill and ad-
dress, that they pierced, the one the lion,
and the other the bear, through and through,
that the sultan, with his own eyes, saw them
fall a little time one after the other. Im-
mediately afterwards prince Bahman pur-
sued another bear, and prince Perviz an-
.534
THE ARABIAA NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
other lion, and killed them in a short time,
and would have beat out for fresh game, but
the sultan would not let them, but sent to
them to come to him. When they came
near him, he said, "If T would have given
you leave, you would soon have destroyed aU
my game ; but it is not that which I would
])reserve, but your persons ; for I am so
very well assured your bravery may one
time or other be serviceable to me, that
from this moment your lives will bo always
dear to me."
The sultan Khosrouschah, in short, con-
ceived so great a kindness for the two
princes, that he invited them immediately
to make him a visit ; to which prince Bah-
man replied, "Your majesty does us an
honour we do not deserve ; and we beg you
will excuse us."
The sultan, who could not comprehend
what reason the princes could have to refuse
this token of his fp,vour, asked and pressed
them to tell him why they excused them-
selves. "Sir," said prince Bahman, "we
have a sister younger than us, with whom
Ave live in so perfect union, that we under-
take and do nothing before we consult her,
nor she anything without asking our advice."
"I commend your brotherly affection," an-
swered the sultan. "Consult your sister,
meet me here to-morrow hunting, and give
me an answer."
The princes went home ; but not only for-
got to speak of their adventure in meeting
the sidtan, and hunting with him, but to
tell the princess the honour he had done
them, by asking them to go home with him ;
yet did not the next morning fail to meet
him at the i)lace appointed. " Well," said
the siUtan, "have j-ou spoken to your
sister ? And has she consented to the plea-
sure I expect of seeing you?" The princes
looked !it each other and blushed. "Sir,"
said prince Bahman, "we beg your majesty
to excuse \\n ; for both my brother and I
forgot." "Then remember to-day," replied
the sultan, "and be sure to bring me an
answer to-morrow."
The princes were guilty of the same fault
a second time, and the sultan was so good-
natured as to forgive their negligence ; but
to prevent their forgotf ulness the third time,
he pulled three little golden balls out of a
purse, and jint them into prince Bahman's
bosom. "These balls," said he, smiUng,
"will prevent your forgetting a third time
what 1 wish you to do for my sake ; since
the noise they will make by falling on the
floor, when you undress yourself, will re-
mind you, if you do not recollect it before."
The event happened just as the sultan fore-
saw ; and without these balls the princes
had not thought of speaking to their sister
of this affair. For as prince Bahman un-
loosed his girdle to go to bed, the balls
dropped on the floor, and thereupon he ran
into prince Perviz's chamber, and both went
to princess Parizade's a]>artment before she
was got into bed, and after they had asked
her pardon for coming at so unseasonable a
time, they told her all the circumstances of
their meeting the sultan.
The princess Parizade was somewhat sur-
prised at this news. "Your meeting with
the sidtan," said she, "is very liappy and
honourable, and may in the end be very ad-
vantageous to you, but it is very disagreeable
and distressful to mo. It was on my account,
I know, you refused the sultan, and I am
infinitely obliged to you for it. I know by
this your friendship is perfectly consistent
with mine, since you would rather be guilty
of incivility towards the sultan, than break
the brotherly union we have sworn to each
other. You jiulgcd right, that if you had
once gone, you woidd insensibly have been
engaged to leave me, to devote yourselves to
him. But do you think it an easy matter
absolu'^ely to refuse the sultan what he
seems so earnestly to desiro ? Sultans will
be obeyed ia. their desires, and it may be
dangerons to oppose them ; therefore, if to
follow my inclination, I should dissuade you
from shewing the complaisance he expects
from you, it may expose you to his resent-
ment, and may render myself and you miser-
able. These are my sentiments : but be-
fore we conclude on anything, let us consult
the speaking bird, and hear what he says ;
he is penetrating, and has promised his as-
sistance in all difficulties."
