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LANE'S STANDARD EDITIONS.
THE
AEABIAN NIGHTS'
ENTERTAINMENTS;
OR,
The Thousand and One Nights.
^tan$(atjjt( from \\t ^\\i\w\ ^rabif,
WITH NOTES EXPLANATORY OF THE TEXT,
EDWARD WILLIAM LANE,
AUTHOR OF "MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE MODERN EGYPTIANS," ETC., ETC.
|{nu5traktl
O^E HUNDRED AM) FIFTY ENGEA VINOS,
BY EMINENT ARTISTS.
REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION,
COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME.
NEW YORK:
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS,
No. Lafayette Place.
18«6.
0^%
'OOPYEiani.
JOHN HIGHLANDS,
mFTOW
PUBLISHER'S ANN0UNCE3IENT
TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
HE often expressed desire on tliis side of the Atlantic
for a popular and illustrated edition of the admirable
translation of " The Arabian Nights," by that distin-
i^^J^/k guished Arabic scholar Edward William Lane, has in-
duced the publication of the present volume.
For nearly two hundred years " The Arabian Nights' Entertain-
ments " has been a standard in English literature, while its enduring
popularity is attested by a translation into almost every modern lan-
guage. To Antoine Galland, a Frenchman, dispatched by the illus-
trious Colbert to the East in 1679 to collect curious manuscripts,
the world is indebted for its knowledge of these marvellous creations
of Eastern marvel and splendor. Many editions have been issued,
but it has been reserved for the facile pen of Mr. Lane to clothe
these stories in new interest and beauty, and to give them a depth
and feeling which could only be attained by the author's long life
spent among Oriental Nations, and by making a study of their daily
lives and modes of thought.
The editors have carefully follo"\ved the plan of Mr. Lane, except
that they have incorporated many of his foot-notes in the text of the
stories, as being clearer to the reader, and as adding much thereby
to the interest of the narratives. The version from the Arabic has
been so rendered by Mr. Lane that, while the engrossing interest of
the stories has been vividly kept up, the passages that often offend
taste and propriety in the older editions have been here gracefully
modified, thus much better adapting the work to family and general
reading.
Attention is called to the beautiful text illustrations engraved on
wood from the original Lane designs, ex})rcssly for this edition.
CONTENTS.
Introduction Page 13
CHAPTER I.
Story of the Merchant and the Genii 20
Story of the First Sheikh and the Gazelle 21
Story of the Second Sheikh and the two Black Hoiinds 24
Story of the Third Sheikh and the Mule • 26
CHAPTER II.
Story of the Fisherman 27
Story of the Grecian King and the Sage Douban 30
Story of the Husband and the Parrot 34
Story of the Envious Vizier and the Prince and the Ghoul 35
Continuation of the Story of the Grecian King and the Sage Douban 36
Continuation of the Story of the Fisherman 38
Story of the Young King of the Black Islands 42
CHAPTER III.
Story of the Porter and the Ladies of Bagdad, and of the Three Royal Mendi-
cants, &c 49
Story of the First Royal Mendicant 58
Story of the Second Royal Mendicant 61
Story of the Envier and the Envied 65
Continuation of the Story of the Second Royal Mendicant 67
Story of the Third Royal Mendicant ... 72
Continuation of the Story of the Ladies of Bagdad 80
Story of the First of the Three Ladies of Bagdad ... 80
Story of the Second of the Three Ladies of Bagdad 87
Conclusion of the Story of the Ladies of Bngdad 90
CHAPTER IV.
Story of the Throe Apples, &c . . 91
Story of Nourcddin and his Son, and of Shemseddin and his Daughter 95
CHAPTER V.
Story of the Humpback 120
Story told by the Christian Broker 123
Story tohi by the Sultan's Steward 133
Story told by the Jewish Physician ; 137
Story told by the Tailor 142
The Barber's Story of Himself 152
The Barber's Story of his First Brother 153
The Barber's Story of his Second Brother 155
The Barber's Story of his Third Brother 156
The Barber's Story of his Fourth Brother 159
The Barber's Story of his Fifth Brother 160
The Barber's Story of his Sixth Brother 165
Continuation of the Story told by the Tailor \qq
Continuation of the Story of the Humpback i'jq
CHAPTER VI.
Story of Noureddin and Enis Eljelis i>j2
CHAPTER VII.
Story of Ganem the Son of Ayoub, the Distracted Slave of Love ". 194
Story of the Slave Cafour . . . ' 196
Continuation of the Story of Ganen\ the Son of Ayoub, the Distracted Slave of
Love 198
CHAPTER VIII.
Story of Taj-elmolouk and the Lady Dunia, 210
Story of Aziz and Azizah 215
Continuation of the Story of Taj-elmolouk and the Lady Dunia 232
CHAPTER IX.
Story of AH the Son of Becar, and Shemselnihar 253
CHAPTER X.
Story of the Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura 276
Story of the Two Princes Amgiad and Assad 311
Story of Neameh and Noam 332
Conclusion of the Story of Amgiad and Assad, &e 343
CHAPTER XI.
Story of Aladdin Abushamat 348
CHAPTER Xn.
Story of Abon-IIassan the Wag, or the Sleeper Awakened 382
CHAPTER XIII.
Story of Mahomed AH the Jeweller, or the False Caliph 393
CONTENTS. vii
CHAPTER XIV.
Story of Abou Mahomed the Lfizy 403
CHAPTER XV.
Story of Ali Shir and Zumroud 412
CHAPTER XVI.
Story of Ibn Mansour and the Lady Badoura, and Jubir the Son of Omir
Sheibani 429
CHAPTER XVII.
Story of the Magic Horse 433
CHAPTER XVIII.
Story of Ansal-Wajoud and Rose-in-Bloom 454
CHAPTER XIX.
Story of Ali of Cairo 463
CHAPTER XX.
Story of Sindbad the Sailor and Sindbad the Porter 475
First Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor 476
Second Voyage 483
Third Voyage 433
Fourth Voyage 495
Fifth Voyage 503
Sixth Voyage 522.
Seventh Voyage gjg
Conclusion of the Story of Sindbad the Sailor and Sindbad the Porter con
CHAPTER XXI.
Story of the City of Brass 521
CHAPTER XXII.
Story of Joudar 533
CHAPTER XXIII.
Story of r.ulnare of the Sea 5G4
Story of Beder Basim and Giohara 571
CHAPTER XXIV
Story of Seifelmolouk and Bedia Eljoinal 501
CHAPTER XXV.
Story of Hassan of Balsora 624
van CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Story of Califa the Fisherman qqq
CHAPTER XXVII.
Story of Abousir and Aboukir jqq
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Story of Abdalla of the Land and Abdalla of the Sea 726
CHAPTER XXIX.
Story of Ibrahim and Gemila : 739
CHAPTER XXX.
Story of Marouf 751
Conclusion 781
LIST OF
TEXT AND FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS,
TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS.
Shahzeman after having killed his Wife Page 14
The Ass at Plough 17
The Dog and the Cock 18
Shahriar unveiling Sheherazade 19
Transformation of the Concubine into a Cow 22
The Herdsman introducing his Daughter to the Sheikh 23
The Genie listening to the Tales of the Sheikhs 26
Douban in his Dress of Honour 30
Douban and the Executioner 37
The Fisherman showing the Fish to the Sultan 39
The Young King on his Bed,. attended by two Maids 42
The Sultan killing the Enchantress 46
The Porter and Ladies carousing 51
The Porter seized •. 57
The Second Prince as a Woodcutter 02
The Envied Sheikh and the Genii in the Well 66
The Second Prince transformed into an Ape 69
The First Lady recognising her Sisters , 31
Old Woman interceding for the Second Lady 39
Noureddin after the Bath ; 93
Noureddin and his Son 1 00
The Vizier Shemseddin recovering from a Swoon 1 10
Bedreddin waiting upon his Son and the Eunuch 115
Bedreddin's perplexity 1 13
The Humpback Dead 122
Money-Changer and Scrivener, Ac 125
Portrait of the Jew 13,S
Young Man sitting on a Stone-bench I43
The Barber rending his Clothes •. 150
Portrait of the Barber 151
The Blind Men exploring the Apartment 157
The Second Misfortune of the Barber's Fifth Brother 163
The Barber extracting the bone from the throat of the Humpback 171
Noureddin embracing the Slave 174
Enis Eljelis playing on the Lute 18U
Azizah weeping over the Design of the Gazelles . 224
Azizah Dead 225
Tnj-elraolouk receiving the Old Woman 238
The Lady Dunia untwisting the Old Woman's Hnir 241
Taj-elmolouk and the Lady Dunia 246
The Jeweller finding the Letter 263
Shctnselnihar's first visit to the Jeweller 265
X LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Ladj' playing on the Kanoon 275
Camaralzaman standing before his Father 279
Camaralzaraan beating the Vizier 290
The Bird with the Talisman 303
Amgiad and Assad 312
Eunuch slain by Amgiad 313
Amgiad washing his Clothes 321
The Damsel beating Bahader 326
Noam reviving at the sight of Neameh's name 338
Child asleep 349
Zobeide lifting up the Prayer-carpet 358
The Caliph and his Companions disguised as Dervises 361
Ahmad Kamakim the Arch Thief 366
Abon-Hassan admiring his magnificent Dress 385
Nouzatalfaud telling her Story to the Lady Zobeide 389
The Lady Dunia examining the Necklace 397
Cadi performing the Marriage Contract 399
Zumroud embroidering 415
Zumroud weeping at the remembrance of Ali Shir 426
Ali Shir asleep on the Stone Seat 427
The Slave-girl kissing the Lady Badoura 431
Jubir fainting 435
The Eunuch throwing Dust on his Head 441
The Damsel feigning Madness 452
Ansal-Wajoud and the Lion 457
Cadi and attendant Ulama 473
The Roc 485
Sindbad the Sailor hailing the Vessel 493
Sindbad killing the Old Man of the Sea 508
Sindbad the Sailor 520
Horseman of Brass 525
Dahish overtaken by Dimiriat 528
Joudar threatening the Semblance of his Mother 547
The King's Daughter ^ 562
The Fowler with the Bird 579
The King's Wife disenchanting Beder Basim 580
Queen Labe performing the Incantation 587
Bedia Eljemal and Dowlet Katoun 616
Marjana carrying Seifelmolouk 620
Bahram the Magian 626
Menar Elsena in Prison 671
The Vessels of Glass and China-ware falling upon the Old Woman 675
Fish 691
Califa wrapped in his Net 695
Califa with Giafar and the Eunuch 700
Califa on the Chest 704
Abousir shaving a Passenger on the Galleon 712
Damsels plaiting the Queen's hair * 719
Abousir emptying the Net 723
Abdalla of the Land and his Children 727
Abdalla of the Land carrying a Basket of Fruit 731
Abdalla of the Land and Abdalla of the Sea 734
Gemila dancing / 746
Tail-piece 750
The Genie carrying off Marouf. 756
The Princess caressing Marouf 764
Man at the Plough 767
Aboulsadat appearing to Marouf 769
Ploughman bringing the Bowl of Lentils 770
Fatiraa el-Orra humbling herself before Marouf 770
Sheherazade and the Children before the King 782
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.
Sheherazadc — tho Teller of the Arabian Nights' Stories Steel-plate Frontispiece.
The Cure of the Kin-; 31
Tho Young King of tho lilack Islands 47
The Lady whipping the Dog 53
Consulting the Astrologers 75
"Most welcome art thou, my sister ! " 85
A Journey through tho Air 103
The Trooper striking the Christian Broker 129
The Tailor and the Barber 147
" There," said he, " swallow that I " 167
Tho Order to plunder Noureddin's House 181
Alcolomb drugged for Burial 201
Tho Embassy to the Islands of Cani])hor 233
Festivities when Taj-clmolouk returned 251
Shah-Zaman summons his son Camaralzaman •. 277
The Bird snatching the Talisman 301
Amgiad and the Damsel feasting 323
Amgiad approaching the King ^■. 345
Asian meeting Ahmad Kamakim the Thief. 373
The Caliph gives the Lady Dunia to her Lover 401
Returning from the Chase 433
The Magic Horse 447
Sindbad the Porter saluting the Assembly 477
The Apes come to surround the Vessel 489
Killing the Young Roc 505
Sindbad's Adventure with the Elephants 517
The City of Brass 533
All were drowned but Joudar 555
King Bcder Basim meets the Sheikh 581
They rejoiced at her safety 611
The Persian compliments Hassan , 025
Entering the House 6 49
Fish for sale 691
Marouf flees from his Home 755
INTRODTJCTIOIS".
N THE Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise
be to God, the Beneficent King, the Creator o^' ihn Univirt^e, who hath
raised the heavens without pillars, and spread out the earth' as a bed ;
and blessing and peace be on th^' lord of apostle^',, our lord and our
master Mahomet and his Family ; blessing tind peace, eli'dUriug and
constant, unto the day of judgment.
To proceed. — The lives of former generations area lesson to posterity; that a
man may review the remarkable events which have happened to others, and be ad-
monished ; and may consider the history of people of preceding ages, and of all
that hath befallen them, and be restrained. Extolled be the perfection of Him who
hath thus ordained the history of former generations to be a lesson to those which
follow. Such are the Tales of a Thousand and One Nights, with their romantic
stories and their fables.
It is related (but God alone is all-knowing as well as all-wise, and all-mighty, and
all-bountiful), that there was, in ancient times, a King of the countries of India and
China, possessing numerous troops, and guards, and servants, and domestic depend-
ants: and he had two sons : one of whom was a man of mature age ; and the other,
a youth. Both of these princes were brave horsemen ; but especially the elder, who
inherited the kingdom of his father, and governed his subjects with such justice
that the inhabitants of his country and whole empire loved him. He was called
King Shahriar: his younger brother was named Shahzeman, and was King of
Samarcand. The administration of their governments was conducted with recti-
tude, each of them ruling over his subjects with justice during a period of twenty
years, with the utmost enjoyment and happiness. After this period the elder King
felt a strong desire to see his brother, and ordered his Vizier to repair to him and
bring him.
Having taken the advice of the Vizier on this subject, he immediately gave orders
to prepare handsome presents, such as horses adorned with gold and costly jewels,
and memlooks and beautiful virgins, and expensive stuffs. He then wrote a letter
to his brother, e-xpressive of his great desire to see him ; and having sealed it, and
given it to the Vizier, together with the presents above-mentioned, he ordered the
minister to strain his nerves, and tuck up his skirts, and use all expedition in re-
turning. The Vizier answered, without delay, I hear and obey ; and forthwith pre-
pared for the journey : he packed his baggage, removed the burdens, and made
ready all his provisions within three days ; and on the fourth day he took leave of
the King Shahriar, and went forth towards the deserts and wastes. Ho proceeded
night and day; and each of the kings under the authority of King Shahriar by
whose residence he passed came forth to meet him, with costly presents and gifts of
gold and silver, and entertained him three days ; after which, on the fourth day, he
13
14 INTRODUCTION.
accompanied him one day's journey, and took leave of him. Thus he continued on
his way until he drew near to the city of Samarcand, when ho sent forward a mes-
senger to inform King Shahzeman of his approach. The messenger entered the
city, inquired the way to the palace, and introducing himself to the King kissed the
ground before him, and acquainted him with the approach of his brother's Vizier;
upon which Shahzeman ordered the chief officers of his court, and the great men
of his kingdom, to go forth a day's journey to meet him; and they did so; and
when they met him, they welcomed him, and walked by his stirrups until they re-
turned to the city. The Vizier then presented himself before the King Shahzeman,
greeted him with a prayer for the divine assistance in his favour, kissed the ground
before him, and informed him of his brother's desire to see him : after which he
handed to him the letter. The King took it, read it, and understood its contents ;
and answered by expressing his readiness to obey the commands of his brother.
But, said he (addressing the Vizier), I will not go until I have entertained thee three
days. Accordingly, he lodged him in a palace befitting his rank, accommodated his
troops in tents, and appointed them all things requisite in the way of food and
drink ; and so they remained three days. On the fourth day he equipped himself
for the journey, made veady his baggage, and collected together costly presents
suitable to his brother's dignity.
Thsqc; prfcpi'rntibo's,' being completed, he sent forth his tents, and camels, and
mul^s, 'and siel-vants, and gjards ; appointed his Vizier to be governor of the coun-
try during his absence ; and set out towards his brother's dominions. At midnight,
however, he remembered that he had left in his palace an article which he should
have brought with him ; and having returned to the
palace to fetch it, he there beheld his wife sleeping in
his bed, and attended by a male negro slave, who had
fallen asleep by her side. On beholding this scene, the
world became black before his eyes ; and he said within
himself, If this is the case when I have not departed
from the city, what will be the conduct of this vile
A\oman while I am sojourning with my brother? lie
then drew his sword, and slew them both in the bed :
after which he immediately returned, gave orders for
departure, and journeyed to his brother's capital.
Shahriar, rejoicing at the tidings of his approach,
went forth to meet him, saluted him, and welcomed
him with the utmost delight. He then ordered that
the city should be decorated on the occasion, and sat
siiaiizeii ifier having killed his adui- down to entertain his brother with cheerful conversa-
'"""'■ ^ "" tion ; but the mind of King Shahzeman was distracted
by reflections upon the conduct of his wife; excessive grief took possession of him ;
and his countenance became sallow, and his frame emaciated. His brother observed
his altered condition, and, imagining that it was occasioned by his absence from
his dominions, abstained from troubling him or asking respecting the cause, until
after the lapse of some days, when at length he said to him, my brother, I per-
ceive that thy body is emaciated, and thy countenance is become sallow. He an-
swered, brother, I have an internal sore : and he informed him not of the con-
duct of his wife which he had witnessed. Shahriar then said, I wish that thou
wouldst go out with me on a hunting excursion : perhaps thy mind might be so
diverted -.—but he declined ; and Shahriar went alone to the chase.
Now there were some windows in the King's palace commanding a view of hia
garden ; and while his brother was looking out from one of these, a door of the
palace was opened, and there came forth from it twenty females and twenty male
black slaves, and the King's wife, who was distinguished by extraordinary beauty
INTRODUCTION. 15
and elegance, accompanied them to a fountain, whore they all disrohed themselves
and sat down together. The King's wife then called out, Masoud ! and imme-
diately a black slave came to her, and embraced her; she doing the like. So also
did the other slaves and the vonien ; and all of them continued revelling together
until the close of the day. When Shahzeman beheld this spectacle, he said within
himself, By Allah! my affliction is lighter than this! His vexation and grief were
alleviated, and he no longer abstained from suflBcient food and drink.
"When his brother returned from his excursion, and they had saluted each other,
and King Shahriar observed his brother, Shahzeman, that his colour had returned,
that his face had recovered the flush of health, and that he ate with appetite, after
bis late abstinence, he was surprised and said, my brother, when I saw thee last,
thy countenance was sallow, and now thy colour has returned to thee : acquaint me
with thy state. — As to the change of my natural complexion, answered Shahzeman,
I will inform thee of its cause ; but excuse my explaining to thee the return of my
colour. — First, said Shahriar, relate to me the cause of the change of thy proper
complexion, and of thy weakness: let me hear it. — Know then, my brother, he
answered, that when thou sentest thy Vizier to me to invite me to thy presence, I
prepared myself for the journey, and when I had gone forth from the city I remem-
bered that I had left behind me the jewel that I have given thee ; I therefore re-
turned to my palace for it, and there I found my wife sleeping in my bed, and at-
tended by a black male slave ; and I killed them both, and came to thee ; but my
mind was occupied with reflections upon this afi"air, and this was the cause of the
change of my complexion, and of my weakness: now, as to the return of my
colour, excuse my informing thee of its cause. But when his brother heard these
words, he said, I conjure thee by Allah that thou acquaint me with the cause of the
return of thy colour : so he repeated to him all that he had seen. I would see this,
said Shahriar, with my own eye. — Then, said Shahzeman, give out that thou art
going again to the chase, and conceal thyself here with me, and thou shalt witness
this conduct, and obtain ocular proof of it.
Shahriar, upon this, immediately announced that it was his intention to make
another excursion. The troops went out of the city with the tents, and the King
followed them ; and after he had reposed awhile in the camp, he said to his servants,
Let no one come in to me: and he disguised himself, and returned to his brother in
the palace, and sat in one of the windows overlooking the garden ; and when he had
been there a short time, the women and their mistress entered the garden with the
black slaves, and did as his brother had described, continuing so until the hour of
the afternoon prayer.
When King Shahriar beheld this occurrence, reason fled from his head, and he
said to his brother Shahzeman, Arise, and let us travel whither we please, and re-
nounce the regal state, until we see whether such a calamity as this has befallen
any other person like unto us ; and if not, our death will be preferable to our life.
His brother agreed to his proposal, and they went out from a private door of the
palace, and journeyed continually, days and nights, until they arrived at a tree in
the midst of a meadow, by a spring of water, on the shore of the sea. They drank
of this spring, and sat down to rest; and when the day had a little advanced, the
sea became troubled before them, and there arose from it a black pillar, ascending
towards the sky, and approaching the meadow. Struck with fear at the sight, they
climbed up into the tree, which was lofty ; and thence they gazed to see what this
might be : and behold it was a Genie, of gigantic stature, broad-fronted and bulky,
bearing on his head a chest, lie landed and came to the tree into which the two
Kings had climbed, and, having seated himself beneath it, opened the chest and
cook out of it another box, wliich he also opened: and tiiere came forth from it a
young woman, fair and l>oautiful, like the shining sun. When the Genie cast his
eyes upon her, he said, lady of noble race, whom I carried off on thy weddinu-
night, I have a desire to sleep a little ; and he placed his head upon her knee and
16 • INTRODUCTION.
slept. The damsel then raised her head towards the tree, and saw there the two
Kings ; upon \vhich she removed the head of the Genie from her knee, and having
placed it on the ground, stood under the tree, and made signs to the two Kings as
though she would say, Come down, and fear not this Afrite.' They answered her,
We conjure thee by Allah that thou excuse us in this matter. But she said, I
conjure you by the same that ye come down ; and if you do not, I will rouse this
Afrite, and he shall put you to a cruel death. So, being afraid, they came down to
her; and after they had remained with her as long as she required, she took from
her pocket a purse, and drew out from this a string, upon which were ninety-eight
seal rings ; and she said to them, Know ye what are these ? They answered. We
know not. The owners of these rings, said she, have all of them had the same
conversation with me which ye have, unknown to this foolish Afrite ; therefore, give
me your two rings, ye brothers. So they gave her their two rings from their fin-
gers ; and she then said to them, This Afrite carried me off on my wedding-night,
and put me in the box, and placed the box in the chest, and affixed to the chest
seven locks, and deposited me, thus imprisoned, in the bottom of the roaring sea,
beneath the dashing waves ; not knowing that, when one of our sex desires to ac-
complish any object, nothing can prevent her. In accordance with this, says one
of the poets: —
Never trust in women ; nor rely upon their vows ;
For their pleasure and displeasure depend upon their passions.
They offer a false affection ; for perfidy lurks within their clothing.
By the tale of Joseph be admonished, and guard against their stratagems.
Dost thou not consider that Eblis ejected Adam by means of woman?
And another poet saj's: —
Abstain from censure; for it will strengthen tne censured, and increase desire into violent
passion.
If I suffer such passion, my case is but the same as that of many a man before me :
For greatly indeed to be wondered at is he who hath kept himself safe from woman's artifice.
When the two Kings heard these words from her lips, they were struck with the
utmost astonishment, and said one to the other, If this is an Afrite, and a greater
calamity hath happened unto him than that which hath befallen us, this is a cir-
cumstance that should console us ; and immediately they departed, and returned to
the city.
As soon as they had entered the palace, Shahriar caused his wife to be beheaded,
and in like manner the women and black slaves ; and thenceforth he made it his
regular custom, every time that he took a virgin to his bed, to kill her at the expi-
ration of the night. Thus he continued to do during a period of three years ; and
the people raised an outcry against him, and fled with their daughters, and there
remained not a virgin in the city of a sufficient age for marriage. Such was the
case when the King ordered the Vizier to bring him a virgin according to his custom ;
and the Vizier went forth and searched, and found none ; and he went back to his
house enraged and vexed, fearing what the King might do to him.
Now the Vizier had two daughters ; the eldest of whom was named Sheherazade,
and the younger Dinarzade. The former had read various books of histories, and
the lives of preceding kings, and stories of past generations ; it is asserted that she
had collected together a thousand books of histories, relating to preceding genera-
tions and kings, and works of the poets ; and she said to her father on this occasion,
Why do I see thee thus changed, and oppressed with solicitude and sorrows? It
has been said by one of the poets : —
Tell him who is oppressed with anxiety, that anxiety will not last :
As happiness passeth away, so passeth away anxiety.
' Afrite : a powerful evil Gonie.
INTRODUCTION. 17
When the Vizier heard these words from his daughter, he related to her all that
had happened to him with regard to the King: upon which she said, By Allah,
my father, give me in marriage to this King : either I shall die, and be a ransom for
one of the daughters of the Mahometans, or I shall live, and be the cause of their
deliverance from him. — I conjure thee, by Allah, exclaimed he, that thou expose not
thyself to such a peril ; but she said, it must be so. Then, said he, I fear for thee
that the same will befall thee that happened in the case of the ass and the bull and
the husbandman. — And what, she asked, was that, my father?
Know, my daughter, said the Vi/icr, that there was a certain merchant who
possessed wealth and cattle, and had a wife and children ; and God, whose name
be exalted, had also endowed him with the knowledge of the languages of beasts
and birds. The abode of this merchant was in the country ; and he had, in his
house, an ass and a bull. When the bull came to the place where the ass was tied,
he found it swept and sprinkled ; in his manger were sifted barley and sifted cut
straw, and the ass was lying at his ease; his master being accustomed only to ride
him occasionally, when business required, and soon to return : and it happened,
one day, that the merchant overheard the bull saying to the ass. May thy food
benefit thee! I am oppressed with fiitigue, while thou art enjoying repose: thou
eatest sifted barley, and men serve thee ; and it is only occasionally that thy master
rides thee, and returns ; while I am continually employed in ploughing, and turn-
ing the mill. The ass answered. When thou goest out to the field, and they place
the yoke upon thy neck, lie down, and do not rise again, even if they beat thee ; or
if thou rise, lie down a second time ; and when they take thee back, and place th«
beans before thee, eat them not, as though thou wert sick : abstain from eating and
drinking a day, or two days, or three ; and so shalt thou find rest from trouble and
labour. Accordingly, when the driver came to the bull with his fodder, he ate
scarcely any of it: and on the morrow, when the driver came again to take him to
plough, he found him apparently quite infirm : so the merchant said, Take the ass,
and make him draw the plough in his stead all the day. The man did so ; and
when the ass returned at the close of the day, the bull thanked him for the favour
.;■ ^m
The Ass at Plough.
he had conferred upon him by relieving him of his trouble on that day ; but the
ass returned him no answer, for he repented most grievously. On the next day,
the ploughman came again, and took the ass, and ploughed with him till evening ;
and the ass returned with his neck flayed by the yoke, and reduced to an extreme
state of weakness, and the bull looked upon him, and thanked and praised him.
The asS exclaimed, I was living at ease, and nought but my meddling hath injured
me ! Then said he to the bull. Know that T am one who would give thee good
advice: I heard our master say. If the bull rise not from his place, take him to the
butcher, that he may kill him, and make a nata' of his skin : I am therefore in
fear for thee, and so I have given thee advice; and peace be on thee! When the
bull heard these words of the ass, he thanked him, and said. To-morrow I will go
with alacrity: — so he ate the whole of his fodder, and even licked the manger. —
Their master, meanwhile, was listening to their conversation.
On the following morning, the merchant and his wife went to the bull's crib, and
' A large piece of leather with a running string all around the edge, which, being drawn,
conyerts it into a bag for carrying provisions ; when spread it serves for a table.
2
18 INTRODUCTION.
sat down there ; and the driver came and took out the bull ; and when the bull saw
his master, he shook his tail, and showed his alacrity by sounds and actions, bound-
ing about in such a manner that the merchant laughed until he fell backwards.
His wife, in surprise, asked him. At what dost thou laugh? He answered. At a
thing that I have heard and seen ; but I cannot reveal it; for if I did I should die.
She said, Thou must inform me of the cause of thy laughter, even if thou die. — I
cannot reveal it, said he : the fear of death prevents me. — Thou laughedst only at
me, she said ; and she ceased not to urge and importune him until he was quite
overcome and distracted. So he called together his children, and sent for the Cadi'
and witnesses, that he might make his will, and reveal the secret to her, and die:
for he loved her excessively, since she was the daughter of his paternal uncle, and
the mother of his children, and he had lived with her to the age of a hundred and
twenty years. Having assembled her family and his neighbours, he related to
them his story, and told them that as soon as he revealed his secret he must die;
upon which every one present said to her. We conjure thee by Allah that thou
give up this affair, and let not thy husband, and the father of thy children, die.
But she said, I will not desist until he tell me, though he die for it. So they ceased
to solicit her ; and the merchant left them, and went to the stable to perform the
ablution, and then to return, and tell them the secret, and die.
Now he had a cock, with fifty hens under him, and he had also a dog; and he
heard the dog call to the cock and reproach him, saying. Art thou happy when our
master is going to die? The cock asked. How so? — and the dog related to him the
story ; upon which the cock exclaimed, By Allah ! our master has little sense : 1
have ^y??/ wives ; and I please this and provoke that; while he has but o?ie wife,
and cannot manage this affair with her: why does he not take some twigs of the
mulberry-tree, and enter her chamber, and beat her until she dies or repents? She
would never, after that, ask him a question respecting anything. — When the
merchant heard the words of the cock, as he addressed the dog, he recovered his
The D<iK and the Cock.
reason, and made up his mind to beat her. Now, said the Vizier to his daughter
Sheherazade, perhaps I may do to thee as the merchant did to his wife. She
asked, And what did he? He answered. He entered her chamber, after he had cut
off some twigs of the mulberry-tree, and hidden them there ; and then said to her,
Come into the chamber, that I may tell thee the secret while no one sees me, and
then die: and when she had entered, he locked the chamber-door upon her, and
beat her until she became almost senseless, and cried out, I repent: — and she
kissed his hands and his feet, and repented, and went out with him ; and all the
company and her own family rejoiced ; and they lived together in the happiest
manner until death.
When the Vizier's daughter heard the words of her father, she said to him, It
must be as I have requested. So he arrayed her, and went to the King Shahriar.
Now she had given directions to her young sister, saying to her. When I have gone
to the King, I will send to request thee to come ; and when thou comest to me, and
seest a convenient time, do thou say to me, my sister, relate to me some strange
story to beguile our waking hour: — and I will relate to thee a story that shall, if
it be the will of God, be the means of procuring deliverance.
' The Tadi is a judge; but in small towns he ofien acts as a lawyer or notary.
INTRODUCTION.
19
Her father, the Vizier, then took her to the King, who, when he saw him, was
rejoiced, and said, Ilast thou broujiht me what I desired? lie answered, Yes.
When the King, therefore, introduced himself to her, she wept; and he said to her,
What aileth thee? She answered, King, I have a young sister, and I wish to take
leave of her. So the King sent to her, and she came to her sister, and embraced
her : and sat near the foot of the bed ; and after she had waited for a proper oppor-
tunity, she said, By Allah ! my sister, relate to us a story to beguile the waking
hour of our night. Most willingly, answered Sheherazade, if this virtuous king
permit me. The King, hearing these words, and being restless, was pleased with
the idea of listening to the story ; and thus, on the first night of the thousand and
one, Sheherazade commenced her recitations.
Iinar anveiline Sheh«razad« .
20 THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENH.
CHAPTER I.
Commencing with the First Night, and ending with part of the Third.
THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENII.
It has been related to me, happy King, said Sheherazade, thiit there was a
certain merchant who had great wealth, and traded extensively with siirrourdi) p
countries; and one day he mounted his horse, and journeyed to a neighbouring
country to collect what was due to him, and, the heat oppressing him, he sat iin('er
a tree, in a garden, and put his hand into his saddle-bag, and ate a morsel of bread
and a date which were among his provisions. Having eaten the date, he threw aside
the stone, and immediately there appeared before him an Afrite, of enormous
height, who holding a drawn sword in his hand, approached him, and said. Rise,
that I may kill thee, as thou hast killed my son. The mei-chant asked him, How
have I killed thy son ? He answered, When thou atest the date, and threwest aside
the stone, it struck my son upon the chest, and, as fate had decreed against him, he
instantly died.
The merchant on hearing these words, exclaimed. Verily to God we belong, and
verily to him we must return ! There is no strength nor power but in God, the
High, the Great. If I killed him, I did it not Tntentionally, but without knowing
it; and I trust in thee that thou wilt pardon me. The Genie answered, Thy death
is indispensable, as thou hast killed my son : and so saying, he dragged him, and
threw him on the ground, and raised his arm to strike him with the sword. The
merchant, upon this, wept bitterly, and said to the Genie, I commit my affair unto
God, for no one can avoid what He hath decreed : and he continued his lamentation,
repeating the following verses : —
Time consists of two days; this, bright; and that, gloomy : and life j{ two moieties; this,
safe ; and that, fearful.
Say to him who hath taunted us on account of misfortunes, Doth fortuue oppose any but the
eminent?
Dost thou not observe that corpses float upon the sea, while the precious pearls remain in its
furthest depths ?
When the hands of time play with us, misfortune is imparted to us by its protracted kiss.
In the heaven are stars that cannot be numbered ; but none is eclipsed save the sun and the
moon.
How many green and dry trees are on the earth ; but none is assailed with stones save that
which beareth fruit!
Thou thoughtest well of the days when they went well with thee, and fearedst not the evil
that destiny was bringing.
— When he had finished reciting these verses, the Genie said to him. Spare thy
words, for thy death is unavoidable.
Then said the merchant, Know, Afrite, that I have debts to pay, and T have
much property, and children, and a wife, and I have pledges also in my possession;
let me, therefore, go back to my house, and give to every one his due, and then I
will return to thee: I bind myself by a vow and covenant that I will return to thee,
and thou shalt do what thou wilt; and God is witness of what I say. Upon this.
THE FIRST SHEIKH AND THE GAZELLB. 21
the Genie accepted his covenant, and liberated him ; granting hinn a respite until
the expiration of tlie j'ear.
The merchant, therefore, returned to his town, accomplished all that was upon his
mind to do, paid every one what he owed him, and informed his wife and children
of the event which had befallen him ; upon hearing which, they and all his family
and women wept. He appointed a guardian over his children, and remained with
his family until the end of the year : when he took his grave-clothes under his arm,
bade farewell to his household and neighbours, and ail his relations, and went forth,
in spite of himself; his family raising cries of lamentation, and shrieking.
He proceeded until he arrived at the garden before mentioned ; and it was the first
day of the new year; and as he sat, weeping for the calamity which he expected
soon to befivll him, a sheikh,' advanced in years, approached him, leading a gazelle
with a chain attached to its neck. This sheikh saluted the merchant, wishing him
a long life, and said to him. What is the reason of thy sitting alone in this place,
seeing that it is a resort of the Genii? The merchant therefore informed him of
what had befallen him with the Afrite, and of the cause of his sitting there ; at
which the sheikh, the owner of the gazelle, was astonished, and said. By Allah,
my brother, thy faithfulness is great, and thy story is wonderful ! if it were engraved
upon the intellect, it would be a lesson to him who would be admonished ! And he
sat down by his side, and said. By Allah, my brother, I will not quit this place
until I see what will happen unto thee with this Afrite. So he sat down, and con-
versed with him. And the merchant became almost senseless; fear entered him,
terror, and violent grief, and excessive anxiety. And as the owner of the gazelle
sat by his side, lo ! a second sheikh approached them, with two black hounds, and
inquired of them, after saluting them, the reason of their sitting in that place,
seeing that it was a resort of the Genii : and they told him the story from beginning
to end. And he had hardly sat down when there approached them a third sheikh,
with a dapple mule ; and he asked them the same question, which was answered in
the same manner.
Immediately after the dust was agitated, and became an enormous revolving
pillar, approaching them from the midst of the desert: and this dust subsided, and
behold, the Genie, with a drawn sword in his hand ; his eyes casting forth sparks of
fire. He came to them, and dragged from them the merchant, and said to him. Rise,
that I may kill thee, as thou killedst my son, the vital spirit of my heart. And the
merchant wailed and wept; and the three sheikhs also manifested their sorrow by
weeping and crying aloud, and wailing: but the first sheikh, who was the owner of
the gazelle, recovering his self-possession, kissed the hand of the Afrite, and said
to him, thou Genie, and crown of the kings of the Genii, if I relate to thee the
story of myself and this gazelle, and thou find it to be wonderful, and more so than
the adventure of this merchant, wilt thou give up to me a third of thy claim to his
blood? He answered, Yes, sheikh: if thou relate to me the story, and I find it
to be ae thou hast said, I will give up to thee a third of my claim to his blood.
THE STORY OF THE FIRST SHEIKH AND THE GAZELLE.
Then said the sheikh, Know, Afrite, that this gazelle is the daughter of my
paternal uncle, and she is of my flesh and my blood. I took her as my wife when
she was young, and lived with her about thirty years ; but I was not blessed with a
child by her ; so took to me a concubine slave, and by her I was blessed with a male
child, like the rising full moon, with beautiful eyes, and delicately-shaped eyebrows,
«nd perfectly-formed limbs ; and he grew up by little and little until he attained the
age of fifteen years. At this period I unexpectedly had occasion to journey to a
certain city, and went thither with a great stock of merchandise.
' A title of respec' given only to Mahooietang : it signifiea literally " an old man."
THE PIRST SHEIKH AND THE GAZELLE.
Now my cousin, this gazelle, had studied enchantment and divination from her
early years ; and, during my absence, she transformed the youth above mentioned
into a calf, and his mother into
a cow ; and committed them to
the care of the herdsman : and
when I returned, after a long
time, from my journey, I asked
after my son and his mother,
and she said, Thy slave is dead,
and thy son hath fled, and I
know not whither he is gone.
After hearing this, I remained
^ for the space of a year with
mourning heart and weeping eye,
until the Festival of the Sacri-
fice ; when I sent to the herdrs.
Ttansformation of the Concubine into a Cow inau, and Ordered him tO choOSe
for me a fat cow ; and he brought me one, and it was my concubine, whom this
gazelle had enchanted. I tucked up my skirts and sleeves, and took the knife in my
hand, and prepared myself to slaughter her; upon which she moaned and cried so
violently that I^left her, and ordered the herdsman to kill and skin her ; and he did
so, but found in her neither fat nor flesh, nor anything but skin and bone ; and I
repented of slaughtering her, when repentance was of no avail. I therefore gave
her to the herdsman, and said to him, bring me a fat calf: and he brought me my
son, who was transformed into a calf. And when the calf saw me, he broke his
rope, and came to me, and fawned upon me, and wailed and cried, so that I was
moved with pity for him ; and I said to the herdsman, Bring me a cow, and let
this —
Here Sheherazade perceived the light of morning, and discontinued the recitation
with which she had been allowed thus far to proceed. Her sister said to her. How
excellent is thy story ! and how pretty ! and how pleasant ! and how sweet ! — but she
answered. What is this in comparison with that which I will relate to thee in the
next night, if I live, and the King spare me ! And the King said, By Allah, I will
not kill her until I hear the remainder of her story. Thus they pleasantly passed
the night until the morning, when the King went forth to his hall of judgment, and
the Vizier went thither with the grave-clothes under his arm ; and the King gave
judgment, and invested and displaced, until the close of the day, without informing
the Vizier of that which had happened ; and the minister was greatly astonished.
The court was then dissolved ; and the King returned to the privacy of his palace.
[On the second and each succeeding night, Sheherazade continued so to interest
King Shahriar by her stories as to induce him to defer putting her to death, in ex-
pectation that her fund of amusing tales would soon be exhausted ; and as this is
expressed in the original work in nearly the same words at the close of every night,
such repetitions will in the present translation be omitted.]
When the sheikh, continued Sheherazade, observed the tears of the calf, his heart
sympathised with him, and he said to the herdsman, Let this calf remain with the
cattle. — Meanwhile the Genie wondered at this strange story ; and the owner of the
gazelle thus proceeded.
lord of the kings of the Genii, while this happened, mj' cousin, this gazelle,
looked on, and said. Slaughter this calf i^. for he is fat: but I could not do it: so I
ordered the herdsman to take it back ; and he took him, and went away. And as I
was sitting, on the following day, he came to me, and said, my master, I have to
tell thee something that thou wilt be rejoiced to hear; and a reward is due to me for
bringing good news. I answered. Well : and he said, merchant, I have a
daughter who learned enchantment in her youth from an old womjui in our family ;
THE FIRST SHEIKH AND THE GAZELLE.
23
and yesterday, when thou gavest me the calf, I took him to her, and she looked at
him, and covered her face, and wept, and then laughed, and said, my father, hath
my condition become so degraded in thy opinion, that thou bringest before me
strange men ? — Where, said I, are any strange men ? and wherefore didst thou weep
and laugh ? She answered, This calf that is with thee is the son of our master, the
merchant, and the wife of our master hath enchanted both him and h^^s mother ; and
this was the reason of my laughter: but as to the reason of my weeping, it was on
account of his mother, because his father had slaughtered her. And I was excessi-
vely astonished at this; and scarcely was I certain that the light of morning had
appeared when I hastened to inform thee.
When I heard, Genie, the words of the herdsman, I went forth with him, in-
toxicated without wine, from the excessive joy and happiness that I- received, and
•111'
The Herdsman introdacing his Daughter to the Sheikh.
arrived at his house, where his daughter welcomed me, and kissed my hand ; and
the calf came to me, and fawned upon me. And I said to the herdsman's daughter,
Is that true which thou hast said respecting this calf? She answered, Yes, my
master ; he is verily thy son, and the vital spirit of thy heart. maiden, said I, if
thou wilt restore him, all the cattle and other property of mine that thy father hath
under his care shall be thine. Upon this, she smiled and said, my master, I have
no desire for the property unless on two conditions : the first is, that thou shalt marry
me to him ; and the second, that I shall enchant her who enchanted him, and so re-
strain her ; otherwise I shall not be secure from her artifice. On hearing, Genie,
these her words, I said, And thou shalt have all the property that is under the care
of thy father besides ; and as to my cousin, even her blood shall be lawful to thee.
So, when she heard' this, she took a cup, and filled it with water, and repeated a
24 THE SECOND SHEIKH AND THE TWO BLACK HOUNDS.
spell over it, and sprinkled with it the calf, saying to him. If God created thee a
calf, remain in this form, and be not changed : but if thou be enchanted, return to
thy original form, by permission of God, whose name be exalted ! — upon which he
shook, and became a man ; and I threw myself upon him, and said, I conjure thee
by Allah that thou relate to me all that my cousin did to thee and to thy mother.
So he related to me all that had happened to them both ; and I said to him, my
son, God hath given thee one to liberate thee, and to avenge thee : and I married to
him, Genie, the herdsman's daughter; after which, she transformed my cousin
into this gazelle.." And as I happened to pass this way, I saw this merchant, and
asked him what had happened to him ; and when he had informed me, I sat down to
see the result. — This is my story. The Genie said. This is a wonderful tale ; and I
give up to thee a third of my claim to his blood.
The second sheikh, the owner of the two hounds, then advanced, and said to the
Genie, If I relate to thee the story of myself and these hounds, and thou find it to
be in like manner wonderful, wilt thou remit to me, also, a third of thy claim to
the blood of this merchant? The Genie answered. Yes.
THE STORY OF THE SECOND SHEIKH AND THE TWO BLACK HOUNDS.
Then said the sheikh. Know, lord of the kings of the Genii, that these two
hounds are my brothers. My father died, and left to us three thousand pieces of
gold' and I opened a shop to sell and buy. But one of my brothers made a journey,
with a stock of merchandise, and was absent from us for the space of a year with
the caravans; after which he returned destitute. I said to him. Did I not advise
thee to abstain from travelling? But he wept, and said, my brother, God, to
whom be ascribed all might and glory, decreed this event; and there is no longer
any profit in these words : I have nothing left. So I took him up into the shop, and
then went with him in the ba.th, and clad him in a costly suit of my own clothing ;
after which we sat down together to eat ; and I said to him, my brother, I will
calculate the gain of my shop during the year, and divide it, exclusive of the
principal, between me and thee. Accordingly, I made the calculation, and found
my gain to amount to two thousand pieces of gold ; and I praised God, to whom be
ascribed all might and glory, and rejoiced exceedingly, and divided the gain in two
equal parts between myself and him. My other brother then set forth on a journey ;
and after a year returned in the like condition ; and I did unto him as I had done
to the former.
After this, when we had lived together for some time, my brothers again wished
to travel, and were desirous that I should accompany them ; but I would not.
What, said I, have ye gained in your travels, that I should expect to gain ? They
importuned me; but I would not comply with their request; and we remained
selling and buying in our shops a whole year. Still, however, they persevered in
proposing that we should travel, and I still refused, until after the lapse of six
entire years, when at last I consented, and said to them, my brothers, let us cal-
culate what property we possess. We did so, and found it to be six thousand pieces
of gold : and I then said to them. We will bury half of it in the earth, that it may
be of service to us if any misfortune befall us, in which case each of us shall take
a thousand pieces, with which to traffic. Excellent is thy advice, said they. So I
took the money and divided it into two equal portions, and buried three thousand
pieces of gold ; and of the other half, I gave to each of them a thousand pieces.
We then prepared merchandise ; and hired a ship, and embarked our goods, and
proceeded on our voyage for the space of a whole month, at the expiration of which
' These are dinars, in value about ten shillings each.
THE SECOND SHEIKH AND THE TWO BLACK HOUNDS. 25
we arrived at a city, where we sold our merchandise ; and for every piece of gold
we gained ten.
And when we were about to set sail again, we found on the shore of the sea a
maiden clad in tattered garments, who kissed my hand, and said to me, O my
master, art thou possessed of charity and kindness ? If so, I will requite thee for
them. I answered, Yes, I have those qualities, though thou requite me not. Then
said she, my master, accept me as thy wife, and take me to thy country ; for I
give myself to thee : act kindly towards me ; for I am one who requires to be treated
with kindness and charity, and who will requite thee for so doing ; and let not my
present condition at all deceive thee. When I heard these words, my heart was
moved with tenderness towards her, in order to the accomplishment of a purpose
of God, to whom be ascribed all might and glory ; and I took her, and clothed her,
and furnished for her a place in the ship in a handsome manner, and regarded her
with kind and respectful attention.
We then set sail ; and I became most cordially attached to my wife, so that, on
her account, I neglected the society of my brothers, who, in consequence, became
jealous of me, and likewise envied me my wealth, and the abundance of my mer-
chandise ; casting the eyes of covetousness upon the whole of the property. They
therefore consulted together to kill me, and take my wealth ; saying, Let us kill our
brother, and all the property shall be ours : — and the devil made these actions to seem
fair in their eyes ; so they came while I was sleeping by the side of my wife, and took
both of us up, and threw us into the sea. But as soon as my wife awoke, she shook her-
self, and became transformed into a Fairy. She immediately bore me away, and
placed me upon an island, and, for a while, disappeared. In the morning, however,
she returned, and said to me, I am thy wife, who carried thee, and rescued thee from
death, by permission of God, whose name be exalted. Know that I am a Fairy : I
saw thee, and my heart loved thee for the sake of God ; for I am a believer in God
and his apostle, God favour and preserve him ! I came to thee in the condition in
which thou sawest me, and thou didst marry me ; and see, I have rescued thee from
drowning. But I am incensed against thy brothers, and I must kill them. — When
I heard her tale, I was astonished, and thanked her for what she had done; — But,
said I, as to the destruction of my brothers, it is not what I desire. I then related
to her all that had happened between myself and them from first to last ; and when
she had heard it, she said, I will, this next night, fly to them, and sink their ship,
and destroy them. But I said, I conjure thee by Allah that thou do it not ; for the
author of the proverb saith, thou benefactor of him who hath done evil, the action
that he hath done is sufiicient for him : — besides, they are at all events my brothers.
She still, however, said. They must be killed; — and I continued to propitiate her
towards them ; and at last she lifted me up, and soared through the air, and placed
me on the roof of my house.
Having opened the doors, I dug up what I had hidden in the earth ; and after I
had saluted my neighbours, and bought merchandise, I opened my shop. And in
the following night when I entered my house, I found these two dogs tied up in it;
and as soon as they saw me, they came to me and wept, and clung to me ; but I
knew not what had happened until immediately my wife appeared before me, and
said. These are thy brothers. And who, said I, hath done this unto them ? She
answered, I sent to my sister, and she did it ; and they shall not be restored until
after the lapse of ten years. And I was now on my way to her, that she might
restore them, as they have been in this state ten years, when I saw this man, and,
being informed of what had befallen him, I determined not to quit the place until I
should have seen what would happen between thee and him. —This is my story. —
Verily, said the Genie, it is a wonderful tale ; and I give up to thee a third of the
claim that I had to his blood on account of his offence.
Upon this, the third sheikh, the owner of the mule, said to the Genie, As to me,
break not my heart if I relate to thee nothing more than this : —
THE THIRD SHEIKH AND THE MULE.
THE STORY OF THE THIRD SHEIKH AND THE MULE.
The mule that thou seest was my wife : she became enamoured of a black slave ;
and when I discovered her with him, she took a mug of water, and, having uttered
a spell over it, sprinkled me and transformed me into a dog. In this state, I ran to
the shop of a butcher, whose daughter saw me, and, being skilled in enchantment,
restored me to my original form, and instructed me to enchant my wife in the
manner thou beholdest. — And now I hope that thou wilt remit to me also a third of
the merchant's offence. Divinely was he gifted who said,
Sow good, even on an unworthy soil; for it will not be lost wherever it is sown.
When the sheikh had thus finished his story, the Genie shook with delight, and
remitted the remaining third of his claim to the merchant's blood. The merchant
then approached the sheikhs and thanked them, and they congratulated him on his
safety, and each went his way.
But this, said Sheherazade, is not more wonderful than the story of the fisher-
man. The King asked her, And what is the story of the fisherman ? And she
related it as follows : —
^ .
^'^'''•'l^l'jl-
The Genie listening to the TaleH of the Sheikhs.
THE FISHERMAN. 27
CHAPTER II.
Commencing with part of the Third Night, and ending with part of the Ninth.
THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN.
There was a certain fisherman, advanced in age, who had a wife and three chil-
dren ; and though he was in indigent circumstances, it was his custom to cast his
net, every day, no more than four times. One day he went forth, at the hour of
noon, to the shore of the sea, and put down his basket, and cast his net, and waited
until it was motionless in the water, when he drew together its strings, and found
it to be heavy: he pulled, but could not draw it up : so he took the end of the cord,
and knocked a stake into the shore, and tied the cord to it. He then stripped him-
self, and dived round the net, and continued to pull until he drew it out: whereupon
he rejoiced, and put on his clothes ; but when he came to examine the net, he found
in it the carcass of an ass. At the sight of this he mourned, and exclaimed. There
is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! This is a strange piece
of fortune ! And he repeated the following verse : —
thou who occupiest thyself in the darkness of night, and in peril! Spare tbv trouble; for
the support of Providence is not obtained by toil '
He then disencumbered the net of the dead ass, and wrung it out; after which he
spread it, and descended into the sea, and, — exclaiming. In the name of God ! — cast
it again, and waited till it had sunk and was still, when he pulled it, and found it
more heavy and more difficult to raise than on the former occasion. He therefore
concluded that it was full of fish : so he tied it and stripped, and plunged and dived,
and pulled until he raised it, and drew it upon the shore ; when he found in it only
a large jar, full of sand and mud; on seeing which, he was troubled in his heart,
and repeated the following words of the poet : —
angry Fate, forbear ! or, if thou wilt not forbear, relent !
Neither favour from fortune do I gain, nor profit from the work of my hands.
1 came forth to seek my sustenance, but have found it to be exhausted.
How many of the igri-irant are in splendour! and how many of the wise in obscurity!
So saying, he threw aside the jar, and wrung out and cleansed his net ; and, begging
the forgiveness of God for his impatience, returned to the sea the third time, and
threw the net, and waited till it had sunk and was motionless: he then drew it out,
and found in it a quantity of broken jars and pots.
Upon this, he raised his head towards heaven, and said, God, thou knowest
that I cast not my net more than four times ; and I have now cast it three times !
Then — exclaiming, In the name of God! — he cast the net again into the sea, and
waited till it was still ; when he attempted to draw it up but could not, for it clung
to the bottom. And he exclaimed, there is no strength nor power but in God ! —
and stripped himself again, and dived round the net, and pulled it until he raised
it upon the shore ; when he opened it, and found in it a bottle of brass, filled with
something, and having its mouth closed with a stopper of lead, bearing the ira-
28 THE FISHERMAN.
pression of the seal of King Solomon. At the sight of this, the fisherman was
rejoiced, and said, This I will sell in the copper-market; for it is worth ten pieces
of gold. — He then shook it, and found it to be heavy, and said, I must open it, and
see what is in it, and store it in my bag ; and then I will sell the bottle in the
copper-market. So he took out a knife, and picked at the lead until he extracted it
from the bottle. He then laid the bottle on the ground, and shook it, that its con-
tents might pour out; but there came forth from it nothing but smoke, which
ascended towards the sky, and spread over the face of the earth ; at which he
wondered excessively. And after a little while, the smoke collected together, and
was condensed, and then became agitated, and was converted into an Afrite, whose
head was in the clouds, while his feet rested upon the ground: his head was like a
dome: his hands were like winnowing forks; and his legs like masts: his mouth
resembled a cavern ; his teeth were like stones ; his nostrils like trumpets ; and his
eyes like lamps ; and he had dishevelled and dustrcoloured hair.
When the fisherman beheld this Afrite, the muscles of his sides quivered, his
teeth were locked together, his spittle dried up, and he saw not his way. The
Afrite, as soon as he perceived him, exclaimed, There is no deity but God : Solomon
is the Prophet of God. Prophet of God, slay me not ; for I will never again
oppose thee in word, or rebel against thee in deed? — Marid,' said the fisherman,
dost thou say, Solomon is the Prophet of God ? Solomon hath been dead a thou-
sand and eight hundred years ; and we are now in the end of time. What is thy
history, and what is thy tale, and what was the cause of thy entering this bottle?
When the Marid heard these words of the fisherman, he said. There is no deity but
God! Receive news, fisherman ! — Of what, said the fisherman, dost thou give me
news ? He answered. Of thy being instantly put to a most cruel death. The
fisherman exclaimed. Thou deservest, for this news, O master of the Afrites, the
withdrawal of protection from thee, thou remote I^ Wherefore wouldst thou kill
me? and what requires thy killing me, when I have liberated thee from the bottle,
and rescued thee from the bottom of the sea, and brought thee up upon the dry
land. The Afrite answered, Choose what kind of death thou wilt die, and in what
manner thou shalt be killed. — What is my oS"ence, said the fisherman, that this
should be my recompense from thee ? The Afrite replied. Hear my story, fisher-
man. — Tell it then, said the fisherman, and be short in thy words ; for my soul
hath sunk down to my feet.
Know then, said he, that I am one of the heretical Genii : I rebelled against
Solomon the son of David; I and Sacar' the Genie; and he sent to me his Vizier,
Asaph the son of Barakhia, who came upon me forcibly, and took me to him in
bonds, and placed me before him: and when Solomon saw me, he ofi"ered up a
prayer for protection against me, and exhorted me to embrace the faith, and to
submit to his authority ; but I refused ; upon which he called for this bottle, and
confined me in it, and closed it upon me with the leaden stopper, which he stamped
with the Most Great Name: he then gave orders to the Genii, who carried me
away, and threw me into the midst of the sea. There I remained a hundred years ;
and I said in my heart. Whosoever shall liberate me, I will enrich him for ever : —
but the hundred years passed over me, and no one liberated me ; and I entered
upon another hundred years ; and I said, Whosoever shall liberate me, I will open
to him the treasures of the earth ; but no one did so : and four hundred years more
passed over me, and I said, Whosoever shall liberate me, I will perform for him
three wants ; but still no one liberated me. I then fell into a violent rage, and
said within myself. Whosoever shall liberate me now, I will kill him ; and only
' A Marid is an evil Genie, of the most powerful class.
' The word remote implies far from goodness : and is employed in relating a Btory, as a sub-
Btitute for some opprobrious expression supposed to have been actually used.
* Saoar was a Genie of great power, who deprived Solomon of his kingdom by treachery
THE FISHERMAN. 29
suffer him to choose in what mamier he will die. And, lo ! now thou hast liberated
me, and I have given thee thy choice of the manner in which thou wilt die.
When the fisherman had heard the story of the Afrite, he exclaimed, Allah !
that I should not have liberated thee but in such a time as this ! Then said he to
the Afrite, Pardon me, and kill me not, and so may God pardon thee ; and destroy
me not, lest God give power over thee to one who will destroy thee. The Marid
answered, I must positively kill thee ; therefore choose by what manner of death
thou wilt die. The fisherman then felt assured of his death ; but he again implored
the Afrite, saying. Pardon me by way of gratitude for my liberating thee. — Why,
answered the Afrite, I am not going to kill thee but for that very reason, because
thou hast liberated me. — sheikh of the Afrites, said the fisherman, do I act
kindly towards thee, and dost thou recompense me with baseness ? But the pro-
verb lieth not that saith, —
We did good to them, and they returned us the reverse ; and such, by my life, is the conduct
of the wicked.
Thus he who acteth kindly to the undeserving is recompensed in the same manner as the
aider of Umm Amir.'
The Afrite, when he heard these words, answered by saying. Covet not life, for
thy death is unavoidable. Then said the fisherman within himself. This is a Genie,
and I am a man ; and God hath given me sound reason ; therefore, I will now plot
his destruction with my heart and reason, like as he hath plotted with his cunning
and perfidy. So he said to the Afrite, Hast thou determined to kill me? He
answered yes. Then said he, by the Most Great Name engraved upon the seal of
Solomon, I will ask thee one question ; and wilt thou answer it to me truly ? On
hearing the mention of the Most Great Name, the Afrite was agitated, and trem-
bled, and replied. Yes ; ask, and be brief. The fisherman then said. How wast
thou in this bottle? It will not contain thy hand or thy foot; how then can it
contain thy vfhole body? Dost thou not believe that I was in it? said the Afrite.
The fisherman answered, I will never believe thee until I see thee in it. Upon this,
the Afrite shook, and became converted again into smoke, vrhich rose to the sky,
and then became condensed, and entered the bottle by little and little, until it was
all enclosed ; when the fisherman hastily snatched the sealed leaden stopper, and,
having replaced it in the mouth of the bottle, called out to the Afrite, and said.
Choose in what manner of death thou wilt die. I will assuredly throw thee here
into the sea, and build me a house on this spot ; and whosoever shall come here, I
will prevent his fishing in this place, and will say to him, Here is an Afrite, who
to any person that liberates him will propose various kinds of death, and then give
him his choice of one of them. On hearing these words of the fisherman, the
Afrite endeavoured to escape ; but could not, finding himself restrained by the im-
pression of the seal of Solomon, and thus imprisoned by the fisherman as the vilest
and filthiest and least of Afrites. The fisherman then took the bottle to the brink
of the sea. The Afrite exclaimed. Nay ; nay! — to which the fisherman answered.
Yea, without fail ! yea, without fail ! The Marid then, addressing him with a soft
voice and humble manner, said, What dost thou intend to do with me, fisherman ?
He answered, I will throw thee into the sea, and if thou hast been there a thousand
and eight hundred years, I will make thee to remain there until the hour of judg-
ment. Did I not say to thee, Spare me, and so may God spare thee ; and destroy
me not, lest God destroy thee? But thou didst reject my petition, and wouldst
nothing but treachery ; therefore God hath caused thee to fall into my hand, and I
have betrayed thee. — Open to me, said the Afrite, that I may confer benefits upon
thee. The fisherman replied. Thou liest, thou accursed ; I and thou are like the
Vizier of the Grecian King and the sage Douban. What, said the Afrite, was the
case of the Vizier of the Grecian King and the sage Douban, and what is their
story? The fisherman answered as follows: —
' An epithet of the hyaena.
30
THE GRECIAN KING AND THE SAGE DOUBAN.
THE STORY OF THE GRECIAN KING AND THE SAGE DOUBAN.
Know, Afrite, that there was, in former times, a monarch who was King of the
Grecians, possessing great treasures and numerous forces, valiant, and having troops
of every description ; but he was afl3icted with leprosy, which the physicians and
sages had failed to remove; neither their potions, nor powders, nor ointments were
of any benefit to h\tx\ ; and none of the physicians was able to cure him. At length
there arrived at the city of this king a great sage, stricken in years, who was called
the sage Douban : he was acquainted with ancient Greek, Persian, modern Greek,
Arabic, and Syrian books, and with medicine and astrology, both with respect to
their scientific principles, and the rules of their practical applications for good and
evil ; as well as the properties of plants, dried and fresh ; the injurious and the use-
ful : he was versed in the wisdom of the philosophers, and embraced a knowledge
of all the medical and other sciences.
After this sage ha(J arrived in the city, and remained in it a few days, he heard
of the case of the King, of the leprosy with which God had afiiicted him, and that
the physicians and men of science
had failed to cure him. In conse-
quence of this information, he passed
the next night in deep study ; and
when the morning came, and difi-
used its light, and the sun saluted
the Ornament of the Good,' he
attired himself in the richest of his
apparel, and presented himself
before the King. Having kissed
the ground before him, and ofi"ered
up a prayer for the continuance of
his power and happiness, and
greeted him in the best manner he
was able, he informed him who he
was, and said, King, I have heard
of the disease which hath attacked
thy person, and that many of the
physicians are unacquainted with
the means of removing it ; and I
will cure thee without giving thee
to drink any potion or anointing
thee with ointment. When the
King heard his words, he won-
dered, and said to him. How wilt
thou do this? By Allah, if thou
cure me, I will enrich thee and thy
children's children, and I will heap
favours upon thee, and whatever
thou shalt desire shall be thine,
and thou shalt be my companion
and my friend. He then bestowed
upon him a robe of honour, and other presents, and said to him Wilt, thou cure
me of this disease without potion or ointment? He answered, Yes; I will cure
thee without any discomfort to thy person. And the King was extremely astonished,
and said, sage, at what time, and on what day, shall that which thou hast pro-
posed to me be done? Hasten it, my Son. He a nswered, I hear and obey.
' A title of tbe Prophet Mahomet
Douban in his Dress of Ho
^i
^^^■^(=
The Cure of the King. (Page 88.)
31
THE GRECIAN KING AND THE SAGE DOUBAN. 3.']
He then went out from the presence of the King, and hired a house, in which he
deposited his books, and medicines, and drugs. Having done this, he selected
certain of his medicines and drugs, and made a goff-stick, with a hollow handle,
into which he introduced them ; after which he made a ball for it, skilfully adapted ;
and on the following day, after he had finished these, he went again to the King, and
kissed the ground before him, and directed him to repair to the horse-course, and to
play with the ball and gofi'-stick. The King, attended by his Emirs and Chamber-
lains and Viziers, went thither, and, as soon as he arrived there, the sage Douban
presented himself before him, tind handed to him the goff-stick, saying. Take this
goff-stick, and grasp it thus, and ride along the horse-course, and strike the ball with
it with all thy force, until the palm of thy hand and thy whole body becomes moist
with perspiration, when the medicine will penetrate into thy hand, and pervade
thy whole body ; and when thou hast done this, and the medicine remains in thee,
return to thy palace, and enter the bath, and wash thyself, and sleep : then shalt.
thou find thyself cured : and peace be on thee. So the King took the goff-stick
from the sage, and grasped it in his hand, and mounted his horse ; and the ball was
thrown before him, and he urged his horse after it until he overtook it, when he
struck it with all his force ; and when he had continued this exercise as long as
was necessary, and bathed and slept, he looked upon his skin, and not a vestige
of the leprosy remained : it was clear as white silver. Upon this he rejoiced ex-
ceedingly ; his heart was dilated, and he was full of happiness.
On the following morning he entered the council-chamber, and sat upon his
throne ; and the chamberlains and great ofiScers of his court came before him. The
sage Douban also presented himself, and when the King saw him, he rose to him in
haste, and seated him by his side. Services of food were then spread before them,
and the sage ate with the King, and remained as his guest all the day ; and when
the night approached, the King gave him two thousand pieces of gold, besides
dresses of honour and other presents, and mounted him on his own horse, and so
the sage returned to his house. And the King was astonished at his skill; saying,
This man hath cured me by an external process, without anointing me with oint
ment: by Allah, this is consummate science; and it is incumbent on me to bestow
favours and honours upon him, and to make him my companion and familiar friend
as long as I live. He passed the night happy and joyful on account of his recovery,
and when he arose, he went forth again, and sat upon his throne : the officers of his
court standing before him, and the Emirs and Viziers sitting on his right hand and
on his left; and he called for the sage Douban, who came, and kissed the ground
before him ; and the King rose, and seated him by his side, and ate with him, and;
greeted him with compliments : he bestowed upon him again a robe of honour and^
other presents, and, after conversing with him till the approach of night, gave orders-
that five other robes of honour should be given to him, and a thousand pieces- of
gold ; and the sage departed, and returned to his house.
Again, when the next morning came, the King went as usual to his cou-neil-
chamber, and the Emirs and Viziers and Chamberlains surrounded him. Now there
was, among his Viziers, one of ill aspect, and of evil star; sordid, avaricious, and of
an envious and malicious disposition ; and when he saw that the Kinghad. made the
sage Douban his friend, and bestowed upon him these favours, he envied him this
distinction, and meditated evil against him ; agreeably with the adage which saith.
There is nobody void of envy ; — and another, which saith, Tyranny lurketh in the
soul: power manifesteth it, and weakness concealeth it. So he approached the
King, and kissed the ground before him, and said, King of the age, thou art he
whose goodness extended to all men, and I have an important piece of advice to
give thee : if I were to conceal it from thee, I should be a base-born wretch : there-
fore, if thou order me to impart it, I will do so. The King, disturbed by these
words of the Vizier, said. What is thy advice ? He answered, glorious King, it
hath been said by the ancients. He who looketh not to results, fortune will not
3
34 THE HUSBAND AND THE PARROT.
attend him: — now I have seen the King in a way that is not right; since he hath
bestowed favours upon his enemy, and upon him who desireth the downfall of his
dominion : he hath treated him with kindness, and honoured him with the highest
honours, and admitted him to the closet intimacy : I therefore fear, for the King, the
consequence of this conduct. — At this the King was troubled, and his countenance
changed; and he said, Who is he whom thou regardest as mine enemy, and to
whom I show kindness? He replied, King, if thou hast been asleep, awake! I
allude to the sage Douban. The King said. He is my intimate companion, and the
dearest of men in my estimation; for he restored me by a thing that I merely held
in my hand, and cured me of my disease which the physicians were unable to re-
move; and there is not now to be found one like to him in the whole world, from
west to east. Wherefore, then, dost thou utter these words against him ? I will,
from this day, appoint him a regular salary and maintenance, and give him every
month a thousand pieces of gold; and if I gave him a share of my kingdom it
were but a small thing to do unto him. I do not think that thou hast said this from
any other motive than that of envy. If I did what thou desirest, I should repent
after it, as the man repented who killed his parrot.
THE STORY OF THE HUSBAND AND THE PARROT.
There was a certain merchant, of an excessively jealous disposition, having a
wife endowed with perfect beauty, who had prevented him from leaving his home ;
but an event happened which obliged him to make a journey ; and when he found
his doing so to be indispensable, he went to the market in which birds were sold,
and bought a parrot, which he placed in his house to act as a spy, that, on his
return, she might inform him of what passed during his absence ; for this parrot was
cunning and intelligent, and remembered whatever she heard. So, when be had
made his journey, and accomplished his business, be returned, and caused the parrot
to be brought to him, and asked her respecting the conduct of his wife. She
answered, Thy wife has a lover, who visited her every night during thy absence ;
and when the man heard this, he fell into a violent rage, and went to his wife and
gave her a severe beating.
The woman imagined that one of the female slaves had informed him of what had
pa$"ed between her and her paramour during his absence: she therefore called them
together, and made them swear; and they all swore that they had not told their
mas'ieV..- nything of the matter; but confessed that they had heard the parrot relate
to him what had passed. Having thus established, on the testimony of the slaves,
the fact of the parrot's having informed her husband of her intrigue, she ordered
one of the slaves to grind with a hand-mill under the cage, another to sprinkle water
from above, and a third to move a'mirror from side to side, during the next night on
which her husband was absent; and on the following morning, when the man re-
turned from an entertainment at which he hsid been present, and inquired again of
the parrot what had passed that night during his absence; the bird answered. -0 my
master, I could neither see nor hear anything, on account of the excessive. darkness,
and thunder, and lightning, and rain. Now this happened during summer: so he
said to her. What strange words are these? It is now summer, when' nothing of
what thou hast described ever happens. The parrot, however, swore by Allah the
Great that what she had said was true: and that it had so happened: upon which
the man, not understanding the case, nor knowing the plot, becanu! violently en-
raged, and took out the bird from the cage, and threw her down upon the ground
with such violence that he killed her.
But after some days, one of his female slaves informed him of the truth ; yet he
would not believe it, until he saw his wife's paramour going out from his house ;
when he drew his sword, and slew the traitor by a blow on the back of his neck:
THE ENVIOUS VIZIER AND THE PRINCE AND THE GHOUL. 35
80 also did he to his treacherous wife ; and thus both of them went, laden with the
sin which they had committed, to the fire ; and the merchant discovered that the
parrot had informed him truly of what she had seen ; and he mourned grievously for
her loss.
When the Vizier heard these words of the Grecian King he said, King of great
dignity — what hath this crafty sage — this man from whom nought but mischief
proceedeth — done unto me, that I should be his enemy, and speak evil of him, and
plot with thee to destroy him ? I have informed thee respecting him in compassion
for thee, and in fear of his despoiling thee of thy happiness ; and if my words be
not true, destroy me as the Vizier of Sindbad was destroyed. The King asked,
IIow was that? And the Vizier thus answered: —
THE STORY OF THE ENVIOUS VIZIER AND THE PRINCE AND
THE GHOUL.
The King above-mentioned had a son who was ardently fond of the chase ; and
had a Vizier whom he charged to be always with this son wherever he went. One
day the son went forth to hunt, and his father's Vizier was with him ; and as they
rode together they saw a great wild beast: upon which the Vizier exclaimed^ to the
Prince, Away after this wild beast! The King's son pursued it until he was out of
the sight of his attendants, and the beast also escaped from before his eyes in the
desert; and while the Prince wandered in perplexity, not knowing whither to direct
his course, he met in his way a damsel, who was weeping. He said to her, who art
thou? — and she answered, I am a daughter of one of the kings of India; I was in
the desert, and slumber overtook me, and I fell from my horse in a state of insensi-
bility, and being thus separated from my attendants, I lost my way. The Prince,
on hearing this, pitied her forlorn state, and placed her behind him on his horse ;
and as they proceeded, they passed by a ruin, and the damsel said to him, my
master, I would alight here for a little while. The Prince therefore lifted her from
his horse at this ruin ; but she delayed so long to return, that he wondered where-
fore she had loitered so, and entering after her, without her knowledge, perceived
that she was a Ghoul,' and heard her say. My children, I have brought you to-day a
fat young man: — on which they exclaimed, Bring him to us, mother! that we
may fill our stomachs with his fliesh. AVhen the Prince heard these words, he felt
assured of destruction ; the muscles of his side quivered, and fear overcame '.im,
and he retreated. The Ghoul then came forth, and seeing that he appeared uiarmed
and fearful, and that he was trembling, said to him. Wherefore dost thou fear! He
answered, I have an enemy of whom I am in fear. The Ghoul then said. Thou
assertest thyself to be the son of the King. He replied, Yes. — Then, said she,
wherefore dost thou not give some money to thine enemy, and so conciliate him?
He answered. He will not be appeased with money nor with anything but life ; and
therefore do I fear him : I am an injured man. She then said to him, If thou be an
injured man, as thou affirmest, beg aid of God against thine oppressor, and he will
avert from thee his mischievous design, and that of every other person whom thou
fearest. Upon this, therefore, the Prince raised his head towards heaven,, and said,
Thou who answerest the distressed when he prayeth to thee, and dispellest evil,
assist me and cause mine enemy to depart from me ; for Thou art able to do whatso-
ever Thou wilt ! — and the Ghoul no sooner heard his prayer, than she departed from
him. The Prince then returned to his father, and informed him of the conduct of
the Vizier; upon which the King gave orders that the minister should be put to
death.
' A sort of evil Genie that eats men : a cannibal.
36 THE GRECIAN KING AND THE SAGE DOUBAN.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE GRECIAN KING AND THE
SAGE DOUBAN.
And thou, King, continued the "Vizier of the Grecian King, if thou trust in thia
sage he will kill thee in the foulest manner. If thou continue to bestow favours
upon him, and to make him thine intimate companion, he will plot thy destruction.
Dost thou not see that he hath cured thee of the disease by external means, by a
thing that thou heldest in thy hand ? Therefore thou art not secure against his
killing thee by a thing that thou shalt hold in the same manner. The King
answered, Thou hast spoken truth: the case is as thou bast said, faithful Vizier:
it is probable that this sage came as a spy to accomplish my death ; and if he cured
me by a thing I held in my hand, he may destroy me by a thing that I may smell :
what then, Vizier, shall be done respecting him ? The Vizier answered. Send to
him immediately, and desire him to come hither ; and when he is come, strike oflF
his head, and so shalt thou avert from thee his evil design, and be secure from him.
Betray him before he betray thee. — The King said, Thou hast spoken right.
Immediately, therefore, he sent for the sage, who came full of joy, not knowing
what the Compassionate had decreed against him, and addressed the King with
these words of the poet : — ■
If I fail any day to render thee due thanks, tell me for what I have camposed my verse and
prose.
Thou hadst loaded me with favours unsolicited, bestowed without delay on thy part, or
excuse.
How then should I abstain from praising thee as thou deservest, and lauding thee both with
my heart and voice?
Nay, I will thank thee for thy benefits conferred upon me : they are light upon my tongue,
though weighty to my back.
Knowest thou, said the King, wherefore "I have summoned thee? The sage
answered. None knoweth what is secret but God, whose name be exalted ! Then
said the King, I have summoned thee that I may take away thy life. The sage, in
the utmost astonishment at thia announcement, said, O King, wherefore wouldst
thou kill me, and what offence hath been committed by me ? • The King answered.
It hath been told me that thou art a spy, and that thou hast come hither to kill me ;
but I will prevent thee by killing thee first: — and so saying, he called out to the
executioner, Strike off the head of this traitor, and relieve me from his wickedness.
— Spare me, said the sage, and so may God spare thee ; and destroy me not, lest
God destroy thee. And he repeated these words several times, like as I did, O
Afrite : but thou wouldst not let me go, desiring to destroy me.
The Grecian King then said to the sage Douban, I shall not be secure unless I kill
thee ; for thou curedst me by a thing that I held in my hand, and I have no security
against thy killing me by a thing that I may smell, or by some other means. —
King, said the sage, is this my recompense from thee? Dost thou return evil for
good? — The King answered. Thou must be slain without delay. When the sage,
therefore, was convinced that the King intended to put him to death, and that his
fate was inevitable, he lamented the benefit that he had done to the undeserving.
The executioner then advanced and bandaged his eyes, and having drawn his sword,
said. Give permission. Upon this the sage wept, and said again. Spare me, and so
may God spare thee ; and destroy me not, lest God destroy thee ! Wouldst thou
return me the recompense of the crocodile? — What, said the King, is the story of
the ?ronndile? — The sage answered, I cannot relate it while in this condition ; but I
conjure thee by Allah to spare me, and so may Ho spare thee. And he wept
bitterly. Then one of the chief officers of the King arose and said, King, give
up to me the blood of this sage ; for we have not seen him commit any offence against
thee ; nor have we seen him do aught but cure thee of thy disease, which wearied
THE GRECIAN KING AND THE SAGE DOUBAN. 37
the other ph3'sicians and sages. The King answered, Ye know not the reason
wherefore I would kill the sage : it is this, that
if I suffered him to live, I should myself inevitably
perish ; for he who cured me of the disease under
which I suffered by a thing that I held in my
hand, may kill me by a thing that I may smell :
and I fear that he would do so, and would receive
an appointment on account of it ; seeing that it is
probable he is a spy who hath come hither to kill
me; I must therefore kill him, and then shall
I feel myself safe. — The sage then said again.
Spare me, and so may God spare thee ; and
destroy me not, lest God destroy thee.
But he now felt certain, Afrite, that the
King would put him to death, and that there
was no escape for him ; so he said, King, if my
death is indispensable, grant me some respite, that
I may return to my house, and acquit myself of m ^°"'"'" """^ "" Execut.oner.
duties, and give directions to my family and neighbours to bury me, and dispose of
my medical books ; and among my books is one of most especial value, which I
offer as a present to thee, that thou mayst treasure it in thy library. And what,
eaid the King, is this book? He answered, it contains things not to be enumerated;
and the smallest of the secret virtues that it possesses is this ; that when thou hast
cut off my head, if thou open this book, and count three leaves, and then read three
lines on the page to the left, the head will speak to thee, and answer whatever thou
ehalt ask. At this the King was excessively astonished, and shook with delight,
and said to him, O Sage, when I have cut off thy head will it speak ? He answered,
Yes, King; and this is a wonderful thing.
The King then sent him in the custody of guards: and the sage descended to his
house, and settled all his affairs on that day ; and on the following day he went up
to the court: and the Emirs and Viziers, and Chamberlains and Deputies, and all
the great oflScers of state, went thither also ; and the court resembled a flower-garden*
And when the sage had entered, he presented himself before the King, bearing an
old book, and a small pot containing a powder: and he sat down and said. Bring me
a tray. So they brought him one ; and he poured out the powder into it, and spread
it. He then said, O King, take this book, and do nothing with it until thou hast cut
off my head : and when thou hast done so, place it upon this tray, and order some
one to press it down upon the powder ; and when this is done, the blood will be
stanched : then open the book. As soon as the sage had sai-d this, the King gave
orders to strike off his head ; and it was done. The King then opened the book,
and found that its leaves were stuck together ; so he put his finger to his mouth, and
moistened it with his spittle, and opened the first leaf, and the second, and the third ;
but the leaves were not opened without difficulty. He opened six leaves, and looked
at them; but found upon them no writing. So he said, Sage, there is nothing
written in it. The head of the sage answered. Turn over more leaves. The King
did so ; and in a little while, the poison penetrated into his system ; for the book was
poisoned ; and the King fell back, and cried out. The poison hath penetrated into
me! — and upon this, the head of the sage Douban repeated these verses: —
They made use of their power, and used it tyrannically; and soon it became as though it had
never existed.
Had they acted equitably, they had experienced equity ; but they oppressed ; wherefore for-
tune oppressed them with calamities and trials.
Then did the case itself announce to them, This is the reward of your conduct, and fortune is
blameless.
And when the head of the sage Douban had uttered these words, the King imme
.iiately fell down dead.
THE FISHERMAN.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN.
Now, Afrite, continued the fisherman, know that if the Grecian King haa
spared the sage Douban, God had spared him, but he refused, and desired his de-
struction ; therefore God destroyed him ; and thou, Afrite, if thou hadst spared
me, God had spared thee, and I had spared thee ; but thou desiredst my death •
therefore will I put thee to death imprisoned in this bottle ; and will throw thee here
into the sea. The Marid upon this, cried out, and said, I conjure thee by Allah,
fisherman, that thou do it not: spare me in generosity, and be not angry with me
for what I did ; but if I have done evil, do thou good, according to the proverb, —
thou benefactor of him who hath done evil, the action that he hath done is sufficient
for him : — do not therefore as Imama did to Ateca. — And what, said the fisherman,
was their case? The Afrite answered, This is not a time for telling stories, when I
am in this prison : but when thou liberatest me, I will relate to thee their case.
The fisherman said, Thou must be thrown into the sea, and there shall be no way of
escape for thee from it; for I endeavoured to propitiate thee, and humbled myself
before thee, yet thou wouldst nothing but my destruction, though I had committed
no offence to deserve it, and had done no evil to thee whatever, but only good,
delivering thee from thy confinement ; and when thou didst thus unto me, I perceived
that thou wast radically corrupt: and I would have thee know, that my motive for
throwing thee into this sea is, that I may acquaint with thy story every one that
shall take thee out, and caution him against thee, that he may cast thee in again ;
thus shalt thou remain in this sea to the end of time, and experience varieties of
torment. The Afrite then said, Liberate me, for this is an opportunity for thee to
display humanity ; and I vow to thee that I will never do thee harm ; but, on the
contrary, will do thee a service that shall enrich thee for ever.
Upon this the fisherman accepted his covenant that he would not hurt him; but
that he would do him good ; and when he had bound him by oaths and vows, and
made him swear by the Most Great Name of God, he opened to him ; and the smoke
ascended until it had all come forth, and then collected together, and became, as
before, an Afrite of hideous form. The Afrite then kicked the bottle into the sea.
When the fisherman saw him do this, he made sure of destruction, and said, This is
no sign of good : — but afterwards he fortified his heart, and said, Afrite, God,
whose name be exalted, hath said. Perform the covenant, for the covenant shall be
inquired into:— and thou hast covenanted with me, and sworn that thou wilt not act
treacherously towards me ; therefore, if thou so act, God will recompense thee ; for
He is jealous; He respiteth, but suffereth not to escape; and remember that I said
to thee as said the sage Douban to the Grecian King, Spare me, and so may God
spare thee.
The Afrite laughed, and, walking on before him, said, fisherman, follow me
The fisherman did so, not believing in his escape, until they had quitted the neigh-
bourhood of the city, and ascended a mountain, and descended into a wide desert
tract, in the midst of which was a lake of water. Here the Afrite stopped, and
ordered the fisherman to cast his net and take some fish ; and the fisherman looking
into the lake, saw in it fish of different colours, white, and red, and blue, and yellow;
at which he was astonished ; and he cast his net, and drew it in, and found in it
four fish, each fish of a different colour from the others, at the sight of which he
rejoiced. The Afrite then said to him. Take them to the Sultan, and present them
to him, and he will give thee what will enrich thee ; and for the sake of God accept
my excuse, for, at present, I know no other way of rewarding thee ; for having been
in the sea a thousand and eight hundred years, and not seen the surface of the earth
until now : but take not the fish from the lake more than once each day : and now I
commend thee to the care of God. — Having thus said, he struck the earth with his
feet, and it clove asunder, and swallowed him.
THE FISHERMAN.
39
The fisherman then went back to the city, wondering at all that had befallen him
with the Afrite, and carried the fish to his house ; and he took an earthern bowi,
and, having filled it with water, put the fish into it ; and they struggled in the
water: and when he had done this, he placed the bowl upon his head, and repaired
to the King's palace, as the Afrite had commanded him, and, going up unto the
King, presented to him the fish ; and the King was excessively astonished at them,
for be bad never seen any like them in the course of his life ; and he said, Give these
'I'he Fj.shernian sliuwmg the Fish Ki the Siiltaa,
fish to the slave cook-maid. This maid had been sent as a present to him by the
King of .the Greeks, three days before; and he had not yet tried her skill. The
Vizier, therefore, ordered her to fry the fish, and said to her, maid, the King'saith
unto thee, I have not reserved my tear but for the time of my difficulty : — to-day.
then, gratify us by a specimen of thy excellent cookery, for a person hath brought
these fish as a present to the Sultan. After having thus charged her, the Vizier
returned, and the King ordered him to give the fisherman four hundred pieces of
gold : so the Vizier gave them to him ; and he took them in his lap, and returned to
his home and his wife, joyful and happy, and bought what was needful for his
family.
Such were the events that befell the fisherman ; now we must relate what hap-
pened to the maid. — She took the fish, and cleaned them, and arranged them in the
frying-pan, and left them until one side was cooked, when she turned them upon the
other side ; and, lo ! the wall of the kitchen clove asunder, and there came forth
from it a damsel of tall stature, smoothed-cheeked, of perfect form, with eyes
adorned with kohl,' beautiful in countenance, and with heavy swelling hips; wearing
31 coif interwoven with blue silk ; with rings in her ears, and bracelets on her wrists,
and rings set with precious jewels on her fingers; and in her hand was a rod of
Indian cane : and she dipped the end of the rod in the frying-pan, and said, fish,
are ye remaining faithful to your covenant? At the sight of this the cook-maid
fainted. The damsel then repeated the same words a second and third time ; after
which the fish raised their heads from the frying-pan, and answered, Yes, yes.
They then repeated the following verse : —
If thou return, wc return; and if thou come, we come; and if thou forsake, we verily do
the same.
And upon this the damsel overturned the frying-pan, and departed, by the way she
' A black powder applied to the edges of the eyelids as an ornament.
40 THE FISHERMAN.
had entered, and the wall of the kitchen closed up again. The cook-maid then
arose, and beheld the four fish burnt like charcoal ; and she exclaimed, In his first
encounter his staff broke ! — and as she sat reproaching herself, she beheld the Vizier
standing at her head ; and he said to her, Bring the fish to the Sultan : — and she
wept, and informed him of what had happened.
The Vizier was astonished at her words, and exclaimed, This is indeed a wonderful
event; — and he sent for the fisherman, and when he was brought, he said to him,
fisherman, thou must bring to us four fish like those which thou broughtest before.
The fisherman accordingly went forth to the lake, and threw his net, and when he
had drawn it in he found in it four fish as before ; and he took them to the Vizier,
who went with them to the maid, and said to her. Rise, and fry them in my pre-
sence, that I may witness this occurrence. The maid, therefore, prepared the fish,
and put them in the frying-pan, and they remained but a little while when the wall
clove asunder, and the damsel appeared, clad as before, and holding the rod ; and
she dipped the end of the rod in the frying-pan, and said, fish, fish, are ye re-
maining faithful to your old covenant? Upon which they raised their heads, and
answered as before ; and the damsel overturned the frying-pan with the rod, and
returned by the way she had entered, and the wall closed up again.
The Vizier then said. This is an event which cannot be concealed from the King:
— so he went to him, and informed him of what had happened in his presence ; and
the King said, I must see this with my own eyes. He sent, therefore, to the fisher-
man, and commanded him to bring four fish like the former ; granting him a delay
of three days. And the fisherman repaired to the lake, and brought the fish thence
to the King, who ordered again that four hundred pieces of gold should be given to
him ; and then, turning to the Vizier, said to him, Cook the fish thyself here before
me. The Vizier answered, I hear and obey. He brought the frying-pan, and, after
he had cleaned the fish, threw them into it ; and as soon as he had turned them, the
wall clove asunder, and there came forth from it a negro, in size like a bull, or like
one of the tribe of Ad,* having in his hand a branch of a green tree : and he said,
with a clear but terrifying voice. fish, fish, are ye remaining faithful to your old
covenant? Upon which they raised their heads, and answered as before. Yes, yes ;
If thou return, we return ; and if thou come, we come ; and if thou forsake, we verily do
the same.
The black then approached the frying-pan, and overturned it with the branch, and
the fish became like charcoal, and he went away as he had come.
When he had thus disappeared from before their eyes, the King said. This is an
event respecting which it is impossible to keep silence, and there must undoubtedly
be some strange circumstance connected with these fish. He then ordered that the
fisherman should be brought before him, and when he had come he said to him,
Whence came these fish? The fisherman answered. From a lake between four
mountains behind this mountain which is without thy city. The King said to him,
How many days' journey distant? He answered, our lord the Sultan, a journey
of half-an-hour. And the Sultan was astonished, and ordered his troops to go out
immediately with him and the fisherman, who began to curse the Afrite. They pro-
ceeded until they had ascended the mountain, and descended into a wide desert tract
which they had never before seen in their whole lives ; and the Sultan and all the
troops wondered at the sight of this desert, which was between four mountains, and
at the fish, which were of four colours, red and white, and yellow and blue. The
King T^aused in astonishment, and said to the troops, and to the other attendants
who were with him. Hath any of you before seen this lake in this place? They all
answered. No. Then said the King, By Allah, I will not enter my city, nor will I
sit upon my throne, until I know the true history of this lake, and of its fish. And
' A race of ancient Arabs, destroyed for their intideliiy.
THE FISHERMAN. 4J
upon this he ordered his people to encamp around these mountains ; and they did
so. He then called for the Vizier, who was a well-informed, sensible, prudent, and
learned man ; and when he had presented himself before him, he said to him, I
desire to do a thing with which I will acquaint thee ; and it is this : — I have resolved to
depart alone this night, to seek for information respecting this lake and its fish :
therefore sit thou at the door of my pavilion, and say to the Emirs and Viziers and
Chamberlains, The Sultan is sick, and hath commanded me not to allow any person
to go in unto him : — and acquaint no one with my intention.
The Vizier was unable to oppose his design ; so the King disguised himself, and
slung on his sword, and withdrew himself from the midst of his troops. He
journeyed the whole of the night, until the morning, and proceeded until the heat
became oppressive to him: he then paused to rest; after which he again proceeded
the remainder of the diiy and the second night until the morning, when there ap-
peared before him, in the distance, something black, at the sight of which he re-
joiced, and said. Perhaps I shall there find some person who will inform me of the
history of the lake and its fish. And when he approached this black object, he
found it to be a palace built of black stones, and overlaid with iron ; and one of the
leaves of its door was open and the other shut. The King was glad, and he stood
at the door, and knocked gently, but heard no answer ; he knocked a second and a
third time, but again heard no answer : then he knocked a fourth time, and with
violence; but no one answered. So he said, It is doubtless empty : — and he took
courage, and entered from the door into the passage, and cried out, saying, in-
habitants of the palace, I am a stranger and a traveller ! have ye any provision ?
And he repeated these words a second and a third time, but heard no answer. And
upon this he fortified his heart, and emboldened himself, and proceeded from the
passage into the midst of the palace; but he found no one there, and only saw that
it was furnished, and that there was, in the centre of it, a fountain with four lions
of red gold, which poured forth the water from their mouths, like pearls and jewels :
around this were birds ; and over the top of the palace was extended a net which
prevented their flying out. At the sight of these objects he was astonished, and he
was grieved that he saw no person there whom he could ask for information respect-
ing the lake, and the fish, and the mountains, and the palace. He then sat down
between the doors, reflecting upon these things ; and as he thus sat, he heard a
voice of lamentation from a sorrowful heart, chanting these verses : —
fortune, thou pitiest me not, nor releasest me! See, my heart is straightened between afflic-
tion and peril !
Will not you [0 my wife] have compassion on the mighty whom love hath abased, and the
wealthy who is reduced to indigence ?
We were jealous even of the zephyr which passed over you; but when the divine decree is
issued, the eye becometh blind !
What resource hath th^ archer, when in the hour of conflict, he desireth to discharge the
arrow, but findeth his bow-string broken ?
And when troubles are multiplied upon the noble-minded, where shall he find refuge from
fate and from destiny ?
When the Sultan heard this lamentation, he sprang upon his feet, and, seeking
the direction whence it proceeded, found a curtain suspended before the door of a
chamber ; and he raised it, and beheld behind it a young man sitting on a sofa raised
to the height of a cubit from the floor. He was a handsome youth, well shaped, and
of eloquent speech, with shining forehead, and rosy cheek, marked with a mole re-
sembling ambergris. The King was rejoiced at seeing him, and saluted him ; and
the young man (who remained sitting, and was clad with a vest of silk, embroidered
with gold, but who exhibited traces of grief) returned his salutation, and said to him,
my master, excuse my not rising. — youth I said the King, inform me respect*
ing the lake, and its fish of various colours, and respecting this palace, and the
42
THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLANDS.
reason of tKy being alone in it, and of thy lamentation. When the young man
heard these words, tears trickled down his cheeks, and he wept bitterly. And the
King was astonished, and said to him. What causeth thee to weep, youth ? He
answered, How can I refrain from weeping when this is ray state? — and so saying,
he stretched forth his hand, and lifted up the skirts of his clothing ; and, lo ! half
of him, from his waist to the soles of his feet was stone ; and from his waist to the
hair of his head he was like other men. He then said. Know, King, that the
story of the fish is extraordinary ; if it were engraved upon the intellect, it would
be a lesson to him who would be admonished : — and he related as follows : —
THE STORY OF THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLANDS.
My father was King of the city which was here situated : his name was Mahmoud,
and he was lord of the Black Islands, and of the four mountains. After a reign of
seventy years, he died, and I succeeded to his throne ; whereupon I took as my wife
the daughter of my uncle ; and she loved me excessively, so that when I absented
myself from her, she would neither eat nor drink till she saw me again. She re-
mained under my protection five years. After this, she went one day to the bath ;
and I had commanded the cook to prepare the supper, and entered this palace, and
slept in my usual place. I had ordered two maids to fan me ; and one of them sat
at my head and the other at my feet ; but I was restless because my wife was not
with me ; and I could not sleep. My eyes were closed, but my spirit was awake ;
and I heard the maid at my head say to her at my feet, O Masouda, verily our lord
is unfortunate in his youth ; and what a pity it is that it should be passed with our
depraved, wicked mistress ! — Perditiou to unfaithful wives ! replied the other ; but
(added she) such a person as our lord, so endowed by Nature, is not suited to this
profligate woman, who passes every night absent from his bed. — Verily, rejoined
H
'I'lie Youii? King; on his Bed ai tended by two Maids.
she at my head, our lord is careless in not making any inquiry respecting her. —
Wo to thee ! said the other : hath our lord any knowledge of her conduct, or doth
she leave him to his choice? Nay, on the contrary, she contriveth, to defraud him
by means of the cup of wine which he drinketh every night before he sleepeth,
putting bhang' into it; in consequence of which he sleepeth so soundly that he
' An intoxicating or stupifying drug.
THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLANDS. 43
knoweth not what happeneth, nor whither she goeth, nor what she doth ; for, after
she hath given him the wine to drink, she dresseth herself, and goeth out from him,
and is absent until daybreak, when she returneth to him, and burneth a perfume
under his nose, upon which he awaketh from his sleep.
When I heard this conversation of the maids, the light became darkness before
my face, and I was hardly conscious of the approach of night, when my cousin re-
turned from the bath. The table was prepared, and we ate, and sat awhile drinking
our wine as usual. I then called for the wine which I was accustomed to drink
before I lay down to sleep, and she handed to me the cup ; but I turned away, and,
pretending to drink it as I was wont to do, poured it into my bosom, and imme-
diately lay down : upon which she said, Sleep on ; I wish that thou wouldst never
wake again ! By Allah, I abhor thee, and abhor thy person, and my soul is weary
of thy company ! — She then arose, and attired herself in the most magnificent of her
apparel, and having perfumed herself, and slung on a sword, opened the door of the
palace, and went out. I got up immediately, and followed her until she had quitted
the palace, and passed through the streets of the city, and arrived at the city-gates,
when she pronounced some words that I understood not: whereupon the locks fell
off, and the gates opened, and she went out, I still following her, without her know-
ledge. Thence she proceeded to a space among the mounds, and arrived at a
strong edifice, in which was a kubbeh' constructed of mud, with a door, which she
entered. I then climbed upon the roof, and looking down upon her through an aper-
ture, saw that she was visiting a black slave, whose large lips, one of which over-
lapped the other, gathered up the sand from the pebbly floor, while he lay, in a filthy
and wet condition, upon a few stalks of sugar-cane.
She kissed the ground before this slave ; and he raised his head towards her, and
said. Wo to thee ! Wherefore hast thou remained until this hour? The other blacka
have been here drinking wine, and each of them has gone away with his mistress ;
and I refused to drink on thy account. She answered, my master, and beloved of
my heart, knowest thou not that I am married to my cousin, and that I abhor every
man who resembles him, and hate myself while I am in his company? If I did not
fear to displease thee, I would reduce the city to ruin, so that the owl and the raven
should cry in it, and would transport its stones beyond Mount Kaf — Thou liest, thou
infamous woman, replied the slave ; and I swear by the generosity of the blacks
(and if I speak not truth, may our valour be as the valour of the whites), that if
thou loiter as thou hast now done till this hour, I will no longer give thee my com-
pany, nor approach thy person, thou faithless one ! Dost thou inconvenience me for
the sake of thine own pleasure, thou filthy wretch, and vilest of the whites ? — When
I heard (continued the King) their words, and witnessed what passed between them,
the world became dark before my face, and I knew not where I was. — My cousin
still stood weeping, and abasing herself before him, and said, my beloved, and
treasure of my heart, there remaineth to me none but thee for whom I care, and if
thou cast me off, alas for me ! my beloved I light of mine eye ! — Thus she con-
tinued to weep, and to humble herself before him, until he became pacified towards
her; upon which she rejoiced, and arose, and, having disrobed herself, said to him,
my master, hast thou here anything that thy maid may eat ? He answered, Un-
cover the dough-pan ; it contains some cooked rats' bones ; eat of them, and pick
them; and take this earthen pot; thou wilt find in it some boozah^ to drink. So
she arose, and ate and drank, and washed her hands ; after which she lay down V)y
the side of the slave, upon the stalks of sugar-cane, and covered herself with his
tattered clothes and rags.
When I saw her do this, I became unconscious of my existence, and descending
from the roof of the kubbeh, entered, and took the sword from the side of my cousin,
' A chamber with an arched root.
' A sort of beer, prepared from barley or millet.
44 THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLANDS.
with the intention of killing them both. I struck the slave upon his neck, and
thought that he was killed ; but the blow, which I gave with the view of severing
his head, only cut the gullet and skin and flesh ; and when I thought that I had
killed him, he uttered a loud snore, upon which my cousin started up, and, as soon
as I had gone, took the sword and returned it to its scabbard, and came back to the
city and to the palace, and lay down again in my bed, in which she remained until
the morning.
On the following day, I observed that my cousin had cut off her hair and put on
the apparel of mourning ; and she said to me, my cousin, blame me not for what
I do ; for I have received news that my mother is dead, and that my father hath been
slain in a holy war, and that one of my two brothers hath died of a poisonous sting,
and the other by the fall of a house ; it is natural, therefore, that I should weep and
mourn. On hearing these words, I abstained from upbraiding her, and said, Do what
seemeth fit to thee ; for I will not oppose thee. Accordingly, she continued mourn-
ing and weeping and wailing a whole year ; after which she said to me, I have a
desire to build for myself, in thy palace, a tomb, with a cupola, that I may repair
thither alone to mourn, and I will call it the House of Lamentations. I replied, Do
what thou seest fit. So she built for herself a house for mourning, with an arched
chamber in the middle of it, like the tomb of a saint ; after which she removed
thither the slave, and there she lodged him. He was in a state of excessive weak-
ness, and unable to render her any service, though he drank wine ; and from the
day on which I had wounded him he had never spoken ; yet he remained alive,
because the appointed term of his life had not expired. My cousin every day visited
him in this tomb early and late, to weep and mourn over him, and took to him wine
to drink, and boiled meats; and thus she continued to do, morning and evening,
until the expiration of the second year, while I patiently suffered her, till, one day,
I entered her apartment unawares, and found her weeping, and slapping her face,
and repeating these verses : —
I have lost my existence among mankind since your absence ; for my heart loveth none but
you.
Take my body, then, in mercy, to the place where you are laid; and there bury me by your
side:
And if, at my grave, you utter my name, the moaning of my bones shall answer to your call.
As soon as she had finished the recitation of these verses, I said to her, holding
my. drawn sword in my hand. This is the language of those faithless women who
renounce the ties of affinity; and regard not lawful fellowship ! — and I was about to
strike her with the sword, and had lifted up my arm to do so, when she arose — for
she knew that it was I who had wounded the slave — and, standing before me, pro-
nounced some words which I understood not, and said. May God, by means of my
enchantment, make thee to be half of stone, and half of the substance of man ! —
whereupon I became as thou seest, unable to move, neither dead nor alive ; and when
I had been reduced to this state, she enchanted the city and its markets and fields.
The inhabitants of our city were of four classes : Mahometans, and Christians, and
Jews, and Magians ; and she transformed them into fish : the white are the Maho-
metans ; the red, the Magians ; the blue, the Christians ; and the yellow the Jews.
She transformed, also, the four islands into four mountains, and placed them around
the lake ; and from that time she has continued every day to torture me, inflicting
upon me a hundred lashes with a leather whip, until the blood flows from my
wounds ; after which she puts on my upper half a vest of hair-cloth, beneath these
garments. — Having said thus the young man wept, and ejaculated the following
verses : —
Give me patience, Allah, to bear what thou decreest ! I will be patient, if so I may obtain
thine approval.
I am straitened, indeed, by the calamity that hath befallen me : but the Family of the
favoured Prophet shall intercede f<>r me !
THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLANDS. 45
Upon this, the King, looking towards the young man, said to him, youth, thou
hast increased my anxiety, and where (he added) is this woman ? The young man
answered. She is in the tomb, where the slave is lying, in the arched chamber; and
every day, before she visits him, she strips me of my clothing, and inflicts upon me
a hundred lashes with the whip, while I weep and cry out, unable to move so as to
repulse her. After thus torturing me, she repairs early to the slave, with the wine
and boiled meat ! — By Allah, youth, said the King, I will do thee an act of kind-
ness for which I shall be remembered, and a favour which historians shall record in
a biography after me.
He then sat and conversed with him until the approach of night, upon which he
arose, and waited till the first dawn of day, when he took off his clothes, and slung
on his sword, and went to the place where the slave lay. After remarking the
candles and lamps, and perfumes and ointments, he approached the slave, and with
a blow of his sword slew him ; he then carried him on his back, and threw him into
a well which he found in the palace, and, returning to the kubbeh, clad himself with
the slave's clothes, and lay down with the drawn sword by his side. Soon after, the
vile enchantress went to her cousin, and having pulled off his clothes, took the whip,
and beat him, while he cried, Ah ! it is enough for me to be in this state ! Have
pity on me then ! — Didst thou show pity to me, she exclaimed, and didst thou spare
my lover ? — She then put on him the hair-cloth vest and his outer garments, and re-
paired to the slave with a cup of wine, and a bowl of boiled meat. Entering the
tomb, she wept and wailed, exclaiming, my master, answer me ! — my master
speak to me ! — and poured forth her lamentation in the words of this verse :—
How long shall this aversion and harshness continue? SuflBcient is the evil which my passion
hath brought upon me !
Then weeping as before, she exclaimed again, my master, answer me, and speak
to me ! Upon this the King, speaking in a low voice, and adapting his tongue to the
pronunciation of the blacks, ejaculated. Ah ! Ah ! there is no strength nor power
but in God ! On hearing these words, she screamed with joy, and fell down in
a swoon: and when she recovered, she exclaimed. Possibly my master is restored
to health ! The King, again lowering his voice as if from weakness, replied,
Thou profligate wretch, thou deservest not that I should address thee. — Where-
fore? said she? He answered. Because all the day long thou tormentest thy
husband, while he calleth out, and imploreth the aid of God, so that thou hast
prevented my sleeping from the commencement of darkness until morning : thy
husband hath not ceased to humble himself, and to imprecate vengeance upon
thee, till he hath distracted me ; and had it not been for this, I had recovered
my strength: this it is which hath prevented my answering thee. — Then, with thy
permission, she replied, I will liberate him from his present sufferings. — Liberate
him, said the King, and give us ease.
She replied, I hear and obey : — and immediately arose, and went out from the
tomb to the palace, and, taking a cup, filled it with water, and pronounced certain
words over it, upon which it began to boil like a cauldron. She then sprinkled
some of it upon her cousin, saying. By virtue of what I have uttered, be changed
from thy present state to that in which thou wast at first ! — and instantly he shook,
and stood upon his feet, rejoicing in his liberation, and exclaimed, I testify that there
is no deity but God, and that Mahomet is God's Apostle ; God fiivour and preserve
him ! She then said to him. Depart and return not hither, or I will kill thee : — and
she cried out in his face : so he departed from before her, and she returned to the
tomb, and said, my master, come forth to me that I may behold thee. He replied
with a weak voice. What hast thou done? Thou hast relieved me from the branch
but hast not relieved me from the root. — my beloved, she said, and what is the
root ? He answered, The people of this city, and of the four Islands ; every
46
THE YOUNG KING OF THE BLACK ISLANDS.
The Sullaii killms tlie Ln-li intre'
night, at the middle hour, the fish raise their heads, and imprecate vengeance
upon nie and upon thee ; and this is the cause that prevents the return of vigour
to my body ; therefore liberate them, and come and take my hand, and raise me,
for vigour hath already in part returned to me.
On hearing these words of the King, whom she imagined to be the slave, she said
to him with joy, my master, on my head and my eye ! In the name of Allah ! —
and she sprang up, full of happiness,
and hastened to the lake, where,
taking a little of its water, she pro-
nounced over it some unintelligible
words; whereupon the fish became
agitated, and raised their heads, and
immediately became converted into
men as before. Thus was the enchant-
ment removed from the inhabitants
of the city, and the city became re-
peopled, and the market-streets re-
erected, and every one returned to his
occupation : the mountains also became
changed into islands as they were at
the first. The enchantress then re-
turned immediately to the King, whom
she still imagined to be the slave, and
said to him, my beloved, stretch
forth thy honoured hand, that I may
kiss it. — Approach me, said the King
in a low voice. So she drew near t(,
him ; and he, having his keen-edged
sword ready in his hand, thrust it into her bosom, and the point protruded from hur
back ; he then struck her again, and clove her in twain, and went forth.
He found the young man who had been enchanted waiting his return, and con-
gratulated him on his safety : and the young prince kissed his hand, and thanked
him. The King then said to him. Wilt thou remain in thy city, or come with me
to my capital? — King of the age, said the young man, dost thou know the dis-
tance that is between thee and thy city? The King answered. Two days and a
half. — King, replied the young man, if thou hast been asleep, awake: between
thee and thy city is a distance of a year's journey to him who travelleth with dili-
gence ; and thou camest in two days and a half only because the city was enchanted ;
but, King, I will never quit thee for the twinkling of an eye. The King rejoiced
at his words, and said. Praise be to God, who hath in his beneficence given tbee to
me: thou art my son ; for during ray whole life I have never been blest with a son ;
— and they embraced each other, and rejoiced exceedingly. They then went to-
gether into the palace, where the King who had been enclianted informed tlie
officers of his court that he was about to perforin the holy pilgrimage ; so they pre-
pared for him everything that he required; and he departed with the Sultan ; his
heart burning with reflections upon his city, because he had been deprived of the
sight of it for the space of a year.
He set forth, accompanied by fifty memlooks, and provided with presents, and
they continued their journey night and day for a whole year, after which they drew
near to the city of the Sultan ; and the Vizier and the troops, who had lost all hope
of his return, came forth to meet him. The troops, approaching him, kissed the
ground before him, and congratulated him on his safe return ; and he entered the
city and sat upon the throne. He then acquainted the Vizier with all that had hap-
pened to the young King; on hearing which, the Vizier congratulated tlie latter,
also, on his safety; and when all things were restored to order, the Sultnn bestowed
The Young King of the Elaek Islands. (Page 46.)
THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD. 49
presents upon a number of his subjects, and said to the Vizier, Bring to me the
fisherman, -who presented to me the fish. So he sent to this fisherman, who had
been the cause of the restoration of the inhabitants of the enchanted city, and
brought him ; and the King invested him with a dress of honour, and inquired of
him respecting his circumstances, and whether he had any children. The fisher-
man informed him that he had a son and two daughters ; and the King, on hearing
this, took as his wife one of the daughters : and the young prince married the other.
The King also conferred upon the son the office of treasurer. He then sent the
Vizier to the city of the young prince, the capital of the Black Islands, and invested
him with its sovereignty, despatching with him the fifty memlooks who had ac-
companied him thence, with numerous robes of honour to all the Emirs ; and the
A'^izier kissed his hands, and set forth on his journey ; while the Sultan and the
young prince remained. And as to the fisherman, he became the wealthiest of the
people of his age ; and his daughters continued to be the wives of the Kings until
they died.
But this (added Sheherazade) is not more wonderful than what happened to the
porter.
CHAPTER III.
Commencing with part of the Ninth Night, and ending with part of the Eighteenth.
THE STORY OF THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD, AND OF
THE THREE ROYAL MENDICANTS, &c.
There was a man of the city of Bagdad, who was unmarried, and he was a
porter; and one day, as he sat in the market, reclining against his crate, there ac-
costed him a female wrapped in an izar > of the manufacture of Mosul,^ composed
of gold-embroidered silk, with a border of gold lace at each end, who raised her
face-veil, and displayed beneath it a pair of black eyes, with lids bordered by long
lashes, exhibiting a tender expression, and features of perfect beauty ; and she said,
with a sweet voice, Bring thy crate, and follow me.
The porter had scarcely heard her words when he took up his crate, and he fol-
lowed her until she stopped at the door of a house, and knocked ; whereupon there
came down to her a Christian, and she gave him a piece of gold, and received for it
a quantity of olives, and two large vessels of wine, which she placed in the crate,
saying to the porter. Take it up, and follow me. The porter exclaimed. This is,
indeed, a fortunate day ! — and he took up the crate, and followed her. She next
stopped at the shop of a fruiterer, and bought of him Syrian apples, and Othmanee
quinces, and peaches of Oman, and jasmine of Aleppo, and water-lilies of Damascus,
and cucumbers of the Nile, and Egyptian limes, and Sultanee citrons, and sweet-
scented myrtle, and sprigs of the henna-tree, and chamomile, and anemones, and
violets, and pomegranate-flowers, and eglantine : all these she put into the porter's
crate, and said to him. Take it up. So he took it up, and followed her until she
stopped at the shop of a butcher, to whom she said. Cut off ten pounds of meat ; —
' A veil three yards in length, worn so as to conceal the person.
'Mosul was long celebrated for its manufacture of fine cottons, from whence our word
" Muslin."
4
50 THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
and he cut it off for her, and she wrapped it in a leaf of a banana-tree, and put it
in the crate, and said again, Take it up, porter: — and he did so, and followed her.
She next stopped at the shop of a seller of dry fruits, and took some of every kind
of these, and desired the porter to take up his burden. Having obeyed, he followed
her until she stopped at the shop of a confectioner, where she bought a dish, and
filled it with sweets of every kind that he had, which she put into the crate ; where-
upon the porter ventured to say. If thou hadst informed me beforehand, I had
brought with me a mule to carry all these things. The lady smiled at his remark,
and next stopped at the shop of a perfumer, of whom she bought ten kinds of
scented waters ; rose-water, and orange-flower-water, and willow-flower-water, &c. ;
together with some sugar, and a sprinkling-bottle of rose-water infused with musk,
and some frankincense, and aloes-wood, and ambergris, and musk, and wax-candles ;
and, placing all these in the crate, she said. Take up thy crate and follow me. He,
therefore, took it up, and followed her until she came to a handsome house, before
which was a spacious court. It was a lofty structure, with a door of two leaves,
composed of ebony, overlaid with plates of red gold.
The young lady stopped at this door, and knocked gently ; whereupon both its
leaves were opened, and the porter, looking to see who opened it, found it to be a
damsel of tall stature, high-bosomed, fair, and beautiful, and of elegant form, with
a forehead like the bright new moon, eyes like those of gazelles, eyebrows like the
new moon of Ramadan,' cheeks resembling anemones, and a mouth like the seal of
Solomon ; her countenance was like the full moon in its splendour, and the forms
of her bosom resembled two pomegranates of equal size. When the porter beheld
her, she captivated his reason: the crate nearly fell from his head, and he exclaimed,
Never in my life have I seen a more fortunate day than this ! The lady-portress,
standing within the door, said to the cateress and the porter, Ye are welcome: —
and they entered, and proceeded to a spacious saloon, decorated with various
colours, and beautifully constructed, with carved woodwork, and fountains, and
benches of different kinds, and closets with curtains hanging before them ; there
was also in it, at the upper end, a sofa of alabaster inlaid with large pearls and
jewels, with a musquito-curtain of red satin suspended over it, and within this was
a young lady with eyes possessing the enchantment of Babylon,^ and a figure like
the letter Alif,^ with a face that put to shame the shining sun : she was like one of
the brilliant planets, or rather, one of the most high-born of the maidens of Arabia.
This third lady, rising from the sofa, advanced with a slow a.nd elegant gait to the
middle of the saloon, where her sisters were standing, and said to them, Why stand
ye still? Lift down the burden from the head of this poor porter : — whereupon the
cateress placed herself before him, and the portress behind him, and, the third lady
assisting them, they lifted it down from his head. They then took out the contents
of the crate, and, having put everything in its place, gave to the porter two pieces
of gold, saying to him, Depart, porter.
The porter, however, stood looking at the ladies, and admiring their beauty and
their agreeable dispositions ; for he had never seen any more handsome ; and when
he observed that they had not a man among them, and gazed upon the wine, and
fruits, and sweet-scented flowers, which were there, he was full of astonishment,
and hesitated to go out ; upon which one of the ladies said to him. Why dost thou
not go? dost thou deem thy hire too little? Then turning to one of her sisters, she
said to her, Give him another piece of gold. — By Allah, my mistress, exclaimed
the porter, my hire is but two half-drachms,* and I thought not what ye have given
too little ; but my heart and mind were occupied with reflections upon you and your
state, ye being alone, with no man among you, not one to amuse you with his com-
pany ; for ye know that the minaret standeth not firmly but on four walls : now ye
' The month of abstinence. ' The Chaldeans were famous for maj^ic.
* The form of Alif is long and slender. * A drachm is worth about sixpence.
THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
51
have not a fourth, and the pleasure of women is not complete without men : ye
art, three only, and have need of a fourth, who should be a man, a person of sense
discreet, acute, and a concealer jf secrets. We are maidens, they replied ; and
fear to impart our secret to him who will not keep it ; for we have read, in a certain
history, this verse : —
Guard thy secret from another: intrust it not: for he who instrusteth a secret hath lost it.
By your existence, said the porter, I am a man of sense and trustworthy : I have
read various books, and perused histories : I make known what is fair, and con-
ceal what is foul, and act in accordance with the saying of the poet : —
None keepeth a secret but a faithful ;person : with the best of mankind it remaineth concealed.
A secret is with me as in a house with a lock whose key is lost, and whose door is sealed.
When the ladies heard the verses which he quoted, and the words with which he
addressed them, they said to him. Thou knowest that we have expended here a
considerable sum of money : hast thou then wherewith to requite us ? We will not
suffer thee to remain with us unless thou contribute a sum of money ; for thou
desirest to sit with us, and to be our cup-companion, and to gaze upon our beautiful
faces. — If friendship is without money, said the mistress of the house, it is not equi-
valent to the weight of a grain : — and the portress added, If thou hast nothing, depart
with nothing: — but the cateress said, sister, let us suffer him ; for, verily, he hath
not been deficient in his services for us this day : another had not been so patient
with us ; whatever, therefore, falls to his share of the expense, I will defray for
him. — At this the porter rejoiced, and exclaimed. By Allah, I obtained my first and
only pay this day from none but thee : — and the other ladies said to him. Sit down :
thou art welcome.
The cateress then arose, and having tightened her girdle, arranged the bottles,
and strained the wine, and prepared the table by the pool of the fountain. She made
ready all that they required, brought the wine, and sat down with her sisters ; the
porter also sitting with them, thinking he was in a dream. And when they had
seated themselves, the cateress took ajar of wine, and filled the first cup, and drank
The Porter and Ladies Caruusing.
it; she then filled another, and handed it to one of her sisters; and in like luannei
she did to her other sister; after which she filled again, and handed the cup to the
porter, who, having taken it from her hand, repeated this verse : —
I will drink the wine, and enjoy health ; for, verily, this beverage is a remedy for disease.
52 THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
The xv'ine continued to circulate among them, and the porter, taking hia part in the
reveld, dancing and singing with them, and enjoying the fragrant odours, began to
hug and kiss them, while one slapped him, and another pulled him, and the third
beat him with sweet-scented flowers, till, at length, the wine made sport with their
reason : and they threw off all restraint, indulging their merriment with as much
freedom as if no man had been present.
Thus they continued until the approach of night, when they said to the porter,
Depart and show us the breadth of thy shoulders ; — but he replied. Verily the de-
parture of my soul from my body were more easy to me than my departure from
your company ; therefore suffer us to join the night to the day, and then each of us
shall return to his own, or her own, affairs. The cateress, also, again interceded for
him, saying, By my life I conjure you that ye suffer him to pass the night with us,
that we may laugh at his drolleries, for he is a witty rogue. So they said to him,
Thou shalt pass the night with us on this condition, that thou submit to our
authority, and ask not an explanation of anything that thou shalt see. He replied,
Good. — Rise then, said they, and read what is inscribed upon the door. Accord-
ingly, he went to the door, and found the following inscription upon it in letters of
gold : Speak not of that which doth not concern thee, lest thou hear that which
will not please thee : and he said. Bear witness to my promise that I will not speak
of that which doth not concern me.
The cateress then rose, and prepared for them a repast ; and, after they had eaten
a little, they lighted the candles and burned some aloes-wood. This done, they sat
down again to the table ; and while they were eating and drinking, they heard a
knocking at the door; whereupon, without causing any interruption to their meal,
one of them went to the door, and, on her return, said. Our pleasure this night is
now complete, for I have found, at the door, three foreigners with shaven chins, and
each of them is blind of the left eye : it is an extraordinary coincidence. They are
strangers newly arrived, and each of them has a ridiculous appearance : if they
come in, therefore, we shall be amused with laughing at them. — The lady ceased not
with these words, but continued to persuade her sisters until they consented, and
said. Let them enter ; but make it a condition with them that they speak not of that
which doth not concern them, lest they hear that which will not please them.
Upon this she rejoiced: and, having gone again to the door, brought in the three men
blind of one eye and with shaven chins, and they had thin and twisted moustaches.
Being mendicants they saluted and drew back ; but the ladies rose to them, and
seated them ; and when these three men looked at the porter, they saw that he t\a8
intoxicated ; and, observing him narrowly, they thought that he was one of their
own class, and said, He is a mendicant like ourselves, and will amuse us by his
conversation ; — but the porter, hearing what they said, arose, and rolled his eyes,
and exclaimed to them, Sit quiet, and abstain from impertinent remarks. Have ye
not read the inscription upon the door ? — The ladfes, laughing, said to each other,
Between the mendicants and the porter we shall find matter for amusement. They
then placed before the former some food, and they ate, and then sat to drink. The
portress handed to them the wine, and, as the cup was circulating among them, the
porter said to them. Brothers, Tiave ye any tale or strange anecdote wherewith to
amuse us? The mendicants, heated by the wine, asked for musical instruments;
and the portress brouglit them a tambourine of the manufacture of Mosul, with a lute
of Irak, and a Persian harp ; whereupon they all arose ; and one took the tam-
bourine ; another the lute ; and the third, the harp : and they played upon these in-
struments, the ladies accompanying them with loud songs; and while they were
thus diverting themselves, a person knocked at the door. The portress, therefore,
went to see who was there ; and the cause of the knocking was this.
The Caliph Haroun Alrashid had gone forth this night to see and hear what news
he could collect, accompanied by Giafar his Vizier, and Mesrour his executioner. It
was his custom to disguise himself in the attire of a merchant; and this night as he
The Lady Whipping the Dog. (Page 55.)
53
THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD. 55
went thronjih the city, he happened to pass, with his attendants, by the house of
these ladies, and hearing the sounds of the musical instruments, he said to Giafar, I
have a desire to enter this house, and to see who is" giving this concert. — They are a
party who have become intoxicated, replied Giafar, and I fear that we may expe-
rience some ill usage from them; — but the Caliph said, We must enter, and I would
that thou devise some stratagem by which we may obtain admission to the inmates.
Giafar therefore answered, I hear and obey: — and he advanced, and knocked at the
door ; and when the portress came and opened the door, he said to her. My mistress,
we are merchants from Tiberias, and have been in Bagdad ten days ; we have
brought with us merchandise, and taken lodgings in a Khan ;' and a merchant in-
vited us to an entertainment this night: accordingly we went to his house, and he
placed food before us, and we ate, and sat awhile drinking together, after which he
gave us leave to depart: and going out in the dark, and being strangers, we missed
our way to the Khan ; we trust, therefore, in your generosity, that you will admit us
to pass the night in your house ; by doing which you will obtain a reward in
heaven. — The portress, looking at them, and observing that they were in the garb
of merchants, and that they bore an appearance of respectability, returned, and
consulted her two companions ; and they said to her. Admit them : so she returned,
and opened to them the door. They said to her, Shall we enter with thy permis-
sion? She answered. Come in. The Caliph, therefore, entered, with Giafar and
Mesrour : and when the ladies saw them, they rose to them, and served tjiem, saying,
Welcome are our guests; but we have a condition to impose upon you, that ye speak
not of that which doth not concern you, lest you hear that which will not please you.
They answered. Good: — and when they had sat down to drink, the Caliph looked at
the three mendicants, and was surprised at observing that each of them was blind
of the left eye ; and he gazed upon the ladies, and was perplexed and amazed at their
fairness and beauty. And when the others proceeded to drink and converse, the
ladies brought wine to the Caliph; but he said, I am a pilgrim; — and drew back
from them. AVhereupon the portress spread before him an embroidered cloth, and
placed upon it a China bottle, into which she poured some willow-flower water,
adding to it a lump of ice, and sweetening it with sugar, while the Caliph thanked
her, and said within himself, To-morrow I must reward her for this kind action.
The party continued their carousal, and when the wine took eifeet upon them,
the mistress of the house arose, and waited upon them, and afterwards taking the
hand of the cateress, said. Arise, O my sister, that we may fulfil our debt. She re-
plied, Good. The portress then rose, and, after she had cleared the middle of the
saloon, placed the mendicants at the further end, beyond the- doors ; after which the
ladies called to the porter, saying, How slight is thy friendship ! thou art not a
stranger, but one of the family. So the porter arose, and girded himself, and said,
What would ye? — to which one of the ladies answered. Stand where thou art: — and
presently the cateress said to him. Assist me : — and he saw two black bitches, with
chains attached to their necks, and drew them to the middle of the saloon ; where-
upon the mistress of the house arose from her place, and tucked up her sleeve above
her wrist, and, taking a whip, said to the porter, Bring to me one of them. Accord-
ingly he dragged one forward by the chain. The bitch whined, and shook her head
at the lady ; but the latter fell to beating her upon the head, notwithstanding the
howling, until her arms were tired, when she threw the whip from her hand, and
pressed the bitch to her bosom, and wiped away her tears, and kissed her head ;
after which she said to the porter, Take her back, and bring the other ; — and he
brought her, and she did to her as she had done to the first. At the sight of this,
the mind of the Caliph was troubled, and his heart was contracted, and he winked
to Giafar that he should ask her the reason : but he replied by a sign. Speak not.
The mistress of the house then looked towards the portress, and said to her, Arise
to perform what thou hast to do. She replied, Good : — and the mistress of the house
' A sort of inn.
56 THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
seated herself upon a sofa of alabaster, overlaid -with gold and silver, and said to
the portress and the cateress, Novr perform your parts. The portress then seaied
herself upon a sofa by her, and the cateress, having entered a closet, brought out
from it a bag of satin with green fringes, and, placing herself before the lady of the
house, shook it, and took out from it a lute ; and she tuned its strings, and sang to
it these verses : —
Restore to my eyelids tbe sleep which hath been ravished; and inform me of my reason,
whither it hath fled.
I discovered, when I took up my abode with love, that slumber had become an enemy to my
eyes.
They said, we saw thee to be one of the upright; what, then, hath seduced thee? I answered,
Seek the cause from his glance.
Yerily I excuse him for the shedding of my blood, admitting that I urged him to the deed
by vexation.
He cast his sun-like image upon the mirror of my mind, and its reflection kindled a flame in
my vitals.
When the portress had heard this song, she exclaimed, Allah approve thee ; — and
she rent her clothes, and fell upon the floor in a swoon ; and when her bosom was
thus uncovered, the Caliph saw upon her the marks of beating, as if from sticks and
whips ; at which he was greatly surprised. The cateress immediately arose,
sprinkled water upon her face, and brought her another dress, which she put on.
The Caliph then said to Giafar, Seest thou not this woman, and the marks of beat-
ing upon her? I cannot keep silence respecting this affair, nor be at rest until I
know the truth of the history of this damsel, and that of these two bitches. But
Giafar replied, our lord, they have made a covenant with us that we shall not speak
excepting of that which concerneth us, lest we hear that which will not please us. —
The cateress then took the lute again, and, placing it against her bosom, touched the
chords with the ends of her fingers, and thus sang to it: —
If of love we complain, what shall we say? Or consuming through desire, how can we
escape ?
Or if we send a messenger to interpret for us, he cannot convey the lover's complaint.
Or if we would be patient, short were our existence after the loss of those we love.
Nought remaineth to us but grief and mourning, and tears streaming down our cheeks.
you who are absent from my sight, but constantly dwelling within my heart!
Have you kept your faith to an impassioned lover, who, while time endureth, will never
change ?
Or, in absence, have you forgotten that lover who, on your account, is wasting away ?
When the day of judgment shall bring us together, I will beg of our Lord a protractive trial.
On hearing these verses of the cateress, the portress again rent her clothes, and cried
out, and fell upon the floor in a swoon ; and the cateress, as before, put on her an-
other dress, after she had sprinkled some water upon her face.
The mendicants, when they witnessed this scene, said. Would that we had never
entered this house, but rather had passed the night upon the mounds ; ' for our night
hath been rendered foul by an event that breaketh the back! The Caliph, looking!
towards them, then said, Wherefore is it so with you? They answered. Our hearts
are troubled by this occurrence. — Are ye not, he asked, of this house? — No, they
answered ; nor did we imagine that this house belonged to any but the man who is
sitting with you : — upon which the porter said. Verily, I have never seen this place
before this night; and I would that I had passed the night upon the mounds rather
than here. They then observed one to another. We are seven men, and they are but
three women ; we will, therefore, ask them of their history : and if they answer us
not willingly they shall do it in spite of themselves: — and they all agreed to this,
' Eastern cities are often surrounded by mounds of ruins and rubbish.
THE PORTER AND THE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
57
excepting Giafar, who said, This is not a right determination ; leave them to them-
Belves, for we are their guests, and they made a covenant with us which we should
fulfil ; there remaineth but little of the night, and each of us shall soon go his way
Then winking to the Caliph, he said. There remaineth but an hour; and to-morrow
we will bring them before thee, and thou shalt ask^them their story. But the Caliph
refused to do so, and said, I have not patience to wait so long for their history. —
"Words followed words, and at last, they said, Who shall put the question to them ?
and one answered. The porter.
The ladies then said to them, people, of what are ye talking? — whereupon the
porter approached the mistress of the house, and said to her, my mistress, I ask
thee, and conjure thee by Allah, to tell us the story of the two bitches, and for what
reason you beat them, and then wept, and kissed them, and that thou acquaint us
with the cause of thy sister's having been beaten with sticks! this is our question,
and peace be on you. — Is this true that he saith of you ? inquired the lady of the
other men ; and they all answered. Yes, — excepting Giafar, who was silent. When
the lady heard their answer, she said. Verily, our guests, ye have wronged us ex-
cessively ; for we made a covenant with
you beforehand, that he who should
speak of that which concerned him not
should hear that which would not
please him. Is it not enough that we
have admitted you into our house, and
fed you with our provisions ? But it is
not so much your fault, as the fault of
her who introduced you to us. — She
then tucked up her sleeve above her
wrist, and struck the door three times,
saying, Come ye quickly ! — and imme-
diately the door of a closet opened, and
there came forth from it seven black
Blaves, each having in his hand a drawn
Bword. The lady said to them, Tie
behind them the hands of these men of
many words, and bind each of them to
another: — and they did so, and said,
virtuous lady, dost thou permit us to
strike off their heads? She answered.
Give them a short respite, until I shall
have inquired of them their histories,
before ye behead them. — By Allah,
my mistress, exclaimed the porter, kill
me not for the offence of others : for
they have all transgressed and com-
mitted an offence, excepting me. Verily our night had been pleasant if we had
been preserved from these mendicants, whose presence is enough to convert a well-
peopled city into a heap of ruins ! — He then repeated this couplet : —
How good is it to pardon one able to resist! and how much more so, one who is helpless;
For the sake of the friendship that subsisted between us destroy not one for the crime of
another.
On bearing these words of the porter, the lady laughed after her anger. Then ap-
proaching the men, she said. Acquaint me with your histories, for there remaineth
of your lives no more than an hour. Were ye not persons of honourable and high
condition, or governors, I would hasten your recompense. — The Caliph said to
Giafar, Wo to thee, Giafar ! make known to her who we are ; otherwise she will
The Porter seized.
58 THE FIRST ROYAL MENDICANT.
kill us — It were what we deserve, replied he. — Jesting, said the Caliph, is not be-
fitting in a time for seriousness: each has its proper occasion. — The lady then ap-
proached the mendicants, and said to them, Are ye brothers ? They answered, No,
indeed ; we are only poor foreigners. She said then to one of them, Wast thou
born blind of one eye ? — No, verily, he answered ; but a wonderful event happened
to me when my eye was destroyed, and the story of it, if engraved on the undar-
standing, would serve as a lesson to him who would be admonished. She asked the
second and the third also ; and they answered her as the first ; adding, Each of us
is from a different country, and our history is wonderful and extraordinary. The
lady then looked towards them and said. Each of you shall relate his story, and the
cause of his coming to our abode, and then stroke his head and go his way.
The first who advanced was the porter, who said, my mistress, I am a porter;
and this cateress loaded me and brought me hither, and what hath happened to me
here in your company ye know. This is my story ; and peace be on you. — Stroke
thy head, then, said she, and go. — But he replied, By Allah, I will not go until I
shall have heard the story of my companions. — The first mendicant then advanced,
and related as follows : —
THE STORY OF THE FIRST ROYAL MENDICANT.
Know, my mistress, that the cause of my having shaved my beard, and of the
loss of ray eye, was this: — My fother was a King, and he had a brother who was
also a King, and who resided in another capital. It happened that my mother gave
birth to me on the same day on which the son of my uncle was born ; and years
and days passed away until we attained to manhood. Now, it was my custom,
some years, to visit my uncle, and to remain with him several months ; and on one
of these occasions my cousin paid me great honour ; he slaughtered sheep for me,
and strained the wine for me, and we sat down to drink ; and when the wine had
affected us, he said to me, son of my uncle, I have need of thine assistance in an
affair of interest to me, and I beg that thou wilt not oppose me in that which I
desire to do. I replied, I am altogether at thy service ; — and he made me swear to
him by great oaths, and, rising immediately, absented himself for a little while,
and then returned, followed by a woman decked with ornaments, and perfumed,
and wearing a dress of extraordinary value. He looked towards me, while the
woman stood behind him, and said, Take this woman, and go before me to the
burial-ground which is in such a place: — and he described it to me, and I knew it.
He then added. Enter the burial-ground, and there wait for me.
I could not oppose him, nor refuse to comply with his request, on account of the
oaths which I had sworn to him ; so I took the woman, and went with her to the
burial-ground ; and when we had sat there a short time, my cousin came, bearing a
basin of water, and a bag containing some plaster; and a small adze. Going to a
tomb in the midst of the burial-ground, he took the adze, and disunited the stones,
which he placed on one side; he then dug up the earth with the adze, and un-
covered a flat stone, of the size of a small door, under which there appeared a
vaulted staircase. Having done this, he made a sign to the woman, and said to
her. Do according to thy choice : — whereupon she descended the stairs. He then
looked towards me, and said, O son of my uncle, complete thy kindness, when I
have descended into this place, by replacing the trap-door and the earth above it as
they were before : then, this plaster which is in the bag, and this water which is in
the basin, do thou knead together and plaster the stones of the tomb as they were,
80 that no man may know it, and say, This hath been lately opened, but its interior
is old; — for during the space of a whole year I have been preparing this, and nc
one knew it but God : this is what I would have thee do. He then said to me, May
THE FIKST ROYAL MENDICANT. 59
God never deprive thy friends of thy presence, son of my uncle ! — and, having
uttered these words, he descended the stairs. '
When he had disappeared from before my eyes, I replaced the trap-door, and
busied myself vrith doing as he had ordered me, until the tomb was restored to the
state in which it was at first ; after which I returned to the palace of my uncle, who
was then absent on a hunting excursion. I slept that night, and when the morning
came, I reflected upon what had occurred between me and my cousin, and repented
of what I had done for him, when repentance was of no avail. I then went out to
the burial-ground, and searched for the tomb ; but could not discover it. I ceased
not in my search until the approach of night ; and, not finding the way to it, re-
turned again to the palace ; and I neither ate nor drank: my heart was troubled re-
specting my cousin, since I knew not what had become of him ; and I fell into ex-
cessive grief. I passed the night sorrowful until the morning, and went again to the
burial-ground, reflecting upon the action of my cousin, and repenting of my com-
pliance with his request ; and I searched among all the tombs ; but discovered not
that for which I looked. Thus I persevered in my search seven days without
success.
My trouble continued and increased until I was almost mad ; and I found no relief
but in departing, and returning to my father; but on my arrival at his capital, a
party at the city-gate sprang upon me and bound me. I was struck with the utmost
astonishment, considering that I was the son of the Sultan of the city, and that
these were the servants of my father and myself: excessive fear of them overcame
me, and I said within myself, What hath happened to my father? I asked of those
who had bound me the cause of this conduct ; but they returned me no answer, till
after a while, when one of them, who had been my servant, said to me, Fortune hath
betrayed thy father ; the troops have been false to him, and the Vizier hath killed
him; and we were lying in wait to take thee. — They took me, and I was as one
dead, by reason of this news which I had heard respecting my father ; and I stood
before the Vizier who had killed my father.
Now, there was an old enmity subsisting between me and him ; and the cause of
it was this: — I was fond of shooting with the cross-bow; and it happened one day,
that as I was standing on the roof of my palace, a bird alighted on the roof of the
palace of the Vizier, who was standing there at the time, and I aimed at the bird;
but the arrow missed it, and struck the eye of the Vizier, and knocked it out, in ac-
cordance with the appointment of fate and destiny, as the poet hath said : —
We trod the steps appointed for us : and the man whose steps are appointed must tread them.
He whose death is decreed to take place in one land will not die in any land but that.
When I had thus put out the eye of the Vizier, he could say nothing, because my
father was King of the city. This was the cause of the enmity between him and
me : and when I stood before him, with my hands bound behind me, he gave the
order to strike off my head. I said to him, Wouldst thou kill me for no offence ? —
What offence, he exclaimed, could be greater than this? — and he pointed to the
place of the eye which was put out. I did that, said I, unintentionally. He replied,
If thou didst it unintentionally, I will do the same to thee purposely : — and imme-
diately he said, Bring him forward to me: — and, when they had done so, he thrust
his finger into my left eye, and pulled it out. Thus I became deprived of one eye,
as ye see me. He then bound me firmly, and placed me in a chest, and said to the
executioner. Take this fellow, and draw thy sword, and convey him without the city;
then put him to death, and let the wild beasts devour him.
Accordingly, he went forth with me from the city, and, having taken me out from
the chest, bound hand and foot, was about to bandage my eye, and kill me ; where-
upon I wept, and exclaimed, —
How many brothers have I taken as armour ! and such they were ; but to guard my enemiea.
I thought they would be as piercing arrows : and such they were ; but to enter my heart !
60 THE FIRST ROYAL MENDICANT.
The executioner, who had served my father in the same capacity, and to whom 1
l<ad shown kindnesses, said, on hearing these verses, my master, what can I do,
being a slave under my command? — but presently he added. Depart with thy life,
and return not to this country, lest thou perish, and cause me to perish with thee.
The poet saith, —
Flee with thy life if thou fearest oppression, and leave the house to tell its builder's fate.
Thou wilt find, for the land that thou quittest, another: but no soul wilt thou find to replace
thine own.
As soon as he had thus said, I kissed his hands, and believed not in my safety
until I had fled from his presence. The loss of my eye appeared light to me when I
considered my escape from death ; and I journeyed to my uncle's capital, and, pre-
senting myself before him, informed him of what had befallen my fother, and of
the manner in which I had lost my eye : upon which he wept bitterly, and said,
Thou hast added to my trouble and my grief: for thy cousin hath been lost for some
days, and I know not what hath happened to him, nor can any one give me informa-
tion respecting him. Then he wept again, until he became insensible ; and when
he recovered, he said, my son, the loss of thine eye is better than the loss of thy
life.
Upon this I could no longer keep silence respecting his son, my cousin ; so I in-
formed him of all that had happened to him ; and on hearing this news he rejoiced
exceedingly, and said, Show me the tomb. — By Allah, my uncle, I replied, I know
not where it is ; for I went afterwards several times to search for it, and could not
recognise its place. We, however, went together to the burial-ground, and, looking
to the right and left, I discovered it; and both I and my uncle rejoiced. I then
entered the tomb with him, and when we had removed the earth, and lifted up the
trap-door, we descended fifty steps, and, arriving at the bottom of the stairs, there
issued forth upon us a smoke which blinded our eyes ; whereupon my uncle pro-
nounced those words which relieve from fear him who uttereth them — There is no
strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! — After this, we proceeded, and
found ourselves in a saloon, filled with flour and grain, and various eatables ; and
we saw there a curtain suspended over a couch, upon which my uncle looked, and
found there his son and the woman who had descended with him, lying side by side,
and converted into black charcoal, as if they had been thrown into a pit of fire.
And when he beheld this spectacle, he spat in his son's face, and exclaimed. This is
what thou deservedst, thou wretch ! This is the punishment of the present world,
and there remaineth the punishment of the other world, which will be more severe
and lasting! — and he struck him with his shoes. Astonished at this action, and
grieved for my cousin, seeing him and the damsel thus converted into charcoal, I
said, By Allah, my uncle, moderate the trouble of thy heart, for my mind is per-
plexed by that which hath happened to thy son, and by thinking how it hath come
to pass that he and the damsel are converted into black charcoal. Dost thou not
deem it enough fur him to be in this state, that thou beatest him with tliy shoes ?
son of my brother, he replied, this my son was, from his early years, inflamed
with love for his foster-sister; and I used to forbid him from entertaining this pas-
sion for her, and to say within myself. They are now children, but when they grow
older a base act will be committed by them : — and, indeed, I heard that~ such had
been the case, but I believed it not. I, however, reprimanded him severely, and said
to him. Beware of so foul an action, which none before thee hath committed, nor
will any commit after thee : — otherwise we shall suS'er disgrace and disparagement
among the Kings until we die, and our history will spread abroad with the cara-
vans : have a care for thyself that such an action proceed not from thee, for I should
be incensed against thee, and kill thee. I then separated him from her, and her
from him : but the vile woman loved him excessively ; the Devil got possession of
them both ; and when my son saw that I had separated him, he secretly made this
THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT. 61
place beneath the earth, and, having conveyed hither the provisions which thou
seest, took advantage of my inadvertence when I had gone out to hunt, and came
hither: but the Truth' (whose perfection be extolled and whose name be exalted!)
was jealously vigilant over them, and consumed them by fire ; and the punishment of
the world to come will be more severe and lasting. — He then wept, and I wept with
him ; and he said to me, Thou art my son in his stead. — I remained awhile reflecting
upon the world and its vicissitudes, upon the murder of my father by the Vizier, and
his usurping his throne, and the loss of my eye, and the strange events which had
happened to my cousin, and I wept again.
We then ascended, and having replaced the trap-door and the earth above it, and
restored the tomb to its former state, returned to our abode ; but scarcely had we
seated ourselves when we heard the sounds of drums and trumpets, warriors gal-
loped about, and the air was filled with dust raised by the horses' hoofs. Our minda
were perplexed, not knowing what had happened, and the King, asking the news,
was answered, The Vizier of thy brother hath slain him and his soldiers and guards,
and come with his army to assault the city unawares, and the inhabitants, being
unable to withstand, have submitted to him : — whereupon I said within myself, If I
fall into his hand, he will slay me. — Griefs overwhelmed me, and I thought of the
calamities which had befallen my father and my mother, and knew not what to do ;
for if I appeared, the people of the city would know me, and the troops of my father
would hasten to kill and destroy me. I knew no way of escape but to shave off my
beard : so I shaved it, and, having changed my clothes, departed from the city, and
came hither, to this abode of peace, in the hope that some person would introduce
me to the Prinee of the Faithful, the Caliph of the Lord of all creatures, that I
might relate to him my story, and all that had befallen me. I arrived in this city
this night ; and as I stood perplexed, not knowing whither to direct my steps, I saw
this mendicant, and saluted him, and said I am a stranger. He replied, And I too am
a stranger: — and while we were thus addressing each other, our companion, this
third person, came up to us, and saluting us, said I am a stranger. We replied.
And we, also, are strangers. So we walked on together, and darkness overtook us,
and destiny directed us unto your abode. — This was the cause of the shaving of my
beard, and of the loss of my eye.
The lady then said to him, Stroke thy head, and depart: — but he replied, I will
not depart until I have heard the stories of the others. And they wondered at his
tale ; and the Caliph said to Giafar, Verily I have never known the like of that
which hath happened to this mendicant.
The second mendicant then advanced, and, having kissed the ground, said: —
THE STORY OF THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT.
MT mistress, I was not born with only one eye ; but my story is wonderful, and
if written, would serve as a lesson to him who would be admonished. I am a King,
and son of a King: I read the Koran according to the seven traditions, and perused
various works under the tuition of different learned professors of their subjects: I
studied the science of the stars, and the writings of the poets, and made myself a
proficient in all the sciences ; so that I surpassed the people of my age. My hand-
writing was extolled among all the scribes, my fame spread among all countries,
and my history among all Kings ; and the King of India, hearing of me, requested
my father to allow me to visit him, sending him various gifts and curious presents,
such as were suitable to Kings. My father, therefore, prepared for me six ships.
and we proceeded by sea for the space of a whole month, after which we came to
land, and, having disembarked some horses which we had with us in the ship, we
loaded ten camels with presents, and commenced our journey ; but soon there ap-
peared a cloud of dust, which rose and spread until it filled the air before us, and.
' One of the names of God.
62
THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT.
after a while, cleared a little, and discovered to us in the midst of it, sixty horsemen
like fierce lions, whom we perceived to be Arab highwaymen ; and when they saw
us, that we were a small company with ten loads of presents for the King of India,
they galloped towards us, pointing their spears at us. We made signs to them with
our fingers, and said, We are ambassadors to the honoured King of India ; therefore
do us no injury: — but they replied. We are not in his territories, nor under his
government. They slew certain of the young men, and the rest fled. I also fled,
after I had received a severe wound ; the Arabs being employed, without further
regard to us, in taking possession of the treasure and presents which we had
with us.
I proceeded without knowing whither to direct my course, reduced from a mighty
to an abject state, and journeyed till I arrived at the summit of a mountain, where
I took shelter in a cavern until the next morning. I then resumed my journey, and
arrived at a flourishing city : the winter, with its cold, had passed away, and the
spring had come, with its flowers ; and I rejoiced at my arrival there, being wearied
with my journey, anxious and palKd, My condition being thus changed, I knew
The Second Prince as a Woodcutter.
not whither to bend my steps, and turning to a tailor sitting in his shop, I saluted
him, and he returned my salutation, and welcomed me, and wished me joy, asking
me the reason of my having come thither. I acquainted him, therefore, with what
had befallen me from first to last, and he was grieved for me and said, O young man,
THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT. 63
reveal not thy case, for I fear what the King of this city might do to thee, since he
is the greatest of thy father's enemies, and hath a debt of blood against him. He
then placed some food and drink before me, and we ate together, and I conversed
with him till night, when he lodged me in a place by his shop, and brought me a
bed and coverlet ; and, after I had remained with him three days, he said to me,
Dost thou not know any trade by which to make gain? I answered, I am acquainted
with the law, a student of sciences, a writer, and an arithmetician. — Thy occupation,
he said, is profitless in our country : there is no one in our city acquainted with
science or writing, but only with getting money. Verily, I replied, I know nothing
but what I have told thee. Gird thyself, then, said he, and take an axe and a rope,
and cut fire-wood in the desert, and so obtain thy subsistence until God dispel thy
afliiction : but acquaint no one with thy history, else they will kill thee. He then
bought for me an axe and a rope, and sent me with a party of woodcutters, giving
them a charge respecting me. Accordingly, I went forth with them, and cut some
wood, and brought back a load upon my head, and sold it for half a piece of gold,
part of which I expended in food, laying by the remainder.
Thus I continued for the space of a year, after which I went one day into the
desert, according to my custom, to cut fire-wood, and finding there a tract with
abundance of wood, I entered it, and came to a tree, around which I dug ; and as I
was removing the earth from its roots, the axe struck against a ring of brass ; and
I cleared away the earth from it, and found that it was affixed to a trap-door of
wood, which I immediately removed. Beneath it appeared a staircase, which I de-
scended ; and at the bottom of this I entered a door and beheld a palace, strongly
constructed, where I found a lady, like a pearl of great price, whose aspect banished
from the heart all anxiety and grief and affliction. At the sight of her I prostrated
myself in adoration of her Creator for the fairness and beauty which He had dis-
played in her person ; and she, looking towards me, said. Art thou a man or a
genie ? I answered her, I am a man. — And who, she asked, hath brought thee to
this place, in which I have lived five-and-twenty years without ever seeing a human
being ? — Her words sounded sweetly to me, and I answered her, my mistress,
God hath brought me to thy abode, and I hope will put an end to my anxiety and
grief: and I related to her my story from beginning to end. She was grieved at
my case, and wept, and said, I also will acquaint thee with my story. Know that I
am the daughter of the King of the further parts of India, the lord of the Ebony
Island. My father had married me to the son of my uncle ; but on the night of my
bridal festivities, an Afrite named Jarjaris, the son of Rejmoos, the son of Eblis,
carried me off, and, soaring with me through the air, alighted in this place, to which
he conveyed all things necessary for me, such as ornaments, and garments, and
linen, and furniture, and food, and drink ; and once in every ten days he cometh to
me, and spendeth a night here ; and he hath appointed with me, that, in case of
my wanting anything by night or day, I should touch with my hand these two lines
which are inscribed upon the arched door, and as soon as I remove my hand I see
him before me. Four days have now passed since he was last with me, and there
remain therefore six days before he will come again ; wilt thou then remain with me
five days, and depart one day before his visit ? — I answered. Yes ; — rejoicing at the
proposal ; and she arose, and taking me by the hand, conducted me through the
arched door to a small and elegant bath, where I took off my clothes, while she
seated herself upon a mattrass. After this, she seated me by her side, and brought
me some sherbet of sugar infused with musk, and handed it to me to drink : she
then placed some food before me, and after we had eaten and conversed together, she
said to me, Sleep, and rest thyself, for thou art fatigued.
I slept, my mistress, and forgot all that had befallen me ; and when I awoke, I
found her rubbing my feet ; upon which I called to her, and we sat down again,
and conversed awhile ; and she said to me, By Allah, I was straitened in my heart,
living her" alone, without any person to talk with me, five-and-twenty years. Praise
64 THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT.
be to God who hath sent thee to me. — I thanked her for her kind expressions ; and
love of her took possession of my heart, and my anxiety and grief fled away. We
then sat down to drink together ; and I remained by her side all the night, delighted
with her company, for I had never seen her like in my whole life ; and in the morn-
ing, when we were both full of joy, I said to her. Shall I take thee up from this sub-
terranean place, and release thee from the Genie? But she laughed, and replied,
Be content, and hold thy peace ; for, of every ten days one day shall be for the
Afrite, and nine for thee. I persisted, however, being overcome with passion ; and
said, I will this instant demolish this arch upon which the inscription is engraved,
and let the Afrite come, that I may slay him : for I am predestined to kill Afrites.
She entreated me to refrain ; but, paying no attention to her words, I kicked t4ie
door with violence ; upon which she exclaimed, The Afrite hath arrived ! Did I not
caution thee against this ? Verily thou hast brought a calamity upon me ; but save
thyself, and ascend by the way that thou earnest.
In the excess of my fear I forgot my sandals and my axe, and when I had as-
cended two steps, turning round to look for them, I saw that the ground had opened,
and there arose from it an Afrite of hideous aspect, who said. Wherefore is this dis-
turbance with which thou hast alarmed me, and what misfortune hath befallen thee?
She answered. No misfortune hath happened to me, excepting that my heart was
contracted, and I desired to drink some wine to dilate it, and, rising to perform my
purpose, I fell against the door. — Thou liest, vile woman, he exclaimed ; — and,
looking about the palace to the right and left, he saw the sandals and axe; and said
to her, These are the property of none but a man. Who hath visited thee? I have
not seen them, she answered, until this instant; probably they belong to thee. This
language, said he, is absurd, and will have no effect upon me, thou shameless woman !
and, so saying, he stripped her of her clothing, and tied her down, with her arma
and, legs extended, to four stakes, and began to beat her, urging her to confess what
had happened.
For myself, being unable to endure her cries, I ascended the stairs overpowered
by fear, and arriving at the top, replaced the trap-door as it was at first, and covered
it over with earth. I repented bitterly of what I had done, and reflecting upon the
lady and her beauty, and how this wretch was torturing her after she had lived with
him five-and-twenty years, and that he tortured her only on my account; and reflect-
ing also upon my father and his kingdom, and how I had been reduced to the con-
dition of a woodcutter, I repeated this verse : —
When fortune bringeth thee affliction, console thyself by remembering that one day thou must
see prosperity, and another day difficulty.
Returning to my companion, the tailor, I found him awaiting my return as if he
were placed in a pan upon burning coals. I passed last night, said he, with anxious
heart on thy account, fearing for thee from some wild beast or other calamity.
Praised be to God for thy safe return. — I thanked him for his tender concern for
me, and entered my apartment ; and as I sat meditating upon that which had befallen
me, and blaming myself for having kicked the kubbeh, my friend the tailor, came in to
me, and said. In the shop is a foreigner, who asks for thee, and he has thy axe and
sandals ; he came with them to the woodcutters, and said to them, I went out at the
time of the call of the Mueddin, to morning-prayer, and stumbled upon these, and
know not to whom they belong: can ye guide me to their owner? — The woodcutters,
therefore, directed him to thee: he is sitting in my shop : so go out to him and thank
him, and take thy axe and thy sandals. — On hearing these words, my countenance
turned pale, and my whole state became changed ; and while I was in this condition
the floor of my chamber clove asunder, and there arose from it the stranger, and lo,
he was the Afrite: he had tortured the lady with the utmost cruelty ; but she would
confess nothing: so he took the axe and the sandals, and said to her. If I am Jarjaris,
of the descendants of Eblis, I will bring the owner of this axe and these sandals.
THE ENVIER AND THE ENVIED. 65
Accordingly lie came, with the pretence before mentioned, to the woodcutters, and,
naving enten^l my chamber, without granting me any debxy, seized me, and soared
with me through the air ; he then descended, and dived into the earth, and brought
me up into the pahice where I was before.
Here I beheld the lady stripped of her clothing, and with blood flowing from her
sides ; and tears trickled from my eyes. The Afrite then took hold of her, and said.
Vile woman, this is thy lover: — whereupon she looked at me, and replied, I know
him not, nor have I ever seen him until this instant. The Afrite said to her. With
all this torture wilt thou not confess? She answered, Never in my life have I seen
him before, and it is not lawful in the sight of God that I should speak falsely
against him. — Then, said he, if thou know him not, take this sword and strike off
his head. She took the sword, and came to me, and stood over my head ; but I ■
made a sign to her with my eyebrow, while tears ran down my cheeks. She replied
in a similar manner. Thou art he who hath done all this to me : — I made a sign to
her, however, that this was a time for pardon, conveying my meaning in the manner
thus described by the poet: —
Our signal in love is the glance of our eyes ; and every intelligent person understands the sign.
Our eyebrows carry on an intercourse between us; we are silent; but love speaketh.
And when she understood me, she threw the sword from her hand, my mistress,
and the Afrite handed it to me, saying, Strike off her head, and'I will liberate thee,
and do thee no harm. I replied. Good: — and quickly approaching her, raised my
hand ; but she made a sign as though she would say, I did no injury to thee ; where-
upon my eyes poured with tears, and, throwing down the sword, I said, mighty
Afrite, and valiant hero, if a woman, deficient in sense and religion, seeth it not
lawful to strike off my head, how is it lawful for me to do so to her, and especially
when I have never seen her before in my life ! I will never do it, though I should
drink the cup of death and destruction. — There is affection between you, said the
Afrite, and, taking the sword, he struck off one of the hands of the lady; then, the
other; after this, her right foot; and then, her left foot: thus with four blows, he
cut off her four extremities, while I looked on, expecting my own death. She then
made a sign to me with her eye; and the Afrite, observing her, exclaimed, Now thou
hast been guilty of incontinence with thine eye ; — and, with a blow of his sword,
struck off her head ; after which, he turned towards me, and said, man, it is al-
lowed us by our law, if a wife be guilty of incontinence, to put her to death. This
woman I carried off on her wedding night, when she was twelve years of age, and
she was acquainted with no man but me ; and I used to pass one night with her in
the course of every ten days in the garb of a foreigner ; and when I discovered of a
certainty that she had been unfaithful to me, I killed her; but as for thee, I am not
convinced that thou hast wronged me with respect to her; yet I must not leave thee
unpunished ; choose, therefore, what injury I shall do to thee.
Upon this, my mistress, I rejoiced exceedingly, and, eager to obtain his pardon,
I said to him, What shall I choose from thy hands? — Choose, he answered, into what
form I shall change thee ; either the form of a dog, or that of an ass, or that of an ape.
I replied, in my desire of forgiveness, Verily, if thou wilt pardon me, God will
pardon thee in recompense of thy showing mercy to a Mahometan who hath done
thee no injury: — and I humbled myself in the most abject manner, and said to him,
Pardon me as the envied man did the envier. — And how was that ? said he. I an-
swered as follows : —
THE STORY OF THE ENVIER AND THE ENVIED.
Know, my master, that there was a certain man who had a neighbour that
envied him ; and the more this person envied him, so much the more did God in-
crease the prosperity of the former. Thus it continued a long time ; but when the
5
66
THE ENVIER AND THE ENVIED.
envied man found that his neighbour persisted in troubling him, he removed to a
place where there was a deserted well ; and there he built for himself an oratory,
and occupied himself in the worship of God. Numerous fakirs assembled around
him, and he acquired great esteem, people repairing to him from every quarter,
placing firm reliance upon his sanctity ; and his fame reached the ears of his envious
neighbour, who mounted his horse, and went to visit him : and when the envied man
saw him, he saluted him, and paid him the utmost civility. The envier then said
to him, I have come hither to inform thee of a matter in which thou wilt find advan-
tage, and for which I shall obtain a recompense in heaven. The envied man replied,
May God requite thee for me with every blessing. Then, said the envier, Order the
fakirs to retire to their cells, for the information that I am about to give thee I would
have no one overhear. So he ordered them to enter their cells ; and the envier said
to him, Arise and let us walk together, and converse : and they walked on until they
^'^•f*>'
The Envied Sheikh and the Genii in tlie Well.
came to the deserted well before mentioned, when the envier pushed the envied man
into this well, without the knowledge of anybody, and went his way, imagining
that he had killed him.
But this well was inhabited by Genii, who received him unhurt, and seated him
upon a large stone ; and when they had done this, one of them said to the others,
Do ye know this man ? They answered. We know him not. — This, said he, is the
envied man who fled from him who envied him, and took up his abode in this quar-
ter, in the neighbouring oratory, and who eutertaineth. us by his zikr' and his
readings ; and when his envier heard of him, he came hither to him, and, devising
a stratagem against him, threw him down here. His fame hath this night reached
the Sultan of this city, who hath purposed to visit him to-morrow, on account of
' Devotional repetitions of the name of God.
THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT. 67
the affliction -which hath befallen his daughter. — And what, said they, hath happened
to his daughter? He answered, Madness ; for Genie Maimoun, the son of Dimdim,
hath become inflamed with love for her ; and her cure is the easiest of things. They
asked him, What is it? — and he answered, The black cat that is with him in the
oratory hath at the end of her tail a white spot, of the size of a piece of silver ; and
from this white spot should be taken seven hairs, and with these the damsel should
be fumigated, and the Marid would depart from over her head, and not return to
her ; so she would be instantly cured. And now it is our duty to take him out.
When the morning came, the fakirs saw the Sheikh rising out of the well ; and he
became magnified in their eyes. And when he entered the oratory, he took from
the white spot at the end of the cat's tail seven hairs, and placed them in a portfolio
by him : and at sunrise the King came to him, and when the Sheikh saw him, he
said to him, King, thou hast come to visit me in order that I may cure thy daughter.
The King replied, Yes, virtuous Sheikh. — Then, said the Sheikh, send some
person to bring her hither ; and I trust in God, whose name be exalled, that she may
be instantly cured. And when the King had brought his daughter, the Sheikh be-
held her bound, and, seating her, suspended a curtain over her, and took out the
hairs, and fumigated her with them ; whereupon the Marid cried out from over her
head, and left her; and the damsel immediately recovered her reason, and, veiling
her face, said to her father. What is this, and wherefore didst thou bring me to this
place? He answered her. Thou hast nothing to fear; — and rejoiced greatly. He
kissed the hand of the envied Sheikh, and said to the great men of his court who
were \fith him, What shall be the recompense of this Sheikh for that which he hath
done? They answered, His recompense should be that thou marry him to her. —
Ye have spoken truly, said the King, — and he gave her in marriage to him, and thus
the Sheikh became a connection of the King; and after some days the King died,
and he was made King in his place.
And it happened one day that this envied King was riding with his troops, and
he saw his envier approaching ; and when this man came before him he seated him
upon a horse with high distinction and honour, and, taking him to>his palace, gave
him a thousand pieces of gold, and a costly dress ; after which he sent him back
from the city, with attendants to escort him to his house, and reproached him for
nothing. — Consider, then, Afrite, the pardon of the envied to the envier, and his
kindness to him, notwithstanding the injuries he had done him.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT.
The Afrite, when he had heard this story, replied. Lengthen not thy words to me :
as to my killing thee, fear it not: and as to my pardoning thee, covet it not; but
as to my enchanting thee, there is no escape from it ; — and, so saying, he clove the
earth asunder, and soared with me through the sky to such a height that I beheld
the world beneath me as though it were a bowl of water: then alighting upon a
mountain, he took up a little dust, and, having muttered and pronounced certain
words over it, sprinkled me with it, saying. Quit this form, and take the form of an
ape! — whereupon I became like an ape of a hundred years of age.
When I saw mj^sclf changed into this ugly form I wept for myself, but determined
to be patient under the tyranny of fortune, knowing it to be constant to no one. I
descended from the summit of the mountain, and, after having journeyed for the
space of a month, arrived at the sea-shore ; and when I had stood there a short time,
I saw a vessel in the midst of the sea, with a favourable wind approaching the land ;
I therefore hid myself behind a rock on the beach, and when the ship came close up,
I sprang into the midst of it. But as soon as the persons on board saw me, one of
them cried. Turn out thi^i unlucky brute from the ship: — another said, Let us kill
him : — and a third exclaimed, 1 will kill him with this sword. I, however, caught
bo THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT.
hold of the end of the sword, and tears flowed from my eyes ; at the sight of -which
the captain took compassion on me, and said to the passengers, merchant, this
ape hath sought my aid, and I give it him ; he is under my protection ; let no one,
therefore, oppose or trouble him. He then treated me with kindness, and whatever
he said to me I understood, and all that he required to be done I performed as his
servant.
We continued our voyage for fifty days with a fair wind, and cast anchor under a
large city containing a population which no one but God, whose name be exalted,
could reckon ; and, when we had moored our vessel, there came to us some mam-
louks' from the King of the city; who came on board the ship, and complimented
the merchants on their safe arrival, saying. Our King greeteth you, rejoicing in your
safety, and hath sent to you this roll of paper, desiring that each of you shall write
a line upon it; for the King had a Vizier who was an eminent caligraphist, and he
is dead, and the King hath sworn that he will not appoint any person to his office
who cannot write equally well. Though in the form of an ape, I arose and snatched
the paper from their hands: upon which fearing that I would tear it and throw it
into the sea, they cried out against me, and would have killed me ; but I made signs
to them that I would write, and the captain said to them. Suffer him to write, and
if he scribble we will turn him away ; but if he write well I will adopt hira as my
son; for I have never seen a more intelligent ape. So I took the pen, and demanded
the ink, and wrote in an epistolary hand this couplet: —
Fame hath recorded the virtues of the noble; but no one hath been able to reckon thine.
May God not deprive mankind of such a father; for thou art the parent of every excellence.
Then in a more formal large hand, I wrote the folloM'ing verses: —
There is no writer that shall not perish ; but what his hand hath written shall endure.
Write, therefore, nothing but what will please thee when thou shalt see it on the day of resur-
rection.
Two other specimens I wrote, in two different and smaller hands, and returned the
paper to the mamlouks, who took it back to the King ; and when he saw what was
written upon it, the hand of no one pleased him excepting mine ; and he said to his
attendants. Go to the author of this hand-writing, put upon him this dress, and
mount hira upon a mule, and conduct him, with a band of music before him, to my
presence. On hearing this order they smiled ; and the King was angry with them,
and said. How is it that I give you an order, and ye laugh at me ? They answered,
King, we laugh not at thy words, but because he who wrote this is an ape, and
not a son of Adam : he is with the captain of the ship newly arrived.
The King was astonished at their words ; he shook with delight, and said, I would
purchase this ape. He then sent some messengers to the ship, with the mule and
the dress of honour, saying to them. Ye must clothe him with this dress, and mount
him upon the mule, and bring him hither. So they came to the ship, and, taking
me from the captain, clad me with the dress; and the people were astonished, -dnd
flocked to amuse themselves with the sight of me. And when they brought me to
the King, and I beheld him, I kissed the ground before him three times, and he
ordered me to sit down ; so I sat down upon my knees, and the persons present were
surprised at my polite manners, and especially the King, who presently ordered his
people to retire. They therefore did so ; none remaining but the King, and a eunuch,
and a young mamlouk, and myself. The King then commanded that a repast should
be brought ; and they placed before him a service of viands such as gratified the
appetite and delighted the eye ; and the King made a sign to me that I should eat ;
whereupon I arose, and, having kissed the ground before him seven times, sat down
' Privileged servants.
THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT. 69
to eat with him ; and when the table was removed, I washed my hands, and, taking
the ink-case, and pen and paper, I wrote these two verses : —
Great is my appetite for thee, Kunafeh ! ' I cannot be happy nor endure without thee.
Be thou every day and night my food ; and may drops of honey not be wanting to moisten
thee.
Having done this, I arose, and seated myself at a distance ; and the King, looking
at what I had written, read it with astonishment, and exclaimed. Can an ape possess
such fluency and such skill in caligraphy ? This is, indeed, a wonder of wonders ! —
Afterwards, a chess-table was brought to the King, and he said to me, Wilt thou
play ? By a motion of my head I answered. Yes : — and I advanced, and arranged
the pieces. I played with him twice, and beat him ; and the King was perplexed,
and said : Were this a man, he would surpass all the people of his age.
lie then said to his eunuch, Go to thy mistress, and say to her. Answer the sum-
mons of the King : — that she may come and gratify her curiosity by the sight of this
wonderful ape. The eunuch therefore went, and returned with his mistress, the
King's daughter, who as soon as she saw me, veiled her face, and said, my father,
how is it that thou art pleased to send for me, and suffer strange men to see me? —
ray daughter, answered the King, there is no one here but the young mamlouk,
The Second Pnnce transforined into an Aoe.
nnd the eunuch who brought thee up, and this ape, with myself, thy father; from
whom, then, dost thou veil thy face ?— This ape, said she, is the son of a King, and
the name of his father is Eymar : he is enchanted, and it was the Afrite Jarjaris, a
descendant of Eblis, who transformed him. after having slain his own wife, the
daughter of King Aknamus. This whom thou supposedst to be an ape, is a learned
and wise man. — The King was amazed at his daughter's words, and, looking towards
me, said, Is it true that she saith of thee? — I answered, by a motion of my head.
Yes : — and wept. The King then said to his daughter. By what means didst thou
discover that he was enchanted? — my fixther, she answered, I had with me in my
younger years an old woman who was a cunning enchantress, and she taught me the
art of enchantment : I have committed its rules to memory, and know it thoroughly,
being acquainted with a hundred and seventy modes of performing it, by the least
A sort of vermicelli.
70 THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT.
of which I could transport the stones of thy city beyond Mount Caucasus, and make
its site to be an abyss of the sea, and convert its inhabitants into fish in the midst
of it. — I conjure thee, then, by the name of Allah, said her father, to restore this
young man, that I may make him my Vizier. Is it possible that thou possessedst
this excellence, and I knew it not ? Restore him, that I may make him my Vizier,
for he is a polite and intelligent youth.
She replied. With pleasure: and, taking a knife upon which were engraved some
Hebrew names, marked with it a circle in the midst of the palace. Within this she
wrote certain names and talismans, and then she pronounced invocations, and ut-
tered unintelligible words ; and soon the palace around us became immersed in
gloom to such a degree, that we thought the whole world was overspread, and lo,
the Afrite appeared before us in a most hideous shape, with hands like winnowing-
forks, and legs like masts, and eyes like burning torches ; so that we were terrified
at him. The King's daughter exclaimed. No welcome to thee ! — to which the Afrite,
assuming the form of a lion, replied. Thou traitress, how is it that thou hast broken
thine oath? Did we not swear that we would not oppose one another? — Thou
wretch, said she, when didst thou receive an oath ? — The Afrite, still in the form of
a lion, then exclaimed, Take what awaiteth thee ! — and, opening his mouth, rushed
upon the lady ; but she instantly plucked a hair from her head, and muttered with
her lips, whereupon the hair became converted into a piercing sword, with which
she struck the lion, and he was cleft in twain by the blow ; but his head became
changed into a scorpion. The lady immediately transformed herself into an enor-
mous sei'pent, and crept after the execrable wretch in the shape of a scorpion, and
a sharp contest ensued between them; after which, the scorpion became an eagle,
and the serpent changing to a vulture, pursued the eagle for a length of time. The
latter then transformed himself into a black cat, and the King's daughter became a
wolf, and they fought together long and fiercely, till the cat, seeing himself overcome,
changed himself into a large red pomegranate, which fell into a pool ; but the wolf
pursuing it, it ascended into the air, and then fell upon the pavement of the palace,
and broke in pieces, its grains became scattered, each apart from the others, and all
spread about the whole space of ground enclosed by the palace. The wolf, upon
this, transformed itself into a cock, in order to pick up the grains, and not leave one
of them ; but according to the decree of fate, one grain remained hidden by the side
of the pool of the fountain. The cock began to cry and flapped its wings, and made
a sign to us with its beak ; but we understood not what it would say. It then ut-
tered at us such a cry, that we thought the palace had fallen down upon us ; and it
ran about the whole of the ground, until it saw the grain that had lain hid by the
side of the pool, when it pounced upon it to pick it up ; but it fell into the midst of
the water, and became transformed into a fish, and sank into the water ; upon which
the cock became a fish of a larger size, and plunged in after the other. For awhile
it was absent from our sight ; but at length we heard a loud cry, and trembled at
the sound ; after which, the Afrite arose as a flame of fire, casting fire from his
mouth, and fire and smoke from his eyes and nostrils : the King's daughter also be-
came as a vast body of fire ; and we would have plunged into the water from fear of
our being burnt and destroyed ; but suddenly the Afrite cried out from within the
fire, and came towards us upon the raised floor, blowing fire at our fiices. The lady,
however, overtook him, and blew fire in like manner in his face ; and some sparks
struck us both from her and from him : her sparks did us no harm ; but one from him
struck me in my eye, and destroyed it, I being still in the form of an ape ; and a
spark from him reached the face of the King, and burned the lower half, with his
beard and mouth, and struck out his lower teeth ; another spark also fell upon the
breast of the eunuch ; who was burnt, and died immediately. We expected destruc-
tion, and gave up all hope of preserving our lives ; but while we were in this state, a
voice exclaimed, God is most great ! God is most great ! He hath conquered and
aided, and abandoned the denier of the faith of Mahomet, the chief of mankind !
THE SECOND ROYAL MENDICANT. 71
The person from -whom this voice proceeded was the King's daughter : she had burnt
the Afrite ; and when we looked towards him, we perceived that he had become a
heap of ashes.
The lady then came to us, and said. Bring me a cup of water: — and when it was
brought to her, she pronounced over it some words which we understood not, and,
sprinkling me with it, said. Be restored, by virtue of the name of the Truth, and by
virtue of the most great name of God, to thy original form! — whereupon I became
a man as I was at first, excepting that my eye was destroyed. After this, she cried
out. The fire ! the fire ! my father, I shall no longer live, for I am predestined to
be killed. Had he been a human being I had killed him at the first of the encounter.
I experienced no difiSculty till the scattering of the grains of the pomegranate, when
I picked them up excepting the one in which was the life of the Genie ; had I picked
up that, he had instantly died ; but I saw it not, as fate and destiny had appointed;
and suddenly he came upon me, and a fierce contest ensued between us under the
earth, and in the air, and in the water ; and every time that he tried against me a
new mode, 1 employed against him one more potent, until he tried against me the
mode of fire ; and rarely does one escape against whom the mode of fire is employed.
Destiny, however, aided me, so that I burned him first ; but I exhorted him previ-
ously to embrace the Mahometan faith. Now I die ; and may God supply my place
to you. — Having thus said, she ceased not to pray for relief from the fire ; and lo, a
spark ascended to her breast, and thence to her face ; and when it reached her face,
she wept, and exclaimed, I testify that there is no Deity but God, and I testify that
Mahomet is God's Apostle ? — We then looked towards her, and saw that she had be-
come a heap of ashes by the side of the ashes of the Afrite.
We were plunged into grief on her account, and I wished that I had been in her
place ratlier than have seen that sweet-faced creature who had done me this kindness
reduced to a heap of ashes ; but the decree of God cannot be averted. The King,
on beholding his daughter in this state, plucked out what remained of his beard, and
slapped his face, and rent his clothes ; and I also did the same, while we both wept
for her. Then came the chamberlains and other great officers of the court, who,
finding the King in a state of insensibility, with two heaps of ashes before him,
were astonished, and remained encompassing him until he recovered from, his fit,
when he informed them of what had befallen his daughter with the Afrite ; and
great was their afiliction. The women shrieked, with the female slaves, and con-
tinued their mourning seven days. After this, the King gave orders to build, over
the ashes of his daughter, a great tomb with a dome, and illuminated it with candles
and lamps: but the ashes of the Afrite they scattered in the wind, exposing them
to the curse of God. The King then fell sick, and was near unto death : his illness
lasted a month ; but after this he recovered his health, and summoning me to his
presence, said to me, young man, we passed our days in the enjoyment of the
utmost happiness, secure from the vicissitudes of fortune, until thou camest to us,
when troubles overcame us. Would that we had never seen thee, nor thy ugly form,
on account of which we have been reduced to this state of privation ; for in the first
place I have lost my daughter, who was worth a hundred men ; and secondly, I have
sufiered this burning, and lost my teeth ; my eunuch also is dead : but it was not in
thy power to prevent these afilictions : the decree of God hath been fulfilled on us
and on thee ; and praise be to God that my daughter restored thee, though she de-
stroyed herself. Now, however, depart, my son, from my city. It is enough that
hath happened on thy account ; but as it was decreed against us and thee, depart
in peace.
So I departed, my mistress, from his presence ; but before I quitted the city, I
entered a public bath, and shaved my beard. I traversed various regions, and passed
through great cities and bent my course to the Abode of Peace, Bagdad, in the hope
of obtaining an interview with the Prince of the Faithful, that I might relate to him
all that had befallen me.
The third mendicant then advanced, and thus related his story : —
72 THE THIRD ROYAL MENDICANT.
THE STORY OF THE THIRD ROYAL MEXDICANT.
ILLUSTRIOUS lady, my story is not like those of my two companions, but more
wonderful: the course of fate and destiny brought upon them events against which
they could not guard ; but as to myself, the shaving of my beard and the loss of
my eye were occasioned by my provoking fate and misfortune ; and the cause was
this : —
1 was a King, and the son of a King; and when my father died, I succeeded to his
throne, and governed my subjects with justice and beneficence. I took pleasure in
sea-voyages ; and my capital was on the shore of an extensive sea, interspersed with
fortified and garrisoned islands, which I desired, for my amusement, to visit: I
therefore embarked with a fleet of ten 'ships, and took with me provisions sufficient
for a whole month. I proceeded twenty days, after which there arose against us a
contrary wind: but at daybreak it ceased, and the sea became calm, and we arrived
at an island where we landed, and cooked some provisions and ate ; after which we
remained there two days. We then continued our voyage: and when twenty days
more had passed, we found ourselves in strange waters, unknown to the captain, and
desired the watch to look out from the mast-head: so he went aloft, and when he '
had come down he said to the captain, I saw, on my right hand, fish floating upon
the surface of the water ; and looking towards the midst of the sea, I perceived
something looming in the distance, sometimes black, and sometimes white.
When the captain heard this report of the watch, he threw his turban on the deck,
and plucked his beard, and said to those who were with him. Receive warning of
lur destruction, which will befall all of us: not one will escape? So saying, he
began to weep ; and all of us in like manner bewailed our lot. I desired him to
inform us of that which the watch had seen. my lord, he replied, know that we
have wandered from our course since the commencement of the contrary wind that
was followed in the morning by a calm, in consequence of which we remained sta-
tionary two days ; from that period we have deviated from our course for twenty-one
days, and we have no wind to carry us back from the fate which awaits us, after this
day ; to morrow we shall arrive at a mountain of black stone, called loadstone : the
current is now bearing us violently towards it, and the ships will fall in pieces, and
every nail in them will fly to the mountain, and adhere to it ; for God hath given to
the loadstone a secret property by virtue of which everything of iron is attracted
towards it. On that mountain is such a quantity of iron as no one knoweth but
God, whose name be exalted ; for from times of old great numbers of ships have been
destroyed by the influence of that mountain. There is, upon the summit of the
mountain, a cupola of brass supported by ten columns, and upon the top of this cupola
is a horseman upon a horse of brass, having in his hand a brazen spear, and upon
his breast suspended a tablet of lead, upon which are engraved mysterious names
and talismans ; and as long, King, as this horseman remains upon the horse, so
long will every ship that approaches be destroyed, with every person on board, and
all the iron contained in it will cleave to the mountain : no one will be safe until the
horseman shall have fallen from the horse. — The captain then wept bitterly ; and we
felt assured that our destruction was inevitable, and every one of us bade adieu to
his friend.
On the following morning we drew near to the mountain : the current carried us
towards it with violence, and when the ships were almost close to it, they fell asunder,
and all the nails, and everything else that was of iron, flew from them towards the
loadstone. It was near the close of day when the ships fell in pieces. Some of us
were drowned, and some escaped; but the greater number were drowned ; and of
those who saved their lives none knew what became of the others, so stupified were
they by the waves and the boisterous wind. As for myself, O my mistress, God,
whose name be exalted, spared me on account of the trouble and torment and affliction
that He had predestined to befall me. I placed myself upon a plank, and the wind
THE THIRD ROYAL MENDICANT. 73
and waves cast it upon the mountain ; and wiien I had landed, I found a practicable
way to the summit, resembling steps cut in the rock ; so I exclaimed, In the name
of God ! — and offered up a prayer, and attempted the ascent, holding fast by the
notches ; and presently God stilled the wind, and assisted me in my endeavours, so
that I arrived in safety at the summit. Rejoicing greatly in my escape, I imme-
diately entered the cupola, and performed the prayers of two rekahs' in gratitude to
God for my preservation, after which I slept beneath the cupola, and heard a voice
saying to me, son of Cassib, when thou awakest from thy sleep, dig beneath thy
feet, and thou wilt find a bow of brass and three arrows of lead, whereon are en-
graved talismans : then take the bow and arrows, and shoot at the horseman that is
upon the top of the cupola, and relieve mankind from this great affliction : for when
thou hast shot at the horseman he will fall into the sea ; the bow will also fall, and
do thou bury it in its place ; and as soon as thou hast done this, the sea will swell
and rise until it attains the summit of the mountain ; and there will appear upon it
a boat bearing a man different from him whom thou shalt have cast down, and he
will come to thee having an oar in his hand: then do thou embark with him ; but
utter not the name of God : and he will convey thee in ten days to a safe sea, where,
on thy arrival thou wilt find one who will take thee to thy city. All this shall be
done if thou utter not the name of God.
Awaking from my sleep, I sprang up and did as the voice had directed. I shot at
the horseman and he fell into the sea ; and the bow having fallen from my hand, I
buried it ; the sea then became troubled, and rose to the summit of the mountain,
and when I had stood waiting there a little while, I beheld a boat in the midst of the
sea approaching me. I praised God, whose name be exalted, and when the boat came
to me I found in it a man of brass, with a tablet of lead upon his breast, engraven
with names and talismans. Without uttering a word, I embarked in the boat, and the
man rowed me ten successive days, after which I beheld the islands of security,
whereupon, in the excess of my joy, I exclaimed. In the name of God ! There is no
deity but God ! God is most great! — and as soon as I had done this, he cast me out
of the boat, and sank in the sea.
Being able to swim, I swam until night, when my arms and shoulders were tired,
and, in this perilous situation, I repeated the profession of the fiiith, and gave myself
up as lost ; but the sea rose with the violence of the wind, and a wave like a vast
castle threw me upon the land, in order to the accomplishment of the purpose of God.
I ascended the shore, and after I had wrung out my clothes, and spread them upon
the ground to dry, I slept, and in the morning I put on my clothes again, and, looking
about to see which way 1 should go, I found a tract covered with trees, to which I
advanced, and when I had walked round it, I found that I was upon a small island
in the midst of the sea; upon which I said within myself, Every time that I escape
from one calamity I fall into another that is worse : — but while I was reflecting upon
my unfortunate case, and wishing for death, I beheld a vessel bearing a number of
men. I arose immediately and climbed into a tree ; and lo, the vessel came to the
shore, and there landed from it ten black slaves bearing axes. They proceeded to
the middle of the island, and, digging up the earth, uncovered and lifted up a trap-
door, after which they returned to the vessel, and brought from it bread and flour,
and clarified butter and honey, and sheep and everything that the wants of an in-
habitant would require, continuing to pass backwards and forwards between the
vessel and the trap-door, bringing loads from the former, and entering the latter, until
they had removed all the stores from the ship. They then came out of the vessel
with various clothes of the most beautiful description, and in the midst of them was
an old oheikh, enfeebled and wasted by extreme age, leading by the hand a young
man cast in the mould of graceful symmetry, and invested with such perfect beauty
as deserved to be a subject for proverbs. He was like a fresh and slender twig, en-
' Repetitions of set forms of words, chiefly from the Koran.
74 THE THIRD ROYAL MENDICANT.
chanting and captivating every heart by his elegant form. The party proceeded to
the trap-door, and, entering it, became concealed from my eyes.
They remained beneath about tveo hours or more ; after which the sheikh and the
slaves came out : but the youth came not with them : and they replaced the earth,
and embarked and set sail. Soon after, I descended from the tree, and went to the
excavation. I removed the earth, and, entering the aperture, saw a flight of wooden
steps, which I descended ; and, at the bottom, I beheld a handsome dwelling-place,
furnished with a variety of silken carpets ; and there was the youth, sitting upon a
high mattrass, with sweet-smelling flowers ; and fruits placed before him. On seeing
me his countenance became pale: but I saluted him, and said, Let thy mind be
composed, ray master: thou hast nothing to fear, delight of my eye; for I am
a man, and the son of a King, like thyself: fate hath impelled me to thee, that I
may cheer thee in thy solitude. The youth, when he heard me thus address him,
and was convinced that I was one of his own species, rejoiced exceedingly at my
arrival, his colour returned, and, desiring me to approach him, he said, my brother,
my story is wonderful: my father is a jeweller; he had slaves who made voyages
by his orders, for the purposes of commerce, and he had dealings with Kings ; but
he had never been blessed with a son : and he dreamt that he was soon to have a
son, but one whose life would be short; and he awoke sorrowful. Shortly after, in
accordance with the decrees of God, my mother conceived me, and when her time
was complete, she gave birth to me; and my father was greatly rejoiced; the as-
trologers, however, came to him, and said, Thy son will live fifteen years; his fate
is intimated by the fact that there is, in the sea, a mountain called the Mountain of
Loadstone, whereon is a horseman on a horse of brass, on the former of which is a
tablet of lead suspended to his neck, and when the horseman shall be thrown down
from his horse, thy son will be slain; the person who is to slay him is he who will
throw down the horseman, and his name is King Ajib, the son of King Cassib. My
father was greatly afiiicted at this announcement; and when he had reared me until
I had nearly attained the age of fifteen years, the astrologers came again, and in-
formed him that the horseman had fallen into the sea, and that it had been thrown
down by King Ajib, the son of King Cassib : on hearing which, he prepared for me
this dwelling, and here left me to remain until the completion of the term, of which
there now remain ten days. All this he did from fear lest King Ajib should
kill me.
When I heard this I was filled with wonder, and said within myself, I am King
Ajib, the son of King Cassib, and it was I who threw down the horseman ; but, by
Allah, I will neither kill him nor do him any injury. Then said I to the youth, Far
from thee be both destruction and harm, if it be the will of God, whose name be ex-
alted: thou hast nothing to fear; I will remain with thee to serve thee, and will go
forth with thee to thy father, and beg of him to send me back to my country, for the
which he will obtain a reward. The youth rejoiced at my words, and I sat and con-
versed with him until night, when I spread his bed for him, and covered him, and
slept near to his side. And in the morning I brought him water, and he washed his
face, and said to me. May God requite thee for me with every blessing ! If I escape
from King Ajib, I will make my father reward thee with abundant favours. — Never,
I replied, may the day arrive that would bring thee misfortune. I then placed
before him some refreshments, and after we had eaten together, we passed the day
conversing with the utmost cheerfulness.
I continued to serve him for nine days ; and on the tenth day the youth rejoiced
at finding himself in safety, and said to me, O my brother, I wish that thou wouldst
in thy kindness warm for me some water, that I may wash myself and change my
clothes ; for I have smelt the odour of escape from death, in consequence of thy as-
sistance. — With pleasure, I replied: — and warmed the water; after which he entered
a place concealed from my view, and, having washed himself and changed his
clothes, laid himself upon the mattrass to rest after his batli. He then said to me,
Consulting the Astrologers. (Page 74.)
75
THE THIRD ROYAL MENDICANT. li
Cut up for mc, mj brother, a water-melon, and mix its juice with some sugar: —
80 I arose, and, taking a melon, brought it upon a plate, and said to him, Knowest
thou, my master, where is the knife ? — See, here it is, he answered, upon the shelf
over my head. I sprang up hastily, and took it from its sheath, and as I was draw-
ing back, my foot slipped, as God had decreed, and I fell upon the youth, grasping in
my hand the knife, which entered his body, and he died instantly. When I per-
ceived that he was dead, and that I had killed him, I uttered a loud shriek, and beat
my face, and rent my clothes, saying. This is indeed a calamity! what a calamity!
my Lord, I implore thy pardon, and declare to thee my innocence of his death !
Would that I had died before him ! How long shall I devour trouble after trouble !
With these reflections I ascended the steps, and, having replaced the trap-door, re-
turned to my first station, and looked over the sea, where I saw the vessel that had
come before, approaching, and cloaving the waves in its rapid course. Upon this I
said within myself, Now will the men come forth from the vessel, and find the youth
slain, and they will slay me also: — so I climbed into a tree, and, concealing myself
among its leaves, sat there till the vessel arrived and cast anchor, when the slaves
landed with the old sheikh, the father of the youth, and went to the place, and re-
moved the earth. They were surprised at finding it moist, and, when they had de-
scended the steps, discovered the youth lying on his back, exhibiting a fiice beaming
with beauty, though dead, and clad in white and clean clothing, with the knife re-
maining in his body. They all wept at the sight, and the father fell down in a
swoon, vrhich lasted so long that the slaves thought he was dead. At length, how-
ever, he recovered, and came out with the slaves, who had wrapped the body of the
youth in his clothes. They then took back all that was in the subterranean dwell-
ing to the vessel, and departed.
I remained, my mistress, by day hiding myself in a tree, and at night walking
about the open part of the island. Thus I continued for the space of two months;
and I perceived that, on the western side of the island, the water of the sea every
day retired, until, after three months, the land that had been beneath it became dry.
Rejoicing at this, and feeling confident now in my escape, I traversed this dry tract,
and arrived at an expanse of sand ; whereupon I emboldened myself, and crossed
it. I then saw in the distance an appearance of fire, and advancing towards it,
found it to be a palace, overlaid with plates of copper, which, reflecting the rays of
the sun, seemed from a distance to be fire : and when I drew near to it, reflecting
upon this sight, there approached me an old sheikh, accompanied by ten young men
who were all blind of one eye, at which I was extremely surprised. As soon as they
saw me, they saluted me, and asked me my story, which I related to them from first
to last : and they were filled with wonder. They then conducted me into the palace,
where I saw ten benches, upon each of which was a mattrass covered with a blue
stuff; and each of the young men seated himself upon one of these benches, while
the sheikh took his place upon a smaller one ; after which they said to me. Sit down,
young man, and ask no question respecting our condition, nor respecting our being
blind of one eye. Then the sheikh arose, and brought to each of them some food,
and the same to me also ; and next he brought to each of us some wine : and after
we had eaten, we sat drinking together until the time for sleep, when the young men
said to the sheikh. Bring to us our accustomed supply: — upon which the sheikh
arose, and entered a closet, from which he brought upon his head ten covered trays»
Placing these upon the floor, he lighted ten candles, and stuck one of them upon
each tray; and, having done this, he removed the covers, and there appeared beneath
them ashes mixed with pounded charcoal. The young men then tucked up their
sleeve's above the elbow, and blackened their faces, and slapped their cheeks, ex-
claiming, We were reposing at our ease, and our impertinent curiosity suffered us
not to remain so ! Thus they did until the morning, when the sheikh brought them
some hot water, and they washed their faces, and put on other clothes.
On witnessing this conduct, my reason was confounded, my heart was so troubled
78 THE THIKD ROYAL MENDICANT.
that I forgor my own misfortunes, and I asked them the cause of their strange be-
haviour; upon which they looked towards me, and said, young man, ask not
respecting that which doth not concern thee ; but be silent ; for in silence is secu-
rity from error. — I remained with them a whole month, during which every night
they did the same ; and at length I said to them, I conjure you by Allah to remove
this disquiet from my mind, and to inform me of the cause of your acting in this
manner, and of your exclaiming, We were reposing at our ease, and our impertinent
curiosity suffered us not to remain so ! — if ye inform me not, I will leave you, and
go my way ; for the proverb saith, When the eye seeth not, the heart doth not grieve.
— On hearing these words they replied. We have not concealed this affair from thee
but in our concern for thy welfare, lest thou shouldst become like us, and the same
affliction that hath befallen us happen also to thee. I said, however, Ye must posi-
tively inform me of this matter. We give thee good advice, said they, and do thou
receive it, and ask us not respecting our case ; otherwise thou wilt become blind of
one eye, like us : — but I still persisted in my request ; whereupon they said, young
man, if this befall thee, know that thou wilt be banished from our company. They
then all arose, and, taking a ram, slaughtered and skinned it, and said to me, Take
this knife with thee, and introduce thyself into the skin of the ram, and we will
sew thee up in it, and go away ; whereupon a bird called the roc will come to thee,
and taking thee by its talons, will fly away with thee, and set thee down upon a
mountain : then cut open the skin with this knife, and get out, and the bird will fly
away. Thou must arise, as soon as it hath gone, and journey for half a day, and
thou wilt see before thee a lofty palace, encased with red gold, set with various pre-
cious stones, such as emeralds and rubies, &c. ; and if thou enter it thy case will be
as ours ; for our entrance into that palace was the cause of our being blind of one
eye; and if one of us would relate to thee all that hath befallen him, his story
would be too long for thee to hear.
They then sewed me up in the skin, and entered their palace ; and soon after
there came an enormous white bird, which seized me, and flew away with me, and
set me down upon the mountain ; whereupon I cut open the skin, and got out; and
the bird as soon as it saw me, flew away. I rose up quickly, and proceeded towards
the palace, which I found to be as they had described it to me ; and when I had
entered it, I beheld, at the upper end of a saloon, forty young damsels, beautiful as
so many moons, and magnificently attired, who, as soon as they saw me, exclaimed,
Welcome ! Welcome! our master and our lord ! AVe have been for a month ex-
pecting'thee. Praise be to God, who hath blessed us with one who is worthy of us,
and one of whom we are worthy I'— After having thus greeted me, they seated me
upon a mattress, and said. Thou art from this day our master and prince, and we
are thy handmaids, and entirely under thy authority. They then brought to me
some refreshments, and, when I had eaten and drunk, they sat and conversed with
me, full of joy and happiness. So lovely were these ladies, that even a devotee, if
he saw them would gladly consent to be their servant, and to comply with all that
they would desire. At the approach of night they all assembled around me, and
placed before me a table of fresh and dried fruits, with other delicacies that the
tongue cannot describe, and wine; and one began to sing, while another played
upon the lute. The wine-cups circulated among us, and joy overcame me to such
a degree as to obliterate from my mind every earthly care, and make me exclaim,
This is indeed a delightful life ! In this state of happiness I continued till midnight,
when the ladies repeated their professions of readiness to comply with Avhatever I
should desire, and bade me exercise my privileges as their lord ; so, availing myself
of the right that the law allows to a master over his slaves, I passed a night of such
enjoyment as I had never before experienced. On the morrow I entered the bath ;
and, after I had washed myself, they brought me a suit of the richest clothing, and
we again sat down to a repast.
In this manner I lived with them a whole year ; but on the first day of the neT
THE THIRD ROYAL MENDICANT. 79
year, they seated themselves around me, and began to weep, and bade me adieu,
clinging to my skirts. — What calamity hath befallen you ? said I. Ye have broken
my heart. They ansvrered, Would that we had never known thee ; for we have as-
sociated with many men, but have seen none like thee ! May God, therefore, not
deprive us of thy company. — And they wept afresh. I said to them, I wish that
you Avduld acquaint me with the cause of this weeping. — Thou, they replied, art the
cause ; yet now, if thou wilt attend to what we tell thee, we shall never be parted ;
but if thou act contrary to it, we are separated from this time; and our hearts
whisper to us that thou wilt not regard our warning. — Inform me, said I, and I will
attend to your directions :— and they replied. If then thou wouldst inquire respecting
our history, know that we are the daughters of Kings : for many years it hath been
our custom to assemble here, and every year we absent ourselves during a period of
forty days ; then returning, we indulge ourselves for a year in feasting and drinking.
This is our usual practice; and now we fear that thou wilt disregard our directions
when we are absent from thee. We deliver to thee the keys of the palace, which
are a hundred in number, belonging to a hundred closets. Open each of these, and
amuse thyself, and eat and drink, and refresh thyself, excepting the closet that hath
a door of red gold ; for if thou open this, the consequence will be a separation be-
tween us and thee. We conjure thee, therefore, to observe our direction, and to be
patient during this period. — Upon hearing this, I swore to them that I would never
open the closet to which they alluded ; and they departed, urging me to be faithful
to my promise.
I remained alone in the palace, and at the approach of evening I opened the first
closet, and, entering it, found a mansion like paradise, with a garden containing
green trees loaded with ripe fruits, abounding with singing birds, and watered by
copious streams. My heart was soothed by the sight, and I wandered among the
trees, scenting the fragrance of the flowers, and listening to the warbling of the birds
as they sang the praises of the One, the Almighty. After admiring the mingled
colours of the apple resembling the hue upon the cheek of a beloved mistress, and
the sallow countenance of the perplexed and timid lover, the sweet-smelling quince
diffusing an odour like musk and ambergris, and the plum shining as the ruby, I
retired from this place, and having locked the door, opened that of the next closet,
within which I beheld a spacious tract planted with numerous palm-trees, and watered
by a river flowing among rose-trees, and jasmine, and marjoram, and eglantine, and
narcissus, and gilliflower, the odours of which, diffused in every direction by the
wind, inspired me with the utmost delight. I locked again the door of the second
closet, and opened that of the third. Within this I found a large saloon, paved with
marbles of various colours, and with costly minerals and precious gems, and containing
cages constructed of sandal and aloes-wood with singing birds within them, and others
upon the branches of trees which were planted there. My heart was charmed, my trouble
was dissipated, and I slept there until the morning. I then opened the door of the
fourth closet, and within this door I found a great building in which were forty
closets with open doors ; and, entering these, I beheld pearls, and rubies, and chry-
solites, and emeralds, and other precious jewels such as the tongue cannot describe.
I was astonished at the sight, and said. Such things as these, I imagine, are not
found in the treasury of any King. I am now the king of my age, and all these
treasures, through the goodness of God, are mine, together with forty damsels under
my authority who have no man to share them with me.
Thus I continued to amuse myself, passing from one place to another, until thirty-
nine days had elapsed, and I had opened the doors of all the closets excepting that
which they had forbidden me to open. My heart was then disturbed by curiosity
respecting this hundredth closet, and the Devil, in order to plunge me into misery,
induced me to open it. I had not patience to abstain, though there remained of the
appointed period only one day: so I approached the closet, and opened the door;
and when I had entered, I perceived a fragrant odour, such as I had never before
80 THE FIRST OF THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
smelt, which intoxicated me so that I fell down insensible, and remained some time
in this state ; but at length recovei-ing, I fortified my heart, and proceeded. I found
the door overspread with safi"ron, and the place illuminated by golden lamps and by
candles, which diffused the odours of musk and ambergris, and two large perfuming
vessels filled with aloes-wood and ambergris, and a perfume compounded with honey,
spread fragrance through the whole place. I saw also a black horse, of the hue of
the darkest night, before which was a manger of white crystal filled with cleansed
sesame, and another similar to it, containing rose-water infused Avith musk: he was
saddled and bridled, and his saddle was of red gold. Wondering at the sight of
him, I said within myself, This must be an animal of extraordinary qualities ; — and,
seduced by the Devil, I led him out, and mounted him ; but he moved not from his
place : I kicked him with my heel ; but still he moved not: so I took a stick and
struck him with it ; and as soon as he felt the blow he uttered a sound like thunder,
and, expanding a pair of wings, soared with me to an immense height through the
air, and then alighted upon the roof of another palace, where he threw me from his
back, and by a violent blow with his tail upon my face, as I sat upon the roof, struck
out my eye, and left me.
In this state I descended from the roof, and below I found the one-eyed young
men before mentioned, who, as soon as they beheld me, exclaimed, No welcome to
thee! — Receive me, said I, into your company; — but they replied, By Allah, thou
shalt not remain with us : — so I departed from them, with moui-nful heart and weep-
ing eye, and, God having decreed me a safe journey hither, I arrived at Bagdad,
after I had shaved my beard, and become a mendicant.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
The mistress of the house then looked towards the Caliph and Giafar and Mesrour,
and said to them, Acquaint me with your histories : — upon which Giafar advanced
towards her, and related to her the same story that he had told to the portress before
they entered: and when she had heard it, she liberated them all. They accordingly
departed, and when they had gone out into the street, the Caliph inquired of the
mendicants whither they were going. They answered. That they knew not whither
to go : whereupon he desired them to accompany his party ; and then said to Giafar,
Take them home with thee, and bring them before me to-morrow, and we will see
the result. Giafar, therefore, did as he was commanded, and the Caliph returned to
his palace ; but he was unable to sleep during the remainder of the night.
On the following morning he sat upon his throne, and when his courtiers had pre-
sented themselves before him, and departed, excepting Giafar, he said to him. Bring
before me the three ladies and the two bitches and the mendicants. So Giafar arose,
and brought them, and, placing the ladies behind the curtains, said to them. We
have forgiven you on account of your previous kindness to us, and because ye knew
us not ; and now I acquaint you that ye are in the presence of the fiftli of the sons
of Abbas, Ilaroun Alraschid, therefore relate to him nothing but the truth. And
when the ladies heai-d the words which Giafar addressed to them on the part of the
Caliph, the eldest of them advanced, and thus related her story : —
THE STORY OF THE FIRST OF THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
Prince of the Faithful, my story is wonderful ; for these two bitches are my
si«ters, born to my father, but of another mother ; and I am the youngest of the
three. After the death of our father, who left us five thousand pieces of gold, these
my twc sisters married ; and when they had resided some time with their husbands,
each of the latter prepared a stock of merchandise, and received from his wife a
THE FIRST OF THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
8i
thousand pieces of gold, and they all set forth on a journey together, leaving me
here ; but after they had been absent four years, my sisters' husbands lost all their
property, and abandoned them in a strange land, and they returned to me in the
garb of beggars. When T first saw them in this state, I knew them not; and, as
soon as I recognised them, I exclaimed, How is it that ye are in this condition ? —
our sister, they answered, thy inquiry now is of no use ; the pen hath written what
God hath decreed. — I sent them, therefore, to the bath, and having clad them in
The First Lady recognising her Sisters
new apparel, said to them, my sisters. Ye are my elders, and I am young ; so ye
shall be to me in the places of my father and mother. The inheritance which 1
shared with you God hath blessed; partake then of its increase, for my affairs are
prosperous; and I and ye shall fare alike. — I treated them with the utmost kind-'
ness, and during a whole year they remained with me, and enriched themselves by
the money that I had given them ; but after this period they said to me. It will be
more agreeable to us to marry again, for we can no longer abstain from doing so. —
O my sisters, I replied, ye have seen no happiness in marriage : a good husband in
this age is rarely found, and ye have already had experience of the marriage-state.
They, however, heeded not my words ; but married against my consent: yet I gave
them dowries from my own property, and continued to them my protection. They
went to their husbands, and the latter, after they had resided with them a short time,
defrauded them of all that they possessed, and setting forth on a journey, left them
destitute: so again they returned to me, and, in a state of nudity, implored my for-
giveness, saying, Be not angry with us ; for though thou art younger than we thou
hast more mature sense ; and we promise thee that we will never again mention the
subject of marriage. I replied. Ye are welcome, my sisters ; for I have no one
dearer to me than yourselves: — and I received them, and treated them with every
kindness, and we remained happily together for the space of a year.
After this I resolved to fit out a vessel for a mercantile voyage : accordingly I stocked
.a large ship with various goods and necessary provisions, and said to my sisters.