The princess Parizade sent for the cage,
and after she had related the fact to the
bird in the presence of her brothers, she
asked him what they should do in this per-
plexity. The bird answered, "The princes
your brothers must conform to the sultan's
pleasure, and in their turn invite him to
come and see your house."
"But, bu-d," replied the princess, "my
brothers and I love one another, and our
friendship is unparalleled : will not this
step be injurious to that friendship ? " "Not
at all," replied the bird; "it will become
stronger thereby." "Then," answered the
princess, "the sultan wiU see me." The
bird told her it was necessary he shoidd see
her, and that everything would go better
afterwards.
Next morning the princes met the sidtan
hunting, who, at as great a distance as he
could make himself be heard, asked them,
if they had remembered to speak to their
fcister. Prince Bahman drew near, and an-
swered, "Sir, your majesty may dispose of
us as you please ; we are ready to obey you ;
for we have not only obtained our sister's
consent with great ease, but she took it
amisa that we shoidd pay her that deference
iu a matter wherein our duty to your ma-
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 535
my
fl our
this
Not
icome
Id the
Tlie
1(1 see
letter
jesty was concerned. But she is so deserv-
ing of it, that if we have offended, we hope
you will pardon us." "Do not be uneasy
upon that account," replied the siUtan ; "so
far from taking amiss what j'ou have done,
I approve of it, and hope you will have the
same defei-ence and attachment to my per-
son, if I have ever so little share in your
friendship." The princes, confounded at the
.sultan's goodness, ret\irned no other answer
Ijut by a low bow, to shew the great re-
spect with •syhich they received it.
The sultan, contrary to his usual custom,
did not hunt long that day. Presuming
that the princes jiossessed wit equal to their
courage and bravery, he longed with impa-
tience to discourse with them more at liberty.
He maile them ride on each side of him, an
honour which, without speaking of the prin-
cipal courtiers who accompanied him, was
envied by the grand vizier, who was very
much mortified to see them preferred before
him.
When the sultan entered his capital, the
eyes of the people, who stood in crowds in
the streets, were fixed only upon the two
princes Bahman and Perviz ; and they were
earnest to know who they might be, whether
foreigners or natives.
All, however, agreed in wishing that the
sultan had been blessed with two such hand-
some lovely princes, and said, he might
have had children as old, if the sultaness,
who had suffered the punishment of her
misfortune, had been more fortimate in her
lyings-in.
The first thing that the sidtan did when
he arrived at the palace, was to carry the
princes into the principal apartments ; who
praised, without affectation, like persons
conversivnt in such matters, the beauty and
symmetry of the rooms, and the richness of
the furniture and ornaments. Afterwai Is a
magnificent rejjast was served up, and +'■•?
sultan made them sit at the same table with
him, which they at first refused ; but find-
ing that it was his pleasure, they obeyed.
The sultan, who had himself a great deal
of wit, and had made a considerable progress
in the sciences, and particularly in history,
foresaw that the princes, out of modesty and
respect, would not take the liberty of begin-
ning any conversation. Therefore, to give
them an opportunity, he began, and fur-
nished them with subjects all dinner-time.
But whatever he turned the discourse on,
they shewed so much wit, judgment, and
discernment, that he was struck with admi-
ration. "Were these my own children,"
said he to himself, "and I had improved
their talents by suitable education, t'ley
could not have been more ingenious or
better informed." In short, he took so
great pleasure in their conversation, that
after having sat at table longer than usual
he went into his closet, where he discoursed
a long time with them, and at last said to
them, " I never believed that there were,
among my subjects in tlie country, young
gentlemen so well brought up, so lively, so
capable ; and I never was better pleased in
my life with any conversation than yours :
but it is time now we should regale our
minds with some diversions of my court ;
and as nothing is more capable of enlivening
the mind than music, you shall hear a vocal
and instrumental concert, which may not be
disagreeable to you."
The sultan no sooner spoke for them, but
the musicians, who had orders to attend,
entered, and answere<l fuUy the expectations
the princes had entertained of their abilities.
After the concert, an excellent farce was
acted, and the entertainment was concluded
by dancers of both sexes.
The two princes, seeing night drawing on
apace, prostrated themselves at the sultan's
feet ; and having first thanked him for the
favours and honours he had heaped on them,
asked his leave to retire ; which was gr.anted
them by the sultan, who, dismissing them,
said, " I give you leave to go ; but remem-
ber I brought you to the palace myself only
to shew you the way ; you will be always
welcome, and the of tener you come, you will
do me the greater pleasure."
Before they went out of the sidtan's pre-
sence, prince Bahman said, "Sir, may we
presume to request that your majesty will
do us and our sister the favour to pass by
our house, and rest and refresh yourself after
your fatigue, the first time you take the
diversion of hunting in that neighbourhood ?
It is not worthy your presence ; but mo-
narchs sometimes have vouchsafed to take
shelter in a cottage." "Gentlemen," re-
plied the sultan, "your house cannot be
otherwise than beautiful, ajid worthy of you.
I will call and see it with pleasure, which
will be the greater, to have for my hosts
you and your sister, who is already dear
to me before I have seen her, from the ac-
count you give me of the rare qualities with
which she is endowed : and thid satisfaction
I ^vill defer no longer than to-morrow morn-
ing. I will be early there to-morrow morn-
ing, at the same place where I ahall never
forget that I first saw you. Meet me, and
5''ou sh.ill be my guides."
When the princes Bahman and Perviz
went home, they gave the princess Parizade
an account of the honourable reception the
sultan had given them ; and withal told her
that they had invited him to do them the
honour, as he passed by, to call at their
house ; and that he had appointed the next
day.
" If it bo so," replied the princess, " we
must think presently of preparing a repast
fit for his majesty ; and for that end, I
536
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
jt'l
_
think it would be proper we should consult
the speaking bird : he will tell us, perhaps,
what meats the sultan likes best" The
princes approved of her thought, and after
they retired, she consulted the bird alone.
"Bird," said she, "the sultan will do us
the honour to-morrow to come and see our
house, and we are to entertain him ; teU us
what we shall do to acquit ourselves to his
satisfaction."
"Good mistress," replied the bird, "you
have excellent cooks, let them do the best
they can ; but above all things let them
prepare a dish of cucumbers, stuffed full of
pearls, which must be set before the sid-
tau in the first course before all other
meats."
"Cucumbers stuffed full of pearls !" cried
princess Parizade, with amazement ; "surely,
bird, you do not know what you say ; it is
an unheard-of dish. The sultan may ad-
mire it as a piece of magnificence, but he
will sit down to table to eat, and not to ad-
mire pearls ; besides, the pearls I am worth
are not enough for such a dish."
"Mistress," said the bird, "do what I
say, and be not uneasy at what shall hap-
pen. Nothing but good will follow. As to
the pearls, go early to-morrow morning to
the foot of the first tree on your right hand,
in the park, and dig under it, and you will
find more than you want."
That night the princess ordered a gardener
to be ready to wait on her, and the next
morning early took him with her, and car-
ried him to the tree the bird told her of, and
bade him dig at its foot. When the gar-
dener came to a certain depth, he found
some resistance to the spade, and presently
discovered a gold box about a foot square,
which he shewed the princess. "This,"
said she, " is what I brought you for ; take
care not to hurt it with the spade."
When the gardener took up the box, he
gave it into the princess's hands, who, as it
was only fastened with neat httle hasps,
soon opened it, and found it full of pearls of
a moderate size ; but equal and tit for the
use that was to be made of them. Very
well satisfied with having found this treasure,
after she had shut the box again, she put it
under her arm, and went back to the house,
while the gardener threw the earth into the
hole at the foot of the tree as before.
The princes Bahman and Pcrviz, who, as
they were dressing themselves in their own
apartments, saw the princess their sister in
the garden earlier than usual, as soon as they
could get out, went to her, and met her as
she was coming back, with a gold box under
her arm, which very much surprised them.