Will ye rather stay at home during my voyage, or will ye go with me? — to which
they answered. We will accompany thee during the voyage, for we cannot endure to
be separated from thee. I therefore took them with me, and we set sail ; but first I
divided my property into two equal portions ; one of which I took with me, and the
other I concealed, saying within myself. Perhaps some evil accident may happen to
the ship, and our lives may be prolonged ; in which case, when we return we shall
82 THE FIRST OP THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
find that which will be of service to us.— We continued our voyage by day and
night, till at length the vessel pursued a wrong course, and the captain knew not
■whither to steer. The ship had entered a different sea from that which we wished
to cross, and for some time we knew it not ; but for ten days we had a pleasant
wind, and after this, a city loomed before us in the distance. We asked the captain
what was the name of this city ; and he answered, I know it not, I have never seen,
it till this day, nor have I ever before in the course of my life navigated this sea :
but as we have come hither in safety, ye have nothing to do but to enter this city
and land your goods, and, if ye find opportunity, sell or exchange there: if not, we
will rest there two days, and take in fresh provisions. So we entered the port of
the city, and the captain landed, and after a while returned to us, saying, Arise, and
go up into the city, and wonder at that which God hath done unto his creatures, and
pray to be preserved from his anger. And when we had entered the city, we found
all its inhabitants converted into black stones. We were amazed at the sight, and
as we walked through the market-streets, finding the merchandise and the gold and
silver remaining in their original state, we rejoiced, and said. This must have been
occasioned by some wonderful circumstance. We then separated in the streets,
each of us attracted from his companions by the wealth and stuffs in the shops.
As for myself, I ascended to the citadel, which I found to be a building of admir-
able, construction ; and, entering the King's palace, I found all the vessels of gold
and silver remaining in their places, and the King himself seated in the midst of
his chamberlains and viceroys and viziers, and clad in apparel of astonishing rich-
ness. Drawing nearer to him, I perceived that he was sitting upon a throne, adorned
with pearls and jewels, every one of the pearls shining like a star: his dress was
embroidered with gold, and around him stood fifty memlooks, attired in silks of
various descriptions, and having in their hands drawn swords. Stupified at this
spectacle, I proceeded and entered the saloon of the Harem, upon the walls of which
were hung silken curtains ; and here I beheld the Queen, attired in a dress embroi-
dered with fresh pearls, and having upon her head a diadem adorned with various
jewels, and necklaces of different kinds on her neck. All her clothing and orna-
ments remained as they were at first, though she herself was converted into black
stone. Here also I found an open door, and, entering it, I saw a flight of seven
steps, by which I ascended to an apartment paved with marble, furnished with gold-
embroidered carpets, and containing a sofa of alabaster, ornamented with pearls and
jewels ; but my eyes Avere first attracted by a gleam of light, and when I approached
the spot whence it proceeded, I found a brilliant jewel of the size of an ostrich's
egg, placed upon a small stool, diffusing a light like that of a candle. The coverings
of the sofa above-mentioned were of various kinds of silk, the richness of which
would surprise every beholder : and I looked at them with wonder. In this apart-
ment I likewise observed some lighted candles, and reflected that there must then
have been some person there to light them. I passed thence to another part of the
palace, and continued to explore the different apartments, forgetting myself in the
amazement of my mind at all these strange circumstances, and immersed in thoughts
respecting what I beheld, until the commencement of night, when I would have de-
parted, but could not find the door ; so I returned to the place in which were the
lighted candles, and there I laid myself upon the sofa, and, covering myself with a
quilt, repeated some words of the Koran, and endeavoured to compose myself to
sleep ; but I could not. I continued restless ; and at midnight I heard a recitation
of the Koran, performed by a melodious and soft voice : upon which I arose, and,
looking about, saw a closet with an open door, and I entered it, and found that it-
was an oratory; lighted lamps were suspended in it, and upon a prayer-carpet
spread on the floor sat a young man of handsome aspect. Wondering that he had
escaped the fate of the other inhabitants of the city, I saluted him ; and he raised
his eyes, and returned my salutation : and I then said to him, I conjure thee by the
truth of that which thou art reading in the Book of God', that thou answer the
THE FIRST OP THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD. 83
question which I am about to ask thee : — whereupon he smiled, and replied, Do thou
first acquaint me with the cause of thine entrance into this place, and then I will
answer thy question ; so I told him ray story, and inquired of him the history of this
city. Wait a little, said he ; — and he closed the Koran, and, having put it in a bag
of satin, seated me by his side. As I now beheld him, his countenance appeared
like the full moon, and his whole person exhibited such perfect elegance and loveli-
ness, that a single glance at him drew from me a thousand sighs, and kindled a fire
in my heart. I repeated my request that he would give me an account of the city;
and, replying, I hear and obey, he thus addressed me.
Know that this city belonged to my father and his family and subjects ; and he is
the King whom thou hast seen converted into stone ; and the Queen whom thou hast
seen is my mother. They were all Magi, worshipping fire in the place of the
Almighty King ; and they swore by the fire and the light, and the shade and the
heat, and the revolving orb. My father had no son, till, in his declining years, he
was blest with me, whom he reared until I attained to manhood. But, happily for
me, there was, in our family, an old woman, far advanced in age, who was a Maho-
metan, believing in God and his Apostle in her heart, though she conformed with
my family in outward observances : and my father confided in her, on account of the
faithfulness and modesty that he had observed in her character, and showed her
great favour, firmly believing that she held the same faith as himself; therefore,
when I had passed my infancy, he committed me to her care, saying. Take him, and
rear him, and instruct him in the ordinances of our faith, and educate him, and
serve him in the best manner. The old woman accordingly received me, but took
care to instruct me in the Mahometan faith, teaching me the laws of purification,
and the divine ordinances of ablution, together with the forms of prayer ; after
which she made me commit to memory the whole of the Koran. She then charged
me to keep my faith a secret from my father, lest he should kill me ; and I did so ;
and a few days after, the old woman died. The inhabitants of the city had now
increased in their impiety and arrogance, and in their dereliction of the truth ; and
while they were in this state they heard a crier proclaim with a voice like thunder,
so as to be audible to both the near and distant, inhabitants of this city, abstain
from the Worship of fire, and worship the Almighty King! — The people were struck
with consternation, and, flocking to my father, the King of the city, said to him.
What is this alarming voice which hath astounded us by its terrible sound? — but he
answered them, Let not the voice terrify you, nor let it turn you from your faith : —
and their hearts inclined to his words ; so they persevered in the worship of fire, and
remained obstinate in their iflipiety during another year, until the return of the
period at which they had heard the voice the first time. It was then heard a second
time ; and again, in the next year, they heard it a third time ; but still they persisted
in their evil ways, until, drawing down upon themselves the abhorrence and indig-
nation of Heaven, one morning, shortly after daybreak, they were converted into
black stones, together with their beasts and all their cattle. Not one of the inhabi-
tants of the city escaped, excepting me ; and from the day on which this catastrophe
happened I have continued occupied as thou seest, in prayer, and fasting, and read-
ing the Koran: but I have become weary of this solitary state, having no one to
cheer me with his company.
On hearing these words, I said to him. Wilt thou go with me to the city of Bagdad,
and visit its learned men and lawyers, and increase thy knowledge? If so I will be
thy handmaid, though I am the mistress of my family, and have authority over a
household of men. I have here a ship laden with merchandize, and destiny hath
driven us to this city, in order that we might become acquainted with these events :
our meeting was predestined. — In this manner I continued to persuade him until he
gave his consent. I slept that night at his feet, unconscious of my state through
excessive joy ; and in the morning we arose, and entering the treasuries, took away
a quantity of the lighter and most valuable of the articles that they contained, and
84 THE FIRST OF THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
descended from the citadel into the city, ^Yhe^e we met the slaves and the captain,
•who were searching for me. They were rejoiced at seeing me, and, to their questions
respecting my absence, I replied by informing them of all that I had seen, and re-
lated to them the history of the young man, and the cause of the transmutation of
the people of the city, and of all that had befallen them, which filled them with
■wonder. But when my two sisters saw me with the young man, they envied me on
his account, and malevolently plotted against me.
We embarked again, and I experienced the utmost happiness, chiefly owing to
the company of the young man ; and after we had waited a while till the wind was
favourable, we spread our sails, and departed. My sisters sat with me and the
young man ; and, in their conversation with me, said, our sister, what dost thou
purpose to do with this handsome youth ? I answered, I desire to take him as my
husband: — and, turning to him, and approaching him, 1 said, my master, I wish
to make a proposal to thee, and do not thou oppose it. He replied, I hear and
obey : — and I then looked towards my sisters, and said to them. This young man is
all that I desire, and all the wealth that is here is yours. — Excellent, they replied, is
thy determination: — yet still they designed evil against me. — We continued our
voyage with a favourable wind, and, quitting the sea of peril, entered the sea of
security, across which we proceeded for some days, until we drew near to the city
of Balsora, the buildings of which loomed before us at the approach of evening;
but as soon as we had fallen asleep, my sisters took us up in our bed, both myself
and the young man, and threw us into the sea. The youth, being unable to swim,
was drowned : God recorded him among the company of the martyrs ; while I was
registered among those whose life was yet to be preserved : and, accordingly, as
soon as I awoke and found myself in the sea, the providence of God supplied me
with a piece of timber, upon which I placed myself, and the waves cast me upon the
shore of an island.
During the remainder of the night I walked along this island, and in the morning
I saw a neck of land bearing the marks of a man's feet, and uniting with the main
land. The sun having now risen, I dried my clothes in its rays, and proceeded along
the path that I had discovered until I drew near to the shore upon which stands the
city, when I beheld a snake approaching me, and followed by a serpent which was
endeavouring to destroy it : the tongue of the snake was hanging from its mouth in
consequence of excessive fatigue, and it excited my compassion ; so I took up a stone,
and threw it at the head of the serpent, which instantly died : the snake then ex-
tended a pair of wings, and soared aloft into the sky, leaving me in wonder at the
sight. At the time of this occurrence I had become so fatigued, that I now laid my-
self down and slept; but I awoke after a little while, and found a damsel seated at
my feet, and gently rubbing them with her hands ; upon which I immediately sat
up, feeling ashamed that she should perform this service for me, and said to her,
Who art thou, and what dost thou want? — How soon hast thou forgotten me! she
exclaimed: I am she to whom thou hast just done a kindness, by killing my enemy:
I am the snake whom thou savedst from the serpent; for I am a Fairy, and the
serpent was a Genie at enmity with me : and none but thou delivered me from him:
therefore, as soon as thou didst this, I flew to the ship from which thy sisters cast
thee, and transported all that it contained to thy house : I then sunk it ; but as to
thy sisters, I transformed them by enchantment into two black bitches ; for I knew
all that they had done to thee: the young man, however, is drowned. — Having thus
said, she took me up, and placed me with the two black bitches on the roof of my
house; and I found all the treasures that the ship had contained collected in the
midst of my house ; nothing was lost. She then said to me, I swear by that which
was engraved upon the seal of Solomon, that, if thou do not inflict three hundred
lashes upon each of these bitches every day, I will come and transform thee in the
like manner: — so I replied I hear and obey: and have continued ever since to inflict
upon them these stripes, though pitying them while I do so.
85
THE SECOND OF THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD. 87
The Caliph heard this story with astonishment, and then said to the second lady,
And what occasioned the stripes of which thou bearest the marks ? She answered
as follows:
THE STORY OF THE SECOND OF THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
Prince of the Faithful, my father, at his death, left considerable property ; and
soon after that event I married to one of the wealthiest men of the age, who, when
I had lived with him a year, died, and I inherited from him eighty thousand pieces
of gold, the portion that fell to me according to the law; with part of which I made
for myself ten suits of clothing, each of the value of a thousand pieces of gold.
And as I was sitting one day, there entered my apartment an old woman disgust-
ingly ugly, who saluted me, and said, I have an orphan daughter whose marriage I
am to celebrate this night, and I would have thee obtain a reward and recompense
in heaven by thy being present at her nuptial fete; for she is broken-hearted, having
none to befriend her but God, whose name be exalted. She then wept, and kissed
my feet ; and, being moved with pity and compassion, I assented, upon which she
desired me to prepare myself, telling me that she would come at the hour of nightfall
and take me; and so saying, she kissed my hand, and departed.
1 arose immediately, and attired myself, and when I had completed my prepara-
tions, the old woman returned, saying, my mistress, the ladies of the city have
arrived, and I have informed them of thy coming, and they are waiting with joy to
receive thee : — so I put on my outer garments, and, taking my female slaves with
me, proceeded until we arrived at a street in which a soft wind was delightfully
playing, where we saw a gateway over-arched with a marble vault, admirably con-
structed, forming the entrance to a palace which rose from the earth to the clouds.
On our arrival here, the old woman knocked at the door, and, when it was opened,
we entered a carpeted passage, illuminated by lamps and candles, and decorated
with jewels and precious metals. Through this passage we passed into a saloon of
unequalled magnificence, furnished with mattresses covered with silk, lighted by
hanging lamps and by candles, and having, at its upper end, a couch of alabaster
decorated with pearls and jewels, and canopied by curtains of satin, from which there
came forth a lady beautiful as the moon, who exclaimed to me. Most welcome art
thou, my sister: thou delightest me by thy company, and refreshest my heart.
She then sat down again, and said to me, my sister, I have a brother who hath
seen thee at a fete; he is a young man, more handsome than myself, and, his heart
being violently inflamed with thy love, he hath bribed this old woman to go to thee,
and to employ this artifice in order to obtain for me an interview with thee. He
desireth to marry thee according to the ordinance of God and his Apostle, and in
that which is lawful there is no disgrace. — When I heard these words, and saw ray-
self thus confined in the house so that I could not escape, I replied I hear and obey:
— and the lady, rejoicing at my consent, clapped her hands, and opened a door, upon
which there came out from it a young man so surpassingly handsome, that my heart
immediately inclined to him. No sooner had he sat down than the Cadi and four
witnesses entered, and saluted us, and proceeded to perform the ceremony of the
marriage-contract between me and the young man, which having done they departed ;
and when they had retired, the young man looked towards me, and said. May our
night be blessed. He then informed me that he desired to impose a covenant upon
me, and, bringing a copy of the Koran, said, Swear that thou wilt not indulge a
preference, nor at all incline, to any man but me: — and when I had sworn to this
effect, he rejoiced exceedingly, and embraced me; and the love of him took entire
possession of my heart.
We lived together in the utmost happiness for the space of a month, after which
I begged that he would allow me to go to the bazaar, in order to purchase some stuffs
88 THE SECOND OF THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
for dress, and having obtained his permission, went thither in company with the old
woman, and seated myself at the shop of a young merchant with whom she was ac-
quainted, and whose father, as she informed me, had died, and left him great wealth.
She desired him to show me his most costly stuffs; and while he was occupied in
doing so, she began to utter various flattering expressions in praise of him ; but I
said to her, We have no concern with the praises that thou bestowest upon him; we
desire only to make our purchase, and to return home. Meanwhile he produced to
us what we wanted, and we handed him the money; he refused, however, to take it,
saying. It is an offering of hospitality to you for your visit this day: whereupon I
said to the old woman. If he will not take the money, return to him his stuff. But
he would not receive it again, and exclaimed. By Allah, I will take nothing from
you; all this is a present from me for a single kiss, which I shall value more than
the entire contents of my shop. What will a kiss profit thee? asked the old woman.
Then turning to me, she said, my daughter, thou hast heard what the youth hath
said : no harm will befall thee if he give thee a kiss and thou shalt take what thou
wantest. Dost thou not know, said I, that I have taken an oath? She answered,
Let him kiss thee then without thy speaking, and so it will be of no consequence to thee,
and thou shalt take back thy money. Thus she continued to palliate the matter
until I put my head (as it were) into the bag, and consented: so I covered my eyes,
and held the edge of my veil in sucli a manner as to prevent the passengers from
seeing me, whereupon ho put his mouth to my cheek beneath the veil, but instead
of merely kissing me, he lacerated my cheek by a violent bite. I fell into a swoon
from the pain, and the old woman laid me on her lap tilll recovered, when I found
the shop closed, and the old woman uttering expressions of grief, and saying. What
God hath averted would have been a greater calamity; let us return home, and do
thou feign to be ill, and I will come to thee and apply a remedy that shall cure the
wound, and thou wilt quickly bo restored.
After remaining there some time longer, I arose, and, in a state of great uneasiness
and fear, returned to the house, and professed myself unwell : upon which my hus-
band came in to me, and said. What hatli befallen thee, my mistress, during this
excursion ? I answered, I am not well. — And what is this wound, said he, that is upon
thy cheek, and in the soft part ? I answered, When I asked thy permission, and went
out to day to purchase some stuff for dress, a camel loaded with fire-wood drove
against me in a crowed, and tore my veil and wounded my cheek, as thou seest, for
the streets of this city are narrow. — To-morrow, then, he exclaimed, I will go to the
governor, and make a complaint to him, and he shall hang every seller of fire-wood
in the city. — By Allah, said I, burden not thyself by an injury to any one ; for the
truth is, that I was riding upon an ass, which took fright with me, and I fell upon
the ground, and a stick lacerated my cheek. — If it be so, then, he replied, I will go
to-morrow to Giafar the Barmecide and relate the matter to him, and he shall kill
every ass-driver in this city. — Wilt thou, said I, kill "all those men on my account,
when this which befell me was decreed by God? — Undoubtedly, he answered ; and,
so saying, he seized me violently, and then sprang up, and uttered a loud cry, upon
which the door opened, and there came forth from it seven black slaves, who dragged
me from my bed, and threw me down in the middle of the apartment ; whereupon
he ordered one of them to hold me by my shoulders and to sit upon my head ; and
another to sit upon my knees and to hold my feet. A third then came, with a sword
in his. hand, and said, my lord, shall I strike her with the sword, and cleave her in
twain, that each of these may take a half and throw it into the Tigris for the fish to
devour? For such is the punishment of her who is unfaithful to her oath and to the
laws of love. — My husband answered. Strike her, Saad : — and the slave with the
drawn sword in his hand said. Repeat the profession of the faith, and reflect what
thou wouldst have to be done, that thou m.ayst give thy testamentary directions, for
this is the end of thy life. — Good slave, I replied, release me for a while that I may
THE SECOND OF THE THREE LADIES OP BAGDAD.
spoke, addressed my husband with
do 80 : — and I raised my head, and weeping i
these verses ;—
You render me lovelorn, and remain at ease. You make ray wounded eyelid to be restless,
and you sleep.
Your abode is between my heart and my eyes : and my heart will not relinquish you, nor my
tears conceal my passion.
You made a covenant with me that you would remain faithful; but when you Had got pos-
session of my heart you deceived me.
Will you not pity my loue for you and my moaning? Have you yourself been secure from
misfortunes ?
I conjure you, by Allah, if I die, that you write upon my tombstone, This was a slave of love.
That, perchance, some mourner who hath felt the same flame may pass by the lover's gra ;>
and pity her.
But on hearing these verses, and witnessing my weeping, he became more incensed
and replied in the words of this couplet :
I reject not the beloved of my heart from weariness; her own guilty conduct is the cause of
her punishment.
She desired that another should share with me her love; but the faith of my heart inclineth
not to partnership.
I continued to weep, and to endeavour to excite his compassion, saying within my-
self, I will humble me before him, and address him with soft words, that he may at
least refrain from killing me, though he take all that I possess: — but he cried out to
the slave. Cleave her in twain ; for she is no longer of any value to us. — So th(»
slave approached me, and I now felt assured of my death, and committed myself to
God ; but suddenly the old woman came and threw herself at my husband's feet,
01(1 Woman interceding for the Second Lady.
and, kissing them, exclaimed, my son, by the care with which I nursed thee, I
conjure thee to pardon this damsel, for she hath committed no offence that deserveth
90 THE THREE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
Buch a punishment: thou art young, and I fear the effect of the imprecations that
she may utter against thee: — and after she had thus addressed him, she wept, and
continued to importune him. until, at length, he said, I pardon her, but must cause
her to bear upon her person such marks of her offence as shall last fur the remainder
of her life. So saying, he commanded the slaves to strip off my vest, and taking a
stick cut from a quince-tree, he beat me upon my back and my sides until I became
insensible from the violence of the blows, and despaired of my life. He then ordered
the slaves to take me away as soon as it was night, accompanied by the old woman,
and to throw me into my house in which I formerly resided. They accordingly ex-
ecuted their lord's commands, and when they had deposited me in my house, I ap-
plied myself to the healing of my wounds ; but, after I had cured myself, my sides
still bore the appearance of having been beaten with sticks. I continued to apply
remedies for four months before I was restored, and then repaired to view the house
in which this event had happened ; but I found it reduced to ruin, and the whole
street pulled down ; the site of the house I found occupied by mounds of rubbish,
and I knew not the cause.
Under these circumstances, I went to reside with this my sister, who is of the
same father as myself, and I found with her these two bitches. Having saluted her,
I informed her of all that had befallen me; to which she replied, Who is secure
from the afflictions of fortune? Praise be to God, who terminated the affair with
safety to thy life ! — She then related to me her own story, and that of her sisters,
and I remained with her, and neither of us ever mentioned the subject of marriage.
Afterwards we were joined by this our other sister, the cateress, who every day
goes out to purchase for us whatever we happen to want.
CONCLUSION OF THE STORY OF THE LADIES OF BAGDAD.
The Caliph was astonished at this story, and ordered it to be recorded in a book,
as an authentic history, and deposited the book in his library. He then said to the
first lady, Knowest thou where the Fairy who enchanted thy sister is to be found?
She answered, Prince of the Faithful, she gave me a lock of her hair, and said,
When thou desirest my presence, burn a few of these hairs, and I will be with thee
quickly, though I should be beyond Mount Caucasus. — Bring then the hair, said the
Caliph. The lady, therefore, produced it ; and the Caliph taking it, burned a por-
tion of it, and, when the odour had diffused itself, the palace shook, and they heard
a sound of thunder, and lo, the Fairy appeared before them. She was a Maho-
metan, and therefore greeted the Caliph by saying. Peace be on thee, Caliph of
God ! — to which he replied. On you be peace, and the mercy of God, and his bless-
ings ! — She then said. Know that this lady hath conferred on me a benefit for which
I am unable to requite her ; for she rescued me from death, by killing my enemy ;
and I having seen what her sisters had done to her, determined to take vengeance
upon them ; therefore I transformed them by enchantment into two bitches ; and,
indeed, I had wished rather to kill them, fearing lest they should trouble her ; but
now, if thou desire their restoration, Prince of the Faithful, I will restoi-e them,
as a favour to thee and to her; for I am one of the true believers. — Do so, said the
Caliph ; and then we will enter upon the consideration of the affair of the lady who
bath been beaten, and examine her case, and, if her veracity be established, I will
take vengeance for her upon him who hath oppressed her. The Fairy replied,
Prince of the Faithful, I will guide thee to the discovery of him who acted thus to
this lady, and oppressed her, and took her property : he is thy nearest relation.
She then took a cup of water, and having pronounced a spell over it, sprinkled the
fiicesof the two bitches, saying. Be restored to your original human forms! — where-
upon they became again two young ladies. — Extolled be the perfection of their
Creator! Having done this, the Fairy said, Prince of the Faithful, he who beat
THE THREE APPLES. 91
the lady is thy son Amin, who had heard of her beauty and loveliness: — and she
proceeded to relate what had happened. The Caliph was astonished, and exclaimed,
Praise be to God for the restoration of these two bitches which hath been effected
through my means ! — and immediately he summoned before him his son Amin, and
inquired of him the history of the lady ; and he related to him the truth. He then
sent for Cadis and witnesses, and the first lady and her two sisters who had been
transformed into bitches he married to the three mendicants who had related that
they were the sons of Kings ; and these he made chamberlains of his court, ap-
pointing them all that they required, and allotting them apartments in the palace
of Bagdad. The lady who had been beaten he restored to his son Amin, giving h«r
a large property, and ordering that the house should be rebuilt in a more handsome
style. Lastly, the lady-cateress he took as his own wife ; he admitted her at once
to his own apartment, and, on the following day, he appointed her a separate lodging
for herself, with female slaves to wait upon her : he also allotted to her a regular
income ; and afterwards built for her a palace.
CHAPTER IV.
Commencing with part of the Eighteenth Night, and ending with part of the Twenty-fourth.
THE STORY OF THE THREE APPLES, ETC.
One night, after the adventure above described, the Caliph Haroun Alrashid said
to Giafar, his Vizier, We will go down to-night into the city, and inquire respecting
the affairs of those who are at present in authority, and him against whom any one
shall complain we will displace. Giafar replied, I hear and obey : — and when the
Caliph had gone forth with him and Mesrour, and they had passed through several
of the market-streets, they proceeded along a lane, and saw there an old man, with
a net and basket upon his head, and a staff in his hand, walking at his leisure, and
reciting these verses : —
They say to me. Thou shinest among mankind, by thy knowledge, like the moonlight night;
But I answer, Abstain from thus addressing me, since there is no knowledge without power:
For if they would pawn me, and my knowledge with me, and all my papers and ink-case too.
For one day's food, they would never find the pledge accepted to the day of judgment.
As for the poor, and his condition, and his whole life, how full of trouble !
In the summer he fails to earn his food, and in winter he warms himself over the fire-pot.
The dogs follow him wherever he goes, and any reviler, and he cannot repel him.
If he states his case, and proves himself wronged, the judge will not admit his plea.
Such, then, being the poor man's life, his fittest place is in the burial-ground.
The Caliph, when he heard this recitation, said to Giafar, Observe this poor man,
and consider these verses ; for they indicate his necessity. Then approacliing the
man, he said to him, sheikh, what is thine occupation ? — my master, answered
the old man, I am a fisherman, and have a family to maintain, and I went forth
from my house at noon, and have remained until now, but God hath allotted me
nothing wherewith to obtain food for my household ; therefore I have hated myself,
and wished for death. — Wilt thou, said the Caliph, return with us to the river, and
station thyself on the bank of the Tigris, and cast thy net for my luck? If thou
wilt do so I will Durchase of thee whatever cometh up for a hundred pieces of gold.
92 THE THREE APPLES.
— The fisherman rejoiced when he heard these words, and said, On my head be your
commands: I will return with you. So he went again to the river, and cast his net,
and, having waited till it sank, drew the cords, and dragged back the net, and there
came up in it a chest, locked and heavy. When the Caliph saw it, he felt its weight,
and found it to be heavy ; and he gave a hundred pieces of gold to the fisherman,
who went away, while Mesrour, assisted by Giafar, took up the chest, and conveyed
it, in company with the Caliph, to the palace, where they lighted the candles, and
placed the chest before the Caliph. Giafar and Mesrour then broke it open, and
they found in it a basket of palm-leaves sewed up with red worsted ; and they cut
the threads, and saw within it a piece of carpet, and lifting up this they found be-
neath it an izar,' and when they had taken up the izar they discovered under it a
damsel like molten silver, killed and cut in pieces.
When the Caliph beheld this, tears ran down his cheeks, and, looking towards
Giafar, he exclaimed, dog of Viziers, shall people be murdered in my time, and
be thrown into the river, and become burdens upon my responsibility? By Allah,
I must retaliate for this damsel upon him who killed her, and put him to death ! —
Then said he to Giafor, By the truth of my descent from the Caliphs of the sons of
Abbas, if thou do not bring to me him who killed this woman, that I may avenge
her upon him, I will crucify thee at the gate of my palace, together with forty of
thy kinsmen ! And the Caliph was enraged. Grant me, said Giafar, a delay of
three days. — I grant thee the delay, replied the Caliph. Giafar then went forth
from his presence, and took his route through the city, sorrowful, and saying within
himself, How shall I discover him who killed this damsel, that I may take him
before the Caliph ? And if I take to him any other persoft, he will become a weight
upon my conscience. I know not what to do. — For three days he remained in his
house, and on the fourth day the Caliph sent to summon him, and when he had pre-
sented himself before him, said to him. Where is the murderer of the damsel? —
Prince of the Faithful, answered Giafar, am I acquainted with things hidden from
the senses, that I should know who is her murderer? The Caliph, incensed at this
answer, gave orders to crucify him at the gate of his palace, and commanded a crier
to proclaim through the streets of Bagdad, Whosoever desireth to amuse himself by
seeing the crucifixion of Giafar El-Barmekee, the Vizier of the Caliph, and the cruci-
fixion of his kinsmen, at the gate of the Caliph's palace, let him come forth and
amuse himself. — So the people came forth from every quarter to see the crucifixion
of Giafar and his kinsmen ; and they knew not the cause of this. The Caliph then
gave orders to set up the crosses ; and they did so, and placed the Vizier and his
kinsmen beneath, to crucify them, and were awaiting the Caliph's permission, while
the people wept for Giafar and his relatives.
But while they were thus waiting, a handsome and neatly-dressed young man
came forward quickly through the crowd, and, approaching the Vizier, said to him,
Safety to thee from this predicament, chief of emirs, and refuge of the poor ! It
was I who killed the woman whom ye found in the chest: kill me therefore for her,
and retaliate her death upon me. — When Giafar heard these words, he rejoiced for
his own deliverance, and grieved for the young man ; but while he was speaking to
him, lo, an old sheikh pressed hastily through the crowd to him and the young man,
and, having saluted them, said, Vizier, believe not the woi-ds of this young man,
for no one killed the damsel but myself; therefore retaliate her death upon me.
The young man, however, said, O Vizier, this is an old man, imbecile through age:
he knoweth not what he saith : it was I who killed her, avenge her therefore upon
me. — my son, said the sheikh, thou art young, and wilt find pleasure in the world ;
and I am old, and satiated with the world : I will be a ransom for thee and for the
Vizier and his kinsmen : and no one killed the damsel but myself: by Allah, there-
fore, hasten to retaliate upon me.
THE THREE APPLES. 93
On witnessing this scene, the Vizier was astonished ; and he took the young man
and the sheikh to the Caliph, and said, Prince of the Faithful, the murderer of
the damsel hath come. — Where is he? said the Caliph. This young man, answered
Giafar, saith, I am the murderer ; and this sheikh accuseth him of falsehood, and
saith, Nay, but / am the murderer. The Caliph, looking towards the slieikh and
the young man, said, Which of you killed this damsel.? The young man answered,
No one killed her but myself : — and the sheikh said also, No one killed her but
myself. The Caliph therefore said to Giafar; Take them both and crucify them. —
If the murderer be one, replied Giafar, to kill the other would be unjust. The
young man then said. By Him who raised the heavens and spread out the earth, it
was I who killed the damsel: — and he gave an account of the manner of his killing
her, and described what the Caliph had found. The Caliph therefore was convinced
that the young man was he who had killed the damsel ; and he was astonished, and
said, AVhat was the cause of thy killing this damsel unjustly, and of thy confessing
the murder without being beaten, and thy saying, Retaliate her death upon me?
The young man answered as follows: — •
Know, Princ<3 of the Faithful, that this damsel was my wife, and the dauc-hter
of my uncle ; this sheikh was her father, and is my uncle. I married her when she
was a virgin, and God blessed me with three male children by her ; and she loved
me and served me, and I saw in her no evil. At the commencement of this month
she was attacked by a severe illness, and I brought to her the physicians, who at-
tended her until her health returned to her; and I desired them to send her to the
bath ; but she said to me, I want something before I enter the bath, for I have a
longing for it. — V7hat is it? said I. She answered, I have a longing for an apple,
to smell it and take a bite from it. So I went out immediately into the city, and
searched for the apple, and would have bought it had its price been a piece of gold:
but I could not find one. I passed the next night full of thought, and when the
morning came, I quitted my house again, and went about to all the gardens, one
after another: yet I found none in them. There met me, however, an old gardener,
of whom I inquired for the apple, and he said to me, my son, this is a rare thing,
and not to be found here, nor anywhere excepting in the garden of the Prince of the
Faithful at Balsora, and preserved there for the Caliph. I returned therefore to my
wife, and my love for her so constrained me that I prepared myself and journeyed
fifteen days, by night and day, in going and returning, and brought her three apples,
which I purchased of the gardener at Balsora for three pieces of gold ; and, going
in, I handed them to her; but she was not pleased by them, and left them by her
side. She was then suffering from a violent fever, and she continued ill during a
period of ten days.
After this she recovered her health, and I went out and repaired to my shop, and
sat there to sell and buy ; and while I was thus occupied, at mid-day there passed
by me a black slave, having in his hand an apple with which he was playing: so I
said to him, Whence didst thou get this apple, for I would procure one like it? —
Upon which he laughed, and answered, I gut it from my sweetheart: I had been
absent, and came and found her ill, and she had three apples ; and she said to me,
My unsuspecting husband journeyed to Balsora for them, and bought them for three
pieces of gold: — and I took this apple from her. — When I heard the words of the
slave, Prince of the Faithful, the world became black before my face, and I shut
up my shop, and returned to my house, deprived of my reason by excessive rage.
I found not the third apple, and said to her, W^here is the apple ? She answered, I
know not whither it is gone. I was convinced thus that the slave had spoken the
truth, and I arose, and took a knife, and throwing myself upon her bosom, pluno-od
the knife into her: I then cut off her head and limbs, and put them in the basket
in haste, and covered them with the izar, over which I laid a piece of carpet; then
I put the basket in the chest, and having locked this, conveyed it on my mule, and
threw it with my own hands into the Tigris.
94 THE THREE APPLES.
And now, continued the young man, I conjure thee by Allah, Prince of the
Faithful, to hasten my death in retaliation for her murder, as I dread, otherwise, her
appeal for vengeance upon me on the day of resurrection: for when I had thrown
her into the Tigris without the knowledge of anybody, I returned to my house, and
found my eldest boy crying, though he knew not what I had done to his mother : so
I said to him, AVhat maketh thee cry? — and he answered, I took one of the apples
that my mother had, and went down with it into the street to play with my brothers,
and a tall black slave snatched it from me, and said to me, Whence came this to
thee? I answered him, My father made a journey for it, and brought it from Bal-
Bora, for the sake of my mother ; for she is sick : he bought three apples for three
pieces of gold : — but he took it from me and beat me, and went away with it ; and
I am afraid that my mother may beat me on account of the apple. — When I heard
my son's story, I discovered that the slave had forged a lie against the daughter of
my uncle, and found that she had been killed unjustly; and as I was weeping bit-
terly for what I had done, this sheikh, my uncle and her father, came to me, and I
informed him of the event ; and he seated himself by me, and wept. We wept
until midnight, and continued our mourning for her five days, ceasing not to the
present day to bewail her death. By the honour of thine ancestors, therefore, hasten
my death, to retaliate her murder upon me.
The Caliph wondered at the young man's story, and said, By Allah, I will not put
to death any but the wicked slave ; for the young man is excusable. Then looking
towards Giafai-, he said to him. Bring before me this wicked slave who hath been
the cause of the catastrophe : or, if thou bring him not, thou shalt be put to death
in his stead. So the Vizier departed weeping, and saying, Whence shall I bring
him ? Not every time that the jar is struck doth it escape being broken ! I have
no stratagem to employ in this affair: but He who delivered me in the first case
may deliver me in the second. By Allah, 1 will not go out from my house for three
days ; and the Truth, whose perfection be extolled, will do what He willeth ! — So
he remained in his house three days, and on the fourth day he caused the Cadi to
be brought, and made his testamentary arrangements ; and as he was bidding fare-
well to his children, and weeping, lo, the messenger of the Caliph came and said to
him. The Prince of the Faithful is in a most violent rage, and hath sent me to thee ;
and he hath sworn that this day shall not pass until thou art put to death if thou
do not bring to him the slave.
On hearing this, Giafar wept, and his children wept with him : and when he had
bidden them all farewell except his youngest daughter, he approached her for the
same purpose. He loved her more than all his other children ; and he pressed her
to his bosom, and wept at the thought of his separation from her: but in doing this
he felt something round in her pocket, and said to her. What is in thy pocket? She
answered, my father, it is an apple ; our slave Reyhan brought it, and I have had
it four days : he would not give it me until he had received from me two pieces of
gold. — At this mention of the slave and the apple, Giafar rejoiced, and exclaimed,
ready Dispeller of trouble ! — and immediately he ordered that the slave should be
brought before him. He was therefore brought in, and he said to him. Whence
came this apple ? my master he answered, I went out five days ago, and, entering
one of the bye streets of the city, I saw some children playing, and one of them had
this apple ; and I snatched it from him, and beat him ; and he cried, and said. That
belongs to my mother, and she is sick ; she wanted my father to bring her an apple,
and he made a journey to Balsora, and brought back for her three apples which ho
bought for three pieces of gold ; and I took this to play with it: — then he cried again ;
but paying no regard to him, I took it away and brought it hither: and my little
mistress bought it of me for two pieces of gold. — When he heard this story, Giafar
was filled with wonder at discovering that this distressing event, and the murder of
the damsel, had been occasioned by his slave : and he took the slave and went with
NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON, ETC. 95
him to the Caliph, who ordered that the story should be committed to writing, and
published.
Giafar then said to him. Wonder not, Prince of the Faithful at this tale, foi
it is not more extraordinary than the story of the Vizier Noureddin, and Shem-
seddin, his brother. — What story, said the Caliph, can be more wonderful than this?
— Prince of the Faithful, replied Giafar, I will not relate it to thee unless on the
condition that thou exempt my slave from the punishment of death. The Caliph
said, T give thee his blood: — and Giafar thereupon commenced the relation of the
story as follows : —
THE STORY OF NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON, AND OF SHEMSEDDIN
AND HIS DAUGHTER.
Know, Prince of the Faithful, that there was, in Cairo, a Sultan, just and bene-
ficent, who had a wise and well-informed Vizier, possessing a knowledge of the
affairs of the world, and of the art of government. This minister was an aged man, and
he had two sons, like two moons ; the name of the elder was Shemseddin, and that of
the younger, Noureddin: and the latter was more distinguished than the former by
handsomeness and comeliness; there was no one in his day more handsome, so that
the fame of his charms spread through the neighbouring regions, and some of the
inhabitants of those parts travelled to his country merely to obtain a sight of him.
And it came to pass that their father died, and the Sultan mourned for him, and,
turning his regards towards the sons, took them into his favour, invested them with
robes of honour, and said to them. Ye two are instated in your father's office: — at
which they rejoiced, and kissed the ground before him. They observed the cere-
monies of mourning for their father during a period of a whole month, and entered
upon the office of Viziers, each of them discharging the duties of this station for a
week at a time ; and whenever the Sultan had a desire to go forth on a journey, he
took one of them with him.
Now it happened, one night, that the Sultan purposed commencing a journey on
the following morning; and it was the turn of the elder Vizier to accompany him;
a.nd as the two brothers were conversing together that night, the eldest said, my
brother, it is my wish that we should both marry on one night. — Do, my brother,
as thou desirest, answered the younger ; and I will comply with that which thou
shalt say. So they agreed to do this. The elder then said to his brother, If God
80 decree that we obtain the betrothal of two maidens, and accomplish our marriage
on the same night, and they give birth to children on the same day, and God will
that thy wife have a son, and my wife have a daughter, we will marry them to each
other, for they will be cousins. — And what, my brother, said Noureddin, wilt thou
require of my son as the dowry of thy daughter? He answered, I will require of
thy son, as the dowry of my daughter, three thousand pieces of gold, and three gar-
dens, and three farms ; for if the young man make any other contract than this, it
will not be proper. But when Noureddin heard this proposal, he exclaimed. What
is this dowry that thou imposest upon my son? Dost thou not know that we are
two brothers-, and that we are both Viziers of one dignity ? It were incumbent on
thee to offer thy daughter to my son as a free gift, without any dowry ; for thou knowest
that the male is more honourable than the female, and my child is a male, and by
him shall. our memory be preserved ; not by thy daughter. — What sayest thou of her?
asked his brother. — That our memory will not be preserved by her among the nobles,
answered Noureddin. But thou desirest, added he, to act with me according to the
opinion of him who saith, If thou desire to drive away a person who would buy,
demand of him a high price. — I see thee, replied Shemseddin, to have committed a
fault, in making thy son more honourable than my daughter ; thou art doubtless
deficient in judgment, and destitute of good disposition, seeing that thou mentionest
the partnership in the office of Vizier, when I admitted thee not to share it with me
96 NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
excepting in my pity for thee, and that thou mightest assist me ; but talk as thou
wilt; since thou halh said this, by Allah I will not marry my daugliter to thy son,
though thou offer me her weight in gold. — On hearing these words of his brother,
Noureddin was enraged, and said, I will not marry my son to thy daughter. — I will
not accept him as a husband for her, replied Shemseddin ; and if I were not purpos-
ing a journey, I would do to thee deeds that should serve as warnings to others;
however, when I return, God will do what He willeth. When Noureddin heard this,
he was full of anger, and became unconscious of existence ; but he concealed his
feelings ; and each of the two brothers passed the night apart from the other ; and
in the morning the Sultan set out on his journey, and, crossing over to the island,
proceeded towards the Pyramids, accompanied by the Vizier Shemseddin.
Noureddin passed that night in a state of the utmost rage ; and when the
morning came he arose, and, having performed the morning-prayers, went to his
closet and took out from it a pair of small saddle-bags, which he filled with gold ;
and as he reflected upon the words of his brother, and the contempt which he had
shown him, and the pride that he had manifested towards him, he repeated these
Travel. Thou wilt find a friend in the place of him thou leavest; and fatigue thyself; for by
labour are the sweets of life obtained.
To a man of intelligence and education there is no glory in a constant residence: therefore
quit thy native place and go abrcad.
I have observed that the stagnation of water corrupteth it; if it floweth, it becometh sweet;
but otherwise it doth not.
If the full moon never set, the eye of the contemplative would not on every occasion pay re-
gard to it:
The lions, if they left not the forest, would capture no prey ; and the arrow, if it quitteth not
the bow, would not strike the mark :
The grains of gold upon their native bed are regarded as mere dust; and the aloes-wood,
where it groweth, is a kind of fire-wood.
If exported, it becometh an object of high demand; but if not, it attaineth no kind of dis-
tinction.
He then ordered one of his young men to saddle for him a dapple mule, tall, and of
quick pace ; and he did so, placing upon her a saddle adorned with gold, with stir-
rups of Indian steel, and housings of the velvet of Ispahan; and she resembled a
bride displayed before her husband. He ordered him also to place upon her a car-
pet of silk, and a prayer-carpet, and to put the saddle-bags beneath the latter; and
when this was done, he said to the young man and the slaves, I have a desire to take
a ride for my amusement outside the city, towards the Province of Calioub, and
shall be absent three nights ; and let none of you follow me, for my heart is con-
tracted.
Having thus said, he mounted his mule in haste, and, taking with him a small
supply of food, departed from the city, turning his face towards the open country.
The hour of noon overtook him not until he entered the city of Bilbeis, where he
alighted to repose himself, and rest his mule, and eat: after which he took from this
place what he required for himself, and some provender for his mule, and, having
placed these provisions upon her, went forth again into the plain, and before noon
on the second following day he entered Jerusalem. Here he alighted again, and
rested himself and his beast, and ate: he then placed his saddle-bags under his
head, and spread his carpet, and slept, still overcome by anger. He passed the
night in this place ; and in the morning he remounted, and he continued to urge on
his mule until he arrived at Aleppo, where he alighted at a Khan, and remained
three days to give rest to himself and his mule, and to enjoy the air of the place:
which having done, he determined to prosecute his journey, and mounted his mule,
and went forth. He knew not whither to direct his course ; but travelled on until
he arrived at the city of Balsora; and scarcely was he aware that the night had
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 97
overtaken him, when he alighted there at a Khan, where he took off the saddle-baga
from the mule, and spread the prayer-carpet, committing the mule with its equipage
to the care of the door-keeper, and ordering him to walk her about a little.
The door-keeper did so ; and it happened that the Vizier of Balsora, sitting at a
window of his palace, saw the mule, and, observing its costly equipage, thought that
it must belong to some Vizier or King ; and as he attentively regarded it he was
surprised, and said to one of his pages. Bring before me that door-keeper. So the
page went and brought him ; and the door-keeper, approaching, kissed the ground
before him. The Vizier, who was an aged person, then said to this man. Who is
the owner of this mule, and what is his appearance ? — my Lord, answered the
door-keeper, her owner is a young man of elegant person, of the sons of the merchants,
and of a dignified and grave aspect. On hearing this, the Vizier arose, and, mount-
ing his horse, went to the Khan, and introduced himself to the young man, who,
as soon as he saw him approaching, rose to meet him, and embraced him. The
Vizier, after he had alighted from his horse, saluted him, and welcomed him, and,
seating him by his side, said to him, Whence, my son, hast thou come ; and for
what purpose ? — my lord, answered Noureddin, I have come from the city of Cairo :
my father was Vizier there; and he hath departed to receive the mercy of God; —
and he informed him of all that had happened to him from first to last, adding, I
have determined that I will not return until I shall have seen all the cities and
countries of the world. — my son, replied the Vizier, obey not the suggestions of
thy mind, lest thou expose thyself to destruction; for the countries are waste, and I
fear on thine account the issues of fortune. So saying, he ordered that the saddle-
bags should be placed again on the mule, together with the carpet of silk and the
prayer-carpet, and took Noureddin with him to his house, where he lodged him in
an elegant apartment, and treated him with honour and kindness ; and, conceiving a
strong afi'ection for him, said to him, my son, I have become an old man, and I have no
male child ; God, however, hath blessed me with a daughter who resembleth thee in
comeliness, and I have rejected many persons who have been her suitors: but now,
iove for thee hath entered my heart: wilt thou then take my daughter, as thy hand-
maid to serve thee, and be her husband? If thou consent to this, I will go up to
the Sultan of Balsora, and will say to him. This is the son of my brother; — and I
will introduce thee to him, that I may make thee Vizier in my place, and I will re-
main in my house; for I am now aged. — Noureddin, on hearing this proposal of the
Vizier of Balsora, hung down his head, and then answered, I hear and obey.
The Vizier rejoiced at his assent, and ordered his servants to prepare for him a repast,
and to decorate the great saloon, which was furnished for the reception of the chiefs of
the Emirs. He then called togetherhis friends, and invited the great ofiicers of the state,
and the merchants of Balsora; and when they had come into his presence, he said to
them, I had a brother who was Vizier in the land of Egypt, and God blessed him
with two sons; and me, as you know. He hath blessed with a daughter: now my
brother enjoined me to marry my daughter to one of his sons, and I consented to do
so; and when she attained a fit age for marriage, he sent to me one of his sons, who
is this young man here present. As soon, therefore, as he had come, I desired to
perform the marriage contract between him and my daughter, and that he should
introduce himself to her here in my house. — Excellently hast thou done ! they re-
plied. They then drank sherbet of sugar, and the pages sprinkled rose-water upon
them, and they departed: after which, the Vizier ordered his servants to conduct
Noureddin to the bath, and gave him a suit of his best clothes, and sent to him the
napkins and cups and perfuming-vessels, and everything else that he required. So
when he came out from the bath, he put on the suit of clothes, and appeared like
tlie full moon ; and he mounted his mule, and returning to the palace, alighted and
presented himself before the Vizier, and kissed his hand: and the Vizier welcomed
him, saying. Arise, and introduce thyself this night to thy wife; and to-morrow I
will go up with thee to the Sultan, and I pray that God may bless thee with every
98 NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON.
kind of happiness. Noureddin therefore arose, and went to his wife, the daughter
of the Vizier. — Thus did it happen to Noureddin.
As to his brother, he con
tinued a while journeying with
the Sultan, and when he re-
turned, and found not his bro-
ther, he inquired of the servants
respecting him, and they an-
swered. On the day of thy depar-
ture with the Sultan, he mounted
his mule, caparisoned as for a
procession of state, and said, I
am going towards the province
of Calioub, and shall be absent
a day or two days ; for my heart
Noureddin after the Bath. .^ contracted ; therefore let none
of you follow me: — and from the day on which he went forth, to the present
day, we have heard no tidings of him. Upon this the heart of Shemseddin was
troubled at the separation of his brother, and he grieved excessively for his loss,
saying within himself, The cause of this is nothing else than my having spoken
harshly to him in my conversation on the night before my departure with the
Sultan; and probably his mind was disturbed, and he went on a journey: I must
therefore send after him. He then went up and related this event to the Sultan, who
wrote letters and sent them to his vicegerents in all the provinces ; but Noureddin
had traversed distant regions during the absence of his brother with the Sultan :
therefore the messengers, when they had gone with the letters, returned Avithout
having obtained any information respecting him. So Shemseddin despaired of his
brother, and said, I have enraged my brother by what I said to him concerning the
marriage of the children. "Would that I had not done so. This was not occasioned
but by my want of sense and judgment ! — And soon after this, he demanded in mar-
riage the daughter of one of the merchants of Cairo, and performed the marriage-
contract between himself and her, and introduced himself to her: and it happened
that the night when this event took place, was the same night on which Noureddin
introduced himself to his wife, the daughter of the Vizier of Balsora: this being in
accordance with the will of God, whose name be exalted, that He might execute his
decree upon his creatures.
The event was as they both had said : for it came to pass that the two wives con-
ceived by them : the wife of Shemseddin, the Vizier of Egypt, gave birth to a
daughter, than whom there was not seen, in that country, one more beautiful ; then
the wife of Noureddin gave birth to a son, one more beautiful than whom was not
seen in his time: as the poet hath said,
If beauty came to be compared with him, it would hang down its head in shame :
Or if it were said, beauty, hast thou seen the like ? — It would answer, The equal of this I
have not.
So they named him Hassan; and on the seventh day after his birth, they made enter-
tainments and spread repasts such as were fit for the sons of Kings: after which the
Vizier of Balsora took with him Noureddin, and went up with him to the Sultan ;
and when he came into his presence he kissed the ground before him ; and Nou-
reddin, being eloquent in tongue, and firm of heart, and comely in person and in
actions, recited these words of the poet: —
This is he whose justice extendeth to all men, and who hath overrun and subd led every
region.
Be thankful for his benefits; for they are not mere benefits, but they are strings of jewels on
the necks of his people:
And kiss his fingers ; for they are not mere fingers, but they are the keys of the supplies of
Providence.
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 99
The Sultan treated them both with honour, and, having thanked Noureddin for hib
address, said to his Vizier, Who is this young man? The Vizier therefore related to
him his story from beginning to end, and added, This is the son of my brother. —
How is it, said the Sultan, that he is the son of thy brother, and we have not before
heard of him ? The Vizier answered, our lord the Sultan, I had a brother who
was Vizier in the land of Egypt, and he died, leaving two sons : the eldest succeeded
to his father's office, as Vizier, and thjs his younger son came to me ; and I swore
that I would not marry my daughter to any but him: so, when he came, I married
him to her. He is a young man, and T am now aged ; my hearing is impaired, and
my judgment faileth : it is my wish, therefore, that our lord the Sultan would in-
state him in ray office, seeing that he is the son of my brother and the husband of
my daughter, and a person worthy of the dignity of Vizier; for he is endowed with
knowledge and judgment. — The Sultan, upon this, looked towards him, and, being
pleased with him, approved of the advice of the Vizier that he should promote him
to that office ; so he bestowed it upon him, and ordered that a magnificent dress of honour
should be given to him, and one of the best of the mules upon which he was himself
accustomed to ride, allotting him also supplies and salaries; and Noureddin kissed
the hand of the Sultan, and descended with his father-in-law to their house, both in
high delight, and saying, Verily the birth of this child is fortunate. On the follow-
ing day Noureddin went again to the King, and kissed the ground, and the Sultan
ordered him to sit in the place of the Vizier: so he sat, and occupied himself with
the affairs of his office, and examined the cases of the people, and their suits, ac-
cording to the custom of Viziers: and the Sultan, observing him, was surprised at
his conduct, and the acuteness of his understanding, and his good judgment. He
attentively considered his qualities, and loved him, and advanced him in his fovour:
and when the court was dissolved, Noureddin returned to his house, and related
what had passed to his father-in-law, who was rejoiced at hearing it.
The old Vizier ceased not to superintend the rearing of the child, who was named
Hassan, for many days, while Noureddin was constantly occupied with the affairs
of his office, so that he left not the Sultan by day nor by night; and the King in-
creased his salaries and supplies until his circumstances became ample: he had ships
which made voyages under his orders with merchandise and other thinijs, and he
founded numerous estates, and made water-wheels and gardens. Thus did he until
his son Hassan was four years of age, when the old Vizier, the father of his wife,
died; and he conveyed his corpse with great pomp, and decently deposited it in the
earth. He then turned his thoughts towards the education of his son ; and when
the child had gained strength, he brought him a tutor to teach him in his own house,
charging him to instruct him and educate him well : and the tutor did so, and
taught liim various useful sciences, after he had passed some years in learning the
Koran: Hassan meanwhile increased in loveliness and beauty and elegance of person.
The tutor continued to educate him in his father's palace ; and from the time that
he arrived at adolescence he went not out of the Vizier's palace, until his father took
him one day, and, having clad him in one of the richest of his dresses, mounted him
on one of his best mules, and conducted him to the Sultan, and introduced him.
AVhen the King beheld Bedreddin Hassan, the son of the Vizier Noureddin, he was
astonished at his beauty; and the people when he passed by them for the first time,
going up with his father to the King, were amazed at his surpassing beauty and
loveliness, and elegance of person. The Sultan, as soon as he saw him, loved him,
and bestowed marks of favour upon him, and said to his father, Vizier, thou must
bring him with thee every day. The Vizier answered, I hear and obey; — and re-
turned with his son to his abode: and he continued every day to go up with him to
the Sultan until the youth attained the age of fifteen years.
His father, the Vizier Noureddijji, then fell sick, and called him into his presence,
and said to him, my son, know that this world is a perishable abode, and the
world to come is an everlasting abode. I wish to give thee some precepts, and do
100
NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
thou understand what I am about to say to thee, and incline thy heart to it. — And
he began to counsel him respecting the proper mode of conducting himself in society,
and the due management of his affairs ; and when he had done so, he reflected upon
his brother and his native place and country, and wept at the thought of his separa-
tion from those he loved ; his tears flowing : and he said, my son, hear my words.
I have a brother in Cairo, and I quitted him and departed against his will. — lie
then took a piece of paper, and wrote upon it all that had happened to him from
first to last, together with the date of his marriage and introduction to the daughter
of the Vizier, and the date of his arrival at Balsora, and his interview with its Vizier:
and, having added some strict admonition, he said to his son, Keep this charge, for
the paper on which it is written containeth an account of thine origin and thy rank
and lineage ; and if any evil accident befall thee, repair to Cairo, and inquire for
thine uncle, and salute him, and inform him that I died in a strange land, ardently
desiring that I could see him. Therefore Bedreddin Hassan took the paper, and
having folded it, and wrapped it in a piece of waxed cloth, sewed it between the
lining and the outer cloth of his cap, and wept for his father, that he should be
parted from him in his youth.
Noureddin and his Son.
Nourcddin then said to his son, I charge thee that thou be not familiar with any
one ; for in retirement is security. Divinely gifted was the poet who said : —
There is none in thy time whose friendship thou shouldst covet; nor any intimate who, when
fortune is treacherous, will be faithful.
Live then apart, and rely upon no man : I have given thee, in these words, good advice, and
sufficient.
Accustom thyself to taciturnity; occupy thyself with thine own affairs, and use not
many words: for the poet saith : —
Taciturnity is an ornament, and in silence is security : therefore, when thou speakest, be not
loquacious :
For if thou repent once of thy silence, thou wilt assuredly repent many times of thy speech.
Beware of drinking wine ; for it is the source of every kind of mischief. The poet
Baith on this subject : —
I have abandoned wine and those who drink it; and»have become the friend of such as oon-
demn it.
Wine leadeth astray from the paths of rectitude, and openeth doors to evil.
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 101
Hate no man and oppress none ; for oppression is base. The poet saith : —
Oppress not if thou hast the power to do so ; for opprf^fsion '^ill eventually bi'ing thee repent
ance :
Thine eye will sleep while the oppressed, wakeful, will call for vengeaaco npor thee; and the
eye of God sleepeth not.
Despise thy wealth, but not thyself: yet bestow not wealth save upon him who
deserveth it. If thou keep it, it will keep thee ; but if thou squander it, it will ruin
thee ; and then wilt thou need assistance of the least of mankind. It hath been said
by the poet : —
When my wealth faileth, no friend assisteth me ; but when it aboundeth, all men are my
friends.
How many enemies for the sake of wealth have consorted with me ! And my companion in
the time of want hath abandoned me !
In this manner he continued to admonish his son Bedreddin Hassan until his
spirit departed. The house became a scene of mourning, and the Sultan and all
the Emirs grieved for him ; and they buried him. They continued their mourning
during a period of two months, and the son of Noureddin rode not out, nor went to
the court, nor presented himself before the Sultan ; and the King instated one of the
chamberlains in his place, and appointed a new Vizier in the place of his father, and
ordered this Vizier to put seals upon all the houses of Noureddin, and upon his
wealth and all his buildings and other possessions. So the new Vizier went with
the chamberlains to the house of the Vizier Noureddin, to seal its door and to arrest
his son Bedreddin Hassan, and brii^p him before the Sultan, that he might do to
him what his judgment required. But there was among the troops one of the
mamlouks of the deceased Vizier Noureddin ; and he could not endure that the son
of his master should be thus treated: he therefore repaired to Bedreddin Hassan,
whom he found with downcast head and mourning heart, on account of the death
of his fiither, and acquainted him with what had passed. And he asked him, Will
the execution of the order be delayed long enough for me to enter my house, and
take somewhat of my worldly possessions by which to obtain support during my
exile? But the mamlouk answered, Save thyself: — and when Hassan heard these
words, he covered his head with the skirt of his robe, and, going forth on foot, fled
out of the city: — and he heard the people saying. The Sultan hath sent the new
Vizier to the house of the deceased Vizier to seal his wealth and other possessions,
and to arrest his son Bedreddin Hassan, and bring him before him that he may put
him to death : and the people were mourning for him on account of his beauty and
loveliness. So when he heard what they said, he took a course that he had not
intended, and, not knowing whither to go, walked on until destiny urged him to the
tomb of his father.
Entering the burial-ground, he bent his way among the tombs until he seated him-
self at that of his father, where he removed his skirt from over his head. And as
he was sitting there, a Jew of Balsora approached, and said to him, Wherefore,
my master, do I see thee thus changed? He answered, I was just now sleeping,
and I beheld my father reproaching me for having failed to visit his tomb: where-
fore I arose in alarm, fearing that the day would pass without my visiting it, and so
the occurrence would distress me. The Jew then said to him, my master, thy
father despatched some vessels with merchandise, and some of them have returned ;
and it is my wish to purchase of thee the cargo of every vessel that hath arrived for
I thousand pieces of gold ; and so saying, he took out a purse filled with gold, and
counted out from it a thousand pieces, which he paid to Hassan the son of the Vizier,
and said to him. Write me a paper, and seal it. So Hassan took a paper, and wrote
upon it, The writer of this paper, Bedreddin Hassan, the son of the Vizier Nou-
102 NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
reddin, hatb sold to the Jew such a one the whole cargo of every one of his father's
vessels that hathreturned fr(\m h^r voyage, for a thousand pieces of gold, and hath
received the price in advance.' Aiid after he had taken a copy of it, the Jew went
away with the paper ; aad Hassan wept, reflecting upon his former state of dignity
and fav'lut. 'At lerg'th the, ni^jht closed in upon him, and sleep overtook him, and
he remained asleep at his father's tomb until the moon rose, when his head rolled
from the tomb, and he lay and slept on his back, his face shining in the moonlight.
Now the burial-ground was inhabited by believing Genii ; and a female Genie,
coming forth, saw the face of Hassan as he lay asleep, and, when she beheld him,
■was surprised at his beauty and loveliness, and exclaimed, Extolled be Allah's per-
fection! This youth is like none but the virgins of paradise ! — She then soared into
the air, to perform her accustomed circuits, and saw an Afrite on his flight. She
saluted him, and he returned her salutation ; and she said to him, Whence coraest
thou ? He answered, From Cairo : — and she said to him. Wilt thou go with me to
behold the beauty of the youth who is sleeping in the burial-ground? He replied.
Yes. So they went together ; and when they had descended into the burial-ground
she said to him. Hast thou seen in the course of thy life a person like this ? — And
the Afrite looked upon him, and exclaimed. Extolled be the perfection of Him unto
whom none is to be compared ! But, my sister, he added, if thou desire, I will
relate to thee what I have seen. — Tell me, she replied: so he said, I have seen a
person resembling this youth in the land of Egypt; and that person is the daughter
of the Vizier. The King had heard of her, and demanded her of her father, the
Vizier Shemseddin, in marriage; but he answered him, our Lord Sultan, accept
my excuse, and pity my grief; for thou knowest that my brother Noureddin departed
from us, and we know not where he is ; and that he shared with me the office of
Vizier : and the cause of his departure was th^, that I was sitting conversing with
him on the subject of marriage, and he was angry with me, and in anger went
away : — and he related to the King all that had passed between them ; adding, This
was the cause of his indignation, and I have been under an oath that I will not
marry my daughter to any but the son of my brother from the day that her mother
gave birth to her ; and that was about fifteen years ago : and lately I heard that my
brother had married the daughter of the Vizier of Balsora, and obtained a son by
her ; and I will not marry my daughter to any but him, in honour of my brother.
After I had heard this, I recorded the date of my marriage, and of my wife's con-
ception, and of the birth of this daughter ; she is intended for the son of her uncle ;
and of other maidens there are plenty. But when the Sultan heard these words of
the Vizier, he was violently enraged, and said) How is it that such a one as myself
demandeth in marriage a daughter from one like thee, and thou withholdest her
from him, and excusest thyself by an absurd pretext ? By my head, I will not
marry her but to one of less consideration than myself, in scorn of thy pride ! — And
the King had a humpbacked groom, with a hump before and a hump behind ; and
he ordered him to be brought, and affianced him to the daughter of the Vizier, com-
manding that he should introduce himself to her this night, and be conducted in
pompous procession. I left him in the midst of the mamlouks of the Sultan, who
were surrounding him with lighted candles in their hands, laughing at him and
mocking him, at the door of the bath, while the daughter of the Vizier was sitting
weeping in the midst of the dye-women and tire-women. She resembles more than
any other person this youth. They have prohibited her father from going to her;
and I have never seen, my sister, a more ugly wretch than this humpback : but
as to the maiden, she is more beautiful than this youth.
To this story of the Afrite, the Fairy answered. Thou liest ; for this youth is the
most beautiful of the people of his age. But the Afrite replied. By Allah, my
sister, the maiden is more beautiful than he: however, none but he is suited to her;
for they resemble each other, and probably are brother and sister, or cousins ; and
how will she be thrown away upon this humpback I She then said to him my
m
103
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 105
brother, let us place ourselves beneath him, and lift him up and take him to the
maiden of whom thou spakest, and see which of the two is the more beautiful. The
Afrite answered, I hear and obey: this proposal is right, and there can be no better
determination than this which thou hast chosen ; therefore I will carry him. So ha
lifted him up, and soared into the sky, and the Fairy rested by his side until he de-
scended with him in the city of Cairo, where he placed him upon a mastabah,' and
roused him from his sleep.
When, therefore, he awoke, and found that he was not at his father's tomb in the
land of Balsora, he looked to the right and left, and perceived that he was in a city
that was not Balsora, and would have cried out; but the Afrite winked to him, and.
lighting him a candle, said to him, Know that I have brought thee hither, and I
desire to do thee a service for the sake of God : take, therefore, this candle, and go
with it to yonder bath, and mix with the people there, and proceed with them until
thou arrivest at the saloon of the bride ; then go before, and enter the saloon and
fear no one ; and when thou hast entered, station thyself on the right of the hump-
backed bridegroom ; and whenever the tire-women and singing-women and dye-
women come to thee, put thy hand into thy pocket: thou wilt find it full of gold,
and do thou take it by the handful and throw it to them ; and imagine not that thou
wilt put thy hand in and not find it filled with gold: give therefore to every one
who Cometh to thee by the handful, and fear nothing ; but rely upon Ilini who
created thee; for this will not be through thine own sti-ength or power, but through
the strength of God, and his power.
On hearing these words of the Afrite, Bedreddin Hassan said. What is this event,
and what manner of kindness is this ? And he went with his candle to the bathi
where he found the humpback mounted on his horse; and he joined himself to the
party, in the same garb in which he had arrived, and with the same comely ap-
pearance ; being attired with a tarboosh^ and turban, and a farajiah'' interwoven
with gold. lie proceeded with the pompous train, and every time that the singing-
women stopped for the people to give them money, he put his hand into his pocket,
and found it filled with gold, and took it by the handful and threw it into the tam-
bourine, for the singing-women and tire-women, filling the tambourine with pieces
of gold : and the singing-women were amazed, and the people wondered at his
beauty and loveliness. Thus he continued to do until they arrived at the house of
the Vizier, when the chamberlains drove back the people, and prevented their entrance ;
but the singing-women and tire-women said, By Allah, we will not enter unless this
youth enter with us, for he hath overwhelmed us with his favours, and the bride
shall not be displayed unless he be present: — and upon this they entered with him
into the saloon of the festivity, and seated him, in spite of the humpbacked bride-
groom. All the ladies of the Emirs and Viziers and Chamberlains were arranged
in two rows, each lady holding a large lighted candle, and having her head-veil
drawn across the lower part of her f\ice : thus they stood in two rows, to the right
and left, from the foot of the couch of the bride to the upper end of the leewan that
adjoined the chamber from which the bride was to come forth. And when the ladies
beheld Bedreddin Hassan and his beauty and loveliness, his face shining like the
crescent of the moon, the hearts of all of them inclined to him, and the female
singers said to all the women who were present, Know that this charming youth
hath given us nothing but red gold ; therefore fail not to serve him properly, and
obey him in whatever he shall say. The women crowded round him to gaze at his
charms, and their minds were overpowered by astonishment at his beauty, and each
of them wished that she might be in his bosom for a year or a month or an hour :
they removed the veils from their faces, and their hearts were perplexed, and they
said, Joy to the person to whom this youth belongeth or to the person over whom
' A bench of stone placed in front of a house. 'A close red cap of woollen cloth.
' A loose robe with long sleeves.
106 NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
he is lord! Then they imprecated evil upon the humpbacked groom and him who
was the cvuse of his marriage to that lovely maiden ; and every time that they
prayed for blessings upon Bedreddin Hassan they imprecated misfortunes upon the
hucpback.
The singing-women then beat the tambourines, and the tire-women approached
with the daughter of the Vizier in the midst of them. They had perfumed her with
sweet scents and essences, and clad her, and adorned her hair and neck with various
ornaments, decking her with garments such as were worn by the ancient monarchs
of Persia. Among these was a loose gown embroidered with red gold, presenting
the forms of wild beasts and birds, hanging down over her other clothes ; and round
her neck was a necklace worth thousands, composed of jewels such as neither a
King of Arabia Felix nor a Cajsar ever collected: she was like the moon shining in
its fourteenth night, and when she approached she resembled a Houri. Extolled
be the perfection of Him who created her so splendid a being! The women encom-
passed her, and appeared like stars ; she, in the midst of them, being as the moon
when the clouds have withdrawn from before it. Meanwhile Bedreddin Hassan
remained sitting, with the company gazing at him ; and as the bride approached
with a dignified and graceful gait, the humpliacked groom rose to her, to kiss her;
but she turned aside from him, and went and stood before Hassan, the son of her
uncle. The company laughed at this ; and when they beheld her turn towards Bed-
reddin Hassan, and saw him put his hand into his pocket and take out handfuls of
gold and throw it into the tambourine of the singing-women, they were delighted,
and said. We wish that this bride were thine : — and he smiled. All this time the
humpbacked groom was alone, looking like an ape ; and every time that they lighted
his candle it went out again, and he was confounded, and remained sitting in the
dark, full of secret indignation, with all the company surrounding him, while the
lighted candles presented an appearance of beauty that was most admirable, so that
every person of reflection was amazed at their splendour. But as to the bride, she
raised her hands towards heaven, and said, Allah, make this to be my husband,
and relieve me from this humpbacked groom ! — The tire-women then proceeded to
display the bride in different dresses, to the seventh suit, before Bedreddin Hassan
of Balsora, the humpbacked groom remaining alone ; and when they had finished
this ceremony they gave permission to the company to depart: so all who were pre-
sent at the festivity, both women and children, went out, excepting Bedreddin
Hassan and the humpbacked groom ; .after which the tire-women conducted the
bride to an inner chamber, to take ofi" her ornaments and outer robes, and to pre-
pare her for the bridegroom's visit.
Upon this, the humpbacked groom approached Bedreddin Hassan, and said to
him, my master, thou hast made us happy by thy company this night, and over-
whelmed us with thy favours ; but now wherefore dost thou not arise and go to thy
house without thy being ejected? He answered, in the name of Allah ; — and arose,
and went out from the door ; but the Afrite met him, and said unto him. Stay,
Bedreddin ; and when the humpback retires into the private closet, enter thou and
seat thyself in the bride-chamber ; and when the bride cometh, say to her, I am thy
husband ; and the King had not recourse to this stratagem from any other motive
than his fearing for thee the effect of the eye ; ' and this whom thou hast seen is
one of our grooms: — then approach her, and uncover her face, and fear no evil
from any one.
While Bedreddin was thus conversing with the Afrite, lo, the groom entered the
closet, and seated himself; and immediately the Afrite rose before him, from the
trough of water that was in the closet, in the form of a mouse, and cried Zeek ! —
What brought thee here? said the humpback. The mouse then increased in size,
and became like a cat ; and then increased, and became a dog, and cried, Owh I
' It is not unusual, an occasions of great festivity, to present some disagreeable ol.Ject as s
foil, in order to divert the envious eye, and obviate its evil effect
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 107
Owh ! At the sight of this the groom was terrified, and exclaimed, Get away, thou
unlucky ! The dog, however, still increased and swelled until it became an ass, and
brayed in his face, crying, Hak ! Hak ! — upon which the groom, in terror, cried
out, Come to my aid, people of the house ! But lo, the ass increased, and became
like a buffalo, and, stopping up the place before him, spoke with the speech of a son
of Adam, and said, Wo be to thee, humpback ! filthiest of grooms ! — Upon
this the groom was seized with a colic, and seated himself upon the slabs, and his
teeth knocked together. The Afrite then said to him. Hath the earth become narrow
to thee, that thou wouldst marry none but my mistress? But the groom was silent.
Return me an answer, said the Afrite, or I will make thine abode to be in the the dust I
— By Allah, then answered the groom, I am not in fault; for they compelled me,
and I knew not that she had a lover among the buffaloes ; but now I repent before
Allah and before thee. Then the Afrite said, I swear by Allah that if thou depart
now from this place, or utter a word before the sun hath risen, I will slay thee; and
when the sun hath risen go thy way, and never return to this house. And he seized
the humpbacked groom, and, placing his head upside down upon the slabs, and his
feet upwards, said to him. Remain here, and I will watch thee until sunrise. — Thus
did it happen to the humpback.
Now, as to Bedreddin Hassan of Balsora, he left the humpback and the Afrite
contending together, and, entering the house, seated himself in the bride-chamber ;
and lo, the bride approached accompanied by an old woman, who stopped at the
door of the chamber, and said, Abu Sliihab, arise, and take thy bride; and I com-
mend thee to the care of Allah. Then the old woman went away, and the bride,
whose name was the Lady of Beauty, advanced to the upper end of the chamber.
Her heart was broken, and she said within herself. By Allah, I will not suffer him
to caress me though my spirit depart from me ! But when she had proceeded to the
upper end of the chamber, she beheld Bedreddin, and said, My beloved, until this
hour art thou remaining? I had said within myself, perhaps thou and the hump-
backed groom are to share me between you. — What, said he, should give the groom
access to thee, and wherefore should he be my partner in the possession of thee ? —
Who, then, she asked, is my husband? Thou or he? — my mistress, answered
Bedreddin, we did not this for any other purpose than to make a jest of him, and
that we might laugh at him ; for when the tire-women and the singing-women and
thy family beheld thine admirable beauty, they feared for us the effect of the eye,
and thy father hired him for ten pieces of gold, in order that he might divert from
us the eye; and now he hath departed. When the Lady of Beauty heard these
words of Bedreddin she smiled, and uttered a gentle laugh, and said. By Allah,
thou hast extinguished my fire ! Take me then, I conjure thee, and press me to
thy bosom. — And they embraced each other.
Not long after this, the Afrite said to the Fairy, Arise and place thyself beneath
the youth, and let us convey him back, lest the morning overtake us ; for the time
is near. So she advanced towards him, and, placing herself beneath his skirt, as
he lay asleep, took him up, and flew away with him in the state in which she
found him, clad only in his shirt, and pursued her flight with the Afrite by her side.
But God gave permission to some angels to cast at the Afrite a shooting-star of fire,
and he was burnt. The Fairy, however, escaped unhurt, and deposited Bedreddin
in the place over which the shooting-star had burnt the Afrite. She would not pass
beyond it, fearing for his safety ; and as destiny had appointed, this place was
Damascus: so she placed him by one of the gates of this city, and Qew away.
When daylight therefore came, and the gates were opened, the people, coming
forth, beheld a beautiful youth clad in his shirt, and with a cotton skull-cap without
a turban. In consequence of his having been so long wakeful, he was now im-
mersed in sleep ; and when the people saw him, some said, Would that he had
waited till he had put on his clothes! — another said. Objects of pity are the children
of men of condition ! Probably, this youth hath just come forth from his drinking
108 NOUREDDIN AND IIIS SON,
place, on account of some business, and intoxication hath overcome him, and he
hath wandered from the phxce to which he would go until he arrived at the gate of
the city, and, finding it locked, hath slept here. — They had expressed various
opinions respecting him, and were wondering at his case, when Bedreddin awoke.
Perceiving that he was at the gate of a city, and surrounded by men, he was as-
tonished, and said. Where am I, good people; and what is the cause of your as-
sembling around me, and what hath befallen me among you ? They answered, We
saw thee at the call to morning prayer lying at this gate asleep ; and we know
nothing more of thy case. Where wast thou sleeping this last night? — By Allah,
people, he replied, I was sleeping this last night in Cairo. On hearing this, one
of them said. Dost thou eat hashish?' another said. Thou art mad. How couldst
thou be passing the night in Cairo, and be sleeping in the morning at the city of
Damascus? — He said to them. By Allah, good people, I will tell you no falsehood:
1 was last night in the land of Egypt, and the day before I was at Balsora. One
of them said, This is a wonderful thing! Another said, This youth is mad. And
they clapped their hands at him, and, conversing together, said, Alas! for his
youth ! By Allah, there is no denying his madness. — They then said to him. Re-
turn to thy reason. But he replied, I was yesterday a bridegroom in the land of
Egypt. — Probably thou hast dreamt, said they, and hast seen this of which thou
speakest in thy sleep. And Hassan was confounded, and said. By Allah, this was
not a dream : and 'where is the humpbacked groom who was sitting with us, and
the purse of gold that I had? And where are my clothes and my drawers? — He
then arose and entered the city, and proceeded through its great thoroughfare-
streets and market-streets ; and the people crowded round hin* and paraded him : so
he entered the shop of a cook. Now this cook was a robber, whom God had caused
to repent of his unlawful actions, and he had opened a cook's shop ; and all the
people of Damascus feared him on account of his boldness ; therefore, when they
saw that the youth had entered this shop, they left him, being afraid.
When tlie cook beheld Bedreddin Hassan, and observed his beauty and comeliness,
love for him entered his heart, and he said to him. Whence art thou, young man?
Relate to me thy story ; for thou art become dearer to me than my soul. — So he re-
lated to him all that had happened, from beginning to end; and the cook said to
him, my master Bedreddin, know that this is a wonderful event and an extraor-
dinary story ; but, my son, conceal thy case until God dispel thy trouble, and
remain with me in this place: and as I have not a son, I will adopt thee as such.
Bedreddin replied. Let it be as thou desirest, uncle. And immediately the cook
went out to the mart, and bought for Bedreddin costly clothes, and put them on him:
he then went to the Cadi and made a declaration that he was his adopted son: so
Bedreddin Hassan became known throughout the city of Damascus as the son of the
cook ; and he sat with him in the shop to receive the money, and in this situation
he remained.
Now to return to the Lady of Beauty. — When daybreak came and she awoke, she
found not Bedreddin Hassan remaining with her, and, imagining that he would soon
return, she sat a while expecting him ; and lu, her father came in to her, troubled
at that which had befallen him from the Sultan, and at his having married his
daughter by force to one of his servants, the humpbacked groom ; and he said within
himself, I will kill this girl if she have suffered the wretch to caress her. So he
advanced to the bride-chamber, and, stopping at the door, said, Lady of Beauty!
She answered, Well, my master, — and came forth to him, walking with a vacil-
lating gait, through joy, and kissed the ground before him ; and her countenance
beamed with increased splendour in consequence of her union with that gazelle.
When her father, therefore, saw her in this state, he exclaimed to her, thou base
creature; art thou delighted with this groom? On hearing these words of her
father, the Laily of Beauty smiled, and replied. By Allah, it is enough that thou
' Bhang, the into.\icating drug mentioned before.
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 109
hast done, and that the people laugh at me, and put me on an equality with thia
groom, who is not, in my estimation, of the value of a paring of one of my finger-
nails ; but as to my husband — by Allah, I never in the course of my life passed a
night more delightful than that which I have just passed in his company ; therefore
jest not with me by mentioning that humpback. When her father heard what she
said he was filled with rage ; his eyes glared so that little appeared of them but the
white, and he said to her, Wo to thee! What are these words that thou sayest?
Verily the humpbacked groom hath passed the night with thee ! — I conjure thee by
Allah, she rejoined, that thou mention him not. May Allah reject him, and reject
his father! Continue not then to mock me by mentioning him ; for the groom was
only hired for ten pieces of gold, and he took his hire and departed ; and I came
and entered the bride-chamber, and beheld my husband seated, after the singing-
women had displayed me before him ; and he threw them red gold until he had
enriched the poor who were present. I have reclined upon the bosom of my gentle-
hearted husband, with the black eyes and the joined eyebrows. — When her father
heard this, the light became darkness before his face, and he exclaimed to her,
thou abandoned one! What is this that thou sayest? Where is thy reason ? —
my father, she replied, thou hast broken my heart to pieces ! Wherefore dost thou
pay no attention ? This of whom I spake is my husband, and he hath retired to his
private closet.
So her father went thither, in a state of astonishment, and, entering the closet,
found the humpbacked groom with his head upon the slabs and his feet turned up-
wards: and the Vizier was confounded at the sight, and said. Is not this the hump-
backed? — and he spoke to him; but the humpback returned no answer, thinking
that it was the Afrite who addressed him. The Vizier, therefore, cried out at him
with a loud voice, and said to him. Speak, or I will cut oif thy head with this sword!
Upon which the humpback exclaimed. By Allah, Sheikh of the Afrites, from the
time that thou placedst me here I have not raised my head : I conjure thee there-
fore that thou show favour to me ! The Vizier, on hearing the humpback thus
address him, said to him. What sayest thou ? I am the father of the bride, and I
am not an Afrite. Then said the humpback. My life is not in thy hand, nor art
thou able to take my soul ; so go thy way before he come to thee who hath treated
me in this manner. Ye would not marry me to any but the mistress of bufi^aloes
and the mistress of Afrites ! May Allah, then, confound him who married me to
her, and confound him who was the cause of it! — Then did the humpbacked groom
address the Vizier, the father of the bride, again, saying, Allah confound him who
was the cause of this! — Arise, said the Vizier, and depart from this place. — Am I
mad, he replied, that I should go with thee without the permission of the Afrite?
For he said to me. When the sun shall have risen go thy way. — Hath the sun then
risen or not? For I cannot depart from my place until the sun hath risen. — Upon
this the Vizier said to him. Who brought thee to this place? He answered, I came
hither yesterday, and a dust arose from the midst of the water, and cried out, and
increased in bulk until it became .of the size of a buffalo, and said to me words that
entered my ear. Leave me, therefore, and go. Allah confound the bride and him
who married me to her! — The Vizier then approached him, and dragged him forth,
and he went out running, doubting whether the sun had risen, and went up to the
Sultan, and informed him of that which had happened to him with the Afrite.
But as to the Vizier, the father of the bride, he returned with his reason perplexed
respecting the case of his daughter, and said to her, my daughter, reveal to me
thy story. She replied. The elegant person before whom I was displayed remained
with me; and if thou believe me not, see, this is his turban, twisted just as it was,
upon the chair, ahd his drawers are under the bed, and in them is something wrapped
up: I know not what it is. So, when her father heard this, he entered the bride-
chamber, and found the turban of Bedreddin Hassan, the son of his brother; and
taking it up, he turned it over, and said, This is such a turban as is worn by Viziers,
no
NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
excepting that it is of the fashion of Mosul. lie then observed an amulet, sewed in
his red cloth cap; and he unsewed it; and he took the drawers, and found the purse
containing the thousand pieces of gold, and, opening this, he discovered in it a paper,
which when he had read it, he saw to be a copy of the Jew's contract, with the name
of Bedreddin Hassan, the son of Nonreddin of Cairo ; and he found also the thou-
sand pieces of gold. But when he read the paper, he cried aloud and fell down in
a swoon ; and as soon as he had recovered and understood the case he was astonisheU,
The Vizier Shemseddin recovering: from a Swoon
and exclaimed, There is no deity but God, who is able to do whatsoever He will !
Then said he, my daughter, knowest thou who hath become thy husband ? She
answered, No. — He is the son of my brother, said he, and the son of thine unnle ;
and these thousand pieces of gold are thy dowry. Extolled be the perfection of God !
Would that I knew how this event had happened ! — Then he opened the amulet that
was sewed up, and found in it a paper written by the hand of his brother Noureddin
of Cairo, the father of Bedreddin Hassan ; and when he beheld the hand writing of
his brother he repeated this couplet : —
I behold their footsteps, and melt with desire, and pour forth iny tears upon the places they
have trodden,
Begging of Him who hath afflicted me by their separation, that he will bless me some day by
a reunion.
So saying, he read the paper, and found in it the date of his marriage to the daughter
of the Vizier of Balsora, and that of his first introduction to her, and a record of
his age at the time of his death, and the date of the birth of his son Bedreddin
Hassan ; and he wondered, and shook with delight: and comparing what had hap-
pened to his brother with the events that had happened to himself, he found that they
corresponded exactly : his marriage and the marriage of his brother agreed in date,
and their first visits to their respective wives in like manner; as also the birth of
Bedreddin, the son of his brother, and the birth of his daughter the Lady of Beauty.
He took the two papers, and going up with them to the Sultan, he acquaintonl him
with all that had happened from the first of the case to the last; and the King was
astonished, and ordered that the case should be immediately recorded. The
Vizier then remained in expectation of the son of his brother ; but he met with no
tidings of him : so he said. By Allah, I will do a deed that none hath done before
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. HI
mc : — and he took an ink-case and a pen, and wrote an inventory of the furniture of
the house, describing the money-chest as having been in such a place, and a certain
curtain in such Another place, and everything in the house in like manner ; and he
folded up the paper, and ordered that the furniture should be stored up ; and he
took the turban with its tarboosh, and also the farajiah and the purse, and kept. them
himself.
After this, in due time, the daughter of the Vizier gave birth to a son like the
moon, resembling his father in beauty and symmetry and splendour and loveliness.
They received him from his mother, and blackened the edges of his eyes with kohl,
and delivered him to the nurses, and named him Agib. His day was as a month :
and his month as a year; and when seven years had passed over him, his grand-
father committed him to a schoolmaster, whom he charged to educate him with great
care. He continued at the school four years, and used to fight with his schoolfellows,
and abuse them, saying to them, Who among you is like me ? J am the son of the
Vizier of Cairo. — So the boys went together to complain to the monitor of that which
they suffered from Agib ; and the monitor said to them, I will teach you something
to say to him when he cometh, and he shall repent of his coming to the school ; and it
is this : to-morrow, when he is come, seat yourselves around him, and say one to
another. By Allah, none shall play with us at this game excepting him who shall tell
us the name of his mother and that of his father: and he who knoweth not the name
of his mother and that of his father is illegitimate ; therefore he shall not play with
us. Accordingly, on the following morning they came to the school, and Agib was
there ; and the boys surrounded him, and said as the monitor had directed them, and
they all agreed to the proposal : and one said, My name is Majid, and my mother is
Alawi ; and my father is Ezzeddin : — then another said after the same manner, and
another, and so on, until the turn came to Agib, and he said to them, My name
is Agib, and my mother is the Lady of Beauty, and my father is Sheinseddin the
Vizier of Cairo: — and they said to him, By Allah, the Vizier is not thy father. —
Agib replied, the Vizier is my father indeed : — and upon this the boys laughed at
him, and clapped their hands at him, saying, Thou knowest not who is thy father :
get away from us, therefore ; for none shall play with us excepting him who knoweth
the name of his father; — and immediately the boys dispersed from around him, and
made a jest of him. In consequence of this treatment his heart became contracted,
and he was almost choked with crying: and the monitor said to him. Dost thou
really consider as thy father him who is thy grandfather the Vizier, the father of
ihy mother the Lady of Beauty? Thy father thou knowest not, nor do we know
him ; for the Sultan married her to the humpbacked groom, and the Genie came
and prevented him : so, if thou know not thy father, they will regard thee among
them as illegitimate. Dost thou not see that the son of the woman who is coveted
as a wife knoweth his father? The Vizier of Cairo is thy grandfather; and as to
thy father, we know him not, nor dost thou : return therefore to thy reason.
Upon this, Agib went immediately to his mother, the Lady of Beauty, and com-
plained to her, and wept ; and his weeping prevented his speaking: and when his
mother heard his complaint and his crying, her heart was inflamed for him, and she
said to him, my son, what maketh thee weep? Tell me thy story.— So he told
her what he had heard from the boys and from the monitor, and said to her, my
mother, who is my father? She answered him. Thy father is the Vizier of Cairo.
But he said, He is not my father : tell me not, therefore, what is false ; for the Vizier
is thy father, not mine : who then is my father ? If thou do not tell me truly, I will
kill myself with this dagger. — And when his mother heard the mention of
his father, she wept at the allusion to the son of her uncle, and remembering the
amiable qualities of Bedreddin Hassan of Balsora, and what had happened to her-
self and him, she recited an ode commencing thus: —
They excited love in my heart, and departed ; and far distant hath their abode becomel
Reason forsook me when they withdrew, and sleep and patience abandoned me.
112 NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
And she wept and cried out, and her son did the same ; and lo, the Vizier entered.
His heart burned within him when he beheld their state, and he said to them. What
causeth you to weep ? She acquainted him therefore with the treatment that her son
had experienced from the other boys of the school : and he, also, wept, and called
to mind what had happened to his brother and himself and his daughter, and he
knew not the mystery of the case. Then suddenly he arose, and, going up to the
council-chamber, presented himself before the King, and related to him the story,
begging his permission to travel eastward to the city of Balsora, that he might
make inquiries respecting the son of his brother; and requesting also of the Sultan
that he would write letters for him to all the countries through which he might pass,
that, if he found the son of his brother in any place, he might take him away. And
he wept before the Sultan, and the heart of the King was moved with compassion
for him, and he wrote for him letters to all the regions and countries ; upon which
the Vizier rejoiced, and, having offered up a prayer for the Sultan, took leave of
him.
He descended immediately and prepared for the journey, and, taking with him all
that he required, together with his daughter and her son Agib, travelled the first
day and the second and the third, and proceeded until he arrived at the city of
Damascus, and beheld it with its trees and streams, celebrated by the poets. He
alighted in the open space called Meidan el-Hasba, and when he had pitched his
tents, said to his servants. We will take rest here two days. So the servants entered
the city to gratify their various desires ; one to sell, another to buy, a third to enter
the bath, and a fourth to visit the mosque of the Benie Umiah, which hath not in
the world its equal. Agib also entered the city, accompanied by his eunuch, in
order to amuse themselves; and the eunuch walked behind Agib, having in his hand
a whip that would strike down a camel. And when the people of Damascus beheld'
Agib, and his elegance of form and perfect beauty, and observed him to be endowed
with admirable loveliness, and with kindness of manner, more bland than the
northern zephyr, sweeter than limpid water to the thirsty, and more pleasant than
health to the diseased, they followed him, running after him in crowds ; and some
sat waiting in the streets to see him pass. Thus did they until the slave, as destiny
had ordained, stopped before the shop of Agib's father, Bedreddin Hassan, in which
the cook, who had acknowledged him as his adopted son in the presence of the Cadies
and witnesses, had established him ; and this cook had died, and left him all his
property, together with his shop.
When the slave stopped there on this day, the servants also stopped with him :
and Bedreddin Hassan beheld his son, and was charmed with him, observing his
extreme beauty ; his soul yearned towards him with natural sympathy, and his
heart clung to him. He had just prepared a conserve of pomegranate-grains, sweet-
ened with sugar ; and the affection divinely inspired increased in him ; so he called
out in ecstacy, and said, my master, thou who hast captivated my heart and
soul, and to whom my affections are drawn by sympathy ! wilt thou come in to me
and refresh my heart and eat of my food ? and when he had said this, his eyes over-
flowed with involuntary tears, and he reflected upon his past experience and his
condition at the present time. When Agib heard the address of his father, his
heart was in like manner drawn towards hira by sympathy, and he looked towards
the eunuch, and said to him, Verily my heart is moved with sympathy for this cook:
he seemeth to have parted with a son : come in with us, therefore, that we may
refresh his heart and eat his offering of hospitality: perhaps God, through our so
doing, may accomplish our union with our father. But the eunuch replied. By
Allah, my master, it is not proper. How should we, who are of the family of the
Vizier, eat in the shop of a cook ? I will, however, drive away the people from thee,
lest they see thee; otherwise it will be impossible for thee to enter the shop. — On
hearing the reply of the eunuch, Bedreddin was surprised, and, looking towards him,
while his tears flowed down his cheeks, said to him. Verily my heart loveth him
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 113
Let us hear no more of these words, said the eunuch: — and he desired the youth
not to enter: but the father of Agib cast his eyes upon the eunuch, and said. Great
sir, wherefore wilt thou not refresh my heart and come in to me ? thou who
resemblest black dust, but whose heart is white ! thou who hast been described
in such and such terms of praise! — so that the eunuch laughed, and said, What
wouldst thou say? Speak, and be brief. And Bedreddin recited this couplet:
Were it not for his accomplishments and admirable faithfulness, he had not been invested with
authority in the abode of Kings.
What an excellent guardian for the harem is he ! On account of his beauty the angels of
heaven wait upon him !
This address pleased the eunuch so much that he took the hand of Agib and entered
the cook's shop ; and Bedreddin ladled out a saucerful of conserve of pomegranate-
grains, prepared with almonds and sugar, and the slave and the youth ate together ;
Bedreddin saying to them, Ye have delighted me by your company : eat, and may
it benefit you ! Agib then said to his father. Sit down and eat with us ; and perhaps
God will unite us to him whom we desire. And Bedreddin said, my son, hast
thou been afflicted in thy tender years by the separation of those whom thou lovest?
— Yes, uncle, answered Agib ; my heart is inflamed by the absence of one of
those who are dear to me : the friend who hath withdrawn himself from me is my
father, and I and my grandfather have come abroad to search for him through the
world ; and how do I sigh for my union with him ! — And he wept bitterly; and his
father, moved by his tears, wept with him, reflecting upon his own desolate state,
separated from those he loved, deprived of his father, and far removed from his
mother; and the eunuch was moved with compassion for him.
They all ate together until they were satisfied ; after which, the youth and the
slave arose, and quitted the shop of Bedreddin, who felt as if his soul had departed
from his body and gone with them. He could not endure their absence for the
twinkling of an eye ; so he shut up his shop and followed them, though ignorant
that the youth was his son, and walked quickly until he came up to them before
they had gone out from the great gate ; whereupon the eunuch, looking back at
him, said, What dost thou want, cook ? Bedreddin answered. When ye departed
from me I felt as if my soul had quitted my body, and, having some business in the
suburb, I was desirous of accompanying you to transact my business, and, after
that, to return. But the eunuch was angry, and said to Agib, Verily this repast
was unlucky: respectful treatment hath become incumbent on us; and see, he is
following us from place to place. Agib therefore looked round, and, seeing the
cook, was enraged, and his face became red; but he said to the eunuch, Sufi'er him
to walk in the public road of the Mahometans ; but when we shall have turned from
it to our tents, if he do the same, and we know that he is following us, we will drive
him back. And he hung down his bead and went on, with the eunuch behind him.
Bedreddin, however, followed them to the Meidan el-Hasba, and when they had
drawn near to the tents they looked back and saw him behind them ; and Agib was
angry, fearing that the eunuch might inform his grandfather, and lest it should be
said that he had entered the cook's shop, and that the cook had followed him. He
looked at him till his eyes met the eye of his father, who had become as a body
without a soul; and he fancied that his eye bore an expression of deceit, and that
he was perhaps a knave ; so his anger increased, and he took up a stone and threw
it at his father, and the stone struck him on the forehead, and wounded him, and he
fell down in a swoon, the blood flowing over his face. Agib went on with the
eunuch to the tents ; and Bedreddin Hassan, when he recovered his senses, wiped
ofi" the blood, and having cut ofi" a piece of linen from his turban, bound up his
head with it, blaming himself, and saying, I wronged the youth when I shut up my
shop and followed him, so he thought I was a deceiver. He then returned to his
114 NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
shop, and occupied himself with the sale of his meats; and he yearned with desire
for his mother, who was at Balsora.
The Vizier, his uncle, remained at Damascus three days, and then departed to
Emaus, and, having entered this town, proceeded thence, inquiring at every place
where he halted in his journey, until he had arrived at Mardin and Mosul and Diar-
beker. He continued his journey until he arrived at the city of Balsora, and when
he had entered it, and taken up his quarters, he went and presented himself before
the Sultan, who received him with respect and honour, and inquired the reason of
his coming: so he acquainted him with his story, and informed him that the Vizier
Noureddin Ali was his brother. The Sultan ejaculated, God have mercy upon him !
— and said, my Lord, he was my Vizier, and I loved him much : he died twelve
years ago, and left a son ; but we have lost him, and have heard no tidings of him :
his mother, however, is with us, for she is the daughter of my old Vizier. On hear-
ing from the King that the mother of his nephew was alive, the Vizier Shemseddin
rejoiced and said, I am desirous of having an interview with her. And the King
gave him immediate permission to visit her at his brother's house: so he went
thither, and kissed the threshold, and entering an open court, found a door over-
arched with hard stone, inlaid with various kinds of marble of every colour; and he
walked along by the walls of the house, and as he cast his eyes around upon them
he observed the name of his brother Noureddin inscribed on them in characters of
gold ; and he went to the name, and kissed it, and wept. He then advanced to the
saloon of his brother's wife, the mother of Bedreddin Hassan of Balsora. During
the absence of her son she had given herself up to weeping and wailing night and
day ; and after she had long suffered from his separation she made for her son a
tomb of marble in the midst of the saloon, where she wept for him night and day;
sleeping nowhere but by this tomb. And when Shemseddin arrived at her apart-
ment he heard her voice apostrophizing the tomb ; and while she was thus occupied
he entered and saluted her, and informed her that he was her husband's brother,
acquainting her with what had passed, and revealing to her the particulars of the
etory. He told her that her son Bedreddin Hassan had passed a whole night with
his daughter, and disappeared in the morning, and that his daughter had borne him
a son, whom he had brought with him ; and when she heard this news 'of her son,
and that he was perhaps still living, and beheld her husband's brother, she fell at
his feet and kissed them, addressing him with this couplet: —
Divinely is he inspired who acquainteth me with their approach ; for he hath brought infor-
mation most delightful to be heard.
If he would be satisfied with that which is cast off, I would give him a heart rent in pieces at
the hour of valediction.
The Vizier then sent to bring Agib ; and when he came, his grandmother rose to
him, and embraced him, and wept; but Shemseddin said to her, This is not a time
for weeping, but rather a time for preparing thyself to accompany us on our return
to the land of Egypt: and perhaps God may unite us with thy son, my nephew.
She replied, I hear and obey : — and, arising immediately, collected all her property
and treasures, and her female slaves, and forthwith prepared herself; after which
the Vizier Shemseddin went up again to the Sultan of Balsora, and took leave of
him ; and the King sent with him presents and rarities for the Sultan of Egypt.
The Vizier departed without delay, accompanied by his brother's wife, and con-
tinued his journey until he arrived at the city of Damascus, where he alighted
again, and encamped, and said to his attendants. We will remain at Damascus a
week, to buy for the Sultan presents and rarities. Agib then said to the eunuch,
Boy, I long for a little diversion ; arise, therefore, and let us go to the market of
Damascus, and see what is going on there, and what hath happened to that cook
whose confection we ate and whoso head we broke, notwithstanding he had treated
v(, with kindness : we acted ill towards him. The eunuch replied, I hear and obey
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER.
115
— and Agib went forth with him from the tents, the tie of blood exciting him to vis?*
his father ; and they entered the city, and proceeded to the shop of the cook, whom
they found standing there. It was then near the time of afternoon-prayer ; and it
happened that he had again just prepared a confection of pomegranate-grains ; and
when they drew near to him, the heart of Agib yearned towards him when he saw
him, and he perceived the scar occasioned by the stone that he had thrown. He
said to him. Peace be on thee ! Know that my heart is with thee. — And when Bed-
reddin beheld him, his affections were engrossed by him, and his heart throbbed
with emotion towards him, and he hung down his head, desiring to adapt his tongue
to speech, and unable to do so ; but presently he raised his head, and, looking towards
the youth in an humble and abject manner, recited these verses :—
I wished for my beloved ; but when I beheld him I was confounded, and possessed neither
tongue nor eye.
I hung down my head in honour and reverence, and would have hidden what I felt ; but U
would not be concealed.
I had prepared a volume of expostulation ; but when we met I remembered not a word.
He then said to them. Refresh ye my heart, and eat of my food ; for, by Allah, as
soon as I beheld thee, my heart yearned towards thee, and I had not followed thee
unless I had been deprived of my reason. — By Allah, replied Agib, tho-u dost indeed
love us, and we ate a morsel with thee ; but after it thou keptest close behind us and
wouldst have disgraced us : we will not eat again with thee, therefore, but on the
condition of thy swearing that thou wilt not follow us ; and otherwise we will not
come to thee again henceforth ; for we are staying at this city a week, in order that
my grandfather may procure presents for the king. — I bind myself, said Bedreddin,
to do as ye desire. So Agib entered the shop with the eunuch, and Bedreddin placed
before them a saucer filled with the confection of pomegranate-grains ; upon which
Agib said to him. Eat with us ; and may God dispel our affliction ; — and Bedreddin
was delighted, and he ate with them ; but he turned not his eyes from the youth ;
for his heart and all his faculties were captivated by him. Agib, observing this,
said to him, Knowest thou not that I told thee thou wast a rude doter? Enough of
this: continue not to gaze at my face. Bedreddin, therefore, apologised to him, and
began to put morsels into the mouth of Agib, and then did the same to the eunuch.
Bedreddin waiting upon his Son and the Eunueh.
Afterwards he poured the water upon their hands, and when they had washed he
loosed a napkin of silk from his waist and wiped them with it. lie next sprinkled
rose water upon them from a bottle that was in his shop, and went out, and returned
116 NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
with two cups of sherbet prepared with rose-water infused with musk, and, pKoing
these before them, he said. Complete your kindness. So Agib took a cup and drank;
and Bedreddin handed the other to the eunuch ; and both drank until their stomachs
were full, and gratified their appetites to a degree beyond their usual habit.
They then departed, and hastened back to the tents, and Agib went in to his grand-
mother, the mother of his father Bedreddin Hassan ; and she kissed him, and said,
Where hast thou been? He answered. In the city. And she arose, and brought him
a saucer of confection of pomegranate-grains, which happened to be somewhat de-
ficient in sweetness ; and she said to the eunuch. Sit down with thy master. The
eunuch said within himself, By Allah, we have no appetite. He, however, seated
himself, and Agib did the same, though satiated with what he had eaten and drunk,
and dipped a morsel of bread in the confection, and ate it ; but it seemed to him in-
sipid, on account of his being thus cloyed, and he loathed it, and said. What is this
nasty dish? — my child, said his grandmother, dost thou find fault with my
cookery? It was I who prepared it; and excepting thy father, Bedreddin Hassan,
there is none who can cook it as well as myself. — By Allah, my mistress, replied
Agib, this thy dish is not well prepared: we have just now seen in the city a cook
who had prepared a confection of pomegranate-grains, but its odour was such as to
dilate the heart, and the confection itself such as to excite appetite in one already
satiated ; as to thine, in comparison with his,;itis good for nothing.
His grandmother, on hearing this, fell into a violent rage, and turning towards
the eunuch, said to him. Wo to thee ! Hast thou corrupted my child ? Thou hast
taken him into the shops of the cooks ! — The eunuch feared, and denied, saying. We
did not enter the shop, but only passed by it : — but Agib said, By Allah, we entered
and ate, and what we ate was better than this mess of thine. And upon this hia
grandmother arose, and informed her husband's brother, and incensed him against
the eunuch. The slave was therefore brought before the Vizier, and he said to him,
Wherefore didst thou take my child into the cook's shop? The eunuch, fearing,
said again. We did not enter. — Nay, said Agib, we did enter, and ate of a confection
of pomegranate-grains, until we were satiated, and the cook gave us to drink sherbet
with ice and sugar. The Vizier's anger with the eunuch now increased, and he
asked him again ; but still he denied. Then said the Vizier, If thine assertion be
true, sit down and eat before us. The eunuch therefore advanced and would have
eaten; but he could not; and he threw down the morsel that was in his hand, and
said, my master, I am satiated since yesterday. And by this the Vizier knew that
he had eaten in the shop of the cook: so he ordered the female slaves to throw him
down upon the ground, and they did so, and he gave him a severe beating, while the
slave cried for mercy, but still saying, I am satiated since yesterday! The Vizier
then interrupted the beating, and said to him. Declare the truth. And at length
the eunuch said. Know that we did enter the shop of the cook while he was cook-
ing pomegranate-grains, and he ladled out for us some of the confection, and, by
Allah, I never in my life ate any like it, or any more detestable than this which is
before us.
The mother of Bedreddin, enraged at this, said. Thou shalt go to this cook and
bring us a saucerful of his confection, and show it to thy master, that he may say
which of the two is the better and the more delicious. — Very well, replied the
eunuch; and immediately she gave him a saucer, and half a piece of gold; and he
went to the shop, and said to the cook. We have laid a wager respecting thy confec-
tion at the tent of our master; for there is' a mess of pomegranate-grains cooked by
the family; give us, therefore for this half piece of gold, and apply thyself to pre-
pare it perfectly; for we have received an excruciating beating on account of thy
cookery. Laughing at these words. Bedridden replied. By Allah, none excelleth in
the preparation of this confection excepting myself and my mother, and she is now
in a distant country. And he ladled out as much as filled the saucer, and perfected
it by the addition of some musk and rose-water. The eunuch then hastened back
AND SHEMSEDDIN AND HIS DAUGHTER. 117
with it to the family; and the mother of Hassan took it, and tasting its delicioua
savour, immediately knew who had prepared it, and shrieked, and fell down in a
swoon. The Vizier was amazed at the event ; and they sprinkled some rose-water
upon her, and when she recovered she said. If my son be yet in the world, no one
but he cooked this confection : he is my son Bedreddin Hassan without doubt: for
none but he can prepare this, excepting myself, and it was I who taught him to
do it.
When the Vizier heard these words, he rejoiced exceedingly, and exclaimed,
how I long to behold my brother's son ! Will fortune, indeed, unite us with him ?
But I look not for our union from any but God, whose name be exalted ! — And he
instantly arose, and called out to his male attendants, saying, Let twenty men of
you go to the shop of the cook, and demolish it, and bind his hands behind him with
his turban, and drag him hither by force, but without any injury to his person.
They replied. Well. The Vizier then rode immediately to the palace, and, present-
ing himself before the Viceroy of Damascus, showed him the contents of the letters
which he had brought from the Sultan ; and the Viceroy, after kissing them, put
them to his head, and said, Who is thine offender? He answered, A man who is by
trade a cook. And instantly the Viceroy ordered his chamberlains to repair to his
shop ; and they went thither ; but found it demolished, and everything that had beeu
in it broken ; for when the Vizier went to the palace, his servants did as he had
commanded them. They were then waiting his return from the palace: and Be
dreddin was saying within himself. What can they have discovered in the confection,
that such an event as this should have befallen me? And when the Vizier returned
from the Viceroy, and had received his permission to take his offender and to depart
with him, he entered the encampment, and called for the cook. They brought him,
therefore, with his hands bound behind him with his turban ; and when he saw his
uncle he wept bitterly, and said, O my master, what crime have ye found in
me ? The Vizier said to him. Art thou he who cooked the confection of pomegranate-
grains? He answered. Yes: and have ye found in it anything that requires one's
head to be struck off? This, replied the Vizier, is the smallest part of thy recom-
pense. — Wilt thou not, said Bedreddin, acquaint me with my crime? The Vizier
answered. Yea, immediately. And forthwith he called out to the young men, saying,
Bring the camels !
They then took Bedreddin, and put him in a chest, and having locked him up in
it, commenced their journey, and continued on their way till the approach of night,
when they halted, and ate, and, taking out Bedreddin, fed him ; after which they
put him again into the chest, and in like manner proceeded to another station. Here
also they took him out ; and the Vizier said to him, Art thou he who cooked the
confection of pomegranate-grains? He answered. Yes, my master. And the
Vizier said. Shackle his feet. And they did so, and restored him to the chest. They
then continued their journey to Cairo ; and when they arrived at the quarter called
Redaniah, the Vizier commanded them to take out Bedreddin again from the chest,
and to bring a carpenter, to whom he said, Make for this man a cross. — What, said
Bedreddin, dost thou mean to do with it? The Vizier answered, I will crucify thee
upon it, and nail thee to it, and then parade thee about the city. — Wherefore, de-
manded Bedreddin, wilt thou treat me thus? The Vizier replied. For thy faulty
preparation of the confection of pomegranate-grains, because thou madest it deficient
in pepper. Because of its deficiency in pepper, exclaimed Bedreddin, wilt thou do
all this to me? Art thou not satisfied with having thus imprisoned me, and fed me
every day with only one meal? — The Vizier answered. For its deficiency in pepper,
thy recompense shall be nothing less than death. And Bedreddin was amazed, and
bewailed his lot, and remained a while absorbed in reflection. The Vizier, therefore,
said to him, Of what art thou thinking? He answered. Of imbecile minds, such as
thine: for if thou wert a man of sense thou wouldst not have treated me in this
manner on account of the deficiency of pepper. — It is incumbent on us, replied the
118
NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON,
Vizier, to punish thee, that thou mayest not do the like again : — to which Bedreddic
rejoined, The least of the things thou hast done to me were a sufficient punishment.
The Vizier, however, said, Thy death is unavoidable. — All this conversation took
place while the carpenter was preparing the cross ; and Bedreddin was looking on.
Thus they both continued until the approach of night, when Bedreddin's uncle
took him and put him again into the chest, saying, To-morrow shall be thy cruci-
fixion. He then waited until he perceived that he was asleep ; upon which he
remounted, and with the chest borne before him, entered the city, and repaired to
his house : and when he had arrived there he said to his daughter, the Lady of _
Bea,uty, Praise be to God who hath restored to thee the son of thine uncle ! Arise,
and furnish the house aa it was on the night of the bridal display. She therefore
ordered her female slaves to do so; and they arose, and lighted the candles; and the
Vizier brought out the paper upon which he had written his inventory of the furni-
ture of the house, and read it, and ordered them to put everything in its place, so
that the beholder would not doubt that this was the very night of the bridal display.
He directed them to put Bedreddin's turban in the place where its owner had de-
posited it, and in like manner the trousers, and the purse which was beneath the
mattrass, and ordered his daughter to adorn herself as she was on the bridal night,
and to enter the bride-chamber; saying to her. When the son of thine uncle comes
into thy chamber, say to him. Thou hast loitered since thou withdrewest from me
this night; — and request him to return and converse with thee till day. — Having
thus arranged everything, the Vizier took out Bedreddin from the chest, removed the
shackles from his feet, and stripped him of his outer clothes, leaving him in hia
shirt
All this was done while he was
asleep, unconscious of what was
passing ; and when he awoke, and
found himself in an illuminated
vestibule, he said within himself,
Am I bewildered by dreams, or am
I awake? Then arising, he ad-
vanced a little way to an inner
door, and looked, and lo, ho was in
the house in which the bride had
been displayed, and he beheld the
bride-chamber and the couch, and
his turban and clothes. Con-
founded at the sight of these
things, he took one step forwards
and another backwards, thinking»
,Am I asleep or awake ? And he be-
gan to wipe his forehead, and ex-
claimed in his astonishment. By
Allah, this is the dwelling of the
bride who was here displayed be-
fore me: and yet I was just now
in a chest. And while he was ad-
dressing himself, behold, the Lady of Beauty lifted up the corner of the musquito-
curtain, and said, my master, wilt thou not come in? for thou hast loitered since
thou withdrewest from me this night. When he heard these words he looked at
her face and laughed, and said, Veriry, these appearances are bewildering illusions
of a dream ! Then entering, he sighed : and as he reflected upon what had hap-
pened to him, he was perplexed at his situation, and his case seemed involved in
obscurity. Looking at his turban and trousers, and the purse containing th' thou-
Bedreddin's perplexity.
NOUREDDIN AND HIS SON, ETC. 119
sand pieces of gold, he exclaimed, Allah is all-knowing! — but it seemeth to me that
I am bewildered by dreams ! And he was confounded in the excess of his astonish-
ment. Upon this, therefore, the Lady of Beauty said to him. Wherefore do I behold
thee thus astonished and perplexed ? Thou wast not so in the commencement of
the night. And he laughed, and asked her. How many years have I been absent
from thee? — Allah preserve thee ! she exclaimed. The name of Allah encompass
thee ! Thou hast only withdrawn to yonder apartment. What hath passed in thj
mind? — On hearing this he smiled, and replied. Thou hast spoken truth ; but when
I withdrew from thee, sleep overcame me : and I dreamt that I was a cook in Da-
mascus, and that I lived there twelve years ; and I thought that a youth of the sons
of the great came to me, accompanied by a eunuch. — And he proceeded to relate
what had happened to him in consequence of this youth's visit; then drawing his
hand over his forehead, he felt the scar occasioned by the blow, and exclaimed. By
Allah, my mistress, it seemeth as though it were true ; for he struck me with a
stone upon my forehead, and cut it open ; it seemeth, therefore, as though this had
really happened when I was awake: but probably this dream occurred when we
were both asleep. I imagined in my dream that I was transported to Damascus,
without tarboosh or turban or trousers, and that I followed the occupation of a cook.
— And again, for a while, he remained utterly confounded. He then said, By Allah,
I imagined that I made a confection of pomegranate-grains containing but little
pepper. Verily I must have been asleep, and in my sleep have seen all this. — I
conjure thee by Allah, said the Lady of Beauty, tell me what more thou sawest?
And he related to her the whole ; and added. If I had not awaked, they would have
crucified me upon a wooden cross. — On account of what? said she. He answered.
On account of the deficiency of pepper in the confection of pomegranate-grains ;
and I imagined that they demolished my shop, and broke all my vessels, and put
me in a chest, and brought the carpenter to make a cross of wood ; for they intended
to crucify me upon it. Praise be to God, therefore, who caused all this to occur to
me in sleep, and caused it not to happen to me when I was awake ! — The Lady of
Beauty, laughing at his words, pressed him to her bosom, and he in like manner
embraced her. Then reflecting again, he said, By Allah, it seems as if it had hap-
pened when I was awake ; and I knew not the reason, nor the truth of the case. —
And he composed himself to sleep, perplexed with his case, and sometimes saying,
I saw it in my sleep: — and at other times, I experienced it awake.
Thus he continued until the morning, when his uncle, the Vizier Shemseddin,
catme in to him and saluted him ; and Bedreddin, as soon as he beheld him, ex-
claimed, I conjure thee by Allah, tell me art not thou he who gave orders to bind
my hands behind me, and to nail up my shop, on account of the confection of pome-
granate-grains, because it was deficient in pepper? The Vizier answered. Know,
my son, that the truth hath appeared, and what was hidden hath been manifested.
Thou art the son of my brother ; and I did not this but to know if thou wert he who
visited my daughter on that night. I was not convinced of this until I saw that
thou knewest the house, and thy turban and trousers and gold, and the two papers ;
namely, the one which thou wrotest, and that which thy father, my brother, wrote;
for I had never seen thee before, and therefore knew thee not; and as to thy mother,
I have brought her with me from Balsora. — Having thus said, he threw himself
upon him, and wept; and Bedreddin, full of astonishment at his uncle's words,
embraced him, and in like manner wept from excess of joy. The Vizier then said
to him, my son, the cause of all this was what passed between me and thy father.
And he related to him the circumstances of their case, and the cause of his father's
departure to Balsora; after which he sent for Agib: and when the father of the
youth saw him, he exclaimed. This is he who threw the stone at me. — This, said the
Vizier, is thy son. And Bedreddin cast himself upon him, and recited the following
120 THE STORY OF THE HUMPBACK.
Long have I wept on account of our disunion ; the tears overflowing from my eyelids ;
And I rowed that if Providence should bring us together, I would never again mention our
separation.
Joy hath overcome me to such a degree, that by its excess it hath made me weep.
eye, thou hast become so accustomed to tears, that thou weepest from happiness as from
grief.
And when he had uttered these words, his mother, beholding him, threw herself
upon him, and repeated this couplet: —
Fortune made a vow to torment me incessantly ; but thine oath hath proved false, Fortune !
therefore expiate it.
Happiness hath arrived, and the beloved is come to my relief; repair then to the messenger
of festivity, and hasten.
She afterwards related to him everything that had happened to her ; and he also
acquainted her with all that he had suffered ; and they offered up thanks to God for
their union. The Vizier then went up to the Sultan, and informed him of these
occurrences; and the King was astonished, and ordered that a statement of them
should be inserted in the records, to be preserved to future ages. And the Vizier
resided with his brother's son, and his own daughter and her son, and Avith the wife
of his brother ; and all of them passed their lives in the enjoyment of the utmost
happiness until they were visited by the terminator of delights, and the separator
of companions.
Such, Prince of the Faithful, said Giafar, were the events that happened to the
Vizier Shemseddin and his brother Noureddin. — By Allah, exclaimed the Caliph
Haroun Alrashid, this story is wonderful ! And he gave one of his own concubines
to the young man who had killed his wife, and appointed him a regular maintenance ;
and the young man became one of his companions at the table.
CHAPTER V.
Commencing with part of the Twenty-fourth Night, and ending with part of the Thirty-second.
THE STORY OF THE HUMPBACK.
There was in ancient times, in the city of Balsora, a tailor who enjoyed an ample
income, and was fond of sport and merriment. He was in the habit of going out
occasionally with his wife, that they might amuse themselves with strange and
diverting scenes ; and one day they went forth in the afternoon, and, returning home
in the evening, met a humpbacked man, whose aspect was such as to excite laughter
in the angry, and to dispel anxiety and grief: so they approached him to enjoy the
pleasure of gazing at him, and invited him to return with them to their house, and
to join with them in a carousal that night.
He assented to their proposal ; and after he had gone with them to the house, the
tailor went out to the market; night having then approached. He bought some
fried fish, and bread and limes and sweetmeat, and, returning with them, placed the
fish before the humpback, and they sat down to eat ; and the tailor's wife took a
large piece of fish, and crammed the humpback with it, and closing his mouth with
her hand, said. By Allah, thou shalt not swallow it but by gulping it at once, and I
will not give thee time to chew it. He therefore swallowed it ; but it contained a
THE STORY OF THE HUMPBACK. 121
large and sharp bone, which stuck across in his throat, his destiny having so de-
termined, and he expired. The tailor exclaimed, There is no strength nor power
but in God, the High, the Great ! Alas, that this poor creature should not have died
but in this manner by our hands! — Wherefore this idling? exclaimed the woman
— And what can I do ? asked her husband. — Arise, she answered, and take him ii.
thy bosom, and cover him with a silk napkin: I will go out first, and do thou follow
me, this very night, and say, This is my son, and this is his mother; and we are
going to convey him to the physician, that he may give him some medicine.
No sooner had the tailor heard these words than he arose, and took the hump-
back in his bosom. His wife accompanying him, exclaimed, my child ! may
Allah preserve thee ! Where is the part in which thou feelest pain ; and where
hath this small-pox attacked thee ? — So every one who saw them said, they are con-
veying a child smitten with the small-pox. Thus they proceeded, inquiring as they
went, for the abode of the physician ; and the people directed them to the house of
a physician who was a Jew, and they knocked at the door, and there came down to
them a black slave girl, who opened the door, and beheld a man carrying (as she
imagined) a child, and attended by its mother; and she said. What is your busi-
ness? — We have a child here, answered the tailor's wife, and we want the physician
to see him; take, then, this quarter of a piece of gold, and give it to thy master,
and let him come down and see my son ; for he is ill. The girl, therefore, went up ;
and the tailor's wife, entering the vestibule, said to her husband. Leave the hump-
back here, and let us take ourselves away. And the tailor, accordingly, set him up
against the wall, and went out with his wife.
The slave girl, meanwhile, went in to the Jew, and said to him. Below in the
house is a sick person, with a woman and a man ; and they have given me a quarter
of a piece of gold for thee, that thou mayest prescribe for them what may suit his
case. And when the Jew saw the quarter of a piece of gold, he rejoiced, and,
arising in haste, went down in the dark; and, in doing so, his foot struck against
the lifeless humpback. Ezra I he exclaimed — heavens and the ten command-
ments ! Aaron, and Joshua son of Nun ! it seemeth that I have stumbled against
this sick person, and he hath fallen down the stairs and died ! And how shall I go
forth with one killed from my house? Ezra's ass !— He then raised him, and took
him up from the court of the house to his wife, and acquainted her with the accident.
— And why sittest thou here idle ? said she ; for if thou remain thus until daybreak
our lives will be lost: let me and thee, then, take him up to the terrace, and throw
him into the house of our neighbour the Mahometan; for he is the steward of the
Sultan's kitchen, and often do the cats come to his house, and eat of the food which
they find there ; as do the mice too : and if he remain there for a night, the dogs
will come down to him from the terraces and eat him up entirely. So the Jew
and his wife went up, carrying the humpback, and let him down by his hands and
feet to the pavement ; placing him against the wall ; which having done they de-
scended.
Not long had the humpback been thus deposited when the steward returned to his
house, and opened the door, and, going up with a lighted candle in his hand, found
a son of Adam standing in the corner next the kitchen ; upon which he exclaimed,
What is this? By Allah, the thief that hath stolen our goods is none other than a
son of Adam, who taketh what he findeth of flesh or grease, even though I keep it
concealed from the cats and the dogs ; and if I killed all the cats and the dogs of the
quarter it would be of no use! for he cometh down from the terraces! — And so
saying he took up a great mallet and struck him with it, and then, drawing close to
him, gave him a second blow with it upon the chest, when the humpback fell down,
and he f^^und that he was dead ; whereupon he grieved, and said. There is no strength
nor power but in God ! And he feared for himself, and exclaimed, Curse upon the
grease and the flesh, and upon this night, in which the destiny of this man hath
been accomplished by my hand ! Then looking upon him, and perceiving that he
T he Humpback Dead.
122 THE STORY OF THE HUMPBACK.
was a humpback, he said, Is it not enough that thou art humpbacked, but must thou
also be a robber, and steal the flesh and the grease ? Protector, cover me with
thj gracious shelter! — And he lifted him upon his shoulders, and descended, J.nd
went forth from his house, towards the close of the night, and stopped not until he
had conveyed him to the commencement of the market-street, where he placed him
upon his feet by the side of a shop at the entrance of a lane, and there left him and
retired.
Soon after, there came a Christian, the Sultan's broker, who, in a state of intoxi-
cation, had come forth to visit the bath ; and he advanced, staggering, until he drew
near to the humpback, when he turned his eyes, and beheld one standing by him.
Now some persons had snatched off his turban early in the night, and when he saV
the humpback standing there, he concluded that he intended to do the same : so he
clenched his fist, and struck him on the neck. Down fell the humpback upon the
ground, and the Christian called out to the watchman of the market, while, still in
the excess of his intoxication, he continued beating the humpback, and attempting
to throttle him. As he was thus employed, the watchman came, and finding the
Christian kneeling upon the
Mahometan and beating him,
said. Arise, and quit him !
He arose, therefore, and the
watchman, approaching the
humpback, saw that he was
dead, and exclaimed. How is
it that the Christian dareth
to kill the Mahometan ? Then
seizing the Christian, he
bound his hands behind him,
and took him to the house of the Judge ; the Christian saying within himself,
heavens, Virgin ! how have I killed this man ? And how quickly did he die from
a blow of the hand ! — Intoxication had departed, and reflection had come.
The humpback and the Christian passed the remainder of the night in the house
of the Judge, and the Judge ordered the executioner to proclaim the Christian's
crime, and set up a gallows, and stationed him beneath it. The executioner then
came, and threw the rope round his neck, and was about to hang him, when the
Sultan's steward pushed through the crowd, seeing the Christian standing beneath
the gallows, and the people made way for him, and he said to the executioner. Do it
not; for it was I who killed him. — Wherefore didst thou kill him? said the Judge.
He answered, I went into my house last night, and saw that he had descended from
the terrace and stolen my goods ; so I struck him with a mallet upon his chest, and
he died, and I carried him out, and conveyed him to the market-street, where I set
him up in such a place, at the entrance of such a lane. Is it not enough for me to
have killed a Mahometan, that a Christian should be killed on my account? Hang,
then, none but me. — The Judge, therefore, when he heard these words, liberated the
Christian broker, and said to the executioner. Hang this man, on the ground of his
confession. And he took off the rope from the neck of the Christian and put it
round the neck of the steward, and having stationed him beneath the gallows, was
about to hang him, when the Jewish physician pushed through the crowd, and
called out to the executioner, saying to him. Do it not; for none killed him but I;
and the case was this : he came to my house to be cured of a disease, and as I de-
scended to him I struck against him with my foot, and he died : kill not the steward,
therefore: but kill me. So the Judge gave orders to hang the Jewish physician;
and the executioner took off the rope from the steward's neck, and put it round the
neck of the Jew. But, lo, the tailor came, and, forcing his way among the people,
said to the executioner. Do it not; for none killed him but I; and it h?p].ened
thus: I was out amu.sing myself during the day, and as I was returning at t.hc com-
THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER. 123
mencement of the night I met this humpback in a state of intoxication, with a tam-
bourine, and singing merrily ; and I stopped to divert myself by looking at him,
and took him to my house. I then bought some fish, and we sat down to eat, and
my wife took a piece of fish and a morsel of bread, and crammed them into his
mouth, and he was choked, and instantly died. Then I and my wife took him to
the house of the Jew, and the girl came down and opened the door, and while she
went up to her master, I set up the humpback by the stairs, and went away with
my wife : so, when the Jew came down and stumbled against him, he thought that
he had killed him. — And he said to the Jew, Is this true? He answered. Yes. The
tailor, then, looking towards the Judge, said to him. Liberate the Jew, and hang
me. And when the Judge heard this, he was astonished at the case of the hump-
back, and said. Verily this is an event that should be recorded in books ! And he
said to the executioner. Liberate the Jew, and hang the tailor on account of his own
confession. So the executioner led him forward, saying. Dost thou put forward this
and take back that ; and shall we not hang one? And he put the rope around the
neck of the tailor.
Now, the humpback was the Sultan's buffoon, and the Sultan could not bear him
to be out of his sight ; and when the humpback had got drunk, and been absent that
night and the next day until noon, the King inquired respecting him of some of his
attendants : and they answered him, our Lord, the Judge hath taken him forth
dead, and gave orders to hang the person who killed him, and there came a second
and a third person, each saying. None killed him but I — and describing to the Judge
the cause of his killing him. When the King, therefore, heard this, he called
out to the chamberlain, and said to him. Go down to the Judge, and bring them all
hither before me. So the chamberlain went down, and found that the executioner
had almost put to death the tailor, and he called out to him, saying. Do it not —
and informed the Judge that the case had been reported to the King. And he
took him, and the humpback borne with him, and the tailor and the Jew and
the Christian and the steward, and went up with them all to the King ; and when
the Judge came into the presence of the King, he kissed the ground, and related
to him all that had happened. And the King was astonished, and was moved with
merriment, at hearing this tale ; and he commanded that it should be written in
letters of gold. He then said to those who were present, have ye ever heard any-
thing like the story of this humpback? And upon this the Christian advanced, and,
said, King of the age, if thou permit me, I will relate to thee an event that hath
occurred to me more wonderful and strange and exciting than the story of theJiump-
back. — Tell us then thy story, said the King. And the Christian related as
follows : —
THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER.
Know, King of the age, that I came to this country with merchandise, and
destiny stayed me among your people. I was born in Cairo, and am one of ita
Copts, and there I was brought up. My father was a broker ; and when I had at-
tained to manhood, he died, and I succeeded to his business ; and as I was sitting
one day, lo, a young man of most handsome aspect, and clad in a dress of the richest
description, came to me, riding upon an ass, and when he saw me, saluted me ;
whereupon I rose to him, to pay him honour, and he produced a handkerchief con-
taining some sesame, and said, What is the value of an ardebb ' of this? I an-
swered him, A hundred pieces of silver.* And he said to me Take the carriers
and the measures, and repair to the Khan of Jawali, near the Victory-gate : there
wilt thou find me. And he left me and went his way, after having given me the
' A measure of about five bushels.
'Those are dirhems, or drachms, equal to about sixpence.
124 THE STORY TOLD BT THE CHRISTIAN BROKER.
handkerchief with the sample of the sesame. So I went about to the purchasers ;
and the price of each ardebb amounted to a hundred and twenty pieces of silver ;
and I took with me four carriers, and went to him. I found him waiting my
arrival ; and when he saw me he rose and opened a magazine, and we measured its
contents, and the whole amounted to fifty ardebbs. The young man then said. Thou
shalt have, for every ardebb, ten pieces of silver as brokerage ; and do thou receive
the price and keep it in thy care ; the whole sum will be five thousand ; and thy
share of it, five hundred ; so there will remain for me four thousand and five hun-
dred ; and when I shall have finished the sale of the goods contained in my store-
rooms, I will come to thee and receive it. I replied, It shall be as thou desirest.
And I kissed his hand, and left him. Thus there accrued to me, on that day, a
thousand pieces of silver, besides my brokerage.
He was absent from me a month, at the expiration of which he came and said to
me. Where is the money? I answered. Here it is, ready. And he said, Keep it
until I come to thee to receive it. And I remained expecting him : but he was
absent from me another month ; after which he came again, and said Where is the
money ? Whereupon I arose and saluted him, and said to him, AVilt thou eat some-
thing with us ? He, however, declined, and said. Keep the money until I shall have
gone and returned to receive it from thee. He then departed ; and I arose> and
prepared for him the money, and sat expecting him ; but again he absented himself
from me for a month, and then came and said. After this day I will receive it from
thee. And he departed, and I made ready the money for him as before, and sat
waiting his return. Again, however, he remained a month absent from me, and I
said within myself, Verily this young man is endowed with consummate liberality!
After the month he came, attired in rich clothing, and resembling the full moon,
appearing as if he had just come out of the bath, with red cheeks and fair forehead,
and a mole like a globule of ambergris. When I beheld him I kissed his hand, and
invoked a blessing upon him, and said to him, my master, wilt thou not take thy
money ? — Have patience with me, he answered, until I shall have transacted all my
affairs, after which I will receive it from thee. And so saying, he departed ; and I
said within myself, By Allah, when he cometh I will entertain him as a guest, on
account of the profit which I have derived from his money ; for great wealth hath
accrued to me from it.
At the close of the year he returned, clad in a dress richer than the former: and
I swore to him that he should alight to be my guest. — On the condition, he replied,
that ttou expend nothing of my money that is in thy possession. I said. Well: —
and, having seated him, prepared what was requisite of meats and drinks and other
provisions, and placed them before him, saying. In the name of Allah ! And he
drew near to the table, and put forth his left hand, and thus ate with me: so I was
surprised at him ; and when we had finished he washed his hand, and I gave him a
napkin with which to wipe it. We then sat down to converse, and I said, my
master, dispel a trouble from my mind. Wherefore didst thou eat with thy left
hand? Probably something paineth thee in thy right hand? — On hearing these
words, he stretched forth his arm from his sleeve, and behold, it was maimed — an
arm without a hand ! And I wondered at this ; but he said to me, Wonder not:
nor say in thy heart that I ate with thee with my left hand from a motive of self-
conceit ; for rather to be wondered at is the cause of the cutting off of my right hand.
And what, said I, was the cause of it ? He answered thus : —
Know that I am from Bagdad : my father was one of the chief people of that city:
and when I had attained the age of manhood, I heard the wanderers and travellers
and merchants conversing respecting the land of Egypt, and their words remained
in my heart until my fiither died, when I took large sums of money, and prepared
merchandise consisting of the stufis of Bagdad and of Mosul, and similar precious
goods, and, having packed them up, journeyed from Bagdad ; and God decreed me
THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER. 125
safety until I entered this your city. And so saying, he wept, and repeated these
verses : —
The blear-eyed escapeth a pit into which the clear-sighted falleth :
And the ignorant, an expression by which the shrewd sage is ruined.
The believer can scarce earn his food, while the impious infidel is favoured.
What art or act can a man devise ? It is what the Almighty appointeth !
I entered Cairo, continued the young man, and deposited the stuffs in the Khan
of Mesrour, and, having unbound my packages, and put them in the magazines, gave
to the servant some money to buy for us something to eat, after which I slept a little;
and when I arose, I went to the street between the palaces. I then returned, and
passed the night ; and in the morning following, I opened a bale of stuff, and said
within myself, I will arise and go through some of the mai-ket-streets, and see the
state of the mart. So I took some stuff, and made some of my servants carry it, and
proceeded until I arrived at the Bezestein of Chaharkass, where the brokers came to
me, having heard of my arrival, and took from me the stuff, and cried it about for sale ;
but the price bidden amounted not to the prime cost. And upon this the sheikh of
th6 brokers said to me, O my master, I know a plan by which thou mayest profit ;
and it is this : that thou do as other merchants, and sell thy merchandise uoon credit
Money-Changer and Scrivener, &c.
for a certain period, employing a scrivener and a witness and a money-changer, and
receive a portion of the profits every Thursday and Monday; so shalt thou make of
every piece of silver two ; and besides that, thou wilt be able to enjoy the amuse-
ments afforded by Egypt and its Nile. — The advice is judicious, I replied; and
accordingly I took the brokers with me to the Khan, and they conveyed the stuffs to
the Bezestein, where I sold it to the merchants, writing a bond in their names, which
I committed to the money-changer, and taking from him a corresponding bond. I
then returned to the Khan, and remained there some days ; and every day I took for
my breakfast a cup of wine, and had mutton and sweetmeats prepared for me, untif
the month in which I became entitled to the receipt of the profits, when I seated
myself every Thursday and Monday at the shops of the merchants, and the money-
changer went with the scrivener and brought me the money.
Thus did I until one day I went to the bath and returned to the Khan, and enter-
ing my lodging, took for my breakfast a cup of wine, and then slept ; and when I
awoke I ate a fowl, and perfumed myself with essence, and repaired to the shop of a
merchant named Bedreddin the Gardener, who, when he saw me, welcomed me,
and conversed with me a while in his shop ; and as we were thus engaged, lo, a
female came and seated herself by my side ? She wore a head-kerchief inclined on
126 THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER.
one side, and the odours of sweet perfumes were diffused from her, and she captivated
my reason by her beauty and loveliness, as she raised her izar and I beheld her lilack
eyes. She saluted Bedreddin, and he returned her salutation, and stood conversing
with her; and when I heard her speech, love for her took entire possession of my
heart. She then said to Bedreddin, Hast thou a piece of stuff woven with pure gold
thread ? And he produced to her a piece ; and she said. May I take it and go, and
then send thee the price? But he answered. It is impossible, my mistress: for
this is the owner of the stuff, and I owe him a portion of the profit. Wo to thee !
said she ; it is my custom to take of thee each piece of stuff for a considerable sum
of money, giving thee a gain beyond thy wish, and then to send thee the price. —
Yes, he rejoined, but I am in absolute want of the price this day. And upon this
she took the piece and threw it back to him upon his breast, saying. Verily your
class knows not how to respect any person's rank ! And she arose, and turned
away. I felt then as if my soul went with her, and, rising upon my feet, I said to
her, my mistress kindly bestow a look upon me, and retrace thine honored steps.
And she returned, and smiled and said, For thy sake I return. And she sat opposite
me upon the seat of the shop ; and I said to Bedreddin, what is the price that thou
hast agreed to give for this piece. He answered. Eleven hundred pieces of silver.
And I said to him. Thy profit shall be a hundred pieces of silver : give me then a
paper, and I will write for thee the price upon it. I then took the piece of stuff
from him, and wrote him the paper with my own hand, and gave the piece of stuff
to the lady, saying to her. Take it and go ; and if thou wilt, bring the price to me in
the market; or, if thou wilt, it shall be my present to thee. She replied, God
recompense thee, and bless thee with my property, and make thee my husband ; and
may God accept this prayer! — my mistress, said I, let this piece of stuff be thine,
and another like it, and permit me to see thy face. And upon this she raised her
veil ; and when I beheld her face, the sight drew from me a thousand sighs, and my
heart was entangled by her love, so that I no longer remained master of my reason.
She then lowered the veil again, and took the piece of stuff, saying, my master,
leave me not desolate ! So* she departed, while I continued sitting in the market-
street, until past the hour of afternoon prayer, with wandering mind overpowered
by love. In the excess of my passion, before I rose I asked the merchant respecting
her; and he answered me, She is a rich lady, the daughter of a deceased Emir, who
left her great property. r
I then took leave of him, and returned to the Khan, and the supper was placed
before me ; but, reflecting upon her, I could eat nothing. I laid myself down to
rest; but sleep came not to me, and I remained awake until the morning, when I
arose and put on a suit of clothing different from that which I had worn the day
before; and, having drunk a cup of wine, and eaten a few morsels as my breakfast,
repaired again to the shop of the merchant, and saluted him, and sat down
with him. The lady soon came, wearing a dress more rich than the former,
and attended by a slave-girl ; and she seated herself, and saluted me instead of Bed-
reddin, and said, with an eloquent tongue which I had never heard surpassed in softness
or sweetness. Send with me some one to receive the twelve hundred pieces of
silver, the price of the piece of stuff. — Wherefore, said I, this haste? She replied,
May we never lose thee ! And she handed to me the price ; and I sat conversing
with her, and made a sign to her, which she understood, intimating my wish to visit
her: whereupon she arose in haste, expressing displeasure at my hint. My heart
clung to her, and I followed in the direction of her steps through the market-street
and lo, a slave-girl came to me, and said, my master, answer the summons of my
mistress. Wondering at this, I said. No one here knoweth me. — How soon, she re-
joined, hast thou forgotten her! My mistress is she who was to-day at the shop of
the merchant Bedreddin. — So I went with her until we arrived at the money-chang-
ers ; and when her mistress, who was there, beheld me, she drew me to her side,
and said, my beloved, thou hast wounded my heart, and love of thee hath taken
THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER. 127
possession of it; and from the time that I first saw thee, neither sleep nor food no
drink hath been pleasant to me. I replied, And more than that do I feel ; and the state
in which I am needs no complaint to testify it. Then shall I visit thee, my be-
loved, she asked, or wilt thou come to me ? For our marriage must be a secret. — I
am a strano-er, I answered, and have no place of reception but the Khan ; therefore,
if thou wilt kindly permit me to go to thine abode the pleasure will be perfect. —
Well, she replied ; but to-night is the eve of Friday, and let nothing be done till to-
morrow, when, after thou hast joined in the prayers, do thou mount thine ass, and
inquire for the Habbaniah :' and when thou hast arrived there, ask for the house
called the mansion of Barakat the chief, known by the surname of Abou-Sharaan;
for there do I reside ; and delay not ; for I shall be anxiously expecting thee.
On hearing this I rejoiced exceedingly, and we parted ; and I returned to the
Khan in which I lodged. I passed the whole night sleepless, and was scarcely sure
that the day-break had appeared when I arose and changed my clothes, and having
perfumed myself with essences and sweet scents, took with me fifty pieces of gold
in a handkerchief, and walked from the Khan of Mesrour to the Gate of Zawili,
where I mounted an ass, and said to its owner. Go with me to the Habbaniah. And
in less than the twinkling of an eye he set ofi", and soon he stopped at a by-street
called Darb El-Munakiri, when I said to him. Enter the street and inquire for the
Mansion of the Chief. He was absent but a little while, and, returning, said, Alight.
— Walk on before me, said I, to the house. And he went on until he had led me to
the house; whereupon I said to him, To-morrow come to me hither to convey me
back. — In the name of Allah, he replied ; and I handed him a quarter of a piece of
gold, and he took it and departed. I then knocked at the door, and there came
forth to me two young virgins in whom the forms of womanhood had just developed
themselves, resembling two moons, and they said. Enter; for our mistress is expect-
ing thee, and she hath not slept last night from her excessive love for thee. I entered
an upper saloon with seven doors ; around it were latticed windows looking upon a
garden in which were fruits of every kind, and running streams and singing birds;
it was plastered with royal gypsum, in which a man might see his face reflected : its
roof was ornamented with gilding, and surrounded by inscriptions in letters of gold
upon a ground of ultramarine : it comprised a variety of beauties, and shone in the
eyes of beholders: the pavement was of coloured marbles, having in the midst of it
a fountain, with four snakes of red gold casting forth water from their mouths like
pearls and jewels at the corners of the pool ; and it was furnished with carpets of
coloured silk, and mattrasses.
Having entered I seated myself: and scarcely had I done so when the lady ap-
proached me. She wore a crown set with pearls and jewels ; and her hands and
feet were stained with henna ; and her bosom ornamented with gold. As soon as
she beheld me she smiled in my face and embraced me, saying. Is it true that thou
hast come to me, or is this a dream? — I am thy slave, I answered; and she said,
Thou art welcome. Verily, from the time when I first saw thee, neither sleep hath
been sweet to me nor hath food been pleasant! — In such case have /been, I replied;
— and we sat down to converse ; but I hung down my head towards the ground, in
bashfulness ; and not long had I thus remained when a repast was placed before
me, consisting of the most exquisite dishes, as fricandoes and hashes and stuffed
fowls. I ate with her until we were satisfied : when they brought the basin and
ewer, and I washed my hands : after which we perfumed ourselves with rosewater
infused with musk, and sat down again to converse ; expressing to each other our
mutual passion : and her love took such possession of me that all the wealth I pos-
sessed seemed worthless in comparison. In this manner we continued to enjoy
ourselves until, night approaching, the female slaves brought supper and wine, a
complete service, and we drank until midnight. Never in my life had I passed such
' A name of a street in Cairo.
128 THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER.
a night. And when morning came, I arose, and, having thrown to her the handker-
chief containing the pieces of gold, I took leave of her and went out; but as I did
dO she wept, and said, my master, when shall I see again this lovely face? I
answered her, I will be with thee at the commencement of the night. And when I
went forth, I found the owner of the ass, who had brought me the day before, wait-
ing for me at the door ; and I mounted, and returned with him to the Khan of Mes-
rour, where I alighted and gave to him half a piece of gold, saying to him. Come
hither at sunset. He replied. On the head by thy command.
I entered the Khan, and ate my breakfast, and then went forth to collect the price
of my stuffs ; after which I returned. I had prepared for my wife a roasted lamb,
and purchased some sweetmeat; and I now called the porter, described to him
the house, and gave him his hire. Having done this, I occupied myself again with
my business until sunset, when the owner of the ass came, and I took fifty pieces of
gold, and put them into a handkerchief. Entering the house I found that they had
wiped the marble and polished the vessels of copper and brass, and filled the
lamps, and lighted the candles, and dished the supper, and strained the wine : and
when my wife saw me, she threw her arms around my neck, and said, Thou hast
made me desolate by thine absence ! The tables were then placed before us, and
we ate until we were satisfied, and the slave-girls took away the first table, and
placed before us the wine ; and we sat drinking, and eating of the dried fruits, and
making merry, until midnight. We then slept until morning, when I arose and
handed her the fifty pieces of gold as before, and left her.
Thus I continued to do for a long time, until I passed the night and awoke pos-
sessing not a piece of silver nor one of gold ; and I said within myself, this is of
the work of the Devil ! And I repeated these verses : —
Poverty causeth the lustre of a man to grow dim, like the yellowness of the setting sun.
When absent, he is not remembered among mankind : and when present, he shareth not their
pleasures.
In the market-street he shunneth notice; and in the desert places he poureth forth his
tears.
By Allah ! a man, among his own relations, when afflicted with poverty, is as a stranger !
With these reflections I walked forth into the street, and proceeded thence to the
Gate of Zawili, where I found the people crowding together, so that the gate was
stopped up by their number ; and, as destiny willed, I saw there a trooper, and un-
intentionally pressing against him, my hand came in contact with his pocket, and I
felt it, and found that it contained a purse: and I caught hold of the purse, and
took it from his pocket. But the trooper felt that his pocket was lightened, and
putting his hand into it, found nothing; upon which he looked aside at me, and
raised his hand with the mace, and struck me upon my head. I fell to the ground,
and the people surrounded us and seized the bridle of the trooper's horse, saying.
On account of the crowd dost thou strike this young man such a blow? But he
called out to them, and said. This is a robber ! On hearing this I feared. The people
around me said, This is a comely young man, and hath take'n nothing. While some,
however, believed this, others disbelieved ; and after many words, the people dragged
me along, desiring to liberate me ; but, as it was predestined, thei*e came at this
moment the Judge and other magistrates entering the gate, and seeing the people
surrounding me and the trooper, the Judge said. What is the news? The trooper
answered. By Allah, Emir, this is a robber: I had in my pocket a blue purse
containing twenty pieces of gold ; and he took it while I was pressed by the crowd.
Was any one with thee ? asked the Judge. The trooper, answered, No. And the
Judge called out to the chief of his servants, saying. Seize him and search him. So
he seized me ; and protection was withdrawn from me ; and the Judge said to him.
Strip him of all that is upon him. And when he did so, they found the purse in
my clothes, and the Judge, taking it, counted the money, and found it to be twenty
The Trooper Striking the Christian Broker. (Page 128.)
129
THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER. 131
pieces of gold as the trooper had said ; whereupon he was enraged, and called out
to his attendants, saying, Bring him forward. They, therefore, brought me before
him, and he said to me, young man, tell the truth. Didst thou steal this purse?
■ — And I hung down my head towards the ground, saying within myself. If I answer
that I did not steal it, it will be useless, for he hath produced it from my clothes ; and
if I say I stole it, I fall into trouble. I then raised my head, and said. Yes, I took it.
And when the Judge heard these words, he wondered, and called witnesses, who pre-
sented themselves, and gave their testimony to my confession. — All this took place at
the Gate of Zawili. — The Judge then ordered the executioner to cut oS my hand : and
he cut off my right hand ; but the heart of the trooper was moved with compassion for
me, and he interceded for me that I should not be killed : so the Judge left me and de-
parted. The people, however, continued around me, and gave me to drink a cup of
wine ; and the trooper gave me the purse, saying, Thou art a comely youth, and it is
not fit that thou shouldst be a thief; so I took it from him.
The trooper then left me and departed, after having given me the purse, and I went
my way ; but first I wrapped my hand in a piece of rag, and put it in my bosom. My
condition thus altered, and my countenance pallid in consequence of my sufferings, I
walked to the mansion, and, in a disordered state of mind, threw myself upon the
bed. My wife, seeing my complexion thus changed, said to me. What hath pained
thee, and wherefore do I see thee thus altered? I answered her. My head acheth,
and I am not well. And on hearing this she was vexed, and became ill on my
account, and said. Burn not my heart, my master ! sit up and raise thy head, and
tell me what hath happened to thee this day; for I read a tale in thy face. — Abstain
from speaking to me, I replied. And she wept, and said. It seemeth that thou art
tired of us ; for I see thee to be conducting thyself in a manner contrary to thy
usual habit. Then she wept again, and continued addressing me, though I made
her no reply, until the approach of night, when she placed some food before me ;
but I abstained from it, fearing that she should see me eat with my left hand, and
said, I have no desire to eat at present. She then said again, Tell me what hath
happened to thee this day, and wherefore I see thee anxious and broken-hearted. I
answered, I will presently tell thee at my leisure. And she put the wine towards
me, saying. Take it ; for it will dispel ftiine anxiety ; and thou must drink, and tell
me thy story. I replied, therefore. If it must be so, give me to drink with thy
Hand. And she filled a cup and drank it ; and then filled it again and handed it to
me, and I took it from her with my left hand, and while tears ran from my eyes, I
repeated these verses : —
When God willeth an event to befall a man who is endowed with reason and hearing and
sight,
He deafeneth his ears, and blindeth his heart, and draweth his reason from him as a hair.
Till, having fulfilled His purpose against him, He restoreth him his reason that he may bo
admonished.
Having thus said, I wept again ; and when she saw me do so, she uttered a loud
cry, and said. What is the reason of thy weeping? Thou hast burned my heart!
And wherefore didst thou take the cup with thy left hand ? — I answered her, I have
a boil upon my right hand. — Then put it forth, said she, that I may open it for thee.
— It is not yet, I replied, the proper time for opening it ; and continue not to ask
me ; for I will not put it forth at present. I then drank the contents of the cup,
and she continued to hand me the wine until intoxication overcame me, and I fell
asleep in the place where I was sitting ; upon which she discovered that my right
arm was without a hand, and, searching me, saw the purse containing the gold.
Grief, such as none else experienceth, overcame her at the sight; and she suffered
incessant torment on my account until the morning, when I awoke, and found that
she had prepared for me a dish composed of four boiled fowls, which she had placed
before me. She then gave me to drink a cup of wine ; and I ate and drank, and
132 THE STORY TOLD BY THE CHRISTIAN BROKER.
put down the purse and was about to depart: but she said, Whither wouldst thou
go? I answered, To such a place, to dispel somewhat of the anxiety which op-
presseth my heart. Go not, said she ; but rather sit down again. So I sat down,
and she said to me. Hath thy love of me become so excessive that thou hast expended
all thy wealth upon me, and lost thy hand ? I take thee, then, as witness against
me, and God also is witness, that I will never desert thee ; and thou shalt see the
truth of my words. — Immediately, therefore, she sent for witnesses, who came ; and
she said to them, Write my contract of marriage to this young man, and bear wit-
ness that I have received the dowry. And they did as she desired them ; after vrhich
she said. Bear witness that all my property which is in this chest, and all mv mem-
looks and female slaves, belong to this young man. Accordingly, they declared
themselves witnesses of her declaration, and I accepted the property, and they de-
parted after they had received their fees. She then took me by my hand, and,
having led me to a closet, opened a large chest, and said to me. See what is con-
tained in this chest. I looked, therefore ; and lo, it was full of handkerchiefs ; and
she said, This is thy property, which I have received from thee: for every time that
thou gavest me a handkerchief containing fifty pieces of gold, I wrapped it up, and
threw it into this chest: take, then, thy property ; for God hath restored it to thee,
and thou art now of high estate. Fate hath afflicted thee on my account, so that
thou hast lost thy right hand, and I am unable to compensate thee: if I should sa-
crifice my life, it would be but a small thing, and thy generosity would still have
surpassed mine. — She then added, Now take possession of thy property. So I re-
ceived it: and she transferred the contents of her chest to mine, adding her property
to mine which I had given her. My heart rejoiced, my anxiety ceased, and I ap-
proached and kissed her, and made myself merry by drinking with her; after which
she said again, Thou hast sacrificed all thy wealth and thy hand through love of me,
and how ca,n 1 compensate thee ? — By Allah, if I gave my life for love of thee, it were
but a small thing, and I should not do justice to thy claims upon rae. She then
wrote a deed of gift transferring to me all her apparel, and her ornaments of gold
and jewels, and her houses and other possessions : and she passed that night in
grief on my account, having heard my relation of the accident that had befallen me.
Thus we remained less than a month, during which time she became more and
more infirm and disordered ; and she endured no more than fifty days before she
was numbered among the people of the other world. So I prepared her funeral,
and deposited her body in the earth, and having caused recitations of the Koran to
be performed for her, and given a considerable sum of money in alms for her sake,
returned from the tomb. I found that she had possessed abundant wealth, and
houses and lands, and among her property were the store-rooms of sesame of which
I sold to thee the contents of one ; and I was not prevented from settling with thee
during this period but by my being busied in selling the remainder, the price of
which I have not yet entirely received. Now I desire of thee that thou wilt not
oppose me in that which I am about to say to thee ; since I have eaten of thy food:
I give the price of the sesame, which is in thy hands. — This which I have told thee
was the cause of my eating with my left hand.
I replied. Thou hast treated me with kindness .and generosity : and he then said.
Thou must travel with me to my country ; for I have bought merchandise of Cairo
and Alexandria. Wilt thou accompany me? — I answered. Yes: — and promised him
that I would be ready by the first day of the following month. So I sold all that I
possessed, and having bought merchandise with the produce, travelled with the
roung man to this thy country, where he sold his merchandise and bought other in
its stead, after which he returned to the land of I^gypt; but it was my lot to remain
here, and to experience that which hath befallen me this night during my absence
from my native country. Now is not this, King of the age, more wonderful than
the story of the humpback ?
The King replied. Ye must be hanged, all of you ! — And upon this, the Sultan's
THE STORY TOLD BY THE SULTAN'S STEWARD. 133
stevviinl advanced towards the King, and said, If thou permit me, I will relate to
thee a storj that I happened to hear just before I found this humpback: and if it
be more wonderful than the events relating to him, wilt thou grant us our lives? —
The King answered, Tell thy story: — and he began thus: —
THE STORY TOLD BY THE SULTAN'S STEWARD.
I WAS last night with a party who celebrated a recitation of the Koran, for which
purpose they had assemWed the professors of religion and law ; and when these re-
citers had accomplished their task, the servants spread a repast comprising among
other dishes a zirbaja.' We approached, therefore, to eat of the zirbaja; but one
of the company drew back, and refused to partake of it: we conjured him; yet he
swore that he would not eat of it: and we pressed him again ; but he said, Press
me not; for I have suffered enough from eating of this dish. And when we had
finished, we said to him. By Allah, tell us the reason of thine abstaining from eating
of the zirbaja. He replied. Because I cannot eat of it unless I wash my hands forty
times with kali, and forty times with cyperus, and forty times with soap: altogether,
a hundred and twenty times. 'And upon this, the giver of the entertainment ordered
his servants, and they brought water and the other things which this man required :
80 he washed his hands as he had described, and advanced, though with disgust,
and, having seated himself, stretched forth his hand as one in fear, and put it into
the zirbaja, and began to eat, while we regarded him with the utmost wonder. His
hand trembled, and when he put it forth, we saw that his thumb was cut off, and he
ate with his four fingers: we therefore said to him. We conjure thee by Allah to tell
us how was thy thumb maimed: was it thus created by God, or hath some accident
happened to it? — my brothers, he answered, not only have I lost this thumb, but
also the thumb of the other hand ; and each of my feet is in like manner deprived
of the great toe: but see ye: — and, so saying, he uncovered the stump of the thumb
of his other hand, and we found it like the right ; and so also his feet, destitute of
the great toes. At the sight of this our wonder increased, and we said to him. We
are impatient to hear thy story, and thine account of the cause of the amputation
of thy thumbs and great toes, and the reason of thy washing thy hands a hundred
and twenty times. So he said: —
Know that my father was a great merchant, the chief of the merchants of the
city of Bagdad in the time of the Caliph Haroun Alrashid ; but he was ardently
addicted to the drinking of wine, and hearing the lute ; and when he died, he left
nothing. I buried him, and caused recitations of the Koran to be performed for
him, and, after I had mourned for him days and nights, I opened his shop, and
found that he had left in it but few goods, and that his debts were many : however,
I induced his creditors to wait, and calmed their minds, and betook myself to selling
and buying from week to week, and so paying the creditors.
Thus I continued to do for a considerable period, until I had discharged all the
debts and increased my capital ; and as I was sitting one day, I beheld a young lady,
than whom my eye had never beheld any more beautiful, decked with magnificent
ornaments and apparel, riding on a mule, with a slave before her and a slave behind
her, and she stopped the mule at the entrance of the market-street, and entered,
followed by a eunuch, who said to her, my mistress, enter, but inform no one who
thou art, lest thou open the fire of indignation upon us. The eunuch then further
cautioned her; and when she looked at the shops of the merchants, she found none
more handsome than mine ; so, when she arrived before me, with the eunuch follow-
ing her, she sat down upon the seat of my shop, and saluted me ; and I never heard
speech more charming than hers, or words more sweet. She then drew aside the
veil from her face, and I directed at her a glance which drew from me a sigh ; my
' A kind of spoon-meat.
134 THE STORY TOLD BY THE SULTAN'S STEWARD.
heart was captivated by her love, and I continued repeatedly gazing at her face.
She said to me, O youth, hast thou any handsome stuffs ? — O my mistress, I answered,
thy slave is a poor man ; but wait until the other merchants open their shops, and
then I will bring thee what thou desirest. So I conversed with her, drowned in the
sea of her love, and bewildered by my passion for her, until the merchants had
opened their shops, when I arose, and procured all that she wanted, and the price
of these stuffs was five thousand pieces of silver: and she handed them all to the
eunuch, who took them ; after which, they both went out from the market-street,
and the slaves brought to her the mule, and she mounted, without telling me whence
she was, and I was ashamed to mention the subject to her : consequently, I became
answerable for the price to the merchants, incurring a debt of five thousand pieces
of silver.
I went home intoxicated with her love, and they placed before me the supper, and
I ate a morsel ; but reflections upon her beauty and loveliness prevented my eating
more. I desired to sleep, but sleep came not to me ; and in this condition I remained
for a week. The merchants demanded of me their money ; but I prevailed upon
them to wait another week ; and after this week, the lady came again riding upon
a mule, and attended by a eunuch and two other slaves ; and, having saluted me,
said, my master, we have been tardy in bringing to thee the price of the stuffs:
bring now the money-changer, and receive it." So the money-changer came, and
the eunuch gave him the money, and I took it, and sat conversing with her until the
market was replenished, and the merchants opened their shops, when she said to
me, Procure for me such and such things. Accordingly, I procured for her what
she desired of the merchants, and she took the goods and departed without saying
anything to me respecting the price. When she had gone, therefore, I repented of
what I had done ; for I had procured for her what she demanded for the price of a
thousand pieces of gold ; and as soon as she had disappeared from my sight, I said
within myself, What kind of love is this ? She hath brought me five thousand pieces
of silver, and taken goods for a thousand pieces of gold ! — I feared that the result
would be my bankruptcy and the loss of the property of others, and said. The mer-
chants know none but me, and this woman is no other than a cheat, who hath im-
posed upon me by her beauty and loveliness: seeing me to be young, she hath
laughed at me, and I asked her not where was her residence.
I remained in a state of perplexity, and her absence was prolonged more than a
month. Meanwhile the merchants demanded of me their money ; and so pressed
me that I offered my possessions for sale, and was on the brink of ruin; but as I
was sitting absorbed in reflection, suddenly she alighted at the gate of the market-
street, and came in to me. As soon as I beheld her, my solicitude ceased, and I
forgot the trouble which I had suffered. She approached, and addressed me with
her agreeable conversation, and said, Produce the scales, and weigh thy money: —
and she gave me the price of the goods which she had taken, with a surplus ; after
which, she amused herself by talking with me, and I almost died with joy and
happiness. She then said to me. Hast thou a wife? I answered. No: for I am not
acquainted with any woman : — and wept. So she asked me. What causeth thee to
weep? And I answered, A thought that hath come into my mind: — and, taking
some pieces of gold, gave them to the eunuch, requesting him to grant me his media-
tion in the affair ; upon which he laughed, and said, She is in love Avith thee more
than thou art with her, and hath no want of the stuffs, but hath done this only
■ from her love of thee: propose to her, therefore, what thou wilt; for she will not
oppose thee in that which thou wilt say. Now she observed me giving the pieces
of gold to the eunuch, and returned, and resumed her seat; and I said to her. Show
favour to thy slave, and pardon me for that which I am about to say. I then
' A money-changer is very frequently employed to examine the money which a purchaser
offers ; and if it be old to weigh it. The money-changers are mostly Jews and Christians.
THE STORY TOLD BY THE SULTAN's STEWARD. 135
acquainted her with the feelings of my heart, and my declaration pleased her, and
she consented to my proposal, saying, This eunuch will come with my letter; and
do thou what he shall tell thee ; — and she arose, and departed.
I went to the merchants, and delivered to them- their money, and .all profited ex-
cepting myself; for when she left me I mourned for the interruption of our in-
tercourse, and I slept not during the whole of the next night: but a few days after,
her eunuch came to me, and I received him with honour, and asked him respecting
his mistress. He answered. She is sick : — and I said to him, Disclose to me her
history. He replied. The Lady Zobeide, the wife of Haroun Alrashid, brought up
this damsel, and she is one of our slaves : she had desired of her mistress to be allowed
the liberty of going and returning at pleasure, and the latter gave her permission:
she continued, therefore, to do so until she became a chief confidant : after which she
spoke of thee to her mistress, and begged that she would marry her to thee: but her
mistress said, I will not do it until I see this young man, and if he have a desire for
thee, I will marry thee to him. We therefore wish to introduce thee immediately
into the palace : and if thou enter without any one's having knowledge of thy pre-
sence, thou wilt succeed in accomplishing thy marriage with her : but if thy plot be
discovered, thy head will be struck off. What, then, sayest thou? — I answered,
Good: 1 will go with thee, and await the event that shall befall me there. — As soon,
then, as this next night shall have closed in, said the eunuch, repair to the mosque
which the lady Zobeide hath built on the bank of the Tigris, and there say thy prayers,
and pass the night. — Most willingly, I replied.
Accordingly, when the time of nightfall arrived, I went to the mosque, and said my
prayers there, and passed the night; and as soon as the morning began to dawn I
saw two eunuchs approaching in a small boat, conveying some empty chests, which
they brought into the mosque. One of them then departed, and the other remained ;
and I looked attentively at him, and lo, it was he who had been our intermediary :
and soon after, the damsel, my companion, came up to us. I rose to her when she
approached, and embraced her ; and she kissed me, and wept : and after we had
conversed together for a little while, she took me and placed me in a chest, and locked
it upon me. The slaves then brought a quantity of stuffs, and filled with them the
other chests, which they locked and conveyed, together with the chest in which I was
enclosed, to the boat, accompanied by the damsel ; and having embarked them, they
plied the oars, and proceeded to the palace of the honoured lady Zobeide. The in-
toxication of love now ceased in me, and reflection came in its place ; I repented
of what I had done, and prayed God to deliver me from my dangerous predicament.
Meanwhile, they arrived at the gate of the Caliph, where they landed and took out
all the chests, and conveyed them into the palace: but the chief of the doorkeepers,
who had been asleep when they arrived, was awoke by the sounds of their voices,
and cried out to the damsel, saying, The chests must be opened that I may see what
is in them: — and he arose, and placed his hand upon the chest in which I was
hidden. My reason abandoned me, my heart almost burst from my body, and my
limbs trembled ; but the damsel said, These are the chests of Ihe lady Zobeide, and
if thou open them and turn them over, she will be incensed against thee, and we
shall all perish. They contain nothing but clothes dyed of various colours, excepting
this chest upon which thou hast put thy hand, in which there are also some bottles
filled with the water of Zemzem,' and if any of the water run out upon the clothes it
will spoil their colours. Now I have advised thee, and it is for thee to decide : so do
what thou wilt. — When he heard therefore these words, he said to her. Take the
chests, and pass on; and the eunuchs immediately took them up, and, with the damsel,
conveyed them to the palace : but, in an instant, I heard a person crying out, and
saying, The Caliph ! the Caliph !
I was bereft of my reason, and seized with a colic from excessive fear; I almost
died, and my limbs were affected with a violent shaking. The Caliph cried out to
' The holy well of Mecca.
136 THE STORY TOLD BY THE SULTAN'S STEWARD.
the damsel, saying to her. What are these chests? She answered, my Lord (may
God exalt thy dominion !) these chests contain clothes of my mistress Zobeide. —
Open them, said the Caliph, that I may see the clothes. — When I heard this I felt
sure of my destruction. The damsel could not disobey his command; but she re-
plied, Prince of the Faithful, there is nothing in these chests but clothes of the lady
Zobeide, and she hath commanded me not to open them to any one. The Caliph,
however, said. The chests must be opened, all of them, that I may see their contents :
— immediately he called out to the eunuchs to bring them before him. I therefore felt
certain that I was on the point of destruction. They then brought before him chest
after chest, and opened each to him, and he examined the contents ; and when they
brought forward the chest in which I was enclosed, I bade adieu to life, and prepared
myself for death ; but as the eunuchs were about to open it, the damsel said, Prince
of the Faithful, verily this chest containeth things especially appertaining to women ;
and it is proper, therefore, that it should be opened before the lady Zobeide: — and
when the Caliph heard her words, he ordered the eunuchs to convey all the chests
into the interior of the palace. The damsel then hastened and ordered two eunuchs
to carry away the chest in which I was hidden, and they took it to an inner cham-
ber, and went their way: whereupon she quickly opened it, and made a sign to me
to come out : so I did as she desired, and entered a closet that was before me, and she
locked the door upon me and closed the chest: and when the eunuchs had brought
in all the chests, and had gone back, she opened the door of the closet, and said,
Thou hast nothing to fear! May God refresh thine eye! Come forth now, and go up
with me, that thou mayest have the happiness of kissing the ground before the lady
Zobeide.
I therefore went with her, and beheld twenty other female slaves, high-bosoraed
virgins, and among them was the lady Zobeide, who was scarcely able to walk from
the weight of the robes and ornaments with which she was decked. As she ap-
proached, the female slaves dispersed from around her, and I advanced to her, and
kissed the ground before her. She made. a sign to me to sit down, so I seated myself
before her ; and she began to ask me questions respecting my condition and lineage ;
to all of which I gave such answers that she was pleased, and said. By Allah, the
care which we have bestowed on the education of this damsel hath not been in vain.
She then said to me. Know that this damsel is esteemed by us as though she were
really our child, and she is a trust committed to thy care by God. Upon this, there-
fore, I again kissed the ground before her, well pleased to marry the damsel ; after
which she commanded me to remain with them ten days. Accordingly, I continued
with them during this period: but I knew nothing meanwhile of the damsel ; certain
of the maids only bringing me my dinner and supper, as my servants. After this,
however, the lady Zobeide asked permission of her husband, the Prince of the Faith-
ful, to marry her maid, and he granted her request, and ordered that ten thousand
pieces of gold should be given to her.
The lady Zobeide, therefore, sent for the Cadi and witnesses, and they wrote my
contract of marriage to the damsel ; and the maids then prepared sweetmeats and
exquisite dishes, and distributed them in all the apartments. Thus they continued
to do for a period of ten more days ; and after the twenty days had passed, they
conducted the damsel into the bath, preparatively to my being introduced to her as
her husband. They then brought to me a repast comprising a basin of zirbaja
sweetened with sugar, perfumed with rose-water infused with musk, and containing
different kinds of fricandoed fowls and a variety of other ingredients, such as aston-
ished the mind ; and, by Allah, when this repast was brought, I instantly com-
menced upon the zirbaja, and ate of it as much as satisfied me. and wiped my hand,
but forgot to wash it. I remained sitting until it became dark ; when the maids
lighted the candles, and the singing girls approached with the tambourines, and
they continued to display the bride, and to give presents of gold, until she had per-
ambulated the whole of the palace ; after which, they brought her to me, and din-
THE STORY TOLD BY THE SULTAN'S STEWARD. 137
robed her: and as soon as I was left alone with her, I threw my arms around her
neck, scarcely believing in our union : but as I did so, she perceived the smell of
the zirbaja from my hand, and immediately uttered a loud cry: whereupon the
female slaves ran in to her from every quarter.
I was violently agitated, not knowing what was the matter ; and the slaves who
had come in said to her. What hath happened to thee, our sister? — Take away
from me, she exclaimed to them, this madman, whom I imagined to be a man of
sense! — What indication of my insanity hath appeared to thee? I asked. Thou
madman, said she, wherefore hast thou eaten of the zirbaja, and not washed thy
hand? By Allah, I will not accept thee for thy want of sense, and thy disgusting
conduct! — And so saying, she took from her side a whip, and beat me with it upon
my back until I had become insensible from the number of the stripes. She then
said to the other maids, Take him to the magistrate of the city police, that he may
cut off his hand with which he ate the zirbaja without washing it afterwards. On
hearing this, I exclaimed, There is no strength nor power but in God ! Wilt thou
cut off my hand on account of my eating a zirbaja and neglecting to wash it? And
the maids who were present entreated her, saying to her, our sister, be not angry
with him for what he hath done this time. But she replied, By Allah, I must cut
off something from his extremities! And immediately she departed, and was absent
from me ten days : after which she came again, and said to me, thou black-faced I
am I not worthy of thee ? How didst thou dare to eat the zirbaja and not wash thy
hand ? And she called to the maids, who bound my hands behind me, and she took
a sharp razor, and cut off both my thumbs and both my great toes, as ye see, com-
panions ; and I swooned away. She then sprinkled upon my wounds some powder,
by means of which the blood was staunched ; and I said, I will not eat of a zirbaja
as long as I live unless I wash my hands forty times with kali, and forty times with
cyperus, and forty times with soap ; and she exacted of me an oath that I would not
eat of this dish unless I washed my hands as I have described to you. Therefore,
when this zirbaja was brought, my colour changed, and I said within myself, This
was the cause of the cutting off of my thumbs and great toes ; so, when ye com-
pelled me, I said, I must fulfil the oath which I have sworn.
I then said to him (continued the Sultan's steward). And what happened to thee
after that? He answered. When I had thus sworn to her, she was appeased, and I
was admitted into her favour ; and we lived happily together for a considerable time ;
after which she said, The people of the Caliph's palace know not that thou hast
resided here with me, and no strange man excepting thee hath entered it; nor didst
thou enter but through the assistance of the lady Zobeide. She then gave me fifty
thousand pieces of gold, and said to me. Take these pieces of gold, and go forth and
buy for us a spacious house. So I went forth and purchased a handsome and
spacious house, and removed thither all the riches that she possessed, and all that
she had treasured up, and her dresses and rarities. This was the cause of the
amputation of my thumbs and great toes. So we ate (said the Sultan's steward),
and departed ; and after this, the accident with the humpback happened to me ; this
is all my story ; and peace be on thee.
The King said. This is not more pleasant than the story of the humpback : nay,
the story of the humpback is more pleasant than this ; and ye must all of you be
crucified. The Jew, however, then came forward, and, having kissed the ground,
said, King of the age, I will relate to thee a story more wonderful than that of the
humpback: and the King said. Relate thy story. So he commenced thus : —
THE STORY TOLD BY THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN.
The most wonderful of the events that happened to me in my younger days was this :
-I was residing in Damascus, where I learnt and practised my art ; and while I was
138
THE STORY TOLD BY THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN.
Portrait 01 the Je
thus occupied, one day there came to me a mamlouk from the house of the governor of
the city ; so I went forth with him, and accompanied him to the abode of the governor.
I entered, and beheld at the upper end of the saloon, a sofa of alabaster overlaid
with plates of gold, upon which was reclining a sick man: he was young; and a
person more comely had not been seen in his age. Seating myself at his head, I
ejaculated a prayer for his restoration ; and he made a sign to me with his eye. I
then said to him, my master, stretch forth to me thy hand: — whereupon he put
forth to me his left hand ; and I was surprised at this, and said within myself, What
self-conceit! I felt his pulse, however, and wrote a prescription for him, and con-
tinued to visit him for a period of ten days, until he recovered his strength ; when
he entered the bath, and washed himself, and came forth : and the governor con-
ferred upon me a handsome dress of honour, and appointed me superintendant of the
hospital of Damascus. But when I went with him into the bath, which they had
cleared of all other visitors for us alone, and the servants had brought the clothes,
and taken away those which he had pulled off within, I perceived that his right
hand had been cruelly amputated ; at the sight of which I wondered, and grieved
for him ; and looking at his skin, I observed upon him marks of beating with sticks,
which caused me to wonder more. The young man then turned towards me, and
said, doctor of the age, wonder not at my case ; for I will relate to thee my story
when we have gone out from the bath : — and when we had gone forth, and arrived
at the house, and had eaten some food, and rested, he said to me, Ilast thou a desire to
divert thyself in the supper-room? I answered. Yes: — and immediately he ordered
the slaves to take up thither the furniture, and to roast a Iamb and bring us some
fruit. So the slaves did as he commanded them : they brought the fruit, and when
THE STORY TOLD BY THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN. 139
we had eaten, I said to him, Relate to me thy story: — and he replied, docter of
the age, listen to the relation of the events which have befallen me.
Know that I am of the children of Mosul. My paternal grandfather died leaving
ten male children, one of whom was my father ; he was the eldest of them ; and
they all grew up and married ; and my father was blest with me ; but none of his
nine brothers was blessed with children. So I grew up among my uncles, who de-
lighted in me exceedingly ; and when I had attained to manhood, I was one day
with my father in the chief mosque of Mosul. The day was Friday ; and we per-
formed the congregational prayers ; and all the people went out, excepting my father
and my uncles, who sat conversing together respecting the wonders of various
countries, until they mentioned Egypt ; when one of my uncles said, The travellers
assert that there is not on the face of the earth a more agreeable country than
Egypt with its Nile : — and my father added, He who hath not seen Cairo, hath not
seen the world: its soil is gold ; its Nile is a wonder; its women are like the black-
eyed virgins of Paradise; its houses are palaces ; and its air is temperate ; its odour
surpassing that of aloes-wood, and cheering the heart: and how can Cairo be other-
wise when it is the metropolis of the world ? Did ye see its gardens in the evening
(he continued), with the shade obliquely extending over them, ye would behold a
wonder, and yield with ecstasy to their attractions.
When I heard these descriptions of Egypt, my mind became wholly engaged by
reflections upon that country ; and after they had departed to their homes, I passed
the night sleepless from my excessive longing towards it, and neither food nor drink
was pleasant to me. A few days after, my uncles prepared to journey thither, and
I wept before my father that I might go with them, so that he prepared a stock of
merchandise for me, and I departed in their company ; but he said to them. Suffer
him not to enter Egypt, but leave him at Damascus, that he may there sell his
merchandise.
I took leave of my father, and we set forth from Mosul, and continued our journey
until we arrived at Aleppo, where we remained some days ; after which we proceeded
thence until we came to Damascus; and we beheld it to be a city with trees and
rivers and fruits and birds, as though it were a paradise, containing fruits of every
kind. We took lodgings in one of the Khans, and my uncles remained there until
they had sold and bought ; and they also sold my merchandise, gaining, for every
piece of silver, five, so that I rejoiced at my profit. My uncles then left me, and re-
paired to Egypt, and I remained, and took up my abode in a handsome mansion,
euch as the tongue cannot describe; the monthly rent of which was two pieces of
gold.
Here I indulged myself with eating and drinking, squandering away the money
that was in my possession ; and as I was sitting one day at the door of the mansion
a damsel approached me, attired in clothing of the richest description, such as I had
never seen surpassed in costliness, and I invited her to come in ; whereupon without
hesitation she entered ; and I was delighted at her compliance and closed the door
upon us both. She then uncovered her face, and took off her izar, and I found her
to be so surprisingly beautiful that love for her took possession of my heart: so I
went and brought a repast consisting of the most delicious viands and fruit, and
everything else that was requisite for her entertainment, and we ate and sported
together; after which we drank till we were intoxicated, and fell asleep, and so we
remained until the morning, when I handed her ten pieces of gold ; but she swore
that she would not accept them from me, and said. Expect me again, my beloved,
after three days : at the hour of sunset I will be with thee : and do thou prepare
for us, with these pieces of gold, a repast similar to this which we have just enjoyed.
She then gave me ten pieces of gold, and took leave of me, and departed, taking my
reason with her. And after the three days had expired, she came again, decked
with embroidered stuffs and ornaments and other attire, more magnificent tlian those
which she wore on the former occasion. I had prepared for her what was required
140 THE STORY TOLD BY THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN.
previously to her arrival ; so we now ate and drank and fell asleep as before ; and
in the morning she gave me again ten pieces of gold, promising to return to me after
three more days. I therefore made ready what was requisite, and after the three
days, she came attired in a dress still more magnificent than the first and second,
and said to me, my master, am I beautiful ?— Yea, verily, 1 answered. — Wilt thou
give me leave, she rejoined, to bring with me a damsel more beautiful than myself,
and younger than I, that she may sport with us, and we may make merry with her?
For she hath requested that she may accompany me, and pass the night in frolicking
with us. And so saying, she gave me twenty pieces of gold, desiring me to prepare
a more plentiful repast, on account of the lady who was to come with her ; after which
she bade me adieu, and departed.
Accordingly, on the fourth day, T procured what was requisite, as usual, and si)on
after sunset she came, accompanied by a female wrapped in an izar, and they entered,
and seated themselves. I was rejoiced, and I lighted the candles, and welcomed
them with joy and exultation. They then took off their outer garments, and when
the new damsel uncovered her face, I perceived that she was like the full moon: I
had never beheld a person more beautiful. I arose immediately, and placed before
them the food and drink, and we ate and drank, while I continued caressing the
new damsel, and filling the wine-cup for her, and drinking with her; but the first
lady was afi"ected with a secret jealousy. By Allah, she said, verily this girl is
beautiful? Is she not more charming than I? — Yea, indeed, I answered. — Soon
after this, I fell asleep, and when I awoke in the morning, I found my hand defiled
with blood, and, opening my eyes, perceived that the sun had risen; so I attempted
to rouse the damsel, my new companion, whereupon her head rolled from her body.
The other damsel was gone, and I concluded, therefore, that she had done this from
her jealousy ; and after reflecting a while, I arose, and took off my clothes, and dug
a hole in the house, in which I deposited the murdered damsel, afterwards covering
her remains with earth, and replacing the marble pavement as it was before. I then
dressed myself again, and taking the remainder of my money, went forth, and re-
paired to the owner of the house, and paid him a year's rent, saying to him, I am
about to journey to my uncles, in Egypt.
So I departed to Egypt, where I met with my uncles, and they were rejoiced to see
me. I found that they had concluded the sale of their merchandise, and they said
to me, What is the cause of thy coming? I answered, I had a longing desire to be
with you, and feared that my money would not suffice me. — For a year I remained
w^ith them, enjoying the pleasures of Egypt and its Nile ; and I dipped my hand
into the residue of my money, and expended it prodigally in eating and drinking
until the time approached of my uncles' departure, when I fled from them : so they
said. Probably he hath gone before us and returned to Damascus: — and they de-
parted. I then came forth from my concealment, and remained in Cairo three
years, squandering away my money until scarcely any of it remained ; bnt mean-
while I sent every year the rent of the mansion at Damascus to its owner: and after
the three years my heart became contracted, for nothing remained in my possession
but the rent for the year.
I therefore journeyed back to Damascus, and alighted at the house. The owner
Avas rejoiced to see me, and I entered it, and cleansed it of the blood of the murdered
damsel, and removing a cushion, I found, beneath this, the necklace that she had
worn that night. I took it up and examined it, and wept a while. After this I
remained in the house two days, and on the third day I entered the bath, and
changed my clothes. I now had no money left ; and I went one day to the market,
where (the Devil suggesting it to me, in order to accomplish the purpose of destiny)
I handed the necklace of jewels to a broker ; and he rose to me, and seated me by
his side : then having waited until the market was replenished, he took it and an-
nounced it for sale secretly, without my knowledge. The price bidden for it
amounted to two thousand pieces of gold ; but he came to me and said, This neck-
THE STORY TOLD BY THE JEWISH PHYSICIAN. 141
lace is of brass, of the counterfeit manufacture of the Franks, and its price hath
amounted to a thousand pieces of silver. I answered him, Yes: we had made it for
a woman, merely to laugh at her, and my wife has inherited it, and we desire to sell
it: go, therefore, and receive the thousand pieces of silver. Now when the broker
heard this, he perceived that the affair was suspicious, and went and gave the neck-
lace to the chief of the market, who took it to the judge, and said to him, This neck-
lace was stolen from me, and we have found the thief, clad in the dress of the sons
of the merchants. Ajid before I knew what had happened, the officers had sur-
rounded me, and they took me to the judge, who questioned me respecting the neck-
lace. I told him, therefore, the same story that I had told to the broker ; but he
laughed, and said. This is not the truth : — and instantly his people stripped me of
my outer clothing, and beat me with sticks all over my body, until through the
torture that I suffered from the blows, I said, I stole it ; reflecting that it was better
I should say I stole it, than confess that its owner was murdered in my abode ; for
then they would kill me to avenge her: and as soon as I had said so, they cut off
my hand, and scalded the stump with boiling oil, and I swooned away. They then
gave me to drink some wine, by swallowing which I recovered my senses ; and 1
took my amputated hand, and returned to the mansion ; but its owner said to me,
Since this hath happened to thee, leave the house, and look for another abode ; for
thou art accused of an unlawful act. — my master, I replied, give me two or three
days' delay that I may seek for a lodging: — and he assented to this, and departed
and left me. So I remained alone, and sat weeping, and saying, How can I return
to my family with my hand cut off. He who cut it off knoweth not that I am inno-
cent: perhaps, then, God will bring about some event for my relief.
I sat weeping violently ; and when the owner of the house had departed from me,
excessive grief overcame me, and I was sick for two days ; and on the third day,
suddenly the owner of the house came to me, with some officers of the police, and
the chief of the market, and accused me again of stealing the necklace. So I went
out to them and said. What is the news? — whereupon, without granting me a mo-
ment's delay, they bound my arms behind me, and put a chain round my neck,
saying to me. The necklace which was in thy possession hath proved to be the pro-
perty of the governor of Damascus, its Vizier and its Ruler: it hath been lost from
the governor's house for a period of three years, and with it was his daughter.
When I heard these words from them, my limbs trembled, and I said within myself.
They will kill me! my death is inevitable! By Allah, I must relate my story to
the governor ; and if he please he will kill me, or if he please he will pardon me. —
And when we arrived at the governor's abode, and they had placed me before him,
and he beheld me, he said. Is this he who stole the necklace and went out to sell it?
Verily ye have cut off his hand wrongfully.— He then ordered that the chief of the
market should be imprisoned, and said to him. Give to this person the compensatory
fine for his hand, or I will hang thee and seize all thy property. And he called out
to his attendants, who took him and dragged him away.
1 was now left with the governor alone, after they had, by his permission, loosed
the chain from my neck, and untied the cords which bound my arms ; and the
governor, looking towards me, said to me, my son, tell me thy story and speak
truth. How did this necklace come into thy possession ? — So I replied, my lord,
I will tell thee the truth: — and I related to him all that had happened to me with
the first damsel, and how she had brought to me the second, and murdered her from
jealousy: on hearing which, he shook his head and covered his face with his hand-
kerchief, and wept. Then looking towards me, he said. Know, my son, that the
elder damsel was my daughter: I kept her closely: and when she had attained a fit
age for marriage, I sent her to the son of her uncle in Cairo ; but he died, and she
returned to me, having learnt habits of profligacy from the inhabitants of that city;
80 she visited thee four times ; and on the fourth oci-asion she brought to thee her
younger sister. They were sisters by the same mother, and much attached tr oach
142 ■ THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
other ; and when the event which thou hast related occurred to the eWer, she im-
parted her secret to her sister, who asked my permission to go out with her ; after
which the elder returned alone : and when I questioned her respecting her sister, I
found her weeping for her, and she answered, I know no tidings of her; — but she
afterwards informed her mother secretly of the murder which she had committed ;
and her mother privately related the affair to me ; and she continued to weep for her
incessantly, saying. By Allah, I will not cease to weep for her until I die. Thy
account, my son, is true ; for I knew the affair before thou toldest it me. See
then, my son, what hath happened : and now I request of thee that thou wilt not
oppose me in that which I am about to say ; and it is this : — I desire to marry thee
to my youngest daughter: for she is not of the same mother as they were: she is a
virgin, and I will receive from thee no dowry, but will assign to you both an allow-
ance ; and thou shalt be to me as an own son. — I replied, Let it be as thou desirest,
my master. How could I expect to attain unto such happiness? — The governor
then sent immediately a courier to bring the property which my father had left me
(for he had died since my departure from him), and now I am living in the utmost
affluence.
I wondered, said the Jew, at his history ; and after I had remained with him three
days, he gave me a large sum of money; and I left him to set forth on a journey;
and, arriving in this your country, my residence here pleased me, and I experienced
this which hath happened to me with the humpback.
The King, when he had heard this story, said, This is not more wonderful than
the story of the humpback, and ye must all of you be hanged, and especially the
tailor, who is the source of all the mischief. But he afterwards added, tailor, if
thou tell me a story more wonderful than that of the humpback, I will forgive you
your offences. So the tailor advanced, and said : —
THE STOKY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
Know, King of the age, that what hath happened to me is more wonderful than
the events which have happened to all the others. Before I met the humpback, I
was, early in the morning, at an entertainment given to certain tradesmen of my
acquaintance, consisting of tailors and linen-drapers and carpenters and others ;
and when the sun had risen, the repast was brought for us to eat ; and lo, the master
of the house came in to us, accompanied by a strange and handsome young man, of
the inhabitants of Bagdad. He was attired in clothes of the handsomest description,
and waa a most comely person, excepting that he was lame ; and as soon as he had
entered and saluted us, we rose to him ; but when he was about to seat himself, he
observed among us a man who was a barber, whereupon he refused to sit down, and
desired to depart from us. We and the master of the house, however, prevented
him, and urged him to seat himself; and the host conjured him, saying What is the
reason of thy entering and then immediately departing? — By Allah, O my master,
replied he, offer me no opposition ; for the cause of my departure is this barber, who
is sitting with you. And when the host heard this, he was exceedingly surprised,
and said, How is it that the heart of this young man, who is from Bagdad, is troubled
by the presence of this barber? We then looked towards him and said. Relate to us
the cause of thy displeasure against this barber ; and the young man replied,
company, a surprising adventure happened to me with this barber in Bagdad, my
city, and he was the cause of my lameness and of the breaking of my leg ; and I
have sworn that I will not sit in any place where he is present, nor dwell in any
town where he resides: I quitted Bagdad and took up my abode in this city, and I
will not pass the next night without departing from it. — Upon this, we said to him,
We conjure thee by Allah to relate to us thy adventure with him : — and the counte-
nance of the barber turned pale when he heard us make this request. The young
man then said : —
THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
143
young Man sittin? (
Know, good people, that my father was one of the chief merchants of Bagdad;
and God, whose name be exalted, blessed him with no son but myself; and when I
grew up, and had attained to manhood, my father was admitted to the mercy of God,
leaving me wealth, and servants and other dependents ; whereupon I began to attire
myself in clothes of the hand-
somest description, and to feed
upon the most delicious meats.
Now God, whose perfection be
extolled, made me to be a hater
of women ; and so I continued,
until, one day, I was walking
through the streets of Bagdad,
when a party of them stopped
my way ; I therefore fled from
them, and, entering a by-street
which was not a thoroughfare,
I reclined upon a stone bench at
its further extremity. Here J
had been seated but a short timo
when, lo, a window opposite the
place where I sat was opened,
and there looked out from it a
damsel like the full moon, such
as I had never in my life beheld.
She had some flowers which she
was watering, beneath the win-
dow ; and she looked to the right
and left and then shut the window, and disappeared from before me. Fire had been
shot into my heart, and my mind was absorbed by her ; my hatred of women was
turned into love, and I continued sitting in the same place, until sunset, in a state
of distraction from the violence of my passion, when lo, the Cadi of the city came
riding along, with slaves before him and servants behind him, and alighted, and
entered the house from which the damsel had looked out: so I knew that he must
be her father.
I then returned to my house, sorrowful ; and fell upon my bed, full of anxious
thoughts ; and my female slaves came in to me, and seated themselves around me,
not knowing what was the matter with me: and I acquainted them not with my
case, nor returned any answers to their questions: and my disorder increased. The
neighbours, therefore, came to cheer me with their visits ; and among those who
visited me was an old woman, who, as soon as she saw me, discovered my state ;
whereupon she seated herself at my head, and addressing me in a kind manner,
said, my son, tell me what hath happened to thee? So I related to her my story,
and she said, O my son, this is the daughter of the Cadi of Bagdad, and she is kept
in close confinement: the place where thou sawest her is her apartment, and her
father occupies a large saloon below, leaving her alone ; and often do I visit her;
thou canst obtain an interview with her only through me : so brace up thy nerves.
When I heard, therefore, what she said, I took courage, and fortified my heart ; and
my family rejoiced that day. I rose up firm in limb, and hoping for complete restora-
tion ; and the old woman departed ; but she returned with her countenance changed,
and said, my son, ask not what she did when I told her of thy case ; for she said,
If thou abstain not, ill-omened old woman, from this discourse, I will treat thee
as thou deservest: — but I must go to her a second time.
On hearing this, my disorder increased : after some days, however, the old woman
came again, and said, my son, I desire of thee a reward for good tidings. My soul
144 THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
returned to my body at these words, and I replied, Thou shalt receive from me
everything that thou canst wish. She then said, I went yesterday to the damsel,
and when she beheld me with broken heart and weeping eye, she said to me, my
aunt, wherefore do I see thee with contracted heart? — and when she had thus said
I wept and answered, my daughter and mistress, I came to thee yesterday from
visiting a youth who loveth thee, and he is at the point of death on thy account: —
and, her heart being moved with compassion, she asked, Who is this youth of whom
thou speakest? I answered. He is my son, and the child that is dear to my soul:
he saw thee at the window some days ago, while thou wast watering thy flowers ;
and when he beheld thy face, he became distracted with love for thee : I informed
him of the conversation that I had with thee the first time ; upon which his disorder
increased, and he took to his pillow : he is now dying, and there is no doubt of his
fate. — And upon this, her countenance became pale, and she said. Is this all on my
account? — Yea, by Allah, I answered ; and what dost thou order me to do? — Go to
him, said she ; convey to him my salutation, and tell him that my love is greater
than his ; and on Friday next, before the congregational prayers, let him come
hither: I will give orders to open the door to him, and to bring him up to me, and
I will have a short interview with him, and he shall return before my father comes
back from the prayers.
When I hA.rd these M'ords of the old woman the anguish which I had suflPered
ceased ; my heart was set at rest, and I gave her the suit of clothes which I
was then wearing, and she departed, saying to me. Cheer up thy heart. I re-
plied, I have no longer any pain. The people of my house, and my friends,
communicated one to another the good news of my restoration to health, and I
remained thus until the Friday, when the old woman came in to me, and asked
me respecting my state: so I informed her that I was happy and well. I then
dressed and perfumed myself, and sat waiting for the people to go to prayers, that
I might repair to the damsel ; hut the old woman said to me, Thou hast yet more
than ample time, and if thou go to the bath and shave, especially for the sake of ob-
literating the traces of thy disorder, it will be more becoming. It is a judicious
piece of advice, replied I ; but I will shave my head first, and then go into the
bath.
So I sent for a barber to shave my head, saying to the boy. Go to the market, and
bring me a barber, one who is a man of sense, little inclined to impertinence, that
he may not make my head ache by his chattering. And the boy went, and brought
this sheikh, who, on entering, saluted me: and when I had returned his salutation,
he said to me. May God dispel thy grief and thine anxiety, and misfortunes and
sorrows! I responded. May God accept thy prayer! lie then said. Be cheerful,
my master; for health hath returned to thee. Dost thou desire to be shaved or to
be bled? — for it hath been handed down, on the authority of Ibn Abl)as, that the
Prophet said. Whoso shorteneth his hair on Friday, God will avert from him seventy
diseases ; — and it hath been handed down also, on the same authority, that the
Prophet said. Whoso is cupped on Friday will not be secure from the loss of sight
and from frequent disease. Abstain, said I, from this useless discourse, and come
immediately, shave my head, for I am weak. And he arose and, stretching forth
his hand, took out a handkerchief and opened it ; and lo, there was in it an astrolabe,
consisting of seven plates: and he took it, and went into the middle of the court,
where he raised his head towards the sun, and looked for a considerable time ; after
which he said to me, Know that there have passed, of this our day, — which is
Friday, and which is the tenth of the month Saffar of the year 263' of the flight of
the Prophet. — upon whom be the most excellent of blessings and peace ! — and the
ascendant star of which, according to the required rules of the science of computa-
tion, is the planet Mars, — seven degrees and six minutes; and it happeneth that
November 2ncl,
THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR. 145
Mercury hath come in conjunction with that planet; and this indicateth that the
shaving of hair is now a most excellent operation ; and it hath indicated to me, also,
that thou desirest to confer a benefit upon a person : and fortunate is he ! — but after
that, there is an announcement that presenteth itself to me respecting a matter
which I will not mention to thee.
By Allah, I exclaimed, thou hast wearied me, and dissipated my mind, and
augured against me, when I required thee only to shave my head : arise, then, and
shave it; and prolong not thy discourse to me. But, he replied, By Allah, if thou
knewest the truth of the case, thou wouldst demand of me a further explication ;
and I counsel thee to do this day as I direct thee, according to the calculations de-
duced from the stars: it is thy duty to praise God and not to oppose me ; for I am
one who giveth thee good advice, and who regardeth thee with compassion : I would
that I were in thy service for a whole year, that thou mightest do me justice ; and I
desire not any pay from thee for so doing. — When I heard this, I said to him, Verily
thou art killing me this day, and there is no escape for me. — my master, he re-
plied, I am he whom the people call The Silent, on account of the paucity of my
speech, by which I am distinguished above my brothers: for my eldest brother is
named Bacbouc ; and the second Heddar ; and the third, Bacbac ; and the fourth is
named Alcouz ; and the fifth, Anaschar ; and the sixth is named Shacabac ; and the
seventh brother is named The Silent, and he is myself.
Now when this barber thus overwhelmed me with his talk, I felt as if my gall-
bladder had burst, and said to the boy, Give him a quarter of a piece of gold, and
let him depart from me for the sake of Allah ; for I have no need to shave my head.
But the barber, on hearing what I said to the boy, exclaimed, What is this that thou
hast said, my lord? By Allah, T will accept from thee no pay unless I serve thee;
and serve thee I must: for to do so is incumbent on me, and to perform what thou
requirest; and I care not if I receive from thee no money. If thou knowest not
my worth, I know thine : and thy father — may Allah have mercy upon him ! — treated
us with beneficence ; for he was a man of generosity. By Allah, thy father sent
for me one day, like this blessed day, and when I went to him he had a number of
his friends with him, and he said to me, Take some blood from me. So I took the
astrolabe, and observed the altitude for him, and found the ascendant of the hour
to be of evil omen, and that the letting of blood would be attended with trouble : I
therefore acquainted him with this, and he conformed to my wish, and waited until
the arrival of the approved hour, when I took the blood from him. He did not op-
pose me ; but, on the contrary, thanked me ; and in like manner all the company
present thanked me ; and thy father gave me a hundred pieces of gold for services
similar to the letting of blood. — May God, said I, show no mercy to my father for
knowing such a man as thou ! — and the barber laughed, and exclaimed. There is no
Deity but God ! Mahomet is God's Apostle ! Extolled be the perfection of him who
changeth others, but is not changed I I did not imagine thee to be otherwise than
a man of sense; but thou hast talked nonsense in consequence of thine illness. God
hath mentioned, in his Excellent Book, those who restrain their anger, and who for-
give men : — but thou art excused in every case. I am unacquainted, however, with
the cause of thy haste ; and thou knowest that thy father used to do nothino- without
consulting me: and it hath been said, that the person to whom one applies for ad-
vice should be trusted ; now thou wilt find no one better acquainted with the alfaira
of the world than myself, and I am standing on my feet to serve thee. I am not
displeased with thee, and how then art thou displeased with me ? But I will have
patience with thee on account of the fixvours which I have received from thy father.
— By Allah, said I, thou hast wearied me with thy discourse, and overcome me with
thy speech ! I desire that thou shave my head and depart from me.
I gave vent to my rage ; and would have arisen, even if he had wetted my head,
•when he said, I knew that displeasure with me had overcome thee; but I will not
be angry with thee, for thy sense is weak, and thou art a youth : a short time a^o I
10
146 THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
used to carry thee on my shoulder, and take thee to the school. — Upon this, I said
to him, my brother, I conjure thee by the requisitions of Allah, depart from me
that I may perform my business, and go thou thy way. Then I rent my clothes,
and when he saw me do this, he took the razor, and sharpened it, and continued to
do so until my soul almost parted from my body ; then advancing to my head, he
shaved a small portion of it; after which he raised his hand, and said, my lord,
haste is from the Devil ; I do not imagine that thou knowest my condition in society;
for my hand lighteth upon the heads of kings and emirs and viziers and sages and
learned men. — Leave, said I, that which doth not concern thee! Thou hast con-
tracted my heart, and troubled my mind. — I fancy that thou art in haste, he rejoined.
— I replied, Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! — Proceed slowly, said he : for verily haste is from the
Devil, and it giveth occasion to repentance and disappointment ; and he upon whom
be blessing and peace hath said. The best of affairs is that which is commenced with
deliberation: — and, by Allah, I am in doubt as to thine affair: I wish, therefore,
that thou wouldst make known to me what thou art hasting to do: and may it be
good ; for I fear it is otherwise !
There now remained to the appointed time three hours : and he threw the razor
from his hand in anger, and taking the astrolabe, went again to observe the sun ;
then after he had waited a long time, he returned, saying. There remain, to the hour
of prayer, three hours, neither more nor less. — For the sake of Allah, said I, be
silent; for thou hast crumbled my liver! — and, thereupon, he took the razor, and
sharpened it as he had done the first time, and shaved another portion of my head.
Then stopping again, he said, I am in anxiety on account of thy hurry: if thou
wouldst acquaint me with the cause of it, it would be better for thee ; for thou
knowest that thy father used to do nothing without consulting me.
I perceived now that I could not avoid his importunity, and said within myself.
The time of prayer is almost come, and I desire to go before the people come out
from the service ; if I delay a little longer, I know not how to gain admission to
her. I therefore said to him. Be quick, and cease from this chattering and imperti-
nence: for I desire to repair to an entertainment with my friends. But when he
heard the mention of the entertainment, he exclaimed, The day is a blessed day for
me I I yesterday conjured a party of my intimate friends to come and feast with
me, and forgot to prepare for them anything to eat; and now I have remembered it.
Alas for the disgrace that I shall experience from them ! — So I said to him. Be in
no anxiety on this account, since thou hast been told that I am going to-day to an
entertainment; for all the food and drink that is in my house shall be thine if thou
use expedition in my affair, and quickly finish shaving my head. May God recom-
pense thee with every blessing ! he replied : describe to me what thou hast for my
guests, that I may know it. — I have, said I, five dishes of meat, and ten fowls frican-
doed, and a roasted lamb. — Cause them to be brought before me, he said, that I may
see them. So I had them brought to him, and he exclaimed. Divinely art thou
gifted ! How generous is thy soul ! But the incense and perfumes are wanting. —
I brought him, therefore, a box containing perfumes and aloes-wood and ambergris
and musk, worth fifty pieces of gold. The time had now become contracted, like
my own heart; so I said to him. Receive this, and shave the whole of my head, by
the existence of Mahomet, God favour and preserve him ! But he replied. By Allah,
I will not take it until I see all that it contains. I therefore ordered the boy, and
he opened the box to him ; whereupon the barber threw down the astrolabe from
his hand, and, seating himself upon the ground, turned over the perfumes and in-
cense and aloes-wood in the box until my soul almost quitted my body.
He then advanced, and took the razor, and shaved another small portion of my
head, after which he said. By Allah, my son, I know not whether I should <hank
thee or thank thy father; for my entertainment to-day is entirely derived from thy
bounty and kindness, and I have no one among my visitors deserving of it; for my
guests are Zeitoun the bath-keeper, and Salia tlic wheat-seller, and Oukal the bean
The Tailor and the Barber. (Page 146.)
147
THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR. 149
seller, and Akrasha the grocer, and Homeid the dustman, and Akarish the milk-
seller, and each of these has a peculiar dance which he performeth, and peculiar
verses which he reciteth ; and the best of their qualities is, that they are like thy
servant the mamlouk who is before thee ; and I, thy slave, know neither loquacity
nor impertinence. As to the bath-keeper, he saith. If I go not to the feast, it cometh
to my house! — and as to the dustman, he is witty and full of frolic: often doth he
dance, and say. News with my wife is not kept in a chest ! — and each of my friends
hath jests that another hath not: but the description is not like the actual observa-
tion. If thou choose, therefore, to come to us, it will be moi-e pleasant both to thee
and to us : relinquish, then, thy visit to thy friends of whom thou hast told us that
thou desirest to go to them : for the traces of disease are yet upon thee, and probably
thou art going to a people of many words, who will talk of that which coneerneth
them not ; or probably there will be among them one impertinent person ; and thy
soul is already disquieted by disease. — I replied, If it be the will of God, that shall
be on some other day : — but he said. It will be more proper that thou first join my
party of friends, that thou mayest enjoy their conviviality, and delight thyself with
their salt.
Upon this I laughed from a heart laden with anger, and said to him. Do what I
require, that I may go in the care of God, whose name be exalted, and do thou go
to thy friends, for they are waiting thine arrival. He replied, I desire nothing but
to introduce thee into the society of these people ; for verily they are of the sons of
that class among which is no impertinent person ; and if thou didst but behold them
once, thou wouldst leave all thine own companions. — May God, said I, give thee
abundant joy with them, and I must bring them together here some day. If that
be thy wish, he rejoined, and thou wilt first attend the entertainment of thy friends
this day, wait until I take this present with which thou hast honoured me and place
it before my friends, that they may eat and drink without waiting for me, and then
I will return to thee, and go with thee to thy companions ; for there is no false deli-
cacy between me and my companions that should prevent my leaving them : so I
will return to thee quickly, and repair with thee whithersoever thou goest. — Upon
this I exclaimed. There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great !
Go thou to thy companions, and delight thy heart with them, and leave me to repair
to mine, and to remain with them this day, for they are waiting my arrival. — But
he said, I will not leave thee to go alone. — The place to which I am going, said I,
none can enter except myself. — I suppose then, he rejoined, that thou hast an ap-
pointment to-day with some female : otherwise, thou wouldst take me with thee ;
for I am more deserving than all other men, and will assist thee to attain what thou
desirest. I fear that thou art going to visit some strange woman, and that thy life
will be lost ; for in this city of Bagdad no one can do anything of this kind, espe-
cially on such a day as this : seeing that the Judge of Bagdad is a terrible, sharp
sword. — Wo to thee, wicked old man! I exclaimed, what are these words with
which thou addressest me? — And upon this, he kept a long silence.
The time of the prayer was near, when he had finished shaving my head ; so I
said to him. Go with this food and drink to thy friends, and I will wait for thee until
thou return, and thou shalt accompany me: — and I continued my endeavours to de-
ceive him, that he might go away ; but he said to me, Verily, thou art deceiving me,
and wilt thou go alone, and precipitate thyself into a calamity from which there
will be no escape for thee: by Allah ! by Allah ! then, quit not this spot until I
return to thee and accompany thee, that I may know what will be the result of thine
afi'air. — I replied. Well: prolong not thine absence from me. And he took the food
and drink and other things which I had given him, but intrusted them to a porter
to convey them to his abode, and concealed himself in one of the by-streets. I then
immediately arose. The mueddins on the minarets had chanted the Selam of Friday ;
und 1 put, on my clothes, and went forth alone, and, arriving at the by-street, stopped
at the door of the house where I had seen the damsel : and lo, the barber was behind
150
THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
me, and I knew it not. I found the door open, and entered ; and immediately the
master of the house returned from the prayers, and entered the saloon and closed
the door ; and I said^vithin myself, How did this devil discover me?
Now it happened just at this time, for the fulfilment of God's purpose to rend the
veil of protection before me, that a female slave belonging to the master of the
house committed some offence, in consequence of which he beat her, and she cried
out; whereupon a male slave came in to him to liberate her; but he beat him also,
and he likewise cried out; and the
barber concluded that he was beat-
ing me ; so he cried, and rent his
clothes, and sprinkled dust upon his
head, shrieking, and calling for as-
sistance. He was surrounded by
people, and said to them, My master
hath been killed in the house of the
Cadi ! Then running to my house,
crying out all the while, and with a
crowd behind him, he gave the news
to my family ; and I knew not what
he had done when they approached,
crying, Alas for our master! — The
barber all the while being before
them, with his clothes rent, and a
number of the people of the city with
them. They continued shrieking,
the barber shrieking at their head,
and all of them exclaiming, Alas
for our slain ! — Thus they advanced
to the house in which I was con-
fined ; and when the Cadi heard of
this occurrence, the event troubled
him, and he arose, and opened the
door, and seeing a great crowd, he was confounded, and said, people, what is the
news? The servants replied. Thou hast killed our master. — people, rejoined he,
what hath your master done unto me that I should kill him ; and wherefoie do I see
this barber before you ? — Thou hast just now beaten him with sticks, said the barber ;
and I heard his cries. — What hath he done that I should kill him? repeated the
Cadi. And whence, he added, came he ; and whither would he go ? — Be not an old
man of malevolence, exclaimed the barber : for I know the story, and the reason of
his entering thy house, and the truth of the whole affair : thy daughter is in love
with him, and he is in love with her; and thou hast discovered that he had entered
thy house, and hast ordered thy young men, and they have beaten him. By Allah,
none shall decide between us and thee excepting the Caliph ; or thou shalt bring
forth to us our master, that his family may take him ; and oblige me not to enter
and take him forth from you : haste then thyself to produce him.
Upon this, the Cadi was withheld from speaking, and became utterly abashed
before the people ; but presently he said to the barber. If thou speak truth, enter
thyself, and bring him forth. So the barber advanced, and entered the house ; and
when I saw him do so, I sought for a way to escape ; but I found no place of refuge
excepting a large chest which I observed in the same apartment in which I then
was : I therefore entered this, and shut down the lid, and held in my breath. Imme-
diately after, the barber ran into the saloon, and, without looking in any other
direction than that in which I had concealed myself, came thither ; then turning
his eyes to the right and the left, and seeing nothing but the chest, he raised it upon
his head; whereupon my reason forsook me. He quickly descended with it; and
The Barber rending his Clothes.
THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
151
I, being now certain that he would not quit me, opened the chest, and threw myself
upon the ground. My leg was hurt by the fall; and when I came to the door of
the house, 1 found a multitude of people. I had never seen such a crowd as was
there collected on that day ; so I began to scatter gold among them, to divert them ;
and while they were busied in picking it up, I ran through the by-streets of Bagdad,
followed by this barber ; and wherever I entered, he entered after me crying, They
would have plunged me into affliction on account of my master ! Praise be to God
who aided me against them, and delivered my master from their hands ! Thou con-
tinuedst, my master, to be excited by haste for the accomplishment of thine evil
design until thou broughtest upon thyself this event ; and if God had not blessed
thee with me, thou hadst not escaped from this calamity into which thou hast fallen ;
and they might have involved thee in a calamity from which thou wouldst never
have escaped. Beg, therefore of God, that I may live for thy sake, to liberate thee
in future. By Allah, thou hast almost destroyed me by thine evil design, desiring
to go alone ; but we will not be angry with thee for thine ignorance, for . thou art
endowed with little sense, and of a hasty disposition. — Art thou not satisfied, re-
plied I, with that which thou hast done, but wilt thou run after me through the
market-streets ? And I desired for death to liberate me from him ; but found it not ;
and in the excess of my rage I ran from him, and, entering a shop in the midst of
the market, implored the protection of its owner: and he drove away the barber
from me.
I then seated myself in a magazine belonging to him, and said within myself, I
cannot now rid myself of this
barber ; but he will be with
me night and day, and I can-
not endure the sight of his
face. So I immediately sum-
moned witnesses, and wrote a
document dividing my pro-
perty among my family, and
appointing a guardian over
them, and ordered him to sell
the house and all the immov-
able possessions, charging him
with the care of the old and
young, and set forth at once
on a journey in order to escape
from this rascal. I then ar-
rived in your country, where
I took up my abode, and have
remained a considerable time ;
and when ye invited me, and
I came unto you, I saw this
vile rascal among you, seated
at the upper end of the room.
How, then, can my heart be
at ease, or my sitting in your
company be pleasant to me,
with this fellow, who hath
brought these events upon me,
and been the cause of the
hurting of my leg?
The young man still per-
severed in his refusal to remain
with us ; and when we had heard the story, we said to the barber. Is this true which
■^^
Portrait of the Barber.
152 THE barber's story of himself.
this young man hath said of thee?— By Allah, he answered, it was through my in-
telligence that I acted thus towards him ; and had I not done so, he had perished ;
mys-elf only was the cause of his escape ; and it was through the goodness of God,
by .-ny means that he was afflicted by the hurting of his leg instead of being pun-
ished" by the loss of his life. Were I a person of many words I had not done him
this kindness ; and now I will relate to you an event that happened to me, that ye
may believe me ts be a man of few words, and less of an impertinent than my
brothers ; and it was this : —
THE BARBER'S STORY OF HIMSELF.
I WAS living in Bagdad, in the reign of the Prince of the Faithful Mountasir
Billah. who loved the poor and indigent, and associated with the learned and virtu-
ous; and it happened, one day, that he was incensed against ten persons, in conse-
quence of which he ordered the chief magistrate of Bagdad to bring them to him In
a boat. I saw them, and I said within myself, these persons have assembled for
nothing but an entertainment, and, I suppose, will pass their day in this boat eating
and drinking; and none shall be their companion but myself: — so I embarked, and
mixed myself among them ; and when they had landed on the opposite bank, the
guards of the Judge came with chains, and put them upon their necks, and put a
chain upon my neck also. — Now this, people, is it not a proof of my generosity,
and of my paucity of speech ? For I determined not to speak. — They took us, there-
fore, altogether, in chains, and placed us before Mountasir Billah, the Prince of the
Faithful : whereupon he gave orders to strike off the heads of the ten : and the
executioner struck off the heads of the ten, and I remained. The Caliph then turn-
inc his eyes, and beholding me, said to the executioner, Wherefore dost thou not
strike off' the heads of all the ten? He answered, I have beheaded every one of the
ten. — I do not think, rejoined the Caliph, that thou hast beheaded more than nine :
and this who is before me is the tenth. But the executioner replied, By thy benefi-
cence, they are ten. — Count them, said the Caliph. And they counted them ; and
lo, they were ten. The Caliph then looked towards me, and said. What hath induced
thee to be silent on this occasion; and how hast thou become included among the
men of blood? And when I heard the address of the Prince of the Faithful, I said
to him. Know, Prince of the Faithful, that I am the sheikh El Samit, or the
Silent ; I possess, of science, a large stock ; and as to the gravity of my understand-
ing, and the quickness of my apprehension, and the paucity of my speech, they are
unbounded: my trade is that of a barber; and yesterday, early in the morning, I
saw these ten men proceeding to the boat; whereupon I mixed myself with them,
and embarked with them, thinking that they had met together for an entertainment;
but soon it appeared that they were criminals ; and the guards came to them, and
put chains upon their necks, and upon my neck also they put a chain ; and from the
excess of my generosity I was silent, and spoke not: my speech was not heard on
that occasion, on account of the excess of my generosity; and they proceeded with
us until they stationed us before thee, and thou gavest the order to strike off the
heads of the ten, and I remained before the executioner, and acquainted you not
with my case. Was not this great generosity which compelled me to accompany
them to slaughter? But throughout my life I have acted in this excellent manner.
When the Caliph heard my words, and knew that I was of a very generous char-
acter, and of few words, and not inclined to impertinence, as this young man, whom
I delivered from horrors, asserteth, he said. Hast thou brothers ? I answered, Yes :
six. — And are thy six brothers, said he, like thyself, distinguished by science and
knowledge, and paucity of speech ? I answered, they lived not so as to be like me:
thou hast disparaged me by thy supposition, Prince of the Faithful, and it is not
proper that thou shouldst compare my brothers to me ; for through the abundanccr
of their speech, and the smallness of their generous qualities, each of them expe-
THE BARBER S STORY OF HIS FIRST BROTHER. 153
rienced a defect: the first was lame ; the second deprived of many of his teeth ; the
third blind ; the fourth one-eyed ; the fifth cropped of his ears ; and the sixth had
both his lips cut off; and think not, O Prince of the Faithful, that I am a man of
many words : nay, I must prove to thee that I am of a more generous character than
they ; and each of them met with a particular adventure, in consequence of whic*L
he experienced a defect: if thou please, I will relate their stories to thee
THE BARBER'S STORY OF HIS FIRST BROTHER.
Know, Prince of the Faithful, that the first (who was named Bacbouc) was the
lame one. He practised the art of a tailor in Bagdad, and used to sew in a shop
which he hired of a man possessing great wealth, who lived over the shop, and who
had, in the lower part of his house, a mill. And as my lame brother was sitting in
his shop one day, sewing, he raised his head, and saw a woman like the rising full
moon, at a projecting window of the house, looking at the people passing by ; and
as soon as he beheld her, his heart was entangled by her love. He passed that day
gazing at her, and neglecting his occupation, until the evening; and on the follow-
ing morning he opened his shop, and sat down to sew ; but every time that he sewed
a stitch, he looked towards the window ; and in this state he continued, sewing
nothing sufficient to earn a piece of silver.
On the third day he seated himself again in his place, looking towards the woman;
and she saw him, and, perceiving that he had become enslaved by her love, laughed
in his face, and he, in like manner, laughed in her face. She then disappeared from
before him, and sent to him her slave-girl, with a wrapper containing a piece of red
flowered silk; and the girl coming to him, said to him. My mistress saluteth thee,
and desireth thee to cut out for her, with the hand of skill, a shirt of this piece, and
to sew it beautifully. So he answered, I hear and obey : and he cut out for her the
Bhirt, and finished the sewing of it on that day; and on the following day the slave
girl came to him again, and said to him. My mistress saluteth thee, and saith to
thee. How didst thou pass last night? — for she tasted not sleep from her passion for
thee. — She then placed before him a piece of yellow satin, and said to him. My
mistress desireth thee to cut out for her, of this piece, two pairs of trousers, and to
make them this day. He replied, I hear and obey. Salute her with abundant salu-
tations, and say to her. Thy slave is submissive to thine order, and command him
whatsoever thou wilt. — He then busied himself with the cutting out, and used all
diligence in sewing the two pairs of trousers ; and presently the woman looked out
at him from the window, and saluted him by a sign, now casting down her eyes, and
now smiling in his face, so that he imagined he should soon obtain possession of her.
After this, she disappeared from before him, and the slave-girl came to him: so he
delivered to her the two pairs of trousers, and she took them and departed : and
when the night came he threw himself upon his bed, and remained turning himself
over in restlessness until the morning.
On the following day, the master of the house came to my brother, bringing some
linen, and said to him, Cut out and make this into shirts for me. He replied, I hear
and obey: — and ceased not from his work until he had cut out twenty shirts by the
time of nightfall, without having tasted food. The man then said to him, How
much is thy hire for this ? — but my brother answered not : and the damsel made a
sign to him that he should receive nothing, though he was absolutely in want of a
single copper coin. For three days he continued scarcely eating or drinking any-
thing, in his diligence to accomplish his work, and when he had finished it, he went
to deliver the shirts.
Now the young woman had acquainted her husband with the state of my
brother's mind, but ray brother knew not this ; and she planned with her husband
to employ him in sewing without remuneration, and moreover to amuse themselves
154 THE barber's story OF HIS FIRST BROTHER.
by laughing at him ; so, when he had finished all the work that they gave him, they
contrived a plot against him, and married him to their slave-girl ; and on the night
when he desired to introduce himself to her, they said to him, Pass this night in the
mill, and to-morrow thou shalt enjoy happiness. My brother, therefore, thinking
that their intention was good, passed the night in the mill alone. Meanwhile, the
husband of the young woman went to the miller, and instigated him by signs to
make my brother turn the mill. The miller accordingly went in to him at midnight,
and began to exclaim, Verily this bull is lazy, while there is a great quantity of
wheat, and the owners of the flour are demanding it; I will therefore yoke him in
the mill, that he may finish the grinding of the flour: — and so saying, he yoked my
brother, and thus he kept him until near morning, when the owner of the house
came, and saw him yoked in the mill, and the miller flogging him with the whip ;
and he left him, and retired. After this, the slave-girl to whom he had been con-
tracted in marriage came to him early in the morning, and, having unbound him
from the mill, said to him, Both I and my mistress have been distressed by thia
which hath befallen thee, and we have participated in the burden of thy sor-
row. But he had no tongue wherewith to answer her, by reason of the severity of
the flogging. He then returned to his house; and lo, the sheikh who had performed
the marriage-contract came and saluted him, saying May Allah prolong thy life !
May thy marriage be blessed ! — May God not preserve thee liar ! returned my brother :
thou thousandfold villain ! By Allah I went only to turn the mill in the place of
the bull until the morning. — Tell me thy story, said the sheikh: — and my brother
told him what had happened to him : upon which the sheikh said. Thy star agreeth
not with hers : but if thou desire that I should change for thee the mode of the con-
tract, I will change it for another better than it, that thy star may agree with hers.
— See then, replied my brother, if thou hast any other contrivance to employ.
M}' brother then left him, and repaired again to his shop, hoping that somebody
might give him some work, with the profit of which he might obtain his food ; and
lo, the slave-girl came to him. She had conspired with her mistress to play him this
trick, and said to him. Verily, my mistress is longing for thee, and she hath gone
up to look at thy face from the window. And my brother had scarcely heard these
words when she looked out at him from the window, and, weeping, said. Wherefore
hast thou cut short the intercourse between us and thee? But he returned her no
answer ; so she swore to him that all that had happened to him in the mill was not
with her consent: and when my brother beheld her beauty and loveliness, the
troubles that had befallen him became efi\xced from his memory, and he accepted
her excuse, and rejoiced at the sight of her. He saluted her, therefore, and con-
versed with her, and then sat a while at his work: after which the slave-girl came
to him, and said, My mistress saluteth thee, and informeth thee that her husband
hath determined to pass this next night in the house of one of his intimate friends ;
wherefore, when he hath gone thither, do thou come to her. — Now the husband of
the young woman had said to her. How shall we contrive when he cometh to thee
that I may take him and drag him before the judge? She replied. Let him then
play him a trick, and involve him in a disgrace for which he shall be paraded
throughout this city as an example to others: — and my brother knew nothing of the
craftiness of women. Accordingly, at the approach of evening, the slave-girl came
to him, and taking him by the hand returned with him to her mistress, who said to
him. Verily, my master, I have been longing for thee. — Hasten thee, said he, to
give me a kiss, first of all. And his words were not finished when the young woman's
husband came in from his neighbour's house, and, seizing my brother, exclaimed to
him. By Allah, I will not loose thee but in the presence of the chief magistrate of
the police. My brother humbled himself before him ; but without listening to him,
he took him to the house of the judge, who flogged him with whips, and mounted
him upon a camel, and conveyed him through the streets of the city, the people cry-
ing out. This is the recompense of him who breaketh into the harem oi others — an<l
THE BARBER S STORY OF HIS SECOND BROTHER. 155
he fell from the camel, and his leg broke: so he became lame. The judge then
banished him from the city ; and he went forth, not knowing whither to turn his
steps: but I, though enraged, overtook him, and brought him back: and I have
taken upon myself to provide him with meat and drink unto the present day.
The Caliph laughed at my story, and exclaimed. Thou hast spoken well: — but I
replied, I will not accept this honour until thou hast listened to me while I relate to
thee what happened to the rest of my brothers ; and think me not a man of many
words. — Tell me, said the Caliph, what happened to all thy brothers ; and grace my
ears with these nice particulars ; I beg thee to employ exuberance of diction in thy
relation of these pleasant tales.
THE BARBER'S STORY OF HIS SECOND BROTHER.
So I said. Know, Prince of the Faithful, that my second brother, whose name
was Heddar, was going one day to transact some business, when an old woman met
him, and said to him, man, stop a little, that I may propose to thee a thing which,
if it please thee, thou shalt do for me. My brother, therefore, stopped : and she
said to him, I will guide thee to a thing, and rightly direct thee to it, on the con-
dition that thy words be not many. So he said, Communicate what thou hast to
tell me: — and she proceeded thus: — What sayest thou of a handsome house, with
running water, and fruit and wine, and a beautiful face to behold and a smooth
cheek to kiss, and an elegant form to embrace : and to enjoy all these pleasures
without interruption ? Now if thou wilt act agreeably with the condition that I
have imposed upon thee, thou wilt see prosperity. — When my brother had heard
her words, he said to her, my mistress, how is that thou hast sought me out in
preference to all the rest of the creation for this affair ; and what is there in me
that hath pleased thee? She replied. Did I not say to thee that thou must not be
a person of many words? Be silent then, and come with me.
The old woman then went her way, my brother following her, eager to enjoy the
pleasures which she had described to him, until they had entered a spacious house,
when she went up with him to an upper story, and my brother perceived that he
was in a beautiful palace in which he beheld four damsels, than whom none more
lovely had ever been seen, singing with voices that would charm a heart as insensible
as stone. One of these damsels drank a cup of wine ; and my brother said to her,
May it be attended with health and vigour ! — and advanced to wait upon her ; but
she prevented his doing so, giving him to drink a cup of wine: and as soon as he
had drunk it, she slapped him on his neck. When he found that she treated him
thus, he went out from the chamber in anger, and with many words ; but the old
woman, following him, made a sign to him with her eye that he should return : so
he returned, and seated himself, without speaking; and upon this, the damsel
slapped him again upon the back of his neck until he became senseless ; after which,
recovering, he withdrew. The old woman, however, overtook him, and said to him.
Wait a little, and thou shalt attain thy wish. — How many times, said he, shall I
wait a little before I attain it? The old woman answered, When she hath become
exhilarated with wine thou shalt obtain her favour. He therefore returned to his
place, and resumed his seat. All the four damsels then arose, and the old woman
directed them to divest my brother of his outer clothes, and to sprinkle some rose-
water upon his face ; and when they had done so, the most beautiful one among
them said to him, May Allah exalt thee to honour ! Thou hast entered my abode,
and if thou have patience to submit to my requisitions, thou wilt attain thy wish.
— my mistress, he replied, I am thy slave, and under thy authority. — Know then,
said she, that I am devotedly fond of frolic, and he who complieth with my demands
will obtain my favour. Then she ordered the other damsels to sing ; and they sang
so that their hearers were in an ecstacy: after which the chief lady said to one of
156 THE barber's story of his third brother.
the other damsels, Take thy master and do what is required, and bring him back
to me immediately.
Accordingly, she took him away, ignorant of that which she was about to do; and
the old woman came to him, and said, Be patient; for there remaineth but little to
do. He then turned towards the damsel, and the old woman said to him, Be patient:
thou hast almost succeeded, and there remaineth but one thing, which is, to shave
thy beard. — How, said he, shall I do that which will disgrace me among the public?
The old woman answered, she desireth this only to make thee like a beardless youth,
that there may be nothing on thy fiice to prick her; for her heart is affected with a
violent love for thee. Be patient, therefore, and thou shalt attain thy desire. — So
my brother patiently submitted to the damsel's directions ; his beard was shaven,
and he was shorn also of his eyebrows and mustaches, and his face was painted red,
before the damsel took him back to the chief lady, who, when she saw him, was at
first frightened at him, and then laughed until she fell backwards, and exclaimed,
my master, thou hast gained me by these proofs of thine amiable manners ! She
then conjured him by her life to arise and dance ; and he did so; and there was not
a single cushion in the chamber that she did not throw at him. In like manner
also the other damsels threw at him various things, such as oranges, and limes, and
citrons, until he fell down senseless from the pelting, while they slapped him in-
cessantly upon the back of his neck, and cast things in his face. But at length the
old woman said to him. Now thou hast attained thy wish. Know that there re-
maineth to thee no more beating, nor doth there remain for thee to do more than one
thing, namely, this: it is her custom, when she is under the influence of wine, to
suffer no one to come near her until she hath taken off her outer clothes : thou,
being prepared in the like manner, must run after her, and she will run before thee
as though she were flying from thee: but cease not to follow her from place to place
until thou overtake her. He arose, therefore, and did so; the lady ran before, and
as he followed her, she passed from chamber to chamber, and he still ran after her.
At last he heard her utter a slight sound as she ran before him, and, continuing his
pursuit, he suddenly found himself in the midst of the street.
This street was in the market of the leathersellers, who were then crying skins
for sale ; and when the people there collected saw him in this condition, almost
naked, with shaven beard and eyebrows and mustaches, and with his face painted
red, they shouted at him, and raised a loud laugh, and some of them beat him with
the skins until he became insensible. They then placed him upon an ass, and con-
ducted him to the judge, who exclaimed. What is this? — They answered, This de-
scended upon us from the house of the Vizier, in this condition. And the judge in-
flicted upon him a hundred lashes, and banished him from the city: but I went out
after him, and brought him back privately into the city, and allotted him a mainte-
nance. Had it not been for my generous disposition, I had not borne with such a
person,
THE BARBER'S STORY OF HIS THIRD BROTHER.
As to my third brother (the blind man, Bacbac), who was also surnamed Kuffeh,
or empty-head, fate and destiny impelled him one day to a large house, and he
knocked at the door, hoping that its master would answer him, and that he might
beg of him a trifle. The owner called out. Who is at the door ? — but my brother
answered not ; and then heard him call with a loud voice. Who is this? Still, how-
ever he returned him no answer; and he heard the sounds of his footsteps approaching
until he came to the door and opened it, when he said to him. What dost thou desire?
My brother answered. Something for the sake of God, whose name be exalted ! —
Art thou blind ? said the man; and my brother answered. Yes. — Then give me thy
band, rejoined the master of the house; — so my brother stretched forth to him his
THE BARBER S STORY OF HIS THIRD BROTHER.
157
hand, and the man took him into the house, and led him up from staircase to stair-
case until he had ascended to the highest platform of the roof; my brother thinking
that he was going to give him some food or money: and when he had arrived at this
highest terrace of his house, the owner said. What dost thou desire, blind man? -
I desire something, he answered again, for the sake of God, whose name be exalted!
— May God, replied the man, open to thee some other way! — What is this, exclaimed
my brother: couldst thou not tell me so when I was below? — Thou vilest of the vile I
retorted the other: why didst thou not ask of me something for the sake of God when
thou heardst my voice the first time, when thou wast knocking at the door? — What
then, said my brother, dost thou mean to do to me? — The man of the house answered,
I have nothing to give thee. — Then take me down stairs, said my brother. The man
replied, the way is before thee. So my brother made his way to the stairs, and con-
tinued descending until there remained between him and the door twenty steps,
when his foot slipped and he fell, and rolling down, broke his head.
He went forth, not knowing whither to direct his steps, and presently there met
him two blind men, his companions, who said to him, What hath happened to thee
this day? My brother, therefore, related to them the event that had just befallen
him ; and then said to them, my brothers, I desire to take a portion of the money
now in our possession, to expend it upon myself — Now the owner of the house
which he had just before entered had followed him to acquaint himself with his
proceedings, and without my brother's knowledge he walked behind him until the
latter entered his abode ; when he went in after him, still unknown. My brother
then sat waiting for his companions ; and when they came in to him, he said to
them. Shut the door, and search the room, lest any stranger have followed us. When
the intruder, therefore, heard what he said, he arose, and clung to a rope that waa
attached to the ceiling; and the blind men went feeling about the whole of the
The Blind Men explormg the Apartment.
chamber, and, finding no one, returned and seated themselves by my brother, and
brought forth their money, and counted it ; and lo, it was more than ten thousand
pieces of silver. Having done this, they laid it in a corner of the room, and each
of them took of the surplus of that sum as much as he wanted, and they buried the
ten thousand pieces of silver in the earth ; after which they placed before themselves
some food, and sat eating ; but my brother heard the sound of a stranger by his
side, and said to his friends. Is there a stranger among us? Then stretching forth
his hand, it grasped the hand of the intruder ; whereupon he cried out to his com
panions, saying. Here is a stranger! — and they fell upon him with blows until they
were tired, when they shouted out, Believers ! a thief hath come in upon us, and
158 THE barber's story of his third brother.
desireth to take our property! — and immediately a number of persons collected
around them.
Upon this, the stranger ■whon. they accused of being a thief shut his eyes, feigning
to be blind like themselves, so that no one who saw him doubted him to be so: and
shouted, Believers ! I demand protection of Allah and the Sultan ! I demand pro-
tection of Allah and the Judge ! I demand protection of Allah and the Emir ! for I
have important information to give to the Emir ! — and before they could collect their
thoughts, the oflBcers of the Judge surrounded them and took them all, including
my brother, and conducted them before their master. The Judge said, What is your
story ? — and the stranger replied, Hear my words, Judge ; the truth of our case
will not become known to thee but by means of beating ; and if thou wilt, begin by
beating me before my companions. The Judge therefore said. Throw down this
man, and flog him with whips: — and accordingly they threw him down and flogged
him ; and when the stripes tortured him, he opened one of his eyes ; and after they
had continued the flogging a little longer, he opened his other eye ; upon which the
Judge exclaimed. What meaneth this conduct, thou villain ? — Grant me indemnity,
replied the man, and I will acquaint thee: — and the Judge having granted his re-
quest, he said, We four pretend that we are blind, and, intruding among other
people, enter their houses, and see their women, and employ stratagems to corrupt
them, and to obtain money from them. We have acquired, by this means, vast gain,
amounting to ten thousand pieces of silver ; and I said to my companions. Give me
my due, two thousand and five hundred, and they arose against me and beat me,
and took my property. I beg protection, therefore, of Allah and of thee ; and thou
art more deserving of my share than they. If thou desire to know the truth of that
which I have said, flog each of them more than thou hast flogged me, and he will
open his eyes.
So the Judge immediately gave orders to flog them ; and the first of them who
sufiered was my brother. They continued beating him until he almost died; when
the Judge said to them, ye scoundrels ! do ye deny the gracious gift of God,
feigning yourselves to be blind? My brother exclaimed, Allah! Allah! Allah!
there is none among us who seeth ! — They then threw him down again, and ceased
not to beat him until he became insensible, when the Judge said, Leave him until
he shall have recovered, and then give him a third flogging: — and in the meantime,
he gave orders to flog his companions, to give each of them more than three hundred
stripes ; while the seeing man said to them. Open your eyes, or they will flog you
again after this time. Then addressing himself to the Judge, he said. Send with
me some person to bring thee the property ; for these men will not open their eyes,
fearing to be disgraced before the spectators. And the Judge sent with him a man,
who brought him the money ; and he took it, and gave to the informer out of it, two
thousand and five hundred pieces of silver, according to the share which he claimed,
in spite of the others (retaining the rest), and banished from the city my brother
and the two other men ; but I went forth, Prince of the Faithful, and, having
overtaken my brother, asked him respecting his sufi'erings ; and he acquainted me
with that which I have related unto thee. I then brought him back secretly into
the city, and allotted him a supply of food and drink as long as he lived.
The Caliph laughed at ray story, and said. Give him a present, and let him go: —
but I replied, I will receive nothing until I have declared to the Prince of the Faithful
what happened to the rest of my brothers, and made it manifest to him that I am a
man of few words: — whereupon the Caliph said, Crack our ears, then, with thy
ridiculous stories, and continue to us thy disclosure of vices and misdeeds. So J
■proceeded thus : —
THE barber's story OF HIS FOURTH BROTHER. 159
THE BARBER'S STORY OF HIS FOURTH BROTHER.
My fourth brother, Prince of the Faithful, was the one-eyed (named Alcous) :
he was a butcher in Bagdad, and both sold meat and reared lambs ; and the great
and the rich had recourse to him to purchase of him their meat, so that he amassed
great wealth, and became possessor of cattle and houses. Thus he continued to
prosper for a long time ; and as he was in his shop one day, there accosted him an
old man with a long beard, who handed to him some money, saying, Give me some
meat for it. So he took the money, and gave him the meat ; and when the old man
had gone away, my brother looked at the money which he had paid him, and seeing
that it was of a brilliant whiteness, put it aside by itself. This old man continued
to repair to him during a period of five months, and my brother always threw his
money into a chest by itself; after which period he desired to take it out for the
purpose of buying some sheep ; but, on opening the chest, he found all the contents
converted into white paper, clipped round; and he slapped his face, and cried out;
whereupon a number of people collected around him, and he related to them his
story, at which they were astonished.
He then went again, as usual, into his shop, and, having killed a ram, and hung
it up within the shop, he cut off some of the meat and suspended it outside, saying
within himself, Perhaps now this old man will come again, and if so, I will seize
him: — and very soon after, the old man approached with his money, upon which
my brother arose, and, laying hold upon him began to cry out, Believers ! come to
my aid, and hear what this scoundrel hath done unto me ! But when the old man
heard his words, he said to him. Which will be more agreeable to thee — that thou
abstain from disgracing me, or that I disgrace thee before the public? — For what
wilt thou disgrace me ? said my brother. The old man answered, For thy selling
human flesh for mutton. Thou liest, thou accursed ! exclaimed my brother. None
is accursed, rejoined the old man, but he who hath a man suspended in his shop.
My brother said. If it be as thou hast asserted, my property and blood shall be
lawful to thee: — and immediately the old man exclaimed, ye people here assem-
bled! verily this butcher slaughtereth human beings, and selleth their flesh for
mutton ; and if ye desire to know the truth of my assertion, enter his shop ! So the
people rushed upon his shop, and beheld the ram converted into a man, hung up;
and they laid hold upon my brother, crying out against him. Thou infidel ! Thou
scoundrel ! — and those who had been his dearest friends turned upon him and beat
him ; and the old man gave him a blow upon his eye, and knocked it out. The
people then carried the carcase, and took with them my brother, to the chief magis-
trate of the police ; and the old man said to him, Emir, this man slaughtereth
human beings, and selleth their flesh for mutton ; and we have therefore brought
him to thee : arise, then, and perform the requisition of God, whose might and glory
be extolled ! Upon this, the magistrate thrust back my brother from him, and re-
fusing to listen to what he would have said, ordered that five hundred blows of a
staff should be inflicted upon him, and took all his property. Had it not been for
the great amount of his wealth, he had put him to death. He then banished him
from the city.
My brother, therefore, went forth in a state of distraction, not knowing what
course to pursue; but he journeyed onwards until he arrived at a great city, where
he thought fit to settle as a shoemaker ; so he opened a shop and sat there working
for his subsistence. And one day, he went forth on some business, and, hearing the
neighing of horses, he inquired respecting the cause, and was told that the King
was going forth to hunt; whereupon he went to amuse himself with the sight of the
procession ; but the King happening to look on one side, his eye met that of my
brother, and immediately he hung down his head, and exclaimed, I seek refuge with
God from the evil of this day ! He then turned aside the bridle of his horse, and
160 THE barber's story of his fifth brother.
rode bacTc, and all his troops returned with him ; after which he ordered his pages
to run after my brother, and to beat him ; and they did so ; giving him so severe a
beating that he almost died ; and he knew not the cause. He returned to his abode
in a miserable plight, and afterwards went and related his misfortunes to one of the
King's attendants, who laughed at the recital until he fell backwards, and said to
him, my brother, the King cannot endure the sight of a one-eyed person, and
especially Avhen the defect is that of the left eye : for in this case, he faileth not to
put the person to death.
When my brother heard these words, he determined to fly from that city ; and
forthwith departed from it and repaired to another city, where there was no King.
Here he remained a long time; and after this, as he was meditating upon his ad-
venture in the former city, he went out one day to amuse himself, and heard again
the neighing of horses behind him ; upon which he exclaimed. The decree of God
hath come to pass! — and rau away, seeking for a place in which to conceal himself;
but he found none, until continuing his search, he saw a door set up as a barricade :
so he pushed this, and it fell down ; and, entering the doorway, he beheld a long
passage, into which he advanced. Suddenly, however, two men laid hold upon him,
and exclaimed. Praise be to God who hath enabled us to take thee, thou enemy of
God ! For these three nights thou hast suffered us to enjoy neither quiet nor sleep,
and we have found no repose: nay, thou hast given us a foretaste of death! ^0
men ! said my brother, what hath happened unto you ? They answered. Thou
keepest a watch upon us, and desirest to disgrace us and to disgrace the master of
the house ! Is it not enough for thee that thou hast reduced him to poverty, thoa
and thy companions? Produce now the knife wherewith thou threatenest us every
night. — And so saying, they searched him, and found upon his waist the knife with
which he cut the shoe-leather. — O men, he exclaimed, fear God in your treatment of
me, and know that my story is wonderful. They said. What then is thy story ? So
he related it to them, in the hope that they would liberate him ; but they believed not
what he said : and, instead of showing him any regard, they beat him, and tore hia
clothes ; whereupon, his body becoming exposed to their view, they discovered upon
his sides the marks of beating with sticks, and exclaimed, O wretch ! these scars
bear testimony to thy guilt. They then conducted him before the Judge, while he
said within himself, I am undone for my transgressions, and none can deliver me
but God, whose name be exalted ! And when he was brought before the Judge, the
magistrate said to him, thou scoundrel ! nothing but a heinous crime hath occa-
sioned thy having been beaten with sticks : — and he caused a hundred lashes to be
inflicted upon him: after which they mounted him upon a camel, and proclaimed
before him. This is the recompense of him who breaketh into men's houses ! — But I
had already heard of his misfortunes, and gone forth, and found him ; and I accom-
panied him about the city while they were making this proclamation, until they left
him ; when I took him, and brought him back secretly into Bagdad, and apportioned
him a daily allowance of food and drink.
THE BARBER'S STORY OF HIS FIFTH BROTHER.
My fifth brother, Alraschar, was cropped of his ears, Prince of the Faithful.
He was a pauper, who begged alms by night, and subsisted upon what he thus
acquired by day ; and our father was a very old man, and he fell sick and died,
leaving to us seven hundred pieces of silver, of which each of us took his portion ;
namely, a hundred pieces. Now, my fifth brother, when he had received his share,
was perplexed, not knowing what to do with it; but while he was in this state, it
occurred to his mind to buy with it all kinds of articles of glass, and to sell them
and make profit: so he bought glass with his hundred pieces of silver, ind put it in
a large tray, and sat upon an elevated place, to sell it, leaning his back against a
THE BARBER S STORY OP HIS FIFTH BROTHER. 161
wall. And as he sat, he meditated and said within himself, Verily, my whole stock
consisteth of this glass: I will sell it for two hundred pieces of silver ; and with the
two hundred 1 will buy other glass, which I will sell for four hundred ; and thus I
will continue buying and selling until I have acquired great wealth. Then with this
I will purchase all kinds of merchandise and essences and jewels, and so obtain vast
gain. After that, I will buy a handsome house, and mamlouks, and horses, and
gilded saddles ; and I will eat and drink ; and I will not leave in the city a single
female singer but I will have her brought to my house that I may hear her songs. —
All this he calculated with the tray of glass lying before him. — Then, said he, I will
send all the female betrothers to seek in marriage for me the daughters of Kings
and Viziers, and I Avill demand as my wife the daughter of the chief Vizier; for I
have heard that she is endowed with perfect beauty and surprising loveliness ; and
I will give as her dowry a thousand pieces of gold. If her father consent, my wish
is attained ; and if he consent not, I will take her by force, in spite of him ; and-
when I have come back to my house, I will buy ten young eunuchs, and I will pur-
chase the apparel of Kings and Sultans, and cause to be made for me a saddle of
gold set with jewels ; after which I will ride every day upon a horse, with slaves
behind me and before me, and go about through the streets and markets to amuse
myself, while the people will salute me and pray for me. Then I will pay a visit to
the Vizier, who is the father of the maiden, with mamlouks behind me and before
me, and on my right hand and on my left ; and when he seeth me, he will rise to me
in humility, and seat me in his own place ; and he himself will sit down below me,
because I am his son-in-law. I will then order one of the servants to bring a purse
containing the pieces of gold which compose the dowry; and he will place it before
the Vizier ; and I will add to it another purse, that he may know my manly spirit
and excessive generosity, and that the world is contemptible in my eye : and when
he addresseth me with ten words, I will answer him with two. And I will return
to my house ; and when any person cometh to me from the house of the Vizier, I
will clothe him with a rich dress: but if any come with a present, I will return it:
I will certainly not accept it. Then, on the night of the bridal display, I will attire
myself in the most magnificent of my dresses, and sit upon a mattress covered with
silk ; and when my wife cometh to me like the full moon, decked with her ornaments
and apparel, I will command her to stand before me as stand the timid and the
abject ; and I will not look at her, on account of the haughtiness of my spirit and
the gravity of my wisdom ; so that the maids will say, our master and our lord,
may we be thy sacrifice ! This thy wife, or rather thy handmaid, awaiteth thy kind
regard, and is standing before thee: then graciously bestow on her one glance; for
the posture hath become painful to her. — Upon this, I will raise my head, and look
at her with one glance, and again incline my head downwards ; and thus I will do
until the ceremony of displaying her is finished: whereupon they will conduct her
to the sleeping-chamber ; and I will rise from my place, and go to another apart-
ment, and put on my night-dress, and go to the chamber in which she is sitting,
where I will seat myself upon the divan ; but I will not look towards her. The tire-
women will urge me to approach her ; but I will not hear their words, and will
order some of the attendants to bring a purse containing five hundred pieces of gold
for them, and command them to retire from the chamber. And when they have
gone, I will seat myself by the side of the bride ; but with averted countenance, that
she may say. Verily this is a man of a haughty spirit. Then her mother will come
to me, and will kiss my hands, and say to me, my master, look upon thy hand-
maid with the eye of mercy; for she is submissively standing before thee. But I
will return her no answer. And she will kiss my feet, again and again, and will
say, my master, my daughter is young, and hath seen no man but thee ; and if
she experience from thee repugnance, her heart wiU break : incline to her therefore,
and speak to her, and calm her mind. And upon this I wmU look at her through
the corner of my eye, and command her to remain standing before me, that she may
11
162 THE barber's story of his fifth brother.
taste the savour of humiliation, and know that I am the Sultan of the age. — Then
her mother will say to me, my master, this is thy handmaid : have compassion
upon her, and be gracious to her: — and she will order her to fill a cup with wine,
and to put it to my mouth. So her daughter will say, my lord, I conjure thee by
the requisitions of God, that thou reject not the cup from thy slave ; for verily I am
thy slave. But I will make her no reply : and she will urge me to take it, and will
say. It must be drunk: — and will put it to my mouth : and upon this, I will shake
my hand in her face, and spurn her with my foot, and do thus. — So saying, he kicked
the tray of glass, which, being upon a place elevated above the ground, fell, and all
that was in it broke: there escaped nothing: and he cried out and said. All this is
the result of my pride ! And he slapped his face, and tore his clothes ; the passen-
gers gazing at him, while he wept, and exclaimed. Ah ! my grief!
The people were now repairing to perform the Friday-prayera ; and some merely
cast their eyes at him, while others noticed him not : but while he was in this state,
deprived of his whole property, and weeping without intermission, a female ap-
proached him, on her way to attend the Friday-prayers : she was of admirable love-
liness ; the odour of musk was diffused from her ; under her was a mule with a
stuffed saddle covered with gold-embroidered silk ; and with her was a number of
servants ; and when she saw the broken glass, and my brother's state and his tears,
she was moved with pity for him, and asked respecting his case. She was answered,
He had a tray of glass, by the sale of which to obtain his subsistence, and it is
broken, and he is afflicted as thou seest: — and upon this, she called to one of the
servants, saying, Give what thou hast with thee to this poor man. So he gave him
a purse, and he took it, and when he had opened it, he found in it five hundred
pieces of gold, whereupon he almost died from excessive joy, and offered up prayers
for his benefactress.
He returned to his house a rich man, and sat reflecting, and lo, a person knocked
at the door ; he arose, therefore, and opened it : and beheld an old woman whom he
knew not, and she said to him, my son, know that the time of prayer hath almost
expired, and I am not prepared by ablution ; wherefore I beg that thou wilt admit
me into thy house, that I may perform it. He replied, I hear and obey ; — and, re-
tiring within, gave her permission to enter ; his mind still wandering from joy on
account of the gold ; and when she had finished the ablution, she approached the
spot where he was sitting, and there performed the prayers of two rekahs. She
then offered up a supplication for my brother ; and he thanked her, and offered her
two pieces of gold ; but when she saw this, she exclaimed, Extolled be God's per-
fection ! A^'erily I wonder at the person who fell in love with thee in thy beggarly
condition ! Take back thy money from me, and if thou want it not, return it to
her who gave it thee when thy glass broke. — my mother, said he, how can I con-
trive to obtain access to her? She answered, my son, she hath an affection for
thee ; but she is the wife of an affluent man : take then with thee all thy money,
and when thou art with her be not deficient in courteousness and agreeable words ;
so shalt thou obtain of her favours and her wealth whatever thou shalt desire. My
brother, therefore, took all the gold, and arose and went with the old woman, hardly
believing what she had told him ; and she proceeded, and my brother behind her,
until they arrived at a great door, at which she knocked ; whereupon a Greek damsel
came and opened the door, and the old woman entered, ordering ray brother to do
the same. He did so, and found himself in a large house, where he beheld a great
furnished chamber, with curtains hung in it; and, seating himself there, he put
down the gold before him, and placed his turban on his knees ; and scarcely had he
done so, when there came to him a damsel, the like of whom had never been
seen, attired in most magnificent apparel. My brother stood up at her approach ;
and when she beheld him, she laughed in his face, and rejoiced at his visit : then
going to the door, she locked it ; after which she returned to my brother, and took
h's hand, and both of them went together into a private chamber, carpeted with
THE BARBER S STORY OF HIS FIFTH BROTHER.
1G3
various kinds of silk, where my brother sat down, and she seated herself by his side,
and toyed with him for a considerable time. She then arose, saying, to him. Move
not from this place until I return to thee: — and was absent from him for a short
period ; and as my brother was waiting for her, there came in to him a black slave,
of gigantic stature, with a drawn sword, the brightness of which dazzled the sight ;
and he exclaimed to my brother, "Wo to thee ! Who brought thee to this place ?
Thou vilest of men! Thou misbegotten wretch, and nursling of impurity !— My
brother was unable to make any reply ; his tongue was instantly tied ; and the slave
laid hold upon him, and stripped him, and struck him more than eighty blows with
the flat of his sword, until he fell sprawling upon the floor, when he retired from
The Second Misfortune of the Barber's Fifth Brotlier.
him, concluding that he was dead, and uttered a great cry, so that the earth trembled,
and the place resounded at his voice, saying. Where is Meliha ? — upon which a girl
came to him, holding a handsome tray containing salt ; and with this she forthwith
stuffed the flesh wounds with which my brother's skin was gashed until they gaped
open ; but he moved not, fearing the slave would discover that he was alive, and kill
him. The girl then went away, and the slave uttered another cry, like the first,
whereupon the old woman came to my brother, and, dragging him by the feet to a
deep and dark vault, threw him into it upon a heap of slain. In this place he re-
mained for two whole days; and God (whose perfection be extolled !) made the salt
to be the means of preserving his life, by stanching the flow of blood from his veins ;
so when he found that he had strength suflBcient to move, he arose, and, opening a
shutter in the wall, emerged from the place of the slain : and God (to whom be as-
cribed all might and glory!) granted him his protection : he therefore proceeded in
the darkness, and concealed himself in the passage until the morning, when the old
woman went forth to seek another victim, and my brother, going out after her, with-
out her knowledge, returned to his house.
He now occupied himself with the treatment of his wounds until he was restored ;
and continued to watch for the old woman, and constantly saw her taking men, one
164 THE barber's story of his fifth brother.
after another, and conducting them to the same house. But he uttered not a word
on the subject ; and when his health returned, and his strength was completely re-
newed, he took a piece of rag, and made of it a purse, which he filled with pieces
of glass ; he then tied it to his waist, and disguised himself so that no one would
know him, in the dress of a foreigner; and, taking a sword, placed it within his
clothes ; and ".s soon as he saw the old woman, he said to her, in the dialect of a
foreigner, Old woman hast thou a pair of scales fit for weighing nine hundred pieces
of gold ? The old woman answered, I have a young son, a money-changer, and he
hath all kinds of scales : therefore accompany me to him before he go forth from
his abode, that he may weigh for thee thy gold. 'So my brother said. Walk on
before me : — and she went, and my brother followed her until she arrived at the
door, and knocked? upon which the girl came out, and laughed in his face ; and the
old woman said to her, I have brought you to-day some fat meat. The girl then
took my brother's hand, and conducted him into the house (the same which he had
entered before), and after she had sat with him a short time, she arose, saying to
him. Quit not this place until I return to thee: — and she retired ; and my brother
had remained not long after when the slave came to him with the drawn sword, and
said to him. Rise, thou unlucky ! So my brother arose, and, as the slave walked
before him, he put his hand to the sword which was concealed beneath his clothes,
and struck the slave with it, and cut off his headj after which he dragged him by
his feet to the vault, and, called out. Where is Meliha ? The slave-girl, therefore,
came, having in her hand the tray containing the salt ; but when she saw my brother
with the sword in his hand, she turned back and fled : my brother, however, over-
took her, and struck off her head. He next called out. Where is the old woman? —
and she came; and he said to her. Dost thou know me, malevolent hag? She
answered. No, ray lord. — I am, said he, the man who had the pieces of gold, and
in whose house thou performedst the ablution, and prayedst ; after which, devising
a stratagem against me, thou betrayedst me into this place. — The old woman, ex-
claimed, Fear God in thy treatment of me! — but my brother turning towards her,
struck her with the sword, and clave her in twain. He then went to search for the
chief damsel, and when she saw him, her reason fled, and she implored his pardon,
whereupon he granted her his pardon, and said to her. What occasioned thy falling
into the hands of this black? She answered, I was a slave to one of the merchants;
and this old woman used to visit me ; and one day she said to me. We are celebrating
a festivity, the like of which no one hath seen, and I have a desire that thou shouldst
witness it. I replied, I hear and obey : — and arose, and clad myself in the best of
my attire, and taking with me a purse containing a hundred pieces of gold, proceeded
with her until she entered this house, when suddenly this black took me, and I have
continued with him in this state three years, through the stratagem of the old witch.
— My brother then said to her. Is there any property of his in the house ? — Abund-
ance, she answered; and if thou canst remove it, do so: — and upon this he arose
and went with her, when she opened to him chests filled with purses : at the sight
of which he was confounded ; and she said to him, Go now and leave me here, and
bring some person to remove the property. So he went out, and, having hired ten
men, returned: but on his arrival at the door, he found it open, and saw neither the
damsel nor the purses ; he found, however, some little money remaining, and the
Btuffs. He discovered, therefore, that she had eluded him : and he took the money
that remained, and, opening the closets, took all the stuffs which they contained,
leaving nothing in the house.
He passed the next night full of happiness; but when the morning came, he found
at the door twenty soldiers, and on his going forth to them, they laid hold upon him,
saying, The Judge summoneth thee. So they took him, and conducted him to the
Judge, who, when he saw him, said to him. Whence obtainedst thou these stuffs ? —
Grant me indemnity, said my brother: and the Judge gave him the handkerchief
of indemnity: and my brother related to him all that had befallen him with the old
THE BARBER S STORY OF HIS SIXTH BROTHER. 165
woman from first to last, and the .flight of the damsel ; adding, — and of that which
I have taken, take thou what thou wilt; but leave me wherewith to procure my
food. The judge thereupon demanded the whole of the money and the stuffs: but
fearing the Sultan might become acquainted with the matter, he retained a portion
only, and gave the rest to my brother, saying to him. Quit this city, or I will hang
thee. My brother replied, I hear and obey: — and went forth to one of the surround-
ing cities. Some robbers, however, came upon him, and stripped and beat him, and
cut off his ears : and I, having heard of his situation, went forth to him, taking to
him some clothes; and brought him back privily into the city, and supplied him with
daily food and drink.
THE BARBER'S STORY OF HIS SIXTH BROTHER.
My sixth brother (Shacabac), Prince of the Faithful, had his lips cut off. He
was in a state of extreme poverty, possessing nothing of the goods of this perishable
world ; and he went forth one day to seek for something with which to stay his de-
parting spirit, and on his way he beheld a handsome house, with a wide and lofty
vestibule, at the door of which were servants, commanding and forbidding; where-
upon he inquired of one of the persons standing there, who answered. This house
belongeth to a man of the sons of the Barmecides. My brother, therefore, advanced
to the doorkeepers, and begged them to give him something ; and they said. Enter
the door of the house, and thou wilt obtain what thou desircst of its master. So he
entered the vestibule, and proceeded through it a while until he arrived at a mansion
of the utmost beauty and elegance, having a garden in the midst of it, unsurpassed
in beauty by anything that had ever been seen : its floors were paved with marble,
and its curtains were hanging around. He knew not jn which direction to go ; but
advanced to the upper extremity; and there he beheld a man of handsome counte-
nance and beard, who, on seeing my brother, rose to him, and welcomed him, in-
quiring respecting his circumstances. He accordingly informed him that he was in
want ; and when the master of the house heard his words, he manifested excessive
grief, and, taking hold of his own clothes, rent them, and exclaimed. Am I in the
city, and thou in it hungry? It is a thing I cannot endure ! — Then promising him
every kind of happiness, he said, Thou must stay and partake of my salt. But my
brother replied, my master, I have not patience to wait; for I am in a state of
extreme hunger.
Upon this, the master of the house called out. Boy, bring the basin and ewer! —
and he said, my guest, advance, and wash thy hands. He then performed the
same motions as if he were washing his hands; and called to his attendants to brin»
the table; whereupon they began to come and go as though they were preparing it;
after which the master of the house took my brother, and sat down with him at this
imaginary table, and proceeded to move his hands and lips as if he were eatin"-;
saying to my brother. Eat, and be not ashamed, for thou art hungry, and I know
how thou art suffering from the violence of thy hunger. My brother, therefore,
made the same motions, as if he also were eating, while his host said to him. Eat,
and observe this bread and its whiteness. To this, my brother at first made no
reply; but observed in his own mind. Verily this is a man who loveth to jest with
others : — so he said to him, my master, in my life I have never seen bread more
beautifully white than this, or any of sweeter taste. On which the host rejoined,
This was made by a female slave of mine whom I purchased for five hundred pieces
of gold. He then called out. Boy, bring to us the dish the like of which is not found
among the viands of Kings I — and, addressing my brother, he said. Eat, my guest,
for thou art hungry, vehemently so, and in absolute want of food. So my brother
began to twist about his mouth, and to chew, as in eating. The master of the house
uow proceeded to demand different kinds of viands, one after another; and, though
tjothing was brought, he continued ordering my brother to eat. Next he called out,
166 THE barber's story of his sixth brother.
Boy, place before us the chickens stuffed with pistachio-nuts: — and said to his guest,
Eat that of which thou hast never tasted the like. ray master, replied my brother,
verily this dish hath not its equal in sweetness of flavour: — and the host, thereupon
began to put his hand to my brother's mouth as though he were feeding him with
morsels ; and proceeded to enumerate to him the various kinds of viands, and to de-
scribe their several excellences; while his hunger so increased that he longed for a
cake of barley-bread. The master of the house then said to him, Hast thou tasted
anything more delicious than the spices in these dishes? No, my master, answered
my brother. Eat more then, resumed the host; and be not ashamed. — I have eaten
enough of the meats, replied the guest. So the man of the house called to his at-
tendants to bring the sweets ; and they moved their hands about in the air as if they
were bringing them ; whereupon the host said to my brother. Eat of this dish, for it
is excellent : and of these cakes, by my life ! and take this one before the syrup runs
from it. — May I never be deprived of thee, my master ! exclaimed my brother,
proceeding to inquire of him respecting the abundance of musk in the cake. — This,
answered the host, is my usual custom in my house: they always put for me, in each
of the cakes, a mithkal' of musk, and half a mithkal of ambergris. — All this time
my brother was moving his head and mouth, and rolling about his tongue between
his cheeks as if he were enjoying the sweets. After this, the master of the house
called out to his attendants. Bring the dried fruits ? — and again they moved about
their hands in the air as though they were doing what he ordered ; when he said to
my brother, Eat of these almonds, and of these walnuts, and of these raisins ; — and
so on, enumerating the various kinds of dried fruits ; and added again. Eat, and be
not ashamed. — my master, replied my brother, I have had enough, and have not
power to eat anything more ; — but the host rejoined, If thou desire, my guest, to
eat more, and to delight thyself with extraordinary dainties, by Allah! by Allah!
remain not hungry.
My brother now reflected upon his situation, and upon the manner in which this
man was jesting with him, and said within himself, By Allah, I will do to him a
deed that shall make him repent before God of these actions ! The man of the house
next said to his attendants. Bring us the wine: — and, as before, they made the same
motions with their hands in the air as if they were doing what he commanded ; after
which he pretended to hand to my brother a cup, saying. Take this cup, for it will
delight thee : — and his guest replied, my master, this is of thy bounty : — and he
acted with his hand as though he were drinking it. — Hath it pleased thee ? said the
host. — my master, answered my brother, I have never seen anything more delicious
than this wine. — Drink, then, rejoined the master of the house, and may it be atten-
ded with benefit and health: — and he himself pretended to drink, and to hand a
second cup to my brother, who, after he had affected to drink it, feigned himself
intoxicated, and, taking his host unawares, raised his hand until the whiteness of
his arm-pit appeared, and struck him such a slap upon his neck that the chamber
rang at the blow ; and this he followed by a second blow ; whereupon the man
exclaimed. What is this, thou vilest of the creation? — my master, answered my
brother, I am thy slave whom thou hast graciously admitted into thine abode, and
thou hast fed him with thy provisions, and treated him with old wine, and he hath
become intoxicated, and committed an outrage upon thee ; but thou art of too exalted
dignity to be angry with him for his ignorance.
When the master of the house heard these words of my brother, he uttered a loud
laugh, and said to him, Verily for a long time have I made game of men, and jested
with all persons accustomed to joking and rudeness, but I have not seen among them
any Avho could endure this trick, nor any who had sagacity to conform to all my
actions, excepting thee : now, therefore, I pardon thee ; and be thou mj* companion
in reality, and never relinquish me. He then gave orders to bring a number of the
'About seventy-two grains.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR. 169
dishes above mentioned, and he and my brother ate together to satisfaction ; after
which they removed to the drinking-chamber, where female slaves like so many
moons sang all kinds of melodies, and played on all kinds of musical instruments.
There they drank until intoxication overcame them : the master of the house treated
my brother as a familiar friend, became greatly attached to him, and clad him with
a costly dress ; and on the following morning they resumed their feasting and drink-
ing. Thus they continued to live for a period of twenty years: the man then died,
and the Sultan seized upon his property, and took possession of it.
My brother, upon this, went forth from the city, a fugitive ; and upon his way, a
party of Arabs came upon him. They made him a captive ; and the man who cap-
tured him tortured him with beating, and said to him, By Allah, purchase thyself
of me by wealth, or I will kill thee: — but my brother, weeping, replied, By Allah, I
possess nothing, sheikh of the Arabs ; nor do I know the means of obtaining any
property : I am thy captive ; I have fallen into thy hands, and do with me what thou
wilt. And immediately the tyrannical Bedouin drew forth from his girdle a broad-
bladed knife (such as, if plunged into the neck of a camel, would cut it across from
one jugular vein to the other), and, taking it in his right hand, approached my poor
brother, and cutoff with it his lips; still urging his demand. — Now this Bedouin
had a handsome wife, who, when he was absent, used to manifest a strong affection
for my brother; though he observed a proper decorum towards her, fearing God
(whose name be exalted !) ; and it happened, one day, that she had called him, and
seated him with her ; but while they were together, lo, her husband came in upon
them ; and when he beheld my brother, he exclaimed, Wo to thee, thou base wretch!
Dost thou desire now to corrupt my wife? — Then drawing his knife, he inflicted
upon him another cruel wound ; after which he mounted him upon a camel, and,
having cast him upon a mountain, left him there, and went his way. Some travel-
lers, however, passed by him, and when they discovered him, they gave him food
and drink, and acquainted me with his case : so I went forth to him, and conveyed
him back into the city, and allotted him a suflBcient maintenance.
Now I have come unto thee, Prince of the Faithful, continued the barber, and
feared to return to my house without relating to thee these facts; for to neglect
doing so had been an error. Thus thou hast seen that, although having six brothers,
I am of a more upright character than they. — But when the Prince of the Faithful
had heard my story, and all that I had related to him respecting my brothers, he
laughed, and said. Thou hast spoken truth, Samit (0 silent man) ; thou art a per-
son of few words, and devoid of impertinence ; now, however, depart from this city,
and take up thine abode in another. So he banished me from Bagdad ; and I
journeyed through various countries, and traversed many regions, until I heard of
his death, and of the succession of another Caliph, when, returning to my city, I met
with this young man, unto whom I did the best of deeds, and who, had it not been
for me, had been slain : yet he hath accused me of that which is not in my character;
for all that he hath related of me, with respect to impertinence, and loquacity, and
dulness, and want of taste, is false, people.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY TOLD BY THE TAILOR.
The tailor then proceeded thus: — When we heard the story of the barber, and
were bonvinced of his impertinence and loquacity, and that the young man had been
treated unjustly by him, we seizru hold upon him, and put him in confinement, and,
seating ourselves to keep watch over him, ate and drank ; and the feast was finished
In the most agreeable Mvanner. We remained sitting together until the call to after-
noon-prayers, when I went forth, and returned to my house ; but my wife looked
angrily at me, and said, Thou hast been all the day enjoying thy pleasure while I
have been sitting at home sorrowful ; now if thou go not forth with me, and amuse
170 CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE HUMPBACK.
me for the remainder of the day, thy refusal will be the cause of my separation from
thee. So I took her, and went out with her, and we amused ourselves until nightfall,
when, returning home, we met this humpback, full of drink, and repeating verses;
upon which I invited him to come home with us, and he consented. I then went
forth to buy some fried fish, and having bought it and returned, we sat down to eat;
and my wife took a morsel of bread and a piece of fish, and put them into his mouth,
and choked him, so that he died ; whereupon I took him up, and contrived to throw
him into the house of this physician, and he contrived to throw him into the house
of the steward, and the steward contrived to throw him in the way of the broker.—
This is the story of what happened to me yesterday. Is it not more wonderful than
that of the humpback ?
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF THE HUMPBACK.
When the King had heard this story, he ordered certain of his chamberlains to
go with the tailor, and to bring the barber ; saying to them. His presence is indis-
pensable, that I may hear his talk, and it may be the cause of the deliverance of you
all ; then we will bury this humpback decently in the earth, for he hath been dead
since yesterday ; and we will make him a monument round his grave, since he hath
been the occasion of our acquaintance with these wonderful stories.
The chamberlains and the tailor soon came back, after having gone to the place
of confinement and brought the barber, whom they placed before the King; and
when the King beheld him, he saw him to be an old man, past his ninetieth year,
of dark countenance, and white beard and eyebrows, with small ears, and long nose,
and a haughty aspect. The King laughed at the sight of him, and said to him, O
silent man, I desire that thou relate to me somewhat of thy stories. — King of the
age, replied the barber, what is the occasion of the presence of this Christian and
this Jew and this Mahometan, and this humpback lying dead among you ; and what
is the reason of this assembly? — Wherefore dost thou ask this? said the King. The
barber answered, I ask it in order that the King may know me to be no impertinent
person nor one who meddleth with that which doth not concern him, and that I am
free from the loquacity of which they accuse me: for I am fortunate in my charac-
teristic appellation, since they have surnamed me the Silent. The King therefore
said. Explain to the barber the case of this humpback, and what happened to him
yesterday evening, and explain to him also what the Christian hath related, and the
Jew, and the steward, and the tailor. So they repeated to him the stories of all
these persons.
The barber, thereupon, shook his head, saying. By Allah, this is a wonderful
thing! Uncover this humpback, that I may examine him. — And they did so. He
then seated himself at his head, and taking it up, placed it upon his lap, and looked
at his face, and laughed so violently that he fell backwards, exclaiming, For every
death there is a cause: and the death of this humpback is most wonderful : it is
worthy of being registered in the records, that posterity may be instructed by this
event ! — The King, astonished at his words, said, Samit, explain to us the reason
of thy saying this. — King, replied the barber, by thy beneficence, life is yet in the
humpback! He then drew forth from his bosom a pot containing some ointment,
and with this he anointed the neck of the humpback ; after which he covered it up
until it perspired ; when he took forth an iron forceps, and put it down his throat,
and extracted the piece of fish with its bone, and ail the people saw them. The
humpback now sprang upon his feet, and sneezed, and, recovering his consciousness,
drew his hands over his face, and exclaimed. There is no deity but God ! Mahomet
is God's Apostle ! God favour and preserve him ! — and all who were present were
astonished at the sight, and the King laughed until he became insensible ; as did
also the other spectators. The King exclaimed, By Allah, this accident is wonderful !
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OP THE HUMPBACK.
171
The Barber extracting the bone from the throat of the Humpback.
I have never vritnessed anything more strange ! and added, Believers ! assembly
of soldiers ! have ye ever in the course of your lives seen any one die and after that
come to life ? But had not God blessed him -with this barber, the humpback had
been to-day numbered among the people of the other world : for the barber hath
been the means of restoring him to life. They replied, This is indeed a wonderful
thing !
The Ring then gave orders to record this event ; and -when they had done so, he
placed the record in the royal library ; after which, he bestowed dresses of honour
upon the Jew and the Christian and the steward; upon each of them a costly dress;
the tailor he appointed to be his own tailor, granting him regular allowances, and
reconciling him and the humpback with each other: the humpback he honoured
with a rich and beautiful dress, and with similar allowances, and appointed him his
cup-companion : and upon the barber also he conferred the like favours, rewarding
him with a costly dress of honour, regular allowances, and a fixed salary, and ap-
pointing him state-barber, and his own cup-companion; so they all lived in the
n«most happiness and comfort until they were visited by the terminator of delights
and the separator of friends.
172 NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
CHAPTER VI.
Commencing with part of the Thirty-second Night, and ending with part of the Thirty-sixth.
THE STORY OF NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
There was, in Balsora, a certain king who loved the poor and indigent, and re-
garded his subjects with benerolence f be bestowed of his wealth upon him who be-
lieved in Mahomet.
The name of this King was Mohammed the son of Suleiman Zeini ; and he
had two Viziers, one of whom was named Movrein the son of Saouy ; and the
other Fadladdin the son of Khacan. Fadladdin the son of Khacan was the
most generous of the people of his age, uprighu in conduct, so that all hearts agreed
in loving him, and the wise complied with his counsel, and all the people supplicated
for him length of life : for he was a person of auspicious aspect, a preventer of evil
and mischief: but the Vizier Mowein the Son of Saouy hated others, and loved not
good: he was a man of inauspicious aspect; and in the same degree that the people
loved Fadladdin the son of Khacan, so did they abhor Mowein the son of Saouy, in
accordance with the decree of the Almighty.
Now the King Mohammed the son of Suleiman Zeini was sitting one day upon
his throne, surrounded by the officers of his court, and he called to his Vizier Fad-
laddin the son of Khacan, and said to him, I desire a female slave unsurpassed in
beauty by any in her age, of perfect loveliness, and exquisite symmetry, and en-
dowed with all praiseworthy qualities. — Such as this, replied his courtiers, is not to
be found for less than ten thousand pieces of gold. And the Sultan thereupon called
out to the treasurer, saying, Carry ten thousand pieces of gold to the house of Fad-
laddin the son of Khacan. So the treasurer did as he commanded, and the Vizier
departed, after the Sultan had ordered him to repair every day to the market, and
to commission the brokers to procure what he had described, and had commanded
also that no female slave of a greater price than one thousand pieces of gold should
be sold without having been shown to the Vizier.
The brokers, therefore, sold no female slave, without showing her to him, and he
complied with the King's command, and thus he continued to do for a considerable
time, no slave pleasing him ; but on a certain day one of the brokers came to the
mansion of the Vizier Fadladdin, and found that he had mounted to repair to the
palace of the King. He said, my master, the female slave for the procuring of
whom the noble mandate was issued hath arrived. The Vizier replied. Bring her
hither to me. So the man returned, and, after a short absence, came again, accom-
panied by a damsel of elegant stature, high-bosomed, with black eyelashes, and
smooth check, and slender waist, and large hips, clad in the handsomest apparel;
the moisture of her lips was sweeter than sirop ; her figure put to shame the branches
of the Oriental willow ; and her speech was more soft than the zephyr passing
over the flowers of the garden.
When the Vizier beheld her, she pleased him extremely, and he looked towards
thn broker, and said to him, What is the price of this damsel? The broker an-
swered. The price bidden for her hath amounted to ten thousand pieces of gold, and
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS. 173
her owner hath sworn that this sum doth not equal the cost of the chickens which
ehe hath eaten, nor the cost of the dresses which she hath bestowed upon her
teachers ; for she hath learnt writing and grammar and lexicography, and the in-
terpretation of the Koran, and the fundamentals of law and religion, and medicine,
and the computation of the calendar, and the art of playing upon musical instru-
ments. The Vizier then said. Bring to me her master ; — and the broker immedia-
tely brought him ; and lo, he was a foreigner, who had lived so long that time had
reduced him to bones and skin.
And the Vizier said to him. Art thou content to receive for this damsel ten thou-
sand pieces of gold from the Sultan Mohammed the son of Suleiman Zeini ? The
foreigner answered. As she is for the Sultan, it is incumbent on me to give her as
a present to him, without price. So the Vizier, upon this, ordered that the money
should be brought, and then weighed the pieces of gold for the foreigner ; after
which, the slave-broker addressed the Vizier, and said. With the permission of our
lord the Vizier, I will speak. — Impart what thou hast to say, replied the Vizier. It
is my opinion then, said the broker, that thou shouldst not take up this damsel to
the Sultan to-day: for she hath just arrived from her journey, and the change of air
bath affected her, and the journey hath fatigued her; but rather let her remain with
thee in thy palace ten days, that she may take rest, and her beauty will improve ;
then cause her to be taken into the bath, and attire her in clothes of the handsomest
description, and go up with her to the sultan : so shalt thou experience more abun-
dant good fortune. The Vizier considered the advice of the slave-broker, and ap-
proved of it. He therefore took her into his palace, and gave her a private apart-
ment to herself, allotting her every day what she required of food and drink and
other supplies, and she continued a while in this state of enjoyment.
Now the Vizier Fadladdin had a son like the shining full moon, with brilliant
countenance, and red check, marked with a mole like a globule of ambergris, and
with grey down. The youth knew not of this damsel, and his father had charged
her, saying, Know that I have purchased thee for the King Mohammed the son of
Suleiman Zeini, and that I have a son who hath not left a girl in the quarter without
making love to her ; therefore keep thyself concealed from him, and beware of
showing him thy face, or suffering him to hear thy voice. The damsel replied, I
hear and obey : — and he left her and departed. And it happened as fate had or-
dained, that she went one day into the bath which was in the house, and, after cer-
tain of the female slaves hath bathed her, she attired herself in rich apparel, and
her beauty and loveliness increased in consequence. She then went in to the Vizier's
wife, and kissed her hand, and she said to her. May it be favourable, Enis Eljelis!
How didst thou find this bath ? — my mistress, she answered, I wanted nothing
but thy presence there. And upon this, the mistress of the house said to the female
slaves, Arise, and let us go into the bath. And they complied with her command,
and went accompanied by their mistress, who first charged two young slave-girls to
keep the door of the private apartment in which was the fair Eljelis, saying to
them, Suffer no one to go in to the damsel: — and they replied. We hear and obey.
But while Enis was sitting in her chamber, lo, the Vizier's son, whose name was
Noureddin Ali, came in, and asked after his mother and the family. The two girls
answered, They are gone into the bath. Now the fair Enis heard the speech of
Noureddin Ali as she sat in her chamber, and she said within herself, I wonder
what this youth is like, of whom the Vizier hath told me that he hath not left a girl
in the quarter without making love to her; by Allah, I have a desire to see him !
She then rose upon her feet, fresh as she was from the bath, and approaching the
ioor of the chamber, looked at Noureddin Ali, and beheld him to be a youth like
the full moon. The sight of him occasioned her a thousand sighs ; and a look from
the youth, at her, affected him also in the same manner. Each was caught in the
snare of the other's love, and the youth approached the two slave-girls, and cried
out at them ; whereupon they fled from before him, and stopped at a distance, look-
174
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
ing to see what he would do. He then advanced to the door of the chamber, and,
opening it, went in, and said to the damsel, Art thou she whom my father hath pur-
chased for me? She an-
swered, Yes. And upon this,
the youth, who was in a state
of intoxication, went up to
her, and embraced her, while
she in like manner, threw her
arms around his neck, and
kissed him. But the two
slave-girls, having seen their
young master enter the cham-
ber of the damsel, cried out.
The youth, therefore, soon
ran forth, and fled for safety,
fearing the consequence of
his intrusion ; and when the
mistress of the house heard
the cry of the two slave-girls,
she came out dripping from
the bath, saying, What is the
cause of this cry in the house?
And when she drew near to
the slave-girls whom she had
placed at the door of the
private chamber, she said to
them, Wo to you ! What is
the matter? — They answered,
as soon as they beheld her.
Our master Noureddin Ali
came to us and beat us, and we fled from him, and he went into the chamber of
Enis Eljelis, and when we cried out to thee he fled. The mistress of the house then
went to the fair Eljelis, and said to her. What is the news ? — my mistress, she
answered, as I was sitting here, a youth of handsome person came in to me, and
said to me. Art thou she whom my father hath purchased for me ? — and I answered,
Yes. — By Allah, my mistress, I believed that what he said was true ; and he
came up to me and embraced me, and kissed me three times, and left me overcome
by his love.
Upon this the mistress of the house wept and slapped her face, and her female
slaves did the like, fearing for Noureddin Ali, lest his father should slay him ; and
while they were in this state, lo, the Vizier came in, and inquired what had hap-
pened. His wife said to him. Swear that thou wilt listen to that which I shall say.
He replied. Well. So she told him what his son had done ; and he mourned, and
rent his clothes, and slapped his face, and plucked his beard. His wife then said to
him. Kill not thyself, I will give thee, of my own property, ten thousand pieces of
gold, her price. — But upon this, he raised his head towards her, and said to her, Wo
to thee ! I want not her price ; but I fear the loss of my life and property. Where-
fore, my master ? she asked, — Knowest thou not, said he, that we have this enemy
Mowein the son of Saouy ? When he heareth of this event, he will repair to the
Sultan, and say to him. Thy Vizier, whom thou imaginest that he loveth thee, hath
received from thee ten thousand pieces of gold, and purchased therewith a female
slave such as no one hath seen equalled, and when she pleased him, he said to his
son. Take her; for thou art more worthy of her than the Sultan : and he took her;
and the damsel is now with him. — Then the King will say. Thou liest. And he will
Bay to the King, With thy permission, I will break in upon him suddenly, and bring
Noureddin embracing the Slave.
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS. 175
her to thee. And he will give him permission to do so; he will therefore make a
Budden attack upon the house, and take the damsel, and conduct her into the presence
of the Sultan, and he will question her, and she will not be able to deny : he will
then say, ray lord, I give thee good counsel, but I am not in favour with you : —
and the Sultan will make an example of me, and all the people will make me a
gazing-stock, and my life will be lost. His wife, however, replied. Acquaint no one-
for this thing hath happened privily : commit, therefore, thine affair unto God, in
this extremity. And upon this, the heart of the Vizier was quieted, and his mind
was relieved.
Such was the case of the Vizier. — Now, as to Noureddin, he feared the result of
his conduct, and so passed each day in the gardens, not returning to his mother
until towards the close of the night : he then slept in her apartment, and arose before
morning without being seen by any one else. Thus he continued to do for the space
of a month, not seeing the face of his father ; and at length his mother said to his
father, my master, wilt thou lose the damsel and lose the child ? For if it long
continue thus with the youth, he will flee his country. — And what is to be done?
said he. She answered. Sit up this night, and when he cometh, lay hold upon him,
and be reconciled to him, and give him the damsel ; for she loveth him, and he
loveth her ; and I will give thee her price. So the Vizier sat up the whole night,
and when his son came, he laid hold upon him, and would have cut his throat ; but
his mother came to his succour, and said to her husband, What dost thou desire to
do unto him? He answered her, I desire to slay him. The youth then said to his
father, Am I of so small account in thy estimation? And upon this, the eyes of his
father filled with tears, and he said to him, my son, is the loss of my property and
my life of small account with thee ? — Listen, my father, rejoined the youth : and
he implored his forgiveness. So the Vizier arose from the breast of his son, and
was moved with compassion for him ; and the youth arose, and kissed his father's
hand ; and the Vizier said, my son, if I knew that thou wouldst att equitably to
Enis Eljelis, 1 would give her to thee. — my father, replied the youth, wherefore
should I not act equitably towards her ? And his father said, I charge thee, my
son, that thou take not a wife to share her place, and that thou do her no injury, nor
sell her. He replied, my father, I swear to thee that I will neither take a wife to
share her place, nor sell her: — and he promised him by oaths to act as he had said,
and took up his abode with the damsel, and remained with her a year ; and God
(whose name be exalted!) caused the King to forget the affair of the female slave;
but the matter became known to Mowein the son of Saouy ; yet he could not speak
of it on account of the high estimation in which the other Vizier was held by the
Sultan.
After this year had expired, the Vizier Fadladdin the son of Khacan entered the
bath, and came out in a state of excessive perspiration, in consequence of which the
external air smote him, so that he became confined to his bed, and long remained
sleepless ; and his malady continued unremittingly; so he called, thereupon, his son
Noureddin Ali, and when he came before him, said to him, my son, verily the
means of life are apportioned, and its period is decreed, and every soul must drink
the cup of death. I have nothing with which to charge thee but the fear of God,
and forethought with regard to the results of thine actions, and that thou conduct
thyself kindly to the damsel Enis Eljelis. — my father, said the youth, who is like
unto thee ? Thou hast been celebrated for virtuous actions, and the praying of the
preachers for thee on the pulpits. — my son, rejoined the Vizier, I hope for the ap-
probation of God, whose name be exalted ! And then he pronounced the two pro-
fessions of the faith, and uttered a sigh, and was recorded among the company of
the blessed. And upon this, the palace was filled with shrieking, and the news
reached the ears of the Sultan, and the people of the city heard of the death of
Fadladdin the son of Khacan, and even the boys in the schools wept for him. His
son Noureddin Ali arose and prepared his funeral, and the Emirs and Viziers and
176 NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
other officers of the state attended it, and among them was the Vizier Mowein the
son of Saouy.
Noureddin Ali for a long time remained in a state of violent grief for the loss of
his father ; but as he -was sitting one day in his father's house, a person knocked at
the door, and he rose up and opened it, and lo, there was a man who was one of his
father's intimate companions, and he kissed the hand of Noureddin, and said to
him, my master, he who hath left a sun like thee hath not died. This is the des-
tination of the lord of the first and the last among mankind. my master, cheer
up thy heart, and give over mourning. — And upon this, Noureddin Ali arose, and
went to the guest-chamber, and removed thither all that he required, and his com-
panions came together to him, and he took again his slave. Ten of the sons of the
merchants became his associates, and he gave entertainment after entertainment,
and began to be lavish with presents. His steward thereforp, came into him, and
said to him, my master Noureddin, hast thou not heard the saying. He who ex-
pendeth and doth not calculate is reduced to poverty ? This profuse expenditure,
and these magnificent presents, will annihilate the property. — But when Noureddin
Ali heard these words of his steward, he looked at him, and replied. Of all that thou
hast said to me, I will not attend to one word. Know, steward, that if there re-
main in thy hands what will suffice for my dinner, thou shalt not burden me with
anxiety respecting my supper. So the steward left him, and went his way ; and
Noureddin Ali resumed his habits of extravagant generosity : whenever any one of
his companions said. Verily this thing is beautiful ! — he would reply. It is a present
to thee: And if any said, my master, verily such a house is delightful ! — he would
reply, It is a present to thee.
He ceased not to give entertainments to his companions from the commencement
of day, one after another, until he had passed in this manner a whole year ; after
which, as he was sitting with them, a person knocked at the door: so Noureddin
arose, and one of his companions followed him without his knowledge ; and when
he opened the door, he beheld his steward, and said to him. What is the news ? —
my master, answered the steward, that which I feared on thy account hath happened
to thee. — How is that ? asked Noureddin. The steward, answered. Know that there
remaineth not of thy property in my hands anything equivalent to a piece of silver ;
or less than a piece of silver; and these are the accounts of thy expenses, and of
thy original property. When Noureddin Ali heard these words, he hung down his
head towards the ground, and exclaimed. There is no strength nor power but in
God ! And the man who had followed him secretly to pry into his case, as soon as
he heard what the steward told him, returned to his companions, and said to them,
See what ye will do ; for Noureddin Ali hath become a bankrupt. So when Nou-
reddin returned to them, grief appeared to them in his countenance, and immediately
one of them rose, and, looking towards him, said to him, my master, I desire that
thou wouldst permit me to depart. — Why thus depart to-day? said Noureddin. His
guest answered. My wife is to give birth to a child this night, and it is impossible
for me to be absent from her : I desire theref )re, to go and see her. And he gave
him leave. Then another arose, and said to him, my master Noureddin, I desire
to-day to visit my brother ; fur he celebrateth the circumcision of his son. Thus
each of them asked leave of him deceitfully, and went his way, until all had
departed.
So Noureddin Ali remained alone; and he called his slave-girl, and said to her,
Enis Eljelis, seest thou not what hath befallen me ? And he related to her what
the steward had told him. She replied, my master, for some nights past, I have
been anxious to speak to thee of this affair ; but I heard thee reciting the two verses
of poetry.
When fortune is liberal to thee, be thou liberal to all others before she escape from thee :
For liberality will not annihilate thy wealth when she is favourable : nor avarice preserve it
when she deserteth thee.
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS. 177
And when I heard thee repeat them. I was silent, and would not make any .-.'mark
to thee. — Enis Eljelis, he rejoined, thou knowest that I have not expended my
wealth but on mj companions; and I do not think that they will abandon me with-
out relief. — By Allah, said she, they will be of no use to thee. But he said, I will
immediately arise and go to them, and knock at the doors of their houses: per-
haps I shall obtain from them something which I will employ as a capital where-
with to trade, and I will cease from diversion and sport. So he arose instantly, and
proceeded without stopping until he arrived at the by-street in which his ten com-
panions resided ; for they all ftved in that same street ; and he advanced to the first
door, and knocked ; and there came forth to him a slave-girl, who said to him, Who
art thou ? He answered. Say to thy master, — Noureddin Ali is standing at the door,
and saith to thee. Thy slave kisseth thy hands, looking for a favour from thee. — And
the girl entered, and acquainted her master; but he called out to her, saying. Re-
turn and tell him, He is not here. — The girl, therelore, returned to Noureddin, and
said to him, My master, Sir, is not here. — And he went on, saying within himself.
If this is a knave, and hath denied himself, another is not. He then advanced to
the next door, and said as he had before; and the second also denied himself; and
Noureddin exclaimed, By Allah, I must try all of them: perchance one of them
may stand me in the place of all the others. And he went round to all the ten ;
but found that not one of them would open the door, or show himself, or even order
him a cake of bread.
He then returned to his slave; his anxiety had increased, and she said to him,
my master, said I not unto thee that they would not profit thee? — By Allah, he
replied, not one of them showed me his face. — my master, rejoined she, sell oflF
the movables of the house a little at a time, and expend the produce. And he did
so until he had sold all that was in the house, and there remained nothing in his
possession ; and upon this he looked towards the fair Enis, and said to her. What
shall we do now? — It is my advice, my master, she answered, that thou arise im-
mediately, and take me to the market, and sell me : for thou knowest that thy father
purchased me for ten thousand pieces of gold, and perhaps God may open to thee a
way to obtain a part of this price: and if God have decreed our reunion we shall
meet again. But he replied, Enis Eljelis, it is not easy for me to endure thy sepa-
ration for one hour. — Nor is the like easy to me, said she ; but necessity is imperious.
And upon this, he took the fair Eljelis, his tears flowing down his cheeks, and went
and delivered her to the broker, saying to him. Know the value of that which thou
art to cry for sale. — my master Noureddin, replied the broker, noble qualities are
held in remembrance. Is she not Enis Eljelis, whom thy father purchased of me
for ten thousand pieces of gold? — He answered. Yes. And the broker thereupon
went to the merchants ; but he found that they had not all yet assembled : so he
waited till the rest had come, and the market was filled with all varieties of female
slaves, Turkish and Greek and Circassian and Georgian and Abyssinian ; and when
he beheld its crowded state he arose and exclaimed, merchants I possessors of
wealth ! every thing that is round is not a nut; nor is every thing long a banana;
nor is every thing that is red, meat ; nor is every thing white, fat ; nor is every thing
that is ruddy, wine; nor is every thing tawny a date! merchants! this precious
pearl, whose value no money can equal, with what sum will ye open the bidding fur
her? — And one of the merchants answered, With four thousand and five hundred
pieces of gold.
But lo, the Vizier Mowein the son of Saouy was in the market, and, seeing Nnu-
reddin Ali standing there, he said within himself. What doth he want here, having
nothing left wherewith to purchase female slaves? Then casting his eyes around,
and hearing the broker as he stood crying in the market with the merchants around
him, he said within himself, I do not imagine anything else than that he hath be
come a bankrupt, and come forth with the slave-girl to sell her ; and if this be the
12
178 NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
case, how pleasant to my heart! He then called the crier, who approached him,
and kissed the ground before him ; and the Vizier said to him, I desire this female
slave whom thou art crying for sale. The broker, therefore, being unable to oppose
his wish, brought the slave and placed her before him ; and when he beheld her,
and considered her charms, her elegant figure and her soft speech, he was delighted
with her, and said to the broker, To what has the bidding for her amounted ? The
broker answered, Four thousand and five hundred pieces of gold. And as soon as
the merchants heard this, not one of them could bid another piece of silver or of
gold ; but all of them receded, knowing the tyrannical conduct of that Vizier.
Mowein the scm of Saouy then, looked towards the broker, and said to him, Why
standest thou still ? Take away the slave-girl for me at the price of four thousand
and five hundred pieces of gold, and thou wilt have five hundred for thyself. — So the
broker went to Noureddin Ali, and said to him, my master, the slave-girl is lost
to thee without price. How so? said Noureddin. The broker answered. We opened
the bidding for her at four thousand and five hundred pieces of gold ; but this
tyrant Mowein the son of Saouy came into the market, and when he beheld the
damsel, she pleased him, and he said to me, Ask her owner if he will agree for four
thousand pieces of gold, and five hundred for thee : — and I doubt not but he knoweth
that the slave belongeth to thee ; and if he give thee her price immediately, it will
be through the goodness of God ; but I know, from his injustice, that he will write
thee an order upon one of his agents for the money, and then send to them and
desire them to give thee nothing ; and every time that thou shalt go to demand it of
them, they will say to thee, To-morrow we will pay thee : — and they will not cease
to promise thee, and to defer from day to day, notwithstanding thy pride ; and Avhen
they are ovei'come by thy importunity they will say, Give us the written order: —
and as soon as they have received the paper from thee they will tear it in pieces: so
thou wilt lose the price of the slave.
When Noureddin, therefore, heard these words of the broker, he said to him,
What is to be done ? The broker answered, I will give thee a piece of advice, and
if thou receive it from me, thou wilt have better fortune. — What is it? asked Nou-
reddin. — That thou come to me immediately, answered the broker, while I am stand-
ing in the midst of the market, and take the slave-girl from me and give her a blow
with thy hand, and say to her. Wo to thee ! I have expiated my oath that I swore,
and brought thee to the market, because I swore to thee that thou shouldst be ex-
posed in the market, and that the broker should cry thee for sale. — If thou do this,
perhaps the trick will deceive him and the people, and they will believe that thou
tookest her not to the market but to expiate the oath. — This, replied Noureddin, is
the right counsel. So the broker returned into the midst of the market, and taking
hold of the hand of the slave-girl, made a sign to the Vizier Mowein the son of
Saouy, saying, my lord, this is her owner who hath just come. Then Noureddin
Ali advanced to the broker, and tore the damsel from him, and struck her with his
hand, saying to her. Wo to thee ! I have brought thee to the market for the sake of
expiating my oath. Go home, and disobey me not again. I want not thy price, th.at
I should sell thee; and if I sold the furniture of the house and everything else of
the kind over and over again, their produce would not amount to thy price. — But
when Mowein the son of Saouy beheld Noureddin, he said to him, Wo to thoe ! Ha&t
thou anything left to be sold or bought? — And he would have laid violent hand:*
upon him. The merchants then looked towards Noureddin (and they all loved him)
and he said to them. Here am I before you, and ye have all known his tyranny ! —
By Allah, exclaimed the Vizier, were it not for you, I had killed him ? Then all of
them made signs, one to another, with the eye, and said. Not one of us will interfere
between thee and him. And upon this, Noureddin went up to the Vizier, the son o(
Saouy (and Noureddin was a man of courage) and he dragged the Vizier from his
saddle, and threw him upon the ground. There was at that spot a kneading-place
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS. .179
for mud,' and the Vizier fell into the midst of it, and Noureddin beat him with hia
fist, and a blow fell upon his teeth, by which his beard became dyed with his blood.
Now there were with the Vizier ten mamlouks, and when they saw Noureddin treat
their master in this manner, they put their hands upon the hilts of their swords, and
would have fallen upon him and cut him in pieces; but the people said to them,
This is a Vizier, and this is the son of a Vizier, and perhaps they may make peace
with each other, and ye will incur the anger of both of them : or perhaps a blow
may fall upon your master, and ye will all of you die the most ignominious of deaths ;
it is advisable, therefore, that ye interfere not between them. And when Noureddin
Ali had ceased from beating the Vizier, he took his slave-girl, and returned to his
house.
The Vizier, the son of Saouy, then immediately arose, and his dress, which before
was white, was now dyed with three colours, the colour of mud, and the colour of
blood, and the colour of ashes ; and when he beheld himself in this condition, he
took a round mat, and hung it to his neck, and took in his hand two bundles of
coarse grass, and went and stood beneath the palace of the Sultan, and cried out,
King of the age ! I am oppressed ! So they brought him before the King, who looked
at him attentively, and saw that he was his Vizier Mowein, the son of Saouy. He
said, therefore, Who hath done thus unto thee? — and the Vizier cried and moaned.
my lord, he replied, thus is every one who loveth thee and serveth thee ;
these afflictions always befall him. And who, said the King again, hath done thus
unto thee? — Know, answered the Vizier, that I went forth to-day to the market of
the female slaves with the idea of buying a cook-maid, and saw in the market a slave-
girl the like of whom I had never in my life beheld, and the broker said that she
belonged to Noureddin. Now our lord the Sultan had given his father ten thousand
pieces of gold to buy for him with it a beautiful female slave, and he bought that
girl, and she pleased him ; so he gave her to his son ; and when his father died, the
son pursued the path of prodigality, until he sold all his houses and gardens and
utensils ; and when he had become a bankrupt, nothing else remaining in his pos-
session, he took the slave-girl to the market to sell her, and delivered her to the
broker: so he cried her for sale, and the merchants continued bidding for her until
her price amounted to four thousand pieces of gold ; whereupon I said to myself, I
will buy this for our Lord the Sultan : for her original price was from him. I there-
fore said, my son, receive her price, four thousand pieces of gold. But when he
heard my words, he looked at me and replied, ill-omened old man ! I will sell her
to the Jews and the Christians rather than to thee. — I then said to him, I would not
buy her for myself, but for our lord the Sultan, who is our benefactor. As soon,
however, as he had heard these words from me, he was filled with rage, and dragged
me, and threw me down from the horse, notwithstanding my advanced age, and beat
me, and ceased not to do so until he left me in the state in which thou seest me.
Nothing exposed me to all this ill treatment but my coming to purchase this slave-
girl for your Majesty. The Vizier then threw himself upon the ground, and lay
weeping and trembling.
Now when the Sultan beheld his condition, and had heard his speech, the vein of
anger swelled between his eyes, and he looked towards the members of his court
who were attending him ; whereupon forty swordsmen stood before him, and he said
to them. Descend immediately to the house of Ali the son of Fadladdin the son of
Khacan, and plunder it, and demolish it, and bring hither him and the slave-girl
with their hands bound beiiind them : drag them along upon their faces, and so
bring them before me. They replied. We hear and obey: — and went forth to repair
to the house of Noureddin Ali. But there was in the court of the Sultan, a chamber-
lain named Alameddin Sangiar, who had been one of the mamlouks of Fadladdin
the son of Khacan, the fiither of Noureddin : and when he heard the order of the
' In Arab towns mud is kneaded for making mortar.
180 NOUKEDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS
Sultan, and saw the enemies prepared U> slay his master's son, it was insupportable
to him ; so he mounted his horse, and proceeded to the house of Noureddin AH,
and knocked at the door. Noureddin came forth to him, and, when he saw him,
knew him, and would have saluted him ; but he s.iid, O my master, this is not a time
for salutation, nor for talkino;. Noureddin said, Alameddin, what is the news?
He replied. Save thyself by flight, thou and the slave-girl: for Mowein the son of
Saouy hath set up a snare for you, and if ye fall into his hands he will slay you :
the Sultan hath sent to you forty swordsmen, and it is my advice that ye fly before
the evil fall upon you. Then Sangiar stretched forth his hand to Noureddin with
some pieces of gold, and he counted them, and found them to be forty pieces, and he
said, my master, receive these, and if I had with me more, I would give it thee:
but this is not a time for expostulating. And upon this, Noureddin went in to the
damsel, and acquainted her with the occurrence, and she was confounded.
The two then went forth immediately from the city, and God let down the veil of
his protection upon them, and they proceeded to the bank of the river, where they
found a vessel ready to sail : the master was standing in the midst of it, and saying,
He who hath any thing to do, whether leave-taking or procuring provisions, or who
hath forgotten aught, let him do what he desireth and return; for we are going.
And they all replied. We have nothing remaining to do, master. So upon this,
the master said to his crew. Quick ! Loose the rope's end, and pull up the stake.
And Noureddin Ali exclaimed. Whither, master? He answered. To the Abode
of Peace, Bagdad. And Noureddin embarked, and the damsel with him, and they
set the vessel afloat, and spread the sails, and it shot along like a bird with its pair
of wings, carrying them forward with a favourable wind.
Meanwhile, the forty men whom the Sultan had sent came to the house of Nou-
reddin Ali, and broke open the doors and entered, and searched all the chambers,
but without success: so they demolished the house, and returned, and acquainted
the Sultan, who said. Search for them in every place, where they may be: — and they
replied. We hear and obey. The Vizier Mowein the son of Saouy then descended to
his house, after the Sultan had invested him with a robe of honour, and had said to
him. None shall take vengeance for thee but myself. And he greeted the King with
a prayer for long life, and his heart was set at ease : and the Sultan gave orders to
proclaim throughout the city, all ye people ! our lord the Sultan hath commanded
that whoever shall meet with Noureddin, and bring him to the Sultan, shall be
invested with a robe of honour, and he will give him a thousand pieces of gold ; and
he who shall conceal him or know where he is, and not give information thereof,
will merit the exemplary punishment that shall befixU him ! So all the people
began to search for him : but could not trace him. — Such was the case with these
people.
Now as to Noureddin and his slave, they arrived in safety at Bagdad, and the
master of the vessel said to them. This is Bagdad, and it is a city of security
winter with its cold hath departed from it, and the spring-quarter hath come with
its roses, and its trees are in blossom, and its waters are flowing. And upon this,
Noureddin Ali landed with his slave-girl, and gave the master five pieces of gold.
They then walked a little way, and destiny cast them among the gardens, and they
came to a place which they found swept and sprinkled, with long seats, and pota
suspended filled with water, and over it was a covering of trellis-work of canes ex-
tending along the whole length of a lane, at the upper end of which was the gate
of a garden ; but this was shut. And Noureddin said to the damsel. By Allah, this
is a pleasant place ! — and she replied, my master, let us sit down a while upon one
of these seats. So they mounted and seated themselves there, and they washed
their faces and hands, and enjoyed the current of the zephyr, and slept. — Glory be
to him who sleepeth not!
This garden was called the Garden of Delight, and in it was a palace called the
Palace of Diversion, and it belonged to the Caliph Uaroun Alrashid, who, when his
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS. 183
heart was contracted, used to come to this garden, and enter the palace above-men-
tioned, and there sit. The Palace had eighty latticed windows, and eighty lamps
were suspended in it, and in the midst of it was a great candlestick of gold ; and
when the Caliph entered it, he commanded the female slaves to open the windows,
and ordered Ishak the cup-companion to sing with them ; so his heart became dilated,
and his anxiety ceased. There was a superintendent to the garden, an old man,
named the sheikh Ibrahim ; and it happened that he went forth once to transact
some business, and found there persons diverting themselves with women of suspi-
cious character, whereupon he was violently enraged, and having waited until the
Caliph came thither some days after, he acquainted him with this occurrence, and
the Caliph said. Whomsoever thou shalt find at the gate of the garden, do with him
what thou wilt. Now on this day the sheikh Ibrahim went out to transact an affair
of business, and found the two sleeping at the garden-gate, covered with a single
izar; and he said. Do not these two persons know that the Caliph hath given me
permission to kill every one whom I find here ? But I will only give these two a
slight beating, that no one may again approach the gate of the garden. He then
cut a green palm-stick, and went forth to them, and raised his hand until the white-
ness of his arm-pit appeared, and was about to beat them ; but he reflected in his
mind, and said, Ibrahim, how shouldst thou beat them when thou knowest not
their case ? They may be two strangers, or of the children of the road, whom des-
tiny hath cast here. I will therefore uncover their faces, and look at them. — So he
lifted up the izar from their faces, and said, These are two handsome persons, and
It is not proper that I should beat them. And he covered their faces again, and,
approaching the foot of Noureddin Ali, began to rub it gently ; whereupon Nou-
reddin opened his eyes, and saw that he was an old man ; and he blushed, and drew
in his feet, and, sitting up, took the hand of the sheikh Ibrahim and kissed it; and
the sheikh said to him, my son, whence are ye? — my master, he answered, we
are strangers! — and a tear gushed from his eye. The sheikh Ibrahim then said to
him, my son, know that the Prophet (God favour and preserve him !) hath enjoined
generosity to the stranger. Wilt thou not arise, my son, and enter the garden
and divert thyself in it, that thy heart may be dilated? — my master, said Nou-
reddin, to whom doth this garden belong? The sheikh answered, my son, this
garden I inherited from my family. And his design in saying this was only that
they might feel themselves at ease, and enter the garden. And when Noureddin
heard his words, he thanked him, and arose, together with his slave, and the sheikh
Ibrahim preceding them, they entered the garden.
The gate was arched, and over it were vines with grapes of different colours ; the
red, like rubies; and the black, like ebony. They entered a bower, and found within
it fruits growing in clusters and singly, and the birds were warbling their various
notes upon the branches ; the nightingale was pouring forth its melodious sounds ;
and the turtle-dove filled the place with its cooing; and the blackbird, in its singing,
resembled a human being ; and the ring-dove, a person exhilirated by wine. The
fruits upon the trees, comprising every description that was good to eat, had ripened ;
and there were two of each kind: there were the camphor apricot, and the almond-
apricot, and the apricot of Khorasan ; the plum of a colour like the complexion of
beauties ; the cherry delighting the sense of every man ; the red, the white, and the
green fig, of the most beautiful colours ; and flowers like pearls and coral ; the rose,
whose redness put to shame the cheeks of the lovely; the violet, like sulphur in con-
tact with fire ; the myrtle, the gilliflower, the lavender, and the anemone ; and their
leaves were bespangled with the tears of the clouds; the chamomile smiled, display-
ing its teeth, and the narcissus looked at the rose with its negro eyes ; the citrons
resembled round cups ; the limes were like bullets of gold ; the ground was car-
peted with flowers of every colour, and the place beamed with the charms of spring;
the river murmured by while the birds sang, and the wind whistled among the trees;
the season was temperate, and the zephyr was languishing.
184 NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
The sheikh Ibrahim conducted them into the elevated saloon, and they wera
charmed with its beauty and the extraordinary elegances which it displayed, and
seated themselves in one of the windows ; and Noureddin, reflecting upon his past
entertainments, exclaimed, By Allah, this place is most delightful ! It hath re-
minded me of past events, and quenched in me an anguish like the fire of the ghada.'
The sheikh Ibrahim then brought to them some food, and they ate to satisfaction,
and washed their hands, and Noureddin, seating himself again in one of the win-
dows, called to his slave, and she came to him ; and they sat gazing at the trees
laden with all kinds of fruits ; after which, Noureddin looked towards the sheikh,
and said to him, O sheikh Ibrahim, hast thou not any beverage? For people drink
after eating. So the sheikh brought him some sweet and cold water: but Noureddin
said, This is not the beverage I desire. — Dost thou want wine ? asked the sheikh. —
yes, answered Noureddin. The sheikh exclaimed, I seek refuge with Allah from it!
Verily, for thirteen years I have done nothing of that kind ; for the Prophet (God
fiivour and preserve him !) cursed its drinker and its presser and its carrier. — Hear
from me two words, said Noureddin. The sheikh replied. Say what thou wilt. So
he said, If thou be neither the presser of the wine, nor its drinker, nor its carrier
will aught of the curse fall upon thee? The sheikh answered, No. — Then take this
piece of gold, rejoined Noureddin, and these two pieces of silver, and mount the ass,
and halt at a distance from the place, and whatsoever man thou tindest to buy it,
call to him, and say to him, take these two pieces of silver, and with this piece of
gold buy some wine, and place it upon the ass; — so, in this case, thou wilt be neither
the carrier nor the presser nor the buyer; and nothing will befall thee of that wliich
l)efalleth the rest.
The sheikh Ibrahim, after laughing at his words; replied. By Allah, I have never
seen one more witty than thou, nor heard speech more sweet. And Noureddin said
to him. We have become dependant upon thee, and thou hast nothing to do but to
comply with our wishes: bring us, therefore, all that we require. my son, said
the sheikh, my buttery here is before thee (and it was the store-room furnished for
the Prince of the Faithful): enter it then, and take from it what thou wilt; for it
containeth more than thou desirest. So Noureddin entered the store-room, and be-
held in it vessels of gold and silver and crystal, adorned with a variety of jewels;
and he took out such of them as he desired, and poured the wine into the vessels of
earthenware and bottles of glass ; and he and the damsel began to drink, astonished
at the beauty of the things which they beheld. The sheikh Ibrahim then brought
to them sweet-scented flowers, and seated himself at a distance from them ; and they
continued drinking, in a state of the utmost delight, until the v»ine took effect upon
them, and their cheeks reddened, and their eyes wantoned like those of the gazelle,
and their hair hung down : whereupon the sheikh Ibrahim said. What ailoth me
that I am sitting at a distance from them ? Why should I not sit by them ? And
when shall I be in the company of such as these two, who are like two moons? —
He then advanced, and seated himself at the edge of the raised portion of the floor;
and Noureddin said to him, my master, by my life I conjure thee to approach and
join us. So he went to them ; and Noureddin filled a cup, and looking at the
sheikh, said to him, Drink, that thou mayest know how delicious is its flavour. But
the sheikh Ibrahim exclaimed, I seek refuge with Allah ! Verily for thirteen years
I have done nothing of that kind. — And Noureddin, feigning to pay no attention
to him, drank the cup, and threw himself upon the ground, pretending that intoxi-
cation had overcome him.
Upon this, the beautiful Enis looked towards the sheikh, and said to him, sheikh
Ibrahim, see how this man hath treated me. — my mistress, said he. what aileth
him? She rejoined. Always doth he treat me thus: he drinketh a while, and then
sleepeth, and I remain alone, and find no one to keep me company over my cup. H
I drink, who will serve me? And if I sins, vrho will hear me? — The sheikh vcd
' A very inflaimnalile wood.
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS. 185
with tenderness and affection for her by her words, replied, It is not proper that a
cup-companion be thus. The damsel then filled a cup, and, looking at the sheikh
Ibrahim, said to him, I conjure thee by my life that thou take it and drink it; reject
it not, but accept it, and refresh my heart. So he stretched forth his hand, and
took the cup, and drank it; and she filled for him a second time, and handed it to
him, sayinor, my master, this remaineth for thee. He replied. By Allah, I cannot
drink it; that which I have drunk is enough for me. But she said. By Allah, it is
indispensable: — and he took the cup, and drank it. She then gave him the third ;
and he took it, and was about to drink it, when, lo, Noureddin raised himself, and
said to him, sheikh Ibrahim, what is this? Did I not conjure thee a while ago,
and thou refusedst, and saidst. Verily, for thirteen years I have not done it? — The
sheikh Ibrahim, touched with shame, replied. By Allah, I am not in fault ; for she
pressed me. And Noureddin laughed, and they resumed their carousal, and the
damsel, turning her eyes towards her master, said to him, my master, drink thou,
and do not urge the sheikh Ibrahim : that I may divert thee with the sight of him.
So she began to fill and to hand to her master, and her master filled and gave to
her, and thus they continued to do, time after time ; till at length the sheikh Ibra-
him looked towards them and said. What meaneth this ? And what sort of carousal
is this ? Wherefore do ye not give me to drink, since I have become your cup-com-
panion? — At this they both laughed until they became almost senseless: and then
drank, and gave him to drink: and they continued thus until the expiration of a
third of the night, when the damsel said, sheikh Ibrahim, with thy permission
shall I arise and light one of the candles which are arranged here? — Rise, he
answered ; but light not more than one candle. But she sprang upon her feet, and
beginning with the first candle, proceeded until she had lighted eighty. She then
sat down again ; and presently Noureddin said, sheikh Ibrahim, in what favour
am I held with thee? Wilt thou not allow me to light one of these lamps? — The
sheikh answered. Arise and light one lamp, and be not thou also troublesome. So
he arose, and, beginning with the first lamp, lighted all the eighty; and the saloon
seemed to dance. And after this, the sheikh Ibrahim, overcome by intoxication,
said to them, Ye are more frolicsome than I ; — and he sprang upon his feet, and
opened all the windows, and sat down again with them, and they continued carous-
ing and reciting verses ; and the place rang with their merriment.
Now God, the all-seeing and all-knowing, who hath appointed a cause to every
event, had decreed that the Caliph should be sitting that night at one of the windows
looking towards the Tigris, by moonlight; and he looked in that direction, and saw
the light of lamps and candles reflected in the river, and turning his eyes up towards
the palace in the garden, he beheld it beaming with those candles and lamps, and
exclaimed. Bring hither to me Giafar the Barmecide ! In the twinkling of an eye
Giafar stood before the Prince of the Faithful ; and the Caliph said to him, dog
of Viziers, dost thou serve me and not acquaint me with what happeneth in the city
of Bagdad? — What, asked Giafar, is the occasion of these words? — The Caliph an-
swered. If the city of Bagdad were not taken from me, the Palace of Diversion were
not enlivened with the light of the lamps and candles, and its windows were not
opened. Wo to thee ! Who could do these things unless the office of Caliph were
taken from me? — Who, said Giafar (the muscles of his side quivering from fear),
informed thee that the lamps and candles were lighted in the Palace of Diversion,
and that its windows were opened? — The Caliph replied. Advance hither to me, and
look. So Giafar approached the Caliph, and, looking towards the garden, beheld
the palace as it were a flame of fire, its light surpassing that of the mooti. He de-
sired, therefore, to make an excuse for the sheikh Ibrahim, the superintendent,
thinking, from what he beheld, that the event might have occurred through his per-
mission : and accordingly he said, prince of the Faithful, the sheikh Ibrahim last
week said to me, my master Giafar, I am desirous of entertaining my children
during my life and the life of the Prince of the Faithful. — And what, said I, is thy
186 NOUREDDIX AND ENIS EL.TELIS.
design in saying this ? He answered, It is my wish that thou wouldst obtain for
me permission from the Caliph that I may celebrate the circumuision of my sons in
the palace. So I said, Do what thou wilt with respect to the entertainment of thy
sons, and, if God will, I shall have an interview with the Caliph, and will acquaint
him with it. And he left me thus: and I forgot to acquaint thee.^0 Giafar, said
the Caliph, thou wast guilty of one offence against me, and then thine offence be-
came two; for thou hast erred in two points: the first, thy not acquainting me with
this affair: and the second, thy not accomplishing the desire of the sheikh Ibrahim ;
for he did not come to thee and address thee with these words but to hint a demand
for some money by the aid of which to effect his design, and thou neither gavest
him anything nor acquaintedst me that I might give him. — Prince of the Faith-
ful, replied Giafar, I forgot.
The Caliph then said. By my forefathers, I will not pass the remainder of my
night but with him, for he is a just man, who frequenteth the sheikhs, and attendeth
to the poor, and fovoureth the indigent: and I imagine all his acquaintances are
•with him this night: so I must repair to him : perhaps one of them may offer up
for us a prayer productive of good to us in this world and the next ; and probably
some advantage may accrue to him from my presence, and he will receive pleasure
from this together with his friends. — Prince of the Faithful, replied Giafar, the
greater part of the night hath passed, and they are now about to disperse. But the
Caliph said. We must go to them. And Giafar was silent, and was perplexed in
his mind, not knowing what to do. So the Caliph rose upon his feet, and Giafar
arose and preceded him, and Mesrour the eunuch went with them. The three
walked on reflecting, and, departing from the palace, proceeded through the streets,
in the attire of merchants, until they arrived at the gate of the garden above
mentioned; and the Caliph, approaching it, found it open; and he was surprised,
and said. See, Giafar, how the sheikh Ibrahim hath left the gate open until this
hour, which is not his usual custom. They then entered, and came to the end of
the garden, where they stopped beneath the palace; and the Caliph said, Giafar,
I desire to take a view of them secretly before I go up to them, that I may see how
the sheikhs are occupied in the dispensing of their blessings and the employment of
their miraculous powers ; for they have qualities which distinguish them both in
their private retirements and in their public exercises ; and now we hear not their
voices, nor discover any indication of their presence. Having thus said, he looked
around and, seeing a tall walnut-tree, he said, Giafar, I would climb this tree:
for its branches are near to the windows: and look at them. And accordingly he
ascended the tree, and climbed from branch to branch until he came to that which
was opposite to one of the windows, and there he sat, and, looking in through this
■window of the palace, beheld a damsel and a young man, like two moons (extolled
be the perfection of Him who created them !) ; and he saw the sheikh Ibraham sit-
ting with a cup in his hand, and saying, mistress of beauties, drinking unaccom-
panied by merry sounds is not pleasant.
When the Caliph witnessed this conduct of the sheikh Ibrahim, the vein of anger
swelled between his eyes, and he descended, and said, Giafar, I have never seen
anything of the miraculous performances of the just such as I have beheld this
night; ascend, therefore, thyself also, into this tree, and look, lest the blessings of
the just escape thee. — On hearing the words of the Prince of the Faithful, Giafar
was perplexed at his situation : and he climbed up into the tree, and looked, and saw
Noureddin and the sheikh Ibrahim and the damsel, and the sheikh Ibrahim had the
cup in his hand. As soon as he beheld this, he made sure of destruction ; and he
descended, and stood before the Prince of the Faithful, and the Caliph said,
Giafiir, praise be to God who hath made us to be of the number of those who follow
the external ordinances of the holy law, and averted from us the sin of disguising
ourselves by the practice of hypocrisy ! But Giafar was unable to reply, from his
excessive confusion. The Caliph then looked towards him, and said, Who can have
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS EJELIS. 187
brought these persons hither, and admitted them into my palace? But the like of
this young man and this damsel, in beauty and loveliness and symmetry of form,
mine eye hath never beheld. — Giafar, now conceiving a hope that the Caliph might
be propitiated, replied, Thou hast spoken truly, Prince of the Faithful. And the
Caliph said, Giafar, climb up with us upon this branch which is opposite them,
that we may amuse ourselves by observing them. So they both climbed up into the
tree, and looking at them, heard the sheikh Ibrahim say, O my mistress, I have re-
linquished decorum by the drinking of wine; but the pleasure of this is not com-
plete without the melodious sounds of stringed instruments. — sheikh Ibrahim, re-
plied the fair Enis, by Allah, if we had any musical instrument, our happiness
were perfect. And when the sheikh Ibrahim heard her words, he rose upon his
feet. — The Caliph said to Giafar, What can he be going to do ? Giafar replied, I
know not. — And the sheikh Ibrahim went away, and returned with a lute ; and the
Caliph, looking attentively at it, saw that it was the lute of Ishak the cup-companion ;
and said, By Allah, if this damsel sing not well, I will crucify you all : but if she
sing well, I will pardon them, and crucify thee. So Giafar said, Allah, let
her not sing well ! — Why ? asked the Caliph. — That thou mayest crucify all of us,
answered Giafar : and then we shall cheer one another by conversation. And the
Caliph laughed : and the damsel took the lute, and tuned its strings, and played
upon it in a manner that would melt iron, and inspire an idiot with intellect: after
which she sang with such sweetness that the Caliph exclaimed, Giafar, never in
my life have I heard so enchanting a voice as this. — Perhaps, said Giafar, the anger
of the Caliph hath departed from him? — Yea, he answered; it hath departed. He
then descended with Giaf\ir from the tree, and, looking towards him, said, I am de-
sirous of going up to them, to sit with them, and to hear the damsel sing before me.
— Prince of the Faithful, replied Giafar, if thou go up to them, probably they will
be troubled by thy presence; and as to the sheikh Ibrahim, he will assuredly die
of fear. — The Caliph therefore said, Giafar, thou must acquaint me with some
stratagem by means of which I may learn the truth of the affair without their
knowing that I have discovered them. And he and Giafar walked towards the
Tigris, reflecting upon this matter : and lo, a fisherman stood beneath the windows
of the palace, and he threw his net, hoping to catch something by means of which
to obtain his subsistence. — Now the Caliph had, on a former occasion, called to the
sheikh Ibrahim, and said to him. What was that noise that I heard beneath the
windows of the palace ? — and he answered. The voices of the fishermen, who are
fishing. — So he said. Go down and forbid them from coming to this place. They
were therefore forbidden to come thither ; but this night there came a fisherman
named Kerim, and seeing the garden gate open, he said within himself. This is a time
of inadvertence, and perhaps I may catch some fish on this occasion ; — so he took his
net, and threw it into the river, and then recited some verses, contrasting the condi-
tion of the poor fisherman, toiling throughout the night, with that of the lord of the
palace, Avho, awaking from a pleasant slumber, findeth the fawn in his possession ,
and as soon as he had finished his recitation, lo, the Caliph, unattended, stood at his
head. The Caliph knew him, and exclaimed, Kerim ! — and the fisherman, hear-
ing him call him by his name, turned towards him ; and when he beheld the Caliph,
the muscles of his side quivered, and he said, By Allah, Prince of the Faithful,
I did not this in mockery of the mandate ; but poverty and the wants of my family
impelled me to the act of which thou art witness. The Caliph replied. Throw thy
net for my luck. And the fisherman advanced, rejoicing exceedingly, and cast the
net, and having waited until it had attained its limit and become steady at the
bottom, drew it in again, and there came up in it a variety of fish that could not be
numbered.
The Caliph was delighted at this, and said, Kerim. strip off thy clothes: and he
did so. He was clad in a jubbeh ■ in which were a hundred patches of coarse woollen
' A long outer garment.
188 NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
stuff, containing vermin of the most abominable kind, and among them fleas in
such numbers that he might almost have been transported by their means over the
face of the earth : and he took from his head a turban which for three years he had
never unwound: but when he happened to find a piece of rag he twisted it around
it; and when he had taken off the jubbeh and turban, the Caliph pulled off from his
own person two vests of silk of Alexandria and Baalbeck, and a melwatah ' and a
farajiah,' and said to the fisherman, Take these and put them on. The Caliph then
put on himself the fisherman's jubbeh and turban, and having drawn a litham ^ over
his face, said to the fisherman. Go about thy business ; and he kissed the feet of the
Caliph, and thanked him.
But scarcely had he finished his thanks, when the vermin overran the person of
the Caliph, and he began to seize them with his right hand and his left from his neck,
and to throw them down : and he exclaimed, fisherman, wo to thee? What are
these abundant vermin in this jubbeh ? — my lord, he answered, at present they
torment thee: but when a week shall have passed over thee, thou wilt not feel them.
nor think of them. The Caliph laughed, and said to him, How can I suffer this
jubbeh to remain upon me? The fisherman replied. I wish to tell thee something;
but I am ashamed, through my awe for the Caliph. Impart, said the Caliph, what
thou hast to tell me. So he said to him, It hath occurred to my mind, Prince of
the Faithful, that thou desirest to learn the art of fishing, in order that thou mayest
be master of a trade that may profit thee: and if such be thy desire, this jubbeh is
suitable to thee. And the Caliph laughed at his words.
Tlie fisherman then went his way, and the Caliph took the basket of fish, and.
having put upon it a little grass, went with it to Giafsir, and stood before him; and
Giafar, thinking that he was Kerim the fisherman, feared for him, and said, Kerim,
what brought thee hither? Save thyself by flight; for the Caliph is here this night.
— And when the Caliph heard the words of Giafar, he laughed until he fell down
upon his back. So Giafar said. Perhaps thou art our lord the Prince of the Faithful?
— Yes, Giafar, answered the Caliph, and thou art my Vizier, and I came with thee
hither, and thou knowest me not. How then should the sheikh Ibrahim know me
when he is drunk? Remain where thou art until I return to thee. — Giafar replied,
I hear and obey. And the Caliph advanced to the door of the palace, and knocked.
The sheikh Ibrahim arose therefore, and said. Who is at the door? He answered,
I, sheikh Ibrahim. The sheikh said, Who art thou? — and the Caliph answered, I
am Kerim the fisherman ; I heard that there were guests with thee, and have there-
fore brought thee some fish : for it is excellent. Now Noureddin and the damsel were
both fond of fish, and when they heard the mention of it they rejoiced exceedingly,
and said, my master, open to him, and let him come in to us with the fish which
he hath brought. So the sheikh Ibrahim opened the door, and the Caliph, in his
fisherman's disguise, entered, and began by salutation ; and the sheikh Ibrahim said
to him. Welcome to the robber, the thief, the gambler! Come hither, and show us
the fish which thou hast brought. — He therefore showed it to them, and lo, it was
alive, and moving ; and the damsel exclaimed. By Allah, my master, this fish is
excellent! I wish it were fried! — By Allah, said the sheikh Ibrahim, thou hast
spoken truth. Then addressing the Caliph, he said, fishermnn, I wisli thou hadst
brought this fish fried. Arise, and fry it for us, and bring it. — On the head be
thy commands, replied the Caliph ; I will fry it and bring it. — Be quick, said they,
in doing it.
The Caliph therefore arose and ran back to Giafar, and said, Giafar, they want
the fish fried. — Prince of the Faithful, replied he, give it me, and I will fry it.
But the Caliph said. By the tombs of my ancestors, none shall fry it but myself:
with my own hand will I do it! He then repaired to the hut of the su[ erintendent,
and, searching there, found in it everything that he required, the frying-pan, and
' Articles of apparel. ' A sort of half veil.
NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
lay
even the salt and wild marjorum, &c. So he approached the fire-place, and put on
the frying-pan, and fried it nicely ; and when it was done he put it upon a banana
leaf, and having taken from the garden some limea, he went up with the fish, and
.placed it before them. The young man, therefore, and the damsel, and the sheikh
Ibrahim, advanced and ate ; and when they had finished, they washed their hands,
and Nouri'ddin said. By Allah, fisherman, thou hast done us a kindness this night.
Then putting his hand into his pocket, he took forth for him three pieces of gold, of
those which Sangiar had presented to him wlien he was setting forth on his journey,
and said, O fislierman, excuse me: for, by Allah, if I had known thee before the
events that have lately happened to me, I would have extracted the bitterness of
poverty from thy heart ; but take this as accordant -with my present circumstances.
So saying, he threw the pieces of gold to the Caliph, who took them, and kissed
them, and put tliem in his pocket. The object of the Caliph in doing this was only
that he might hear the damsel sing; so he said to him, Thou liast treated me with
beneficence, and abundantly recompensed me ; but I beg of thy unbounded indulgence
that this damsel may sing an air that I may hear her. Noureddin therefore said,
Enis Eijelis! She replied. Yes. — By my life, said he, sing to us something for the
gratification of this fisherman ; for he desireth to hear thee. And when she had
Ems Eljelis
heard what her master said, she took the lute, and tried it with her fingers, after
she had twisted its pegs, and sang to it these two verses: —
The fingers of many a fawn-like damsel have played upon the lute, and the soul hath been
ravished by the touch.
She hath made the deaf to hear her songs; and the dumb hath exclaimed. Thou hast excelled
in thy singing !
Then she played again, in an extraordinary manner, so as to charm the minds of
her hearers, and sang the following couplet: —
We are honoured by your visiting our abode, and your splendour hath dispelled the darkness
of the moonless night:
It is therefore incumbent upon me to perfume my dwelling with musk and rose-water and
camphor.
Upon this, the Caliph was a'l'octed with violent emotion, and overcome by ecstasy,
8 1 that he was no longer master of himself from excessive delight: and he began to
exclaim, Allah approve thee! Allah approve thee! Allah approve thee! So
Noureddin said to him, fisherman, have the damsel and her art in striking the
190 NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
ehords pleased thee?— Yea, by Allah ! exclaimed the Caliph. And Noureddin im.
mediately said, She is bestowed upon thee as a present from me, the present of a
generous man who will not revoke his gift. And he arose upon his feet, and took a
melwatah, and threw it upon the Caliph in the fisherman's disguise, ordering him
to depart with the damsel. But she looked towards him, and said, my master,
wilt thou part from me without bidding me farewell ? If we must be separated,
pause while I take leave of thee.
The Caliph, when he heard this, was distressed at the idea of separating them,
and, looking towards the young man, he said to him, my master, art thou in fear
on account of any crime, or art thou in debt to any one? Noureddin answered, By
Allah, fisherman, a wonderful event, and an extraordinary adventure happened to
me and this damsel ; if it were engraven on the understanding, it would be a lesson
to him who would be admonished. — Wilt thou not, rejoined the Caliph, relate to us
thy story, and acquaint us with thy case. Perhaps thy doing so may be productive
of relief; for the relief of God is near. — So Noureddin said. Wilt thou hear our
story in poetry or in prose? — Prose, answered the Caliph, is mere talk ; and verse,
words put together like pearls. And Noureddin hung down his head towards the
ground, and then related his story in a series of verses; but when he had finished,
the Caliph begged him to explain his case more fully. He therefore acquainted him
with the whole of his circumstances from beginning to end ; and when the Caliph
understood the affair, he said to him, AVhither wouldst thou now repair ! He an-
swered, God's earth is wide. The Caliph then said to him, I will write for thee a
letter which thou shalt convey to the Sultan Mohammed, the son of Suleiman Zeini,
and when he shall have read it, he will do thee no injury. — Is there in the world,
said Noureddin, a fisherman who correspondeth with Kings? Verily this is a thing
that can never be. — Thou hast spoken truly, rejoined the Caliph ; but I will acquaint
thee with the cause. Know that I read in the same school with him, under a master,
and I was his monitor: and after that, prosperity was his lot, and he became a
Sultan, while God made me to be a fisherman : yet I have never sent to request any-
thing of him but he hath performed my wish ; and if I sent to him every day to
request a thousand things of him, he would do what I asked. When Noureddin,
therefore, heard his words, he said to him. Write, that I may see. And he took an
ink-case and a pen, and wrote (after" the phrase. In the name of God, the Com-
passionate, the Merciful) — To proceed. — This letter is from Haroun Alrashid the son
of El Mahdi, to his highness Mohammed the son of Suleiman Zeini, who hath been
encompassed by my beneficence, and whom I constituted my viceroy of a portion of
my dominions. I acquaint thee that the bearer of this letter is Noureddin the son
of Fadladdin the son of Khacan the Vizier, and on his arrival in thy presence thou
shalt divest thyself of the regal authority, and seat him in thy place ; for I have
appointed him to the oflBce to which I formerly appointed thee: so disobey not my
commands: and peace be on thee. — He then gave the letter to Noureddin, who took
it and kissed it and put it in his turban, and immediately set forth on his journey.
The sheikh Ibrahim now looked towards the Caliph in his fisherman's disguise,
and said to him, most contemptible of fishermen, thou hast brought us two fish
worth twenty half-dirhems, and received three pieces of gold, and desirest to take
the slave also. But when the Caliph heard these words, he cried out at him, and
made a sign to Mesrour, who immediately discovered himself, and rushed in upon
him. Giafar, meanwhile, had sent one of the attendants of the garden to tlie porter
of the palace to demand a suit of clothing of him for the Prince of the Faithful ;
and the man went, and brought the dress, and kissed the ground before the Caliph,
who took off and gave to him that with which he was then clad, and put on this
suit. The sheikh Ibrahim was sitting on a chair; the Caliph paused to see the
result; and the sheikh was astounded, and began to bite the ends of his fingers
through his confusion ; saying. Am I asleep or awake? The Caliph then looked at
him, and said, sheikh Ibrahim, what is this predicament in which thou art placed'
NOUREDDIN AND ENTS ELJELIS. 191
And upon this, the sheikh recovered from his intoxication, and, throwing himself
upon the ground, implored forgiveness ; and the Caliph pardoned him : after which
he gave orders that the damsel should be conveyed to the palace where he resided ;
and when she had arrived there, he appropriated to her a separate lodging, and ap-
pointed persons to wait upon her, and said to her, Know that I have sent thy master
as Sultan of Balsora, and, if God please, I will despatch to him a dress of honour,
and send thee also to hira with it.
As to Noureddin, he continued his journey until he entered Balsora, and went up
to the palace of the Sultan, when he uttered a loud cry, whereupon the Sultan de-
sired him to approach ; and when he came into the presence of the King, he kii-icd
the ground before him, and produced the letter, and handed it to him. And as soon
as the Sultan saw the superscription in the handwriting of the Prince of the
Faithful, he rose upon his feet, and, having kissed it three times, said, I hear and
pay obedience to God (whose name be exalted !) and to the Prince of the Faithful.
He then summoned before him the four Cadies, and the Emirs, and was about to
divest himself of the regal office : but lo, the Vizier Mowein the son of Saouy was
before him, and the Sultan gave him the letter of the Prince of the Faithful, and
when he saw it, he rent it in pieces, and put it into his mouth, and chewed it, and
threw it down. The Sultan, enraged, cried. Wo to thee ; what hath induced thee
to act thus? — He answered, This man hath had no interview with the Caliph nor
with his Vizier; but is a young wretch, an artful devil, who, having met with a
paper containing the hand-writing of the Caliph, hath counterfeited it, and written
what he desired: wherefore then shouldst thou abdicate the sovereignty, when the
Caliph hath not sent to thee an envoy with a royal autographical mandate ; for if
this affair were true, he had sent with him a chamberlain or Vizier ; but he came
alone. — What then is to be done? said the Sultan. The Vizier answered, Send away
this young man with me, and I will take charge of him, and despatch him in com-
pany with a Chamberlain to the city of Bagdad ; and if his words be true, he will
bring us a royal autographical mandate and diploma of investiture ; and if not true,
they will send him back to us with the Chamberlain, and I will take my revenge
upon my offender.
When the Sultan heard what the Vizier said, it pleased him : and the Vizier took
him away and cried out to the pages, who threw down Noureddin, and beat him
until he became insensible. lie then ordered to put a chain upon his feet, and called
to the jailor ; and when he came, he kissed the ground before him. This jailor was
named Kuteit, and the Vizier said to him, Kuteit, I desire that thou take this
person, and cast him into one of the subterranean cells which are in thy prison, and
torture him night and day. The jailor replied, I hear and obey: — and he put Nou-
reddin into the prison, and locked the door upon him ; but after having done this,
he gave orders to sweep a stone seat within the door, and furnished it with a prayer-
carpet and a pillow, and seated Noureddin upon it, and loosed his chain, and treated
him with kindness. The Vizier every day sent to him, commanding him to beat
him ; and the jailor pretended that he tortured him, while on the contrary, he treated
him with benignity.
Thus he continued to do for forty days; and on the forty-first day, there came a
present from the Caliph, and when the Sultan saw it it pleased him, and he conferred
with the Vizier upon the subject: but one said. Perhaps this present was designed
for the new Sultan. Upon this, the Vizier Mowein, the son of Saouy, remarked, It
were proper to have slain him on his arrival: and the Sultan exclaimed. Now thou
hast reminded me of him, go down and bring him, and I will strike off his head.
The Vizier replied, I hear and obey: — and arose, saying, I desire to proclaim
throughout the city. He who wisheth to witness the decapitation of Noureddin Ali
the son of Fadladdin the son of Khacan, let him come to the palace: — so that all the
people may come to behold it, and I may gratify my heart and mortify my enviers.
The Sultan said, Do what thou wilt. So the Vizier descended, full of joy and hap-
192 NOUREDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS.
piness, and went to the Judge, and ordered him to make this proclamation: and
when the people heard the crier, they all grieved and wept, even the bojs in the
schools, and the tradesmen in their shops ; and numbers of the people strove to-
gether to take for themselves places where they might behold the spectacle, while
others repaired to the prison, to accompany him thence. The Vizier then went forth,
attended by ten mamlouks, to the prison ; and Kuteit the jailor said to him, What
dost thou desire, our Lord the Vizier? — Bring forth to me, said the Vizier, this
young wretch. The jailor replied. He is in a most miserable state from the exces-
sive beating which I have inflicted upon him. And he entered, and found him re-
citing some verses. And the jailor pulled off from him his clean clothes, and,
having clad him in two dirty garments, brought him out to the Vizier. Noureddin
then looked at him, and saw that he was his enemy who had incessantly desired hia
destruction ; and when he beheld him, he wept, and said to him. Art thou secure
from misfortune? Vizier, know that God (whose perfection be extolled, and whoso
name be exalted !) is the doer of whatsoever He willeth. — Ali, replied the Vizier,
wouldst thou frighten me by these words? I am now going to strike off thy head,
in spite of the people of Balsora ; and I will pay no regard to thy counsel.
The Vizier then ordered his pages to convey him on the back of a mule ; where-
upon they said to him (being distressed to obey), Suffer us to stone him, and cut him
in pieces, though our lives should be sacrificed in consequence. But he replied.
Never do it. So they proceeded to proclaim before Noureddin, This is the smallest
recompense of him who forgeth a letter from the Caliph to the Sultan. And they
continued to parade him throughout Balsora, until they stationed him beneath the
window of the palace, and in the place of blood, when the executioner approached
him, and said to him, I am a slave under command ; and if thou hast any want, ac-
quaint me with it, that I may perform it for thee ; for there remaineth not of thy
life any more than the period until the Sultan shall put forth his face from the
window. And the people were excited to tears for him ; and the executioner took
some water to hand it to him : but the Vizier arose from his place, and struck the
bottle of wa'ter with his hand, and broke it, and called to the executioner, command-
ing him to strike off his head ; whereupon he bound Noureddin's eyes. The people,
however, called out against the Vizier, and raised a tumultuous cry against him,
and many words passed between them ; and while they were in this state, lo, a dust
arose, and filled the sky and the open tracts,, and when the Sultan beheld it, as he
sat in the palace, he said to his attendants. See what is the news. Tiie Vizier said,
After thou shalt first have beheaded this man. But the Sultan replied, Wait thou
until we see what, is the news.
Now this dust was the dust of Giafar, the Vizier of the Caliph, and of his at-
tendants : and the cause of their coming was this. The Caliph had passed thirty
days without remembering the affair of Ali the son of Fadladdin, the son of Khacan,
and no one mentioned it to him, until he came one night to the private apartment
of Enis Eljelis, and heard her lamenting, as she recited, with a soft voice, the saying
of the poet: —
Thine image [is before me] whether distant or near, and my tongue never ceaseth to mention
thee.
Her lamentation increased, and lo, the Caliph opened the door, and entered the
chamber, and saw her weeping. On beholding the Caliph, she fell at his feet. The
Caliph said to her, Who art thou? She answered, I am the present given to thee
by Ali the son of Fadladdin the son of Khacan ; and I request the fulfilment of the
promise which thou gavest me, that thou wouldst send me to him with the honorary
gift ; for I have now been here thirty days, and have not tasted sleep. And upon
this, the Caliph summoned Giafar the Barmecide, and said to him. For thirty days
- have heard no news of Ali the son of Fadladdin the son of Khacan, and I imagine
NOUEEDDIN AND ENIS ELJELIS. 193
nothing less than that the Sultan hath killed him : but, by my head ! by the tombs
of my ancestors ! if any evil event have happened to him, 1 will destroy him who
hath been the cause of it, though he be the dearest of men in my estimation! I
desire, therefore, that thou journey immediately to Balsora, and bring me an ac-
count of the conduct of the King Mohammed the son of Suleiman Zeini to Ali the
son of Fadladdin the son of Khacan.
So Giafar obeyed his commands, and set forth on his journey, and when he ap-
proached, and saw this tumult and crowd, he said. What is the occasion of this
crowd ? They related to him, therefore, the situation in which they were with re-
gard to Noureddin; and when he heard their words, he hastened to go up to the
Sultan, and, having saluted him, acquainted him with the cause of his coming, and
told him, that if any evil event had happened to Noureddin Ali, the Caliph would
destroy him who was the cause of it. He then arrested the Sultan, and the Vizier
Mowein the son of Saouy, and gave orders to liberate Noureddin Ali, and enthroned
nim as Sultan in the place of the Sultan Mohammed the son of Suleiman Zeini ;
after which he remained at Balsora three days, the usual period of entertainment;
and on the morning of the fourth day, Noureddin Ali said to Giafar, I have a
longing desire to see the Prince of the Faithful. So Giafar said to the King Mo-
hammed the Son of Suleiman, Prepare thyself for travelling; for we will perform
the morning-prayers, and depart to Bagdad. He replied, I hear and obey: — and
they performed the morning-prayers, and mounted all together, with the Vizier
Mowein the son of Saouy, who now repented of what he had done. As to Noured-
din Ali, he rode by the side of Giafor : and they continued their journey until they
arrived at Bagdad, the Abode of Peace.
They then presented themselves before the Caliph, and related to him the case of
Noureddin ; whereupon the Caliph addressed him, saying, Take this sword, and
strike off with it the head of thine enemy. And he took it, and approached Mowein
the son of Saouy ; but he looked at him, and said to him, I did according to my
nature, and do thou according to thine. And Noureddin threw down the sword from
his hand, and, looking towards the Caliph, said, Prince of the Faithful, he hath
beguiled me. So the Caliph said. Do thou leave him: — and he said to Mesrour,
Mesrour, advance thou, and strike off his head. Mesrour, therefore, did so : and
upon this, the Caliph said to Ali the son of Fadladdin the son of Khacan, Request
of me what thou wilt. He replied, my lord, I have no want of the sovereignty
of Balsora, and desire nothing but to have the honour of serving thee. — Most wil-
lingly I assent, said the Caliph. — And he summoned the damsel, and when she had
come before him, he bestowed favours upon them both ; he gave to them one of the
palaces of Bagdad, and assigned to them regular allowances, and made Noureddin
one of his companions at the table ; and he remained with him until death overtook
him.
13
'^^^
194 GANEM THE SON OF AYOUB.
CHAPTER VII.
Commencing with part of the Twenty-sixth Night, and ending with part of the Forty-fourth.
THE STORY OF GANEM THE SON OF AYOUB, THE DISTRACTED
SLAVE OF LOVE.
It hath been told me, happy King, said Sheherazade, that there was, in ancient
times, a certain merchant of Damascus, possessed of wealth, who had a son like
the moon at the full, of eloquent tongue, called Ganem the son of Ayoub, the Dis-
tracted Slave of Love ; and this son had a sister, named Fetnah, on account of her
excessive beauty and loveliness. Their father died, leaving them large property,
among which were a hundred loads of silk and brocade, and bags of musk: and
upon these loads was written. This is intended for Bagdad : — it having been his de-
sire to journey to that city.
So, when God (whose name be extolled !) had taken his soul, and some time had
elapsed, his son took these loads, and journeyed with them to Bagdad. — This was
in the time of Haroun Alrashid. — He took leave of his mother and relations and
townspeople before his departure, and went forth, placing his dependence upon God
(whose name be exalted !), and God decreed him safety, so that he arrived at Bag-
dad, whither there travelled in his company a party of merchants. He hired for
himself a handsome house, and furnished it with carpets and cushions, and sus-
pended curtains in it ; and there he deposited those loads, together with the mules
and camels, and remained until he had rested himself; and the merchants of Bag-
dad, and its great men, came and saluted him. He then took a wrapper containing
ten pieces of costly stuff, with the prices written upon them, and went forth with
them to the market of the merchants, who met him and saluted him, treated him
with honour and welcomed him, and seated him at the shop of the sheikh of the
market; and he sold the pieces, gaining, for every piece of gold, two. So Ganem
rejoiced, and he proceeded to sell the stuffs by little and little ; and continued to do
60 for a whole year.
After this, on the first day of the following year, he came to the same market, but
found its gates shut, and, inquiring the cause of this, he was answered. One of the
merchants hath died, and all the rest of them have gone to walk in his funeral-pro-
cession. Wilt thou then, added his informant, gain a recompense by walking with
them? — He replied. Yes: — and he asked respecting the place of the funeral. So
they guided him thither ; and he performed the ablution, and walked with the other
merchants until they arrived at the place of prayer, where they prayed over the
dead. The merchants then walked all together before the corpse to the burial-ground,
Ganem following them until the procession arrived at the burial-ground outside the
city, and they proceeded among the tombs until they came to that in which the
corpse was to be deposited. They found that the family of the deceased had pitched
a tent over the tomb, and placed there the candles and lamps ; and they buried the
dead, and the readers sat reciting the Koran at the tomb. The merchants sat with
them ; and so also did Ganem the son of Ayoub : but he was overcome by bashful-
ness, saying within himself, I cannot quit them until I have departed with them.
They sat listening to the recitation of the Koran until the period of nightfall, when
THE DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE. 195
the servants placed before them the supper and sweetmeats, and they ate till they
•were satisfied, and washed their hands, and resumed their seats.
The heart of Ganem was now troubled with reflections upon his merchandise, and
he was fearful of the thieves, and said within himself, I am a stranger, and suspected
of possessing wealth, and if I pass the night far away from my abode, the thieves
will steal the money and the loads. So, fearing for his property, he arose and went
forth from among the company, asking their leave to depart on account of some
business that he had to transact, and followed the beaten track until he came to
the gate of the city ; but it was then midnight, and he found the gate of the city
shut, and saw no one coming or going, and heard not a sound save the barking of
the dogs, and the howling of the wolves : whereupon he exclaimed. There is no
strength nor power but in God ! I was in fear for my property, and came hither on
account of it, and have found the gate shut, and now I have become in fear for my
life ! — He then returned to seek for himself a place in which to sleep until the morn-
ing ; and, finding a private burial-place enclosed by four walls, w^ith a palm-tree
within it, and a gate-way of hard stone open, he entered it, and desired to sleep ;
but sleep came not to him.
Tremor and gloom overcame him, thus lying among the tombs, and he rose upon
his feet, and opening the door, looked out, and beheld a light gleaming in the distance
in the direction of the city-gate. lie advanced a few steps, and saw the light ap-
proaching in the way which led to the burial-place in which he was taking refuge :
whereupon Ganem feared for himself, and hastily closed the door, and climbed up
into the palm-tree, and concealed himself in the midst of its branches. The light
continued to approach the tomb by little and little until it came very near; and as
he looked attentively at it, he perceived three black slaves, two of whom were bear-
ing a chest, the other having in his hand an adze and a lantern; and as they drew
near, one of the two slaves who were bearing the chest said, AVhat aileth thee,
Sawab? — to which the other of the two replied. What aileth thee, O Cafour? The
former rejoined. Were we not here at the hour of nightfall, and did we not leave the
door open? — Yes, answered the other: what thou sayest is true. See then, resumed
the first speaker, It is shut and barred. — Upon this, the third, who was carrying the
adze and light, and whose name was Bakheet, said. How small is your sense ?
Know ye not that the owners of the gardens go forth from Bagdad and repair hither,
and evening overtaking them, enter this place, and shut the door upon themselves,
through fear, lest the blacks like ourselves should take them and eat them ? — Thou
hast spoken truth, they answered; but there is none among us of less sense than
thyself. — Verily, he replied, ye will not believe me until we enter the burial-place
and find some one in it : and I imagine that, if any one be in it, and have seen the
light, he hath betaken himself to the top of the palm-tree.
When Ganem heard these words of the slave, he said within himself, IIow cunning
is this slave 1 May Allah disgrace the blacks for their malice and villany! There
is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! What will deliver me
from this difficulty ? — The two men who were bearing the chest then said to him who
had the adze. Climb over the wall, and open to us the door, Bakheet ; for we are
fatigued with carrying the chest upon our necks ; and if thou open to us the door,
we will give thee one of the persons whom we take, and we will fry him for thee
excellently, so that not a drop of his fat shall be lost. But he replied, I am afraid
of a thing which my little sense hath suggested to me : let us throw over the chest
behind the door ; for it is our deposit. They said to him, if we throw it, it will break.
— I am afraid, he rejoined, that there may be, within the tomb, robbers who slay
men and steal their property ; for when evening overtaketh them they enter these
places to divide what they have taken. — thou of little sense, exclaimed the two
others ; can they enter here? — They then put down the chest, and climbed up the
■wall, and descended, and opened the door, while the third slave, Bakheet, stood wait-
ing for them with the light, and a basket containing some plaster ; after which they
196 THE STORY OF THE SLAVE CAFOUR.
seated themselves, having closed the door; and one of them said, my brother, we
are tired with walking and taking up and putting down, and opening the door and
shutting it, and it is now midnight, and we have not strength remaining to open the
tomb and to bury the chest; wherefore we will sit here three hours to rest ourselves,
and then arise and accomplish our business ; but each of us shall in the mean time
tell his story, and relate all that hath happened from beginning to end. So the first,
who carried the light, told his story ; but it was of a nature unfit to be here repeated;
after which, anoiher'of the slaves thus began :
THE STORY OF THE SLAVE CAFOUR.
Know, my brothers, that I was, at the commencement of my career, a boy of
eight years, and I used to tell one lie to the slave-merchants every year, so that they
fell out with each other in consequence, and the slave-merchant my master, becoming
impatient of me, committed me to the broker, desiring him to cry. Who will buy this
slave with his fault? He was therefore asked, What is his fault? — and answered.
He telleth one lie every year. And a merchant approached the broker, and said to
him. How much have they bidden for this slave w'ith his fault? He answered. They
have bidden six hundred pieces of silver. — Then thou shalt have twenty for thyself,
replied the merchant. So the broker introduced him to the slave-merchant, who
received from him the money, and the broker conveyed me to the dwelling of the
merchant, and took his brokerage.
The merchant clad me in a dress suitable to my condition, and I continued with
him for the remainder of the year, until the new year commenced with prosperity.
It was a blessed year, plenteous in the produce of the earth, and the merchants began
to give entertainments, every day one taking his turn to do so, until it was my
master's turn to give an enfertainment in a garden within the city. So he went, and
the other merchants also, and he took for them what they required of food and other
provisions, and they sat eating and drinking and carousing till noon, when my
master wanted something from the house, and said, slave, mount the mule, and go
to the house, and bring from thy mistress such a thing, and return quickly.
I obeyed, therefore, and went to the house: but when I approached it, I shrieked
out, and shed tears ; whereupon the people of the quarter assembled together, old
and young; and my master's wife and daughters, hearing my cry, opened the door,
and asked me what was the matter. I answered them. My master was sitting
beneath an old wall, he and his friends, and it fell upon them ; and when I beheld
what happened to them, I mounted the mule and came in haste to inform you. And
when his children and wife heard these words, they shrieked, and tore their clothes,
and slapped their fa<;es, and the neighbours came to them. Then my master's wife
overturned the furniture of the house, one thing upon another, and pulled down its
shelves, and broke its shutters and its windows, and smeared its walls with mud
and indigo, and said to me. Wo to thee, Cafour ! Come hither and help me, and
demolish these cupboard's, and smash these vessels and this China-ware. — So I went
to her, and destroyed with her the shelves of the house and all that was upon them,
and its cupboards and" what they contained, and went about over the terraces and
through every place until I had laid waste the whole, crying all the while. Oh my
master! My mistress then went forth, with her face uncovered, and only with her
head-veil, and the girls and boys went with her, saying to me, Cafour, walk on
before us, and show us the place where thy master lieth dead beneath the wall, that
we may take him forth from under the ruins, and carry him in a bier, and bring
him to the house, and convey his corpse in a handsome manner to the burial. So I
walked before them, crying, Oh my master! — and they followed me with their fivces
and heads uncovered, crying Oh our misfortune! Oh our calamity ! — and there was
none among the men, nor among the women, nor among the children, nor a maiden.
THE STORY OF THE SLAVE CAFOUR. 197
nor an old woman (in the quarter), who did not accompany us : and all of them
slapped themselves in the excess of their lamentation. Thus I went with them
through the city ; and the people asking the news, they informed them of that which
they had heard from me ; and the people exclaimed. There is no strength nor power
but in God, the High, the Great! We will go to the Judge, and acquaint him. —
And when they arrived before the Judge, they informed him ; and he mounted, and
took with him labourers with axes and baskets, and they followed my footsteps,
accompanied by a crowd of people.
I preceded them, weeping and crying out, and throwing dust upon my head, and
slapping my face ! and when I came to the party in the garden, and my master
beheld me, I slapped my face, and exclaimed. Oh my mistress? who will have pity
upon me after my mistress? Would that I had been her sacrifice! — AVhen my
master, therefore, saw me, he was confounded, his countenance became pale, and he
said, AVhat aileth thee, Cafour, and what is this predicament, and what is the
news? I answered him, When thou sentest me to the house to bring thee what thou
wantedst, I went thither and entered the house, and found that the wall of the saloon
had fallen, and that the whole saloon had tumbled down upon my mistress and her
children. — And did not thy mistress, said he, escape? I answered, No : not one of
them escaped ; and the first of them that died was my mistress the elder. — But did
my youngest daughter escape? he asked. I answered. No. — And what, said he,
hath become of the mule that I ride; is she safe? — No, my master, I answered;
for the walls of the house and the walls of the stable tumbled down upon all that was
in the house; even upon the sheep and the geese, and the hens, and all of them
became a mass of flesh beneath the ruins; not one of them escaped. He then said
to me. And thy master the elder, I answered. No ; not one escaped ; and now there
remain neither house nor inhabitants, nor any trace of them ; and as to the sheep
and the geese and the hens, the cats and dogs have now eaten them. — And when my
master heard my words, the light became darkness befoi-e his face, and he was no
longer master of his senses nor of his reason, and was unable to stand upon his feet:
he was paralysed, and the strength of his back failed him, and he rent his clothes,
and plucked his beard and slapped his face, and threw his turban from his head, and
ceased not to slap his face until the blood flowed from it; and he began to cry, Ah !
Oh my children! Ah! Oh my wife ! Ah! Oh my misfortune ! Unto whom hath
happened the like of that which hath happened to me! — The merchants, also, his
companions, joined with him in cries and lamentations, and were moved with pity
for ills case, and rent their clothes; and my master went forth from the garden,
beating himself for the calamity that had (as he supposed) befallen him, and re-
doubled the blows upon his face, seeming as though he were drunk.
And as the party thus went out from the gate of the garden, they beheld a great
dust, and heard tumultuous cries, and looking in that direction, save the crowd ap-
proaching them. This crowd was the Judge and his attendants, and a concourse of
people who had come to gratify their curiosity, with the merchant's fivmily behind
them; shrieking and crying with violent lamentation and excessive grief ; and the
first who accosted my master were his wife and children. On beholding these, he
was confounded, and laughed, and said to them. How are ye: and what hath hap-
pened to you in the house, and what hath befallen you? And when they saw him,
they exclaimed. Praise be to God for thy safety ! And they threw themselves upon
him, and his children clung to him, crying out, Oh our father! Praise be to God
for thy safety, our father! — and his wife said to him. Praise be to God who hath
shown us thy face in safety ! — and she was stupified, and her reason fled from her
at that which she beheld. She then said to him. How didst thou escape with thy
friends? — And how, said he, were ye in the house? — We were all well, they an-
swered, in prosperity and health, and no evil hath befallen our house, save that thy
slave Cafour came to us with his head uncovered and his clothes rent, crying out. Oh
my master! Oh my master! — and we said to him, What is the matter, Cafour?
198 GANEM THE SON OF AYOUB,
and he answered, My master was sitting under a wall in the garden, and it fell upon
him, and he died. — By Allah, replied my master, he came to me just now crying.
Oh my mistress! Oh the children of my mistress! — and said. My mistress and her
children are all dead !
He then looked aside, and seeing me with my turban falling from my head, while
I still cried out and wept violently, and threw dust upon my head, he called out to
me : so I approached him, and he said to me, Wo to thee ! malevolent slave !
misbegotten wretch ! thou of accursed race ! What events hast thou brought
about! But, by Allah, I will strip off thy skin from thy flesh, and cut thy flesh
from thy bones ! — By Allah, replied I, thou canst not do to me anything ; for thou
boughtest me with my fault, on this condition; the witnesses testifying that thou
boughtest me with my fault, thou knowing it; and it was, that I was accustomed to
tell one lie every year: and this is but half a lie, and when the year is complete, I
will tell the other half of it : so it will be an entire lie. But upon this, he cried out
at me, most accursed of slaves ! is this but half a lie? Nay, it is an exceeding
calamity! Depart from me ; for thou art free.' — By Allah, I replied, if thou liberate
me, I will not liberate thee until the year be complete, and I tell the remaining half
of the lie ; and when I have completed it, then take me to the market, and sell me
as thou boughtest me, with my fault; and liberate me not; for I have no trade by
means of which to procure my subsistence ; this is a legal proposition that I have
stated to thee, laid down by the lawyers in the chapter of emancipation. — While we
were thus talking, the crowd approached, with the people of the quarter, women
and men, come to mourn, and the Judge with his attendants ; and my master and
the other merchants went to the Judge, and acquainted him with the case, and that
this was but half a lie ; and when the people who were present heard this, they were
astonished at this lie, and struck with the utmost wonder: and they cursed and re-
viled me while I stood laughing, and saying, How can my master kill me when he
bought me with this fault ?
So when my master went to the house, he found it in a state of ruin (and it was
I who destroyed the greater part, and broke in it things worth a large sum of money) ;
and his wife said to him, It was Cafour who broke the vessels and the China-ware.
Upon this, his rage increased, and he exclaimed. By Allah, in my life I have never
seen such a misbegotten wretch as this slave ; yet he calleth it half a lie. What
then would have been the result had it been a whole lie ? In that case he had de-
stroyed a city, or two cities ! — Then, in the excess of his rage, he went to the Judge,
who inflicted upon me a severe beating, so that I became insensible, and swooned
away ; after which my master contrived means of obtaining for me a high a price,
and I ceased not to excite disturbances in the places into which I was sold, and was
transferred from emir to emir, and from grandee to grandee, by sale and purchase,
until I entered the palace of the Prince of the Faithful, and now my spirit is broken,
and my strength hath failed.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF GANEM THE SON OF AYOUB, THE
DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE.
When the other slaves had heard his story, they laughed at it, and said to him.
Verily thou art a villain, the son of a villain : thou hast told an abominable lie.
The first and second then said to the third slave. Relate to us thy story. — sons of
my uncle, he replied. All that hath just been related is nonsense: but my story is
long, and this is not a time to tell it: for the morning, sons of my uncle, is near,
and perhaps it may overtake us with this chest still before us, and we shall be dis-
'The manumission of a slave, without giving him the means of providing for himself, is con-
sidered by Mahometans iis a punishment.
THE DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE. 199
graced among the public, and our lives be lost: haste then to work, and when we
have finished, and returned home, I will relate to you my story. So they put down
the light, and dug a trench of the size of the chest between four tombs ; Cafour
digging, and Sawab removing the earth in baskets, until they had dug to the depth
of half a fathom, when they put the chest into the trench, and replaced the earth
over it, and went forth from the enclosure, and, having closed the gate, disappeared
from before the eyes of Ganem the son of Ayoub.
When, therefore, they had left the place vacant unto Ganem, and he knew that he
was alone, his mind became busied respecting the contents of the chest, and he said
within himself. What can this chest contain ? He waited until daybreak gleamed
and shone forth, and then descended from the palm-tree, and removed the earth with
his hands until he had uncovered the chest and disengaged it, when he took a stone
and struck with it the lock, and broke it; and lifting up the cover, he looked in,
and beheld a damsel asleep, stupified M-ith bhang, but still breathing; she was of a
beautiful and lovely person, and decked with ornaments of gold and necklaces of
jewels worth a kingdom, and of a value that no money would equal. When Ganem
the son of Ayoub beheld her, he knew that she had been the object of a plot, and
being convinced of this, he pulled her up until he had lifted her out of the chest,
and laid her upon her back ; and as soon as she scented the breeze, and the air en-
tered her nostrils, and her mouth and throat, she sneezed, and then was choked, and
coughed, whereupon there fell from her throat a round piece of bhang, of such po-
tency that if an elephant smelt it he would sleep from one night to another. She
then opened her eyes, and, looking around, said, with an eloquent voice, Wo to thee
wind ! thou neither satisfiest the thirsty, nor cheereth by thy presence the satisfied
with drink ! Where is Zahr el Bostan ? — But no one answered her. Then looking
aside, she exclaimed. Where are my slaves ! are ye awake ? speak. — But no one an-
swered her. And she looked round about her, and exclaimed, Alas for me, that I
am transported to the tombs! Thou who knowest the secrets of the breasts and
recompenseth on the day of resurrection ! who hath brought me from among the
curtains and the veils, and placed me amid four tombs ?
While she was saying all this, Ganem stood still ; but he now said to her, my
mistress, there are neither veils nor palaces nor tombs for thee here : this is none
other than thy slave Ganem the son of Ayoub, whom the King, who is omniscient
with respect to hidden things, hath impelled hither that he may deliver thee from
these troubles, and that the utmost of thy desires may be accomplished unto thee.
And he was silent ; and when she became convinced of the truth of the case, she
exclaimed, I testify that there is no deity but God, and I testify that Mahomet is
God's Apostle ! Then looking towards Ganem, with her hands placed upon her
breast, she said to him with a sweet voice, auspicious youth ! who brought me
unto this place ? For now 1 have recovered my senses. — my mistress, he answered,
three eunuchs came bearing this chest : — and he related to her all that had happened,
and how the evening had overtaken him, so that he became the means of her pre-
servation, and that otherwise she had died of suffocation ; and he inquired of her
respecting her history. youth, she replied, praise be to God who hath cast me
into the hands of one like thee ! Rise therefore now, and put me into the chest, and
go forth to the road, and as soon as thou shalt find any one who lets out asses or
other beasts, or a muleteer, hire him to transport this chest, and convey me to thy
house ; and when I am in thy abode it will be well, and I will relate to thee my
story, and acquaint thee with my tale, and good fortun-e will accrue to thee through
my means. — So Ganem rejoiced, and he went forth into the desert tract.
The day had begun to gleam, the sun rose in splendour, and the people came
walking forth ; and Ganem hired a man with a mule, and brought him to the burial-
place, lie then lifted the chest, after he had put the damsel into it, and, with hia
heart smitten by love for her, proceeded with her, full of joy, for she was a damsel
worth ten thousand pieces of gold, and was decked with ornaments and apparel of
200 GANEM THE SON OF AYOUB,
enormous value. Scarcely had he found himself at his house ^vhen he put down
the chest, and opened it, and took forth from it the damsel, who looked, and saw that
the place was a handsome dwelling furnished with variegated carpets, and she ob-
served the gay colours and various embellishments, and beheld stuifs packed up,
and loads of goods, and other property : so she knew that he was a great merchant,
and a man of wealth. She then uncovered her face, and looked at him, and ob-
served him to be a handsome young man, and loved him ; and she said to hira,
Bring us something to eat. He answered her, On the head and the eye be thy com-
mands: — and went to the market, and bought a roasted lamb, and a dish of sweet-
meats, and procured some dried fruits, and candles, and wine, and the requisite
apparatus for perfumes. Then returning to the house, he took in the things, and
when the damsel saw him, she laughed, and kissed him, and embraced him, and
began to caress him, so that the love which he felt increased, and took entire posses-
sion of his heart. They then ate and drank until the approach of night, and their
love was mutual ; for they were both of the same age, and both equal in comeliness ;
and when the night approached, the Distracted Slave of Love, Ganem the son of
Ayoub, arose and lighted the candles and lamps, and the chamber glistened; he then
brought forth the wine-service, and prepared the table, and sat down with her ; he
filling and handing to her, and she filling and handing to him, while they both
toyed and laughed and recited verses: their gaiety increased, and they were en-
grossed by mutual love. — Extolled be the perfection of the Uniter of Hearts ! — Thus
they continued until it was near morning, when sleep overcame them, and each of
them slept apart from the other till morning came.
Ganem the son of Ayoub then arose, and went forth to the market, and bought
what was requisite of vegetables and meat and wine and other provisions, and
brought them to the house: and he again sat with her to eat, and they ate until they
were satisfied ; after which he brought the wine, and they drank and toyed together
till their cheeks reddened and their eyes became more intensely black : and Ganem
said, my mistress have compassion on the captive of thy love, and him whom
thine eyes have slain ! I had remained sound of heart but for thee [ — Then he •wept
a while ; and she replied, my master, and light of mine eye, by Allah, I love thee,
and confide in thee; but I know that thou canst not be united to me. — And what
hindereth? said he. She answered, I will this night relate to thee my story, that
thou mayest accept my excuse. But they continued thus a whole month, and after
this, one night, when Ganem was complaining to her of his passion, she said to him,
I will now explain to thee my case, that thou mayest know my dignity, and my
secret be revealed to thee, and my excuse become manifest to thee. He replied.
Well. And she took hold of a band which confined a part of her dress, and said
to him, my master, read what is on this border. So he took the border in his
hand, and looked at it, and found worked upon it in gold, I am thine, and thou art
mine, descendant of the Prophet's uncle.* And when he had read this, he let fall
his hand, and said to her, Reveal to me thy history. She answered, Well : — and
thus began.
Know that I am a favourite slave of the Prince of the Faithful, and my name is
Alcolomb. The Prince of the Faithful, after he had reared me in his palace, and
I had grown up, observed my qualities, and the beauty and loveliness with which
my Lord had endowed me, and loved me excessively: he took me and lodged me in
a private apartment, and appointed me ten female slaves to serve me, and then gave
me those ornaments which thou seest with me. After this, the Caliph went forth
one day on a journey to one of the surrounding provinces, and the lady Zobeide
came to one of the female slaves who were in my service, and said. When thy mis-
tress Alcolomb sleepeth, put this piece of bhang into her nose and her drink, and
thou shalt receive from me a sum of money that will satisfy thee. The slave replied,
'This is meant to indicate Ilaroun Alrashid.
Aleolomb Drugged for Burial. (Page 200.)
201
THE DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE. 203
Most willingly: — and she received the bhang from her, rejoicing on account of the
money, and because she had been originally Zobeide's slave : and she insinuated the
bhang into me, whereupon I fell upon the floor with my head bent down to my feet,
and seemed to be in another world ; and when she could devise no other stratagem,
she put me into that chest, and privily summoned the black slaves, and, after having
given presents to them and to the door-keepers, sent me with the black slaves on the
night when thou wast reposing at the top of the palm-tree: and they did with me
as thou sawest, and my deliverance was effected through thy means : then thou
broughtest me unto this place, where thou hast treated me with the utmost kindness.
This is my story: and I know not what hath happened to the Caliph during my
absence. Know, therefore, my dignity; and divulge not my case.
When Ganem the son of Ayoub heard these words of Alcolomb, and discovered
that she was the favourite of the Caliph, he drew back, in his awe for the Caliph,
and sat alone at one side of the chamber, blaming himself, and reflecting upon his
situation, perplexed by love of her to whom he could not be united ; and he wept
from the violence of his desire, and the fierceness of his passion and distraction,
and began to complain of fortune and its injustice. — Extolled be the perfection of
Him who causeth the hearts of the generous to be troubled with love, and endueth
not the mean with so much of it as equalleth the weight of a grain! — And upon
this Alcolomb rose to him and embraced him, and kissed him, and, her heart being
entirely captivated by his love, she revealed what she had hidden of the extent of
her passion, and encircled his neck with her arms, and kissed him again, but he
withdrew from her embrace, in his fear for the Caliph. They then conversed a
while, drowned in the sea of mutual love, and so remained until day, when Ganem
arose, and went forth to the market as usual, and procured what was requisite, and,
returning to the house, found Alcolomb weeping ; but as soon as she beheld him, she
ceased from her tears, and smiled, and said to him. Thou hast made me desolate by
thine absence, beloved of my heart. By Allah, this hour during which thou hast
been avray from me hath appeared as a year ; for I cannot endure thy separation ;
and see, I have thus shown thee my state, through the violence of my passion.
Arise therefore now, and mind not what hath happened, but take me as thy wife. —
But he replied, I seek refuge with Allah! This is a thing that cannot be. How
should the dog sit in the place of the lion ? What belongeth to my lord is forbidden
me to approach. — He then tore himself from her, and sat apart; and she increased
in love through his refusal. — In this manner they passed three long months; and
whenever she made any advances to him he withdrew from her, and said. Whatever
belongeth to the master is forbidden to the slave. — Such was the case of the Dis-
tracted Slave of Love, Ganem the son of Ayoub.
Meanwhile, Zobeide, during the absence of the Caliph, having acted thus with
Alcolomb, became perplexed, saying within herself. What shall I say to the Caliph
when he cometh and inquireth respecting her ; and what shall be my answer to him ?
She then called for an old woman who resided with her, and acquainted her with her
secret, and said to her. What shall I do, now that Alcolomb is no more ? The old
woman answered, when she understood the affair, Know, my mistress, that the
return of the Caliph is near ; but I wnll send to a carpenter, and desire him to make
a wooden image of a corpse, and they shall dig for it a grave, and thou shalt light
candles and lamps around it, and command every one who is in the palace to wear
black, and order thy female slaves and eunuchs, as soon as they know of the Caliph's
return from his journey, to raise lamentations in the vestibules, and when he enters
and asks the news, they shall answer him, Alcolomb is dead ; and maj' God abund-
antly compensate thee for the loss of her! — and from the esteem with which she was
regarded by our mistress, she hath buried her in her own palace. So when he
heareth this, he will weep, and the event will distress him. Then he will cause the
readers to sit up by night at her tomb to perform recitations of the Koran ; and if he
Bay within himself. Surely the daughter of my uncle, through her jealousy hath
204 GANEM THE SON OF ATOUB,
been led to destroy Alcolomb, — or the distraction of love overpower him, and he give
orders to take her forth from the tomb, fear not from that ; for if they dig down to
the image in the form of a human being, and take it forth shrouded in costly grave-
clothes, and the Caliph desire to remove the grave-clothes from it, to behold her, do
thou prevent him, and the fear of the world to come will withhold him ; and do thou
say to him, To behold her corpse uncovered is unlawful. Then he will believe her
death, and will return her image to its place, and thank thee for thy conduct, and
thou shalt escape, please God, from this difficulty. — When the lady Zubeide, there-
fore, heard what she said, she approved of it, and bestowed upon her a dress of
honour, and commanded her to do this, having given her a sum of money. So the
old woman set about the business immediately, and ordered the carpenter to make
for her an image as above described, and when it was finished, she brought it to the
lady Zobeide, and she shrouded it, and lighted the candles and lamps, and spread
the carpets around the tomb, and clad herself in black, ordering the female slaves to
do the same ; and the news was spread through the palace that Alcolomb had died.
Some time after this, the Caliph returned from his journey, and went up to his
palace ; but his mind was occupied only with Alcolomb ; and seeing the pages and
eunuchs and female slaves all clad in black, his heart was agitated ; and when he
entered the palace of the lady Zobeide, and beheld her also clad in black, he inquired
the reason of it, and they informed him of the death of Alcolomb. Upon hearing
this, he fell down in a swoon ; and when he recovered, he asked where was her
tomb ; and the lady Zobeide answered, Know, Prince of the Faithful, that, on
account of the esteem in which she was held by me, I burled her in my palace. So
the Caliph, entering the palace in his travelling dress, proceeded to visit the tomb of
Alcolomb, and found the carpets spread, and the candles and lamps lighted ; and
when he beheld this, he thanked her for what she had done. But afterwards he be-
came perplexed, and wavered for some time between belief and disbelief, until
suspicion overcame him, and he gave orders to open the tomb and to take her out ;
when, however, he saw the grave-clothes, and was about to remove them that he
might behold her, he feared God (whose name be exalted !) and the old woman said,
Restore her to her place. Then immediately the Caliph commanded to bring the
professors of religion and law, and the readers, and they performed recitations of
the whole of the Koran at her tomb, while he sat by the side of it weeping until he
became insensible.
He continued to frequent the tomb for the space of a month: after which it hap-
pened that he entered the Harem, after the Emirs and Viziers had dispersed from
before him to their houses, and he slept awhile, and a female slave sat at his head,
and another at his feet; and after sleep had overcome him he awoke, and opened his
eyes, and heard the damsel who was at his head say to her at his feet. Wo to thee,
Keizuran ! — Wherefore, Kadib? said the other. — Our lord, rejoined the first, is
ignorant of what hath happened ; so he sitteth up by night at a tomb in which there
is nothing but a carved image, the work of a carpenter. — And what then, asked the
other damsel, hath befallen Alcolomb? Her companion answered, Know that our
mistress Zobeide sent some bhang by a female slave, and she stupified her with it,
and when the bhang had taken efi"ect upon her, she put her in a chest, and sent her
away with Sawab and Cafour, commanding them to throw her into the tomb. Upon
this, Keizuran said, Wo to thee, Kadib! Is not the lady Alcolomb dead ?—
Heaven preserve her youth from death ! answered Kadib : I heard the lady Zobeide
say that Alcolomb was with a young merchant named Ganem of Damascus, and that
she had been with him, including this day, four months ; and our lord here weepeth
and passeth sleepless nights at a tomb in which there is no corpse. — Thus they con-
versed together, while the Caliph heard their words : and when they had finished
their conversation, and he had become acquainted with the event, that this tomb was
a false one, and that Alcolomb had been with Ganem the son of Ayoub for the space
of four months, he was violently incensed, and arose, and summoned the Emirs of
THE DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE. 205
his court; whereupon the Vizier Giafar the Barmecide presented himself and kissed
the ground before him, and the Caliph said to him, in anger, Descend, Giafar, with
a body of men, and inquire for the house of Ganem the son of Ayoub, and assault
it suddenly, and bring him hither with my female slave Alcolomb: and I will
assuredly torture him.
Giafar replied, I hear and obey: — and he went forth with his attendants, the Judge
also accompanying him, and they proceeded until they arrived at Ganem's house.
Ganem had just before gone out and brought a pot of meat, and was about to stretch
forth his hand to eat of it with Alcolomb, when she looked out, and found that the
house was beset on all sides, and the Vizier and the Judge and the ofiScers of vio-
lence and the Mamlouks with drawn swords were surrounding it as the black sur-
rounds the pupil of the eye ; and upon this she knew that tidings of her situation had
reached the ears of the Caliph her lord, and she made sure of destruction : her coun-
tenance became pale, and her beauty changed, and looking towards Ganem, she said
to him, my beloved, save thyself! — How shall I do, said he, and whither shall I
flee, when my wealth and means of subsistence are in this house ? But she answered.
Delay not, lest thou perish, and thy wealth also be lost. — my mistress, and light
of mine eye, rejoined he, how can I contrive to go forth when they are surrounding
the house? — Fear not, she answered: — and she pulled off his clothes, and clad him
in worn-out, ragged garments, and, taking the pot that had contained the meat,
placed it upon his head, and put in it a little bread and a saucer of meat, and said
to him, Go forth by the help of this stratagem, and thou hast nothing to fear with
respect to me, for I know what I am able to do with the Caliph. When Ganem,
therefore, heard the words of Alcolomb, and the advice which she gave him, he went
forth through the midst of them, bearing the pot, and Providence protected him, so
that he escaped from the snares and injuries which menaced him, by the blessing
of his good conscience.
And when the Vizier Giafar arrived at the house, he dismounted from his horse,
and entered, and looked at Alcolomb ; who had adorned herself, and filled a chest
with gold and ornaments and jewels and rarities, such as were light to carry and of
great value ; and when Giafar came in to her, she rose upon her feet, and kissed the
ground before him, saying to him, my master, the pen hath written what God hath
decreed. But Giafar, when he beheld her situation, replied. By Allah, my mis-
tress, he gave me no order but to arrest Ganem the son of Ayoub. And she said,
Know that he hath packed up some bales of merchandise, and gone with them to
Damascus, and I know nothing more than this ; and I request thee to take care of
this chest for me, and to convey it to the palace of the Prince of the Faithful. So
Giafar answered, I hear and obey ; — and he took the chest, and gave orders that it
should be conveyed, together with Alcolomb, to the palace of the Caliph, treating
her with honour and respect. This took place after they had plundered the house
of Ganem ; and they went to the Caliph ; and Giafar related to him all that had hap-
pened ; whereupon the Caliph appointed to Alcolomb & dark chamber, and there
lodged her, commissioning an old woman to serve her ; for he imagined that Ganem
had acted dishonestly towards her.
He then wrote a letter to the Emir Mohammed the son of Suleiman Zeini ; who
was viceroy of Damascus, containing as follows: — As soon as this letter cometh to
thy hands, thou shalt arrest Ganem the son of Ayoub, and send him unto me. So
when the mandate was brought to him, he kissed it, and put it upon his head, and
caused it to be proclaimed through the market-street. Whosoever desireth to plunder,
let him repair to the house of Ganem the son of Ayoub. And they came to the
house, and found that the mother of Ganem and his sister had made for them a tomb,
and sat by it weeping; and they laid hold upon them, and plundered the house, and
tte mother and sister knew not the cause : and when they brought them before the
Sultan, he inquired of them respecting Ganem the son of Ayoub; and they answered
206 GANEM THE SON OF AYOUB,
him, For the space of a year we have obtained no tidings of him.— And they re-
stored them to their place.
In the mean time, Ganem the son of Ayoub, the Distracted Slave of Love, when
his wealth had been seized, was perplexed, and began to weep for himself so as to
break his heart. He walked on, and ceased not on his way to the close of day, suf-
fering from excessive hunger and fatigue, until he arrived at a village, where he
entered a mosque, and seated himself upon a round mat, and he leaned his back
ao-ainst one of the walls of the building, and then threw himself down, under the
influence of extreme hunger and weariness. There he remained until morning, his
heart palpitating from want of food ; vermin attacked his body, his breath became
fetid, and he was altogether changed; and the people of that village, coming to
perform the morning prayers, found him lying there sick through want of food, yet
exhibiting evident traces of former affluence ; and when they approached him, they
found him cold and hungry. They clad him, therefore, with an old garment having
ragged sleeves, and said to him. Whence art thou, stranger, and what is the cause
of thine infirmity? And Ganem opened his eyes, and looked at them, and wept ; but
he returned them no answer. Then one of them, knowing the violence of his hunger,
went and brought him a saucer of honey and two cakes of bread, and he ate, while
they sat around him until the sun rose, when they departed to their several occupa-
tions. — In this state he remained among them for a month, and his infirmity and
disease increased; so the people, commiserating him, consulted together respecting
his case, and agreed to transport him to the hospital at Bagdad.
"While they were thus conversing, lo, two women, beggars, came in to him, and
they were his mother and sister: and when he beheld them, he gave them the bread
that was at his head, and they slept by him the next night: but he knew them not.
And on the following day, the people of the village came to him, bringing a camel,
and said to its owner. Convey this sick person on the camel, and when thou hast
arrived at Bagdad, put him down at the door of the hospital ; perhaps he may recover
his health, and thou wilt receive a recompense. He answered them, I hear and
obey. So they brought forth Ganem the son of Ayoub from the mosque, and placed
him, with the round mat upon which he was sleeping, on the camel ; and his mother
and sister came to look at him among the other people; but they knew him not.
Then observing him attentively, they said. Verily he resembleth our Ganem ! Can
he be this sick person or not? — But as to Ganem, he awoke not until he was mounted
on the camel, and he began to weep and moan ; and the people of the village saw
his mother and sister weeping for him, though they did not know him. Then his
mother and sister journeyed onwards to Bagdad, while the camel-driver also pro-
ceeded without stopping until he had deposited Ganem at the door of the hospital,
when he took his camel and returned.
Ganem remained lying there until the morning, and when the people began to
pass along the street, they beheld him. He had become so emaciated that his form
resembled that of a toothpick, and the people ceased not to gaze at him until the
sheikh of the market came and repelled them from him, and said, I will gain Para-
dise by moans of this poor person ; for if they take him into the hospital they will
kill him in one day. He then ordered his young men to carry him, aad they con-
veyed him to his house, where he spread for him a new bed, and put for him a new
cushion, and said to his wife. Serve him fiiithfully. She replied. On the head :— and
she tucked up her sleeves, and, having heated for him some water, washed his hands
and feet and body, and clothed him in a vest of one of her female slaves. She then
gave him to drink a cup of wine, and sprinkled rose-water upon him ; so he recov-
ered his senses ; and he remembered his beloved Alcolomb, and his anguish in-
creased. — Thus did it happen to Ganem.
Now as to Alcolomb, — when the Caliph, incensed against her, had lodged her in
the dark chamber, she remained there in the same state for eighty days ; and it hap-
pened that the Caliph passed one day by that place, and heard her recitin:; \eises :
THE DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE. 207
and when she had finished her recitation of them, she exclaimed, my beloved!
Ganem ! How kind art thou, and how chaste is thy disposition ! Thou hast acted
with kindness unto him who hath injured thee, and hast guarded the honour of him
who hath violated thine, and hast protected his harem, and he hath enslaved both
thee and thy family ; but thou wilt assuredly stand, and the Prince of the Faithful,
before a just Judge, and thou wilt obtain justice against him on the day when the
Judge shall be God, and the witnesses the angels I — And when the Caliph heard
her words, and understood her complaint, he knew that she was injured; and he
entered his palace, and sent the eunuch to her, and when she came before him she
hung down her head, with weeping eye, and sorrowful heart : and he said to her,
Alcolomb, I see that thou complainest of my oppi'ession, and accusest me of tyranny,
and thinkest that T have injured him who hath acted kindly unto me. Who then is
he who hath guarded my honour and I have violated his ? and who hath protected
my harem and T have enslaved his ? — She answered him, Ganem the son of Ayoub :
for he hath not attempted any dishonest action towards me, by thy beneficence, O
Prince of the Faithful ! — Upon this the Caliph exclaimed, There is no strength nor
power but in God? — and then added, Alcolomb, desire of me what thou wilt, and
1 will grant thy wish. So she replied, I desire of thee my beloved, Ganem the son
of Ayoub. And when he heard her words, he said, I will cause him to be brought
hither, if it be the will of God, in honour. — Prince of the Faithful, she rejoined,
when thou shalt have caused him to be brought, wilt thou present me to him? He
answered, When I have had him brought I will present thee to him, the present of
a generous man who will not revoke his gift. So .she said, Prince of the Faithful,
permit me to search about for him : perhaps God may unite me with him. And he
replied. Do as thou wilt.
Upon this she rejoiced, and went forth, taking with her a thousand pieces of gold,
and visited the sheikhs, and gave alms for the sake of Ganem ; and on the following
day she went to the market of the merchants, and gave to the chief of the market
some money, saying to him, Bestow it in alms upon the strangers. Then again, in
the following week, she went forth, taking with her a thousand pieces of gold, and,
entering the market of the goldsmiths and jewellers, summoned the chief of the
market, and he came, and she gave him the thousand pieces of gold, and said to
him. Bestow it in alms upon the strangers : — whereupon the chief, who was the
sheikh of the market before mentioned, looked at har, and said to her. Wilt thou go
with me to my house, to look at a young stranger there, and see how elegant he is,
and how perfectly charming ? For it is probable that he is Ganem the son of Ayoub,
the Distracted Slave of Love. — But the chief had no knowledge of him, arid
imagined that he was a poor person involved in debt, whose wealth had been taken
from him, or a lover parted from his beloved. And when she heard his words, her
heart beat, and her affections were engrossed by him, and she answered, Send with
me some one to conduct me to thy house. So he sent with her a young boy, who
conducted her to the house where the stranger was lodged, and she thanked him for
doing so ; and when she entered the house, and saluted the chief's wife, the latter
arose and kissed the ground before her; for she knew her. Then Alcolomb said to
her. Where is the sick person who is with you ? And she wept, and answered,
Here he is, my mistress; but he is of a respectable family, and exhibiteth traces
of former aiSuence. And Alcolomb looked towards the bed upon which he was
lying, and regarding him narrowly, beheld him as though he wei-e Ganem himself;
but his condition was changed, and he had become so emaciated that he resembled
a toothpick, and the truth of his case was disguised from her, so that she did not dis-
cover him to be the person whom she sought: but she was moved with compassion
for him, and she wept, and exclaimed. Verily, strangers are objects of pity, though
they be Emirs in their own countries! She then ordered for him supplies of wine
and medicines, and sat at his head a while, and mounted, and returned to her
208 GANEM THE SON OF AYOUB,
palace ; and she continued to go forth to every market for the purpose of searching
for Ganem.
Soon after, the chief of the market brought the mother of Ganem, and his sister
Fetnah, and went with them to Alcolomb, and said to her, most charitable lady,
there have entered our city this day a woman and a girl of respectable origin, bear-
ing evident traces of former affluence, but they are clad in garments of hair-cloth,
and each of them hath a wallet hung to her neck, and their eyes are weeping, and
their hearts sorrowful ; so I have brought them unto thee, that thou mayest give
them refuge, and preserve them from the disgrace of beggary ; for they are not per-
sons suited to ask alms of the sordid : and, please God, we shall enter Paradise by
their means. — By Allah, my master, she replied, thou hast made me long to behold
them ! Where are they ? Order them to come in. So, upon this, Fetnah and her
mother came in to Alcolomh, who, when she saw them, and observed that they were
both distinguished by beauty, wept for them, and said, By Allah, they are persons
of an affluent family, and traces of wealth are conspicuous in their appearance.
my mistress, replied the chief of the market, we love the poor and indigent for the
sake of future recompense : and probably the extortioners have oppressed these two
persons, and plundered them of their wealth, and ruined their houses. Then these
two females wept violently, and, remembering Ganem the son of Ayoub, the Dis-
tracted Slave of Love, their wailing increased, and Alcolomb wept with them ; and
the mother of Ganem exclaimed. We pray God to unite us with him whom we seek,
and he is my son Ganem the son of Ayoub. When Alcolomb, therefore, heard these
words, she knew that this woman.was the mother of her beloved, and that the other
was his sister, and she wept until she fell down in a swoon ; and when she recovered,
she approached them, and said to them. Ye have nothing to fear; for this day is the
first of your prosperity, and the last of your adversity ; therefore grieve not. She
then ordered the chief of the market to take them to his house, and to let his wife
conduct them into the bath, and attire them in handsome clothing, and take care of
them, and treat them with the utmost honour ; and she gave him a sum of money.
Then, on the following day, Alcolomb mounted and went again to the house of
the chief of the market, and went to visit his wife, who rose to her, and kissed the
ground before her, and thanked her for her charity ; and she saw that the wife had
conducted the mother of Ganem, and his sister, to the bath, and taken off their
former clothes, and that the traces of their original affluence had become more con-
spicuous in consequence; and she sat a while conversing with them; after which
she asked the wife of the chief of the market respecting the sick person who was
with her. She answered, lie is in the same state. And Alcolomb Said, Arise, and
let us look at him and visit him. So they both arose, with Ganem's mother and
sister, and went in to him, and seated themselves by him ; and when Ganem the son
of Ayoub, the Distracted Slave of Love, heard one of them mention Alcolomb, ema-
ciated as he was in body and limbs, his soul returned to him, and he raised his head
from the pillow, and called out, Alcolomb! She looked at him, therefore, and
knew him, and cried, saying. Yes, my beloved ! lie then said to her. Draw near
to me. And she asked him, Art thou Ganem the son of Ayoub, the Distracted Slave
of Love? He answered her. Yes: I am he. And upon this, she fell down in a
swoon ; and when his sister and his mother heard their words, they cried out. Oh
our joy! — and in like manner fainted. And when they recovered, Alcolomb said to
Ganem, Praise be to God who hath united us with thee and with thy mother and
sister ! Then approaching him, she related to him ail that had happened to her
with the Caliph, adding, I said to him, I have declared to thee the truth, Prince
of the Faithful : — and he believed my words, and approved thee ; and he is now de-
siring to see thee. And she said to him. The Caliph hath given me to thee: — where-
upon he was tilled with the utmost joy: and Alcolomb said to them all. Quit not
this place until I come again.
She then arose immediately, and departed to her palace, and removed theuce the
THE DISTRACTED SLAVE OF LOVE. 209
chest that she had brought from Ganem's house, and took forth from it some pieces
of gohi, which she gave to the chief of the market, saying to him, Take these pieces
of gold, and buy for each of them four complete suits of dress of the best kinds of
stuff, and twenty handkerchiefs, and whatever else they require. And after this,
she conducted them to the bath, and gave orders to wash them, and prepared for
them boiled meats, and infusion of galangal, and juice of apples, after they had
come forth from the bath and dressed themselves. For three days she remained with
them, feeding them with fowls and with boiled meats, and giving them sherbet of
relined sugar to drink ; and after the three days their spirits returned to them. Then
she conducted tliem again to the bath, and they came forth, and she changed their
clothes, and, leaving them in the house of the chief of the market, went to the Ca-
liph, and kissed the ground before him, and related to him the story, telling him
that her master, Ganem the son of Ayoub, the Distracted Slave of Love, had come,
and his mother and sister also had arrived. When the Caliph, therefore, heard
these words of Alcolomb, he said to the eunuchs. Bring hither to me Ganem. And
Giafar went down with them to bring him ; but Alcolomb had gone before him, and
went in unto Ganem, and said to him, Tiie Caliph hath sent to thee to bring thee
before him : have a care then to display eloquence of tongue, and firmness of heart,
and sweetness of speech. And she attired him in a magnificent dress, and gave
him pieces of gold in abundance, saying to him. Bestow plentifully upon the domes-
tics of the Caliph as thou goest in to him. And lo, Giafar approached him, mounted
upon his mule, and Ganem advanced to meet him, and greeted him with a prayer
for long life, kissing the ground before him.
The planet of his prosperity had appeared, and the star of his glory had risen
aloft, and Giafar took him, and they proceeded until they entered into the presence
of the Prince of the Faithful ; and when Ganem came before him, he looked towards
the Viziers and Emirs, and Chamberlains and Lieutenants, and the other officers of
the court and the warriors, and, being eloquent of tongue, firm of heart, delicate in
the style of bis language, and pleasing in the allusions it conveyed, hung down his
head towards the ground, and then looked towards the Caliph, and addressed him in a
series of complimentary verses. And when he had finished his recitation, the Caliph
was delighted with the graces of his person, and pleased with the eloquence of his
tongue, and the sweetness of his speech ; and he said to him. Approach me. He
therefore approached him, and the Caliph said to him. Explain to me thy tale, and
acquaint me with the truth of thy history. So Ganem sat and related to the Caliph
all that had happened to him from beginning to end ; and when the Caliph knew
that he spoke truth, he bestowed upon him a dress of honour, and admitted him into
his favour, and said to him. Acquit me of responsibility. And he did so, and said
to him, Prince of the Faithful, the slave and all that his hands possess belong to
his master: — and the Caliph rejoiced. He then gave orders to appropriate a palace
to him exclusively, and appointed him abundant pensions and allowances, and re-
moved to him his mother and his sister. And the Caliph, hearing that his sister
Fetnah was in beauty (as her name imported) a temptation, demanded her of him
in marriage. Ganem therefore replied. She is thy handmaid, and I am thy mamlouk.
And the Caliph thanked him, and gave him a hundred thousand pieces of gold, and
summoned the Cadi and witnesses, and they performed the marriage-contract. Then
he and Ganem visited their wives on the same day, the Caliph going to Fetnah, and
Ganem the son of Ayoub to Alcolomb; and on the following morning the Caliph
ordered that all that had happened to Ganem, from first to last should be committed
to writing and inserted in the record, that his posterity might consider it, and wonder
at the disposals of destiny, and commit their affairs unto the Creator of the night
and the day.
*14
210 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
CHAPTER VIII.
Commencing with part of the Hundred and Seventh Night, and ending with part of the Hun
dred and Thirty-seventh.
THE STORY OF TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
There was, in former times, a city behind the mountains of Ispahan, called the
Green City, and in it resided a King called the King Suleiman. He was a person
of liberality and beneficence, and justice and integrity, and of a generous and
obliging disposition ; travellers repaired to him from every quarter, and his fame
spread throughout all the regions and countries; and he reigned a long time in
glory and security ; but he vras destitute of children and of wives.
lie had a Vizier who nearly resembled him in his qualities; in liberality and other
endowments ; and it came to pass that he sent to this Vizier one day, and having
summoned him into his presence, said to him, Vizier, my heart is contracted, and
my patience is overcome, and my strength is impaired, because I have neither a wife
nor child : this is not the usual way of kings who rule over lords and paupers ; for
they rejoice in leaving children, and multiplying by them the number of their pos-
terity ; and the Prophet (God favour and preserve him!) hath said. Intermarry,
and beget offspring, that ye may increase in number ; for I shall contend for your
superiority with the other nations on the day of resurrection: — what then is thy
counsel, Vizier? Point out to me what is advisable. — But when the Vizier heard
these words, tears poured from his eyes, and he replied, Far be it from me, King
of the age, that I should speak of that which belongeth unto the Compassionate to
decide ! Dost thou desire that I should enter the fire of Hell, through the anger of
the Almighty King? — Know, Vizier, rejoined his sovereign, that if the King pur-
chase a female slave whose rank and lineage are unknown, he will not be acquainted
with her ignoble origin that he may abstain from her, or the nobility of her extrac-
tion that he may make her his companion: so, if he do this, she may perhaps bear
him a son who may be a hypocrite, a tyrant, a shedder of blood; and she may re-
semble a marshy land, whose produce is worthless, and attaineth no excellence: her
child may be obnoxious to the indignation of his Lord, not doing what lie com-
mandeth him, nor refraining from that which lie forbiddeth him to do. I will
never, therefore, be the means of such an event by purchasing a female slave. I
desire, rather, that thou demand in marriage for me one of the daughters of the
Kings, whose lineage is known, and whose loveliness is celebrated. If, then, thou
wilt point out to me one of good birth and of religion among the daughters of tlie Ma-
hometan Kings, I will demand her as my wife, and marry her in the presence of
witnesses, that I may thereby obtain the approval of the Lord of mankind. — The
Vizier replied. Verily, God hath accomplished thy want and given thee thy desire.
— How so? asked the King. — Know, King, answered the Vizier, that it hath been
told me that the King Zehr-Shah, the sovereign of the White Hand, hath a daughter
of astonishing hjvelinoss, whom words cannot describe, whose equal cxisteth not in
this age, for she is endowed with the most perfect beauty and symmetry, with black
eyes, and long hair, and slender waist, and largo hips ; when she approaclieth she
seduceth, and when she turneth her back she killeth, ravishing the heart and the
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 211
eye. It is my opinion, therefore, King, that thou shouldst send to her father an
intelligent messenger, well informed, and experienced in the course of events, that
he may courteously ask her in marriage for thee of her father: for she hath no equal
in the distant parts of the earth, nor in the near; so shalt thou enjoy her lovely
face, and the Glorious King shall approve thy conduct ; since it has been handed
dovrn from the Prophet (God favour and preserve him !) that he said, There is no
mockery among the Faithful.
Upon this the King was perfectly delighted, his bosom expanded with joy, and
anxiety and grief departed from him, and, addressing his Vizier, he said to him.
Know, Vizier, that no one shall go on this business but thou, on account of thy
consummate wisdom and politeness : depart therefore to thy house, and accomplish
what thou hast to do, and prepare thyself by the morrow, and demand for me in
marriage this damsel with whom thou hast caused my heart to be engrossed, and
return not to me without her. The Vizier replied, I hear and obey: — and he went
to his house, and gave orders to bring presents suitable to Kings, consisting of costly
jewels and precious rarities, such as were light to carry and of great value, together
with Arab horses, and Davidean coats of mail, and chests of wealth, such as lan-
guage would fail to describe. These they placed upon mules and camels, and the
Vizier departed, accompanied by a hundred mamlouks, and a hundred male black
slaves, and a hundred female slaves, and the flags and banners were unfurled over
his head. The King charged him to return soon ; and, after his departure, the King
Suleiman Shah burned with desire, and became engrossed with love of the damsel
night and day. Meanwhile, the Vizier, by night and by day, traversed the deserts
and wastes until there remained between him and the city to which he was repairing
one day's journey, when he alighted at the bank of a river, and, having summoned
one of his chief officers, ordered him to go quickly to the King Zehr-Shah, and to
acquaint him with his approach. He answered, I hear and obey:— -and went
quickly to the city; and when he arrived there it happened that the King Zehr-Shah
was sitting in one of the places of recreation before the gate of the city, and, seeing
him as he entered, knew him to be a stranger, and summoned him before him. So
when the messenger came to him, he informed him of the approach of the Vizier of
the supreme King Suleiman Shah, the King of Green Land and of the mountains
of Ispahan ; and the King Zehr-Shah rejoiced, and welcomed the messenger, and,
having conducted him to his palace, said to him Where didst thou part from the
Vizier? He answered, I parted from him in the morning at the bank of such a
river, and to-morrow he will arrive and visit thee : may God continue his favours
unto thee, and show mercy unto thy parents ! Zehr-Shah then ordered one of his
Viziers to take with him the greater number of his chief officers and chamberlains,
and lieutenants and the lords of his court, and to go forth with them to meet him,
in honour of the King Suleiman : for his dominion extended through the land.
In the mean time, the Vizier of Suleiman remained where he had halted until mid-
right, and then proceeded towards the city: and when the morning gleamed, and
the sun shone upon the hills and the lowlands, suddenly the Vizier of the King Zehr-
Shah, and his chamberlains and the lords of his court, and the chief officers of his
kingdom, approached and joined him at the distance of some leagiies from the city.
So the Vizier of Suleiman felt sure of the accomplishment of his business, and
saluted those who met him ; and the latter preceded him until they arrived at the
palace of the King, and passed in before him through the entrance to the seventh
vestibule. This was the place which no one entered on horseback ; for it was near
to the King ; therefore here the Vizier alighted, and he proceeded on fdot until ho
came to a lofty saloon, at the upper end of which was a sofa of alabaster set with
pearls and jewels, having four legs of elephants' tusks, and upon it was a mattrass
covered with green satin embroidered with red gold, and over it was a canopy
adorned with hearls and jewels. Upon this sofa sat the King Zehr-Shah, and tho
lords of his court stood in attendance upon him. And when the Vizier went in unto
212 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
him, and stood before him, he composed his heart, and gave liberty to his longuo,
and displaying the oratory of Viziers, and uttering the language of the eloquent,
addressed the King with courtesy of manner, and recited a series of complimentary
verses; and when he had finished the King caused him to draw near, treated him
with the utmost respect, and, seating him by his side, smiled in his f\xce, and
honoured him with a gracious reply. After this, the attendants brought forward the
table in that saloon, and they ate until they were satisfied, when the attendants re-
moved the table, and every one who was present went forth, excepting the chief offi-
cers. When the Vizier, therefore, saw that they had quitted the hall, he arose and
stood on his feet, and, complimenting the King, he kissed the ground before him,
and said, great King, and dignified sovereign, I have come unto thee and visited
thee on an afi'air productive of peace and prosperity and happiness unto thee ; and
it is this: I have come to thee as an ambassador to desire in marriage thy daughter,
the distinguished by rank and lineage, from the King Suleiman, who is endowed
with justice and integrity, and graciousness and beneficence, the King of the Green
Land and of the mountains of Ispahan, and he hath sent unto thee many presents
and numerous rarities, desiring thine alliance. Dost thou then wish the same of
him? — He then stood silent, waiting for the answer; and when the King Zehr-Shah
heard these words he rose upon his feet, and modestly kissed the ground ; and the
persons who were present wondered at the King's condescension to the ambassador,
and their minds were amazed. The King then offered up praises unto Ilim who is
possessed of glory and honour, and said, still standing, O exalted Vizier, and illus-
trious lord, hear what I say. We are, unto the King Suleiman, among the number
of his subjects, and shall be ennobled by his affinity: we covet this distinction, and
my daughter is one of his handmaids. This is my greatest desire ; that he may be
a means of support to me, and my reliance. — And he summoned the Cadies and wit-
nesses, and they bore witness that the King Suleiman had appointed his Vizier as
his deputy to effect the marriage, and the King Zehr-Shah joyfully officiated for his
daughter in performing the contract; so the Cadies concluded the marriage-contract,
and offered up a prayer for the happiness and prosperity of both parties : after which,
the Vizier arose, and produced the presents and precious rarities and all the gifts
that he had brought, and offered the whole to the King Zehr-Shah.
The King then occupied himself in fitting out his daughter, and in honourably
entertaining the Vizier ; and he feasted at his banquets the great and the abject,
and continued the festivity for a period of two months, omitting in it nothing that
would rejoice the heart and the eye. And when everything that the bride required
was completed, the King gave orders to carry forth the tents, and they were pitched
outside the city. They packed the stuffs in the chests, and made ready the Greek
and Turkish female slaves ; and the King provided the bride with precious treasures
and costly jewels, and made for her a litter of gold adorned with pearls and jewels,
appropriating to her use ten mules for the journey. The litter appeared like a
private chamber, and its occupant like one of the beautiful Ilouries, her canopy
resembling one of the pavilions of Paradise. They packed up the treasures and
wealth, and placed them upon the mules and camels, and the King Zehr-Shah went
with them to the distance of three leagues, and then bade farewell to his daughter
and the Vizier and his attendants, and returned home in joy and safety.
The Vizier proceeded with the King's daughter, and continued his day's journeys
and his route over the wastes, travelling with diligence by night and day, until there
remained between him and his country three days' journey ; whereupon he sent
forward a messenger to the King Suleiman to inform him of the approach of the
bride. So the messenger hastened in his journey till he arrived in the presence of
the King, and acquainted him with the approach of the bride; and the King was
rejoiced, and bestowed a robe of honour upon the messenger, and ordered his troops
to go forth in grand procession to meet the bride and her attendants with honour,
desiring them to equip themselves in the gayest manner, and to unfurl the standards
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 213
over their heads. And they complied with his commands ; and a crier proclaimed
through the city that no curtained damsel nor honoured lady nor infirm old woman
should fail to go forth to meet the bride. So they all went forth to meet her, and
the chief among them accompanied her to serve her. They decided together to con-
duct her towards night to the King's palace, and the chief officers of the court agreed
to decorate the streets, and to stand while the bride passed Vjy them with the eunuchs
and female slaves before her, she herself being clad in the dress which her father
gave her. And when she approached, the troops surrounded her, ranged on the
right and left, and the litter advanced with her until it drew near to the palace, and
there was no one who did not come forth to see it: the drums were beaten, and the
spears brandished, and the trumpets sounded, and sweet odours were difi'used around,
and the standards flapped and the horses raced with each other, until they arrived at
the gate of the palace, when the pages advanced with the litter to the entrance of
the harem : the palace was illuminated by its splendour, and its walls shone with
the lustre of its ornaments: and at night the eunuchs opened the doors of the inner
apartment, and stood surrounding the chief entrance. The bride then came forward
among the female slaves, like the moon among the stars, or the chief pearl among
the minor pearls of the string, and she entered the apartment, where they had placed
for her a sofa of alabaster set with pearls and jewels. Upon this she seated herself,
and the King came in to visit her, and God inspired his heart with love for hei*, so
that his disquietude and trouble ceased.
lie remained with her about a month, after which he went forth and sat upon his
throne and administered justice to his subjects: and towards daybreak on the
morning after the expiration of the ninth month, his wife gave birth to a male child
of an auspicious appearance. When the King heard of it he rejoiced exceedingly,
and gave a large sum of money to thebringer of the good tidings; and in his joy he
went to the child, and kissed it between the eyes, wondering at its surpassing beauty.
The midwives took it, and blackened the edges of its eye-lids with kohl ; and they
named it Taj-elmolouk. He was nourished on the bosom of indulgence, and reared
in the lap of prosperity ; and days and years passed until he attained the age of
seven years : whereupon the King Suleiman summoned the men of learning and
science, and ordered them to instruct his son in writing and science and polite litera-
ture ; and they continued to do so for some years, until he had learnt what was
requisite ; and when he was acquainted with all that the King desired, he caused
him to be brought from the professors and teachers, and engaged for him a master
to instruct him in horsemanship, who continued to teach him until his pupil was
fourteen years of age. Whenever the youth went forth on any business, every one
who beheld him was ravished by his beauty, so that they composed verses in his
praise, and even the women of virtue were overcome by love for him, through the
surpassing beauty with which he was endowed : and when he had attained the age
of eighteen years, the grey down appeared upon a mole upon his red cheek, while
another mole, like a globule of ambergris, added to these charms, and he captivated
the minds and eyes of his beholders. His comeliness increased as he became a man,
and he had companions and friends, and every one who enjoyed access to him wished
that Taj-elmolouk might be Sultan after the death of his father, and that he might
himself be one of his emirs.
Now Taj-elmolouk became addicted to hunting, and would not desist from it for a
single hour. Ilis father, the King, used to forbid him this pursuit, fearing, on his
account, the perils of the desert and the wild beasts; but he would not receive his
warnings. And it came to pass that he said to his servants. Take with you provender
for ten days. And they complied with his order; and when he went forth with his
followers to the chase, they proceeded over the desert, and continued their course for
four days, until they came in sight of a verdant tract, where they beheld wild beasts
ranging at large, and trees with ripe fruit, and springs gushing forth ; so he said to
his followers. Set here the nets, and enlarge their circle, and our place of meeting
214 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
shall be at the extremity of the circle, at such a spot. They therefore obeyed his
commands: they set the nets, and enlai-ged their circle, and there collected within
them an abundance of birds, and a variety of wild beasts and gazelles, in such
numbers that the wild beasts cried out in fear of them, and threw themselves in the
faces of the horses in their attempts to escape. So he urged the dogs and the lynxes
and the hawks at them, and they shot the wild beasts with arrows, striking them in
mortal places ; and they arrived not at the further extremity of the circle without
having taken of the wild beasts, a great number ; the rest having fled away. Taj-
elmolouk then alighted at some water, and having caused the game to be brought
before him, divided it: he appropriated to his father Suleiman the best of the beasts,
and despatched the portion to him ; and some be distributed among the ofiBcers of
his court.
They passed the night at that place ; and in the morning there approached them
a great caravan, comprising black slaves and servants and merchants. The caravan
halted at the water and the verdant tract; and when Taj-ehnolouk beheld them, he
said to one of his companions. Bring me an account of these people, an 1 ask them
wherefore they have halted in this place. And when the messenger went to them,
he said to them. Inform us who ye are, and return an answer quickly. So they
replied. We are merchants, and have halted here for the sake of rest, for the next
station is distant from us ; and we have halted in this place because we here enjoy
tranquillity under the protection of the King Suleiman and his son ; for we know
that every one who alighteth in his dominions is in safety and peace ; and we have
some precious stuffs which we have brought on account of his son Taj-elmolouk.
The messenger, therefore, returned to the King's son, and acquainted him with the
truth of the matter, informing him of what he had heard from the merchants ; and
the King's son said. If they have anything which they have brought on my account,
I will not enter the city nor remove from this place until I cause it to be displayed
before me. He then mounted his horse, and proceeded, his mamlouks following
him, until he drew near to the caravan ; and the merchants rose to him and greeted
him with prayers for the divine aid and favour, and the continuance of his glory
and his excellences. A tent of red satin embroidered with pearls and jewels was
pitched for him, and they spread for him, over a carpet of silk, a royal carpet, the
upper end of which was adorned with emeralds : and Taj-elmolouk seated himself,
and the mamlouks stood waiting upon him, and he sent to the merchants, command-
ing them to bring everything that they had with them. So they approached him
with their merchandise, and he caused all of it to be displayed before him, and took
of it what suited him, and gave them the price.
After this, he mounted, and was about to depart : when, casting a glance at the
caravan, he saw a young man, a comely youth, attired in clean clothes, of elegant
person, with shining forehead and brilliant countenance ; but the charms of this
youth had suffered a change, and paleness had overspread him, in consequence of
his separation from the objects of his affection, and great was his groaning and
lamentation, and with tears flowing from his eyes, he recited these verses: —
Our separation is protracted, and anxiety and fear are prolonged; and tears from my eye,
my friend, are flowing.
I bade farewell to my heart on the day of parting, and now I am alone, without heart, and
without hope.
my friend, pause with me while I bid her farewell by whose voice diseases and infirmities
would be cured.
Having thus said, he wept awhile, and fell down in a swoon, while Taj-elmolouk
looked at him, wondering at his case ; and when he recovered he stared with a bold
look, and again recited some verses, commencing thus: —
Beware of her eye ; for it is enchanting, and none escapeth upon whom it is cast.