" Sister," said Bahman, "you carried nothing
with you when we saw you before with the
gardener, and now we see you have got a
golden box : is this some treasure found by
the gardener, and did he come and tell you
of it?"
" No, brother," answered the princess, " I
carried the gardener to the place where this
coffer was hid, and shewed him where to
dig : but you will be more amazed when you
see what it holds."
The prnccss opened the box, and when
the princes saw it was full of pearls, which,
though small, were of great value, they asked
her how she came to the knowledge of this
treasure. " Brothers," said she, "if nothing
more pressing calls you elsewhere, come with
me, and I will tell you." "What more
pressing business," said prince Perviz, "can
we have than to be informed of what con-
cerns us so much ? We have nothing to do
but meet you." The X'rincess, as they re-
turned back to the house, gave them an ac-
count of her consulting the bird, as they
had agreed she should, and the answer he
gave her; the objection she raised to pre-
paring a dish of cucumbers stuffed full of
pearls, and jMinted out the manner of doing
it, and how he had told her where to find
this box. The princes and princess formed
many conjectures to penetrate into what
the bird could mean by ordering them to
prepare such a dish ; and after much con-
versation, though they could not by any
means guess at hia reason for so doing,
they nevertheless agreed to follow his advice
exactly.
As soon as the princess got into the house,
she called for the head cook ; and after she
had given him directions about the enter-
tainment for the sultan, she said to him,
" Besides all this you must dress an extra-
ordinary dish for the sultan's own eating
which nobody else must have anything to do
with besides yourself. This dish must be of
cucumbers staffed with these pearls ; and at
the same time she opened the box, and
shewed him the jiearls."
The chief cook, who had never heard of
such a dish, started back, and shewed by
his looks his thoughts ; which the princesa
penetrating into, said, "I see you take me
to be mad to order such a dish, which you
never heard of, ar i which one may say with
certainty was never made. I know this as
well as you; but I am not mad, and give
you these orders with the most perfect
recollection. You must go and invent and
do the best yon can, and bring me back
what pearls are left. " The cook could make
no reply, but took the box and went away
with it : and afterwards the princess gave
directions to all the servants to have every-
thing in order, both in the house and gar-
dens, to receive the sidtan.
Next day the two princes went to the
place appointed ; and as soon as the sultan
of Persia came, the chase began, which
lasted till the heat of the son obliged him
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 537
to leave oC Wlule prince Bahman stayed
to condact the sultan to their house, prince
Perviz rode before to •hew the way, and
when he came in sight of the house,
spurred his hone, to inform the princesH
Porizade that the sultan was coming ; but
she ha<l been told by some servants whom
she plxiced to give notice before, and the
]>rince found her waiting ready to receive
him.
When the snltan entered the courtyard,
and alighted at the {rartico, the princess
Pariziule came and threw herself at his
feet, and the two itriooes informed him she
was their sister, and besought him to accept
of her respects.
The sidtan stooped to help her up, and
after he had gazed some time on her beauty,
and, struck with her good person, noble air,
and a y. n« »iU quo!, which seemed
different from the country where she lived,
he said, "The brothers are worthy of the
sister, and she worthy of them ; and to
judge of her nnderstanding by her person,
I am not amazed that the brothers would
do nothing without their sister's consent;
but," added he, " I hope to be better ac-
quainted with you, madam, after I have
seen the house."
"Sir," said the princess, "it is only a
plain country-house, fit for such jieople as
we are, who live retired from the great
world. It is not to be compared with
houses in great cities, much less with
magnificent palaces of sultans." " I cannot
perfectly agree with you in opinion," said
the sultan, very obligingly, " for its first
appearance makes me suBi)ect you ; how-
ever, I will not pass my judgment upon it
till I have seen it all ; therefore be pleased
to conduct me through the apartments."