He then uttered a loud sigh, and a second time fainted away ; and when Taj-elmolouk
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 215
beheld him in this state, he was perplexed at his case, and he walked towards him :
and as soon as he recovered from his fit, he saw the King's sou standing at his head :
whereupon he rose upon his feet, and kissed the ground before him ; and Taj-elmolouk
said to him. Wherefore hast thou not displayed thy merchandise to us ? — my lord,
he answered, my merchandise compriseth nothing suitable to thy highness. But
the King's son said, Thou must positively show me what thou hast, and acquaint me
with thy circumstances ; for I see thee with weeping eye and mourning heart : and
if thou be oppressed, we will put an end to the oppression that thou sufi'ereat, and
if thou be in debt, we will discharge thy debt; for my heart hath been tormented
on thine account since I first beheld thee.
Then Taj-elmolouk gave orders to place a chair ; and they set for him a chair of
ivory and ebony ornamented with reticulated work of gold and silk, and they spread
for him a silken carpet; and Taj-elmolouk seated himself upon the chair, and com-
manded the young man to sit upon the carpet, and said to him. Display to me thy
merchandise. The young man replied, my lord, mention it not unto me ; for my
merchandise is not suitable to thee. But Taj-olmolouk said to him. It must be done ;
and ordered some of his pages to bring it: so they brought it in spite of him ; and
when the young man beheld it, his tears flowed, and he wept and sighed and lamented,
and groans rose from his throat. After again repeating some verses he opened his
merchandise, and displayed it before Taj-elmolouk, portion by portion and piece by
piece, and took forth from among it a garment of satin interwoven with gold, worth
two thousand pieces of gold, and when he opened this, there fell from the midst of
it a piece of linen, and the young man, snatching it hastily, put it beneath him, his
reason wandering, and thus exclaimed —
When will the tortured heart be healed by thee ? The constellation of the Pleiades is nearer
to me than thou !
Taj-elmolouk was struck with the utmost wonder at his words, not knowing the cause
of them: and when the young man took the piece of linen, and put it beneath him,
Taj-elmolouk said to him, What is this piece of linen ? He answered, my lord,
thou hast no interest in this. But the King's son said, Show it to me. — my lord,
he replied, I refrained not from exposing to thee my merchandise but on account of
this: for I cannot allow thee to see it. Taj-elmolouk, however, said, I must see it:
— and he urged him, and was angry. The young man, therefore, took it from
beneath his knee, and wept and sighed and lamented exceedingly : so Taj-elmolouk
said to him, I regard thy conduct as not right ; acquaint me then with the cause of
thy weeping at beholding this piece of linen. And when the young man heard the
mention of the piece of linen, he sighed and said, my lord, my story is wonderful,
and my case is strange with respect to this piece of linen and her to whom it be-
longed, and her who designed these figures and emblems. He then unfolded the
piece of linen ; and lo, in it was the figure of a gazelle worked with silk, and em-
broidered with red gold, and facing it was the figure of another gazelle worked with
silver, and having upon its neck a ring of red gold and three jewels of chrysolite.
When Taj-elmolouk beheld this, and observed the beauty of its execution, he ex-
claimed. Extolled be the perfection of God, who hath taught man that which he
knew not! And his heart was engrossed with desire to hear the story of this young
man ; so he said to him, Relate to me the story of thyself and her who was the
owner of these gazelles. The young man, therefore, replied : —
THE STORY OF AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
Know, my lord, that my father was a great merchant, and he was blest with no
jhild excepting me. I had a cousin (the daughter of a paternal uncle) with whom
I was brought up in my father's house ; for her father had died, and before his
216 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
death he had made an agreement with my father that they should marry me to hor:
80, when I had attained to manhood, and she to womanhood, they did not exclude
her from me, nor me from her. My father then spoke to my mother, and said to
her, This year we will perform the marriage-contract of Aziz and Azizah. And
having agreed with my mother to do this, he began to make ready the provisions
for the entertainments.
All this was done while I and my cousin were living together without the slightest
restraint, and ignorant of the circumstance ; and she was more intelligftnt and more
knowing than I. And when my father had made the preparations for the festivity,
and nothing remained but the performance of the contract, and my union to my
cousin, my father proposed that they should perform the contract after the Friday-
prayers : so he repaired to his friends, the merchants and others, and acquainted
them with his intention ; and my mother went and invited her female friends and
relations. And when the Friday came, they washed the saloon which was appro-
priated to the guests, and cleansed its marble pavement, and spread the carpets
in our house, and furnished it with everything that was requisite, after they had
decorated its walls with stuffs interwoven with gold; the people having agreed to
pay their compliments to our family after the Friday-prayers. My father then went
and caused sweetmeats and dishes of sugar to be prepared ; and there remained
nothing but the performance of the contract. My mother had sent me to the bath,
and sent after me a new suit of clothes of the richest description ; and on my
coming out from the bath, I put on this handsome suit, which was perfumed; and
when I put it on, a delicious odour was diffused from it, and left a fragrance in the
way.
I desired now to repair to the mosque : but, remembering one of my friends, I re-
turned to search for him, that he might be present at the ceremony of the contract,
saying within myself, I will busy me with this affair until the time of prayer draws
near. I then entered a by-street which I had never entered before. I was perspir-
ing from the effect of the bath, and the new clothes which I wore, and the moisture
dropped from me while my perfumes diffused their odour ; so I seated myself at the
upper end of the street to rest myself upon a stone seat, and spread beneath me an
embroidered handkerchief that I had with me. The heat became oppressive to me,
and my forehead perspired, and the drops ran down my face, and I could not wipe
the moisture from it with my handkerchief, because it was spread beneath me : I was
therefore about to take the skirt of my farajiah to wipe with it my cheek, when
suddenly a white handkerchief fell upon me from above. This handkerchief was
more delicate to the feel than the zephyr, and the sight of it was more pleasant than
restoration to the diseased, and I took it in my hand, and, raising my head to see
whence it had fallen, my eye met the eye of the female who owned these gazelles:
and lo, she was looking out from a lattice in a window of brass. My eye never
beheld a person more lovely, and altogether her charms were such as the tongue
cannot describe: and when she saw me looking at her, she put her finger in her
mouth, and then united her middle-finger and her fore-finger, and placed them upon
her bosom : after which, she drew in her head from the window, and shut the lattice
and withdrew. A fire had been darted into my heart, and the flame increased ; the
sight drew from me a thousand sighs, and I was perplexed : for I heard not anything
from her, and understood not what she meant by her signs. I looked again towards
the window ; but found it closed ; and I waited until sunset ; but heard no sound,
nor saw any person : so, despairing of seeing her again, I rose from my place, and
took the handkerchief with me. I opened it, and the odour of musk was diffused
from it, and I was so exhilarated by the scent that I seemed as if I were in Para-
dise. I then spread it before me : whereupon there fell from it a piece of delicate
paper, and, opening this, I found it richly perfumed with exquisite scents, and in-
scribed with verses. After this I cast a glance at the beauty of the handkerchief,
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 217
and beheld an amatory couplet worked upon one of its two borders, and another, of
a similar kind, on its other border.
When I saw these verses upon the handkerchief, a flame of fire shot into my heart,
and my desire and perplexity increased; and I took the handkerchief and the paper,
and went with them to the house, not knowing any means of obtaining what 1 de
sired, and incapable of discovering how to proceed properly in my love. I arrived
not at the house until a considerable portion of the night had elapsed, and beheld
my cousin sitting weeping ; but when she saw me, she wiped away her tears, and
approached me and took off from me my outer clothes, and asked me the cause of
my absence. She told me that all the people, the emirs and grandees, and merchants
and others, had assembled in our house, and the Cadi and the witnesses had come,
and they ate the repast, and remained a considerable while sitting in expectation of
my presence for the purpose of performing the marriage-contract, and when they de-
spaired of my coming, they dispersed and went their way. — Thy father, said she,
was violently enraged on account of this, and swore that he would not perform our
marriage-contract until next year: for he had expended upon this festivity a large
sum of money. What, she added, hath happened unto thee this day, that thou hast
delayed thy return until now, and that this hath happened on account of thine
absence ?
I answered her. Such and sucli things have happened to me: — and mentioned to
her the handkerchief, acquainting her with the affair from first to last; and she took
the paper and the handkerchief, and read what was upon them, and her tears ran down
upon her cheeks, and she asked me. What did she say to thee, and of what did she
make signs to thee ? I answered. She uttered not a word ; but put her finger in her
mouth, and then united it with the middle finger, and placed both fingers upon her
bosom, and pointed to the ground; then she drew in her head, and closed the lattice,
and I saw her not afterwards. She carried off my heart with her, and I sat until
sunset in expectation of her looking out from the lattice a second time: but she did
it not; and when I despaired of seeing her again, I rose from the place. This is
my story; and I beg of thee to aid me in the trouble in which I am involved. — Upon
this, she raised her head towards me, and said, son of my uncle, if thou requiredst
mine eye, I would pull it out for thee from my eyelids ; and I must assist thee in the
accomplishment of thy desire, and assist her in like manner : for she is overwhelmed
by love for thee, as thou art by love for her. — And what, said I, is the interpretation
of the signs which she made? — Her putting her finger in her mouth, she answered,
indicated that thou art in her estimation as her soul to her body, and that she
longeth for thy union with her; and as to the handkerchief, it is a signal of the
lover's salutation to the beloved; and the paper denoteth that her soul is captivated
by thee ; and as to her putting her two fingers upon her bosom, the meaning of it is
as though she said to thee. After two days come hither, that my affliction may be
dissipated by thy countenance. And know, son of my uncle, she continued, that
she loveth thee and confideth in thee. This is my interpretation of her signs ; and
if 1 had liberty to go in and out at pleasure, I would effect thy union with her in
the shortest time, and protect you both with my skirt. — When I heard these words
from her, said the young man, I thanked her for what she had said, and I said
within myself, I will wait two days. I then remained two days in the house, neither
going out nor coming in, nor eating nor drinking. I put my head in the lap of my
cousin ; and she cheered me by her conversation, and said to me. Be resolute and of
good heart, and dress thyself, and repair to her at the time appointed. And she
arose, and changed my clothes, and perfumed me with incense.
I then braced up my nerves, and fortified my heart, and went forth, and proceeded
until I entered the by-street, and after I had sat a while upon the stone bench, lo,
the lattice opened. I looked towards her, and when I saw her, I fell down in a
swoon: then recovering, I summoned resolution, and took heart, and looked at her
a second time ; but again I became insensible ; and when I recovered, I saw with
218 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
her a mirror and a red handkerchief. Observing me now, she tucked up her sleeves
from her fore-arms, and, opening her five fingers, struck her bosom with them (with
the palm and the five fingers): next she raised her hands, and held forth the mirror
from the lattice, and took the red handkerchief, and retired with it: after which she
returned, and let it down from the lattice towards the street three times, letting it
down and raising it, and then wringing it and twisting it vpith her hand, and bend-
ing down her head ; she then drew it in through the lattice, and closed the lattice
and departed, without speaking to me one word, but leaving me in perplexity, not
knowing to what she alluded. I remained sitting there until the hour of nightfall,
and went home near midnight.
I found my cousin with her hand placed to her cheek, and her eyelids pouring
forth tears; and upon this, my anxieties and griefs increased, and I fell down in a
corner of the chamber ; but she sprang towards me, and lifted me up, and having
taken oif from me my outer clothes, wiped my face with her sleeve, and asked mo
what had happened to me. I related to her, therefore, all that had happpued on
the part of the damsel ; and she said to me, son of my uncle, as to her sign with
her hand and five fingers, its interpretation is. Come hither after five days ! — and as
to her sign with the mirror, and her putting forth her head from the lattice [and her
actions with the red handkerchief], the meaning is, Seat thyself at the shop of the
dyer until my messenger shall come to thee. When I heard her words, fire burned
in my heart, and I replied. By Allah, daughter of my uncle, thou sayest truly
in this interpretation ; for I saw in the by-street a Jewish dyer. I then wept,
and mv cousin said, Be resolute and firm of heart: for others than thou are
troubled with love for a period of years, and contend with the fierceness of
passion, while thou hast but a week to endure: "vvherefore then should this im-
patience overcome thee? And she proceeded to cheer me with her conversation,
and brought me food: and I took a morsel, and would have eaten it; but I could
not. I abstained from drink and food, and renounced the delights of sleep, and my
complexion became pallid, and my charms became changed : for I had never known
love before that, nor tasted the heat of that passion before; and I fell sick, and my
cousin became sick on my account. She occupied herself in relating to me the suf-
ferings of lovers, in order to enliven me, until I fell asleep, and I used to awake,
and find her sleepless on my account, with her tears flowing upon her cheeks ; and
thus I remained, until the five days had past, when my cousin arose, and heated
some water for me, and bathed me with it, and dressed me, and said to me. Repair to
her, and may Allah accomplish thy wish, and grant thee what thou desirest of thy
beloved.
So I went, and walked on until I came to the upper end of a by-street, and that
day was Saturday ; so I found the shop of the dyer shut ; and sat there till th-e call
to afternoon prayers ; and the sun became yellow, and the call to evening prayers
was chanted : and night commenced, and I saw no trace of her, nor heard a voice,
nor received any message ; I therefore feared for myself, sitting alone ; and I arose
and walked away, like one intoxicated, until I entered the house.
There, on going in, I beheld my cousin Azizah with one of her hands holding a
peg knocked into the wall, and her other hand upon her bosom ; and she was groan-
ing, and reciting verses; but when she had finished her recitation, she turned her
eyes towards me, and beheld me : whereupon she wiped away her tears and mine
with her sleeve ; and, smiling in my face, said to m j, O son of my uncle, Allah grant
thee enjoyment of that which he hath given thee ! —Wherefore hast thou not visited
thy beloved this night? — And when I heard her words, I kicked her with my foot
upon her bosom, and she fell down upon the raised floor, and there was a peg there,
and it wounded her forehead. On looking at her I saw that her forehead was cut
open, and her blood was flowing; yet she was silent, and uttered net a single letter,
but arose immediately, and burned some tinder of rags, and, having closed with it
the wound, tied a bandage round her head, and wiped away the blood that had
AZIZ AND AZIZAH, 219
flowed upon the carpet ; and it was as though this accident had not occurred. She
then came to me, and smiling in my face, said to me with a gentle voice, By Allah,
son of my uncle, I said not this to make a jest of thee or of her. I was troubled
just now by the aching of my head, and with wiping away the blood ; but at the
present moment the pain of my head is alleviated, and that of my forehead : tell
me therefore what hath happened to thee this day. — So I related to her all that had'
befallen me through the conduct of that damsel on this day ; and after I had done
so I wept; but she said to me. Rejoice at the announcement of the success of thy
desire, and the accomplishment of thy hope. Verily this is a sign of acceptance:
for she absented herself from thee because she desireth to try thee, and to know
whether thou art patient or not, and whether thou art sincere in thy love of her or
not. To-morrow go to her, and station thyself at thy first place, and see M'hat sign
she will make to thee ; for thy happiness is near, and thy sorrow is dissipated. — And
she proceeded to console me ; but I ceased not to increase in anxiety and grief. She
then placed the food before me ; but I kicked it with my foot, and the contents of
each saucer were scattered about ; and I said, Every one who is in love is insane,
and inclineth not to food, nor findeth pleasure in sleep. — By Allah, son of my
uncle, exclaimed my cousin Azizah, these are indeed symptoms of love ! And her
tears flowed, and she gathered together the fragments of the saucers, and wiped up
the food that was spilt, and sat chatting to me, while I prayed to God that He would
hasten the morning.
And when the morning came and diffused its light, I repaired to the damsel, and
entered hastily the by-street, where I seated myself upon the seat before mentioned;
and lo, the window was opened, and she put forth her head from it, laughing. She
then retired, and returned bringing a mirror, and a bag, and a pot filled with green
plants, and having also in her hand a lamp; and the first thing that she did was
this: she took the mirror in her hand, and put it into the bag; then she tied it up,
and threw it back into the chamber. After this, she let down her hair over her
face, and put the lamp upon the top of the green plants for a moment, and then took
all these things and departed with them, and closed the lattice. My heart was riven
by her secret signs and her obscure intimations, for she addressed me not with a
single word, and my passion grew more violent thereat, and my excitement and dis-
traction increased.
I retraced my steps with weeping eye and sorrowful heart until I entered the
house, where I saw my cousin sitting with her face to the wall ; her heart was
burning with anxiety and grief and jealousy: but her affection prevented her from
acquainting me at all with the passion which she felt on witnessing my excessive
love and distraction. I then looked at her again, and saw that she had on her head
two bandages : one of them was on account of the accident that had happened to
her forehead, and the other was upon her eye, on account of a pain that she suffered
in consequence of the violence of her weeping. And when she heard me enter,
she looked towards me and saw me as she wept, and she wiped away her tears, and
rose to me ; but she could not speak, from the excessive love with which she was
affected, and she remained for some time silent ; after which, she said to me, son
of my uncle, tell me what thou hast experienced from her on this occasion. And I
told her all that had happened to me; whereupon she said to mo. Be patient; for
the time of thy union is come, and thou hast obtained the object of thy hopes. As
to the sign which she made to thee with the mirror, and her putting it into the bag,
it is equivalent to her saying to thee, Wait until the sun shall have set: — and as to
her letting fall her hair over her face, it implieth her saying to thee. When night
Cometh, and letteth fall its black shade over the light of day, come hither: — and the
dign that she made to thee with the pot containing the plants meant that she would
say to thee. When thou comest, enter the garden that is behind the by-street: — and
the sign which she made to thee with the lamp denoted her saying to thee, When
thou enterest the garden, to the place where thou findest the lighted lamp do thou
220 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
repair, and seat thyself beneath it, and there wait for me ; for the love of thee de-
Rtroyeth me. — But when I heard these words of my cousin, I cried out from the
excess of my passion, and said, How many times dost thou promise me, and I go to
her and attain not my desire, nor find a true meaning to thine interpretation ? And
upon this my cousin laughed, and replied, It remaineth for thee to have patience
^during the rest of this day, until the daylight is gone, and the night cometh with its
deep darkness, and then shalt thou enjoy thy union and the accomplishment of thy
hopes ; and these words are true without any falsehood. She then drew near to me,
and comforted me with soft words, but dared not bring me any food, fearing that
I should be angry with her, and hoping that I might incline to her with favour ; she
only came to me, and took off my outer clothes : after which she said to me, son
of my uncle, sit with me that I may converse with thee to amuse thee until the close
of the day, and, if it be the will of God, the night shall not come without thy being
in the company of thy beloved. But I took no notice of her, waiting for the night,
and saying, Allah, hasten the coming of the night! And when it arrived, my
cousin wept violently, and gave me a grain of pure musk, saying to me, son of my
uncle, put this grain in thy mouth, and when thou hast met thy beloved, and she
hath accepted thy suit, recite to her this verse : —
ye lovers, by Allah, inform me how a youth should act when his love is intense.
She then kissed me, and desired me to swear, that I would not recite this verse until
my departui-e from the damsel ; and I replied, I hear and obey.
I went forth at the hour of nightfall, and proceeded until I came to the garden.
I found its gate open, and entered, and beheld a light in the distance; so I advanced
towards it, and when I arrived at it, I found there a large apartment, over which
was constructed a dome of ivory and ebony, and the lamp was suspended in the
midst of the dome. The apartment was furnished with silken carpets embroidered
with gold and silver, and there was a great lighted candle in a candlestick of gold
beneath the lamp; in the midst of the chamber was a fountain ornamented with
various designs : by the side of this fountain was a table of viands covered with a
silk napkin, near which was a large china bottle full of wine, with a cup of crystal
adorned with gilding: and by the side of all these things was a great tray of silver,
covered over. I uncovered it, and beheld in it a variety of fruits, such as figs and
pomegranates and oranges and citrons of different kinds, together with various
flowers, as roses and jasmine and myrtle and eglantine and narcissus, and all kinds
of sweet scents. I was astonished at this place, and affected with the utmost delight,
and my anxiety and grief were dissipated ; but I found not in this abode any being
of the creatures of God (whose name be exalted !) ; not even a male or female slave
did I see, nor the person who thus neglected these things. I sat in this chamber,
waiting for the coming of the beloved of my heart, until the first hour of the night
had passed, and the second hour, and the third; but she came not; and hunger be-
gan to torment me violently ; for a long time had elapsed without my eating food,
through the excess of my passion ; but when I beheld this place, and my cousin's
correct understanding of the signs made by my beloved became manifest to me, I
felt at ease: yet I still ejcperienced the torment of hunger, and the savoury odours
of the food upon the table had excited my desire upon my arrival there. Feeling
secure, therefore, of the attainment of my object, and longing to eat, I approached
the table, and took off the cover, and found in the midst of it a dish of china contain-
ing four fricandoed fowls seasoned with spices, around which were four saucers : one
containing sweetmeats ; and another, conserve of pomegranate grains ; and a third,
almond pastry; and the fourth, honey cakes; the contents of these four saucers con-
sisting of both sweet and acid. So I ate of the cakes, and a piece of meat, and I put
my hand to the pastry and ate of it as much as was agreeable, and then turned to
the sweetmeat and ate a spoonful, or two, or three, or four, and I ate a portion of a
fowl, and a morsel of another dish : and when I had done this, my stomach was full.
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 221
and my joints became loose, and I was too lazy to remain awake: so I laid my head
upon a cushion, after I had washed my hands, and sleep overcame me, and I
knew not what happened to me after this. I awoke not until the sun scorched me
(for some days had passed without my having tasted sleep) ; and when I awoke, I
found upon my stomach some salt and charcoal: and I stood up and shook my
clothes, and looked to the right and left, but found no one ; I discovered that I had
been sleeping upon the marble pavement without anything spread beneath me, and
I was perplexed in my mind, and mourned greatly : my tears ran down upon my
cheek, and I lamented for myself.
I then returned to my house, and when I arrived there I found my cousin striking
her hand upon her bosom, and weeping with tears like raining clouds ; but wlen she
beheld me she arose quickly, and wiped away her tears, and, addressing me with her
soft speech, said to me, son of my uncle, God hath been gracious to thee in thy pas-
sion, since the person whom thou lovest loveth thee, while / remain weeping and
mourning for the separation of thee who findest fault with me ; but may God not
chastise thee on my account ! She then smiled in my face with the smile of one in
anger, and caressed me, and took off my outer clothes, and spread them out, and
said, By Allah, these are not the odours of one who hath enjoyed the company of his
beloved ! Tell me, then, what hath happened to thee, son of my uncle. — And I
told her all that had befallen me; whereupon she smiled a second time with the smile
of one in anger, and said, Verily, my heart is full and in pain ! But may the person
who paineth thy heart cease to exist! This woman maketh herself extravagantly
difficult to thee. By Allah, son of my uncle, I fear what she may do to thee.
Know that the meaning of the salt is. Thou art drowned in sleep, and seemest insipid,
so that the soul regardeth thee with loathing, and thou requirest to be salted, that
the stomach may not eject thee: thou pretendest that thou art of the number of
generous lovers; but sleep, unto lovers, is forbidden ; and thy pretension to love is
false. Such, however, is her pretension : her love for thee is fsxlse, for when she saw
thee sleeping she did not rouse thee ; and had her love for thee been true she would
have roused thee. And as to the charcoal, the meaning indicated by it is, May God
blacken thy face, since thou hast made false pretensions to love, when thou art only
a child, and hast no care but for eating and drinking and sleeping. This is the
interpretation of her sign; and may Allah (whose name be exalted!) deliver thee
from her ! — Now, when I heard what she said, I struck my hand upon my breast,
and exclaimed, By Allah, this is the truth ! for I slept; and lovers sleep not: so I
have wronged mine own self! What could have been more injurious to me than
eating and sleeping ? And what is to be done ! — I then wept exceedingly, and said
to my cousin. Direct me what to do, and have mercy upon me ; so may God have
mercy upon thee ; otherwise I shall die. My cousin, therefore, having a very great
love for me, replied, On my head and my eye! But, son of my uncle, I have told
thee several times, that, if I had the privilege of coming in and going out when I
pleased, I would accomplish thy union with her in the shortest time, and cover you
both with my skirt; and this I would not do but from the desire of obtaining thine
approval. If God permit, I will employ my utmost endeavours to bring you together;
but hear my words, and comply with my directions, and go to that same place, and
seat thyself there ; when the hour of nightfall is come, seat thyself in the place where
thou wast, and beware of eating anything: for eating induceth sleep; have a care
then that thou sleep not ; for she will not come to thee until a quarter of the night
hath passed : and may God avert from thee her wickedness ! — So when I heard her
words, I rejoiced, and prayed God to hasten the night: and when night came, I de-
sired to depart ; and my cousin said to me, When thou hast met her, repeat to her
the verse before mentioned, at the time of thy departure. I replied. On the head
and the eye.
And when I went forth and repaired to the garden, I found the place prepared
in the same state in which I had seen it before: in it was everything requisite, of
222 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
food aid drink and dried fruits and sweet scents and other things: and I went up
into the house, and, smelling the odour of the food, I longed for it. I refrained from
it several times ; but at length I could not withstand it ; so I arose and went to the
table, and took off its cover, and found a dish of fowls, around which were four sau-
cers of food, of four different kinds; and I ate of each kind a morsel, and as much
as was agreeable of the sweetmeat, and a piece of meat, and drank some zardeh,'
and, finding it pleasant to me, I drank again of it plentifully by the spoonful until I
was satiated and my stomach was full. And after this, my eyelids closed ; so I took
a pillow and put it beneath my head, saying. Perhaps I may recline upon it without
sleeping. But I closed my eyes and slept, and awoke not until the sun had risen,
when I found upon my stomach a play-bone and a tab-stick'^ and a date-stone and a
locust-seed : and there was no furniture nor anything else in the place, and it seemed
as if nothing had been there on the preceding night.
I arose, and shook off all these things from me, and went forth enraged, and,
arriving at the house, I found my cousin groaning, and I chid her and abused her ;
whereupon she wept, and having wiped away her tears, approached and kissed me,
and pressed me to her bosom ; but I drew back from her, blaming myself. She then
said to me, son of my uncle, it seemeth that thou hast slept again this last night.
I replied, Yes ; but when I awoke I found a play-bone laid upon my stomach, and a
tab-stick and a date-stone and a locust-seed ; and I know not wherefore she did this.
Then I wept, and approached her, and said to her. Explain to me the meaning of her
doing this, and tell me how I shall act, and assist me in my trouble. She replied.
On the head and the eye. As to the tab-stick [and the play-bone] which she placed
upon thy stomach, she meaneth thereby, that thou camest there and thy heart was
absent, as though she would say to thee. Love is not thus ; therefore reckon not thy-
self among lovers. And as to the date-stone, she indicated by it, that, if thou wert
a lover, thy heart had been burning with passion, and thou wouldst not taste the
delight of sleep; for the sweetness of love is like a date, which kindleth a fire in the
heart. And as to the locust-seed, she intimated to thee by it, that the heart of the
lover is fatigued ; and would say to thee thereby. Endure our separation with the
patience of Job. — When I heard this interpretation, fire darted into my heart, and
my grief increased, and I cried out and exclaimed, God had decreed that I should
sleep on account of my little fortune! I then said to her, daughter of my uncle,
by my life I conjure thee to contrive for me some stratagem by means of which I
may obtain an interview with her. And I wept. — Aziz, son of my uncle, she
replied, verily my heart is full of thoughts, and I cannot talk ; but go thou to-night
to that place, and beware of sleeping, and so shalt thou attain thy desire. This is
my counsel, and peace be on thee. — I said, Please God, I will not sleep ; but I will
do as thou chargest me. And my cousin arose, and brought me food, saying to me.
Eat now what will satisfy thee, that thou mayest have no desire remaining. So I
ate what satisfied me; and when night came, my cousin arose, and brought me a
superb suit of clothing, and clad me with it, and conjured me to repeat to the damsel
the verse before mentioned, and cautioned me against sleeping.
I then departed from her, and, having repaired to the garden, went up into the
apartment ; and I gazed at the garden, and kept opening my eyes with my fingers,
and shaking my head, as the night grew dark. But I became hungry from watching,
and the odours of the food were wafted towards me, and my hunger in consequence
increased ; so I went to the table, and removed its cover, and ate a morsel of every
dish, and a piece of meat, and I went to the bottle of wine, saying within myself, I
will drink a cup : — and I drank it, and then drank the second, and the third, and so
on to the number often : and being already stricken by love, I fell upon the floor as
one slain. Thus I remained until day came, and I awoke, and found myself outside
' A sweet drink, i)repa'-ofl w th rice, honey, and saffron.
' A flat stick, ali()\it eight inche.s in length, thrown upon a board in a garao played in tho East,
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 223
the garden, with a large sharp knife upon my stomach, and a small iron weight;
and I trembled with fear, and took them with me and returned to the house.
I found my cousin saying, I am in this house wretched and sorrowful, with no
relief but weeping. And as I entered, I fell down prostrate, throwing the knife and
weight from my hand, and fainted ; and when I recovered, I acquainted her with
that which had befallen me, and said to her, I shall not attain my desire. Her grief
increased at witnessing my weeping and my excessive passion, and she said to me,
I have failed of success in cautioning thee against sleeping ; for thou wouldst not
attend to my advice: my words profit thee nothing. But I replied, I conjure thee
by Allah that thou explain to me the meaning of the knife and the iron weight. So
she said, As to the weight, she alluded by it to her right eye, and intimated that she
swore by it, and said. By the Lord of all creatures, and by my right eye, if thou
come again and sleep, I will assuredly slaughter thee with this knife! — I fear for
thee, therefore, son of my uncle, from her malice ; and my heart is full of grief
on thine account, and I cannot talk. If, then, thou art confident in thyself that, if
thou return to her, thou wilt not sleep, return to her, and beware of sleeping, and so
shalt thou attain thy desire: but if thou know that, shouldst thou go to her again,
thou wilt sleep as usual, and so go to her and sleep, she will slaughter thee. — What
then, said I, is to be done, daughter of my uncle? I conjure thee by Allah, to
help me in this affliction. — She replied. On my head and my eye: and if thou attend
to my words, and comply with my directions, thou wilt accomplish thy desire. I
said, I will do so. And she rejoined. When the time of departure cometh I will tell
thee. She then pressed me to her bosom, and laid me on the bed, and continued
gently kneading my limbs until slumber overcame me, and I sank into sleep ; and
she took a fan, and, seating herself at my head, fanned my face until the close of
day, when she roused me ; and on my waking, I found her at my head with the fan
in her hand, and weeping so that her tears had wetted her clothes. But when she
saw that I had awoke, she wiped away her tears, and brought me some food. I
refrained from it; but she said to me. Did I not tell thee that thou must attend to
my directions ? Eat, therefore. — So I ate, and would not oppose her ; and she pro-
ceeded to put the food into my mouth while I chewed it, until my stomach was full.
She then gave me to drink some infusion of jujubes with sugar, and washed my
hands, and dried them with a handkerchief, and sprinkled some rose-water upon me ;
after which I sat with her in healthy frame ; and when the night became dark, she
put on me my clothes, and said, son of my uncle, watch all night, and sleep not;
for she will not come to thee this night until near its close: and if it be the will of
God, thou shalt meet her this night; but forget not my charge. Then she wept,
and my heart was pained for her, on account of her excessive weeping ; and I said
to her, what is the charge which thou gavest me? She answered. When thou
departest from her, repeat to her the verse before mentioned.
I then went forth from her full of joy, and proceeded to the garden, and went up
to the house, satiated with food. I remained sleepless a quarter of the night, and
the night seemed as long to me as though it were a year ; and I continued watching
until two-thirds of it had passed, and the cocks crew, and I became violently hungry
from watching ; so I went up to the table, and ate until I was satisfied : and my
head became heavy, and I desired to sleep ; but suddenly I heard a noise in the
distance ; whereupon I arose, and washed my hands and mouth, and roused myself,
and soon after, she came. She was accompanied by ten female slaves, and she
appeared among them like the full moon among the planets ; she was attired in a
garment of green satin embroidered with red gold ; and when she saw me, she
laughed, and said. How is it that thou hast remained awake, and that sleep hath not
overcome thee? Now that thou hast passed the night sleepless I am convinced that
thou art a lover; for among the characteristics of lovers is the watching by night in
the resolute endurance of desire. — She then turned towards her female slaves, and
made a sign to them ; whereupon they departed from her; and she approached me,
224 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
and pressed me to her bosom, and kissed me, and we conversed together until the
morning, when I desired to depart ; but she held me, and said to me. Stop, that I
may acquaint thee with something, and give thee a charge. So I stopped : and she
unfolded a handkerchief, and, taking forth from it this piece of linen, spread it open
before me ; and I found in it the design of the gazelles, as thou seest, and I admired
it exceedingly, and took it: after which I made a promise to her that I would pay
her a visit every night in that garden, and departed from her, full of joy ; but in my
joy I forgot the verse which my cousin had charged me to repeat. And when she
gave me the piece of linen containing the design of the gazelles, she said to me, This
is the work of ray sister. — And what, said I, is the name of thy sister? She
answered. Her name is Nour-elhouda : and do thou take care of this piece of linen.
After this, when I had taken leave of her and departed, full of joy, I returned
and went in to my cousin, and found her lying down, and when she saw me she
arose, her tears dropping, and approached me, and, kissing my bosom, said. Hast
thou recited the verse as I charged thee? I answered, I forgot it; and nothing
drove it from my mind but the design of these gazelles. And I threw down the
piece of linen before her. She arose, and then seated herself again, and, in her im-
patience, shed tears, and said, son of my uncle, make a present to me of this
piece of linen. So I gave it her, and she took it and spread it open, and saw what
Azizah weeping over the Desi^ uf the Gazelles.
was in it. And when the time of my departure came, she said. Go, and may safety
attend thee ; but when thou retirest from her, recite to her the verse that I taught
thee before, and which thou forgottest. — Repeat it to me, said I. And she did so.
I then repaired to the garden, and entered the apartment. I found the damsel
waiting for me, and when she beheld me she arose and kissed me and seated me,
and we ate and drank, and in the morning I repeated to her the verse, which was
this: —
ye lovers, by Allah, inform me how a youth should act when his love is intense.
And when she heard it, her eyes filled with tears, and thus she replied : —
He should hide his love, and conceal his secret, and be patient under every event, and sub-
missive.
1 committed this to memory, and, glad at having done what ray cousin desired,
■went forth and returned to her. I found her lying down with my mother at her
head weeping for her unhappy state ; and when I went in to her, my mother said to
me. Perdition to such a cousin as thou ! How canst thou leave the daughter of
thine uncle indisposed and not inquire respecting her disease? — But my cousin, on
beholding me, raised her head, and sat up, and said to me, Aziz, hast thou re-
peated to her the verse that I taught thee? I answered, Yes : and when she heard
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 225
it, she wept, and recited to me another verse, which I retain in my memory. — Let
me hear it, said my cousin. And when I had repeated it to her she wept violently,
and recited this other verse: —
He hath sought to attain a becoming patience: but found nought save a heart pining with
desire.
She then said to me, When thou goest to her as usual, repeat to her this verse which
thou hast heard. I replied, I hear and obey.
So I went to the garden, according to my custom, and when I was about to return,
I recited to the damsel that verse; and when she heard it, tears poured from her
eyes, and she replied, —
Then, if he have not patience to conceal his secret, I know nothing better for him than death
Retaining this in my memory, I returned to the house ; and when I went in to my
cousin, I found her fallen down in a fit, and my mother sitting at her head ; and
when my cousin heard my voice, she opened her eyes, and said, Aziz, hast thou
repeated to her the verse? I answered. Yes: and when she heard it, she wept, and
recited to me this other verse. And I repeated it to her ; and as soon as she heard
it she fainted again, and on her recovering recited another verse, which was this : —
We hear and obey, and we die ; then convey my salutation to the person who hath prevented
our union.
At the approach of the following night again I went to the garden as usual, and
found the damsel expecting me ; and we ate and drank: and in the morning, when
I was about to depart, I repeated to her what my cousin had said ; whereupon she
uttered a loud cry, and was agitated, and exclaimed, By Allah, she who uttered this
verse hath died! She then wept and said to me. Wo to thee! Is not she who
uttered this verse related to thee ! — I answered. She is the daughter of my paternal
uncle. — Thou liest, replied she: by Allah, if she were the daughter of thy uncle
thou hadst borne her the same love that she bore thee. Thou art he who hath
destroyed her, and may God destroy thee in like manner! By Allah, if thou hadst
told me of thy having a cousin, I had not admitted thee into my favour. — Verily,
said I, she is my cousin, and she explained to me the signs that thou madest me,
and it was she who taught me how to proceed with thee : I had not obtained access
to thee but through her good management. — And did she know of our affair? said
she. I answered. Yes. — May Allah, she exclaimed, cause thee to bewail thy youth,
as thou hast caused her to Vjewail hers ! She then said to me. Go and see her.
I departed, therefore, troubled in mind, and proceeded until I came to our street,
when I heard a wailing, and, asking respecting it, was answered. We found Azizah
lying behind the door, dead. I entered the house, and when my mother beheld me.
Azizah Dead.
she exclaimed. The crime of destroying her is on thy neck, and may God not pardou
thee her blood! Perdition to such a cousin as thou! — My father then came, and
15
226 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
we y)repared her body for interment, and performed the funeral-oeremonies, and
buried her, and we caused recitations of the whole of the Koran to be performed at
her tomb, and remained there three days, after which I returned to the house, sor-
rowing for her. And my mother addressed me, and said, I desire to know what
thou didst to her, so that thou brokest her heart. I asked her continually, my
son, respecting the cause of her disorder ; but she would not acquaint me with it.
I conjure thee, therefore, by Allah, that thou inform me what thou didst unto her,
to cause her death. — I replied, I did nothing. But she said, May God avenge her
upon thee ! for she mentioned to me nothing, but concealed the truth of her case
until she died, still preserving her affection for thee ; and when she died I was with
her, and she opened her eyes, and said to me, wife of my uncle, may God hold
thy son guiltless of my blood, and not punish him for that which he hath done unto
me ; and now God transporteth me from the perishable world to the world of eternity.
And I replied, my daughter, may God preserve thee, and preserve thy youth !
And I asked her respecting the cause of her disorder; but she answered not. Then
she smiled, and said, wife of my uncle, if thy son desire to go to the place which
he is accustomed to frequent, tell him to repeat these two phrases on departing from
it — Fidelity is good, and treachery is base: — and this I desire in my compassion for
him, that I may show him compassion in my life and after my death. She then
gave me something for thee, and took an oath of me that I would not give it to thee
until I should see thee weeping for her and lamenting : this thing I have, and when
I see thee in the state that she hath described I will give it thee. — I said to her,
Show it me. But she would not.
I then gave myself up to my pleasures, and thought not of the death of my cousin ;
for I was unsettled in mind, and wished that I were passing the whole of every
night and day with my beloved ! and scarcely had the next night approached when
I repaired again to the garden. I found the damsel sitting there, burning with im-
patience to see me ; and as soon as she beheld me, she hastened to me and clung to
my neck, and asked me respecting my cousin. I answered her. She is dead, and
we have performed the rites and recitations of the Koran for her, and four nighta
have passed since her death, and this is the fifth. When she heard this, she cried
out and wept, and said, Did I not tell thee that thou hadst killed her? Hadst thou
informed me of her before her death, I had requited her for the kindness that she
hath shown me ; for she hath been of service to me in giving thee access to me : had
it not been for her, I should not have had an interview with thee, and I fear thou
wilt fall into a calamity on account of her disaster. — I replied. She acquitted me
before her death. And I related to her what my mother had told me ; upon which
she exclaimed, By Allah, I conjure thee, when thou goest to thy mother, learn what
it is that she hath.— My mother, said I, told me. Thy cousin, before she died, charged
me saying, If thy son desire to go to the place which he is accustomed to frequent,
tell him to repeat these two phrases: — Fidelity is good, and treachery is base.— And
when the damsel heard this, she exclaimed, The mercy of God (whose name be
exalted !) be upon her ! for she hath saved thee from me : I was meditating an injury
to thee; but now I will not hurt thee nor trouble thee. And I wondered at this,
and said to her. What didst thou purpose before this to do to me, after mutual love
had taken place between ua ? She answered. Thou art devoted to me ; but thou art
young, and thy mind is free from deceit, and thou knowest not our malice nor our
deceit ; were she still in the bonds of life she would assist thee ; for she is the cause
of thy safety, and hath delivered thee from destruction ; and now I charge thee that
thou speak not with any female, nor answer any of our sex, young or old: beware,
beware , for thou art ignorant of the deceit of women, and their malice : she who
used to interpret the signs to thee is dead: and I fear for thee lest thou fall into a
calamity and find none to deliver thee from it after the death of thy cousin. O my
sorrow for the daughter of thy uncle! Would that I had known her before her
death, that I might have requited her for the kindness that she hath done me ! The
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 227
mercy of God (whose name be exalted !) be upon her ! for she concealed her secret,
and revealed not what she felt; and but for her, thou wouldst never have had acces?
to me. And now I have a service to demand of thee. — What is it? said I. She
answered, That thou conduct me to her tomb, that I may visit her in her grave, and
inscribe some verses upon it. I replied. To-morrow, if it be the will of God, whose
name be exalted ! — So I remained with her that night, and frequently she said to me.
Would that thou hadst told me of thy cousin before her death ! And I asked her,
What is the meaning of these words which she said — Fidelity is good, and treachery
is base? But she answered me not.
In the morning, therefore, she arose, and, taking a purse containing some pieces
of gold, said to me. Arise, and show me the tomb, that I may visit it, and write upon
it some verses, and build over it a cupola, and pray for mercy upon her, and bestow
these pieces of gold in alms for her soul. I replied, I hear and obey. And I walked
before her, and she followed me, and employed herself in giving alms on the way as
she went, and every time that she did so she said. This is an alms for the soul of
Azizah, who concealed her secret until she drank the cup of death, and revealed not
her love. Thus she continued to give of the contents of the purse, and to say, For
the soul of Azizah, — until we arrived at the tomb, and the contents of the purse
were exhausted ; and when she beheld the tomb she threw herself upon it, and wept
violently. She then took forth a pointed instrument of steel, and a small mallet,
and engraved upon the stone at the head of the tomb, in small characters, five verses.
She then again wept violently, and arose, and I arose with her; and after we had
returned to the garden, she said to me, I conjure thee by Allah that thou never for-
sake me. And I replied, I hear and obey. So I resumed my visits to her as before,
and she treated me with kindness and honour, and used to ask me respecting the
two phrases which my cousin Azizah had mentioned to my mother, and I repeated
them to her. Thus I remained, eating and drinking, and enjoying her conversation,
and attiring myself in changes of delicate clothing, until I became stout and fat, and
I experienced neither anxiety, nor grief, nor sorrow, and forgot my cousin.
I continued drowned in these pleasures for a whole year, and at the commence-
ment of the new year I entered the bath, and refreshed myself, and put on a hand-
some suit; and after I had gone forth from the bath I drank a cup of wine, and
smelt the odours of my clothes, which were richly perfumed with various scents.
My heart was unoppressed by calamities or misfortunes, and when the hour of night-
fall came I desired to repair to the damsel ; but I was intoxicated, and knew not my
way ; and, in going to her, intoxication led me aside into a by-street called the street
of the Chief: and as I was proceeding along it, lo, an old woman came, with a
lighted candle in one of her hands, and in her other hand a folded letter. I ad-
vanced towards her, and she, with weeping eye, said to me, my son, art thou able
to read ? I answered her. Yes, my old aunt. And she said, Take this letter, and
read it to me. And she handed me the letter ; so I took it from her and opened it,
and read to her its contents, informing her that it was a letter from the absent, with
salutations to the beloved. And when she heard this, she rejoiced at the good news,
and ejaculated a prayer for me, saying. May God dispel thine anxiety, as thou hast
lispelled mine! She then took the letter, and proceeded a few steps ; but presently
she returned to me, and kissing my hand, said, my lord, may God (whose name
be exalted!) give thee enjoyment of thy youth, and not disgrace thee! I beg that
thou wilt walk with me a- few paces to that door; for I have told them what thou
hast read lo me of the letter, and they do not believe me : come with me, therefore,
two steps, and read to them the letter outside the door, and accept my prayers for
thee. — And what, said I, is the history of this letter? She answered, my son,
♦his letter hath come from my son, who hath been absent from us for the space of
ten years ; for he journeyed with merchandise, and hath remained abroad during
that period, and we relinquished all hope of his return, thinking that he was dead:
then came to us this letter from him ; and he hath a sister who hath wept for him
228 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
during his absence night and day ; and I told her that he was in health and pros*
perity ; but she believed me not, and said to me, Thou must bring me a person to
read this letter and to acquaint me with its contents, that my heart may be set at
ease and my mind comforted. — Thou knowest, my son, that the loving are pre-
possessed with evil anticipations; favour me, therefore, by readinj^ this letter while
thou shalt stand outside the curtain, and his sister shall hear it within the door, that
the recompense of him who accomplisheth a want for one of the fiiithful, and dis-
pelleth from his mind a trouble, may be thine: for the Apostle of God (may God
favour and preserve him !) hath said. Whoso dispelleth from the mind of a sorrowful
person one of the troubles of this world, God will dispel from his mind one of the
troubles of the world to come: — and in another tradition. Whoso dispelleth from the
mind of his brother one of the troubles of this world, God will dispel from his mind
seventy-two of the troubles of the day of resurrection : — and now I have desired
thee, do not disappoint me. — So I replied, I hear and obey : proceed before me.
She therefore walked before me, and I followed her a little way, until she arrived
at a great door overlaid with copper; and she stopped at this door, and called out
in Persian, and immediately a damsel approached, with light and nimble step. Her
trousers were tucked up to her knees, and I beheld a pair of legs that confounded
the mind and the eye by their beauty: they were like two columns of alabaster, and
ornamented with anklets of gold set with jewels. The skirts of her outer clothes
were tucked up under her arras, and her sleeves were turned up from her arms, and
I looked at her white wrists, and upon them were two pairs of bracelets : in her
ears were two ear-rings of pearls ; and upon her neck was a necklace of costly
jewels: and on her head, a coif, quite new, adorned with precious gems. She had
tucked the skirt of her inner tunic within the hand of her trousers, and appeared as
though she had been employed in some active work. And when she beheld me, she
said with an eloquent and sweet tongue that I had never heard surpassed in sweet-
ness, O my mother, is this he who hath come to read the letter? She answered. Yes.
And the damsel stretched forth her hand to me with the letter. There was, between
her and the door, a distance of about two yards ; and I extended my hand to take
the letter from her, and put my head and shoulders within the door to draw near to
her; but before I knew what she was about to do, the old woman placed her head
against my back, and pushed me forward, while my hand was holding the letter,
and I looked around, and found myself in the midst of the house ; that is, within
the vestibule. The old woman entered more quickly than the blinding lightning,
and had nothing to do but to shut the door: and when the damsel beheld me within
the vestibule, she approached me, and pressed me to her bosom, and, taking me by
the hand, unable to extricate myself from her grasp, led me, preceded by the old
woman with the lighted candle, until she had passed through seven vestibules; after
which she conducted me into a large saloon, with four raised floors, in which a
horseman might play at goff. She then seated me, and said to me. Open thine eye.
And I did so, giddy from the violence that I had experienced, and saw that the
whole construction of the saloon was of the most beautiful alabaster, and all its fur-
niture, including the cushions and mattresses, of brocade. In it were also two
benches of brass, and a sofa of red gold set with pearls and jewels, not suitable to
any but a King like thee.
After this, she said to me, O Aziz, which of the two states is the more agreeable
to thee, life or death ? I answered her. Life. And she said, Then if life is more
agreeable to thee, marry me. — I dislike, I replied, marrying such a person as thou.
She rejoined. If thou marry me, thou wilt bo secure from the daughter of the crafty
Delilah. — And who, said I, is the daughter of the crafty Delilah ? She laughed,
and answered, IIow is it that thou knowest her not, when thou hast now been in
her company a year and four months? May Allah (whose name be exalted) destroy
her ! Verily there existeth not any one more treacherous than she. How many
persons hath she killed before thee, and what deeds hath she done? And how hast
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 229
thou escaped from her, without her killing or troubling thee, when thou hast been
in her company all this time? — When I heard her words I wondered extremely, and
said to her, my mistress who acquainted thee with her? She answered, I know
her as the age knoweth its calamities; but I desire that thou inform me of all that
thou hast experienced from her, that I may know the cause of thy safety from her.
So I related to her all that had happened to me with her and with my cousin
Azizah ; and she exclaimed, Allah have mercy upon her! — and her eyes shed tears,
and she struck her hands together, when she heard of the death of my cousin
Azizah, and said. May Allah compensate thee abundantly for the loss of her,
Aziz ; for she hath been the cause of thy safety from the daughter of crafty Delilah ;
and had it not been for her, thou hadst perished. After this, she clapped her hands,
and said, my mother, bring in those who are with thee. And lo, the old woman
approached with four lawful witnesses ; and she lighted four candles ; and when the
witnesses entered they saluted me, and seated themselves; and the damsel covered
herself with an izar, and appointed one of the witnesses to be her deputy in making
her contract. So they performed the marriage-contract, and she affirmed of herself
that she had received the whole of the dowry, both the portion usually paid in ad-
vance and the arrears, and that she was indebted to me in the sum of ten thousand
pieces of silver ; after which she gave to the witnesses their fees, and they
departed.
On the following day, I desired to go out ; but she approached me laughing, and
said. Dost thou think that going out from the bath is like entering it? I imagine
thou thinkest me to be like the daughter of the crafty Delilah. Beware of enter-
taining such an idea. Thou art no other than my husband, according to the Koran
and the Sunneh ; and if thou hast been intoxicated, return to thy reason. Verily
this house in which thou art is not opened but on one day in every year. Go to the
street door and look. — So I went and looked, and found it closed and nailed, and re-
turned and told her so ; and she said to me, Aziz, we have of flour and grain and
fruits and pomegranates and sugar and meat and sheep and fowls and other provi-
sions what will suffice us for many years, and from this last night our door will not
be opened until after a year, and I know that thou wilt not behold thyself outside
this house until after a year hath expired. Upon this I exclaimed. There is no
strength nor power but in God ! And she laughed, and I laughed also, and com-
plied with her orders, and remained with her until the twelve months of the year
had expired, when I was blest with a son by her. And on the first day of the fol-
lowing year I heard the opening of the door, and lo, men came in with cakes and
flour and sugar: and I desired to go out; but she said to me. Wait until nightfall,
and as thou camest in, so go forth. I therefore waited till that hour, and was on
the point of going out, in fear and trembling, when she said to me. By Allah, I will
rot let thee go until I have made thee swear to me that thou wilt return this night
before the door is closed. So I promised her to do it ; and she made me swear by
binding oaths upon the sword and the Koran, and by the oath of divorce, that I
would return to her.
I then went forth from her, and repaired to the garden. I found it open as usual,
and was angry, saying within myself, I have been absent from this place a whole
year, and, coming unawares, have found it open as usual. I wonder if the damsel
be still there as heretofore, and I must enter and see before I go to my mother. — It
was then nightfall, and I entered the garden, and, proceeding to the apartment
found the daughter of the crafty Delilah sitting with her head upon her knee,
and her hand upon her cheek. Her complexion was changed, and her eyes were
sunk, and when she beheld me she exclaimed. Praise be to God for thy safety I — and
she endeavoured to rise, but fell down through her joy. I was ashamed at seeing
her, and hung down my head ; but presently I advanced to her, and kissed her, and
said to her. How didst thou know that I was coming to thee at this time ? She an-
swered, I knew it not. By Allah, for a year I have not tasted sleep; but have sat
230 AZIZ AND AZIZAH.
up every night expecting thee, and in this state have I been from the day when thou
vrentest forth from me and I gave thee the nevy suit of clothing, and thou promisedst
me that thou wouldst return to me. I remained expecting thee, and thou camest
not the first night, nor the second, nor the third : so I still vraited in expectation of
thy coming; for such is the way of the lover: and I would now that thou tell me
what hath been the cause of thine absence from me this year. — I therefore told her ;
and when she knew that I had married, her countenance became pale. I then said
to her, I have come to thee this night, but must go before the morning. But she
exclaimed. Is it not enough for her to have married thee, and to have employed this
stratagem against thee, and imprisoned thee with her a' whole year, that she hath
made thee swear by the oath of divorce that thou wilt return to her before the
morning, and Avill not allow thee to divert thyself with thy mother nor with me, and
cannot endure thy passing one night with either of us? What then must be the
state of her from whom thou hast been absent a whole year, though I knew thee
before she did? But may Allah have mercy on Azizah ; for she suffered what none
hath suffered, and endured with patience that the like of which none else hath en-
dured, and died through thy oppression. It was she who protected thee from me.
I thought that thou wouldst return, and gave thee liberty, though I was able to im-
prison thee, and to destroy thee.
Having thus said, she wept, and became enraged, and looked at me with the eye
of anger; and when I beheld her in this state, the muscles of my side quivered, and
I feared her, and became as the bean upon the lire. She then cried out, and sud-
denly ten female slaves came to me, and threw me upon the floor; and when I fell
under their hands, she arose, atid, taking a knife, said, I will slaughter thee as goats
are slaughtered, and this shall be thy least recompense for that which thou hast done
unto thy cousin. When I beheld myself, therefore, beneath her female slaves, and
my cheek was soiled with the dust, and I saw the knife in her hand, I looked upon
death as inevitable. I implored her mercy ; but she only increased in hardness,
and ordered the female slaves to bind my hands behind me; and they did so, and
throwing me upon my back, seated themselves upon my body, and held my head.
Then two of them arose and took hold of my toes, and two others seated themselves
upon my legs ; after which their mistress arose, with two others of them, and she
ordered them to beat me; whereupon they beat me until I fixinted, and my voice
became inaudible ; and when I recovered, I said within myself. Verily my being
slaughtered were easier to me than this beating ! I bethought myself of the words
of my cousin, when she said, May God avert from thee her wickedness ! — and I cried
out and wept until my voice failed. She then sharpened the knife, and said to the
female slaves. Uncover his throat. But God inspired me to repeat the two phrases
which my cousin had charged me to utter, namely, Fidelity is good and treachery is
base; — and when she heard this, she cried out and said, Allah have mercy upon
thee, Azizah. Would that thy youth had been spared ! Thou hast profited thy
cousin during thy life and after thy death ! (Then addressing me, she added,) By
Allah, thou hast saved thy life from me by means of these two phrases: but I must
cause thee to bear a mark of my resentment. — So saying, she inflicted upon me a
cruel wound, and I fainted ; but when I recovered, the blood had stopped, and she
gave me to drink a cup of wine, and spurned me with her foot.
I arose ; but was unable at first to walk ; presently, however, I proceeded by little
and little until I arrived at the door of my wife's house. I found it open, and threw
myself Avithin it, in a state of distraction ; and my wife came and took me up and
conveyed me to the saloon, where I fell into a deep sleep ; but when I awoke, I
found myself laid at the gate of the garden.
In anguish I arose and went to my home, and, entering the house, found my
mother weeping for me, and exclaiming, Would that I knew, my son, in what land
thou art! So I approached her, and threw myself upon her, and when she beheld
me, she saw that I was unwell. Yellowness and blackness were mingled upon my
AZIZ AND AZIZAH. 231
face ; and I remembered my cousin and the kindness she had shown me, and waa
convinced that she loved me. I wept for her, and oiy mother also wept, and then
said to me, my son, thy father is dead. And upon this my rage increased, and I
wept until I became insensible ; and when I recovered I looked towards the place
■where my cousin was accustomed to sit, and wept again till I fainted from the
violence of my lamentation. I ceased not to weep and wail until midnight, when
my mother said to me, Thy father hath been dead ten days. But I replied, I think
of no one but my cousin ; for I deserve what hath happened to me, because I ne-
glected her when she loved me. She asked me, therefore, And what hath happened
to thee? So I related to her that which had befallen me ; to which she replied,
Praise be to God that this happened to thee and that she did not slaughter thee !
She then applied remedies to my vcound until I recovered, and regained my usual
strength ; and she said to me, my son, I will now produce to thee the deposit with
with which thy cousin intrusted me ; for it is thine, and she made me swear that I
would not produce it to thee until I saw that thou rememberedst her and mournedst
for her, and that thine affections for another were severed ; and now I hope that I
find in thee these dispositions. She therefore arose, and opening a chest, took forth
from it this piece of linen containing the design of the gazelles, which I had origi-
nally given to her ; and when I took it, I found written upon it some verses com-
plaining of her unrequited love for me, and there fell from it a paper containing
some words of consolation and counsel.
As soon as I had read and understood this paper, I wept again, and my mother
did the same, and I continued looking at it and weeping until the approach of night;
and in this state I remained for the space of a year;. after which, some merchants
of my city, the same whom I am accompanying in this caravan, prepared for a jour-
ney ; and my mother suggested to me that I should fit myself out and go with them,
saying to me, Perhaps the journey will dispel this sorrow which thou sufferest, and
thou wilt be absent a year, or two years, or three, until the caravan returneth, and
thy heart may become dilated. Thus she continued to persuade me, so that I pre-
pared some merchandise, and journeyed with them ; but my tears have not dried up
during my travels ; for at every station where we halt I spread this piece of linen
before me, and look at this design, and think of my cousin and weep for her as thou
seest, since she loved me excessively, and died through my unkindness ; I doing
nothing but evil to her, while she did nothing to me but what was good. When the
merchants return from their journey, I shall return with them, and the period of my
absence will be a complete year ; but I still suffer increasing sorrow ; and my sor-
row hath been augmented only in consequence of my passing by the Islands of
Camphor, and the Castle of Crystal.
These islands are seven in number, and the sovereign of them is a King named
Shahzeman. He hath a daughter named Dunia: and it was told me that it was she
who worked the designs of the gazelles, and that this design which is in my posses-
sion was one of her work ; and when I knew this I became excessively desirous of
seeing her : so, when the caravan entered her country, I went forth and wandered
about the gardens, which contained a profusion of trees. The superintendent of the
gardens was a sheikh advanced in age : and I said to him, sheikh, to whom doth
this garden belong ? He answered, To the King's daughter, the lady Dunia, and we
are beneath her palace ; and if thou desire to amuse thyself, open the private door
and take a view of the garden and smell the odours of the flowers. So I said to him.
Have the kindness to allow me to sit in this garden until she passeth by, that I may
enjoy a glance at her. The sheikh replied. There will be no harm in thy doing so.
When he said this, therefore, I gave him some money, saying to him. Buy for us
something to eat. And he rejoiced at receiving the money, and, opening the door,
conducted me within ; and we proceeded until we came to a pleasant spot, where he
brought me some delicate fruits, and said to me. Sit here while I go and return to
thee. And he left me and departed, and, after he had been absefit a while, returned
282 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNTA.
bringing a roasted lamb: and we ate until we were satisfied, my heart longing to
behold the lady ; and while we were sitting, lo, the door opened ; whereupon he said
to me, Arise, and conceal thyself. So I arose, and hid myself; and a black eunuch
put forth his head from the door, and said, 0-sheikh, is any one with thee? He
answered. No. — Then close the door, said the eunuch. The sheikh, therefore, closed
the door of the garden ; and lo, the lady Dunia came forth. When I beheld her, I
thought that the moon had descended upon the earth ; my mind was confounded,
and I desired her as the thirsty longeth for water; and after a while, she closed the
door and departed. I then went forth from the garden, and repaired to my lodging,
knowing that I could not obtain access to her, and when my companions prepared
for departure, I also prepared myself, and travelled with them towards thy city ;
and on our arrival here, we met with thee. — This is my story, and this is what hath
happened unto me ; and peace be on thee.
CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY
DUNIA.
When Taj-elmolouk heard this story, his heart became troubled with love for the
lady Dunia. He then mounted his horse, and, taking with him Aziz, returned to
his father's city, where he assigned to him a house, and furnished it with everything
that lie required ; after which he left him, and repaired to his palace. His tears
ran down upon his cheeks (for hearing affecteth as sight and union), and in this state
he remained until his father came in to him, and finding that his colour was changed,
knew that he was oppressed by anxiety and grief; so he said to him, my son, ac-
quaint me with thy case, and tell me what happened to thee to change thy colour.
He therefore related to him all that he had heard of the story of Dunia ; and how
he had fallen in love with her from hearsay, without having seen her; whereupon
his father said to him, my son, her father is a King, and his country is distant
from us; abandon, therefore, this idea, and enter the palace of thy mother; for in
it are five hundred female slaves like so many moons, and whoever of them pleaseth
thee do thou take her; or if none of thorn please thee, we will demand in marriage
for thee one of the daughters of the Kings, more beautiful than the lady Dunia.
But he replied, my father, I desire not any but her: it was she who worked the
design of the gazelles that I saw, and I must have her, or I will flee into the deserts,
and kill myself on her account.
So his father said, Have patience with me, my son, that I may send to her
father and demand her of him in marriage, and accomplish for thee thy wish, like
as I did for myself in the case of thy mother ; and if he consent not, I will convulse
his kingdom around him, and send against him an army of which the rear shall be
with me when the van is with him. He then called for the young man Aziz, and
said to him, O my son, knowest thou the way? he answered, Yes. — Then I desire of
thee, said the King, that thou journey with my Vizier. And Aziz replied, I hear
and obey, King of the ago. The King, therefore, summoned his Vizier, and said
to him. Manage for me the affair of my son according to thy knowledge, and repair
to the Islands of Camphor, and demand in marriage the daughter of their King.
He replied, I hear and obey. And Taj-elmolouk returned to his apartments, and his
malady and impatience increased ; he fell down in a swoon, and recovered not until
the morning; and when the morning arrived his father came to him, and saw his
complexion was changed, and his sallowness increased ; and he exhorted him to
patience, and promised him tlie accomplishment of his union.
The King then equipped Aziz, with his Vizier, and supplied them with the pre-
sents; and they journeyed days and nights until they beheld the Islands of Camphor,
when they halted on the bank of a river, and the Vizier sent forward a messenger
from his party to the King, to acquaint him with their approach; and half a day
The Embassy to Ihe Islands of Camphor. (Page 232.)
233
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 235
after the departure of the messenger, suddenly they saw that tlie chamberlains of
the King and his Emirs had advanced to meet them from the distance of a league,
and they met them, and attended them until they went in with them to the King.
They placed before the King the presents, and remained in his palace four days ;
and on the fifth day the Vizier arose and went in to the King, and, standing before
him, delivered to him his message, and acquainted him with the cause of his coming;
but the King was perplexed how to answer; for his daughter liked not marriage;
and he hung down his head for a while towards the floor; and after this he raised
it, and, looking towards one of the eunuchs, said to him, Go to thy mistress Dunia,
and acquaint her with what thou hast heard, and with the purpose of the visit of
this Vizier. So the eunuch went, and after a short absence returned to the King,
and said to him, King of the age, when I went in to the lady Dunia, and ac-
quainted her with what I had heard, she was violently enraged, and rose against me
with a stick, and would have broken my head; wherefore I fled from her; and she
said to me. If my father force me to marry, him whom I marry I will kill. Iler
father, therefore, said to the Vizier and Aziz, Salute ye the King, and inform him
of this, and that my daughter liketh not marriage. Accordingly, the Vizier re-
turned with his attendants unsuccessful, and they ceased not their journey until
they went in unto the King, and acquainted him with what had happened: and
upon this he ordered the chiefs to call together the troops that they might march to
war; but the Vizier said to him. Do not this; for the King is not in fault: the re-
fusal is on the part of his daughter, who, when she knew of this proposal, sent to
say, If my father force me to marry, I will kill him whom I marry, and kill myself
after him.
And when the King heard the words of the Vizier, he feared for his son Taj-el-
molouk, and said, If I make war upon her father, and obtain possession of hia
daughter, she will kill herself. He then acquainted his son Taj-elmolouk with the
truth of the case ; and when the prince heard it, he said to his father, my father,
I cannot exist without her: I will therefore go to her, and seek means of obtaining
an interview with her, though I die in the attempt: and I will do nothing but this.
His father said. How wilt thou go to her? He answered, I will go in the disguise
of a merchant. — If it must be so, then, rejoined the King, take with thee the Vizier
and Aziz. He then took forth for him some money from his treasuries, and pre-
pared for him merchandise at the price of a hundred thousand pieces of gold ; and
they both agreed as to this course ; and when night came, Taj-elmolouk and Aziz
went to the abode of the latter, and there passed that night. But the heart of Taj-
elmolouk was captivated, and neither eating nor rest pleased him : reflections over-
whelmed him, and he was drowned in them; and, longing for his beloved, he poured
forth his tears, and wept violently; and Aziz wept with him, reflecting upon his
cousin ; and they both continued thus until the morning, when Taj-elmolouk arose
and went in to his mother. He was equipped for the journey; and she asked him
respecting his state ; so he acquainted her with the whole truth ; and she gave him
fifty thousand pieces of gold, and bade him farewell, and he went forth from her,
while she ofi"ered up prayers for his safety, and for his union with the object of his
love. He then went in to his father, and asked his permission to depart ; and the
King granted him permission, and gave him fifty thousand pieces of gold, and
ordered that a tent should be pitched for him outside the city.
A large tent was therefore pitched for him ; and after they had remained in it
two days, they commenced their journey : and Taj-elmolouk treated Aziz with
familiar kindness, and said to him, my brother, I cannot henceforth part with
thee. — And I, replied Aziz, am of the like mind, and desire to die at thy feet; but,
my brother, my heart is troubled with thoughts of my mother. So Taj-elmolouk
said. When we shall have attained our wish, all will be well. Now the Vizier had
charged Taj-elmolouk to display an air of patience, and Aziz occupied himself with
reciting to him verses and narrating to him histories and tales, and they continued
236 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
on their way by night and day for the space of two months. The length of the
journey became wearisome to Taj-el molouk ; and the violence of his desire, and his
passion and distraction, increased ; so when they drew near to the city he rejoiced
excessively, and his anxiety and grief ceased.
They entered it in the garb of merchants, the King's son being also clad in the
same manner, and, coming to a place known as the abode of merchants, which was
a large Khan, Taj-elmolouk said to Aziz, Is this the abode of the merchants?
Aziz answered, Yes: it is not, however, the Khan in which I lodged with the
caravan that I accompanied ; but it is better than that. So they made their camels
lie down, and unloaded, and, having deposited their goods in the magazines, remained
there to take rest four days. The Vizier then suggested to them that they should
hire for themselves a large house ; to which they assented ; and they hired a spacious
house, fitted for festivities. There they took up their abode; and the Vizier and
Aziz studied to devise some stratagem for the sake of Taj-elmolouk, who was per-
plexed, not knowing what to do. The Vizier could contrive no other plan than that
of his opening for himself a shop to carry on the trade of a merchant in the market
of fine stuffs: he therefore addressed Taj-elmolouk and Aziz, and said to them,
Know, that if we remain in this state we shall not attain our wish ; and a thing
hath occurred to my mind which probably may be advisable, if it be the will of God.
So they replied, Do what seemeth fit to thee ; for a blessing attendeth the aged, and
especially in thy case, since thou hast devoted thyself to the management of aff"airs:
therefore give us the advice which hath suggested itself to thy mind. And he said
to Taj-elmolouk, It is my opinion that we should hire for thee a shop in the market
of fine stufi"s, and that thou shouldst sit in it to sell and buy ; for every person of
the higher ranks and of the people at large standeth in need of such stufi's, and if
thou sit in that shop thy affair will be arranged, if it be the will of God (whose name
be exalted !), especially because of thy comely person ; but make Aziz thy trusty
attendant, and seat him in the shop to hand to thee the stufi's. And when Taj-el-
molouk heard these words, he said, This is a judicious opinion; — and immediately
he took forth a suit of merchant's attire, and clad himself in it, and arose and went
forth, followed by his young men, and gave to one of them a thousand pieces of
gold to tit up the shop.
They proceeded until they arrived at the market of fine stuffs, and when the mer-
chants saw Taj-elmolouk, and observed his handsome and comely person, they were
confounded, and began to say, llath Ridwan* opened the gates of Paradise and ne-
glected them, so that this youth of surprising beauty hath come forth ? — and one
said, This' is probably one of the angels. And when they went in among the mer-
chants, they inquired for the shop of the sheikh of the market. The merchants,
therefore, guided them thither, and they went to him, and as they approached him,
he and the merchants who were with him rose to them, and received them with
honour, especially the excellent Vizier ; for they saw him to be an aged and vener-
:ible man; and observing that he was accompanied by Taj-elmolouk and Aziz, they
said. No doubt this sheikh is the father of these two young men. The Vizier then
said to them. Who among you is the sheikh of the market? They answered. This
is he. And the Vizier, looking at him and observing him, saw that he was an old
man of grave .and respectable aspect, and possessing servants and young men. The
sheikh of the market greeted them with friendly compliments, and treated them
with great honour and, having seated them by his side, said to them, Have ye any
business which we miv have the happiness of transacting? The Vizier answered.
Yes: I am an old man, advanced in age, and I have these two young men: I have
travelled with them through all regions and countries, and have not entered a town
without remaining in it a whole year, that tiny might amuse themselves with the
sight of it and l)ecome acquainted with its inhabitants; and now I have come to
' The Gunrdian of Paradise.
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 237
this your town, and have chosen to make a stay in it : I therefore desire of thee
one of the best shops, that I may scat them in it to traffick, and that they may
amuse themselves with the sight of this city, and acquire the manners of its
people, and obtain an experience in buying and selling and other commercial trans-
actions.
So the sheikh of the market replied, There is no harm in doing so : — and looking
at the two young men, he was delighted with them, and he arose and stood like a
servant before them to wait upon them. And afterwards he went and prepared for
them the shop: it was in the midst of the market, and there was none larger than it,
nor any more handsome there ; for it was spacious and decorated, and contained
shelves of ivory and ebony. He then delivered the keys to the Vizier (who was also
in the garb of a merchant), and said, God grant that it may be attended with bless-
ings to thy two sons ! And when the Vizier had taken the keys of the shop, he went
to it, together with the servants, who deposited in it their goods ; and they ordered
the servants to remove thither all the merchandise and stuffs and rarities that they
had. These things were worth treasuries of wealth: and they transported the whole
of them to the shop. They then passed the night, and in the morning the Vizier
conducted the two young men to the bath, where they washed and enjoyed them-
selves to the utmost, after which they returned to their abode to rest from the fatigue
of bathing, and ate and drank ; and they passed the next night in their abode in the
most perfect joy and happiness. And on the following morning they rose from their
sleep, and, having performed the ablution, recited the divinely-ordained prayers,
and drank their morning-beverage; and when daylight came, and the shops and
markets- were opened, they went forth from their abode, and repaired to the market,
and opened the shop. The servants had prepared it for them in the handsomest
manner, and spread it with carpets of silk, and placed in it two mattrasses, each of
which was worth a hundred pieces of gold, and upon each mattrass they spread a
skin such as kings sit upon, surrounded with an edge of gold ; so Taj-elmolouk
seated himself upon one mattrass, and Aziz upon the other, and the Vizier sat in
the midst of the shop, while the servants stood before them. — The people heard of
them and crowded about them, and they sold of their merchandise ; and the fame
of Taj-elmolouk was spread through the city, and the report of his handsomeness
and comeliness was blazed throughout it. They continued this life for several days,
the people pressing to them ; after which the Vizier addressed Taj-elmolouk, and
charged him to conceal his case, and, having charged Aziz to keep watch over him,
repaired to the house to plan some mode of proceeding that might be of advantage
to them. Meanwhile, Taj-elmolouk and Aziz sat conversing together: and the
former said. Perhaps some one may come from the lady Dunia.
Thus Taj-elmolouk passed his time days and nights, and slept not: desire over-
powered him, and he became more and more emaciated and infirm, renouncing the
delight of sleep, and abstaining from drink and food ; but still he was like the full
moon : and as he was sitting one day, lo, an old woman approached and advanced
towards him, followed by two female slaves, and she continued to draw near until
she stopped at his shop. Beholding his graceful person, and his handsome and
lovely aspect, she wondered at his beauty, and said, Extolled be the perfection of
Him who created thee ! Extolled be the perfection of Him who hath made thee a
temptation to all creatures! — She ceased not to gaze at him, and said, This is not a
mortal : this is no other than a noble Angel ! Then drawing close to him, she saluted
him, and he returned her salutation, and rose to her, standing upon his feet, and
smiled in her face. All this he did at the hinting of Aziz ; after which he seated
her by his side, and occupied himself with fanning her until she had rested herself;
when she said to him, my son ! thou of perfect qualities and graces ! art thou
of this country? — Taj-elmolouk answered her with an eloquent and sweet and charm
ing voice, By Allah, my mistress, in my life I never entered this country until
now ; and I have not taken up my abode in it but for the sake of amusement. And
238
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
she wished him honour, and welcomed him, and said, What stuffs hast thou brought
with thee? Show me something beautiful ; for the beautiful bringeth not anything
but what is beautiful. — And when Taj-elmolouk heard her words his heart palpi-
Taj-elmolouk receiving the Old Woman.
tated ; but he understood not their meaning: so Aziz made a sign to him ; and Taj-
elmolouk said to her, I have everything that thou desirest of stuffs suitable only to
Kings and the daughters of Kings. For whom, then, wouldst thou purchase, that I
may display to thee what will be appropriate? — He desired by this question to learn
the meaning of her words ; and she answered, I want some stuff suitable to the lady
Dunia, the daughter of King Shahzeman. On hearing the mention of his beloved,
Taj-elmolouk rejoiced exceedingly, and said to Aziz, Bring me the most magnificent
of the goods that are by thee. And Aziz gave him a wrapper, and untied it before
her, and Taj-elmolouk said to her, Choose what will suit her; for this is such as is
not found with any hut me. So the old woman chose some stuff that was worth a
thousand pieces of gold ; and said. What is the price of this ? — What ! said he, shall
I bargain with a person like thee respecting this contemptible thing? Praise be to
God who hath made me acquainted with thee. — And the old woman exclaimed, I
invoke for thy comely fiice the protection of the Lord of the Daybreak! for verily
thy face is comely, and so are thine actions 1 Joy be to her who possesseth thee,
and especially if she be endowed with beauty like thee! — Upon this, Taj-elmolouk
laughed,until he fell backwards, and said [within himself], Accomplisher of desires
by the means of wicked old women ! And she said to him, my son, what is thy
name? lie answered, My name is Taj-elmolouk. — This, she replied, is one of the
names of Kings ; but thou art in the garb of the merchant. So Aziz said. From the
affection of his family for him, and the high estimation in which they held him,
they gave him this name. And the old woman replied, Thou hast spoken truth.
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 239
May God avert from you the evil of the envious, though hearts be broken by your
charms.
She then took the stuff and departed, confounded by his handsomeness and loveli-
ness and elegant form ; and she proceeded until she went in to the lady Dunia, when
she said to her, my mistress, I have brought thee some beautiful stuff. — Show it
me, said the lady. And she replied, my mistress, here it is, turn it over, and
behold it. And when the lady Dunia saw it, she said to her, my nurse, verily
this is beautiful stuff: I have not seen such in our city. — my mistress, replied the
old woman, the seller of it surpasseth it in beauty. It seemeth as though Ridwan
had opened the gates of Paradise and neglected them, and so the merchant who
eelleth this stuff had come forth from it. I wish he were with thee ; for he is a
temptation to every one who beholdeth him. He hath come to our city with these
stuffs for the sake of amusement. — At these words of the old woman, the lady Dunia
laughed, and said, Allah afflict thee, thou ill-omened old woman ! Thou hast spoken
nonsense, and art become insane. — She then added. Give me the stuff that I mav
examine it closely. So the old woman handed it to her, and she looked at it again,
and saw that it was but little, and that its price was great ; and she wondered at its
beauty; for she had never in her life seen anything like it. The old woman then
said to her, my mistress, if thou didst behold its owner, thou wouldst know that
he is the handsomest person on the face of the earth. And the lady Dunia said to
her. Didst thou ask him if he had any want to be performed, that he might acquaint
us with it, and thou mightest accomplish it for him? The old woman, shaking her
head, replied, Allah preserve thy sagacity ! By Allah he hath a want. And is
any person without one? — Go to him, then, said the lady Dunia, and salute him,
and say to him, I have been honoured by thine arrival in our city, and whatever
want thou hast, we will perform it for thee on the head and the eye.
The old woman, therefore, returned immediately to Taj-elmolouk, and when he
saw her, his heart jumped with joy, and he rose to her, standing upon his feet, and
taking her hand, seated her by his side. So when she had sat and rested herself,
she informed him of that which the lady Dunia had said. On hearing this, he was
filled with the utmost joy ; his bosom expanded, and he said within himself, I have
accomplished my wish ! He then said to the old woman. Perhaps thou wilt convey
to her a letter from me, and bring me back the answer. She replied, I hear and
obey. And when he heard her reply he said to Aziz, Give me an ink-case and paper,
and pen of brass. And Aziz having given him these things, he wrote some verses,
and added beneath. This letter is from the captive of desire, incarcerated in the prison
of longing expectation, to whom there can be no liberation but by enjoying an inter-
view, even were it with the phantom of the object of his hope ; for he is enduring a
painful torment from the separation of his beloved. He then folded the letter, and
sealed it, and gave it to the old woman, saying. Convey it to the lady Dunia. She
replied, I hear and obey. And he gave her a thousand pieces of gold, and said.
Receive this as a present from me. So the old woman took it and departed, praying
for him.
She stopped not until she went in to the lady Dunia, who, when she beheld her,
said to her, my nurse, what hath he demanded that we should do for him ? —
my mistress, she answered, he hath sent with me a letter, and I know not its con-
tents. And she handed the letter to her. So the lady Dunia took it and read it,
and understood its meaning, and exclaimed, Whence is he, and to what doth he
aspire, that this merchant openeth a correspondence with me ? Then slapping her
face, she said. Were it not for my fear of God (whose name be exalted!) I would
crucify him upon his shop ! So the old woman said to her. What is in this letter,
that it hath disturbed thy heart? Doth it contain a complaint of oppression, or a
demand for the price of the stuff? — Wo to thee! she answered: it containeth not
that, nor anything, but love and affection : and all this is through thee. Or, if not,
how should this devil presume to employ these words? — my mistress, replied the
240 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
old woman, thou art residing in thy lofty palace, and no one can obtain access to
thee; not even the flying bird. Allah preserve thee from blame and censure! Thou
hast nothing to fear from the barking of dogs. Be not angry with me for my bring-
ing thee this letter when I knew not its contents: but it is my opinion that thou
shouldst return him an answer, and threaten him in it with slaughter, and forbid
him from employing these vain words; for he will abstain, and not do so again. —
The lady Dunia said, I fear to write to him, lest he covet me more. But the old
woman replied. When he heareth the threatening and promise of punishment he
will desist from his present conduct. So she said. Bring me an ink-case and paper,
and a pen of brass. And when they had brought them to her, she wrote to him a
menacing letter, declaring that if he persisted in his suit she would crucify him.
She then folded up the letter, and gave it to the old woman, saying to her, Deliver
it to him, and say to him, Abstain from these words. And she replied, I hear and
obey.
She took the letter, full of joy, and went with it to her house, where she passed
the night; and in the morning she repaired to the shop of Taj-elmolouk, whom she
found expecting her. As soon as he beheld her, he almost flew with joy, and when
she drew near to him he rose to her, standing upon his feet, and seated her by his
side ; and she took forth the letter and handed it to him, saying. Read its contents.
She then said to him. The lady Dunia, when she read thy letter, was enraged ; but
I coaxed her and jested with her until I made her laugh, and she was moved with
pity for thee, and returned thee an answer. So Taj-elmolouk thanked her for this,
and, having ordered Aziz to give her a thousand pieces of gold, read the letter, and
understood it ; and he wept violently, so that the heart of the old woman was moved
with compassion for him, and his weeping and complaining grieved her. She said
to him, O my son, and what is in this paper, that it hath made thee weep? He
answered. She threateneth me with slaughter and crucifixion, and forbiddeth my
writing to her; but if I write not to her, my death will be preferable to my life:
therefore take a reply to her letter, and let her do what she will. — By thy youth,
replied the old woman, I must risk my life for thee, and enable thee to attain thy
desire, and accomplish for thee that which is in thy heart. And Taj-elmolouk said.
Whatsoever thou dost I will requite thee for it; and it shall be determined by thee;
for thou art experienced in the management of affairs, and skilled in the modes of
intrigue, and everything that is difficult becometh easy to thee, and God is able to
accomplish all things. So he took paper, and wrote a letter breathing the most un-
dying affection. Having done this, he sighed heavily, and wept until the old woman
wept with him ; after which she took the letter from him, and said to him. Be happy
and cheerful ; for I must accomplish for thee thy wish.
She then arose and left him as though he were upon the fire, and repaired to the
lady Dunia, whom she found with a countenance changed by her anger in conse-
quence of the former epistle of Taj-elmolouk ; and she handed her the second letter;
whereupon her rage increased, and she said to the old woman. Did I not tell thee
that he would covet us more ? — And what is this dog, said the old woman, that he
should aspire to thee? The lady Dunia replied, Go to him, and say to him, If thou
write to her again she will strike off thy head. But the old woman said. Do thou
write this to him in a letter, and I will take it with me, that his fear may be the
greater. So she complied with the old woman's instructions.
Having folded this letter, she handed it to the old woman, who took it and repaired
with it to Taj-elmolouk. At the sight of her he rose, and said. May God never de-
prive me of the blessing of thy coming! And the old woman replied. Receive the
answer to thy letter. So he took the paper and read it, and wept violently, and said,
I desire now somebody to kill me ; for slaughter would be easier to me than this my
present state of suffering. He then took an ink-case and a pen and paper, and wrote
a letter expressed in these two verses : —
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
241
my hope, persist not in abandonment and cruelty; but visit a lover drowned in desire.
Think not that I can survive this oppression; for my soul departeth at the loss of my
beloved.
And he folded the letter, and gave it to the old woman, saying to her, I have wearied
thee to no purpose. And again he ordered Aziz to give her a thousand pieces of
gold, and said to her, my mother, this paper must be followed by complete union
or complete separation. — my son, she replied, by Allah I desire for thee nothing
but good fortune ; and I wish she may be with thee ; for thou art the shining moon,
and she is the rising sun ; and if I do not bring yoa together, no profit will remain
to me in my life. I have passed my life in the practice of artifice and deceit, until
I have attained the age of ninety years; and how then should I fail of uniting two
persons in opposition to all law?
Then, having bidden him farewell, and soothed his mind, she departed, and pro-
ceeded without stopping to the lady Dunia : but she had hidden the paper in her
hair ; and when she sat down
with her mistress, she scratched
her head, and said, my mis-
tress, perhaps thou wilt untwist
my hair ; for it is a long time
since I have entered the bath.
So the lady Dunia made bare her
arms to the elbows, and un-
twisted the old woman's hair ;
whereupon the paper fell from
her head; and the lady Dunia,
seeing it, said. What is this
paper ,
The old woman an-
The Lady Dunia untwisting the Old Woman's Hair.
swelled. It seemeth that, when 1
was sitting at the shop of the
merchant, this paper caught to
me; give it to me, therefore,
that T may return it to him.
But the lady Dunia opened it
and read it, and understood its
contents, and exclaimed, This is
a trick of thine, and were it not
for the fact of thy having reared
me, I would lay violent hands
upon thee this moment. God
hath afflicted me by this mer-
chant, and all that I have expe-
rienced from him hath been through thy means. I know not from what country
this man hath come. No one but he could ever use such boldness towards me. I
fear that this affair which hath happened to me may be discovered, and especially
since it relateth to a man who is neither of my family nor of my equals,— The old
woman then addressed her, and said, No one can utter a word on this subject,
through fear of thy power, and of the dignity of thy father: and there will be no
harm in thy returning him an answer. — my nurse, replied the lady Dunia, this is
a devil. — How hath he dared to use these words, and feared not the power of the
Sultan ? I am perplexed respecting his case : for if I give orders to kill him it will
not be right: and if I leave him, he will increase in his boldness. — Write to him a
letter, rejoined the old woman: and perhaps he will be restrained. She therefore
demanded a paper and an ink-case and a pen, and wroie to him the follow
verses : —
16
°g
242 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
If thou repeat what thou hast said, the raven of separation will announce thy fate;
In a little time will death overtake thee, and thy resting-place be beneath the earth;
Thou shalt leave thy family, deceived, in sorrow, when the swords of love have prevented
thine escape.
Having then folded the paper, she gave it to the old woman, who took it, and
went with it to Taj-elmolouk, and gave it to him ; and when he had read it, and was
convinced that she was hard-hearted, and that he could not obtain access to her, he
complained of his case to the Vizier, and desired his prudent counsel. The Vizier
replied. Know that there remaineth for thee nothing that can be of avail, except
thy writing to her another letter, and invoking retribution upon her. So he said,
my brother, O Aziz, write in my stead, according to thy knowledge. And Aziz did
as he was desired.
He then folded the letter, and handed it to Taj-elmolouk ; and when he had read
it, it pleased him, and he gave it to the old woman.
So she took it, and repaired with it to the lady Dunia, who, as soon as she had
read it and understood its contents, fell into a violent rage, and exclaimed, All that
hath befallen me hath been through the means of this ill-omened old woman ! And
she called out to the female slaves and eunuchs, and said, Seize this artful old
woman, and beat her with your slippers. — So they fell to beating her with their
slippers until she fainted ; and when she recovered, the lady Dunia said to her, O
wicked old woman, were it not for my fear of God (whose name be exalted!) I had
killed thee. She then said to her attendants, Beat her again. And they beat her
again till she fainted, after which she ordered them to throw her outside the door;
and they dragged her along upon her face and threw her down before the door.
AVhen she recovered, therefore, she arose, and walking and resting now and then,
arrived at her abode. She waited until the morning, and then arose and proceeded
to Taj-elmolouk, whom she acquainted with all that had befallen her ; and it vexed
him, and he said to her. We are grieved, my mother, for that which hath happened
to thee: but everything is in accordance with fate and destiny. She replied. Be
happy and cheerful: for I will not cease my endeavours until I procure thee an
interview with her, and obtain for thee access to this vile woman who hath tortured
me with beating. Taj-elmolouk then said to her. Acquaint me with the causes (»f
her hatred of men. She replied. It is in consequence of her having had a dream. —
And what was that dream? he asked. She answered, She was sleeping one night,
and saw a fowler who set his snare upon the ground, and sprinkled around it some
wheat, and then seated himself near it : and there was not a single bird near but it
come to that snare. And she saw, among the birds, two pigeons, a male and a
female: and while she was looking at the snare, the foot of the male bird became
entangled in it, and he began to struggle ; whereupon all the other birds flew away
from him in alarm; but his mate returned to him, and flew around over him, and
then, alighting upon the snare, while the fowler was inadvertent, began to peck at
the mesh in which was the foot of the male, and pulled it with her beak, until she
liberated his foot, and she flew away with him. Then, after this the fowler came
and readjusted the snare, and seated himself at a distance from it ; and but a little
while had elapsed when the birds descended, and the snare caught the female
pigeon ; upon which all the other birds flew away in alarm, and among them the
male pigeon, who returned not to his mate : so the fowler came and took the female
bird, and killed her. And the lady Dunia awoke terrified by her dream, and said,
Every male is like this, destitute of good ; and men universally are devoid of good-
ness to women. — And when the old woman had finished her story to Taj-elmolouk,
he said to her, my mother, I wish to obtain one glance at hor, though my death
be the consequence: contrive, therefore, some stratagem for me, that I may see her.
— Know, then, said she, that she hath a garden adjacent to her palace, for hor di-
version, and she goeth out into it once in every month, from the private door, and
remaineth in it ten days. The time of her thus going lirth to divert norself hath
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 243
now arrived, and when she is about to do so I will come to thee and inform theo
that thou mayest go thither and meet her ; and do thou take care not to quit the
garden : for probably, if she behold thy handsome and comely aspect, her heart
will be captivated by love of thee ; since love is the most powerful means of effecting
an union.
He replied, I hear and obey: — and he arose, and quitted the shop with Aziz, and
they both, taking with them the old woman, repaired to their abode, and acquainted
her with it; after which, Taj-elmolouk said to Aziz, my brother, I have no fur-
ther want of the shop ; for I have accomplished the purpose for which I took it; and
I give it to thee, with all that it containeth, because thou hast come abroad with me,
and absented thyself from thy country. And Aziz accepted his present, and they
sat conversing together; Taj-elmolouk asking him respecting his strange adventures
and Aziz relating what had happened to him. Then addressing the Vizier, they ac-
quainted him with the purpose of Taj-elmolouk, and asked him. What is to be done?
He answered. Let us go to the garden. So each of them clad himself in the richest
of his apparel, and they went forth, followed by three mamlouks, and repaired to
the garden. They beheld it abounding with trees, and with many rivulets, and saw
the superintendent sitting at the gate. They saluted him, therefore, and he returned
their salutation, and the Vizier handed to him a hundred pieces of gold, saying to
him, I beg thee to receive this money, and to buy for us something to eat; for we
are strangers, and I have with me these children whom I wish to divert. So the
gardener took the pieces of gold, and replied. Enter, and divert yourselves; for the
whole of it is your property; and sit down until I return to you with something for
you to eat. He then went to the market, and the Vizier and Taj-elmolouk and Aziz
entered the garden after the gardener had departed to the market ; and soon the
latter returned bringing a roasted lamb, which he placed before them. And they
ate, and washed their hands, and sat conversing together: and the Vizier said. In-
form me respecting this gardon ; doth it belong to thee, or dost thou rent it? The
sheikh replied. It is not mine, but belongeth to the King's daughter, the lady Dunia,
-And what, said the Vizier, is thy monthly salary? He answered. One piece of
gold, and no more. And the Vizier, taking a view of the garden, beheld there a
lofty but old palace ; and he said, sheik, I desire to perform here a good work by
which thou wilt be reminded of me. — And what good thing dost thou desire to do?
asked the sheikh. — The Vizier said. Take these three hundred pieces of gold. And
when the superintendent heard the mention of the gold, he replied, my master,
do whatsoever thou wilt. So he took the pieces of gold ; and the Vizier said to him.
If it be the will of God (whose name be exalted I) we will execute in this place a
good work.
They then vrent forth from him, and returned to their abode, and passed the next
night: and on the morrow, the Vizier caused a whitewasher to be brought, and a
painter, and an excellent goldsmith ; and, having provided them with all the imple-
ments that they required, introduced them into the garden, and ordered them to
whitewash that palace and to decorate it with various kinds of paintings. After
which he gave orders to bring the gold, and the ultramarine pigment, and said to
the painter. Delineate, at the upper end of this saloon, the figure of a fowler, as
though he had set his snare, and a female pigeon had fallen into it, and had become
entangled in it by her bill. And when the painter had finished his picture on one
portion, the Vizier said to him. Now paint, on this other portion, as before, and represent
the female pigeon in the snare, and show that the fowler hath taken her, and put
the knife to her neck ; and on the other side paint the figure of a great bird of prey,
that hath captured the male pigeon, and fixed his talons into him. So did he this ;
ind when he had finished these designs which the Vizier had described to him, they
took leave of the gardener, and returned to their abode.
There they sat conversing together; and Taj-elmolouk said to Aziz, my brother,
recite to me some verses: perhaps my heart niay thereby be dilated, and these
244 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
ti'oublinj'. reflections may be dispelled, and the flame that is in my heart be quenched.
And upon this, Aziz, with charming modulations, chanted several verses.
Meanwhile the old woman remained alone in her house : and the lady Dunia
longed to divert herself in the garden: but she used not to go forth save with the
old woman : so she sent to her, and made peace with her, and soothed her mind,
and said to her, I desire to go out into the garden, to amuse myself with the sight
of its trees and fruits, and that my heart may be dilated by its flowers. The old
woman replied, I hear and obey: but I would first go to my house and dress myself,
and I will be with thee again. — Go then to thy house, rejoined the lady Dunia : but
be not long absent from me. — The old woman, therefore, went forth from her, and
repaired to Taj-elmolouk, and said to him, Make ready and clothe thyself in the
richest of thine apparel, and betake thyself to the garden, and go in to the gardener,
and salute him, and then conceal thyself in the garden. He replied I hear and obey.
And she agreed with him respecting a sign to be made ; after which she returned to
the lady Dunia. And when she had gone, the Vizier arose, and clad Taj-elmolouk
in a suit of the most magnificent of the apparel of Kings, worth five thousand pieces
of gold, and girded him with a girdle of gold set with jewels, and repaired to the
garden. On arriving at its gate, they found the superintendent sitting there; and
when he saw Taj-elmolouk, he rose to him, standing upon his feet, and, receiving
him with reverence and honour, opened to him the gate, and said to him, Enter, and
divert thyself in the garden. But the gardener knew not that the King's daughter
would enter the garden that day. And when Taj-elmolouk had gone in, he waited
but a short time, and heard a noise, and before he knew the cause, the eunuchs and
female slaves came forth from the private door ; and as soon as the superintendent
beheld them he went and acquainted Taj-elmolouk with their coming, saying to him,
my lord, what is to be done, now the King's daughter, the lady Dunia, hath come?
He answered. No harm will befall thee ; for I will conceal myself in some place in
the garden. So the gardener charged him to use the utmost caution in concealing
himself, and left him and departed.
And when the King's daughter, with her female slaves and the old woman, entered
the garden, the old woman said within herself, If the eunuchs be with us, we shall
not attain our wish. So she said to the King's daughter, my mistress, I would
propose to thee a thing productive of ease to thy heart. And the lady Dunia re-
plied, Propose what thou wilt. The old woman therefore said, my mistress, thou
hast no need of these eunuchs at the present time ; nor will thy heart be dilated as
long as they are with us : so dismiss them from us. — Thou hast spoken truly, re-
plied the lady Dunia; — and she dismissed them ; and a little while after, as she was
walking, Taj-elmolouk beheld her, and gazed at her beauty and loveliness, while she
knew it not; and every time that he looked at her, he fainted, by reason of her sur-
passing beauty. The old woman, in the meantime, led her on by conversation to the
palace which the Vizier had ordered to be painted ; and, entering this palace, the
lady Dunia took a view of its paintings, and saw the birds and the fowler and the
pigeons ; whereupon she exclaimed, Extolled be the perfection of God ! Verily this
is the representation of what I beheld in my dream ! — And she continued gazing at
the figures of the birds and the fowler and the snare, full of wonder; and said, O
my nurse, I used to censure men, and hate them ; but see the fowler how he hath
killed the female bird, and the male hath escaped, and desired to return to the
female to liberate her, but the bird of prey hath met him and captured him. The
old woman, however, aS"ected ignorance to her, and proceeded to divert her with
talk until they both approached the place where Taj-elmolouk was concealed: upon
which she made a sign to him that he should walk beneath the windows ol the
palace ; and while the lady Dunia stood there, she looked aside, and saw him, and
observing the beauty of his face, and his elegant form, she said, my nurse, whence
is this handsome youth? The old woman answered, I know him not; but 1 imagine
that he is the son of a great King ; for he is of the utmost beauty and loveli
TAJ-EL MOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 245
And the lady Dunia was enraptured with him. The spells that bound her were dis-
solved, her reason was overcome by his beauty and loveliness and his elegant person,
and she was affected by violent love: so she said to the old woman, my nurse,
verily this young man is handsome. The old woman replied, Thou hast spoken
truth, my mistress. And she made a sign to the King's son to return to his house.
The fire of desire flamed within him, and his rapture and distraction became exces-
sive ; but he went and bade farewell to the superintendent, and departed to his
abode, that he might not disobey the old woman, and acquainted the Vizier and
Aziz that she had made a sign to him to depart. And they both exhorted him to be
patient, saying to him. If the old woman did not know that there was an object to
be attained by thy return, she had not made a sign to thee to do so.
Now to return to the lady Dunia. — Desire overcame her, and her rapture and dis-
traction increased ; so she said to the old woman, I know not how to obtain an inter-
view with this young man but through thy means. The old woman exclaimed, I
seek refuge with Allah from Satan the accursed ! Thou hast no desire for men ; and
how, then, have fears afiected thee in consequence of thy love of him? But by
Allah, none other than he is suited to thy youth. — my nurse, rejoined the lady
Dunia, assist me to obtain an interview with him, and thou shalt receive from me a
thousand pieces of gold, and a dress of the same value : if thou assist me not to gain
him I shall die inevitably. So the old woman replied, Go thou to thy palace, and I
will devise means to bring you together, and give my life to satisfy you both. The
lady Dunia then returned to her palace, while the old woman repaired to Taj-elmo-
louk ; and when he saw her, he rose to her, and stood, and received her with respect
and honour, seating her by his side ; and she said to him. The stratagem hath suc-
ceeded. She then related to him what had occurred between her and the lady Dunia ;
and he said to her. When shall be the interview? She answered. To-morrow. And
he gave her a thousand pieces of gold, and a garment of the same value: and she
took them, and departed, and stopped not until she went in to the lady Dunia, who
said to her, my nurse, what news hast thou brought from the beloved ? — I have
discovered his abode, she answered; and to-morrow I will bring him to thee. And
at this the lady Dunia rejoiced, and gave her a thousand pieces of gold, and a gar-
ment of the same value ; and she took them, and returned to her house.
She passed the next night, and in the morning she went forth and repaired to Taj-
elmolouk, and, having clad him in women's apparel, said to him, Walk behind me,
and incline thy body from side to side as thou steppest, and proceed not with a hasty
pace, nor take notice of any one who may speak to thee. And after she had thus
charged him, she went forth, and he behind her in his female attire ; and she pro-
ceeded to instruct him, on the way, how to act, that he might not fear. She con-
tinued on her way, with him following her, until they arrived at the entrance of the
palace, when she entered, and he also after her, and she passed through successive
doors and antechambers until she had conducted him through seven doors. And
when she arrived at the seventh door, she said to Taj-elmolouk, Fortify thy heart,
and if I call out to thee, and 'say to thee, slave-girl, advance ! — be not tardy in thy
pace, but hasten on, and when thou hast entered the antechamber beyond, look to
thy left ; thou wilt see a saloon with seven doors ; and do thou count five doors, and
enter the sixth ; for within it is the object of thy desire. — And whither goest thou?
said Taj-elmolouk. She answered, I have no place to go to; but perhaps I may
wait after thee and speak with the chief eunuch. She then proceeded, and he fol-
lowed her, until they arrived at the door where was the chief eunuch ; and he saw
with her Taj-elmolouk in the attire of a female slave, and said to her, What is the
business of this slave-girl who is with thee? She answered him. The lady Dunia
hath heard that this girl is skilled in different kinds of work, and she desireth to
purchase her. But the eunuch replied, I know neither slave-girl nor any other
person ; and no one shall enter without being searched by me, as the King hath
commanded me. Upon this, the old woman, manifesting anger, said to him, I knew
246
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
that thou wast a man of sense and of good manners ; and if thou art changed I will
acquaint her with this, and inform her that thou hast offered opposition to her female
shive. She then called out to Taj-elmolouk, and said to him, Advance, slave-girl!
And immediately he entered the antechamber, as she had commanded him, and the
eunuch was silent, and said no more. So Taj-elmolouk counted five doors, and
entered the sixth, and found the lady Dunia standing expecting him.
As soon as she beheld him, she knew him and pressed him to her bosom, and he
imbraced her in like manner ; and the old woman, coming in to them, contrived a
Taj-elmoluuk and the l.acly Duma.
pretext to dismiss the female slaves ; after which the lady Dunia said to her, Be tliou
keeper of the door. She then remained alone with Taj-elmolouk, and they passed
the whole night in innocent dalliance. And on the following morning she closed
the door upon him and the old woman, and entering another apartment, sat there
according to her custom ; and her female slaves came to her, and she transacted
their affairs and conversed with them, and then said to them, Go forth from me
now ; for I desire to amuse myself in solitude. So they left her, and she returned
to Taj-elmolouk and the old woman, taking with her some food for them ; and thus
they ceased not to do for a whole month. '
As to the Vizier, however, and Aziz, when Taj-elmolouk had gone to the pal. ce
of tlie King's daughter, and remained all this time, they concluded that he would
never return from it, and that he was inevitably lost ; and Aziz said to the Vizier,
my fatlier, what wilt thou do? The Vizier sinswered, my son, this affair is one
of difficulty, and if we return not to his father to acquaint him, he will blame us
for our negligence. So they prepared themselves immediately, and journeyed
towards tiie Green Land and the land of Columns, and tiie royal residence of the
King Suleiman, and traversed the valleys night and day until they went in and pre-
sented themselves before the King Suleiman ; and they informed him of that which
Lad happened to his son, and that they had learnt no news of him since lie had en-
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 247
tered the palace of the King's daughter. On hearing this he was as though the day
of resurrection had surprised, him : his sorrow was intense, and he gave orders tc
make a proclamation of war throughout his dominions. He then sent forth his
troops outside the city, and caused the tents to be pitched for them, and remained
in his pavilion until the forces had assembled from all the quarters of his kingdom.
His subjects loved him for his great justice and beneficence, and he departed with an
army that covered the earth as far as the eye could reach, for the purpose of de-
manding his son Taj-elmolouk,
In the meantime, Taj-elmolouk and the lady Dunia continued together for half a
year, every day increasing in mutual love ; and the love and distraction and rapture
of Taj-elmolouk so augmented that he opened to her his mind, and said to her, Know,
beloved of my heart, that the longer I remain with thee, the more do my distrac-
tion and ecstasy and desire increase ; for I have not altogether attained my wish.
So she said, What dost thou wish, light of my eye and delight of my heart ? He
answered, I desire to acquaint thee with my true history : know, then, that I am not
a merchant, but a King, son of a King, and the name of my father is the Supreme
King Suleiman, who sent the Vizier as ambassador to thy father to demand thee for
me in marriage ; and when the news came to thee thou refusedst to consent. — He
then related to her his story fropi first to last ; and added, I desire now to repair to
my father, that he may send an ambassador again to thy father, to demand thee in
marriage from him, and so we shall remain at ease. — And when she heard this she
rejoiced exceedingly; for it coincided with her wish ; and they passed the next night
determined upon this proceeding.
But it happened, in accordance with destiny, that sleep overcame them unusually
that night, and they remained until the sun had risen. The king Shahzeman was
then upon his royal seat, with the Emirs of his empire before him, and the chief of
the goldsmiths presented himself, having in his hand a large round casket: and he
advanced, and, opening it before the King, took forth from it an elegant box, worth
a hundred thousand pieces of gold, for the jewels it contained, and rubies and eme-
ralds, such as no King of the earth could procure. And when the King saw it he
wondered at its beauty, and he looked towards the chief eunuch, to whom the affair
with the old woman had happened (as above described), and said to 'him, Cafour,
take this box, and go with it to the lady Dunia. So the eunuch took it, and pro-
ceeded until he arrived at the chamber of the King's daughter, when he found its
door closed, and the old woman sleeping at its threshold, and he exclaimed. Until
this hour are ye sleeping? And when the old woman heard what he said, she
awoke from her sleep, and, in her fear of him, said. Wait until I bring the key. She
then went forth and fled. The eunuch, therefore, knew that she was alarmed, and
he displaced the door, and entering the chamber found the lady Dunia asleep with
Taj-elmolouk. At the sight of this, he was perplexed at his case, and was medi-
tating to return to the King, when the lady Dunia awoke and found him by her;
and she was troubled, and her countenance became pale, and she said, Cafour,
veil what God hath veiled. But he replied, I cannot conceal anything from the
King. And he closed the door upon them, and returned to the king. So the King
said to him, Hast thou given the box to thy mistress ? The eunuch answered, Take
the box ; here it is. I cannot conceal from thee anything. Know that I beheld,
with the lady Dunia, a handsome young man, sleeping in the same chamber. The
King, therefore, ordered that they should both be brought before him ; and when
they had come into his presence, he said to them, What are these deeds ? And he
was violently enraged, and, seizing a dagger, was about to strike with it Taj-elmo-
louk ; but the lady Dunia threw her head upon him, and said to her father, Slay nif
before him. The king, however, chid her, and ordered them to convey her back
to her chamber. Then looking towards Taj-elmolouk, he said to him. Wo to thee!
Whence art thou, and who is thy father, and what hath emboldened thee to act thus
towards my daughter ? — Know, King, answered Taj-elmolouk, that if thou put
248 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
me to death, thou wilt perish, and thou and all in thy dominions will repent. — And
why so ? said the King. He answered, Know that I am the son of the King Sulei-
man, and thou wilt not he aware of the consequence when he will approach thee
with his horsemen and his infantry. And when King Shahzeman heard this, he
desired to defer putting him to death, and to imprison him until he should see
whether his assertion were true ; but his Vizier said to him, King of the age, it is
my advice that thou hasten the execution of this young wretch, since he hath been
guilty of presumption towards the daughters of Kings. So he said to the execu-
tioner. Strike off his head, for he is a traitor. And the executioner took him, and
having bound him firmly, raised his hand, and made a sign of consultation to the
Emirs a first and a second time, desiring by this that some delay might take place ;
but the King called out to him. How long wilt thou consult? If thou do so again I
will strike off thy head.
The executioner, therefore, raised his hand until his arm-pit appeared, and was
about to strike off his head, when loud cries were heard, and the people closed their
shops- So the King said to the executioner, Hasten not. And he sent a person to
learn the news for him ; and the messenger went, and soon returning, said to the
King, I beheld an army like the roaring sea agitated with waves ; their horses are
prancing, and the earth trembleth beneath them, and I know not wherefore they are
come. And the King was amazed, and feared lest he should be deposed from his
throne. He then said to his Vizier, Have none of our troops gone forth to meet this
army? But his words were not finished when his chamberlains came in to him, ac-
companied by the messengers of the approaching King, and among them was the Vizier
who had been with Taj-elmolouk. He commenced by salutation ; and the King rose
to them, and, calling them near to him, asked them respecting the cause of their
coming: whereupon the Vizier advanced from among them, and approached the
King, and said to him, Know that he who hath alighted in thy territories is a King,
not like the Kings who have preceded him, nor like the Sultans of former times. —
And who is he? said the King. The Vizier answered. He is the lord of justice and
security, the fame of whose magnanimity the caravans have spread abroad, the Sul-
tan Suleiman, the lord of the Green Land and the Land of Columns and the moun-
tains of Ispahan, who loveth justice and equity, and hateth tyranny and oppression;
and he saith to thee that his son is in thy dominions and in thy city, and he is the
vital spirit of his heart, and its delight : and if he find in him safety, it is what he
desireth, and thou wilt be thanked and praised ; but if he be not found in thy
country, or if any evil have befallen him, receive tidings of destruction and of the
ruin of thy territories ; for thy country shall become a desert in which the raven shall
croak. Thus I have delivered to thee the message ; and peace be on thee. — When
the King Shahzeman heard these words of the envoy, his heart was troubled, and he
feared for his kingdom, and called out to the lords of his empire, and his Viziers
and Chamberlains and Lieutenants: and when they had come before him he said to
them. Wo unto you ! Go down and search for this young man. — But he was under the
hand of the executioner, and his appearance was changed through the fear that he
suffered. The Vizier then, looking aside, found the King's son upon the skin of blood,'
and he recognised him, and arose, and threw himself upon him. So also did the
other messengers: they then unbound him, and kissed his hands and his feet, where-
upon Taj-elmolouk opened his eyes, and recognising the Vizier, and his companion,
Aziz, fell down in a swoon through the excess of his joy at their presence.
The King Shahzeman was perplexed at his situation, and in great fear on dis-
covering that the coming of the army was on account of this young man ; and he
arose and walked forward to Taj-elmolouk, and kissed his head, and, with weeping
eyes, said to him, my son, be not angry with me : be not angry with the evil-doer
for his deed ; but have compassion on my grey hairs, and lay not waste my dorain-
' A skin is laid down to receive the head and blood of those decapitated in an Eastern palace.
TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA. 249
ions. And Taj-elniolouk approached him, ajid kissed his hand, saying to him. No
harm shall befall thee ; for thou art in my estimation as my ftither; but beware that
no evil befall my beloved, the lady Dunia. — my lord, rejoined the King, fear not
for her; for nought but happiness awaiteth her. And he proceeded to excuse him-
self to him, and to soothe the mind of the Vizier of the King Suleiman, promising
him a large sum of money that he might conceal from the King what he had seen.
After which he ordered the grandees of his empire to take Taj-elmolouk and to con-
duct him to the bath, to clothe him in a suit of the best of royal apparel, and bring him
back quickly. So they did this : they conducted him into the bath, and, having clad
him in the suit which the King Shahzeman had allotted him, brought him back to
the hall of audience ; and when he came in, the King rose to him, he and all tho
lords of his empire, and they all stood to wait upon him. Then Taj-elmolouk sat
and conversed with his father's Vizier and with Aziz respecting the events which
had happened to him : and they replied. During that period we went to thy father,
and informed him that thou hadst entered the palace of the King's daughter, and
not come forth from it, and that thy case appeared doubtful to us; and when he
heard this, he made ready the troops, and we came to this country, and on our
arrival have experienced joy and happiness. So he said to them. Good fortune hath
attended your actions first and last.
The King, in the meantime, had gone in to his daughter, the lady Dunia, and
found her weeping for Taj-elmolouk. She had taken a sword, and put its hilt to the
floor, and its point to the middle of her bosom, and was leaning over it, saying, I
must kill myself, and not live after my beloved. When her father, therefore, went
in to her, and beheld her in this state, he called out to her, and said, mistress of
the daughters of Kings, do it not ; but have mercy upon thy father and the people
of thy country! Then advancing to her, he said to her, I conjure thee to abstain,
lest evil befall thy father on thy account. And he acquainted her with the case, tell-
ing her that her beloved, the son of the King Suleiman, desired to celebrate his mar-
riage with her, and adding. The afi'air of the betrothal and marriage is committed to
thy judgment. And she smiled, and said to him. Did I not tell thee that he was the
son of a Sultan? I will make him crucify thee upon a piece of wood worth a couple
of pieces of silver. — I conjure thee by Allah, he exclaimed, that thou have mercy
upon thy father! — Go to him, she rejoined, and bring him to me. He replied, On
the head and the eye. And he returned from her quickly, and going in to Taj-
elmolouk, rejoiced him by what he said. He then arose with him and went to her
again, and when she beheld Taj-elmolouk, she embraced him in the presence of her
father, and clung to him, and said to him. Thou hast made me desolate by thine ab-
sence. Then looking at her father, she said, Can any one act injuriously towards
such a person as this handsome youth, and he a King, a son of a King? And upon
this the King Shahzeman went forth, and closed the door upon them, and repairing
to the Vizier and the other messengers of the father of Taj-elmolouk, ordered them
to inform the Sultan Suleiman that his son was in prosperity and health, and enjoy-
ing a life of the utmost delight. He gave orders also to carry forth provisions and
pay to the troops of the Sultan Suleiman ; and after they had conveyed all that he
commanded them to take forth, he brought out a hundred coursers, and a hundred
dromedaries, and a hundred mamlouks, and a hundred concubine slaves, and a
hundred male black slaves, and a hundred female slaves, and sent them all to him
as a present.
He then repaired to him, with the lords of his empire, and his chief attendants,
and they proceeded until they arrived outside the city; and when the Sultan Sulei-
man became acquainted with this, he advanced some paces to meet him. The Vizier
and Aziz had informed him of the news, and he rejoiced, and exclaimed. Praise be
to God, who hath granted my son the accomplishment of his wish ! And he em-
braced the King Shahzeman, and seated him by his side upon the sofa, and they
conversed together ; after which the attendants placed before them the food, and
250 TAJ-ELMOLOUK AND THE LADY DUNIA.
when tney had eaten to satisfaction they brought them-the sweetmeats. Soon after,
Taj-elmolouk came, approaching in his rich and ornamented dress ; and when his
father beheld him, he rose to him and kissed him, and all who were present rose to
him ; and after he had sat with them a while conversing, the King Suleiman said, I
desire to perform my son's contract of marriage to thy daughter in the presence of
witnesses. And King Shahzeman replied, I hear and obey. So he summoned the
Cadi and witnesses, and they came, and wrote the marriage-contract; and the troops
rejoiced at this. And King Shahzeman began to fit out his daughter.
Then Taj-elmolouk said to his father. Verily, Aziz is a generous person ; he hath
performed for me a great service, and wearied himself, and journeyed with me, and
enabled me to attain the object of my search, ceasing not to exhort me to patience
until I accomplished my wish, and he hath been with us two years separated from
his country: it is my desire, therefore, that we should prepare for him merchandise ;
for his country is near. His father replied, Thy opinion is excellent. So they pre-
pared for him a hundred loads of the most costly stuffs ; and Taj-elmolouk bade him
fixrewell, saying to him, my brother, accept this as a present. And he accepted
it, and kissed the ground before him and before his father. Taj-elmolouk then
mounted his horse, and proceeded with Aziz for the space of three miles ; after which
Aziz conjured him to return, and said, Were it not for my mother I could not endure
thy separation ; and by Allah I entreat thee not to cease acquainting me with thy
state. Having thus said, he bade him farewell, and repaired to his city. He found
that his mother had built for him a tomb in the midst of the house, and she fre-
quently visited it: and when he entered the house, he found that she had dishevelled
her hair and spread it upon the tomb, and, with streaming eyes, was reciting some
verses : but before she had finished, Aziz went in to her : and when she beheld him,
she rose to him and embraced him, and asked him respecting his long absence; so
he acquainted her with all the events that had happened to him from first to last,
and told her that Taj-elmolouk had given him, of wealth and stuffs, a hundred loads;
and she rejoiced at this. Such was the history of Aziz.
Now as to Taj-elmolouk, he returned to his beloved, the lady Dunia, and King
Shahzeman fitted her out for the journey with her husband and her father-in-law:
he sent to them provisions and presents and rarities, and they loaded their beasts
and departed ; and King Shahzeman accompanied them three days' journey to bid
them farewell. The King Suleiman then conjured him to return : so he returned ;
and Taj-elmolouk and his father and his wife continued their journey night and day
until they came in sight of their country. The city was decorated for them, and
they entered it ; and the King Suleiman sat upon his throne with his son Taj-elmo-
louk by his side: and he gave presents, and liberated the persons confined in the
prisons, after which he celebrated for his son a second wedding-festivity: the songs
and instrumental music were continued for a whole month, and the tire-women
crowded around the ladv Dunia, who was not tired with the display, nor were they
with gazing at her. Taj-elmolouk then took up his abode witii her, after an intei^
view with his father and mother together; and they passed a life of the ulnvet
delight and enjoyment.
Festivities when Taj-elmo:ouk Returned. (Page 2SO.)
251
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 253
CHAPTER IX.
Commencing with the Hundred and Fifty-third Night, and ending with the Hundred
and Sixty-ninth
THE STORY OF ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
There was in ancient times, in the reign of the Caliph Haroun Alrashid, a mer-
chant who had a son named Aboulhassan Ali the son of Thaher, possessing abundant
property, of handsome person, beloved by every one who beheld him ; and he used
to enter the palace of the Caliph without permission ; and all the concubines of the
Caliph, and his other female slaves, loved him ; and he used to keep company with
the King, and recite verses, to him, and relate to him strange anecdotes. But still
he sold and bought in the market of the merchants ; and there used to sit at his
shop a young man of the sons of the Kings of the Persians, called Ali the son of
Becar.
This young man was of handsome stature, of elegant shape, of perfect figure, with
rosy cheeks, with joined eyebrows, sweet in speech, with laughing mouth ; a lover
of merriment and gaiety. And it happened that they were both sitting talking
together and laughing, when lo, there came ten female slaves, like moons, and each
of them was endowed with beauty and loveliness, and justness of stature ; and
among them was a damsel riding upon a mule with an embroidered saddle, the stir-
rups of which were of gold, and she was covered with an izar of delicate fabric, and
round her waist was a girdle of gold-embroidered silk ; and when they arrived at the
shop of Aboulhassan, she alighted, and, seating herself at his shop, saluted him,
and he returned her salutation. And when Ali the son of Becar beheld her, his
reason was captivated, and he desired to arise ; but she said to him. Sit in thy
place. Wherefore wouldst thou depart on our arrival? This is not just conduct. —
So he replied. By Allah, my mistress, I fly from that which I have beheld. And
when she heard this reply, she smiled and said to Aboulhassan, What is the name
of this young man, and whence is he? He answered her. He is a stranger: his
name is Ali the son of Becar, and he is son of the King of the Persians ; and the
stranger should be honoured. And thereupon she said to him. When my slave-girl
Cometh to thee, do thou bring him to me. To which Aboulhassan replied. On the
head. She then arose, and went her way.
Now as to Ali the son of Becar, he became in such a state that he knew not what
to say ; and after a while, the slave-girl came to Aboulhassan, and said to him. My
mistress summoneth thee, together with thy companion. So Aboulhassan arose,
and taking with him Ali the son of Becar, they both went to the palace of Haroun
Alrashid, and she introduced them into a private chamber, and seated them ; and
the tables were placed before them, and they ate, and washed their hands. She
then brought to them the wine, and they made themselves merry with it ; after
which, she desired them to arise. They therefore rose, and went with her, and she
conducted them into another private chamber, raised upon four columns, decked
with a variety of furniture, and decorated in the most beautiful manner, as though
it were one of the palaces of Paradise ; so that they were astonished at the rarities
which they beheld. And while they were amusing themselves with the sight of
254 A LI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
these extraordinary objects, lo, ten female slaves approached with a graceful and
conceited gait, resembling moons, dazzling the sight, and confounding the imagina-
tion. They stood in ranks, looking like the black-eyed damsels of Paradise ; and
after them came ten other female slaves, with lutes in their hands, and other instru-
ments of diversion and mirth ; and they saluted the two guests, and played upon
the lutes, and sang verses ; and every one of them was a temptation to the servants
of God. After these came ten more female slaves, like them, high-bosomed and of
equal age, with black eyes, and red cheeks, with joined eyebrows, and languishing
looks, a temptation to God's servants, and a delight to beholders ; and they were clad
in various kinds of coloured silks, such as astonished the mind. They stationed
themselves at the door ; and after them came ten female slaves more beautiful
than they, attired in magnificent apparel ; and these also stationed themselves at
the door.
At last there came forth from the door twenty female slaves, and among them was
one named Shemselnihar, like the moon among the stars. She was encompassed by
the exuberance of her hair, and wore blue trousers, and an izarof silk embroidered
with gold, and round her waist was a girdle adorned with a variety of jewels. She
continued advancing with a dignified gait until she seated herself upon the sofa ;
and when Ali the son of Becar beheld her, he said to Aboulhassan, Hadst thou acted
well tovrards me thou hadst informed me of these things before I came in hither, in
order that I might have applied my mind to consider the case, and fortified it by
patience to endure the afiliction that hath befallen it. And he wept and groaned
and lamented. So Aboulhassan said to him, my brother, I desired nothing for
thee but good ; but I feared to acquaint thee with this, lest such transport should
affect thee as would prevent thy meeting her, and would interpose an obstacle be-
tween thee and thy union with her. Be cheerful, then, and happy ; for she offereth
thee good fortune, and receiveth thee with favour. — And Ali the son of Becar said,
What is the name of this damsel? Aboulhassan answered. She is named Shemsel-
nihar, and is one of the concubines of the Prince of the Faithful, Haroun Alrashid,
and this place is the palace of the Caliph.
Then Shemselnihar sat contemplating the charms of Ali the son of Becar, and he
gazed at her beauty, and they were engrossed with mutual love ; and she ordered
the female slaves to seat themselves, each of them in her proper place, upon a sofa:
so each sat before a window ; and she commanded them to sing ; whereupon one of
them took her lute and sang. Shemselnihar then ordered another slave-girl to sing;
and after her, another: and Ali the son of Becar next desired one who was near
liim to do the same; and when she had finished her song, he sighed, and shed abun-
dant tears; and Shemselnihar seeing him weeping and groaning and lamenting,
burned with transport and passion, and was consumed by excessive love and dis-
traction. So she arose from the sofa, and advanced to the door of the chamber ;
and Ali the son of Becar arose also, and met her; and they embraced each other,
and fell down fainting at the door. The female slaves, therefore came to them, and,
lifting them up, brought them back into the chamber, and sprinkled upon them
some rose water; and when they recovered, they found not Aboulhassan ; for he
had hidden himself by the side of a sofa: and the damsel said, "Where is Aboul-
hassan? So he came forth to her from the side of the sofa; and she saluted him,
and said, I beg of God that He will enable me to recompense thee, thou ot kind
conduct! Then addressing Ali the son of Becar, she said, ray master, thy love
hath not become extreme without my experiencing the like : and we have no resource
but to bear with patience that which hath befallen us. — By Allah, my mistress,
replied Ali the son of Becar, my union with thee will not content me, nor will the
flame that I feel for thee be extinguished, nor the love for thee that hath taken pos-
session of my heart quit me until my soul departeth ! Having said this, he wept,
and his tears descended upon his cheek like rain ; and when Shemselnihar beheld
him thus weeping, she wept with him ; whereupon Aboulhassan said. By Allah. I
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 255
am in wonder at your case, and am perplexed by your condition ; for your =tate is
wonderful, and your case is extraordinary! If ye weep thus when ye are together,
how will it be after ye are separated ! This is not a time for lamentation and weep-
ing, but a time for joy and gladness.
So Shemselnihar made a sign to a female slave, who arose and returned witli
some maids carrying a table, the dishes of which were of silver, containing a variety
of viands. The slave-girl then placed the table before them ; and Shemselnihar
began to eat, and to feed Ali the son of Becar, until they were satisfied, when the
table was removed, and they washed their hands, and the perfuming-vessels were
brought with various kinds of aloes-wood, and the sprinkling bottles with rose-water,
and they were perfumed and scented ; after which vessels of graven gold were pre-
sented to them, containing varieties of drinks, and fresh and dried fruits, such as the
appetite desired, and such as delighted the eyes ; and next, a slave-girl brought
them a basin of carnelian full of wine. Shemselnihar then chose ten maids, whom
she stationed by them, and ten female slaves from among the singing girls, and,
having dismissed all the rest of the slave girls to their apartments, ordered some of
those who remained present to play upon the lute ; and they did as she commanded
them. One of them sang; and when she had finished her song, Shemselnihar filled
a cup and drank it, and then filled it again and gave it to Ali the son of Becar, and
ordered another slave-girl to sing; after which, Ali the son of Becar, drank his cup,
and returned it to Shemselnihar, who filled it, and handed it to Aboulhassan. She
then took a lute, and said. No one shall sing over my cup but myself: — and having
tightened the strings, she sang of love.
When Ali the son of Becar, and Aboulhassan, and the rest of those who were
present, heard the verses sung by Shemselnihar, they almost flew with delight, and
they sported and laughed ; but while they were thus enjoying themselves, lo, a
female slave came, trembling vrith fear, and said, my mistress, the Prince of the
Faithful hath come, and he is at the door, with Afeef and Mesrour and others. And
when they heard .her words, they nearly died with fright; but Shemselnihar laughed,
and said. Fear not. And she said to the female slave. Return them an answer while
we remove from this place. She then gave orders to shut the doors of the apart-
ment, and to let down the curtains over them, while they remained in it, and she
closed the door of the adjoining saloon, and then went forth into the garden, and,
seating herself upon her sofa, ordered a slave-girl to rub her feet, commanding the
rest of the female slaves to go to their apartments, and desiring the girl who remained
with her to leave the gate open, that the Caliph might enter. And Mesrour came
in, and those who were with him, twenty in number, with swords in their hands;
and they saluted Shemselnihar, and she said to them, Wherefore have ye come?
They answered. The Prince of the Faithful saluteth thee: he hath become cheerless
through desire of seeing thee, and informeth thee that he hath experienced this day
unusual joy and happiness, and wisheth now to complete it by thy presence. Wilt
thou, then, come to him, or shall he come to thee? — And she arose, and, kissing the
ground, replied, I hear and obey the commands of the Prince of the Faithful. She
then gave oi-ders to bring her chief female attendants and the other slaves, and they
came in, and she intimated to them that she was going to comply with the commands
of the Caliph. The place was completely prepared ; but she said to the eunuchs,
Go to the Prince of the Faithful, and inform him that I shall soon be waiting for
him, when I shall have prepared the place for him with the carpets and other things.
So the eunuchs repaired quickly to the Prince of the Faithful, and Shemselnihar
arose and went to her beloved Ali the son of Becar, and pressed him to her bosom,
and took leave of him. And he wept violently, and said, my mistress, prolong to
me this leave-taking: perhaps it may help to hasten the termination of my life
through my love of thee : but I beg of God that He will bestow upon me patience
to endure the passion by which He hath afllicted me. — By Allah, replied Shemsel-
nihar, none will fall into a state of dissolution but myself; for thou wilt go forth
256 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
into the market-street, and wilt enjoy the company of such as will amuse thee, and
thou wilt he preserved from danger, and thy passion will be kept concealed. But as
to me, I shall fall into trouble, especially since I have made an appointment with
the Caliph ; for probably great danger will await me in consequence, on account of
my desire and love and passion for thee, and my grief at having parted from thee.
With what tongue shall I sing, and with what heart shall I present myself before
the Caliph, and with what language shall I converse with the Prince of the Faith-
ful, and with what look shall I behold a place where thou art not, and how shall I
be in an assembly in which thou art not included, and with what taste shall I drink
wine of which thou art not present to partake ? Aboulhassan said to her, Be not
perplexed ; but be patient ; and be not remiss in conversing with the Prince of the
Faithful this night, nor show him any neglect.
And while they were thus talking, a slave-girl came, and said, my mistress, the
pages of the Prince of the Faithful are come. Whereupon she arose, and said to
the slave-girl, Take Aboulhassan and his companion, and conduct them to the upper
projecting window that overlooketh the garden, and leave them there till it is dark:
then contrive means of leading them forth. So the slave-girl took them, and as-
cended with them to the projecting window, and, having closed the door upon them,
went her way; and they remained looking into the garden. And lo, the Caliph
arrived, preceded by about a hundred eunuchs with swords in their hands, and
around him were twenty female slaves, like moons, clad in the richest apparel, and
each having upon her head a crown set with rubies and other jewels, and in her
hand a lighted candle. The Caliph Avalked in the midst of them, while they sur-
rounded him on every side, and Mesrour and Afeef and Waseof preceded him ; and
he advanced among them with a graceful carriage. Shemselnihar and all the female
slaves who were with her rose to him, and met him at the gate of the garden; and,
having kissed the ground before him, preceded him until he seated himself upon the
sofa, when all the female slaves and the eunuchs who were in the garden stationed
themselves around him, and the candles were lighted, and the instruments of music
were played upon until he commanded his attendants to disperse, and to seat them-
selves upon the sofas; whereupon Shemselnihar took her seat upon a sofo by the
side of that of the Caliph, and began to converse with him. — All this time Aboul-
hassan and Ali the son of Becar were looking on and hearing ; the Caliph not see-
ing them. — Tlie Caliph then began to toy with Shemselnihar, and gave orders to
open the apartment where she had been sitting; and they opened its door and its
windows, and lighted the candles ; so that the place, in the hour of darkness, shone
like the day ; after which, the eunuchs removed thither the drinking-vessels. — At
the sight of these things, Aboulhassan exclaimed, Verily I have never beheld the
like of these vessels and beverages and i-arities, nor have I ever heard of anything
to be compared with these varieties of jewels : It seemeth to me as though I were
dreaming ! My reason is confounded, and my heart palpitateth ! But as to Ali the
son of Becar, after Shemselnihar had quitted him, he remained a while stretched
upon the floor, through the violence of his passion ; and when he recovered he began
to gaze at this unparalleled scene, and said to Aboulhassan, my brother, I fear
that the Caliph will see us, or become acquainted with our case; and my fear is
chiefly on thine account: for as to myself, I know that I am of the number of those
who are about to perish ; and the cause of my death is nothing else than my love and
desire, and the excess of my transport and distraction; and I beg deliverance of God
from the affliction that I suffer.
Ali the son of Becar, and Aboulhassan, continued gazing from the projecting
window at the Caliph and the scene around him, until the feast was entirely pre-
pared before him, when the Caliph looked towards one of the female slaves, and
said. Let us hear, Gharam, some of thy delightful singing: — whereupon, with
charming modulations, she sang a beautiful melody. And when Shemselnihar heard
her song, she fell down in a swoon from the sofa upon which she was sitting, and
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 257
became unconscious. The female slaves, therefore, arose and lifted her up. And
as soon as Ali the son of Becar beheld her from the window, he also fell down in a fit:
and Aboulhassan exclaimed, Verily fate hath divided desire between you with
equality! But while they were conversing, lo, the slave-girl who had brought them
up to the window came to them and said, Aboulhassan, arise, thou and thy com-
panion, and descend ; for the world hath become narrow unto us, and I fear that our
affair will be exposed ; arise, therefore, immediately, or we die. Aboulhassan, re-
plied, How shall this young man arise with me? He hath not strength to raise
himself. — So the slave-girl sprinkled rose-water upon his face until he recovered,
and Aboulhassan and the slave-girl lifted him up, and carried him down from the
window, and proceeded a little way, when the slave-girl opened a small door of iron,
and placed Aboulhassan and Ali the son of Becar upon a bench outside. She then
clapped her hands, and there came a boat with a rower in it, and she led them on
board of it, and said to the boatman. Land them on the opposite bank. And when
they had embarked, and quitted the garden, Ali the son of Becar looked back to-
wards the apartment and the garden, and bade them farewell. The slave-girl then
said to the boatman, Make haste with them. So he plied his oars to make all haste,
and, accompanied by the slave-girl, they crossed over to the opposite bank, when
she departed, taking leave of them as they landed, and saying to them. It had been
my desire not to part from you ; but I cannot proceed further than this spot. And
she returned.
Ali the son of Becar lay prostrate before Aboulhassan, unable to rise ; so Aboul-
hassan said to him. This is not a place of safety, and we are here in fear for our
lives, on-account of the robbers and the sons of wickedness. And upon this, Ali
the son of Becar arose, and advanced a little way; but he was unable to walk on.
Now Aboulhassan had friends in that quarter; and he repaired to one of them in
whom he confided, and knocked at his door; upon which the man came forth to him
quickly, and when he behold him and his companion he welcomed them, and con-
ducted them into his house, and having seated them, conversed with them, and
asked them where they had been, Aboulhassan answered. We came forth this even-
ing, obliged to do so by a man with whom I had some pecuniary transactions, it
having been told me that he was about to set forth on a journey with my property.
So I went out this night and repaired to him, taking to cheer me, this my companion,
Ali the son of Becar, and we came hoping to see him; but he hid himself from us,
and we saw him not. We therefore returned with nothing, and. finding it difficult
to get back this night, and seeing no other lodging for us but thine abode, we came
unto thee, depending on thy usual kindness. — The man of the house then welcomed
them again, and studied to show them honour ; so they remained with him during
the rest of the night; and when the morning came, they went forth from him, and
proceeded until they arrived at the city, and entered it; and as they passed by
the house of Aboulhassan, he conjured his companion Ali the son of Becar to enter,
and took him in. They then laid themselves down on beds for a little while, after
which they awoke; and Aboulhassan ordered his servants to furnish the house hand-
somely; and they did so: Aboulhassan saying within himself, I must cheer this
young man, and divert him from his present thoughts ; for I know his case.
And when Ali the son of Becar recovered, he called for water, and they brought
it him, and he arose and performed the ablution, and recited the divinely-ordained
prayers which he had omitted during the preceding day and night, and began to
console himself by conversation. When Aboulhassan, therefore, saw him do thus,
he approached him and said, Omy master Ali, it will be most suitable to thy present
case that thou remain with me this next night, in order that thy heart may become
dilated, and the anguish of desire that thou sufferest may be dispelled, and that thou
mayeat beguile the time with us. He replied. Do what seemeth fit unto thee; for at
all events I cannot escape from that which hath befallen me; so do as thou wilt.
And Aboulhassan arose and summoned his servants and brought his friends, and
17
258 ALI THB SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
sent to the singers and instrumental performers, who came ; and they remained
eating and drinking and making merry during the rest of the day, until the evening,
when they lighted the candles, and the wine-cups circulated among them, and the
time passed with them pleasantly. Then a female singer took a lute, and thus
sung:
I have been shot at by fortune with the arrow of an eye, which hath struck me down, and I
have parted from the beloved.
Fortune hath been hostile to me, and my patience hath failed; but I expected befo^ that
this would come to pass.
And when Ali the son of Becar heard these words, he fell down in a fit, and he re-
mained in it until daybreak; and Aboulhassan despaired of him ; but when daylight
came, he recovered, and desired to return to his house. Aboulhassan could not pre-
vent him, fearing what might be the result of his case; and his servants brought him a
mule, and mounted him upon it, and Aboulhastsan accompanied him until he took
him into his house ; and when he was safe there, Aboulhassan praised God for his
escape from this calamity, and began to console hira; but he had no power over
himself, through the violence of his passions. Aboulhassan then bade him farewell;
and Ali the son of Becar said to him, my brother, cease not to impart to me what-
ever information thou mayest have to give. He replied, I hear and obey.
So Aboulhassan arose and departed from him to his shop, and opened it, and sat
expecting some tidings from the damsel ; but no one brought him any news. lie
passed the next night in his house, and when the morning came, he arose and pro.
ceeded to the house of Ali the son of Becar, and, going in to him, found him laid
upon his bed with his friends around him, and the physicians with him, each of
them prescribing for him something, and feeling his pulse. And when Aboulhassan
entered and beheld him, he smiled: and Aboulhassan saluted him, and inquired
respecting his state ; after which he sat by him until all the rest of the people had
gone forth, when he said to him, What is this state in which I find thee ? Ali the
son of Becar answered, It hath been spread about that I am sick, and my friends
have heard this report, and I have no strength to arise and walk that I might give
the lie unto him who asserteth me to be ill ; so I remain prostrated here as thou
seest me, and my friends have come to visit me : but, my brother, hast thou seen
the slave-girl, or heard any news from her? Aboulhassan replied. She hath not
come to me since she parted from us on the bank of the Tigris: — and he added,
my brother, beware of disgrace, and abstain from this weeping. But Ali the son of
Becar said, my brother, I have no control over myself: — and he sighed, and recited
some verses, and added, I am afflicted by a calamity from which I was lately exempt,
and can hopfe for no greater ease than death. So Aboulhassan said. Perhaps God
will restore thee.
And he went down from him, and repaired to his shop and opened it, and he had
not long sat there when the slave-girl came and saluted him ; and he returned her
salutation, and, looking at her, observed that her heart was throbbing, and that she
bore an aspect of sadness. lie said to her. Thou art welcome! How is Shemsel-
nihar? — She answered, I will presently acquaint thee with her case: — and asked.
How is Ali the son of Becar? Aboulhassan, therefore, informed her of everything
that he had experienced ; and she lamented and sighed, and wondered at his case.
She then said. The state of my mistress is more wonderful than that ; for when ye
went away, I returned with my heart throbbing on your account, scarcely believing
in your escape ; and on my return I found my mistress lying prostrate in the cham-
ber, speaking not nor answering any one. The Prince of the Faithful was sitting
at her head, finding no one to acquaint him with her case, and not knowing M'hat
she suifcrcd ; and she continued in her fit until midnight, when she recovered, and
the Prince of the Faithful said to her. What hath befallen thee, Shemselniliar, and
what hath happened to thee this night? And when she heard tiie words of the
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR, 259
Caliph, she kissed his feet, and answered him, Prince of the Faithful, may God
make me to be thy sacrifice ! A derangement of the stomach hath given me a head-
ache, and excited a heat in my body, so I fell down in a fit from the violence of my
suffering, and I know not what happened to me afterwards. The Caliph, therefore,
asked her, What hast thou taken this day ? And she answered, I breakfasted upon
a dish that I had never eaten before. She then feigned that she had recovered
strength, and called for some wine, and, having drunk it, begged the Prince of the
Faithful to return to his diversion. So he resumed his seat in the chamber; and
when I came to her, she asked me respecting thee and thy companion, and I informed
her what I had done with you, and acquainted her with the words which Ali the
the son of Becar had spoken : whereupon she was silent. The Caliph then sat, and
ordered the same female slave to sing; and she sang these two verses: —
There hath been to ine no pleasure in my life since your departure; and would that I knew
your state since you left me !
It were fit that my tears should be of blood, when ye are weeping on account of my absence.
And when Shemselnihar heard these words, she fell down again in a swoon ; and
I laid hold of her hand, and sprinkled some rose-water upon her face, and she
recovered, upon which I said to her, my mistress, expose not thyself and those
whom thy palace containeth ! By the existence of thy beloved I conjure thee to
have patience! But she replied. Can anything worse than death befall me? I
desire it; for it will bring me ease. — And while we were thus conversing, a slave-
girl sang these words of the poet: —
They said, Perhaps patience may be followed by ease. But I replied, How is patience to be
found since his departure ?
For he made a settled compact with me, to cut the cords of patience, at the time of his em-
bracing me.
And as soon as she had finished, Shemselnihar again fell down in a fit. The Caliph
saw her, and, coming to her quickly, gave orders to remove the wine, and com-
manded each of the female slaves to return to her apartment. lie then sat with her
during the remainder of the night until the morning, when he summoned the physi-
cians, and desired them to employ means for her restoration, not knowing that she
was sufi"ering from love and desire. I remained with her till I thought her recovered,
and this it was which prevented my coming unto you before. I left with her a
number of her special attendants, when she ordered me to repair to you that I might
obtain news of Ali the son of Becar and return to her. And when Aboulhassan
heard her words, he wondered, and said to her. By Allah, I have acquainted thee
with his whole case. Return, therefore, to thy mistress, and salute her, and exhort
her to have patience, and say to her, Conceal thy secret; — and tell her that I am
acquainted with her case, and know it to be one of difiiculty, requiring prudent
management. And the slave-girl thanked him, and bade him farewell, and returned
to her mistress.
Aboulhassan then remained in his shop until the close of the day, and when the
day had passed he arose and locked up his shop, and went to the house of Ali the
son of Becar, and knocked at the door; upon which there came forth to him one of
his servants, who conducted him within. And when he went in to his friend, the
latter smiled, and drew a good omen from his coming, and said to him, Aboul-
hassan, thou hast made me desolate by thy remaining away from me this day, and
my soul is attached to thee for the rest of my life. — Abstain from these words,
replied Aboulhassan ; for, if it were possible to ransom thee, I would give my life
as thy sacrifice. This day the slave-girl of Shemselnihar came and informed me
that she had been prevented from coming before only by the Caliph's sitting with
her mistress, and acquainted me with what had happened to her mistress. — And he
260 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
related to him all that he had heard from the slave-girl; whereupon Ali the son of
Beear lamented violently, and wept, and then, looking towards Aboulhassan, said to
him, By Allah, I conjure thee to assist me in my aiBiction, and tell me what plan is
to be pursued : and I beg of thy goodness that thou wilt pass the night here with
me, in order that I may be cheered by thy conversation. So Aboulhassan complied
with his desire, replying that he would stay with him that night ; and they passed
the night conversing together, till Ali the son of Becar, after weeping and shedding
copious tears, recited some verses, and uttered a great cry, and fell down in a swoon.
Aboulhassan thought that his soul had quitted his body; and he remained in his fit
until daylight came, when he recovered, and conversed again with Aboulhassan ;
and Aboulhassan continued sitting with him till near the midtime between sunrise
and noon.
He then departed from him, and repaired to his shop and opened it; and lo, the
slave-girl came and stood before him ; and when he looked towards her, she made
a sign of salutation to him, and he returned her greeting, and she delivered to him
the salutation of her mistress, and said to him, How is Ali the son of Becar? —
slave-girl, he replied, ask not respecting his state, and the violence of desire that he
suffereth ; for he sleepeth not by night, nor findeth rest by day ; watching hath
emaciated him, and anguish hath overcome him, and he is in a condition by no
means pleasing to a friend. She then said to him, My mistress saluteth thee and
him, and hath written to him a letter, and she is in a state more afflicting than his;
she hath intrusted to me the letter, and said, Return not to me without an answer
to it, and do as I have commanded thee. — Here is the letter with me. Wilt thou
then go with me to Ali the son of Becar, that we niay receive the answer from him ?
— Aboulhassan answered her, I hear and obey. And he locked up his shop, and,
taking with him the slave-girl, repaired with her by a way different from that by
which he had come, and they proceeded until they arrived at the house of Ali the
son of Becar, when he stationed her at the door, and entered the house. And as
soon as Ali the son of Becar beheld him he rejoiced at his coming, and Aboulhassan
said to him. The cause of my coming is, that such a man hath sent to thee this slave-
girl with a note conveying his salutation to thee, and hath mentioned in it that the
reason of his failing to visit thee is an event that hath happened to him which
excuseth him. The slave-girl is standing at the door. Wilt thou give her permis-
sion to enter? Ali, replied. Bring her in. And Aboulhassan made a sign to him
that she was the slave-girl of Shemselnihar ; and he understood the sign ; and when
he beheld her he was moved, and rejoiced, and said to her, with a sign, How is the
master? May God grant him restoration and health? — She answered. Well : —
and she produced the letter and gave it to him ; and he took it and kissed it and
read it, and then handed it to Aboulhassan, M'ho found written in it as follows: —
I have written to thee a letter without fingers, and spoken to thee without a tongue,
and the complete exposition of my state is this, — that I have an eye which sleep-
lessness never quitteth, and a heart from which solicitudes are never absent; and I
am as though I had never known health or happiness, nor beheld a comely counte-
nance, nor passed a pleasant life: I am as if my nature were made up of passion,
and of the torment of excessive love and melancholy ; and sickness hath become
uninterrupted to me: and desire, augmented ; and longing expectation, increased.
I beg of God to hasten our union, that the trouble of my mind may be dispelled ;
and I desire that thou send me some words from thee, that I may cheer myself by
them ; and do thou assume a becoming patience until God give relief. And peace
be on thee.
When Ali the son of Becar had read this letter from beginning to end, he said,
With what hand shall I write, and with what tongue shall I complain and lament?
He then drew hirtiself up with diflBculty, and sat, and took a paper in his hand, and
thus wrote : —
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.— Thy letter, my mistress,
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 261
hath arrived, and given ease to a soul wearied by transport and desire, and conveyed
restoration to a wounded heart ulcerated by disease ; and thine emaciated slave hatb
understood all the gracious words contained in it: and by thy head, my mistress
I am in the state described by the poet. And I know that complaint extinguisheth
not the fire of affliction ; but it appeaseth him whom longing desire hath disordered,
and whom separation destroyeth : and I will comfort myself by the mention of the
word " union."
On Aboulhassan's reading this letter, it excited painful feelings in him, and its
purport wounded his vitals ; and he gave it to the slave-girl, and when she had
taken it, Ali the son of Becar said to her. Convoy to thy mistress my salutation, and
acquaint her with my transport and desire, and how love pervadeth my flesh and
my bones ; and tell her that I want a person to deliver me from the sea of destruc-
tion, and to liberate me from this perplexity. He then wept, and the slave-girl wept
with him, and took leave of him and departed from him.
Aboulhassan went forth with her, and bade her farewell, and repaired to his shop;
and as he sat there, he found his heart compressed, and his bosom contracted, and
he was perplexed at his case. He remained immersed in thought during the rest
of the day, and the ensuing night; and on the following day he went to Ali the son
of Becar, and sat with him until the other persons had departed, when he asked him
respecting his state ; and he began to complain of his desire, and his excessive love
and distraction. And Aboulhassan said to him, I have never beheld nor heard of
any lover like thee. Wherefore this transport and infirmity and agitation when thou
art attached to a complying object of love ? How would it be if thou wert attached
to one who was adverse and deceitful, and if thy affair were exposed? — And Ali
the son of Becar, says Aboulhassan, inclined to my words, and thanked me for them.
— Now I had (he continues) a friend who was acquainted with my case, and the
case of Ali the son of Becar, and knew that we were leagued together ; but no one
else was informed of what passed between us ; and he used to come to me and ask
me respecting the state of Ali the son of Becar; and soon after, he questioned me
with respect to the damsel. I answered him. She invited him to her, and more than
hath already happened between them cannot take place; and this is the last of their
case ; but I have devised for myself a plan of proceeding which I desire to lay before
thee. — His friend asked, What is it? And Aboulhassan answered, I am a man
known to have extensive dealings with men and women, and I fear that the affair
of these two persons may be discovered, and that such an event will be the cause of
my destruction and of the seizure of my property and the ruin of my fiimily. It is
my opinion that I should collect together my property, and fit myself out, and repair
to the city of Balsora, and there remain until I see what will be the result of their
case, that no one may know my situation ; for love hath gained entire possession of
them, and letters have passed between them. Their intermediary is a slave-girl,
who at present keepeth their secrets ; but I fear that anxiety may overcome her and
she may reveal their case to somebody, and so the nevrs of their affair may spread
and occasion my destruction ; since I have no excuse to offer to my accusers. — His
friend replied, Thou hast acquainted me with a perilous affair, such as the wise and
knowing must regard with fear. May God avert from thee the evil that thou appre-
hendest, and save thee from the result which thou dreadest! This opinion is right.
— So Aboulhassan departed to his house, and occupied himself in settling his affiiirs,
and preparing himself for the journey to the city of Balsora, and three days had not
passed before he had finished his affairs and set forth to Balsora.
Three days after this, his friend came to visit him, and, finding him not, asked
his neighbours respecting him, and they answered him. He departed three days ago
to Balsora; for he had pecuniary dealings with the merchants of that city, and
therefore went to demand the money of his debtors, and he will soon return. And
the man was perplexed at his case, and knew not whither to go, saying. Would that
I Lad not parted with Aboulhassan ! He then devised a stratagem by means of
262 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
which to obtain access to Ali the son of Becar ; and he repaired to the house, and
said to one of his young men, Beg permission for me of thy master that I may enter
and salute him. So the servant entered, and acquainted his master with the request,
and then returned to him, and gave him permission to enter. Ho therefore went in
to him, and found him reclining upon the cushion, and he saluted him, and Ali the
son of Becar returned his salutation, and welcomed him ; whereupon the man apolo-
gised to him for having failed to visit him before during the period of his illness,
and said to him, my master, an intimate friendship existeth between mo and Aboul-
hassan, and I used to intrust to him my secrets, and never relinquish him for an
hour ; and I was absent on some business with a number of my friends for the space
of three days, and then, going to him, found his shop closed; and wherefore I asked
the neighbours respecting him, and they said. He hath gone to Balsora. — Now I
know no friend of his more true than thou : by Allah, then, acquaint me with his
case. — And when Ali the son of Becar heard his words, his colour changed, and be
was agitated, and replied, I have not heard the news of his departure before this
day; and if the case be as thou hast said, trouble hath befallen me. And he hang
down his head towards the ground, in thought, and after a while raised it and look-
ing towards a servant belonging to him, said to him. Go to the house of Aboulhassan,
and ask respecting him, whether he be still there or on a journey, and if they
answer. He hath gone on a journey, — ask whither he is gone. So the servant Avent,
and after a short absence came back to his master, and said. When I inquired
respecting Aboulhassan, his dependants informed me that he had gone on a journey
to Balsora ; but I found a slave-girl waiting .at the door, and when she beheld me
she knew me ; but I knew her not ; and she said to me. Art thou the servant of Ali
the son of Becar? And I answered her. Yes. And she said, I have a letter for
him, from the dearest of his friends. So she came with me, and she is standing at
the door. — Upon this, Ali the son of Becar said. Bring her in. And the servant went
forth to her, and brought her in: and the man who was sitting with the son of Becar
looked at the slave-girl, and saw that she was an elegant person. The slave-girl
then advanced to the son of Becar, and saluted him, and talked with him in a low
voice; and he uttered oaths during the conversation, swearing that he had not men-
tioned a thing which she spoke of; after which, she bade him farewell, and departed.
Now the man, the friend of Aboulhassan, was a jeweller ; and when the slave-
girl had departed, he found an opportunity to speak, and said to Ali the son of
Becar, Thei-e is no doubt whatever but that the palace of the Caliph hath some
demand upon thee, or that thou hast dealings with it. — And who, said Ali the son
of Becar, acquainted thee with that? The jeweller answered, My knowledge of it
is through this slave-girl ; for she is the slave-girl of Shemselnihar; and she came
to me some time ago with a note in which was written that slie desired a necklace
of jewels; so I sent to her a costly necklace. And when Ali the son of Becar heard
his words, he was so agitated that the jeweller feared his dissolution : but presently
he recovered himself, and said, my brother, I conjure thee by Allah to tell me how
thou knowest her. The jeweller replied. Abstain from urging the inquiry. But
Ali the son of Becar said to him. I will not desist from pressing thee until thou ac-
quaint me with the truth. So the jeweller said, I will inform thee, provided that no
suspicion respecting me enter thy mind, nor any restraint be imposed upon thee by
my words, and I will not conceal from thee any secret, but will explain to thee the
truth of the afiFair, on the condition, however, that thou acquaint me with thy true
case, and the cause of thy sickness. He therefore told him his story, and then said.
By Allah, my brother, nothing induced me to conceal my affair from others than
thyself excepting my fear that people might remove the veils of protection from
others. And the jeweller said to him, I desired not an interview with thee but on
account of my great aifecticm for thee, and my zeal for thee, and my compassion for
thy heart in consideration of the torment that it suffereth from separation. Perhaps
I may be a comforter to thee in the place of my friend Aboulhassan during the
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
268
period of his absence. Be happy, then, and cheerful. — And AH the son of Becar
thanked him for his speech. He then, for a while, remained silent ; after which he
said to the jeweller, Knowest thou what the slave-girl told me secretly ? He answered.
No, by Allah, my master. And Ali the son of Becar said, She supposed that I
had advised Aboulhassan to depart to the city of Balsora, and that I thus devised a
stratagem that there might be no more correspondence and intercourse: and I swore
to her that such had not been the case; but she believed me not, and departed to her
mistress retaining her evil opinion ; for she inclined to Aboulhassan. The jeweller
replied, O my brother, I understood from the state of the slave-girl this affair ; but,
if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !) I will aid thee to attain thy desire.
— And how, said Ali the son of Becar, wilt thou manage with her when she taketh
fright like a wild animal of the desert? The jeweller answered, I must employ all
my endeavours to assist thee, and my contrivance to obtain acquaintance with her,
without making any exposure or occasioning any mischief. He then begged leave
to depart; and Ali the son of Becar said to him, my brother, be mindful to con-
ceal the secret. And he looked at him and wept.
The jeweller bade him farewell, and de-
parted, not knowing what to do in order to _
promote the affair of Ali the son of Becar,
and he continued on his way meditating
upon his case ; and beheld a paper lying
in the street: so he took it up, and looked
at its direction, and lo, it was, From the
most humble friend to the most excellent
object of affection. — And he opened the
paper, and saw written in it as follows : —
Know, my master, that I am unacquainted
with the cause of the interruption of the
correspondence between me and thee ; but
if cruelty have originated from thee, I will
requite it with fidelity ; and if affection
have departed from thee, I will preserve
affection during estrangement.
And when he had read it, lo, the slave-
girl approached, looking to the right and
left, and saw the paper in his hand ; so she
said to him, my master, verily this paper
dropped from me. But he returned her
not an answer, walking on ; and the slave-
girl followed him until he approached his
house; and he entered, and the slave-girl behind him. She then said to him, my
master, return to me this paper ; for it dropped from me. And he looked at her,
and said, slave-girl, fear not, nor be grieved, but tell me the story with truth ; for
I am a concealer of secrets ; and I conjure thee by an oath that thou hide from me
nothing of the affair of thy mistress : perhaps God may assist me to accomplish her
desires, and make easy by my means things that now are difficult. And when the
slave-girl heard his words, she replied, my master, a secret will not be lost when
thou art its depository, nor will an affair be unsuccessful when thou strivest to accom-
plish it. Know that my heart hath inclined to thee, and I will acquaint thee with
the truth of the affair, and do thou give me the letter.— She then told him the whole
story, and added, God is witness of the truth of what I say. He replied, Thou hast
spoken truth ; for I am acquainted with the foundation of the story. And he pro-
ceeded to relate to her the case of Ali the son of Becar, and how he had become ac-
quainted with the state of his mind, telling her the story from first to last. And
when she had heard this she rejoiced ; and they agreed together that she should taka
The Jeweller finding the Letter.
264 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
the paper and give it to Ali the son of Becar, and of all that should happen she
should return and inform him. So he gave her the paper: she took it and sealed it
as it was before, saying, My mistress Shemselnihar gave it to be read ; and when
he hath read it and given me an answer, I will bring it to thee.
The slave-girl then bade him farewell, and proceeded to Ali the son of Becar,
whom she found expecting her coming; and she gave him the paper, and he read it,
and then wrote back an answer, and gave it to her. She therefore took it, and re-
turned with it to the jeweller, according to the agreement; and he broke open the
seal, and read it, and saw written in it: —
Verily cruelty hath not originated from me, nor have I abandoned fidelity, nor
have I broken a covenant, nor have I cut off affection, nor have I ceased from grief,
nor have I found after separation aught but affliction, nor have I had any knowledge
of that which ye have mentioned, nor do I love anything but what ye love: by Him
who knoweth every secret and hidden action, my desire is only for an union with the
person whom I love ; and my business, the concealment of the desire that I suffer,
though disease afflict me in consequence. This is the exposition of my state : and
peace be on thee.
When the jeweller read this paper, and knew its contents, he wept violently. The
slave-girl then said to him. Go not forth from this place until I return to thee ; for
he hath made an accusation against me ; but he is excused ; and I desire to effect
an interview between thee and my mistress Shemselnihar, by whatever stratagem it
may be accomplished. I left her prostrate waiting for my bringing her the answer.
— Then the slave-girl repaired to her mistress, and the jeweller passed the night
troubled in heart; and when the morning came, he performed the prayers of that
period, and sat expecting her arrival ; and lo, she approached, and with joy came in
to him, and he said to her, What is the news, slave-girl? She answered, I went
from thee to my mistress, and gave to her the paper which Ali the son of Becar
wrote : and when she had read it and understood its meaning, her mind was per-
plexed ; so I said to her, my mistress, fear not the frustration of the affair between
you in consequence of the absence of Aboulhassan ; for I have found one who will
take his place, and who is better than he, and of higher rank, and one who will keep
secrets. — And I related to her what had passed between thee and Aboulhassan, and
how thou obtainedst his confidence and that of Ali the son of Becar, and how that
note dropped from me and thou foundest it, and I acquainted her with the determi-
nation made between thee and me. — And the jeweller wondered extremely. — She
then said to him. She desireth to hear thy words, that she may be confirmed by
them in her belief of the covenants made between thee and him : make up thy mind,
then, immediately to repair with me to her. But when the jeweller heard these
words of the slave-girl, he considered that the visiting her was a momentous affair,
and of great peril, not to be undertaken, nor suddenly attempted : so he replied, O
my sister, I am of the sons of the common class, and not like Aboulhassan; for
Aboulhassan was high in rank, of known reputation, in the habit of frequenting the
palace of the Caliph because its inhabitants required his merchandise ; but as for
me, Aboulhassan used to converse with me and I trembled before him. If thy mis-
tress, therefore, desireth my conversation with her, it will be requisite that it be in
some other place than the palace of the Caliph, distant from the abode of the Prince
of the Faithful ; for my heart will not consent to tliat which thou proposest. — So he
refused to go with her. She proceeded to tell him that she would be surety for his
safety, and said to him. Be not apprehensive nor fearful. But while they were thus
talking, lo, his legs shook, and his hands trembled: and the slave-girl, therefore,
said to him, If it will be painful to thee to go to the palace of the Caliph, and thou
canst not accompany me, I will persuade her to como to thee ; therefore move not
from thy place until I return to thee with her. She then departed : but soon re-
turned to the jeweller, and said to him. Take care lest there be with thee a slave-girl
or man-servant. lie replied. There is no one with me but a black female slave
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
205
advanced in age, who serveth me. And the slave-girl arose, and closed the doora
between the jeweller's female slave and himself, and sent his young men out from
the house.
After this, the slave-girl went forth, and returned with a damsel behind her, and
the latter entered the jeweller's abode with her, imparting a sweet odour to the
house; and when the jeweller saw her, he arose and stood up, and placed a cushion
fcr her, and seated himself before her. She remained a while without speaking,
Shemselnihar's first visit to the Jeweller.
until she had rested herself, when she uncovered her face, and it appeared to the
jeweller as though the sun had risen in his abode. She then said to her slave-girl.
Is this the man of whom thou spakest to me? The slave-girl answered, Yes. And
she looked towards the jeweller, and said to him, How art thou? He answered, In
prosperity : — and prayed fur her. And she said to him, Thou hast induced us to
come to thee, and to acquaint thee with our secret. And she asked him respecting
his fiimily and his children, and he acquainted her with all his circumstances, and
said to her, I have a house besides this, which I have devoted to the purpose of
assembling there with my friends and brethren, and I have in it nothing but what
I have mentioned to thy slave-girl. After this, she asked him how he had become
acquainted with the foundation of the story ; aud he informed her of the particulars
which she demanded, from the first of the affair to the last ; whereupon she sighed
for the separation of Aboulhassan, and said, such a one, know that the souls of
mankind accord in their desires, and persons stand in need one of another ; an action
is not accomplished without words ; nor a wish without exertion : nor doth ease
come unless after fatigue ; nor doth success ensue but through the means of the
generous. And now I have acquainted thee with our affair, and it is in thy power
to expose or protect us ; and thy generous disposition requireth nothing to bo added;
for thou knowest that this my slave-girl concealeth my secret, and on that account
occupieth a high place with me; and I have chosen her for the transaction of my
2(56 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
affair.*. Let none, then, be more worthy in thy sight than she. and do thou acquaint
her \\ith thy proceedings : and be of good heart ; for thou art .-secure from what thou
fearest on our account, and no place shall be closed fi-om thee but she shall open it
unto thee, and she shall convey to thee my messages for Ali the son of Becar, and
thou shalt be the intermediary in the transmittal of communications between me
and him.
Shemselnihar then arose, scarcely able to do so, and departed, and the jeweller
walked before her until she arrived at the gate of the palace, after which he returned,
and sat in his place, having beheld of her beauty what astonished him, and heard
of her words what confounded his reason, and witnessed of her elegance and polite-
ness what amazed him. He remained reflecting upon her endowments until his
mind became tranquillized: when he demanded food, and ate as much as would
stay his spirit. He then changed his clothes, and went forth from his house, and
repaired to Ali the son of Becar, whose servants came and met him, and walked
before him until they introduced him to their master, and he found him laid upon
his bed ; and when he beheld the jeweller, he said to him. Thou hast been tardy in
coming to me, and increased my anxiety. Having thus said, he dismissed his ser-
vants, and gave orders to shut his doors, and said to the jeweller, I have not closed
my eye since thou quittest me; for the slave-girl came to me yesterday, bringing a
sealed letter from her mistress Shemselnihar. — And he proceeded to relate to him
all that had passed between him and her; after which he said, I have become per-
plexed in my affair, and my patience hath failed ! for Aboulhassan was a cheering
companion unto me, as he knew the slave-girl. And when the jeweller heard his
words he laughed : so Ali the son of Becar said to him. Wherefore dost thou laugh
at my words, when I have augured well of thy coming, and taken thee as a provision
against misfortunes? He then wept, and recited verses expressive of his condition.
And when the jeweller heard the verses which he recited, he wept at his weeping,
and acquainted him with all that had happened to him with the slave-girl since he
had quitted him. Ali the son of Becar listened to his speech: and at every word of
his that he heard, the colour of his face continued to change from yellowness to red-
ness, and his body became at one time stronger, and at another weaker. And when
he had ended his account, the son of Becar wept, and said to him, my brother, I
am at all events perishing, and would that my end were near! I beg of thee, in thy
kindness, to show favour to me in all my affairs until God shall please to bring about
what seemeth fit unto him, and I will not oppose thee in word. — The jeweller
replied, Nothing will quench this fire in thee except an interview with the person
with whom thou art enamoured: but it should be in some other place than this,
which is one of danger ; it should be in a house of mine next to my own abode.
The slave-girl came to me there, together with her mistress, and it is the place that
she chose for herself; I desire, thei-efore, your interview with each other, and there
shall ye complain one to another of what ye have suffered. So Ali the son of Becar
said. Do as thou desirest, and what thou seest fit is right.
I remained with him, says the jeweller, that night, conversing with him until the
morning came, when I performed the morning prayers, and went forth from him.
and repaired to my abode. And I had not long remained there when the slave-girl
came and saluted me, and I returned her salutation, and acquainted her with the
plan decided upon between me and Ali the son of Becar : whereupon she said.
Know that the Caliph hath gone away from us, and that there is no one in our
abode, and it is more safe for us, and better. I replied. What thou sayest is true ;
but it is not like this my house : for this is safer and more suited to us. The slave-
girl therefore said. It shall be as thou seest fit; and I go to my mistress to acquaint
her with that which thou hast mentioned, and to propose to her what thou hast said.
She then repaired to her mistress, and made the proposal to her, and returned to my
house, and said to me. My mistress acquiesceth with that which thou hast said.
And she took forth from her pocket a purse containing some pieces of gold, saying
ALI THE SON OP BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 267
to me, My mistress saluteth thee, and saith to thee. Take this, and procure for ua
with it what we require. But I swore that I would not expend anything of it. So
she took it again, and returned to her mistress, and said to her, lie hath not ac-
cepted the money, but returned it to me. And after the slave-girl had gone, I re-
paired to my other house, and removed thither, of the utensils and furniture, what
the case required, and transported thither the vessels of silver and of china-ware,
and prepared all that we required of food and drink ; and when the slave-girl came
again, and beheld what I had done, it pleased her; and she ordered me to bring Ali
the son of Becar ; but I replied. None shall bring him but thou.
Accordingly she went to him and brought him, attired in the most perfect manner,
and with a brightened aspect ; and when he came I met him and welcomed him,
and seated him upon a mattrass suitable to his condition, and placed before him
some sweet scented flowers in vessels of china-ware and crystal, and conversed with
him about an hour; after which the slave-girl departed, and was absent until after
the sunset prayers, when she returned, accompanied by Sheinselnihar with two
maids and none else. As soon as she beheld Ali the son of Becar, and he beheld
her, they both fell down fainting upon the floor, and remained so for an hour; and
when they recovered, they drew near to each other, and sat conversing tenderly, and
after this, they made use of some perfumes, and began to thank me for my conduct
to them. I then said to them, Have ye any desire for food ? And they answered,
Yes. So I brought to them some food, and they ate until they were satisfied, and
washed their hands ; and I conducted them to another chamber, where I brought
them the wine ; and they drank it, and became merry: whereupon Shemselnihar
said to me, my master, complete thy kindness, and bring to us a lute or some
other musical instrument, that we may now perfect our enjoyment. I replied, On
my head and my eye. And I arose, and brought a lute, and she took it and tuned
it, and placing it in her lap, played upon it in an admirable manner. She proceeded
to sing verses so as to confound the mind, with various modulations and with pleas-
ing allusions, and the hearers almost flew with delight at her admirable singing.
After this, I left them in that house, and departed to the house in which I resided,
and there passed the night, until the morning. And when the morning came, I per-
formed my divinely-orduined prayers, and drank some wine, and sat thinking of
going to them at my other house; and as I was sitting, lo, my neighbour came ih to
me, terrified, and said to me, my brother, it was no light matter to me that befell
thee this last night in thy other house. So I said to him, my brother, and what
hath happened? Acquaint me with that which hath occurred in my house. — He
answered, The robbers who came to our neighbours yesterday, and murdered such
a one and took his property, saw thee yesterday removing thy things to thy other
house, and came thither in the night and took what thou hadst there, and murdered
thy guests. — I arose therefore, I and my neighbour, and we went to that house, and
found it empty ; nothing remained in it ; and I was perplexed at my case, and said.
As to the things, I care not for their loss; and if I borrowed some of them from my
friends and they are lost, there is no harm in that; for they know my excuse in tlie
disappearance of my property and the plundering of my house ; but as to Ali the
son of Becar, and the concubine of the Prince of the Faithful, I fear that their
affair will be rumoured abroad, and it will be the cause of the loss of my life. — The
jeweller then looked towards his companion, and said to him. Thou art my brother
and my neighbour, and wilt conceal what I should not expose: what course of con-
duct, then, dost thou advise me to pursue? The man answered him. That which I
advise thee to do is, that thou be on thy guard ; for they who entered thy house and
took thy property have murdered a most distinguished party from the palace of the
Caliph, and have murdered also a party from the house of the chief magistrate of
the police, and the guards of the court search for them everywhere, and perhaps
they will find them, and thy wish will be attained without any effort of thine. And
when the jeweller heard these words, he returned to his house in which he resided,
268 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
and said within himself, Verily that which hath happened to me is what Aboul-
hassan feared, and on account of which he departed to Balsora, and I have fallen
into it.
The plunder of his house became publicly known among the people, and they
came to him from every quarter ; and some of them rejoiced at his misfortune, and
some participated in his anxiety while he uttered his complaints to them, and neither
ate nor drank. And as he sat repenting, lo, one of his servants came in to him, and
said to him. There is a person at the door who asketh for thee, whom I know not.
So the jeweller went forth to him, and saluted him, and found him to be a man whom
he knew not ; and the man said, I have something to say to thee. He therefore
conducted him into his house, and asked him. What hast thou to say to me? The
man answered. Go with me to thy other house. The jeweller said, And dost thou
know my other house? And he answered. Thy whole case is known to me, and I
know also that by which God will dispel thine anxiety. — So I said within myself
(continues the jeweller), I will go with him whither he desireth. I then repairi-d
with him to the house, and when the man saw the house, he said, It is without a
door-keeper, and we cannot sit in it: come with me, therefore, to another house.
And the man continued going about from place to place, and 1 with him, until the
night overtook us ; and I put no question to him. He ceased not on his way, and I
with him, till we went forth into the open plain, saying. Follow me. And he hurried
on, and I hurried behind him, until we arrived at the river, when he embarked with
me in a boat, and the boatman rowed with us, till we had crossed over to the other
bank ; whereupon he landed from the boat, and I landed after him, and he took my
hand, and conducted me into a street which 1 had never entered before in the whole
course of my life, and I knew not in what quarter it was. He then stopped at the
door of a house, and opened it, and entered, taking me in with him, and locked the
door with a lock of iron ; after which, he led me along its passage till we came into
the presence of ten men, who were as though they were one and the same man, and
they were brothers.
When we went in to them, the man first mentioned saluted them, and they re-
turned his salutation, and ordered me to sit down. So I seated myself, feeble from
excessive fatigue ; and they brought me some rose-water, and sprinkled it upon my
face, and gave me to drink some wine, and placed before me some food. I therefore
said [within myself]. If there were anything injurious in the food, they would not
eat with me. And when we had washed our hands [after eating], each of us re-
turned to his place, and they said. Dost thou know us? 1 answered. No: nor in my
life have I known your abode : nay, I know not him who brought me unto you.
They then said. Acquaint us with thy story, and utter no falsehood. So I said,
Know that my case is wonderful, and my affair is extraordinary. And are ye, I
added, acquainted with aught of my story ? They answered. Yes : we are the per-
sons who took thy things last night, and we took thy friend, and her who was sing-
ing ? And upon this I said. May God let down the curtain of his protection over
you ! Where are my friend and she who was singing. And they made a sign to me
with their hands, pointing to one side, and answered. Here : but, by Allah, my
brother, none of us hath learnt their secret, and since we brought them we have
had no interview with them, nor asked them respecting their condition, on account
of the appearance of dignity and respectability which we have observed in them;
and it was this which prevented our killing them. Acquaint us, therefore, with
their true history, and thou shalt be secure of thine own safety and of theirs. —
When I heard these words, says thee jeweller, I almost died with fear and terror,
and said to them. Know that, if generosity be lost, it is to be found only with you ;
and if I have a secret which 1 fear to reveal, none but your breasts will conceal it.
And I proceeded to expatiate in this manner, and found that readiness in making
the communication to them would be more advantageous than concealing it ; so 1
acquainted them with all that had befallen me until I arrived at the end of the story
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 269
And -when they heard my tale, they said, And is this young man AH the son of
. Becar, and this female Shemselnihar ? And they excused themselves to both of them,
and afterwards said to me. Verily of that which we took from thy house, part is
gone ; and this is what hath remained of it. They then restored to me most of the
things, and bound themselves to convey them back to their place in my house, pro-
mising also that they would restore to me the rest ; but they became divided into
two parties; one party on my side, and the other against me. After this, we went
forth from that house. — Such was my case.
Now as to Ali the son of Becar and Shemselnihar, they were at the point of
death through fear. I approached them and saluted them, and said to them. What
can have happened to the slave-girl and the two maids, and whither have they gone?
They answered. We have no knowledge of them. And we continued on our way
until we arrived at the place where was the boat, when they put us into it; and it
was the boat in which we had crossed over the preceding evening. The boat-
man rowed with us until he had conveyed us to the opposite bank, and they landed
us. But we had scarcely seated ourselves on the bank, when a troop of horsemen
came and surrounded us on every side ; whereupon the men who were with us
sprang up in haste like eagles, and the boat returned to them, and they embarked
in it, and it proceeded with them over the river, while I remained with Ali the son
of Becar and Shemselnihar, upon the bank of the river, we being unable either to
move or to remain at rest. The horsemen siiid to us. Whence are ye ? And we were
perplexed for the answer; and I said to them, Verily those whom ye beheld with us
we know not: but we saw them here ; and as to ourselves, we are singers, and they
desired to take us to sing to them, and we escaped not from them save by stratagem
and soft words: therefore liberate us on this occasion, since ye have witnessed their
conduct. The horsemen, howeA'er, looked towards Shemselnihar and Ali the son
of Becar, and said to me. Thou hast not spoken truth : if thou be a person of vera-
city inform us who ye are, and whence ye are, and in which of the quarters of the
city ye reside. And I knew not what to say: but Shemselnihar arose and ap-
proached the chief of the horsemen, and spoke to him privately ; whereupon ho de-
scended from his horse, and mounted her upon it, and taking the bridle in his hand,
led her along; and in like manner he did to Ali the son of Becar, and to me also.
The chief of the horsemen then proceeded with us to a place on the bank of the
river, and called out in his foreign language, upon which there approached him a
number of men, and he embarked us on board a boat, his companions embarking in
another boat, and they rowed us on until we arrived at the palace of the Caliph,
while we suffered death from the excess of our fear. [Shemselnihar having there
landed,] we proceeded until we came to the place from which there was a way lead-
ing to our quarter, and there we landed, and we walked on, with a party of the
horsemen cheering us by their company, till we entered the house [of Ali the son
of Becar], when the horsemen who were with us bade us farewell, and went their
way.
As to ourselves, we entered the house, and were unable to move from our place,
not knowing morning from evening, and we continued thus until the morning came.
And at the close of the day, Ali the son of Becar fell down in a fit, and the women
and the men wept over him, as he lay prostrate and motionless: and some persona '
of his family came to me, and said, Tell us what hath happened to our son, and ac-
quaint us with the cause of the state in which he is. I replied, people, hear my
words, and do nothing unpleasant to me ; but be patient, and he will recover, and will
acquaint you himself with his story. I then urged them, and impressed them with the
fear of occasioning what would disgrace me with them ; and while we were thus talk-
ing, lo, Ali the son of Becar moved in his bed, and his family rejoiced, and the people
dispersed from him, and his family forbade me from quitting him. They sprinkled
some rose-water upon his face, and when he recovered, and scented the air, they
began to ask him respecting his state, and he commenced acquainting them ; but
270 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
his tono;ue would not return an answer quickly. After this, he made a sign to them
that they should give me liberty to repair to my abode.
Accordingly, they suffered me to go, and I went forth, scarcely believing in my
escape, and proceeded to my house between two men, until I arrived and went in to
my family ; and when they beheld me in that state, they slapped their faces ; but I
made a sign to them with my hand that they should be silent, and they were silent.
Then the two men went their way ; and I rolled about in my bed the rest of the
night, and awoke not till the midhour between sunrise and noon, when I found my
family surrounding me, and saying, Who hath brought misfortune upon thee, and
by his wickedness smitten thee? And I said to them, Bring me some wine. So
they brought it, and I drank of it until I was satisfied, and then said to them. There
hath happened what hath happened. And they went their way. And after this I
excused myself to my companions, and inquired of them respecting the things that
had gone from my house, asking if any of the property had returned. They
answered, A portion hath returned ; fur a man came and threw it down within the
door of the house, and we saw him not. So I comforted myself, and remained in
my house two days unable to rise from my place ; after which I fortified myself and
walked to the bath, with my heart troubled respecting the son of Becar, and Shem-
eelnihar, having heard no tidings of them during that period, and having been un-
able to go to the house of Ali the son of Becar, and unable to rest in my place
through my fear for myself. I then repented before God (whose name be exalted !)
of the actions that had been committed by me, and praised Ilim for my safety.
And after a while, my mind suggested to me to repair to that place, and to return
immediately ; and when I was about to go, I beheld a woman standing, and looked
attentively at her, and lo, she was the slave-girl of Shemselnihar ; and when I knew
her, I went on, and hastened in my pace ; but she followed me, and I was alarmed
at her: and every time that I looked at her, fear of her overcame me, while she con-
tinued saying. Stop, that I may tell thee something. I, however, paid no regard to
her, and stopped not until I came to a mosque in a place where there were no
people; whereupon she said to me. Enter this mosque that 1 may say a word to
thee, and fear nothing. And she conjured me; so I entered the mosque, and she
entered after me ; and I performed the appointed prayers, after which I approached
her, sighing, and said to her, What dost thou desire ? And she asked me respecting
my state, and I told her what had happened to me and to Ali the son of Becar, and
said to her, What is thy story? She answered. Know that when I saw that the men
had broken open the door of thy house, and entered, I feared them, apprehending
that they were from the Caliph, and that they would take me and my mistress, and
we should perish immediately; so I fled over the terraces, together with the two
maids, and we cast ourselves down from a high place among a party of people, and
fled thence until we arrived at the palace of the Caliph in a most ignominious plight.
We kept our affair secret, and remained in a state of torture as on hot embers until
the next night became dark, when I opened the river-g.ite, and summoned the boat-
man who conveyed us away on the former night, and said to him, AVe know not
what is become of my mistress ; therefore take me in the boat that I may search for
her upon the river; perhaps I may obtain some tidings of her. So he conveyed me
in the boat, and proceeded with me along the river until midnight, when I saw a
boat approaching the gate, with a man rowing in it, and other men, and a wcunan
lying prostrate among them ; and the boatman continued rowing on until he arrived
at the shore ; and when the woman landed, I looked attentively at her, and lo, she
was Shemselnihar. I therefore landed and went to her, stupified with joy at behold-
ing her after I had despaired of seeing her again : and when I came before her, she
ordered me to give to the man who had brought her a thousand pieces of gold. Then
I and the two maids carried her and laid her upon her bed, and she continued during
the rest of that night in a troubled state; and when the morning came, she forbade
the female slaves and eunuchs to come in to her or to approach her that day. But
ALT THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 271
on the following day slie recovered, and I found her as though she had come forth
from a burial-ground; so I sprinkled some rose-water upon her face, and changed
her clothes, and washed her hands and her feet, and ceased not to persuade her until
I excited in her a desire for some food: and I gave her some wine to drink, though
she had no appetite for it.
And when she took the air, and strength returned to her, I said to her, my mis-
tress, have a regard for thyself, for thou hast suffered diflBculties enough, and hast
been at the point of destruction. But she replied, good slave-girl, death were
easier to me than that which hath befallen me : for it seemed that I should be killed,
and that no stratagem could save me ; because the robbers, when they took us from
the house of the jeweller, asked us and said. Who art thou, and what is thy con-
dition ? — but I answered, I am a singing-girl: — and they believed me: then they
asked AH the son of Becar respecting himself, and said to him, Who art thou, and
what is thy condition? — and he answered, I am of the common people. And they
took us, and we proceeded with them until they brought us to their abode, and we
hastened with them, through the excess of our fear; and when they had rested with
us at their dwelling, they looked at me, and, seeing the apparel and necklaces and
jewels with which I was decked, they disbelieved my assertion, and said. These
necklaces belong not to one of the female singers. They then said to me. Be ve-
racious to us, and tell us the truth. What is thy history? — But I returned them no
answer, saying within myself, Now will they kill me for the ornaments and apparel
that are upon me: — and I uttered not a word. And they looked towards Ali the
son of Becar, and said to him. And whence art thou ; for thine appearance is not
that of the common people? But he was silent. We concealed our aff\xir, and
wept. And God inclined the hearts of the robbers towards us ; and they said to
us, Who is the owner of the house in which ye were? We answered them. Its
owner is such a one, the jeweller. And one of them said, I know him well, and I
know that he is residing in his other house, and I will take upon myself to bring
him to you immediately. And they agreed together to put me in a place by myself,
and Ali the son of Becar in a place by himself, and said to us. Rest ye, and fear not
that your affair will be revealed, for ye are secure from us. Then their companion
went to the jeweller, and brought him, and he revealed our case to them, and we
went in to him; after which, one of the men provided for us a boat, and they placed
us in it, and crossed over with us to the opposite bank, and having landed us there,
departed. And a troop of horse, of the patrol, came and said, Who are ye? So I
spoke with the chief of the patrol, and said to him, I am Shemselnihar, the concubine
of the Caliph ; I made myself merry with wine, and went forth to visit some of my
acquaintances among the wives of the Viziers, and the robbers came upon me, and
took me, and brought me to this place, and when they beheld you they fled ; and I
am able to requite thee. And when the chief of the horsemen heard my words, he
knew me, and, descending from his horse, mounted me upon it, and in like manner
he did to Ali the son of Becar and to the jeweller; and in my heart now burneth a
flame of fire on their account, especially for the jeweller, the compnnion of the son
of Becar; repair, therefore, unto him, and salute him, and inquire of him respecting
AH the son of Becar.
I blamed her (said the slave-girl) for what she bad done, and cautioned her, spy-
ing to her, my mistress, fear for thyself: — but she cried out at me, and was angry
at my words. I then arose and departed from her, and came unto thee, but found
thee not ; and I feared to go to the son of Becar ; so I stood looking out for thee,
that I might ask thee respecting him, and know in what state he is. And I beg of
thv goodness that thou wilt receive from me some money: for probably thou bor-
rowedst some things of thy friends, and thou hast lost them, and it is necessary that
thou make a compensation to them for such of their things as have been lost in thy
nouse. — So I replied, says the jeweller, I hear and obey. I then walked with her
until we came near to my house, when she said to me, Stop here until I return to
272 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
thee. And she departed, and returned bringing the money, and gave it to me, saying,
my master, in what place shall we meet thee? I answered her, I will go to my
house immediataly, and will endure hardship fur thy sake, and devise some means
of procuring thee access to him ; for access to him is difficult at the present time.
She then bade me farewell, and departed, and I carried the money to my abode,
and counting it, found it to be five thousand pieces of gold ; and I gave some of it to
my family, and to every one who had anything in my possession I gave a compen-
sation. After this I took my young men, and repaired to the house from which the
things had been lost, and brought the carpenters and the builders, and they restored
it to its former state ; and I placed my female slave in it, and forgot what had hap-
pened to me. I then went to the house of Ali the son of Becar, and when I arrived
there, his slaves accosted me, and one of them said to me, The slaves of our master
have been seeking thee night and day, and he hath promised them that whosoever
of them bringeth thee to him he will emancipate him ; so they are searching for
thee, but know not where thou art. Vigour hath returned to my master; but he
recovereth and relapseth frequently: and when he recovereth, he mentioneth thee,
and saith. Ye must bring him unto me for a moment, and he shall return and go
his way. — So I went with the young man to his master, and found him unable to
speak : and when I beheld him, I seated myself at his head, and he opened his eyes,
and, seeing me, he wept, and said to me, Thou art welcome. I then raised him, and
seated him, and pressed him to my bosom ; and he said to me, Know, my brother,
that since I laid myself down I have not sat up until now; and praise be to God for
my beholding thee! — I continued raising him, says the jeweller, until I placed hira
upon his feet, and made him walk some paces, and changed his clothes, and he
drank some wine ; and when I saw in him signs of vigour, I related to him what
had happened with the slave-girl ; no one else hearing me ; after which I said to
him. Brace up thy nerves, for I know what thou sufferest. And he smiled, and I
said to him. Thou wilt experience nothing but what will rejoice thee and cure thee.
Then Ali the son of Becar gave orders to bring a repast; and they brought it; and
he made a sign to his young men, whereupon they dispersed ; and he said to me,
my brother, hast thou seen what hath befallen us? And he excused himself to me,
and asked me how I had been during the late period. So I acquainted him with all
that had happened to me from first to last; and he wondered, and said to the servants,
Bring me such and such things. And they brought him costly furniture, and articles
of gold and silver, more than I had lost, and gave to me all of them ; and I sent them'
to my house, and remained with him the next night. And when the morning broke,
he said to me, Know that to everything there is an end ; and the end of love is death
or union ; and I am nearer unto death : would that I had died, then, before that
which hath happened to me ! Had not God been propitious to us, we had been dis-
graced ; and I know not what will effect my deliverance from my present state.
Were it not for my fear of God, I would hasten my own destruction. And know,
my brother, that I am like the bird in the cage, and that my life is expiring in
consequence of my distresses; but it hath a known period, and a decr63d end. —
And he poured forth his tears ; and I said to him, my master, know that I pur-
pose repairing to my house ; for perhaps the slave^girl will return to me with news.
He replied. There will be no harm in thy doing so ; but return quickly to acquaint
me.
I therefore took leave of him, and departed to my house ; and I had scarcely sat
down when I beheld the slave-girl approaching, weeping and wailing: and I said to
her, What is the cause of this? — my master, she answered, know that an event
hath happened to us from which we are in fear ; for when I went away from thee
yesterday, I found my mistress incensed against one of the two maids who were with
us that night, and she gave orders to beat her; and she feared her mistress and fled,
and one of the officers charged to keep the door, mot her, and took her, and desire4
to send her back to her mistress. But she made a disclosure to him, and he coaxed
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR. 273
Ler, and desired her to make known her case, upon which she acquainted him with
our proceedings ; and the news reached the Caliph, and immediately he gave orders
to remove my mistress Shemselnihar and all her property to his own palace, and
appointed twenty eunuchs to guard her. I have not yet had an interview with her,
nor acquainted her with the cause ; but I suspect it is on that account, and therefore
am in fear for myself, and am perplexed, my master, not knowing what stratagem
to employ in my affiiir, and hers, and she hath no one more faithful in keeping a
secret than myself Go thou, therefore, my master (she continued), to Ali the son
of Becar, quickly, and acquaint him with this, in order that he may be prepared ;
and if the aflfiiir be exposed, we will contrive some means for our own escape. —
Upon this, says the jeweller, excessive anxiety overcame me, and the universe became
dark before my face at the words of the slave-girl. She proposed her departure, and
I said to her. What is thy advice? It is my advice, she answered, that thou hasten
to Ali the son of Bec^.r, if he be thy friend, and thou desire his escape ; thine be it to
communicate this news to him quickly ; and be it mine, to apply myself to learn
further news. She then bade me farewell, and went forth.
And when the slave-girl had gone away, I arose and went forth after her, and
repaired to Ali the son of Becar. I found him holding forth to himself expectations
of union, and soothing himself with impossibilities ; and when he saw that I had
returned to him quickly, he said to me, I see thee to have come back to me imme-
diately. I replied, Cease to indulge thine attachment and to promise thyself success,
and abstain from thus busying thy mind ; for an event hath occurred that may
occasion the loss of thy life and thy property. And when he heard these words, his
condition became changed, and he was agitated, and said, my brother, acquaint
me with that which hath happened. — my master, I replied, know that such and
such things have happened, and if thou remain in this thy house till the close of the
day, thou wilt inevitably perish. And Ali the son of Becar was confounded, and his
soul almost quitted his body, and he exclaimed. Verily to God we belong, and verily
to Him we return ! — and said. What shall I do, my brother; and M'hat is thy
advice ? I answered. My advice is, that thou take with thee as much of thy property
as thou canst, and of thy young men such as thou confidest in, and that thou repair
with us to another country before this day shall have expired. And he said to me.
I hear and obey. He then arose, perplexed at his case, now walking and now fall-
ing down, and took what he could, and made an excuse to his family, charging them
with such orders as he desired, and taking with him three loaded camels, mounted
his horse. I also had done the same, and we went forth privately, and stopped not
in our journey during the rest of the day and the next night, until the close of the
night, when we put down our loads, and tied up our camels' feet, and slept: and,
being overcome by fatigue, we were neglectful of ourselves ; and lo, robbers sur-
rounded us, and took all that we had with us, and slew the young men on their
attempting to defend us. They then left us in our place, in a miserable condition,
after they had taken away the property ; and when we had arisen, we proceeded
until morning, and arrived at a town, and, entering it, repaired to its mosque, stripped
of our clothing.
We sat in one side of the mosque the remainder of the day, and passed the next
night in it, without food or drink ; and at daybreak we performed the morning-
prayers, and sat down again ; and lo, a man entered, and saluted us, and, after
performing the prayers, looked towards us and said, men, are ye strangers ? We
answered. Yes: robbers have intercepted us and stripped us, and we entered this
town, but know not in it any one with whom to lodge. So the man said to us, Will
ye arise and accompany me to my house ? I said therefore to Ali the son of Becar,
Arise and let us go with him, and save ourselves from two troubles : the first is, that
we fear some one may come in to us who knoweth us in this mosque, and so we may
hf, disgraced ; and the second, that we are strangers, and have no place in which to
lodge. And Ali the son of Becar replied. Do what thou wilt. The man then said
18
274 ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
to us a second time, poor men, comply with my desire, and come with me to my
abode. I therefore replied, We hear and obey. And the man took off and gave to
us part of his own clothing, and clad us, and spoke kindly to us ; and we arose and
went with him to his house ; and he knocked at the door, and there came forth to us
a young eunuch, who opened the door ; and the man, the owner of the house, entered,
and we entered after him. He then gave orders to bring a wrapper, containing
clothes, and pieces of muslin for turbans, and clad us with two suits, and gave us
two pieces of muslin, and we turbaned ourselves, and sat down ; and lo, a slave-girl
approached us Avith a table, and placed it before us, and we ate a little ; after which,
the table was removed, and we remained with him until night.
And Ali the son of Becar sighed, and said to me, my brother, know that I am
inevitably perishing, and I desire to give thee a charge, which is this : that when
thou seest me to have died, thou repair to my mother, and acquaint her, that she
may come to this place for the sake of receiving the visits of condolence for me, and
be present at the washing of my corpse ; and exhort her to bear my loss with
patience. He then fell down in a fit ; and when he recovered, he heard a damsel
singing at a distance, and reciting verses ; and he listened to her and heard her
voice ; one moment becoming insensible, and another recovering ; and another,
weeping in his anguish and grief at that which had befallen him ; and he heard the
damsel sing with charming modulations.
And as soon as Ali the son of Becar had heard her song, he uttered a groan, and
his soul quitted his body.
When I saw that he was dead, says the jeweller, I gave a charge respecting him
to the master of the house, and said to him. Know that I am going to Bagdad to
acquaint his mother and his other relations, that they may come to prepare his
funeral. I then repaired to Bagdad, and entered my house, and changed my clothes ;
after which I went to the house of Ali the son of Becar. And when his young men
saw me, they came to me and inquired of me respecting him ; and I asked them to
beg permission for me to have an interview with his mother ; and she gave me per-
mission. So I entered and saluted her, and said. Verily, when God decreeth an
event, there is no escaping from it; and a soul cannot depart but by the permission
of God, according to the decree which prescribeth its term. And from these words
the mother of Ali the son of Becar inferred that her son had' died ; and she wept
violently, and then said to me. By Allah I conjure thee to tell me: hath the soul of
my son been taken? But I could not return her an answer, through the excess of
my grief; and when she saw me in this state, she was suffocated with weeping, and
fell upon the floor in a fit ; and as soon as she recovered, she said, How did it happen
to my son? I replied. May God abundantly compensate thee for his loss! — and
then acquainted her with all that had happened to him, from beginning to end.
She said. Did he give thee any charge? And I answered her. Yes: — and informed
her of that with which he had charged me, and said to her. Hasten to perform his
funeral. But on hearing my words she fell down again in a swoon: and when she
recovered, she resolved to do as I had charged her.
I then returned to my house, thinking, on my way, upon the charms of his youth ;
and while I was thus proceeding, lo, a woman laid hold upon my hand, and, look-
ing at her, I saw her to be the slave-girl who used to come from Shemselnihar.
Despondency had overcome her: and when we recognised each other, we wept to-
gether until we arrived at the house, when I said to her, Hast thou become ac-
quainted with the case of Ali the son of Becar? She answered, No, by Allah.
And I related to her what had happened to him, and then said to her. And in what
state is thy mistress? — The Prince of the Faithful, she answered, would not listen
to what any one said against her; in consequence of the violence of his love for
her; but regarded all her actions in a favouraldo light, and said to her, O Shemsel-
nihar, thou art dear in my estimation, and I will endure with thee in spite of thine
enemies. He then gave orders to furnisli a gilded apartment, and an elegant closet ;
ALI THE SON OF BECAR, AND SHEMSELNIHAR.
275
and she became in high favour -with him in consequence of that event. And it
happened that he was sitting to take his usual beverage, and the concubines were
before him, and he ordered them to sit in their places, and seated Shemselnihar by
his side (but her patience had failed, and her. disorder had increased) ; and he then
commanded one of the female slaves to sing ; so she took the lute and struck its
chords and sung. And when Shemselnihar heard that slave-girl's song, she was
Lady playing on the Kanoon.
unable to keep her seat, and fell down in a fit. The Caliph threw down the cup, and
drew her towards him, and cried out, and the female slaves raised a clamour, and
the Prince of the Faithful, turning her over, found that she was dead. He lamented
for her death, and gave orders to break all the dulcimers, and other instruments of
music that were there, and removed her corpse to a closet, where he remained with
it for the rest of the night; and when the day broke, he made preparations for her
funeral, and commanded to wash and shroud and bury her, and mourned for her
greatly, asking no question respecting her condition, or her past conduct.
The slave-girl then said, I conjure thee by Allah that thou acquaint me with the
period when the funeral-procession of Ali the son of Becar is to set forth, and that
thou let me be present at his burial. So I replied. As for myself, in whatsoever
place thou desirest, thou shalt find me ; but as for thee, who can obtain access to
thee in the place where thou residest? She said, however. The Prince of the
Faithful, when Shemselnihar died, emancipated her female slaves on the same day,
and I am one of them, and we are staying at her tomb, in such a place. I therefore
arose and went with her, and, arriving at the burial-ground, visited the tomb of
Shemselnihar, and then went my way, and remained waiting for the funeral-pro-
cession of Ali the son of Becar until it arrived, when the people of Bagdad went
forth to join it, and I went with them : and I found the slave-girl among the women,
and she was the most violent of them in lamentation: and I never witnessed in
Bagdad a greater funeral-procession than this. We pursued our way, densely crowd-
ing together, until we came to his tomb, and buried him ; and I have not discon-
tinued my visits to his tomb, nor to that of Shemselnihar.
276 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN,
CHAPTER X.
Commencing with the Hundred and Seventieth Night, and ending with part of the Two hundred
and Forty-ninth.
THE STORY OF THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN AND THE PRINCESS
BADOURA.
There was, in ancient times, a King named Shah-Zaman, possessing numerous
troops and attendants and guards. He dwelt in the Islands of Khaledan, which are
adjacent to the country of the Persians; and had married four daughters of Kings,
besides whom he had among his female slaves sixty concubines. His age, however,
was advanced, and his bones were wasted, and he had not been blessed with a son ;
so he meditated in his mind, and mourned and was disquieted, and complained of
this to one of his Viziers, saying, I fear that, when I die, my kingdom will be lost ;
for I have no son to succeed to it after me. But the Vizier replied, Perhaps God will
yet bring to pass some event: therefore place thy reliance upon God, King, and
perform the ablution, and recite the appointed prayers. It is also my advice that
thou give a banquet and invite to it the poor and the needy, and let them eat of it,
and pray to God (whose name be exalted!) that He may bless thee with a son:
perchance there may be among them a pure soul, whose prayer, being righteous,
will be answered. After that thou wilt probably obtain thy desire. — The King com-
plied with his advice, and his wife conceived, and when she had completed her
months she gave birth to a male child like the unclouded full moon in the dark
night: so he named him Camaralzaman. He rejoiced at his birth with the utmost
joy, and they decorated the city for seven days: the drums were beaten, and the
messengers imparted the glad tidings ; the nurses and the midwives carried him,
and he was reared with magnificence and fondness until he attained the age of
fifteen years.
He was of surpassing beauty and comeliness, and justness of stature and form,
and his father loved him so that he could not be absent from him by night nor by
day; and the King Shah-Zaman complained to one of his Viziers of the excess of
his love for his son, saying, Vizier, I fear for my son Camaralzaman from the cala-
mities and accidents of fortune, and desire to marry him during my life. The
Vizier therefore replied, Know, King, that marriage is laudable, and there
will be no harm in thy marrying thy son during thy life. So upon this the King
Shah-Zaman said, Bring hither to me my son Camaralzaman. And he came and
hung down his head towards the ground in modesty before his father. His father
then said to him, Camaralzaman, know that I desire to marry thee, and to rejoice
in thee during my life. But he replied. Know, O my father, that I have no need of
marriage, and my soul inclineth not to women ; for I have found books with narra-
tives of their fraudulence, and miracles have been occasioned by their cunning.
my father, marriage is a thing that I will never do, though I be made to drink the
cup of perdition. And when the King Shah-Zaman heard these words of his son,
the light became darkness before his face, and he was grieved excessively at the
want of obedience which his son Camaralzaman manifested towards him ; yet. from
the love that he bore him, he repeated not what he had said, nor provoked him to
277
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA.
279
Camnralzaman stiindiner before his Father.
anger: on the contrary, he showed favour and regard towards him, and treated him
with every kind of fondness that could draw affection to the heart.
Meanwliile Camaralzaman increas-
ed every day in beauty and comeli-
ness, and in elegance and tenderness
of manner. The King Shah-Zaman
bore with him patiently for a whole
year, until he became perfect in
eloquence and grace ; mankind were
ravished by his beauty, and every
zephyr that blew wafted the praises
of his loveliness : he became a tempta-
tion unto lovers, and as a Paradise
to the desirous ; sweet in his speech ;
his face put to shame the full moon ;
he was endowed with justness of
stature and form, and with graceful
and engaging manners, resembling a
twig of the Oriental willow or an
Indian cane, and his cheek supplied
the place of the anemone, as his figure
did that of the willow-branch.
Now when he had completed another
year, his father called him and said
to him, my son, wilt thou not listen
to my words? And upon this Ca-
jiaralzaman fell down upon the floor before his father, through awe and shame, and
said to him, my father, how should I refuse to attend to thy words, when God hath
commanded me to obey thee, and to abstain from opposing thee? So the King Shah-
Zaraan continued. Know, my son, that I desire to marry thee and to rejoice in thee
during my life, and to make thee Sultan over my dominions before my death. But
when Camaralzaman heard these words of his father, he hung down his head for a
while ; after which he raised it, and replied, my father, this is a thing that I will never
do, though I be made to drink the cup of perdition. I know that God hath im-
posed on me the obligation of yielding obedience unto thee; but by his claims upon
thee I conjure thee that thou constrain me not to marry: and think not that I will
marry during the whole course of my life ; for I have perused the books of the for-
mer and the later generations, and know all the calamities and misfortunes that
have happened to them through the disturbances occasioned by women, and their
endless artifice, and the disasters that have proceeded from them. — And when the
King Shah-Zaman heard these words from his son Camaralzaman, and understood
the reasons which he gave, he returned him not an answer, from the excess of his
affection for him; but treated him with increased favours and consideration.
The assembly broke up immediately ; and after it was dissolved, the King Shah-
Zaman summoned his Vizier, and in private said to him, Vizier, tell me what I
shall do in the affair of my son Camaralzaman ; for I consulted thee on the subject
of marrying him as preparatory to making him Sultan, and thou advisedst me to dc
so, and to mention the matter of marriage to him : so I proposed it to him, and he
disobeyed me; acquaint me, therefore, now with that which thou seest to be best.
The Vizier replied. That which I advise thee to do. King, is, that thou have pa-
tience with him for another year; and when thou desirest to speak to him after that
on the subject of marriage, speak not to him privately, but address him on a judg-
ment-day, when all the Emirs and Viziers are present, and all the troops are stand-
ing before thee. Then, when all these are assembled, send to thy son Camaralza-
man, and summon him to thy presence ; and when he is come, address him on the
subject of marriage in the presence of all the Emirs and Viziers, and the chamber-
280 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
lains and lieutenants, and other lords of the empire, and the soldiers and the impetu-
ous warriors ; for he will be bashful before them, and will not be able to oppose thee
in their presence. — And when the King Shah-Zaman heard these words of his Vizier,
he rejoiced exceedingly; he approved of the Vizier's advice, and bestowed upon him
a magnificent robe of honour.
The King Shah-Zaman had patience with his son Camaralzaman another year: and
every day that passed over him, the latter increased in beauty and loveliness, and
in elegance and consummate grace, until he had nearly attained the age of twenty
years. God clad him with the apparel of comeliness, and crowned him with the
crown of perfection ; his eye was more enchanting than that of Lucifer ; and the play
of his glance, more seductive than that of the deceiver of Eve : his cheeks shone with
redness; and his eyelashes scorned the sharp, piercing sword: the whiteness of
his forehead resembling the shining moon ; and the blackness of his hair was like
the dark night. — The King Shah-Zaman, having attended to the words of the Vizier,
waited another year until a festival-day, when the King's court was attended by all
the Emirs and Viziers, and the chamberlains and other lords of the empire, and the
soldiers and impetuous warriors. lie then sent for his son Camaralzaman, who
when he came, kissed the ground before him three times, and stood before his father
with his hands placed together behind his back. And his father said to him. Know,
my son, that I have summoned thee on this occasion, before the present assembly,
with all the troops before me, for the purpose of giving thee a command, and do not
thou oppose me in that which I say. It is, that thou marry ; for I desire to marry
thee to a daughter of one of the Kings, and to rejoice in thee before my death. —
But when Camaralzaman heard these words of his fether, he hung down his head
for a while towards the ground ; and afterwards, raising it towards his father, the
madness of youth affected him, and the ignorance of a stripling's age, and he replied,
As to myself, I will never marry, though I be made to drink the cup of perdition:
and iis to thee, thou art a man of great age and of little sense. Ilast thou not asked
me before this day, twice before the present occasion, on the subject of marriage,
and I would not consent to the proposal? — Then Camaralzaman unclasped his hands
from behind his back, and tucked up his sleeves from his arms, before his father, in
his anger.
His father was abashed and ashamed, because this had happened before the lords
of his empire, and the soldiers who were present at the festival: but presently the
royal energy returned to him, and he cried out at his son, and terrified him ; and
calling to the mamlouks, commanded them to seize him. They therefore laid hold
upon him ; and he ordered them to bind his hands behind him, and they did so, and
led him forward before his father. He hung down his head in fear and timidity,
his face and his forehead were bespangled with moisture, and his shame and confu-
sion were excessive, while his father abused him and reviled him, saying to him. Wo
to thee, base-born and nursling of impurity ! How couldst thou presume to make
me this reply before my soldiers and armies? But hitherto no one hath chastised
thee. Knowest thou not that this which thou hast done, had it proceeded from any
one of the common people, it had been disgraceful in him ? — He then commanded
the mamlouks to loose the cords that bound his hands behind him, and to imprison
him in one of the towers of the castle. The servants, therefore, immediately went
into the saloon that was in the tower, and swept it, and wiped its pavement; and
they placed in it a couch for Camaralzaman, upon which they spread a mattrass and
a leather covering ; and they put for him a cushion, and a large lantern and a can-
dle ; for the place was dark in the day-time. Then the mamlouks conducted Camar-
alzaman into this saloon, and stationed a eunuch at its door. And when they had
done this, Camaralzaman ascended the couch with broken spirit and mourning heart.
He had already blamed himself, and repented of his injurious conduct to his father,
when repentance availed him not, and he exclaimed. Malediction upon marriage and
girls and deceitful women ! Would that I had attended to my father's command
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 281
and married ; for if I had done so, it had been better for me than being in this
prison ! — Thus did it befall Camaralzaman.
Now as to his father, he remained upon his throne during the rest of the day,
until sunset, when he retired with the Vizier, and said to him. Know, Vizier, thai
thou hast been the cause of all this which hath happened between me and my son,
by the advice that thou gavest me ; and what dost thou counsel me to do now ? —
King, answered the Vizier, leave thy son in the prison for a period of fifteen days*
then summon him before thee, and command him to marry ; for he will never oppose
thee again. And the King received this advice of the Vizier, and slept that night
with a heart troubled on account of his son ; for he loved him excessively, because <
he had no son beside him. The King Shah-Zaman used to remain without sleep
every night until he put his arm under the neck of Camaralzaman, and then he
slept. So he passed that night with a heart disordered on his account, and remained
turning over from side to side as though he were lying upon the burning embers of
hell: uneasiness overcame him, and sleep visited him not all that night: his eyes
constantly pouring forth tears.
But as to Camaralzaman, when night came, the eunuch placed before him the lan-
tern, and lighted the candle, which he placed in a candlestick ; and after this, he
brought him some food. So he ate a little, and sat expostulating with himself for
his ill manners towards his father the King Shah-Zaman, saying, Knowest thou not
that the son of Adam is a dependant of his tongue, and that the tongue of a man is
that which betrayeth him into perils? Thus he continued to expostulate with him-
self, and to blame himself, until tears overcame him ; his aching heart was tortured,
and he repented extremely of that which his tongue had uttered against his
father. And when he had finished his repast, he demanded water to wash his hands,
and cleansed them of what adhered to them from the food. He then performed the
ablution preparatory to prayer, and recited the prayers of sunset and nightfall:
after which he sat upon the couch reciting the Koran. He recited the Chapters of
" The Cow" and " The Family of Emran" and " Ya-Seen" and " The Compassionate"
and " Blessed be He in whose hand is the Kingdom" and the " Two Preventives,"
and finished by supplication, and seeking refuge with God. Having done this, he
laid himself on the couch, upon a mattrass covered with satin, with two facings, and
stuffed with ostrich-feathers; and when he desired to sleep he took off his outer
clothes and slept, in a shirt of delicate waxed stuff, having upon his head a blue
kerchief, and appearing like the moon in its fourteenth night. He then covered
himself with a sheet of silk, and slept, "with the lighted lantern at his feet, and the
lighted candle at his head ; and he continued asleep until the first third of the night
had expired, not knowing the hidden event that awaited him, and what God, who
knoweth all secrets, had decreed to befall him.
Now the saloon and the tower were ancient, and had been deserted for many
years; and in the tower was a Roman well inhabited by a Fairy of the posterity of
Eblis the accursed. The name of that Fairy was Maimouna the daughter of Dam-
riel, one of the celebrated Kings of the Genii. And when Camaralzaman had
remained asleep until the first third of the night had passed, this Fairy ascended
from the Roman well to repair towards heaven for the purpose of listening by
stealth; and on reaching the upper part of the well, she saw a light shining in the
tower, contrary to what was usual. She had resided in that place for a long period
of years, and said within herself, I have never witnessed anything like this before.
And she wondered at this thing extremely, inferring that some strange cause had
occasioned it. She then proceeded in the direction of the light, and found that it is-
sued from the saloon : so she entered it, and saw the eunuch sleeping at its door; and
when she entered the saloon she found a couch placed there, with the form of a man
sleeping upon it, and a lighted candle at its head, and a lighted lantern at his feet;
and the Fairy wondered at this light. She advanced towards it by little and little,
and, relaxing her wings, stood over the couch, and removed the sheet from his face,
282 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
and looked at him. She remained for an hour in a state of a8ton.j8hment at his
beauty and loveliness, and found that the light of his face surpassed that of the can-
dle : it gleamed with splendour : his eyes had been wantoning like those of the
gazelle, and were intensely black ; his cheeks were brilliantly red, and his eyelids
were languishing; his eyebrows were arched, and his odour diffi}sed itself like fra-
grant musk. At the sight of him Maimouna the daughter of Damriel extolled the
perfection of God, and exclaimed, Blessed be Allah, the best of creators ! — for this
Fairy was of the believing Genii. So she continued a while gazing at the face of
Camaralzaman, exclaiming. There is no deity but God! — and wishing, but without
envy, that she were like him in beauty and loveliness. She said within herself, By
Allah, I will not injure him, nor suffer any one to hurt him, but from every evil I
will ransom him ; for this comely face deserveth nothing save that people should
gaze at it and extol the perfection of God ; but how could his fiimily leave him neg-
lected in this ruinous place! If any of our Marids came up unto him now they
would destroy him ! — The Fairy then bent over him, and kissed him between his
eves ; after which she let down the sheet over his face, and covered him with it.
Having done this, she spread her wings, and soared aloft towards heaven. She
rose from the precincts of the saloon, and continued her upward flight through the
sky until she drew near to the lowest heaven, when she heard the flapping of wings
flving through the air. So she proceeded in the direction of their sound, and when
she approached the being to whom they belonged, she found him to be an Afrite,
named Danhash, whereupon she pounced upon him like a hawk. When Danhash,
therefore, perceived her, and knew that she was Maimouna, the daughter of the
King of the Genii, he feared her; the muscles of his side quivered, and he implored
her favour, saying to her, I conjure thee by the Most Great Name, and by the most
noble talisman engraved upon the seal of Solomon, that thou treat me with benevo-
lence, and hurt me not! And when Maimouna heard these words of Danhash, her
heart was moved with tenderness towards him, and she said to him. Thou ha'st con-
jured me by a mighty oath ; but I will not liberate thee until thou hast informed
me whence thou art come. — mistress, he replied, know that I come from the
further extremity of the country of China, and from among the islands, and I will
acquaint thee with a wonder that I have beheld this night; and if thou find my
words to be true, do thou suffer me to go my way, and write me a document in
thine own hand declaring that I am thine emancipated slave, so that no one of the
bands of- Genii either of the upper who fly, or of the lower or those who dive, may
oppose me. Maimouna said to him, And what hast thou seen this night, O Danhash?
Acquaint me, and tell me no falsehood, desiring by thy lie to escape from my hand ;
for I swear by the inscription engraved upon the stone of the seal of Solomon the
son of David (on both of whom be peace!), that, if thy words be not true, I will
pluck out thy feathers with my hand, and tear thy skin, and break thy bones. —
Then the Afrite, Danhash the son of Shamhourash the Flyer, said to her, If my
words be not true, do with me what thou wilt, O my mistress. And he proceeded
thus.
I came forth this night from the Interior Islands in the region of China, which
are the dominions of the King Gaiour, the monarch of the Islands and the Seas and
Seven Palaces, and have seen a daughter of that King, than whom God hath created
none in her age more beautiful. I know not how to describe her to thee; fur my
tongue would fail to do so: but I will mention to thee some of her characteristics as
nearly as I can. — As to her hair, it is like the nights of emigration and separation,
and as to her face, it is like the days of union.
She hath a nose like the edge of a polished sword, and cheeks like deep-red wine,
or like anemones: her lips resemble coral and carnelian, and the moisture of her
mouth is more delicious than the best of wine, and would quench the fire of the
inflamed; her tongue is put in motion by ample intelligence and a ready reply; she
hath a bosom that is a temptation to him who beholdeth it — extolled be the perfec-
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 283
tion of Him who created and finished it ! by the side of which are two smooth and
round arms ; and hips connected with a slender waist, which tyrannize over me and
her.
Her other charms the describer cannot reckon ; but all that I have mentioned,
two delicate feet, the work of the protecting and recompensing Creator, support;
and I wondered how they could sustain what was above them. Other particulars I
omit, for language would fail to describe them, and no sign would convey a just idea
of them.
The father of this damsel (continued Danhash) is a mighty King, an impetuous
horseman, who crosseth the seas of the surrounding regions by night and day,
dreading not death, nor fearing the escape of his foe, for he is a despotic tyrant, and
an oppressive conqueror; he is lord of numerous armies and regions and islands
and cities and habitations. His name is the KingGaiour, and he is monarch of the
Islands and the Seas and the Seven Palaces. He loved this his daughter, whom I
have described unto thee, with exceeding love, so that he collected the treasures of
all the other Kings, and with them built for her seven palaces, each of a particular
kind. The first palace is of crystal ; the second, of marble ; the third, of the iron
of China ; the fourth, of onyx and other precious stones ; the fifth, of silver ; the
sixth, of gold; and the seventh, of jewels. He filled the seven palaces with varieties
of magnificent furniture, and vessels of gold and silver, and utensils of every kind
that Kings could require, and commanded his daughter to reside in each palace foi
a certain period of the year, and then to remove to another of them. Her name is the
Queen Badoura. When her beauty became celebrated, and her fame spread through-
out the surrounding countries, all the kings sent to her father to request her of him
in marriage: and he mentioned the subject of marriage to her; but she disliked it,
and said to her father, my father, I have no wish at all to marry; for I am a
princess and a queen, ruling over men, and I desire not a man to rule over me. Yet
the more she showed reluctance to marry, so much the more did her suitors increase
in eagerness to possess her. All the Kings of the interior Islands of China sent
presents and rarities to her father with letters requesting her as a wife, and he
repeated the proposals to her many times ; but she opposed his wish, and was angry
with him, and said to him. If thou mention the subject of marriage to me again, I
will take a sword, and put its hilt upon the floor and its point to my bosom, and lean
upon it until it protrude from my back, and thus kill myself. So when her father
heard these words from her, the light became darkness before his face, and his heart
was tortured excessively on her account ; for he feared that she would kill herself.
He was perplexed respecting both her and the Kings who sought her in marriage
from him, and said to her. If thou art determined not to marry, abstain from going
out and coming in. He then conveyed her into an apartment, and there confined
her, commissioning ten confidential female slaves to guard her, and forbidding her
to behold the seven palaces ; after which, he made it appear that he was incensed
against her, and sent letters to all the Kings informing them that she was afflicted
with insanity, and that she had been confined for a year.
The Afrite Danhash, having related these facts to the Fair^, said, I go to her,
my mistress, every night, and gaze at her, and enjoy for a long time the sight of her
face, and kiss her between her eyes while she lieth asleep ; but from my love for her
I do her no injury ; for her loveliness is surpassing : every one who seeth her is
jealous of her with respect to his own self. I conjure thee, my mistress, that
thou come with me and behold tu-r beauty and loveliness, and justness of form and
proportion ; and afterwards, if thou desire to chastise me or to enslave me, do it ;
for it is thine to command, and thine to forbid. — Then the Afrite Danhash hung
down his head towards the earth, and lowered his wings. But the Fairy Maimouna,
after laughing at his words, and spitting in his face, said to hini. What is this damsel
of whom thou speakest? She is of no more value than a fragment of base pottery !
What wouldst thou say if thou sawest my beloved ? By Allah, I thought thou
284 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
hadst some wonderful tale, or extraordinary story, accursed! I have seen a man
this night, such that if thou beheldest him even in a dream, thou wouldst be paralyzed
with astonishment at him. — And what, said Danhash, is the story of this young man.
She answered. Know, Danhash, that this young man hath experienced the like of
that which hath happened to thy beloved, whom thou hast mentioned. His father
commanded him many times to marry ; but he refused ; and his father, when he
had thus opposed him, was incensed against him, and imprisoned him in the tower
in which I reside; and as I came forth this night I beheld him. — my mistress,
replied Danhash, show me this young man, that I may see whether he be more
beautiful than my beloved, the Queen Badoura, or not ; for I do not imagine that
there existeth in this age the like of my beloved. — Thou liest, rejoined the Fairy, O
accursed ! O moat unlucky of Marids, and most contemptible of Devils ! for I am
certain that there existeth not the equal of my beloved in these countries. Art thou
mad, then, that thou comparest thy beloved unto mine? — I conjure thee by Allah,
my mistress, resumed Danhash, that thou come with me to see my beloved, and I
will return with thee and behold thine. — It must be so, accursed, said Maimouna;
for thou art a knavish Devil ; but I will not accompany thee, nor shalt thou go with
me, except on the condition of a bet : if thy beloved, whom thou boldest to be
superior, prove more beautiful than mine, whom I regard as superior, the bet shall
be thine, and against me ; but if my beloved prove to be the more beautiful, the bet
shall be mine and against thee. The Afrite Danhash replied, O my mistress, I con-
sent to this condition willingly : come then with me to the islands. But Maimouna
said. The place of my beloved is nearer than that of thine: here it is beneath us: so
descend with me to see my beloved ; and after that, we will repair to thine. Dan-
hash replied, I hear and obey.
They then descended, and alighted within the precincts of the saloon in tlie tower,
and Maimouna, having stationed Danhash by the side of the couch, put forth her
hand, and raised the sheet from the face of Camaralzaman, the son of the King
Shah-Zaman ; whereupon his face beamed and shone, and glistened and glittered.
Maimouna beheld him, and then, turning her eyes immediately towards Danhash,
said to him, Look, accursed, and be not the basest of fools: for I am a maiden,
and am fascinated by him. So Danhash looked towards him, and remained a while
contemplating him ; after which, he shook his head, and said to Maimouna, by Allah,
my mistress, thou art excused ; but it remaineth to be shown that the female is
different from the male : yet by Allah, this thy beloved is, of all men, he who beareth
the nearest resemblance to my beloved, in beauty and loveliness and elegance and
all perfection : both of them have been formed alike in the mould of beauty. But
when Maimouna heard these words of Danhash, the light became darkness before
her eyes, and she struck him with her wing upon his head with such force that he
almost experienced his predestined end from the violence of the blow : and she said
to him," I swear by the brightness of his glorious aspect that thou shalt go, ac-
cursed, this instant, and lift up thy beloved, and bring her quickly unto this place,
that we may put them together, and see them both while they lie asleep side by
side: then it will be manifest unto us which of them is the more beautiful. If thou
do not what I have commanded thee forthwith, accursed, I will burn thee with
my fire, and dart at thee my destructive sparks, and scatter thee torn in pieces over
the deserts, making thee an example to the stationary and the night traveller. — So
Danhash replied, my mistress, thy command shall be obeyed ; but I know that my
beloved is more beautiful, and sweeter.
Then the Afrite Danhash flew away immediately, and Maimouna flew with him
to guard him; and after they had been absent an hour, they returned conveying the
damsel, who was clad in a shirt of delicate Venetian stuff, with two borders of gold
embroidered in the most admirable manner. The Afrite and Fairy descended with
this damsel, and, having extended her by the side of the young man, uncovered the
faces of both, and they bore the strongest resemblance to each other — as though they
AND THE PRINCESS BADG0RA. 2&5
were twins, or an only brother and sister; they were a temptation to the abstinent
Danhash and Maimouna began to gaze upon them, and the former said, Verily my
beloved is the more beautiful. — Nay, replied Maimouna, my beloved is the more
beautiful. Woe to thee, Danhash! Art thou blind? Dost thou not behold his
beauty and loveliness, and justness of stature and form ? But hear what I say of
my beloved, and if thou be a true lover of her with whom thou art enamoured, say
of her as I shall say of my beloved. — She then kissed Camaralzaman several times,
and recited an ode in his praise. And when Danhash heard it he was extremely
delighted, and full of admiration ; but he said, Thou hast recited these tender verses
on thy beloved with thy mind engrossed by him : I will now endeavour to recite
some, the best that I can think of. So he approached his beloved Badoura, and,
having kissed her between the eyes, looked towards the Fairy Maimouna, and
towards his beloved, and recited an ode : but with a wandering mind. And when
he had finished, the Fairy said, Thou hast done well, O Danhash ; but which of
these two is the more beautiful ? He answered, My beloved Badoura is more
beautiful than thine. — Thou liest, accursed! she replied; for my beloved is more
beautiful than thine.
Thus they continued contradicting each other, until Maimouna cried out at Dan-
hash and would have laid violent hands upon him ; but he abased himself before
her, and, softening his speech, said to her. Let not the truth be grievous unto thee ;
annul thy assertion and mine; for we each pronounce in favour of our beloved: let
each of us, therefore, reject both the opinions, and let us seek one to judge between
us with equity, and by his sentence we will abide. Maimouna replied. So shall it
be. She then struck the floor with her foot, and there arose from it an Afrite, blind
of one eye, and with a diseased skin ; his eyes were slit upwards in his face ; upon
his head were seven horns, and he had four locks of hair hanging down to the
ground ; his hands were like those of the Kutrub,' with claws like the claws of the
lion, and his feet were like the elephant's, with hoofs like those of the ass. As soon
as this Afrite arose, and beheld Maimouna, he kissed the ground before her, and
placing his hands together behind his back, said to her, What dost thou require,
my mistress, daughter of the King? She answered, Cashcash, I desire that thou
judge between me and this accursed Danhash. She then acquainted him with the
case from first to last ; and upon this, the Afrite Cashcash looked upon the face of
the young man, and upon that of the damsel, and beheld them embracing each other
as they lay asleep, the arm of each being under the neck of the other, resembling
each other in beauty and loveliness, and equal in charms. The Marid Cashcash
gazed, and wondered at their beauty, and, after he had long kept his eyes upon them,
looked towards Maimouna and Danhash, and recited some amatory verses, and then
added. By Allah, neither of them is more or less beautiful than the other; but they
bear the strongest resemblance to each other in beauty and loveliness, and elegance
and perfection ; and they are not to be pronounced difl^erent from each other in these
respects because they are of difi'erent sexes. I have to propose, however, another
mode of determining the question ; and it is this: that we wake each of them with-
out the knowledge of the other ; and the one who shall be most inflamed with love
for the other shall be confessed to be the inferior in beauty and loveliness. — Excellent,
said Maimouna, is this advice that thou hast given, and I approve of it. — And I also,
said Danhash, approve of it.
Upon this, therefore, Danhash transformed himself into a flea, and bit Camaralza-
man upon his neck, in a soft place : so Camaralzaman put his hand to his neck, and
scratched the place of the bite, on account of the violence of the smarting that it
occasioned, and moving sideways, found something lying by him, from which pro-
ceeded a breath more fragrant than musk, with a body softer than butter. Camaral-
tamun wondered at this exceedingly, and immediately raised himself. Looking at
' Some unknown or fabulous animal.
286 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
this person lying by his side, he found it to be a damsel like a precious pearl, or like
a shining sun, with a form like the letter Alif,' of quinary stature, high-bosomed, and
■with red cheeks. And when Camaralzaman thus beheld the lady Badoura, the
daughter of the King Gaiour, and observed her beauty and loveliness as she lay
asleep by his side, he saw upon her body a shirt of Venetian stuff, and upon her
head a coif of cloth of gold adorned with jewels, and on her neck a long necklace of
precious gems such as none of the Kings could procure. His reason was confounded
at the sight, and he said within himself, What God desireth will come to pass, and
what He desireth not will not happen ! He then turned her over with his hand, and
attempted to rouse her; but she awoke not : for Danhash had made her sleep heavy;
so Camaralzaman squeezed her with his hand, and shook her, saying, my beloved,
awake, and see whom I am ; for I am Camaralzaman. But she awoke not, nor moved
her head. And he remained for an hour, reflecting upon her case, and said within
himself, If my conjecture be true, this damsel is she to whom my father desireth to
marry me, and for three years I have refused to do it: but, please God, when morn-
ing Cometh, I will say to my father. Marry me to her : — and I will not suffer mid-day
to pass before I possess her and delight myself with her beauty and loveliness. —
He then inclined towards Badoura to kiss her: whereupon Maimouna the Fairy
trembled and was confounded: but as to the Afrite Danhash, he leaped for joy.
When Camaralzaman, however, was about to kiss her upon the mouth, he feared God,
and turned away his face, saying within himself, I will have patience ; for perhaps
my father, when he was incensed against me, and imprisoned me in this place,
brought unto me this bride, and commanded her to sleep by my side, to prove me by
her, and charged her not to appear awake on my attempting to rouse her, and said
to her. Whatsoever Camaralzaman do to thee, acquaint me with it. And probably
my father is standing concealed in some place to observe me, while I see him not,
and he will witness all that I do with this damsel, and in the morning will reproach
me, and say to me. How dost thou say, I have no need of marriage — and kiss that
damsel, and embrace her ! So I will withhold myself from her, lest I be exposed
before my father. I will not touch this damsel from the present moment, nor look
towards her : but will only take from her something that may be a token in my
keeping and a memorial of her, that there may be a sign between me and her. —
Then Camaralzaman raised the hand of the damsel, and took her ring from her little
finger. It was worth a large sum of money ; for its stone was a precious jewel ; and
around it were engraved verses : — So Camaralzaman took off this ring from the little
finger of the Queen Badoura, and having put it on his own little finger, turned his
back towards her, and slept.
The Fairy Maimouna, when she saw this, rejoiced, and said to Danhash and Cash-
cash, Have ye seen my beloved, Camaralzaman, how he hath abstained from this
damsel? This is the result of the perfection of his excellences. Consider how he
beheld this damsel and her beauty and loveliness, and yet embraced her not, nor
passed his hand over her; but turned his back to her and slept. — They answered
her, We have witnessed his perfect conduct.
Maimouna then transformed herself into a flea, and entering beneath the clothes
of Badoura, the beloved of Danhash, bit her: whereupon she opened her eyes, and
sat up, and beheld a young man sleeping by her side, and snoring in his sleep, with
cheeks like anemones, and eyes that put to shame the beautiful Houries, and a mouth
like the seal of Solomon. When she beheld him, distraction and ecstacy and desire
overcame her, and she said within herself, my disgrace ! This young man is a
stranger; I know him not; and wherefore is he lying by my side in the same bed'
— Then looking at him again, and contemplating his elegance and his amorous
aspect, and his beauiy and loveliness, she said. By Allah, he is a youth comely im
' The letter Alif is a slender line. Quinaxv probably alluded to the height of five palms or
feet.
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 287
the moon, and my heart is almost rent by ecstacy of love for him, and by the vio-
lence of passion excited by his beauty and loveliness! But how am I disgraced bjr
his means ! By Allah, if I had known that this handsome youth was the person
who demanded me in marriage of my father, I had not rejected him, but had mar-
ried him, and delighted myself with his loveliness. — Then the Queen Badoura imme-
diately looked in the face of Camaralzaman, and said to him, my lord, and beloved
of my heart, and light of mine eye, awake from thy sleep! And she shook him with
her hand. But Maimouna the Fairy immersed him in sleep, and pressed down his
head with her wing: so he awoke not. The Queen Badoura shook him again with
her hand, and said to him. By my life I conjure thee to comply with my desire, and
awake from thy sleep! Arise, my master, and recline upon the cushion, and
sleep not ! — But Camaralzaman returned her no reply, nor addressed her with a
word: still snoring in his sleep. So the Queen Badoura said, Wherefore art thou so
proud, with thy beauty and loveliness and elegance and amorous aspect? As thou
art comely, so am I also. Why then dost thou act thus ? Have they instructed thee
to manifest aversion towards me, or hath my father, that ill-omened old man, forbid-
den thee to speak to me this night? — Camaralzaman then opened his eyes: where-
upon her love for him increased. God instilled into her heart a passion for him, and
she cast at him a glance which occasioned her a thousand sighs ; her heart throbbed,
and she said to Camaralzaman, my master, speak to me ! my beloved, converse
with me ! object of my passion, return me a reply, and tell me what is thy name,
for thou hast captivated my reason I — But all this while Camaralzaman remained
immersed in sleep, and replied not a word. And the Queen Badoura sighed, and
said. Wherefore art thou so self-satisfied? Then she shook him again, and turned
over his hand, and seeing her ring upon his little finger, she uttered a cry of aston-
ishment, and said with an amorous manner, Alas ! Alas ! By Allah, thou art my
beloved, and thou lovest me; but thou seemest to aflfect an aversion towards me,
though thou camest to me while I was asleep, and I know not what thou hast done
unto me ; yet I will not pull ofl" my ring from thy little finger. — And she searched
for something to take from him, and taking ofi" his ring from his finger, put it on
hers, instead of her own ring ; after which she kissed his mouth and his hands, and
placed one of her hands beneath his neck, and the other under his arm, and fell
asleep again by his side.
When Maimouna beheld this, she rejoiced exceedingly, and said to Danhash, Hast
thou seen, accursed, how thy beloved hath acted in the distraction of her passion
for my beloved, and how he hath acted in his pride and dissimulation? There is no
doubt, then, that my beloved is more beautiful than thine: but I pardon thee. —
She then wrote for him a paper of manumission, and looking towards Cashcash, said
to him. Do thou insinuate thyself with him beneath his beloved, and assist him to
convey her back to her place; for the night is gone, and the opportunity for the
accomplishment of my intention is past. So Danhash and Cashcash advanced to-
wards the Queen Badoura, and insinuated themselves beneath her, and having flown
away with her and conveyed her back to her place, restored her to her bed, while Mai-
mouna remained alone gazing at Camaralzaman as he lay asleep, until but little of
the night remained, when she went her way.
Now when daybreak came, Camaralzaman awoke from his sleep, and looked to
the right and left; but found not the damsel with him. So he said within himself.
What meaneth this affiiir? it seemeth that my father would excite in me a desire to
marry the damsel who was with me, and, having done this, hath taken her away
secretly, that my desire for her may increase. He then called out to the eunuch
who was sleeping at the door, and said to him. Wo to thee, O accursed! Rise ! —
The eunuch, therefore, arose, his reason wandering from sleep, and brought to hira
the basin and ewer. And Camaralzaman rose, and performed the ablution, recited
the morning prayers, and sat repeating the praises of God. Then looking towards
the eunuch, he saw him standing in attendance before him, and he said to him. Wo
288 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
to thee, Sawab ! Who hath come hither and taken away the damsel from my side
while I was asleep? — The eunuch said, my master, what damsel ? — The damsel
who was sleeping with me this night, answered Camaralzaman. And the eunuch
was disturbed at his words, and replied, There was no damsel with thee, nor any
one else : and how could a damsel come in when I was sleeping behind the door
and it was locked? By Allah, my master, neither male nor female came in to
thee. But Camaralzaman exclaimed. Thou liest, ill-omened slave! Art thou also
of sufficient rank to presume to deceive me, and wilt thou not acquaint me whither
hath gone the damsel who was sleeping with me this night, nor inform me who took
her away from me ? — The eunuch, agitated by what he said, answered. By Allah,
my master, I have neither seen a young woman nor a young man. And Camaral-
zaman was enraged at the words of the eunuch, and said to him. They have taught
thee deceit, accursed ! Come hither, then, to me. So the eunuch approached
him, and Camaralzaman took him by the collar, and threw him down upon the floor,
and then kneeling upon him, kicked him and squeezed his throat until he became
insensible ; after which, he tied him to the well-rope, and lowered him into the well
till he reached the water, and let him down into it: and it was in the cold season
of a severe winter. He plunged the eunuch in the water, and then drew him up
and let him down again ; and thus he continued to do. The eunuch all the while
cried for help, and shrieked and cnlled: but Camaralzaman replied. By Allah,
accursed, I will not draw thee out from this well until thou acquaint me with the
story of that damsel, and tell me who took her away while I slept. So the eunuch
said. Deliver me from the well, my master, and I will acquaint thee with the
truth. Camaralzaman, therefore, drew him up from the well, and took him out,
stupified with what he had suffered from the dipping and plunging and cold and
beating and torture. He trembled like the reed in the tempestuous wind, his teeth
were locked together, and his clothes were dripping. And when he found himself
upon the floor he said. Suffer me, my master, to go and take off my clothes, and
wring them, and spread them in the sun, and put on others ; then I will return to
thee quickly, and acquaint thee with the affair of that damsel, and relate to thee her
gtory. — By Allah, ill-omened slave, replied Camaralzaman, if thou hadst not expe-
rienced the pains of death, thou hadst not confessed the truth ! Go out, then, to
do what thou desirest, and return to me quickly and relate to me the story of the
damsel.
The eunuch, upon this, went forth, scarcely believing in his escape, and ran with-
out stopping until he went in to the King Shah-Zaman, the father of Camaralzaman,
when he found the Vizier by his side, and they were conversing on the affair of
Camaralzaman. He heard the King say to the Vizier, Verily I have not slept this
last night from the trouble of my heart respecting Camaralzaman, and I fear that
some evil will befall him from his confinement in that ancient tower: it was not at
all fit to imprison him. But the Vizier replied. Fear not for him ; by Allah, no
harm will happen unto him. Leave him imprisoned for a month, that his temper
may become softened. — And while they were thus talking, the eunuch came in to
them in the condition above described, and said to the King, our lord the Sultan,
insanity hath befallen thy son, and thus hath he done unto me ; and he said to me,
A damsel passed this night with me, and went away secretly : acquaint me there-
fore with her history. — But I know not the affair of this damsel. And when the
Sultan Shah-Zaman heard these words respecting his son Camaralzaman, he cried
out, saying. Oh, my son ! — and was violently enraged against the Vizier who had
been the cause of these events, and said to him. Arise, and ascertain for me the state
of my son.
The Vizier, therefore, went treading upon the skirts of his dress through his fear
of the King, and proceeded with the eunuch to the tower. The sun had risen, and
the Vizier went in to Camaralzaman, and found him sitting upon the couch, reciting
the Koran, and he saluted him, and seating himself by his side, said to him, my
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 289
master, this ill-omened slave hath brought us information that hath troubled and
agitated us, and the King was incensed at it. So Camaralzaman said, O Vizier, and
what hath he told you concerning me to trouble my father? In truth he hath
troubled none but me. — The Vizier answered, He came to us in a miserable plight,
and told us a thing. — God forbid that it should be true of thee! — he uttered a lie
respecting thee such as is not proper to be mentioned. Allah preserve thy youth
and thy sound reason and thine eloquent tongue, and far be it from thee that any-
tiiing base should proceed from thee ! — Camaralzaman, therefore, said to him,
Vizier, and what hath this ill-omened slave said? — He informed us, answered the
Vizier, that thou hadst become mad, and hadst said to him, There was a damsel
with me last night. — Didst thou then say to the eunuch these words? And when
Camaralzaman heard this, he was violently enraged, and said to the Vizier, It is
evident to me that ye taught the eunuch to act as he did, and forbade him to ac-
quaint me with the affair of the damsel who was sleeping with me this last night ;
but thou, Vizier, art more sensible than the eunuch ; tell me therefore immedi-
ately whither is gone the beautiful damsel who was sleeping in my bosom last night; for
ye are they who sent her to me and commanded her to pass the night in my bosom ;
and I slept with her until the morning, when I awoke, and found her not. Where,
therefore, is she now? — my master Camaralzaman, replied the Vizier, may the
name of Allah encompass thee! By Allah, we sent not any one to thee last night,
and thou sleepedst alone, with the door locked upon thee, and the eunuch sleeping
behind it; and neither damsel nor any one else came to thee. Return then to thy
reason, my master, and no longer trouble thy heart. — But Camaralzaman, en-
raged at his words, said to him, Vizier, that damsel is my beloved, and she is the
beautiful creature with the black eyes and the red cheeks whom I embraced last
night. And the Vizier wondered at his words, and asked him, Didst thou see that
damsel this night with thine eye, and awake or in sleep? — O ill-omened old man,
said Camaralzaman, dost thou imagine that I saw her with my oar? Nay, I sa-w
her with my eyes, and awake, and turned her over with my hand, and remained
awake by her half of the entire night, enjoying the contemplation of her beauty
and loveliness, and elegance and amorous aspect: but ye charged l^er that she
should not speak to me ; so she pretended to be asleep, and I slept by her side until
the morning, when I awoke from my sleep and found her not. — The Vizier replied,
my master Camaralzaman, perhaps thou sawest this in thy sleep, and it is the
result of confused dreams or vain fancies, occasioned by eating a mixture of diffe-
rent kinds of food, or an idea inspired by the wicked devils. — ill-omened old man,
exclaimed Camaralzaman, wherefore dost thou too make a jest of me, and tell me
that perhaps this is the result of confused dreams, when the eunuch hath confessed
to me that the damsel was here, and said to me, I will immediately return to thee,
and relate to thee her story?
He then instantly arose, and drawing near to the Vizier grasped his beard in his
hand. It was a long beard, and Camaralzaman took it and twisted it round his
hand, and pulled him by it so that he threw him down from the couch upon the
floor ; and the Vizier felt as if his soul had departed, from the violence with which
his beard was pulled. Camaralzaman then continued kicking the Vizier with his
feet, and beating him upon the back of his neck with his hands, until he had almost
put an end to him. So the Vizier said within himself. If the slave, the eunuch,
saved himself from this mad youth by his lie, it is more fit that I also should save
myself by a lie ; else he will destroy me : therefore now will I lie and save my life
from him ; for he is mad : of his madness there is no doubt. Accordingly, he
looked towards Camaralzaman and said to him, my master, be not angry with me ;
for thy father charged me to conceal from thee the affair of this damsel ; but now I
am weak and wearied by the beating ; for I am become an old man, and have not
strength to endure blows : grant me then a short delay, that I may relate to thee
the story of the damsel. — Upon this therefore he ceased from beating him, and said
19
290
THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
to him, Why wnuldst thou not acquaint me with her history until after beating and
disgrace? Arise now, ill-omened old man, and tell me her story. — The Vizier
Camaralzaman beating the Vizier.
then said to him, Dost thou ask respecting the damsbl with the beautiful face and
consummate form ?. — Yes, said Camaralzaman : inform me, Vizier, who brought
her to me and put her to sleep with me, and where she is now, that I may myself go
to her. And if my father, the King Shah-Zaman, hath done thus unto me to prove
me by that beautiful damsel, with the view of my marrying her, I consent to do so.
He did all this to me, and inflamed my heart with love for that damsel, and after-
wards separated her from me, only because of my refusal to marry. But now I
consent to marry. I say again, I consent to marry. So acquaint my father with
this, Vizier, and advise him to marry me to that damsel ; for I desire none but
her, and my heart hath loved none other: arise then, and hasten to my father,
and advise him to be quick in marrying me: then return to me soon — im-
mediately.
The Vizier believed not in his escape from Camaralzaman until he had gone forth
from the tower, and he ran on until he came into the presence of the King Shah-
Zaman ; when the King said to him, Vizier, wherefore do I behold thee in a state
of confusion, and who hath by his wickedness injured thee, so that thou hast come
in terror? He answered, I have brought thee news. — And what is it? asked the
King. — Know, answered the Vizier, that madness hath befallen thy son Camaralza-
man. — And when the King heard these words, the light became darkness before his
face, and he said, Vizier, explain to me the nature of the madness of my son. The
Vizier replied, I hear and obey: — and he acquainted him with that which his son
had done ; whereupon the King said to him, Be informed, Vizier, that I will grant
thee, in return for the news which thou hast brought me of the madness of my son,
the striking off of thy head, and the cessation of my fiivours to thee, most ill-
omened of Viziers, and basest of Emirs ! For I know that thou hast been the cause
of the madness of my son by the wicked advice which thou gavest me first and last.
By Allah, if any mischief or madness hath befallen my son, I will nail thee upon
the roof, and make thee to taste affliction.
The King then rose upon his feet, and taking the Vizier with him, entered the
tower in which was Camaralzaman ; and when they came to him, he stood up to his
father, descending quickly from the couch upon which he was sitting; and, having
kissed his father's hands, drew backwards, and hung down his head towards the
ground, and stood before his father with his hands joined behind his back. Thus he
AND THE PKINCESS BADOURA. 291
remained a while ; after which, he raised his head towards his father, and, with tears
flowing from his eyes down his c eeks, recited the words of the poet : —
If I have been guilty of a fault against you, and committed a deed of a shameful nature,
I repent of my ofiFence, and your clemency will extend to the evil-doer who craveth for-
giveness.
And upon this, the King arose, and embraced his son Camaralzaman, kissing him
between the eyes, and seated him by his side upon the couch. Then looking towards
the Vizier with the eye of anger, he said to him, O dog of Viziers, wherefore dost
thou say of my son such and such things, and terrify my heart on his account? And
he turned towards his son, and said to him, my son, what is the name of this day?
— my father, he answered, to-day is Saturday, and to-morrow is Sunday, and next
after it is Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday, and then Friday.
And the King said to him, my son, Camaralzaman, praise be to God for thy
safety! What is the name of this month, in Arabic? — Its name, he answered, is
Zulcada, and it is followed by Zulhaja, and Moharram, and Safar, and Rabia-the-
first, and Rabia-the-second, and Jumada-the-first, and Jumada-the-second, and Rejeb,
and Shaban, and Ramadan, and Showal.' So the King rejoiced at this answer
exceedingly, and spat in the face of the Vizier, and said to him, wicked old man, how
dost thou assert that my son Camaralzaman hath become insane, when the case is that
none hath become insane but thyself? The Vizier shook his head, and was about
to speak ; but it occurred to his mind that he should rather wait a little, to see what
would happen.
The King then said to his son, my son, what were those words that thou spakest
to the eunuch and the Vizier, when thou saidst to them, I was sleeping with a beau-
tiful damsel this last night? And what is the affair of this damsel whom thou hast
mentioned? — And Camaralzaman laughed at the words of his father, and answered
him, my father, know that I have not strength to endure jesting ; therefore add
not to me another word of it ; for my temper is straitened by that which ye have
done unto me. Know, my father, that I consent to marriage ; but on the condition
that thou marry me to that damsel who was sleeping with me this last night ; for I
am certain that it was thou who sentest her to me and causedst me to be enamoured of
her, and that thou sentest to her before the morning, and tookest her away from me.
— At this the King exclaimed. The name of Allah encompass thee, O my son ! Allah
preserve thy reason from derangement! What is this damsel of whom thou assertest
that I sent her to thee this last night, and then sent to take her away from thee
before the morning? By Allah, my son, I have no knowledge of this affair. I
conjure thee, then, to inform me: is not this a confused dream, or a fancy resulting
from food? For thou passedst this last night with a heart troubled on the subject
of marriage, and inspired with fancies by the mention of that subject. Malediction
upon marriage and its hour, and upon him who advised me on that matter ! There
is no doubt but that thy temperament is disturbed on that account, so that thou hast
dreamt that a beautiful damsel was embracing thee, and thou believest in thine own
mind that thou sawest this awake, when all this, my son, was a confused dream.
— But Camaralzaman replied. Abstain from these words, and swear to me by Allah,
the Creator, the Omniscient, the Destroyer of the mighty, and the Annihilator of the
infidel kings, that thou hast had no knowledge of the damsel or her abode. So the
King said, By Allah the Great, the God of Moses and Abraham, I have had no
knowledge of that which thou mentionest, and probably it was a confused dream
that thou sawest in sleep.
Then Camaralzaman said, I will propose to thee a parable, to prove to thee that
this happened when I was awake, by asking thee if it has ever happened that any
person dreamt that he was fighting, and, after a severe contest, awoke from his sleep
and found in his hand a sword stained with blood? His father answered. No, by
' These are the twelve months of the year.
292 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
Allah, my son : such a thing hath never occurred. Then, said Camaralzaman, I
will acquaint thee with that which hath happened unto me; and it was this: I
seemed as though I awoke this last night from my sleep at midnight, and found a
damsel sleeping by my side, whose figure and form were as mine, and I embraced
her, and touched her with my hand, and took her ring, which I put on my finger,
and she pulled off my ring and put it on her finger. But I regarded her with reserve,
from a feeling of bashfulness towards thee ; for I imagined that thou hadst sent her,
and hadst concealed thyself in some place to observe my actions. So I was ashamed
to kiss her upon her mouth on thine account, as it occurred to my mind that thou
desiredst to tempt me by her, to excite me to marry. Afterwards I awoke from my
sleep at the commencement of the dawn, and found no trace of the damsel, nor
obtained any tidings of her ; and what happened between me and the eunuch and
the Vizier was in consequence of this. Now how could this affair be as thou sup-
posest, when the incident of the ring is true ? Were it not for the ring I should
imagine that it was a dream ; but this is her ring which is upon my little finger at
the present moment. See, O King, what is its value.
Camaralzaman then handed the ring to his father, who, having taken it, and
turned it round, looked towards his son, and said to him. Verily, some great and
important revelation dependeth upon this ring, and that which happened to thee last
night with this damsel is a mysterious affair. I know not how this visitor, came in
among us, and no one was the cause of all this but the Vizier. I conjure thee, how-
ever, by Allah, my son, that thou be patient ; for probably God will dispel this
affliction from thee, and send thee complete relief. my son, he continued, I have
now convinced myself that thou art not insane ; but no one can clear up thy affair
excepting God. — Camaralzaman replied, By Allah, my father, search after this
damsel for me, and hasten her coming ; else I shall die of anguish. Then, with ao
expression of transport, he looked towards his father, and added, I have not patience
to wait for her even an hour. And upon this, the King smote his hands together,
and exclaimed, There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great!
No stratagem will avail in this affair ! — He then took the hand of his son, and led
him to the palace, where Camaralzaman laid himself upon the bed of sickness, and
his father seated himself at his head, mourning and weeping for his son, and leaving
him neither by night nor day.
At length the Vizier said to the King, King of the age, how long wilt thou
remain shut up from thy troops with thy son Camaralzaman ? Prohaljly the order
of the realm may be corrupted by thy estrangement from the lords of thy empire.
It is incumbent on the wise, when various diseases afflict his body, to apply himself
to restoratives for his bones ; and it is my advice that thou remove thy son from
this place to the pavilion in the palace overlooking the sea, and pass thy time in
retirement there with thy son, appointing two days in every week, namely, Thursday
and Monday, for the procession of state and for holding the court. So, on those two
days, the Emirs and Viziers, and chamberlains and lieutenants, and other lords of
the empire and chief men of the state, and the impetuous warriors and the rest of
the soldiers and subjects, shall come in unto thee and submit to thee their cases, and
thou shall perform their wants and judge between them, and take from them and
give to them, and command and forbid ; and the rest of the week thou shalt pass with
thy son Camaralzaman. Thus thou shalt continue to do until God dispel thy grief
and his: and be not confident, King, of thy safety from the vicissitudes of fortune
and the calamities of time: for the wise is always cautious. And when the Sultan
heard these words of the Vizier, he approved of his advice, and saw that it was
suitable to his case: it made an impression upon him, and he feared that tho order
of his realm would be disturbed around him ; so he arose immediately, and gave
orders to remove his son from that place to the pavilion in the palace overlooking
the sea. The access to it was over a causeway in the midst of the sea, the width ol
which was twenty cubits. Around the pavilion were windows overlooking the sea ;
its floor was paved with coloured marbles, its ceiling was painted with the finest
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 293
pigments of every colour, and decorated with gold and ultramarine, and they spread
in it for Camaralzaman silken carpets, hung its walls with brocade, and suspended
in it curtains adorned with jewels. Camaralzaman entered it, and from the excess
of his passion he became extremely restless, his heart was troubled, his complexion
became pallid, and his body wasted. His father sat at his head mourning for him ;
and every Thursday and Monday the King gave permission to every one of the
Emirs and Viziers, and chamberlains and lieutenants, and other lords of the empire,
and all the soldiers and subjects who desired, to come in to him in that pavilion.
So they entered, and performed their several services, and remained with him until
the close of the day, when they dispersed and went their way ; after which, the
King went in to his son Camaralzaman in that place, and left him not night nor day;
and thus he continued to do for many days and nights. Thus did it happen unto
Camaralzaman.
Now I must relate what took place with the Queen Badoura, the daughter of the
King Gaiour, the lord of the Islands and the Seven Palaces. — When the Genie had
carried her back and laid her again in her bed, there remained of the night no more
than three hours ; and when daybreak came she awoke from her sleep, and sat up,
and looked to the right and left ; but saw not her beloved who had been lying in
her bosom. Upon this, her heart was agitated, her reason quitted her, and she
uttered a great cry. So all her female slaves and nurses and confidants awoke and
came in to her, and the chief of them, advancing towards her, said to her, my
mistress, what hath befallen thee ? — ill-omened old woman, said the lady Badoura,
where is my beloved, the beautiful youth who was sleeping this night in my bosom ?
Inform me whither he hath gone. And when the old lady heard these words, the
light became darkness before her face, and fearing greatly from her power, she said,
O my mistress Badoura. what mean these disgraceful words? But the lady Badoura
exclaimed. Wo to thee, ill-omened old woman ! Where is my beloved, the beau-
tiful youth with the lovely face and the black eyes and the joined eyebrows, who
was with me from nightfall until near daybreak ? — By Allah, answered the old
woman, I have seen neither a young man nor any other person, and I conjure thee
by Allah, my mistress, that thou jest not in this unreasonable manner, lest our
lives be lost : for perhaps this jest may come to the knowledge of thy father, and
who will deliver us from his hand ? The Queen Badoura said to her, There was a
young man passing this last night with me, in countenance the most comely of men.
— Heaven preserve thy reason ! exclaimed the old lady: there was no one passing
the night with thee. And upon this, Badoura looked at her hand, and found the
ring of Camaralzaman upon her finger, and found not her own ring. So she said
to the lady. Wo to thee, deceitful ! Dost thou tell a lie, and say to me. There was
no one passing the night with thee, — and swear to me by Allah falsely ? — By Allah !
replied the confidant, I have not told thee a lie, nor sworn falsely. And the lady
Badoura was enraged at her ; and, drawing a sword that was by her, struck her, and
would have killed her. But the eunuch and the female slaves cried out at her, and
went and acquainted her father with her state.
The King, therefore, came immediately to his daughter, the lady Badoura, and
said to her, my daughter, what is the matter with thee. — my father, said she,
where is the young man who was sleeping by my side this last night? — Her reason
fled from her head, and she began to look to the right and left, and then rent her
vest to its skirt. So when her father saw her do thus, he ordered the female slaves
and eunuchs to seize her; and they laid hold upon her, and bound her, and put a
chain of iron upon her neck, and attached her to a window of the palace. Now as
to her father, the world became strait unto him ; for he loved her, and her state was
grievous to him. He therefore summoned the astrologers and sages, and those
skilled in [magic] characters, and said to them. Whosoever cureth my daughter of
her present disorder, I will marry him to her, and will give him half of my king-
dom ; and whoso faileth to cure her, I will strike off his head, and hang it over the
294 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
palace-gate. And so he continued to do until he had cut off, on her account, forty
heada. He sought all the sages ; but all the people held back from attempting her
cure, and all the sages were unable to restore her; her case perplexed the men of
science, and those skilled in [magic] characters.
The lady Badoura remained in the same state for three years. — Now she had a
foster-brother named Marzavan, who had travelled to the most remote countries, and
been absent from her during all that period. He loved her with an excessive love,
greater than the love of brothers ; and when he came back, he went in to his mother,
and inquired of her respecting his sister, the lady Badoura. So she said to him,
my son, insanity hath befallen thy sister ; she hath been in this state for three years,
with a chain of iron upon her neck, and the physicians have been unable to cure
her. And when Maizavan heard these words, he said, I must visit her; perhaps I
may discover her ailment, and be able to cure her. His mother, therefore, when she
heard him say this, replied. Thou must visit her ; but wait until to-morrow, that I
may devise some stratagem to forward thy purpose. She then walked to the palace
of the lady Badoura, and, accosting the eunuch who was charged to keep the door,
gave him a present, and said, I have a daughter who was brought up with the lady
Badoura, and I have married her; and in consequence of that which happened to
thy mistress, her heart became greatly concerned for her state. I therefore beg of
thy goodness that my daughter may pay her a short visit, to see her, and then return
by the way that she came without any person's knowing of her visit. — The eunuch
replied. That will be impossible, except at night: so after the Sultan shall have
come to see his daughter, and gone forth, enter thou with thy daughter.
The old woman then kissed the hand of the eunuch, and went forth to her house ;
and at the commencement of the next night she arose immediately, and taking her
son Marzavan, clad him in a suit of woman's attire, after which she placed his hand
in her own, and conducted him into the palace. She advanced with him until she
brought him to the eunuch, after the departure of the Sultan from his daughter, and
when the eunuch saw her, he arose, and said to her. Enter, but prolong not thy stay.
So when the old woman entered with her son Marzavan, he saw the lady Badoura in
the state already described, and he saluted her, after his mother had taken off his
woman's apparel. Marzavan then took forth the books that he had brought with
him, and lighted his candle. But the lady Badoura, looking at him, recognised him,
and said to him, my brother, thou hast been travelling, and tidings of thee have
been suspended. — True, he replied ; but God hath restored me in safety, and I de-
sired to travel again, and nothing prevented me from doing so excepting this news
that I have heard respecting thee ; in consequence of which my heart hath been tor-
mented on thine account ; wherefore I have come to thee in the hope that I may dis-
cover thy disorder, and be able to cure thee. — But she said, my brother, dost thou
imagine it to be madness that hath befallen me? Then making a sign to him, she
recited these two verses : —
They said, Thou ravest upon him whom thou lovest. And I replied, The sweets of life are
only for the mad.
Well : I am mad : then bring me him upon whom I rave ; and if he cure my madness, do not
blame me.
So Marzavan perceived that she was in love ; and he said to her. Acquaint me with
thy story, and with all that hath happened to thee ; perhaps God may discover to
me that which may bring thee deliverance. The lady Badoura therefore replied,
my brother, hear my story. It is this: — I awoke from my sleep one night, in the
last third of the night, and, sitting up, beheld by my side a young man, the most
beautiful of youths, such as the tt>ngue cannot describe, like a twig of the Oriental
willow, or an Indian cane. So I thought that my father had ordered him to act
thus, to tempt me by him ; for he had required me to marry, when the Kings de-
manded me of him to wife, and I refused ; and this idea prevented my rousing him.
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 295
I feared that, if I embraced him, he would perhaps acquaint my father with it. And
when I awoke in the morning, I found his ring in the place of my own. This is my
story ; and, my brother, my heart hath been devoted to him ever since I beheld
him ; from the excess of my passion and desire I taste not the savour of sleep, and
have no occupation but that of pouring forth floods of tears, and reciting verses,
night and day. See, then, my brother, how thou canst assist me in my affliction.
— Upon this, Marzavan hung down his head towards the ground for a while, won-
dering, and knowing not what to do. He then raised his head, and said to her, All
that hath occurred to thee is true ; and verily the story of this young man hath
wearied my imagination ; but I will travel about through all the countries, and
search for the means of thy restoration. Perhaps God will accomplish it by my
band. Have patience, therefore, and be not disquieted. — Having thus said, he
bade her farewell, praying that she might be endowed with patience, and departed
from her.
He returned to the house of his mother, and slept that night, and when the morn-
ing came he prepared for travelling. So he went forth, and continued journeying
from city to city and from island to island for the space of a whole month, after
which he entered a city called El-Tarf, and inquired the news of the people, hoping
to find the remedy of the Queen Badoura. Whenever he had entered a city or passed
by it, he had heard it said that the Queen Badoura, the daughter of the KingGaiour,
had been afflicted by insanity ; and he ceased not to inquire the news until he
arrived at the city of El-Tarf, when he heard that Camaralzaman, the son of King
Shah-Zaman, was sick, and that distraction and insanity had afflicted him. When
Marzavan, therefore, heard his story, he asked some of the people of that city respect-
ing his country and capital ; and they answered him. The islands of KhaJedan ; and
between us and them is a voyage of a whole month by sea ; but by land the journey
is six months.
So Marzavan embarked in a ship bound for the Islands of Khaledan. The ship
was fitted for the voyage, and the wind was favourable to her for the space of a
mouth, when the city appeared before them ; but when they had come in sight of it,
and had almost gained the shore, there arose against them a tempestuous wind,
which carried away the yard, and the sails fell into the sea, and the vessel was cap-
sized with all that it contained. Every one sought his own safety ; but as to Mar-
zavan, the force of the current bore him along until it conveyed him beneath the
King's pavilion, in which was Camaralzaman. It happened, in accordance with
destiny, that the Emirs and Viziers had assembled in attendance upon him, and the
King Shah-Zaman was sitting with the head of his son Camaralzaman in his lap,
and a eunuch was whisking the flies from him. Camaralzaman for two days had
neither eaten nor drunk, nor had he spoken ; and the Vizier standing at his feet,
near the window looking over the sea, raised his eyes, and beheld Marzavan aboot
to be destroyed by the current, and at his last gasp ; whereupon his heart was moved
with pity for him, and, approaching the Sultan, he stretched forth his head towards
him, and said, I beg thy permission that I may descend to the court of the pavilion
and open its gate, that I may save a man who is at the point of drowning in the sea,
and turn his anguish into joy. Perhaps God, on that account may deliver thy son
from his present affliction. — The Sultan replied. All that hath befallen my son hath
been caused by thee, and probably if thou deliver this drowning man, he will dis-
cover our afi'airs, and behold my son in this state, and exult over me. But I swear
by Allah, that if this drowning man come up and see my son, and then go forth and
divulge any of our secrets, I will assuredly strike ofi" thy head before his; for thou,
Vizier, art the cause of all that hath befallen us, first and last. Then do as thou
desirest.
The Vizier accordingly arose, and, opening the door of the court, went down upon
the causeway, and proceeded twenty steps until he came to the sea, when he beheld
Marzavan at the point of death. He therefore stretched forth his hand to him, and
296 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
seized him by the hair of his head, and drew him up; and Marzavan came forth from
the sea in a state of insensibility, with his stomach filled with water, and his eyea
protruding. The Vizier waited until his spirit returned to him, and then took off
from him his clothes, and clad him with others, putting on his head one of the tur-
bans of his young men ; after which he said to him. Know that I have been the
means of thy deliverance from drowning, and be not thou the means of my death
and of thine own. — How so ? said Marzavan. The Vizier answered. Because thou
wilt come up and pass among Emirs and Viziers, all of them silent, speaking not,
on account of Camaralzaman, the son of the Sultan. And when Marzavan heard
the mention of Camaralzaman, he knew him, having heard his story in the coun-
tries whence he had come; but he said. Who is Camaralzaman? The Vizier
answered. He is the son of the Sultan Shah-Zaman, and is sick, laid upon his bed,
without rest, knowing not night from day. He hath almost parted with life, from
the wasting of his body, and become numbered among the dead ; he passeth the day
in burning, and the night in torment, and we have despaired of his life, and made
sure of his dissolution. Beware of looking at him, or at any place but that whereon
thou puttest thy foot ; else thy life and mine will be sacrificed. — Marzavan then said,
I conjure thee by Allah to acquaint me respecting this youth whom thou hast de-
scribed to me, and to tell me what is the cause of this state in which he is. So the
Vizier replied, I know no cause of it, save that his father, three years ago, required
him to marry, and he refused ; and he awoke in the morning and asserted that he
had been sleeping, and saw by his side a damsel of surpassing beauty, such as con-
founded the reason and baflSed description, and he told us that he had taken off her
ring from her finger and put it on his own finger, and put his ring on her finger, and
we know not the mystery of this affair. By Allah, then, my son, come up with
me into the pavilion, and look not at the King's son. After that, go thy way. For
the heart of the Sultan is filled with rage against me. — So Marzavan said within
himself, By Allah, this is what I sought! He then followed the Vizier until he
came to the pavilion ; and the Vizier seated himself at the feet of Camaralzaman.
But as to Marzavan, he forthwith advanced until he stationed himself before Ca-
maralzaman, and looked at him ; whereupon the Vizier became as one dead, and,
looking at Marzavan, made signs to him that he should go his way ; but Marzavan
feigned to take no notice. He continued gazing at Camaralzaman, and, knowing
that he was the object of his search, said. Extolled be the perfection of Him who
hath made his stature like hers, and his complexion like hers, and his cheek like
hers! So Camaralzaman opened his eyes, and listened; and the words of Marzavan
descended upon the heart of Camaralzaman as coolness and health, and, turning hi's
tongue in his mouth, he made a sign to the Sultan with his hand, as though he
would say, Let this young man sit by my side. And when the Sultan heard these
words of his son Camaralzaman, after he had been enraged against the young man,
and determined to strike off his head, he rejoiced exceedingly. He arose, and seated
Marzavan by the side of his son, and, accosting him with kindness, said to him,
From what country art thou? He answered, From the Interior Islands, from the
dominions of the King Gaiour, the lord of the Islands and Seas, and of the Seven
Palaces. And the King Shah-Zaman said. Perhaps relief may come to my son Ca-
maralzaman through thy means. Then Marzavan addressed Camaralzaman, and
said to him in his ear. Strengthen thy heart, and be cheerful and happy; for as to
her on whose account thou hast been reduced to this condition, ask not respecting
her state. Thou hast concealed thy affair, and fallen sick ; but she made known her
feelings, and became distracted, and is now imprisoned in the most miserable con-
dition, with a collar of iron upon her neck. But, if it be the will df God, the resto-
ration of you both shall be effected by my means. — And when Camaralzaman heard
these words, his soul returned to him, and he recovered his senses, and made a sign
to the King his father that he should raise him in a sitting posture. So the King
rejoiced excessively, and seated his son. He then dismissed all the Viziers and
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 2^7
Emirs, and Camaralzaman sat reclining between two cushions. The King gave or-
ders to perfume the pavilion with saffron, and to decorate the city, and said to Mar-
zavan, By Allah, my son, this is an auspicious event. He treated him with the
utmost favour, and called for food for him. So they placed it before him, and he
ate, and Camaralzaman ate with him. He passed the next night with him, and the
King also remained with 'them both that night, in the excess of his joy at the re-
storation of his son.
On the following morning, Marzavan began to tell his story to Camaralzaman,
saying to him. Know that I am acquainted with her in whose company thou wast,
and her name is the lady Badoura, the daughter of the King Gaiour. He then re-
lated to him all that had happened to the lady Badoura, from beginning to end, and
acq-.iainted him with the excess of her love for him. — All that hath happened unto
thee with thy father, said he, hath happened to her with her father ; thou art with-
out doubt her lover, and she is thine: so strengthen thy heart and thy resolution :
for I will conduct thee unto her, and unite you both. He continued to encourage
Camaralzaman until he ate and drank and his soul returned to him, and he recovered
from his disorder ; and he ceased not to converse with him and cheer and amuse
him, and recite to him verses, until he entered the bath, when his father gave orders
again to decorate the city, in his joy at this event, and bestowed robes of honour,
and gave alms, and liberated those who were confined in the prisons.
Marzavan then said to Camaralzaman, Know that I came not from the lady
Badoura but for this purpose; it was the object of my journey to deliver her from
her present sufferings ; and it only remaineth for us to devise some stratagem that
we may go to her ; for thy father cannot endure the idea of thy separation. But
to-morrow do thou ask him to permit thee to go forth to hunt in the desert, and take
with thee a pair of saddle-bags full of money, mount upon a swift horse, and take
with thee a spare horse. I also will do the like ; and say thou to thy father, I de-
sire to amuse myself in the desert, and to hunt, and see the open country, and to
pass there one night: therefore trouble not thy heart at all on my account. — Camar-
alzaman rejoiced at the words of Marzavan, and, going in to his father, asked his
permission to go forth to hunt, saying as Marzavan desired him. And his father
granted him permission, but said to him, Pass no more than one night away, and on
the morrow be with me again ; for thou knowest that life hath no pleasure unto me
without thee, and that I do not believe thee to have entirely recovered from thy dis-
order. Having thus said, he equipped Camaralzaman, together with Marzavan,
giving orders that they should be furnished with six horses, and a dromedary to
carry the money, and a camel to carry the water and food; and Camaralzaman for-
bade that any one should go forth with him to attend upon him. So his father bade
him farewell, and pressed him to his bosom, saying to him, I request thee by Allah
do not be absent from me more than one night ; and during that night, sleep will
be forbidden unto me.
Camaralzaman and Marzavan then went forth, and mounted two horses, having
with them the dromedary bearing the money, and the camel laden with water and
the food, and, turning their faces towards the open country, proceeded the first day
until evening, when they alighted and ate and drank, and fed their beasts and rested
a while. After this they mounted again and journeyed on, and continued on their
way for the space of three days ; and on the fourth day they came to a spacious
tract in which was a forest, where they alighted. Marzavan then took the camel
and one of the horses, and slaughtered them, cut off their flesh, and stripped their
bones, and taking from Camaralzaman his shirt and drawers, rent them in pieces,
and daubed them with the blood of the horse. He also took Camaralzaman's upper
garment, and tore it, and daubed it with the blood, and threw it in a spot where the
road divided ; after which they ate and drank and proceeded. So Camaralzaman
asked Marzavan the reason of this which he had done; and Marzavan answered,
Know that thy father, the King Shah-Zaman, after thou hast been absent from him
298 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
one night, and not returned to him on the second, will mount and follow our track
until he cometh to this blood which I have spilled, when he will see thy clothes torn
and bloody, and will inia^jine that some accident hath befallen thee from robbers
who obstruct the roads, or from a wild beast of the desert ; whereupon he will aban-
don all hope of thee, and return to the city ; and by this stratagem we shall attain
our desire. — Camaralzaman therefore replied. Excellently hast thou done. — They
continued their journey days and nights, Camaralzaman weeping all the while, until
the Islands of the King Gaiour appeared before him, and Camaralzaman rejoiced
exceedingly, and thanked Marzavan for what he had done. They entered the city,
and Marzavan lodged Camaralzaman in a Khan, where they rested three days from
the fatigues of the journey. After this, Marzavan conducted Camaralzaman into
the bath, and clad him in the attire of a merchant, and made for him a geomantic
tablet of gold, with a set of instruments, and an astrolabe of gold. He then said
to him, Arise, O my lord ; station thyself beneath the King's palace, and call out,
I am the calculator, the writer, the astrologer! Where then is he who desireth to
consult me ? — For the king, as soon as he heareth thee, will send for thee, and in-
troduce thee to his daughter, thy beloved ; and when she beholdeth thee, the mad-
ness that she suffereth will cease ; and her father, rejoicing in her safety, will marry
her to thee ; and divide his kingdom with thee ; for he hath imposed this condition
on himself.
So Camaralzaman took the advice of Marzavan, and went forth from the Khan,
wearing the dress, and having with him the set of instruments which we have de-
scribed, and walked on until he stationed himself beneath the palace of the King
Gaionr, when he called out, I am the writer, the calculator, the astrologer! I per-
form the ceremonies of marriage-contracts, and write sure charms, and make calcu-
lations, and write the geomantic characters by which questions are determined!
Where then is he who desireth to consult me? And when the people of the city
heard these words, as they had not for along time seen a calculator or an astrologer,
they stoiid around him and gazed at him, and wondering at the beauty of his form
and elegance of his youth, they said to him, We conjure thee by Allah, our lord,
expose not thyself in this manner through thy ambition to marry the daughter of
the King Gaiour: but turn thine eyes towards these heads that are hung up: for
their owners have all of them been killed on this account, and their ambition led
them to perdition. — But Camaralzaman regarded not their words. On the contrary,
he raised his voice, and cried again, I am the writer, the calculator! I bring near
the objects of desire to the desirer ! — The people still besought and forbade him ;
but instead of hearing their words, he again raised his voice, and cried as before.
Whereupon they were all angry with him, and said to him. Thou art none other than
a proud and foolish young man. Have compassion upon thy youth and tender years,
and thy beauty and loveliness. — But he cried out and said, I am the astrologer, the
calculator! Is there, then, any who desireth to consult me?
And while the people were attempting to dissuade him from doing thus, the King
Gaiour heard the crying, and the clamour of the people, and said to the Vizier,
Bring to us this astrologer. So the Vizier descended, and took Camaralzaman, ^^ bo,
when he went in unto the King, kissed the ground before him. And when the King
Gaiour beheld him, he seated him by his side, and accosted him graciously, saying,
my son, by Allah call not thyself an astrologer, nor comply with my condition ;
for I have bound myself that whosoever visiteth my daughter and doth not cure her
of that which hath befallen her, I will strike ofiF his head; and that whosoever cureth
her, I will marry her to him. Let not then thy beauty and loveliness and justness
of form deceive thee. By Allah ! By Allah ! If thou cure her not, I will strike off
thy head ! —Camaralzaman replied, I agree to this condition. So the King Gaiour
desired the Cadies to bear witness against him, and delivered him to the eunuch,
saying to him, Conduct this person to the lady Badoura.
The eunuch, therefore, took him by the hand, and proceeded with him along tba
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 299
passage; but Camaralzaman went on before him ; and the eunuch began to say to
him, Wo to thee! Hasten not to thine own destruction! By AHah, I never knew
any astrologer but thee hasten to his own destruction ! But thou knowest not the
calamities that are before thee. — The eunuch then stationed Camaralzaman behind
the curtain which was over the door; and Camaralzaman said to him, Which of the
two modes will be more agreeable to thee: my treating and curing thy mistress
here, or my going in to her, and curing her within the curtain ? And the eunuch
wondered at his words, and answered him. If thou cure her here, it will be a greater
proof of thy excellent skill. Upon this, therefore, Camaralzaman seated himself
behind the curtain, and taking forth the ink-case and pen, wrote upon a paper these
words : —
He whom estrangement hath afflicted is to be cured by the performance of the
engagement of his beloved ; but misery is the lot of him who hath despaired of hip
life, and made sure of his dissolution ; for whose sorrowful heart there is no sup-
porter or helper, and for whose sleepless eye there is no reliever from anxiety ; who
passeth his day in burning, and his night in torture ; whose body hath suffered con-
tinual wasting ; and to whom no messenger hath come from his beloved. The
restoration of the heart is effected by union with the beloved ; and God is the only
physician who can cure him whom the object of his affection hath oppressed. If
you or we have been deceitful, may the deceiver be disappointed. There is nothing
more charming than a lover who is faithful to an unfeeling object of affection. — ■
Then, at the foot of his letter, he wrote thus: — From the distracted and distressed.
the passionate and perplexed, whom longing and ardent desire have disquieted, the
captive of transport and distraction, Camaralzaman, the son of Shah-Zaman, to the
peerless one of her age, and the pre-eminent among the beautiful Ilouries, the lady
Badoura, the daughter of the King Gaiour. — Know that I pass my night in sleep-
lessness, and my day in perplexity, suffering from excessive wasting and sickness,
and love and desire, uttering abundant sighs, and pouring forth torrents of tears,
the slave of love, the victim of passion, persecuted by desire, the companion of dis-
ease. I am that restless one whose eye never sleepeth ; the slave of love whose tears
are never interrupted : the fire of my heart is never extinguished ; and the flame of
my desire never disappeareth. — Then, having sealed the letter, he wrote in the place
of the address : —
I have sent thy ring which I took in exchange when we were together: then send me mine.
(For he had enclosed the ring of the lady Badoura in the letter.)
He then handed the letter to the eunuch, who took it and went in with it to the
lady Badoura ; and she received it from his hand, and found in it her ring. And
when she read it, and understood its object, she knew that her beloved was Camaral-
zaman, and that it was he who was standing outside the curtain ; whereupon her
reason fled, through the joy that she experienced. She arose immediately, and,
pressing her feet against the wall, strained with all her might against the iron collar,
and broke it from her neck, together with the chains, and went forth, and threw her-
self upon Camaralzaman, kissing his mouth like a pigeon feeding its young. She
embraced him in the violence of her passion, and said to him, my master, do I see
this awake or in sleep ; and hath God indeed graciously granted us our reunion ?
She then praised God, and thanked Him, for reuniting her after her despair. And
when the eunuch saw her in this state, he went running to the King Gaiour, and,
kissing the ground before him, said to him, my lord, know that this astrologer is
the wisest of all astrologers; for he cured thy daughter while he stood behind the
curtain, and went not in to her. — Is this news true? said the King. — my lord,
answered the eunuch, arise and see her, how she hath broken the chains of iron and
come forth to the astrologer, kissing and embracing him.
So the King Gaiour arose and went in to his daughter ; and when she beheld
300 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
him, she arose, and covered her head. The King, rejoicing at her restoration
kissed her between her eyes ; for he loved her excessively ; and then graciously
addressd Camaralzaman, asking him respecting his condition, and saying. From
what country art thou? Therefore Camaralzaman acquainted him with his rank,
and informed him that his father was the King Shah-Zaman, relating to him the
whole story from beginning to end, and acquainting him with all that had happened
to him with the lady Badoura, and how he had taken her ring from her finger, and
she had put on his ring. At this the King Gaiour wondered, and said. Your story
must be recorded in books and read after you, age after age. Then immediately he
summoned the Cadies and witnesses, and performed the lady Badoura's contract of
marriage to Camaralzaman, and gave orders to decorate the city for seven days. A
banquet was prepared, the city was decorated, and the people praised God for his
having caused the lady Badoura to fail in love with a handsome young man of the
sons of the Kings. The women displayed her before him, and the marriage was
concluded ; and on the following day the King made a feast, to which all [who
desired] of the inhabitants of the Interior and Exterior Islands were admitted, and
the feast was continued during a whole month.
After this, Camaralzaman thought upon his father, and dreamt that he saw him,
and that he heard him say, my son, dost thou act thus towards me ? He therefore
awoke sorrowful, and acquainted his wife with the dream. So she went in with him
to her father, and, having informed him of this, they begged his permission to set
forth on the journey ; and he gave permission to Camaralzaman ; but the lady
Badoura said, my father, I cannot endure his separation. Wherefore he replied,
Journey thou with him. lie granted her permission to remain with Camaralzaman
a whole year, and desired her after that to pay him, her father, an annual visit ;
whereupon she kissed her father's hand, and Camaralzaman did the same. The King
Gaiour then fitted out his daughter and her husband: he prepared for them the
furniture for the journey, sent forth for them the horses and the dromedaries, together
with a litter for his daughter, loaded for them the mules and dromedaries, and pro-
vided them with all that they required for the journey. And on the day of departure,
he bade farewell to Camaralzaman, and bestowed upon him a magnificent dress of
gold stuff adorned with jewels, presenting him also with a treasure of wealth, and
giving him a charge respecting his daughter Badoura. After which he went forth
with them both to the limits of the Islands, where he bade farewell to Camaralzaman,
and, going in to his daughter Badoura as she reposed in the litter, embraced her,
and wept. Then coming out from her, he went to her husband, and again bade him
farewell, and kissed him ; and having done this, he parted from them, and returned
to his Islands with his troops, after he had ordered Camaralzaman and his wife to
continue their journey.
So Camaralzaman and the lady Badoura proceeded with their attendants the first
day and the second and the third and the fourth, and continued for the space of a
month. They then alighted in a spacious meadow, abounding with herbage ; and
in it they pitched their tents, and ate and drank and rested. And when the lady
Badoura slept, Camaralzaman went in and found her asleep, clad in a silken shirt
of apricotrcolour, and with a coif of gold-stufi" adorned with jewels upon her head ;
and he observed a precious stone, red like andam, tied to the band of her trousers,
with two lines of writing, in characters not to be read, engraved upon it. CamaraU
zaman wondering at this, said within himself. If this precious stone were not a thing
of great importance to her she would not have tied it thus upon the band of her
trousers, and so concealed it, that she might not suffer it to be away from her. Wliat
then can she do with this ; and what can be the secret property that it possesseth ?
— He then took it and went forth with it from the tent to look at it in the light ; but
as he was examining it, lo, a bird pounced upon it, and, having seized it from hia
hand, flew away with it, and then alighted with it upon the ground.
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA- 808
Camaralzaman, fearing to lose the precious stone,
ran after the bird: but the bird proceeded at the same
rate as Camaralzaman, who continued running after it
from valley to valley and from hill to hill until night
came and darkness commenced, when the bird went to
roost upon a high tree, while Camaralzaman stood
beneath it, confounded, and faint with hunger and
fatigue. He thought himself lost, and desired to return ;
but knew not the place from which he had come: and,
night overtaking him, he exclaimed, There is no strength
nor power but in God, the High, the Great! He then
slept beneath the tree upon which the bird was roosting
until the morning, when he awoke from his sleep, and
found that the bird had just risen and flown from the
tree. So he walked after it ; and the bird continued
flying by little and little at the same rate as that at The B,ni with the Talisman,
which Camaralzaman walked ; upon seeing which, he
smiled, and said, Allah ! it is wonderful that this bird yesterday flew at the same
rate as I ran, and to-day, knowing that I am tired, and cannot run, flieth at the
same rate as I walk! Verily this is wonderful! But I must follow this bird,
and it will either lead me to the preservation of my life or to my death. So I
will follow it whithersoever it goeth ; for at all events it will not stay but in an
inhabited country. — He then continued following the bird, which passed every night
upon a tree ; and he followed it for the space of ten days, feeding upon the plants
of the earth, and drinking of the rivers; after which he came in sight of a city, and
the bird darted into this city as rapidly as a glance, and disappeared from Camaral-
zaman, who knew not whither it had gone. Upon this he wondered, and exclaimed.
Praise be to God who hath preserved me, so that I have arrived at this city ! Then
seating himself by some water, he washed his hands and feet and face, and rested a
while, reflecting upon his former life of ease, and considering his present state of
distance from his country and his friends, and of hunger and weariness.
Having thus rested, he entered the gate of the city, not knowing whither to go,
and walked through the whole of the city. He had entered by the land-gate, and
he walked on till he went forth from the sea-gate, without meeting any one of its
inhabitants. The city was on the shore of the sea; and when he had gone forth
from the sea-gate, he walked on until he came to the gardens of the city ; and he
entered among the trees, and went and stood by the gate of one of the gardens ;
whereupon the gardener came forth to him and welcomed him, saying to him. Praise
be to God that thou hast escaped the people of this city ! Enter then this garden
quickly, before any one of its inhabitants see thee. — So, upon this, Camaralzaman
entered the garden, with a wandering mind, and said to the gardener. What is the
history of the inhabitants of this city? The gardener answered. Know that the
people of this city are all of them Magians ; and I conjure thee by Allah to tell me
how thou earnest to this place, and what was the reason of thy entering our country.
Camaralzaman, therefore, acquainted him with all that had happened to him ; and
the gardener wondered at it extremely, and said to him, Know, my son, that the
lands of the Faithful are distant from hence: between them and this place is a dis-
tance of four months' voyage by sea; and by land, a journey of a whole year. We
-have a ship that saileth every year with merchandise to the nearest of the Mahome-
tan lands, proceding hence to the sea of the Ebony Islands, and thence to the Islands
of Khaledan, whose King is the Sultan ShahZaman. — And upon this, Camaralza-
man meditated within himself a while, and knew that there was no plan more suitr
able for him than that of his remaining there with the gardener, and becoming his
assistant for a fourth of the produce. So he said to him. Wilt thou take me as tliy
assistant on the condition of my receiving the fourth of the produce in this garden ?
304 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
And the gardener answered, I hear and obey. He then instructed him in the con-
ducting of the water among the trees ; and Camaralzaman occupied himself in ^oing
this, and in hoeing up the grass ; the gardener clad him with a blue vest reaching
to his knees; and he betooli himself to watering the trees, pouring forth floods of
tears, and reciting verses by night and day on the subject of his beloved Badoura.
But as to his wife, the lady Badoura, she awoke from her sleep and asked for her
husband Camaralzaman; but found him not; and feeling the knot of the band of
her trousers, she found that it was untied, and that the precious stone was lost;
whereupon she said within herself, Allah ! this is wonderful ! Where is my be-
loved? It seemeth that he hath taken the stone, and gone, and knoweth not the
secret virtue that it possesseth. Whither can he be gone? Some wonderful event
must have occasioned his departure ; for he cannot willingly part from me for an
hour. Accursed be the stone, and the hour when it brought this mischief! — She
then reflected, and said within herself. If I go forth to the attendants and acquaint
them with the loss of my husband, they will covet me : I must therefore have re-
course to stratagem. So she put on some clothes of Camaralzaman, and a turban like
his, and, having thrown a litham over part of her face, put into her litter a slave-girl ;
after which she went forth from her tent, and called out to the young men, who im-
mediately brought her the horse, and she mounted, giving orders to bind on the
burdens ; they accordingly did this, and proceeded ; and she concealed her case ; for
she resembled Camaralzaman, so that no one doubted her to be really him. She
continued her journey together with her attendants, days and nights, until she came
in sight of a city overlooking the sea, and by it she alighted, and there she pitched
her telats, for the sake of taking rest. She then asked the name of this city, and was
answered. This is the City of Ebony, and its king is the King Armanos, who hath
a daughter named Ilaiatalnefous.
Now when the lady Badoura had alighted here to rest, the King Armanos sent a
messenger from his palace to learn for him the tidings of this (supposed) King who
had encamped outside the city. So the messenger, on coming to their party, inquired
of them, and they acquainted him th^t this was a King's son who had wandered
from his way, and who was journeying to the islands of Khaledan, to the King Shah-
Zaman. The messenger, therefore, returned to the King Armanos, and acquainted
him with the news; and as soon as the King heard it, he descended with the lords
of his empire to visit the stranger. As he approached the tents, the lady Badoura
advanced towards him on foot, and the King Armanos alighted, and they saluted
each other. He then took her and conducted her into the city, and went up with
her into his palace, where he gave orders to prepare a banquet, and to convey her
to the mansion of entertainment; and there she remained three days.
After this, it happened that the lady Badoura had entered the bath, and she dis-
played a face shining like the full moon, so that all who beheld her were tilled with
admiration of her beauty, and she was clad in a vest of silk embroidered with gold,
and adorned with jewels. The King Armanos then accosted her graciously, and
said to her. Know, my son, that I am now a very old man, and in my life I have
never been blest with a child, excepting a daughter, who resembleth thee in form
and stature, arid in beauty and loveliness. I am unable any longer to fulfil the
duties of a King. Wilt thou, then, my son, reside in my land, and dwell in my
country ? If so, I will marry thee to my daughter, and give thee my kingdom. —
Upon this, the lady Badoura hung down her head, and her forehead became mois-
tened by baslifulness. She said within herself, What can be done, seeing that I am
a woman ? If I disobey his command, and depart, probably he will send after me
an army and kill me ; and if I obey him, probably I shall be disgraced. I have lost
my beloved Camaralzaman, and know not what is become of him ; and I have no
means of preserving myself, unless by assenting to his desire, and residing with him
until God accomplish what must come to pass.— She then raised her head, and paid
submission to the King by saying, I hear and obey. Whereupon the King rejoiced.
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 305
and gave orders to proclaim throughout the Ebony Islands that rejoicincrs should be
celebrated and the houses decorated. He assembled the chamberlains and lieuten-
ants, and Emirs and Viziers, and the other lords of his empire, and the Cadiea of
his city, and having abdicated the throne, appointed the lady Badoura Sultan in his
stead, and clad her with the royal vestments. All the Emirs presented themselves
before her, complaining not of her youth ; and every one of them who looked at her
was astonished at her extreme beauty and loveliness.
So when the lady Badoura had been created Sultan, and the drums had been
beaten to announce the joyful event, the King Armanos prepared his daughter Hai-
atalnefous for her marriage; and after a few short days, they introduced the lady
Badoura to the lady Ilaiatalnefous. They resembled two full moons by the side of
each other, or two suns that had risen together ; and when the attendants had closed
the doors upon them, and let down the curtains, after they had lighted the candles
for them, and spread the bed, the lady Badoura sat with the lady Haiatalnefous, and,
reflecting upon her beloved Caraaralzaman, her grief became violent, and she poured
forth tears, and recited some verses commencing thus: —
ye who have quitted me with my heart full of trouble, your absence hath left no life
in my body !
Then sitting by the side of the lady Haiatalnefous, she kissed her upon the mouth,
and, arising abruptly, performed the ablution, and continued praying until the lady
Haiatalnefous had fallen asleep, when she entered the bed, and turned her back to
her till the morning. And when the morning arrived, the old King and his wife
came in to their daughter, and asked her how she was. So she acquainted them
with what had happened, and with the verses that she had heard.
But the Queen Badoura, having gone forth, seated herself on the throne, and the
Emirs and other lords of the empire, and all the chiefs and soldiers, went up to her,
and congratulated her on her accession to the throne, kissed the ground before her,
and prayed for her, while she accosted them with smiles, bestowed upon them robes
of honour, and increased the fiefs of the Emirs. So all the soldiers and people loved
her, and prayed for the continuance of her reign, having no doubt that she was a
man; and she commanded and forbade, and dispensed justice and equity, liberated
the persons who were confined to the prisons, and abolished the custom-taxes. She
continued sitting in the hall of justice until night, and then entering the chamber
that was prepared for her found the lady Haiatalnefous sitting there. She therefore
seated herself by her side, and patted her on the back, caressed her, and kissed her
between the eyes, and then, as before, recited some verses deploring the absence of
her husband ; after which, she rose upon her feet, and having wiped away her tears,
performed the ablution and prayed, and continued praying until sleep overcame the
lady Haiatalnefous. The Queen Badoura then laid herself by her side, and so
remained until the morning; when she arose, and performed the morning-prayers,
seated herself upon the throne and com-manded and forbade, and administered jus-
tice and equity. In the mean time, the King Armanos went in to hig daughter, and
made his inquiries. So she informed him of all that had happened to her, repeating
to him the verses which the Queen Badoura had recited, and said to him, my
father, I have never beheld any one more sensible or more bashful than my husband ;
but he only weepeth and sigheth. Her father, therefore, replied, ray daughter,
have patience with him yet this third night only: and if he show thee not proper
attention, we shall know what course to pursue with him : I will divest him of the
regal authority, and banish him from our country. — Thus he agreed with his
daughter to do, and thus he resolved in his mind.
Now when the next night came, the Queen Badoura arose from the throne, and,
returning to the chamber prepared for her in the palace, saw the candles lighted,
and the lady Haiatalnefous sitting there ; whereupon she thought of her husband,
20
306 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
and of the events that had happened to herself and him during the last few days;
and she wept, and continued groaning, and again recited some verses expressive of
her unhappy state. She then desired to arise to prayer ; but Haiatalnefous clung
to her skirts, and said to her, my master, art thou not ashamed to act thus to-
wards my father, who hath treated thee with so much kindness, and to regard me
with this protracted indifference? And when the Queen Badoura heard this, she
sat down, and replied, my beloved, what sayest thou? — What I say, replied Hai-
atalnefous, is this: that I have beheld no one so self-satisfied as thou. Is then every
one who is lovely thus selfish? But I say not this on my own account: I do so
only in my fear for thee from the King Armanos : for he hath resolved, if thou pay
me not proper respect, to depose thee from the sovereignty to-morrow, and to banish
thee from his country ; and probably his rage may so increase that he may kill
thee. I therefore am moved with compassion for thee, and have given thee good
advice; and it is thine to decide how thou wilt act. — On hearing these words, the
Queen Badoura hung down her head towards the ground, and was perplexed at her
case, saying within herself. If I oppose his wish, I perish ; and if I obey him, I am
disgraced ; but I am now Queen of all the Ebony Islands, and they are under my
rule, and I cannot meet again with Camaralzaman unless in this place ; for there is
no way by which he can return to his country but by the Ebony Islands. I will
therefore commit my case unto God, who is the best director. — She then said to
Haiatalnefous, my beloved, my neglect of thee hath been involuntary. And she
related to her all that had befallen her from beginning to end, adding, I conjure thee
by Allah to conceal my case and to keep my secret until God reunite me with my
beloved Camaralzaman, and after that we shall see what will happen. — Upon this,
Haiatalnefous was filled with the utmost wonder, and, being moved with pity for her,
prayed for her reunion with her beloved, and said to her, my sister, fear not nor
be alarmed ; but have patience until God accomplish that which must come to pass.
The bosoms of the ingenuous are the sepulchres of secrets ; and thy secret I will
not reveal. — Then they toyed together, and embraced each other, and slept until near
the call to morning-prayers, when the mother of Haiatalnefous came in to her, and
was satisfied with her report. The Queen Badoura, after performing the morning-
prayers, repaired to the hall of judgment, and there, seated upon the throne, judged
the people ; and the King Armanos was rejoiced at what he heard ; his bosom ex-
panded, and he gave banquets ; and thus they continued for a length of time. — Such
were the adventures of Camaralzaman and the Queen Badoura.
But as to the King Shah-Zaman, — after the departure of his son to the chase, ac-
companied by Marzavan, as already related, he waited until the second night ; and
when his son came not, his reason was perplexed, and he slept not that night. He
be'?ame in a state of the utmost disquiet, his excitement was excessive, and he
burned with anxiety ; and scarcely had the day broke when he arose. He sat ex-
pecting his son until mid-day; but he came not; and his heart became impressed
with a dread of separation, and he burned with fears for his son. He wept until he
wetted his clothes with his tears, and then, wiping away the tears, he issued a pro-
clamation coniHianding his forces to march, and urging them to undertake a long
expedition. So all the troops mounted, and the Sultan went forth with a heart tor-
tured for his son, and full of grief. He disposed his army in six divisions, on the
right and left, and before and behind, and said to them. To-morrow ye shall meet at
the parting of the road. The troops, therefore, being thus divided, the horsemen
.let forth, and proceeded the rest of that day until the hour of darkness ; and they
continued on their way the whole of the night, and the next day till noon, when
they arrived at a spot where the road divided into four branches ; so that they knew
not which way to go. But here they beheld torn clothes, and mangled flesh, xnd
they looked at the traces of the blood, and observed every piece of the clothes. So
when the King Shah-Zaman saw this, he uttered a great cry from the bottom of his
bosom, and exclaimed, Oh, my son ! He slapped his face, and plucked his beard,
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 307
and rent his clothes, feeling convinced of the death of his son. His weeping and
wailing were excessive, and the troops wept with him, all of them regarding as cer-
tain the destruction of Camaralzanian: they threw dust upon their heads, and the
night overtook them while they wept and wailed, so that they were at the point of
death. The King Shah-Zaman then returned with his troops to his city, convinced
of the death of his son, and concluding that either a wild beast or a robber had at-
tacked him and torn him in pieces. He issued a proclamation throughout the
Islands of Khaledan that the people should wear black in token of mourning for
his son Camaralzaman, and built for himself an edifice which he named the House
of Lamentations ; and every Thursday and Monday he decided the aifairs of his
troops and people; passing the rest of the week in the House of Lamentations,
mourning for his son, and bewailing him with elegies.
Meanwhile, the Queen Badoura remained monarch of the country of Ebony, the
people pointing at her with the finger, and saying, This is the son-in-law of the King
Armanos ; and every night she slept with the lady Haiatalnefous, complaining of
the absence of her husband Camaralzaman, and describing to her his beauty and
loveliness, desiring an interview with him were it only in her sleep.
Now Camaralzaman continued residing in the jiarden with its owner for a length
of time, weeping night and day, and sighing, and lamenting in verses the past times
of enjoyment and happiness, while the gardener, to console him, told him that the
ship would sail at the end of the year to the lands of the believers. Thus he re-
mained until, one day, he saw the people assembling together, at which he won-
dered ; and the gardener came in to him, and said to him, my son, cease from
work this day, and water not the trees ; for this day is a festival of the people,
whereon they visit one another. Therefore rest and only keep thine eye upon the
garden ; for I desire to look out for the vessel for thee, since there remaineth but a
short time, and to send thee to the country of the Mahometans. The gardener then
went forth ; and Camaralzaman remained alone in the garden. His heart was
broken, his tears flowed, and he continued weeping until he fell down in a swoon ;
and when he recovered he arose, and walked about the garden reflecting upon his
misfortunes and upon his protracted estrangement and separation. His reason being
thus disturbed, he stumbled, and fell upon his face, and his forehead struck against
the root of a tree with such force that his blood flowed, and mingled with his tears.
He however wiped away the blood and dried up his tears, and, having bound his
forehead with a piece of rag, arose and continued his walk about the garden. And
he turned up his eyes towards a tree upon which were two birds contending
together ; and one of them overcame the other ; it pecked at its neck, and severed
its head from its body, and, taking the head, flew away with it. The body of the
bird thus killed then fell upon the ground before Camaralzaman, and as it lay there,
lo, two great birds pounced down upon it, and one of them placing itself at its
upper extremity, and the other' at its tail, they depressed their wings over it, and
stretched forth their necks towards it and moaned. So Camaralzaman wept for
his separation from his wife when he beheld the two birds moaning over their com-
panion. After this, he saw the two birds make a hollow, and bury in it the slaugh-
tered bird; and, having done so, they soared aloft into the sky; but after they had
been absent a while, they returned bringing with them the bird that had committed
the murder. They alighted with it upon the grave of the slaughtered bird, and
there crouched upon it and killed it: they rent open its body, tore out its bowels,
and poured its blood upon the grave of the slaughtered bird: then they strewed
about its flesh, and tore its skin, and, pulling out all that was within it, they scat-
tered it in different places.
All this took place while Camaralzaman looked on in wonder ; and as he happened
to cast a glance towards the place where the two great birds had killed the other, he
observed something shining. So he approached it, and saw it to be the bird's crop ;
and he took it and opened it, and found in it the stone that had been the cause of
308 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN
his separation from his wife. As soon as he beheld it he knew it, and fell upon the
ground in a fit, through his joy; and when he recovered he said within himself,
This is a good sign, and an omen of my reunion with my beloved ! He then ex-
amined it, drew it over his eye, and tied it upon his arm, anticipating from it a
happy resrjlt, after which he arose and walked about, waiting for the gardener. lie
continued searching for him until night : but he came not. So Caraaralzaman slept
in his usual place, until the morning, when he arose to his work.
Having girded himself with a rope of the fibres of the palm-tree, he took the hoe
and the basket, and went into the midst of the garden till he came to a locust tree,
and he struck at its root with the hoe, whereupon the blow loudly resounded. So
he removed the earth from its place, and having done this he discovered a trap-door,
on opening which he found an aperture ; and he descended into it, and beheld an old
saloon, of the age of Thamoud and Ad,' spacious, and [containing a number of
jars] tilled with red gold ; upon which he said within himself, Fatigue is past, and
joy and happiness have come! He then ascended from this place into the garden,
and, having replaced the trap-door, resumed his occupation of conducting the water
to the trees in the garden.
Thus he continued to busy himself until the close of the day, when the gardener
came to him, and said, my son, receive glad tidings of thy speedy return to thy
native land ; for the merchants have prepared for the voyage, and the ship after
three days is to set sail for the city of Ebony, which is the first of the cities of the
Mahometans; and when thou hast arrived there, thou wilt travel by land six months
to the Islands of Khaledan and tiie King Shah-Zaman. So Camaralzaman rejoiced
at this, and, kissing the hand of the gardener, said to him, my f^ither, like as thou
hast given me good tidings, I too give good tidings unto thee. And he acquainted
him with the affair of the saloon ; whereat the gardener also rejoiced, and replied^
I have been eighty years in this garden without finding anything, and thoa hast
been with me less than a year and hast discovered this : it is therefore thy prize, and
a means of terminating thy grief, and will assist thee to accomplish thy return to
thy family and thy reunion with thy beloved. But Camaralzaman said. It must
positively be divided between me and thee. He then took the gardener, and con-
ducted him into that saloon, and showed him the gold, which was in twenty jars:
80 he took ten, and the gardener took ten. And the gardener said to him, my son,
fill for thyself large jars with the olives which are in this garden ; for they exist not
in any country but ours, and the merchants export them to all other parts ; and
place thou the gold in the jars, and the olives over the gold; then close them and
take them to the ship. So Camaralzaman arose immediately, and filled fifty large
jars, putting the gold in them, and closing each after he had put the olives over the
gold ; and the precious stone he put into one of the jars. After which he sat con-
versing with the gardener, and felt confident of his speedy reunion with his family,
saying within himself. When I have arrived at tlfe Ebony Island, I will journey
thence to the country of my father, and inquire for my beloved Badoura: but I
wonder whether she have returned to her own country, or journeyed on to the
country of my father, or whether any accident have happened to her on the way.
lie then sat waiting for the expiration of the days, and related to the gardener
the story of the birds, and of what passed between them, whereat the gardener
wondered. After this, both of them slept until the morning, and the gardener awoke
ill, and remained so two days: and on the third day his illness so increased that
they despaired of his life. Camaralzaman, therefore, grieved for the gardener ; and
while he was in this state, lo, the master of the ship, with the sailors, came and in-
quired for the gardener : so he acquainted them with his illness. They then said,
Where is the young man who desireth to go with us to the Island of Ebony? And
Camaralzaman answered. He is the mamlouk who is before you. And he desired
them to transport the jars to the ship. They therefore removed them to the ship,
' Tribes who are said to have inhabited Arabia 3000 years ago.
AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA. 309
and said to Camaralzaman, Hasten : for the wind hath become fair. And he re-
plied, I hear and obey. He then conveyed his provisions to the ship, and returned
to the gardener to bid him fixrewell ; but he found him in the agonies of death ; so
he seated himself at his head till he died ; and he closed his eyes, and prepared hit
body for burial, and interred it.
Having done this, he repaired to the ship. He found, however, that it had spread
its sails and departed ; and it continued cleaving the sea until it disappeared from
before his eyes. He was confounded and perplexed, and he returned to the garden
anxious and sorrowful, and threw dust upon his head. He hired the garden from
its proprietor, and employed a man to assist him in watering the trees ; and, going
to the trap-door, he descended into the saloon, and stowed the remaining gold in fifty
other large jars, putting olives over it. He then made inquiries respecting the ship,
and the people answered him that it sailed not more than once in every year. His
trouble of mind increased, and he mourned for that which had befallen him, es-
pecially for the loss of the precious stone of the lady Badoura. He passed the night
and day in weeping, and reciting verses.
In the mean time, the wind was favourable to the ship, and it arrived at the Island
of Ebony. And it happened in accordance with destiny, that the Queen Badoura
was sitting at a window, and beheld the vessel when it cast anchor by the shore.
Her heart throbbed at the sight, and she mounted with the emirs and chamberlains,
and, repairing to the shore, stopped near the ship, as the crew were transporting the
merchandise to the magazines. She forthwith summoned the master of the vessel,
and asked him what he had brought ; and he answered her, King, I have in this
vessel aromatics, and medicinal powders, and coUyriums, and plasters and ointments,
and wealth and magnificent stuffs, and costly merchandise, such as camels and
mules cannot carry; among which are various kinds of essences and spices, and
aloes-wood, and tamarinds and olives, such as are scarcely to be found in this
country. On hearing this, she felt a desire for the olives, and said to the owner of
the ship, What is the quantity of the olives that thou hast brought? He answered,
I have fifty large jars full ; but their owner came not with us ; and the King shall
take of them what he desireth. So she said. Land them, that I may look at them.
And the master called out to his crew, whereupon they brought out the fifty jars;
and she opened one, and, having looked at the olives, said, I will take these fifty
jars and give you their price, whatever it be. The master of the ship replied. These
have no value in our country: but their owner remained behind us, and he is a poor
man. But she said. What is their price? And he answered, A thousand pieces of
silver. I will take them, replied she, for a thousand pieces of silver.
She then commanded that they should be conveyed to the palace ; and when night
oame she gave orders to bring to her one of the jars; and she opened it. There was
no one in the chamber but herself and Haiatalnefous ; and she placed a dish before
her, and on her pouring into it some of the contents of the jar, there fell into the
dish a heap of red gold ; whereupon she said to the lady Haiatalnefous, This is
nothing but gold? She therefore examined the whole, and found that all the jars
contained gold, and that the olives altogether would not fill one of the jars: and
searching among the gold, she discovered the precious stone with it. So she took it,
and examined it, and found that it was the stone which was attached to the band of
her trousers, and which Camaralzaman had taken. As soon as she recognised it
she cried out in her joy, and fell down in a swoon : and when she recovered she said,
within herself. This precious stone was the cause of the separation of my beloved
Camaralzaman ; but it is an omen of good fortune! She then told the lady Haiatal-
nefous that its recovery was a prognostic of her reunion. And when the morning
came, she seated herself upon the throne, and summoned the master of the ship,
who, when he came, kissed the ground before her: and she said to him. Where did
ye leave the owner of these olives? He answered, King of the age, we left him
in the country of the Magians, and he is a gardener. And she said, if thou bring
310 THE PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN AND THE PRINCESS BADOURA.
him not, thou knowest not the misfortune that will happen unto thee and to thy ship.
She immediately gave orders to affix seals upon the magazines of the merchants, and
said to them, The owner of these olives is an offender against me, and is my debtor;
and if he come not, I will assuredly slay you all, and seize your merchandize. So
they applied to the master of the ship, promising to pay him the hire of the vessel if
he would return, and said to him. Deliver us from this tyrant.
The master therefore embarked, and loosed the sails, and God decreed him safety,
80 that he arrived at the Island of the Magians ; and landing by night, he went up
to the garden. The night had become tedious to Camaralzaman, and he was think-
ing upon his beloved, as he sat in the garden weeping for the misfcjrtunes that had
befallen him ; and the master of the ship knocked at the gate of his garden. He
thenefore opened the gate and went forth to him, and immediately the sailors carried
him off, and, embarking with him, loosed the sails, and departed. They continued
their voyage days and nights, while Camaralzaman knew not the occasion of thia
conduct. He asked them the cause, and they answered him. Thou art an offender
against the King of the Ebony Islands, the son of the King Armanos, and hast stolen
his wealth, thou unlucky ! But he replied. By Allah, in my life I never entered
that country, nor do I know it.
They continued their voyage with him until they came in sight of the Ebony
Islands, and took him up to the lady Badoura, who as soon as she saw him, knew
him, and said. Commit him to the eunuchs, that they may conduct him to the bath.
She then dispelled the fears of the merchants, and bestowed upon the master of the
ship a robe of honour worth ten thousand pieces of gold. After which, she went in
to the lady Haiatalnefous, and acquainted her with the event, saying to her. Conceal
the news until I have attained my desire, and done a deed which shall be recorded,
and read after us to Kings and subjects. And when she gave orders to conduct
Camaralzaman into the bath, they did so, and clad him in the apparel of Kings;
and when he came forth from the bath he appeared like a branch of the Oriental
willow, or a planet at whose appearance the sun and moon were abashed ; and hia
soul returned to him. He then repaired to her, and entered the palace ; but when
she beheld him she restrained her heart, that her purpose might be accomplished.
She bestowed upon him mamlouks and servants, and camels and mules, gave him a
treasury of wealth, and ceased not to promote him from grade to grade until she
made him treasurer, delivering all the treasures to his care. She admitted him into
high favour, and acquainted the Emirs with his station, and they all loved him.
Every day the Queen Badoura increased his appointments, and Camaralzaman knevr
not the cause of her thus honouring him. From the abundance of his wealth he gave
liberal presents; and he served the King Armanos with such zeal that he loved him,
as did the Emirs and other great men, and the common people, so that they swore
by his life.
But all this time Camaralzaman wondered at the honours which the Queen Badoura
showed him, and said within himself. By Allah, this love must have some cause ; or
perhaps this King thus favoureth me from some evil intention ; I must therefore ask
his permission to depart from his country. Accordingly, he went to the Queen
Badoura, and said to her, King, thou hast bestowed on me great favours, and thy
favours will be complete if thou permit me to depart, and take from me all that thou
hast bestowed upon me. And the Queen Badoura smiled, and said, What induceth
thee to desire to travel, and to rush headlong into perils, when thou art enjoying the
hio-hest favour and extraordinary beneficence? — King, answered Camaralzaman,
if this favour be without cause, it is most wonderful, especially as thou hast conferred
upon me dignities such as are proper for the aged, when I am but a child. The
Queen Badoura then took him into a private apartment, and made herself known to
him: and he discovered that she was his wife, the Queen Badoura, the daughter of
the King Gaiour, lord of the Islands and the Seas ; whereupon they embraced and
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 311
kissed each other. She related to him all that had happened to her from first to
last; and he in like manner acquainted her with all that had befallen him.
And when the next morning ^,ame, and diffused its light, the Queen Badoura sent
to the King Armanos, and informed him of the truth of her case, that she was the
wife of Camaralzaman, relating to him their story and the cause of their separation ;
and the King Armanos, on hearing her tale, wondered at it extremely. He gave
orders to write it in letters of gold, and then, looking towards Camaralzaman, said
to him, son of the King, wilt thou form an alliance with me by marrying my
daughter Haiatalnefous? He answered, I must consult the Queen Badoura; fori
owe her unlimited gratitude. But when he consulted her, she replied. Excellent is
this proposal ! Marry her, therefore, and I will be a handmaid to her ; for I owe
her a debt of kindness and beneficence, and favour and obligation, especially as we
are in her abode, and since we have been loaded with the benefits of her father. —
So when Camaralzaman saw that the Queen Badoura inclined to this, and was not
jealous of Haiatalnefous, he agreed with her on this subject, and acquainted the
King Armanos with that which the Queen Badoura had said, that she approved of
the marriage, and would be a handmaid to Haiatalnefous. And on hearing these
words from Camaralzaman, the King Armanos rejoiced exceedingly. He went forth
immediately, and seated himself upon his throne, and, having summoned all the
Emirs and Viziers and chamberlains and the other lords of the empire, acquainted
them with the story of Camaralzaman, and his wife the Queen Badoura from first to
last, telling them that he desired to marry his daughter Haiatalnefous to Camaral-
zaman, and to appoint him Sultan over them in the place of his wife the Queen
Badoura. Upon which all of them said. Since Camaralzaman is the husband of the
Queen Badoura, who was our sovereign before him when we thought her the son-in-
law of our King Armanos, we are all content to have him as our Sultan, and we will
be servants unto him, and never swerve from our allegiance to him.
The King Armanos, therefore, rejoiced at this exceedingly : he summoned the
Cadies and witnesses, and the chief oflicers of the empire, and performed Camaral-
zaman's contract of marriage to his daughter, the Queen Haiatalnefous. He cele-
brated festivities, gave sumptuous banquets, conferred costly robes of honour upon
all the Emirs and chiefs and soldiers, bestowed alms upon the poor and the needy,
and liberated all the prisoners ; and the people rejoiced at the accession of the King
Camaralzaman, praying for the continuance of his glory, and prosperity, and felicity,
and honour. As soon as he had become Sultan over them Camaralzaman abolished
the custom-taxes ; he conducted himself in a praiseworthy manner towards hia
people, and resided with his wives in enjoyment and happiness and fidelity and
cheerfulness, behaving towards both of them with impartiality. Thus he remained
for a length of time ; his anxieties and sorrows were obliterated; and he forgot his
father the King Shah-Zaman, and the glory and power that he had enjoyed under
him.
THE STORY OF THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
After this, God (whose name be exalted!) blessed Camaralzaman with two male
children by his two wives. They were like two shining moons: the elder of them
was the son of the Queen Badoura, and his name was the Prince Amgiad; and the
younger was the son of Haiatalnefous, and his name was the Prince Assad ; and
Assad was more lovely than his brother Amgiad. They were reared with magnifi-
cence and tenderness, and instructed in polite arts and accomplishments : they
learned caligraphy and general science, and the arts of government and horseman-
ship, until they attained the utmost perfection, and became distinguished by con-
summate beauty and loveliness, so that the women were ravished by their charms.
They grew up to the age of seventeen years, always in each other's company, eating
312
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
and drinking together, and never separated one from another, and all the people
envied them on this account. And vrhen they had attained to manhood, and were
both endowed with every accomplishment, their father, whenever he made a jourqey,
seated them by turns in the hall of judgment, and each of them judged the people
for one day at a time.
Now it happened, in accordance with confirmed destiny and determined fate, that
two ladies in the King's palace, on whom he had set his affections, became enamoured
of the two princes, Amgiad and Assad. Each of these two women used to toy with
the object of her love, and kiss him, and press him to her bosom ; and when his
mother beheld this, she imagined that it was only an affection like that of a parent.
Love took entire possession of the hearts of the two women, and when they had
waited long without finding any way of accomplishing their union, they abstained
from drink and food, and relinquished the delight of sleep.
Amgiad and Assad.
The King then went forth to the chase, and ordered his two sons to sit in his place
to administer justice, each of them for one day at a time, according to their custom.
So on the first day, Amgiad, the son of the Queen Badoura, sat for judgment, and
commanded and forbade, and invested and deposed, and gave and denied. And his
enamoured wrote him a letter, endeavouring to conciliate his affection, and declaring
that she was wholly devoted to him, and transported with love for him, exposing
her whole case to him, and telling him that she desired to be united to him. She
took a paper, and wrote in it these words : —
From the poor, the love-sick female ; the mourning, the estranged, whose youth is
consumed by love for thee, and whose torment on thine account hath been protracted.
— If I described to thee the extent of my sorrow, and the sadness that I suffer, and
the violent love that is in my heart, and how I weep and moan, and how my mourn-
ing heart is cut in pieces, and my constant griefs, and continual anxieties, and the
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 313
pain that I endare from separation, and from sadness and ardent desire, the ex
position of my case would be too long for a letter, and none could calculate its
extent. The earth and heaven have become strait unto me, and I have no hope nor
trust but in thee ; for I have arrived at th^ point of death, and suffered the horrors
of destruction. My ardour hath become excessive, with my disjunction and estrange-
ment, and if I described the longing desire that I feel, papers would be insufficient
for it. — She then wrapped up the letter in a piece of costly silk, richly perfumed
with musk and ambergris, and put with it the silk strings of her hair, for the price
of which treasures would be consumed ; after which she wrapped the whole in a
handkerchief, and gave it to a eunuch, commanding him to convey it to the Prince
Amgiad.
So the eunuch went, not knowing the secret destiny that awaited him (for He who
is acquainted with all the secrets of futurity ordereth events as He willeth) ; and
when he went in to the Prince Amgiad, he kissed the ground before him, and handed
to him the kerchief with the letter. The Prince Amgiad, therefore, took the hand-
kerchief from him, and, unfolding it, saw the letter, and opened and read it ; and
when he understood its meaning, he perceived that the woman contemplated deceit,
and had acted disloyally towards his father, the King Camaralzaman. And upon
this he was violently enraged, and abused womankind for their conduct, exclaiming,
Execration upon treacherous women, deficient in sense and religion I He then drew
his sword, and said to the eunuch, Wo to thee, wicked slave ! Dost thou bear a
letter expressive of disloyalty from a woman belonging to thy master? By Allah,
there is no good in thee, thou of black complexion ! detestable in aspect, and
Eunuch slain by Amgiad,
irresolute in character! — And he struck him with the sword upon his neck, severing
his head from his body. After which, he fulded up the handkerchief upon its con-
tents, and having put it into his pocket, went in to his mother, and acquainted her
with what had happened, abusing and reviling her, also, and saying. Every one of
you is worse [in some respect] than another. By Allah the Great, he added, did 1
uot fear to commit a breach of good manners, injurious to my father Camaralzaman,
314 THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
I would go in to her and strike off her head, as I struck off the head of the eunuch.
— Then he went forth from his mother, the Queen Badoura, in a state of excessive
rage. And when the news of what he had done to the eunuch reached his enamoured,
she reviled him and cursed him, and devised a malicious stratagem against him.
The Prince Amgiad passed the next night enfeebled by rage and indignation, and
trouble of mind, and neither food nor drink was pleasant to him, nor was sleep.
And on the following morning, his brother, the Prince Assad, went forth and
seated himself in the place of his father, the King Camaralzaman, to judge the
people ; and he judged, and administered justice, and invested and deposed, and
commanded and forbade, and gave and bestowed ; and he continued sitting in the
judgment-hall until near the time of afternoon prayers. Then his enamoured sent
to a deceitful old woman, and, having revealed to her the feelings of her heart, took
a paper to write upon it a letter to the Prince Assad, and to complain to him of the
excess of her affection, and of the ecstacy of her love for him. And she wrote to
him these words: —
From her who is perishing through the ecstacy of love and desire to the most
charming of mankind in disposition and in form, the self-complacent with his love-
liness, the haughty with his amorous aspect, who turneth with aversion from the de-
sirer of an union with him, who is reluctant to show favour unto the submissive and
abject, — to the cruel and disdainful, the Prince Assad, who is endowed with sur-
passing beauty, and with admirable loveliness, with the brilliant countenance, and
the splendid forehead, and overpowering brightness. This is my letter unto him
the love of whom hath dissolved my body, and mangled my skin and my bones. —
Know that my patience hath failed, and I am perplexed in my case: desire and
sleeplessness have disquieted me, and patience and sleep have denied themselves to
me: mourning and watching have been inseparable from me, and violent love and
desire have afflicted me. together with disease and infirmity. But may my life be a
ransom for thee ; and if the slaughter of the love-smitten please thee, may Allah
prolong thy life, and from every evil preserve thee ! — Then she richly perfumed the
letter with strong-scented musk, and wound it round with the silken strings of her
hair, which were of the silk of Irak, having oblong emeral<ls for pendants, adorned
with pearls and jewels. Having done this, she delivered it to the old woman, and
ordered her to give it to the Prince Assad.
The old woman therefore departed in order to please her, and immediately went
in to the Prince Assad, who was alone when she entered ; and she handed him the
paper, with what was enclosed within it, and waited a long time for the answer.
Meanwhile, the Prince Assad read the paper, and understood its contents ; and
having wrapped it up again in the silk strings, he put it in his pocket. He was en-
raged to the utmost degree, and cursed deceitful women : then rising, he drew the
sword from its scabbard, and striking the neck of the old woman, severed her head
from her body; after which, he arose and proceeded until he went in to his mother,
and he reviled her too, in his anger with the sex. He then went forth from her,
and repaired to his brother the Prince Amgiad, to whom he related all that had
happened to him, telling him that he had killed the old woman who had brought
him the letter. And the Prince Amgiad replied. By Allah, my brother, yester
day, while I was sitting on the throne, the like of that which hath happened to thee
this day happened to me also. And he acquainted him with the whole oceurrencT>.
They remained conversing together that night, and cursing deceitful women, and
charged each other to conceal this affair, lest their father, the King, should hear of
it, and kill the two women. So they passed the night in incessant grief until the
morning.
And when the next morning came, the King arrived with his troops from the
chase, and went up to his palace ; and having dismissed the Emirs, he arose, and
entered the palace, whereupon he beheld the two women who had acted thus towards
bis sons, lying on their bed in a state of extreme weakness. They had contrived a
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 315
plot ;i3;ainst the two Princes, und agreed to destroy them ; for they had disgraced
themselves in their eyes, and dreaded the consequence of their being so known to
have oifended. When the King, therefore, saw them in this condition, he said to
them. What is the matter with you? And they rose to him, and kissed his hands,
and, reversing the true state of the case, answered him. Know, O King, that thy
two sons, who have been reared in the enjoyment of thy beneficence, have acted dis-
loyally towards thee by their conduct to us, and have dishonoured thee. And when
Camaralzaman heard these words, the light became darkness before his face, and he
was violently incensed, so that his reason fled through the excess of his rage, and
he said, Explain to me this occurrence. So each of them told the story that she
had framed, and both of them wept violently before the King.
When the King, therefore, witnessed their weeping, and heard their words, he felt
convinced of their truth, and, being enraged to the utmost degree, he arose with the
desire of falling upon his two sons and killing them. But his father-in-law, the
King Armanos, met him. lie was just then entering to salute him, having heard
of his return from the chase; and he beheld him with the drawn sword in his h;»nd,
and with blood dropping from his nostrils, by reason of the violence of his rage.
So he asked him what troubled him, and Camaralzaman acquainted him with all
that had been done (as he supposed) by his sons Amgiad and Assad, and said to
him, I am now going in to them to kill them in a most ignominious manner, and
make them a most shameful example. His father-in-law, the King Armanos, being
alike incensed against them, said to him, And excellent would be the deed that thou
wouldst do, my son; and may God grant no blessing unto them, nor to any sons
who commit such actions against the honour of their father: but, my son, the
author of the proverb saith, lie who looketh not to results, fortune will not attend
him : — and they are at all events thy sons. It will be proper that thou kill them
not with thine own hand; for in doing so thou wouldst drink of their anguish, and
repent afterwards of having put them to death, when repentance would not avaij.
But send them with one of the mamlouks, that he may kill them in the desert, when
they are absent from thine eye.
So when the King Camaralzaman heard these words of his father-in-law, the
King Armanos, he saw them to be just. He therefore sheathed his sword, and, re-
turning, seated himself upon his throne, and summoned his Treasurer, who was a
very old man, experienced in the management of affairs, and the vicissitudes of for-
tune. And he said to him, Go in to my two sons Amgiad and Assad, bind their
hands firmly behind them, and put them in two chests, and place them upon a mule:
then mount thou, and go forth with them into the midst of the desert, and slaughter
them ; after which, fill for me two glass bottles with their blood, and bring them to
me quickly.
The Treasurer answered, I hear and obey. He then arose immediately, and, re-
pairing to Amgiad and Assad, met them on the way coming forth from the vestibule
of the palace. They had clad themselves in the richest of their apparel for the pur-
pose of visiting their father, to salute him, and compliment him on his safe arrival from
his hunting expedition. And when the Treasurer saw them, he laid hold upon them,
saying, my two sons, know that I am a slave under command, and your father
hath given me an order: will ye then obey his command? They answered, Yes.
And upon this, the Treasurer bound their hands behind them, and put them in two
chests, and, having placed them on the back of a mule, went forth with them from
the city. lie proceeded with them over the desert until near noon, when he halted
with them in a waste and desolate place, and, alighting from his horse, put down
the two chests from the back of the mule, and opened them, and took forth from them
Amgiad and Assad. When he looked at them he wept violently on contemplating
their beauty and loveliness, and afterwards drew his sword, and said to. them, By
Allah, my lords, it is painful to me to do an abominable deed unto you ; but I am
excusable in this case ; for I am a slave under command, and your father the King
316 THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
Camaralzaman hath ordered me to strike off your heads. And they replied, Emir,
do what the King hath commanded thee ; for we patiently submit to that which God
(to whom be ascribed all might and glory !) hath decreed to befall us ; and thou art
absolved of the guilt of shedding our blood.
They then embraced each other, and bade one another farewell ; and Assad said to
the Treasurer, By Allah I conjure thee, uncle, that thou make me not to drink the
anguish of my brother, nor his sighing; but kill me before him, that so my fate may
be more easy to me. Amgiad also said to the Treasurer as Assad had said, and
made use of blandishments to him that he might kill him before his brother, saying
to him. My brother is younger than I, therefore make me not to taste his affliction.
Then each of them wept most violently, and the Treasurer wept also at witnessing
their lamentation ; and the two brothers again embraced each other, and bade one
another farewell, one of them saying to the other. Verily all this is owing to the
artifice of those two deceitful women ; and there is no strength nor power but in
God, the High, the Great! Verily to God we belong, and verily unto Him we re-
turn ! — And Assad, embracing his brother, uttered groans.
And when Amgiad heard the weeping of his brother, he likewise wept, and pressed
him to his bosom. Then Amgiad said to the Treasurer, I implore thee by the One,
the Omnipotent, the King, the Protector, that thou kill me before my brother Assad:
perhaps the fire of my heart may so be assuaged ; and let it not burn more. But
Assad, weeping, said. None shall be killed first but myself. So Amgiad said. The
best plan will be this, that thou embrace me, and I embrace thee, so that the sword
may fall upon us and kill us with one blow.
And when they both embraced, face to face, and clung together, the Treasurer
bound them, and tied them with ropes, weeping while he did so. He then drew his sword,
and said, By Allah, my lords, it is indeed hard to me to kill you. Have ye any ,
want? If so, I will perform it. Or any commission? If so, I will execute it. Or
any message ? If so, I will convey it. — And Amgiad answered. We have no want
to be performed ; but as to commission, I charge thee to place my brother Assad
beneath, and myself above, that the blow may fiiU upon me first; and when thou
hast killed us, and returned unto the King, and he saith to thee. What didst thou
hear from them before their death ? — that thou answer him, Verily thy two sons
send thee their salutation, and say to thee. Thou knowest not whether they were in-
nocent or guilty, and thou hast killed them, and not assured thyself of their guilt,
nor considered their case. And when the Treasurer heard these words of Amgiad,
he wept violently, so that he wetted his beard ; and as to Assad, his eyes filled with
tears, and he embraced his brother Amgiad, so that they appeared together like a
single person, and the Treasurer drew his sword, and was about to strike them. But
lo ! his horse started away in fright over the desert. It was worth a thousand pieces
of gold, and upon it was a magnificent saddle, worth a great sum of money. So he
threw the sword from his hand, and went after his horse. His heart was inflamed,
and he continued running after the horse, to take it, until it entered a forest; and
he entered after it; but the horse pursued its way into the midst of the forest,
striking the ground with its hoofs, and the dust rose high, while the horse snorted
and n-eighed in its fury. Now there was in that forest a formidable lion, of hideous
aspect, his eyes casting forth sparks: his face was grim, and his form struck the
soul with terror: and the Treasurer, looking towards him, beheld this lion ap-
proaching him, and he found no way of escape from him, not having with him a sword.
So he said within himself. There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the
Great ! This calamity hath not befallen me but on account of the offence of Amgiad
and Assad, and verily this journey hath been unfortunate from its commence-
ment !
MeanwJiile the heat became intense to Amgiad and Assad, and they were affected
with a violent thirst, so that their tongues hung out ; and they prayed for relief from
the thirst. But none relieved them ; and they said. Would that we were killed and
THE TWO PRINCES AMQIAD AND ASSAD. 317
were at ease from this ; bat we know not whither the horse hath run away, that the
Treasurer hath gone after it and left us bound. Had he come to us and killed us,
it had been easier to us than our enduring this torment. — But afterwards Assad said,
my brother, have patience, and the relief of God (whose perfection be extolled,
and whose name be exalted 1) will come to us ; for the horse ran not away but be-
cause God is propitious towards us, and nothing afflicteth us but this thirst. He
then shook himself, and struggled to the right and left ; whereupon his bonds be-
came loosed ; and he arose, and loosed the bonds of his brother ; after which he
took the Emir's sword, and said to his brother. By Allah, we will not depart hence
until we investigate his case, and know what hath happened to him. So they began
to follow the footsteps, and they led them to the forest. They therefore said one to
another, Verily the horse and the Treasurer have not passed beyond this forest.
And Assad said to his brother. Stay here while I enter the forest and examine it.
But Amglad replied, I will not suffer thee to enter it alone, and we will not enter
but together; so if we escape we shall escape together, and if we perish we shall
perish together. Accordingly they both entered, and they found that the lion had
sprung upon the Treasurer, who was lying beneath him like a sparrow, but suppli-
cating God, and making a sign towards heaven. So when Amgiad saw him he took
the sword, and, rushing upon the lion, struck him with the sword between his eyes,
and killed him.
The lion fell down prostrate upon the ground, and the Emir arose, wondering at
the event, and saw Amgiad and Assad, the sons of his lord, standing there ; and he
threw himself at their feet, saying to them. By Allah, my lords, it were not
just that I should act so extravagantly with you as to kill you. May he who would
kill you cease to exist! With my soul I will ransom you. — Then rising immediately,
he embraced them, and inquired of them the cause of the loosing of their bonds,
and of their coming to him. They therefore informed him that they had thirsted,
and that the bonds of one of them became loosed, so that he loosed the other, be-
cause of the purity of their intentions; after which they followed the footsteps until
they came to him. And when he heard their words, he thanked them for that which
they had done, and went out from the forest with them : and when they were with-
out the forest, they said to him, uncle, do what our father hath commanded thee.
But he replied, Allah forbid that I should attempt any injury to you ! Know, how-
ever, that I desire to take off your clothes, and to clothe you with mine, and to fill
two glass bottles with the blood of the lion. After which, I will go to the King,
and tell him that I have killed you. Then do ye travel into other countries: for
God's earth is wide. And know, my lords, that your separation from me will be
painful to me. — Having said this, he and the two young men all wept. The latter
pulled off their clothes, and the Treasurer clad them with his own, and went to the
King.
He had taken the things, and tied up the linen of each of the youths in a wrapper
that he had with him, and filled the two glass bottles with the blood of the lion : and
he put the two wrappers before him on the back of the horse. Then he bade the
youths farewell, and departing towards the city, proceeded until he went in to the
King, and he kissed the ground before him. And the King saw him with a changed
countenance (for this change was occasioned by what he had suffered from his ad-
venture with the lion), and he imagined that it was the consequence of the slaughter
of his sons; so he was glad, and said to him. Hast thou accomplished the business!
The Treasurer answered. Yes, our lord. And he handed to him the two wrappws
containing the clothes, and the two glass bottles filled with the blood. And the
King said to him. What didst thou observe in their conduct, and have they charged
thee with aught? He answered, I found them patient, contented to endure their
fate, and they said to me. Verily our father is excusable ; so convey to him our salu-
tations, and say to him, Thou art absolved of the guilt of our slaughter and of our
blood.
318 THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
And when the King heard these words from the Treasurer, he hung down his head
towards the ground for a long time, and knew that these words of his two sons in-
dicated that they had been killed unjustly. Then reflecting upon the fraudulence
of women, and the calamities occasioned by them, he took the two wrappers and
opened them, and began to turn over the clothes of his sons, and to weep. And
when he opened the clothes of his son Assad, he found in his pocket a paper written
in the hand of the woman who had accused him, together with the silk strings of
her hair. So he unfolded the paper and read it, and understood its meaning, and
knew that his son Assad had been an object of injustice. And when he turned over
the clothes of Amgiad, he found in his pocket a paper written in the hand of the
other woman, his accuser, with the sifk strings of her hair enclosed in it ; and he
opened this paper and read it, and knew that he had also had been an object of in-
justice. He struck his hands together, and exclaimed, There is no strength nor
power but in God, the High, the Great! I have slain my sons unjustly! — Then he
began to slap his face, exclaiming, Oh, my sons ! Oh, the length of my grief! —
And he gave orders to build two tombs in a house, which he named the House of
Lamentations, and inscribed upon the two tombs the names of his two sons: and he
threw himself upon the tomb of Amgiad, weeping and sighing and lamenting, and
reciting verses; and then in like manner upon that of Assad. He relinquished the
society of his friends and intimates, secluding himself in the House of Lamenta-
tions, weeping for his sons, and forsook his women and associates and familiar ac-
quaintances. — Such was his case.
Now as to Amgiad and Assad, they proceeded over the desert, eating of the herbs
of the earth, and drinking of the remains of the rain. At night, one slept while
the other watched, till midnight ; then the latter slept and the former watched.
Thus they continued for the space of a whole month, until their course brought them
to a mountain of black flint, the further extremity of which was unknown. At this
mountain the road divided into two ; one road passed through the midst of it, and
the other ascended to its summit. And they pursued the way to the summit of the
mountain, and continued ascending it five days ; but saw no end to it. Fatigue had
overcome them ; for they were not accustomed to walking upon the mountains nor
elsewhere ; and when they despaired of reaching its end, they returned, and pur-
sued the way through the midst of the mountain. Along this they proceeded the
whole of the same day, until night; but Assad was fatigued with the length of his
journeying, and he said to his brother, my brother, I can walk no further ; for I
am reduced to excessive weakness. Amgiad, however, replied, my brother, brace
up thy nerves: perhaps God may dispel our affliction. They then proceeded for an
hour of the night; but Assad was in a state of the utmost fatigue, and he said,
my brother, I am tired and weary with walking. And he fell upon the ground and
wept. His brother Amgiad, therefore, carried him and walked on with •him, walking
a while, and sitting a while to rest, until daybreak gleamed. Thus he ascended the
mountain with him, and they found a spring gushing forth, with a stream running
from it ; and by it was a pomegranate-tree, and a niche for prayer ; and they scarcely
believed the sight. They then seated themselves by this fountain, and having drunk
of its water, and eaten of the pomegranates of that tree, slept there until the sun
rose ; when they sat and washed themselves at the spring and ate again of the pome-
granates on the tree, and slept until the time of afternoon-prayers. After this they
desired to continue their journey ; but Assad was unable to proceed: his feet were
swollen. So they remained there three days, until he had rested himself, when they
proceeded, and continued many days their journey over the mountain, wearied with
thirst, until a city appeared before them at a distance.
Upon this they rejoiced ; and they advanced towards it ; and when they drew near
to it, they ofi"ered up thanks to God, whose name be exalted ! Amgiad then said to
Assad, my brother, sit here while I go to this city and see what kind of place it
is, and inquire respecting its afi^xirs, that we may know where we are in God's wide
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 319
earth, and know what countries we have traversed in crossing this mountain-range.
Had we not journeyed through the midst of it, we had not arrived at this city in a
whole year. Praise be to God, then, for our safety ! — But Assad replied, By Allah,
my brother, none shall go to the city but myself: and may I be thy ransom ; for
if thou leave me and descend and be absent from me, thou wilt drown me in anxioua
thoughts respecting thee, and I have not strength to endure thine absence from me.
So Amgiad said to him, Go, and loiter not.
Assad, therefore, descended from the mountain, taking with him some pieces of
gold; and left his brother to wait for his return. He went, and walked on without
stopping at the foot of the mountain, until he entered the city ; and as he passed
through its streets, there met him in his way an old man, far advanced in age;
bis beard descended over his breast, and was parted in twain, in his hand was a
walking-staff, he was clad in rich garments, and on his head was a large red tur-
ban. So when Assad saw him, he wondered at his dress and his appearance; and,
advancing towards him, he saluted him, and said to him, Which is the way to the
market, my master? The old man, on hearing his words, smiled in his face, and
said to him, my son, thou seemest to be a stranger. Assad therefore replied, Yes,
1 am a stranger, uncle. And the old man said, Thou hast cheered our country
by thy presence, my son, thou hast made the country of thy family desolate by
thine absence. And what dost thou desire from the market? — uncle, answered
Assad, I have a brother whom I have left on the mountain, and we are journeying
from a distant country. We have been on the way a period of three months, and
arrived in sight of this city: so I came hither to buy some food and to return with
it to my brother, that we may nourish ourselves with it. — And the old man replied,
my son, receive tidings of every happiness, and know that I huve made a banquet,
and have with me many guests, and have prepared for it a collection of the best and
the most agreeable of dishes, such as the appetite desireth. Wilt thou, then, ac-
company me to my abode? If so I will give thee what thou requirest, and will not
take from thee any money for it. I will also acquaint thee with the affixirs of this
city. And praise be to God, my son, that I have met with thee, and that none but
myself hath met with thee !
So Assad said. Do as thou art disposed, and hasten ; for my brother is waiting for
me, and his heart is intent upon me. The old man, therefore, took the hand of
Assad, and returned with him to a narrow by-street, smiling in his face, and saying
to him, Extolled be the perfection of Him who hath saved thee from the people of
this city 1 He walked on with him until he entered a spacious house, in which was
a saloon, and in this saloon were sitting forty old men, far advanced in age, arranged
in a ring, with a lighted fire in the midst of them. The old men were sitting around
it worshipping it and prostrating themselves to it. And when Assad saw this, his
flesh quaked, though he knew not their history. Then the old man first mentioned
said to this company, sheikhs of the Fire, how blessed a day is this ! And he
called out, saying, Gazban ! Whereupon there came forth to him a black slave,
of a most grim visage, flat-nosed, of bending figure, and horrible shape. And the
old man made a sign to this slave: upon which he bound Assad ; and after he had
done so, the old man said to him. Take him down into the subterranean chamber,
and there leave him, and say to the slave-girl such-a-one. Undertake the office of
torturing him by night and day, and give him to eat a cake of bread by night and a cake
of bread by day, until the period of the voyage to the Blue Sea and the Mountain
of Fire, when we will slaughter him upon the mountain as a sacrifice.
Accordingly the slave took him down into that chamber, and delivered him to the
girl, who entered upon her office of torturing him, and giving him one cake of bread
at the commencement of the day, and one at the commencement of the night, with a
mug of salt water between daybreak and sunrise, and the same between sunset and
nightfall. Then the old men said, one to another. When the period of the Festival
of the Fire arriveth, we will sacrifice him upon the mountain, and by offering him
320 THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
propitiate the Fire. The slave-girl went down to him, and inflicted upon him a
painful beating, so that the blood flowed from his limbs, and he fainted ; after which,
she placed at his head a cake of bread and a mug of salt water, and went away and
left him. And Assad recovered his senses at midnight, when he found himself
chained, and the beating tortured him. So he wept violently, and, reflecting upon
his former state of grandeur and prosperity, and dominion and lordship, he lamented
and o-roaned, Then extending his hand towards his head, he found a cake of bread,
and a mug of salt water. So he ate a morsel to stay his departing spirit, and drank
a little of the water, and remained sleepless until the morning, from the abundance
of bugs and other vermin.
And when the morning arrived, the slave-girl came down to him again, and pulled
off his clothes. They were covered with blood, and stuck to his skin, so that the
skin came off with the shirt ; and he shrieked, and cried Ah ! — and said, my Lord,
if Thou approve of this, increase it upon me ; for Thou art not unmindful of him
who hath oppressed me ! Avenge me therefore, upon him ! — And then the slave-girl
betook herself to beating him until he fainted, when she threw to him a cake of
bread, and put a mug of salt water ; after which she went up from him and left him
in solitude, with the blood flowing from his limbs ; and he lay chained, far from his
friends, thinking of his brother, and of the glory in which he was before living;
yearning and lamenting, sighing and complaining, pouring forth tears, and reciting
verses.
Meanwhile, his brother Amgiad remained expecting him till mid-day : and when
he returned not, his heart palpitated, the pain of separation became intense in him,
and he shed copious tears, crying out, Oh my grief! How fearful I was of separa-
tion ! — Then descending from the mountain, with his tears flowing over his cheeks,
he entered the city, and walked on in it until he arrived at the market, when he
inquired of some of the people respecting the name of the city, and respecting its
inhabitants ; and they answered him, This is called the city of the Magians, and its
inhabitants [mostly] worship fire, instead of the Almighty King. He then asked
them respecting the city of Ebony, and they said. The distance between us and it,
by land, is a journey of a year: and by sea, a voyage of four months: its King is
called Armanos, and he hath taken a King as his son-in-law, and put him in his
place, and this King is called Camaralzaman : he is a person of equity and benefi-
cence, and liberality and peace. And when Amgiad heard the mention of his fiither,
he yearned and wept, and sighed and lamented ; and he knew not whither to repair.
He had bought and taken with him something to eat, and he went to a place to con-
ceal himself there, and sat down to eat ; but remembering his brother, he wept, and
ate no more than enough to stay his departing spirit ; after which he arose, and
walked through the city, to obtain tidings of his brother. And he found a Ma-
hometan, a tailor, in his shop ; so he seated himself by him, and related to him his
story; and the tailor said to him. If he have fallen into the hand of any of the
Magians, thou wilt not see him again without difficulty; but perhaps God will re-
unite thee with him. Then he added. Wilt thou, my brother, lodge with me? He
answered, Yes. And the tailor rejoiced at this. Amgiad remained with him many
days. And the tailor consoled him, and exhorted him to be patient, and taught him
the art of sewing, so that he became an adept.
After this he went forth one day to the shore of the sea, and washed his clothes.
He then entered the bath, and, having put on clean clothes, went forth from the bath
to amuse himself in the city. And he met on his way a woman endowed with beauty
and loveliness, and justness of stature, unequalled in beauty, who, when she beheld
him, raised the veil from her face, and made signs to him with her eyebrows and her
eyes, and ogled him, and recited some amatory verses. And when Amgiad heard
her words, his heart was gladdened by her, and moved with affection for her ; the
hands of love sported with him, and, making a sign to her, he recited a few verses
in reply. She then begged to have some conversation with him ; so he said to her,
THE TWO PRINCES AMQIAD AND ASSAD.
321
Wilt thou pay me a visit, or shall I repair to thine abode ? Whereupon she hung
down her head in bashfulness towards the ground, and repeated the words of Him
V-
Amgiad washing his Clothes.
whose name be exalted, — Men shall have the pre-eminence over women, because of
the advantages which God hath given to the one of them over the other.
So Amgiad understood her intimation, and knew that she desired to accompany
him whither he was going. He was therefore obliged to find the place for her; and,
being ashamed to take her to the house of the tailor with whom he lodged, he
walked on before her. She followed him, and he continued walking on with her
from by-street to by-street, and from place to place, until the damsel was tired, and
she said to him, my master, where is thy house? He answered, Before us, and
there remaineth but a short distance to it. Then he turned a.side with her into a
handsome by-street, and continued walking along it, she following him, until he
arrived at the end of it, when he found that it was not a thoroughfare. So he said.
There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the. Great ! And looking to-
wards the upper end of the street, he saw there a great door with two seats; but it
was locked. Amgiad therefore seated himself upon one seat, and the damsel seated
herself on the other, and said to him, O my master, for what art thou waiting?
Upon this he hung down his head for a long time towards the ground ; after which
he raised it, and answered her, I am waiting for my mamlouk ; for he hath the key,
and I said to him. Prepare for us the food and beverage, and the flowers for the
wine, by the time that I come forth from the bath. — He then said within himself,
Probably the time will become tedious to her, and so she will go her way and leave
me here.
But when the time seemed long to her, she said to him, my master, thy mam-
louk hath been slow in returning to us, while we have been sitting in the street
And she arose and approached the wooden lock with a stone. So Amgiad said lo
her. Hasten not; but be patient until the mamlouk cometh. Paying no attention,
however, to his words, she struck the wooden lock with the stone, and split it in two ;
21
322 THE TWO PRINCES AMGHAD AND ASSAD.
BO that the door opened. He therefore said to her, What possesseth thee, that thoo
didst thus? — my master, said she, what hath happened ? Is not this thy house?
— He answered. Yes: but there was no necessity for breaking the lock. The damsel
then entered the house; and Amgiad was perplexed in his mind, fearing the people
of the house, and knew not what to do. The damsel said to him, Wherefore dost
thou not enter, my master, light of mine eye, and vital spirit of my heart? He
answered her, I hear and obey : but the mamlouk hath been slow in returning to me,
and I know not whether he has done anything of what I ordered him or not. He
then entered with her in a state of the utmost anxiety, fearing the people of the
house. And when he entered the house, he found in it a handsome saloon, with
four raised floors facing one another, and with closets and sofas furnished with stuffs
of silk and brocade, and in the midst of it was a fountain of costly construction, by
which were arranged dishes set with jewels, and filled with fruits and sweet-scented
flowers ; by the side of it were the drinking-vessels, and there was a candlestick with
a candle stuck in it. The place was full of precious stuffs ; in it were chests, and
chairs were set in it, and on each chair was a wrapper of clothes, and upon each of
these was a purse full of pieces of gold. The house attested the prosperity of its
owner ; for its floor was paved with marble.
When Amgiad beheld this, he was perplexed at his ease, and said within himself,
My life is lost! Verily to God we belong, and verily unto Him we return ! — But as
to the damsel, when she saw this place, she was filled with the utmost joy, and said,
By Allah, my master, thy mamlouk hath not failed in the performance of hia
task ; for he hath swept the place, and cooked the food, and prepared the fruit; and
I have come at the best of times. Amgiad, however, looked not towards her ; his
mind being engrossed by fear of the people of the house. So she said, my master,
why art thou standing thus? Then heaving a loud sigh, she gave Amgiad a kiss
that sounded like the cracking of a walnut, and said to him, my master, if thou
nast made an appointment with some other than myself, I will exert my skill to
serve her. At this, Amgiad laughed from a bosom filled with rage ; and advanced
and seated himself, panting and saying within himself, the ignominious slaughter
that I shall suffer when the master of the house cometh ! — The damsel had seated
herself by his side, and began to sport and laugh, while Amgiad, anxious and frown-
ing, revolved a thousand things in his mind, saying within himself, the owner of
this saloon will certainly come ; and what shall I say to him ? He will kill me
without doubt! The damsel then arose, tucked up her sleeves, and, taking a tray,
put it upon the table, and ate, saying to Amgiad, Eat, my master. So he advanced
to eat, but the doing so gave him no pleasure: on the contrary, he sat looking in the
direction of the door until the damsel had eaten and satisfied herself, and removed
the table, and brought the dessert: whereupon she commenced eating of the dried
fruits. Then she brought forward the beverage, and opened the amphora, and filled
a cup, which she handed to Amgiad ; and he took it from her, saying within him-
self. Ah ! Ah ! What shall I experience from the owner of this house when he
cometh and seeth me?
His eyes were directed towards the vestibule, and the cup was in his hand, and
while he was in this state, lo, the owner of the house came. He was a mamlouk,
one of the grandees of the city; for he was the King's Chief Equerry; and he
had fitted up that saloon for his pleasure, that his bosom might expand in it, and
that he might there enjoy in private the society of such as he desired ; and on that
day he had sent to a favourite to come to him, and had prepared the apartment for
him. The name of this mamlouk was Bahader. He was liberal-handed, a person
of generosity and beneficence, and charity and obligingness. When he drew near
to the saloon, he found the door open : so he entered by little and little, and, looking
with stretched-forth head, beheld Amgiad and the damsel, with the dish of fruit
before them, and the wine-service. At that moment, Amgiad was holding the wine-
cup, with his eye directed towards the door ; and as soon as his eye met that of the
Amgiad and the Damsel Feasting. (Page 322.)
323
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 325
owner of the house, his countenance turned sallow, and the muscles of his side
quivered. But when Bahader saw that his countenance turned sallow, and his con-
dition became changed, he made a sign to him with his finger upon his mouth, as
though he would say to him. Be silent, and come hither to me. So Amgiad pat
down the cup from his hand, and arose to go to him. The damsel said to him.
Whither goest thou ? And he shook his head, and made a sign to her that he would
be absent but a minute. He then went forth to the vestibule, barefooted: and when
he saw Bahader, he knew that he was the master of the house. He therefore has-
tened to him, and, having kissed his hand, said to him, I conjure thee by Allah,
my master, before thou do me any injury, that thou hear my words. Then he told
him his story from beginning to end, acquainting him with the cause of his having
left his country and royal state, and assuring him that he had not entered the saloon
by his own choice, but that the damsel was the person who had broken the wooden
lock and opened the door and done all these deeds.
When Bahader, therefore, heard his words, and knew that he was the son of a
king, he was moved with sympathy for him, and pitied him, and said. Hear, Am-
giad, my words, and obey me, and I will guarantee thy safety from that which thou
fearest; but if thou disobey me, I will kill thee. So Amgiad replied. Command
me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will never disobey thee ; for I owe my deliverance
to thy humanity. And Bahader said to him. Enter this saloon again, and seat thy-
self in the place where thou wast, and be at peace. I will presently come in to thee.
My name is Bahader. And when I have come in to thee, abuse me and revile me,
and say to me. What is the cause of thy remaining away until this hour? And
accept no excuse from me ; but arise and beat me ; and if thou show pity for me I
will take away thy life. Enter, then, and enjoy thyself; and whatsoever thou de-
sirest of me, thou wilt find it ready before thee immediately. So pass this night as
thou wilt, and to-morrow go thy way. Thus I do to show respect to thee as being a
stranger; for I love the stranger, and respect to him is incumbent on me. — Amgiad,
therefore, kissed his hand, and entered again. His face was now clothed with red
and white ; and as soon as he entered, he said to the damsel, O my mistress, thou
hast gladdened by thy company the place of thy visitation, and this is a blessed
night. The damsel replied. Verily this is wonderful from thee, — thy now displaying
this sociab'leness to me. So he said. By Allah, my mistress, I believed that my
mamlouk Bahader had taken from me some necklaces of jewels, each of which was
worth ten thousand pieces of gold : whereupon I went out just now, reflecting upon
this, and searched for them, and found them in their place ; but I know not why
the mamlouk hath remained away until this hour, and I must punish him. And
the damsel became appeased by these words of Amgiad, and they sported together
and drank and enjoyed themselves, and continued making merry until near sunset.
Bahader then came in to them. He had changed his clothes, girded himself, and
put on his feet a pair of shoes of the kind worn by mamlouks ; and, having saluted,
and kissed the ground, he placed his hands across, and hung down his head towards
the ground, as one acknowledging his guilt. So Amgiad looked at him with the
eye of anger, and said to him. What is the reason of thy delay, most ill-omened
of mamlouks? — my master, he answered, I was busied in washing my clothes,
and knew not that thou wast here ; for my appointed time, and thine, is nightfall,
and not in the day-time. And upon this, Amgiad cried out at him and said to him.
Thou liest, most ill-omened of mamlouks ! By Allah, I must beat thee ! — Then
rising, he extended Bahader upon the floor, and took a stick, and beat him gently.
But the damsel arose, and, having taken the stick from his hand, inflicted upon
Bahader so severe a beating that his tears flowed, and he prayed for relief, and
locked his teeth together. Amgiad called out to her, Do not thus! But she replied.
Let me satisfy my anger with him. Then Amgiad snatched the stick from her, and
pushed her away. So Bahader arose, and wiped away the tears from his face, and
stood awhile waiting upon them; after which he swept the saloon, and lighted tho
326
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
lamps. Meanwhile, the damsel, every time that Bahader came in or went out, re»
viled and cursed him : and Amgiad was angry with her, and said to her. By the
requisitions of Allah (whose name be exalted!) leave my mamlouk; for he is not
accustomed to this.
The Damsel beating Bahader.
They continued eating and drinking, and Bahader remained waiting upon them
until midnight, when he became fatigued with waiting, and by the beating he had
suflPered, and slept in the middle of the saloon, and snored. The damsel then, having
become intoxicated, said to Amgiad, Arise ; take this sword that is hung up here,
and strike off the head of this mamlouk. If thou do it not I will employ means for
thine own destruction. — What hath possessed thee, said Amgiad, that thou wouldst
kill my mamlouk? She answered, The pleasure will not be complete without
putting him to death ; and if thou arise not, I will myself arise and kill him. So
Amgiad said. By the requisitions of Allah I conjure thee that thou do it not. But
she replied, I must do it. And she took the sword, and drew it, and was determined
to kill him. Amgiad, therefore, said within himself, This is a man who hath acted
kindly to us, and protected us, and treated us with beneficence, and hath made him-
self as a mamlouk to me. How should we recompense him by slaughter? Never
shall that be done! — He then said to the damsel. If the killing of my mamlouk is
indispensable, I am more fit to kill him than thou. And, having taken the sword
from her, he raised his hand, and struck the damsel upon her neck, severing her
head from her body ; and her head fell upon the owner of the house : so he awoke
and sat up, and opened his eyes, and found Amgiad standing with the blood-stained
sword in his hand. Then looking towards the damsel, he found her slain. He
therefore inquired of him respecting her case; and Amgiad repeated her words, and
said to him. She refused to do anything but to kill thee : and this is her recompense.
Upon this, Bahader arose, and, kissing the hand of Amgiad, said to him, my
master, would that thou hadst pardoned her ! It now remaineth only to take her
forth immediately, before morning.
Bahader then girded himself, and took the damsel, wrapped her in a cloak, and
put her in a large basket of palm-leaves, and carried her away, saying to Amgiad,
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 327
Thou art a stranger, and knowest not anyone; therefore sit in thy place, and expect
me back at sunrise. If I return to thee, I must do thee great favours, and strive to
obtain intelligence of thy brother ; but if the sun rise and I have not returned to
thee, know that God's decree hath been executed upon me : and peace be on thee ;
and this house shall be thine, with the wealth and stuffs that it containeth. — Having
said this, he carried away the basket, and, going forth from the saloon, passed with
it through the market-streets, and went with it by the way that led to the sea. But
when he had nearly arrived at the sea, he looked aside, and saw that the Judge and
his chief officers had surrounded him. On their recognising him they wondered ;
and they opened the basket, and found in it a murdered woman. So they seized
him, and put him in chains for the rest of the night, until the morning, when they
went up with him, taking with them the basket to the King, and acquainted him
with the case. And when the King knew it, he was violently enraged, and said to
him. Wo to thee! Thus dost thou ever! Thou killest persons and throwest them
into the sea, and takest all their property ! How many murders hast thou committed
before this? — But Bahader hung down his head towards the ground before the
King. And the King cried out at him, and said to him. Wo to thee ! Who killed
this damsel?- — my lord, answered Bahader, I killed her; and there is no strength
nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! And the King was enraged, and gave
orders to hang him. So the executioner descended with him at the King's.command,
and the Judge went down with a crier, who proclaimed through the streets of the
city that the people should come to behold the spectacle of Bahader, the King's
Chief Equerry ; and he conducted him about through the by-streets and market-
streets.
But as to Amgiad, when daylight came and the sun had risen, and Bahader had
not returned to him, he exclaimed. There is no strength nor power but in God, tne
High, the Great! I wonder what hath happened to him ! — And while he was thus
meditating, lo, the crier proclaimed that the people should come to behold the spec-
tacle of Bahader: for they were to hang him at mid-day. So when Amgiad heard
this, he wept, and exclaimed. Verily to God we belong, and verily unto Him we re-
turn ! He hath desired his own destruction on my account, when I am the person
who killed her ! By Allah, never shall this be ! — He then went forth from the
saloon, and closed it, and passed through the midst of the city until he came to Ba-
hader ; whereupon, standing before the Judge, he said to him, my lord, slay not
Bahader: for he is innocent. By Allah, none killed her but myself.
When the Judge, therefore, heard his words, he took him, together with Bahader,
and, going up with them both to the King, acquainted him with that which he had
heard from Amgiad. So the King looked at Amgiad, and said to him. Didst thou
kill the damsel? He answered. Yes. And the King said to him. Tell me the cause
of thy killing her, and inform me truly. He replied, King, a wonderful event
and extraordinary occurrence hath happened unto me : if it were engraved on the
understanding, it would be a lesson to him who would be admonished. He then re-
lated to the King his story, acquainting him with all that had happened to him and
his brother from beginning to end. And the King was filled with the utmost won-
der at hearing it, and said to him, I know thee now to be excusable. But, young
man, he added, wilt thou be to me a Vizier ? He answered him, I hear and obey.
And the King bestowed upon him and upon Bahader magnificent robes of honour,
and gave to Amgiad a handsome mansion, with servants and officers, conferred upon
him all that he required, appointed him pensions and supplies, and ordered him to
search for his brother Assad. So Amgiad took his seat as Vizier, and exercised
authority and administered equity, and invested and deposed, and took and gave.
He also sent the crier through the streets of the city to cry his brother , and for
many days the crier repeated his proclamation in the great thoroughfare-streets and
market-streets ; but heard no tidings of him, nor discovered any trace of him. —
Such was the case of Amgiad.
328 THE TWO PRINCES AMQIAD AND ASSAD.
As to Assad, the Magians continued to torture him night and day, and evening
and morning, for a space of a whole year, until the festival of the Magians drew
near. -Then Bahrain the Magian [the old man who had inveigled Assad into his
house] prepared himself for his voyage, and fitted out for himself a ship, and,
having put Assad into a chest, and locked it upon him, transported him to the
vessel. It happened, at the time of his conveying the chest to the ship, that Amgiad,
in accordance with fate and destiny, was standing amusing himself by gazing at
the eea ; and he looked at the things as the men were transporting them to the ship.
His heart throbbed at the sight, and he ordered his young men to bring him his
horse, and, mounting in the midst of a company of his attendants, repaired to the
sea. There stopping by the ship of the Magian, he commanded those who were
with him to go on board of it and to search it. So they went on board, and searched
the whole of the vessel ; but found in it nothing: and they landed from it, and told
this to Amgiad. He therefore mounted again, and returned to his abode ; and when
he arrived there, and entered the palace, his heart was contracted, and, turning hia
eyes towards a part of the mansion he saw two lines inscribed upon a wall ; and
they were these two verses : —
my friends, if ye are absent from mine eye, from my heart and my mind ye are not.
But ye have left me in severe affliction, and have banished repose from mine eyelid, while ye
sleep:
And when Amgiad read them, he thought upon his brother, and wept.
Bahram the Magian went on board the ship, and called out to the seamen, order-
ing them to make haste in loosing the sails. So they loosed the sails and departed.
They continued their voyage days and nights, every two days taking forth Assad,
arid giving him a scanty supply of food and a little water, until they drew near to
the Mountain of Fire. But a storm of wind then arose against them, and the sea
became boisterous to them, so that the vessel wandered from her course, and, pur-
suing a wrong direction, they came to a city built upon the sea-shore, having a castle
with windows looking over the sea. The ruler of this city was a woman, called the
Queen Margiana. And the captain of the ship said to Bahram, O my master, we
have wandered from our course, and we must enter the port of this city to take rest,
and after that, let God do what He willeth. Bahram replied. Excellent is thy coun-
sel, and according to it I will act. Then the captain said to him. If the Queen send
to put questions to us, what shall be our answer? The Queen Margiana is a faithful
Mahometan ; and if she know that we are Magians, she will seize our vessel and kill
us all. — Bahram answered, I have this Mahometan with us : so we will clothe him
in the attire of mamlouks, and take him forth with us ; and if the Queen see him,
she will imagine him to be a maralouk ; and I will say to her, I am an importer of
mamlouks, a seller and buyer of them; and I had with me many mamlouks; but I
have sold them, and this one only remaineth. — And the captain replied. This pro-
posal is good.
They then arrived at the city, and slackened the sails, and cast the anchors ; and
when the vessels had stayed, lo, the Queen Margiana came down to them, attended
by her troops, and halting by the ship, called out to the captain. He therefore went
on shore to her, and kissed the ground before her, and she said to him. What is in
this thy vessel, and who is with thee? — Queen of the age, he answered, I have
with me a merchant who selleth mamlouks. And she said to him. Bring him hither
to me. And lo, Bahram came forth, with Assad walking behind him in the garb of
a mamlouk ; and when Bahram came up to her, he kissed the ground before her.
She said to him. What is thy business? And he answered her, I am a slave-merchant.
She then looked at Assad, imagining him to be a mamlouk, and said to him. What
is thy name? And, almost suffocated with weeping, he said, My name now, or that
which I had formerly? — Then hast thou two names? she asked. He answered. Yes:
formerly my name was Assad ; but now my name is Motar. And her heart was
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 329
moved with affection for him, and she said to him, Art thou able to ■write? He
answered. Yes. So she handed him an ink-case and a pen and paper, saying to
him. Write something, that I may see it. Accordingly, he wrote these two
verses : —
What resource hath God's servant when destiny pursueth him unaer every circumstance, thou
judger ?
When God casteth him into the deep, hand-bound, and saith to him, Take care, take care, that
thou be not wetted.
And when she saw the paper, she had compassion upon him, and said to Bahram,
Sell to me this mamlouk. He replied, my mistress, I cannot sell him ; for I have
sold all my mamlouks except this one. But the Queen Margiana said, I will posi-
tively take him from thee, either by sale or as a gift. He said to her, I will not sell
him nor give him. She, however, seized him and took him, and, having gone up
with him to the castle, sent to Bahram, saying to him. If thou do not set sail this
night from our city, I will take all thy property, and destroy thy ship. When the
message, therefore, was brought to him, he was grieved excessively, and said. Verily
this voyage hath been unfortunate ! He then arose and prepared himself, and, having
taken all that he desired, waited for the night, to proceed on his voyage, and said to
the seamen, Take your things, and fill your water-skins with water, and set sail with
us at the close of the night. So the seamen betook themselves to perform their
Meanwhile, the Queen Margiana, when she had taken Assad and conducted him
into the castle, opened the windows looking over the sea, and ordered the female
slaves to bring the food. They therefore brought it to her and Assad, and they both
ate. She then ordered them to bring the wine ; and they brought it, and she drank
with Assad. And God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted!)
inspired her with love for Assad ; and she began to fill the cup and to give it to him
to drink until his reason quitted him. After this, he arose, and descended from the
saloon, and, seeing a door open, he went through it and walked on till he came to a
great garden in which were all kinds of fruits and flowers ; and he approached a
fountain that was in the garden, and, laying himself down there upon his back, he
slept, and night overcame him. — Bahram, in the mean time, when the night arrived,
called out to the sailors of the vessel, saying to them, Loose your sails, and proceed
with us on our voyage. They replied, We hear and obey: but wait until we have
filled our water-skins, and then we will loose. The seamen then landed with the
water-skins, and went round about the castle, and finding nothing but the walls of
the garden, they climbed over them, and descended into the garden, and followed
the track that led to the fountain ; and on their arriving at it, they found Assad
lying on his back. They immediately recognised him, and rejoiced at finding him.
So they carried him away, after they had filled their water-skins, leaped down from
the wall, and conveyed him quickly to Bahram the Magian, saying to him. Receive
glad tidings of the accomplishment of thy desire, and of the satisfaction of thy heart :
thy drum hath been been beaten, and thy pipe hath been sounded ; for thy captive,
whom the Queen Margiana took from thee by force, we have found and brought with
us. They then threw him down before him. And when Bahram beheld him,
his heart leaped with joy, and his bosom expanded. He bestowed dresses upon
them, and ordered them to loose the sails quickly. They therefore loosed them, and
proceeded on their voyage to the Mountain of Fire, and continued their course until
the morning.
Now as to the Queen Margiana, after Assad had gone down from her, she remained
a while expecting his return ; and when he came not back to her, she arose and
searched for him ; but found him not. So she lighted the candles, and ordered the
female slaves to seek for him. Then she herself descended, and, seeing the garden
open, she knew that he must have entered it. She therefore went into it, and found
330 THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
his shoes by the side of the fountain ; and she proceeded to search for him through-
out the whole of the garden ; but saw nothing of him. She continued to search for
him about the borders of the garden until the morning, when she inquired respecting
the ship, and they told her that it had set sail in the first third of the night. So she
knew that the crew had taken him with them, and the event grieved her ; she was
violently enraged, and gave orders to fit out immediately ten great ships. She pre-
pared herself, also, for war, and embarked in one of the ten ships ; her troops
embarking with her, equipped with magnificent accoutrements and weapons of war.
They loosed the sails ; and she said to the captains of the ships. When ye have
overtaken the ship of the Magian, ye shall receive from me robes of honour, and
wealth ; but if ye overtake her not, I will kill you every one. The seamen, there-
fore, were inspired with great fear and hope. They proceeded in the ships that day
and the next night, and the second day and the third ; and on the fourth day the
vessel of Bahram the Magian appeared to them ; and that day passed not until the
Queen's ships had surrounded the ship of the Magian. Bahram had just then taken
forth Assad, and beaten him, and was tormenting him, while Assad cried for relief
and deliverance. But he found no creature to relieve or deliver him, and the violent
beating tortured him. And the Magian, while he was tormenting him, looked aside,
and found that the Queen's ships had surrounded his vessel, and encompassed her
as the white of the eye surrounds its black. He made sure of his destruction, and
sighed, and exclaimed. Wo to thee, Assad ! All this hath been occasioned by
thee ! — Then taking him by his hand, he ordered the sailors to throw him into the
sea, saying. By Allah, I will kill thee before mine own death.
Accordingly, the sailors took him up by his hands and feet, and threw him into
the midst of the sea. But God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be
exalted!) desiring his safety and the prolongation of his term of life, permitted that
he should sink, and then rise again ; and he beat about with his hands and feet until
God smoothed his difficulties. Relief came to him, and the waves, striking him,
bore him to a distance from the ship of the Magian, and he reached the shore. So
he landed, scarcely believing in his escape, and when he was upon the shore he took
off his clothes and wrung them, and having spread them out to dry, sat down naked,
weeping for the calamities and captivity that had befallen him. After this he arose,
and put on his clothes ; but knew not whither to go. He ate of the herbs of the
earth and of the fruits of the trees, and drank of the water of the rivers, journeying
by night and day, until he came in sight of a city. And upon this he rejoiced, and
quickened his pace towards the city ; but when he arrived at it, the evening had
overtaken him, and its gate was shut. It was the same city in which he had been a
captive, and to whose King his brother was Vizier. And when Assad saw that its
gate was closed, he returned towards the burial-grounds, where, on arriving, he found
a tomb without a door. So he entered it, and laid himself down to sleep in it, put-
ting his face into his bosom.
Now Bahram the Magian, when the Queen Margiana with her ships overtook him,
defeated her by his artifice and subtlety. He returned in safety towards his city,
and proceeded thither forthwith, full of joy. And passing by the burial-grounds, he
landed from the ship, in accordance with fate and destiny, and walked through the
burial-grounds, and saw that the tomb in which Assad was lying was open. So he
wondered, and said, I must look into this tomb. And when he looked into it, he saw
Assad sleeping there, with his head in his bosom. He therefore looked in his face,
and recognised him, whereupon he said to him. Art thou still living? Then he
took him up, and conveyed him to his house. He had in his house a subterranean
cell, prepared for the torture of Mahometans, and he had a daughter named Bos-
tana : and he put heavy irons upon the feet of Assad, and put him down into that
cell, commissioning his daughter to torture him night and day until he should die.
Having done this, he inflicted upon him. a painful beating, and closed the cell upon
him, and gave the keys to his daughter.
THE TWO PRINCES AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 331
So his daughter Bostana went down to beat him ; but finding him to be an elegant
young man, of sweet countenance, with arched eyebrows and black eyes, affection
for him entered her heart, and she said to him, What is thy name? He answered
her. My name is Assad. And she said to him, Mayest thou be fortunate, and may
thy days be fortunate ! Thou are not deserving of torment, and I know that thou
hast been treated unjustly. — And she proceeded to cheer him by conversation, and
unfastened his irons. Then she asked him respecting the Mahometan religion. And
he informed her that it was the true and right religion, and that our lord Mahomet
was the author of surpassing miracles and manifest signs, and that [the worship of]
Fire injured, instead of benefiting: he acquainted her also with the fundamentals of
Mahometans ; and she yielded to his words. The love of the faith entered her
heart, and God (whose name be exalted !) infused into her bosom an affection for
Assad ; so she pronounced the two professions of the faith, and became one among
the people of felicity. She occupied herself in giving him food and drink, con-
versed and prayed with him, and prepared for him pottages of fowls, until he gained
strength, and his disorders ceased, and he was restored to his former health.
After this, the daughter of Bahram went forth from Assad, and stood at the door ;
and lo, the crier proclaimed and said, Whosoever hath with him a handsome young
man, of such and such a description, and produceth him, he shall have whatever he
demandeth of wealth ; and whosoever hath him in his keeping and denieth it, he
shall be hanged at the door of his house, and his property shall be plundered, and
his dwelling shall be demolished. Now Assad had acquainted Bostana the daughter
of Bahram with all that had happened unto him: so when she heard this, she knew
that he was the person sought. She therefore went in to him, and related to him the
news ; and he came forth, and repaired to the mansion of the Vizier ; and as soon
as he saw the Vizier, he exclaimed. By Allah, verily this Vizier is my brother Am-
giad! Ke went up with the damsel behind him to the palace; and on seeing his
brother Amgiad, he threw himself upon him ; whereupon Amgiad recognised him,
and in like manner threw himself upon him, and they embraced each other. The
mamlouks came around them, and Assad and Amgiad were, for a while, senseless ;
and when they recovered from their fit, Amgiad took his brother and went up with
him to the Sultan, and related to him his story ; upon which, the Sultan ordered him
to plunder the house of Bahram. So the Vizier sent a company of men to do this ;
and they repaired to Bahram's house, and plundered it, and brought up hi» daughter
to the Vizier, who received her with honour. Assad then described to his brother
all the torture that he had suffered, and the acts of kindness that the daughter of
Bahram had done him. Amgiad, therefore, treated her with increased honour.
And after this he related to Assad all that had happened to him with the damsel,
and how he had escaped from being hanged, and had become Vizier. And each of
them then complained to the other of the distress that he had suffered from the
separation of his brother.
The Sultan next caused the Magian to be brought, and commanded to strike off
his head. Bahram said, most excellent King, hast thou determined to kill me?
He answered. Yes. Then said Bahram, Have patience with me a little, King.
And he hung down his head towards the ground, and presently, raising it, made
profession of the faith, and vowed himself a Mahometan to the Sultan. So they
rejoiced at his embracing the Mahometan faith. Then Amgiad and Assad related
to him all that had happened to them ; and he said to them, O my lords, prepare
yourselves to journey, and I will journey with you. And they rejoiced at this, as
they did also at his conversion to the Mahometan faith; but they wept violently.
Bahram, therefore, said to them, my lords, weep not ; for ye shall eventually be
united [with your family], as Neameh and Noam were united. — And what, they
a sked him, happened to Neameh and Noam ? He replied as follows : —
332 THE STORY OF NEAMBH AND NOAM.
THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM.
Persons have related (but God is all-knowing), that there was, in the city of Cufa,
a man who was one of the chiefs of its inhabitants, called Rabia the son of Hatim.
Ho was a man of great wealth, and of prosperous circumstances, and had been
blessed with a son whom he named Neameh. And while he was one day at the
mart of the slave-brokers, he beheld a female slave offered for sale, with a little girl
of surprising beauty and loveliness on her arm. So Rabia made a sign to the slave-
broker, and said to him, For how much are this female slave and her daughter to be
sold? He answered. For fifty pieces of gold. And Rabia said, Write the contract,
and receive the money, and deliver it to her master. He then paid to the slave-
broker the price of the slave, and gave him his brokerage ; and having received the
female slave and her daughter, went home with them. And when his uncle'a
daughter [who was his wife] beheld the female slave, she said to him, O son of my
uncle, what is this female slave ? He answered, I bought her from a desire of pos-
sessing this little-one that is on her arm ; and know thou that, when she hath grown
up, there will be none like her in the countries of the Arabs or foreigners, and none
more lovely than she. And the daughter of his uncle said to her, AVhat is thy name,
slave-girl? She answered, my mistress, my name is Toufek. And what, she
asked, is the name of thy daughter? She answered, Saad. And she replied. Thou
hast spoken truly. Thou art fortunate, and fortunate is he who hath purchased
thee. — She then said, son of my uncle, what name wilt thou give her? — What
thou choosest, he answered. She replied, We will name her Noam. And Rabia
said, There will be no harm in so naming her.
The little Noam was brought up with Neameh' the son of Rabia in one cradle,
and in the same manner they were reared until they arttained the age of ten years;
and each of them was more beautiful than the other. The boy used to say to her,
my sister. And she used to say to him, my brother. Then Rabia addressed
his son Neameh, when they had attained to this age, and said to him, my son,
Noam is not thy sister ; but she is thy slave ; and I bought her for thee when thou
wast in the cradle: so call her not thy sister from this day. — Then if it is so, replied
Neameh to his father, I will marry her. He then went in to his mother, and ac-
quainted her with this : and she said, my son, she is thy slave. Therefore Neameh
the son of Rabia took her as a wife, and loved her. Four years passed over them
while they thus lived, and there was not in Cufa a maid more beautiful than Noam,
nor any sweeter or more elegant. She had grown up, and read the Koran and works
of science, and become skilled in various modes of playing upon sundry instru-
ments: she was distinguished by perfection both in singing and in instrumental
music, so that she surpassed all the people of her age. And while she was sitting
one day with her husband Neameh the son of Rabia in the drinking-chamber, she
took the lute, and tightened its chords, and sang these two verses : —
While thou art my lord, on whose bounty I lire, and a sword by which I may annihilate
adversities,
I shall never need recourse to Zeyd nor to Omar, nor any but thee, if my ways become strait
to me.
And Neameh was greatly delighted. He desired her to sing again ; and when she
had done so, the youth exclaimed, Divinely art thou gifted, Noam.
But while they were passing the most agreeable life, Hejjaj, in his viceregal
mansion, was saying, I must contrive to take away this damsel whose name is Noam,
and send her to the Prince of the Faithful, Abdelmelik the son of Marwan ; for
' In " Neamet Allah" and similar names, the latter word is often dropped. In this case, the
final ( in the former is changed into h.
THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM. 338
there existeth not in his palace her equal, nor is sweeter singing than hers there
hoard. He then called for an old woman, a confidential slave, and said to her. Go
to the house of Rabia, and obtain an interview with the damsel Noam, and contrive
means to take her away : for there existeth not upon the face of the earth her equal.
The old woman assented to the words of Hejjaj ; and when she arose on the fol-
lowing morning, she put on her apparel of wool, hung to her neck a rosary of thou-
sands of beads, and, taking in her hand a walking-staff, and a leather water-bottle
of the manufacture of Yemen, proceeded thither, exclaiming as she went. Extolled
be the perfection of God, and praise be to God, and there is no deity but God, and
God is most Great, and there is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the
Great ! She ceased not her ejaculations in praise of God, and her supplications,
while her heart was full of artifice and fraud, until she arrived at the house of
Neameh the son of Rabia at the time of noon-prayers ; and she knocked at the door;
whereupon the doorkeeper opened to her, and said to her, What dost thou desire ?
She answered, I am a poor woman, one of those who devote themselves to the ser-
vice of God, and the time of noon-prayer hath overtaken me : I desire, therefore, to
pray in this blessed place. The doorkeeper replied, old woman, this is the house
of Neameh the son of Rabia, and it is not a congregational mosque nor a place of
worship. — I know, she rejoined, that there is not a congregational mosque nor a
place of worship like the house of Neameh the son of Rabia, and I am a servant
from the palace of the Prince of the Faithful, who have come forth to worship and
to travel. The doorkeeper, however, said to her. It is impossible for thee to enter.
Many words passed between them, till the old woman clung to him, and said to him.
Shall such a person as myself be forbidden to enter the house of Neameh the son of
Rabia, when I go to the houses of the Emirs and grandees? And Neameh came
forth, and, hearing their words, laughed, and ordered her to come in after him.
So Neameh entered, and the old woman followed him until he went in with her to
Noam ; whereupon the old woman saluted her with the best salutation. And when
she beheld Noam, she wondered at her excessive loveliness, and said to her, my
mistress, I commend thee to the protection of God, who hath made thee and thy lord
to agree in beauty and loveliness. Then the old woman placed herself at the niche,
and betook herself to inclination and prostration and supplication until the day had
passed and the night had come with its thick darkness, when the damsel said, my
mother, give rest to thy feet a while. But the old woman replied, my mistress,
whoso seeketh the world to come, wearieth himself in the present world; and whoso
wearieth not himself in the present world will not attain to the mansions of the just
in the world to come. Then Noam brought the food to the old woman, and said to
her. Eat of my food, and beg propitiousness and mercy for me. The old woman,
however, replied. Verily I am fasting; but as to thee, thou art a young woman, and
eating and drinking and mirth are suitable to thee. God be propitious to thee !
God (whose name be exalted !) hath said. Except him who shall repent, and believe,
and shall work a righteous work. — The damsel continued sitting a while with the
old woman, conversing with her; after which she said to her master, my master,
conjure this old woman to lodge with us for some time, for the impress of devotion
is on her countenance. So he replied, Appropriate to her alone a chamber for
devotion, and let not any one go in to her; and perhaps God (whose perfection be
extolled, and whose name be exalted !) may grant us benefit from the blessing that
attendeth her, and not separate us. And the old woman passed thftt night praying,
and reciting [the Koran], until the morning, when she came to Neameh and Noam,
and, having wished them good morning, said to them, I commend you both to the
care of God. But Noam said to her, Whither goest thou, my mother ? My master
hath ordered me to appropriate to thee alone a chamber in which thou mayest seclude
thyself for devotion. — The old woman replied. May God preserve him, and continue
his favours to you both ; but I desire of you that ye charge the doorkeeper not to
prevent my ingress to you ; and if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !),
334 THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM.
T will go about to the holy places, and supplicate for both of you at the close of my
prayer and devotion every day and night. She then went forth from the house,
while the damsel Noam wept for her separation, not knowing the reason for which
she had come to her.
The old woman repaired to Hejjaj ; and he said to her, What hast thou done?
She answered him, Verily I have beheld the damsel, and seen her to be such that
women have not given birth to any more beautiful than she in her age. And Hejjaj
said to her, If thou accomplish that which I have commanded thee, abundant good
fortune will result to thee from me. She replied, I desire of thee a delay of a whole
month. And he said to her, I grant thee a month's delay. — The old woman then
accustomed herself to frequent the house of Neameh and Noam, who treated her
with increased respect. She continued to pass the morning and evening with them,
every one in the house welcoming her, until, one day, being with the damsel alone,
she said, my mistress, by Allah, when I visit the holy places, I will pray for thee;
and I wish that thou wouldst accompany me, that thou mightest see the sheikhs that
come thither, and they would pray for any blessing for thee that thou desirest. And
the damsel Noam replied. By Allah, my mother, take me with thee. So the old
woman said to her, Ask leave of thy mother-in-law, and I will take thee with me.
The damsel, therefore, said to her mother-in-law, the mother of Neameh, my mis-
tress, ask my master to let me and thee go one day with my mother, the old woman,
to prayer and supplication with the poor devotees in the holy places. And when
Neameh came, and sat down, the old woman went to him and kissed his hand ; but
he forbade her doing so : and she prayed for him, and went forth from the house.
And on the following day she came again, when Neameh was not in the house, and,
accosting the damsel Noam, said to her. We prayed for you yesterday ; but arise
now and amuse thyself, and return before thy master cometh. So the damsel said
to her mother-in-law, I conjure thee by Allah that thou give me permission to go out
with this just woman to enjoy the sight of the saints of God in the holy places, and
I will return quickly, before my master cometh. The mother of Neameh replied, I
fear lest thy master know of it. But the old woman said. By Allah, I will not let
her seat herself upon the ground ; but she shall look while she standeth upon her
feet, and shall not loiter.
She then took the damsel, by this stratagem, and repaired with her to the palace
of Hejjaj, and acquainted him with her arrival, after she had put her in a private
apartment. So Hejjaj came and looked at her, and saw her to be the most lovely of
the people of her age, and such as he had never seen equalled: but when Noam be-
held him, she covered her face. He loft her not until he had summoned his cham-
berlain; and he mounted with him fifty horsemen, and commanded him to take the
damsel upon an excellent and swift dromedary, to repair with her to Damascus, and
to deliver her to the Prince of the Faithful, Abdelmelik the son of Marwan, to whom
he wrote a letter. And he said to the chamberlain. Give him this letter, and bring
from him an answer, and make haste in returning. The chamberlain, therefore,
went, and took the damsel upon a dromedary, and journeyed with her, she remain-
ing all the while with tearful eye on account of the separation of her master, until
they arrived at Damascus. He begged permission to present himself to the Prince
of the Faithful, who gave him permission, and he went in to him, and acquainted
him with the affair of the damsel; whereupon the Caliph appropriated to her ex-
clusively a private apartment.
The Caliph then went into his harem, and, seeing his wife, he said to her, Hejjaj
hath purchased for me a slave-girl from among the daughters of the Kings of Cufa,
for ten thousand pieces of gold, and hath sent to me this letter and her with the
letter. His wife replied. May God increase to thee his bounty! And after this, the
sister of the Caliph went in to the damsel ; and when she beheld her, she said. By
Allah, he is not disappointed in whose abode thou art, were thy price a hundred
thousand pieces of gold ! And the damsel Noam said to her, lovely-faced, to whom
THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM. 335
among the Kings bolongeth this palace, and what city is this ? She answered her,
This is the city of Damascus, and this is the palace of my brother, the Prince of the
Faithful, Abdelmelik the son of Marwan. Then she said to the damsel, It seemeth
that thou knewest not this. — By Allah, my mistress, replied Noam, I had no know-
ledge of it. The sister of the Caliph said. And did not he who sold thee and took
thy price, acquaint thee that the Caliph had bought thee ? And when the damsel
heard these words, her tears flowed, and she lamented, and said within herself, The
stratagem hath been accomplished against me. Then she said within herself. If I
speak, no one will believe me: so I will be silent and be patient; for I know that
the relief of God is near at hand. And she hung down her head in bashfulness, and
her cheeks were reddened by her late travelling and by the sun. The sister of the
Caliph left her that day, and came to her on the following day with linen and with
necklaces of jewels, and attired her.
After this, the Prince of the Faithful came in to her, and seated himself by her
side, and his sister said to him, Look at this damsel in whom God hath united every
charm of beauty and loveliness. So the Caliph said to Noam, Remove the veil from
thy face. But she removed it not, and he saw not her face. He beheld, however,
her wrists, and love for her penetrated into his heart, and he said to his sister, I will
not visit her again until after three days, that she may in the mean time be cheered
by thy conversation. He then arose and went forth from her. And the damsel re-
mained reflecting upon her case, and sighing for her separation from her master
Neameh. And when the next night came, she fell sick of a fever, and ate not nor
drank, and her countenance and her charms became changed. So they acquainted
the Caliph with this, and her case distressed him, and he brought in to her the
physicians and men of penetration ; but no one could discover a remedy for her.
Meanwhile, her master Neameh came to his house, and seating hims-elf upon his
bed, called out, Noam ! But she answered him not. So he arose quickly, and
called out again ; but no one came in to him ; for every female slave in the house
hid herself, in her fear of him. He therefore went to his mother, and found her sit-
ting with her hand upon her cheek ; and he said to her, my mother, where is
Noam ? — my son, she answered, with one who is more trustworthy than myself
respecting her; namely, the just old woman; for she went forth with her to visit
the poor devotees, and to return. — And when, said he, was she accustomed to do
this ? And at what hour did she go forth ? — She answered, She went forth early in
the morning. — And how didst thou give her permission to do so? he asked. — my
son, she answered, it was she who persuaded me to it. And Neameh exclaimed.
There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! He then went
forth from his house, in a state of distraction, and, repairing to the chief of the
police, said to him, Dost thou employ stratagems against me, and take my slave-girl
from my house? I will assuredly journey and complain against thee to the Prince
of the Faithful. — So the chief of the police said, And who took her ? He answered,
An old woman of such and such a description, clad in garments of wool, and having
in her hand a rosary, the beads of which were thousands in number. And the
chief of the police replied. Acquaint me with the old woman, and I will deliver to
thee thy slave-girl. — And who knoweth the old woman? said Neameh. — And who,
said the chief of the police, knoweth what is hidden from the senses, excepting God,
whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted ? But he knew that she
was an artful woman employed by Hejjaj. Neameh then said to him, I look for
my slave-girl from none but thee, and Hejjaj shall decide between me and thee.
And he replied, Go unto whom thou wilt.
So Neameh went to the palace of Hejjaj. His father was one of the chief people
of Cufa : therefore when he arrived at the residence of Hejjaj, the chamberlain
went in and informed him of the case, and Hejjaj said. Bring him in unto me. And
when he stood before him, Hejjaj said to him. What is thy business? Neameh
answprpd him, Such and such things have happened onto me. And Hejjaj said,
336 THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM.
Bring ye to me the chief of the police, and we will order him to search for the old
woman. Accordingly, when the chief of the police came, he said to him, I desire
of thee that thou search for the slave-girl of Neameh the son of Rabia. The chief
of the police replied, None knoweth what is hidden from the senses excepting God,
whose name be exalted ! But Hejjaj said to him. Thou must take with thee horse-
men and seek for the damsel in the roads, and look in the towns. Then looking to-
wards Neameh, he said to him, If thy slave-girl return not, I will give to thee ten
slave-girls from my own mansion, and ten from the mansion of the chief of the
police. And he said to the chief of the police, Go forth to search for the damsel.
So he went forth.
Neameh was full of grief, and despaired of life. He had attained the age of four-
teen years, and there was no hair upon the sides of his face. He wept and lamented,
and separated himself from his house, and ceased not to weep until the morning.
And his father came and said to him, my son, verily Hejjaj hath employed a
stratagem against the damsel, and taken her; but from hour to hour God giveth re-
lief. Still anxieties increased upon Neameh, and he knew not what to say, nor re-
cognised any who came in to him. He remained in a state of infirmity three
months, so that his whole condition became changed, and his father despaired of
him ; and the physicians visited him, and said, There is no cure for him except the
damsel.
But while his father was sitting one day, he heard of a skilful physician, a Per-
sian, whom the people described as possessing a sure knowledge of medicine and
astrology and geomancy. So Rabia called for him ; and when he came, he seated
him by his side, treated him with honour, and said to him. See the state of my son.
And he said to Neameh, Give me thy hand. He therefore gave him his hand, and
the physician felt his joints, and looked in his face, and laughed. Then turning his
eyes towards his father, he said, Thy son hath nothing else than a disease in his
heart. And Rabia replied. Thou hast spoken truly, sage: consider, then, the
case of my son with thy science, and acquaint me with all his circumstances, and
hide from me nothing of his case. So the Persian said. He is engrossed by love for
a damsel, and this damsel is in Balsora or in Damascus, and there is no cure for thy
son but his union with her. And Rabia said. If thou bring them together, thou
shalt receive from me what will make thee happy, and shalt live all thy life in
wealth and delight. — Verily, replied the Persian, this afi"air is soon managed, and
aasy. Then looking towards Neameh, he said to him, No harm will befall thee ;
therefore be of good heart and cheerful eye. And he said to Rabia, Take forth from
thy property four thousand pieces of gold. He therefore took them forth, and de-
livered them to the Persian, who said to him, I desire that thy son journey with me
to Damascus, and if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted!), I will not re-
turn but with the damsel. Then he looked towards the youth, and said to him,
What is thy name? He answered, Neameh. And he said, Neameh, sit, and be
in the care of God (whose name be exalted !): God hath united thee with the dam-
sel. And upon this, he sat up. And the Persian said to him. Fortify thy heart ;
for we will set forth on our journey as on this day: eat, therefore, and drink, and
enjoy thyself, that thou mayest acquire strength for the journey.
The Persian then applied himself to the accomplishment of all that he required,
and received from the father of Neameh as much as made up the sum of ten thou-
sand pieces of gold, with the horses and camels and other beasts that he required to
carry the burdens on the way. After this, Neameh bade farewell to his father and
his mother, and journeyed with the sage to Aleppo. But he learnt no tidings of the
damsel. Then they arrived at Damascus; and after they had remained there three
days, the Persian took a shop, and stocked its shelves with precious China-ware,
and covers, decorated the shelves with gold and costly materials, placed before him
glass bottles containing all kinds of ointments and all kinds of sirops, put round
the bottles cups of crystal, and placed the astrolabe before him. He clad himself
THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND KOAM. 337
in the apparel of sages and physicians, and stationed Neameh before him, having
clad him in a shirt and a garment of silk, and girded him with a siliien kerchief
embroidered with gold. He then said to him, Neameh, thou art from this day my
son ; therefore call me not otherwise than thy father, and I will not call thee but as
son. So Neameh replied, I hear and obey. The people of Damascus now assembled
before the shop of the Persian, gazing at the beauty of Neameh and at the beauty
of the shop and the goods that it contained; and the Persian conversed with Neameh
in the Persian language ; Neameh doing the same with him ; for he knew that lan-
guage, as was usually the case with the sons of the great. The Persian became
celebrated among the people of Damascus, and they began to describe to him their
pains, and he gave them the remedies. He continued to relieve the wants of the
people, and the inhabitants of Damascus flocked to him, his fame spreading through
the city and into the houses of the great.
And while he was sitting one day, lo, an old woman approached him, riding upon
an ass with a stuflFed saddle of brocade adorned with jewels ; and she stopped at
the Persian's shop, and, pulling the ass' bridle, made a sign to the Persian, and
said to him. Hold my hand. So he took her hand, and she alighted from the ass,
and said. Art thou the Persian physician who earnest from Irak? He answered. Yes.
And she said. Know that I have a daughter, and she is sufl"ering from a disease. She
then acquainted him with the symptoms, and he said to her, my mistress, what is
the name of this damsel, that I may calculate her star, and know at what hour the
drinking of the medicine will be suitable to her? — brother of the Persians, she
answered, her name is Noam. And when the Persian heard the name of Noam, he
began to calculate, and to write upon his hand ; and said to her, my mistress, I
will not prescribe for her a remedy until I know from what country she is, on
account of the difference of air; acquaint me, therefore, in what country she was
brought up, and how many years is her age. So the old woman replied, her age is
fourteen years, and the place where she was reared is in the province of Cufa, in
Irak. — And how many months, said the Persian, hath she been in this country?
The old woman answered him, She hath resided in this country but a few months.
And when Neameh heard the words of the old woman, and the name of his slave-
girl, his heart palpitated. The Persian then said to her. Such and such remedies
will be suitable to her. The old woman, therefore, said to him. Give me what thou
hast prescribed, and may the blessing of God (whose name be exalted!) attend it.
And she threw to him ten pieces of gold upon the seat of the shop. So the sage
looked towards Neameh, and ordered him to prepare for her the drugs of which the
remedy was to be composed ; and the old woman began to look at Neameh, and to
say, I invoke God's protection for thee, O my son ! Verily her form is like thine! —
Then she said to the Persian, brother of the Persians, is this thy mamlouk or thy
son ? He answered her, He is my son. Neameh then put the things for her into a
a small box, and taking a paper, wrote upon it these two verses : —
If Noam bestow on me a glance I care not if Soada grant favours, or Jumal confer benefits.
They said to me, Relinquish her, and receive twenty like her. But there is none like her, and
I will not relinquish her.
He put the paper into the little box, and sealed it, and wrote upon its cover, in the
Cufic character, I am Neameh, the son of Rabia of Cufa. Then he placed the little
box before the old woman.
She therefore took it, and having bidden them farewell, departed to the palace of
the Caliph. And when she went up with the things to the damsel, she placed the
little box of medicine before her, saying to her, O my mistress, know that there hath
come unto our city a Persian phj'sician, than whom I have not seen one more ac-
quainted with matters relating to diseases. And I mentioned to him thy name, after
I had informed him of the symptoms of thy complaint; whereupon he knew thy
disease, and prescribed the remedy. Then he gave orders to his son, who packed up
22
838
THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM.
for thee this medicine. And there is not in Damascus any one more lovely, or more
elegant than bis son, nor any more comely than he in apparel. Nor hath any one a
shop like his shop. — So she took the little box, and saw, written upon its cover, the
name of her master and the name of his father. And when she saw this, her com-
plexion changed, and she said, There is no doubt but that the owner of the shop hath
come on my account. Then she said to the old won)an. Describe to me this young
man. And she replied, His name is Neameh, and upon his right eyebrow is a scar;
he is clad in costly apparel, and is endowed with consummate beauty. The damsel
then said. Hand me the medicine, and may it be attended with the blessing of God
(whose name be exalted !), and his aid. And she took the medicine and swallowed
it, laughing, and said to the old woman. Verily, it is blessed medicine. And after
this, she searched in the little box, and saw the paper. She therefore opened it and
read it ; and when she understood its meaning, she felt assured that the writer
was her master ; so her soul was cheered and she rejoiced ; and when the old woman
saw that she laughed, she said to her. Verily this is a blessed day. Noam then said,
//
.'4v^:S^%
the sight i)f Neanieh's name
good friend, I desire food and beverage. And the old woman said to the female
slaves, Bring the tables and the dainty viands to your mistress. Accordingly they
brought to her the viands, and she sat to eat. And lo, Abdelmelik the son of Mar-
wan ciime in to them, and, seeing the damsel sitting and eating the repast, he re-
joiced. And the confidential slave said, Prince of the Faithful, may the health
of thy slave-girl Noam rejoice thee: for there hath arrived at this city a physician,
than whom I have seen none more acquainted with diseases and their remedies ; and
1 brought her some medicine from him, and after she had taken of it once, health
returned to her, Prince of the Faithful. Upon this, the Prince of the Faithful
said, Take a thousand pieces of gold, and apply thyself to means for her complete
restoration.
He then went forth, rejoicing at the damsel's recovery; and the old woman re-
paired to the shop of the Persian with the thousand pieces of gold, and gave them
to him, telling hira that she was a female slave of the Caliph. And she handed to
him a paper which Noam had written. So the Persian took it, and handed it to
Neameh, who, as soon as he saw it, knew her handwriting, and fell down in a
Bwoon ; and when he recovered, he opened the paper, and found written in it, —
From the slave-girl despoiled of her happiness, the infatuated in her mind, the
THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM. 339
separated from the beloved of her heart.— To proceed. Your letter hath reached
me, and expanded the bosom, and rejoiced the heart.
When Neameh read this letter, his eyes poured forth tears. So the old woman
said to him. What maketh thee weep, my son ? May God never make thine eye
to shed tears ! — And the Persian said, my mistress. How can my son refrain from
weeping, when he is the master of this slave-girl, Neameh the son of Rabia of Cufa,
and when the health of this damsel dependeth upon seeing him, and she hath no
disease but the love that she beareth him ? Take thou then, my mistress (he con-
tinued), these thousand pieces of gold for thyself, and thou shalt receive from me
more than that : and look upon us with the eye of mercy ; for we know not any
means of rectifying this affair but through thee. — So she said to Neameh, Art thou
her master? He answered. Yes. And she said. Thou hast spoken truth; for she
ceased not to mention thee. Neameh therefore acquainted her with what bad hap-
pened to him from first to last ; and the old woman said, youth, thou canst not
obtain an interview with her but through my means.
She then mounted, and returned immediately, and, going in to the damsel, looked
in her face, and laughed, and said to her. It beoometh thee, my daughter, to weep
and to fall sick on account of the separation of thy master, Neameh the son of Rabia
of Cufa. So Noam said. The veil hath been removed unto thee, and the truth hath
been revealed to thee. And the old woman replied. Let thy soul be happy and thy
bosom dilate ; for, by Allah, I will unite you both, though the loss of my life be the
consequence of it.
Then, returning to Neameh, she said to him, I went back to the damsel, and had
an interview with her, and found her to have a longing desire for thee, greater than
that which thou feelest for her; for the Prince of the Faithful desireth to visit her,
and she refuseth to receive him. Now if thou have a firm heart, and strength of
mind, I will bring you together, and expose myself to peril in your cause, and con-
trive a stratagem and employ an artifice by which to introduce thee into the palace
of the Prince of the Faithful, that thou mayest have an interview with the damsel;
for she cannot go forth. — So Neameh replied, May Allah recompense thee well !
Then she bade him farewell, and repaired to the damsel, and said to her. Verily the
soul of thy master departeth by reason of his love for thee, and he desireth an in-
terview with thee. What, then, sayest thou on this matter? — Noam answered. And
I am in the same state: my soul departeth, and I desire an interview with him.
Upon this, therefore, the old woman took a wrapper containing female ornaments
and a suit of women's apparel, and, repairing again to Neameh, said to him. Come
into some place with me alone. So he went with her into an apartment behind the
shop ; and she dyed the ends of his fingers with henna, decked his wrists [with
bracelets], decorated his hair [with the ornamented strings of silk], and clad him in
the apparel of a slave-girl, adorning him with the best of the things with which
female slaves are decked, so that he appeared like one of the black-eyed virgins of
Paradise. And when the old woman beheld him in this state, she exclaimed.
Blessed be Allah, the best of Creators! By Allah, thou art handsomer than the
damsel ! — She then said to him. Walk, and incline the left shoulder forward, and
the right backward, and move thy hips fiom side to side. So he walked before her
as she directed him ; and when she saw that he knew the gait of women, she said
to him. Wait until I come to thee next night, if it be the will of God (whose name
be exalted !), and then I will take thee and conduct thee into the palace ; and when
thou seest the chamberlains and servants, be bold and stoop thy head, and speak not
with any one. I will prevent their speaking to thee ; and in God I trust for
success.
Accordingly, when the following morning came, the old woman returned to him,
and took him and went up with him to the palace. She entered before him, and he
followed her steps ; but the chamberlain would have prevented his entering; so she
said to him, most ill-omened of slaves, she is the slave-girl of Noam, the concu-
340 THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM.
bine of the Prince of the Faithful, and how dost thou presume to prevent her enter*
ing? She then said, Enter, slave-girl. He therefore entered with the old woman ;
and they proceeded without stopping to the door which opened into the court of the
palace, when the old woman said to him, Neameh, strengthen thyself, and fortify
thy heart, and enter the palace ; then turn to thy left, and count five doors, and
enter the sixth door; for that is the door of the place prepared for thee ; and fear
not if any one address thee ; but do not speak with him. And she proceeded with
him until they arrived at the doors, when the chamberlain who was commissioned
to guard those doors accosted her, and said to her. Who is this slave-girl ? The old
woman answered him, Our mistress desireth to purchase her. The eunuch replied,
No one entereth without the permission of the Prince of the Faithful ; return with
her, therefore ; for I will not suffer her to enter, as I have been commanded to do
thus. — great chamberlain, rejoined the confidential slave, where is thy reason ?
Verily Noam, the Caliph's slave-girl, to whom his heart is devoted, hath recovered
her health, and the Prince of the Faithful scarce believeth her recovery, and she
desireth to purchase this damsel ; therefore prevent not her entering, lest it be told
her that thou hast done so, and she be enraged against thee ; for if she be incensed
against thee she will cause thy head to be struck off. Then she said. Enter, slave-
girl, and attend not to his words, and inform not thy mistress that the chamberlain
opposed thine entering.
So Neameh stooped his head, and entered, and designed to turn to his left; but he
mistook, and turned to his right; and he meant to count five doors, and to enter the
sixth ; but he counted six, and entered the seventh. And when he had entered this
door, he saw a place furnished with brocade; its walls were hung with curtains of
silk worked with gold ; and in it were perfuming-vessels with aloes-wood and am-
bergris and strong-scented musk ; and he saw a sofa at the upper end, furnished with
brocade. Neameh, therefore, seated himself upon it, not knowing what was decreed
him in the secret purpose of God: and as he was sitting reflecting upon his case, lo,
the sister of the Prince of the Faithful came in to him, attended by her maid.
Seeing the youth sitting there, she imagined him to be a slave-girl, so she advanced
to him, and said to him, Who art thou, slave-girl, and what is thy story, and what
is the reason of thine entering this place? But Neameh spoke not, nor returned
her any answer. She then said, slave-girl, if thou be one of the concubines of
my brother, and he hath been incensed against thee, I will conciliate his favours
towards thee. But Neameh still returned her no answer. And upon this she said
to her maid. Stand at the door of the chamber, and suffer no one to enter. Then she
approached him, and, observing his loveliness, said, O damsel, inform me who thou
art, and what is thy name, and what is the reason of thine entering hither; for I
have never before seen thee in our palace. Neameh, however, returned her no
answer. And thereupon the sister of the King was angry, and put her hand upon
Nearaeh's bosom ; and, finding that it was not formed like that of a female, she was
about to take off his outer clothes, that she might discover who he was. So Neameh
said to her, my mistress, I am a mamlouk, and do thou purchase me : I implore
thy protection: then grant it me. And she said, No harm shall befall thee. Who,
then, art thou, and who admitted thee into this my chamber? — Neameh answered
her, I, Queen, am known by the name of Neameh the son of Rabia of Cufa, and
I have exposed my life to peril for the sake of my slave-girl Noam, whom Hejjaj,
having employed a stratagem against her, hath taken and sent hither. And she
said to him again. No harm shall befall thee. Then calling to her maid, she said
to her. Go to the private chamber of Noam.
Now the old woman had gone to the chamber of Noam, and said to her, Hath thy
master come to thee? She answered, No, by Allah. So the old woman said, Pro-
bably he hath made a mistake, and entered some other chamber than thine, and
missed his way to thine apartment. And Noam exclaimed, There is no strength nor
power but in God, the High, the Great. Our appointed term hath expired, and we
THE STORY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM. 341
perish ! — They then sat together reflecting, and while they were in this state, lo, the
maid of the Caliph's sister came in to them, and, having saluted Noam, said to her,
My mistress summoneth thee to her entertainment. Noam therefore replied, I hear
and obey. And the old woman said. Perhaps thy master is with the sister of the
Caliph, and the veil hath been removed. Noam now rose immediately, and pro-
ceeded until she went in to the Caliph's sister, whereupon the latter said to her.
This is thy master who is sitting with me, and it seemeth that he hath mistaken the
place; but thou hast nothing to fear, nor hath he, if it be the will of God (whose
name be exalted!). And when Noam heard these words from the sister of the Ca-
liph, her soul became tranquillized. She advanced to her master, Neameh, and
when he beheld her he rose to her. Each of them pressed the other to the bosom.
and they both fell down senseless. And when they recovered, the sister of the Ca-
liph said to them, Seat yourselves, that we may contrive means of deliverance from
this predicament into which we have fallen. So they both replied, We hear and
obey; and it is thine to command. And she said. By Allah, no evil shall ever befall
you from us. Then she said to her maid. Bring the repast and the beverage. She
therefore brought them. And they ate as much as sufBced them ; after which, they
sat drinking. The cups circulated among them, and their sorrows quitted them ;
but Neameh said, Would that I knew what will happen after this ! The sister of
the Caliph then said to him, Neameh, dost thou love thy slave-girl Noam ? He
answered her, my mistress, verily it is the love of her that hath placed me in the
state of peril of my life in which I now am. And she said to Noam, Noam, dost
thou love thy master Neameh ? — my mistress, she answered, verily it is the love
of him that hath wasted my body, and changed my whole condition. And the Ca-
liph's sister replied, By Allah, ye love each other, and may the person who would
separate you cease to exist! Let your eyes, then, be cheerful, and your souls be
happy! — So at this they rejoiced.
Then Noam demanded a lute, and they brought it to her, and she took it and
tuned it, and delighted her hearers with the sounds she produced. And she handed
the lute to her master Neameh, saying to him. Sing to us some verses. So he took
the lute and tuned it, and having struck some joy-exciting notes, sang. And when
he had finished his song, Noam filled for him a cup, and handed it to him. He
therefore took it and drank it; and then filled another cup, which he handed to the
sister of the Caliph, who drank it, and took the lute, and, having tuned its strings,
sang this couplet : —
Sorrow and mourning reside in my heart, and violent ardour frequenteth my bosom :
The wasting of my body hath become conspicuous, and my frame is rendered infirm by do-
sire.
She then handed the lute to Neameh the son of Rabia, who took it and tuned its
strings, and sang this other couplet: —
thou to whom I gave my soul, and who hast tortured it, and from whom I would liberate it,
but could not !
Grant the lover a remedy to save him from destruction, before he dieth ; for this is his last
breath !
They continued singing verses, and drinking to the melodious sounds of the chords,
full of delight and cheerfulness, and joy and happiness; and while they were in this
state, lo, the Prince of the Faithful came in to them. As soon as they beheld him,
they rose to him, and kissed the ground before him ; and he looked at Noam, who
had the lute in her hand, and said, Noam, praise be to God who hath dispelled
from thee thy affliction and pain I Then looking towards Neameh, who was still in
the state already described, he said [to his sister], my sister, who is this damsel
that is by the side of Noam ? His sister answered him, Prince of the Faithful,
thou hast a female slave among those designed for thy concubines, who is a cheering
342 THE STOEY OF NEAMEH AND NOAM.
companicn, and Noam doth not eat or drink unless she is with her. — By Allah the
Great, said the Caliph, verily she is comely as Noam, and to-morrow I will appoint
her a separate apartment by the side of Noam's, and send forth for her the furniture
and linen, and I will send to her everything that is suitable to her, in honour to
Noam. And the sister of the Caliph demanded the food, and she placed it before
her brother, who ate, and remained sitting in their company. He then filled a cup,
and made a sign to Noam that she should sing him some verses ; whereupon she took
the lute, after she had drunk two cups, and sang this couplet : —
When my cup-companion hath given me to drink again and again, three fermenting cups,
I drag my skirts all the night in pride, as though I were thy prince, Prince of the Faithful.
And the Prince of the Faithful was delighted, and he filled another cup, and handed
it to Noam, commanding her to sing again. And when the Caliph heard the song
of Noam, he said to her, Divinely art thou gifted, Noam ! How eloquent is thy
tongue, and how manifest is the perspicuity of thy language !
They thus passed their time in joy and happiness until midnight, when the sister
of the Caliph said. Hear, Prince of the Faithful. I have seen, in books, a story
of a certain person of rank. — And what is that story? said the Caliph. His sister
answered him, Know, Prince of the Faithful, that there was in the city of Cufa,
a youth named Neameh the son of Rabia ; and he had a slave-girl whom he loved
and who loved him. She had been brought up with him in the same bed ; and when
they both grew up, and mutual love took possession of them, fortune smote them
with its adversities, and afflicted them with its calamities, and decreed their separa-
tion. The slanderers employed a stratagem against her, until she came forth from
his house, and they took her by stealth from the place of his residence. Then the
person who stole her sold her to one of the Kings for ten thousand pieces of gold.
Now the slave-girl had the same love for her master as he had for her: so he quitted
his family and his house, and journeyed to seek for her, and devised means for ob-
taining a meeting with her, He continued separated from his family and his home,
and exposed himself to peril, devoting his soul to the cause, until he obtained an
interview with his slave-girl. But when he had come to her, they had scarcely sat
down, when the King who had purchased her from the person who stole her came
in to them, and hastily ordered that they should be put to death ; not acting equi-
tably, nor granting them any delay in his sentence. What, then, sayest thou,
Prince of the Faithful, respecting the want of equity in this King? — The Prince of
the Faithful answered, Verily this was a wonderful thing, and it was fit that this
King should pardon when he was able to punish ; for it was incumbent on him to
regard, in his conduct to them, three things: the first, that they were bound by
mutual love : and the second, that they were in his abode, and in his power ; and
the third, that it becometh the King to be deliberate in judging other people; and
how much more so, then, in the case in which he is himself concerned ? This King,
therefore, did a deed not like the actions of Kings. — Then his sister said to him,
my brother, by the King of the heavens and the earth, I beg that thou order Noam
to sing, and that thou listen to that which she shall sing. So he said, Noam, sing
to me. And, with charming modulations, she sang these verses: —
Fortune was treacherous, and ever hath it been so, smiting down hearts, and kindling solici-
tudes,
And separating lovers after their union, so that thou seest the tears flow in torrents down
their cheeks.
They were, and I was with them, and my life was delightful, and fortune frequently brought
us together.
T will therefore pour forth blood with my tears in my grief for thy loss nights and days.
And when the Prince of the Faithful heard these verses, he was moved with exces-
Bive delight.
AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 343
His sister then said to him, my brother, he who passeth a sentence upon him-
self must fulfil it, and act as he hath said ; and thou hast passed a sentence upon
thyself by this decision. And she said, Neameh, stand upon thy feet ; and so
stand thou, Noam. So they both stood up. And the sister of the Caliph said,
Prince of the Faithful, this person who is standing here is the stolen Noam, whom
Hejjaj the son of Yoosuf-el-Thakafi stole, and sent to thee, lying in that which he
asserted in his letter ; namely, that he had purchased her for ten thousand pieces of
gold. And this person standing here is Neameh the son of Rabia, her master. And
1 beseech thee by the honour of thy pure forefathers that thou forgive them, and
restore them one to the other, that thou mayest acquire a recompense on their
account ; for they are in thy power, and have eaten of thy food and drunk of thy
beverage. I am the intercessor for them, and beg of thee the present of their lives.
And upon this the Caliph said, Thou hast spoken truly ; I passed that sentence,
and I pass not a sentence and revoke it. He then said, Noam, is this thy master?