The princess led the sultan through all the
rooms but the hall ; and, after he had con-
sidered them aQ very attentively, and ad-
mired their variety, "My fair one," said he
to the princess Parizade, " do you call this
a country-honse? The finest and largest
cities woidd soon be deserted, if all country-
houses were like yours. I am no lunger
surprised that you take so much delight in
it, and despise the town. Now let me see
the garden, which I doubt not is answerable
to the house."
The princess opened a door which led
into 'the garden; and the first object that
presented itself to the sultan's view was the
golden fountain. Surprised at so rare a
sight, he asked from whence came that
wonderful water, which gave so much plea-
sure to behold; where was its source? and
by what art it was made to play so high,
that he thought nothing in the world was to
be compared to it ? He said he would pre-
sently take a nearer view of it.
Then the prince« kd him to the spot
where the harmonious tree was planted;
and there the sultan heard a concert, which
was different from all the concerts he hod
ever heard in his life : and stopping to see
where the musicians were, he could discern
nobody far nor near ; but still distinctly heard
the music, which ravished his senses. "My
fair one," said he to the princess Parizade,
"where are the musicians whom I hear?
Are they under ground, or invisible in
the air? Such excellent, charming voices
will hazard nothing by being seen ; on the
contrary, they would please the more."
"Sir," answered the princess, smiling,
"it is not musicians, but the tree your ma-
jesty sees before you, which forms this con-
cert ; and if you will give yourself tho
trouble to go a little nearer to it, you will
not doubt it, and the voices will be the more
distinct."
The sultan went nearer, and was so
charmed with the sweet harmony, that he
would never have been tired with hearing
it, but that his desire to have a nearer view
of the fountain of yellow water forced him
away. "Fair one," said he, "tell me, I
pray you, whether this wonderful tree was
found in your garden by chance, or if it waa
a present made to you, or have you procured
it from some foreign country ? It must cer-
tainly have come a great way off, otherwise,
curious as I am after natural rarities, I
should have heard of it. What name do
you call it by?"
" Sir," replied the princess, " this tree has
no other name than that of tho singing tree,
and is not a native of this country. It will
be too long to tell you by what adventures
it came here ; its history is connected with
the yellow water and the speaking bird,
which came to me at the same time, and
which your majesty may see after you have
taken a nearer view of the golden water.
But if it be agreeable to your majesty, after
you have rested yourself, and recovered the
fatigue of hunting, which must be the
greater because of the sun's intense heat, I
will do myself the honour of relating it to
you."
"My fair one," replied the sultan, "my
fatigue is so well recompensed by the won-
derful things you have shewn me, that I do
not feel it in the least. I think only of the
trouble I give you. Let us finish by seeing
the yellow water. I am impatient to see
and admire the speaking bird."
When the sultan came to the yellow water,
his eyes were fixed so steadfastly upon the
fountain, that he could not take them off.
At last, addressing himself to the princess,
he said, "As you tell me, fair one, that
this water has no spring or communication
hereabouts, by any means whatsoever, I con-
clude that it is foreign, as well aa the sing-
ing tree."
mm
m9^
ti' ^
538
T//E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
•'Sir," replied the princess, "it is as your
majesty says; and to let you know that
this water has no communication with any
spring, T must inform you, that the basin is
one entire stone, so that the water cannot
come in at the sides or imderueath. But
what your majesty will think most wonder-
ful is, that all tliis water proceeded but from
one flagon, which I emj)tied into this basin,
which increased of itself to the quantity you
sec, by a property peculiar to itself, and
formed this fountain." "Well," said the
sultan, going from the fountain, "tliis is
enough for one time. I ]>romise myself the
l)leasure to come and visit it very often ;
but now let us go and see the speaking bird."
As he went towards the hall, the sultan
perceived a prodigious number of singing
birds in the trees thereabouts, (filling the
air with their songs and warblings,) and
asked why there were so many there, and
7ioue on the other trees in the garden?
•'The reason, sir," answered the princess,
"is, because they come from all parts
around to accompany the song of the speak-
ing bird, which your majesty may perceive
in a cage on one of the windows of the hall
we are going into ; and if you attend, you
will perceive that his notes are sweeter than
those of all the other birds, even the night-
ingale's."
The snltan went into the hall ; and as the
bird continued singing, the princess raised
her voice, and said, " My slave, here is the
sultan ; pay your compliments to him. " The
bird left off singing that instant, and all the
other birds ceased alternately, and said,
"The sultan is welcome here : God prosper
him, and prolong his life ! " As the enter-
tainment was served on the sofa near the
window where the bird was, the sultan re-
plied, as he was sitting down at the table,
" Bird, I thank you, and I am overjoyed to
find in you the sultan and king of birds."
As soon as the sultan saw the dish of
cucumbers set before him, thinking it was
istuifed in the best manner, he reached out
his hand and took one ; but when he cut it,
he was in an extreme surprise to find it
stuffed with pearls. "What novelty is
this?" said he; "and with what design
were these cucumbers stuffed thus with
pearls, since pearls are not to be eaten?"
Then he looked at the two princes and prin-
cess, to ask them the meaning of it : when
the bird, interrupting him, saiil, "Can your
majesty be in so great astonishment at
cucumbers stuffed with pearls, which you
see with yorr own eyes, and yet could so
easily believe that the sultaness your wife
was delivered of a dog, a cat, and a piece of
wood?" "I believe it," replied the sultan,
"because the mid wives assured me of it."
"Those midwives, sir," replied the bird,
»' were the sidtaness's two sisters, who,
envious of her happiness in, being preferred
by your majesty before them, to satisfy their
envy and revenge, have abused your ma-
jesty so easily. If you interrogate them,
they will confess their crime. The two
brothers and the sister whom you see be-
fore you, are your own children, whom they
exposed, and who were taken in by the
intendant of your gardens, who provided
nurses for them, and took care of their edu-
cation."
This discourse of the bird's presently clear-
ed up the sultan's understanding. "Bird,"
cried he, " I easily believe the truth which
you discover to me. The inclination which
drew me to them, and the tenderness T have
always had for them, told me but too plainly
they are my own blood. Come then, my
children, come, my daughter, let me em-
brace you, and give yo\i the first marks of a
father's love and tenderness." Then he rose
up, ,and after having embraced the two
princes and the princess, and mingled his
tears with theirs, he said, "It is not enough,
my children ; you must embrace each other,
not as the children of the intendant of my
gardens, to whom I have been very much
obliged for preserving your lives, but as my
own children, of the royal blood of the sul-
tans of Persia, whose glory, I am persuaded,
you will maintain."
After the two princes and princess had
embraced each other mutually with new
satisfaction, the sultan sat down to table
again with them, and finished his meal in
haste; and when he had done, he said,
"My children, you see in me your father:
to-morrow I will bring the sultaness your
mother, therefore prepare to receive her."
Aft(rwards the sultan mounted his horse,
and re nimed in all haste to his capital. The
first th'ni; be did, as soon as he alighted and
entered his palace, was to command the grand
vizier to try the sultaness's two sisters. They
were taken from their houses separately,
convicted, and condemned to be quartered ;
which sentence was put in execution within
an hour.
In the meantime, the sultan Kl^ osrouschah,
followed by all the lords of his court who
were then present, went on foot to the door
of the great mosque ; and after he had taken
the sultaness out of the strict confinement
she had langiiished under for so many years,
embracing her in the miserable condition
she was then in, he said to her with tears in
his eyes, "I come, madam, to ask your par-
don for the injustice I have done you, and
to make you the reparation I ought to do ;
which I have begun, by punishing the per-
sons who put the abominable cheat upon
me ; and I hope you will look upon it as
complete, when I present to you two accom-
pUshed princes, and a charming lovely prin-
cess, our children. Come and resume your
THE SISTERS WHO ENVIED THEIR YOUNGER SISTER. 539
.rs in
par-
and
do;
per-
.ipon
it as
com-
prin-
you
former rank, with all the honours which are
your due." All this was done and said be-
fore great crowds of people, who flocked
from all parts at the first news of what was
passing, and immediately spread the news
through the town.