She answered him. Yes, Prince of the Faithful. And he said. No harm shall be-
fall either of you; for I yield you up one to another. Then he said, Neameh, and
how knowest thou her situation, and who described to thee this place ? — Prince of
the Faithful, he answered, hear my story, and listen to my tale ; for by thy pure
forefathers I will not conceal from thee anything. And he related to him the whole
'of his affair, telling him how the Persian sage had acted with him, and what the old
woman had done, and how she had brought him into the palace, and he had mis-
taken the doors. And the Caliph wondered at this extremely. He then said, Bring
hither to me the Persian. So they brought him before him ; and he appointed him
to be of his chief officers, bestowed upon him robes of honour, and commanded that
a handsome present should be given to him, saying. Him who hath thus managed, it
is incumbent on us to make one of our chief officers. The Caliph also treated with
beneficence Neameh and Noam, bestowing favours upon them and upon the confi-
dential slave ; and Neameh and Noam remained with him seven days in happiness
and delight, living a most pleasant life. Then Neameh begged permission of him
to depart with his slave-girl, and he gave them permission to depart to Cufa.
Accordingly they set forth on their journey, and Neameh was united again with his
father and his mother, and they enjoyed the most happy life, until they were visited
by the terminator of delights and the separator of companions.
CONCLUSION OF THE STORY OF AMGIAD AND ASSAD, ETC.
When Amgiad and Assad heard this story from Bahram, they wondered at it
extremely. They passed the next night, and when the following morning came,
they mounted, and desired to go to the King. So they asked permission to enter,
and he gave it them: and when they went in, he received them with honour, and
they sat conversing.
But while they were thus sitting, lo, the people of the city cried out, and vocife-
rated, one to another, calling for help ; and the chamberlain came in to the King, and
said to him, Some King hath alighted with his troops before our city, and they are
with drawn swords, and we know not what is their purpose. The King therefore
acquainted his Vizier Amgiad and his brother Assad with that which he had heard
from the chamberlain ; and Amgiad said, I will go forth to him, and ascertain the
cause of his coming. So Amgiad went out from the city, and found the King
attended by numerous troops and mounted mamlouks. And when they saw him,
they knew that he was an envoy from the King of the city. They therefore took
him and brought him before the Sultan ; and when he came into his presence, he
kissed the ground before him ; and lo, the [supposed] King was a woman, with her
face covered with a litham. And she said. Know that I have nothing to demand of
you in this city but a beardless mamlouk, and if I find him with you, no harm shall
344 AMGIAD AND ASSAD.
befall you, but if I find him not, a fierce slaughter shall ensue between me and
you : for I have come for no other purpose than to seek him. Amgiad therefore
said, Queen, what is the description of this mamlouk, and what is his story, and
what is his name? She answered. His name is Assad, and ray name is Margiana ;
and this mamlouk came to me in the company of B.ihram the Magian, who refused
to sell him: so I took him from him by force; but he fell upon him and took him
away from me in the night by stealth : and as to the description of his person, it is
of such and such kind. And when Amgiad heard this, he knew that he was his
brother Assad. He therefore said to her, Queen of the age, praise be to God who
hath brought us relief! Verily this mamlouk is my brother. — He then related to
her his story, and told her what had happened to them in the land of exile,
acquainting her also with the cause of their departure from the Ebony Islands ;
whereat the Queen Margiana wondered ; and she rejoiced at finding Assad, and
bestowed a robe of honour upon his brother Amgiad. After this Amgiad returned
to the King, and informed him of what had occurred ; whereupon they all rejoiced.
The King then descended with Amgiad and Assad, to repair to the Queen ; and
when they went in to her they sat and conversed.
And as they were so engaged, lo, the dust rose until it covered the surrounding
tracts, and after a while it subsided, and discovered numerous forces, like the swell-
ing sea, equipped with accoutrements and arms ; and they approached the city, and
then surrounding it as the ring surrounds the little finger, they drew their swords.
Upon this, Amgiad and Assad said. Verily unto God we belong, and verily unto him
we return ! What is this great army ? Doubtless it is an enemy ; and if we make
not an alliance with this Queen Margiana to contend with them, they take the city
from us and slay us ; and we have no resource but to go forth to them and ascertain
wherefore they have come. — Then Amgiad arose, and passed from the gate of the
city by the army of the Queen Margiana: and when he came to the second army,
be found it to be that of his grandfather the King Gaiour, the fither of his mother
the Queen Badoura. So when he entered into his presence, he kissed the ground
before him, and delivered to him the message: whereupon the King said. My name
is the King Gaiour, and I have come journeying forth, fortune having afilicted me
by the loss of my daughter Badoura; for she quitted me, and returned not to me,
and I have heard no tidings of her, nor of her husband Camaralzaman. Have ye,
then, any tidings of them ? — And Amgiad, on hearing this, hung down his head
for a while towards the ground, reflecting, until he felt convinced that this was his
grandfather, the father of his mother. Then raising his head, he kissed the ground
before him, and informed him that he was the son of his daughter Badoura. And
as soon as the King heard that he was the son of his daughter, he threw himself
upon him, and they both began to weep. The King Gaiour exclaimed. Praise be to
God, O my son, that He hath preserved thee, and that I have met with thee! And
Amgiad acquainted him that his daughter Badoura was well, and also his father
Camaralzaman, telling him that they were in a city called the city of the Ebony
Island. He informed him, also, that Camaralzaman, his father, had been incensed
against him and his brother, and had given orders to slay them, and that the
Treasurer had been moved with pity for them, and left them without putting them
to death. And upon this, the King Gaiour said, I will return with thee and thy
brother to thy father, and reconcile you, and remain with you. So Amgiad kissed
the ground before him. Then the King Gaiour bestowed a robe of honour upon
Amgiad, his daughter's son ; and he returned smiling to the King of the city, and
icquainted him with the afl^air of the King Gaiour. And he wondered at this
extremely. He sent to the King Gaiour the offerings of hospitality, horses and
camels and sheep and provender and other things ; and the like he sent forth to the
Queen Margiana, informing her of what had happened : whereupon she said, I will
accompany you with my troops, and will endeavour to maintain peace.
And while they were thus circumstanced, lo, again a dust arose until it overspread
Amgiad Approaching the King. (Page 343.)
345
AMGIAD AND ASSAD. 847
the surrounding tracts, and the day became black from it. They heard beneath if
cries and vociferations, and the neighing of horses, and beheld swords glittering, and
lances uplifted. And when this army approached the city and saw the two other
armies, they beat the drums. At the sight of this, the King of the city exclaimed,
This is none other than a blessed day ! Praise be to God who hath caused us to
make peace with these two armies ; and if it be the will of God, He will give us
peace with this other army also. — He then said, Amgiad, go forth, thou and thy
brother Assad, and learn ye for us the occasion of the coming of these troops ; for
they are a vast army : I have never seen any more so. Accordingly Amgiad and
his brother Assad went forth. The King having closed the gate of the city, in his
fear of the troops that surrounded it, they opened it, and the two brothers proceeded
until they arrived at the army that had just come, when they found it to be the army
of the King of the Ebony Islands, and with it was their father Camaralzaman [for
he had been informed that they had not been put to death]. As soon as they saw
him, they kissed the ground before him, and wept; and when Camaralzaman be-
held them, he threw himself upon them, weeping violently, and excused himself to
them, and pressed them to his bosom. He then acquainted them with the terrible
desolation that he had suffered from their separation ; and Amgiad and Assad in-
formed him that the King Gaiour had come to them. So Camaralzaman mounted
with his chief oflBcers, and, taking his two sons with him, they proceeded until they
came near to the army of the King Gaiour; when one of them went forward to that
king, and informed him that Camaralzaman had arrived. He therefore came forth
to receive him, and they met, and wondered at these events, how they had met in
that place. The people of the city prepared for them banquets, with varieties of
viands and sweetmeats, and presented to them the horses and camels and other
offerings of hospitality, together with the provender and whatever else the troops
required.
And again, while they were thus occupied, a dust rose until it overspread the sur-
rounding tracts, and the earth shook under the horses ; the drums sounded like
stormy winds, and the whole army was equipped with weapons and coats of mail:
all the soldiers were clad in black, and in the midst of them was a very old man,
whose chin was depressed to his bosom, and who was attired in black clothing.
When the people of the city beheld these prodigious forces, the sovereign of the city
said to the other Kings, Praise be to God that ye assembled, by the permission of
God (whose name be exalted I), in one day, and proved to be all friends ! What is
this numerous army that hath covered the tracts before us? — The other kings re-
plied. Fear it not; for we are three monarchs. and each of us hath numerous troops:
so, if they be enemies, we will unite with thee and engage them : and so would we
if they were augmented by three times as many as they are. And while they were
thus conversing, lo, an envoy from those forces approached on his way to the city.
So they brought him before Camaralzaman and the King Gaiour and the Queen
Margiana and the King of the city ; and he kissed the ground, and said. This King
is from the regions of Ajam : he hath lost his scm for a period of years, and is
searching about for him in the countries: if, then, he find him among you, no harm
shall befall you ; but if he find him not, war ensueth between him and you, and he
layeth waste your city. Camaralzaman replied. He will not attain to this object.
But what, he asked, is he called in the regions of Ajam? The envoy answered. He
is called the King Shah-Zaman, the lord of the Islands of Khaledan ; and he hath
collected this army in the tracts through which he hath passed in searching about
for his son. And when Camaralzaman heard the words of the envoy, he uttered a
loud cry, and fell down in a swoon, and he remained a long time in his fit. Then
recovering, he wept violently, and said to Amgiad and Assad and their chief officers,
Go, my sons, with the envoy, and salute your grandfather, my father the King Shah-
Zaman, and give him the glad tidings of my being here ; for he is mourning for my
loss and to the present time wearing black raiment for my sake, lie then related
348 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
to the Kings who were present all that had happened to him in the days of his youth ;
and they all wondered at it. After this they went down with Camaralzaman, and
repaired to his father. Camaralzaman saluted his father, and they embraced each
other, and fell down senseless from the excess of their joy ; and when they recovered,
the King Shah-Zaman related to his son all that had happened to him. Then the
other Kings saluted him.
They restored Margiana to her country, after they had married her to Assad, and
charged her that she should not cease to correspond with them. They married
Amgiad to Bostana the daughter of Bahram: and all of them journeyed to the City
of Ebony, where Camaralzaman had a private interview with his father-in-law, and
acquainted him with all that had happened to him, and how he had met with his
sous, at which he rejoiced, and congratulated him on his safety. Then the King
Gaiour, the father of the Queen Badoura, went in to his daughter, and saluted her,
and quenched the ardour of his longing desire by her society, and they remained in
the City of Ebony a whole month ; after which, the King Gaiour journeyed with
his daughter and attendants to his own country, taking Amgiad with them. And
when he had become settled again in his kingdom, he seated Amgiad to govern in
the place of his grandfather. As to Camaralzaman, he seated his son Assad to
govern in his stead in the city of his grandfather Armanos ; his grandfather approv-
ing it. Then Camaralzaman prepared himself, and journeyed with his father the
King Shah-Zaman until he arrived at the Islands of Khaledan. The city was de-
corated fur him, and the drums continued to beat for a whole month in celebration
of the happy event, and Camaralzaman sat governing in the place of his father,
until they were visited by the terminator of delights and by the separator of com-
panions. — And God is all-knowing.
When Sheherazade had finished this tale, the King Shahriar exclaimed, She-
herazade, verily this story is exceedingly wonderful ! — King, she replied, it is not
more wonderful than the story of Aladdin Abushamat. The King said, And what
J8 that story ? And she related it thus : —
CHAPTER XI.
Commencing with part of the Two Hundred and Forty-ninth Night, and ending with part of the
Two Hundred and Sixty-ninth.
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
It hath been told me, happy King, that there was, in ancient times, a merchant
in Cairo, named Shemseddin. He was one of the best and the most veracious in
speech of all the merchants, and was possessor of servants and other dependants,
and male black slaves, and female slaves, and mamlouks, and of great wealth, and
was Syndic of the merchants in Cairo. And there resided with him a wife whom he
loved, and who loved him: but he had lived with her forty years, and had not been
blessed with a daughter nor with a son by her. And he sat one day in his shop,
and saw the other merchants, every one of them having a son, or two sons, and the
greater number of these sons were sitting in shops like their fathers. That day was
Friday: so this merchant entered the bath, and performed the ablution of Friday;
and when he came forth [from the inner apartment], he took the barber's looking-
THE STOKY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 349
glass, and, looking at his face in it, said, I testify that there is no deity but God, and
I testify that Mahomet is God's Apostle. He then looked at his beard, and saw that
the white eclipsed the black ; and he reflected that hoariness was the monitor of
death.
Now his wife knew the time of his coming, and she used to wash and prepare her-
self to receive him ; and when he came home to her that day, she said to him. Good
evening: — but he replied, I have seen no good. She had said to the slave-girl, Bring
the supper-table. So she brought the repast; and the merchant's wife said to him,
Sup, my master. — I will not eat anything, he replied. And he turned away his
face from the table. She therefore said to him, What is the reason of this, and what
hath grieved thee? He answered her. Thou art the cause of my grief. — Wherefore?
she asked. And he answered her, When I opened my shop this day, I saw that
every one of the merchants had a son, or two sons, and most of the sons were sitting
in the shops like their fathers ; whereupon I said within myself, Verily he who took
thy father will not leave thee. And when I first visited thee (he continued), thou
madest me swear that I would not take another wife in addition to thee, nor take an
Abyssinian nor a Greek nor any other slave-girl as a concubine: and thou art barren.
— But his wife reproved him in such a manner that he passed the night and arose
in the morning repenting that he had reproached her, and she also repented that she
had reproached him. And soon after this, his wife informed him that his wish was
likely to be accomplished.
The son was born, and the midwife charmed him by repeating the names of Ma-
homet and Ali, and she pronounced in his ear the tecbir and the adan,' and wrapped
liim up and gave him to his mother, who nursed him, and he took his nourishment
until he was satiated, and slept. The midwife remained with them three days, until
they had made the sweetmeat to distribute on the seventh day; and then they
sprinkled the salt for the infant. And the merchant went in and congratulated his
wife on her safety, and said to her, Where is God's deposit? Whereupon she pre-
sented to him an infant of surprising loveliness, the work of the Ever-present
Governor. He was an infant of seven days ; but he who beheld him would say that
he was a child a year old ; and the merchant looked in his face, and saw that it was
like a shining full moon, with moles upon the cheeks. He said to his wife, what
hast thou named him ? And she answered, Were it a girl, I had named her ; but
this is a boy: so no one shall name him but thyself. The people of that age used to
name their children from an omen; and while they were consulting upon the name
' Pious ejaculationa.
350: THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
of the merchant's son, lo, one said to his conipiinion, my master Aladdin. So the
merchant said to his wife. We will name him Aladdin Abushamat. He com-
missioned the nurses to rear him, and the child drank the milk for two years; after
which they weaned him, and he grew up, and walked upon the floor. And when he
had attained the age of seven years, they put him in a chamber beneath a trap-door,
fearing the influence of the eye upon him, and his father said. This boy shall not
come forth from beneath the trap-door until his beard groweth. The merchant ap-
pointed a slave-girl and a male black slave to attend upon him: the slave-girl pre-
pared the table for him, and the black slave carried it to him. Then his father
circumcised him, and made for him a magnificent banquet ; and after this he brought
to him a professor of religion and law to teach him ; and the professor taught him
writing and the Koran and science until he became skilful and leai-ned.
But it happened that the black slave took to him the table one day, and inadvert-
ently left the trap-door open ; whereupon Aladdin came forth from it, and went in
to his mother. There was with her a party of women of rank : and while they were
conversing with her, lo, he came in to them, resembling an intoxicated mamlouk, in
the excess of his beauty. So when the women saw him, they covered their faces,
and said to his mother, Allah requite thee, such-a-one ! How dost thou cause this
strange mamlouk to come in to us? Dost thou not know that modesty is one of the
points of the faith ? — But she said to them. Pronounce the name of Allah ! Verily
this is my son, and the darling of my heart, the son of the Syndic of the merchants,
and the child of the nurse and the necklace and the crust and the crumb! — They
replied. In our lives we never saw a son of thine. So she said, Verily his fother
feared for him from the influence of the eye, and therefore made as his nursery a
subterranean chamber under a trap-door ; and probably the eunuch hath inadvert-
ently left the trap-door open, and he hath in consequence cnme up from it ; but it
was not our desire that he should come out from it until his beard should grow.
The women therefore congratulated her upon this. And the youth wenj; forth from
them into the court of the house, and then ascended into the upper-room, and there
seated himself; and while he was sitting there, the slaves entered the house with
the mule of his father; whereupon Aladdin said to them. Where hath this mule
been ? They answered him. We have conducted thy father to the shop, mounted
upon her, and brought her baclc. And he asked them. What is the trade of my
father? — Thy father, they answered him, is the Syndic of the merchants in the land
of Egypt, and he is Sultan of the Sons of the Arabs.
And upon this, Aladdin went in to his mother, and said to her, my mother, what
is the trade of my father? She answered him, my son, thy fjither is a merchant,
and he is the Syndic of the merchants in the land of Egypt, and Sultan of the Sons
of the Arabs. His slaves consult him not respecting the sale of anything excepting
that of which the smallest price is a thousand pieces of gold. As to the sale of a
thing for nine hundred pieces of gold or less, they consult him not respecting it, but
sell it of their own free will. And there cometh not merchandise from other parts,
little or much, but it is submitted to him, and he disposeth of it as he willeth ; and
no merchandise is packed up and goeth to other parts, but it is under the disposal
of thy father. God (whose name be exalted!) hath given to thy father, my son.
great wealth, that cannot be calculated. — So he said to her, my mother, praise be
to God that I am the son of the Sultan of the Sons of the Arabs, and that my father
is the Syndic of the merchants ! But for what reason, O my mother, do ye put me
in a chamber beneath a trap-door, and leave me there imprisoned ? — She answered
him, my son, we put thee not in the chamber beneath the trap-door but in our
fear for thee from the influence of the eyes of men ; for the influence of the eye is
true, and most of the inhabitants of the graves are victims of the eye. But he said
to her, my mother, and where is a place of refuge from destiny ? Caution pre-
venteth not fate, and from that which is written there is no escape. Verily he who
took my grandfather will not leave my father: so if he is alive to-day, he will not be
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 351
alive to-morrow : and when my father dieth, and I go forth and say, I am Aladdin
the son of the merchant Shemseddin, — not one of the people will believe me, and the
aged will say, In our lives we never saw a son nor a daughter of Shemseddin: then
the officers of the governmentrtreasury will come down and take my father's wealth.
Allah have mercy upon him who said, The liberal-minded man dieth, and his
•wealth departeth, and the meanest of men taketh his women. Do thou, then,
my mother, speak to my father, that he may take me with him to the market-
street and open for me a shop, and I will sit in it with merchandise, and he shall
teach me the art of selling and buying, and taking and giving. — She replied, my
son, when thy father cometh I will acquaint him with thy wish.
And when the merchant returned to his house, he found his son Aladdin Abusha-
mat sitting with his mother: so he said to her. Wherefore hast thou taken him forth
from beneath the trap-door? — son of my uncle, she answered, I did not take him
forth : but the servants inadvertently left the trap-door open, and while I was sitting
with a party of women of rank, lo, he came in to us. And she acquainted him with
that which his son had said ; whereupon the merchant said to him, my son, to-
morrow, if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !), I will take thee with me
to the market-street ; but, my son, sitting in the market-streets and shops requireth
polite and accomplished manners under every circumstance.
So Aladdin passed the next night full of joy at the words of his father ; and when
the morning came, his father took him into the bath, and clad him in a suit worth a
large sum of money. And after they had breakfasted, and drunk the sherbet, the
merchant mounted his mule, and put his son upon another mule, and, taking him
behind him, repaired with him to the market-street; and the people of the market-
street saw the Syndic of the merchants approaching, followed by a youth whose face
was like the moon in its fourteenth night. It was customary, when the Syndic came
from his house in the morning and sat in his shop, for the chief of the market to
approach the merchants and recite 'the opening chapter of the Koran to them ; where-
upon they arose and came with him to the Syndic of the merchants and recited the
chapter to him, and wished him good morning: then each of them departed to his
shop. But when the Syndic of the merchants seated himself in his shop on that
day according to his custom, the merchants came not to him as they were wont to
do. So he called the chief (who was named the Sheikh Mahomed Simsim, and who
was a poor man), and said to him. Wherefore have not the merchants come together
according to their custom ? The chief answered him, that they were disputing on
the subject of the youth who was with him, wondering who he could be, and he said,
la he thy mamlouk, or is he related to thy wife ? — He is my son, said the Syndic.
The chief replied, In our lives we have never seen a son of thine. The Syndic there-
fore said. In my fear for him from the influence of the eye, I reared him in a sub-
terranean chamber beneath a trap-door, and it was my desire that he should not
come up from it until he could hold his beard with his hand ; but his mother would
not consent; and he requested me to open a shop, and to give him merchandise, and
teach him the art of selling and buying. So the chief went to the merchants, and
acquainted them with the true state of the case ; upon which all of them arose and
went with him to the Syndic, and, standing before him, recited the Koran, and con-
gratulated him on his having this youth for a son, and said to him. May our Lord
preserve the root and the branch ! But (they added) the poor among us, when a son
or a daughter is born to him is required to make for his brothers a saucepan of asida,*
and to invite his acquaintances and relations, and yet thou hast not done this. — So
he said to them, I will give you the entertainment, and our meeting shall be in the
garden.
Accordingly, when the next morning came, he sent his servant to the saloon and
the pavilion which were in the garden, and desired him to spread the furniture in
' A sort of custard.
352 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
them. He sent also the necessaries for cooking, as lambs and clarified butter, and
such other things as the case required, and prepared two tables, one in the pavilion
and one in the saloon. The merchant Shemseddin girded himself, and so did his son
Aladdin, and the former said to the latter, my son, when the hoary man cometh
in, I will meet him, and seat him at the table which is in the pavilion ; and thou,
O my son, when the beardless youth cometh in, shalt take him and conduct him into
the saloon, and seat him at the table there. His son said to him. Wherefore, my
father? What is the reason of thy preparing two tables, one for the men and one
for the youths? — my son, answered the merchant, the beardless youth is ashamed
to eat in the presence of men. So his son approved of this. And when the mer-
chants came, Shemseddin met the men, and seated them in the pavilion ; and his
eon Aladdin met the youths, and seated them in the saloon. Then the servants
placed the food, and the party ate and drank, and enjoyed themselves and were de.
lighted, and they drank the sherbet, and the servants gave vent to the smoke of the
perfume ; after which, the aged men sat conversing upon science and tradition.
Meanwhile, the youths had seated Aladdin among them at the upper end of the
chamber, and one of them said to his companion, my master Hassan, acquaint me
respecting the capital in thy possession, by means of which thou sellest and buyest,
how it came to thee. He replied. When I grew up, and attained to manhood, I said
to my father, my father, give me some merchandise ; — but he replied, my son, I
have none ; go, however, and procure money from some merchant, and traffic with
it, and learn the art of selling and buying, and taking and giving. So I repaired to
one of the merchants, and borrowed of him a thousand pieces of gold, and, having
bought some stuffs with it, I journeyed with them to Syria, where I obtained double
the cost-price. Then I took merchandise from Syria, and journeyed with it to
Bagdad, where I sold it, and again obtained double the cost-price : and I ceased not
to traffic until my capital became about ten thousand pieces of gold. — And each of
the youths said to his companion the like of this until the turn to speak came round
to Aladdin Abushamat; when they said to him, And thou, our master Aladdin.
So he replied, I was reared in a subterranean chamber beneath a trap-door, and
came forth from it this week, and I go to the shop and return from it to the house.
And upon this they said to him, Thou art accustomed to remain in the house, and
knowest not the delight of travel, and travel is for none but men. He replied, I
have no need to travel ; and is ease of no value? And one of them said to his com-
panion. This is like the fish : when he quitteth the water he dieth. They then said
to him, Aladdin, the glory of the sons of the merchants consisteth in nothing but
travel for the sake of gain.
At these words, Aladdin became enraged, and he went forth from among the
youths, with weeping eye and sorrowful heart, and, having mounted his mule, re-
paired to the house. And his mother saw him in a state of excessive rage and weep-
ing: 80 she said to him. What maketh thee weep, my son? He therefore answered
her. All the sons of the merchants have reproached me, and said to me, The glory
of the sons of the merchants consisteth in nothing but travel for the sake of gain-
ing pieces of silver and gold. His mother said to him, my son, dost thou desire
to travel? He answered. Yes. And she asked him, To what country wouldst thou
travel? — To the city of Bagdad, he answered; for there a man gaineth double the
cost-price of his merchandise. His mother then said to him, my son, thy father
hath great wealth ; but if he prepare not merchandise for thee with his wealth, 1
will prepare for thee some with mine. And he replied. The best of favours is that
which is promptly bestowed; and if there be kindness to be shown, this is the time
for it. She therefore summoned the slaves, and sent them to the persons who
packed up stuff's, and, having opened a magazine, took from it some stufi"s for him,
and they packed up for him ten loads.
His father, in the meantime, looked around, and found not his son Aladdin in the
garden. So he inquired respecting him, and they told him that he had mounted his
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 353
mule and gone to the house; whereupon he mounted and went after him ; and when
he entered his abode, seeing the loads packed up, he asked concerning them. His
wife therefore informed him of the manner in which the sons of the merchants had
acted towards his son Aladdin. And upon this he said to him, mj son, male-
diction be upon foreign travel ! for the Apostle of God (may God favour and preserve
him !) hath said. It is of a man's good fortune that he be sustained in his own coun-
try ; and the ancients have said, Abstain from travel, though it be but a mile's
journey. — Then he said to his son. Hast thou determined to travel, and wilt thou
not relinquish thy purpose? His son answered him, I must travel to Bagdad with
merchnndisc, or I will pull off my clothes, and put on the habit of the dervisea, and
go forth a wanderer through the countries. So his father said to him, I am not in
need, nor destitute ; but on the contrary I have great wealth. And he showed him
all the wealth and merchandise and stuffs that he possessed, and said to him, I have
stuffs and other merchandise suitable for every country. And he showed him, of
such goods, forty loads packed up, upon each of which was written its price, a thou-
sand pieces of gold. He then said to him, my son, take the forty loads, and the
ten loads which are given thee by thy mother, and journey under the protection of
God, whose name be exalted ! But, my son, I fear for thee on account of a forest
in thy way, called the Forest of the Lion, and a valley there called the Valley of the
Dogs; for lives are sacrificed in those two places without pity. — How so, O Iny
father? said his son. The merchant answered. By a Bedouin, an interceptor of the
way, who is named Ejlan. But his son replied, The means of preservation are from
God, and if I have any share in them left, no harm will happen to me.
Then he mounted with his father, and went to the market of the beasts of burden ;
and lo, an Akkam' dismounted from his mule, and, kissing the hand of the Syndic
of the merchants, said to him. By Allah, for a long time, my master, thou hast
not employed us in the transaction of mercantile business. The Syndic replied,
Every time hath its fortune and its men. my master, it is none but this my son
who desireth to travel. — And the Akkam said, God preserve him to thee! The
Syndic then made a covenant between his son and the Akkam, that the former should
be as a son of the latter, and gave the Akkam a charge respecting Aladdin, and said
to him, Take these hundred pieces of gold for thy young men. After which he
bought' sixty mules, and a covering for the grave of Abdel-Kader Gilani,^ and said
to his son, my son, while I am absent, this Akkam shall be thy fitther in my stead,
and with whatever hesaith to thee do thou comply. Then he returned, with the mulea
and the young men, and the next night they caused a recitation of the whole of the
Koran to be performed, and celebrated a festival in honour of the sheikh Abdel-Kader
Gilani. And when the following morning came, the Syndic of the merchants gave
to his son ten thousand pieces of gold, saying to him, AVhen thou enterest Bagdad,
if thou find the stuffs of easy sale, sell them ; but if thou find them not in request,
expend of these pieces of gold.'
They then loaded the mules, and bade one another fixrewell, and the party went
forth from the city. They continued their way over the deserts and wastes until they
came in sight of Damascus, and from Damascus they proceeded until they entered
Aleppo, and thence they continued their route until there remained between them
and Bagdad one day's journey. Still they advanced till they descended into a valley,
and Aladdin desired that they should halt there ; but the Akkam said. Halt ye not
here ; continue on your way and hasten in your pace : perhaps we may reach Bag-
dad before its gates be closed ; for the people open them not nor close them but when
the sun is up, in their fear lest the Heretics should take the city and throw the books
of science into the Tigris. Aladdin, however, replied, my father, I came not with
this merchandise unto this town for the sake of traffic, but for the sake of amusing
' One who has charge of camels and tents, and other articles required in travelling.
* A celebrated saint of Bagdad.
23
354 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
myself by the sight of foreign countries. — my son, rejoined the Akkam, we fear
for thee and for thy property on account of the Arabs. But Aladdin said, man,
art thou a servant or a person served ? T will not enter Bagdad but in the morning,
that the sons of Bagdad may see my merchandise, and may know me. — So the Akkam
replied. Do what thou wilt; for I have advised thee, and thou canst judge for thyself.
And Aladdin ordered them to take down the burdens from the backs of the mules ;
and they did so, and pitched the pavilion, and remained until midnight.
Aladdin then went forth from the pavilion, and saw something glittering in the
distance. So he said to the Akkam, my master, what is this thing that is glitter-
ing? And the Akkam, looking attentively and with a scrutinizing eye, saw that
what glittered was the points of spears and the iron of Bedouin weapons and swords.
And lo, they were Arabs, whose chief was named the sheikh of the Arabs Ejlan
Abou Naib ; and when these Arabs drew near them and saw their packages, they
said one to another, night of spoil ! As soon as the travellers heard them say this,
Kemaleddin, the Akkam, exclaimed, Avaunt, least of Arabs ! But Abou Naib
smote him with his spear upon his breast, and it protruded glittering from his back ;
whereupon he fell at the door of the tent, slain. Then the water-carrier exclaimed,
Avaunt, basest of Arabs ! And one of them struck him upon his shoulder with
a sword, and it passed forth glittering from his vitals, and he, also, fell down slain.
All this took place while Aladdin stood looking on. The Arabs surrounded and
fiercely assaulted the caravan, and killed the attendants of Aladdin, not sparing one
of them ; after which, they placed the loads upon the backs of the mules, and re-
tired. Aladdin then said to himself. Nothing will occasion thy slaughter but thy
mule and this thy dress. So he arose, and pulled off the dress, and threw it upon
the back of his mule, remaining in the shirt and drawers alone ; and, looking before
him, towards the door of the tent, he found a pool of blood, flowing from the slain ;
and he rolled himself in it with the shirt and the drawers, so that he appeared like
one slain, drowned in his blood.
Meanwhile, the sheikh of the Arabs, Ejlan, said to his troops. Arabs, was this
caravan entering from Egypt, or going forth from Bagdad? They answered him,
Coming from Egypt into Bagdad. And he said to them, Return to the slain ; for I
imagine that the proprietor of this caravan hath not died. So the Arabs returned
to the slain, and proceeded to pierce and strike them again until they came to Alad-
din. He had thrown himself among the slain : and when they came to him they
said. Thou hast feigned thyself to be dead ; so we will complete thy slaughter. And
a Bedouin took his spear, and was about to thrust it into the breast of Aladdin ;
whereupon Aladdin said, thy blessing, my lord Abdel-K-ader Gilani ! And he
saw a hand turn away the spear from his breast to the breast of Kemaleddin, the
Akkam ; so that the Bedouin pierced the latter with it, and left Aladdin ; after
which, the Arabs replhced the burdens on the backs of the mules and departed with
them.
Aladdin then looked, and, seeing that the birds had flown with their spoils, arose
and ran away. But lo, the Bedouin Abou Naib said to his companions, I saw a
faint appearance of an object in the distance, Arabs. One of them, therefore,
came forth, and beheld Aladdin running; upon which he said to him. Flight will
not profit thee while we are behind thee. And he struck his mare with his fist, and
she hastened after him. Now Aladdin had seen before him a tank containing water,
and by the side of it was a cistern ; so he ascended to a window of the cistern, and
there stretching himself along, feigned himself asleep, and said, kind Protector,
cover me with the veil of thy protection that cannot be removed ! And behold the
Bedouin stopped beneath the cistern, and stretched forth his hand to seize Aladdin;
whereupon the latter said, thy blessing, my lady Nefesa ! * This is thy time! —
And lo, a scorpion stung the Bedouin in the palm of his hand ; and he cried out and
Name of a celebrated female saint.
THE STORY OP ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 355
said, Arabs, come to me, for I am stung ! And he alighted from the back of his
mare, and his companions, coming to him, mounted him again, and said to himi
What hath befallen thee? He answered them, A scorpion hath stung me. And
they then took the property of the caravan, and departed.
Aladdin remained a while sleeping in the window of the cistern. Then arising,
he proceeded, and entered Bagdad. The dogs barked behind him as he passed
through the streets, and in the evening, while he was walking on in the dark, he saw
the door of a mosque, and, entering its vestibule, he concealed himself in it. And
lo, a light approached him, and as he looked attentively at it, he perceived two lan-
terns in the hands of two black slaves, who were walking before two merchants.
One of these was an old man of comely countenance, and the other was a young
man ; and he heard the latter say to the former. By Allah, my uncle, I conjure
thee to restore to me my cousin, thy daughter. To which the old man replied. Did
I not forbid thee many times, when thou wast making divorce thy constant cry?
Then the old man looked to the right, and saw Aladdin, appearing like a piece of the
moon ; and he said to him. Peace be on thee ! Aladdin, therefore, returned his salu-
tation, and the old man said to him, youth, who art thou ? He answered him, I
am Aladdin the son of Shemseddin, the Syndic of the merchants in Cairo. I re-
quested my father to give me merchandise, and he prepared for me fifty loads of
goods, and gave me ten thousand pieces of gold ; and I journeyed until I arrived at
the Forest of the Lion, when the Arabs came upon me and took my wealth and my
packages ; and I entered this city, not knowing where to pass the night: so, seeing
this place, I concealed myself in it. — The old man then said to him, my son, what
sayest thou of my giving thee a thousand pieces of gold, and a suit of clothing of
the price of a thousand pieces of gold ? — For what purpose, said Aladdin, wile thou
give me these things, my uncle? He answered him. This young man who is with
me is the son of my brother, and his father hath no son but him ; and I have a daugh-
ter, and have none but her, who is named Zobeide the Lute-player. She is endowed
with beauty and loveliness, and I married her to him, and he loveth her ; but she
hateth him ; and he swore an oath of triple divorcement, and scarcely had his wife
heard it vrhen she separated herself from him. And he employed all the people of
his acquaintance to intercede with me, that I should restore her to him : so I said to
him, This will not be right unless by means of a raustahall :' — and I agreed with
him that we should employ some foreigner as a mustahall, in order that no one might
reproach him on account of this affair. Since, then, thou art a foreigner, come with
us, that we may write thy contract of marriage to her, and to-morrow thou shalt di-
vorce her, and we will give thee what I h.ave mentioned. — So Aladdin said within
himself. To do what he proposeth will be better than passing the nights in the by-
streets and vestibules.
Accordingly he went with the two men to the Cadi. And when the Cadi saw him,
his heart was moved with affection for him, and he said to the father of the damsel,
What is your desire? The old man answered, it is our desire to employ this person
as a mustahall for our daughter ; but we will write a bond against him, stating that
the portion of the dowry to be paid in advance is ten thousand pieces of gold ; and
if he divorce her to-morrow morning, we will give him a dress of the price of a
thousand pieces of gold, and a mule of the same price, and a thousand pieces of
gold besides ; but if he divorce her not, he will pay ten thousand pieces of gold.
So they settled the contract on this condition, and the father of the damsel received
a bond to this effect. He then took Aladdin with him, clad him with the suit, and
proceeded with him until they came to the house of his daughter, when he stationed
him at the door of the house, and, going in to his daughter, said to her. Receive the
bond of thy dowry ; for I have written thy contract of marriage to a comely young
'A Mahometan who has triply divorced his wife cannot take her again unless she be married
and divorced by some other person : this person is termed a mustahall.
356 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
man, named Aladdin Abushamat: so consider thyself under a most strict charge re-
specting him. And he gave her the bond, and repaired to his house.
Now the damsel Zobeide had a female friend who frequently visited her, and her
husband used to treat her with beneficence ; and he said to her, my mother, if
Zobeide the daughter of my uncle see this comely young man, she will not accept
me after; so I desire of thee that thou contrive a stratagem to restrain the damsel
from him. — By thy youth, she replied, I will not suffer him to go near her. She
then went to Aladdin, and said to him, my son, I give thee good advice for the
sake of God (whose name be exalted!); therefore do thou accept my advice, and
approach not that damsel, but let her remain alone, and neither touch her nor draw
near to her. — Wherefore? said he. And she answered him, Verily her whole skin
is affected with elephantiasis, and I fear for thee lest she communicate the disease to
thy comely, youthful person. So he replied, I have no need of her. Then she went
to the damsel, and said to her as she had said to Aladdin ; and the damsel replied,
I have no need of him : on the contrary, I will leave him to remain alone, and in
the morning he shall go his way. And she called a slave-girl, and said to her. Take
the table with the food, and give it to him that he may sup. The slave-girl, there-
fore, carried to him the table with the food, and placed it before him, and he ate
until he was satisfied, and then sat reciting a chapter of the Koran, with a charming
voice: and the damsel, listening to him, found that his voice was like the sounds of
the Psalms sung by the family of David. So ishe said within herself, Allah send
trouble upon this old woman who told me that he was afflicted with elephantiasis !
for he who is in such a state hath not a voice of this kind. Surely this assertion is
a lie against him. — Then taking in her hands a lute of Indian manufacture, she
tuned its chords, and sang to it, with a voice that would stay the birds in the midst
of the sky. And when he heard her words, after he had finished his recitation of
the chapter, he sang in reply. And upon this the damsel's love for him increased,
and she lifted up the curtain, and advanced with a graceful gait ; but as she
approached him he haid to her. Retire from me, lest thou communicate thy disease
to me. So she uncovered her wrist, which was beautifully formed, and its whiteness
was like that of silver; after which she said to him. Retire from me; for thou art
afflicted with elephantiasis, and perhaps thou wilt communicate the disease to me.
He therefore asked her. Who inforriied thee that I was afflicted with elephantiasis ?
She answered him. The old woman acquainted me with it. And he replied, The
old woman also informed me that thou wast afflicted with leprosy. Then he
uncovered to her his arms, and she found that his skin was like pure silver. So she
accepted him as her husband.
And on the following morning he said to her, Alas for joy that is not complete I
The raven hath taken it and flown away ! — She therefore said, What is the meaning
of these words? And he answered her, my mistress, I have only this hour to
remain with thee. — Who saith so? she asked. — Thy father, he answered her,
wrote a bond against me, obliging me to pay ten thousand pieces of gold towards
thy dowry ; and if I produce it not this day, they imprison me for it in the house
of the Cadi ; and now my hand is unable to advance a single half-drachma of the
sum of ton thousand pieces of gold. But she said to him, my master, is the
matrimonial tie in thy hand, or in their hands? He answered her, The tie is in my
hand ; but I have nothing in my possession. — The affair, she rejoined, is easy ; and
fear nothing ; but take these hundred pieces of gold. Had I more I would give
thee what thou desirest. This, however, I cannot do; for my fother, from the affec-
tion that he beareth for the son of his brother, hath transferred all hia property from
my hands to his house: even all my ornaments he took. But when tl:ey send to thee
a Serjeant from the court of justice, this morning, and the Cadi and my father say
to thee. Divorce, — do thou say to them. By what code is it ordained as proper that I
should marry at nightfall and divorce in the morning? Then thou shalt kiss the
hand of the Cadi, and give him a present; and in like manner thou shalt kiss the
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 357
hand of each witness, and give him ten pieces of gold. And all of them will speak
with thee: and if they say to thee, Wherefore wilt thou not divorce, and receive a
thousand pieces of gold, and the mule and the dress, according to the condition which
we imposed upon thee ? — do thou answer them, Every hair of her head is in my esti-
mation worth a thousand pieces of gold, and I will never divorce her, nor will I
receive a dress or anything else. If the Cadi then say to thee, Pay the dowry, —
reply, I am at present unable to pay. And thereupon the Cadi and the witnesses
will treat thee with benevolence, and will grant thee a delay.
Now while they were thus conversing, the serjeant o-f the Cadi knocked at the
door. So he went forth to him, and the serjeant said to him. Answer the summons
of the Effendi ; for thy father-in-law citeth thee. And Aladdin gave to him five
pieces of gold, saying, serjeant, by what code am I required to marry at nightfall
and to divorce in the morning? He answered him. To do so is not held proper by
us in any case ; and if thou be ignorant of the law, I will act as thy deputy. And
they proceeded to the court of justice, and the Cadi said to Aladdin, Wherefore dost
thou not divorce the woman, and receive what the contract hath prescribed for thee?
And upon this he advanced to the Cadi, and kissing his hand, put into it fifty pieces
of gold, and said to him, our lord the Cadi, by what code is it allowable that I
should marry at nightfall and divorce in the morning by compulsion ? The Cadi
therefore answered. Divorce by compulsion is not allowable by any of the codes of
the Mahometans. Then the father of the damsel said, If thou divorce not, pay me
the dowry, ten thousand pieces of gold. Aladdin replied. Give me three days*
delay. But the Cadi said, Three days will not be a sufficient period of delay ; he
shall grant thee ten days. And to this they agreed, binding him after the ten days,
either to pay the dowry or to divorce.
On this condition, therefore, he went forth from them, and, having procured the meat
and rice and clarified butter and other eatables that the case required, returned to the
house and went in to the damsel and related to her all that had happened to him.
She replied. Between night and day, wonders take place. She then arose, prepared
the food, and brought the table, and they ate and drank, and enjoyed themselves,
and were moved with merriment; and he requested her to perform a piece of music.
So she took the lute, and performed a piece in such a manner that a rock would have
danced at it as if with joy, the sounds of the chords vying with the voice of David ;
and she began the more rapid part of the performance.
But while they were full of delight and jesting, and mirth and gladness, the door
was knocked. She therefore said to him. Arise, and see who is at the door. Accord-
ingly, he went down, and, opening the door, found four dervises standing there, and
he said to them. What do ye desire? — my master, answered one of them, we are
foreign dervises : the food of our souls consisteth in music and in the delicacies of
poetry, and we desire to recreate ourselves with thee this night, until the morning,
when we will go our way; and thou wilt receive thy recompense from God (whose
name be exalted!); for we are passionately fond of music, and there is not one
among us who doth not retain in his memory odes and other pieces of poetry and
lyric songs. Aladdin replied, I must consult. And he went up, and informed the
damsel ; and she said to him. Open the door to them. So he opened to them the
door, and, having conducted them up, seated them, and welcomed them, and brought
them food. But they declined eating, and one of them said to him, my master,
verily our victuals are the commemoration of God with our hearts, and the hearing
of songs with our ears. We just now heard some pleasant music in thine abode;
but when we came up it ceased ; and we would that we knew whether she who was
performing is a white or a black slave-girl, or a lady. — Aladdin replied. She is my
wife. And he related to them all that had happened to him, and said to them. My
father-in-law hath bound me to pay ten thousand pieces of gold as her dowry, and
they have given me ten days' delay. — Upon this, one of the dervises said to him,
Grieve not, nor anticipate anything but good fortune ; for I am the Sheikh of the
358
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
Convent, having under me forty dervises over whom I exercise authority, and I will
collect for thee the ten thousand pieces of gold from them, and thou shalt discharge
the dowry that thou owest to thy father-in-law. But desire her (he added) to per-
form a piece of music for us, that we may be rejoiced and enlivened ; for music is
to some people like food ; and to some, like a remedy ; and to some like a fan. — Now
these four dervises were the Caliph Haroun Alrashid, and the Vizier Giaftir the
Barmecide, and Abou Nuwas Elhassan the son of Hani, and Mesrour the Execu-
tioner. And the reason of their passing by this house was, that the bosom of the
Caliph was contracted ; so he said to the Vizier, Vizier, it is our desire to descend
and go about through the city ; for I experience a contraction of the bosom. They
therefore clad themselves in the apparel of dervises, and went down into the city,
and, passing by this house, they heard the music, and desired to ascertain the cause.
They passed the night there in happiness and good order, and in relating stories one
after another, until the morning came, when the Caliph put a hundred pieces of gold
beneath the prayer-carpet, and he and his companions took leave of Aladdin, and
went their way.
When the damsel, therefore, lifted up the prayer-carpet, she saw the hundred
pieces of gold beneath it. And she said to her husband, Take these hundred pieces
Zi>beide rifting up tlie Prayer-carpet.
of gold that I have found under the prayer-carpet ; for the dervises put them there before
ihey went, without our knowledge. So Aladdin took them, and repairing to the
market, bought the meat and the rice and the clarified butter, and all that he re-
quired. And on the following night he lighted the candles, and said to his wife.
The dervises have not brought the ten thousand pieces of gold which they
promised me ; but they are poor men. While they were talking, however, the der-
vises knocked at the door; and she said to him, Go down, and open to them. He
therefore did so, and they came up, and he said to them. Have ye brought the ten
thousand pieces of gold that ye promised me ? They answered him. Nothing of the
Bum hath been provided ; but fear no evil : if it be the will of God (whose name be
exalted!), to-morrow we will perform an alohymical process for thee: and now do
thou desire thy wife to gratify our ears by an excellent performance of music, that
our hearts may be enlivened by it • for we love music. So she performed a piece for
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 359
them upon the lute, such as would make a rock to dance. And they passed the
night in enjoyment and happiness, and conversation, and cheerfulness, until the
morning came and diffused its light; whereupon the Caliph again put a hundred
pieces of gold beneath the prayer-carpet, and he and his companions took leave of
Aladdin, and departed from him and went their way.
Thus they continued to do for a period of nine nights ; the Caliph every night
putting beneath the prayer-carpet a hundred pieces of gold, until the tenth night,
when they came not; and the cause of their ceasing their visits was this. The
Caliph sent to a great merchant, saying to him, Make ready for me fifty loads of
stuffs, such as come from Cairo, each load of the price of a thousand pieces of gold,
and write upon each the amount of its price ; and provide for me a male Abyssinian
slave. So the merchant made ready for him all that he ordered him to provide,
after which the Caliph committed to the slave a basin and ewer of gold, and another
present, and the fifty loads, and wrote a letter as from Shemseddin the Syndic of the
merchants in Cairo, the father of Aladdin, and said to the slave, Take these loads
and the things that are with them, and repair with them to such a quarter, in which
is the house of the Syndic of the merchants, and say, Where is my master Aladdin
Abushamat? Then the people will direct thee to the quarter and to the house. —
The slave therefore took the loads and what was with them, and went as the Caliph
commanded him.
In the mean time, the damsel's cousin repaired to her father, and said to him.
Come let us go to Aladdin, that we may effect the divorce of my cousin. So the
father descended and went with him to Aladdin ; but when they arrived at the house,
they found fifty mules, upon which were fifty loads of stuffs, attended by a black
slave upon a mule ; and they said to him; To whom belong these loads? He an-
swered, To my master Aladdin Abushamat; for his father prepared for him mer-
chandise, and despatched him on a journey to the city of Bagdad, and the Arabs
came upon him, and took his wealth and his loads ; and the news reached his father,
wherefore he sent me to him with loads in their stead. He sent with me aloo a mule
laden with fifty thousand pieces of gold, and a wrapper of clothes worth a large sum
of money, and a furred robe of sable, and a basin and ewer of gold. — Upon this,
the father of the damsel said, This person is my son-in-law, and I will show thee the
way to the house.
And while Aladdin was sitting in the house in a state of violent grief, the door
was knocked ; and he said, Zobeide, God is all-knowing; but it seemeth that thy
father hath sent to me a serjeant from the Cadi or from the Judge. She replied,
Go down and see what is the case. So he went down and opened the door and be-
held his father-in-law, who was the Syndic of the merchants, the father of Zobeide ;
and he found there an Abyssinian slave of dark complexion and of pleasant counte-
nance, mounted upon a mule. And the slave, having descended from the mule,
kissed his hands ; and he said to him, What dost thou desire ? He answered, I am
the slave of my master Aladdin Abushamat, the son of Shemseddin the Syndic of
the merchants in the land of Egypt ; and his father hath sent me to him with this
deposit. He then gave him the letter; and Aladdin took it, and opened it and
read it, and found written in it these words : —
After perfect salutations, and compliments and respectful greetings, from Shem-
seddin to his son Aladdin Abushamat. — Know, my son, that the news of the
slaughter of thy men, and of the plunder of thy wealth and thy loads, hath reached
me ; and I have therefore sent to thee, in their stead, these fifty loads of Egyptian
stuffs, and the suit of dress, and the furred robe of sable, and the basin and ewer
of gold. And fear no evil ; for the wealth is thy ransom, my son ; and may grief
never affect thee. Thy mother and the people of the house are well, in prosperity
and health ; and they greet thee with abundant salutations. Moreover, my son,
news hath reached me that they have employed thee as a mustahall for the damsel
Zobeide the lute-player, and have imposed upon thee the payment of ten thousand
360 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
pieces of gold as her dowry. Therefore fifty thousand pieces of gold will be brought
to thee with the loads, attended by thy slave Selim.
As soon as Aladdin had finished reading the letter, he took possession of the loads,
and, looking towards his father-in-law, said to him, my father-in-law, receive the
ten thousand pieces of gold, the amount of the dowry of thy daughter Zobeide : re-
ceive also the loads, and dispose of them, and the profit shall be thine; only do thou
restore to me the cost price. But he replied. Nay, by Allah, I will take nothing;
and as to the dowry of thy wife, do thou make an agreement with her respecting it.
So Aladdin arose, together with his father-in-law, and they went into the house,
after the loads had been brought in. And Zobeide said to her father, my father,
to whom belong these loads? He answered her, These loads belong to Aladdin, thy
husband. His father hath sent them to him in the place of those which the Arabs
took from him ; and he hath sent to him fifty thousand pieces of gold, and a wrap-
per of clothes, and a furred rol>e of sable, and a mule and a basin and ewer of
gold: and as to thy dowry, it is for thee to decide respecting it. Then Aladdin
arose, and, having opened the chest, gave her her dowry. The damsel's cousin
said, my uncle, let Aladdin divorce my wife for me. But the father of the damsel
replied. This is a thing that now can by no means be, as the matrimonial tie is in
his hand. And upon this the young man went away, grieved and afflicted, and laid
himself down sick in his house, and there he died.
As to Aladdin, he went forth to the market, after he had received the loads, and,
having procured what he desired of food and drink and clarified butter, made the
same regular preparations as on each preceding night, and said to Zobeide, See,
these lying dervises gave us a promise and broke it. She replied, Thou art the son
of a Syndic of the merchants, and yet thy hand was unable to produce a half-drachma.
What then is the case of the poor dervises? — God (whose name be exalted !), he re-
joined, hath rendered us independent of them, and I will not again open the door
to them if they come to us. But she said to him. Wherefore, seeing that good for-
tune happened not unto us but in consequence of their coming ; for every night
they put for us beneath the prayer-carpet a hundred pieces of gold? It is absolutely
necessary, then, that thou open the door to them if they come. And when the day
departed with its brightness, and the night came, they lighted the candles, and
Aladdin said to his wife, O Zobeide, arise, and perform a piece of music for us.
And immediately the door was knocked ; so she said to him, Rise, and see who is
there. He descended, therefore, and opened the door, and seeing the dervises, he
said. Oh! Welcome to the liars! Come up. — Accordingly they went up with him,
and he seated them, and brought the table of food to them ; and they ate and drank,
and enjoyed themselves and were merry. They then said to him, my master,
verily our hearts have been troubled respecting thee. What hath happened to thee
with thy father-in-law ? — God, he answered them, hath granted us a recompense
above our desires. And they said to him, By Allah, we were in fear for thee, and
nothing prevented our coming to thee again but the inadequacy of our means to pro-
cure the money. He replied. Speedy relief hath come to me from my Lord, and my
father hath sent to me fifty thousand pieces of gold, and fifty loads of stuffs, each
load of the price of a thousand pieces of gold, and a suit of dress, and a furred robp
of sable, and a mule and a slave, and a basin and ewer of gold: a reconciliation
hath taken place between me and my father-in-law, and my wife hath become lawful
to me ; and praise be to God for this !
The Caliph then arose and withdrew ; and the Vizier Giafar, inclining towards
Aladdin, said to him. Impose upon thyself the obligation of good manners; for thou
art in the company of the Prince of the Faithful. — What have I done, asked Aladdin,
inconsistotitly with good manners in the company of the Prince of the Faithful, and
which of you is the Prince of the Faithful? The Vizier answered him, lie who was
speaking to you, and who hath just now retired, is the Prince of the Faithful, Ilaroun
Alrashid, and I am the Vizier Giafar, and this is Mesrour, the Caliph's executioner.
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
361
Tlie Caliph and his Companions disguised as Dervises.
and this is Abou Nuwas Elliassan the son of Hani. Reflect then with thy reason,
Aladdin, and consider how many days are required for the journey from Cairo to
Bagdad. He replied. Five and forty days. Then said Giafar, Thy loads were car-
ried off only ten da^'s ago ; and how could the news reach thy father, and how could
he pack up the other loads for thee, and these loads traverse a space of live and
forty days' journey in ten days? — my master, said Aladdin, and whence came
they unto me? The Vizier answered him, From the Caliph, the Prince of the
Faithful, on account of his excessive affection for thee. And while they were thus
conversing, lo, the Caliph approached. So Aladdin arose, and kissed the ground
before him, and said to him, God preserve thee, Prince of the Faithful, and pro-
long thy life, and may mankind never be deprived of thy bounty and beneficence !
And the Caliph said, Aladdin, let Zobeide perform for us a piece of music, as a
gratuity for thy safety. She therefore performed a piece on the lute, of the most
admirable kind, such as would make a rock to shake as with joy, and the sounds of
the lute vied with the voice of David. They passed the night in the happiest man-
ner until the morning, when the Caliph said to Aladdin, To-morrow come up to the
court. And Aladdin replied, I hear and obey, Prince of the Faithful, if it be the
will of God (whose name be exalted!), and mayest thou continue in prosperity.
Then Aladdin took ten trays, and put on them a costly present ; and on the follow-
ing day he went up with them to the court. And while the Caliph was sitting upon
the throne in the council-chamber, lo, Aladdin advanced from the door reciting these
iwo verses : —
362 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
May prosperity and glory attend thee each morning, and the nose of thine envier be rubbed
in the dust;
And may the days never cease to be white unto thee, and the days of him who is thine enemy
be black !
The Caliph replied. Welcome, Aladdin. And Aladdin said, Prince of the
Faithful, verily the Prophet (God favour and preserve him!) accepted a present;
and these ten trays veith what is upon them are a present from me unto thee. And
the Prince of the Faithful accepted them from him. He gave orders also to invest
him with a robe of honour, appointed him Syndic of the merchants, and seated him
in the council-chamber. And while Aladdin was sitting there, lo, his father-in-law,
the father of Zobeide, approached, and, finding him sitting in his place, and wear-
ing the robe of honour, said to the Prince of the Faithful, King of the age, where-
fore is this person sitting in my place, and wearing this robe of honour? The
Caliph answered him, I have appointed him Syndic of the merchants ; and offices
are conferred by investiture, not granted for perpetuity ; and thou art displaced.
And he replied, He is of our family and our connexions, and excellent is that which
thou hast done, Prince of the Faithful. May God always make the best of us to
preside over our affairs ! And how many a small person hath become great ! — The
Caliph then wrote a diploma for Aladdin, and gave it to the Judge, and the Judge
gave it to the executioner, and he proclaimed in the court, None is Syndic of the
merchants but Aladdin Abushamat; and his word is to be heard, and respect is to
be paid to him: he is entitled to honour and reverence and exaltation ! — And when
the court was dissolved, the Judge descended with the crier before Aladdin, and the
crier proclaimed. None is Syndic of the merchants but my master Aladdin Abusha-
mat! And they went about with him through the great thoroughfare-streets of
Bfigdad, the crier repeating the same proclamation.
On the following morning, therefore, Aladdin opened a shop for the slave, and
seated him in it to sell and buy, while he rode and took his place in the court of the
Caliph. And it happened that he was sitting in his place one day according to his
custom, and as he sat, lo, a person said to the Caliph, Prince of the Faithful, may
thy head long survive such-a-one, the boon-companion ; for he hath been admitted to
the mercy of God (whose name be exalted !), and may thy life be prolonged ! And
the Caliph said. Where is Aladdin Abushamat? So he presented himself before the
Caliph, who. when he saw him, bestowed upon him a magnificent robe of honour,
appointed him his boon-companion, and assigned him a monthly salary of a thousand
pieces of gold ; and Aladdin continued with him as his boon-companion. And it
happened again that he was sitting one day in his place according to his custom, in
the service of the Caliph, when an Emir came up into the court with a sword and
shield, and said, Prince of the Faithful, may thy head long survive the Reis-el-
sittein ; for he hath died this day. And the Caliph gave orders to bring a robe of
honour for Aladdin Abushamat, and appointed him Reis-el-sittein in the place of the
deceased. The latter had no son nor daughter nor wife; so Aladdin went down
and put his hand upon his wealth ; and the (Jaliph said to him. Inter him, and take
all that he hath left of wealth and male slaves and female slaves and eunuchs. Then
the Caliph shook the handkerchief, and the court dispersed ; and Aladdin departed,
with the officer Ahmad El-Denef, the officer of the right division of the Caliph's guard,
attended by his forty followers, by his stirrup, on the right; and on his left Hassan
Shuman, the officer of the left division of the Caliph's guard, together with his forty
followers. And Aladdin looked towards the officer Hassan Shuman, and his follow-
ers, and said to them. Be ye intercessors with Ahmad El-Denef, that he may accept
me as his son by a covenant before God. And he accepted him, and said to him, I
and my forty followers will walk before thee to the court every day.
After this, Aladdin continued in the service of the Caliph for many days. And it
happened that he descended from the court one day, and went to his house, and,
having dismissed Ahmad El-Denef and his attendants, seated himself with his wiff
THE STORY OP ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 363
Zobeide, who, after she had linjhted the candles, went into an adjoinino; chamber:
and while he was sitting in his place, he !ieard a great cry. He therefore arose
quickly to see who it was that cried, and beheld, in the person from whom the sound
proceeded, the form of his wife Zobeide, lying extended upon the floor; and he put
his hand upon the bosom of the prostrate damsel, and found her dead. Her father's
house was opposite to that of Aladdin, and he (the father) also heard her cry: so he
came, and said to her husband. What is the matter, my master Aladdin ? The
latter replied. May thy head, my father, long survive thy daughter Zobeide: but
now, my father, we must pay respect to the dead by its burial. And when the
following morning came, they interred the damsel's body; and Aladdin and the
father of Zobeide consoled each other. Aladdin put on the apparel of mourning,
separated himself from the court, and continued with weeping eye and mourning
heart..
So the Caliph said to Giafar, Vizier, what is the reason of Aladdin's absenting
himself from the court? The Vizier answered him, Prince of the Faithful, he is
mourning for his wife Zobeide, and engaged in receiving the visits of consolation for
her loss. Upon this the Caliph said, It is incumbent on us to console him. And the
Vizier replied, I hear and obey. The Caliph therefore descended with Giafar and
some of the household attendants, and they mounted, and repaired to the house of
Aladdin, And as he was sitting, lo, the Caliph and the Vizier and their attendants
approached him : whereupon he arose to meet them, and kissed the ground before the
Caliph, who said to him, May God compensate thee happily ! Aladdin replied. May
God prolong thy life to us, Prince of the Faithful! And the Caliph said,
Aladdin, what is the reason of thy separating thyself from the court? He answered,
My mourning for my wife Zobeide, Prince of the Faithful. The Caliph replied.
Dispel anxiety from thy mind ; for she hath departed to receive the mercy of God
(whose name be exalted!), and mourning will never avail thee aught. But Aladdin
said, I will not cease to mourn for her until I die and they bury me by her. The
Caliph rejoined, Verily with God is a compensation for every loss, and neither
stratagem nor wealth will save one from death. Divinely gifted was he who said, —
Every son of woman, though he be long preserved, must one day be carried upon the curving
bier.
How then shall he on whose cheeks the dust is to be placed find diversion or delight in
life?
— And when he had made an end of consoling him, he charged him that he should
not separate himself from the court, and returned.
Aladdin then passed the night, and when the morning came, he mounted, and
repaired to the court, and, going in to the Caliph, kissed the ground before him.
And the Caliph raised himself to him slightly from the throne, welcoming him and
saluting him ; and after he had desired him to take the place belonging to him, he
said to him, O Aladdin, thou art my guest this night. Then the Caliph took him
into his palace, and called a slave-girl named Kout elkuloub, and said to her,
Aladdin had a wife whose name was Zobeide, and she used to divert him from
anxiety and grief; but she hath departed to receive the mercy of God (whose name
be exalted !), and I desire that thou gratify his ears by a performance on the lute
of the most admirable kind, in order that he may be diverted from anxiety and
sorrows. So the damsel performed an admirable piece of music ; and the Caliph
said. What sayest thou, Aladdin, of the voice of this slave-girl? — Verily, he
answered, Zobeide had a better voice than hers ; but she is eminently skilled in
playing on the lute; for she would make a rock to dance. And the Caliph said to
him, Hath she pleased thee? He answered him. She hath pleased me, Prince of
the Faithful. Then said the Caliph, By my head, and by the tombs of my ancestors,
verily she is a present from me unto thee, with her female slaves also. And Aladdin
imagined that the Caliph was jesting with him. But when the Caliph arose in the
364 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
morning, he went to his slave-girl Kout elkuloub, and said to her, I have made thee
a present to Aladdin. And she rejoiced at this, for she had seen him and loved him.
He then went from the pavilion of the palace to the council-chamber, and, having
summoned the porters, said to them. Remove the goods of Kout elkuloub, and put
her in the litter, and convey her together with her female slaves to the house of
Aladdin. So they conveyed her with her female slaves and her goods to the house,
and conducted her into the pavilion. And the Caliph remained sitting in the hall
of judgment until the close of the day, when the court broke up, and he retired to
his pavilion.
Now as to Kout elkuloub, when she had entered the pavilion of Aladdin with her
female slaves, who were forty in number, and the eunuchs also, she said to two of
the eunuchs. One of you two shall sit on a chair on the right of the door, and the
other shall sit on a chair on the left of it; and when Aladdin cometh, kiss his hands,
and say to him, Our mistress Kout elkuloub requesteth thy presence in the pavilion;
for the Caliph hath given her to thee, together with her female slaves. And they
replied, We hear and obey. They then did as she commanded them. So when
Aladdin arrived, he found the two eunuchs of the Caliph sitting at the door, and he
wondered at the event, saying within himself. Perhaps this is not my house ; or if it
be, what hath occurred? And when the eunuchs saw him, they rose to him, and
kissed his hands, and said, We are of the dependants of the Caliph, and the slaves
of Kout elkuloub, and she saluteth thee, and saith to thee, that the Caliph hath
given her to thee, together with her female slaves, and she requesteth thy company.
Aladdin, however, replied. Say to her. Thou art welcome ; but as long as thou art in
his abode, he will not enter the pavilion in which thou residest ; for it is not fit that
what belonged to the master should become the property of the servant: — and say
to her, W^hat was the amount of thy daily expenditure with the Caliph? They there-
fore went up to her, and said to her as he desired them ; and she replied, A hundred
pieces of gold each day. So he said to himself, I have no need of the Caliph's giving
to me Kout elkuloub, that I should expend in this manner upon her ; but I have no
means of avoiding this.
She then remained in his abode many days, he assigning to her daily a hundred
pieces of gold, until he absented himself one day from the court; whereupon the Ca-
liph said, Vizier Giafar, I gave not Kout elkuloub to Aladdin but that she might
divert him from mourning for his wife ; and what is the cause of his absenting himself
from us? The Vizier answered, Prince of the Faithful, he hath spoken truth who
hath said. Whoso findeth his friends, forgetteth his mere acquaintances. The Ca-
liph, however, replied. Probably nothing hath caused him to absent himself from us
save some event that hath rendered him excusable ; but we will visit him. — Now,
some days before this, Aladdin had said to the Vizier, I complained to the Caliph of the
grief that I suffered for the loss of my wife Zobeide the lute-player, and he gave to
me Kout elkuloub. And the Vizier said, If he did not love thee he had not given
her to thee. And hast thou visited her, Aladdin ? — He answered. No, by Allah ;
nor do I know the difference between her height and breadth. — And why so? said
the Vizier. Aladdin answered, Vizier, what is suited to the master is not suited
to the servant. — Then the Caliph and Giafar disguised themselves, and went to visit
Aladdin; and they proceeded without stopping, until they went in to him; where-
upon he recognised them, and arose, and kissed the Caliph's hands. And when the
Caliph saw him, he saw the impress of mourning upon his countenance; so he said
to him, Aladdin, what is the cause of this mourning which thou sufferest? Hast
thou not visited Kout elkuloub? — Prince of the Faithful, he answered, what is
suited to the master is not suited to the servant; and verily to the present time I
have not visited her, nor do I know the difference between her height and her
breadth : therefore quit me of her. The Caliph said, I desire an interview with her,
that I may ask her respecting her state. And Aladdin replied, I hear and obey,
Prince of the Faithful. The Caliph therefore went into her ; and when she bolield
THE STORY 'OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 365
him, she arose, and kissed the gro'ind before him; and he said to her. Hath Aladdin
visited thee? She answered. No, Prince of the Faithful: I sent to invite him,
but he would not. And the Caliph gave orders for her return to the palace, and
said to Aladdin, Absent not thyself from us. And he then went back to his palace.
So Aladdin passed that night, and in the morning mounted and repaired to the
court, and seated himself in the place of the Reis-el-sittein. And the Caliph or-
dered the Treasurer to give to the Vizier Giafar ten thousand pieces of gold. He
therefore gave him that sum : and the Caliph said to the Vizier, 1 require of thee
that thou go down to the market of the female slaves, and that thou purchase a
slave-girl for Aladdin with the ten thousand pieces of gold. And the Vizier obeyed
the command of the Caliph. He went down, taking with him Aladdin, and pro-
ceeded with him to the market of the female slaves.
Now it happened this day, that the Judge of Bagdad, who held his office by the
appointment of the Caliph, and whose name was the Emir Kaled, went down to the
market for the purpose of buying a slave-girl for his son ; and the cause was this.
He had a wife named Katoun, and he had by her a son of foul aspect, named Ha-
bazlam Bazaza, who had attained to the age of twenty years and knew not how to
ride on horseback. But his father was bold, valiant, stout in defence, one who was
practiced in horsemanship, and who waded through the seas of night. And his
mother said to his father, I desire .that we marry him, for he is now of a fit age.
The Emir, however, replied. He is of a foul aspect, of disgusting odour, filthy, hid-
eous ; no woman will accept him. So she said. We will buy for him a slave-girl. —
And it happened in order to the accomplishment of an event which God (whose
name be exalted !) had decreed, that on the same day on which the Vizier and Alad-
din went down to the market, the Emir Kaled, the Judge, went thither also, with
his son, Habazlam Bazaza. And while they were in the market, lo, there was a
slave-girl endowed with beauty and loveliness, and justness of stature, in the charge
of a broker; and the Vizier said. Consult, broker, respecting a thousand pieces of
gold for her. But the broker passed with her by the Judge, and Habazlam Bazaza
beholding her, the sight drew from him a thousand sighs, and he was enamored of
her, and love took entire possession of him ; so he said, my father, buy for me this
slave-girl. The Judge therefore called the broker, and asked the slave-girl her name.
She answered him. My name is Jasmin. And the Judge said to his son, my son,
if she please thee, bid higher for her. Accordingly he said, broker, what price
hath been ofi"ered thee ? The broker answered, A thousand pieces of gold. And
Habazlam Bazaza said, let her be mine for a thousand and one pieces of gold. So
the broker went to Aladdin, and he bid for her two thousand : and every time that
the son of the Judge bid one piece of gold more, Aladdin bid a thousand. And the
son of the Judge was enraged at this, and said, broker, who outbiddeth me in
the price of the slave-girl? The broker answered him, The Vizier Giafar desireth
to buy her for Aladdin Abushamat. And at last, Aladdin bid for her ten thousand
pieces of gold : whereupon her master gave him his assent, and received her price ;
and Aladdin took her, and said to her, I emancipate thee for the sake of God, whose
name be exalted ! He then wrote his contract of marriage to her, and repaired with
her to the house.
The broker returned with his brokerage ; and the son of the Judge called him
and said to him, Where is the slave-girl ? He answered him, Aladdin hatrh pur-
chased her for ten thousand pieces of gold, and hath emancipated her, and written
his contract of marriage to her. And upon this the young man was incensed ; his
sighs were many, and he returned to the house in a state of infirmity in consequence
of his love for the damsel, and threw himself upon the bed. He abstained from
food, and his love and desire were excessive. So when his mother saw him in this
state of debility, she said to him, Allah preserve thee, my son I What is the
cause of thine infirmity? — He answered, Buy me Jasmin, O my mother. And his
mother said, When the seller of sweet-scented flowers passeth by, I will buy for thee
>66
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
a pannier full of jasmine. He replied, What I mean is not the jasmine that people
smell, but a slave-girl whose name is Jasmin, whom my father would not buy for
me. So she said to her husband, Why didst thou not buy for him this slave-girl?
He answered her, What is suited to the master is not suited to the servant; and I
have no power to take her ; for none purchased her but Aladdin, the Reis-el-sittein.
In consequence of this, the illness of the young man so increased that he aban-
doned sleep and food ; and his mother bound her head with the kerchiefs of mourn-
ing. And while she was sitting in her house, mourning for her son, lo, an old
woman came in to her. She was the mother of Ahmad Kamakim the arch thief;
and this arch thief used to break through a middle-wall, and to scale an upper one,
and steal the kohl from the eye. He was distinguished by these abominable prac-
tices in the beginning of his career. Then they made him chief of the watch, and
he stole a sum of money, and was discovered in consequence: the Judge came upon
him suddenly, and took him and led him before the Caliph, who gave orders to slay
him in the place of blood. But he implored the protection of the Vizier, whose inter-
cession the Caliph never rejected ; and he interceded for him. The Caliph said to
him, How is it that thou intercedest for a viper, noxious to mankind? But he re-
plied, O Prince of the Faithful, imprison him ; for he who built the first prison was
a wise man, since the prison is the sepulchre of the living, and a cause of the exul-
tation of the enemies over those who are confined in it. And upon this the Caliph
gave orders to put him in chains, and they engraved upon his chains. Appointed to
remain until death: they shall not be loosed but on the bench of the washer of the dead.
And they put him chained in the prison.
Now his mother used to frequent the house of the Emir Kaled the Judge, and to go
in to her son in the prison, and say to him. Did I not say to thee, Repent of unlawful
deeds? And lie used to reply, God decreed this to befall me: but, my mother, when
thou goest in to the wife of the Judge, induce her to intercede for me with him. And
when the old woman went in to the Judge's wife, and found her with her head bound
with the kerchiefs of mourning, she said to her, Wherefore art thou mourning? She
answered, For the loss of my son, Habazlam Bazaza. And the old woman said, Allah
preserve thy son ! What hath befallen him? — The wife of the Judge, therefore, related
to her the story. And upon this the old woman said. What sayest thou of him who will
achieve an extraordinary feat by which thy son shall be preserved ? And what wouldst
thou do ? said the Judge's wife. The old woman answered, I have a son named
Ahmad Kamakim the arch thief, and he is chained in the prison, and on his chains
are engraved the words, Appointed to remain until death. Do thou, therefore, attire
thyself in the most magnificent apparel that thou hast, and adorn thyself in the best
manner: then present thyself before thy husband with a cheerful and smiling coun-
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 367
tenance, and say to him, When a man requireth aught of his wife, he importuneth
her until he obtaineth it from her; but if the wife require aught of her husband, he
will not perform it for her. And he will say to thee. What is it that thou wantest?
And do thou answer. When thou hast sworn, I will tell thee. But if he swear to
thee by his head, or by Allah, say to him. Swear by thy divorce from me. And
when he hath sworn to thee by divorce, do thou say to him, Thou hast, in the prison,
a Mukaddam named Ahmad Kamakim, and he hath a poor mother, who hath had
recourse to me, and urged me to conciliate thee, saying to me. Induce him to inter-
cede for my son with the Caliph, that my son may repent, and thy husband will be
recompensed. And the Judge's wife replied, I hear and obey.
Accordingly, when the Judge came to his wife, she addressed him with the words
which the old woman had dictated ; and he swore to her by the oath of divorce.
And on the following morning he performed the morning-prayers, and, going to the
prison, said, Ahmad Kamakim, arch thief, wilt thou repent of thy conduct?
He answered. Verily I do turn unto God with repentance, and forsake my sins, and
say from my heart and with my tongue, I beg forgiveness of God. — So the Judge re-
leased him from the prison, and took him with him to the court, still in his chains.
Then advancing towards the Caliph, he kissed the ground before him ; whereupon
the Caliph said to him, Emir Kaled, what dost thou desire? And he led forward
Ahmad Kamakim, swinging his arms in the chains as he advanced, before the
Caliph, who, on seeing him, said, Kamakim, art thou still alive? — Prince of the
Faithful, he answered, verily the life of the wretch is protracted. And the Caliph
said, Emir Kaled, for what purpose hast thou brought him hither? The Judge
answered him, Verily he hath a poor, desolate mother, who hath no son but him,
and she hath had recourse to thy slave, that he should intercede with thee, Prince
of the Faithful, and beg thee to release him from the chains, and he will repent of
his former conduct ; and do thou appoint him head of the watch, as he was at first.
Upon this the Caliph said to Ahmad Kamakim, Dost thou repent of thy former con-
duct? And he answered him, I do turn unto God with repentance, Prince of
the Faithful. And the Caliph gave orders to bring the blacksmith, and he unfas-
tened his chains upon the bench of the washer of the dead. The Caliph then ap-
pointed him again head of the watch, and charged him to conduct himself well and
uprightly. So he kissed the hands of the Caliph, and descended with the robe of
his investiture as head of the watch, and they proclaimed his appointment.
After this, when he had remained some time in his office, his mother went in to
the wife of the Judge, and the latter said to her, Praise be to God who hath released
thy son from the prison, and that he is at present in health and safety ! But now,
she added, why dost thou not tell him to contrive some means of bringing the dam-
sel Jasmin to my son Ilabazlam Bazaza?— The old woman answered, I will tell him.
So she departed from her, and went in to her son, whom she found intoxicated ; and
she said to him, my son, no one was the cause of thy release from the prison but
the wife of the Judge, and she desireth of thee that thou contrive some means of
killing Aladdin Abushamat, and that thou bring the damsel Jasmin to her son Ha-
bazlam Bazaza. He replied, This will be the easiest of things. I must contrive
some means this night.— Now that night was the first of the new month, and it was
the custom of the Prince of the Faithful to pass it with the lady Zobeide, for the
purpose of emancipating a female slave or a mamlouk, or with some similiar inten-
tion. And it was his habit to take off the royal apparel, and to leave the rosary and
the dagger and the royal signet, putting them all upon the chair in the sitting-room.
The Caliph had also a lamp of gold, to which were attached three jewels disposed
upon a gold wire; and that lamp was dear in his estimation. He charged the
eunuchs with the care of the suit of apparel, and the lamp, and the rest of the
things, and entered the private apartment of the lady Zobeide. Then Ahmad Ka-
makim waited until the night was half spent, and Canopus shone, and mankind
Blept, and the Creator covered them with the curtain of darkness ; when he drew
368 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
his sword and took it in his right hand, and took his grappling instrument in his
left, and, approaching the Caliph's sitting-room, fixed his scaling-ladder. He threw
his grappling instrument upon the sitting-room, and it caught hold upon it, and he
mounted the ladder, ascended to the roof, lifted up the trap-door of the saloon, and
descended into it, and found the eunuchs sleeping; and he administered some bhang
to them, took the Caliph's suit of apparel, with the rosary and the dagger, and the
handkerchief and the signet, and the lamp that was adorned with jewels, and de-
scended by the same way by which he had made his ascent. He then repaired to
the house of Aladdin Abushamat, who was this night occupied with the damsel's
wedding-festivities, and who had retired to her. And Ahmad Kamakira the arch
thief descended into Aladdin's saloon, pulled up a slab of marble in its floor, and,
having dug a hole beneath it, deposite'd there some of the things that he had stolen,
retaining the rest in his possession. After this, he cemented the marble slab with ■
gypsum as it was before, and descended by the way he had ascended, and said
within himself, I will sit and get drunk, and put the lamp before me, and drink the
cup by its light. He then returned to his house.
Now when the morning came the Caliph went into the saloon (his sitting-room),
and found the eunuchs stupified with bhang. So he awoke them, and, putting his
hand upon the chair, he found not the suit of apparel nor the signet, nor the rosary
nor the dagger, nor the handkerchief nor the lamp: whereupon he was violently
enraged, and put on the apparel of anger, which was a suit of red, and seated him-
self in the council-chamber. And the Vizier advanced, and, having kissed the ground
before him, said. May God avert evil from the Prince of the Faithful ! Vizier,
replied the Caliph, the evil is enormous. And the Vizier said to him, What hath
occurred ? The Caliph therefore related to hin> all that had happened. And, lo,
the Judge came up, with Ahmad Kamakim the arch thief by his stirrup, and found
the Caliph in an excessive rage. And when the Caliph saw the Judge he said to
him, Emir Kaled, what is the state of Bagdad ? He answered. Safe and secure.
The Caliph replied. Thou liest. — How so, Prince of the Faithful ? said the Judge.
And the Caliph explained to him the affair, and said to him, I require thee to bring
to me all those things. The Judge replied, Prince of the Faithful, the worms of
the vinegar arc of it and in it ; and a stranger can never obtain access to this place.
But the Caliph said, If thou bring me not these things I will put thee to death. So
the Judge replied. Before thou slay me, slay Ahmad Kamakim the arch thief; for
none knoweth the robber and the traitor but the chief of the watch. And upon
this, Ahmad Kamakim said to the Caliph, Accept my intercession for the Judge,
and 1 will be responsible to thee for the thief, and I will trace him until I discover
him ; but give me two persons on the part of the Cadi, and two on the part of the
Judge; for he who did this deed feareth not thee, nor doth he fear the Judge nor
any one else. And the Caliph replied, Thou shalt have what thou hast desired; but
the search shall be first made in my palace, and then in the palace of the Vizier,
and in that of the Reis-el-sittein. — Thou hast spoken rightly, Prince of the Faith-
ful, said Ahmad Kamakim ; probably he who did this deed is one who hath been
brought up in the palace of the Prince of the Faithful, or in the palace of one of
his chief oflicers. And the Caliph said. By my head, whosoever shall appear to
have done this deed shall surely be slain, though he be my son !
Then Ahmad Kamakim took what he desired, and received a written order au-
thorizing him to force his entrance into the houses, and to search them. Accord-
ingly he went down, having in his hand a rod, one-third of which was of bronze,
and one-third of copper, and one-third of iron ; and he searched the palace of the
Caliph, and that of the vizier Giafar, and went about to the houses of the chamber-
lains and lieutenants, until he passed by the house of Aladdin Abushamat. And
when Aladdin heard the clamour before his house, he arose from the presence of
Jasmin his wife, and descending, opened the door; whereupon he found the Judge
in the midst of a tumult. So he said to him, What is the matter, Emir Kalod2
STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 369
The Judge therefore related to him the whole affair; and Aladdin said, Enter my
house and search it. The Judge replied, Pardon, my master: thou art surnamed
Faithful : and God forbid that the Faithful should become treacherous. But Aladdin
said, My house must be searched. The Judge therefore entered, and the Cadies and
the witnesses ; and Ahmad Kamakim, advancing to the floor of the saloon, came to
the slab of marble beneath which he had buried the stolen things ; when he let fall
the rod upon the slab with violence, and the marble broke, and lo, something shone
beneath it; whereupon the Chief exclaimed. In the name of Allah! Wonderful is
Allah's will! Through the blessing attendant upon our coming, a treasure hath
opened unto us ! Let me descend into this hoarding place, and see what is in it. —
And the Cadi and witnesses looked into this place, and found the stolen things. So
they wrote a paper stating that they had found the things in the house of Aladdin,
and, after they had put their seals upon the paper, commanded to seize Aladdin:
and they took his turban from his head, and registered all his wealth and property.
Ahmad Kamakim the arch thief then seized the damsel Jasmin, and gave her to
his mother, saying to her. Deliver her to Katoun, the wife of the Judge. The old
woman therefore took Jasmin, and went in with her to the Judge's wife ; and when
Habazlam Bazaza saw her, vigour returned to him, and he arose, instantly, rejoicing
excessively, and approached her. But she drew a dagger from her girdle, and said
to him, Retire from me, or I will kill thee and kill myself! His mother Katoun ex-
claimed, impudent wench, suffer my son to take thee as his wife! brutish
woman, said Jasmin, by what code is it allowed a woman to marry two husbands:
and what shall admit the dogs to the abode of the lions ? So the young man's desire
increased, passion and distraction enfeebled him, and he again relinquished food,
and took to the pillow. The wife of the Judge said to Jasmin, impudent wench,
how is it that thou causest me to sorrow for my son ? Thou shalt surely be punished,
and as to Aladdin, he will inevitably be hanged. — But Jasmin replied, I will die in
my love for him. And upon this, the wife of the Judge arose, and pulled off from
her the ornaments and silken apparel that were upon her, and, having clad her in
drawers of canvas and a shirt of hair-cloth, sent her down into the kitchen, and
made her one of the menial slave-girls, and said to her. Thy recompense shall be
that thou break up the wood and peel the onions and put the fire under the cooking-
pots. Jasmin replied. I will consent to every kind of torment, but I will not con-
sent to see thy son. God, however, moved the hearts of the female slaves with
sympathy for her, and they worked in her stead in the kitchen. — Such was the case
of Jasmin.
As to Aladdin, they took him, together with the articles belonging to the Caliph,
and proceeded with him until they arrived at the council-chamber ; and while the
Caliph was sitting upon the throne, lo, they came up with Aladdin and the stolen
things, and the Caliph said. Where did ye find them? They answered him. In the
midst of the house of Aladdin Abushamat. And upon this the Caliph was enraged,
and he took the things, but found not among them the lamp: so he said, Aladdin,
where is the lamp? He answered, I have' not stolen nor known nor seen, nor have
1 any information. But the Caliph said to him, traitor, how is it that I draw
thee near unto me and thou rejectest me, and that I confide in thee and thou actest
towards me with treachery? And he gave orders to hang him. The Judge there-
fore descended with him, and the crier proclaimed before him. This is the recom-
pense, and the smallest recompense, of him who acteth treacherously towards the
orthodox Caliphs ! And the populace collected at the gallows.
Meanwhile, Ahmad El-Denef, the chief of Aladdin, was sitting with his followers
in a garden. And as they were seated there in joy and happiness, lo, a water-car-
rier, one of those belonging to the court, came in to them, and, kissing the hand of
Ahmad El-Denef, said, my master Ahmad, Denef, thou art sitting in enjoyment,
with the water running beneath thy feet, and hast thou no knowledge of that which
hath happened? So Ahmad El-Denef said to him. What is the news? The water-
24
370 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
carrier answered, Verily thy son by a covenant before God, Aladdin, they have
taken down to the gallows. Upon this Ahmad El-Denef said, What stratagem hast
thou to propose, Hassan, Shuman ? He answered. Verily, Aladdin is innocent,
and this is a plot that hath been practised against him by some enemy. — And what
is thy advice? said Ahmad El-Denef. — His deliverance, he answered, shall be ac-
complished by ns, if the Lord will. Then Hassan Shuman repaired to the prison,
and said to the jailer. Give us some one who is deserving of being put to death.
And he gave him one who was the nearest of men in resemblance to Aladdin
Abushamat. And he covered his head, and Ahmad El-Denef took him between him
and AH E!-Zebak of Cairo. They had then brought forward Aladdin to hang him ;
and Ahmad El-Denef advanced, and put his foot upon the foot of the executioner.
The latter therefore said to him, Give me room, that I may perform my office. — And
Ahmad El Denef replied, accursed, take this man, and hang him in the place of
Aladdin Abushamat; for he is unjustly accused, and we will ransom Ishmael with
the ram. So the executioner took that man, and hanged him instead of Aladdin.
Then Ahmad El-Denef and Ali El-Zebak of Cairo took Aladdin and repaired with
him to the saloon of Ahmad El-Denef, and Aladdin said to Ahmad, May God recom-
pense thee well, my chief. But Ahmad El-Denef said, Aladdin, what is this
deed that thou hast committed? God have mercy upon him who hath said. Whoso
confideth in thee, act not treacherously towards him, though thou be a traitor. The
Caliph established thee in his court, and surnamed thee the Trusty and the Faithful.
How then couldst thou act towards him in this manner, and take his goods? Aladdin
replied. By the Most Great Name, my chief it was not my deed : I am not guilty
of it: nor do I know who did it. So Ahmad El-Denef said. Verily none committed
this deed except a manifest enemy, and he who committeth a deed will be requited
for it: but Aladdin, thou canst no longer reside in Bagdad ; for Kings do not re-
linquish one oV)ject for another, and great is the fatigue of him of whom they are in
quest. Whither shall I go, my chief? said Aladdin. — I will conduct thee, an-
swered Ahmad El-Denef, to Alexandria; for it is a blessed place, and its threshold
is green, and life there is agreeable. To this Aladdin replied, I hear and obey,
my chief And Ahmad El-Denef said to Hassan Shuman, Be mindful, and if the
Caliph inquire respecting me, answer, He is gone to make a circuit through the
provinces.
He then took Aladdin, and went forth from Bagdad, and they proceeded without
stopping until they arrived at the vineyards and gardens, where they found two
Jews, of the Caliph's collectors of the revenue, mounted on two mules ; and Ahmad
El-Denef said to them, Give me the fee for watching. — On what account, said they,
shall we give thee the fee for watching? He answered them, I am the watchman of
this valley. And upon this, each of them gave him a hundred pieces of gold. After
which Ahmad El-Denef slew them, and having taken the two mules, he mounted
one of them, and Aladdin mounted the other, and they proceeded to the city of Ayas
There they put the mules in a Khan, and passed the night in it; and when the
morning came, Aladdin sold his mule, and charged the doorkeeper with the care of
the mule of Ahmad El-Denef. Then embarking in a ship in the harbour of Ayas, they
proceeded to Alexandria. And Ahmad El-Denef landed with Aladdin, and they
walked to the market ; and lo, a broker was crying for sale a shop, within which
was a suit of rooms, announcing the sum bidden to be nine hundred and fifty; where-
upon Aladdin said. Let them be mine for a thousand. And the seller assented to
his offer for the property, which belonged to the government-treasury; and Aladdin
received the keys, and, opening the shop and suit of rooms, found the latter spread
with carpets, &c., and furnished with cushions. He saw there also a magazine con-
taining sails and masts and ropes and chests, and leather bags full of beads and
shells, and stirrups and battle-axes, and maces, and knives and scissors, and other
things; for its owner was a dealer in second-hand goods. So Aladdin seated him-
self in the shop, and Ahmad El-Denef said to him, my son, the shop and the suite
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 371
of rooms aud what they contain have become thy property : sit therefore in the shop,
and sell and buy; and be not displeased; for God (whose name be exalted!) hath
blessed commerce. And he remained with him three days, and on the fourth day he
took leave of him, saying to him, Continue in this place until I shall have gone and
returned to thee with news of thy safety from the Caliph, and seen who hath practised
this plot against thee. He then set forth on his voyage, and proceeded until he
arrived at Ayas, when he took the mule from the Khan, and went on to Bagdad, and,
meeting with Hassan Shuman and his followers, he said to him, Hassan, hath the
Caliph inquired respecting me? — No, answered Hassan; nor hast thou occurred to
his mind.
After this, Ahmad El- Denef continued in the service of the Caliph, and endeavoured
to learn news [respecting the case of Aladdin]. And he saw the Caliph look towards
the A^'izier Giafar one day, saying to him. See, O Vizier, how Aladdin hath acted
towards me. The Vizier replied, Prince of the Faithful, thou hath recompensed
him with hanging, and hath not his recompense been accomplished upon him? —
Vizier, rejoined the Caliph, I desire to go down and see him hanging. And the
Vizier said. Do as thou wilt, Prince of the Faithful. So the Caliph went down,
accompanied by the Vizier Giafar, and proceeded to the gallows, and raising his
eyes, he saw that the body which was hanging there was not that of Aladdin, the
Trusty and the Faithful. He said, therefore, O Vizier, this is not Aladdin. — How
knowest thou, said the Vizier, that it is not he? The Caliph answered, Aladdin was
short, and this is tall. The Vizier replied, a person when hanged becomes
lengthened. The Caliph then said, Aladdin was fair, and the face of this person is
black. But the Vizier replied, Knowest thou not, Prince of the Faithful, that
death is followed by blackness ? And the Caliph gave orders to take down the body
from the gallows ; and when they had done so, he found written upon the heels of
the corpse the names of the first two Caliphs ;' whereupon he said, Vizier, Aladdin
was a Sunnee, and this was a Heretic. So the Vizier replied. Extolled be the per-
fection of God, who is omniscient with respect to the things that are hidden from
the senses! We know not whether this be Aladdin or some other person. The
Caliph then gave orders to bury the body, and they buried it ; and Aladdin became
utterly forgotten.
Now as to Habazlam Bazaza, the son of the Judge, his passion and desire were
protracted until he died; and they interred him. And as to the damsel Jasmin,
when she had accomplished her time of nine months after her marriage to Aladdin,
she gave birth to a male child, like the moon. The female slaves said to her, What
wilt thou name him ? And she answered, Were his fether living he had named him,
but I will name him Asian. She nursed him two successive years, and weaned him ;
and he crawled and walked. And it happened that his mother was occupied with
the service of the kitchen one day, and the boy walked forth, and seeing the stairs
of the upper rooms, he went up them. The Emir Kaled, the Judge, was sitting
there; and he took him, and seated him upon his lap, extolling the perfection of his
Lord in respect of that which He had created and formed ; and he looked at his face,
and saw he was the nearest of beings in resemblance to Aladdin Abushamat. Then
his mother Jasmin searched for him, but found him not; so she went up into the
upper room, and beheld the Emir Kaled sitting with the child playing in his lap;
God having instilled an affection for the boy into the heart of the Emir. And the
child looked aside, and, seeing his mother, would have thrown himself upon her ;
but the Emir Kaled held him tightly in his lap, and said to his mother. Come hither,
slave-girl. And when she had come, he said to her. Whose son is this child? She
answered him, This is my son, and the darling of my heart. — And who, said he, is
his father? She answered, his father was Aladdin Abushamat; but now he hath
become thy son. The Emir replied, Aladdin was a traitor. But she said, Allah
' The Shiaks, who were considered as Heretics by the Sunnees, are said to write the names of
the first Caliphs under their feet, that they may be trodden upon, in token of detestation.
372 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
preserve him from the imputation of treachery ! AUah forbid that it should ever be
sa'id that the Faithful was a traitor! And he said to her, When this boy groweth
up, and saith to thee, Who is my father? — do thou ansvrer him, Thou art the son of
the Emir Kaled, the Judge, the Chief of the Police. So she replied, I hear and
obey. — Then the Emir Kaled circumcised the boy, and educated him carefully, and
brought him a professor of religion and law, skilled in caligraphy, who taught him
the arts of writing and reading ; and he read the Koran the first and the second
times, and recited the whole of it ; and as. he grew up he used to say to the Emir
Kaled, my father. The Judge also used to exercise his followers in the horse-
course, collect the horsemen, and descend and teach the youth the different modes
of battle, and thrusting and striking, until he became accomplished in horseman-
ship, acquired courage, attained the age of fourteen years, and gained the rank of
an Emir.
After this it happened that Asian met one day with Ahmad Kamakim the arch
thief, and they became companions. And Asian followed him to the tavern, and lo,
Ahmad Kamakim took forth the lamp ornamented with jewels, which he had taken
from the things belonging to the Caliph, and, placing it before him, drank the cup
by its light, and intoxicated himself; and Asian said to him, my master, give me
this lamp. He replied, I cannot give it thee. — Why so? said Asian. He answered,
Because lives have been lost on account of it? Asian therefore said. What life hath
been lost on account of it? And Ahmad Kamakim answered him, There was a
pecson who came to us here and was made Reis-el-sittein, named Aladdin Abusha-
mat, and he died on account of this lamp — And what is his story ? said Asian, and
what was the cause of his death ? Thou hadst a brother, answered Ahmad Kama-
kim, named Habazlam Bazaza ; and when he attained a fit age for marriage, his
father desired to purchase for him a slave-girl. — Then Ahmad Kamakim proceeded,
and acquainted him with the story from beginning to end, informing him of the ill-
ness of Habazlam Bazaza, and of the unmerited fixte of Aladdin. So Asian said
within himself, Probably that damsel is Jasmin, my mother, and none was my father
but Aladdin Abushamat. And the youth Asian went forth from him sorrowful, and
he met Ahmad El-Denef, who, when he saw him, exclaimed. Extolled be the perfec-
tion of Him unto whom none is like! Upon this, Hassan Shuman (being with him)
said to him, O my chief, at what dost thou wonder ? He answered. At the form of
this youth Asian ; for he is the nearest of mankind in resemblance to Aladdin
Abushamat. And he called him, saying, Asian ! And Asian having answered
him, he said. What is the name of thy mother? He answered, She is named the
slave-girl Jasmin. So Ahmad El-Denef said to him, Asian, be of good heart and
cheerful eye ; for none was thy father but Aladdin Abushamat : but, my son, go
into thy mother and ask her respecting thy father. And he replied, I hear and
obey. Accordingly he went into his mother and asked her, and she answered him,
Thy father is the Emir Kaled. But he replied, None was my father but Aladdin
Abushamat. And his mother wept, and said to him, Who acquainted thee with this,
my son? He answered. The Chief Ahmad El-Denef. She therefore related to
him all that had happened, and said to him, my son, the truth hath appeared,
and falsity is withdrawn ; and know that thy father was Aladdin Abushamat.
None, however, reared thee but the Emir Kaled, and he adopted thee. And now,
my sfrti, when thou meetest with Ahmad El-Denef, say to him, my chief, I con-
jure thee by Allah that thou take my revenge for me upon him who killed my fother,
Aladdin Abushamat.
So he went forth from her to Ahmad El-Denef, and kissed his hand ; and Ahmad
El-Denef said, What dost thou want, Asian? He answered, I have known of a
certainty that my father was Aladdin Abushamat, and I request of thee that thou
take my revenge for me upon him who killed him. Ahmad El-Denef said. Who
killed thy father? And Asian answered him, Ahmad Kamakim the arch thief. —
And who, said Ahmad El-Denef, acquainted thee with this? The youth answered.
Asian Meeting Ahmad Kamakim the Thief. (Page 872.)
373
THE STOKY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 375
I saw in his possession the lamp ornamented with jewels that was lost with thfl
other things belonging to the Caliph, and I said to him, Give me this lamp: — but he
would not; and he replied, Lives have been lost on account of this. lie told me also
that he was the person who descended into the chamber of the Caliph and stole the
things, and that he deposited them in the house of my father. — Upon this Ahmad
El-Denef said to him, When thou seest the Emir Kaled attiring himself in the ap-
parel of war, say to him, Clothe me like thyself. And when thou goest up with
him, and performest some feat of valour before the Prince of the Faithful, the
Caliph will say to thee. Request of me what thou desirest, Asian. Thou shalt
then reply, I request of thee that thou avenge my father for me upon him who
killed him. The Caliph thereupon will say to thee, Thy father is living, and he is
the Emir Kaled the Judge. And thou shalt repl}', Verily my father was Aladdin
Abushamat; and Kaled the Judge hath a claim upon me only for his having reared
me. Acquaint him also with all that hath happened between thee and Ahmad Ka-
makim the arch thief; and say to him, Prince of the Faithful, give orders to
search him, and I will produce the lamp from his pocket. — So Asian replied, I hear
end obey.
He then went forth, and found the Emir Kaled preparing himself to go up to the
court of the Caliph, and he said to him, I would that thou clothe me with the ap-
parel of war like thyself, and take me with thee to the Caliph's court. And he clad
him, and took him to the court. The Caliph then went down with the troops, with-
out the city, and they pitched the pavilions and tents, and the ranks were formed,
and they proceeded to play with the ball and the go£F-stick, one of the horsemen
striking the ball wMth the goff-stick and another striking it back to him. Now there
was among the troops a spy, who had been incited to kill the Caliph ; and he took
the ball and struck it with the goff-stick, aiming it at the face of the Caliph. But
lo, Asian warded it off from the Caliph, and smote with it him who had impelled it,
and it struck him between the shoulders; whereupon he fell on the ground; and the
Caliph exclaimed, God bless thee, Asian I They then alighted from the backs of
their horses, and seated themselves upon the chairs, and the Caliph gave orders to
bring the man who had struck the ball at him. And when he was brought before
him, he said to him, Who incited thee to do this deed ; and art thou an enemy or a
friend? He answered, I am an enemy, and I was purposing to kill thee. — For what
reason ? said the Caliph. Art thou not a Mahometan ? — No, he answered ; but I am
a Heretic. So the Caliph gave the order to put him to death.
And he said to Asian, Request of me what thou desirest. He therefore replied, I
request of thee that thou avenge my father for me upon him who killed him. The
Caliph said to him. Thy father is living, and he is standing upon his feet. —
"Who is my father? said Asian. The Caliph answered him, the Emir Kaled, the
Judge. — Prince of the Faithful, replied Asian, he is not my father save in having
reared me ; and none was my father but Aladdin Abushamat. The Caliph said.
Thy father was a traitor. But Asian replied, Prince of the Faithful, God forbid
it should be said that the Faithful was a traitor! And in what, said he, did he act
treacherously towards thee ! The Caliph answered. He stole my suit of apparel, and
the things that were with it. — Prince of the Faithful, replied Asian, God forbid it
should be said that my fother was a traitor! But O my lord, he added, when thy
suit of apparel was lost and returned to thee, didst thou see the lamp brought back
to thee also? — The Caliph answered, We found it not. Then said Asian, I saw it
in the possession of Ahmad Kamakim, and begged it of him ; but he would not
give it me ; and he said. Lives have been lost on account of this. And he told me
of the illness of Habazlam Bazaza, the son of the Emir Kaled, and his passion for
the damsel Jasmin, and his own release from the chains, and informed me that he
was the person who stole the suit of apparel, and the lamp. Do thou, therefore,
Prince of the Faithful, avenge my father for me upon him who killed him. — So the
Caliph said. Seize Ahmad Kamakim. And they did so. And he said, Where is
376 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT,
the chief Ahmad El-Denef ? He therefore came before him ; and the Caliph said to
him, Search Kamakim. And he put his hands into his pocket, and took forth from
it the lamp ornamented with jewels: whereupon the Caliph said, Come hither,
traitor. Whence came to thee this lamp ? — He answered I bought it, Prince of
the Faithful. But the Caliph said to him, Whence didst thou buy it ; and who could
possess himself of such a thing, that he should sell it to thee ? They then beat
him ; and he confessed that he was the person who stole the suit of apparel and the
lamp. And the Caliph said to him, Wherefore didst thou these deeds, to destroy
Aladdin Abushamat, who was the Trusty and Faithful ? And he commanded to
seize him, and the Judge also. But the Judge said, Prince of the Faithful, I am
injured. Thou gavest me the order to hang him, and I had no knowledge of this
plot; for the thing was contrived by the old woman and Ahmad Kamakim and
my wife, and I had no information of it. I implore thy protection, Asian ! — So
Asian interceded for him with the Caliph. The Prince of the Faithful then said,
What hath God done with the mother of this youth? The Judge answered. She is
in my house. And the Caliph said, I command that thou order thy wife to attire
her in her apparel and ornaments, and to restore her to her rank of a lady, and that
thou take off the seals that are upon the house of Aladdin, and give to his son his
possessions and wealth. The Judge replied, I hear and obey. And he descended,
and gave the orders to his wife, who attired Jasmin in her apparel ; and he took off
the seals from the house of Aladdin, and gave Asian the keys.
The Caliph then said, Request of me what thou desirest, Asian. Asian replied,
I request that thou unite me with my father. And the Caliph wept, and said. It is
most probable that thy father was the person who was hanged, and died ; but, by
my ancestors, whosoever bringeth me the good news of his being alive, I will give
him all that he shall require. So upon this, Ahmad El-Denef advanced, and having
kissed the ground before him, said to him. Grant me indemnity, Prince of the
Faithful. The Caliph replied, Thou hast indemnity. And Ahmad El-Denef said, 1
give thee the good news that Aladdin Abushamat, the Trusty and Faithful, is well,
and still living. The Caliph then said to him. What is it thou assertest? He an-
swered. By thy head, my words are true ; for I ransomed him by substituting
another, from among such as deserved to be put to death, and conducted him to
Alexandria, where I opened for him a shop of a dealer in second-hand goods. So
the Caliph said, I require thee to bring him. He replied, I hear and obey. And
the Caliph commanded to give him ten thousand pieces of gold, and he departed on
his way to Alexandria.
But as to Aladdin Abushamat, he sold all that he had in the shop, excepting a
few articles, and a leathern bag. And he shook this bag, and there dropped from
it a bead large enough to fill the hand, attached to a chain of gold, and having five
faces, whereon were names and talismans like the tracks made by the creeping of
ants. And he rubbed the five faces ; but no one answered him. So he said within
himself. Probably it is a bead of onyx. He then hung it up in the shop. And lo,
a Consul passed along the street, and, raising his eyes, saw the bead hung up ;
whereupon he seated himself at Aladdin's shop, and said to him, my master, is
this bead for sale? Aladdin answered him. All that I have is for sale. And the
Consul said to him Wilt thou sell it to me for eighty thousand pieces of gold?
Aladdin answered, May God open a better way to dispose of it. The Consul then
said. Wilt thou sell it for a hundred thousand pieces of gold ? And he answered, I
sell it thee for a hundred thousand pieces of gold : so pay me the coin. But the
Consul replied, I cannot carry the sum; and in Alexandria are robbers and
sharpers: do thou therefore come with me to my ship, and I will give thee the price,
together with a bale of Angora wool, and a bale of satin, and a bale of velvet, and
a bale of broad-cloth. So Aladdin arose, and closed the shop, after he had deli-
vered to him the bead ; and he gave the keys to his neighbour, saying to him, Keep
these keys in thy charge while I go to the ship with this Consul and bring the price
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 377
of my bead: but if I remain long away from thee, and the chief Ahmad El-Denef
who established me in this place come to thee, give him the keys, and acquaint him
with this circumstance.
He then repaired with the Consul to the ship : and when he went on board with
him, the Consul put him a chair, and seated him upon it, and said. Bring the money.
And having paid him the price, and given him the four bales which he had promised
him, he said to him, my master, I desire that thou refresh my heart by taking a
mouthful of food, or a draught of water. Aladdin replied. If thou have water, give
me to drink. And the Consul gave orders to bring sherbet ; and there was bhang in
it. So when he had drunk, he fell down on his back. And they took away the
chairs, and put by the poles, and loosed the sails, and the wind favoured them until
they advanced into the midst of the sea. The Captain then gave orders to bring up
Aladdin from the cabin ; and they brought him up, and made him smell the antidote
of bhang: so he opened his eyes, and said. Where am I? The Captain answered.
Thou art here with me, bound and in custody ; and hadst thou said again. May God
open abetter way to dispose of it, — I had increased my offer to thee. — And what,
said Aladdin, is thy occupation ? — He answered, I am a captain, and I desire to take
thee to the beloved of my heart.
Now while they were talking, there appeared a ship, on board of which were forty
Mahometan merchants ; and the Captain attacked them, fixed the grappling irons in
their ship, and, boarding her with his men, they plundered her and took her, and
proceeded with her to the city of Genoa. The Captain with whom Aladdin was a
prisoner then went to a door of a palace, opening upon the sea ; and lo, a damsel
came down, drawing a veil before her face, and said to him. Hast thou brought the
bead and its owner! He answered her, I have brought both. And she said to him.
Give me the bead. So he gave it to her. And after this, he returned to the port
and fired the guns to announce his safe return ; and the King of the city becoming
acquainted with his arrival, came forth to welcome him, and said to him. How hath
been thy voyage ? He answered, It hath been very prosperous, and I have captured,
in the course of it, a ship contaitnng forty-one Mahometan merchants. The King
then said to him. Bring them forth into the port. And he brought them forth in
irons, with Aladdin among them ; and the King and the Captain mounted and made
the prisoners walk before them until they arrived at the council-chamber, when they
seated themselves, and caused the first of the prisoners to be led forward ; and the
King said to him. Whence art thou, Mahometan ? He answered, from Alexandria.
And the King said, executioner, slay him. The executioner therefore struck him
with the sword, and severed his head from his body. Thus was done to the second
also and the third, and to their companions successively, until forty had been put to
death. Aladdin remained to the last: so he drank their sighs, and he said to him-
self. The mercy of God be on thee, O Aladdin ! Thy life hath expired ! — Then the
King said. And from what country art thou? He answered, From Alexandria. And
the King said, O executioner, strike off his head!
The executioner accordingly raised his hand with the sword, and was about to
strike off the head of Aladdin; but lo, an old woman, of venerable appearance, ad-
vanced before the King ; whereupon he rose to her, to show her honour; and she said,
O King, did I not say to thee, When the Captain cometh with the captives remember
to supply the convent with a captive or two to serve in the chur«h? — O my mother,
he answered, would that thou hadst come a little earlier: but take this captive that
remaineth. And the old woman, looking towards Aladdin, said to him. Wilt thou
serve in the church, or shall I suffer the King to slay thee ? He answered her, I
-will serve in the church. So she took him, and going forth with him from the
council-chamVjer, repaired to the church ; and Aladdin said to her. What service
am I to perform? She answered. Thou shalt arise early in the morning, and take
five mules, and repair with them to the forest, cut dry fire-wood, and break it up,
*nd bring it to the kitchen of the convent. After that, thou shalt take up the
378 THE STORY OF ALADDIX ABUSHAMAT.
carpets, and sweep and wipe the stone and marble pavements, and spread the carpeti
again as they were. And thou shalt take half an ardebb of wheat, and sift it, and
grind it, and knead it, and make it into cakes for the convent ; and thou shalt take
a bushel of lentils, and grind them with the hand-mill, and cook them. Then thou
shalt fill the tanks of the four fountains with water, and convey it in barrels, and
fill three hundred and sixty-six wooden bowls, and crumble the cakes into them, and
pour into them some of the lentil-porridge, and take in to each monk or patriarch
his bowl. — To this, Aladdin replied. Return me to the King and let him slay me;
for death will be easier to me than this work. She said to him. If thou work, and
perform the service that is required of thee, thou wilt escape slaughter ; and if thou
perform it not, I will cause the King to put thee to death. So Aladdin sat full of
trouble. And there were in the church ten blind and impotent men, who employed
him in the most degraded of services. Then the old woman came, and said to him.
Wherefore hast thou not done the work in the church? — How many hands have I,
said he, that I should be able to accomplish this work? — Thou fool, she replied. I
brought thee not but to work. She then said. Take, my son, this rod (and it was
of brass, with a cross at the top), and go forth into the great thoroughfare-street;
and when the Judge of the town approaches thee, say to him, I summon thee to the
service of the church. And he will not disobey thee. So make him take the wheat,
and sift it and grind it, and pass it through the second sieve, and knead it, and bake
cakes of it ; and whoever shall disobey thee, beat him, and fear not any one. — So he
replied, I hear and obey. He did as she had told him, and ceased not to compel
great and small to work, gratuiotusly, for the space of seventeen years.
After this, as he was sitting in the church, lo, the old woman came in to him, and
said to him. Go without the convent. — "Whither shall I go ? said he. She answered
him, Pass this night in a tavern, or in the house of one of thy companions. He said.
Wherefore dost thou send me away from the church ? And she answered. The
beautiful Mary, the daughter of the King John, the King of this city, desireth to pay
a visit to the church, and it is not proper that any one should be in her way. So he
professed his assent to her order, and arose, pretending to her that he was going out
from the church ; but he said within himself, I wonder whether the daughter of the
King is like our women, or more beautiful than they. I will not go, therefore, until
I have gratified myself by the sight of her. — Accordingly he concealed himself in a
closet which had a window looking into the church. And while he was looking
thence into the church, lo, the daughter of the King approached, and he directed at
her a glance which occasioned him a thousand sighs ; for he found her to be like the
full moon when it appeareth from behind the clouds ; and with her was a damsel, to
whom she was saying, Thou hast cheered me by thy society, Zobeide. And
Aladdin, looking intently at that damsel, saw that she was his wife Zobeide the lute-
player, who (as he supposed) had died. The King's daughter then said to Zobeide,
Perform for us now a piece of music on the lute. But Zobeide replied, I will not
perform it for thee until thou accomplish for me my desire, and fulfil thy promise to
me. — What have I promised thee ? said the daughter of the King. Zobeide answered
her. Thou promisedst me to reunite me with my husband Aladdin Abushamat, the
Trusty and the Faithful. And the King's daughter said to her, Zobeide, be of
good heart and cheerful eye, and perform for us a piece of music as a gratuity for
our union with thy husband Aladdin. So Zobeide said. And where is he? — Verily,
answered the King's daughter, he is in this closet, hearing our words. And upon
this, Zobeide performed a piece of music upon the lute, such as would make a rock
to dance ; and when Aladdin heard it, longing desires were excited in his heart, and
he went forth from the closet, and, rushing upon them, took his wife Zobeide in his
bosom, and she recognised him.
They embraced each other, and fell down upon the floor senseless ; and the
Princess Mary came, and sprinkled some rose-water upon them, and recovered
them, and said, God hath united you ! Aladdin replied. Through thy kindness,
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 379
my mistress. Then looking towards his wife, he said to her, Thou wast dead,
Zobeide, and we buried thee in the grave. How then didst thou return to life, and
come unto this place? — my master, she answered, I died not; but one of the
Genii carried me off, and flew with me to this place ; and as to her whom ye buried,
she was a Fairy, who assumed my form and feigned herself dead, and after ye had
buried her she clove open the grave and came forth from it, and betook herself to the
service of her mistress Mary, the daughter of the King. But as to myself, I was
possessed, and, opening my eyes, I saw that I was with Mary, the King's daughter,
who is this lady ; and I said to her. Wherefore hast thou brought me hither? She
answered me, I am predestined to marry thy husband Aladdin Abushamat. And
she said, Wilt thou accept me, Zobeide, as thy fellow-wife ? I answered her, I
hear and obey, my mistress : but where, said I, is my husband ? And she said,
Upon his forehead is written what God hath decreed to happen unto him, and when
he hath experienced the accomplishment of events that are written upon his forehead,
he cannot fail to come unto this place ; but thou shalt console thyself for this sepa-
ration by melodious sounds, and playing upon musical instruments, until God unite
us with him. So I remained with her during this period, till God united me with
thee in this church.
Then the beautiful Mary looked towards him and said to him, my master Alad-
din, wilt thou accept me as a wife, and be to me a husband ? — my mistress, said
he, I am a Mahometan, and thou art a Christian : how then should I marry thee?
But she replied, God forbid that I should be an infidel ! Nay, I am a Mahometan,
and for eighteen years I have held fixst the religion of the prophet, and I am guilt-
less of following any religion that is at variance with his. — He then said to her,
my mistress, I desire to return to my country. And she replied, Know that I have
seen written upon thy forehead events of which thou must experience the accomplish-
ment, and thou shalt attain thy wish. Be rejoiced, also, Aladdin, by the informa-
tion that a son of thine hath made his appearance, whose name is Asian, and he is
now sitting in thy place in the court of the Caliph, and hath attained the age of
eighteen years. Know, too, that the truth hath appeared, and falsity is withdrawn,
and our lord hath removed the veil of his protection from him who stole the goods
of the Caliph : he is Ahmad Kamakim the arch thief and traitor ; and he is now in
prison, confined and chained. Know, moreover, that I am the person that sent to
thee the bead, and caused it to be put for thee in the leather bag in the shop ; and I
am the person who sent to thee the Captain who brought thee and the bead. And
know that this Captain is enamoured of me, and desireth to possess me ; but I
would not yield to him, and I said to him, I will not grant thy request unless thou
bring to me the bead and its owner. And I gave him a hundred purses, and sent
him in the garb of a merchant, though he was a captain. Then, when they had
brought thee forward to slay thee, after the slaughter of the forty captives with whom
thou wast, I sent unto thee the old woman. — So Aladdin said to her, May God
recompense thee for me with every blessing ! — Then the beautiful Mary renewed to
him her profession of conversion to the Mahometan faith ; and when he was con-
vinced of the truth of her avowal, he said to her, Acquaint me with the virtue of this
bead, and tell me whence it came.
She replied. This bead is from a charmed treasure, and possesseth five virtues,
which will profit us in the time when we need them. My grandmother, the mother
of my father, was an enchantress, who solved mysteries, and carried off treasures,
and from a treasure this bead came into her possession. And when I had grown up,
and attained the age of fourteen years, I read the Gospels and other books, and saw
the name of Mahomet (God favour and preserve him !) in the four books, the Penta-
teuch and the Gospels and the Psalms and the Koran: so I believed in Mahomet,
and became a Mahometan, and was convinced in my mind that none is to be
worshipped in truth but God (whose name be exalted !), and that the Lord of man-
kind approveth of no faith but that of Mahomet. My grandmother, when she fell
380 THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT.
sick, made me a present of this bead, and acquainted me with the five virtues that
it possesseth. And before my grandmother died, my father said to her, Perform for
me an operation of geomancy, and see the end of my history, and what will happen
to me. And she said to him. Verily thou wilt die slain by a captive who will come
from Alexandria. So my father swore that he would put to death every captive that
should come from that city, and acquainted the Captain with his vow, and said to
him, Thou must attack the vessels of the Mahometans, and whomsoever thou seest
from Alexandria thou must kill him, or bring him unto me. The Captain therefore
complied with his command until he had slain a number as many as the hairs of
his head. Then my grandmother perished : and I performed an operation of geo-
mancy, considering in my mind and saying, I would know who will marry me. And
it was revealed to me that none would marry me but one named Aladdin Abushamat,
the Trusty and Faithful ; whereat I wondered ; and I waited until the time came, and
I met with thee.
Aladdin then married her, and said to her, I desire to return to my country. She
replied, If the case is so, come with me. And she took him and concealed him in
a closet in her palace, and went in to her father, who said to her, my daughter, I
am to-day suffering from excessive oppression of spirits : and sit therefore that I
may intoxicate myself with thee. So she sat ; and he called for the wine-table ; and
she proceeded to fill and to hand to him until he became insensible, when she put
some bhang into his cup, and he drank the cup, and fell down upon his back. She
then came to Aladdin, and, taking him forth from the closet, said to him, Thine
adversary is laid prostrate upon his back ; so do with him what thou wilt ; for I have
intoxicated him, and stupified him with bhang. Aladdin therefore went in and
beheld him stupified with bhang ; and he bound his hands tightly behind him, and
chained him; after which he gave him the antidote of bhang, and he recovered his
senses and found Aladdin and his daughter sitting on his bosom. So he said, my
daughter, dost thou act thus towards me? She replied, If I am thy daughter,
embrace the Mahometan faith ; for I have done so. The truth hath become manifest
to me, and I have followed it, and falsity I have abandoned ; and I have humbled
my face unto God, the Lord of all creatures, and am guiltless of following any reli-
gion that is at variance with the religion of Mahomet in this world and in that which
is to come. If then thou become a Mahometan, we will treat thee with affection and
honour ; but if not, thy slaughter will be better than thy life. — Then Aladdin also
admonished him. But he refused and was obstinate: so Aladdin drew forth a
dagger, and cut his throat from one jugular vein to the other, and, having written a
paper stating what had happened, put it upon his forehead.
After this, they took what was light to carry and great in value, and went forth
from the palace, and repaired to the church. She then brought out the bead, and,
putting her hand upon one of the faces of it, whereupon was engraved a couch, she
rubbed it ; and lo, a couch was placed before her. And she mounted with Aladdin
and his wife Zobeide, the lute-player, upon this couch, and said. By virtue of the
names and talismans and scientific characters that are inscribed upon this bead, rise
with us, couch ! And the couch rose with them, and conveyed them to a valley
wherein was no vegetation. Then she turned up the other four faces of the bead
towards the sky, turning downwards the foce whereon the couch was figured, and it
descended with them to the earth. And she turned round a face upon which was
figured the form of a pavilion, and rubbed it, saying. Let a pavilion be set up in
this valley. AVhereupon the pavilion was set up, and they seated themselves in it.
Now that valley was a waste, destitute alike of vegetation and water: so she turned
four faces of the bead towards the sky, and said, By virtue of the names of God, let
trees spring up here, with a large river by their side ! And the trees sprang up
immediately, and by them ran a large murmuring river, agitated with waves ; and
they performed the ablution with its water, and prayed and drank. The King's
daughter then turned round the three fiices yet undescribed, until she came to a fivce
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ABUSHAMAT. 381
upon which was represented a table of viands, and said, By virtue of the names of
God, let the table be spread ! And lo, a table was spread, whereon were all kinds
of rich viands ; and they ate and drank, and were full of joy and merriment.
Meanwhile, the King's son went in to wake his father, and found him slain ; and
he found also the paper which Aladdin had written : so he read it, and became
acquainted with its contents. He then searched for his sister, and, not finding
her, he repaired to the old woman in the church, and inquired of her respecting
her: and she answered. Since yesterday I have not seen her. He therefore re-
turned and betook himself to the troops, and said to them, To horse, riders!
And he acquainted them with that which had happened : whereupon they mounted
their horses, and proceeded until they drew near to the pavilion, when the Princess
Mary turned her eyes, and saw that the dust had obstructed the view of the
adjacent tracts ; and after it had risen high and spread, it dispersed, and there
appeared beneath it her brother and the troops, who were calling out. Whither will
ye go when we are behind you? So the damsel said to Aladdin, How is thy sta-
bility in war and combat? And he answered her. As that of the stake in bran ; for
I am not acquainted with war and battle, nor with swords and spears. She therefore
took forth the bead, and rubbed a face upon which were figured a horse and rider;
and lo, a horseman appeared from the desert, and ceased not to smite with the sword
among them until he had routed and repelled them.
The King's daughter then said to Aladdin, Wilt thou journey to Cairo or to Alex-
andria? He answered, To Alexandria. So they mounted the couch, and after she
had pronounced a spell upon it, it conveyed them to Alexandria in the twinkling of
an eye; and Aladdin, having taken them into a cavern, went to the city, and brought
them thence apparel, with which he clad them. He then conducted them to the shop
and the suite of rooms, and went forth to procure dinner fi)r them; and lo, the chief
Ahmad El-Denef approached, arriving from Bagdad. Aladdin saw him in the
street, and he met him with open arms, saluting him and welcoming him ; and Ah-
mad El-Denef gave him good news of his son Asian, telling him that he had attained
the age of twenty years ; after which Aladdin related to him all that had happened
to him from first to last, and took him to the shop and the suite of rooms ; and Ah-
mad El-Denef wondered extremely at his story. They passed the next night, and
when they arose in the morning, Aladdin sold the shop, and put its price with the
rest of his money. Then Ahmad El-Denef informed him that the Caliph desired his
presence. But Aladdin replied, I am going to Cairo, to salute my father and mother
and the other members of my family. So they mounted the couch, all together, and
repaired to the fortunate city of Cairo, and alighted in the Darbel-.\8far ; for the
house of Aladdin's family was in that quarter; and he knocked at the door; where-
upon his mother said. Who is at the door after the loss of the beloved? He answered
her, I am Aladdin. And on hearing this, the family came down and embraced him.
He then sent his two wives, "and the property that he had brought with him, into
the house, and entered himself, accompanied by Ahmad El-Denef, and they rested
three days ; after which he desired to depart to Bagdad. His father said to him,
my son, remain with me. But he replied, 1 cannot endure the separation from my
Bon Asian. And he took his father and his mother with him, and they journeyed to
Bagdad.
Then Ahmad El-Denef went in to the Caliph, and imparted to him the happy
news of the arrival of Aladdin ; on hearing which, the Caliph went forth to meet
him, taking with him his son Asian, and they met and embraced him. And the
Caliph gave orders to bring Ahmad Kamakim, the arch thief, and, when he came
before him, said, Aladdin, avenge thyself upon thine adversary. So Aladdin
drew bis sword, and, smiting Ahmad Kamakim, severed his head. The Caliph then
made a magnificent entertainment for Aladdin, after he had summoned the Cadies
and witnesses, and written Aladdin's contract of marriage to the Princess Mary.
382 ABON-HASSAN THE WAG,
He also appointed his son Asian to the oflBce of Reis-el-sittein, and bestowed upon
both of them sumptuous robes of honour ; and they passed a most comfortable and
agreeable life until they were visited by the terminator of delights, and the separator
of companions.
CHAPTER XII.
Chiefly from the Edition of Breslau, commencing with part of the Two Hundred and Seventy-
first night, and ending with the Two Hundred and Ninetieth.
THE STORY OF ABON-HASSAN THE WAG, OR THE SLEEPER
AWAKENED.
There was a merchant of Bagdad, in the reign of the Caliph Haroun Alrashid,
and he had a son named Abon-Hassan the Wag. And this merchant died, leaving
to his son vast wealth ; whereupon Abon-Hassan divided his property into two equal
portions, one of which he laid aside, and of the other he expended. He took as his
familiar friends a number of the sons of the merchants, and others, and gave him-
self up to the delights of good drinking and good eating, until all the wealth he had
appropiated to this purpose was consumed. And upon this he repaired to his asso-
ciates and relations and boon-companions, and exposed to them his case, showing
them how little property remained in his possession ; but none of them paid any
regard to him, or uttered a word in reply. So he returned to his mother with a
broken heart, and told her of the treatment that he had experienced from his asso-
ciates, that they would neither do him justice nor even reply to him. But she said,
Abon-Hassan, thus are the sons of this age : as long as thou hast anything, they
draw thee near to them ; and when thou hast nothing, they cast thee off. She was
grieved for him, and he sighed and wept.
He then sprang up, and went to the place in which wag deposited the other half
of his wealth, and upon this he lived agreeably. He took an oath that he would not
thenceforth associate with any one of those whom he knew, but only with the stran-
ger, and that he would not associate with any person but for one night, and on the
following morning would not recognize him. Accordingly, every night he went
forth and seated himself on the bridge, and when a stranger passed by him, he in-
vited him to an entertainment, and took him to his house, where he caroused with
him that night, until the morning ; he then dismissed him ; and after that he would
not salute him if he saw him.
Thus he continued to do for a whole year; after which, as he was sitting one day
upon the bridge as usual, to see who might come towards him, Alrashid and certain
of his domestics passed by in disguise ; for the Caliph had experienced a contraction
)f the bosom, and come forth to amuse himself among the people. So Abon-Hassan
laid hold upon him, and said to him, my master, hast thou any desire for a repast
and beverage? And Alrashid complied with his request, saying to him, Conduct
us. And Abon-Hassan knew not who was his guest. The Caliph proceeded with
him until they arrived at Abon-Hassan's house: and when Alrashid entered, he
found in it a saloon, such that if thou beheldest it, and lookedst towards its walls,
thou wouldst behold wonders: and if thou observedst its conduits of water, thou
wouldst see a fountain encased with gold. And after he had seated himself there,
Abcm-Hassan called for a slave-girl, like a twiji of the Oriental willow, who took a
OR THE SLEEPER AWAKENED. 383
lute and sang. And when Alrashid heard her verses, he said to her, Thou hast
performed well. God bless thee ! — Her eloquence pleased him, and he wondered at
Abon-Hassan and his entertainment.
He then said to Abon-Hassan, young man, who art thou? Acquaint me with
thy history, that I may requite thee for thy kindness. — But Abon-Hassan smiled,
and replied, my master, far be it from me that what hath happened should recur,
and that I should be in thy company again after this time. — And why so? said the
Caliph, and why wilt thou not acquaint me with thy case? — So Abon-Hassan told
him his story, and when the Caliph heard it, he laughed violently, and said. By
Allah, my brother, thou art excusable in this matter. Then a dish of roast goose
was placed before him, and a cake of fine bread ; and Abon-Hassan sat, and cut off
the meat, and put morsels into the mouth of the Caliph, and they continued eating
until they were satisfied ; when the basin and ewer were brought, with the kali ; and
they washed their hands. After this Abon-Hassan lighted for his guest three candles
and three lamps, spread the wine-cloth, and brought clear, strained, old, perfumed
wine, the odour of which was like fragrant musk, and, having filled the first cup,
said, my boon-companion, bashfulness is dismissed from us, with thy permission.
Thy slave is by thee. May I never be afflicted by the loss of thee ! — And he drank
the cup, and filled the second, which he handed to the Caliph, waiting upon him as
a servant. And the Caliph was pleased with his actions, and the politeness of his
words, and said within himself. By Allah, I will certainly requite him for this!
Abon-Hassan then, after he had kissed the cup, handed it to the Caliph, who ac-
cepted it from his hand, kissed it and drank it, and handed it back to him. Abon-
Hassan still continued serving him. He filled and drank, and filled again and
handed the cup to the Caliph, after he had kissed it three times. Drink, he said,
and may it be attended with health and vigour. — And they drank and caroused until
midnight.
After this, the Caliph said to his host, Abon-Hassan, is there any service that
thou wouldst have performed, or any desire that thou wouldst have accomplished?
And Abon-Hassan answered, In our neighbourhood is a mosque, to which belong an
Imam and four sheikhs, and whenever they hear music or any sport, they incite the
Judge against me, and impose fines upon me, and trouble my life, so that I suffer
torment from them. If I had them in my power, therefore, I would give each of
them a thousand lashes, that I might be relieved from their excessive annoyance.
Alrashid replied. May Allah grant thee the accomplishment of thy wish ! And
without his being aware of it, he put into a cup a lozenge of bhang, and handed it
to him ; and as soon as it had settled in his stomach, he fell asleep immediately.
Alrashid then arose and went to the door, where he found his young men waiting
for him, and he ordered them to convey Abon-Hassan upon a mule, and returned to
the palace ; Abon-Hassan being intoxicated and insensible. And when the Caliph
had rested himself in the palace, he called for his Vizier Giaf\ir, and Abdallah the
son of Tahir, the Judge of Bagdad, and certain of his chief attendants, and said to
them all, In the morning when ye see this young man (pointing to Abon-Hassan)
seated on the royal couch, pay obedience to him, and salute him as Caliph, and
whatsoever he commandeth you, do it Then going in to his female slaves, he
directed them to wait upon Abon-Hassan, and to address him as Prince of the
Faithful ; after which he entered a private closet, and, having let down a curtain
over the entrance, slept.
So when Abon-Hassan awoke, he found himself upon the royal couch, with the
attendants standing around, and kissing the ground before him ; and a maid said to
him, our lord, it is the time for morning-prayer. Upon which he laughed, and,
looking round about him, he beheld a pavilion whose walls were adorned with gold
and ultra-marine, and the roof bespotted with red gold, surrounded by chambers
with curtains of embroidered silk hanging before their doors ; and he saw vessels
of gold and Chinaware and crystal, and furniture and carpets spread, and lighted
384 ABON-HASSAN THE WAG,
lamps, and female slaves and eunuchs and other attendants; whereat he was per
plexed in his mind and said, By Allah, either I am dreaming, or this is Paradise,
and the abode of Peace. And he closed his eyes. So a eunuch said to him, my
lord, this is not thy usual custom, Prince of the Faithful. And he was perplexed,
at his case, and put his head into his bosom, and then began to open his eyes by
little and little, laughing, and saying. What is this state in which I find myself?
And he bit his finger; and when he found that the bite pained him, he cried, Ah ! —
and was angry. Then raising his head, he called one of the female slaves, who an-
swered him, At thy service, O Prince of the Faithful! And he said to her. What
is thy name? She answered, Cluster of Pearls. And he said, knowest thou in
what place I am, and who I am ? — Thou art the Prince of the Faithful, she answered,
sitting in thy palace, upon the royal couch. He replied, I am perplexed at my case ;
my reason hath departed, and it seemeth that I am asleep ; but what shall I say of
my yesterday's guest? I imagine nothing but that he is a devil, or an enchanter,
who hath sported with my reason.
All this time, the Caliph was observing him from a place where Abon-Hassan
could not see him. And Abon-Hassan looked towards the chief eunuch, and called
to him. So he came, and kissed the ground before him, saying to him. Yes, Prince
of the Faithful. And Abon-Hassan said to him. Who is the Prince of the Faithful ?
— Thou, he answered. Abon-Hassan replied. Thou liest. And addressing another
eunuch, he said to him, my chief, as thou hopest for Allah's protection, tell me,
am I the Prince of the Faithful ? — Yea, by Allah, answered the eunuch ; thou art
at this present time the Prince of the Faithful, and the Caliph of the Lord of all
creatures. And Abon-Hassan, perplexed at all that he beheld, said. In one night do
I become Prince of the Faithful ! Was I not yesterday Abon-Hassan ; and to-day
am I Prince of the Faithful? — He remained perplexed and confounded until the
morning, when a eunuch advanced to him and said to him. May Allah grant a happy
morning to the Prince of the Faithful ! And he handed to him a pair of shoes of
gold stufi", reticulated with precious stones and rubies ; and Abon-Hassan took them,
and after examining them a long time, put them into his sleeve. So the eunuch said
to him, These are shoes to walk in. And Abon-Hassan replied. Thou hast spoken
truth. I put them not into my sleeve but in my fear lest they should be soiled. — He
therefore took them forth, and put them on his feet. And shortly after, the female
slaves brought him a basin of gold and a ewer of silver, and poured the water upon
his hands ; and when he had performed the ablution, they spread for him a prayer-
carpet ; and he prayed, but knew not how to do so. He continued his inclinations
and prostrations until he had performed twenty rekahs ; meditating and saying
within himself. By Allah, I am none other than the Prince of the Faithful, in truth ;
or else this is a dream, and all these things occur not in a dream. He therefore
convinced himself, and determined in his mind that he was the Prince of the Faith-
ful; and he pi-onounced the salutations, and finished his prayers. They then brought
him a magnificent dress, and, looking at himself as he sat upon the couch, he re-
tracted, and said. All this is an illusion, and a machination of the Genii !
And while he was in this state, lo, one of the mamlouks came in and said to him,
Prince of the Faithful, the chamberlain is at the door, requesting permission to
enter. — Let him enter, replied Abon-Hassan. So he came in, and, having kissed the
ground before him, said. Peace be on thee, Prince of the Faithful ! And Abon-
Hassan rose, and descended from the couch to the floor ; whereupon the chamberlain
exclaimed, Allah ! Allah ! Prince of the Faithful ! Knowest thou not that all men
are thy servants, and under thy authority, and that it is not proper for the Prince
of the Faithful to rise to any one ? — Abon-Hassan was then told that Giafar the Bar-
mecide, and Abdallah the son of Tahir, and the chief? of the mamlouks, begged
permission to enter. And he gave them permission. So they entered, and kissed
the ground before him, each of them addressing him as Prince of the Faithful. And
he was delighted at this, and returned their salutation ; after which, he called the
OR THE SLEEPER AWAKENED. 885
Abon Hissan idniirins his majnifirem Dress
fudge, who approached him, and said. At thy service, Prince of the Faithful ! And
Abon-IIassan said to him. Repair immediately to such a street, and give a hundred
pieces of gold to the mother of Abon-Hassan the Wag, with my salutation : then
take the Imam of the mosque, and the four sheikhs, inflict upon each of them a
thousand lashes ; and when thou hast done that, write a bond against them, con-
firmed by oath, that they shall not reside in the street, after thou shalt have paraded
them through the city mounted on beasts, with their faces to the tails, and hast pro-
claimed before them. This is the recompense of those who annoy their neighbours ;
and beware of neglecting that which I have commanded thee to do. — So the Judge
did as he was ordered. And when Abon-Hassan had exercised his authority until
the close of the day, he looked towards the chamberlain and the rest of the attendants,
and said to them. Depart.
He then called for a eunuch who was near at hand, and said to him, I am hungry,
and desire something to eat. And he replied, I hear and obey : — and led him by the
hand into the eating-chamber, where the attendants placed before him a table of rich
viands ; and ten slave-girls, high-bosomed virgins, stood behind his head. Abon-
Hassan, looking at one of these, said to her. What is thy name? She answered,
Branch of Willow. And he said to her, Branch of Willow, who am I? — Thou art
the Prince of the Faithful, she answered. But he replied, Thou liest, by Allah, thou
slut! Ye girls are laughing at me. — So she said, Fear Allah, O Prince of the Faith-
ful : this is thy palace, and the female slaves are thine. And upon this he said
within himself. It is no great matter to be effected by God, to whom be ascribed
might and glory ! Then the slave-girls led him by the hand to the drinking-chamber,
where he saw what astonished the mind ; and he continued to say within himself,
No doubt these are of the Genii, and this person who was my guest is one of the
Kings of the Genii, who saw no way of requiting and compensating me for my
kindness to him but by ordering his slaves to address me as Prince of the Faithful
All these are of the Genii. May Allah then deliver me from them happily ! — And
while he was thus talking to himself, lo, one of the slave-girls filled for him a cup
of wine ; and he took it from her hand and drank it ; after which, the slave-girla
25
386 ABON-HASSAN THE WAG,
plied him with wine in abundance ; and one of them threw into his cup a lozcngo
of bhang ; and wnen it had settled in his stomach, he fell down senseless.
Alrashid then gave orders to convey him to his house; and the servants did so,
and laid him on his bed, still in a state of insensibility. So when he recovered from his
intoxication, in the latter part of the night, he found himself in the dark; and he
called out, Branch of Willow! Cluster of Pearls! — But no one answered him. His
mother, however, heard him shouting these names, and arose and came, and said to
him. What hath happened to thee, my son, and what hath befallen thee ? Art
thou mad? — And when he heard the words of his mother, he said to her, Who art
thou, ill-omened old woman, that thou addressest the Prince of the Faithful with
these expressions? She answered, I am thy mother, my son. But he replied,
Thou liest: I am the Prince of the Faithful, the lord of the countries and the peo-
ple. — Be silent, she said, or else thy life will be lost. And she began to pro-
nounce spells and to recite charms over him, and said to him. It seemeth, my son,
that thou hast seen this in a dream, and all this is one of the ideas suggested by the
Devil. She then said to him, I give thee good news, at which thou wilt be rejoiced.
— And what is it? said he. She answered, The Caliph gave orders yesterday to beat
*ihe Imam and the four sheikhs, and caused a bond to be written against them, con-
firmed by oath, that they shall not transgress henceforth against any one by their
impertinent meddling; and he sent me a hundred pieces of gold with his salutation.
And when Abon-Hassan heard these words from his mother, he uttered a loud cry,
with which his soul almost quitted the world ; and he exclaimed, I am he who gave
orders to beat the sheikhs, and who sent thee the hundred pieces of gold with my
salutation, and I am the Prince of the Faithful.
Having said this, he rose up against his mother, and beat her with an almond
stick, until she cried out, ye faithful. And he beat her with increased violence
until the neighbours heard her cries, and came to her relief. He was still beating
her, and saying to her, ill-omened old woman, am I not the Prince of the Faithful ?
Thou hast enchanted me ! — And when the people heard his words, they said. This
man hath become mad. And not doubting his insanity, they came in and laid hold
upon him, bound his hands behind him, and conveyed him to the madhouse. There
every day they punished him, dosing him with abominable medicines, and flogging
him with whips, making him a madman in spite of himself. Thus he continued,
stripped of his clothing, and chained by the neck to a high window, for the space of
ten days ; after which, his mother came to salute him. And he complained to her
of his case. So she said to him, my son, fear God in thy conduct: if thou wert
Prince of the Faithful, thou wouldst not be in this predicament. And when he
heard what his mother said, he replied. By Allah, thou hast spoken truth. It
seemeth that I was only asleep, and dreamt that they made me Caliph, and assigned
me servants and female slaves.— So his mother said to him, my son, verily Satan
doeth more than this. And he replied. Thou hast spoken truth, and I beg forgive-
ness of God for the actions committed by me.
They therefore took him forth from the madhouse, and conducted him into the
bath ; and when he recovered his health, he prepared food and drink, and began to
eat. But eating by himself was not pleasant to him ; and he said to his mother,
my mother, neither life nor eating, by myself, is pleasant to me. She replied, If
thou desire to do according to thy will, thy return to the madhouse is most probable.
Paying no attention, however, to her advice, he walked to the bridge, to seek for
himself a cup-companion. And while he was sitting there, lo, Alrashid came to him,
in the garb of a merchant: for, from the time of his parting with him, he came every
day to the bridge, but found him not till now. As soon as Abon-Hassan saw him,
he said to him, A friendly welcome to thee, King of the Genii ! So Alrashid said,
What have I done to thee? — What more couldst thou do, said Abon-IIasaan, than
thou hast done unto me, filthiest of the Genii? I have suffered beating, and
entered the madhouse, and they pronounced mo a madman. All this was occasioned
OR THE SLEEPER AWAKENED. 387
by thee. I brought thee to my abode, and fed thee with the best of my food : and
after that, thou gavest thy Devils and thy slaves entire power over me, to make sport
with my reason from morning to evening. Depart from me, therefore, and go thy
way.
The Caliph smiled at this, and, seating himself by his side, addressed him in
courteous language, and said to him, my brother, when I went forth from thee, I
inadvertently left the door open, and probably the Devil went in to thee. Abon-
Hassan replied, Inquire not respecting that which happened to me. And what pos-
sessed thee, he added, that thou leftest the door open, so that the Devil came in to
me, and that such and such things befell me? — And he related to the Caliph all that
had happened to him from first to last, while Alrashid laughed, but concealed his
laughter: after which, the Caliph said to him. Praise be to God that he hath dis-
pelled from thee that which thou hatest, and that I have seen thee again in pros-
perity ! But Abon-IIassan replied, I will not take thee again as my boon-compa-
nion, nor as an associate to sit with me ; for the proverb saith, He who stumblcth
against a stone and returneth to it, is to be blamed and reproached : — and with thee,
O my brother, I will not carouse, nor will I keep company with thee ; since I have
not found thy visit to be followed by good fortune to me. — The Caliph, however,
said, I have been the means of the accomplishment of thy desire with regard to the
Imam and the sheikhs. — Yes, replied Abon-Hassan. And Alrashid added, Perhaps
something will happen to thee that will rejoice thy heart more than that. — Then what
dost thou desire of me? said Abon-Hassan. — My desire, answered Alrashid, is to
be thy guest this night. And at length Abon-Hassan said. On the condition that
thou swear to me by the inscription on the seal of Solomon the son of David (on
both of whom be peace!) that thou wilt not suffer thy Afrites to make sport with
me. And Alrashid replied, I hear and obey.
So Abon-Hassan took him to his abode, and put the food before him and his at-
tendants, and they ate as much as satisfied them ; and when they had finished
eating, the servants placed before them the wine and exhilarating beverage, and
they continued drinking and carousing until the wine rose into their heads. Abon-
Hassan then said to the Caliph, my boon-companion, in truth I am perplexed re-
specting my case. It seemeth that I was Prince of the Faithful, and that I exercised
authority and gave and bestowed: and truly, my brother, it was not a. vision of
sleep. — But the Caliph replied. This was the result of confused dreams. And having
said this, he put a piece of bhang into the cup, and said. By my life, drink this cup.
— Verily I will drink it from thy hand, replied Abon-Hassan. So he took the cup.
and when he had drunk it, his head fell before his feet. The Caliph then arose im-
mediately, and ordered his young men to convey Abon-Hassan to the palace, and to
lay him upon his couch, and commanded the female slaves to stand around him ;
after which he concealed himself in a place where Abon-Hassan could not see him,
and ordered a slave-girl to take her lute and strike its chords over Abon-Hassan's
head, and desired the other slave-girls to play upon their instruments.
It was then the close of the night, and Abon-Hassan, awaking, and hearing the
sounds of the lutes and tambourines and flutes^,. and the singing of the slave-girls,
cried out, my mother ! Whereupon the slave-girls answered, At thy service,
Prince of the Faithful ! And when he heard this, he exclaimed. There is no strength
nor power but in God, the High ! the Great ! Come to my help this night; for this
night is more unlucky than the former ! — He reflected upon all that had happened
to him with his mother, and how he had beaten her, and how he had been taken
into the madhouse, and he saw the marks of the beating that he had suffered there.
Then looking at the scene that surrounded him, he said. These are all of them of
the Genii, in the shapes of human beings ! I commit my affair unto Allah ! — And
looking towards a mamlouk by his side, he said to him. Bite my ear, that I may
know if I be asleep or awake. The mamlouk said, How shall I bite thine ear, when
thou art the Prince of the Faithful? But Abon-Hassan answered, Do aa I have
388 ABON-HASSAN THE WAG,
commanded thee, or I will strike off thy head. So he bit it until his teeth met to-
gether, and Abon-Hassan uttered a loud shriek.— Alrashid (who was behind a cur-
tain in a closet), and all who were present, fell down with laughter, and they said to
the mamlouk. Art thou mad, that thou bitest the ear of the Caliph ? And Abon-
Hassan said to them. Is it not enough, ye wretches of Genii, that hath befallen
me? But ye are not in fault: the fault is your chief's, who transformed you from
the shapes of Genii into the shapes of human beings. I implore help against you
this night by the Verse of the Throne, and the Chapter of Sincerity, and the Two
Preventives ! — Upon this Alrashid exclaimed from behind the curtain. Thou hast
killed us, Abon-Hassan ! And Abon-Hassan recognised him, and kissed the ground
before him, greeting him with a prayer for the increase of his glory, and the pro-
longation of his life. Alrashid then clad him in a rich dress, gave him a thou-
sand pieces of gold, and made him one of his chief boon-companions.
Abon-Hassan, after this, became a greater favourite with the Caliph than all the
other boon-companions, so that he sat with the Caliph and his wife the lady Zobeide,
the daughter of Kasim, and he married her female Treasurer, whose name was
Nouzatalfuad. With this wife he resided, eating and drinking and enjoying a
delightful life, until all the money that they possessed had gone ; whereupon he said
to her, Nouzatalfuad ! And she answered, At thy service. — I desire, said he, to
practise a trick upon the Caliph, and thou shalt practise a trick upon the lady
Zobeide, and we will obtain from them immediately two hundred pieces of gold, and
two pieces of silk. Do what thou desirest, replied she: and what, she asked, is it?
He answered, We will feign ourselves dead. I will die before thee, and lay myself
out: then do thou spread over me a napkin of silk, and unfold my turban over me,
and tie my toes, and put upon my stomach a knife and a little salt ; after which,
dishevel thy hair, and go to thy lady Zobeide, and tear thy vest and slap thy face,
and shriek. So she will say to thee. What is the matter with thee? And do thou
answer her. May thy head long survive Abon-Hassan the Wag ; for he is dead !
Whereupon she will mourn for me, and weep, and will order her female Treasurer
to give thee a hundred pieces of gold, and a piece of silk, and will say to thee. Go,
prepare his corpse for burial, and convey it forth to the grave. So thou shalt receive
from her the hundred pieces of gold, and the piece of silk, and come hither. And
when thou comest to me, I will rise, and thou shalt lay thyself down in my place,
and I will go to the Caliph, and say to him. May thy head long survive Nouzatal-
fuad ! And I will tear my vest, and pluck my beard ; upon which he will mourn
for thee, and will say to his Treasurer, Give to Abon-Hassan a hundred pieces of
gold, and a piece of silk: — and he will say to me. Go, prepare her corpse for burial,
and convey it forth to the grave. So I will come to thee. — And Nouzatalfuad was
delighted with this, and replied. Truly this is an excellent stratagem !
She forthwith closed his eyes, and tied his feet, covered him with the napkin, and
did all that her master told her ; after which, she tore her vest, uncovered her head,
and dishevelled her hair, and went in to the lady Zobeide, shrieking and weeping.
When the lady Zobeide, therefore, beheld her in this condition, she said to her. What
is this state in which I see thee, and what hath happened unto thee, and what hath
caused thee to weep? And Nouzatalfuad wept and shrieked, and said, my mis-
tress, may thy head long survive Abon-Hassan the Wag; for he is dead. And the
lady Zobeide mourned for him, and said, Poor Abon-Hassan the Wag! Then after
weeping for him a while, she ordered the female Treasurer to give to Nouzatalfuad a
hundred pieces of gold, and a piece of silk, and said, Nouzatalfuad, Go, prepare
his body for burial, and convey it forth. So she took the hundred pieces of gold,
and the piece of silk, and, returning to her abode, full of joy went in to Abon-Has-
san, and acquainted him with what had happened to her; upon which he arose and
rejoiced, and girded his waist and danced, and took the hundred pieces of gold, with
the piece of silk, and laid them up.
He then extended Nouzatalfuad, and did with her as she had done with him ; after
OR THE SLEEPER AWAKENED.
389
Nouzatalfuad telling her story to the Lady Zobeide.
which, he tore his vest and plucked his beard and disordered his turban, and ran
without stopping until he went in to the Caliph, who was in his hall of judgment;
and in the condition above described, he beat his bosom. So the Caliph said to him,
What hath befallen thee, Abon-Hassan ? And he wept, and said, Would that thy
boon-companion had never been, nor his hour come to pass! The Caliph therefore
said to him. Tell me. He replied, May thy head long survive, O my lord, Nouza-
talfuad! And the Caliph exclaimed. There is no deity but God! — and struck his
hands together. He then consoled Abon-Hassan, and said to him. Mourn not: I
will give to thee a concubine in her stead. And he ordered his Treasurer to give
him a hundred pieces of gold, and a piece of silk. The Treasurer therefore did as
he was commanded, and the Caliph said to Abon-Hassan, Go prepare her corpse for
burial, and convey it forth, and make a handsome funeral for her. And he took
what the Caliph gave him, and went to his abode joyful, and going in to Nouzatal-
fuad, said to her. Arise ; for our desire is accomplished. She therefore arose, and
he put before her the hundred pieces of gold and the piece of silk. So she rejoiced ;
and they put these pieces of gold on the other pieces, and the piece of silk on the
former one, and sat conversing, and laughing at each other.
But as to the Caliph, when Abon-Hassan parted from him, and went with the pre-
tence of preparing the corpse of Nouzatalfuad for burial, he mourned for her, and,
having dismissed the council, arose and went in, leaning upon Mesrour his Execu-
tioner, to console the lady Zobeide for the loss of her slave-girl. He found her, how-
ever, sitting weeping, and waiting for his arrival, that she might console him for the
loss of Abon-Hassan the Wag. The Caliph said. May thy head long survive thy
slave-girl Nouzatalfuad ! But she replied, my lord, Allah preserve my slave-girl !
Mayest thou long survive thy boon-companion Abon-Hassan the Wag ; for he is
dead ! — And the Caliph smiled, and said to his eunuch, Mesrour, verily women
are of little sense. By Allah, was not Abon-Hassan just now with me? — Upon this,
the lady Zobeide said, after uttering a laugh from an angry bosom. Wilt thou not
give over thy jesting? Is not the death of Abon-Hassan enough, but thou must
make my slave-girl to be dead, as though we had lost them both, and thou must pro-
nounce me of little sense? — The Caliph replied. Verily, Nouzatalfuad is the person
who is dead. And the lady Zobeide rejoined. In truth he was not with thee, nor
didst thou see him ; and none was with me just now but Nouzatalfuad, who was
mourning and weeping, with her clothes rent in pieces ; and I exhorted her to have
patience, and gave her a hundred pieces of gold and a piece of silk ; and I was
waiting for thee that I might console thee for the loss of thy boon-companion, Abon-
Hassan the Wag ; and I was going to send for thee. On hearing this, the Caliph
laughed, and said, None is dead but Nouzatalfuad. And the lady Zobeide said. No
no, my lord : none is dead but Abon-Hassan. But the Caliph now became en
raged; the vein between his eyes, which was remarkable in members of the family
of Hashim, throbbed; and he called out to Mesrour the Executioner, saying to him,
390 ABON-HASSAN THE WAG,
Go forth and repair to the house of Abon-IIassan the Wag, and see which of th*
two is dead.
Mesrour, therefore, went forth running. And the Caliph said to the lady Zobeide,
Wilt thou lay me a wager? She answered, Yes, I will, and I say that Abon-IIassan
is dead. — And I, replied the Caliph, lay a wager, and say that none is dead but
Nouzatalfuad ; and our wager shall be, that I stake the Garden of Delight against
thy pavilion, the Pavilion of the Pictures. And they sat waiting for Mesrour to re-
turn with the information. — Now as to Mesrour, he ran without ceasing until he en-
tered the by-street in -which -was the house of Abon-Hassan the Wag. Abon-Hassan
•was sitting reclining against the window, and, turning his eyes, he saw Mesrour
running along the street. So he said to Nouzatalfuad, It seemeth that the Caliph,
after I went forth from him, dismissed the court, and hath gone in to the lady Zo-
beide to console her, and that she, on his arrival, hath arisen and consoled him, and
said to him. May God largely compensate thee for the loss of Abon-Hassan the Wag t
— whereupon the Caliph hath said to her. None is dead but Nouzatalfuad. May
thy head long survive her! — And she hath replied. None is dead but Abon-Hassan
the Wag, thy boon-companion. And he hath said to her. None is dead but Nouzat-
alfuad. So they have become obstinate, and the Caliph hath been enraged, and they
have laid a wager, in consequence of which Mesrour the Executioner hath been
sent to see who is dead. It is therefore the more proper that thou lay thyself down,
that -he may see thee, and go and inform the Caliph, who will therefore believe my
assertion.
Accordingly Nouzatalfuad extended herself ; Abon-Hassan covered her with her
veil, and seated himself at her head, weeping. And lo, Mesrour the eunuch came
up into the house of Abon-Hassan, and saluted him, and saw Nouzatalfuad stretched
out ; upon which he uncovered her face, and exclaimed. There is no deity but God !
Our sister Nouzatalfuad is dead ! How speedy was the stroke of fate ! May Allah
have mercy upon her, and acquit thee of responsibility! — He then returned, and re-
lated what had happened before the Caliph and the lady Zobeide, laughing as he
spoke. So the Caliph said to him, thou accursed, this is not a time for laughing.
Tell us which of them is dead. — He therefore replied, By Allah, my lord, verily
Abon-Hassan is well, and none is dead but Nouzatalfuad. And upon this the Ca-
liph said to Zobeide, thou hast lost thy pavilion in thy play. And he laughed at
her, and said, Mesrour relate to her what thou sawest. So Mesrour said to her,
In truth, my mistress, I ran incessantly until I went in to Abon-Hassan in his
house — whereupon I found Nouzatalfuad lying dead, and Abon-Hassan sitting at her
head, weeping; and I saluted him and consoled him, and seated myself by his side;
and, uncovering the face of Nouzatalfuad, I beheld her dead, with her face swollen,
I therefore said to him. Convey her forth presently to the grave, that we may pray
over her. And he replied. Yes. And I came, leaving him to prepare her corpse for
burial, in order to inform you. — Upon this, the Caliph laughed, and said, Tell it
again and again to thy mistress, the person of little sense. But when the lady Zo-
beide heard the words of Mesrour, she was enraged, and said. None is deficient in
sense but he who believeth a slave. And she abused Mesrour, while the Caliph
continued laughing ; and Mesrour was displeased, and said to the Caliph, He spoke
truth who said, that women are deficient in sense and religion.
The lady Zobeide then said, Prince of the Faithful, thou sportest and jesteat
with me, and this slave deceiveth me fur the purpose of pleasing thee ; but I will
send, and see which of them is dead. The Caliph replied. Do so. And she called to
an old woman, a confidential slave, and said to her. Repair quickly to the house of
Nouzatalfuad, and see who is dead, and delay not thy return. And she threw money
to her. So the old woman went forth running; the Caliph and Mesrour laughing.
The old woman ran without ceasing until she entered the street, when Abon-Hassan
saw her and knew her; and he said to his wife, Nouzatalfuad, it seemeth that the
lady Zobeide hath sent to us to see who is dead, and hath not believed what Mesrour
OR THE SLEEPER AWAKENED. 391
hath said respecting thy death ; wherefore she hath sent the old woman to ascertain
the truth of the matter. It is therefore more proper now for me to be dead, that the
lady Zobeide may believe thee.
Then Abon-Hassan laid himself along, and Nouzatalfuad covered him, and bound
his eyes and his feet, and seated herself at his head, weeping. And the old woman
came in to Nouzatalfuad, and saw her sitting at the head of Abon-Hassan, weeping,
and enumerating his merits ; and when Nouzatalfuad saw the old woman, she shrieked,
and said to her. See what hath befiillen me ! Abon-IIassan hath died, and left me
single and solitary! — Then she shrieked again, and tore her clothes in pieces, and
said to the old woman, my mother, how good he was ! The old woman replied.
Truly thou art excusable ; for thou hadst become habituated to him, and he had be-
come habituated to thee. — And knowing how Mesrour had acted to the Caliph and
the lady Zobeide, she said to Neuzatalfuad, Mesrour is about to cause a quarrel be-
tween the Caliph and the lady Zobeide. — And what is this cause of quarrel, my
mother? said Nouzatalfuad. The old woman answered, my daughter, Mesrour
hath come to them and told them that thou wast dead, and that Abon-IIassan was
well. — my aunt, replied Nouzatalfuad, I was just now with my lady, and she gave
me a hundred pieces of gold, and a piece of silk: and see thou my condition, and
what hath befallen me. I am perplexed ; and what shall I do, single and solitary?
Would that I had died, and that he had lived ! — Then she wept, and the old woman
wept with her, and advancing, and uncovering the face of Abon-Hassan, saw his
eyes bound, and swollen from the bandage. And she covered him, and said. Truly,
Nouzatalfuad, thou hast been afflicted for Abon-IIassan. And she consoled her,
and went forth from her, running until she went in to the lady Zobeide, when she
related to her the story; on hearing which, the lady Zobeide laughed, and said. Tell
it to the Caliph, who hath pronounced me of little sense, and caused this ill-omened,
lying slave to behave arrogantly towards me. But Mesrour said. Verily this old
woman lieth ; for I saw Abon-Hassan in good health, and it was Nouzatalfuad who
was lying dead. The old woman replied. It is thou who liest, and thou desirest to
excite a quarrel between the Caliph and the lady Zobeide. Mesrour rejoined, None
lieth but thee, O ill-omened old woman, and thy lady believeth thee, for she is dis-
ordered in mind. And upon this, the lady Zobeide cried out at him, enraged at him
and at his words ; and she wept.
At length the Caliph said to her, I lie, and my eunuch lieth, and thou liest, and
thy female slave lieth. The right course, in my opinion, is this, that we four go
together to see who among us speaketh truth. So Mesrour said, Arise with us, that
1 may bring misfortunes upon this ill-omened old woman, and bastinade her for her
lying. — thou imbecile in mind ! exclaimed the old woman : Is thy sense like mine ?
Nay, thy sense is like that of the hen. — And Mesrour was enraged at her words,
and would have laid violent hands upon her ; but the lady Zobeide, having pushed
him away from her, said to him. Immediately will her veracity be distinguished
from thine, and her lying from thine. They all four arose, laying wagers with each
other, and went forth, and walked from the gate of the palace until they entered the
gate of the street in which dwelt Abon-Hassan the Wag, when Abon-Hassan saw
them, and said to his wife Nouzatalfuad, In truth, everything that is slippery is not
a pancake, and not every time that the jar is struck doth it escape unbroken. It
seemeth that the old woman hath gone and related the story to her lady, and ac-
quainted her with our case, and that she hath contended with Mesrour the eunuch,
and they have laid wagers respecting our death : so that the Caliph and the eunuch
and the lady Zobeide and the old woman have all four come to us. — And upon this
Nouzatalfuad arose from her extended position, and said, What is to be done ? Abon-
IIassan answered her. We will both feign ourselves dead, and lay ourselves out, and
hold in our breath. And she assented to his proposal.
They both stretched themselves along, bound their feet, closed their eyes, and held
in their breath, lying with their heads in the direction of the Kebla, and covered
392 ABON-HASSAN THE WAfl.
themselves with the veil. Then the Caliph and Zobeide and Mesrour and the old
woman entered the house of Abon-IIassan the Wag, and found him and his wife
extended as if they were dead. And when the lady Zobeide saw them, she wept,
and said, They continued to assert the death of my female slave until she actually
died ; but I imagine that the death of Abon-Hassan so grieved her that she died
after him in consequence of it. The Caliph, however, said. Do not prevent me with
thy talk and assertions ; for she died before Abon-Hassan, because Abon-Hassan
came to me with his clothes torn in pieces, and with his beard plucked, and striking
his bosom with two clods; and I gave him a hundred pieces of gold, with a piece
of silk, and said to him, Go, prepare her body for burial, and I will give thee a con-
cubine better than her, and she shall serve in her stead : — and it appears that her
loss was insupportable to him ; so he died after her. I have therefore overcome thee,
and gained thy stake. — But the lady Zobeide replied in many words, and a long
dispute ensued between them.
The Caliph then seated himself at the heads of the two pretended corpses, and
said, By the tomb of the Apostle of Alhih (God favour and preserve him !), and by
the tombs of my ancestors, if any one would acquaint me which of them died before
the other, I would give him a thousand pieces of gold. And when Abon-Hassan
heard these words of the Caliph, he quickly rose and sprang up, and said. It was I
who died first, Prince of the Faithful. Give me the thousand pieces of gold, and
so acquit thyself of the oath that thou hast sworn. — Then Nouzatalfuad arose and
sat up before the Caliph and the lady Zobeide, who rejoiced at their safety. But
Zobeide chid her female slave. The Caliph and the lady Zobeide congratulated them
both on their safety, and knew that this pretended death was a stratagem for the
purpose of obtaining the gold : so the lady Zobeide said to Nouzatalfuad, Thou
shouldst have asked of me what thou desiredst without this proceeding, and not have
tortured my heart on thine account. — I was ashamed, my mistress, replied Nouzat-
alfuad. — But as to the Caliph, he was almost senseless from laughing, and said,
Abon-Hassan, thou hast not ceased to be a wag, and to do wonders and strange acts.
Abon-Hassan replied, Prince of the Faithful, this stratagem I practised in conse-
quence of the dissipation of the wealth that I received from thy hand ; for I was
ashamed to ask of thee a second time. When I was alone, I was tenacious of wealth
but since thou hast married me to this female slave who is with me, if I possessed
all thy wealth I should make an end of it. And when all that was in my possession
was exhausted, I practised this stratagem, by means of which I obtained from thee
these hundred pieces of gold, and piece of silk, all of which are an alms of our
lord. And now make haste in giving me the thousand pieces of gold, and acquit
thyself of thine oath.
At this the Caliph and the lady Zobeide both laughed, and after they had returned
to the palace, the Caliph gave to Abon-Hassan the thousand pieces of gold, saying
to him, Receive them as a gratuity on account of thy safety from death. In like
manner also the lady Zobeide gave to Nouzatalfuad a thousand pieces of gold, saying
to her the same words. Then the Caliph allotted to Abon-Hassan an ample salary
and ample supplies, and he ceased not to live with his wife in joy and happiness,
until they were visited by the terminator of delights, and the separator of com-
panions, the devastator of palaces and houses, and the replenisher of the graves.
MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER. 393
CHAPTER XIII.
Commencing with part of the Two Hundred and Eighty-fifth Night, and ending with part of the
Two Hundred and Ninety-fourth.
THE STORY OF MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER, OR THE FALSE
CALIPH.
It is related that the Caliph Haroun Alrashid was troubled one night with an
exceeding restlessness, in consequence of which he summoned his Vizier Giafar the
Barmecide, and said to him. My bosom is contracted, and I desire this night to
amuse myself in the streets of Bagdad, and to observe the employments of the
people ; but on the condition that we disguise ourselves in the garb of merchants, so
that no one may know us. And the Vizier replied, I hear and obey. They arose
immediately, and having pulled off the magnificent apparel with which they were
then clad, put on the attire of merchants. And they were three ; the Caliph, and
Giafar, and Mesrour the Executioner.
They walked from place to place until they arrived at the Tigris, when they saw
an old man sitting in a boat ; and approaching him, they saluted him, and said to
him, sheikh, we desire of thy favour and kindness that thou wouldst amuse us in
this thy boat, and take this piece of gold as thy hire. But the sheikh said, "Who is
he that can amuse himself here? For the Caliph Haroun Alrashid embarketh every
night on the river Tigris on board a small vessel, attended by a crier, who pro-
claimeth and saith, all ye companies of men, great and small, noble and plebeian,
young men and youths, whosoever embarketh in a vessel and traverseth the Tigris,
I will strike off his head, or hang him upon the mast of his vessel ! — Ye have now
almost encountered him : for his bark is approaching. — So the Caliph and Giafar
said, sheikh, take these two pieces of gold, and convey us into one of those arches,
that we may remain there until the bark of the Caliph hath passed. And the sheikh
replied, Give me the gold, and our reliance be upon God, whose name be exalted !
He took the gold, set his boat afloat with them, and proceeded a little way ; and lo,
the bark approached from the bosom of the Tigris, and in it were lighted candles
and cressets. The sheikh therefore said to them. Did I not tell you that the Caliph
passed along the river every night? Then he began to say, excellent Protector,
remove not the veils of thy protection ! He conveyed them into an arch, and spread
a black cloth over them ; and they gratified their curiosity by gazing at the spectacle
from beneath the cloth. They beheld at the head of the bark a man having in his
hand a cresset of red gold, in which he was burning aloes-wood : he wore a vest of
red satin ; upon one of his shoulders was a piece of yellow embroidered stuff; upon
his head a muslin turban ; and upon his other shoulder a bag of green silk full of
aloes-wood, from which he supplied the cresset with fuel instead of using common
rirewood. They saw likewise another man, at the stern of the bark, clad as the
former one, and having in his hand a similar cresset. And there were also in the
bark two hundred mamlouks, standing on the right and left; and in it was placed a
throne of red gold, upon which was sitting a handsome young man, like the moon,
clad in a dress of black, with embroidery of yellow gold. Before him was a man
394 MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER.
resembling tne Vizier Giafar, and at his head stood a eunuch like Mesrour, with a
drawn sword in his hand. And they saw moreover twenty boon-companions.
Now when the Caliph beheld this, he said, Giafar. The Vizier replied, At thy
service, O Prince of the Faithful. And the Caliph said, Probably this is one of my
sons; either Mamoun, or Emin. Then gazing at the young man as he sat on the
throne, he beheld him to be of consummate beauty and loveliness, and justness of
stature; and after attentively observing him, he looked towards the Vizier, and said,
Vizier. — At thy service, replied Giafar. And the Caliph said. By Allah, this
person sitting on the throne hath not omitted anything appertaining to the distinc-
tions of the Caliph : and he who is before him is as though he were thyself, Giafar;
and the eunuch who is standing at his head, as though he were Mesrour ; and these
boon-companions are as though they were my boon-companions. My reason is con-
founded at this affair ! By Allah, I am full of wonder at this event, Giafar ! — And
1 also, by Allah, Prince of the Faithful ! replied the Vizier. — The bark then passed
on until it disappeared from before their eyes ; whereupon the sheikh put forth with
his boat, and said, Praise be to God for our safety, and that no one hath fallen in
■with lis! And the Caliph said, sheikh, doth the Caliph every night embark on
the Tigris ? The sheikh answered. Yes, my master ; and for a whole year he hath
continued to do so. And the Caliph said, sheikh, we desire of thy favour that
thou wouldst wait for us here next night, and we will give thee five pieces of gold ;
for we are strangers, and wish to amuse ourselves, and we are lodging in [the
quarter of] Khandak. The sheikh replied, I am entirely at your service.
Then the Caliph and Giafar and Mesrour departed from the sheikh and returned
to the palace, and having taken off their merchants' attire, and put on the apparel
of state, each seated himself in his place. The Emirs and Viziers came in, and the
chamberlains and lieutenants, and the council was fully attended. And when the
day closed, and all ranks of the people had dispersed, each having gone his way, the
Caliph Haroun Alrashid said, Giafar, arise with us that we may amuse ourselves
with the sight of the other Caliph. Whereupon Giafar and Mesrour laughed.
They clad themselves again in the attire of merchants, and pursued their way
through the city, in a state of the utmost hilarity. They went out from a private
door; and when they arrived at the Tigris, they found the sheikh, the owner of the
boat, sitting waiting for them. So they embarked with him in the boat; and they
had not long sat with him when the bark of the False Caliph approached them ; and
looking attentively at it, they saw in it two hundred mamlouks. different from those
of the preceding night, and the bearers of cressets proclaiming as usual. And the
Caliph said, Vizier, this is such a thing that if I heard of it I could not believe it;
but 1 have beheld it with my eyes. He then said to the owner of the boat in which
they were sitting. Take, sheikh, these ten pieces of gold, and convey us towards
them, for they are in the light, and we are in the dark ; so we shall see them, and
amuse ourselves by observing them, and they will not see us. The sheikh therefore
took the ten pieces of gold, and, steering his boat towards them, proceeded in the
gloom that surrounded the bark of the False Caliph, until they arrived at the
gardens, where they beheld a walled enclosure. At this enclosure the bark of the
False Caliph anchored : and lo, young men were standing there, with a mule saddled
and bridled ; and the False Caliph, having landed, mounted the mule, and proceeded
in the midst of the boon-companions ; the cresset-bearers vociferating, and the house-
hold attendants busying themselves in performing their several services for the False
Caliph.
Haroun Alrashid then landed, together with Giafar and Mesrour, and they made
their way through the midst of the mamlouks, and walked on before them. But the
cresset-bearers, looking towards them, and beholding three persons, whose dress was
that of the merchants, and who appeared to be strangers, were displeased with them,
and they made a sign, and caused them to he brought before the False Caliph, who,
when he saw them, said to them, How came ye to this place, and what brought you
MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER. 395
at this time ? So they answered, our lord, we are a party of foreign merchants .
we arrived this day, and came forth to-night to walk, and lo, ye approached, and
these persons came and laid hold upon us, and placed us before thee. This is our
story. — And the False Caliph replied. No harm shall befall you, as ye are
strangers : but had ye been of Bagdad I had struck off your heads. Then looking
towards his Vizier, he said to him. Take these persons with thee ; for they are our
guests this night. And the Vizier replied, I hear and obey, our lord. After this, the
False Caliph proceeded, and they with him, until they arrived at a lofty and grand
palace, strongly constructed, such as no Sultan hath possessed, rising from the dust,
and reaching to the skirts of the clouds. Its door was of Indian wood, adorned with
brilliant gold; and through this door one passed into a saloon with a fountain and
slightly elevated platform, and carpets, and cushions covered with brocade, and small
pillows, and long mattrasses. In it a curtain was hung ; and there was furniture
that astonished the minds of the spectators, and that one would fail to describe.
The False Caliph, having entered, together with the company, proceeded and seated
himself upon a throne of jewelled gold, upon which was a prayer-carpet of yellow
silk : and when the boon-companions had taken their seats, and the executioner had
stationed himself before his master, the servants spread the table, and the party ate.
The dishes were then removed, and the hands were washed, and the attendants
brought the wine service. The bottles and the cups were arranged, and the wine
circulated until it came to the Caliph Ilaroun Alrashid ; but he refused to drink;
whereupon the False Caliph said to Giafar, Wherefore doth not thy companion drink ?
my lord, answered the Vizier, for a long time he hath not drunk of this beverage.
The False Caliph therefore said, I have another beverage, suitable to thy companion ;
it is a kind of cider. And he gave orders to bring it. So they brought it imme-
diately : and the False Caliph, advancing towards Haroun Alrashid, and standing
before him, said to him. Whenever the turn cometh round to thee, drink of this
beverage. They then continued merrily taking the cups of wine, until it rose into
their heads and overpowered, their reason ; when the Caliph Ilaroun Alrashid said
to his Vizier, Giafar, by Allah, we have not vessels like these. Would, then, that
1 knew the history of this young man! — But while they were talking together
privately, the young man cast a glance towards them, and found the Vizier whisper-
ing to the Caliph ; so he said. Whispering is an act of rudeness. The Vizier there-
fore replied. No rudeness is committed here : but this my companion saith. Verily
I have travelled into most countries, and caroused with the greatest of Kings, and
associated with the warriors, yet I have not witnessed an entertainment better con-
ducted than this, nor experienced a more joyous night than the present; save that
the people of Bagdad say. Drink without music sometimes occasioneth the headache.
And when the False Caliph heard these words, he smiled, and became cheerful.
He had in his hand a rod, and he struck a round cushion with it; whereupon a door
opened, and there came forth from it a eunuch bearing a throne of ivory inlaid with
brilliant gold, and followed by a damsel of surpassing beauty and loveliness and
elegance and consummate grace. The eunuch placed the throne, and the damsel
seated herself upon it, resembling the sun shining forth in the clear sky. In her
hand was a lute of Indian manufacture, and she placed it in her lap, and leaning
over it as the mother leaneth over her child, sang to it. But first, with emotion, she
played over four-and-twenty airs, so that she astonished the minds of her hearers.
And when the False Caliph heard the verses sung by the damsel, he uttered a
great cry, and rent the dress that was upon him to the skirt; whereupon a curtain
was let down over him, and the attendants brought him another dress, more hand-
some than the former one, and he put it on.
He then sat as before; and when the cup came to him, he again struck the rod
upon the round cushion ; and lo, a door opened, and there came forth from it a
eunuch bearing a throne of gold, and behind him was a damsel more beautiful than
the first damsel. And she seated herself upon the throne, having in her hand a lute
396 MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER.
that would sadden the heart of the envious ; and she sang to it. And the young
man on hearing her song, again uttered a great cry, and tore the clothes that were
upon him to the skirt ; and the curtain was let down over him, and they brought him
another suit, which he put on.
Then composing himself upon his seat, he resumed his former state, entering
cheerfully into conversation ; and when the cup came to him, he struck the round
cushion, and there came forth a eunuch followed by a damsel handsomer than the
one who had just preceded her. The eunuch had with him a throne, and the dam-
sel seated herself upon it, with a lute in her hand, and sang. And again, when the
young man heard her song, he uttered a great cry, rending the clothes that were
upon him, and they let down the curtain over him, and brought him other clothes.
After this, he resumed his former state with his boon-companions, and the cupa
circulated ; and when the cup came to him, he struck the round cushion as before ;
whereupon the door opened and a page came forth from it with a throne, and be-
hind him was a damsel. He set the throne for her, and she seated herself upon it,
and, taking the lute, tuned it, and again sang. And the False Caliph, when he had
heard the damsel's song, again uttered a great cry, tore the clothes that were upon
him, and fell down in a fit ; upon which the attendants would have let fall the cur-
tain over him as usual ; but its cords were immovable ; and Haroun Alrashid,
looking towards the young man, beheld upon his body the marks of beating with
sticks. So after he had looked, and certified himself of the fact, he said to his
Vizier, Giafar, by Allah, he is a comely young man, but an abominable thief. —
How, said Giafar, hast thou discovered that, Prince of the Faithful ? The Caliph
rejoined, Didst thou not see upon his sides the scars occasioned by whips?
Then the attendants let down the curtain over their master, and brought him
another suit of clothing; and after he had put it on, he composed himself on his seat
as at first, with his boon-companions ; but looking towards the Caliph and Giafar,
he saw them conversing together privately ; whereupon he said to them, What is the
news, ye two young men ? So Giafar answered, our lord, good news ; save that
it is a fact not concealed from thee that this my companion is of the merchants, and
he hath journeyed to all the great cities and the regions of the earth, and hath as-
sociated with the Kings and with the best of men, and he saith to me. Verily that
which hath been done by our lord the Caliph this night is excessive extravagance,
and I have not seen any one do as he hath done in all the countries of the earth ;
for he hath rent such and such suits of apparel ; each suit of the value of a thou-
sand pieces of gold ; and this is exceeding extravagance. — But the False Caliph re-
plied. What is this? Verily the wealth is mine, and the stufi" is mine ; and this is
one of the means of bestowing presents upon the servants and other attendants ; for
every suit of apparel that I have rent is for one of the boon-companions who are
present, and I have assigned to them with each suit of apparel, five hundred pieces
of gold. The Vizier therefore said, Excellently hast thou done, our lord.
The cups then circulated among them again, and the wine was pleasant to them,
and Alrashid, addressing his Vizier, said, Giafar, inquire of him respecting the
marks of the beating upon his sides, that we may see what he will say in his
answer. Giafar replied. Hasten not, our lord, but soothe thy mind ; for patience
is more becoming. The Caliph, however, said, By my head, and by the tomb of
Abbas, if thou ask him not, I will assuredly stop thy breath. And upon this, the
young man looked towards the Vizier and said, What is the matter with thee and
thy companion, that ye are whispering together? Acquaint me with the subject of
your conversation. — Giafar answered. It is good. But the young man replied, I con-
jure thee by Allah that you tell me your story, and conceal from me nothing of
your affair. So the Vizier said, ray lord, he saw upon thy sides the marks occa-
sioned by whips and sticks, and he wondered thereat extremely, and said, How can
the Caliph be beaten ? And he desireth to know the cause. — And when the young
man heard this, he smiled, and said. Know that my story is extraordinary, and my
MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER.
397
case is wonderful ; if it were engraved upon the understanding, it would be a lesson
to him who would be admonished. Then he groaned, and said: —
My story is wonderful, surpassing all wonders. I swear by love that my ways
have become strait to me. If then ye desire to hear me, listen ; and let every one
in this assembly be silent. Attend to my words ; for they are significant, and my
speech is true ; it is not false. I am a victim of desire, and of ardent passion, and
my murderess surpasseth all the high-bosomed damsels. She hath a deep black eye,
like an Indian sword, and she shooteth arrows from the bows of her eyebrows. Now
my heart feeleth that among you is our Imam, the Caliph of this age, and of excel-
lent descent; and that the second of you is he who is called Giafar, his Vizier, a lord
and the son of a lord ; and that the third of you is Mesrour, his Executioner : then
if this my assertion be not false, I have attained the whole of what I wish by this
occurrence ; and in every respect my heart is rejoiced. But when they heard these
words from his mouth, Giafar swore to him, making.use of an ambiguous oath, that
they were not the persons whom he had mentioned. And upon this, the young man
laughed, and said,
Know, O my lords, that I am not the Prince of the Faithful, but that I have only
called myself by this title to obtain what I desire from the sons of the city. In
truth, my name is Mahomed Ali the son of Ali the jeweller. My father was of the
higher order of society, and he died, and left to me great wealth, in gold and silver,
and pearls and coral, and rubies and chrysolites and other jewels, as well as landed
property, baths and fields, and gardens, and shops and ovens, and male black slaves,
and female slaves and pages. And it happened one day, that I was sitting in my
shop, with my servants and dependants around me, and lo, a damsel approached,
mounted upon a mule, and attended by three other damsels, like moons ; and when
she came up to me, she alighted at my shop, and seating herself with me, said to
me. Art thou Mahomed the Jeweller? I answered her. Yes, I am he, thy mamlouk
and thy slave. And she said. Hast thou a necklace of jewels suitable to me? — my
mistress, I answered, what I have I will exhibit to thee and place before thee ; and
if any of them please thee, it will be of the good fortune of the mamlouk ; and if
none of them please thee, of his ill luck. I had a hundred necklaces of jewels, and
I exhibited to her all of them: but none of those pleased her, and she said, I desire
better than I have seen. Now I had a small necklace which my father had bought
The la-Jjr Dunm examining the Necklace.
398 MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER.
for a hundted thousand pieces of gold, and the like of it existed not in the possession
of any one among the great Sultans : so I said to her, I have yet a necklace of fine
stones and jewels, the like of which no one of the great or of the small possesseth.
And she replied, Show it to me. And when she saw it, she said, This is the thing
that I desire, and it is what I have wished for all my life. Then she said to me,
What is its price? 1 answered her, Its price to my father was a hundred thousand
pieces of gold. And she replied. And thou shalt have five thousand pieces of gold
as profit. I said, my mistress, the necklace and its owner are at thy service, and
there is no opposition on my part. But she replied, Thou must receive a profit, and
thou wilt still be entitled to abundant thanks. She then immediately arose, quickly
mounted the mule, and said to me, my master, in the name of Allah, do me the
favour to accompany us, that thou mayest receive the price ; for this day is to us like
milk.
I therefore arose, and, having closed the shop, proceeded with her in security un-
til we arrived at the house ; and I found it to be a mansion displaying evident signs
of prosperity : its door was adorned with gold and silver and ultramarine. The dam-
sel alighted, and entered the house, ordering me to seat myself upon the bench at
the door, until the money-changer should come. So I sat awhile at the door ; and
lo, a damsel came forth to me, and said to me, my master, enter the vestibule, for
thy sitting at the door is dishonourable. I arose, therefore, and entered the vesti-
bule, where 1 seated myself upon the wooden sofa; and while I was sitting there, a
damsel came forth and said to me, my master, my mistress saith to thee, Enter,
and seat thyself at the door of the saloon, to receive thy money. Accordingly I
arose, and entered the house, and when I had sat a moment, I beheld a throne of
gold, with a silk curtain over it, and the curtain was raised, and there appeared be-
neath it the damsel who had purchased of me the necklace. She had displayed a
face like the disk of the moon, and the necklace was upon her neck. My reason
was disturbed, and my mind was confounded at the sight of that damsel, by reason
of her excessive beauty and loveliness. And when she beheld me, she rose from
the throne, and came towards me, saying to me, light of my eye, is every one who
is comely like thee without sympathy for his beloved ? — my mistress, I replied, all
beauty is centred in thee, and is one of thy charms. And she said, Jeweller,
know that I love thee, and I did not believe that I could bring thee into my abode.
Then she bent over me, and I kissed her, and she kissed me; after which she said
to me, I am a viro-in whom no man hath approached, and I am not unknown in the
city. Knowest thou who I am ? — I answered. No, by Allah, my mistress. And
she rejoined, I am the lady Dunia, the daughter of Yahya the son of Kaled the
Barmecide, and my brother is Giafar, the Vizier of the Caliph. So when I heard
these her words, I drew back from her, saying to her, my mistress, I am not in
fault in making advances towards thee. Thou excitedst my desire. — But she re-
plied. No harm shall befall thee ; and thou must attain thy wish by the means that
God approveth ; for the disposal of myself is in my own power, and the Cadi shall
officiate for me in performing the ceremony of my contract. I desire to be unto thee
a wife, and that thou be to me a husband
She then called for the Cadi and the witnesses, and busily occupied herself in pre-
paring; and when they came, she said to them, Mahomed Ali the son of AH the
Jeweller hath demanded me in marriage, and given me this necklace as my dowry ;
and I have accepted his proposal, and consented. So they performed the contract
of my marriage to her, and T took her as my wife. And after this she caused the
wine vessels to be brought, and the cups circulated in the most agreeable and per-
fect order ; and when the wine penetrated into our heads, she ordered a damsel, a
lute-player, to sing. She therefore did so, and others sang after her, one after
another, until ten damsels had sung.
1 resided with her a whole month, abandoning my shop and family and home:
and she said to me one day, light of the eye, my master Mahomed, 1 have de-
MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER.
399
Cadi perfdrming the Marriage Contract.
termined to-day to visit the bath, and do thou remain upon this couch, and not move
from thy place until I return to thee. She conjured me to do so, and I replied, I
hear and obey. Then she made me swear that I would not move from my place,
and, taking her female slaves with her, went to the bath. And by Allah, my bro-
thers, she had not arrived at the end of the street when the door was opened, and
there came in through it an old woman, who said, my master Mahomed, the lady
Zobeide summoneth thee; for she hath heard of thy polite accomplishments and
elegance, and of the excellence of thy singing. I replied. By Allah, I will not rise
from my place until the lady Dunia cometh. But the old woman rejoined, my
master, cause not the lady Zobeide to be incensed against thee, and to become thine
enemy. Arise then, and answer her summons, and return to thy place. So I arose
immediately and repaired to her, the old woman preceding me, until she conducted
me to the lady Zobeide ; and when I came to her, she said to me, light of the eye,
art thou the beloved of the lady Dunia? I answered, I am thy mamlouk and thy
slave. And she said. He hath spoken truth who hath described thee as distinguished
by beauty and loveliness and good breeding and every charming quality; for thou
surpasseth the description ; but sing to me, that I may hear thee. So I replied, I
hear and obey. And she gave me the lute, and I sang to it. — And when I had
finished the song, she said to me, Allah give health to thy body, and sweetness to
thy voice ! for thou art perfect in comeliness and polite accomplishments and in
singing. And now arise, and repair to thy place before the lady Dunia cometh ;
lest she find thee not, and be incensed against thee.
So I kissed the ground before her, and went forth, and proceeded with the old
woman before me until 1 arrived at the door from which I had come out. But when
I entered and came to the couch, I found that the lady Dunia had returned from the
bath, and she was sleeping upon the couch. I therefore seated myself at her feet,
and pressed them with my hands ; whereupon she opened her eyes, and, seeing me,
drew up her feet, and kicked me down from the couch, and said, traitor, thou hast
violated thine oath, and perjured thyself. Thou gavest me a promise that thou
wouldSt not move from thy place, and thou hast broken thy promise, and gone to the
lady Zobeide. By Allah, were it not for my fear of disgracing myself, I would de-
molish her palace over her head ! — She then said to her black slave, Sawab, arise,
400 MAHOMED ALI THE JEWELLER.
and strike off the head of this lying traitor ; for we have no further need of him.
So the slave advanced, and having torn a strip from his skirt, bound my eyes vrith
it, and veas about to strike off my head. But the female slaves, great and small,
came to her and said, our mistress, this is not the first who hath been guilty of a
fault, and he knoweth not thy temper, nor hath he committed an offence that re-
quireth his slaughter. And upon this she said. By Allah, I must cause him to bear
some mark of my resentment. Accordingly she gave orders to beat me, whereupon
they beat me on my sides, and these scars which ye have beheld are the result.
After that, she commanded that I should be turned out; and they took me forth to
a distance from the mansion, and threw me down.
I raised myself, and walked on by a few steps at a time until I arrived at my
abode, when I caused a surgeon to be brought, and showed him the wounds occa-
sioned by the beating; and he treated me with kindness, and applied himself to my
cure. And when I recovered, and had entered the bath, and my pains and disorders
had ceased, I went to the shop, and, taking all the goods that it contained, sold them,
and with their united price I bought for myself four hundred mamlouks, such as no
King ever collected ; and every day two hundred of them rode forth with me. I
also made this bark, for the construction of which I expended five thousand pieces
of gold ; and I called myself the Caliph, appointing each of my servants to the
office of some one of the dependants of the Caliph, and equipping him in his costume,
and proclaimed. Whosoever amuseth himself upon the Tigris, I will strike off hia
head without delay. Thus I have continued to do for a whole year; but I have
heard no tidings of the damsel, nor seen any trace of her.
Then the young man lamented, and poured forth tears, and recited verses. And
when Haroun Alrashid heard his words and knew his transport and ardour and desire,
his mind was disturbed with sorrow for him, he was lost in wonder, and he said.
Extolled be the perfection of God, who appointeth for everything a cause ! — Then
they begged leave of the young man to depart ; and he gave them permission ;
Alrashid determining to do him justice, and to treat him with the utmost munifi-
cence.
They departed from him, proceeding to the palace ; and when they had remained
sitting there a while, and changed their clothes, and put on the robes of state, Mes-
rour the Executioner stood before the Caliph and Giafar, and the Caliph said to
Giafar, Vizier, bring hither to me the young man with whom we were last night.
The Vizier replied, I hear and obey. And he repaired to him, and saluted him, and
said to him, Answer the summons of the Prince of the Faithful, the Caliph Haroun
Alrashid. So the young man went with him to the palace, with a heart contracted
in consequence of the summons : and when he went in to the Caliph, he kissed the
ground before him, greeted him with a prayer for the endurance of his glory and
prosperity, and for the attainment of his desires, the continuance of his beneficence,
and the cessation of evil and punishments, and, addressing him in the best manner
he was able, said. Peace be on thee, Prince of the Faithful, and Protector of the
congregation of the believers ! And the Caliph smiled in his face, returned his salu-
tation, and looking at him with the eye of respect, caused him to draw near and to
seat himself before him, and said to him, Mahomed Ali, I desire of thee that thou
relate to me what happened to thee this last night; for it was of a wonderful
and surprising kind. The young man replied. Pardon, Prince of the Faithful !
Give me the handkerchief of indemnity, that my terror may subside, and my heart
be appeased. And the Caliph said. Thou hast security from fear and sorrows.
Su the young man began to relate to him the events which had happened to him
from first to last. And the Caliph, knowing that the young man was enamoured,
and parted from the object of his passion, said to him. Dost thou desire me to restore
her to thee? — This, answered the young man, will be an instance of the abundant
beneficence of the Prince of the Faithful. And thereupon the Caliph, looking
towards the Vizier, said to him, Giafar, bring to me thy sister, the lady Dunia, the
The Caliph Gives the Lady Dunia to her Lover. (Page 403.)
26 401
ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY. 403
daughter of the Vizier Tahya the son of Kaled. So Giafar replied, T hear and
obey. He brought her immediately ; and when she stood before him, the Caliph
said to her, Knowest thou who is this? — Prince of the Faithful, she said, how
should women have knowledge of men ? And the Caliph smiled, and said to her,
Dunia, this is thy lover, Mahomed Ali the son of the Jeweller : we have become
acquainted with the case, and heard the story from its beginning to its end, and
understood what was public and what was private of it ; and the thing is not con-
cealed, though it was veiled. — Prince of the Faithful, she replied, it was written
in the book [of God's decrees], and I beg forgiveness of God the Great for the actions
committed by me, and request of thy goodness that thou wilt pardon me. And
upon this the Caliph laughed, and, having summoned the Cadi and the witnesses,
renewed the contract of her marriage to her husband Mahomed Ali the son of the
Jeweller; and there resulted to them the utmost felicity ; and to the envious, morti-
fication. The Caliph also made the young man one of his boon-companions ; and he
and his wife continued in happiness and delight and cheerfulness until they were
visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of companions.
CHAPTER XIV.
Commencing with part of the Two Hundred and Ninety-ninth Night, and ending with part (
Three Hundred and Fifth.
THE STORY OF ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY.
Haroun Alrashid was sitting one day upon the imperial throne, when there
came in to him a young man of the eunuchs, with a crown of red gold set with
pearls and jewels, comprising all kinds of jacinths and jewels such as no money
would suffice to purchase. This young man kissed the ground before the Caliph, and
said to him, Prince of the Faithful, the lady Zobeide kisseth the ground before
thee, and saith to thee, Thou knowest that she hath made this crown, and it wanteth
a large jewel to be affixed to its summit ; and she hath searched among her trea-
sures, but found not among them a large jewel such as she desireth. So the Caliph
said to the chamberlains and lieutenants. Search for a large jewel such as Zobeide
desireth. They therefore searched, but found nothing that suited her ; and they
acquainted the Caliph with this; in consequence of which, his bosom became con-
tracted, and he said. How is it that I ara Caliph, and King of the Kings of the
earth, and am unable to procure a jewel? Wo unto you ! Inquire of the merchants
— And they inquired of the merchants : but the merchants answered them. Our
Lord the Caliph will not find the jewel save with a man of Balsora, named Abou
Mahomed the Lazy. So they informed the Caliph of this ; and he ordered his
Vizier Giafar to send a note to the Emir Mahomed Zobeidi, the Governor of Balsora,
desiring him to fit out Abou Mahomed the Lazy, and bring him before the Prince
of the Faithful. The Vizier, therefore, wrote a note to that effect, and sent it by
Mesrour.
Mesrour immediately repaired with it to the city of Balsora, and went in to the
Emir Mahomed Zobeidi, who rejoiced at seeing him, and treated him with the
utmost honour. He then read to him the note of the Prince of the Faithful, Haroun
Alrashid, and he said, I hear and obey. He forthwith sent Mesrour with a number
404 ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY.
(»f his retinue to Abou Mahomed the Lazy, and they repaired to him, and knocked
at his door ; whereupon one of the pages came forth to them, and Mesrour said to
him. Say to thy master, The Prince of the Faithful summoneth thee. So the page
went in and acquainted him with this ; and he came forth, and found Mesrour, the
chamberlain of the Caliph, attended by the retinue of the Emir Mahomed Zobeidi ;
upon which he kissed the ground before him, and said, I hear and obey the com-
mand of the Prince of the Faithful ; but enter ye our abode. They replied, AVe
cannot do so, unless to pay a hasty visit, as the Prince of the Faithful hath com-
manded us; for he is expecting thine arrival. But he said. Have patience with me
a little, that I may arrange my business. And they entered the house with him,
after excessive persuasion ; and they beheld, in the passage, curtains of blue brocade
embroidered with red gold. Then Abou Mahomed the Lazy ordered some of his
pages to conduct Mesrour into the batli which was in the house ; and they did so.
And he saw its walls and its marble pavements to be of extraordinary construction :
it was decorated with gold and silver, and its water was mixed with rose-water.
The pages paid all attention to Mesrour and those who were with him, and served
them in the most perfect manner ; and when they came forth from the bath, they
clad them with honorary dresses of brocade interwoven with gold ; after which,
Mesrour and his companions entered and found Abou Mahomed the Lazy sitting in
his pavilion. Over his head were hung curtains of brocade interwoven with gold
and adorned with pearls and jewels ; the pavilion was furnished with cushions em-
broidered with red gold ; and he was sitting upon his mattrass, which was upon a
couch set with jewels. When Mesrour came in to him, he welcomed him and met
him, and, having seated him by his side, gave orders to bring the table ; and when
Mesrour beheld that table, he said, By Allah, I have never seen the like of this in
the palace of the Prince of the Faithful ! It comprised varieties of viands, all placed
in dishes of gilt China-ware. — We ate, says Mesrour, and drank, and enjoyed our-
selves until the close of the day, when he gave to each of us five thousand pieces of
gold. And on the following day, they clad us in green dresses of honour, em-
broidered with gold, and treated us with the utmost honour. — Mesrour then said to
Abou Mahomed the Lazy, It is impossible for us to remain longer than this period,
from our fear of the Caliph. But Abou Mahomed the Lazy replied, our lord,
have patience with us until to-morrow, that we may prepare ourselves, and then we
will proceed with you. So they remained that day, and passed the night until the
morning; when the pages equipped a mule for Abou Mahomed the Lazy, with a
saddle of gold adorned with varieties of pearls and jewels ; whereupon Mesrour said
within himself. When Abou Mahomed presenteth himself before the Caliph with this
equipage, I wonder whether he will ask him how he obtained such wealth.
After that, they took leave of Mahomed Zobeidi, and, going forth from Balsora,
journeyed on until they arrived at the city of Bagdad ; and when they went in to
the Caliph, and stood before him, he ordered Abou Mahomed to seat himself. So
he sat, and, addressing the Caliph with politeness, said, Prince of the Faithful, I
have brought with me a present in token of service: then may I produce it, with
thy permission? Alrashid answered, There will be no harm in that. Accordingly
Abou Mahomed gave orders to bring a chest, which he opened, and he took forth
from it some rarities, among which were trees of gold, the leaves whereof were
formed of brilliant emeralds, and its fruits of red and yellow jacinths, and white
pearls ; whereat the Caliph wondered. Then he caused a second chest to be brought,
and took forth from it a tent of brocade, adorned with pearls and jacinths, and
emeralds and chrysolites, and varieties of other jewels : its poles were of new Indian
aloes-wood; its skirts were adorned with emeralds; and upon it were represented
the forms of all living creatures, as birds and wild beasts ; all these designs being
adorned with jewels, jacinths and emeralds, and chrysolites and balass rub.es and
all kinds of minerals. And when Alrashid beheld it, he rejoiced exceedingly.
Abou Mahomed the Lazy then said, Prince of the Faithful, imagine not that I
ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY. 405
have brought to thee this, fearing anything, or coveting aught; for the truth is, that
I saw myself to be a man of the common people, and saw that this was not suitable
to any one but the Prince of the Faithful ; and if thou give me permission, I will
gratify thee with the sight of some of the feats that I am able to accomplish. To
this, Alrashid replied. Do what thou wilt, that we may see. And Abou Mahomed
said, I hear and obey. Then he moved his lips, and made a sign to the battlements
of the palace, whereupon they inclined towards him ; and he made another sign to
them, and they resumed their proper position. After this, he made a sign with his
eye, and there appeared before him private chambers with closed doors ; and he ad-
dressed some words towards them, whereat the voices of birds replied to him. And
Alrashid wondered at this extremely, and said to him. Whence obtainedst thou all
this power, when thou art not known otherwise than by the appellation of Abou
Mahomed the Lazy, and they have informed me that thy fotherwas a cupper serving
in a public bath, and that he left thee nothing? — Prince of the Faithful, he an-
swered, hear my story; for it is wonderful and extraordinary: if it were engraved
on the understanding, it would be a lesson to him who would be admonished.
Alrashid said, Relate what thou hast to tell, and acquaint me with it, Abou Ma-
homed. So he said —
Know, Prince of the Faithful (may God continue thy glory and power!), that
the account of the people, that I am known by the surname of the Lazy, and that
my father left me not any property, is true ; for my father was no other than thou
hast said: he was a cupper in a public bath. In my youth I was the laziest of all
beings existing upon the face of the earth. My laziness was so great that when I
was sleeping in the hot season and the sun came upon me, I was too sluggish to rise
and remove from the sun to the shade. Thus I remained fifteen years, at the ex-
piration of which period my f\ither was admitted to the mercy of God (whose name
be exalted !), and left me nothing. But my mother used to act as a servant to some
people, and feed me and give me drink, while I lay upon my side. And it happened
that my mother came in to me one day, bringing five pieces of silver ; and she said
to me, my son, I have been told that the sheikh Aboul Muzaffar hath determined
to make a voyage to China. This sheikh loved the poor, and was one of the virtuous.
And my mother said, my son, take these five pieces of silver, and repair with us
to him, and we will request him to buy for thee with it something from the land of
China : perhaps a profit may thence accrue to thee, of the bounty of God, whose
name be exalted ! But I was too lazy to arise and go with her. And upon this she
swore by Allah that if I did not arise and accompany her she would not feed me nor
give me to drink nor come in to me, but would leave me to die of hunger and thirst.
So when I heard her words, Prince of the Faithful, I knew that she would do so
on account of her knowledge of my laziness. I therefore said to her, Seat me.
And she did so, while I wept. — Bring me my shoes, said I. And she brought them ;
and I said. Put them on my feet. And she put them on. I then said. Lift me up
from the ground. And when she had done this, I said. Support me, that I may
walk. So she supported me, and I continued walking, and stumbling upon my
skirts, until we arrived at the bank of the river, when we saluted the sheikh, and I
said to him, uncle, art thou Muzaffar? He answered. At thy service. And I
said, Take these pieces of silver, and buy with them for me something from the land
of China: perhaps God may give me a profit from it. And the sheikh Aboul
Muzaffar said to his companions. Do ye know this young man? They answered.
Yes: this person is known by the name of Abou Mahomed the Lazy ; and we have
never seen him to have come forth from his house excepting on this occasion. The
sheikh Aboul Muzaffiir then said, my son, give me the money, and may the bles-
sing of God (whose name.be exalted!) attend it. And he received the money from
me, saying, In the name of God. After which, I returned with my mother to the
house.
The sheikh Aboul Muzaffar set forth on the voyage and with him a company of
406 ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY.
merchants, and they proceeded without interruption until they arrived at the land
of China; when the sheikh sold and bought, and set forth to return, he and those
who were with him, after they had accomplished their desires. But when they had
continued out at sea for three days, the sheikh said to his campanions, Stay the ves-
vel ! The merchants asked, What dost thou want? And he answered. Know that
the deposit committed to me, belonging to Abou Mahomed the Lazy, I have for-
gotten ; so return with us, that we may buy for him with it something by which he
may profit. But they replied. We conjure thee by Allah (whose name be exalted!)
that thou take us not back ; for we have traversed a very long distance, and in doing
so we have experienced great terrors and exceeding trouble. Still he said. We must
return. They therefore said, Receive from us several times as much as the profit of
the five pieces of silver, and take us not back. So he assented to their proposal ;
and they collected for him a large sum of money.
Then they proceeded until they came in sight of an island, containing a numer-
ous population, where they cast anchor ; and the merchants landed to purchase
thence merchandise, consisting of minerals and jewels and pearls and other things.
And Aboul Muzafi'ar saw a man sitting, with a great number of apes before him ;
and among these was an ape whose hair was plucked off. The other apes, whenever
their master was inadvertent, laid hold upon this plucked ape, and beat him, and
threw him upon their master ; who arose thereat, and beat them, and chained and
tormented them, for doing this; and all these apes became enraged in consequence
against the other, and beat him again. Now, when the sheikh Aboul Muzaffar saw
this ape, he grieved for him, and showed kindness to him, and said to his owner,
Wilt thou sell me this ape ? The man answered. Buy. And the sheikh said, I have
with me, belonging to a lad who is an orphan, five pieces of silver. Wilt thou sell
him to me for that sum? — He answered, I sell him to thee. May God bless thee in
him ! — Then the sheikh took possession of him, and paid the money to his owner ;
and the slaves of the sheikh took the ape, and tied him in the ship.
After this, they loosed the sails, and proceeded to another island, where they
cast anchor. And the divers who dived for minerals and pearls and jewels and
other things came down ; and the merchants gave them money as their hire for
diving. So they dived ; and the ape, seeing them do this, loosed himself from his
cord, leaped from the vessel, and dived with them ; whereupon Aboul Muzaffar
exclaimed. There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great. We
have lost the ape, with the luck of this poor youth for whom we bought him! —
They despaired of the ape ; but when the party of divers came up, lo, the ape came
up with them, having in his hands precious jewels: and he threw them down before
Aboul Muzaffar, who wondered at this, and said. Verily there is a great mystery in
this ape!
Then they loosed, and proceeded to an island called the Island of the Ethiops,
who are a people of the blacks that eat the flesh of the sons of Adam. And when
the blacks beheld them, they came to them in boats, and, taking all that were in the
ship, bound their hands behind them, and conducted them to the King, who ordered
them to slaughter a number of the merchants. So they slaughtered them, and ate
their flesh. The rest of the merchants passed the night, imprisoned in great misery ;
but in the night the ape arose and came to Aboul MuzaSiir, and loosed his chains.
And when the merchants beheld Aboul Muzaffar loosed, they said, God grant that
our liberation may be effected by thy'hands, O Aboul Muzaffar ! But he replied.
Know ye that none liberated me, by the will of God (whose name be exalted!), but
this ape ; and I have bought my liberty of him for a thousand pieces of gold. So
the merchants said. And we in like manner: each of us buyeth his liberty of him
for a thousand pieces of gold, if he release us. The ape therefore arose and went
to them, and began to loose one after another, until he had loosed them all from
their chains; and they repaired to the ship, and embarked in it, and found it sufe,
nothing being lost from it.
ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY. 407
They loosed immediately, and continued their voyage, and Aboul Muzaffar said,
merchants, fulfil the promise that ye have given to the ape. They replied, We hear
and obey. And each of them paid him a thousand pieces of gold. Aboul Muzaffar
also took forth from his property a thousand pieces of gold ; and a great sum of
money was thus collected for the ape. They then continued their voyage until they
arrived at the city of Balsora ; whereupon their companions came to meet them ;
and when they had landed, Aboul Muzaffar said, Where is Abou Mahomed the
Lazy? The news therefore reached my mother, and while I was lying asleep, my
mother came to me and said, my son, the sheikh Aboul Muzaffar hath arrived, and
come to the city: arise then and repair to him and salute him, and ask him what he
hath brought for thee : perhaps God (whose name be exalted!) hath blessed thee
with something. So I replied. Lift me from the ground, and support me, that I may
go forth and walk to the bank of the river. I walked on, stumbling upon my skirts,
until I came to the sheikh Aboul Muzaffar ; and when he beheld me, he said to me.
Welcome to him whose money wasthe means of my liberation and the liberation of
these merchants, by the will of God, whose name be exalted ! He then said to me.
Take this ape ; for I bought him for thee ; go with him to thy house, and wait until
I come to thee. I therefore took the ape before me, and went, saying within myself,
By Allah, this is none other than magnificent merchandise ! I entered my house,
and said to my mother. Every time that I lie down to sleep, thou desirost me to arise
to traffic ; see then M'ith thine eye this merchandise. Then I sat down ; and while
I was sitting, lo, the slaves of Aboul Muzaffar approached me, and said to me, Art
thou Abou Mahomed the Lazy? I answered them. Yes. And behold, Aboul
Muzaffar approached, following them. I rose to him, and kissed his hands, and he
said to me. Come with me to my house. So I replied, I hear and obey. I proceeded
with him until I entered the house, when he ordered his slaves to bring the money ;
and they brought it, and he said, my son, God hath blessed thee with this wealth
as the profit of the five pieces of silver. They then carried it in the chests upon
their heads, and he gave me the keys of those chests, saying to me, Walk before the
slaves to thy house; for all this wealth is thine.
I therefore went to my mother, and she rejoiced at this, and said, my son, God
hath blessed thee with this abundant wealth; so give over this laziness, and go down
into the marketrstreet, and sell and buy. Accordingly, I relinquished my lazy
habits, and opened a shop in the market-street, and the ape sat with me upon my
niattrass: when I ate he ate with me: and when I drank, he drank with me; and
every day he absented himself from me from morning until noon, when he came,
bringing with him a purse containing a thousand pieces of gold, and he put it by my
side, and sat down. Thus he ceased not to do for a long time, until abundant wealth
had accrued to me ; whereupon I bought, Prince of the Faithful, possessions and
houses, and planted gardens, and purchased mamlouks and male black slaves and
female slaves.
And it happened one day that I was sitting, and the ape was sitting with me upon
the mattrass, and lo, he looked to the right and left ; whereat I said within myself.
What is the matter with this ape? And God caused the ape to speak with an elo-
quent tongue, and he said, Abou Mahomed ! On hearing this I was violently
terrified ; but he said. Fear not. I will acquaint thee with my condition. I am
a Marid of the Genii ; but I came to thee on account of thy poverty, and now thou
knowest not the amount of thy wealth ; and I have a want for thee to perform, the
accomplishment of which will be productive of good to thee. — What is it? I asked.
He answered, I desire to marry thee to a damsel like the full moon. — And how so?
said I. — To-morrow, he answered, attire thyself in thy rich clothing, mount thy
mule with the saddle of gold, and repair with me to the market of the sellers of
fodder: there inquire for the shop of the Shereef, and seat thyself by him, and say
to him, I have come to thee as a suitor, desiring thy daughter. And if he say to
thee, Thou hast not wealth nor rank nor descent, — Give him a thousand pieces of
408 ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY.
gold, and if he say to thee, Give me more, — do so, and excite his cupidity for
money. — So I replied I hear and obey : to-morrow I will do this, if it be the will of
God, whose name be exalted !
Accordingly, when I arose in the morning, I put on the richest of my apparel,
mounted the mule with the saddle of gold, and having gone to the market of the
sellers of fodder, inquired for the shop of the Shereef, and found him sitting in his
shop. I therefore alighted and saluted him, and seated myself with him. I had
with me ten of my black slaves and mamlouks ; and the Shereef said. Perhaps thou
bast some business with us which we may have the pleasure of performing. So I
replied, Yes: I have some business with thee. — And what is it? he asked. I
answered, I have come unto thee as a suitor, desiring thy daughter. He replied,
thou hast not wealth nor rank nor descent. And upon this I took forth and pre-
sented to him a purse containing a thousand pieces of red gold, saying to him. This
is my rank and descent ; and he whom may God favour and preserve hath said. An
excellent rank is [that conferred by] wealth.
And when the Shereef heard these words, he hung down his head for a while
toward the ground ; after which, he raised his head, and said to me, If it must be,
I desire of thee three thousand pieces of gold besides. So I replied, I hear and obey.
I immediately sent one of the mamlouks to my house, and he brought me the
money that the Shereef had demanded ; and when the Shereef saw this come to him,
he arose from the shop, and said to his young men, Close it. Then he invited his
companions from the market to his house, and, having performed the contract of my
marriage to his daughter, said to me. After ten days I will introduce thee to her.
I returned to my house, full of joy, and in privacy informed the ape of that which
had happened to me ; whereupon he said. Excellently hast thou done. And when
the time appointed by the Shereef approached, the ape said to me, I have a want for
thee to perform : if thou accomplish it for me, thou shalt obtain of me what thou
wilt. — And what is thy want? said I. He answered, At the upper end of the saloon
in which thou will pay thy first visit to the daughter of the Shereef, is a closet, upon
the door of which is a ring of brass, and the keys are beneath the ring. Take them,
and open the door. Thou wilt find a chest of iron, at the corners of which are four
talismanic flags ; in the midst is a basin filled with money, and by its side are eleven
serpents, and in the basin is tied a white cock with a cleft comb ; and there is also
a knife by the side of the chest. Take the knife, and kill with it the cock, tear in
pieces the flags, and empty the chest; and after that, go forth to the bride. This is
what I require of thee. — And I replied, I hear and obey.
I then went to the house of the Shereef, and, entering the saloon, I looked towards
the closet which the ape had described to me. And when I was left alone with the
bride, I wondered at her beauty and loveliness, and her justness of stature and form;
for she was such that the tongue cannot describe her beauty and loveliness. I was
exceedingly delighted with her; and when midnight came, and the bride slept, I
arose, took the keys, and opened the closet, and, taking the knife, I killed the cock,
threw down the flags, and overturned the chest; whereupon the damsel awoke, and
saw that the closet was opened, and the cock killed ; and she exclaimed. There is no
strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! The Marid hath taken me! —
And her words were not ended when the Marid encompassed the house, and snatched
away the bride. Upon this, a clamour ensued ; and lo, the Shereef approached,
slapping his face, and said, Abou Mahomed, what is this deed that thou hast done
unto us? Is this the recompense that we receive from thee? I made this talisman
in this closet through my fear for my daughter from this accursed wretch ; for
he was desirous of taking this damsel during a period of six years, and could not do
so. But thou shalt no longer remain with us : so go thy way.
I therefore went forth from the house of the Shereef, and, having returned to my
own abode, searched for the ape ; but I found him not, nor saw any trace of him : so
I knew that he was the Marid who had taken my wife, and that he had practised a
ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY. 409
stratagem against me, so that I had acted thus with the talisman and the cock which
prevented his taking her. I repented, and tore my clothes in pieces, and slapped
my face. No region was wide enough for me ; so I went forth immediately, seeking
the desert, and stopped not until the evening overtook me : and I knew not whither
to go. But while I was absorbed in meditation, lo, two serpents approached me ;
one tawny-coloured, and the other white ; and they were contending together. I
therefore took up a stone from the ground, and struck with it the tawny serpent, and
killed her; for she was oppressing the white one. Then the white serpent departed,
and was absent for a while ; after which she returned, accompanied by ten other
white serpents ; and they came to the dead serpent, and tore her in pieces, so that
there remained only her head ; which having done they went their way.
Thereupon I laid myself prostrate on my bosom in that place, through weariness;
and while I was so lying, meditating upon my case, a being whose voice I heard,
but whose form I saw not, uttered these two verses : —
Let destinx run with slackened reins, and pass not the night but with careless mind ;
For between the closing of an eye and its opening, God effecteth a change in the state of
affairs.
On hearing this, Prince of the Faithful, I was vehemently affected, and inspired
with the utmost trouble of mind; and I heard a voice behind me reciting this
couplet: —
Faithful, whose guide is the Koran, rejoice in it; for safety hath come to thee;
And fear not what Satan hath suggested ; for we are a people whose religion is the true one.
So I said to the person who addressed me. By the Object of thy worship, acquaint
me who thou art I Whereupon the invisible speaker, assumed the form of a man,
and replied. Fear not ; for thy kind conduct hath become known to us, and we are
a tribe of the believing Genii ; if then thou hast any want, acquaint us with it, that
we may have the pleasure of performing it. I therefore said to him. Verily I have a
great want; for I have been afflicted with a heavy calamity. And unto whom hath
happened the like of my calamity? — And he said. Perhaps thou art Abou Mahomed
the Lazy. I replied. Yes. And he said, Abou Mahomed, I am a brother of the
white serpent, whose enemy thou killedst. We are four brothers by the same father
and mother, and we are all thankful for thy kindness. And know that he who was
in the form of an ape, and who practised this artifice with thee, is one of the Marids
of the Genii: and had he not employed this stratagem, he had never been able to
take the damsel ; for of a long time he hath been desirous of taking her, and this
talisman prevented him; and had the talisman remained, he could not have obtained
access to her. But fear not on account of this affiiir: we will convey thee to her,
and we will slay the Marid ; for thy kindness is not lost upon us. — He then ut-
tered a great cry, with a terrible voice; and lo, a troop approached him, and he in-
quired of them respecting the ape ; upon which one of them answered, I know his
abode. He said where is his abode ? And he answered. In the City of Brass, upon
which the sun riseth not. And he said, Abou Mahomed, take one of our slaves,
and he will carry thee on his back, and will instruct thee how thou shalt take the
damsel. But know that the slave is one of the Marids, and when he carrieth thee
mention not the name of God while he beareth thee: for if thou mention it, he
will fly from thee, and thou wilt fall and perish. — So I replied, I hear and obey.
1 took one of their slaves, and he stooped, and said. Mount. And I mounted.
He then soared with me into the sky until he had ascended out of sight of the world;
and I saw the stars resembling the firm mountains, and heard the Angels extolling
the perfection of God in Heaven. All this while the Marid was conversing with me
and amusing me, and diverting me from mentioning God, whose uame be exalted !
But while I was in this state, lo, a person clad in green garments, and having long
locks of hair, and a resplendent countenance, and in his hand a spear from which
410 ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY.
sparks flew forth, approached and said to me, Abou Mahomed, say. There is no
deity but God : Mahomet is God's Apostle — or I will smite thee with this spear. My
heart was already rent in pieces by my abstaininor from mentioning God (whose
name be exalted!): so I said, There is no deity but God : Mahomet is God's Apostle.
And immediately that person smote the Marid with the spear; whereupon he dis-
solved, and became ashes ; and I fell from his back, and continued descending to
the earth until I dropped into a roaring sea, agitated with waves.
But lo, there was a ship, containing five sailors ; and when they saw me, they
came to me, and took me up into the vessel, and began to speak to me in a language
which I knew not. I therefore made a sign to them that I knew not their language.
And they proceeded on their voyage until the close of the day, when they cast a net,
and caught a large fish, which they broiled ; and they gave me to eat. They con-
tinued their voyage until they had conveyed me to their city ; upon which they took
me in to their King, and placed me before him ; and I kissed the ground, and he be-
■towed upon me a dress of honour. Now this King was acquainted with Arabic,
and he said, I appoint thee to be one of my guards. And I said to him, What is
the name of this city ? He answered. Its name is Henad, and it is in the land of
China. Then the King delivered me to the Vizier of the city, commanding him to
show me the city. The inhabitants of this city were originally infidels ; in conse-
quence of which, God (whose name bo exalted !) had turned them into stones. I
amused myself by taking a view of it ; and have beheld nowhere a greater abun-
dance of trees and fruits than it possessed.
I resided there for the space of a month, after which I went to a river, and seated
myself upon its banks ; and while I was sitting, lo, a horseman came and said, Art
thou Abou Mahomed the Lazy? I answered him, Yes. And be said. Fear not; for
thy kind conduct hath become known unto us. So I asked him. Who art thou?
And he answered, I am a brother of the serpent, and thou art near unto the place
of the damsel to whom thou desirest to obtain access. Then he took off his clothes,
and, having clad me with them, said to me. Fear not ; for the slave who perished
beneath thee was one of our slaves. And after this the horseman took me up behind
him, and conveyed me to a desert, where he said to me, Alight from behind me, and
proceed between these two mountains until thou seest the City of Brass: then stop
at a distance from it, and enter it not till I return to thee, and instruct thee how to
act. So I replied, I hear and obey. I alighted from behind him, and walked on
until I arrived at the city, when I saw that its wall was of brass ; and I went round
about it, hoping to find a gate to it: but I found none. And while I was going
round it, lo, the brother of the serpent approached me, and gave me a talismanic
sword that would prevent any one from seeing me. He then went his way ; and he
had been but a short time absent from me when cries arose, and I beheld a number
of persons whose eyes were in their breasts ; and when they saw me, they said, Who
art thou, and what cast thee into this place? So I acquainted them with the
occurrence ; and they replied. The damsel whom thou hast mentioned is with the
Marid in this city, and we know not what he hath done with her; and we are
brothers of the serpent. Then they added. Go to that spring, see by what channel
the water entereth, and enter thou with it ; for it will convey thee into the city.
I therefore did so. I entered with the water into a grotto beneath the earth, and,
rising thence, beheld myself in the midst of the city, and found the damsel sitting
upon a couch of gold, with a canopy of brocade over her, and round the canopy was
a garden containing trees of gold, the fruits of which were of precious jewels, such
as rubies and chrysolites, and pearls and coral. And when the damsel saw me, she
knew me ; and, having saluted me first, she said to me, my master, who brought
thee to this place? So I informed her of the events that had happened ; and she
replied. Know that this accursed wretch, from the excess of his affection for me, hath
acquainted me with that which will injure him and that which will profit him, and
hath informed me that there is in this city a talisman with which, if he desired to
ABOU MAHOMED THE LAZY. 411
destroy all who are in the city, he could destroy them ; and whatsoever he should
order his Afrites to do, they would comply with his command ; and that talisman is
upon a pillar. — And where, said I, is the pillar? She answered, In such a place. —
And what is that talisman ? I asked. She answered. It is the figure of an eagle,
and upon it is an inscription which I know not. Take it and place it before thee,
and take a censer with fire, and throw into it a little musk, whereupon there will
arise from it a smoke which will attract the Afrites. If thou do so, they will all
present themselves before thee ; not one of them will remain absent ; and they will
obey thy command, and do whatsoever thou shalt order them. Arise, therefore, and
do that, and may the blessing of God (whose name be exalted !) attend the act. — So
I replied, I hear and obey.
I arose, and went to that pillar, and did all that she desired me to do, and the
Afrites came and presented themselves before me, each of them saying, At thy
service, my master? Whatsoever thou commandest us to do, we will do it. — I
therefore said to them. Chain the Marid who brought this damsel from her abode.
And they replied. We hear and obey. They repaired immediately to that Marid,
and chained him, making his bonds tight; and returned to me, saying, We have
done what thou hast commanded us. And I ordered them to return. I then went
back to the damsel, and having acquainted her with what had happened, said, my
wife, wilt thou go with me ! She answered, Yes. And I went forth with her by
the subterranean grotto by which I had entered: and we proceeded until we came
to the party who had directed me to her ; when I said to them. Direct me to a route
that shall lead me to my country.
Accordingly they guided me and walked with me to the shore of the sea, and
placed us on board a ship ; and the wind was favourable, and the ship conveyed us
on until we arrived at the city of Balsora. And when the damsel entered the house
of her father, her family saw her, and rejoiced exceedingly at her return. I then
fumigated the eagle with musk, and lo, the Afrites approached me from every
quarter, saying, At thy service, and what dost thou desire us to do? And I com-
manded them to transport all that was in the City of Brass, of money and minerals
and jewels, to my house which was in Balsora ; and they did so. After that, I
commanded them to bring the ape ; and they brought him in an abject and despi-
cable state : whereupon I said to him, accursed, why didst thou act perfidiously to
me? And I ordered them to put him into a bottle of brass. So they put him into
a narrow bottle of brass, and stopped it over him with lead. And I resided with my
wife in joy and happiness. I have now, Prince of the Faithful, of precious trea-
sures, and extraordinary jewels, and abundant wealth, what cannot be expressed by
numbers, nor confined by limits ; and if thou desire anything, of wealth or aught
else, I will command tlie Genii to bring it to thee immediately. All this I have
received from the bounty of God, whose name be exalted !
And the Prince of the Faithful wondered at this story extremely. He gave him
imperial presents in return for his gift, and treated him with the favour that was
suitable to him.
412 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROTJD.
CHAPTER XV.
Commencing with part of the Three Hundred and Eighth Night, and ending with part of tbo
Three Hundred and Twenty-seventh.
THE STORY OF ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
There was, in ancient times, a certain merchant in the land of Khorassan, whose
name was Majdal-din, and he had great wealth, and black slaves and mamlouks and
pages ; but he had attained to the age of sixty years, and had not been blessed with
a son. After this, however, God (whose name be exalted !) blessed him with a son,
and he named him All Shir.
When this boy grew up, he became like the full moon ; and when he had attained
to manhood, and was endowed with every charm, his father fell sick of a fatal
disease. So he called his son and said to him, my son, the period of death hath
drawn near, and I desire to give thee a charge. — And what is it, my father? said
the young man. He answered, I charge thee that thou be not familiar with any one
among mankind, and that thou shun what may bring injury and misfortune.
Beware of the evil associate ; for he is like the blacksmith : if his fire burn thee not,
his smoke will annoy thee.
The young man replied, my father, I hear and obey. Then what next dost thou
counsel me to do ? — His father answered, Do good when thou art able ; persevere in
comely conduct towards men, and avail thyself of opportunities to dispense kind
actions ; for a wish is not always of easy accomplishment.
And the son replied, I hear and obey. Then what more? — my son, answered
the father. Be mindful of God : He will then be mindful of thee. Guard also thy
wealth, and be not prodigal of it; for if thou be prodigal of it, thou wilt become in
need of the assistance of the least of mankind : and know that the estimation in
which a man is held is according to that which his right hand possesseth.
And what besides? said the young man. His father answered, my son, consult
him who is older than thyself, and hasten not to perform a thing that thou desirest
to do: have compassion also upon him who is thine inferior; then he who is thy
superior will have compassion upon thee ; and oppress not any, lest God give power
over thee to one who will oppress thee.
Beware of drinking wine ; for it is the chief of every evil : it dispelleth the reason,
and bringeth contempt upon the drinker.
This is my charge to thee, and do thou keep it before thine eyes ; and may God
supply my place to thee! — Then he fainted, and remained awhile silent; after which
he recovered his senses, and begged forgiveness of God, pronounced the professions
of the faith, and was admitted to the mercy of God, whose name be exalted.
His son wept for him and lamented. He made becoming preparations for his
burial ; great and small walked in his funeral-procession, the reciters of the Koran
recited around his bier, and his son omitted not the performance of any honour that
was due to the deceased. They then prayed over him and interred him.
His son Ali Shir grieved for him violently, and observed the ceremonies of mourn-
ing for him in the manner usual at the death of persona of distinction. He remained
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD. 413
mourning for his father until his mother died a short time after him ; when he did
with the corpse of his mother as he had done with that of his father. And after
this, he sat in the shop to sell and buy, and associated with no one of the creatures
of God (whose name be exalted!), conforming to the charge of his father.
Thus he continued to do for the space of a year; but after the expiration of the
year, the sons of the licentious women obtained access to him by stratagems, and
became his companions, so that he inclined with them unto wickedness, and declined
from the path of rectitude; he drank wine by cupfuls, and to the beauties morning
and evening he repaired; and he said within himself. My father hath amassed for
me this wealth, and if I dispose not of it, to whom shall I leave it?
He ceased not to squander his wealth night and day until he had expended the
whole of it and was reduced to poverty. Evil was his condition, and disturbed was
his mind, and he sold the shop and the dwellings and other possessions ; and after
that, he sold his clothes, not leaving fur himself more than one suit.
Now when intoxication had quitted him and reflection had come, he fell into grief;
and he sat one day from dawn until the time of afternoon prayers without breaking
fast; whereupon he said within himself, I will go round to those upon whom I spent
my wealth : perhaps one of them will feed me this day. He therefore went round
to all of them ; but on each occasion of his knocking at the door of one of them, the
man denied himself, and hid himself from him; so hunger tortured him. And he
went to the market of the merchants, and found there a ring of persons crowding
together, and the people flocking thither; upon which he said within himself. What
can be the reason of the assembling of these people? By Allah, I will not remove
from this place until I have gratified myself with a sight of this ring. — Then ad-
vancing to it, he found there a damsel of quinary stature, of just figure, rosy-
cheeked, high-bosomed ; she surpassed the people of her age in beauty and loveli-
ness, and in elegance and in every charm. The name of this damsel was Zumroud :
and when Ali Shir beheld her, he wondered at her beauty and loveliness, and said.
By Allah, I will not depart until I see to what sum the price of this damsel will
amount, and know who will purchase her. So he stood among the merchants, and
they imagined that he would buy, as they knew the abundance of wealth that he
had inherited from his parents.
The broker having stationed himself at the head of the damsel, then said, mer-
chants ; possessors of wealth ! who will open the bidding for this damsel, the mis-
tress of moon-like Vjeauties, the precious pearl, Zumroud the curtain-maker, the
object of the seeker's wishes, and the delight of the desirer? Open the bidding;
for the opener is not obnoxious to blame or reproach ! — And one of the merchants
said. Let her be mine for five hundred pieces of gold. Another said. And ten. And
a sheikh, named Rashideddin, who had blue eyes, and a foul aspect, said. And a
hundred. Another then said. And ten. And the sheikh said. For a thousand pieces
of gold. And upon this the tongues of the merchants were tied, and they were
silent. The broker therefore consulted the damsel's owner ; but he said, I am under
an oath that I will not sell her save unto him whom she will choose: so consult her.
The broker accordingly came to her and said, mistress of moon-like beauties, this
merchant desireth to purchase thee. And she looked at him, and, seeing him to be
as we have described, she said to the broker, I will not be sold to a sheikh whom old
age hath reduced to a most evil condition.
And when the broker heard her words, he said to her. By Allah thou art excused,
and thy value is ten thousand pieces of gold. Then he informed her owner that she
approved not of that sheikh; and he replied, Consult her respecting another. And
another man advanced and said. Let her be mine for the sum that the sheikh of
whom she approved not oflfered for her. But the damsel, looking at that man, found
that he had a dyed beard ; whereupon she said, What is this disgrace, and this du-
bious conduct, and blackening of hoary hairs !
And the broker, when he heard her words, said to her, By Allah, thou hast spoken
414 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
truth. The merchant who had bidden for her asked, What was it that she said?
So the broker repeated the words to him ; and he knew that he was in fault, and
gave up the idea of purchasing her. Then another merchant advanced and said.
Ask her if she will consent to be mine for the sum that thou hast heard. He there
fore consulted her for him ; and she looked at him, and saw that he was one-eyed,
and replied, This man is one-eyed, and it is said with truth of such a person, —
Keep not company with the one-eyed for a single day ; but beware of his malig-
nity and falsehood. For had there been any good in him, God had not caused the
blindness in his eye.— The broker then [pointing to another] said to her. Wilt thou
be sold to that merchant ? And she looked at him, and, seeing that he was a short
man, with a beard descending to his girdle, she answered. This is he of whom it
hath been said, — I have a friend with a beard which God hath made to grow to a
useless length. It is like unto one of the nights of winter, long and dark and cold.
The broker therefore said to her, my mistress, see who among the persons here
present pleaseth thee, and say which he is, that I may s«ll thee to him. So she
looked at the ring of merchants, and as she examined their physiognomies, one after
another, her eye fell upon Ali Shir. The sight of him occasioned her a thousand
sighs, and her heart became enamoured of him ; for he was of surprising loveliness,
and more bland than the Northern zephyr; and she said, broker, I will not be
sold to any but to this my master, with the comely face and surpassing figure, and
commanding and graceful bearing, of whom one of his describers hath thus said: —
Thev displayed thy lovely face, and then blamed the person who was tempted. If
they had desired to protect me, they had veiled thy beautiful countenance. — None
then shall possess me but he ; for his cheek is smooth, and the moisture of his mouth
is like the fountain of Paradise, a cure for the sick, and his charms perplex the poet
and the prose-writer. The person with the curling hair, and the rosy cheek, and the
enchanting glance, of whom the poet hath said, —
Oft a fawn-like person hath promised me a meeting, and my heart hath heen restless and mine
eye expectant.
His eyelids assured me of the truth of his promise; hut how can they, languishing as they
are, fulfil it ?
— And when the broker heard the verses that she recited on the charms of Ali Shir,
he wondered at her eloquence, as well as at the splendour of her beauty. But her
owner said to him, Wonder not at her beauty, that putteth to shame the sun of day,
nor at her having her memory stored with the elegant effusions of the poets ; for she
also reciteth the glorious Koran according to the seven readings, and relateth the
noble traditions as authentically transmitted, and writeth the seven different hands,
and knoweth of the sciences what the very learned sage knoweth not, and her hands
are better than gold and silver ; for she maketh curtains of silk, and selleth them,
gaining by every one fifty pieces of gold ; and she worketh a curtain in eight days.
So the broker said, the good fortune of him in whose house this damsel shall be,
and who includeth her among his choice treasures! Iler owner then said to him,
Sell her to whomsoever she chooseth.
Accordingly the broker returned to Ali Shir, and, having kissed his hands, said,
my master, purchase this damsel ! for she hath made choice of thee. And he de-
scribed her to him, telling him what she knew, and said to him, Happy will be thy
lot if thou purchase her ; for He who is not sparing of his gift hath bestowed her
upon thee. So Ali Shir hung down his head for a while towards the ground, laugh-
ing at his case, and saying within himself, I am to the present hour without break-
fast ; but I am ashamed before the merchants to say that I have no money where-
with to purchase her. And the damsel seeing him hanging down his head, said to
the broker, Take me by the hand and lead me to him, that I may display myself to
him, and excite his desire to possess me; for 1 will not be sold to any but him. The
broker therefore, took her and stationed her before Ali Shir, saying to him, What is
ALT SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
415
thy good pleasure, tny master? But he returned him no answer. So the damsel
said, my master, and beloved of my heart, wherefore wilt thou not purchase me?
Purchase me for what thou wilt, and I will be a means of good fortune to thee. —
And he raised his head towards her, and said, Is a person to be made by force to
purchase? Thou art dear at the price of a thousand pieces of gold. — She replied,
my master, purchase me for nine hundred. He said. No. — For eight hundred, she
rejoined. He said. No. And she ceased not to abate the price until she said to
him. For one hundred pieces of gold. But he said, I have not a hundred complete.
And she laughed, and said to him, How much dost thou want of a hundred? He
answered I have not a hundred nor less than a hundred. By Allah, I possess not
either white or red, either a piece of silver or a piece of gold. So see for thyself
some other desirous customer. And when she knew that he had nothing, she said
to him, Take my hand, as though thou wouldst examine me in a by-lane. He there-
fore did so ; and she took forth from her pocket a purse containing a thousand pieces
of gold, and said to him, Weigh out from it nine hundred as my price, and retain
the remaining hundred in thy possession, as it will be of use to us.
So he did as she desired him. He purchased her for nine hundred pieces of gold,
and having paid her price from that purse, repaired with her to the house. And
when she arrived there, she found that the house presented plain, clear floors ; hav-
ing neither furniture nor utensils in it. She therefore gave him a thousand pieces
of gold, saying to him, Go to the market, ancf buy for us with three hundred pieces
of gold, furniture and utensils for the house. And he did so. Then she said to him,
Buy for us food and beverage with three pieces of gold. And he did this. Next she
said to him, Buy for us a piece of silk, as much as will suffice for a curtain, and buy
gold and silver thread, and silk thread of seven different colours. And this also he
did. She then spread the furniture in the house, and lighted the candles, and sat
eating and drinking with him ; after which, they embraced each other.
The love of each became fixed in the heart of the other, and on the following
Zumroud Embroidering.
morning the damsel took the curtain, and embroidered it with coloured silks, and
ornamented it with the gold and silver thread. She worked a border to it, with the
figures of birds, and represented around it the figures of wild beasts, and there was
not a wild beast in the world that she omitted to portray upon it. She continued
working upon it for eight days ; and when it was finished, she cut it and glazed it,
416 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
und then gave it to her master, saying to him, Repair with it to the market, and sell
it for fifty pieces of gold to a merchant, and beware of selling it to any one passing
along the street, because that would be a cause of separation between me and thee ;
for we have enemies who are not unmindful of us. And he replied, I hear and obey.
He repaired with it to the market, and sold it to a merchant as she had desired him :
after which he bought another piece of silk, together with the silk thread, and the
gold and silver thread as before, and what they required of food, and, having brought
these things to her, gave her the rest of the money. And every eight days she gave
him a curtain to sell for fifty pieces of gold.
Thus she continued to do for the space of a whole year. And after the expiration
of the year, he went to the market with the curtain as usual, and gave it to the
broker; and there met him a Christian, who offered him sixty pieces of gold. He
refused to sell it to him ; but the Christian ceased not to increase the sum until he
offered him a hundred pieces of gold, and he bribed the broker with ten pieces of
gold. So the broker returned to Ali Shir, informed him of the price that had been
offered, and made use of artifice to induce him to sell the curtain to the Christian
for that sum, saying to him, O my master, fear not this Christian ; for no harm shall
befall thee from him. The merchants also arose and urged him. So he sold it to
the Christian, though his heart was full of fear, and, having taken the price, returned
to the house. But he found the Christian walking behind him ; and he said, O
Christian, wherefore art thou walking behind me? — my master, he answered, I
have a want at the upper end of the street : may God never cause thee to have any
want! And Ali Shir arrived not at his abode without the Christian's overtaking
him : so he said to him, accursed, wherefore dost thou follow me whithersoever I
go? The (Christian replied, my master, give me a draught of water, for I am
thirsty, and thou wilt receive thy recompense from God, whose name be exalted !
Ali Shir therefore said within himself. This is a tributary, and he hath demanded of
me a draught of water: so by Allah I will not disappoint him.
Then he entered the house, and took a mug of water; and his slave-girl Zumroud,
seeing him, said to him, my beloved, hast thou sold the curtain ? He answered,
Yes. And she said, To a merchant or a passenger? For my heart is impressedwith
a presentiment of separation. — He answered, I sold it not but to a merchant. But
she said. Acquaint me with the truth of the matter, that I may provide against my
case. And wherefore, she added, tookest thou the mug of water? — To give drink to
the broker, he answered. And she exclaimed. There is no strength nor power but
in God, the High, the Great!
He then went forth with the mug, and found the Christian within the passage of
the house. So he said. Hast thou come in hither, dog? How is it that thou
enterest my abode without my permission ? — my master, he answered, there is no
difference between the door and the passage; and I shall not move from this my
place but to go forth : yet thanks are due to thee for bounty and kindness, and
liberality and obliging conduct. Then he took the mug of water, and drank what it
contained ; after which he handed it to Ali Shir, who took it, and expected that he
would rise: but he rose not. So Ali Shir said to him. Wherefore dost thou not arise
and go thy way ? The Christian answered, my lord, be not of those who confer
favour and then make it a subject of reproach.
O mv lord, he added, I have drunk ; but I desire of thee that thou give me to eat
of anything that is in the house ; it will be equal to me if it be a morsel of bread or
a biscuit and an onion. — Ali Shir replied. Arise, M-ithout contention. There is
nothing in the house. — But the Christian rejoined, O my lord, if there be nothing in
the house, take these hundred pieces of gold, and bring us something from the
market, though it be but a single cake of bread, that the bond of bread and salt may
be established between me and thee. So Ali Shir said within himself, Verily this
Christian is mad: I will therefore take of him the hundred pieces of gold, and bring
him something worth two pieces of silver, and laugh at him. And the Christian
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD. 417
said to him, O my master, I only desire something that will banish hunger, though
it be but a stale cake of bread and an onion ; for the best of provision is that which
dispelleth hunger; not rich food.
AH Shir therefore said to him, Wait here while I lock the saloon and bring thee
something from the market. And the Christian replied, I hear and obey. Then
Ali Shir went away from him, and locked the saloon, putting a padlock upon it ;
and taking the key with him, repaired to the market, bought some fried cheese, and
honey and bananas and bread, and brought them to him. And when the Christian
saw this, he said, my lord, this is a great quantity, sufficient for ten men, and I
am alone ; perhaps then thou wilt eat with me. Ali Shir replied, Eat thou alone ;
for I am satiated. But the Christian rejoined, my lord, the sages have said. He
who eateth not with his guest is baseborn. So when Ali Shir heard these words, he
sat and ate with him a little ; and was about to take up his hand, when the Christian
took a banana, peeled it, and divided it in two, and put into one half of it some
refined bhang, mixed with opium, a dram of which would make an elephant to fall
down. Then he dipped this half of the banana into the honey, and said to Ali Shir,
my lord, by thy religion thou shalt take this. And Ali Shir was ashamed to
make him swear falsely: he therefore took it from him, and swallowed it, and
scarcely had it settled in his stomach when his head fell before his feet, and he
became as though he had been a year asleep.
So when the Christian beheld this, he rose upon his feet, as though he were a bald
wolf, or empowered fate ; he took with him the key of the saloon, and, leaving Ali
Shir prostrate, went running to his brother, and acquainted him with what he had
done, And the cause of his conduct was this. — The brother of this Christian was
the decrepit old man who had desired to purchase Zumroud for a thousand pieces of
gold, and she accepted him not, but lampooned him with verses. He was an infidel
in his heart, but a Mahometan externally, and he named himself Rashideddin. And
when Zumroud lampooned him, and accepted him not as her master, he complained
to his brother, the Christian, who employed this stratagem to take her from her
master Ali Shir, and whose name was Barsum ; and he replied. Grieve not on
account of this afi"air ; for I will employ a stratagem to take her without a piece of
silver or of gold : — because he was a skilful, crafty, wicked magician. Then he
ceased not to devise plots and stratagems until he practised the stratagem which we
have described ; and having taken the key, he repaired to his brother, and acquainted
him with what had happened.
Upon this, Rashideddin mounted his mule, took his young men, and repaired with
his brother to the house of Ali Shir, taking with him also a purse containing a thou-
sand pieces of gold, that if the Judge met him he might give it to him. He opened
the saloon, and the men who were with him rushed upon Zumroud, and took her by
force, threatening her with slaughter if she should speak ; but the house they left
as they found it, taking nothing from it, and they left Ali Shir lying in the passage.
Then they closed the door upon him, having put the key of the saloon by his side ;
and the Christian Rashideddin took the damsel to his pavilion, where he put her
among his female slaves and concubines, and said to her, impudent wench, I am
the sheikh whom thou wouldst not accept as thy master, and whom thou lampoonedst,
and I have taken thee without expending a piece of silver or of gold. She replied,
with her eyes filled with tears, God will sufficiently requite thee, O wicked old man,
for thy separating me from my master. — impudent wench! he rejoined, thou
inflamed with love ! thou shalt see what torture I will inflict upon thee. By my faith,
if thou do not comply with my command, and adopt my religion, I will inflict upon
thee varieties of torture ! — But she said, If thou cut my flesh in pieces, I will not
abandon the Mahometan faith : and perhaps God (whose name be exalted !) will send
me speedy relief; for He is able to do whatsoever He willeth ; and the wise have
said. An evil in the body rather than an evil in religion. And upon this he called*
out to the eunuchs and female slaves, saying to tbem,. Throw ber dowD, So tbey
27
418 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
threw her down. And he ceased not to inflict upon her cruel blows, while she called
for aid ; but she was not aided. Then she abstained from imploring aid, and began
to say, God is my sufficiency, and He is indeed sufficient! — until her voice failed,
and her groaning became inaudible. And when his heart was satisfied with punish-
ing her, he said to the eunuchs, Drag her by her feet, and throw her into the kitchen,
and give her nothing to eat. The accursed wretch then passed that night, and on
the following morning he desired that she should be brought, and he repeated the
beating ; after which he ordered the eunuchs to throw her in her place ; and they
did so. And when the pain occasioned by the beating became alleviated, she said,
There is no deity but God ; Mahomet is God's Apostle ! God is my sufficiency, and
excellent is the Guardian ! — Then she implored aid of our lord Mahomet, may God
favour and preserve him ! — Such was her case.
Now as to Ali Shir, he continued lying asleep until the following day, when the
intoxication occasioned by the bhang quitted his head, and he opened his eyes, and
called out, saying, Zumroud ! But no one answered him. He therefore entered
the saloon, and found the interior desolate, and the place of visitation distant: so be
knew that this event had not happened unto him but through the Christian ; and he
yearned and wept, and sighed and complained, and recited verses. He repented
when repentance was of no avail, weeping, and tearing his clothes ; and he took two
stones and went round about the city, beating his bosom with them, and crying,
Zumroud ! The children therefore surrounded him, and said, A madman ! A mad-
man! — And every one who knew him wept for him, and said, This is such-a-one.
What hath befallen him? — Thus he continued to do until the close of the day; and
when the darkness of night came over him, he slept in one of the by-streets until the
morning. And he went round about the city again with the stones till the evening,
when he returned to his saloon to pass the night there.
Then a female neighbour of his, who was an old woman, one of the virtuous, said
to him, my son, may God preserve thee! When becamest thou mad? — And he
answered her thus: They said. Thou ravest upon the person thou lovest. And I
replied, The sweets of life are only for the mad. Drop the subject of my madness,
and bring her upon whom I rave. If she cure my madness do not blame me. So
his neighbour, the old woman, knew that he was a lover separated from his beloved;
and she said, There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! my
son, I desire of thee that thou relate to me the story of thy calamity. Perhaps God
may enable me to assist thee to overcome it, with his good pleasure. — He therefore
told her all that had befallen him with Barsum the Christian, the brother of the
magician who called himself Rashideddin ; and when she knew that, she said to him,
my son, verily thou art excused. Then she poured forth tears, and said to him, O
my son, arise now, and buy a crate, like the crates used by the goldsmiths, and buy
bracelets and seal-rings and ear-rings, and other ornaments suited to women ; and
be not sparing of money. Put all those things into the crate ; then bring the crate,
and I will put it on my head, as a female broker, and I will go about and search for
her in the houses until I obtain tidings of her, if it be the will of God, whose name
be exalted !
Ali Shir rejoiced at her words, and kissed her hands. He then went quickly, and
brought her what she desired ; and when the things were made ready for her, she
arose and attired herself in a patched gown, put over her head a honey-coloured
kerchief, and taking in her hand a walking-staff, bore the crate about through the
by-lanes, and to the houses, and ceased not to go about from place to place, and
from quarter .to quarter, and from by-street to by-street, until God (whose name be
exalted!) guided her to the pavilion of the accursed Rashideddin the Christian,
within which she heard a groaning. So she knocked at the door; whereupon a
slave-girl came down and opened to her the door, and saluted her. And the old
woman said to her, I have with me these trifles for sale. Is there among you any
one who will buy aught of them ? — The girl answered her. Yes : — and she took her
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD. 419
into the house, and seated her. The female slaves then seated themselves aiound
her, and each of them took something from her; and the old woman began to ad-
dress them with courtesy, and to make the prices of the goods easy to them ; so that
they were delighted with her, on account of her kindness and the gentleness of her
speech. Meanwhile, she looked round narrowly at the different quarters of the
place, to discover the female whose groaning she had heard, and her eye fell upon
her: so she treated the female slaves with additional favour and kindness; and,
looking at thS damsel whom she had heard groaning, she found her to be Zumroud,
laid prostrate. She recognised her, and wept, and said to the female slaves, my
children, wherefore is this damsel in this condition? And they related to her the
whole story, adding, This affair is not of our choice ; but our master commanded us
to do thus; and he is now on a journey. And she said, my children, I desire of
you a favour, which is, that ye loose this poor damsel from her bonds, and leave her
BO until ye know of the return of your master, when ye shall bind her again as she
was; and ye will gain a recompense from the Lord of all creatures. They replied.
We hear and obey. And they loosed her, and fed her, and gave her to drink. The
old woman then said. Would that my leg had broken, and that I had not entered
your abode ! And after that, she went to Zumroud, and said to her, my daughter,
God preserve thee! God will dispel from thee thine affliction. — And she told her
that she had come from her master Ali Shir, and made an agreement with her, that
she (Zumroud) should, in the following night, listen for a sound ; saying. Thy master
will come to thee and stand by the stone seat of the pavilion, and will whistle to thee ;
and when thou hearest him, do thou whistle to him, and let thyself down to him by
a rope, and he will take thee and go. So the damsel thanked her for this.
The old woman then went forth, and, returning to Ali Shir, informed him of what
she had done, and said to him. Repair this next night, at midnight, to such a quarter ;
for the house of the accursed is there, and its appearance is of such and such a
description. Station thyself beneath his pavilion, and whistle : she will thereupon
let herself down to thee, and do thou take her and depart whither thou wilt. He
therefore thanked her for this ; and having waited till the night became dark, and
the appointed time arrived, he went to that quarter which she had described to him,
where he saw the pavilion, and he knew it. And he seated himself upon a bench
beneath it; but sleep overcame him, and he slept. — Glory be to Him who sleepeth
not ! — For a long time he had not slept, from the ecstacy of his passion : so he be-
came like one intoxicated.
And while he was asleep, lo, a certain robber came forth that night, and went
about the skirts of the city, to steal something ; and destiny cast him beneath the
pavilion of that Christian. So he went around it, but found no way of ascending
and entering it ; and he continued walking round it until he came to the bench,
when he beheld Ali Shir asleep. And he took his turban : and when he had done
so, immediately Zumroud looked forth, and, seeing him standing in the dark, ima-
gined him to be her master. She therefore whistled to, him, and the robber whistled
to her ; and she let herself down to him by the rope, having with her a pair of saddle-
bags full of gold. So when the robber saw this, he said within himself. This is no
other than a wonderful thing, occasioned by an extraordinary cause. He then took
up the saddle-bags, and took Zumroud upon his shoulders, and went away with both
like the blinding lightning; whereupon the damsel said to him, The old woman told
me that thou wast infirm on my account ; but lo, thou art stronger than the horse.
And he returned her no answer. So she felt his face, and found that his beard was
like the broom of the public bath ; as though he were a hog that had swallowed
feathers, and their down had come forth from his throat. And she was terrified at
him and said to him. What art thou? He answered her, wench, I am the sharper
Jawan the Kurd, of the gang of Ahmad El-Denef : we are forty sharpers, all of whom
will this night receive thee as their slave. And when she beard his words, she wept,
and slapped her face, knowing that fate had overcome her, and that she had no
420 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
resource but that of resignation to the will of God, whose name be exalted ! She
therefore endured with patience, and committed herself to the disposal of God (whose
name be exalted!), and said, There is no deity but God! Each time that we are
delivered from anxiety, we fall into greater anxiety.
Now the cause of Jawan's coming to the place above mentioned was this. — He had
said to Ahmad El-Denef, O sharper, I entered this place before the present time, and
know a cavern without the town, affording room for forty persons ; and I desire to
go before you to it, and to place my mother in that cavern. Then I will return to
the city, and steal from it something for your luck, and keep it for you until ye come ;
80 your entertainment on that day shall be of my supplying. — And Ahmad El-Denef
replied. Do what thou desirest. Accordingly he went before them to that place, and
put his mother in the cavern ; and when he went forth from it, he found a trooper
lying asleep, with a horse picketed by him ; so he slaughtered him, and took his
clothes, and his horse and arms, and hid them in the cavern with his mother, pick-
eting the horse there. He then returned to the city, and walked on till he came to
the pavilion of the Christian, where he did what we have described.
He ran on with the damsel without stopping until he deposited her with his
mother, to whom he said. Take care of her till I return to thee in the morning. And
having said this, he departed. So Zumroud said within herself. Why am I thus
careless about liberating myself by some stratagem ? Wherefore should I wait until
these forty men arrive? — Then she looked towards the old woman, the mother of
Jawan the Kurd, and said to her, my aunt, wilt thou not arise and go with me
without the cavern, that I may dress thy hair in the sun ? — Yea, by Allah, my
daughter, answered the old woman ; for of a long time I have been far from the
public bath ; these hogs incessantly taking me about from place to place. So Zum-
roud went forth with her, and continued the operation until the old woman fell
asleep ; whereupon Zumroud arose, and clad herself in the clothes of the trooper
whom Jawan the Kurd had killed, and, having bound his sword at her waist, and
put on his turban, so that she appeared like a man, mounted the horse, and took the
saddle-bags full of gold with her, saying, kind Protector, protect me, I conjure thee
by the dignity of Mahomet ; God favour and preserve him ! Then she said within
herself, If I go to the city, perhaps some one of the family of the trooper may see me,
and no good will happen unto me. So she refrained from entering the city, and
proceeded over the bare desert, with the saddle-bags and the horse, eating of the
herbs of the earth, and feeding the horse of the same, and drinking and giving him
to drink of the waters of the rivers for the space of ten days.
And on the eleventh day she approached a pleasant and secure city, established in
prosperity ; the winter had departed from it with its cold, and the spring had come
with its flowers and its roses ; its flowers were gay and charming to the sight, its
rivers were flowing, and its birds were warbling. Now when she came to this city,
and approached its gate, she found there the troops and the Emirs and the chiefs of
its inhabitants ; and she wondered when she saw them thus collected, and said
within herself, The people of this city are assembled at its gate, and there must be
some cause for this. She then proceeded towards them ; and when she drew near to
them, the troops hastened forward to meet her, and, having alighted, kissed the
ground before her, and said, God aid thee, our lord the Sultan ! The great officers
arranged themselves in ranks before her, and the troops ranged the people in order,
and exclaimed, God aid thee, and make thine arrival a blessing to the Mahometans,
Sultan of all creatures ! God establish thee, King of the age, and incomparable
one of the age and time ! — So Zumroud said to them. What is your story, ye people
of this city ? The chamberlain answered. Verily he who is not sparing of his bene-
fits hath bestowed favour upon thee, and made thee Sultan over this city, and ruler
over the necks of all whom it containeth. Know that it is the custom of the inhabit-
ants of this city, when their King dieth, and hath left no son, for the troofe to go
forth without the city, and to remain three days ; and whatsoever man arriveth by
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD. 421
the way by which thou hast come, they make him Sultan over them. And praise be
to God who hath directed unto us a man of the sons of the Turks, of comely counte
nance ; for had one of less consideration than thyself come unto us, he had been
Sultan.
Now Zumroud was a person of judgment in all her actions ; so she said, Think
me not one of the common people among the Turks : nay, I am of the sons of the
great; but I was incensed against my family, and went forth from them and left
them ; and look ye at this pair of saddle-bags full of gold that I have brought beneath
me, to give alms out of it to the poor and needy all the way. And on hearing this,
they prayed for her, and were extremely rejoiced at her arrival ; and she was also
pleased with them. She then said within herself. Since I have attained to this, per-
haps God will unite me with my master in this place ; for He is able to do whatso-
ever he willeth ! And she proceeded, accompanied by the troops, until they entered
the city, when the troops alighted and walked before her till they had conducted her
into the palace. She there alighted, and the Emirs and grandees conveyed her, with
their hands beneath her arm-pits, and seated her upon the throne. Then all of them
kissed the ground before her. And when she was seated on the throne, she gave
orders to open the treasuries ; and they were opened, and she bestowed presents
upon all the troops ; whereupon they offered up prayers for the continuance of her
reign ; and the people, and all the inhabitants of the provinces, acknowledged her
authority
She remained thus for some time, commanding and forbidding, and the hearts of
the people were impresed with exceeding respect for her, on account of her gene-
rosity, and her abstinence from what is forbidden. She abolished the custom-taxes,
liberated the persons confined in the prisons, and redressed the grievances of her
subjects ; so that all the people loved her. But whenever she thought upon her
master, she wept, and supplicated God to effect her union with him. And thinking
upon him one night, and upon her days that had passed, she poured forth tears, -and
recited some verses.
And when she had ended, she wiped away her tears, and went up into the pavi-
lion. Then she entered the harem, and assigned separate apartments for the female
slaves and concubines, appointing them allowances and supplies, and asserted that
she desired to remain in a place a.lone, for the purpose of assiduously employing
herself in devotion ; and she betook herself to fasting and praying, so that the
Emirs said, Verily this Sultan is of exceeding piety. She retained of the eunuchs
only two lads to serve her.
For a year she sat upon the throne of her kingdom, and heard no tidings of her
master, nor discovered any trace of him. And upon this she was disquieted, and her
disquietude becoming excessive, she summoned the Viziers and Chamberlains, and
commanded them to bring to her the geometricians and builders, and gave orders
that they should make for her, beneath the palace, a horse-course a league in length
and a league in breadth. So they did as she commanded them in the shortest time,
and the horse-course was agreeable to her desire. And when it was finished, she de-
scended into it. A great pavilion was pitched for her in it, chairs were arranged
for the Emirs, and she gave orders to spread in that horse-course a long table
covered with all kinds of rich viands ; and they did as she commanded. Then she
ordered the lords of the empire to eat; and they ate; after which she said to the
Emirs, I desire when the new month commenceth, that ye do thus, and proclaim in
the city, that no one shall open his shop, but that all the people shall come and eat
of the King's banquet ; and whosoever of them acteth contrary to this order shall
be hanged at the door of his house. So when the new month commenced, they did
as she commanded them ; and they continued to observe this custom until the com-
mencement of the first month of the second year ; when Zumroud descended into
the horse-course, and the crier proclaimed, all ye companies of men, whosoever
openeth his shop or his magazine or his house shall be hanged immediately at the
422 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
door of his abode : for it is incumbent on you that ye all come to eat of the King's
banquet ! And when the proclamation was ended, the table having been prepared,
the people came in companies, and she ordered them to seat themselves at the table,
to eat until they were satisfied of all the dishes. Accordingly, they sat and ate as
she had commanded them, while she sat upon the throne of her kingdom looking at
them ; and every one at the table said within himself. The King is looking at none
but me. They continued eating, and the Emirs said to the people, Eat ye, and be
not ashamed ; for the King liketh your doing so. They therefore ate until they
were satisfied, and departed praying for the King ; and some of them said to others,
In our lives we have not seen a Sultan that loveth the poor like this Sultan. They
prayed for length of life for her ; and she returned to her palace, full of joy at the
plan which she had devised, and said within herself. If it be the will of God
(whose name be exalted!), by this means I shall obtain tidings of my master Ali
Shir.
And when the second month commenced, she did the same, as usual. They pre-
pared the table, and Zumroud descended and seated herself upon her throne, and
ordered the people to sit and eat. And while she was sitting at the head of the table,
and the people were seating themselves at it, company after company, and person
after person, her eye fell upon Barsum the Christian, who had bought the curtain of
her master; and she knew him, and said. This is the commencement of the dispel-
ling of my afiliction, and the attainment of my desire. Then Barsum advanced, and
seated himself among the people to eat ; and he looked at a dish of rice sweetened
with sugar sprinkled over it; but it was far from him; so he pressed towards it,
and, stretching forth his hand to it, reached it and put it before him. Upon this, a
man by his side said to him. Why dost thou not eat of that which is before thee ?
Is not this a disgrace to thee ? How is it that thou stretchest forth thy hand to a
thing that is distant from thee ? Art thou not ashamed ? — But Barsum replied, I
will eat of none but it. So the man rejoined. Eat ; may God not give thee enjoy-
ment in it ! And a man who was a drunkard said. Let him eat of it, that I too may
eat with him. The man before mentioned, however, said to him, most ill-omened
of drunkards, that is not yonr food, but it is the food of the Emirs ; therefore leave
it, that it may return to those to whom it belongeth, that they may eat it. But
Barsum disobeyed him : he took from it a mouthful, and put it into his mouth, and
was about to take the second, when Zumroud, observing him, called out to certain
of the soldiers, and said to them, Bring this man before whom is the dish of sweet
rice, and let him not eat the mouthful that is in his hand ; but throw it duwu from
his hand. So four of the soldiers came to him, and dragged him along upon his
face, after they had thrown down the mouthful from his hand ; and they stationed
him before Zumroud. Upon this, the people refrained from eating; one of them
saying to another, By Allah, he was unjust; for he would not eat of the food suited
to persons of his own class. Another said, I was content with this pottage that is
before me. And the drunkard said, Praise be to God, who prevented my eating
aught of this dish of sweet rice ; for I was waiting for it to stop before him and for
him to enjoy it, when I would have eaten with him ; but what we have witnessed
befell him. And the people said, one to another, Wait, that we may see what will
happen to him.
Now when they brought him before the Queen Zumroud, she said to him. Wo to
thee, O blue-eyed! What is thy name, and what is the reason of thy coming to our
country? — And the accursed refused to give his true name, and, having a white tur-
ban, he answered, King, my name is Ali, and my business is that of a weaver,
and I have come to this city for the sake of traffic. Zumroud said. Bring ye to me
a geomantic tablet, and a pen of brass. And they brought her what she demanded
immediately ; and she took the geomantic tablet and the pen, and performed an
operation of geomancy, designing with the pen a figure like that of an ape; after
which she raised her head, and looked attentively at Barsum for a long time, and
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD. 423
said to him, dog, how is it that thou liest unto Kings? Art thou not a Christian,
and is not thy name Barsum, and hast thou not come to search for something? Tell
me then the truth, or, by the glory of the Deity, I will strike off thy head! — And
the Christian was agitated: and the Emirs and others who were present said, This
King is acquainted with geomancy. Extolled be the perfection of Him who hath
endowed him with this knowledge ! — Then she called out to the Christian, saying to
him. Tell me the truth, or I destroy thee ! And the Christian replied. Pardon,
King of the age ! Thou art right in thy geomantic divination ; for thy slave is a
Christian. So the Emirs and others who were present wondered at the King's ex-
actness in discovering the truth by geomancy, saying, Verily this King is an astro-
loger of whom there is not the like in the world ! The Queen then ordered that the
Christian should be flayed, that his skin should be stuffed with straw, and hung
over the gate of the horse-course, and that a pit should be dug without the city, and
his flesh and his bones should be burnt in it, and dirt and filth thrown upon hia
ashes. They replied. We hear and obey: — and did all that she had commanded
them. And when the people saw what had befallen the Christian, they said. His
recompense was that which hath befallen him; and what an unlucky mouthful was
that unto him ! One of them said. Divorcement shall be incumbent on the remote
[if I break this vow] : in my life henceforth I will never eat of sweet rice ! And
the drunkard said. Praise be to God who hath saved me from that which hath be-
fallen this man, by his preserving me from eating that rice! Then all the people
went forth ; and they had become prohibited from sitting opposite to the sweet rice,
in the place of that Christian.
Again, when the third month commenced, they spread the table as usual, and co-
vered it with the dishes, and the Queen Zumroud sat upon the throne, the troops
standing in the customary manner, but fearing her awful power. The people of the
city then entered as they were wont, and went around the table, looking for the
place of the dish of rice ; and one of them said to another, hadgi Kalaf ! The
other replied, At thy service, hadgi Kaled, And the former said, Avoid the dish
of sweet rice, and beware of eating of it ; for if thou eat of it, thou wilt be hanged.
Then they seated themselves around the table to eat; and while they were eating,
and the Queen Zumroud was sitting on the throne, a glance of her eye fell upon a
man entering with a hurried pace from the gate of the horse-course, and, looking at-
tentively at him, she found that he was Jawan the Kurd, the robber who murdered
the trooper ; and the cause of his coming was this. — He had left his mother, and
gone to his companions, and said to them, I obtained yesterday excellent booty: I
murdered a trooper, and took his horse ; and there fell to my lot the same night a
pair of saddle-bags full of gold, and a damsel whose value is greater than the gold
in the saddle-bags; and I have put all this booty in the cavern, with my mother. So
they rejoiced at this, and repaired to the cavern at the close of the day. Jawan the
Kurd entered before them, and they followed him ; and he desired to bring to them
the things of which he had told them ; but he found the place desolate. He there-
fore inquired of his mother the truth of the matter, and she acquainted him with all
that had happened ; on hearing which, he bit his hands in repentance, and said. By
Allah, I will search about for this impudent wench, and take her from the place in
which she is, though she be within the shell of a pistachio-nut, and I will satisfy
my malice upon her ! Accordingly, he went forth to search for her, and ceased not
to go about the surrounding districts until he came to the city of the Queen Zumroud.
And when he entered the city, he found no man in it: he therefore inquired of
some of the women who were looking out from the windows, and they informed him
that on the first day of every month the Sultan made a banquet, and the people went
and ate of it; and they directed him to the horse-course in which the table was
spread.
So he came hurrying on, and, not finding a vacant place in which to seat himself
excepting opposite the dish above mentioned, he seated himself there, and, as the
424 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
dish was before him, stretched forth his hand to it. Upon this, the people called to
him, saying, our brother, what dost thou desire to do ? He answered, I desire to
eat of this dish until I am satiated. And one of them said to him. If thou eat of it
thou wilt be hanged. But he replied, Be silent, and utter not these words. Then
he stretched forth his hand to the dish, and drew it before him. The drunkard
before mentioned was sitting by his side, and when he saw Jawan draw the dish
before him, he fled from his place ; the effect of the intoxicating drug instantly
passed away from his head, and he seated himself afar off, saying, I have nothing to
do with this dish. Jawan the Kurd stretched forth his hand to the dish, and it re-
sembled the foot of a raven ; and he ladled the rice with it, and took it forth resem-
bling the foot of a camel. Then he compressed the handful into the form of a ball,
80 that it was like a great orange ; he threw it rapidly into his mouth, and it de-
scended into his throat making a noise like thunder ; and the bottom of the dish ap-
peared in the place from which it was taken. So a man by his side said to him,
Praise be to God, who hath not made me to be a dish of meat before thee : for thou
hast exhausted the dish by a single mouthful! And the drunkard said. Let him
eat; for I imagine that I behold in him the figure of the hanged. Then looking to-
wards him, he said to him, Eat: may God not give thee enjoyment! And Jawan
stretched forth his hand to take the second mouthful, and was about to press it into
the form of a ball like the first mouthful, when the Queen called to some of the sol-
diers, saying to them. Bring that man quickly, and suffer him not to eat the mouth-
ful that is in his hand.
The soldiers therefore ran to him, while he was bending his head over the dish,
and tliey seized him and took him and placed him before the Queen Zumroud. Upon
this, the people exulted over him, saying one to another. Verily he deserveth it; for
we gave him good advice, and he would not follow it. This place is predestined to
occasion the slaughter of him who sitteth in it, and that rice is unfortunate to every
one who eateth of it. — Then the Queen Zumroud said to him. What is thy name,
and what is thine occupation, and what is the reason of thy coming to our city? —
our lord the Sultan, he answered, my name is Osman, and my occupation is that
of a gardener, and the reason of my coming to this city is, that I am going about
searching for a thing that I have lost. And the Queen said. Bring me the geomantic
tablet. So they placed it before her ; and she took the pen, and, having performed
an operation of geomancy, meditated upon it a while ; after which she raised her
head, and said to him. Wo to thee, wicked wretch! How is it that thou liest unto
Kings? This geomantic experiment acquainteth me that thy name is Jawan the
Kurd, and thine occupation is that of a robber, that thou takest the property of men
by iniquitous means, and slayest the soul that God hath forbidden to be slain unless
for a just cause. — Then she called out to him and said, hog, tell me thy true story,
or I will cut off thy head ! And when he heard her words, his complexion became
sallow, and his teeth appeared, and, imagining that if he spoke the truth he would
save himself, he replied, Thou hast spoken truth, King; but I vow repentance
unto thee from this time, and return unto God, whoss name be exalted! The Queen,
however, said to him. It is not lawful unto me to leave a viper in the path of the
Faithful. And she said to some of her attendants, Take him and flay him, and do
unto him as ye did unto the like of him last month. So they did as she commanded
them. And when the drunkard saw the soldiers seize that man, he turned his back
to the dish of rice, and said. Verily, to present my face unto thee is unlawful ! And
as soon as they had finished eating, they dispersed, and went to their abodes: the
Queen also went up into her palace and gave permission to the mamlouks to
disperse.
And when the fourth month commenced, they descended into the horse-course as
usual, and made ready the banquet, and the people sat waiting for permission. The
Queen then approached, and sat upon the throne, looking at them; and she observed
that the place opposite the dish of rice, affording room for four persons, was vacant;
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD. 425
whereat she wondered. And while she was looking about, she beheld a man enter-
ing from the gate of the horse-course, with a quick pace, and he ceased not to hurry
on until he stopped over the table, where he found no place vacant but that opposite
the dish of rice. So he seated himself there ; and she looked at him attentively,
and found that he was the Christian who had named himself Kashideddin ; where-
upon she said within herself, How fortunate is this repast, by which this infidel hath
been ensnared ! — Now the cause of his coming was wonderful ; and it was this.
When he returned from his journey, the people of his house informed him that Zum-
roud was lost, together with a pair of saddle-bags full of money ; on hearing which
he vent his clothes, and slapped his face, and plucked his beard. Then he sent his
brother Barsum to search for her through the surrounding districts ; and when he
wa-1 tired of waiting for news of him, he went forth himself to search through the
provinces for his brother and Zumroud, and destiny impelled him to Zumroud's
cit^. He entered that city on the first day of the month, and when he walked along
it3 i^reat thoroughfare-streets, he found them desolate, and saw the shops closed,
and the women at the windows ; so he inquired of them respecting this circumstance,
and they told him that the King made a banquet for all the people on the first of
every month, and all ate of it ; none being able to sit in his house or in his shop ;
and they directed him to the horse-course.
On his entering the horse-course, he found the people crowding around the food,
and found no place vacant excepting that opposite the well-known dish of rice. So
he seated himself in it, and stretched forth his hand to eat of that dish ; whereupon
the Queen called to some of the soldiers, saying. Bring ye him who hath seated him-
self opposite the dish of rice. And they knew him from the former occurrences of
the same kind, and seized him, and stationed him before the Queen Zumroud, who
said to him, Wo to thee ! What is thy name, and what is thine occupation, and what
is the reason of thy coming unto our city? — He answered, King of the age, my
name is Rustum, and I have no occupation, for I am a poor dervish. And she said
to her attendants. Bring me a geomantic tablet, and the pen of brass. So they
brought her what she demanded as usual : and she took the pen, and made some
marks with it upon the tablet, and remained a while contemplating it: then i-aising
her head and looking towards him, she said, dog, how is it that thou liest unto the
Kings ? Thy name is Rashideddin the Christian, and thine occupation is, to practise
stratagems against the female slaves of the Faithful, and to take them ; and thou art
a Mahometan externally, but in heart a Christian. Declare then the truth ; for if
thou do not, I will strike off thy head. — And he hesitated to reply; but afterwards
said, Thou hast spoken truth, King of the age. So she gave orders that he should
be stretched upon the ground, and receive upon each foot a hundred lashes ; and
upon his body, a thousand lashes : and after that, that he should be flayed, and his
skin stuffed with hards of flax : then, that a pit should be dug without the city, and
his body be burnt in it, and dirt and filth be thrown upon his ashes. And they did
as she commanded them.
After this, she gave leave to the people to eat; and when they had finished and
gone their ways, the Queen Zumroud went up into her palace, and said, Praise be to
God, who hath appeased my heart by the punishment of those who wronged rae!
And she thanked the Creator of the earth and the heavens. Then her master Ali
Shir occurred to her mind, and she shed copious tears ; after which, returning to her
reason, she said within herself, Perhaps God, who hath given me power over mine
enemies, may grant me the return of my beloved. She begged forgiveness of God
(to whom be ascribed might and glory!), and said. Perhaps God will soon reunite
me with my beloved Ali Shir ; for He is able to do whatsoever He willeth, and is
gracious unto his servants, and acquainted with their states. She praised God again,
continued her prayers for forgiveness, and resigned herself to the course of destiny,
assured that everything which hath a beginning must come to an end.
She continued for the whole of that month occupying herself by day in judging
426
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
the people, and commanding and forbidding, and by night weeping and lamenting
for the separation of her beloved Ali Shir ; and when the next month commenced,
Zumroud weeping at the remembrance of Ali Slur.
she gave orders to spread the table in the horse-course as usual, and sat at the head
of the people. They were waiting for her permission to eat, and the place before the
dish of rice was vacant ; and as she sat at the head of the table, she kept her eye
fixed upon the gate of the horse-course, to see every one who entered it. And she
said within herself, thou who restoredst Joseph to Jacob, and removedst the afl3ic-
tion from Job, favour me by the restoration of my master Ali Shir, by thy power and
greatness : for thou art able to accomplish everything! Lord of all creatures 1
Guide of those who go astray ! Answerer of prayers ! Hear my prayer, Lord of
all creatures ! — And her supplication was not ended when there entered from the
gate of the horse-course a person whose figure was like a branch of the Oriental
willow ; but he was of emaciated frame, and sallowness appeared in his countenance :
he was the handsomest of young men, perfect in judgment, and in polite accomplish-
ments. When he entered, he found no place vacant but that which was before the
dish of rice: he therefore sat in that place; and when Zumroud beheld him, her
heart palpitated. She looked at him with a scrutinizing glance, and it was evident
to her that he was her master Ali Shir, and she was inclined to cry aloud for joy;
but she stilled her mind, fearing to disgrace herself among the people: her bowels
were moved, and her heart throbbed; yet she concealed what she felt. — And the
cause of Ali Shir's coming was this: —
When he lay asleep upon the stone seat, and Zumroud descended, and Jawan tho
Kurd took her, he awoke afterwards, and found himself with uncovered head ; so he
knew that some man had come upon him unjustly, and taken his turban while he
was asleep. He uttered the sentence which preserveth the person who pronounceth
it from being confounded ; that is, Verily to God we belong, and verily unto Him
we return ! Then he went back to the old woman who had acquainted him with the
situation of Zumroud, and knocked at her door; whereupon she came forth to him,
and he wept before her until he fell down in a fit. And when he recovered, he
informed her of all that had befallen him ; on hearing which, she blamed him and
severely reproved him for that which he had done, and said to him. Verily thy cala-
mity and misfortune have arisen from thyself. She ceased not to blame him until
blood ran from his nostrils, and he fell down again in a fit ; and on his recovering
from his fit, he beheld the old woman weeping on his account, pouring forth tears,
and in a state of anguish ; and he exclaimed. How bitter unto lovers is separation,
and how sweet unto them is union ! May God unite every separated lover, and pre-
serve me, for I am of their number !
ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
427
All Shir asleep on the stone seat.
The old woman mourned for him, and said to him, Sit here while I ascertain the
news for thee, and I will return quickly. And he replied, I hear and obey. Then
she left him and went away, and was absent from him until midday, when she
returned to him, and said, Ali, I imagine nothing but that thou wilt die in thy
grief; for thou wilt not again see thy beloved save on the Sirat ;' for the people of
the pavilion, when they arose in the morning, found the window that overlooketh the
garden displaced, and Zumroud lost, and with her a pair of saddle-bags full of mo-
ney belonging to the Christian ; and when I arrived there, I found the Judge stand-
ing at the door of the pavilion, together with his officers ; and there is no strength
nor power but in God, the High, the Great! — Now when Ali Shir heard these words
from her, the light before his face became converted into darkness ; he despaired of
life, and made sure of death, and ceased not to weep until again he fell down in a
fit ; and after he recovered from his fit, love and separation so afflicted him that he
was attacked by a severe sickness, and was confined to his house. The old woman,
however, continued to bring the physicians to him, and to give him beverages, and
make pottages for him, during the space of a whole year, until his soul returned to
him. And when the second year commenced, the old woman said to him, my
son, this sadness and grief that thou sufferest will not restore to thee thy beloved :
arise then, brace up thy nerves, and search for her through the surrounding dis-
tricts ; perhaps thou mayest meet with tidings of her. And she ceased not to
encourage him and to strengthen his mind until she cheer^pd him; and she conducted
him into the bath, gave him wine to drink, and fed him with fowls. Thus she did
every day for the space of a month, till he gained strength, and set forth on hia
journey; and he ceased not to travel until he arrived at the city of Zumroud.
Having entered the horse-course, he seated himself at the table, and stretched
' The bridge over which all men must pass at the day of judgment.
428 ALI SHIR AND ZUMROUD.
forth his hand to eat; and upon this, the people grieved for him, and said to him. O
young man, eat not of this dish ; for affliction will befall him who eateth of it. But
he replied, Suffer me to eat of it, and let them do unto me what they desire : per-
haps I may be relieved from this wearying life. Then he ate the first morsel ; and
Zumroud desired to have him brought before her; but it occurred to her mind that
he might be hungry: so she said within herself, It is proper that I suffer him to eat
until he satisfy himself. He therefore continued eating; and the people were con-
founded at his case, looking to see what would happen unto him. And when he had
eaten, and satisfied himself, she said to certain of the eunuchs. Go to that young
man who eateth of the rice, and bring him courteously, and say to him. Answer the
summons of the King, to reply to a little question. So they said. We hear and
obey: — and they went to him, and, standing over his head, said to him, our mas-
ter, have the goodness to answer the summons of the King, and let thy heart be
dilated. He replied, I hear and obey: — and he went with the eunuchs; while the
people said one to another. There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the
Great! What will the King do with him? — But some of them said. He will do
nought but good with him ; for if he meant to do him harm, he had not suffered
him to eat until he was satisfied. — And when he stood before Zumroud, he saluted,
and kissed the ground before her; and she returned his salutation, receiving him
with honour, and said to him. What is thy name, and what is thine occupation, and
what is the reason of thy coming unto this city? So he answered her, King, my
name is Ali Shir ; I am of the sons of the merchants, and my country is Khorassan,
and the reason of my coming unto this city is to search for a slave-girl whom I have
lost: she was dearer to me than my hearing and my sight, and my soul hath been
devoted to her ever since I lost her. This is my story. — Then he wept until he
fainted ; whereupon she gave orders to sprinkle some rose-water upon his face; and
they did so until he recovered, when the Queen said. Bring to me the geomantic
tablet, and the pen of brass. They therefore brought them ; and she took the pen,
and, having performed an operation of geomancy, considered it a while, after which
she said to him. Thou hast spoken truly. God will unite thee with her soon : so be
not uneasy. — She then ordered the chamberlain to take him to the bath, and to attire
him in a handsome suit of the apparel of Kings, to mount him upon one of the most
excellent of her horses, and after that, to bring him to the palace at the close of the
day. The chamberlain replied, I hear and obey: — and led him away from before
her, and departed. And the people said, one to another, Wherefore hath the King
treated the young man with this courtesy ? One said. Did I not tell you that he
would do him no harm ? For his appearance is comely, and from the King's wait^
ing until he had satisfied himself, I knew that. — And every one of them said some-
thing. Then the people dispersed, and went their ways.
Zumroud scarcely believed that the night was approaching when she should be
with the beloved of her heart alone ; and as soon as the night came, she entered her
chamber, and sent to her beloved Ali Shir. And when they brought him, he kissed
the c;round before her, and prayed for her; and she said within herself, I must jest
with him a while, without making myself known to him. So she said, Ali, hast
thou gone to the bath ? He answered. Yes, my lord. And she said. Arise, eat of
this fowl and meat, and drink of this sherbet of sugar, and wine ; for thou art tired ;
and after that, come hither. He replied, I hear and obey : — and he did as she com-
manded him ; and when he had finished eating and drinking, she said to him. Come
up unto me, and rub my feet. He therefore began to rub her feet and her legs, and
found them softer than silk. And after she had continued a while jesting with him,
she said, my master, hath all this happened, and dost thou not know me ? He
asked, And who art thou, King? And she answered, I am thy slave-girl Zumroud.
So when he knew this, he kissed her, and embraced her, throwing himself upon her
like the lion upon the sheep.
And on the following morning, Zumroud sent to all the troopfi, and the Icrds of
IBN MANSOUR AND THE LADY BADOURA. 429
the empire, and summoned them, and said to them. I desire to journey to the city
of this man. Choose for you therefore a viceroy to exercise authority among you
until I return to you. — And they replied. We hear and obey. She then betook her-
self to preparing the necessaries for the journey, as food and money and other sup-
plies, and rarities, and camels, and mules, and set forth from the city ; and she con-
tinued her journey with him until she arrived at the city of Ali Shir, when he entered
his abode, and gave gifts and alms and presents. He was blessed with children by
her, and they both lived in the utmost happiness until they were visited by the ter-
minator of delights and the separator of companions. — Extolled be the perfection of
the Eternal ; and praise be to God in every case !
CHAPTER XVI.
Commencing with part of the Three Hundred and Twenty-seventh Night, and ending with part
of the Three Hundred and Thirty-fourth.
THE STORY OF IBN MANSOUR AND THE LADY BADOURA, AND JUBIR
THE SON OF OMIR SHEIBANI.
It is related that the Prince of the Faithful, Haroun Alrashid, was restless one
night, and sleep was difficult unto him : he ceased not to turn over from side to side,
through the excess of his restlessness ; and when this state wearied him, he sum-
moned Mesrour, and said to him, Mesrour, see for me some one who will divert
me from this restlessness. Mesrour said, my lord, wilt thou enter the garden in
the palace, and amuse thyself with the sight of the flowers it containeth, and look at
the planets, and the beauty of their disposition, and the moon among them shining
upon the water? He answered, Mesrour, verily my soul inclineth not to anything
of that kind. — my lord, rejoined Mesrour, there are in thy palace three hundred
concubines, each of whom hath a separate apartment. Order, then, every one of
them to retire into her apartment, and go thou about and amuse thyself by the sight
of them while they know not. — The Caliph replied, Mesrour, the palace is mine,
and the female slaves are my property; yet my soul inclineth not to anything of that
kind. Mesrour then said, my lord, order the learned men and the sages and the
poets to come before thee, and to enter into discussions, and recite verses to thee,
and relate to thee tales and histories. — My soul, replied the Caliph, inclineth not to
anything of that kind. Mesrour said, O my lord, order the pages and the boon-
companions and the men of politeness to come before thee, and to entertain thee
with strange witticisms. But the Caliph replied, O Mesrour, my soul inclineth not
to aught of that kind. — Then, said Mesrour, O my lord, strike off my head ; perhaps
that will put an end to thy restlessness, and dispel the uneasiness which thou suffer-
est. And Alrashid laughed at his words, and said to him, Mesrour, see who of
the boon-companions is at the door. So Mesrour went forth and returned, saying,
my lord, he who is at the door is Ali Ibn Mansour the Wag, of Damascus. The
Caliph said, Bring him unto me. Mesrour therefore went and brought him ; and
when Ibn Mansour entered, he said, Peace be on thee, Prince of the Faithful !
And the Caliph returned his salutation and said, Ibn Mansour, relate to us some-
what of thy stories. — Prince of the Faithful, said he, shall I relate to thee a thing
that I have actually witnessed, or a thing of which I have heard ? The Prince of the
430 IBN MANSOUR AND THE LADY BADOURA.
Faithful answered, If thou hast witnessed anything extraordinary, relate it to us ;
for hearing a thing as reported by others is not like witnessing. So Ibn Mansour
said, Prince of the Faithful, give up to me exclusively thy hearing and thy mind.
Alrashid replied, Ibn Mansour, see, I hear with mine ear, and look at thee with
mine eye, and attend to thee with my mind. And Ibn Mansour said: —
Prince of the Faithful, know that I have an appointment every year from Ma-
homed the son of Suleiman Ilashimi, the Sultan of Balsora ; and I went to him as I
was wont; and when I came to him, I found him prepared to mount for the chase.
I saluted him, and he saluted me, and said to me, Ibn Mansour, mount and accora-
pany us to the chase. But I replied, my lord, I have not power to ride ; seat me
therefore in the mansion of entertainment, and give a charge respecting me to the
chamberlains and lieutenants. And he did so, and then went to hunt. And they
paid me the utmost honour, and entertained me in the best manner. And I said
within myself, Allah ! it is wonderful that for a long time I have been in the habit
of coming from Bagdad to Balsora, and know not in this place aught but the way
from the palace to the garden, and from the garden to the palace ; and when shall I
find such an opportunity to amuse myself with a sight of the quarters of Balsora as
on this occasion ? I will therefore arise immediately, and walk out alone to amuse
myself, and let the food that I have eaten digest.
Accordingly I attired myself in the richest of my apparel, and walked through a
part of Balsora. Now thou knowest, Prince of the Faithful, that there are in it
seventy streets, the length of each of which is seventy leagues by the measure of
Irak. So I lost my way in its by-streets, and thirst overcame me ; and while I was
walking, Prince of the Faithful, lo, I saw a great door, with two rings of yellow brass,
and with curtains of red brocade hung over it, and by the two sides of it were two
seats, and above it was a trellis for grape vines, which overshadowed that door. I
stopped to divert myself with a sight of this mansion ; and while I stood, I heard a
voice of lamentation, proceeding from a sorrowful heart, warbling melodious sounds,
and singing ; and I said within myself, The person from whom these melodious
sounds have proceeded, if comely, possesseth the united charms of comeliness and
eloquence and sweetness of voice. I then approached the door, and began to raise
the curtain by little and little ; and lo, I beheld a fair damsel, like the moon when
it appeareth in its fourteenth night, with joined eyebrows, and languishing eyelids,
and a bosom like two pomegranates ; she had thin lips, like two pieces of cornelian,
a mouth like the seal of Solomon, and a set of teeth that would sport with the rea-
son of the poet and the prose-writer. Altogether she comprised all the charms of
loveliness, and was a source of disturbance unto women and men. The beholder
could not satisfy himself with gazing at her beauty.
Now, while I was looking at her through the interstices of the curtains, lo, she
cast a glance, and beheld me standing at the door ; whereupon she said to her slave-
girl. See who is at the door. The slave-girl therefore arose and came to me, and
said, sheikh, hast thou no modesty ; and do hoariness and disgraceful conduct
exist together? I answered her, my mistress, as to hoariness, we have experienced
it; but as to disgraceful conduct, I do not think that I have been guilty of it. But
her mistress said. And what conduct can be more disgraceful than thine intrusion
upon a house that is not thine own, and thy looking at a harem that is not thine.
So I answered her, my mistress, I have an excuse for doing so. — And what is thine
excuse? she asked. I answered her, Verily I am a stranger, and thirsty ; and thirst
hath almost killed me. And upon this she said. We accept thine excuse. Then
sailing one of her female slaves, she said, Lutf, give him a draught in the mug of
gold. Whereupon she brought me a mug of red gold set with pearls and jewels, full
of water perfumed with strong-scented musk, and covered with a napkin of green
silk : and I began to drink, and prolonged my drinking, stealing glances at her in
the meanwhile, until I had stood a length of time. I then returned the mug to the
slave-girl, and remained standing. So she [the lady] said, sheikh, go thy way.
IBN MANSOUR AND THE LADY BADOURA.
431
But I replied, my mistress, I am troubled in mind. — Respecting what? said she.
And I answered, Respecting the changes of fortune, and the vicissitudes of events.
She replied, It becometh thee; for fortune giveth rise to wonders. But what (she
added) hast thou witnessed of its wonders, that thou reflectest upon it? I am re-
flecting, I answered, upon the owner of this house ; for he was my sincere friend in
his life-time. And she said to me, What was his name ? I answered, Mahomed
the son of Ali the Jeweller; and he was possessed of great wealth. But hath he, I
asked, left children? — Yes, said she, he hath left a daughter, who is named Ba-
doura, and she hath inherited all his riches. So I said to her. It seemeth that thou
art his daughter. She replied. Yes: — and laughed. Then she said, sheikh, thou
hast prolonged the discourse ; therefore go thy way. I replied, I must go ; but I see
that thy charms are changed: acquaint me then with thy case: perhaps God may
grant thee relief by means of me. And she said to me, sheikh, if thou be of the
number of those who are worthy of being intrusted with secrets, we will reveal to
thee our secret. Inform me therefore who thou art, that I may know whether thou
art a fit depository for a secret, or not.
So I said to her, my mistress, if thou desirest to know who I am, I am Ali the
son of Mansour, the Wag, of Damascus, the boon-companion of the Prince of the
Faithful, Haroun Alrashid.
And when she heard my name, she descended from her chair, and saluted me, and
said to me. Thou art welcome, Ibn Mansour. Now I will acquaint thee with my
state, and entrust thee with my secret. I am a separated lover. — my mistress,
said I, thou art comely, and lovest none but whomsoever is comely. Who then is be
that thou lovest? — She answered, I love Jubir the son of Omir Sheibani, the Emir
of the tribe of Sheiban. And she described to me a young man than whom there
was none more handsome in Balsnr.a. I said to her, my mistress, hath any inter-
view or correspondence taken place between you ? — Yes, she answered ; but we have
loved with the tongue ; not with the heart and soul ; since he hath not fulfilled a
promise, nor performed a covenant. So I said to her, my mistress, and what hath
been the cause of the separation that hath occurred between you ? She answered,
The cause was this : I was sitting one day, and this my slave-girl was combing my
Lair ; and when she had finished combing it, she plaited my tresses, and my beauty
The Slave-girl kissing the Lady Badoara.
432 nsN MANSOUR AND THE LADY BADOURA.
and loveliness charmed her: so she bent over me, and kissed ray cheek; and just
at that time he came in suddenly, and seeing the slave-girl kiss my cheek, he drew
back instantly in anger, determining upon a lasting separation. And from the time
of his withdrawing in aversion from me to the present day, neither letter nor reply
hath come to us from him, Ibn Mansour. — And what, said I, dost thou desire?
She answered, I desire to send to him a letter by thee ; and if thou bring me hia
answer, thou shalt receive from me five hundred pieces of gold ; and if thou bring
me not his answer, thou shalt receive as a compensation for thy walk, one hundred
pieces of gold. So I replied, Do what seemeth fit unto thee. And she said, I hear
and obey. Then she called one of her female slaves, and said, Bring to me an ink-
case, and a piece of paper. And she brought them to her; and she wrote thus: —
My beloved, wherefore this estrangement and hatred ? And when shall forgiveness
and indulgence be granted? Why dost thou abandon me in aversion? Thy face is
not the face that I was wont to know. Yes : the slanderers have falsified my words,
and thou hast leaned to their report; so they have increased in their excesses. If
thou hast believed their tale, God forbid thou shouldst continue to do so! for thou
knowest better. By thy life inform me what is it thou hast heard ; for thou knowest
what hath been said, and wilt act justly. If it be true that I have uttered the words,
words admit of interpretation, and they admit of change. Suppose that the words
were revealed by God : people have changed and corrupted the Pentateuch. What
falsehoods have been told of persons before us ! Even Joseph was blamed in the
presence of Jacob! For myself and the slanderer and thee together there shall bo
an awful day of judgment.
She then sealed the letter, and handed it to me; and I took it, and went to the
house of Jubir the son of Omir Sheibani. I found that he was hunting; so I seated
myself to wait for him ; and while I sat, lo, he approached, returning from the chase ;
and when I beheld him, Prince of the Faithful, upon his horse, my reason was
confounded by his beauty and loveliness. Looking aside, he beheld me sitting at
the door of his house ; and as soon as he saw me, he alighted from his horse, and
came to me and embraced and saluted me ; and it seemed to me as though I held in
my embrace the world and all that it containeth. Then he conducted me into his
house, and seated me upon his couch, and gave orders to bring the table: where-
upon they brought forward a table of the wood of Korasan, the feet of which were
of gold ; and upon it were all kinds of viands, varieties of meats, fried and roasted,
and such'like; and when I seated myself at the table, Jubir the son of Omir said.
Stretch forth thy hand to our food, and comfort our heart by eating of our provision.
But I replied. By Allah, I will not eat of thy food a single mouthful until thou per-
form my want. He said, And what is thy want? And I handed forth to him a
letter; and when he had read it and understood its contents, he tore it in pieces and
threw it upon the floor, saying to me, Ibn Mansour, whatsoever want thou hast,
we will perform it, excepting this thing which concerneth the writer of this letter ;
for to her letter I have no reply to give. So I arose from his side in anger ; but he
laid hold upon my skirts, and said to me, O Ibn Mansour, I will tell thee what she
said to thee, though I was not present with you two. I asked him. What was it that
she said to me? And he replied, Did not the writer of this letter say to thee. If
thou bring me his answer, thou shalt receive from me five hundred pieces of gold ;
and if thou bring me not his answer, thou shalt receive from me, as a compensation
for thy walk, one hundred pieces of gold ? — I answered. Yes. And he said, Sit
with me this day, and eat and drink, and enjoy thyself and be merry, and receive
five hundred pieces of gold.
So I sat with him, and ate and drank, and enjoyed myself and was merry, and
entertained him in the night by conversation ; and afterwards I said, my master,
there is no music in thy house. He replied, Verily for a long time we have drunk
without music. Then calling one of his female slaves, he said, Cluster of Pearls I
Whereupon a slave-girl answered him from her private chamber, bringing a lute of
28
Returning from the Chase. (Page 432.)
433
IBN MANSOUR AND THE LADY BADOURA.
435
Indian manufacture enclosed in a bag of silk ; and she came and seated herself, and
having placed the lute in her lap, played upon it one and twenty airs, and sang a
soul-stirring melody. And when the slave-girl had finished her song, her master
uttered a great cry, and fell down in a fit ; upon which the slave-girl said, May God
Jubir Fainting.
not punish thee, sheikh ; for of a long time we have drunk without music, fearing
for our master, lest he should experience the like of this fit. But go to yon private
chamber, and sleep there. — So I went to the private chamber to which she directed
me, and slept there until the morning; when, lo, a page came to me, bringing a
purse in which were five hundred pieces of gold ; and he said. This is what my mas-
ter promised thee : but return not to the damsel who sent thee, and let it be as though
thou hadst not heard of this affair, and as though we had not heard. So I replied,
I hear and obey.
I then took the purse, and went my way; but I said within myself. Verily the
damsel hath been expecting me since yesterday. By Allah, I must return to her,
and acquaint her with that which hath taken place between me and him ; for, if I
return not to her, probably she will revile me, and will revile every one who cometh
forth from my country. — Accordingly, I went to her, and found her standing behind
the door ; and when she beheld me, she said, Ibn Mansour, thou hast not accom-
plished for me anything. — Who, said I, informed thee of this ? She answered,
Ibn Mansour, I have a further intuition ; that, when thou handedst him the paper,
he tore it in pieces and threw it down, and said to thee, Ibn Mansour, whatsoever
want thou hast, we will perform it for thee, except the affair of her who wrote this
letter: for to her I have no reply to give. Whereupon thou rosest from his side in
anger ; but he laid hold upon thy skirts, and said to thee, Ibn Mansour, sit with
me this day ; for thou art my guest, and eat and drink, and enjoy thyself and be
merry, and receive five hundred pieces of gold. So thou satest with him, and atest
and drankest, and enjoyedst thyself and wast merry, and entertainedst him by night
with conversation ; and the slave-girl sang such an air and such verses ; upon which
he fell down in a fit. — So I said to her, Prince of the Faithful, Wast thou with us ?
She replied, Ibn Mansour, hast thou not heard the saying of the poet? —
The hearts of lovers have eyes, which see what spectators see not.
But, Ibn Mansour, she added, night and day succeed not one another during the
course of an event without changing it. — Then she raised her eyes towards heaven,
*nd said, object of my worship, and my Master, and my Lord, as Thou hast
436 IBN MANSOUR AND THE LADY BADOURA.
afflicted me by the love of Jubir the son of Omir, so do thou afflict him by the love
of me, and transfer the affection from ray heart to his! — After this, she gave me a
hundred pieces of gold, as a compensation for my walk ; and I took it, and repaired
to the Sultan of Balsora, whom I found returned from the chase ; and I received
from him my appointment, and returned to Bagdad.
And when the next year arrived, T went to the city of Balsora, to demand my ap-
pointment as usual, and the Sultan paid it to me ; and when I was about to return
to Bagdad, I reflected in my mind upon the case of the damsel Badoura, and said.
By Allah, I must repair to her, and see what hath taken place between her and her
beloved. So I went to her house ; and I found the ground before her door swept
and sprinkled, and servants and dependants and pages there; whereupon I said.
Probably anxiety hath overwhelmed the damsel's heart, and she hath died, and
some one of the Emirs hath taken up his abode in her house. I thei-efore left her
house, and repaired to that of Jubir the son of Omir Sheibani ; and I found its
marble benches demolished, and found not pages kt its do'^r as usual: so I said
within myself, Probably he hath died. Then I stood before the door of his house,
and pouring forth tears, bewailed its condition. And while I was bewailing the
people of the house, Prince of the Faithful, lo, a black slave came forth to me
from the house, and said, sheikh, be silent I May thy mother be bereft of thee !
Wherefore do I behold thee bewailing this house in this manner? — So I answered
him, I used to know it as the abode of one of my sincere friends. He said. And
what was his name? I answered, Jubir the son of Omir Sheibani. Aijd he said.
And what hath happened unto him? Praise be to God, he is still blest with his
riches and prosperity and property; but God hath afflicted him with the love of a
damsel named the lady Badoura, and he is overwhelmed by his love of her, and by
the violence of his transport and torment, so that he is like a great rock overthrown ;
for when he is hungry, he saith not to his servants. Give me food: — and when he is
thirsty, he saith not. Give me drink.— And I said, Ask permission for me to goin tr
him. — my master, he asked, wouldst thou go in to him who understandeth or tc
him who understandeth not? I answered, I must go in to him whatever be the case
So he entered the house and asked permission, and then returned giving it to me.
I therefore went in to him, and I found him like a mass of stone thrown down,
understanding neither sign nor open speech. I spoke to liim ; but he answered mo
not; and one of his attendants said to me, my master, if thou knowest any poetry,
recite it to him, and raise thy voice in doing so: for thereupon he will be aroused.
Accordingly, I recited two verses.
And when he heard the verses, he opened his eye and said to me. Welcome, Ibn
Mansour. My emaciation hath become excessive. — And I asked him, saying, my
master, is there anything that thou wouldst have me do for thee? lie answered.
Yes: I desire to write a letter to her, and to send it to her by thee ; and if thou bring
me her answer, thou shalt receive from me a thousand pieces of gold ; and if thou
bring me not her answer, thou shalt receive from me, as a compensation for thy walk,
two hundred pieces of gold. So I replied. Do what seemeth fit to thee. And he
called one of his female slaves, and said. Bring me an ink-case and a paper. She
therefore brought him what he demanded; and he wrote thus; I conjure you by
Allah, my mistress, act gently towards me ; for love hath deprived me of my
reason ! My passion for you hath enslaved me, and clad me with the garment of
sickness, and rendered me abject. I was wont, before this, to think lightly of love,
and regard it, my mistress, as an easy matter; but when it had shown me the
waves of its sea, I submitted to God's judgment and excused the afflicted. If you
will, have mercy, and grant me a meeting ; and if you will kill me, still forget not
to show favour. He then sealed the letter, and handed it to me, and I took it and
repaired with it to the house of Badoura. I began to raise the curtain by little and
little as before; and lo, ten slave-girls, high-bosomed virgins, resembling moons,
and the lady Badoura wai) sitting in the midst of them, like the full moon in the
IBN MANSOUK AND THE LADY BADOURA. 437
midst of the stars, or like the sun unobscured by clouds ; and she was free from
grief and pain. And while I was looking at her, and wondering at her being in this
state, she cast a glance towards me, and saw me standing at the door ; whereupon
she said to me, A friendly and free and ample welcome to thee, Ibn Mansour !
Enter ! — So I entefed, and, having saluted her, handed to her the paper; and when
she had read it, and understood its c(mtents, she laughed, and said to me, Ibn
Mansour, I will now write for thee an answer, that he may give thee what he hath
promised thee. And I replied. May God compensate thee well! Then she called
one of her female slaves, and said. Bring me an ink-case and a paper. And when
she had brought her what she demanded, she wrote to him some harsh verses. I
therefore said to her, By Allah, my mistress, there remaineth not unto him before
his death any more than the period that will expire on his reading this paper. I
then tore it, and said to her, Write to him something different from these verses.
And she replied," I hear and obey: — but she wrote to him some verses more severe
than the former ones. So I said to her. By Allah, my mistress, he will not read
these verses without his soul's quitting his body. She replied, Ibn Mansour, my
transport hath attained to such a pitch that I have said what I have said. I rejoined,
Hadst thou said more than that, it had been just in thee ; but a disposition to pardon
is one of the qualities of the generous. And when she heard my words, her eyes
filled with tears, and she wrote to him a note — by Allah, Prince of the Faithful,
there is not in thine assembly any one who can write the like of it. And when she
had finished writing the letter, and sealed it, she handed it to me ; and I said to her,
my mistress, verily this note will cure the sick, and satisfy the thirsty.
I took the letter, and went forth ; and she called me after I had gone forth from
her, and said to me, Ibn Mansour, say to him. She will be this night thy guest.
So I rejoiced at this exceedingly. I repaired with the letter to Jubir the son of
Omir; and when I went in to him, I found him with his eye fixed upon the door,
waiting for the answer ; and as soon as I handed to him the paper, he opened it and
read it, and understood its meaning, and, uttering a great cry, fell down in a fit.
And when he recovered, he said, Ibn Mansour, did she write this note with her
hand, and did she touch it with her fingers? — my master, said I, and do people
write with their feet? — And, by Allah, Prince of the Faithful, my words to him
were not ended when we heard the clinking of her anklets in the passage as she
entered. On beholding her, he rose upon his feet, as though he no longer felt any
pain, and embraced her as the letter Lam embraces Alif,* and the disease of him
who cannot escape from his ailment quitted him. Then he seated himself; but she
sat not ; so I said to her, my mistress, wherefore hast thou not sat down ? She
answered, Ibn Mansour, I will not sit down save on the condition that hath been
made between us. — And what, I asked, is that c(mdition between you two ? — No one,
she answered, knoweth the secrets of lovers. She then put her mouth to his ear,
and said something privately to him ; to which he replied, I hear and obey. And
he arose and whispered to one of his slaves ; whereupon the slave absented himself
fur a while, after which he came back, accompanied by a Cadi and two witnesses.
And Jubir arose, and, having brought a purse containing a hundred thousand pieces
of gold, said, Cadi, perform the ceremony of my contract of marriage to this damsel
for this sum as a dowry. The Cadi therefore said to her, Say, I consent to that. —
And she said so. So they performed the ceremony of the contract; and after that,
the damsel opened the purse, filled her hand with part of its contents, and gave to
the Cadi and the witnesses. Then she handed to him [Jubir] what remained in the
purse, and the Cadi and witnesses departed.
I sat with them in joy and gladness until the greater part of the night had passed,
when I said within myself. They are two lovers, and during a long period they have
been separated ; so I will arise immediately, that I may sleep in a place remote from
' Tbe-sp TWO letters are often written united (in this way « or y).
438 THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
them, and leave them together alone. Accordingly I arose ; but the damsel laid
hold upon my skirts, and said to me, What hath thy mind suggested to thee? I
answered, Such and such things. And she replied, Sit, and when we desire thy
departure, we will dismiss thee. I therefore remained sitting with them until the
approach of the dawn, when she said, Ibn Manscur, go to yon private chamber;
for we have furnished it for thee, and it is thy sleeping place. And I arose, and
slept in it until the morning ; and when I got up, there came to me a page with a
basin and ewer, and I performed the ablution, and recited the morning-prayers ;
after which I sat. And while I was sitting, lo, Jubir and his beloved came forth
from a bath that was in the house, wringing, each, their locks ; and I bade them
good morning, congratulating them on their safety and their reunion, and said to
Jubir, What beginneth with stipulation endeth with content. He replied. Thou
hast spoken truth, and thou art entitled to liberal treatment. Then calling his
treasurer, he said to him. Bring to me three thousand pieces of gold. So he brought
him a purse containing that sum, and Jubir said to mo. Do us the favour to accept
this. But I replied, I will not accept it until thou inform me what was the cause
of the transition of the love from her to thee, after that excessive repulsion. And
he 6>aid, I hear and obey. Know that we have a festival called the Festival of the
New-year's days, when the people go forth and embark in boats, and amuse them-
selves upon the river. And I went forth to amuse myself with my companions, and
saw a boat wherein were ten slave-girls like moons, and this lady Badoura was in
the midst of them, having her lute with her : and she played upon it eleven airs ;
after which she returned to the first air, and sang two verses: — And I said to her,
Repeat the two verses and the air. But she would not. So I ordered the boatmen
to pelt her ; and they pelted her with oranges until we feared that the boat in which
she was would sink. Then she went her way ; and this was the cause of the transi-
tion of the love from her heart to mine. — I therefore, says Ibn Mansour, congratulated
them on their reunion, and, taking the purse with its contents, repaired to Bagdad.
And the bosom of the Caliph was dilated, and the restlessness, and the contraction
of the heart that he suffered ceased to trouble him.
CHAPTER XVII.
■ Commencing with part of the Three HuntlreJ and Fifty-seventh Night, and ending with part of
the Three Hundred and Seventy-first.
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
There was, in ancient times, in the country of the Persians, a mighty King, of
great dignity, who had three daughters, like shining full moons and flowery gar-
dens ; and he had a male child like the moon. He observed two annual festivals,
that of the New-year's day, and that of the Autumnal Equinox ; and it was his
custom, on these occasions, to open his palaces, and give his gifts, and make pro-
clamation of safety and security, and promote the chamberlains and lieutenants-
the people of his dominions also used to go in to him and salute him, and congratu-
late him on the festival, offering him presents and servants ; and he loved philo-
sophy and geometry. And while the King was sitting on the throne of his doniin.
ions, on a certain day, during one of these festivals, there came in to hini three
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE. 439
sages: with one of them was a peacock of gold; and with the second a trumpet of
brass : and with the third, a horse of ivory and ebony : whereupon the King said
to them, What are these things, and what is their use ? The owner of the peacock
answered. The use of this peacock is, that whenever an hour of the night or day
passeth, it will flap its wings, and utter a cry. And the owner of the trumpet said.
If this trumpet be placed at the gate of the city, it will be as a defender of it :
for if an enemy enter the city, this trumpet will send forth a sound against him ; so
he will be known and arrested. And the owner of the horse said, ray lord, the
use of this horse is, that if a man mount it, it will convey him to whatever country
he desireth. Upon this the King said, I will not bestow any favour upon you until
I make trial of the uses of these things. Then he made trial of the peacock, and
found it to be as its owner had said. And he made trial of the trumpet, and found
it as its owner had said. He therefore said to the two sages (the owners of the peacock
and the trumpet), Request of me what ye will. And they replied. We request of
thee that thou marry to each of us one of thy daughters. Whereupon the King be-
stowed upon them two of his daughters. Then the third sage, the owner of the
hoi-se, advanced, and, having kissed the ground before the King, said to him,
King of the age, bestow upon me like as thou hast bestowed upon my companions.
The King replied. When I shall have made trial of that which thou hast brought.
And upon this, the King's son advanced and said, my father, I will mount this
horse, and make trial of it, and obtain proof of its use. So the King replied, my
son, try it as thou desirest.
The King's son accordingly arose, and mounted the horse, and urged it with his
feet ; but it moved not from its place. He therefore said, sage, where is its rapid-
ity of pace of which thou boastedst? And on hearing this, the sage came to him,
and showed him a turning-pin, by which to make it ascend ; saying to him, Turn
this pin. And the King's son turned it, and lo, the horse moved, and soared with
him towards the upper region of the sky, and ceased not its flight with him until he
was out of sight of the people ; whereupon the prince was perplexed at his case,
and repented of his having mounted the horse. He said, The sage hath made use
of a stratagem to destroy me, and there is no strength nor power but in God, the
High, the Great! Then he began to examine all the members of the horse; and
while he was doing so, he saw a thing like the head of a cock, on the horse's right
shoulder, and the like on the left shoulder: so he said, I see not any indication ex-
cepting these two buttons. And he turned the button that was on the right shoul-
der ; upon which the horse bore him upwards with increased velocity into the sky:
so he took off his hand from that button, and, looking at the left shoulder, and
seeing the button that was there, he turned it ; and the movements of the horse be-
came lessened in velocity, and changed from ascending to descending. It ceased
not to descend with him towards the earth by little and little, while he continued to
exercise caution for his safety ; and when he saw this, and knew the uses of the
horse, his heart was filled with joy and happiness, and he thanked God (whose name
be exalted 1) for the favour that He had shown him in saving him from destruction.
He ceased not to descend for the whole of the remainder of the day ; for in his as-
cent, the earth had become distant from him ; and he turned about the foce of the
horse as he desired, while it descended with him : when he would, he was carried
downwards by it : and when he would, he was borne by it upwards.
Now when he had obtained what he desired with respect to the horse, he proceeded
on it towards the earth, and began to look at its countries and cities, which he knew
not ; for he had never seen them before during the whole of his life. And among
the objects that he beheld was a city constructed in the most excellent manner, in
the midst of a land beautifully verdant, with trees and rivers ; upon which he medi-
tated in his mind, and said, Would that I knew what is the name of this city, and
in what region it is. He then made a cii'cuit round the city, viewing it attentively,
right and left. The day had nearly departed, and the sun was about to set : so he
440 THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
said within himself, I have not found any place in which to pass the night better
than this city: I will therefore pass this nij^ht in it, and in the morning I will re-
turn to my family and my royal residence, and acquaint my family and my father
with that which hath happened to me, and inform him of the things that mine eyes
have seen. Accordingly he began to search for a place in which he might feel se-
cui-e of the safety of himself and his horse, and where no one might see him ; and
while he was thus engaged, lo, he beheld, in the midst of the city, a palace rising
high into the air, surrounded by a large wall with high battlements ; whereupon he
said within himself. This place is agreeable.
He turned the button that caused the horse to descend, and ceased not to be carried
downwards on it until he descended steadily on the flat roof of the palace, when he
alighted from the horse, praising God (whose name be exalted!), and began to go
round about the horse, and to examine it, and said. By Allah, he who made thee thus
was an expert sage; and if God (whose name be exalted!) extend the term of my
life, and restore me to my country and my family in safety, and reunite me with my
father, I will assuredly bestow every favour upon this sage, and treat him with the
utmost beneficence. He then sat upon the roof of the palace until he knew that
the inmates had betaken themselves to sleep. Hunger and thirst pained him ; for
since he had parted from his father he had not eaten food ; and he said within him-
self, Verily such a palace as this is not devoid of the necessaries of life. He there-
fore left the horse in a place alone, and walked down to see for something to eat;
and finding a flight of steps, he descended by them to the lower part of the build-
ing, where he found a court paved with marble ; and he wondered at this place, and
at the beauty of its construction ; but he heard not in the palace any sound, nor the
cheering voice of an inhabitant. So he paused in perplexity, and looked to the right
and left, not knowing whither to go. Then he said within himself, There is no
better course for me than to return to the place in which is my horse, and to pass
the night by it ; and when the morning coraeth, I mount and depart.
But while he was addressing himself with these words, he beheld a light ap-
proaching the place where he stood, and, looking attentively at that light, he found
that it was with a party of female slaves, among whom was a beautiful damsel, of a
stature like the letter Alif,* resembling the splendid full moon. That damsel was
the daughter of the King of this city: and her father loved her with so great an
affection that he built for her this palace: and whenever her heart was contracted, she
used to come hither, together with her female slaves, and to remain here a day, or
two days, or more ; after which she returned to the palace where she generally re-
sided. It happened that she came that night for the sake of diversion and dilata-
tion of the mind, and she walked among the female slaves, attended by a eunuch
armed with a sword ; and when they entered the palace, they spread the furniture,
and gave vent to the odours from the perfuming-vessel, and sported and rejoiced.
Now while they were thus engaged, the King's son rushed upon that eunuch, struck
him a blow which laid him prostrate, and, taking the sword from his hand, ran
upon the female slaves who were with the King's daughter, and dispersed them to
the right and left. And when the King's daughter saw his beauty and loveliness,
she said. Perhaps thou art he who demanded me in marriage yesterday of my
father, and whom he rejected, and whom he asserted to be of hideous aspect. By
Allah, my father lied in saying those words ; for thou art none other than a hand-
soaie person.
Now the son of the King of India had requested her of her father, and he had re-
jected him because he was disagreeable in aspect: and she imagined that the prince
now before her was he who had demanded her in marriage. She then came to him,
and embraced and kissed him, and seated herself with him. The female slaves,
however, said to her, our mistress, this is not the person who demanded thee in
'Tall and slender.
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
441
marriage of thj father; fur that person was hideous, and this is handsome; and he
who demanded thee of thy father, and whom he rejected, is not fit to Ije a servant to
this person: but our mistress, verily this young man is one of high dignity. And
after this, the female slaves went to the prostrated eunuch, and roused him ; where-
upon he sprang up in alarm, and searched for his sword, not finding it in his hand.
So the female slaves said to him, He who took thy sword, and laid thee prostrate, is
sitting with the King's daughter. — Now the King had charged this eunuch with the
office of guarding his daughter, in his fear for her from misfortunes and evil acci-
dents. — The eunuch therefore arose, and went to the curtain, and when he raised it,
he saw the King's daughter sitting with the King's son, and they were conversing to-
gether: and as soon as he beheld them, he said to the King's son, my master, art
thou a human being, or a Genie? To which the King's son replied, Wo to thee,
most ill-omened of slaves ! How is it that thou regardest the sons of the Persian Kings
as of the unbelieving devils? — Then, taking the sword in his hand, lie said to him, I
am the son-in-law of the King, and he hath married me to his daughter, and com-
manded me to -introduce myself to her. So when the eunuch heard these words
from him, he said to him, my master, if thou be of the human species, as thou
hast asserted, she is suited to none but thee, and thou art more worthy of her than
any other.
The eunuch then went shrieking to the King; and he had rent his clothes and thrown
dust upon his head. And when the King heard his crying, he said to him, What
The Eunuch throwMig dust on his head.
hath befallen thee; for thou hast agitated my heart? Acquaint me quickly, and be
brief in thy words. — He therefore answered, King, go to the assistance of thy
daughter: for a devil of the Genii, in the garb of human beings, and having the
firm of the sons of Kings, hath got possession of her: therefore seize him. And
when the King heard these words frcmi him, he thought to slay him, and said to
him. How came it to pass that thou wast neglectful of my daughter, so that this
event befell her? He then went to tlie palace wherein was his daughter, and on his
arrival he found the female slaves standing there, and said to them. What is it that
hath hap]>)ened to my daughter? They answered him, King, while we were sit-
ting with her, suddenly there rushed upon us this young man, who resembleth the
full moon, and than whom we have never seen any one more handsome in counte-
nance, with a drawn sword in his hand ; and we inquired of him respecting his busi-
ness, and he asserted that thou hadst married to him thy daughter: we know no-
thins: more than this; and we know not whether he be a human being or a Genie;
but he is chaste and well-bred, and doth not addict himself to that which is disgrace-
ful. So when the King heard their words, his rage was cooled. He then raised the
442 THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
curtain by little and little, and looked, and beheld the King's son sitting with his
daughter, conversing; and he was of most comely form, with a face like the shining
full moon.
The King could not control himself, through jealousy for his daughter. He there-
fore raised the curtain and entered, with a drawn sword in his hand, and rushed
upon them as though he were a Ghoul. The King's son, on seeing him, said to her,
Is this thy father? She answered. Yes. And upon this, he sprang upon his feet,
and, taking his sword in his hand, shouted at the King with an amazing cry, which
terrified him, and was about to attack him with the sword ; but the King, perceiving
that the prince was stronger than he, sheathed his sword, and stood until the King's
eon came up to him, when he met him with courtesy, and said to him, young man,
art thou a human being or a Genie ? The King's son replied, Were it not that I re-
spect thy right and the honour of thy daughter, I had shed thy blood. How is it
thou'derivest me from the devils, when I am of the sons of the ancient Kings, who
if they desired to take thy kingdom, would make thee totter from thy glory and do-
minion, and despoil thee of all that is in thy dwellings ? — So the King, on hearing
his words, dreaded and feared him ; but said to him, If thou be of the sons of the
Kings, as thou hast asserted, how is it that thou hast entered my palace without my
permission, and dishonoured me, and come unto my daughter, asserting that thou
art her husband, and pretending that I had married thee to her, when I have killed
the Kings and the sons of the Kings on their demanding her of me in marriage?
And who will save thee from my power, when, if I cried out unto my slaves and my
young men and commanded them to slay thee, they would slay thee immediately ?
Who then can deliver thee from my hand?
The King's son, however, when he heard these words from him, said to the King,
Verily I wonder at thee, and at the smallness of thy penetration. Dost thou
covet for thy daughter a husband better than myself; and hast thou seen any
one more firm of heart, and superior in requital, and more glorious in authority and
troops and guards than I am? — The King answered him, No, by Allah : but I
would, young man, that thou demand her in marriage publicly, that I may marry
her to thee : for if I marry her to thee privately, thou wilt disgrace me by so taking
her. And the King's son replied. Thou hast said well : but, King, if thy slaves
and servants and troops were to assemble against me and slay me, as thou hast im-
agined, thou wouldst disgrace thyself, and the people would be divided with respect
to thee, some believing, and others accusing thee of falsehood. It is my opinion
that thou shouldst relinquish this idea, and adopt the course that I will point out to
thee. — So the King said. Propose what thou wilt. And the King's son rejoined.
What I propose to thee is this : either that thou meet me in single combat, and he
who killeth the other shall be more deserving and worthy of the kingdom ; or else,
that thou leave me this night, and when the morning cometh, that thou send forth
to me thy soldiers and troops and young men, and acquaint me with their number.
The King replied. Their number is forty thousand horsemen, besides the slaves be-
longing to me, and their followers, who are equal in number. And the King's son
said. When the day beginneth, send them forth to me and say to them. This person
hath demanded of me my daughter in marriage on the condition that he will nn'ct
you all in combat; and he hath pretended that he will overcome and subdue you,
and that ye cannot prevail against him. Then leave me with them to combat them;
and if they kill me, the result will be more proper for the concealment of thy secret
and the preserving of thine honour; but if I overcome and subdue them, then am T
such a person as the King should desire for his son-in-law. — And when the King
heard his words, he approved of his advice and accepted it, notwithstanding that
he wondered at his saying, and was struck with terror at his determination to
meet in combat all his army that he had described unto him. Then they sat con-
versing.
And after this, the King called the eunuch, and commanded him to go forth im-
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE. 443
mediately to his Vizier, and desire him to collect all the troops, and order them to
equip themselves with their arms, and to mount their horses. So the eunuch went
to the Vizier and acquainted him with that which the King had commanded. And
upon this the Vizier summoned the chiefs of the army, and the grandees of the em-
pire, and ordered them to mount their horses, and to go forth equipped with the
weapons of war. — Meanwhile, the King continued to converse with the young man,
being pleased with his conversation and sense and good breeding ; and as they were
talking together, the morning arrived. The King therefore arose, and went to iiis
throne, ordered his troops to mount, and caused an excellent horse, one of the best
that he possessed, to be brought before the King's son, commanding that it should
be equipped for him with handsome saddle and trappings. But the young man said
to him, King, I will not mount until I take a view of the troops, and observe them.
And the King replied. It shall be as thou desirest. Then the King proceeded, with
the young man before him, until they arrived at the horse-course, when the young
man looked at the troops and their number. And the King called out, companies
of men, a young man hath come unto me demanding in marriage my daughter, and
I have never beheld any handsomer than he, nor any stronger in heart, nor any
greater in intrepidity than he : and he hath asserted that he alone will overcome you
and subdue you, and pretendeth that ye, even if your number amounted to a hun-
dred thousand, would be in his estimation but few. But when he cometh forth to
combat you, receive him upon the points of your spears, and the edges of your
swords ; for he hath undertaken a great enterprise.
The King then said to the young man, my son, do as thou desirest with them.
But he replied, King, thou hast not treated me equitably. How shall I go forth to
combat them when I am on foot and thy people are mounted on horses? — So the
King said to him, I desired thee to mount, and thou refusedst. Take then of the
horses and choose of them that which thou wilt. — He replied, None of thy horses
pleaseth me, and I will mount none but the horse on which I came. The King
therefore said to him, And where is thy horse? He answered him, It is on the top
of thy palace. — In what place in my palace? asked the King. He answered, On
the roof of the palace. And when the King heard his words, he said to him. This
is the first instance that hath appeared of thine insanity. 0, wo to thee ! How can
the horse be upon the roof? But now will thy veracity be distinguished from thy
lying. — Then the King looked towards one of his chief officers and said to him, Go
to my palace, and bring what thou shalt find upon the roof. And the people won-
dered at the words of the young man ; one saying to another, How can this horse
descend the stairs from the roof? Verily, this is a thing the like of which we have
never heard! — Now the person whom the King had sent to the palace ascended to
its roof, and beheld the horse standing there ; and he had seen none more handsome
than it : and he approached it and examined it, and found it to be of ebony and
ivory. Some others of the chief officers of the King also went up with this person ;
and when they beheld the horse, they laughed together, and said. Did the young
man speak of such a horse as this? We imagine that he is no other than a mad-
man ; but his case will soon appear to us ; and perhaps he may be a person of great
importance. — They then raised the horse upon their hands, and carried it without
stopping until they came before the King, when they placed it before him ; and the
people assembled around it, gazing at it, and wondering at the beauty of its make,
and at the beauty of its saddle and bridle. The King also admired it, and wondered
at it extremely ; and he said to the King's son, young man, is this thy horse? He
answered. Yes, King, this is my horse, and thou shalt see a wonder performed by
it. The King said to him, Take thy horse and mount it. But he replied, I will not
mount it unless the troops retire to a distance from it. So the King commanded the
troops that were around him to retire from it as far as an arrow might be shot.
Then said the young man, King, I am going to mount my horse, and charge
upon thine army, and disperse them to the right and left, and split their hearts.
444 THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
The King replied, Do what thou desirest, and pity them not; for they will not pity
thee. And the King's son went to the horse and mounted it. The troops were
arranged in ranks before him ; and one said to another. When the young man
arriveth between the ranks, we will receive him with the points of the spears, and
the edges of the swords. But one of them said, By Allah, it is a calamity ! How
shall we kill this young man with the comely face and the surpassing figure? — And
another said, By Allah, ye shall by no means reach him unless after a great event ;
and the young man hath not done these deeds but from his knowledge of his own
valour and pre-eminence. — And when the King's son had seated himself firmly upon
his horse, he turned the pin of ascent. The eyes of the spectators were strained to
see what he would do : and his horse bestirred itself, and moved about with violent
action, until it had performed the most extraordinary of the motions of. horses, and
its body became filled with air. Then it rose, and ascended into the sky. So when
the King saw that he had risen, and ascended aloft, he called out to his troops, and
said, Wo to you ! Take him before he escape from you. — But his Vizier and Lieu-
tenants replied, King, can any one catch the flying-bird ? This is none other than
a great enchanter. God hath saved thee from him : therefore praise God (whose
name be exalted !) for thine escape from his hand.
The King therefore returned to his palace, after he had witnessed these acts of
the King's son ; and when he arrived at his palace, he went to his daughter and ac-
quainted her with that which had happened to him with the King's son in the horse-
course ; but he found her greatly lamenting for him, and for her separation from
him, and she fell into a violent sickness, and took to the pillow. So when her father
saw her in this state he pressed her to his bosom, kissed her between the eyes, and
said to her, my daughter, praise God (whose name be exalted !) and thank Him
for our escape from this crafty enchanter. He began to repeat to her the account
of the deeds of the King's son that he had witnessed, describing to her how he had
ascended into the air. But she listened to naught of her father's words ; her weep-
ing and wailing increased in violence, and afterwards she said within herself. By
Allah, I will not eat food, nor drink any beverage, until God reunite me with him.
Therefore exceeding anxiety overcame her father the King on account of this ; the
state of his daughter afflicted him, and he mourned in heart for her ; and every time
that he addressed her with soothing words, she- only increased in her passion for the
young man. — Such was her case.
Now as to the King's son, when he had ascended into the sky, being alone, he re-
flected upon the beauty of the damsel, and her loveliness. He had inquired of the
King's people respecting the name of the city, and the name of the King, and that
of his daughter ; and that city was the city of Sana. He then prosecuted his jour-
ney with diligence until he came in sight of the city of his fiither ; and after he had
made a circuit around the city, he bent his course to his father's palace, and de-
scended upon the roof. Having left his horse there, he descended to his father, and
went in to him ; and he found him mourning and afflicted on account of his separa-
tion ; therefore, when his father saw him, he rose to him and embraced him, pres-
sing him to his bosom, and rejoicing exceedingly at his return. And the Prince in-
quired of his father respecting the sage who made the horse, saying, my father,
what hath fortune done with him ? His father answered him. May God not bless
the sage, nor the hour in which I beheld him ; for he was the cause of thy separa-
tion from us, and he hath been imprisoned, my son, since thou absentedst thyself
from ua. He gave orders, however, to relieve him, and take him forth from the pri-
son, and bring him before him ; and when he came before him, he invested him with
an honorary dress in token of satisfaction, and treated him with the utmost benefi-
cence; but would not marry his daughter to him. So the sage was violently en-
raged at this, and repented of that which he had done, knowing that the King's son
had become acquainted with the secret of the horse and the mode of its motion
Then the King said to his son, It is my opinion that thou shouldst not approach
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE. 445
this horse henceforth, nor mount it after this day: for thou knowest not its proper-
ties, and thou art deceived respecting it. The King's son had related to his father
what had happened to him with the daughter of the King, the lord of the city, and
what had happened to him with her father; and his father said to him, Hal the
King desired to slay thee, he had slain thee ; but the end of thy life was delayed.
After this, they ate and drank and were merry ; and there was with the King a
handsome slave-girl, who played upon the lute ; and she took the lute and began to
play upon it, singing of absence, before the King and his son.
Then anxious thoughts were aroused in the mind of the King's son by his love of
the damsel, the daughter of the King of Sana : so he rose and went to the horse and
mounted it, and turned the pin of ascent; whereupon it soared with him into the
air, and rose with him towards the upper region of the sky. And in the morning
his father missed him, and found him not: he therefore went up to the top of the
palace in a state of affliction, and he beheld his son mounting into the air; and upon
this he grieved for his separation, and repented extremely that he had not taken the
horse and concealed it. He said within himself. By Allah, if my son return to me,
I will not preserve this horse, that my heart may be at rest respecting my son. And
he resumed his weeping and wailing. — But as to his son, he ceased not his course
through the sky until he came to the city of Sana, when he descended in the place
where he descended the first time, and he walked down stealthily until he came to
the chamber of the King's daughter ; but he found neither her nor her female slaves,
nor the eunuch who was her guard ; and the event greatly afflicted him. Then he
went about searching for her through the palace, and at last he found her in a dif-
ferent chamber from that in which he had been with her. She had taken to the
pillow, and around her were the female slaves and nurses. And he went in to them
and saluted them ; and when the damsel heard his speech, she rose to him and em-
braced him, and began to kiss him between his eyes, and to press him to her bosom.
He said to her, my mistress, thou hast rendered me desolate during this period.
And she replied. Thou hast rendered me desolate ; and had thine absence from me
continued longer, I had perished without doubt. — my mistress, he rejoined, what
thoughtest thou of my conduct with thy father, and his actions to me ? Were it not
for my love of thee, temptation of all creatures, I had slain him, and made him an
example to beholdei-s : but I love him for thy sake. — And she said to him, How
oouldst thou absent thyself from me ? Can my life be pleasant after thy departure ?
— He then said to her. Wilt thou comply with my desire, and listen to my words?
She answered him, Say what thou wilt; for I will consent to that which thou
requirest me to do, and will not oppose thee in anything. And he said to her,
Journey with me to my country and my kingdom. She replied. Most willingly.
So when the King's son heard her words, he rejoiced exceedingly, and taking her
by her hand, he made her swear by God (whose name be exalted !) that she would
do so. Then he led her up to the roof of the palace, mounted his horse, and placed
her on it behind him, and after he had bound her firmly, he turned the pin of ascent
in the shoulder of the horse, and it ascended with them into the sky. Upon this the
female slaves cried out, and acquainted the King her father, and her mother, who
thereupon came up in haste to the roof of the palace; and the King, looking up into
the sky, beheld the ebony horse soaring with them in the air. The King was
agitated, and his agitation increased, and he called out and said, son of the King,
I conjure thee by Allah that thou have mercy upon me, and have mercy upon my
wife, and that thou make not a separation between us and our daughter ! The King's
son, however, answered him not; but he imagined that the damsel repented of part-
ing from her mother and her father ; so he said to her, temptation of the age, dost
thou desire that I restore thee to thy mother and thy father? — my master, she
answered, by Allah that is not my desire: my desire is rather to be with thee where-
ever thou shalt be ; for I am drawn ofi" by my love of thee from everything else, even
from my father and my mother. And when the King's son heard her reply, ho
446 THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
rejoiced exceedingly, and began to make the horse proceed gently with them, that it
might not disquiet her; and he ceased not to journey on with her until he beheld a
green meadow, in which was a spring of water. There they alighted, and ate and
drank ; after which, the King's son mounted his horse again, took her up behind
him, and bound lier in his fear for her. He then proceeded with her, and ceased not
in his course through the air until he arrived at the city of his father. His joy
thereat was great; and he desired to show to the damsel the seat of his power and
the dominion of his father, and to acquaint her that the dominion of his father was
greater than that of her father. He therefore deposited her in one of the gardens in
which his father diverted himself, put her in a private chamber that was furnished
for his father, and placed the ebony horse at the door of that chamber, charging the
damsel to guard it, and saying to her. Sit here until I send to thee my messenger;
for I am going to my father, to prepare for thee a palace, and to display to thee my
dominion. And the damsel rejoiced when she heard from him these words, and
replied. Do what thou desirest. Then it occurred to her mind that she was not
to enter [the city] but with respect and honour, as was suitable to persons of her
rank.
So the King's son left her, and proceeded until he arrived at the city, and went in
to his father; and when his father saw him, he rejoiced at his coming, and met him
and welcomed him ; and the King's son said to his father. Know that I have brought
the King's daughter of whom I informed thee, and I have left her without the city,
in one of the gardens, and come to acquaint thee with her arrival, that thou mayest
prepare the procession of state, and go forth to meet her, and display to her thy
dominion and thy troops and guards. The King replied, Most willingly. And
immediately he commanded the people of the city to decorate the city in the most
handsome manner, and rodq forth in a procession equipped in the most perfect man-
ner and with the most magnificent decorations, with all his soldiers and the grandees
of his empire, and all his mamlouks and servants. The King's son also took forth,
from his palace, ornaments and apparel and such things as Kings treasure up, and
prepared for the damsel a camel-litter of green and red and yellow brocade, in which
he .seated Indian and Greek and Abyssinian female slaves, and he displayed wonder-
ful treasures. Then he left the camel-litter, with the persons' that were in it, and
went on before to the garden ; and he entered the private chamber in which he had
left the damsel, and searched for her; but found her not, nor did he find the horse.
Upon this he slapped his face and rent his clothes, and began to go round about
through the garden, with a mind confounded : after which, he returned to his
reason, and said within himself. How did she learn the secret of this horse when I
did not acquaint her with aught of it? But perhaps the Persian sage who made the
horse hath found her, and taken her, as a requital for that which my father hath
done unto him. — Then the King's son sought the keepers of the garden, and asked
them who had passed by them, saying. Have ye seen any one pass by you and enter
this garden? And they answered, We have not seen any one enter this garden
except the Persian sage : for he entered to collect useful herbs. So when he
heard their words, he was convinced that the person who had taken the damsel was
that sage.
Now it happened, in accordance with destiny, that when the King's son left the
damsel in the private chamber that was in the garden, and repaired to the palace
of his father to make his preparations, the Persian sago entered the garden to col-
lect some useful herbs, and smelt the odour of musk and other perfumes with which
the air was impregnated ; and this sweet scent was from the odour of the King's
daughter. The sage therefore proceeded in the direction of this odour until he came
t'^ the private chamber, when he saw the horse that he had made with his hand
standing at the door of the chamber. So when the sage saw the horse, his heart
was tilled with joy and happiness ; for he had mourned after it greatly since it had
pone from his possession. He approached it, and examined all its members, and
The Magic Horse. CPage 446.)
447
THE STOKY OF THE MAGIC HORSE. 449
found it sound ; but when he was about to mount it and depart, he said within him-
self, I must see what the Kind's son hath brought and left here with the horse. Ao-
cordingly he entered the private chamber, and found the damsel sitting there, re-
sembling the shining sun in the clear sky. As soon as he beheld her, he knew that
she was a damsel of high dignity, and that the King's son had taken her, and
brought her upon the horse, and left her in that private chamber while he repaired
to the city to prepare for her a stately procession, and to conduct her into the city
with respect and honour. The sage therefore went in to her, and kissed the ground
before her; and she raised her eyes towards him, and, looking at him, found him to
be of most hideous aspect and disagreeable form ; and she said to him, Who art thou ?
He answered her, my mistress, I am the messenger of the King's son, who hath
sent mc to thee, and commanded me to remove thee to another garden, near unto the
city. And when the damsel heard from him these words ; she said to him. And where is
the King's sou ? He answered her, He is in the city, with his father, and he will
come to thee immediately with a grand procession. But she said to him, thou !
Could not the King's son find any one to send to me but thee? — And the sage
laughed at her words, and replied, my mistress, let not the hideousness of my face
and the disagreeableness of my aspect deceive thee ; for hadst thou experienced of
me what the King's son hath, thou wouldst approve of me. Verily the King's son
hath chosen me especially to send to thee on account of the hideousness of my aspect
and the horrible nature of my form, through his jealousy of thee, and his love of
thee ; for were it otherwise, he hath of mamlouks and black slaves, and pages and
servants and dependants, an abundance that cannot be calculated.
So when the damsel heard his reply, it appeared reasonable to her, and she be-
lieved it, and arose and went with him, putting her hand in his. She then said to
him, my father, what hast thou brought with thee for me to ride? — my mis-
tress, he answered, the horse on which thou camest thou shalt ride. She replied, I
cannot ride it by myself. And when he heard this reply from her, the sage smiled,
and knew that he had got possession of her ; and he said to her, I myself will ride
with thee. Then he mounted, and mounted the damsel behind him, and, pressing
her to him, bound her tightly, while she knew not what he desired to do with her.
And after this, ho turned the pin of ascent, whereupon the body of the horse became
filled with air, and it moved and bestirred itself, and ascended into the sky, and con-
tinued incessantly bearing them along until it was out of sight of the city. So the
damsel said to him, thou ! What meant that which thou saidst respecting the
King's son, when thou assertedst that he sent thee to me? — The sage replied. May
Allah keep the King's son from everything good; for he is base and vile ! — 0, wo to
thee ! she exclaimed ; how is it that thou disobeyest thy lord in that which he hath
commanded thee to do? He replied. He is not my lord. And knowest thou, he
added, who I am ? She answered him, I know thee not but as thou hast informed
me of thyself. And he said to her, Verily my telling thee this was a stratagem that
I made use of against thee and against the King's son. I was lamenting constantly
for this horse that is beneath thee, for it is of my making, and he had made himself
master of it; but now I have obtained possession of it and of thee also, and have
tortured his heart as he hath tortured mine, and he will never have it in his power
henceforth. But be of good heart and cheerful eye ; for I shall be more useful to
thee than he. — And when the damsel heard his words, she slapped her face, and
cried out, my grief! I have neither obtained my beloved nor remained with my
father and my mother! — And she wept violently for that which had befallen her,
while the sage incessantly proceeded with her to the country of the Greeks, until he
descended with her in a verdant meadow with rivers and trees.
This meadow was near unto a city, in which was a King of great dignity ; and it
happened on that day that the King of the city went forth to hunt, and to divert
himself, and, passing by that meadow, he saw the sage standing there, with the
horse and the damsel by his side. And the sage was not aware of their approach
29
450 THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
when the slaves of the King rushed upon him, and took him, together with the dam-
sel and the horse, and placed all before the King, who, when he beheld the hideous-
ness of his aspect, and the disagreeableness of his appearance, and beheld the beauty
of the damsel, and her loveliness, said to her, my mistress, what relation is this
sheikh to thee? The sage hastily answered and said. She is my wife, and the
daughter of my paternal uncle. But the damsel declared that he was a liar, as
soon as she heard his words, and said, King, by Allah, I know him not, and he is
not my husband ; but he took me away by force and stratagem. And when the
King heard what she said, he gave orders to beat the sage ; and they beat him until
he almost died. Then the King commanded that they should carry him to the city,
and cast him into the prison ; and so they did with him ; and the King took the
damsel and the horse from him ; but he knew not the property of the horse, nor the
mode of its motion. — Thus did it befall the sage and the damsel.
As to the King's son, he put on the apparel of travel, and, having taken what
money he required, journeyed forth in a most evil state, and quickly endeavoured to
trace them, seeking them from town to town and from city to city, and inquiring
respecting the ebony horse ; and every one who heard his mention of the ebony
horse wondered at it, and was greatly astonished at his words. Thus he continued
to do for a long period ; but notwithstanding his frequent questions and his search-
ing for them, he met with no tidings of them. Then he journeyed to the city of the
damsel's father, and there inquired for her, but he heard no tidings of her, and he
found her father mourning for her loss. So he returned, and repaired to the country
of the Greeks, endeavouring to trace them, and inquiring respecting them. And it
happened that he alighted at one of the Khans, and saw a party of the merchants
sitting conversing; and he seated himself near them, and heard one of them say,
my companions, I have met with a wonderful thing. — And what was it? they asked.
He answered, I was in a certain district, in such a city (and he mentioned the name
of the city in which was the damsel), and I heard its inhabitants talking of a strange
story, which was this. — The King of the city went forth one day to hunt, attended
by a party of his associates and the grandees of his empire, and when they went
forth into the desert, they passed by a verdant meadow, and found there a man
standing, and by his side a woman sitting, and with him a horse of ebony, As to
the man, he was of hideous aspect, very horrible in form : and as to the woman, she
was a damsel endowed with beauty and loveliness, and elegance and perfect grace,
and justness of stature; and as to the ebony horse, it was a wonderful thing; eyes
have not beheld its superior in beauty or in comeliness of make. — The persons
present said to him. And what did the King with them ? He answered. As to the
man, the King took him, and asked him respecting the damsel, and he pretended
that she was his wife, and the daughter of his paternal uncle. But as to the damsel,
she declared that he lied in his assertion. So tlie King took her from him, and gave
orders to beat him, and to cast him into the prison. And as to the ebony horse, I
know not what became of it. — When the King's son therefore heard these words
from the merchant, he approached him, and proceeded to question him with mild-
ness and courtesy until he acquainted him with the name of the city and the name
of its King; and when he knew the name of the city and that of its King, he passed
the night happy ; and in the morning he went forth on his journey.
He ceased not to prosecute his journey until he arrived at that city ; but when he
desired to enter it, the gate-keepers took him, and would have conducted him into
the presence of the King, that he might inquire of him respecting his condition, and
of the cause of his coming into that city, and as to what art or trade he was skilled
•n ; for so was the King's custom to question the strangers respecting their condi-
tions and their arts or trades. But the arrival of the King's son at that city happened
CO be at eventide ; and that was a time at which it was not possible to go in to the
King or to consult respecting him. So the gate-keepers took him and conducted him
to the prison, to put him in it. When the jailors, however, saw his beauty and
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE. 451
loveliness, they could not bear to put him into the prison : on the contrary, they
seated him with themselves, outside the prison ; and when the food was brought to
them, he ate with them until he was satisfied ; and after they had finished eating,
they sat conversing, and, addressing the King's son, they said to him, From what
country art thou? He answered, I am from the country of Persia, the country of
the ancient kings. And when they heard his answer, they laughed, and one of them
Bald to him, Persian, I have heard the sayings of men, and their histories, and
have observed their conditions: but I have neither seen, nor heard of, a greater liar
than this Persian who is with us in the prison. And another said, Nor have I seen
any one more hideous than he is in person, or more disagreeable than he in form.
So the King's son said to them. What instance of his lying hath appeared unto
you? They answered. He pretendeth that he is a sage, and the King saw him as he
was going to hunt, and with him a woman of surprising beauty and loveliness, and
elegance and perfect grace, and justness of stature, and there was with him also a
horse of black ebony, than which we have never seen any more handsome. As -to
the damsel, she is with the King, and he loveth her; but the woman is mad ; and if
that man were a sage as he pretendeth, he had cured her ; for the King is striving
to find her remedy, desiring to recover her of her malady. As to the ebony horse,
it is in the King's treasury ; and as to the man of hideous aspect who was with it,
he is with us in the prison ; and when the night overshadoweth him, he weepeth and
waileth in his grief for himself, and sufi"ereth us not to sleep. — Now when the keep-
ers of the prison acquainted the King's son with these circumstances, it occurred to
his mind that he might contrive a plan by means of which to attain his desire. And
when the gate-keepers desired to sleep, they put him into the prison, and closed the
door upon him ; and he heard the sage weeping and lamenting for himself in the
Persian language, and saying in his lamentation, Wo unto me for the injustice that
I have committed against myself and against the King's son, and for that which I
did unto the damsel, since I neither left her nor accomplished my desire. All this
arose from my ill management ; for I sought for myself that which I deserved not,
and which was not suited to me ; and he who seeketh that which is not suited to
him, falleth into a calamity like that into which I have fallen. — And when the
King's son heard these words of the sage, he spoke to him in the Persian lauguage,
saying. How long wilt thou continue this weeping and lamentation? Dost thou
think that such a misfortune hath befallen thee as hath not befallen any beside thee?
— And the sage, on hearing his words, was cheered by him, and complained to him
of his case, and of the distress he experienced.
Then, when the morning came, the gate-keepers took the King's son, and con-
ducted him to the King, and informed him that he had arrived at the city on the
preceding day, at a time when it was impossible to go in unto the King. So the
King questioned him, and said to him, From what country art thou, and what is thy
name, and what thy art or trade, and what the reason of thy coming unto this city?
And the King's son answered. As to my name, it is, in the Persian language, Harja;
and as to my country, it is the country of Persia ; and I am of the men of science,
especially the science of medicine ; for I cure the sick and the mad ; and for this
purpose I travel about through the regions and cities, to profit myself by adding
science to my science ; and when I see a sick person, I cure him. This is my occu-
pation. — And when the King heard his words, he rejoiced at them exceedingly, and
said to him, excellent sage, thou hast come to us at a time when we need thee.
Then he acquainted him with the case of the damsel, and said to him. If thou cure
her, and recover her of her madness, thou shalt receive from me all that thou shalt
desire. And the King's son, on hearing this, replied. May God confirm the power
of the King! Describe to me everything that thou hast observed of her madness,
and inform me how many days ago this madness attacked her, and how thou tookest
her and the horse and the sage. — He therefore acquainted him with the matter from
beginning to end, and said to him. The sage is in the prison. And the King's son
452
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE.
aaid, happy King, and what hast thou done with the horse that was with them ?
The King answered him, It remaineth with me to the present time, preserved in one
of the private chambers. So the King's son said within himself. It is my opinion
that I should examine the horse before everything else, and if it be sound, and no
accident have happened to it, all that I desire is accomplished ; but if I see that its
motions are destroyed, I will yet devise some stratagem to save my life. Then look-
ing towards the King, he said to him, King, it is requisite that I see the horse
which thou hast mentioned. Perhaps I may find in it something that will aid me
to recover the damsel. — The King replied. Most willingly. And he arose, and, taking
him by the hand, led him in to the horse ; whereupon the King's son began to go
round about the horse, and to examine it and observe its condition ; and he found it
sound, without any defect. He therefore rejoiced at it exceedingly, and said, May
God confirm the power of the King ! I desire to go in to the damsel, that I may see
how she will act ; and I beg of God that her recovery may be efi"ected by me, by
means of the horse, if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted !
He gave orders to take care of the horse, and the King conducted him to the
chamber in which was the damsel. And when the King's son went in to her, he
found her beating herself, and fiilling down prostrate as usual ; but she was aflfected
Tlie Damsel leigiiing Mudness.
by no madness, and only did thus that no one might approach her. So the King's
son, on seeing her in this state, said to her, No harm shall befixU thee, temptation
to all creatures ! Then he began to address her gently and courteously until he ac-
quainted her with himself: and when she knew him. she uttered a great cry, and
fell down in a tit through the violence of the joy that she experienced; and the King
imagined that this fit was occasioned by her fear of him. And the King's son put
his mouth to her ear, and said to her, temptation to all creatures, spare my life
and thine, and be patient and firm : for this is a place wherein we stand in need of
patience and good management in devising stratagems to make our escape from this
tyrannical King. A part of my stratagem shall be, that I go forth to him and say
to him. The disease that she suffereth ariscth from her being possessed by a Genie,
and I promise thee her recovery. And I will make a condition with him that he shall
loose thy bonds, and will assure him that this Genie which hath afflicted thee will be
dispelled from thee. Therefore if he come in to thee, address him with pleasani
THE STORY OF THE MAGIC HORSE. 453
words, that he may see that thou hast recovered through my means, and so shall all
that we desire be accomplished. — And she replied, I hear and obey. — He then went
forth from her, and, returning to the King, full of joy and happiness, said. fortu-
nate King, I have discovered, through thy good fortune, her remedy and cure, and
I have cured her for thee. Arise then and go in to her, and speak gently and mildly
to her, and promise her that which shall rejoice her ; for all that thou desirest of her
shall be accomplished for thee. — The King therefore arose and went in to her ; and
when she saw him she rose to him, and kissed the ground before him, and welcomed
him \ whereat the King rejoiced exceedingly. He ordered the female slaves and
eunuchs to betake themselves to serve her, to conduct her into the bath, and to pre-
pare for her the ornaments and apparel. So they went in to her and saluted her, and
she returned their salutation with the most courteous utterance, and the most pleas-
ant words. Then they attired her in royal apparel, put upon her neck a necklace of
jewels, conducted her to the bath, served her, and brought her out from the bath, re-
sembling the full moon. And when she came to the King, she saluted him, and
kissed the ground before him.
The King therefore was greatly rejoiced at seeing her thus, and said to the King's
son, All this is occasioned by the blessings attendant upon thee ! May God increase
to us thy benefactions ! — And the King's son replied, King, the perfection of her
recovery and the completion of her affair must be effected by thy going forth with
all thy guards and thy soldiers to the place where thou foundest her; and the ebony
horse that was with her must be taken with thee, that I may there expel from her
the Genie that hath afflicted her, and imprison him and kill him, so that he may
never return to her. The King said, Most willingly. Accordingly he sent forth the
ebony horse to the meadow in which he had found the damsel with the horse and the
Persian sage, and the King mounted with his troops, taking the damsel with him ;
and they knew not what he desired to do. And when they arrived at that meadow,
the King's son, who feigned himself a sage, ordered that the damsel and the horse
should be placed as far from the King and the troops as the eye could reach, and said
to the King, With thy permission and leave, I desire to burn perfumes, and to recite
a form of exorcism, and imprison the Genie here, that he may never return to her.
After which, I will mount the ebony horse, and mount the damsel behind me; and
when I have done that, the horse will move about with violent action, and walk for-
ward until it Cometh to thee, when the affair will be finished, and thou shalt do with
her what thou wilt. — And when the King heard his words, he rejoiced exceedinglv.
Then the King's son mounted the horse, and placed the damsel behind him, while
the King and all his troops looked at him. And he pressed her to him, and bound
her firmly, and turned the pin of ascent ; whereupon the horse rose with them into
the air. The troops continued gazing at him until he disappeared from before their
eyes; and the King remained half a day expecting his return to him; but he re-
turned not; so he despaired of him, and repented greatly, and grieved for the sepa-
ration of the damsel. Then he took his troops, and returned to his city.
But as to the King's son, he bent his course to the city of his father, full of joy
and happiness, and ceased not in his journey until he descended upon his palace,
when he took down the damsel into the palace, and felt secure of her. lie then re-
paired to his father and his mother, and saluted them, and acquainted them with the
arrival of the damsel ; whereat they rejoiced exceedingly. — Meanwhile, the King of
the Greeks, when he returned to his city, secluded himself in his palace, mourning
and afflicted. So his Viziers went in to him, and began to console him, saying to
him. Verily he who took the damsel is an enchanter; and praise be to God who hath
saved thee from his enchantment and craftiness. And they ceased not until he was
consoled for the loss of her. — And as to the King's son, he made magnificent ban-
quets for the people of the city, and they continued the rejoicings for a whole month ;
after which, he took the damsel as his wife, and they were delighted with each other
exceedingly. And his father broke the ebony horse, and destroyed its motions.
454 ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM.
Thi.n the King's son wrote a letter to the father of the damsel, and in it described
to him his state, informing him that he had married the damsel, and that she was
with him in the most happy condition. He sent it to him by a messenger bearing
precious presents and rarities; and when the messenger arrived at the city of the
damsel's father, which was Sana in Arabia Felix, he transmitted the letter, with the
presents, to that King, who on reading the letter rejoiced exceedingly, accepted the
presents, and treated the messenger with honour. He then prepared a magnificent
present for his son-in-law, the King's son, and sent it to him by that messenger, who
returned with it to the King's son, and informed him of the joy which the King, the
father of the damsel, experienced when he brought him the news of his daughter.
At this the King's son was affected with great happiness ; and every year he wrote
to his father-in-law and sent him a present.
Thus they continued until the King, the father of the young man, was taken from
the world ; and the young man reigned after him over his dominions. He ruled his
subjects with equity, and conducted himself among them in a laudable manner; the
country was subject to him, and the people obeyed him ; and thus they remained,
passing the most delightful and most agreeable, and most comfortable and most
pleasant life, until they were visited by the terminator of delights and the separator
of companions, the devastator of palaces and the replenisher of the graves. — Ex-
tolled then be the perfection of the Living who dieth not, and in whose hand is the
dominion that is apparent and the dominion that is hidden !
CHAPTER XVIII.
Commencing with part of the Three Hundred and Seventy-first Night, and ending with part of
the Three Hundred and Eighty-first.
THE STORY OF ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM.
There was in ancient times a King of great dignity, possessed of glory and abso-
lute power, and he had a Vizier named Ibrahim, who had a daughter of surprising
beauty and loveliness, surpassing in elegance and in every grace, endowed with
abundant sense and eminently polite accomplishments; but she loved carousing and
wine, and comely faces, and pretty verses, and strange histories. The delicacy of
her charms enticed the minds of mankind to love. Her name was Rose-in-Bloom ;
and the reason of her being so named was her excessive delicacy of beauty, and her
perfect elegance ; and the King was fond of carousing with her, on account of her
accomplished manners.
Now it was the custom of the King, every year, to collect the chief men of his do-
minions, and to play with the ball. And on one of those days when he did so, the
daughter of the Vizier sat at a lattice window to amuse herself ; and while they were
engaged in the game, she cast a glance, and beheld among the soldiers a young man,
than whom there was none more handsome in aspect, nor any more beautiful in ap-
pearance ; bright in countenance, with laughing teeth, generous, wide-shouldered.
She looked at him again and again, and was not satiated with gazing at him ; and
she said to her nurse, "What is the name of this young man of comely qualities, who
is among the soldiers ? The nurse replied, my daughter, all of them are comely.
Who then among them ? — Wait, rejoined the damsel, until I point him out to thee.
And she took an apple and threw it upon him. So he raised his head and beheld
ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM. * 455
the Vizier's daughter at the window, resembling the full moon in the darkness of
night ; and he withdrew not his eye without his heart's being engrossed by love for
her. And when the game was ended, the damsel said to her nurse, What is the name
of this young man whom I have shown to thee ? She answered, His name is Ansal-
Wajoud. And upon this, she shook her head, and laid herself down upon her mat-
trass ; her mind was fired, and she uttered groans, and recited verses.
She then wrote some verses on a paper, which she wrapped in a piece of silk em-
broidered with gold, and put beneath the pillow. And one of her nurses was look-
ing at her ; so this nurse came to her and proceeded to engage her with conversation
until she slept, when she stole the paper from beneath the pillow, and read it. She
therefore knew that she was affected with a violent passion for Ansal-Wajoud ; and
after she had read the paper, she put it again in its place. And when her mistress
awoke, she said to her, my mistress, I am an admonisher unto thee, and one who
pitieth thee. Know that love is difficult, and the concealment of it would melt iron,
and occasioneth diseases and infirmities ; and the person who revealeth love is not
obnoxious to reproach. — Upon this Rose-in-Bloom said to her, my nurse, and what
is the remedy for desire? — Its remedy, answered the nurse, is an interview. — And
how can that be obtained? said the damsel. The nurse answered, my mistress, it
may be obtained by means of letters and gentle words, and by many compliments
and salutations ; for this mode of proceeding bringeth lovers together, and by it
things that are difficult are rendered easy: and if thou have any affair to be per-
formed, O my lady, I am most fit to conceal thy secret, and to accomplish thy busi-
ness and bear thy letter. And when Rose-in-Bloom heard these words from her, her
reason fled, through joy ; but she withheld herself from replying, that she might
see the result of her affair, and said within herself. Verily this thing no one hath
known from me, and I will not reveal it to this woman until after I shall have tried
her. Then the woman said to her, my mistress, I saw in my sleep as though a
man came to me, and said to me. Thy mistress and Ansal-Wajoud love each other:
therefore manage their affair, and carry their letters, and accomplish their wants,
and conceal their case and their secrets: so wilt thou experience abundant good for-
tune. Now I have related to thee what I saw, and it is thine to decide. — And Rose-
in-Bloom said to her nurse, when she had thus informed her of the dream that she
had (as she pretended) seen. Wilt thou conceal secrets, my nurse? The nurse re-
plied. How should I not conceal secrets when I am of the choicest of the ingenuous?
Upon this, therefore, the damsel produced to her the paper upon which she had
written the verses, saying to her. Repair with this my note to Ansal-Wajoud and
bring me an answer to it. So she took it, and went with it to Ansal-Wajoud ; and
when she went in to him, she kissed his hands, complimented him with the most
courteous words, and gAve him the paper; and after he had read it, and understood
its meaning, he wrote upon the back of it some verses expressive of his passion.
Then he folded the letter, kissed it, and gave it to her, saying to her, nurse, conci-
liate the favour of thy mistress. She replied, I hear and obey. And she took from
him the letter, and returned to her mistress, and gave it to her; and she kissed
it, and put it on her head, after which she opened it and read it, and understood its
meaning ; and she wrote beneath it verses in which she exhorted him to be patient
and prudent.
And when she had finished her verses, she folded the paper, and gave it to the
nurse, who took it, and went forth from her; but the chamberlain met her, and said
to her. Whither art thou going? She answered, To the bath. And she was alarmed
at him, and the paper fell from her as she went forth from the door in her alarm,
and one of the eunuchs, seeing it lying in the way, took it. Then the Vizier came
forth from the Ilarem, and seated himself upon his couch, and the eunuch who had
picked up the paper repaired to him. So while the Vizier was sitting upon his
couch, lo, that eunuch approached him, with the paper in his hand, and said to him,
O my lord. I found this paper thrown down in the house, and I took it. The Vizier
456 ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM.
therefore took it from his hand, folded as it was, and opened it, and saw written upon
it the verses above mentioned. He read them, and understood their meaning; and
then, examining the writing, he found it to be that of his daughter, whereupon he
went in to her mother, weeping violently, so that his beard was wetted. His wife
said to him. What hath caused thee to weep, my lord ? And he replied. Take this
paper, and see its contents. So she took the paper, and read it, and found it to be
a letter from her daughter Rose-in-Bloom to Ansal-Wajoud ; upon which she was
affected with an inclination to weep ; but she subdued her mind, and restrained her
tears, and said to the Vizier, my lord, there is no profit in weeping. The right
opinion is this — that we consider a plan by which to protect thy honour, and to con-
ceal the affair of thy daughter. — And she proceeded to console him, and to alleviate
his sorrows. But he said to her, Verily I am in fear for my daughter on account of
her passion. Knowest thou not that the Sultan loveth Ansal-Wajoud with a great
affection ? There are two causes for my fear. The first is, with respect to myself ;
she being my daughter. And the second is, with respect to the Sultan ; Ansal AVa-
joud being a favourite with the Sultan ; and probably an affair of great moment
may hence ensue. What then dost thou see fit to be done in this case? — She replied.
Have patience with me until I shall have performed the prayer for direction in the
right course. Then she performed the prayers of two rekahs, the prophetic ordi-
nance for seeking to be directed aright ; and when she had finished her prayers, she
said to her husband. In the midst of the Sea of the Kauouz is a mountain called the
mountain of the Bereft mother (and the cause of its being so named will be men-
tioned hereafter), and to that mountain none can obtain access, unless with difficulty:
therefore make for her a place there.
So the Vizier agreed with his wife that he should build there an impregnable
palace, and place her in it, and put with her the provisions necessary for her year
after year, and place with her such attendants as should cheer her and serve her.
He collected the carpenters and builders and architects, and sent them to that
mountain ; and they built for her an impregnable palace, such as eyes had never be-
held. Then he prepared the provisions for the journey, and the caravan to accom-
pany her; and, going in to his daughter at night, commanded her to set forth on
the journey. So her heart felt the pangs of separation, and when she went forth,
and saw the preparation for travel,, she wept, violently, and wrote some words on the
door to acquaint Ansal-Wajoud with the transport of passion that she experienced,
which was such as would make the flesh to quake, and melt the heart of rock, and
make tears to flow. And when she had finished her inscription, she mounted, and
they journeyed with her, crossing the deserts and wastes, and the plain and rugged
tracts, until they arrived at the Sea of the Kanouz, when they pitched the tents upon
the shore, and built for her a great vessel, in which they embarked the damsel and
her household. The Vizier had commanded them that, when they had arrived at
the mountain and had taken her into the palace, together with her household, they
should return with the vessel, and, after they had landed, that they should break it
up. So tliey went and did all that he had commanded them, and returned weeping
for that which had happened. — Such was their case.
But as to Ansal-Wajoud, he rose from his sleep, and, having performed the mor-
ning-prayers, mounted, and repaired to attend upon the Sultan. And he passed in
his way by the door of the Vizier, as he was wont to do, in the hope that perhaps
he might see some one of the Vizier's dependants whom he was accustomed to see ;
and he looked at the door, and beheld the words above mentioned written upon it.
On seeing them he became unconscious of his existence ; a fire was kindled in his
vitals, and he returned to his house. He could not rest, nor be patient, and he
ceased not to suffer agitation of mind, and transport, until the night came ; when he
concealed his case, and disguised himself; and he went forth in the middle of the
night, wandering at random, and not knowing whither to go. He journeyed on
during the whole of the remainder of that night, and the next day until the heat of
ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 457
the sun became fierce, and the mountains were of a burning heat, and thirst vio-
lently oppressed him ; but he beheld a tree, and found by the side of it a stream of
water. So he went to that tree, and seated himself in its shade, on the bank of that
stream, and desired to drink ; but he found that the water had no taste in his mouth.
His complexion had changed, his face had become sallow, and his feet were swollen
by walking and toil, and he wept violently.
Then rising, forthwith he proceeded from that place ; and as he journeyed on
through the deserts and wastes, there came forth upon him a lion, whose neck was
closely covered with his hair, and hia head was as large as a cupola, and his mouth
^^^^■^r -- ' —
Ansal-Wajoud and the Lion.
wider than a door, with teeth like the tusks of the elephant. When Ansal-Wajoud
beheld him, he made sure of destruction, and, turning his face towards the Kibla,
he pronounced the two professions of the faith, and prepared for death. But he
had read in books, that, if any one attempt to beguile the lion, he may be beguiled
by him with kind words, and be rendered gentle by praise. So he began to say to
him, lion of the forest and the plain ! bold lion ! father of the generous !
Sultan of the wild beasts! verily I am a longing lover, whom passion and separa-
tion have consumed, and when I became severed from the beloved I lost my reason :
hear then my words, and pity my ardour and desire. — And when the lion heard
what he said, he drew back from him, and sat upon his tail ; then raising his head
towards him, he began to make playful motions to him with his tail and. fore-paws.
The lion then arose and walked gently towards him, with his eyes filled with tears ;
and when he came to him he licked him with his tongue, and then walked before
him, making a sign to him, as though he would say, Follow me. So he followed
him, and the lion proceeded, with Ansal-Wajoud behind him, for some time, until he
had ascended to the summit of a mountain. Then he descended from that moun-
tain, and Ansal-Wajoud beheld the track of travellers in the desert, and knew it to
be that of the people who accompanied Rose-in-Bloom. He therefore followed this
track ; and when the lion saw that he did so, and that he knew it to be the track of
the attendants of his beloved, he returned, and went his way.
Ansal-Wajoud proceeded along the track for days and nights, until he approached
a roaring sea, agitated with waves ; and the footmarks reached to ihe shore of the
sea, and there ended. So he knew that the people had embarked in a vessel on the
sea, and pursued their course over it; in consequence of which, his hope of finding
them was then cut ofi", and he poured forth tears, and fell down in a fit, and he re-
mained in it a longtime. Then, recovering, he looked to the right and left; but
saw no one in the desert ; and he feared for himself on account of the wild beasts.
So he ascended a high mountain, and while he was upon it, he heard the voice of
458 ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM.
a human being, speaking in a cave; and he listened to him, and, lo, he was a devotee,
who had forsaken the world, and occupied himself with devotion. He knocked at
the door of the cave three times ; but the devotee answered him not, nor came forth
to him ; and upon this, he uttered groans, and recited some verses: — And when he
had ended, lo, the door of the cave was opened, and he heard a person saying, Alas !
Mercy! — So he entered the door, and saluted the devotee, who returned his saluta-
tion, and said to him, What is thy name ? He answered. My name is Ansal-Wajoud.
And the devotee said to him, What is the cause of thy coming unto this place? He
therefore related to him his story from beginning to end, acquainting him with all
that had befallen him. And on hearing it, the devotee wept, and said to him,
Ansal-Wajoud, verily I have been in this place twenty years without seeing in it
any one, until lately, when I heard weeping and clamour, and, looking in the direc-
tion of the sounds, I saw many people, and tents pitched on the shore of the sea,
and they built a vessel, in which a party of them embarked, and they proceeded in
it over the sea. Then some of those who had embarked in the vessel returned with
it, and broke it up, and went their way: and I imagine that those who passed over
the sea and returned not, are the people whom thou seekest, Ansal-Wajoud. In
that case, thine anxiety must be great, and thou art excused ; but there existeth no
lover who hath not endured griefs. Then the devotee arose and came to Ansal-
Wajoud, and embraced him, and they both wept so that the mountains resounded
with their cries. They ceased not to weep until they both fell down senseless ; and
when they recovered, they made a vow to be brothers in God (whose name be ex-
alted !) ; after which, the devotee said to Ansal-AVajoud, I will this night pray, and
beg of God to be rightly directed as to the course which thou shouldst pursue. And
Ansal-Wajoud replied, I hear and obey.
Meanwhile, when the people had arrived with Rose-in-BIoom at the mountain,
and taken her into the palace, and she beheld it, and beheld its order, she wept, and
said. By Allah, thou art a beautiful place ; but thou wantest the presence of the
beloved in thee. And she saw birds in that island : so she ordered one of her attend-
ants to set a snare for them, and catch some of them, and whenever he caught any,
to put them in cages within the palace: and he did as she commanded him. Then
she sat at a lattice-window of the palace, and, reflecting upon the events that had
befallen her, her desire and transport and distraction increased ; and she shed tears.
And when the darkness of night overshadowed her, her desire became more violent,
and again she reflected upon past events.
Now to return to Ansal-Wajoud : — the devotee said to him. Descend into the valley,
and bring me, from the palm-trees, some of their fibres. So he descended, and
brought him some of the fibres of the palm trees ; and the devotee took them and
twisted them, and made of them a kind of net, like those used for carrying straw ;
after which he said, Ansal-Wajoud, in the midst of the valley is a kind of gourd
that groweth up and drieth upon its roots: go down then to it, fill this net with
the gourds, and tie it, and throw it into the sea: then place thyself upon it, and
proceed upon it into the midst of the sea: perhaps thou wilt attain thy desire; for
he who risketh not himself will not gain his object. To this Ansal-Wajoud replied,
I hear and obey. And he bade him farewell, and departed from him to do as he
had directed him, after the devotee had prayed for him. He proceeded, without
stopping, to the midst of the valley, and did as the devotee had said to him ; and
when he arrived upon the net, in the midst of the sea, there came upon him a wind,
which propelled ^im with the net until he disappeared from before the eyes of the
devotee. He ceased not to traverse the surfoce of the deep, one wave raising him
and another depressing him, while he beheld the wonders and terrors of the sea,
until destiny cast him upon the Mountain of the Bereft Mother, after three days.
He landed like a giddy young bird distressed by hunger and thirst ; but he found in
that place rivers flowing, and birds warbling upon the branches, and fruit-bearing
ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 459
trees of the same and of different kinds ; and he ate of the fruits, and drank of the
water of the rivers.
Then he arose and walked ; and he beheld something white in the distance ; so
he proceeded thither until he arrived at it, when he found it to be an impregnable
palace. He came to its gate and found it closed ; and he sat at it for three days: but
at length, as he was sitting there, the gate of the palace was opened, and there came
forth from it one of the eunuchs, who, seeing Ansal-Wajoud sitting, said to him.
Whence hast thou come, and who brought thee hither ? He answered. From Ispahan,
and I was on a voyage with merchandise, and the vessel that I was in was wrecked,
and the waves threw me upon this island. And the eunuch wept, and embraced him,
saying, God prolong thy life, chief of friends ! Verily Ispahan is my native place,
and I have there a cousin, the daughter of a paternal uncle, whom I loved in my
youth, and I was passionately attached to her ; but a people stronger than we made
war upon us, and took me with their spoil, while I was yet a youth, and sold me:
thus have I become reduced to my present condition. — And after he had saluted him
and wished him long life, he led him into the court of the palace, where, when he
entered, he beheld a great pool surrounded by trees with spreading branches, and in
it were birds in cages of silver with doors of gold : these cages were hung to the
branches, and the birds within them were warbling, and singing the praises of the
Requiting King. On his coming to the first of them, he looked at it; and lo, it was
a turtle-dove : and when it saw him, it raised its voice, crying, Bountiful ! Where-
upon Ansal-Wajoud fell down in a fit ; and on his recovering, he uttered groans, and
looking towards his friend, the man of Ispahan, said to him. What is this palace, and
what doth it contain, and who built it? The man answered him, The Vizier of such
a King built it for his daughter, fearing for her from misfortunes and calamities,
and hath lodged her in it, together with her dependants, and it is not opened save
once in every year, when their provisions are brought to them. — So he said within
himself, My desire is accomplished ; but the time to wait is long.
Now, during this period, Rose-in-Bloom found neither drink nor food agreeable to
her, nor sitting nor sleeping. Her desire and transport and distraction of love had
increased ; and she searched about in the corners of the palace, but found no way
of escape for her. She then went up to the roof of the palace, and, taking some
garments of the stuff of Baalbec, tied herself by them, and let herself down until
she came to the ground. She was attired in the most magnificent of her apparel,
and on her neck was a necklace of jewels. And she proceeded over the adjacent
deserts and wastes until she came to the shore of the sea, when she saw a fisherman
going about in his vessel upon the sea to fish. The wind had cast him towards that
island, and he looked, and saw there Rose-in-Bloom, but when he beheld her, he
was frightened at her, and steered away his boat in flight. So she called him,
making many signs to him, and recited some verses, informing him that she was a
human being (not a Fairy, as he feared), and explaining her case ; on hearing which,
the fisherman wept and sighed and lamented, remembering what had happened to
himself in the days of his youth, when love overpowered him, and his desire waa
violent, and his transport and distraction were excessive, the fires of passion burning
him ; and he replied to her in verse, telling her that he had been afilicted by love
from his youth. He then made fast his vessel to the land, and said to her. Embark
in the vessel that I may transport thee to whatsoever place thou desirest. So she
embarked in the vessel, and he set it afloat with her, and when it had proceeded a
little way from the land there blew upon it a favourable wind, and the vessel ad-
vanced rapidly until the land disappeared from before their eyes. The fisherman
then knew not whither to steer ; and the wind continued violent for the space of
three days ; after which it subsided by the permission of God (whose name be ex-
alted!), and the vessel bore them on until it came to a city on the shore of the sea,
where the fisherman desired to make it fast.
In this city was a King of great power, named Dirbas. He was at that time sitting
460 ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM.
with his son in his palace, an.d they were looking from a window, and, casting their
eyes towards the sea, they saw that vessel ; and on their observing it attentively,
they found that there was in it a damsel like the full moon in the sky, having in her
ears ear-rings of costly balass rubies, and on her neck a necklace of precious jewels.
The King therefore knew that she was of the daughters of the grandees or of the
Kings, and he descended from his palace, and went forth from a door opening upon
the sea; whereupon he saw the vessel made fast to the shore ; and the damsel was
sleeping, while the fisherman was busy in attaching the vessel. The King roused
her from her sleep, and she awoke weeping ; and the King said to her. Whence
comest thou, and whose daughter art thou, and what is the cause of thy coming
hither? So she answered him, I am the daughter of Ibrahim, the Vizier of the King
Shamik, and the cause of my coming hither is a wonderful event and an extraordi-
nary afi"air. And she related to him her whole story, from beginning to end, hiding
from him nothing ; after which she uttered groans and recited some verses ; and the
King, on hearing them, was convinced of her transport and desire^ and was moved
with compassion for her; and he said to her, Thou hast no cause of fear nor of ter-
ror. Thou hast attained thy wish ; for I must accomplish for thee what thou de-
Ri'rest, and procure for thee what thou seekest. He then went forth to his troops,
and, having summoned his Vizier, caused wealth incalculable to be packed up for
him, and commanded him to repair with it to the King Shamik, saying to him. Thou
must without fail bring to me a person who is with him, named Ansal-Wajoud ; and
do thou say to him, The King desireth to form an alliance with thee by marrying his
daughter to Ansal-Wajoud, thy dependant, and he must be sent with me, that the
ceremony of the contract of his marriage to her may be performed in the kingdom
of her father. Then the King Dirbas wrote a letter to the King Shamik, to the
effect above mentioned, and gave it to his Vizier, strictly charging him to bring
Ansal-Wajoud, and saying to him. If thou bring him not to me, thou shalt be dis-
placed from thj' station.
The Vizier therefore replied, I hear and obey, — and repaired with the present to
the King Shamik. And when he came to him, he delivered to him the salutation of
the King Dirbas, and gave him the letter and the present that he had brought. But
when the King Shamik saw them, and read the letter, and saw the name of Ansal-
Wajoud, he wept violently, and said to the Vizier who was sent to him. And where ia
Ansal-Wajoud? For he hath gone away, and we know not where he is. Bring him
then to me, and I will give to thee double the presents thou hast brought. — Then he
wept and sighed and lamented, poured forth tears, and recited verses.
And after this, he looked towards the Vizier who had brought the present and the
letter, and said to him, Repair to thy lord, and inform him that Ansal-Wajoud hath
been absent for a year, and his lord knoweth not whither he hath gone, nor hath he
any tidings of him. But the Vizier replied, my lord, verily my sovereign said to
me. If thou bring him not to me, thou shalt be displaced from the post of Vizier, and
shalt not enter my city. How then can I go to him without him? — So the King
Shamik said to his Vizier Ibrahim, Go thou with him, accompanied by a party of
men, and search for Ansal-Wajoud in every quarter. And he replied, I hear and
obey.
Accordingly he took a party of his dependants, and, accompanied by the Vizier :1
the King Dirbas, they proceeded in search of Ansal-Wajoud: and whenever they
passed by Arabs or any people, they inquired of them respecting Ansal-Wajoud,
saying to them, Hath there passed by you a person of such a name, and of such and
such a description? To which they answered, AVe know him not. They ceased not
to inquire in the cities and villages, and to search in the plain and rugged tracts, and
deserts and wastes, until they arrived at the shore of the sea: when they sought a
vessel, and embarked in one, and proceeded in it until they approached the Moun-
tain of the Bereft Mother. Upon this, the Vizier of the King Dirbas said to the
Vizier of the King Sliamik, On what account is this mountain so named? And the
ANSAL-WAJOUD AND KOSE-IN-BLOOM. 461
latter answered, For this reason. A Fairy sojourned upon it in ancient times, and
that Fairy was of the Genii of China. She loved a man, and became passionately
attached to him ; but she was in fear of her family ; and, her desire becoming exces-
sive, she searched in the earth for a place wherein to conceal him from them, and
found this mountain to be cut off from mankind and from the Genii, so that no one
of either of these races (herself excepted) found the way to it. She therefore carried
off her beloved, and placed him there, and used to repair to her family, and to come
to him privately ; and thus she ceased not to do for a long time, until she bore him,
on that mountain, a number of children. And those merchants who passed by this
mountain in their voyages over the sea used to hear the weeping of the infants, like
the weeping of a woman bereft of her children ; whereupon they said. Is there here
a bereft mother? — And the V'izier of the King Dirbas wondered at these words.
Then they proceeded until they came to the palace, and they knocked at the door ;
upon which the door was opened, and there came forth to them a eunuch, who,
knowing Ibrahim, the Vizier of the King Shamik, kissed his hands. And the Vizier
Ibrahim entered the palace, and found in its court a poor man among the servants ;
and he was Ansal-Wajoud. So he said to them. Whence is this man ? And they
answered him. He is a merchant: his property was lost at sea, and he saved iiimself ;
and he is a pei-son abstracted from the world. He therefore left him, and went on
into the interior of the palace ; but found no trace of his daugliter ; and he inquired
of the female slaves who were there, and they answered him, We know not how she
went, and she stayed not with us save for a short time.
Then he wept and sighed and lamented, and said, There is no resource against
that which God hath ordained, nor any escape from that which He hath predestined
and decreed ! And he ascended to the roof of the palace, and found the garments
of the stuif of Baalbec tied to the battlements and reaching to the ground. So he
knew that she had descended from that place, and gone like one distracted and con-
founded. And he looked aside, and saw there two birds, a raven and an owl, from
the sight of which he augured evil. He then descended, weeping, from the roof of
the palace, and ordered the servants to go forth upon the mountain to search for
their mistress; and they did so, but found her not. — Meanwhile, Ansal-Wajoud,
when he was assured that Kose-in-Bloom had gone, uttered a great cry, and fell
down in a fit, in which he remained long; and they imagined that a state of abstrac-
tion from the world had overcome him, and that he was drowned in the contempla-
tion of the beauty of the majesty of the Requiter.
Now when they despaired of finding Ansal-Wajoud, and the heart of the Vizier
Ibrahim was troubled by the loss of his daughter Kose-in-bloom, the Vizier of the
King Dirbas desired to return to his country, though he had not attained his desire
by his journeys. So the Vizier Ibrahim began to bid him farewell: and the Vizier
of the King Dirbas said to him, I desire to take this poor man with me: perhaps
God (whose name be exalted !) may incline the heart of the King to me by the bless-
ing attendant upon him; for he is a person abstracted from the world; and after
that, I will send him to Ispahan, since it is near unto our country. The Vizier
Ibrahim replied. Do as thou desirest. ,And each of the Viziers departed to his own
country. The Vizier of the King Dirbas took with him Ansal-Wajoud, still insen-
sible, and proceeded with him three days, during which he continued in his fit,
carried on mules, and not knowing whether he was carried or not. So when he
recovered from his fit, he said. In what place am I? And they answered him. Thou
art with the Vizier of the King Dirbas. Then they went to the Vizier, and informed
him that he had recovered ; whereupon he sent to him rose-water and sherbet of
sugar, and they gave him to drink, and revived him. And they continued their
journey until they approached the city of the King Dirbas, when the King sent to
the Vizier, saying to him. If Ansal-Wajoud be not with thee, come not to me ever.
When, therefore, he read the order of the King, it afflicted him. Now the Vizier
knew not that Rose-in-Bloom was with the King, nor did he know the reason of the
462 ANSAL-WAJOUD AND ROSE-IN-BLOOM.
King's sending him to Ansal-AVajoud, nor the reason of his desiring the alliance
with him ; and Ansal-Wajoud knew not whither they were going with him, oor that
the Vizier was sent to seek for him ; nor did the Vizier know that this was Ansal-
Wajoud. And when the Vizier saw that he was recovered, he said to him, Verily
the King hath sent me on a business, and it is not accomplished ; and when he
knew of my approach, he sent to me a letter, saying to me in it, If the business be
not accomplished, enter not my city. — And what, said Ansal-Wajoud, is the business
of the King? The Vizier therefore related to hira the whole story; and Ansal-
Wajoud said to him, Fear not ; but go to the King, and take me with thee ; and I
will be surety to thee for the coming of Ansal-Wajoud.
So the Vizier rejoiced at this, and said to him. Is it true that thou sayest? He
answered. Yes. And thereupon he mounted, taking him with hira, and conducted
him to the King ; who, when they came to him. said to the Vizier, Where is Ansal-
Wajoud? To which Ansal-Wajoud replied, King, I know where Ansal-Wajoud
is. And the King called him near to him, and said. In what place is he ? He an-
swered. In a place very near : but inform me what thou desirest of him, and then
will I bring him before thee. The King replied. Most willingly: but this affair re-
quireth privacy. Then he commanded the people to retire, and having gone with
him into a closet, acquainted him with the story from first to last; whereupon An-
sal-Wajoud said to him, Supply me with rich apparel, and cause me to be clad in it,
and I will bring to thee Ansal-Wajoud quickly. The King therefore brought to him
a rich suit, and he put it on, and said, I am Ansal-Wajoud, and a cause of grief to
the envious. Then he smote the hearts of the beholders by his glances, and recited
verses.
And when he had finished, the King said to him. By Allah, ye are two sincere
lovers, and in the heaven of beauty two shining stars ; and your case is wonderful,
and your affair extraordinary. Ansal-Wajoud then said to the King, Where is Rose-
in-BIoom, King of the age ? He answered. She is now with me. And he sum-
moned the Cadi and witnesses, performed the ceremony of the contract of her mar-
riage to him, and treated him with honour and beneficence ; and he sent to the King
Shamik, informing him of all that had happened to him with respect to Ansal-
Wajoud and Rose-in-Bloom.
On hearing this, the King Shamik rejoiced exceedingly, and sent to the King Dir-
bas a letter, the purport of which was this : — Since the ceremony of the contract
hath taken place at thy residence, it is fit that the festival and the conclusion of the
marriage be at mine. — He prepared the camels and horses and men, and sent for
them ; and when his letter was brought to the King Dirbas, he aided them with a
great sum of money, and sent them with a party of his soldiers, who proceeded with
them until they entered their city ; and it was a noted day: none more remarkable
had ever been witnessed. The King Shamik collected all the mirth-exciting instru-
ments of music, and made banquets ; and thus they continued seven days ; on each
of which the King conferred upon the people costly robes of honour, and bestowed
favours upon them. And after this, Ansal-Wajoud went to Rose-in-Bloom, and em-
braced her ; and they sat weeping from the excess of joy and happiness ; they em-
braced again and continued carousing, and reciting verses and pleasant tales and
histories, until they were drowned in the sea of love; and there passed over them
geven days while they knew not night from day, through the excess of their delight
and happiness, and pleasure and joy. It was as though the seven days were one
day not succeeded by another; and they knew not the seventh day but by the
coming of the musical instruments. They then went forth from their chamber,
and bestowed upon the people money and dresses. — And they continued together
in the most delightful of joys until they were visited by the terminator of delights
and the separator of companions. — Extolled be the perfection of Him who «hangeth
not nor ceaseth, and to whom everything returneth :
THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO. , 463
CHAPTER XIX.
Commencing with part of the Four Hundred and Twenty-fourth Night, and ending with part of
the Four Hundred and Thirty-fourth.
THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO.
There was, in the city of Cairo, a merchant who had abundance of wealth and
cash, and jewels and minerals, and possessions incalculable, and his name was Has-
san the Jeweller of Bagdad. God had also blessed him with a sou, of handsome
countenance, of just stature, rosy-cheeked, endowed with elegance and perfection,
and beauty and loveliness: and he named him AH of Cairo. He had taught him
the Koran and science, and eloquence and polite literature ; and he became excellent
in all the sciences, and was employed by his father in commerce.
Now a disease attacked his father, and so increased that he felt sure of death. So
he summoned his son, AH of Cairo, and said to him, my son, verily this world is
transitory, and the world to come is everlasting; every soul must taste of death, and
now, my son, my decease hath drawn near, and I desire to give thee a charge.
If thou act according to it, thou wilt not cease to be safe and prosperous until thou
shalt meet God (whose name be exalted!) ; but if thou act not according to it, exces-
sive trouble will befall thee, and thou wilt repent of thy neglecting my charge.—
my father, said AH, how should I refuse to attend or to act according to thy charge,
when obedience to thee is an obligation divinely imposed upon me, and the attend-
ing to thy words is absolutely incumbent upon me? And his father rejoined, my
son, I leave to thee dwelling-places and mansions, and goods and wealth incalcula-
ble : so that if thou expend of that wealth every day five hundred pieces of gold,
nought of it will be missed by thee. But, O my son, be mindful of holding the fear
of God, and obeying the ordinances which He hath appointed thee, and following
the precepts of Mahomet (may God favour and preserve him !) in the things that he
is related to have commanded and forbidden in his traditional laws. Be assiduous
in the performance of acts of beneficence, and the dispensing of kindness, and as-
sociating with the good and just and learned ; and mind that thou care for the poor
and the needy, and shun avarice and niggardliness, and the company of the wicked,
and those who are objects of suspicion. Regard thy servants and thy family with
benignity, and thy wife also ; for she is of the daughters of the great, and she is
now likely to bear thee issue : perhaps God will bless thee with virtuous ofi'spring
by her. He ceased not to admonish him, and to weep, and say to him, my son, I
beg of God, the Bountiful, the Lord of the magnificent throne, that He save thee
from every difficulty that may befall thee, and grant thee his ready relief. And his
son wept violently, and said, my father, by Allah I am dissolved by these words:
it seemeth that thou utterest the language of him who biddeth farewell. His father
replied. Yes, my son ; I know my state ; and forget not thou my charge. — Then
the man began to repeat the two professions of the faith, and to recite [portions of
the Koran], until the known period arrived; when he said to his son, Draw near to
me. my son. So he drew near to him, and his father kissed him, and uttered
464 THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO.
a groan ; whereupon his soul quitted his body, and he was admitted to the mercy of
God, whose name be exalted !
Ilis son was affected with extreme grief; a clamour arose in his house, and the
companions of his father came together to him. lie betook himself to preparing
his corpse for burial, and expediting the funeral, and conveyed forth the body in a
magnificent manner. They bore the corpse to the place of prayer, and prayed over
it: after which they departed with it to the burial-ground, and bui-ied it, and recited
over it what was easy of the sublime Koran. Then they returned to the house, and
consoled the son of the deceased, and each of them went his way ; and the de-
ceased's son performed for him the ceremonies of the Fridays, and recitations of tbs
whole of the Koran, to the end of forty days. He remained in the house, and went
not forth save to the place of prayer ; and Friday after Friday he visited his father's
tomb.
He ceased not to persevere in his prayer, and his recitation [of the Koran], and
his devotion, for a length of time, until his fellows, of the sons of the merchants,
came in lo him, and saluted him, and said to him. How long shall continue this
mourning of thine, and the relinquishment of thine occupation and thy traffic, and
of thine assembling with thy companions ? This conduct will weary thee, and ex-
cessive injury will result from it unto thy body. — And when they came in to him,
Eblis the accursed was with them, suggesting evil to them. So they proceeded to
recommend to him that he should go forth with them to the market, and Eblis se-
duced him to comply with their request, until he consented to go forth with them
from the house, in order to the accomplishment of an event which God (whose per-
fection be extolled, and whose name be exalted!) would bring to pass. They then
said to him. Mount thy mule, and repair with us to such a garden, that we may
amuse ourselves there, and that thy grief and trouble of mind may be dispelled.
He therefore mounted his mule, took his slave with him, and accompanied them
to the garden, which they desired to visit. And when they came into the garden,
one of them went and prepared for them the dinner, and caused it to be brought
thither. So they ate, and enjoyed themselves, and sat conversing until the close of
the day, when they mounted and departed, each of them returning to his abode.
And they passed the night; and when the morning arrived, they came to him again,
and said to him. Arise, and accompany us. — Whither? he asked. They answered,
To such a garden : for it is better than that to which we went first, and more plea-
sant. And he mounted and went with them to that garden ; and when they had
arrived there, one of them went and made ready their dinner, and brought it to the
garden, together with intoxicating wine ; and they ate. Then they brought the
•wine; and he said to them. What is this? They answered him. This is what dis-
pelleth grief, and manifesteth happiness. And they ceased not to recommend it to
him until they overcame him ; and he drank with them ; and they continued con-
versing and drinking till the close of the day, when they returned to their abodes.
But Ali of Cairo was affected with a giddiness from drinking, and he went to his
wife in this state; so she said to him, How is it that thou art changed? He
answered. We were to-day making merry and enjoying ourselves ; but one of our
companions brought us some liquor, which my companions drank, and I with them,
and this giddiness came upon me. His wife therefore said to him, my master,
hast thou forgotten the charge of thy father, and done that which he forbade thee to
do, in associating with people who are objects of suspicion? But he answered her,
Verily these are of the sons of the merchants, and are not persons who are objects
of suspicion ; they are only people of pleasure and enjoyment.
He continued incessantly every day with his companions in this manner. They
went from place to place, eating and drinking, until they said to him, Our turns are
ended, and the turn is come to thee. And he replied, A friendly and free and ample
welcome to you ! And when he arose in the morning, he made ready all that the
case required, of food and drink, much more than they had done, and took with him
THE STOEY OF ALI OP CAIRO. 465
the cooks and the farrashes and thie coffee-makers, and they repaired to Rodah and
the Nilometer.' There they remained a whole month, eating and drinking, and
hearing music, and enjoying themselves ; and when the month had passed, Ali saw
that he had expended a sum of money of large amount ; but Eblis the accursed de
ceived him, and said to him. If thou shouldst expend every day as much as thou
hast already, thy wealth would not fail thee. So he cared not for expending his
wealth. He continued to do thus for the space of three years ; his wife admonish-
ing him, and reminding him of the charge of his father; but he attended not to her
words until all the ready money that he had was exhausted. Then he began to take
of the jewels, and to sell them, and expend their price, till he exhausted them also.
After this he betook himself to selling the houses and other immovable posses-
sions, until none of them remained. And when they were gone, he proceeded to sell
the fields and gardens, one after another, till all of them were gone, and there re-
mained nothing in his possession but the house in which he resided, lie therefore
wrenched out its marbles and its wood-work, and expended of the money which they
produced, till he made an end of them all ; and he considered in his mind, and found
that he had nothing to expend : so he sold the house, and expended its price. Then,
after that, the person who had bought of him the house came and said to him, Seek
for thyself a lodging; fur I am in want of my house.
He now considered in his mind, and found that he had nothing requiring a house
excepting his wife, who had borne him a son and a daughter; and there remained
not with him any servants; but there were only himself and his family. So he took
for himself an apartment in a ruined quarter of the town, and there he resided,
after grandeur and delicacy, and abundance of servants and wealth ; and he became
destitute of one day's food. His wife therefore said to him, Of this I used to caution
thee, saying to thee, Keep the charge of thy father. -But thou wouldst not attend
to my words; and there is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great!
Whence shall the little children obtain food? Arise then, and go round to thy com-
panions, the sons of the merchants. Perhaps they will give thee something where-
with we may sustain ourselves this day. — Accordingly he arose and repaired to bis
companions, one after another ; but every one of them unto whom he went hid his
face from him, and made him to hear painful words, such as he abhorred, and not
one of them gave him anything. So he returned to his wife, and said to her. They
ha\e not given me anything. And upon this, she arose and went to her neighbours
to demand of them something wherewith they might sustain themselves that day.
She repaired to a woman whom she knew in the former days, and when she went in
to her, and her friend saw her state, she arose and received her kindly, weeping and
saying to her. What hath befallen you ? She therefore related to her all that her
husband had done ; and her friend said to her. An ample and a friendly and free
welcome to thee ! Whatsoever thou requirest, demand it of me, without compensa-
tion. — And she replied. May God requite thee well ! Then her friend gave her as
much provision as would suffice her and her family for a whole month : and she took
it and returned to her abode. And when her husband saw her, he wept, and said to
her, Whence obtainedst thou that? She answered him, From such a woman ; for
when I informed her of that which hath happened, she fail-ed not in aught; but said
to me, All that thou requirest demand of me. — And upon this, her husband said to
her. Since thou hast this, I will repair to a place that I desire to visit. Perhaps God
(whose name be exalted!) will dispel our trouble.
He took leave of her, and kissed his children and went forth, not knowing whither
to go. He walked on without stopping until he arrived at Boulak, where he beheld
a vessel about to depart tn Damietta; and a man who had been a companion of his
father saw him; so he saluted him, and said to him. Whither desirest thou to go?
He answered, I desire to go to Damietta; for I have companions respecting whom 1
' Rodah means "garden ;" it is the name of a pleasant island in the Nile, near Cairo. The
Nilometer is at its southern extremity.
30
466 THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO.
would inquire, and whom I would visit: then I will return. And the man took him
to his house, treated him honourably, made for him provisions for the voyage, and,
having given him some pieces of gold, embarked him in the vessel that was going to
Damietta. And when they arrived at that place, he landed, but knew not whither
to go. While he was walking, however, a man of the merchants saw him, and was
moved with sympathy for him, and he took him with him to his abode. He there-
fore remained with him some time; after which he said within himself. How long
shall I thus reside in other men's houses? Then he went forth from the house of
that merchant, and beheld a vessel about to sail to Syria ; and the man with whom
he was lodging prepared for him provisions for the voyage, and embarked him in
that vessel, and it proceeded with its passengers until they arrived at the coast of
Syria. Ali of Cairo there landed, and he journeyed until he entered Damascus ; and
as he was walking in its great thoroughfare-streets, a man of the benevolent saw
him and took him to his abode, where he remained some time. And after that he
went forth, and beheld a caravan about to journey to Bagdad ; upon which it oc-
curred to his mind that he should journey with it. So he returned to the merchant
in whose abode he was residing, took leave of him, and went forth with the caravan :
and God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted!) moved a man
of the merchants with sympathy for him : he therefore took him as his guest, and
Ali ate and drank with him until there remained between them and Bagdad one
day's journey. Then there came upon the caravan a party of robbers who were iii-
tercepters of the way, and they took all that was with them, and only a few escaped.
Every person of the caravan went to seek for a place of refuge. But as to Ali of
Cairo, he repaired to Bagdad, and he arrived there at sunset: he reached not, how.
ever, the gate of the city until he beheld the gate-keepers about to close it. So he
said to them, Let me come in to you. And they admitted him among them, and
said to liiui. Whence hast thou come, and whither dost thou go? He answered, I
am a man of the city of Cairo, and I brought with me merchandise and mules and
loads, and slaves and young men, and I came on before them to see for me a place
in which to deposit my merchandise ; but as I preceded them, mounted on my mule,
there met me a party of the intercepters of the way, who took my mule and my
things, and I escaped not from them till I was about to yield my last breath. And
they treated him with honour, and said to him. Thou art welcome. Pass the night
with us until the morning, and then we will see for thee a place suitable to thee. —
And he searched in his pocket, and found a piece of gold remaining of those which
the merchant at Boulak had given him : so he gave that piece of gold to one of the
gate-keepers, saying to him, Take this and change it, and bring us something to eat.
He therefore took it and repaired to the market, where he changed it, and he brought
to Ali some bread and cooked meat; and he ate with them, and slept with them till
the morning.
Then one of the gate-keepers took him and conducted him to a man of the mer-
chants of Bagdad, to whom he related his story ; and that man believed him, imagin-
ing that he was a merchant, and that he had brought with him loads of goods. So
he took him up into his shop, treated him with honour, aund sent to his abode, whence
he caused to be brought for him a magnificent suit of his own clothing ; and he con-
ducted him into the bath. — I went with him, says Ali of Cairo, into the bath, and
when we came forth, he took me and conducted me to his abode, where dinner was
brought to us, and we ate, and enjoyed ourselves. He then said to one of his slaves,
O Mesroud, take thy master, and show him the two houses that are in such a place,
and whichever of them pleaseth him, give him the key of it, and come back. I
therefore went with the slave until we came to a by-street, wherein were three houses
adjacent to each other, new and closed; and he opened the first house, and I looked
over it, and we came forth, and went to the second, which he opened, and I looked
over it. And he said to me. Of which of the two shall I give thee the key? I said
to him. And to whom belongeth this great house? He answered, To us. So I said
THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO. 467
to him, Open it, that we may look over it. He replied, Thou hast no need of it. —
Why so? I asked. He answered, Because it is haunted, and no one lodgeth in it
but in the morning he is a corpse; and we open not its door to take forth the dead
from it; but go up on the roof of one of the two other houses, and thence take it
up ; and on that account my master hath abandoned it, and said I will not hence-
forth give it to any one. — But I said to him, Open it to me, that I may look over it.
And I said within myself, This is what I desire. I will pass the night in it, and in
the morning be a corpse, and be relieved from this state in which I now am. — So he
opened it, and I entered it, and saw it to be a magnificent house, of which there
existed not the like ; and I said to the slave, I choose none but this house ; therefore
give me its key. But he replied, I will not give thee the key until I consult my
master. — Then he went to his master, and said to him. The merchant of Cairo saith,
I will not lodge but in the great house. — He therefore arose and came to Ali of
Cairo, and said to him, my master, thou hast no need of this house. Ali however
replied, I will not lodge in any but it, and I care not for these words. So the man
said to him, Write a voucher agreed upon between me and thee, that, if anything
happen to thee, I am not implicated with thee. Ali replied, So be it. And the
merchant brought a witness from the Cadi's court, and wrote a voucher testifying
against him, and, having taken it into his keeping, gave him the key. He therefore
took it and entered the house; and the merchant sent furniture to him with a slave,
who spread it for him upon the bench that was behind the door, and returned.
After that, Ali of Cairo arose and went within, and he saw a well in the court of
the house, with a bucket over it: so he let it down into the well, and filled it, and
performed the ablution with its contents, and recited his divinely ordained prayers.
Then he sat a little ; and the slave came to him with the supper, from the house of
his master, bringing for him also a lamp and a candle and candlestick, and a basin
and ewer, and a water-bottle ; and he left him, and returned to his master's house.
So Ali lighted a candle, and supped, and enjoyed himself, and performed the prayers
of nightfall ; after which he said within himself. Arise, go up stairs, and take the
bed, and sleep there, rather than here. Accordingly he arose, and took the bed, and
carried it up stairs; and he beheld a magnificent saloon, the ceiling of which was
gilded, and its floor and its walls were cased with coloured marbles. He spread his
bed, and sat reciting somewhat of the sublime Koran ; and suddenly a person called
to him and said to him, Ali! son of Hassan! shall I send down upon thee the
gold? — And where, said Ali, is the gold that thou wilt send down? And he had
not finished saying so when he poured down upon him gold as from a catapult; and
the gold ceased not to pour down until it had filled the saloon. And when it was
finished, the person said. Liberate me, that I may go my way; for my service is
finished.
Upon this Ali of Cairo said to him, I conjure thee by Allah the Great that thou
inform me of the cause of [the descent of J this gold. And he replied, This gold was
preserved for thee by a talisman from ancient times, and we used to come to every
one who entered this house, and say to him, Ali ! son of Hassan ! shall we send
down the gold ? And he would fear at our words, and cry out ; whereupon we would
descend to him and break his neck and depart. But when thou earnest, and we
called thee by thy name and the name of thy father, and said to thee, Shall we send
down the gold? — thou saidst to us. And where is the gold ! — so we knew that thou
wast its owner, and we sent it down. There remaineth also for thee a treasure in
the land of Yemen ; and if thou wilt journey and take it and bring it hither, it will
be better for thee. And I desire of thee that thou liberate me, that I may go my
way. — But Ali said, By Allah, 1 will not liberate thee until thou shalt have brought
hither to me that which is in the land of Yemen. He said, H I bring it to thee,
wilt thou liberate me, and wilt thou liberate the servant of that treasure? — Yes,
answered Ali. And he said to him, Swear to me. So he swore to him. And he
was about to go ; but Ali of Cairo said to him, I have yet one thing for thee to per
468 THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO.
form. — And what is it? he asked. Ali answered, I have a wife and children in
Cairo, in such a place ; and it is requisite that thou bring them to me, easily, with-
out injury. And he replied, I will bring them to thee in a stately procession, and
in a litter, and with servants and other attendants, together with the treasure that
we will bring thee from the land of Yemen, if it be the will of God, whose name be
exalted ! — Then he obtained permission of him to be absent three days, after which
period he promised him that all that treasure should be in his possession ; and he
departed.
And in the morning Ali searched about the saloon for a place in which to deposit
the gold ; and he saw a slab of marble at the edge of the raised floor of the saloon,
in which was a turning-pin. So he turned the pin, and the slab removed, and there
appeared to him a door, which he opened ; and he entered, and beheld a large
treasury, in which were bags of linen, sewed. He therefore proceeded to take the
bags and to fill them with the gold and put them into the treasury, until he had
removed all the gold and put it into the treasury, when he closed the door, and turned
the pin ; whereupon the slab of marble returned to its place. Then he arose and
descended, and seated himself upon the bench that was behind thee door. And
while he was sitting, a person knocked at his door; and he arose and opened it, and
saw that this person was the slave of the owner of the house ; and when the slave
saw him there, he returned quickly to his master, to give him the good tidings. On
his coming to his master, he ,said to him, my master, verily the merchant who
hath taken up his lodging in the house that is haunted by the Genie is well, in pros-
perity, and he is sitting upon the seat that is behind the door. So his master arose,
full of joy, and repaired to that house, taking with him the breakfast; and when he
saw Ali of Cairo, he embraced him, and kissed him between his eyes, and said to
him, What hath God done unto thee ? He answered. Well ; and I slept not but up
stairs, in the saloon that is cased with marble. And the merchant said to him. Did
anything come to thee, or didst thou see aught? — No, answered Ali ; I only recited
as much as was easy to me of the sublime Koran, and slept until the morning, when
I rose, and performed the ablution, and prayed, and descended, and seated myself
upon this bench. And the merchant said. Praise be to God for thy safety ! Then
he arose and leffhim, and sent to him black slaves and mamlouks, and female slaves
and furniture, and they swept the house, above and below, spread for him magnifi-
cent furniture, and there remained with him three mamlouks and three male black
slaves, and four female slaves to serve him : the rest returned to the house of their
master. And when the merchants heard of him, they sent to him presents of every
precious thing, even of eatables and beverages and clothes, and took him with them
into the market, and said to him. When will thy merchandise come? He answered
them, After three days it will enter.
Then, when the three days had passed, the servant of the first treasure, who poured
down to him the gold from the house, came to him and said to him. Arise, meet the
treasure that I have brought thee from Yemen, and thy harem, with whom is a por-
tion of the treasure in the form of magnificent merchandise ; and all who are with it,
of mules and horses and camels, and servants and mamlouks, all of them are of the
Genii. Now that servant had repaired to Cairo, where he found that the wife of
Ali, and his children, during this period had become reduced to excessive nakedness
and hunger ; and he conveyed them from their place in a litter to the exterior of
Cairo, and clad them in magnificent apparel, of the apparel that formed part of tho
treasure of Yemen. And when he came to Ali, and informed him of that news, he
arose and repaired to the merchants, and said to them, Arise, and go forth with us
from the city to meet the caravan with which is our merchandise, and honour us by
taking with you your harems to meet our harem. So they answered him. We hear
and obey. They sent and caused their harems to be brought, went forth altogether,
and alighted in one of the gardens of the city, where they sat conversing. And
•while they were thus engaged, lo, a dust rose in the midst of the desert. They
THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO. 469
therefore arose to see what was the cause of that dust ; and it dispersed, and dis-
covered mules and camel-drivers, and farrashes and light- bearers, who approached
singing and dancing until they drew near ; when the chief of the camel-drivers
advanced to AH of Cairo, kissed his hand, and said to him, my master, we have
been tardy in the way; for we desired to enter yesterday ; but we feared the inter-
cepters of the way; so we remained four days at our station, until God (whose name
be exalted!) dispelled them from us. And the merchants arose and mounted their
mules, and proceeded with the caravan : the harems remaining behind with the
harem of Ali of Cairo until they mounted with them ; and they entered in magnifi-
cent procession. The merchants wondered at the mules loaded with chests, and the
women of the merchants wondered at the apparel of the wife of the merchant Ali,
and at the apparel of her children, saying, Verily the like of this apparel existeth
not in the possession of the King of Bagdad or any other person of all the Kings
and great men and merchants.
They ceased not to advance in their stately procession, the men with the merchant
Ali of Cairo, and the women with his harem, until they entered the house and
alighted, and brought the mules with their loads into the midst of the court. Then
they put down the loads, and stowed them in the magazines, and the harems went
up with the harem of Ali to the saloon, and they saw it to be like a garden abound-
ing with trees, spread with magnificent furniture. They sat in joy and happiness,
and remained sitting until noon, when dinner was brought up to them, consisting
of the best of viands and sweetmeats ; and they ate, and drank excellent sherbet,
and scented themselves after it with rose-water and perfume. Then they took leave
of him, and departed to their abodes, men and women. And when the merchants
had returned to their dwellings, they sent to him presents according to their con-
ditions. The harems also sent gifts to the harem, until there had been brought to
them an abundance of female slaves, and male black slaves, and mamlouks, and of
all kinds of things, such as sugar, and grains, and other goods incalculable. And
as to the merchant of Bagdad, the owner of the house in which Ali was residing, he
remained with him, and quitted him not; and he said to him. Let the slaves and the
servants take the mules and other beasts into one of the houses, for the sake of rest.
— But Ali replied. They will set forth on their journey this night to such a place.
And he gave them permission to go out from the city, that when the night should
come they might set forth on their journey ; and they scarcely believed his giving
them permission to do so when they took leave of him and departed to the exterior
of the city, and soared through the air to their abodes.
The merchant Ali sat with the owner of the house in which he resided until the
expiration of a third of the night, when they separated, and the owner of the house
repaired to his abode. Then the merchant Ali went up to his harem, and saluted
them, and said to them.. What happened unto you after ray departure, during this
period? So his wife informed him of what they had suffered from hunger and
nakedness and fatigue ; and he said to her. Praise be to God for safety ! And how
came you ? — my master, she answered, I was sleeping with my children last night,
and suddenly one raised me from the ground, together with my children, and we
soared through the air; but no injury befell us; and we ceased not to soar along
until we alighted upon the ground in a place like an encampment of Arabs, where
we saw loaded mules, and a litter borne by two great mules, surrounded by servants
consisting of pages and men. So I said to them. Who are ye, and what are these
loads, and in what place are we ? And they answered. We are the servants of the
merchant Ali of Cairo, the son of the merchant Hassan the Jeweller, and he hath
sent us to take you and to convey you to him in the city of Bagdad. I said to them,
Is the distance between us and Bagdad long or short ? And they answered me,
Short ; for between us and it is no more than the space to be traversed during the
darkness of night. Then they placed us in the litter, and the morning came not
before we were with you, no injury having befallen us. And who, said Ali, gave
470 THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO.
you this apparel? She answered, The chief of the caravan opened one of the
chests that were upon the mules, took forth from it these garments, and attired me
in a suit, and each of thy children in a suit ; after which he locked the chest from
which he took forth the dresses, and gave me its key, saying to me. Take care of it
until thou give it to thy husband: — and here it is, carefully kept in my possession.
Then she produced it to him: and he said to her, Knowest thou the chest? She
answered, Yes, I know it. So he arose and descended with her to the magazines,
and showed her the chests ; and she said to him. This is the chest from which he
took forth the dresses. He therefore took the key from her, and put it into the lock,
and opened the chest : and he saw in it many dresses, together with the keys of all
the other chests : so he took them forth, and proceeded to open the chests, one after
another, and to amuse himself with a sight of their contents, consisting of treasured
jewels and minerals, the like of which existed not in the possession of any of the
Kings.
He then locked the chests, took their keys, and went up with his wife to the saloon,
saying to her. This is of the bounty of God, whose name be exalted ! And after
this, he took her and led her to the marble slab in which was the turning pin, and
he turned it, and opened the door of the treasury, and, entering with her, showed
her the gold that he had deposited in it; whereupon she said to him, Whence came
to thee all this? He answered her. It came to me through the bounty of my Lord.
And he related to her what had happened to him from first to last ; on hearing
which she said to him, my master, all this is through the blessing attendant upon
the prayer of thy father, when he prayed for thee before his death, and said, I beg
God that He cast thee not into affliction without granting thee speedy relief. So
praise be to God (whose name be exalted!) for his giving thee relief, and making
amends to thee by bestowing on thee more than hath been lost by thee! I conjure
thee then by Allah, my master, that thou return not to thy former ways of as-
sociating with those who are objects of suspicion. Be mindful of preserving the
fear of God (whose name be exalted!) in private and in public. — She continued to
admonish him, and he replied, I accept thine admonition, and beg God (whose name
be exalted !) to remove far from us the wicked, and to adapt us to the obedience of
Him, and to the compliance with the precepts of his Prophet ; may God favour and
preserve him !
He lived with his wife and children a most comfortable life, and he took for him-
self a shop in the market of the merchants, placed in it some of the jewels and
precious minerals, and sat in it, attended by his children and his mamlouks, and
became the greatest of the merchants in the city of Bagdad. So the King of Bagdad
heard of him, and sent a messenger to him, desiring his presence ; and when the
messenger came to him, he said to him. Answer the summons of the King ; for be
desireth thee. And he replied, I hear and obey; and prepared a present for the
King. He took four trays of red gold, and filled them with jewels and minerals,
such as existed not in the possession of the Kings ; and he took the trays and went
up with them to the King ; and when he went in to him, he kissed the ground be-
fore him, and greeted him with a prayer for the continuance of his glory and bless-
ings, addressing him in the best manner he could. The King said to him, O mer-
chant, thou hast cheered our country by thy presence. And he replied, O King of
the age, thy slave hath brought thee a present, and hopeth that thou wilt in thy
favour accept it. Then he placed the four trays before him ; and the King uncovered
them and examined them, and saw that the contents were jewels such as he pos-
sessed not, their value being equal to treasures of wealth. He therefore said to
him. Thy present is accepted, merchant; and if it be the will of God (whose name
be exalted !), we will recompense thee with the like of it. And Ali kissed the King's
hands, and departed from him.