Next morning early, the sultan and sidto-
ness, whoso mournful humiliating dress was
changed into magnificent habits suitable to
her, went with all their court to the house
built by the intendant of the gardens, where
the sultan presented the princes Bahman and
Perviz, and the princess Parizade, to the
sultaness. "These, madam," said he, "are
the two princes your sous, and this princess
your daughter : embrace them with the
same tenderness I have done, since they are
worthy both of me and you." The tears
flowed plentifully down their cheeks at these
tender embraces, especially the sidtaness's,
for the comfort and joy of having two such
princes for her sons, and such a princess for
her daughter, on whose account she had en-
dured such affliction so long.
The two princes and the princess had pre-
l)ared a magnificent repast for the sultan
and sultaness, and their court. As soon as
that was over, the sultan led the sultaness
into the garden, and shewed her the harmo-
^,
nious tree and the beautiful effect of the
yellow fountain. As for the bird, she had
seen him in his cage, and the sultan had
spared no panegyric in his praise during the
repast.
When there was nothing to detain the
sultan any longer, he took horse again, and
with the princes Bahman and Perviz on his
right and left hand, and the sultaness and the
princess at his left, preceded and followed by
all the officers of his court, acccirding to
tlieir rank, returned to his capital. ( 'rowds
of people came out to meet them, and with
acclamations of joy ushered them into the
city, where all eyes were fixed not only upon
the sultaness, the two princes, and the prin-
cess, but also upon the bird, which the i)rin-
cess carried before her in his cage, admiring
his sweet notes, which had drawn all the
other birds about him, which followed him,
flying from tree to tree in the country, and,
from one house-toji to another in the city.
The princes Bahman and Perviz, and the
princess Parizade, were at length brought to
the palace with this pomp, and nothing was
to be seen or heard all that night l)ut illumi-
nations and rejoicings both in the palace
and in the utmost parts of the city, which
lasted many days.
h\
III
540
THE ARAB/AN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
The Bultan of the Indies could not but ad-
mire the prodigious and inexhaustible me-
mory of the Bultaness his wife, who had
entertained him so many nights with so
many different stories.
A thousand and one nights had passed
away iu these innocent amusemeutM, which
contributed so much towards removing the
sultan's unhappy prejudice against the tide-
lity of women. His temper was softened.
He was convinced of the merit and great
wisdom of the sultoness Scheherazade. He
remembered with what courage she exjiosed
herself voluntarily to be his wife, without
fearing the death to which she knew she
subjected herself, as the many sidtanesues
did before her.
These considerations, and the many other
good qualities he knew her to be mistress of
induced him at last to forgive her. ' ' I see,
lovely Scheherazade," said he, "that you
can never be at a loss for these sort of little
stories which have so long diverted mo. You
have appeased my anger. I freely renounce,
in your favour, the cruel law I had imposed
on myself. I restore you completely to my
favour, and will have you to be looked on
as the deliverer of the many damsels I had
resolved to have sacriticed to my unjust re*
sentment."
The Bultaness cast herself at his feet,
and embrac;d them tenderly with all the
marks of the most lively and perfect grati-
tude.
The grand vizier was the first that learned
this agreeabln news from the sultan's own
mouth. It presently was carried to the
city, towns, and provinces ; and gained tho
sultan, and the lovely Scheherazade, his con-
sort, universal applause, and the blessings
of all the people of the large empire of the
Indies.
THE END.
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HENRY W. LONGFELLOW'S POETICAL WORKS.
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LIVES OF THE BRITISH POETS:
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WORKS OP
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Memoir of ths Author.
Vicar of Wakefield.
Inquiry into Polite LeamlBg.
Poems, complete.
CONTENTS.
Goodnatured Man.
She Htoopa to Conquer.
Citizen of tiio World.
LifeofDrFaruell.
Life of Boltngbroke.
Ttie Bee.
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