Then the King summoned his grandees, and said to them. How many of the Kings
have demanded my daughter in marriage? They answered him. Many. And he
THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO. 471
said to them, Hath any one of them presented me with the like of this present?
And they all answered, No ; for there existeth not in the possession of any of -them
its like. And the King said, I beg of God (whose name be exalted !) that I may
have the happiness of marrying my daughter to this merchant. Then what say ye?
— They answered him. The thing should be as thou judgest. And he ordered the
eunuchs to carry the four trays with their contents into his palace, lie then had an
interview with his wife, and put the trays before her; and she uncovered them, and
saw in them things like which she possessed not a single piece. So she said to him.
From which of the Kings is this? Probably it is from one of the Kings who have
demanded my daughter in marriage. — He answered. No; but it is from a merchant
of Cairo, who hath come unto us in this city ; and when I heard of his coming. I
sent to him a messenger to bring him to us, that we might become acquainted with
him, as we might probably find in his possession some jewels which we might pur-
chase of him to fit out our daughter. He therefore obeyed our command, and
brought us these four trays, which he offered us as a present ; and I saw him to be
a handsome young man, of dignified appearance, and perfect intelligence, and elegant
form, almost like one of the sons of the Kings. And on my seeing him, my heart
inclined to him, and my bosom became dilated at beholding him, and I desired to
marry my daughter to him. I displayed the present to the great men of my king-
dom, and said to them. How many of the Kings have demanded my daughter in
marriage ? And they answered. Many. — And hath any one of them, said I, brought
me the like of that? To which they all answered. No, by Allah, King of the age ;
for there existeth not in the possession of any one of them the like of that. And I
said to them, I beg of God (whose name be exalted !) that I may have the happiness
of marrying him to my daughter. What then say ye? — They answered, The thing
should be as thou judgest. Now what sayest thou ? — She answered him, The affair
is for God to decide, and thee, King of the age ; and what God willeth is that
which will be. And he replied. If it be tlve will of God (whose name be exalted!)
we will not marry her but to this young man.
He passed the next night, and when the morning came, he went up to his court,
and gave orders to bring the merchant Ali of Cairo, and all the merchants of Bagdad.
So they all came ; and when they presented themselves before the King, he com-
manded them to sit. They therefore seated themselves. He then said. Bring the
Cadi of the court. And he came before him; and the King said to him, Cadi,
write the contract of my daughter's marriage to the merchant Ali of Cairo. But
Ali of Cairo said. Pardon, our lord the Sultan, It is not fit that a merchant like
me be son-in-law of the King. — The King however replied, I have bestowed upon
thee that favour, together with the office of Vizier. Then he invested him with the
robe of a Vizier immediately ; whereupon he seated himself on the chair of the
Vizier, and said, King of the age, thou hast bestowed upon me that favour, and I
am honoured by thy beneficence ; but hear a word that I would say to thee. He
replied, Say, and fear not. And he said. Since thy noble command hath been given
to marry thy daughter, it is fit that she be married to my son. — Hast thou a son?
asked the King. — Yes, answered Ali. And the King said, Send to him immediately.
He replied, I hear and obey; — and he sent one of his mamlouks to his son, and
caused him to be brought ; and when he came into the presence of the King, he
kissed the ground before him, and stood respectfully. And the King, looking at
him, saw him to be more lovely than his daughter, and more beautiful than she in
stature and justness of form, and iti elegance and in every charm. He said to him,
What is thy name, my son ? And he answered, our lord the Sultan, my name
is Hassan. And his age at that time was fourteen years. Then the King said to
the Cadi, Write the contract of the marriage of my daughter to Hassan the son of
the merchant Ali of Cairo. So he wrote the contract of their marriage, and the
affair was finished in the most agreeable manner; after which, every one who was
in the court went his way, and the merchants went down behind the Vizier Ali of
472 THE STORY OP ALI OF CAIRO.
Cairo until he arrived at his house, instated in the office of Vizier; and they con-
gratulated him on that event, and went their ways. He then entered the apartment
of his wife, who, seeing him clad in the robe of a Vizier, said to him, What is this ?
He therefore related to her the case from beginning to end, and said to her. The
King hath married his daughter to Hassan my son. And she rejoiced at this ex-
ceedingly.
Then Ali of Cairo passed the night, and when the morning arrived, he went up to
the court, and the King met him graciously, and seated him by his side, treating
him with especial favour, and said to him, Vizier, we desire to celebrate the fes-
tivity, and to introduce thy son to my daughter. Ali replied, our lord the Sultan,
what thou judgest to be well is well. And the King gave orders to celebrate the
festivity. They decorated the city, and continued the festivity thirty days, in joy
and happiness ; and after the thirty days were ended, Hassan, the son of the Vizier
Ali, took the King's daughter as his wife, and was delighted with her beauty and
loveliness. The King's wife, too, when she saw her daughter's husband, loved him
greatly ; and in like manner, she was exceedingly pleased with his mother. Then
the King gave orders to build a palace for Hassan the son of the Vizier; and they
built for him quickly a magnificent palace, in which he resided ; and his mother used
to remain with him some days, and then descend to her house. So the King's wife
said to her husband, King of the age, the mother of Hassan cannot reside with
her son and leave the Vizier, nor can she reside with the Vizier and leave her son.
He replied. Thou hast spoken truth. And he gave orders to build a third palace, by
that of Hassan, the son of the Vizier; and they built it in a few days: after which
the King commanded to remove the goods of the Vizier to that palace ; and they did
so ; and the Vizier took up his abode in it. The three palaces communicated one
with another ; so when the King desired to speak with the Vizier, he walked to him
in the night, or sent to bring him ; and in like manner did Hassan and his mother
and his father. They ceased not to live together in an agreeable manner, and to
pass a pleasant life for a length of time.
After this, an illness attacked the King, and his malady increased : so he sum-
moned the grandees of his kingdom, and said to them, A violent disease hath at-
tacked me, and perhaps it is that which will occasion my death : I have therefore
summoned you to consult you respecting an affixir, and do ye give me the advice that
ye judge to be good. They said. Respecting what wouldst thou consult us, King?
And he answered, I have become old, and have fallen sick, and am in fear for my
kingdom after me, on account of the enemies ; wherefore I desire that ye all agree
in the choice of one, that I may inaugurate him as King during my life, and that ye
may be at ease. To this they all replied, We all approve of the husband of thy
daughter, Hassan, the son of the Vizier Ali ; for we have observed his good sense
and perfection and intelligence, and he knoweth the rank of the great and the small.
The King said to them, And do ye approve of that? They answered. Yes. He said
to them. Perhaps ye say that before me through a modest respect for me, and behind
my back ye will say otherwise. But they all replied, By Allah our words are the
same in public and in secret; they change not ; and we approve of him with joyful
hearts and dilated bosoms. He therefore said to them. If the affair be so, bring the
Cadi of the holy law, and all the chamberlains and lieutenants and chief men of the
kingdom before me to-morrow, and we will finish the affair in the most agreeable
manner. And they replied. We hear and obey.
They departed from him, and summoned all the learned men, and the chief persons
among the Emirs, and when the morning came, they went up to the court, and sent
to the King, begging permission to come in to him; and he gave them permission.
So they entered, and saluted him, and said. We have all come before thee. And the
King said to them, Emirs of Bagdad, whom do ye like to be King over you after
me, that I may inaugurate him during my life in the presence of you all? They all
answered, We have agreed to accept Hassan the son of the Vizier Ali, and husband
THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO.
473
Cadi and attendant Ulania.
of thy daughter. And he said, If the case be so, arise ye all, and bring him before
me. So they all arose, and entered his palace, and said to him, Come with us to the
King. — For what purpose? said he. And they answered him. For an affair advan-
tageous to us and to thee. He therefore arose and proceeded with them until they
went in to the King, when Hassan kissed the ground before him ; and the King said
to him. Sit, my son. So he sat; and the King said to him, Hassan, all the
Emirs have petitioned in thy favour, and agreed to make thee King over them after
me, and I desire to inaugurate thee during my life, in order to conclude the affair.
But upon this Hassan arose, and kissed the ground before the King, and said to him,
our lord the King, verily among the Emirs is he who is older than I, and of higher
dignity: therefore release me from that affair. All the Emirs however said, We do
not choose but that thou be King over us. He said to them. My father is older than
I, and I and my father are the same, and it is not right to advance me above him.
But his father replied, I do not approve of aught but that of which my brethren
approve, and they have approved of thee, and agreed to have thee: oppose thou not
the command of the King, nor the command of thy brethren. And Hassan hung
down his head towards the ground, in modest respect for the King, and for his
father. So the King said to them. Do ye approve of him ? They answered. We do
approve of him. And they all recited, in testimony thereof, seven times, the opening
chapter of the Koran. Then the King said, Cadi, write a legal voucher, testifying
of these Emirs, that they have agreed to acknowledge, as Sultan, Hassan, the husband
of my daughter, and that he shall be King over them. He therefore wrote the
voucher to that effect, and signed it, after they had all inaugurated him as King.
The King did so likewise, and ordered him to sit upon the throne of the kingdom.
After this, all arose, and kissed the hands of the King Hassan, the son of the Vizier,
and paid homage to him ; and he exercised authority that day in an admirable
474 THE STORY OF ALI OF CAIRO.
manner, and conferred magnificent dresses of honour upon the grandees of the
kingdom.
Then the court broke up, and Hassan went in to the father of his wife, and kissed
his hands ; and he said to him, Hassan, be mindful to preserve the fear of Gud in
thy conduct towards thy subjects. Hassan replied, Through thy prayer for me,
my father, God's guidance will be given me. He then entered his own palace, and
his wife met him, with her mother and their dependants, and they kissed his hands,
and said to him. May the day be blessed! — and they congratulated him on the
dignity to which he had been raised. Then he arose and went from his palace into
that of his father ; and they rejoiced exceedingly at the favour which Gud had granted
him in conferring upon him the sovereignty ; and his father charged him to preserve
the fear of God, and to act with clemency to his subjects. He passed the next night
in joy and happiness until the morning ; when he performed his divinely ordained
prayers, and finished his concluding supplication, and went up to the court. All
the troops also went up thither, and the dignitaries; and he judged among the
people, commanding to act kindly, and forbidding iniquity, and he invested and
displaced, and ceased not to exercise authority until the close of the day ; where-
upon the court broke up in the most agreeable manner, and the troops dispersed,
each person going his way. Then Hassan arose and entered the palace; and he
saw that the illness of his wife's father had become heavy upon him : so he said to
him. No harm betide thee ! And the old King opened his eyes, and said to him,
Hassan ! He replied. At thy service, my lord. And the old King said to him,
Now hath the end of my life drawn near ; therefore take care of thy wife and her
mother, and preserve the fear of God, and an afi'ectionate obedience to thy parents ;
stand in awe of the majesty of the Requiting King, and know that God commandeth
justice and the doing of good. The King Hassan replied, I hear and obey. — Then
the old King remained three days after that, and was admitted to the mercy of
God, whose name be exalted! So they prepared his body for burial, and shrouded
it, and performed for him recitations of portions, and of the whole of the Koran, until
the end of the forty days ; — and the King Hassan, the son of the Vizier, became
absolute monarch. His subjects rejoiced in him, and all his days were happy, and
his father ceased not to be chief Vizier on his right hand, and he took another
Vizier on his left. His affairs were well ordered, and he remained King in Bagdad
a long time ; he was also blessed with three male children by the daughter of the
old King, and they inherited the kingdom after him ; and they passed a most com-
fortable and happy life, until they were visited by the terminator of delights and the
separator of companions. — Extolled be the perfection of Him who is eternal, and ia
whose power it lieth to annul and to confirm!
SINDBAD THE SAILOR AIJD SINDBAD THE PORTEll. 475
CHAPTER XX.
Commencing with the Five Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night, and ending with part of the
Five Hundred and Sixty-sixth.
THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR AND SINDBAD THE PORTER.
There was in the time of the Caliph, the Prince of the Faithful, Haroun Alra-
shid, in the city of Bagdad, a man called Sindbad the Poj-ter. He was a man in
poor circumstances, who bore burdens for hire upon his head. And it happened to
him that he bore one day a heavy burden, and that day was excessively hot; so he
was wearied by the load, and perspired profusely, the heat violently oppressing him.
In this state he passed by the door of a merchant, the ground before which was
swept and sprinkled, and there the air was temperate ; and by the side of the door
was a wide bench. The porter therefore put down his burden upon that bench, to
rest himself, and to scent the air; and when he had done so, there came forth upon
him, from the door, a pleasant, gentle gale, and an exquisite odour, wherewith the
porter was delighted. He seated himself upon the edge of the bench, and heard in
that place the melodious sound of stringed instruments, with the lute among them,
and mirth-exciting voices, and varieties of distinct recitations. He heard also the
voices of birds, warbling, and praising God (whose name be exalted !) with diverse
tones and with all dialects ; consisting of turtle-doves and hezars and blackbirds
and nightingales and ring-doves and curlews ; whereupon he wondered in his mind,
and was moved with great delight. He then advanced to that door, and found
within the house a great garden, wherein he beheld pages and slaves and servants
and other dependants, and such things as existed not elsewhere save in the abodes
of Kings and Sultans ; and after that, there blew upon him the odour of delicious,
exquisite viands, of all different kinds, and of delicious wine.
Upon this he raised his eyes towards heaven, and said. Extolled be thy perfection,
Lord! Creator! Supplier of the conveniences of life! Thou suppliest
whom Thou wilt without reckoning ! Allah, I implore thy forgiveness of all
offences, and turn to Thee repenting of all faults ! Lord, there is no animadvert-
ing upon Thee with respect to thy judgment and thy power; for Thou art not to be
questioned regarding that which Thou dost, and Thou art able to do whatsoever
Thou wilt ! Extolled be thy perfection ! Thou enrichest whom Thou wilt, and
whom Thou wilt Thou irapoverishest ! Thou magnifiest whom Thou wilt, and whom
Thou wilt Thou abasest ! There is no deity but Thou ! How great is thy dignity !
and how mighty is thy dominion ! and how excellent is thy government! Thou
hast bestowed favours upon him whom Thou choosest among thy servants, and the
owner of this place is in the utmost affluence, delighting himself with pleasant
odours and delicious meats and exquisite beverages of all descriptions. And Thou
hast appointed unto thy creatures what Thou wilt, and what Thou hast predestined
for them ; so that among them one is weary, and another is at ease ; and one of
them is prosperous, and another is like me, in the extreme of fatigue and abjection !
And when Sindbad the Porter had finished speaking, he desired to take up hia
burden and depart. But lo, there came forth to him from that door a young page,
handsome in countenance, comely in stature, magnificent in apparel; and he laid
hold upon the porter's hand, saying to him. Enter: answer the summons of my
476 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
master ; for he calleth for thee. And the porter would have refused to enter with
the page, but he could not. He therefore deposited his burden with the door-keeper
in tne entrance-passage, and, entering the house with the page, he found it to be a
handsome mansion, presenting an appearance of joy and majesty. And he looked
towards a grand chamber, in which he beheld noblemen and great lord^ ; and in it
were all kinds of flowers, and all kinds of sweet scents, and varieties of dried and
fresh fruits, together with abundance of various kinds of exquisite viands, and
beverage prepared from the fruit of the choicest grape-vines. In it were also in-
struments of mysic and mirth, and varieties of beautiful slave-girls, all ranged in
proper order. And at the upper end of that chamber was a great and venerable
man, in the sides of whose beard grey hairs had begun to appear. He was of hand-
some form, comely in countenance, with an aspect of gravity and dignity and
majesty and stateliness. So, upon this, Sindbad the Porter was confounded, and he
said within himself, By Allah, this place is a portion of Paradise, or it is the palace
of a King or Sultan ! Then, putting himself in a respectful posture, he saluted the
assembly, prayed for them, and kissed the ground before them; after which he
stood, hanging down his head in humility. But the master of the house gave him
permission to seat himself. He therefore sat. And the master of the house had
caused him to draw near unto him, and now began to cheer him with conversation,
and to welcome him ; and he put before him some of the various excellent, delicious,
exquisite viands. So Sindbad the Porter advanced, and, having said. In the name
of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, — ate until he was satisfied and satiated,
when he said, Praise be to God in every case ! — and washed his hands, and thanked
them for this.
The master of the house then said. Thou art welcome, and thy day is blessed.
What is thy name, and what trade dost thou follow? — my master, he answered,
my name is Sindbad the Porter, and I bear upon my head men's merchandise for
hire. And at this, the master of the house smiled, and he said to him. Know,
porter, that thy name is like mine ; for I am Sindbad the Sailor : but, porter, I
desire that thou let me hear the proverbs thou wast reciting when thou wast at the
door. The porter therefore was ashamed, and said to him, I conjure thee by Allah
that thou be not angry with me ; for fatigue and trouble, and paucity of what the
hand possesseth, teach a man ill manners and impertinence. His host, however, re-
plied. Be not ashamed ; for thou hast become my brother : recite then the proverbs,
since they pleased me when I heard them from thee as thou recitedst them at the
door. So upon this the porter recited to him those proverbs, and they pleased him,
and he was moved with delight on hearing them. He then said to him, porter,
know that my story is wonderful, and I will inform thee of all that happened to me
and befell me before I attained this prosperity and sat in this place wherein thou
seest me. For I attained not this prosperity and this place save after severe fatigue
and great trouble and many terrors. How often have I endured fatigue and toil in
my early years ! I have performed seven voyages, and connected with each voyage
is a wonderful tale, that would confound the mind. All that which I endured hap-
pened by fate and destiny, and from that which is written there is no escape or flight.
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Know, O masters, noble persons, that I had a father, a merchant, who was one
of the first in rank among the people and the merchants, and who possessed abun-
dant wealth and ample fortune. He died when I was a young child, leaving to me
wealth and buildings and fields ; and when I grew up, I put my hand upon the
whole of the property, ate well and drank well, associated with the young men, wore
handsome apparel, and passed my life with my friends and companions, feeling con-
fident that this course would continue and profit me; and I ceased not to live in this
Sindbad the Porter Saluting the Assembly. (Page 476.)
477
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 479
manner for a length of time. I then returned to my reason, and recovered from mj
heedlessness, and found that my wealth had passed away, and my condition had
changed, and all [the money] that I possessed had gone. I recovered not to see my
situation but in a state of fear and confusion of mind, and remembered a tale that
I had heard before, the tale of our lord Solomon the son of David (on both of whom
be peace!), respecting his saying. Three things are better than three: the day of
death is better than the day of birth ; and a living dog is better than a dead lion ; and
the grave is better than the palace. Then I arose, and collected what I had, of
effects and apparel, and sold them ; after which I sold my buildings and all that my
hand possessed, and amassed three thousand pieces of silver; and it occurred to my
mind to travel to the countries of other people. Upon this, I resolved, and arose
and bought for myself goods and commodities and merchandise, with such other
things as were required for travel, and my mind had consented to my performing a
sea-voyage. So I embarked in a ship, and it descended to the city of Balsora, with
a company of merchants, and we traversed the sea for many days and nights. We
had passed by island after island, and from sea to sea, and from land to land ; and
in every place by which we passed we sold and bought, and exchanged merchandise.
We continued our voyage until we arrived at an island like one of the gardens of
Paradise, and at that island the master of the ship brought her to anchor with us.
He cast the anchor, and put forth the landing-plank, and all who were in the ship
landed upon that island. They had prepared for themselves fire-pots, and they
lighted the fires in them ; and their occupations were various : some cooked ; others
washed ; and others amused themselyes. I was among those who were amusing
themselves upon the shores of the island, and the passengers were assembled to eat
and drink and play and sport. But while we were thus engaged, lo, the master of
the ship, standing upon its side, called out with his loudest voice, ye_ passengers,
whom may God preserve ! come up quickly into the ship, hasten to embark, and
leave your merchandise, and flee with your lives, and save yourselves from destruc-
tion ; for this apparent island, upon which ye are, is not really an island, but it is a
great fish that hath become stationery in the midst of the sea, and the sand hath ac-
cumulated upon it, so that it hath become like an island, and trees have grown upon
it since times of old ; and when ye lighted upon it the fire, it felt the heat, and put
itself in motion, and now it will descend with you into the sea, and ye will all be
drowned : then seek for yourselves escape before destruction, and leave the merchan-
dise ! — The passengers, therefore, hearing the words of the master of the ship, has-
tened to go up into the vessel, leaving the merchandise, and their other goods, and
their copper cooking-pots, and their fire-pots: and some reached the ship, and
others reached it not. The island had moved, and descended to the bottom of the
sea, with all that were upon it, and the roaring sea, agitated with waves, closed
over it.
I was among the number of those who remained behind upon the island ; so I
sank in the sea with the rest who sank. But God (whose name be exalted !) delivered
me and saved me from drowning, and supplied me with a great wooden Bowl, of the
bowls in which the passengers had been washing, and I laid hold upon it and got
into it, induced by the sweetness of life, and beat the water with my feet as M-ith
oars, while the waves sported with me, tossing me to the right and left. The master
of the vessel had caused her sails to be spread, and pursued his voyage with those
who had embarked, not regarding such as had been submerged ; and I ceased not
to look at that vessel until it was concealed from my eye. I made sure of destruc-
tion, and night came upon me while I was in this state ; but I remained so a day
and a night, and the wind and the waves aided me until the bowl came to a stoppage
with me under a high island, whereon were trees overhanging the sea. So I laid
hold upon a branch of a lofty tree, and clung to it, after I had been at the point of
destruction ; and I kept hold upon it until I landed on the isfland, when I found my
legs benumbed, and saw marks of the nibbling of fish upon their hams, of which I
480 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
nad been insensible by reason of the violence of the anguish and fatigue that I was
suffering.
I threw myself upon the island like one dead, and was unconscious of my existence,
and drowned in my stupefaction, and I ceased not to remain in this condition until
the next day. The sun having then risen upon me, I awoke upon the island, and
found that my feet were swollen," and that I had become reduced to the state in
which I then was. Awhile I dragged myself along in a sitting posture, and then I
crawled upon my knees; And there were in the island fruits in abundance, and
springs of sweet water. I therefore ate of those fruits ; and I ceased not to continue
in this state for many days and nights. My spirit had then revived, my soul had
returned to me, and my power of motion was renewed ; and I began to meditate,
and to walk along the shore of the island, amusing myself among the trees with the
sight of the things that God (whose name be exalted !) had created ; and I had made
for myself a staff from those trees, to lean upon it. Thus I remained until I walked,
one day, upon the shore of the island, and there appeared unto me an indistinct
object in the distance. I imagined that it was a wild beast, or one of the beasts of
the sea ; and I walked towards it, ceasing not to gaze at it ; and lo, it was a mare,
of superb appearance, picketed in a part of the island by the sea-shore. I approached
her: but she cried out against me with a great cry, and I trembled with fear of her,
and was about to return, when behold, a man came forth from beneath the earth,
and he called to me and pursued me, saying to me. Who art thou, and whence hast
thou come, and what is the cause of thine arrival in this place? So I answered
him, my master, know that I am a stranger, and I was in a ship, and was sub-
merged in the sea with certain others of the passengers; but God supplied me with
a wooden bowl, and I got into it, and it bore me along until the waves cast me upon
this island^ And when he heard my words, he laid hold of my hand, and said to
me. Come with me. I therefore went with him, and he descended with me into a
grotto beneath the earth, and conducted me into a large subterranean chamber, and,
having seated me at the upper end of that chamber, brought me some food. I was
hungry ; so I ate until I was satiated and contented, and my soul became at ease.
Then he asked me respecting my case, and what had happened to me ; wherefore I
acquainted him with my whole affair from beginning to end; and he wondered at
my story.
And when I had finished my tale, I said, I conjure thee by Allah, my master,
that thou be not displeased with me : I have acquainted thee with the truth of my
case, and of what hath happened to me, and I desire of thee that thou inform me
who thou art, and what is the cause of thy dwelling in this chamber that is beneath
the earth, and what is the reason of thy picketing this mare by the sea-side. So he
replied. Know that we are a party dispersed in this island, upon its shores, and we
are the grooms of the King Mihrage,' having under our care all his horses ; and
every month, when moonlight commenceth, we bring the swift mares, and picket
them in this island, every mare that has not foaled, and conceal ourselves in this
chamber beneath the earth, that they may attract the sea-horses. This is the time
of the coming forth of the sea-horse ; and afterwards, if it be the will of God (whose
name be exalted!), I will take thee with me to the King Mihrage, and divert thee
with the sight of our country. Know, moreover, that if thou hadst not met with us,
thou hadst not seen any one in this place, and wouldst have died in misery, none
knowing of thee. But I will be the means of the preservation of thy life, and of thy
return to thy country. — I therefore prayed for him, and thanked him for his kind
ness and beneficence ; and while we were thus talking, the horse came forth from
the sea, as he had said. And shortly after, his companions came, each leading a
mare ; and, seeing me with him, they inquired of me my story, and I told them
' This word is obviously the Sanscrit maharaja, " Great King," proDOunoed mabraj in Jte col-
loquial dialects of India.
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 481
what I had related to him. They then drew near to me, and spread the table, and
ate, and invited me; so I ate with them ; after which they arose and mounted the
horses, takinn; me with them, having mounted me on a mare.
We commenced our journey, and proceeded without ceasing until we arrived at
the city of the King Mihrage, and they went in to him, and they acquainted hira
with my story. He therefore desired my presence, and they took me in to him, and
stationed me before him, whereupon I saluted him, and he returned my salutation,
and welcomed me, greeting me in an honourable manner, and inquired of me re-
specting my case. So I informed him of all that had happened to me, and of all
that I had seen from beginning to end ; and he wondered at that which had befallen
me and happened to me, and said to me, O my son, by Allah thou hast experienced
an extraordinary preservation, and had it not been for the predestined length of thy
life, thou hadst not escaped from these difficulties ; but praise be to God for thy
safety ! Then he treated me with beneficence and honour, caused me to draw near
to him, and began to cheer me with conversation and courtesy ; and he made me his
superintendent of the sea-port, and registrar of every vessel that came to the coast.
I stood in his presence to transact his affairs, and he favoured me and benefitted me
in every respect ; he invested me with a handsome and costly dress, and I became a
person high in credit with him in intercessions, and in accomplishing the affairs of
the people. I ceased not to remain in his service for a long time ; and whenever I
went to the shore of the sea, I used to inquire of the merchants and travellers and
sailors respecting the direction of the city of Bagdad, that perchance some one
might inform me of it, and I might go with him thither and return to my country ;
but none knew it, or knew any one who went to it. At this I was perplexed, and I
was weary of the length of my absence from home ; and in this state I continued
for a length of time, until I went in one day to the King Mihrage, and found with
him a party of Indians. I saluted them, and they returned my salutation, and wel-
comed me, and asked me respecting my country ; after which, I questioned them as
to their country, and they told me that they consisted of various races. Among
them are the Shakiriah,' who are the most noble of their races, who oppress no one,
nor offer violence to any. And among them are a class called the Brahmans, a
people who never drink wine ; but they are persons of pleasure and joy, and sport
and merriment, and possessed of camels and horses and cattle. They informed me
also that the Indians are divided into seventy-two classes : and I wondered at this
extremely. And I saw, in the dominions of the King Mihrage, an island, among
others, which is called Kasil, in which is heard the beating of tambourines and
drums throughout the night, and the islanders and travellers informed us that
Dagial* is in it. I saw too, in the sea in which is that island, a fish two hundred
cubits long, and the fishermen fear it, wherefore they knock some pieces of wood,
and it fleeth from them ; and I saw a fish whose face was like that of the owl. I
likewise saw during that voyage many wonderful and strange things, such that if I
related them to you, the description would be too long.
I continued to amuse myself with the sight of those isliinds and the things that
they contained, until I stood one day upon the shore of the sea, with a staff in my
hand, as was my custom, and lo, a great vessel approached, wherein were many
merchants: and when it arrived at the harbour of the city, and its place of anchor-
ing, the master furled its sails, brought it to an anchor by the shore, and put forth
the landing-plank ; and the sailors brought out everything that was in that vessel
to the shore. They were slow in taking forth the goods, while I stood writing their
account, and I said to the master of the ship, Doth aught remain in thy vessel ? He
answered. Yes, my master ; I have some goods in the hold of the ship, but their
jwner was drowned in the sea at one of the islands during our voyage hither, and
his goods are in our charge ; so we desire to sell them, and to take a note of their
' The Kshatrias, or warrior caste of Indians.
'A fabulous being who is to come in the last days, and lay waste the earth.
31
482 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
price, in orier to convey it to his family in the city of Bagdad, the Abode of Peace.
I therefore said to the master, What was the name of that man, the owner of the
goods ? Hjj answered. His name was Sindbad the Sailor, and he was drowned on
his voyage with us in the sea. And when I heard his words, I looked at him with
a scrutinizing eye, and recognized him ; and I cried out at him with a great cry,
and said, master, know that I am the owner of the goods which thou hast men-
tioned, and I am Sindbad the Sailor, who descended upon the island from the ship,
with the other merchants who descended ; and when the fish that we were upon
moved, and thou calledst out to us, some got up into the vessel, and the rest sank,
and I was among those who sank. But God (whose name be exalted!) preserved
me and saved me from drowning by means of a large wooden bowl, of those in which
the passengers were washing, and I got into it, and began to beat the water with my
feet, and the waves aided me until I arrived at this island, when I landed on it, and
God (whose name be exalted!) assisted me, and I met the grooms of the King Mih-
rage, who took me with them and brought me to this city. They then led me in to
the King Mihrage, and I acquainted him with my story ; whereupon he bestowed
benefits upon me, and appointed me clerk of the harbour of this city, and I obtained
profit in his service, and favour with him. Therefore these goods that thou hast are
my goods and my portion.
But the master said. There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the
Great 1 There is no longer faith nor conscience in any one ! — Wherefore, master,
said I, when thou hast heard me tell thee my story ? He answered, Because thou
heardest me say that I had goods whose owner was drowned : therefore thou desirest
to take them without price ; and this is unlawful to thee ; for we saw him when he
sank, and there were with him many of the passengers, not one of whom escaped.
How then dost thou pretend that thou art the owner of the goods ?— So I said to
him, master, hear my story, and understand my words, and my veracity will be-
come manifest to thee ; for falsehood is a characteristic of the hypocrites. Then I
related to him all that I had done from the time that I went forth with him from the
city of Bagdad until we arrived at that island upon which we were submerged in the
pea, and I mentioned to him some circumstances that had occurred between me and
him. Upon this, therefore, the master and the merchants were convinced of my ve-
racity, and recognized me ; and they congratulated me on my safety, all of them
saying, By Allah, we believed not that thou hadst escaped drowning ; but God hath
granted thee a new life. Then they gave me the goods, and I found my name writ-
ten upon them, and nought of them was missing. So I opened them, and took forth
from them something precious and costly; the sailors of the sl\ip carried"it with me,
and I went up with it to the King to ofi'er it as a present, and informed him that this
ship was the one in which I was a passenger. I told him also that my goods had
arrived all entire, and that this present was a part of them. And the King won-
dered at this aS"air extremely: my veracity in all that I had said became manifest
to him, and he loved me greatly, and treated me with exceeding honour, giving me a
large present in return for mine.
Then I sold my bales, as well as the other goods that I had, and gained upon them
abundantly ; and I purchased other goods and merchandise and commodities of that
city. And when the merchants of the ship desired to set forth on their voyage, I
stowed all that 1 had in the vessel, and, going in to the King, thanked him for his
beneficence and kindness ; after which I begged him to grant me permission to de-
part on my voyage to ray country and my family. So he bade me farewell, and
gave me an abundance of things at my departure, of the commodities of that city ;
and when I had taken leave of him, I embarked in the ship, and we set sail by the
permission of God, (whose name be exalted!) Fortune served us, and destiny
aided us, and we ceased not to prosecute our voyage night and day until we arrived
in safety at the city of Balsora. There we landed, and remained a short time ; and
I rejoiced at my safety, and my return to ray country : and after that, I repaired to
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 483
the city of Bagdad, the Abode of Peace, with abundance of bales and goods and
merchandise of great value. Then I went to my quarter, and entered my house,
and all my family and companions came to me. I procured for myself servants and
other dependants, and mamlouks and concubines and male black slaves, so that I
had a large establishment; and I purchased houses and other immovable posses-
sions, more than I had at first. I enjoyed the society of my companions and friends,
exceeding my former habits, and forgot all that I had suffered from fatigue, and
absence from my native country, and difficulty, and the terrors of travel. I occupied
myself with delights and pleasures ; and delicious meats and exquisite drinks, and
continued in this state. Such were the events of the first of my voyages ; and to-
morrow, if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !), I will relate to you the
tale of the second of the seven voyages. '
Sindbad the Sailor then made Sindbad the Porter to sup with him ; after which
he gave orders to present him with a hundred pieces of gold, and said to him. Thou
hast cheered us by thy company this day. So the Porter thanked him, and took
from him what he had given him, and went his way, meditating upon the events
that befell and happened to mankind, and wondering extremely. He slept that
night in his abode ; and when the morning came, he repaired to the house of Sind-
bad the Sailor, and went in to him ; and he welcomed him, and treated him with
honour, seating him by him. And after the rest of his companions had come, the
food and drink were set before them, and the time was pleasant to them, and they
were merry. Then Sindbad the Sailor began his narrative thus: —
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Know, my brothers, that I was enjoying a most comfortable life, and the most
pure happiness, as ye were told yesterday, until it occurred to my mind, one day, to
travel again to the lands of other people, and I felt a longing for the occupation of
traffick, and the pleasure of seeing the countries and islands of the world, and gain-
ing my subsistence. I resolved upon that affair, and, having taken forth from my
money a large sum, I purchased with it goods and merchandise suitable for travel,
and packed them up. Then I went to the bank of the river, and found a handsome
new vessel, with sails of comely canvas, and it had a numerous crew, and was super-
fluously equipped. So I embarked my bales in it, as did also a party of merchants
besides, and we set sail that day. The voyage was pleasant to us, and we ceased
not to pass from sea to sea, and from island to island ; and at every place where we
cast anchor we met the merchants and the grandees, and the sellers and buyers, and
we sold and bought, and exchanged goods. Thus we continued to do until destiny
conveyed us to a beautiful island, abounding with trees bearing ripe fruits, where
flowers diffused their fragrance, with birds warbling, and pure rivers ; but there was
not in it an inhabitant, nor a blower of a fire. The master anchored our vessel at
that island, and the merchants with the other passengers landed there, to amuse
themselves with the sight of its trees, and to extol the perfection of God, the One,
the Omnipotent, and to wonder at the power of the Almighty King. I also landed
upon the island with the rest, and sat by a spring of pure water among the trees. I
had with me some food, and I sat in that place eating what God (whose name be
exalted !) had allotted me. The zephyr was sweet to us in that place, and the time
was pleasant to me ; so slumber overcame me, and I reposed there, and became im-
mersed in sleep, enjoying that sweet zephyr, and the fragrant gales. T then arose,
and found not in the place a human being nor a Genie. The vessel had gone with
the passengers, and not one of them remembered me, neither any of the merchants
nor any of the sailors ; so they left me in the island.
I looked about it to the right and left, and found not in it any one save myself.
I was therefore affected with violent vexation, not to be exceeded, and my gall-bladder
484 THE SECOND VOYAGE OP SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
almost burst by reason of the severity of my grief and mourning and fatigue, I had
not with me aught of worldly goods, neither food nor drink, and I had become
desolate, w-eary in my soul, and despairing of life : and I said, Not every time doth
the jar escape unbroken; and if I escaped the first time, and found him who took
me with him from the shore of the island to the inhabited part, this time far, far
from me is the prospect of my finding him who will convey me to inhabited lands !
Then I began to weep and wail for myself, until vexation overpowered mo ; and I
blamed myself for that which I had done, and for my having undertaken this voyage
and fatigue after I had been reposing at ease in my abode and my country, in ample
happiness, and enjoying good food and good drink and good apparel, and had not
been in want of anything, either of money or goods or merchandise. I repented of
my having gone forth from the city of Bagdad, and set out on a voyage over the sea,
after the fatigue that I had sufi"ered during my first voyage, and I felt at the point
of destruction, and said. Verily to God we belong, and verily unto Him we return !
And I was in the predicament of the mad. After that, I arose and stood up, and
walked about the island to the right and left, unable to sit in one place. Then I
climbed up a lofty tree ; and began to look from it to the right and left; but saw
nought save sky and water, and trees and birds, and islands and sands. Looking
however with a scrutinizing eye, there appeared to me on the island a white object,
indistinctly seen in the distance, of enormous size ; so I descended from the tree,
and went towards it, and proceeded in that direction without stopping until I arrived
at it ; and lo, it was a large white dome, of great height and large circumference. I
drew near to it, and walked round it, but found no door to it ; and I found that I
had not strength nor activity to climb it, on account of its exceeding smoothness.
I made a mark at the place where I stood, and went round the dome measuring ita
circumference ; and lo, it was fifty full paces ; and I meditated upon some means of
gaining an entrance into it.
The close of the day, and the setting of the sun, had now drawn near; and behold,
the sun was hidden, and the sky became dark, and the sun was veiled from me. I
therefore imagined that a cloud bad come over it ; but this was in the season of
summer, so I wondered ; and I raised my head, and, contemplating that object
attentively, I saw that it was a bird, of enormous size, bulky body, and wide wings,
flying in the air ; and this it was that concealed the body of the sun, and veiled it
from view upon the island. At this my wonder increased, and I remembered a story
which travellers and voyagers had told me long before, that there is, in certain of
the islands, a bird of enormous size, called the roc, that feedeth its young ones with
elephants. I was convinced, therefore, that the dome which I had seen was one of
the eggs of the roc. I wondered at the works of God (whose name be exalted 1) ;
and while I was in this state, lo, that bird alighted upon that dome, and brooded
over it with its wings, stretching out its legs behind upon the ground ; and it slept
over it. — Extolled be the perfection of Him who sleepeth not! — Thereupon I arose,
and unwound my turban from my head, and folded it and twisted it so that it became
like a rope ; and I girded myself with it, binding it tightly round my waist, and tied
myself by it to one of the feet of that bird, and made the knot fast, saying within
myself. Perhaps this bird will convey me to a land of cities and inhabitants, and that
will be better than my remaining in this island. I passed the night sleepless, fear-
ing that, if I slept, the bird would fly away with me when I was not aware ; and
when the dawn came, and morn appeared, the bird rose from its egg, and uttered a
great cry, and drew me up into the sky. It ascended and soared up so high that I
imagined it had reached the highest region of the sky ; and after that it descended
with me gradually until it alighted with me upon the earth, and rested upon a lofty
spot. So when I reached the earth, I hastily untied the bond from its foot, fearing
it, though it knew not of me nor was sensible of me ; and after I had loosed my
turban from it, and disengaged it from its foot, shaking as I did so, I walked away.
Then it took something from the face of the earth in its talons, and soared to the
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
485
upper region of the sky; and I looked attentively at that thing, and lo, it was a
serpent, of enormous size, of great body, which it had taken and carried off towards
the sea ; and I wondered at that event.
After this, I walked about that place, and found myself upon an eminence, beneath
which was a large, wide, deep valley, and by its side, a great mountain, very high ;
no one could see its summit by reason of its excessive height, and no one had power
to ascend it. I therefore blamed myself for that which I had done, and said. Would
that I had remained in the island ; since it is better than this desert place ; for in
the island are found, among various fruits, what I might have eaten, and I might
have drunk of its rivers ; but in this place are neither trees nor fruits nor rivers ;
and there is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! Verily, every
time that I escape from one calamity I fall into another that is greater and more
severe! — Then I arose, and emboldened myself, and walked in that valley; and I
beheld its ground to be composed of diamonds, with which they perforate minerals
and jewels, and with which also they perforate porcelain and the onyx ; and it is a
stone so hard that neither iron nor rock have any effect upon it, nor can any one
cut off aught from it, or break it, unless by means of the lead-stone. All that valley
was likewise occupied by serpents and venomous snakes, every one of them like a
palm-tree ; and by reason of its enormous size, if an elephant came to it, it would
swallow it. Those serpents appeared in the night, and hid themselves in the day,
fearing lest the roc and the vulture should carry them off, and after that tear them
in pieces ; and the cause of that I know not. I remained in that valley, repenting
of what I had done, and said within myself, By Allah, I have hastened my own
destruction ! The day departed from me, and I began to walk along that valley,
looking for a place in which to pass the night, fearing those serpents, and forgetting
my food and drink and subsistence, occupied only by care for my life. And there
appeared to me a cave near by; so I walked thither, and I found its entrance narrow.
I therpfi)re entered it, and, seeing a large stone by its mouth, I pushed it, and stopped
with it the mouth of the cave while I was within it; and I said within myself, I am
safe now that I have entered this place ; and when daylight shineth upon me, I will
486 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
go forth, and see what destiny will do. Then I looked within the cave, and beheld
a huge serpent sleeping at the upper end of it over its eggs. At this my flesh quaked,
and I raised my head, and committed my case to fate and destiny; and I passed all
the night sleepless, until the dawn arose and shone, when I removed the stone with
which I had closed the entrance of the cave, and went forth from it, like one intox-
icated, giddy from excessive sleeplessness and hunger and fear.
I then walked along the valley ; and while I was thus occupied, lo, a great slaugh-
tered animal fell before me, and I found no one. So I wondered thereat extremely ;
and I remembered a story that I had heard long before from certain of the merchants
and travellers and persons in the habit of journeying about, — that in the mountains
of the diamonds are experienced great terrors, and that no one can gain access to
the diamonds, but that the merchants who import them know a stratagem by means
of which to obtain them ; that they take a sheep, and slaughter it, and skin it, and
cut up its flesh, which they throw down from the mountain to the bottom of the
valley : so descending fresh and moist, some of these stones stick to it. Then the
merchants leave it until midday, and birds of the large kind of vulture and the
aquiline vulture descend to that meat, and, taking it in their talons, fly up to the top
of the mountain ; whereupon the merchants come to them, and cry out at them, and
they fly away from the meat. The merchants then advance to that meat, and take
from it the stones sticking to it ; after which they leave the meat for the birds and
the wild beasts, and carry the stones to their countries. And no one can procure
the diamonds but by means of this stratagem. Therefore when I beheld that slaugh-
tered animal, and remembered this story, I arose and went to the slaughtered beast.
I then selected a great number of these stones, and put them into my pocket, and
within my clothes ; and I proceeded to select, and to put into my pockets and my
girdle and my turban and within my clothes. And while I was doing this, lo, an-
other great slaughtered animal. So I bound myself to it with my turban, and, laying
myself down on my back, placed it upon my bosom and grasped it firmly. Thus it
was raised high above the ground : and behold, a vulture descended upon it, seized
it with its talons, and flew up with it into the air, with me attached to it ; and it
ceased not to soar up until it had ascended with it to the summit of the mountain,
when it alighted with it, and was about to tear off some of it. And thereupon- a
great and loud cry arose from behind that vulture, and something made a clattering
with a piece of wood upon the mountain ; whereat the vulture flew away in fear,
and soared into the sky.
I therefore disengaged myself from the slaughtered animal, with the blood of
which my clothes were polluted ; and I stood by its side. And lo, the merchant
who had cried out at the vulture advanced to the slaughtered animal, and saw me
standing there. He spoke to me not ; for he was frightened at me, and terrified ;
but he came to the slaughtered beast, and turned it over ; and, not finding anything
upon it, he uttered a loud cry, and said. Oh, my disappointment ! There is no
strength nor power but in God ! We seek refuge with God from Satan the accursed !
— He repented, and struck hand upon hand, and said, Oh, my grief! What is this
affair? — So I advanced to him, and he said to me. Who art thou, and what is the
reason of thy coming to this place ? I answered him. Fear not, nor be alarmed ; for
I am a human being, of the beat of mankind ; and I was a merchant, and my tale is
prodigious, and my story extraordinary, and the cause of my coming to this moun-
tain and this valley is wondrous to relate. Fear not; for thou shalt receive of me
what will rejoice thee : I have with me abundance of diamonds, of which I will
give thee as much as will sufiice thee, and every piece that I have is better than all
that would come to thee by other means : therefore be not timorous nor afraid. —
And upon this the man thanked me, and prayed for me, and conversed with me ;
and lo, the other merchants heard me talking with their companion, so they came
to me. Each merchant had thrown down a slaughtered animal ; and when they
came to us, they saluted me, and congratulated me on my safety, and took me with
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 487
them ; and I acquainted them with my whole story, relating to them what I had
suffered on my voyage, and telling them the cause of my arrival in this valley.
Then I gave to the owner of the slaughtered animal to which I had attached myself
an abundance of what I had brought with me ; and he was delighted with me, and
prayed for me, and thanked me for that ; and the other merchants said to me. By
Allah, a new life hath been decreed thee ; for no one ever arrived at this place before
thee and escaped from it ; but praise be to God for thy safety ! — They passed the
next night in a pleasant and safe place, and I passed the night with them, full of
the utmost joy at my safety and my escape from the valley of serpents, and my
arrival in an inhabited country.
And when day came, we arose and journeyed over that great mountain, beholding
in that valley numerous serpents ; and we continued to advance until we arrived at
a garden in a great and beautiful island, wherein were camphor-trees, under each
of which trees a hundred men might shade themselves. When any one desireth to
obtain some camphor from one of these trees, he maketh a perforation in the upper
part of it with something long, and catcheth what descendeth from it. The liquid
camphor floweth from it, and concreteth like gum. It is the juice of that tree ; and
after this operation, the tree drieth, and becometh fire-wood. In that island too is a
kind of wild beast called the rhinoceros, which pastureth there like oxen and buffa-
loes in our country ; but the bulk of that wild beast is greater than the bulk of the
camel, and it eateth the tender leaves of trees. It is a huge beast, with a single
horn, thick, in the middle of its head, a cubit in length, wherein is the figure of
a man. And in that island are some animals of the ox-kind. Moreover, the sailors
and travellers and persons in the habit of journeying about in the mountains and
the lands have told us, that this wild beast which is named the rhinoceros lifteth the
great elephant upon its horn, and pastureth with it upon the island and the shores,
without being sensible of it; and the elephant dieth upon its horn; and its fat,
melting by the heat of the sun, and flowing upor. its head, entereth its eyes, so that
it becometh blind. Then it lieth down upon the shore, and the roc cometh to it,
and carrieth it off [with the elephant] in its talons to its young ones, and feedeth
them with it and with that which is upon its horn [namely the elephant]. I saw
also in that island abundance of the buffalo-kind, the like of which existeth not
among us.
The valley before mentioned containeth a great quantity of diamonds, such as I
carried off and hid in my pockets. For these the people gave me in exchange goods
and commodities belonging to them ; and they conveyed them for me, giving me
likewise pieces of silver and pieces of gold ; and I ceased not to proceed with them,
amusing myself with the sight of different countries, and of what God hath created,
from valley to valley, and from city to city, we, in our way, selling and buying, until
we arrived at the city of Balsora. We remained there a few days, and then I came
to the city of Bagdad, the Abode of Peace, and came to my quarter, and entered my
house, bringing with me a great quantity of diamonds, and money and commodities
and goods in abundance. I met my family and relations, bestowed alms and gifts,
made presents to all my family and companions, and began to eat well, and drink
well, and wear handsome apparel. I associated with friends and companions, forgot
all that I had suffered, and ceased not to enjoy a pleasant life and joyful heart and
dilated bosom, with sport and merriment. Every one who heard of my arrival came
to me, and inquired of me respecting my voyage, and the states of the different
countries; so I informed him, relating to him what I had experienced and suffered;
and he wondered at the severity of my sufferings, and congratulated me on my
safety. This is the end of the account of the events that befell me and happened to
me during the second voyage; and to-morrow, if it be the will of God (whose name
be exalted !), I will relate to you the events of the third voyage.
And when Sindbad the Sailor had finished his story to Sindbad the Porter, the
company wondered at it. They supped with him ; and he gave orders to present to
488 THE THIRD VOYAGE OF STNDBAD THE SAILOR.
Sindbad the Porter a hundred pieces of ^old ; and the latter took them, and went hia
way, wonderinjr at the things that Sindbad the Sailor had suffered. He thanked
him, and prayed for him in his house ; and when the morning came, and diffused its
light and radiance, Sindbad the Porter arose, performed the morning-prayers, and
repaired to the house of Sindbad the Sailor, as he had commanded him. lie went
in to him and wished him good-morning, and Sindbad the Sailor welcomed him :
and he sat with him until the rest of his companions and party had come ; and after
they had eaten and drunk and enjoyed themselves, and were merry and happy,
Sindbad the Sailor began thus: —
THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Know, my brothers (and hear from me the story of the third voyage; for it is
more wonderful than the preceding stories, hitherto related — and God is all knowing
with respect to the things which He hideth, and omniscient), that, in the times past,
when I returned from the second voyage, and was in a state of the utmost joy and
happiness, rejoicing in my safety, having gained great wealth, as I related to you
yesterday, God having compensated me for all that I had lost, I resided in the city
of Bagdad for a length of time in the most perfect prosperity and delight, and joy
and happiness. Then my soul became desirous of travel and diversion, and I longed
for commerce and gain and profits ; the soul being prone to evil. So I meditated,
and bought an abundance of goods suited for a sea-voyage, and packed them up, and
departed with them from the city of Bagdad to the city of Balsora. There, coming
to the bank of the river, I behehl a great vessel, in which were many merchants and
other passengers, people of worth, and comely and good persons, people of religion
and kindness and probity. I therefore embarked with them in that vessel, and we
departed in reliance on the blessing of God (whose name be exalted !), and his aid
and favour, rejoicing in expectation of good fortune and safety. We ceased not £o
proceed from sea to sea, and from island to island, and from city to city; at every
place by which we passed diverting ourselves, and selling and buying, in the utmost
joy and happiness. Thus we did until we were, one day, pursuing our course in the
midst of the roaring sea, when lo, the master, standing at the side of the vessel,
looked at the different quarters of the sea, and then slapped his face, furled the sails
of the ship, cast its anchors, plucked his beard, rent his clothes, and uttered a great
cry. So we said to him, master, what is the news? And he answered. Know,
passengers, whom may God preserve ! that the wind hath prevailed against us, and
driven us out of our course in the midst of the sea, and destiny hath cast us, through
our evil fortune, towards the Mountain of Apes. No one hath ever arrived at this
place and escaped, and my heart is impressed with the conviction of the destruction
of us all. — And the words of the master were not ended before the apes had come to
ua and surrounded the vessel on every side, numerous as locusts, dispersed about the
vessel and on the shore. We feared that, if we killed one of them, or struck him, or
drove him away, they would kill us, on account of their excessive number ; for num-
bers prevail against courage ; and we feared them lest they should plunder our goods
and our commodities. They are the most hideous of beasts, and covered with hair
like black felt, their aspect striking terror. No one understandeth their language or
their state; they shun the society of men, have yellow eyes and black faces, and are
of small size, the height of each one of them being four spans. They climbed up
the cables, and severed them with their teeth ; and they severed all the ropes of the
vessel in every part : so the vessel inclined with the wind, and stopped at their
mountain and on their coast. Then, having seized all the merchants and the other
passengers, and landed them upon the island, they took the vessel with the whole of
its contents, and went their way with it.
They left us upon the island; the vessel became concealed fmrn us, and we knew
The Apes come to Surround the Vessel. (Page 488.)
489
THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 491
not whither they went with it. And while we were upon that island, eating of ita
fruits and its herbs, and drinking of the rivers that were there, lo, there appeared to
us an uninhabited house in the midst of the island. We therefore went towards it,
and walked to it; and, behold, it was a pavilion, with lofty angles, with high walls,
having an entrance with folding doors, which were open ; and the doors were of
ebony. We entered this pavilion, and found in it a great, open space, like a wide,
large court, around which were many lofty doors, and at its upper end was a high
and great bench. There were also in it utensils for cooking, hung over the fire-pots,
and around them were many bones. But we saw not there any person ; and we
wondered at that extremely. We sat in the open space in that pavilion a little while,
after which we slept ; and we ceased not to sleep from near the mid-time between
sunrise and noon until sunset. And lo, the earth trembled beneath us, and we heard
a confused noise from the upper air, and there descended upon us, from the summit
of the pavilion, a person of enormous size, in human form, and he was of black com-
plexion, of lofty stature, like a great palm-tree; he had two eyes like two blazes of
fire, and tusks like the tusks of swine, and a mouth of prodigious size, like the mouth
of a well, and lips like the lips of the camel, hanging down upon his bosom, and he
had ears like two mortars, hanging down upon his shoulders, and the nails of his
hands were like the claws of the lion. So when we beheld him thus, we became
unconscious of our existence, our fear was vehement, and our terror was violent, and
through the violence of our fear and dread and terror we became as dead men. And
after he had descended upon the ground, he sat a little while upon the seat. Then
he arose and came to us, and seizing me by my hands from among my companions
the merchants, lifted me up from the ground in his hand, and felt me and turned me
over ; and I was in his hand like a little mouthful. He continued to feel me as the
butcher feeleth the sheep that he is about to slaughter: but he found me infirm from
excessive affliction, and lean from excessive fatigue and the voyage ; having no flesh.
He therefore let me go from his hand, and took another, from among my compan-
ions ; and he turned him over as he had turned me over, and felt him as he had felt
me, and let him go. He ceased not to feel us and turn us over, one after another,
until he came to the master of our ship, who was a fat, stout, broad-shouldered man ;
a person of strength and vigour : so he pleased him, and he seized him as the butcher
seizeth the animal that he is about to slaughter, and having thrown him on the
ground, put his foot upon his neck, which he thus broke. Then he brought a long
spit, and thrust it into his throat, and spitted him ; after which he lighted a fierce
fire, and placed over it that spit upon which the master was spitted, and ceased not
to turn him round over the burning coals until his flesh was thoroughly roasted ;
when he took him off from the fire, put him before him, and separated his joints as
a man separates the joints of a chicken, and proceeded to tear in pieces his flesh
with his nails, and to eat of it. Thus he continued to do until he had eaten his flesh
and gnawed his bones, and there remained of him nothing but some bones, which
he threw by the side of the pavilion. He then sat a little, and threw himself down,
and slept upon that bench, making a noise with his throat like that which is made
by a lamb or other beast when slaughtered ; and he slept uninterruptedly until the
morning, when he went his way.
As soon, therefore, as we were sure that he was far from us, we conversed together,
and wept for ourselves, saying. Would that we had been drowned in the sea, or that
the apes had eaten us ; for it were better than the roasting of a man upon burning
coals ! By Allah, this death is a vile one ! But what God willeth cometh to pass,
and there is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! We die in sor-
row, and no one knoweth of us ; and there is no escape for us from this place ! — We
then arose and went forth upon the island, to see for us a place in which to hide
ourselves, or to flee ; and it had become a light matter to us to die, rather than our
flesh should be roasted with fire. But we found not for us a place in which to hide
ourselves ; and the evening overtook us. So we returned to the pavilion, by reason
492 THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
of the violence of our fear, and sat there a little while ; and lo, the earth trembled
beneath us, and that black approached us, and, coming among us, began to turn us
over, one after another, as on the former occasion, and to feel us, until one pleased
him ; whereupon he seized him, and did with him as he did with the master of the
ship the day before. He roasted him and ate him upon that bench, and he ceased
not to sleep that night, making a noise with his throat like a slaughtered animal ;
and when the day came, he arose and went his way, leaving us as usual. Upon this
we assembled together and conversed, and said one to another. By Allah, if we cast
ourselves into the sea and die drowned, it will be better than our dying burnt; for
this mode of being put to death is abominable ! And one of us said, Hear my
words. Verily we will contrive a stratagem against him. and kill him, and be at
ease from anprehension of his purpose, and relieve the faithful from his oppression
and tyranny. — So I said to them, Hear, my brothers. If we must kill him, we will
transport this wood, and remove some of this fire-wood, and make for ourselves rafts,
each to bear three men ; after which we will contrive a stratagem to kill him, and
embark on the rafts, and proceed over the sea to whatsoever place God shall desire.
Or we will remain in this place until a ship shall pass by, when we will embark in
it. And if we be not able to kill him, we will embark [on our rafts], and put out
to sea ; and if we be drowned, we shall be preserved from being roasted over the
fire, and from being slaughtered. If we escape, we escape ; and if we be drowned,
we die martyrs. — To this they all replied, By Allah, this is a right opinion and a
wise proceeding. And we agreed upon this matter, and commenced the work. We
removed the pieces of wood out of the pavilion, and constructed rafts, attached them
to the sea-shore, and stowed upon them some provisions ; after which we returned
to the pavilion.
And when it was evening, lo, the earth trembled with us, and the black came in to
us like the biting dog. He turned us over and felt us, one after another, and, hav-
ing taken one of us, did with him as he had done with the others before him. He
ate him, and slept upon the bench, and the noise from his throat was like thunder.
So thereupon we arose and took two iron spits, of those which were set up, and put
them in the fierce fire until they were red-hot, and became like burning coals ; when
we grasped them firmly, and went with them to that black while he lay asleep,
snoring, and we thrust them into his eyes, all of us pressing upon them with our
united strength and force. Thus we pushed them into his eyes as he slept, and his
eyes were destroyed, and he uttered a great cry, whereat our hearts were terrified.
Then he arose resolutely from that bench, and began to search for us, while we fled
from him to the right and left, and he saw us not; for his sight was blinded; but
we feared him with a violent fear, and made sure, in that time, of destruction, and
despaired of safety. And upon this he sought the door, feeling for it, and went forth
from it, crying out, while we were in the utmost fear of him ; and lo, the earth shook
beneath us, by reason of the vehemence of hia cry. So when he went forth from
the pavilion, we followed him, and he went his way. searching for us. Then he re-
turned, accompanied by a female, greater than he, and more hideous in form ; and
when we beheld him, and her who was with him, more horrible than he in appear-
ance, we were in the utmost fear. As soon as the female saw us, we hastily loosed
the rafts that wo had constructed, and embarked on them, and pushed them forth
into the sea. But each of the two blacks had a mass of rock, and they cast at us
until the greater number of us died from the casting, there remaining of us only
three persons, I and two others ; and the raft conveyed us to another island.
We walked forward upon that island until the close of the day, and the night over-
took in this state: so we slept a little; and we awoke frt>m our sleep, and lo, a ser-
pent of enormous size, of large body and wide belly, had surrounded us. It
approached one of us, and swallowed him to his shoulders ; then it swallowed the
rest of him, and we heard his ribs Vjreak in pieces in its belly ; after which it went
its way. At this we wondered extremely, and we mourned for our companion, and
THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
493
were in the utmost fear for ourselves, sayins;, By Allah, this is a ■wonderful thing'
Every death that we witness is more horrible than the preceding one ! We were
rejoiced at our escape from the black ; but our joy is not complete ! There is no
strength nor power but in God I By Allah, we have escaped from the black and
from drowning ; but how shall we escape from this unlucky serpent ? — Then we
arose and walked on over the island, eating of its fruits and drinking of its rivers,
and we ceased not to proceed till morning, when we found a great, lofty tree. So
we climbed up it, and slept upon it ; I having ascended to the highest of its branches.
But when the night arrived and it was dark, the serpent came, looking to the right
and left, and, advancing to the tree upon which we were, came up to my companion,
and swallowed him to his shoulders ; and it wound itself round the tree with him,
and I heard his bones break in pieces in its belly : then it swallowed him entirely,
while I looked on ; after which it descended from the tree, and went its way. — I
remained upon that tree the rest of the night ; and when the day came and the light
appeared, I descended from the tree, like one dead, by reason of excessive fear and
terror, and desired to cast myself into the sea, that I might be at rest from the world,
but it was not a light matter to me to do so ; for life is dear. So I tied a wide piece
of wood upon the soles of my feet, crosswise, and I tied one like it upon my left side,
and a similar one upon my right side, and a similar one upon the front of my body,
and I tied one long and wide upon the top of my head, crosswise, like that which
was under the soles of my feet. Thus I was in the midst of these pieces of wood,
and they enclosed me on every side. I bound them tightly, and threw myself with
the whole upon the ground : so I lay in the midst of the pieces of wood, which en-
closed me like a closet. And when the evening arrived, the serpent approached as
it was wont, and saw me, and drew towards me ; but it could not swallow me when
I was in that state, with the pieces of wood round me on every side. It went round
me, but could not get at me ; and I looked at it, being like a dead man, by reason
of the violence of my fear and terror. The serpent retired from me, and returned
to me ; and thus it ceased not to do : every time that it desired to get at me to swal-
low me, the pieces of wood tied upon me on every side prevented it. It continued to
do thus from sunset until daybreak arrived, and the light appeared and the sun rose,
when it went its way, in the utmost vexation and rage. Upon this, therefore, I
stretched forth my hands and loosed myself from those pieces of wood, in a state
like that of the dead, through the severity of that which I had suffered from that
serpent.
Sindbad the Sailor hailing; the Vessel.
494 THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
I then arose and walked along the island until I came to the extremity of it ; when
I cast a glance towards the sea, and beheld a ship at a distance, in the midst of the
deep. So I took a great branch of a tree, and made a sign with it to the passengers,
calling out to them ; and when they saw me, they said. We must see what this is.
Perhaps it is a man. — Then they approached me, and heard my cries to them. They
therefore came to me, and took me with them in the ship, and asked me respecting
my state : so I informed them of all that had happened to me from beginning to
end, and of the troubles that I had suffered ; whereat they wondered extremely.
They clad me with some of their clothes, attiring me decently ; and after that they
put before me some provisions, and I ate until I was satisfied. They also gave me
to drink some cool and sweet water, and my heart was revived, my soul became at
ease, and I experienced great comfort. God (whose name be exalted !) had raised
me to life after my death, so I praised him (exalted be his name!) for his abun-
dant favours, and thanked Him. My courage was strengthened after I had made
sure of destruction, so that it seemed to me that all which I then experienced was a
dream. — We proceeded on our voyage, and the wind was fair to us, by the permis-
sion of God (whose name be exalted !), until we came in sight of an island called
the Island of Selahit, where sandal-wood is abundant, and there the master an-
chored the ship, and the merchants and other passengers landed, and took forth
their goods to sell and buy. The owner of the ship then looked towards me, and
said to me, Hear my words. Thou art a stranger and poor, and hast informed ua
that thou hast suffered many horrors ; I therefore desire to benefit thee with some-
thing that will aid thee to reach thy country, and thou wilt pray for me. — I replied,
So be it, and thou shalt have my prayers. And he rejoined, Know that there was
with us a man voyaging, whom we lost, and we know not whether he be living or
dead, having heard no tidings of him. I desire to commit to thee his bales, that
thou mayest sell them in this island. Thou shalt take charge of them, and we will
give thee something proportionate to thy trouble and thy service ; and what re-
maineth of them we will take and keep until we return to the city of Bagdad, when
we will inquire for the owner's family, and give to them the remainder, together
with the price of that which shall be sold of them. Wilt thou then take charge of
them, and land with them upon this island, and sell them as do the merchants? — I
answered, I hear and obey thee, my master ; and thou art beneficent and kind.
And I prayed for him and thanked him for that.
He thereupon ordered the porters and sailors to land those goods upon the island,
and to deliver them to me. And the clerk of the ship said, master, what are these
bales which the sailors and porters have brpught out, and with the name of which
of the merchants shall I mark them ? He answered. Write upon them the name of
Sindbad the Sailor, who was with us, and was drowned [or left behind] at the island
of the roc, and of whom no tidings have come to us ; wherefore we desire that this
stranger sell them, and take charge of the price of them, and we will give him some-
what of it in requital of his trouble and his sale of them. What shall remain we
will take with us until we return to the city of Bagdad, when, if we find him, we
will give it to him ; and if we find him not, we will give it to his family in Bagdad.
— So the clerk replied, Thy words are good, and thy notion is excellent. And when
I heard the words of the master, mentioning that the bales were to be inscribed with
my name, I said within myself, By Allah, I am Sindbad the Sailor. Then I fortified
myself, and waited till the merchants had landed and had assembled, conversing and
consulting upon affairs of selling and buying, when I advanced to the owner of the
ship, and said to him, my master, dost thou know what manner of man was the
owner of the bales which thou hast committed to me that I may sell them ? He
answered me, I know not his condition ; but he was a man of the city of Bagdad,
called Sindbad the Sailor ; and we had cast anchor at one of the Islands, where he
was lost, and we have had no tidings of him to the present time. So upon this I
uttered a great cry, and said to him, master, whom may God preserve ! know that
I am Sindbad the Sailor. I was not drowned : but when thou anchoredst at the ia*
THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 495
land, and the merchants and other passengers landed, I also landed with the party,
taking with me something to eat on the shore of the island. Then I enjoyed my-
self in sitting in that place, and, slumber overtaking me, I slept, and became im-
mersed in sleep ; after which I arose, and found not the ship, nor found I any one
with me : therefore this wealth is my wealth, and these goods are my goods. All
the merchants also who transport diamonds saw me when I was upon the mountain
of the diamonds, and they will bear witness for me that I am Sindbad the Sailor, as
I informed them of my story and of the events that befell me with you in the ship.
I informed them that ye had forgotten me upon the island asleep, and that I arose
and found not any one, and that what had befallen me befell me.
And when the merchants and other passengers heard my words, they assembled
around me : and some of them believed me, and others disbelieved me. But while
we were thus talking, lo, one of the merchants, on his hearing me mention the val-
ley of diamonds, arose and advanced to me, and said to them. Hear, company, my
words. When I related to you the most wonderful thing that I had seen in my
travels, I told you that, when we cast down the slaughtered animals into the valley
of diamonds, I casting down mine with the rest, as I was accustomed to do, there
came up with my slaughtered beast a man attached to it, and ye believed me not,
but accused me of falsehood. — They replied. Yes: thou didst relate to us this thing,
and we believed thee not. And the merchant said to them. This is the man who at-
tached himself to my slaughtered animal, and he gave me some diamonds of high
price, the like of which exist not, rewarding me with more than would have come up
with my slaughtered animal ; and I took him as my companion until we arrived at
the city of Balsora, whence he proceeded to his country, having bidden us farewell,
and we returned to our own countries. This is he, and he informed us that his name
was Sindbad the Sailor: he told us likewise of the departure of the ship, and his
sitting in that island. And know ye that this man came not to us here but in order
that ye might believe my words respecting the matter which I told you ; and all
these goods are his property; for he informed us of them at the time of his meeting
with us, and the truth of his assertion hath become manifest. — So when the master
heard the words of that merchant, he arose and came to me, and, having looked at
me awhile with a scrutinizing eye, said. What is the mark of thy goods ? I answered
him. Know that the mark of my goods is of such and such a kind. And 1 related
to him a circumstance that had occurred between me and him when I embarked with
him in the vessel from Balsora. He therefore was convinced that I was Sindbad the
Sailor, and he embraced me and saluted me, and congratulated me on my safety,
saying to me. By Allah, my master, thy story is wonderful, and thy case is ex-
traordinary. But praise be to God who hath brought us together, and restored thy
goods and thy wealth to thee !
Upon this, I disposed of my goods according to the knowledge I possessed, and
they procured me, during that voyage, great gain, whereat I rejoiced exceedingly,
congratulating myself on my safety, and on the restoration of my wealth to me.
And we ceased not to sell and buy at the islands until we arrived at the country of
Sinde, where likewise we sold and bought. And I beheld in that sea [which we
navigated, namely the Sea of India] many wonders and strange things that cannot
be numbered or calculated. Among the things that I saw there were a fish in the
form of the cow, and a creature in the form of the ass ; and I saw a bird that cometh
forth from a sea-shell, and layeth its eggs and hatcheth them upon the surface of
the water, and never cometh forth from the sea upon the face of the earth. — After
this we continued our voyage, by permission of God (whose name be exalted !), and
the wind and voyage were pleasant to us, until we arrived at Balsora, where I re-
mained a few days. Then I came to the city of Bagdad, and repaired to my quarter,
entered my house and saluted my family and companions and friends. I rejoiced at
my safety and my return to my country and my family and city and district, and 1
gavts alms and presents, and clad the widows and the orphans, and collected my com-
496 THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
panions and friends. And I ceased not to live thus, eating and drinking, and sport-
ing and making merry, eating well and drinking well, associating familiarly and
mixing in society ; and I forgot all that had happened to me, and the distresses and
horrors that I had suffered. And I gained during that voyage what could not be
numbered or calculated. Such were the most wonderful of the things that I beheld
during that voyage; and to-morrow, if it be the will of God (whose name be
exalted !), thou shalt come [0 Sindbad the Porter], and I will relate to thee the story
of the fourth voyage : for it is more wonderful than the stories of the preceding
voyages.
Then Sindbad the Sailor gave orders to present to the porter a hundred pieces of
gold, as usual, and commanded to spread the table. So they spread it, and the com-
pany supped, wondering at that story and at the events described in it ; and aftei
the supper, they went their ways. Sindbad the Porter took the gold that Sindbad
the Sailor had ordered to be given to him, and went his way, wondering at that
which he had heard, and passed the night in his house ; and when the morning
came, and diffused its light and shone, he arose and performed the morning-prayers,
and walked to the bouse of Sindbad the Sailor. He went in to him and saluted
him; and he received him with joy and gaiety, and made him sit by him until the
rest of his companions had come ; when the servants brought forward the food, and
the party ate and drank and enjoyed themselves. Then Sindbad the Sailor began
to address them, and related to them the fourth story, saying: —
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Know, my brothers, that when I returned to the city of Bagdad, and met my
companions and my family and my friends, and was enjoying the utmost pleasure
and happiness and ease, and had forgotten all that I had experienced, by reason of
the abundance of my gains, and had become immersed in sport and mirth, and the
society of friends and companions, leading the most delightful life, my wicked soul
suggested to me to travel again to the countries of other people, and I felt a longing
for associating with the different races of men, and for selling and gains. So I re-
solved upon this, and purchased precious goods, suitable to a sea-voyage, and, having
packed up many bales, more than usual, I went from the city of Bagdad to the city
of Balsora, where I embarked my bales in a ship, and joined myself to a party of
the chi.ef men of Balsora, and we set forth on our voyage. The vessel proceeded
with us, confiding in the blessing of God (whose name be exalted !), over the roaring
sea agitated with waves, and the voyage was pleasant to us ; and we ceased not to
proceed in this manner for a period of nights and days, from island to island, and
from sea to sea, until a contrary wind rose against us one day. The master there-
fore cast the anchors, and stayed the ship in the midst of the sea, fearing that she
would sink in the midst of the deep. And while we were in this state, supplicating,
and humbling ourselves to God (whose name be exalted!), there arose against us a
great tempest, which rent the sails in strips, and the people were submerged with
all their bales and their commodities and wealth. I was submerged among the rest,
and I swam in the sea for half-a-day, after which I abandoned myself; but God
(whose name be exalted !) aided me to lay hold upon a piece of one of the planks of
the ship, and I and a party of the merchants got upon it. We continued sitting
upon this plank, striking the sea with our feet, and the waves and the wind helping
us; and we remained in this state a day and a night. And on the following diiy,
shortly before the mid-time between sunrise and noon, a wind rose against us, the
sea became boisterous, the waves and the wind were violent, and the water cast us
upon an island ; and we were like dead men, from excess of sleeplessness and
fatigue, and cold and hunger, and fear and thirst.
We walked along the shores of that island, and found upon it abundant herbs ; so
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SIN DEAD THE SAILOR. 497
we ate some of them to stay our departing spirits, and to sustain us ; and passed
the next nijjht upon the shore of the island. And when the morning came, and dif
fused its light and shone, we arose, and walked about the island to the right and
left, and there appeared to us a building in the distance. We therefore proceeded
over the island in the direction of that building which we had seen from a distance,
and ceased not to proceed until we stood at its door. And while we were standing
there, lo, there came forth to us from that door a party of naked men, who, without
speaking to us, seized us, and took us to their King, and he commanded us to sit.
So we sat ; and they brought to us some food, such as we knew not, nor in our lives
had we seen the like of it ; wherefore my stomach consented not to it, and I ate none
of it in comparison with my companions, and my eating so little of it was owing to
the grace of God (whose name be exalted !), in consequence of which I have lived to
the present time. For when my companions ate of that food, their minds became
stupilied, and they ate like madmen, and their states became changed. Then the
people brought to them cocoa-nut oil, and gave them to drink of it, and anointed
them with it; and when my companions drank of that oil, their eyes became turned
in their faces, and they proceeded to eat of that food contrary to their usual manner.
Upon this, therefore, I was confounded respecting their case, and grieved for them,
and became extremely anxious by reason of the violence of my fear for myself with
regard to these naked men. I observed them attentively, and lo, they were a Magiaa
people, and the King of their city was a ghoul ; and every one who arrived at their
country, or whom they saw or met in the valley or the roads, they brought to their
King, and they fed him with that food, and anointed him with that oil, in conse-
quence of which his body became expanded, in order that he might eat largely ; and
his mind became stupified, his faculty of reflection was destroyed, and he became
like an idiot. Then they gave him to eat and drink in abundance of that food and
oil until he became fat and stout, when they slaughtered him and roasted him, and
served him as meat to their King. But as to the companions of the King, they ate
the flesh of men without roasting or otherwise cooking it. So when I saw them do
thus, I was in the utmost anguish on my own account and on account of my com-
panions. The latter, by reason of the excessive stupefaction of their minds, knew
not what was done unto them, and the people committed them to a person who took
them every day and went forth to pasture them on that island like cattle.
But as for myself, I became, through the violence of fear and hunger, infirm and
wasted in body, and my flesh dried upon my bones. So when they saw me in this
state, they left me and forgot me, and not one of them remembered me, nor did I
occur to their minds, until I contrived a stratagem one day, and, going forth from
that place, walked along the island to a distance. And I saw a herdsman sitting
upon something elevated in the midst of the sea ; and I certified myself of him, and
lo, he was the man to whom they had committed my companions that he might pas-
ture them ; and he had with him many like them. As soon, therefore, as that man
beheld me, he knew that I was in possession of my reason, and that nought of that
which had afilicted my companions had afflicted me. So he made a sign to me from
a distance, and said to me. Turn back, and go along the road that is on thy right
hand: thou wilt so reach the King's highway. Accordingly I turned back, as this
man directed me, and, seeing a road on my right hand, I proceeded along it, and
ceased not to go on, sometimes running by reason of fear, and sometimes walking at
my leisure until I had taken rest. Thus I continued to do until I was hidden from
the eyes of the man who directed me to the way, and I saw him not, nor did he see
me. The sun had disappeared from me, and darkness approached ; wherefore I sat
to rest, and desired to sleep ; but sleep came not to me that night, on account of the
violence of my fear and hunger and fatigue. And when it was midnight, I arose
and walked on over the island, and I ceased not to proceed until day arrived, and
the morning came and difl'used its light and shone, and the sun rose over the tops of
the high hills and over the low gravelly plains. I was tired and hungry and thirsty :
32
498 THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
80 I began to eat of the herbs and vegetables that were upon the island, and con-
tinued to eat of them till I was satiated, and my departing spirit was stayed ; after
which I arose and walked on again over the island ; and thus I ceased not to do all
the day and the next night; whenever I was hungry, eating of the vegetables.
In this manner I proceeded for the space of seven days with their nights ; and on
the morning of the eighth day, I cast a glance, and beheld a faint object in the
distance. So I went towards it, and ceased not to proceed until I came up to it,
after sunset ; and I looked at it with a scrutinizing- eye, while I was yet distant from
it, and with a fearful heart in consequence of what I had suffered first and after ;
and lo, it was a party of men gathering pepper. And when I approached them, and
they saw me, they hastened to me, and came to me and surrounded me on every
side, saying to me, Who art thou, and whence hast thou come? I answered them.
Know ye, people, that I am a poor foreigner. And I informed them of my whole
case, and of the horrors and distresses that had befallen me, and what I had suffered ;
whereupon they said. By Allah, this is a wonderful thing ! But how didst thou
escape from the blacks, and how didst thou pass by them in this island, when they
are a numerous people, and eat men, and no one is safe from them, nor can any pass
by them ? — So I acquainted them with that which had befallen me among them, and
with the manner in M'hich they had taken my companions, and fed them with food
of which I did not eat. And they congratulated me on my safety, and wondered at
that which had befallen me. Then they made me sit among them until they had
finished their work, and brought me some nice food. I therefore ate of it, being
hungry, and rested with them awhile; after which they took me and embarked with
me in a vessel, and went to their island and their abodes. They then took me to
their King, and I saluted him, and he welcomed me and treated me with honour,
and inquired of me my story. So I related to him what I had experienced, and what
had befallen me and happened to me from the day of m}' going forth from the city
of Bagdad until I had come unto him. And the King wondered extremely at my
story, and at the events that had happened to me ; he, and all who were present in
his assembly. After that, he ordered me to sit with him. Therefore I sat; and he
gave orders to bring the food, which accordingly they brought, and I ate of it as
much as sufSced me, and washed my hands, and offered up thanks for the favour of
God (whose name be exalted!), praising Him and glorifying Him. I then arose
from the presence of the King, and diverted myself with a sight of his city: and lo,
it was a flourishing city, abounding with inhabitants and wealth, and with food and
markets and goods, and sellers and buyers.
So I rejoiced at my arrival at that city, and my heart was at ease; I became
familiar with its inhabitants, and was magnified and honoured by them and by their
King above the people of his dominions and the great men of his city. And I saw
that all its great men and its small rode excellent and fine horses without saddles ;
whereat I wondered ; and I said to the King, Wherefore, my lord, dost thou not
ride on a saddle? for therein is ease to the rider, and additional power. He said,
What kind of thing is a saddle? This is a thing that in our lives we have never
seen, nor have we ever ridden upon it. — And I said to him. Wilt thou permit me to
make for thee a saddle to ride upon, and to experience the pleasure of it? He
answered me. Do so, I therefore said to him. Furnish me with some wood. And
he gave orders to bring me all that I required. Then I asked for a clever carpenter,
and sat with him, and taught him the construction of the saddle, and how he should
make it. Afterwards I took some wool, and teased it, and made felt of it ; and I
caused some leather to be brought, and covered the saddle with it, and polished it.
I then attached its straps, and its girth : after which I brought the blacksmith, and
described to him the form of the stirrups, and he forged an excellent pair of stirrups ;
and I filed them, and tinned them. Then I attached fringes of silk. Having done
this, I arose and brought one of the best of the King's horses, girded upon him that
saddle, attached to it the stirrups, bridled him, and brought him forward to the
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 499
King ; and it pleased him, and was agreeable to him. He thanked me, and seated
himself upon it, and was greatly delighted with that saddle ; and he gave me a large
present, as a reward for that which I had done for him. And when his vizier saw
that I had made that saddle, he desired of me one like it. So I made for him a
saddle like it. The grandees and dignitaries likewise desired of me saddles, and I
made for them. I taught the carpenter the construction of the saddle ; and the
blacksmith the mode of making stirrups ; and we employed ourselves in making
these things, and sold them to the great men and masters. Thus I collected abun-
dant wealth, and became in high estimation with them, and they loved me exceed-
ingly.
I continued to enjoy a high rank with the King and his attendants, and the great
men of the country and the lords of the state, until I sat one day with the King, in
the utmost happiness and honour ; and while I was sitting, the King said to me,
Know, thou, that thou hast become magnified and honoured among us, and hast
become one of us, and we cannot part with thee, nor can we suffer thee to depart
from our city; and I desire of thee that thou obey me in an affair, and reject not that
which 1 shall say. So I said to him, And what dost thou desire of me, King?
For I will not reject that which thou shalt say since thou hast shown favour and
kindness and beneficence to me, and (praise be to God!) I have become one of thy
servants. — And he answered, I desire to marry thee among us to a beautiful, lovely,
elegant wife, possessed of wealth and loveliness, and thou shalt become a dweller
with us, and I will lodge thee by me in my palace : therefore oppose me not, nor
reject what I say. And when I heard the words of the King, I was abashed at him,
and was silent, returning him no answer, by reason of the exceeding bashfulness
with which I regarded him. So he said. Wherefore dost thou not reply to me,
my sou ? And I answered him, my master, it is thine to command, King of the
age! And upon this he sent immediately and caused the Cadi and the witnesses to
come, and married me forthwith to a woman of noble rank, of high lineage, pos-
sessing abundant wealth and fortune, of great origin, of surprising loveliness and
beauty, owner of dwellings and possessions and buildings. Then he gave me a great,
handsome house, standing alone, and he gave me servants and other dependants, and
assigned me supplies and salaries. Thus I became in a state of the utmost ease and
joy and happiness, forgetting all the fatigue and affliction and adversity that had
happened to me ; and I said within myself. When I set forth on my voyage to my
country, I will take her with me. But every event that is predestined to happen to
man must inevitably take place, and no one knoweth what will befall him. I
loved her and she loved me with a great affection, concord existed between me and
her, and we lived in a most delightful manner, and most comfortable abode, and
ceased not to enjoy this state for a length of time.
Then God (whose name be exalted !) destroyed the wife of my neighbour; and he
was a companion of mine. So I went in to him to console him for the loss of his
wife, and beheld him in a most evil state, anxious, weary in soul and heart ; and
upon this I consoled him and comforted him, saying to him. Mourn not for thy wife.
God will happily compensate thee by giving thee one better than she, and thy life
will be long if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted ! — But he wept vio-
lently, and said to me, my companion, how can I marry another after her, or how
can God compensate me by giving me a better than she, when but one day remaineth
of my life ? So I replied, my brother, return to thy reason, and do not announce
thine own death ; for thou art well, in prosperity and health. But he said to me,
my companion, by thy life to-morrow thou wilt lose me, and never in thy life wilt
thou see me again. — And how so ? said I. He answered me, This day they will bury
my wife, and they will bury me with her in the sepulchre ; for it is our custom in
our country, when the wife dieth, to bury with her her husband alive ; and when the
husband dieth, they bury with him his wife alive ; that neither of them may enjoy
life after the other. I therefore said to him. By Allah, this custom is exceedingly
500 THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
vile, and none can endure it ! — And while we were thus conversing, lo, most of the
people of the city came, and proceeded to console my companion for the loss of his
wife and for himself. They began to prepare her body for burial according to their
custom, brought a bier, and carried the woman in it with all her apparel and orna-
ments and wealth, taking the husband with them ; and they went forth with them
to the outside of the city, and came to a place in the side of a mountain by the sea.
They advanced to a spot there, and lifted up from it a great stone, and there ap-
peared, beneath the place of this, a margin of stbne, like the margin of a well. Into
this they threw down that woman ; and lo, it was a great pit beneath the mountain.
Then they brought the man, tied him beneath his bosom by a rope of fibres of the
palm-tree, and let him down into the pit. They also let down to him a great jug of
sweet water, and seven cakes of bread ; and when they had let him down, he loosed
himself from the rope, and they drew it up, and covered the mouth of the pit with
that great stone as it was before, and went their ways, leaving my companion with
his wife in the pit. — So I said within myself, By Allah, this death is more grievous
than the first death ! I then went to their King, and said to him, my lord, how
is it that ye bury the living with the dead in your country? And he answered me,
Know that this is our custom in our country : when the husband dieth, we bury with
him his wife; and when the wife dieth, we bury with her her husband, alive; that
we may not separate them in life nor in death ; and this custom we have received
from our forefathers. And I said, King of the age, and in like manner the
foreigner like me, when his wife dieth among you, do ye with him as ye have done
with this man ? He answered me. Yes : we bury him with her, and do with him as
thou hast seen. And when I heard these words from him, my gall-bladder almost
burst by reason of the violence of my grief and mourning for myself; my mind was
stupified, and I became fearful lest my wife should die before me and they should
bury me alive with her. Afterwards, however, I comforted myself, and said, Per-
haps I shall die before her: and no one knoweth which will precede and which will
follow. And I proceeded to beguile myself with occupations.
But a short time had elapsed after that when my wife fell sick, and she remained
80 a few days, and died. So the greater number of the people assembled to console
me, and to console her family for her death ; and the King also came to console me
for the loss of her, as was their custom. They then brought for her a woman to wash
her; and they washed her, and decked her with the richest of her apparel, and orna-
ments of gold, and necklaces and jewels. And when they had attired my wife, and
put her in the bier, and carried her and gone with her to that mountain, and lifted
up the stone from the mouth of the pit, and cast her into it, all my companions, and
the family of my wife, advanced to bid me farewell and to console me for the loss of
my life. I was crying out among them, I am a foreigner, and am unable to endure
your custom 1 But they would not hear what I said, nor pay any regard to my
words. They laid hold upon me and bound me by force, tying with me seven cakes
of bread and a jug of sweet water, according to their custom, and let me down into that
pit. And lo, it was a great cavern beneath that mountain. They said to me. Loose
thyself from the ropes. But I would not loose myself. So they threw the ropes
down upon me and covered the mouth of the pit with the great stone that was upon
it, and went their ways. I beheld in that cavern many dead bodies, and their smell
was putrid and abominable ; and I blamed myself for that which I had done, say-
ing. By Allah, I deserve all that happeneth to me and befalleth me ! I knew not
night from day ; and I sustained myself with little food, not eating till hunger almost
killed me, nor drinking until my thirst became violent, fearing the exhaustion of the
food and water that I had with me. I said. There is no strength nor power but in
God, the High, the Great! What tempted me to marry in this city? And every
time that I say, I have escaped from a calamity, — I f\\ll into a calamity that is more
mighty than the preceding one! By Allah, my dying this death is unfortunate I
Would that I had been drowned in the sea, or had died upon the mountains! It
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 501
had been better for me than this evil death ! — And I continued in this manner,
blaming myself. I laid myself down upon the bones of the dead, begging aid of
God (whose name be exalted !), and wished for death, but I found it not, by reason
of the severity of my sufferings. Thus I remained until hunger burnt my stomach,
and thirst inflamed me ; when I sat, and felt for the bread, and ate a little of it; and
I swallowed after it a little water. Then I rose and stood up, and walked about the
sides of the cavern ; and I found that it was spacious sideways, and with vacant
cavities; but upon its bottom were numerous dead bodies, and rotten bones, that
had lain there from old times. And upon this I made for myself a place in a side
of the cavern, remote from the fresh corpses, and there I slept.
At length my provision became greatly diminished, little remaining with me.
During each day, or in more than a day, I had eaten but once, and drunk one
draught, fearing the exhaustion of the water and food that was with me before my
death ; and I ceased not to do thus until I was sitting one day, and while I sat medi-
tating upon my case, thinking what I should do when my food and water were
exhausted, lo, the mass of rock was removed from its place, and the light beamed
diiwn upon me. So I said. What can be the matter? And behold, the people were
standing at the top of the pit, and they let down a dead man with his wife with him
alive, and she was weeping and crying out for herself; and they let down with her
a large quantity of food and water. I saw the woman ; but she saw not me ; and
they covered the mouth of the pit with the stone, and went their ways. Then I
arose, and, taking in my hand a long bone of a dead man, I went to the woman, and
struck her upon the middle of the head ; whereupon she fell down senseless : and I
struck her a second and a third time, and she died. So I took her bread and what
else she had, and I found upon her abundance of ornaments and apparel, necklaces
and jewels and minerals. And having taken the water and food that was with her,
I sat in a place that I had prepared in a side of the cavern, wherein to sleep, and
proceeded to eat a little of that food, as much only as would sustain me, lest it
should be exhausted quickly, and I should die of hunger and thirst.
I remained in that cavern a length of time ; and whenever they buried a corpse,
I killed the person who was buried with it alive, and took that person's food and
drink, to subsist upon it, until I was sleeping one day, and I awoke from my sleep,
and heard something make a noise in a side of the cavern. So I said. What can
this be ? I then arose and walked towards it, taking with me a long bone of a dead
man ; and when it was sensible of my presence, it ran away, and fled from me ; and
lo, it was a wild beast. But I followed it to the upper part of the cavern, and there-
upon a light appeared to me from a small spot, like a star. Sometimes it appeared
to me, and sometimes it was concealed from me. Therefore, when I saw it I ad-
vanced towards it; and the nearer I approached to it the larger did the light from it
appear to me. So upon this I was convinced that it was a hole in that cavern com-
municating with the open country ; and I said within myself. There must be some
cause for this: either it is a second mouth, like that from which they let me down,
or it is a fissure in this place. I meditated in my mind awhile, and advanced to-
wards the light; and lo, it was a perforation in the back of that mountain, which
the wild beasts had made, and through which they entered this place ; and they ate
of the dead bodies until they were satiated, and went forth through this perforation.
When I saw it, therefore, my mind was quieted, my soul wag tranquillized, and my
heart was at ease ; I made sure of life after death, and became as in a dream. Then
I managed to force my way through that perforation, and found myself on the shore
of the sea, upon a great mountain, which formed a barrier between the sea on the
one side and the island and city on the other, and to which no one could gain access.
So I praised God (whose name be exalted !), and thanked Him, and rejoiced exceed-
ingly, and my heart was strengthened. I then returned through that perforation
mto the cavern, and removed all the food and water that was in it, that I had spared.
I also took the clothes of the dead, and clad myself in some of them, in addition to
502 THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
those I had on me ; and I took abundance of the things that were on the dead, con
sisting of varieties of necklaces and jewels, long necklaces of pearls, ornaments of
silver and gold set with various minerals and rarities ; and, having tied up some
clothes of the dead in apparel of my own, I went forth from the perforation to the
back of the mountain, and stood upon the shore of the sea. Every day I entered
the cavern, and explored it ; and whenever they buried a person alive, I took the
food and water, and killed that person, whether male or female; after which I went
forth from the perforation, and sat upon the shore of the sea, to wait for relief from
God (whose name be exalted !), by means of a ship passing by me. And I removed
from that cavern all the ornaments that I found, and tied them up in the clothes of
the dead.
I ceased not to remain in this state for a length of time ; and afterwards, as I was
sitting, one day, upon the shore of the sea, meditating upon my case, lo, a vessel
passed along in the midst of the roaring sea agitated with waves. So I took in my
hand a white garment of the clothes of the dead, and tied it to a staff, and ran with
it along the sea-shore, making a signal to the people with that garment, until they
happened to look, and saw me upon the summit of the mountain. They therefore
approached me and heard my voice, and sent to me a boat in which was a party of
men from the ship ; and when they drew near to me they said to nae. Who art thou,
and what is the reason of thy sitting in this place, and how didst thou arrive at this
mountain ; for in our lives we have never seen any one who hath come unto it? So
I answered them, I am a merchant. The vessel that I was in was wrecked, and I
got upon a plank, together with my things, and God fiicilitated my landing at this
place, with my things, by means of my exertion and my skill, after severe toil.
They therefore took me with them in the boat, and embarked all that I had taken
from the cavern, tied up in the garments and grave-clothes, and proceeded with me
until they took me up into the ship, to the master, and all my things with me. And the
master said to me, man, how didst thou arrive at this place, which is a great
mountain with a great city behind it? All my life I haA'e been accustomed to navi-
gate this sea, and to pass by this mountain ; but have never seen anything there ex-
cepting the wild beasts and birds. — I answered him, I am a merchant. I was in a
great ship, and it was wrecked, and all my merchandise, consisting of these stuffs
. and clothes which thou seest, was submerged ; but I placed it upon a great plank,
one of the planks of the ship, and destiny and fortune aided me, so that I landed
upon this mountain, where I waited for some one to pass by and take me with him.
— And I acquainted them not with the events that had befollen me in the city, or in
the cavern; fearing that there might be with them in the ship some one from that
city. Then I took forth and presented to the owner of the ship a considerable por-
tion of my property, saying to him, my master, thou hast been the means of my
escape from this mountain : therefore receive from me this as a recompense for the
favour which thou hast done to me. But he would not accept it from me ; and he
said to me. We take nothing from any one ; and when we behold a shipwrecked
person on the shore of the sea or on an island, we take him with us, and feed him
and give him to drink ; and if he be naked we clothe him ; and when we arrive at
the port of safety, we give him something of our property as a present, and act to-
wards him with kindness and favour, for the sake of God, whose name be exalted! —
So upon this I offered up prayers for the prolongation of his life.
We ceased not to proceed on our voyage from island to island and from soa to sea.
I hoped to escape, and was rejoiced at my safety ; but every time that I reflected
upon my abode in the cavern with my wife, my reason left me. We pursued our
course until we arrived at the Island of the Bell, whence we proceeded to the Island
of Kela in six days. Then we came to the Kingdom of Kela, which is adjacent to
India, and in it are a mine of lead and places where the Indian cane groweth, and
excellent camphor ; and its King is a King of great dignity, whose dominion ex-
tendeth over the Island of the Bell. In it is a city called the City of the Boll, which
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 503
18 tiv < days' journey in extent. — At length, by the providence of God, we arrived in
safety at the city of Balsora, vrhere I landed, and remained a few days ; after which
I came to the city of Bagdad, and to my quarter, and entered my house, met my
family and my companions, and made inquiries respecting them ; and they rejoiced
at my safety and congratulated me. I stored all the commodities that I had brought
with me in my magazines, gave alms and presents, and clad the orphans and the
widows; and I became in a state of the utmost joy and happiness, and returned to
my former habit of associating with familiars and companions and brothers, and
indulging in sport and merriment. — Such were the most wonderful of the event-s
that happened to me in the course of the fourth voyage. But, my brother [0
Sindbad the Porter], sup thou with me, and observe thy custom by coming to nie to-
morrow, when I will inform thee what happened to me and what befell me during
the fifth voyage: for it was more wonderful and extraordinary than the preceding
voyages.
He then gave orders to present the porter with a hundred pieces of gold, and the
table was spread, and the party supped ; after which they vrent their ways, wonder-
ing extremely ; each story being more extraordinary than the preceding one. Sind-
bad the Porter went to his house, and passed the night in the utmost joy and happi-
ness, and in wonder; and when the morning came, and diffused its light and shone,
he arose and performed the morning-prayers, and walked on until he entered the
house of Sindbad the Sailor, and wished him good morning. And Sindbad the
Sailor welcomed him, and ordered him to sit with him until the rest of his com-
panions came. And they ate, and drank, and enjoyed themselves and were merry,
and conversation flowed round among them. Then Sindbad the Sailor be^an his
narrative, saying thus : —
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Know, my brothers, that when I returned from the fourth voyage, and became
immersed in sport and merriment and joy, and had forgotten all that I had ex-
perienced, and what had befallen me, and what I had suffered, by reason of my ex-
cessive joy at the gain and profit and benefits that I had obtained, my mind again
suggested to me to travel, and to divert myself with the sight of the countries of
other people, and the islands. So I arose and meditated upon that subject, and
bought precious goods, suited for a sea-voyage. I packed up the bales, and departed
from the city of Bagdad to the city of Balsora: and, walking along the bank of the
river, I saw a great, handsome, lofty vessel, and it pleased me ; wherefore I purchased
it. Its apparatus was new, and I hired for it a master and sailors, over whom I set
my black slaves and my pages as superintendents, and I embarked in it my bales.
And there came to me a company of merchants, who also embarked their bales in
it, and paid me hire. We set sail in the utmost joy and happiness, and rejoicing
in the prospect of safety and gain, and ceased not to pursue our voyage from island
to island and from sea to sea, diverting ourselves with viewing the islands and
towns, and landing at them and selling and buying. Thus we continued to do until
we arrived one day at a large island, destitute of inhabitants. There was no person
upon it ; it was deserted and desolate ; but on it was an enormous white dome, of
great bulk; and we landed to amuse ourselves with a sight of it, and lo, it was a
great egg of a roc. Now when the merchants had landed, and were diverting them-
selves with viewing it, not knowing that it was the egg of a roc, they struck it with
stones ; whereupon it broke, and there poured down from it a great quantity of
liquid, and the young roc appeared within it. So they pulled it and took it forth
from the shell, and killed it, and took from it abundance of meat. I was then in
the ship, and knew not of it, and they acquainted me not with that which they did.
But in the mean time one of the passengers said to me, my master, arise and
504 THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
divert thyself with the sight of this egg, which we imagined to be a dome. I there-
fore arose to take a view of it, and found the merchants striking the egg. I called
out to them, Do not this deed ; for the roc will come and demolish our ship, and de-
stroy us! But they would not hear my words.
And while they were doing as above related, behold, the sun became concealed
from us. and the day grew dark, and there came over us a cloud by which the sky
was obscured, so we raised our heads to see vchat had intervened between us and
the sun, and saw that the wings of the roc were what veiled from us the sun's light,
■so that the sky was darkened. And when the roc came, and beheld its egg broken,
it cried out at us ; whereupon its mate, the female bird, came to it, and they flew in
circles over the ship, crying out at us with a voice more vehement than thunder.
So I called out to the master and the sailors, and said to them, Push off the vessel,
and seek safety before we perish. The master therefore hastened, and, the mer-
chants having embarked, he loosed the ship, and we departed from that island.
And when the rocs saw that we had put forth to sea, they absented themselves from
us for a while. We proceeded, and made speed, desiring to escape from them, and
to quit their country ; but lo, they had followed us, and they now approached us,
each of them having in its claws a huge mass of rock from a mountain ; and the
male bird threw the rock that he had brought upon us. The master, however,
steered away the ship, and the mass of rock missed her by a little space. It de-
scended into the sea by the ship, and the ship went up with us, and down, by reason
of the mighty plunging of the rock, and we beheld the bottom of the sea in conse-
quence of its vehement force. Then the mate of the male roc threw upon us the
rock that she had brought, which was smaller than the former one, and, as destiny
had ordained, it fell upon the stern of the ship, and crushed it, making the rudder
fly into twenty pieces, and all that was in the ship became submerged in the sea.
I strove to save myself, impelled by the sweetness of life, and God (whose name
be exalted!) placed within my reach one of the planks of the ship; so I caught
hold of it, and, having got upon it, began to row upon it with my feet,, and the wind
and the waves helped me forward. The vessel had sunk near an island in the midst
of the sea, and destiny cast me', by permission of God (whose name be exalted !), to
that island. I therefore landed upon it; but I was at my last breath, and in the
state of the dead, from the violence of the fatigue and distress and hunger and
thirst that I had suffered. I then threw myself down upon the shore of the sea,
and remained lying there a while, until my soul felt at ease, and my heart was tran-
quillized, when I walked along the island, and saw that it resembled one of the
gardens of Paradise. Its trees bore ripe fruits, its rivers were flowing, and its birds
were warbling the praises of Hini to whom belongeth might and permanence.
Upon that island was an abundance of trees and fruits, and varieties of flowers.
So I ate of the fruits until I was satiated, and I drank of those rivers until I was
satisfied with drink; and I praised God (whose name be exalted!) for this, and
glorified Him. I then remained sitting upon the island till evening came, and night
approached; whereupon I arose; but I was like a slain man, by reason of the
fatigue and fear that I had experienced ; and I heard not in that island a voice, nor
did I see in it any person.
I slept there without interruption until the morning, and then arose and stood up.
and walked among the trees ; and I saw a streamlet, by which sat an old man, a
comely person, who was clad from the waist downwards with a covering made of the
leaves of trees. So I said within myself. Perhaps this old man hath landed upon
this island and is one of the shipwrecked persons with whom the vessel fell to pieces.
I then approached him and saluted him, and he returned the salutation by a sign
without speaking ; and I said to him, sheikh, what is the reason of thy sitting in
this place ? Whereupon he shook his head, and sighed, and made a sign to me witli
hi" hand, as though he would say. Carry me upon thy neck, and transport me from
this place to the other side of the streamlet. I therefore said within myself, I will
■^/■/// 1 Z!-^''
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 507
aot kindly with this person, and tninsport him to this place to which he desireih to
go: perhaps I shall obtain for it a reward [in heaven]. Accordingly I advanced to
him, and took him upon my shoulders, and conveyed him to the place that he had
indicated to me : when I said to him. Descend at thine ease. But he descended not
from my shoulders. He had twisted his legs round my neck, and I looked at them,
and I saw that they were like the hide of the buffalo in blackness and roughness.
So I was frightened at him, and desired to throw him down from my shoulders ;
but he pressed upon my neck with his feet, and squeezed my throat, so that the
world became black before my face, and I was unconscious of my existence, falling
upon the ground in a fit, like one dead. He then raised his legs, and beat me upon
my back and my shoulders ; and I suffered violent pain ; wherefore I arose with
him. He still kept his seat upon my shoulders, and I had become fatigued with
bearing him ; and he made a sign to me that I should go in among the trees, to the
best of the fruits. When I disobeyed him, he inflicted upon me with his feet blows
more violent than those of whips ; and he ceased not to direct me with his hand to
every place to which he desired to go, and to that place I went with him. If I
loitered, or went leisurely, he beat me ; and I was as a captive to him. We went
into the midst of the island, among the trees, and he descended not from my shoulders
by night nor by day; when he desired to sleep, he would wind his legs round my
neck, and sleep a little, and then he would arise and beat me, whereupon I would
arise with him quickly, unable to disobey him, by reason of the severity of that
whi^h I suffered from him ; and I blamed myself for having taken him up, and
having had pity on him. I continued with him in this condition, enduring the most
violent fatigue, and said within myself, I did a good act unto this person, and it
hath become an evil to myself! By Allah, I will never more do good unto any one
as long as I live ! — I begged of God (whose name be exalted !), at every period and
in every hour, that I might die, in consequence of the excessive fatigue and distress
that I suffered.
Thus I remained for a length of time, until I carried him one day to a place in
the island where I found an abundance of pumpkins, many of which were dry.
Upon this I took a large one that was dry, and, having opened its upper extremity,
and cleansed it, I went with it to a grape-vine, and filled it with the juice of the
grapes. I then stopped up the aperture, and put it in the sun, and left it for some
days, until it had become pure wine ; and every day I used to drink of it, to help
myself to endure the fatigue that I underwent with that obstinate devil ; for when-
ever I was intoxicated by it, my energy was strengthened. So, seeing me one day
drinking, he made a sign to me with his hand, as though he would say, What is this?
And I answered him, This is something agreeable, that invigorateth the heart and
dilateth the mind. Then I ran with him, and danced among the trees ; I was exnila-
rated by intoxication, and clapped my hands, and sang, and was joyful. Therefore,
when he beheld me in this state, he made a sign to me to hand him the pumpkin,
that he might drink from it; and I feared him, and gave it to him ; whereupon he
drank what remained in it, and threw it upon the ground, and, being moved with
merriment, began to shake upon my shoulders. He then became intoxicated, and
drowned in intoxication ; all his limbs, and the muscles of his sides, became relaxed,
and he began to lean from side to side upon my shoulders. So when I knew that he
was drunk, and that he was unconscious of existence, I put my hands to his feet,
and loosed them from my neck. Then I stooped with him, and sat down, and threw
him upon the ground. I scarcely believed that I had liberated myself and escaped
from the state in which I had been ; but I feared him, lest he should arise from his
intoxication, and torment me. I therefore took a great mass of stone from among
the trees, and. coming to him, struck him upon his head as he lay asleep, so that his
dosh became mingled with his blood, and he was killed. May no mercy of God be
on him !
After that 1 walked about the island, with a happy mind, and came to the place
508
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Sindbad killing the Old Man of the Sea.
where I was before, on the shore of the sea. And I remained upon that island, eat-
ing of its fruits, and drinking of the water of the rivers, for a length of time, and
watching to see some vessel passing by me, until I was sitting one day, reflecting
upon the events that had befallen me and happened to me, and I said within myself,
I wonder if God will preserve me in safety, and if I shall return to my country,
and meet my family and my companions. And lo, a vessel approached from the
midst of the roaring sea agitated with waves, and it ceased not in its course until it
anchored at that island : whereupon the passengers landed there. So I walked
towards them ; and when they beheld me, they all quickly approached me and
assembled around me, inquiring respecting my state, and the cause of my coming
to that island. I therefore acquainted them with my case, and with the events that
had befallen me ; whereat they wondered extremely. And they said to me. This
man who rode upon thy shoulders is called the Old Man of the Sea, and no one ever
was beneath his limbs and escaped from him excepting thee : and praise be to God
for thy safety! Then they brought me some food, and I ate until I was satisfied ;
and they gave me some clothing, which I put on, covering myself decently. After
this, they took me with them in the ship; and when we had proceeded days and
nights, destiny drove us to a city of lofty buildings, all the houses of which over-
looked the sea. That city is called the City of Apes ; and when the night cometh,
the people who reside in it go forth from the doors that open upon the sea, and, em-
barking in boats and ships, pass the night upon the sea, in their fear of the apes, lest
they should come down upon them in the night from the mountains.
I landed to divert myself in this city, and the ship set sail without my knowledge.
So I repented of my having landed there, remembering my companions, and what
had befallen them from the apes, first and afterwards; and I sat weeping and mourn-
ing. And thereupon a man of the inhabitants of the city advanced to me and said
to me, my master, it seemeth that thou art a stranger in this country. I therefore
replied. Yes: I am a stranger and a poor man. I was in a ship which anchored at
this city, and I landed from it to divert myself in this city, and returned, but saw
not the ship. — And he said, Arise and come with us, and embark in the boat ; for if
thou remain in the city during the night, the apes will destroy thee. So I replied, 1
hear and obey. I arose i ^mediately, and embarked with the people in the boat, and
they pushed it off from the land until thoy had propelled it fi-om the shore of the
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 509
sea to the distance of a mile. They passed the night, and I with them ; and wheu
the morning came, they returned in the boat to the city, and hvnded, and each of
them went to his occupation. Such hath been always their custom every night; and
to every one of them who remaineth behind in the city during the night, the apes
come, and they destroy him. In the day, the apes go forth from the city, and eat of
the fruits in the gardens, and sleep in the mountains until the evening, when they
return to the city. And this city is in the furthest parts of the country of the blacks.
— Among the most wonderful of the events that happened to me in the treatment
that I met with from its inhabitants was this. A person of the party with whom I
passed the night said to me, my master, thou art a stranger in this country. Art
thou skilled in any art with which thou mayest occupy thyself? — And I answered
him, No, by Allah, my brother: I am not acquainted with any art, nor do 1 know
how to make anything. I was a merchant, a person of wealth and fortune, and I
had a ship, my own property, laden with abundant wealth and goods ; but it was
wrecked in the sea, and all that was in it sank, and I escaped not drowning but by
the permission of God ; for He provided me with a piece of a plank, upon which I
placed myself; and it was the means of my escape from drowning. — And upon this
the man arose and brought me a cotton bag, and said to me. Take this bag, and till
it with pebbles from this city, and go forth with a party of the inhabitants. I will
associate thee with. them, and give them a charge respecting thee, and do thou as they
shall do. Perhaps thou wilt accomplish that by means of which thou wilt be assisted
to make thy voyage, and to return to thy country.
Then that man took me and led me forth from the city, and I picked up small
pebbles, with which I filled that bag. And lo, a party of men came out from the
city, and he associated me with them, giving them a charge respecting me, and say-
ing to them. This is a stranger ; so take him with you, and teach him the mode ol
gathering. Perhaps he may gain the means of subsistence, and ye will obtain [from
God] a reward and recompense. — And they replied. We hear and obey. They
welcomed me, and took me with them and proceeded, each of them having a bag
like mine, filled with pebbles ; and we ceased not to pursue our way until we arrived
at a wide valley, wherein were many lufty trees, which no one could climb. In that
valley were also many apes, which, when they saw us, fled from us, and ascended
those trees. Then the men began to pelt the apes with the stones that they had with
them in the bags ; upon which the apes began to pluck off the fruits of those trees,
and to throw them at the men ; and I looked at the fruits which the apes threw
down, and lo, they were cocoa-nuts. Therefore when I beheld the party do thus, I
chose a great tree, upon which were many apes, and, advancing to it, proceeded to
pelt those apes with stones ; and they broke off nuts from the tree and threw them
at me. So I collected them as the rest of the party did, and the stones were not
exhausted from my bag until I had collected a great quantity. And when the party
ended this work, they gathered together all that was with them, and each of them
carried off as many of the nuts as he could. We then returned to the city during
the remainder of the day, and I went to the man, my companion, who had associated
me with the party, and gave him all that I had collected, thanking him for his kind-
ness. But he said to me, Take these and sell them, and make use of the price. And
afterwards, he gave me the key of a place in his house, and said to me. Put here
these nuts that thou hast remaining with thee, and go forth every day with the party
as thou hast done this day ; and of what thou bringest, separate the bad, and sell
them, and make use of their price ; and the rest keep in thy possession in this place.
Perhaps thou wilt accumulate of them what will aid thee to make thy voyage. — So
I replied. Thy reward is due from God, whose name be exalted! I did as he told me,
and continued every day to fill the bag with stones, and to go forth with the people,
and do as they did. They used to commend me, one to another, and to guide me to
the tree upon wnich was abundance of fruit; and I ceased not to lead this life for a
length of time, so that I collected a great quantity of good cocoa-nuts, and I sold a
510 THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
great quantity, the price of which became a large sum in my possession. I bought
everything that I saw and that pleased me ; my time was pleasant, and my good
fortune increased throughout the whole city. .
I remained in this state for some time ; after which, as I was standing by the sea-
side, lo, a vessel arrived at that city, and cast anchor by the shore. In it were mer-
chants, with their goods, and they proceeded to sell and buy, and to exchange their
goods for cocoa-nuts and other things. So I went to my companion, informed him
of the ship that had arrived, and told him that I desired to make the voyage to my
country. And he replied. It is thine to determine. I tlierefore bade him farewell, and
thanked him for his kindness to me. Then I went to the ship, and, accosting the
master, engaged with him for my passage, and embarked in that ship the cocoa-nuts
and other things that I had with me, after which they set sail that same day. We
continued our course from island to island and from sea to sea, and at every island
at which we cast anchor I sold some of those cocoa-nuts, and exchanged; and God
compensated me with more than I had before possessed and lost. We passed by an
island in which are cinnamon and pepper, and some persons told us that they had
seen upon every bunch of pepper a hirge leaf that shadeth it and wardeth from it
the rain whenever it raineth ; and when the rain ceaseth to fall upon it, the leaf
turneth over from the bunch, and hangeth down by its side. From the island I took
with me a large quantity of pepper and cinnamon in exchange for cocoa-nuts. We
passed also by the island of Asirat, which is that wherein is the Kamari aloes-wood.
And after that we passed by another island, the extent of which is five days' journey,
and in it is the Sanfi aloes-wood, which is superior to the Kamari ; but the inhabit-
ants of this island are worse in condition and religion than the inhabitants of the
Island of the Kamari aloes-wood ; for they love depravity and the drinking of wines,
and know not the call to prayer, nor the act of prayer. And we came after that to
the pearl-fisheries ; whereupon I gave to the divers some cocoa-nuts, and said to
them. Dive for my luck and lot. Accordingly they dived in the bay there, and
brou^'-ht up a great number of large and valuable pearls ; and they said to me, my
master. By Allah, thy fortune is good ! So I took up into the ship what they had
brought up for me, and we proceeded, relying on the blessing of God, (whose name
be exalted !) and continued our voyage until we arrived at Balsora, where I landed,
and remained a short time. I then went thence to the city of Bagdad, entered my
quarter, and came to my house, and saluted my family and companions, who con-
gratulated me on my safety. I stored all the goods and commodities that I had
brought with me, clothed the orphans and the widows, bestowed alms and gifts, and
made presents to my family and my companions and my friends. God had com-
pensated me with four times as much as I had lost, and I forgot what had happened
to me, and the fatigue that I had suffered, by reason of the .abundance of my gain
and profits, and resumed my first habits of familiar intercourse and fellowship. —
Such were the most wonderful things that happened to me in the course of the fifth
voyage : but sup ye, and to-morrow come again, and I will relate to you the events
of the sixth voyage ; for it was more wonderful than this.
Then they spread the table, and the party supped ; and when they had finished
their supper, Sindbad the Sailor gave orders to present Sindbad the Porter with a
hundred pieces of gold : so he took them and departed, wondering at this affair. lie
passed the night in his abode, and when morning came, he arose and performed
the morning prayers ; after which he walked to the house of Sindbad the Sailor,
went in to him, and wished him good morning; and Sindbad the Sailor ordered him
to sit. He therefore sat with him, and he ceased not to converse with him until the
rest of his companions came. And they conversed together, and the servants spread
the table ; and the party ate and drank, and enjoyed themselves, and were merry.
Then Sindbad the Sailor began to relate to them the story of the sixth voyage, say-
ing to them, —
THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 511
THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Know, my brothers and my friends and my companions, that when I returned
from that fifth voyage, and forgot what I had suffered, by reason of sport and merri-
ment and enjoyment and gaiety, and was in a state of the utmost joy and happiness,
I continued thus until I was sitting one day in exceeding delight and happiness and
gaiety ; and while I sat, lo, a party of merchants came to me, bearing the marks of
travel. And upon this I remembered the days of my return from travel, and my
joy at meeting my family and companions and friends, and at entering my country ;
and my soul longed again for travel and commerce. So I determined to set forth.
I bought for myself precious, sumptuous goods, suitable for the sea, packed up my
bales, and went from the city of Bagdad to the city of Balsora, where I beheld a
large vessel in which were merchants and great men, and with them were precious
goods. I therefore embarked my bales with them in this ship, and we departed in
safety from the city of Balsora. We continued our voyage from place to place and
from city to city, selling and buying, and diverting ourselves with viewing different
countries. Fortune and the voyage were pleasant to us, and we gained our subsist-
ence, until we were proceeding one day, and lo, the master of the ship vociferated
and called out, threw down his turban, slapped his face, plucked his beard, and fell
down in the hold of the ship by reason of the violence of his grief and rage. So all
the merchants and other passengers came together to him and said to him, master,
what is the matter? And he answered them. Know, company, that we have wan-
dered from our course, having passed forth from the sea in which we were, and
entered a sea of which we know not the routes ; and if God appoint not for us some
means of effecting our escape from this sea, we all perish : therefore pray to God
(whose name be exalted!) that He may save us from this case. Then the master
arose and ascended the mast, and desired to loose the sails ; but the wind became
violent upon the ship, and drove her back, and her rudder broke near a lofty moun-
tain ; whereupon the master descended from the mast, and said, There is no strength
nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! No one is able to prevent what is
predestined ! By Allah, we have fallen into a great peril, and there remaineth to us
no way of safety or escape from it ! — So all the passengers wept for themselves :
they bade one another farewell, because of the expiration of their lives, and their
hope was cut off. The vessel drove upon that mountain and went to pieces ; its
planks were scattered, and all that was in it was submerged ; the merchants fell into
the sea, and some of them were drowned, and some caught hold upon that mountain,
and landed upon it.
I was of the number of those who landed upon the mountain ; and lo, within it
was a large island. By it were many vessels broken in pieces, and upon it were
numerous goods, on the shore of the sea, of the things thrown up by the sea from
the ships that had been wrecked, and the passengers of which had been drowned.
Upon it was an abundance, that confounded the reason and the mind, of commodi-
ties and wealth that the sea cast upon its shores. I ascended to the upper part of
the island, and walked about it, and I beheld in the midst of it a stream of sweet
water, flowing forth from beneath the nearest part of the mountain, and entering at
the furthest part of it, on the opposite side [of the valley]. Then all the other pas-
sengers went over that mountain to [the interior of] the island, and dispersed them-
selves about it, and their reason was confounded at that which they beheld. They
became like madmen by reason of what they saw upon the island, of commodities
and wealth lying on the shore of the sea. I beheld also in the midst of the above-
mentioned stream an abundance of various kinds of jewels and minerals, with ja-
cinths and large pearls, suitable to kings. They were like gravel in the channels
of the water which flowed through the fields ; and all the bed of that stream glit-
tered by reason of the great number of minerals and other things that it contained.
512 THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
We likewise saw on that island an abundance of the best kind of Sanfi aloes-wood,
and Kamari aloes-wood. And in that island is a gushing spring of crude ambergis,
which floweth like wax over the side of that spring through the violence of the heat
of the sun, and spreadeth upon the sea-shore and the monsters of the deep come up
from the sea and swallow it, and descend with it into the sea ; but it becometh hot
in their stomachs, therefore they eject it from their mouths into the sea, and it con-
gealeth on the surface of the water. Upon this, its colour and its qualities become
changed, and the waves cast it up on the shore of the sea: so the travellers and
merchants who know it take it and sell it. But as to the crude ambergris that is
not swallowed, it floweth over the side of that fountain, and congealeth upon the
ground ; and when the sun shineth upon it, it melteth, and from it the odour of the
whole of that valley becometh like the odour of musk. Then when the sun with-
draweth from it, it congealeth again. The place wherein is this crude ambergris no
one can enter: no one can gain access to it: for the mountain surroundeth that
island.
We continued to wander about the island, diverting ourselves with the view of the
good things which God (whose name be exalted !) had created upon it, and perplexed
at our case, and at the things that we beheld, and afiFected with violent fear. We
had collected upon the shore of the sea a small quantity of provisions, and we used
it sparingly, eating of it every day or two days, only one meal, dreading the exhaus-
tion of our stock, and our dying in sorrow, from the violence of hunger and fear.
Each one of us that died we washed, and shrouded in some of the clothes and linen
which the sea cast upon the shore of the island ; and thus we did until a great
number of us had died, and there remained of us but a small party, who were
weakened by a colic occasioned by the sea. After this we remained a short period,
and all my associates and companions died, one after another, and each of them who
died we buried. Then I was alone on that island, and there remained with me but
little of the provisions, after there had been much. So I wept for myself, and said,
Would that I had died before my companions, and that they had washed me and
buried me! There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! — And
I remained a short time longer ; after which I arose and dug for myself a deep grave
on the shore of the island, and said within myself, When I fall sick and knov*' that
death hath come to me, I will lie down in this grave, and die in it, and the wind will
blow the sand upon me, and cover me ; so I shall become buried in it. I blamed
myself for my little sense, and my going forth from my country and my city, and
my voyaging to foreign countries, after what I had suffered in the first instance, and
the second and the third and the fourth and tlie fifth ; and when I had not performed
ont of my voyages without suffering in it horrors and distresses more troublesome
and more difficult than the horrors preceding. I believed not that I could escape
and save myself, and repented of undertaking sea-voyages, and of my returning to
this life when I was not in want of wealth, but had abundance, so that I could not
consume what I had, nor spend half of it during the rest of my life ; having enough
for me, and more than enough.
Then I meditated in my mind, and said. This river must have a beginning and an
end, and it must have a place of egress into an inhabited country. The right plan
in my opinion will be for me to construct for myself a small raft, of sufficient size
for me to sit upon it, and I will go down and cast it upon this river, and depart on
it. If I find safety, I am safe, and escape, by permission of God (whose name be
exalted!); and if I find no way of saving myself, it will be better for me to die in
this place. — And I sighed for myself. Then I arose and went, and collected pieces
of wood that were upon that island, of Sanfi and Kamari aloes-wood, and bound
them upon the shore of the sea with some of the ropes of the ships that had been
wrecked ; and I brought some straight planks of the ships, and placed them upon
these pieces of wood. I made the raft to suit the width of the river, less wide than
the latter, and bound it well and firmly; and, having taken with me some of those
THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 513
minerals and jewels and goods, and of the large pearls that were like gravel, as well
ds other things that were upon the island, and some of the crude, pure, excellent
ambergis, I put them upon that raft, with all that I had collected upon the island,
and took with me what remained of the provisions. I then launched the raft upon
the river, and made for it two pieces of wood like oars. I departed upon the raft
along the river, meditating upon what might be the result of my case, and proceeded
to the place where the river entered beneath the mountain. I propelled the raft into
that place, and became in intense darkness within it, and the raft continued to carry
me in with the current. to a narrow place beneath the mountain, where the sides of
the raft rubbed against the sides of the channel of the river, and my head rubbed
against the roof of the channel. I was unable to return thence, and I blamed my-
self for that which I had done, and said, If this place become narrower to the raft,
it will scarcely pass through it, and it cannot return: so I shall perish in this place
in sorrow, inevitably! I threw myself upon my face on the raft, on account of the
narrowness of the channel of the river, and ceased not to proceed, without knowing
night from day, by reason of the darkness in which I was involved beneath that
mountain, together with my terror and fear for myself lest I should perish. In this
state I continued my course along the river, which sometimes widened and at other
times contracted; but the intensity of the darkness wearied me excessively, and
slumber overcame me in consequence of the violence of my distress. So I lay upon
my face on the raft, which ceased not to bear me along while I slept, and knew not
■whether the time was long or short.
At length I awoke, and found myself in the light; and, opening my eyes, I be-
held an extensive tract, and the raft tied to the shore of an island, and around me a
company of Indians and [people like] Abyssinians. When they saw that I had
arisen, they rose and came to me and spoke to me in their language; but I knew not
what they said, and imagined that it was a dream, and that this occurred in sleep,
by reason of the violence of my distress and vexation. And when they spoke to me
and I understood not their speech, and returned them not an answer, a man among
them advanced to me, and said to me, in the Arabic language, Peace be on thee,
our brother ! What art thou, and whence hast thou come, and what is the cause of
thy coming to this place? We are people of the sown lands and the fields, and we
came to irrigate our fields and our sown lands, and found thee asleep on the raft: so
we laid hold upon it, and tied it here by us, waiting for thee to arise at thy leisure.
Tell us then what is the cause of thy coming to this place. — I replied, I conjure
thee by Allah, my master, that thou bring me some food ; for I am hungry ; and
after that, ask of me concerning what thou wilt. And thereupon he hastened, and
brought me food, and I ate until I was satiated and was at ease, and my fear sub-
sided ; my satiety was abundant and my soul returned to me. I therefore praised
God (whose name be exalted!) for all that had occurred, rejoicing at my having
come to these people ; and I acquainted them with all that had happened to me
from beginning to end, and with what I had experienced upon that river, and its
narrowness. They then talked together, and said. We must take him with us and
present him to our King, that he may acquaint him with what hath happened to him.
Accordingly they took me with them, and conveyed with me the raft, together with
all that was upon it, of riches and goods, and jewels and minerals, and ornaments
of gold ; and they took me in to their King, who was the King of Serendib, and ac-
quainted him with what had happened ; whereupon he saluted me and welcomed
me, and asked me respecting my state, and respecting the events that had happened
to me. I therefore acquainted him with all my story, and what I had experienced,
from first to last ; and the King wondered at this narrative extremely, and congratu-
lated me on my safety. Then I arose and took forth from the raft a quantity of the
minerals and jewels, and aloes-wood and crude ambergris, and gave it to the King;
and he accepted it from me, and treated me with exceeding honour, lodging me in
33
514 THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
a place in his abode. I associated with the best and the greatest of the people, who
paid me great respect, and I quitted not the abode of. the King.
The island of Serendib is under the equinoctial line ; its night being always twelve
hours, and its day always twelve hours. Its length is eighty leagues, and its breadth
thirty ; and it extendeth largely between a lofty mountain and a deep valley. This
mountain is seen from a distance of three days, and it containeth varieties of ja-
cinths, and different kinds of minerals, and trees of all sorts of spices, and its sur-
face is covered with emery, wherewith jewels are cut into shape : in its rivers also are
diamonds, and pearls are in its valleys. I ascended to the summit of the mountain,
and diverted myself with a view of its wonders, which are not to be described : and
afterwards I returned to the King, and begged him to give me permission to return
to my country. lie gave me permission after great pressing, and bestowed upon me
an abundant present from his treasuries ; and he gave me a present and a sealed
letter, saying to me. Convey these to the Caliph Ilaroun Alrashid, and give him
many salutations from us. So I replied, I hear and obey. Then he wrote for me a
letter on skin of khavi, which is finer than parchment, of a yellowish colour; and
the writing was in ultramarine. And the form of what he wrote to the Caliph was
this: — Peace be on thee, from the King of India, before whom are a thousand ele-
phants, and on the battlements of whose palace are a thousand jewels. To proceed:
We have sent to thee a trifling present: accept it then from us. Thou art to us a
brother and sincere friend, and the affection for you that is in our hearts is great:
therefore favour us by a reply. The present is not suited to thy dignity ; but we
beg of thee, brother, to accept it graciously. And peace be on thee ! — And the
present was a cup of ruby, a span high, the inside of which was embellished with
precious pearls ; and a bed covered with the skin of the serpent that swalloweth the
elephant ; which skin hath spots, each like a piece of gold, and whosoever sitteth upon
it never becometh diseased ; and a hundred thousand mithkals of Indian aloes-wood;
and a slave-girl like the shining full moon. Then he bade me farewell, and gave a
charge respecting me to the merchants and the master of the ship.
So I departed thence, and we continued our voyage from island to island and from
country to country until we arrived at Bagdad, whereupon I entered my house, and
met my family and my brethren ; after which I took the present, with a token of
service from myself for the Caliph. On entering his presence, I kissed his hand,
and placed before him the whole, giving him the letter ; and he read it and took the
present, with which he was greatly rejoiced, and he treated me with the utmost
honour. He then said to me, Sindbad, is that true which this King hath stated
in his letter? And I kissed the ground and answered, my lord, I witnessed in his
kingdom much more than he hath mentioned in his letter. On the day of his public
appearance, a throne is set for him upon a huge elephant, eleven cubits high, and he
sitteth upon it, having with him his chief oflBcers and pages and guests, standing in
two ranks, on his right and on his left. At his head standeth a man having in hia
hand a golden javelin, and behind him a man in whose hand is a great m:ice of gold,
at the top of which is an emerald a span in length, and of the thickness of a thumb.
And when he mounteth, there mount at the same time with him a thousand horse-
men clad in gold and silk; and as the King.proceedeth, a man before him pro-
claimeth, saying. This is the King of great dignity, of high authority! And he pro-
ceedeth to repeat his praises in terms that I remember not, at the end of his pane-
gyric saying. This is the King, the owner of the crown, the like of which neither So-
lomon nor the Maharaja possessed ! Then he is silent; and one behind him pro-
claimeth, saying, lie will die! Again I say, lie will die! Again I say. He will
die! — And the other saith. Extolled be the perfection of the Living who dieth not! —
Moreover, by reason of his justice and good government and intelligence, there is no
Cadi in his city ; and all the people of his country distinguish the truth from falsity.
— And the Caliph wondered at my words, and said, How great is this King! His
letter hath shown me this ; and as to the greatness of his dominion, thou hast told
THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 515
U8 what thou hast witnessed. By Allah, he hath been endowed with wisdom and
dominion ! — Then the Caliph conferred favours upon me, and commanded me to de-
part to my abode. So I came to my house, and gave the legal and other alms, and
continued to live in the same pleasant circumstances as at present. I forgot the ar-
duous troubles that I had experienced, discarded from my heart the anxieties of
travel, rejected from my mind distress, and betook myself to eating and drinking,
and pleasures and joy.
And when Sindbad the Sailor had finished his story, every one who was present
wondered at the events that had happened to him. He then ordered his treasurer
to give to Sindbad the Porter a hundred pieces of gold, and commanded him to
depart, and to return the next day with the boon-companions, to hear his seventh
story. So the porter went away happy to his abode, and on the morrow he was
present with all the boon-companions ; and they sat according to their usual custom,
and employed themselves in eating and drinking and enjoyment until the end of the
day, when Sindbad the Sailor made a sign to them that they should hear his seventh
story, and said : —
THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
When I relinquished voyaging, and the affairs of commerce, I said within myself,
What hath happened to me sufBceth me. And my time was spent in joy and pleasure.
But while I was sitting one day, the door was knocked ; so the door-keeper opened,
and a page of the Caliph entered and said, The Caliph summoneth thee. I therefore
went with him to his majesty, and kissed the ground before him, and saluted him,
whereupon he welcomed me, and treated me with honour; and he said to me, Sind-
bad, I have an affair for thee to perform. Wilt thou do it? — So I kissed his hand
and said to him, my lord, what affair hath the master for the slave to perform ?
And he answered me, I desire that thou go to the King of Serendib, and convey
to him our letter and our present ; for he sent to us a present and a letter. And
I trembled thereat, and replied, By Allah the Great, my lord, I have taken a
hatred to voyaging; and when a voyage on the sea, or any other travel, is men-
tioned to me, my joints tremble, in consequence of what hath befallen me and
what I have experienced of troubles and horrors, and I have no desire for that
whatever. Moreover, I have bound myself by an oath not to go forth from Bag-
dad. — Then I informed the Caliph of all that had befallen me from first to last;
and he wondered exceedingly, and said. By Allah the Great, Sindbad, it hath not
been heard from times of old that such events have befallen any one as have
befallen thee, and it is incumbent on thee that thou never mention the subject of
travel. But for my sake thou wilt go this time, and convey our present and our
letter to the King of Serendib : and thou shalt return quickly, if it be the will of God
(whose name be exalted !), that we may no longer have a debt of favour and courtesy
to the King. — So I replied that I heard and obeyed, being unable to oppose his com-
mand. He then gave me the present and the letter, with money for my expenses,
and I kissed his hand and departed from him.
I went from Bagdad to the sea, and embarked in a ship, and we proceeded days
and nights, by the aid of God (whose name be exalted !), until we arrived at the
island of Serendib, and with us were many merchants. As soon as we arrived, we
landed at the city, and I took the present and the letter, and went in with them to
the King, and kissed the ground before him. And when he saw me, he said, A
friendly welcome to thee, O Sindbad ! By Allah the Great, we have longed to see
thee, and praise be to God who hath shown us thy face a second time ! — Then he
took me by my hand, and seated me by his side, welcoming me, and treating me
with familiar kindness, and he rejoiced greatly. He began to converse with me, and
addressed me with courtesy, and said. What was the cause of thy coming to us,
516 THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Sindbad? So I kissed his hand, and thanked him, and answered him, my lord, I
have brought thee a present and a letter from my master the Caliph Ilaroun Alrashid.
I then offered to him the present and the letter, and he read the letter, and rejoiced
at it greatly. The present was a horse worth ten thousand pieces of gold, with its
saddle adorned with gold set with jewels ; and a book, and a sumptuous dress, and
a hundred different kinds of white cloths of Egypt, and silks of Suez and Cufa and
Alexandria, and Greek carpets, and a hundred menus of silks and flax, and a won-
derful, extraordinary cup of crystal, in the midst of which was represented the
figure of a lion with a man kneeling before him and having drawn an arrow in his
bow with his utmost force, and also the table of Solomon the son of David, on whom
be peace ! And the contents of -the letter were as follows: — Peace from the King
Alrashid, strengthened by God (who hath given to him and to his ancestors the rank
of the noble, and wide-spread glory), on the fortunate Sultan. To proceed: thy
letter hath reached us, and we rejoiced at it; and we have sent the book [entitled]
the Delight of the Intelligent, and the Rare Present for Friends ; together with varie-
ties of royal rarities ; therefore do us the favour to accept them : and peace be on
thpe ! — Then the King conferred upon me abundant presents, and treated me with
the utmost honour ; so I prayed for him, and thanked him for his beneficence ; and
some days after that, I begged his permission to depart ; but he permitted me not .
save after great pressing. Thereupon I took leave of him, and went forth from his
city, with merchants and other companions, to return to my country, without any
desire for travel or commerce.
We continued our voyage until we had passed many islands ; but in the midst of
our course over the sea, there appeared to us a number of boats, which surrounded
us, and in them were men like devils, having in their hands swords and daggers, and
equipped with coats of mail, and arms and bows. They smote us, and wounded and
slew those of us who opposed them, and, having taken the ship with its contents,
conveyed us to an island, where they sold us as slaves, for the smallest price. But
a rich man purchased me, and took me into his house, fed me and gave me to drink,
and clad me and treated me in a friendly manner. Sj my soul was tranquillized,
and I rested a little. Then one day, he said to me, Dost thou not know any art or
trade? I answered him, my lord, I am a merchant; I know nothing but traffic.
And he said, Dost thou know the art of shooting with the bow and arrow? — Yes, I
answered: I know that. And thereupon he brought me a bow and arrows, and
mounted me behind him upon an elephant: then he departed at the close of night,
and, conveying me among some great trees, came to a lofty and firm tree, upon which
he made me climb; and he gave me the bow and arrows, saying to me, Sit here now,
and when the elephants come in the day-time to this place, shoot at them with the
arrows : perhaps thou wilt strike one of them ; and if one of them fall, come to me and
inform me. He then left me and departed ; and I was terrified and frightened. I
remained concealed in the tree until the sun rose ; when the elephants came forth
•wandering about among the trees, and I ceased not to discharge my arrows till I shot
one of them. I therefore went in the evening to my master, and informed him ; and
he was delighted with me, and treated me with honour; and he went and removed
the slain elephant.
In this manner I continued, every day shooting one, and my master coming and
removing it, until one day I was sitting in the tree concealed, and suddenly elephants
innumerable came forth, and I heard the sounds of their roaring and growling, which
was such that I imagined the earth trembled beneath them. They all surrounded
the tree in which I was sitting, their circuit being fifty cubits, and a huge elephant,
enormously great, advanced and came to the tree, and, having wound his trunk
around it, pulled it up by the roots, and cast it upon the ground. I fell down sense-
less among the elephants, and the great elephant, approaching me, wound his trunk
around me, raised me on his back, and went away with me, the other elephants ac-
companying. And he ceased not to proceed with me, while I was absent from the
Sindbad's Adventuie wul» the Elephants. (Page BIS.)
517
THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR. 519
world, until he had taken me into a place, and thrown me from his back, when lie
departed, and the other elephants followed him. So I rested a little, and my terror
subsided ; and I found myself among the bones of elephants! I knew therefore that
this was the burial-place of the elephants, and that that elephant had conducted me
to it on account of the teeth.
I then arose, and journeyed a day and a night until I arrived at the house of my
master, who saw me changed in complexion by fright and hunger. And he was
rejoiced at my return, and said, By Allah, thou hast pained our heart; for I went
and found the tree torn up, and I imagined that the elephants had destroyed thee.
Tell me, then, how it happened with thee. — So I informed him of that which had
befallen me ; whereat he wondered greatly, and rejoiced ; and he said to me. Dost
thou know that place ? I answered. Yes, my master. And he took me, and we
went out, mounted on an elephant, and proceeded until we came to that place ; and
when my master beheld those numerous teeth, he rejoiced greatly at the sight of
them ; and he carried away as much as he desired, and we returned to the house.
He then treated me with increased favour, and said to me, my son, thou hast
directed us to a means of very great gain. May God then recompense thee well!
Thou art freed for the sake of God, whose name be exalted I These elephants used
to destroy many of us on account of [our seeking] those teeth ; but God hath pre-
served thee from them, and thou hast profited us by these teeth to which thou hast
directed us. — I replied, my master, may God free thy neck from the fire [of Hell] !
And I request of thee, my master, that thou give me permission to return to my
country. — Yes. said he, thou shalt have that permission ; but we have a fair, on the
occasion of which the merchants come to us and purchase the teeth of these elephants
of us. The time of the fair is now near ; and when they have come to us, I will send
thee with them, and will give thee what will convey thee to thy country. — Sol
prayed for him, and thanked him ; and I remained with him, treated with respect
and honour.
Then, some days after this, the merchants came as he had said, and bought, sold,
and exchanged ; and when they were about to depart, my master came to me, and
said, The merchants are going ; therefore arise that thou mayest depart with them
to thy country. Accordingly I arose, determined to go with them. They had bought
a great quantity of those teeth, and packed up their loads, and embarked them in
the ship; and my master sent me with them. He paid for me the money for my
passage in the ship, together with all that was required of me, and gave me a large
quantity of goods. And we pursued our voyage from island to island until we had
crossed the sea and landed on the shore, when the merchants took forth what was
with them, and sold, I also sold what I had at an excellent rate ; and I purchased
some of the most elegant of things suited for presents, and beautiful rarities, with
everything that I desired. I likewise bought for myself a beast to ride, and we
went forth, and crossed the deserts from country to country until I arrived at Bag-
dad ; when I went in to the Caliph, and, having given the salutation, and kissed his
hand, I informed him of what had happened, and what had befallen me ; whereupon
he rejoiced at my safety, and thanked God (whose name be exalted !) ; and he caused
my story to be written in letters of gold. I then entered my home, and met my
family and my brethren. — This is the end of the history of the events that happened
to me during my voyages ; and praise be to God, the One, the Creator, the Maker 1
520
SINDBAD THE SAILOR AND SINDBAD THE PORTER.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
AND SINDBAD THE PORTER.
And when Sindbad the Sailor had finished his story, he ordered his servant to give
to Sindbad the Porter a hundred pieces of gold, and said to him, How now, my
brother? Hast thou heard of the like of these afflictions and calamities and dis-
tresses, or have such troubles as have befallen me befallen any one else, or hath any
one else suffered such hardships as I have suffered? Know then that these pleasures
are a compensation for the toil and humiliations that I have experienced. — And upon
this Sindbad the Porter advanced, and kissed his hands, and said to him, my lord,
by Allah, thou hast undergone great horrors, and hast deserved these abundant
favours; continue then, my lord, in joy and security; for God hath removed from
thee the evils of fortune; and I beg of God that he may continue to thee thy plea-
sures, and bless thy days. — And upon this, Sindbad the Sailor bestowed favours
upon him, and made him his boon-companion ; and he quitted him not by night nor
by day as long as they both lived.
Praise be to God, the Mighty, the Omnipotent, the Strong, the Eminent in power,
the Creator of the heaven and the earth, and of the land and the seas!
SiDdbad the Sailor.
THE CITY OF BRASS. 521
CHAPTER XXI.
Commencing with part of the Five Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night, and ending with part of
the Five Hundred and Seventy-eighth.
THE STORY OF THE CITY OF BRASS.
There was, in olden time, and in an ancient age and period, in Damascus of Syria,
a King, one of tiie Caliphs, named Abdelmelik the son of Marwan ; and he was sit-
ting, one day, having with him the great men of his empire, consisting of Kings and
Sultans, when a discussion took place among them, respecting the traditions of
former nations. They called to mind the stories of our lord Solomon the son of
David (on both of whom be peace!), and the dominion and authority which God
^whose name be exalted!) had bestowed upon him over mankind, and the Genii and
the birds and the wild beasts and other things ; and they said. We have heard from
those who were before us, that God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name
be exalted!) bestowed not upon any one the like of that which He bestowed upon
our lord Solomon, and that he attained to that to which none other attained, so that
he used to imprison the Genii and the Marids and the Devils in bottles of brass, and
pour molten lead over them, and seal this cover over them with his signet.
Then Talib [the son of Sahl] related, that a man embarked in a ship with a com-
pany of others, and they voyaged to the island of Sicily, and ceased not in their
course until there arose against them a wind which bore them away to one of the
lands of God, whose name be exalted ! This happened during the black darkness
of night, and when the day shone forth, there came out to them, from caves in that
land, people of dark complexion and with naked bodies, like wild beasts not under-
standing speech. They had a King of their own race, and none of them knew Arabic
save their King. So when they saw the ship, and those who were in her, he came
forth to them attended by a party of his companions, and saluted them and welcomed
them, and inquired of them respecting their religion. They therefore acquainted
him with their state ; and he said to them. No harm shall befall you. And when he
asked them respecting their religion, each of them was of some one of the religions
prevailing before the manifestation of the Mahometan faith, and before the mission
of Mahomet, may God favour and preserve-him ! — wherefore the people of the ship
said. We know not what thou sayest. Then the King said to them. There hath not
come to us anj' of the sons of Adam before you. And he entertained them with a
banquet of the flesh of birds and of wild beasts and offish, beside which they had no
food. And after this, the people of the ship went down to divert themselves in the
city, and they found one of the fishermen who had cast his net in the sea to catch
fish, and he drew it up, and lo, in it was a bottle of brass, stopped with lead, which
was sealed with the signet of Solomon the son of David, on both of whom be peace!
And the fisherman came forth and broke it; whereupon there proceeded from it a
blue smoke, which united with the clouds of heaven ; and we heard a horrible voice,
saying. Repentance! repentance! Prophet of God! — Then, of that smoke there
was formed a person of terrible aspect, of terrific make, whose head would reach [as
high as] a mountain ; and he disappeared from before their eyes. As to the people
of the ship, their hearts were almost eradicated; but the blacks thought nothing of
the event. And a man returned to the King, and asked him respecting this ; and
522 THE CITY OF BRASS.
the King answered him, Know that this is one of the Genii whom Solomon the son
of David, when he was incensed against them, imprisoned in these bottles, and he
poured lead over them, and threw them into the sea. When the fisherman casteth
his net, it generally bringeth up these bottles; and when they are broken, there
Cometh forth from them a Genie, who imagineth that Solomon is still living; where-
fore he repenteth, and saith, Repentance ! Prophet of God !
And the Prince of the Faithful, Abdelmelik the son of Marwan, wondered at these
words, and said, Extolled be the perfection of God ! Solomon was endowed with a
mighty dominion! — And among those who were present in that assembly was
Nabigah el-Dubiani ; and he said, Talib hath spoken truth in that which he hath
related. Solomon used to put them into bottles of brass, and to cast them into the
sea. — And the Prince of the Faithful approved of these words, and said. By Allah, I
desire to see some of these bottles ! So Talib the son of Sahl replied, Prince of
the Faithful, thou art able to do so, and yet remain in thy country. Send to thy
brother Abdelaziz the son of Marwan, desiring him to bring them to thee from the
Western Country, that he may write orders to Mousa to journey from the Western
Country to this mountain which we have mentioned, and to bring thee what thou
desirest of these bottles ; for the furthest tract of his province is adjacent to this
mountain. — And the Prince of the Faithful approved of his advice, and said, O Talib,
thou hast spoken truth in that which thou hast said, and I desire that thou be my
messenger to Mousa the son of Nuseir for this purpose, and thou shalt have a white
ensign, together with what thou shalt desire of wealth or dignity or other things, and
I will be thy substitute to take care of thy family. To this Talib replied, Most wil-
lingly, Prince of the Faithful. And the Caliph said to him, Go in dependence on
the blessing of God, and his aid. Then he gave orders that they should write for
him a letter to his brother Abdelaziz, his viceroy in Egypt, and another letter to
Mousa, his viceroy in the Western Country, commanding him to journey, himself,
in search of the bottles of Solomon, to leave his son to govern the country in his
stead, and to take with him guides, to expend wealth, and to collect a large number
of men, and not to be remiss in accomplishing that object, nor to use any pretext to
excuse himself. He sealed the two letters, and delivered them to Talib the son of
Sahl, commanding him to hasten, and to elevate the ensigns over his head ; and he
gave him riches and riders and footmen to aid him in his way : he gave orders also
to supply his house with everything requisite.
So Talib went forth on his way to Egypt. He proceeded with his companions,
traversing the districts from Syria until they entered Egypt ; when the Governor of
Egypt met him, and lodged him with him ; and he treated him with the utmost hon-
our during the period of his stay with him. Then he sent with him a guide, who
accompanied him to Upper Egypt, until they came to the Emir Mousa the son of
Nuseir: and when he knew of his approach, he went forth to him and met him, and
rejoiced at his arrival ; and Talib handed to him the letter. So he took it and read
it, and understood its meaning; and he put it upon his head, saying, I hear and
obey the command of the Prince of the Faithful. He determined to summon his
great men ; and they presented themselves ; and he inquired of them respecting that
which had been made known to him by the letter; whereupon they said, O Emir, if
thou desire him who will guide thee to that place, have recourse to the sheikh Abdel-
samad the son of Abdelcaddes Samudi ; for he is a knowing man, and hath travelled
much, and he is acquainted with the deserts and wastes and the seas, and their inha-
bitants and their wonders, and the countries and their districts. Have recourse
therefore to him, and he will direct thee to the object of thy desire. — Acoording}y he
gave orders to bring him, and he came before him ; and lo, he was a very old man,
whom the vicissitudes of years and times had rendered decrepit. The Emir Mousa
saluted him, and said to him, sheikh Abdelsamad, our lord the Prince of the Faith-
ful, Abdelmelik the son of Marwan, hath commanded us thus and thus, and I possess
little knowledge of that land, and it hath been told me that thou art acquainted with
THE CITY OF BRASS. 523
that country and the routes. Hast thou then a wish to accomplish the affair of the
Prince of the Faithful? — The sheikh replied, Know, Emir, that this route is diffi-
cult, far extending, with few tracks. The Emir said to him, How long a period doth
it require? He answered, It is a journey of two years and some months going, and
the like returning; and on the way are difficulties and horrors, and extraordinary
and wonderful things. Moreover, thou art a warrior for the defence of the faith,
and our country is near unto the enemy ; so perhaps the Christians may come forth
during our absence : it is expedient therefore that thou leave in thy province one to
govern it. — He replied, Well. And he left his son Haroun as his substitute in his
province, exacted an oath of fidelity to him, and commanded the troops that they
should not oppose, but obey him in all that he should order them to do. And they
heard his words, and obeyed him. His son Haroun was of great courage, an illus-
trious hero, and a bold champion ; and the sheikh Abdelsamad pretended to him
that the place in which were the things that the Prince of the Faithful desired was
four months' journey distant, on the shore of the sea, and that throughout the whole
route were halting-places adjacent one to another, and grass and springs. And he
said, God will assuredly make this affair easy to us through the blessing attendant
upon thee, Vizier of the Prince of the Faithful. Then the Emir Mousa said, Know-
est thou if any one of the Kings have trodden this land before us ? He answered
him, Yes, Emir; this land belonged to the King of Alexandria, Darius the Greek.
After this they departed, and they continued on their journey until they arrived
at a palace ; whereupon the sheikh said. Advance with us to this palace, which pre-
senteth a lesson to him who will be admonished. So the Emir Mousa advanced
thither, together with the sheikh Abdelsamad and his chief companions, till they
came to its entrance. And they found it open, and having lofty angles, and steps,
among which were two wide steps of coloured marbles, the like of which hath not
been seen : the ceilings and walls were decorated with gold and silver and minerals,
and over the entrance was a slab, whereon was an inscription in ancient Greek ; and
the sheikh Abdelsamad said, Shall I read it, O Emir? The Emir answered, Advance
and read. May God bless thee! for nought hath happened to us during this journey
but what hath been the result of the blessing attendant upon thee. — So he read it.
And the Emir wept until he became insensible, and he said. There is no deity but
God, the Living, the Enduring without failure! — He then entered the palace, and was
confounded by its beauty and its construction ; and he looked at the figures and im-
ages that it contained. And lo, over the second door were inscribed some verses.
So the Emir Mousa said, Advance, sheikh, and read. Accordingly he advanced
and read; and again the Emir Mousa wept violently: the world became yellow
before his face ; and he said, We have been created for a great object !
Then they attentively viewed the palace ; and lo, it was devoid of inhabitants,
destitute of household and occupants ; its courts were desolate, and its apartments
were deserted ; and in the midst of it M'as a chamber covered with a lofty dome,
rising high in the air, around which were four hundred tombs. To these tombs the
Emir Mousa drew near, and behold, among them was a tomb constructed of marble,
containing an inscription. And the Emir Mousa read it and wept, and those who
were with him, wept. Then he drew near to the dome-crowned chamber, and lo, it
had eight doors of sandal-wood, with nails of gold, ornamented with stars of silver
set with various jewels. He entered the chamber covered with the dome, and beheld
in it a long tomb, of terrible appearance, whereon was a tablet of iron of China ;
and the sheikh Abdelsamad drew near to it, and read its inscription ; and lo, on it
was written : —
In the name of God, the Eternal, the Everlasting throughout all ages: in the name of God,
who begetteth not, and who is not begotten, and unto whom there is none like : in the name of
God, the Mighty and Powerful : in the name of the Living who dieth not. — To proceed : —
thou who arrivest at this place, be admonished by the misfortunes and calamities that thou be-
holdest, and be not deceived by the world and its beauty, and its falsity and calumny, and it."
524 THE CITY OF BRASS.
fallacy and finery; for it is a flatterer, a cheat, a traitor. Its things are borrowed, and it will
take the loan from the borrower; and it is like the confused visions of the sleeper, and the dream
of the dreamer, as though it were the mist of the plain, which the thirsty imagineth to be water:
the Devil adorneth it for man until death. These are the characteristics of the world : confide
not therefore in it, nur incline to it ; for it will betray him who dependeth upon it, and who in
his afi'airs relieth upon it. Fall not in its snares, nor cling to its skirts. For I possessed four
thousand bay horses in a stable; and I married a thousand damsels, of the daughters of kings,
hifh-bosomed virgins, like moons; and I was blessed with a thousand children, like stern lions;
and I lived a thousand years, happy in mind and heart; and I amassed riches such as the Kings
of the regions of the earth were unable to procure, and imagined that my enjoyments would con-
tinue without failure. But I was not aware when there alighted among us the terminator of de-
lights and the separator of companions, the desolator of abodes and the ravager of inhabited
mansions, the destroyer of the great and the small and the infants and the children and the
mothers. We had resided in this palace in security until the event decreed by the Lord of all
creatures, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earths, befell us, and the thunder of
manifest truth assailed us, and there died of us every day two, till a great company of us had
perished. So when I saw that destruction had entered our dwellings, and had alighted among
uSj and drowned us in the sea of deaths, I summoned a writer, and ordered him to write these
verses and admonitions and lessons, and caused them to be engraved upon these doors and tab-
lets and tombs. I had an army comprising a thousand bridles, composed of hardy men, with
spears, and coats of mail, and sharp swords, and strong arms ; and I ordered them to clothe
themselves with the long coats of mail, and to hang on the keen swords, and to place in rest the
terrible lances, and mount the high-blooded horses. Then, when the event appointed by the
Lord of Jill creatures, the Lord of the earth and the heavens, befell us, I said, companies of
troops and soldiers, can ye prevent that which hath befallen me from the Mighty King? But the
soldiers and troops were unable to do so, and they said. How shall we contend against him from
whom none hath secluded, the lord of the door hath no door-keeper? So I said, Bring to me
the wealth. (And it was contained in a thousand pits, in each of which were a thousand hun-
dred-weights of red gold, and in them were varieties of pearls and jewels, and there was the like
quantity of white silver, with treasures such as the Kings of the earth were unable to procure).
And they did so ; and when they had brought the wealth before me, I said to them. Can ye de-
liver me by means of all these riches, and purchase for me therewith one day during which I
may remain alive? But they could not do so. They resigned themselves to fate and destiny,
and I submitted to God with patient endurance of fate and afDiction until he took uiy soul, and
made me to dwell in ray grave. And if thou ask concerning my name, I am Kosh the son of
Sheddad the son of Ad the Greater.
■And again the Emir Moiisa wept until lie became insensible, in considering the
fates of the people ; after which, as they were going about through the different
apartments of the palace, and viewing attentively its chambers and its places of
diversion, they came to a table upon four legs of alabaster, whereupon was
inscribed, —
Upon this table have eaten a thousand one-eyed Kings, and a thousand Kings each sound in
both eyes. All of them have quitted the world, and taken up their abode in the burial-grounds
and the graves.
And the Emir Mousa read all this. Then he went forth, and took not with him
from the palace aught save the table.
The soldiers proceeded, with the sheikh Abdelaamad before them showing them
the way, until all the first day had passed, and the second, and the third. They then
came to a high hill, at which they looked, and lo, upon it was a horseman of brass,
on the top of whose spear was a wide and frowning head that almost deprived the
beholder of sight, and on it was inscribed, thou who comest unto me, if thou know
not the way that leadeth to the City of Brass, rub the hand of the horseman, and he
will turn, and then will stop, and in whatsoever direction he stoppeth, thither proceed,
without fear and without difficulty; for it will load thee to the City of Brass. — And
when the Emir Mousa had rubbed the hand of the horseman, it turned like the Vilind-
ing lightning, and faced a different direction from that in which they were travelling.
The party therefore turned thither, and journeyed on, and it was the right way.
THE CITY OF BRASS.
525
Horseman of Brass.
They took that route, and continued their course the same day and the next night,
until they had traversed a wide tract of country. And as they were proceeding, one
day, they came to a pillar of black stone, wherein was a person sunk to his arm--
pits, and he had two huge wings, and four arms ; two of them .like those of the scms
of Adam, and two like the fore-legs of lions, with claws. He had hair upon his head
like the tails of horses, and two eyes like two burning coals, and he had a third eye,
in his forehead, like the eye of the lynx, from which there appeared sparks of fire.
He was black and tall ; and he was crying out. Extolled be the perfection of my
Lord, who hath appointed me this severe afiliction and painful torture until the day
of resurrection ! When the party beheld him, their reason fled from them, and they
were stupified at the sight of his form, and retreated in flight; and the Emir Mousa
said to the sheikh Abdelsamad, AVhat is this? He answered, I know not what he is.
And the Emir said. Draw near to him, and investigate his case: perhaps he will dis-
cover it, and perhaps thou wilt learn his history. The sheikh replied, May God
amend the state of the Emir ! Verily we fear him. — Fear ye not, rejoined the Emir ;
for he is withheld from injuring you and others by the state in which he is. So the
sheikh Abdelsamad drew near to him, and said to him, thou person, what is thy
name, and what is thy nature, and what hath placed thee here in this manner ? And
he answered him. As to me, I am an Afrite of the Genii, and my name is Dahish
the son of Elamash, and I am restrained here by the majesty, confined by the power
[of God], tormented as long as God (to whom be ascribed might and glory !) willeth.
Then the Emir Mousa said, sheikh Abdelsamad, ask him what is the cause of his
confinement in this pillar. He therefore asked respecting that, and the Afrite
answered him. Verily my story is wonderful, and it is this: —
There belonged to one of the sons of Eblis an idol of red carnelion, of which I
526 THE CITY OF BRASS.
was made guardian ; and there used to worship it one of the Kings of the sea, of
illustrious dignity, of great glory, leading, among his troops of the Genii, a million
warriors who smote with swords before him, and who answered his prayer in cases
of diflSculty. These Genii who obeyed him were under my command and authority,
following my words when I ordered them : all of them were in rebellion against
Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace !), and I used to enter the body
of the idol, and command them and forbid them. Now the daughter of that King
was a frequent adorer of the idol, assiduous in the worship of it, and she was the
handsomest of the people of her age, endowed with beauty and loveliness, and ele-
gance and perfection ; and I described her. to Solomon, on whom be peace ! So he
sent to her father, saying to him, Marry me to thy daughter, and break thy carnelion-
idol, and bear witness that there is no deity but God, and that Solomon is the Pro-
phet of God. If thou do so, thy due shall be the same as our due, and thy debt as our
debt. But if thou refuse, I bring against thee forces with which thou hast not power
to contend : therefore prepare an answer to the question, and put on the garment of
death ; for I will come to thee with forces that shall fill the vacant region, and leave
thee like yesterday that hath passed. — And when the messenger of Solomon (on
whom be peace!) came to him, he was insolent and contumacious, and magnified
himself, and was proud. Then he said to his Viziers, What say ye respecting the
aflfair of Solomon the son of David. For he hath sent demanding my daughter, and
commanding me to break my carnelion-idol, and to adopt his faith. — And they
replied, great King, can Solomon do unto thee that, when thou art in the midst of
this vast sea ? If he come unto thee, he cannot prevail against thee ; since the
Marids of the Genii will fight on thy side ; and thou shalt seek aid against him of
thine idol that thou worshippest: for he will aid thee against him and will defend
thee. The right opinion is, that thou consult thy lord (and they meant by him the
red carnelion-idol), and hear what will be his reply: if he counsel thee to fight him,
fight him ; but otherwise, do not. — And upon this the King went immediately, and,
going in to his idol, after he had oSered a sacrifice and slain victims, fell down before
it prostrate, and began to weep, and to recite verses. — (Then that Afrite, the half
of whom was in the pillar, said to the sheikh Abdelsamad, while those around him
listened,) And thereupon I entered the body of the idol, by reason of my ignorance,
and the paucity of my sense, and my solicitude respecting the affair of Solomon, and
said. As for me, I am not in fear of him ; for I am acquainted with everything. If
he wish to wage war with me, I will go forth, and I will snatch his soul from him.
— So when the King heard my reply to him, his heart was strengthened, and he
determined to wage war with Solomon, the Prophet of God, — on whom be peace ! —
and to fight against him. Accordingly, when the messenger of Solomon came, he
inflicted upon him a painful beating, and returned him a shameful reply ; and sent
to threaten Solomon, saying to him, by the messenger. Thy mind hath suggested to
thee desires. Dost thou threaten me with false words ? Either come thou to me, or
I will go to thee.
Then the messenger returned to Solomon, and acquainted him with all that had
occurred and happened to him. And when the Prophet of God, Solomon, heard that,
[it was as though] his resurrection took place, his resolution was roused, and he pre-
pared his forces, consisting of Genii and men, and wild beasts, and birds and
reptiles. He commanded his Vizier Dimiriat, King of the Genii, to collect the Marids
of the Genii from every place: so he collected for him, of the Devils, six hundred
millions. He also commanded Asaph the son of Barkia [his Vizier of men] to
collect his soldiers of mankind ; and their number was one million, or more.
He made ready the accoutrements and weapons, and mounted, with his forces ol the
Genii and of mankind, upon the carpet,' with the birds flying over his head, and the
' Solomon is believed by the Mahometans to have had a carpet upon which he was able to
transport himself through the air.
THE CITY OF BRASS. 527
wild beasts beneath the carpet marching, until he alighted upon his enemy's coast,
and surrounded his island, having filled the land with the forces. He then sent to
our King, saying to him, Behold, I have arrived ; therefore repel from thee that
which hath come down, or else submit thyself to my authority, and acknowledge my
mission, and break thine idol, and worship the One, the Adored God, and marry to
me thy daughter according to law, and say thou, and those who are with thee, I
testify that there is no deity but God, and I testify that Soloman is the Prophet
of God. If thou say that, peace and safety shall be thy lot. But if thou refuse, thy
defending thyself from me in this island shall not prevent thee: for God (whose
name be blessed and exalted !) hath commanded the wind to obey me, and I will
order it to convey me unto thee on the carpet, and will make thee an example to
restrain others. — So the messenger came to him, and communicated to him the mes-
sage of the Prophet of God, Solomon, on whom be peace! But the King said to
him. There is no way for the accomplishment of this thing that he requireth of me;
therefore inform him that I am coming forth unto him. Accordingly the messenger
returned to Solomon, and gave him the reply. The King then sent to the people
of his country, and collected for himself, of the Genii that were under his authority,
a million; and to these he added others, of the Marids and Devils that were in the
islands of the seas and on the tops of the mountains ; after which he made ready
his forces, and opened the armouries, and distributed to them the weapons. And as
to the Prophet of God, Solomon (on whom be peace!) he disposed his troops, com>
manding the wild beasts to form themselves into two divisions, on the right of the
people and on their left, and commanding the birds to be upon the islands. He
ordered them also, when the assault should be made, to tear out the eyes of their
antagonists with their beaks, and to beat their faces with their wings ; and he ordered
the wild beasts to tear in pieces their horses ; and they replied. We hear and obey
God, and thee, Prophet of God ! Then Solomon, the Prophet of God, set for him-
self a couch of alabaster adorned with jewels, and plated with plates of red gold,
and he placed his Yizier Asaph the son of Barkia on the right side, and his Vizier
Dimiriat on the left side, and the Kings of mankind on his right, and the Kings of
the Genii on his left, and the wild beasts and the vipers and serpents before him.
After this, they came upon us all together, and we contended with him in a wide
tract for a period of two days ; and calamity befell us on the third day, and the de-
cree of God (whose name be exalted !) was executed among us. The first who charged
upon Solomon were I and my troops ; and I said to my companions. Keep in your places
in the battlefield while I go forth to them and challenge Dimiriat. And lo, he came
forth, like a great mountain, his fires flaming, and his smoke ascending; and he ap-
proached and smote me with a flaming fire ; and his arrow prevailed over my fire.
He cried out at me with a prodigious cry, so that I imagined the heaven had fallen
and closed over me, and the mountains shook at his voice. Then he commanded hie
companions, and they charged upon us all together: we also charged upon them,
and we cried out one to another : the fires rose and the smoke ascended, the hearts
of the combatants were almost cleft asunder, and the battle raged. The birds fought
in the air; and the wild beasts in the dust; and I contended with Dimiriat until he
wearied me and I wearied him ; after which I became weak, and my companions
and troops were enervated, and my tribes were routed. The Prophet of God, Solo-
mon, cried out. Take ye this great tyrant, the ill-omened, the infamous ! And the
men charged upon the men ; and the Genii upon the Genii ; defeat befell our King,
and we became unto Solomon a spoil. His troops charged upon our forces, with the
wild beasts on their right and left, and the birds were over our heads, tearing out
the eyes of the people, sometimes with their talons and sometimes with their beaks,
and sometimes they beat with their wings upon the faces of the combatants, while
the wild beasts bit the horses and tore in pieces the men, until the greater portion
of the party lay upon the face of the earth like the trunks of palm-trees. As to me,
I flew from before Dimiriat; but he followed me a journey of three months, until he
528
THE CITY OF BRASS.
Dahish overtaken by Uiminat.
overtook me. I had fallen down through fatigue, and he rushed upon me, and made
me a prisoner. So I said to him, By Him who hath exalted thee and debased me,
pity me, and take me before Solomon, on whom be peace ! But when I came before
Solomon, he met me in a most evil manner : he caused this pillar to be brought, and
hollowed it, and put me in it, and sealed me with his signet ; after which, he chained
me, and Dimiriat conveyed me to this place, where he set me down as thou seest
me; and this pillar is my prison until the day of resurrection. He charged a great
King to guard me in this prison, and I am in this condition tortured as thou seest
The party therefore wondered at him, and at the horrible nature of his form ; and
the Emir Mousa said, There is no deity but God ! Solomon was endowed with a
mighty dominion! And the sheikh Abdelsamad said to the Afrite, thou. I ask
thee concerning a thing of which do thou inform me. The Afrite replied. Ask con-
cerning what thou wilt. And the sheikh said. Are there in this place any of the
Afrites confined in bottles of brass from the time of Solomon, on whom be peace !
He answered, Yes, in the Sea of Kakar, where are a people of the descendants of
Noah (on whom be peace!), whose country the deluge reached not, and they are
separated there from [the rest of ] the sons of Adam. And where, said the sheikh, is the
way to the City of Brass and the place wherein are the bottles? What distance is
there between us and it? — The Afrite answered. It is near. So the party left him,
and proceeded ; and there appeared to them a great black object, with two [seeming]
fires corresponding with each other in position, in the distance, in that black object;
whereupon the Emir Mousa said to the sheikh. What is this great black object, and
what are these two corresponding fires? The guide answered him, Be rejoiced,
Emir; for this is the City of Brass, and this is the appearance of it that I find de
THE CITY OF BRASS. 529
scribed in the book of hidden treasures ; that its wall is of black stones, and it hath
two towers of Spanish brass, which the beholder seeth resembling two corresponding;
fires ; and thence it is named the City of Brass. — They ceased not to proceed until
they arrived at it; and lo, it was lofty, strongly fortified, rising high into the air,
impenetrable: the height of its walls was eighty cubits, and it had five and twenty
gates, none of which would open but by means of some artifice ; and there was no*
one gate to it that had not, within the city, one like it; such was the beauty of the
construction and architecture of the city. They stopped before it, and endeavoured
to discover one of its gates; but they could not; and the Emir Mousa said to the
sheikh Abdelsamad, sheikh, I see not to this city any gate. The sheikh replied,
Emir, thus do I find it described in the book of hidden treasures: that it hath five-
and-twenty gates, and that none of its gates may be opened but from within the
city. — And how, said the Emir, can we contrive to enter it, and divert ourselves with
a view of its wonders?
Then the Emir Mousa ordered one of his young men to mount a camel, and ride
round the city, in the hope that he might discover a trace of a gate, or a place lower
than that to which they were opposite. So one of his youths mounted, and proceeded
aVound it for two days with their nights, prosecuting his journey with diligence, and
not resting; and when the third day arrived, he came in sight of his companions,
and he was astounded at that which he beheld of the extent of the city and its height.
Then he said, Emir, the easiest place in it is this place at which ye have alighted.
And thereupon the Emir Mousa took Talib the son of Sahl, and the sheikh Abdel-
samad, and they ascended a mountain opposite the city, and overlooking it; and
when they had ascended that mountain, they saw a city than which eyes had not
beheld a greater. Its pavilions were lofty, and its domes were shining: its mansions
were in good condition, and its rivers were running; its trees were fruitful, and its
gardens bore ripe produce. It was a city with impenetrable gates, empty, still,
without a voice or cheering inhabitant, but the owl hooting in its quarters, and birds
skimming in circles in its areas, and the raven croaking in its districts and its great
thoroughfare-streets, and bewailing those who had been in it. The Emir Mousa
paused, sorrowing for its being devoid of inhabitants, and its being despoiled of
people and residents ; and he said. Extolled be the perfection of Him whom ages and
times change not, the Creator of the creation by his power! And while he was ex-
tolling the perfection of God (to whom be ascribed might and glory!), he happened
to look aside, and lo, there were seven tablets of white marble, appearing from a
distance. So he approached them, and behold, they were sculptured and inscribed;
and he ordered that their writing should be read ; therefore the sheikh Abdelsamad
advanced and examined them and read them ; and they contained admonition, and
matter for example and restraint, unto those endowed with faculties of discernment.
Upon the first tablet was inscribed, in the ancient Greek character, —
son of Adam, how heedless art thou of the case of him who hath been before thee ! Thy
years and age have diverted thee from considering him. Knowest thou not that the cup of death
will be filled for thee, and that in a short time thou wilt drink it? Look then to thyself before
entering thy grave. Where are those who possessed the countries, and abased the ser;ants o^
God, and led armies? Death hath come upon them; and God is the terminator of delights and
the separator of companions and the devastator of flourishing dwellings; so He hath transported
them from the amplitude of palaces to the straitness of the graves.
And the Emir Mousa fainted ; his tears ran down upon his cheeks, and he said. By
Allah, indifference to the world is the most appropriate and the most sure course!
Then he caused an ink-case and a paper to be brought, and he wrote the inscription
of the first tablet; after which he drew near to the second tablet, and the third, and
the fourth ; and having copied what was inscribed on them, he descended from the
mountain ; and the world had been pictured before his eyes.
And when he came back to the troops, they passed the day devising means of
34
530 THE CITY OF BKASS.
entering the city ; and the Emir Mousa said to his vizier Talib the son of Sahl, and
t(i those of his chief officers who were around him, How shall we contrive to enter
the city, that we may see its wonders ? Perhaps we shall find within it something
by which we may ingratiate ourselves with the Prince of the Faithful. — Talib the
sou of Sahl replied, May God continue the prosperity of the Emir! Let us make a
ladder, and mount upon it, and perhaps we shall gain access to the gate from with-
in. — And the Emir said, This is what occurred to my mind, and excellent is the ad-
vice. Then he called to the carpenters and blacksmiths, and ordered them to make
straight some pieces of wood, and to construct a ladder covered with plates of iron.
And they did so, and made it strong. They employed themselves in constructing it
a whole month, and many men were occupied in making it. And they set it up and
fixed it against the wall, and it proved to be equal to the wall in height, as though
it had been made for it before that day. So the Emir Mcusa wondered at it, and
said, God bless you ! It seemeth, from the excellence of your work, as though ye
had adapted it by measurement to the wall. — He then said to the people. Which of
you will ascend this ladder, and mount upon the wall, and walk along it, and con-
trive means of descending into the city, that he may see how the case is, and then
inform us of the mode of opening the gate ? And one of them answered, I will ascend
it, Emir, and descend and open the gate. The Emir therefore replied, Mount.
God bless thee! — Accordingly, the man ascended the ladder until he reached the top
of it; when he stood, and fixed his eyes towards the city, clapped his hands, and
cried out with his loudest voice, saying. Thou art beautiful ! Then he cast himself
down into the city, and his flesh became mashed with his bones. So the Emir
Mousa said. This is the action of the rational. How then will the insane act?
If we do thus with all our companions, there will not remain of them one: and we
shall be unable to accomplish our affair, and the affair of the Prince of the Faithful.
Depart ye ; for we have no concern with this city. — But one of them said. Perhaps
another than this may be more steady than he. And a second ascended, and a third,
and a fourth, and a fifth ; and they ceased not to ascend by that ladder to the top
of the wall, one after another, until twelve men of them had gone, acting as acted
the first. Therefore the sheikh Abdelsamad said. There is none for this affair but
myself, and the experienced is not like the inexperienced. But the Emir Mousa
said to him, Thou shalt not do that, nor will I allow thee to ascend to the top of this
wall ; for shouldst thou die, thou wouldst be the cause of the death of us all, and there
would not remain of us one; since thou art the guide of the party. ,The sheikh
however replied, Perhaps the object will be accomplished by my means, through
the will of God, whose name be exalted! And thereupon all the people agreed to
his ascending.
Then the sheikh Abdelsamad arose, and encouraged himself, and, having said, In
the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful — he ascended the ladder, repeat-
ing the praises of God (whose name be exalted !), and reciting the Verses of Safety,
until he reached the top of the wall : when he clapped his hands, and fixed his eyes.
The people therefore all called out to him, and said, sheikh Abdelsamad, do it not,
and cast not thyself down ! And they said. Verily to God we belong, and verily
unto Him we return! If the sheikh Abdelsamad fall, we all perish ! — Then the
sheikh Abdelsamad laughed immoderately, and sat a long time repeating the praises
of God (whose name be exalted !), and reciting the Verses of Safety ; after which he
rose with energy, and called out with his loudest voice. Emir, no harm shall befall
you; for God (to whom be ascribed might and glory!) hath averted from me the
effect of the artifice and fraudulence of the Devil, through the blessing resulting from
the utterance of the words, In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. —
So the Emir said to him. What hast thou seen, sheikh ? He answered. When I
reached the top of the wall, I beheld ten damsels, like moons, who made a sign with
their hands, as though they would say. Come to us. And it seemed to me that be-
neath me was a sea (or great river) of water ; whereupon I desired to cast myself
THE CITY OF BKASS. 531
down, as our companions did : but I beheld them dead : so I withheld myself from
them, and recited some more words of the book of God (whose name be exalted !),
whereupon God averted from me the influence of those damsels' artifice, and they
departed from me ; therefore I cast not myself down, and God repelled from me the
effect of their artifice and enchantment. There is no doubt that this is an enchant-
ment and an artifice which the people of this city contrived in order to repel from it
every one who should desire to look down upon it, and wish to obtain access to it;
and these our companions are laid dead.
He then walked along the wall till he came to the two towers of brass, when he
saw that they had two gates of gold, without locks upon them, or any sign of the
means of opening them. Therefore the sheikh paused as long as God willed, and,
looking attentively, he saw in the middle of one of the gates a figure of a horseman
of brass, having one hand extended, as though he were pointing with it, and on it
was an inscription, which the sheikh read, and lo, it contained these words : — Turn
the pin that is in the middle of the front of the horseman's body twelve times, and
then the gate will open. So he examined the horseman, and in the middle of the
front of his body was a pin, strong, firm, well fixed : and he turned it twelve times ;
whereupon the gate opened immediately, with a noise like thunder; and the sheikh
Abdelsamad entered. He was a learned man, acquainted with all languages and
characters. And he walked on until he entered a long passage, whence he de-
scended some steps, and he found a place with handsome wooden benches, on which
were people dead, and over their heads were elegant shields, and keen swords, and
strung bows, and notched arrows. And behind the [next] gate were a bar of iron,
and barricades of wood, and locks of delicate fabric, and strong apparatus. Upon
this, the sheikh said within himself. Perhaps the keys are with these people. Then
he looked, and lo, there was a sheikh who appeared to be the oldest of them, and he
was upon a high wooden bench among the dead men. So the sheikh Abdelsamad
said, May not the keys of the city be with this sheikh ? Perhaps he was the gate-
keeper of the city, and these were under his authority. — He therefore drew near to
him, and lifted up his garments, and lo, the keys were hung to his waist. At the
sight of them, the sheikh Abdelsamad rejoiced exceedingly ; his reason almost fled
from him in consequence of his joy : and he took the keys, approached the gate,
opened the locks, pulled the gate and the barricades and other apparatus, which
opened, and the gate also opened, with a noise like thunder, by reason of its great-
ness and terribleness, and the enormity of its apparatus. Upon this, the sheikh ex-
claimed, God is most great! — and the people made the same exclamation with him,
rejoicing at the event. The Emir Mousa also rejoiced at the safety of the sheikh
Abdelsamad, and at the opening of the gate of the city ; the people thanked the
sheikh for that which he had done, and all the troops hastened to enter the gate.
But the Emir Mousa cried out to them, saying to them, people, if all of us enter,
we shall not be secure from some accident that may happen. Half shall enter, and
half shall remain behind.
Ths Emir Mousa then entered the gate, and with him half of the people, who
bore their weapons of war. And the party saw their companions lying dead : so
they buried them. They saw also the gate-keepers and servants and chamberlains
and lieutenants lying upon beds of silk, all of them dead, and they entered the
market of the city, and beheld a great market, with lofty buildings, none of which
projected beyond another: the shops were open, and the scales hung up, and the
utensils of brass ranged in order, and the khans were full of all kinds of goods.
And they saw the merchants dead in their shops: their skins were dried, and their
bones were carious, and they had become examples to him who would be admonished.
They saw likewise four markets of particular shops, filled with wealth. And they
left this place, and passed on to the silk-market, in which were silks and brocades
interwoven with red gold and white silver upon various colours, and the owners were
dead, lying upon skins, and appearing almost as though they would speak. Leaving
532 THE CITY OF BRASS.
these, they went on to the market of jewels and pearls and jacinths ; and they left
it. and passed on to the market of the money-changers, whom they found dead, with
varieties uf silks beneath them, and their shops were filled with gold and silver.
These they left, and they proceeded to the market of the perfumers ; and lo, their
shops were filled with varieties of perfumes, and bags of musk, and ambergris, and
aloes-wood, and nedd,' and camphor, and other things ; and the owners were all
dead, not having with them any food. And when they went forth from the market
of the perfumers, they found near unto it a palace, decorated, and strongly con-
structed ; and they entered it, and found banners unfurled, and drawn swords, and
strung bows, and shields hung up by chains of gold and silver, and helmets gilded
with red gold. And in the passages of that palace were benches of ivory, orna-
mented with plates of brilliant gold, and with silk, on which were men whose skins
had dried upon the bones: the ignorant would imagine them to be sleeping; but,
from the want of food, they had died, and tasted mortality. Upon this, the Emir
Monsa paused, extolling the perfection of God (whose name be exalted!), and his
holiness, and contemplating the beauty of that palace, and its strong construction,
and its wonderful fabrication in the most beautiful form and with the firmest archi-
tecture ; and most of its decoration was in ultramarine.
And the Emir Mousa went on into the interior of the palace. There he beheld a
great hall, and four large and lofty chambers, each one fronting another, wide, deco-
rated with gold and silver, and with various colours. In the midst of the hall was a
great fountain of alabaster, over which was a canopy of brocade ; and in those
chambers were places [one in each chamber] containing decorated fountains, and
tanks lined with marble ; and channels of water flowed along the floors of those
chambers, the four streams meeting together in a great tank lined with marbles of
various colours. — The Emir Mousa then said to the sheikh Abdelsamad, Enter these
chambers with us. So they entered the first chamber; and they found it filled with
gold and with white silver, and pearls and jewels, and jacinths and precious minerals.
They found in it also chests full of red and yellow and white brocades. And they
went thence to the second chamber and opened a closet in it, and lo, it was filled
with arms and weapons of war, consisting of gilded helmets, and Davidean coats of
mail, and Indian swords, and lances of Khat Ilejer,* and maces of Karezm, and
other instruments of war and battle. Then they passed thence to the third
chamber, in which they found closets having upon their doors closed locks, and over
them were curtains worked with various kinds of embroidery. They opened one of
these closets and found it filled with weapons decorated with varieties of gold and
silver and jewels. And they went thence to the fourth chamber, where also they
found closets, one of which they opened, and found it full of utensils for food and
drink, consisting of various vessels of gold and silver, and saucers of crystal, and
cups set with brilliant pearls, and cups of carnelion, and other things. So they
began to take what suited them of those things, and each of the soldiers carried off
what he could. And when they determined to go forth from those chambers, they
saw there a door of teak-wood inlaid with ivory and ebony, and adorned with plates
of brilliant gold, in the midst of that palace. Over it was hung a curtain of silk
worked with various kinds of embroidery, and upon it were locks of white silver, to
be opened by artifice, without a key. The sheikh Abdelsamad therefore advanced
to those locks, and he opened them by his knowledge and boldness and excellent
skill. And the party entered a passage paved with marble, upon the sides of which
were hangings whereon were figured various wild beasts and birds, all these being
worked with red gold and white silver, and their eyes were of pearls and jacinths :
whosoever beheld them was confounded. Next they came to a saloon, on beholding
which the Emir Mousa and the sheikh Abdelsamad were amazed at its construction.
They passed on, and found a saloon constructed of polished marble adorned with
' A mixture of perfumes, but chiefly ambergris.
*A celebrated mart for spears.
The City of Brass. (Page 502.)
533
THE CITY OF BRASS. 535
jewels. The beholder imaginad that upon its floor waa running water, and if any
one walked upon it he would slip. The Emir Mousa therefore ordered the sheik.i
Abdelsamad to throw upon it something, that they might be enabled to walk on it;
and he did this, and contrived so that they passed on. And they found in it a great
dome constructed of stones gilded with red gold. The party had not beheld, in all
that they had seen, anything more beautiful than it. And in the midst of that dome
was a great dome-crowned structure of alabaster, around which were lattice-windows,
decorated, and adorned with oblong emeralds, such as none of the Kings could pro-
cure. In it was a pavilion of brocade, raised upon columns of red gold, and within
this were birds, the feet of which were of emeralds ; beneath each bird was a net of
brilliant pearls spread over a fountain ; and by the brink of the fountain was placed
a couch adorned with pearls and jewels and jacinths, whereon was a damsel resem-
bling the shining sun. Eyes had not beheld one more beautiful. Upon her was a
garment of brilliant pearls, on her head was a crown of red gold, with a fillet of
jewels, on her neck was a necklace of jewels, in the middle of which were refulgent
gems, and upon her forehead were two jewels, the light of which was like that of
the sun ; and she seemed as though she were looking at the people, and observing
them to the right and left. When the Emir Mousa beheld this damsel, he wondered
extremely at her loveliness, and was confounded by her beauty and the redness of
her cheeks and the blackness of her hair. Any beholder would imagine that she
was alive and not dead. And they said to her. Peace be on thee, damsel! But
Talib the son of Sahl said to the Emir, May God amend thy state ! Know that this
damsel is dead. There is no life in her. How then can she return the salutation ?
— And he added, Emir, she is skilfuMy embalmed ; and her eyes have been taken
out after her death, and quicksilver hath been put beneath them, after which they
have been restored to their places ; so they gleam, and whenever the air putteth them
in motion, the beholder imagineth that she twinkleth her eyes, though she is dead. —
Upon this the Emir Mousa said. Extolled be the perfection of God, who hath subdued
his servants by death ! — And as to the couch upon which was the damsel, it had
steps, and upon the steps were two slaves, one of them white and the other black ;
and in the hand of one of them was a weapon of steel, and in the hand of the other
a jewelled sword, that blinded the eyes ; and before the two slaves was a tablet of
gold, whereon was read an inscription, which, was this ; —
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise be to God, the Creator of man :
and He is the Lord of lords and the Cause of causes. In the name of God, the Everlasting, the
Eternal: in the name of God, the Ordainer of fate and destiny. son of Adam, how ignorant
art thou in the long indulgence of hope; and how unmindful art thou of the arrival of the pre-
destined period! Knowest thou not that death hath called for thee, and hath advanced to seize
thy soul? Be ready then for departure, and make provision in the world; for thou wilt quit it
soon. Where is Adam, the father of mankind? Where are Noah and his offspring? Where
are the sovereign Kings and Caesars ? Where are the Kings of the regions of the earth ? Where are
the Amalekites? Where are the mighty monarch?? The mansions are void of their presence,
and they have quitted their families and homes. Where are the Kings of the foreigners and the
Arabs? They have all died and become rotten bones. Where are the lords of high degree?
They have all died. Where are Korah and Haman ? Where is Sheddad the son of Ad ? Where
are Canaan and Pharaoh ? God hath cut them off, and it is He who cuttcth short the lives of
mankind, and He hath made the mansions to be void of their presence. Did they prepare provi-
sion for the day of resurrection, and make themselves ready to reply to the Lord of men ? —
thou, if thou know me not, I will acquaint thee with ray name and my descent. I am Tadmor,
the daughter of the King of the Amalekites, of those who ruled the country with equity. I pos-
sessed what none of the Kings possessed, and ruled with justice, and acted impartially towards
my subjects : I gave and bestowed, and I lived a long time in the enjoyment of happiness and
an easy life, and emancipated female and male slaves. Thus I did until the sunnuoner of death
came to my abode, and disasters occurred before me. And the case was this : — Seven years in
succession came upon us, during which no water d.escended on us from heaven, nor did any grass
grow for us on the face of the earth. So we ate what food we had in our dwellings, and after
that we fell upon the beasts and ate them, and there remained nothing. Upon this, therefore, I
536 THE CITY OF BRASS.
caused the wealth to be brought, and meted it with a measure, and sent it by trusty men, who
went about with it through all the districts, not leaving unvisited a single large city, to seek for
some food. But they found it not; and they returned to us with the wealth, after a long ab-
sence. So thereupon we exposed to view our riches and our treasures, locked the gates of the
fortresses in our city, and submitted ourselves to the decree of our Lord, committing our case to
our Maker ; and thus we all died, as thou behcldest, and left what we had built and what we
had treasured. This is the story : and after the substance there remaineth not aught save the
vestige.
And upon the tablet were also inscribed these words : —
Who arriveth at our city, and entereth it, God facilitating his entrance into it, let him take
of the wealth what he can, but not touch anything that is on my body ; for it is the covering of
my person, and the attire with which I am fitted forth from the world. Therefore let him fear
God, and not seize aught of it; for he would destroy himself. I have caused this to be an ad-
monition from me unto him, and a charge which I give him in confidence. And peace be on
you ! I beg God, moreover, to save you from the evil of trials and sickness.
The Emir Mousa, when he heard these words, again wept so violently that he be-
came insensible: and after he had recovered, he wrote all that he saw, and was
admonished by what he witnessed. He then said to his companions, Bring the sacks,
and fill them with part of these riches and these vessels and rarities and jewels. And
thereupon, Talib the son of Sahl said to the Emir Mousa, Emir, shall we leave this
damsel with the things that are upon her? They are things that have no equal, nor
is the like of them at any time found, and they are more than the riches thou hast
taken, and will be the best present by which thou mayest ingratiate thyself with the
Prince of the Faithful. — But the Emir replied, thou, heardest thou not that which
the damsel hath given as a charge, in the inscription upon this tablet? Moreover,
and especially, she hath given it as a charge offered in confidence, and we are not
of the people of treachery. — The Vizier Talib, however, said, And on account of
these words wilt thou leave these riches and these jewels, when she is dead? Wliat
then should she do with these things, which are the ornaments of the world, and the
decoration of the living? With a garment of cotton might this damsel be covered,
and we are more worthy of the things than she. — Then he drew near to the steps,
and ascended them until he reached the spot between the two men [the slaves before
mentioned], when lo, one of these two smote him upon his back, and the other smote
him with the sword that was in his hand, and struck off his head, and he fell down
dead. So the Emir Mousa said. May God not regard with mercy thy resting-place !
There was in these riches a suflSciency ; and covetousness doth doubtlessly dishonour
the person in whom it existeth ! He thereupon gave orders for the entry of the troops,
who accordingly entered, and they loaded the camels with part of those riches and
minerals ; after which the Emir Mousa commanded them to close the gate as it was
before.
They then proceeded along the sea-coast until they came in sight of a high moun-
tain overlooking the sea. In it were many caves, and lo, in these was a people of
the blacks, clad in hides, and with bournouses of hides upon their heads, whose lan-
guage was unknown. And when they saw the troops, they ran away from them,
and fled to those caves, while their women and children stood at the entrances of the
caves. So the Emir Mousa said, sheikh Abdelsamad, what are these people? —
And he answered, these are the objects of the inquiry of the Prince of the Faithful.
They therefore alighted, and the tents were pitched, and the riches were put down ;
and they had not rested when the King of the blacks came down from the mountain,
and drew near to the troops. He was acquainted with the Arabic language ; where-
fore, when he came to the Emir Mousa, he saluted him ; and the Emir returned his
salutation, and treated him with honour. Then the King of the blacks said to the
Emir, Are ye of mankind, or of the Genii? Tlie Emir answered. As U> us, we are
of mankind ; and as to you, there is no duulit but th;it ye are of the Genii, because
THE CITY OF BRASS. 537
of your seclusion in this mountiiin that is separated from the world, and because of
the greatness of your make. But the King of the blacks replied, Nay, we are a
people of the race of Adam, the sons of Ham the son of Noah, on whom be peace .
And as to this sea, it is known by the name of Karkar. — So the Emir Mousa said to
him. And whence obtained ye knowledge, when there hath not come unto you any
prophet divinely inspired, in such a country as this? He answered, Know, Emir,
that there appeareth unto us, from this sea, a person diffusing a light whereby the
surrounding tracts are illuminated ; and he proclaimeth, with a voice which the dis-
tant and the near hear, O sons of Ham, be abashed at Him who seeth and is not
seen ; and say. There is no deity but God ; Mahomet is the Apostle of God. And I
am Abulabbas Elkader. Before that, we used to worship one another; but he called
us to the worship of the Lord of mankind. — Then he said to the Emir Mousa, He
hath also taught us some words to say. — And what, asked the Emir, are those words?
He answered, they are these: — There is no deity but God alone: He hath no part-
ner: to Him belongeth dominion, and to Him belongeth praise: He giveth life and
killeth ; and He is able to do everything. And we seek not access to God (to whom
be ascribed might and glory!) save by these words, nor know we any others. Also
on the eve of every Friday we see a light upon the face of the earth, and we hear a
voice saying, Perfect! Holy! Lord of the angels and the Spirit! Whatsoever God
willeth Cometh to pass, and what he willeth not cometh not to pass ! Every benefit
from God is a gratuitous favour; and there is no strength nor power but in God, the
High, the Great.
The Emir Mousa then said to him, We are the associates of the King of the Faith-
ful, Abdelmelek the son of Marwan ; and we have come on account of the bottles
of brass that are here in your sea, and wherein are the devils imprisoned from the
time of Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace!). He hath com-
manded us to bring him some of them, that he may see them, and divert himself by
the view of them. — And the King of the blacks replied, Most willingly. Then he
feasted him with fish, and ordered the divers to bring up from the sea some of the
bottles of Solomon ; and they brought up for them twelve bottles ; wherewith the
Emir Mousa was delighted, and the sheikh Abdelsamad also, and the soldiers, on
account of the accomplishment of the affair of the Prince of the Faithful. The
Emir Mousa thereupon presented to the King of the blacks many presents, and gave
him large gifts. In like manner too the King of the blacks gave to the Emir Mousa
a present consisting of wonders of the sea, in the form of human beings, and said
to him. Your entertainment for these three days shall be of these fish. And tho
Emir replied, We must carry with us some of them, that the Prince of the Faithful
may see them ; for thereby will his heart be pleased more than by the bottles of
.Solomon.
Then they bade him farewell, and they journeyed back until they came to the
land of Syria, and went in to the Prince of the Faithful; whereupon the Emir Mousa
acquainted him with all that he had seen, and all that had occurred to him with re-
spect to the verses and histories and admonitions, and told him of the case of Talib
the son of Sahl. And the Prince of the Faithful said to him. Would that I had been
with you, that I might have beheld what ye have beheld! He then took the bottles,
and proceeded to open one after another, and the devils came forth from them, saying,
Repentance! O Prophet of God ! We will not return to the like conduct ever! —
And Abdelmelek the son of Marwan wondered at this. But as to the damsels of the
sea, with the like of which the King of the blacks feasted them, they made for them
troughs of wood, which they filled with water, and into these they put them. They
died however, in consequence of the intensity of the heat. After this, the Prince of the
Faithful caused the riches to be brought before him, and divided them among the
Faithful. And he said, God hath not bestowed upon any one the like of what He
bestowed upon Solomon the son of David. Then the Emir Mousa begged the Prince
of the Faithful that he might appoint his son in his place as Governor of the pro-
538 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
vince, and that he might himself go to the noble Jerusalem, there to worship God.
So the Prince of the Faithful appointed his son to the government, and he himself
went to the noble Jerusalem, and he died there.
This is the end of that which hath come down to us, of the history of the City
of Brass, entire. And God is all-knowing.
CHAPTER XXII
Commenoing with part of the Six Hundred and Sixth Night, and ending with part of thn
Six Hundred and Twenty-fourth.
THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
A MERCHANT, whose name was Omar, had left issue consisting of three sons; one of
whom was named Salim, and the youngest was named Joudar, and the middle one
was named Selim. He reared them until they became men ; but he loved Joudar
more than his two brothers ; and when it became manifest that he so loved Joudar,
jealousy seized them, and they hated Joudar, and it was evident to their father that
they hated their brother. Now their father was of great age, and he feared that,
when he died, Joudar would suffer trouble from his brothers : so he summoned
several persons of his family, and some of the Cadi's dividers of property, and some
of the men of science, and said. Bring ye to me my wealth and my stuffs. Accord-
ingly they brought to him all the wealth and the stuffs ; and he said, O men divide
this wealth and these stuffs into four portions conformably to the law. They there-
fore divided the property; and he gave to each son a portion, and himself took a
portion, saying, This was my property, and I have divided it among them, and there
remaineth not to them aught to claim of me, nor aught for one to claim of another;
so when I die, discord will not ensue among them ; for I have divided among them
the inheritance during my life, and this property that I myself have taken shall be
for my wife, the mother of these children, that she may have recourse to it for her
subsistence.
Then, after a short period, their father died. But neither of the two envious
brothers was content with that which their father Omar had done: on the contrary,
they demanded more of Joudar, and said to him. The wealth of our father is in thy
possession. He therefore referred his case with them to the judges, and the Faithful
who were present at the time of the division came and testified of that which they
knew, and the judge forbade their injuring one another; but Joudar lost a consider-
able sum of money, and his brothers lost in like manner, by reason of the litigation ;
and they left him a while. Then they plotted against him a second time, and he re-
ferred his case with them to the judges ; so they lost a considerable sum of money
again, on account of the judges. And tliey ceased not to seek his harm, appealing
from tyrant to tyrant, they losing and he losing, until they had given all their wealth
as food to the tyrants, and the three became paupers. The two brothers of Joudar
then came to their mother, and, mocking her, took her money, and beat her, and
turned her out. She therefore came to her son Joudar, and said to him, Thy two
brothers have done unto me thus and thus, and taken my money. And she began
to curse them ; whereupon Joudar said to her, my mother, do not curse them ; for
God will requite each of them for his conduct. But, my mother, I have become
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 539
poor, and my two brothers are poor, and contention occasioneth the loss of money.
I have contended with them much before the judges, and it proBted us not at all: on
the contrary, we have lost all that our father left us, and the people have defamed
us on account of our giving testimony [one against another]. Shall I then on thine
account contend with them, and shall we refer the case to the judges? This is a
thing that must not be. Thou shalt only reside with me, and the cake of bread thai
I eat I will leave for thee. Pray thou for me, and God will supply me with the
means of thy subsistence ; and do thou leave both of them to receive from God the
recompense of their conduct. — And he proceeded to soothe the mind of his mother
until she consented; and she remained with him.
He then procured for himself a net, and he used to go to the river and the lakes,
and to every place in which was water: every day he went to some place; and he
earned one day ten, and one day twenty, and one day thirty [nusfs],' which he ex-
pended upon his mother, and he ate well and drank well. But his two brothers
neither worked nor sold nor bought; ruin and destruction and overtaking calamity
entered their abode, and they had consumed what they had taken from their mother,
and become of the number of the wretched paupers, and naked. So sometimes they
would come to their mother, humbling themselves to her excessively, and complain-
ing to her of their hunger ; and, the mother's heart being compassionate, she would
give them some stinking bread ; and if any food cooked the day before were there,
she would say to them. Eat it quickly, and go before your brother cometh ; for it will
not be agreeable to him, and will harden his heart against me, and ye will disgrace me
with him. Wherefore they would eat in haste and go. But they came in to their
mother one day, and she put for them some cooked meat and some bread, which they
proceeded to eat ; and lo, their brother Joudar entered. So his mother was abashed
and confounded at the sight of him, fearing that he would be incensed against her, and
she hung down her head towards the ground in her abasement at her son. He, how-
ever, smiled in their faces, and said. Welcome, my brothers ! It is a blessed day.
What hath happened that ye have visited me on this blessed day? — And he embraced
them, and loved them, and said. It was not my wish that ye should leave me desolate,
and not come to me, nor visit me nor your mother. They therefore replied, By Allah,
our brother, we longed to see thee, and nothing hindered us but abashment in conse-
quence of what hath happened between us and thee ; but we have repented greatly-.
This was the doing of the Devil (may God — whose name be exalted ! — execrate
him !) ; and we have no blessing excepting thee and our mother. — Joudar rejoined,
1 have no blessing excepting you two. And his mother said to him, my son, may
God whiten thy face, and may God increase thy prosperity! Thou art the superior
[in generosity], my son. — He then said. Welcome to you both ! Reside with me;
for God is bountiful, and good things with me are plentiful. — He became reconciled
to them, and they passed the night with him, and supped with him, and on the
following day they breakfasted with him ; after which, Joudar took up the net, and
went forth relying upon Providence. His two brothers also went, and were absent
until noon, when they returned; and their mother put before them the dinner; and
in the evening their brother came, bringing meat and vegetables. In this state they
continued for a period of a month ; Joudar catching fish and selling them, and ex-
pending their price upon his mother and his brothers, and the latter eating and
frolicking.
Now it happened one day that Joudar took the net to the river, and cast it, and
drew it, and it came up empty : and he cast it a second time, and it came up empty.
He therefore said within himself, There are no fish in this place. Then he removed
to another place, and there cast the net; but again it came up empty. And he re-
moved to another place, and ceased not to change his place from morning to evening;
but caught not a single minnow. So he said. Wonderful 1 Are the fish exhausted
' Small copper coin.
540 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
from the river, or what is the cause ? — He then put the net upon his back, and re-
turned grieved and vexed, suffering anxiety for his two brothers, and his mother,
and not knowing wherewith to give them to sup. And he came to an oven, and saw
the people crowding to take the bread, with money in their hands, and the baker
was not looking towards them. Upon this, he stopped and sighed ; and the baker
said to him, Welcome to thee, Joudar ! Dost thou want bread? — And he was
silent ; but the baker said to him. If thou have not with thee money, take what will
suffice thee, and thou shalt have a delay. So Joudar said. Give me bread for ten
nusfs. The baker replied. Take these ten nusfs besides, and to-morrow bring me
fish for the twenty. And Joudar said. On the head and the eye. He therefore took
the bread and the ten nusfs, and bought with these some meat and vegetables, say-
ing, To-morrow the Lord will dispel the trouble of my case. He went to his abode,
and his mother cooked the food, and he supped and slept; and on the following day,
he took the net. His mother said to him. Remain and breakfast. But he replied,
Breakfast thou with my two brothers. And he repaired to the river, and cast the
net in it a first time, and a second, and a third, and changed his place : and he
ceased not to do thus until the time of afternoon-prayers ; but nothing fell to his lot;
wherefore he took up the net, and went away vexed. Now his way was none other
than that which led by the baker; and when Joudar came to him, the baker saw
him, and counted out to him the bread and the money, saying to him, Come, take
and go. If there is nothing to-day, there will be to-morrow. — And Joudar desired
to excuse himself to him ; but the baker said to him. Go. No excuse is necessary.
Hadst thou caught anything, it had been with thee ; and when I saw thee empty-
handed, I knew that nothing had betided thee ; and if to-morrow nothing betide
thee, come, take bread, and be not abashed. Thou shalt have a delay. — Then, on
the third day. he went from lake to lake until the time of afternoon-prayers ; but saw
not in them aught. So he went to the baker, and received from him the bread and
the money. And thus he continued to do for a period of seven days.
He then became straitened in mind, and said to himself. Go to-day to the Lake of
Karoun. And when he had arrived there, he was about to cast the net, and was
not aware of it, when there approached him a Mograbin ' riding upon a mule, and
wearing a magnificent dress, and on the back of the mule was a pair of embroidered
saddle-bags, and everything that was on the mule was embroidered. The Mograbin
alighted from the back of the mule, and said. Peace be on thee, Joudar, O son of
Omar! So Joudar replied. And on thee be peace, my master the pilgrim! And
the Mograbin said to him, Joudar, I have an affair for thee to perform ; and if
thou comply with my desire, thou wilt obtain abundant good fortune, and be on
account thereof my companion, and perform for me my affairs. Joudar therefore
said, my master the pilgrim, tell me what is in thy mind, and I will obey thee: I
have no opposition to show thee. And the Mograbin said to him. Recite the Open-
ing Chapter of the Koran. So he recited it with him. And after this, the Mograbin
took forth and gave him a cord of silk, saying to him. Bind my hands behind me. and
make my bond very tight; then throw me into the lake, and wait over me a little;
and if thou see me put forth my hands from the water, raising them high, before I
appear, cast thou the net upon me, and draw me out quickly; but if thou see me
put forth my feet, know that I am dead. In this case, leave me, and take the mule
and the saddle-bags, and go to the market of the merchants: thou wilt find a Jew,
whose name is Shumia; and give thou to him the mule, and he will give thee a
hundred pieces of gold : so take them, and conceal the secret, and go thy way. —
He therefore bound his hands tightly behind him, the Mograbin saying to him. Pull
tightly the bonds. Then the latter said. Push me until thou shalt have thrown me
into the lake. Accordingly he pushed him, and threw him into it; whereupon he
sank ; and Joudar stood waiting for him a considerable time ; and lo, the feet of the
' A native of Northern Africa.
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 541
Mograbin came forth. Therefore Joudar knew that he was dead, and he took the
mule, and left him, and went to the market of the merchants, where he saw the Jew
sitting upon a chair at the door of the magazine. And when he saw the mule, the
Jew said. Verily the man hath perished. Then he said, Nought caused him to perish
save covetousness. And he took from him the mule, and gave him a hundred pieces
of gold, charging him to conceal the secret. So Joudar took the pieces of gohi, and
went, and took as much bread as he required of the baker, saying to him, Take this
piece of gold. He therefore took it, and calculated what was owing to him, and
replied, I have yet to give thee two days' bread. Joudar then went from the baker
to the butcher, to whom he gave another piece of gold, and he took the meat, saying
to the butcher. Retain the rest of the piece of gold in account. He bought also some
vegetables, and went; and he saw his two brothers begging of his mother something
to eat, and she was saying to them. Wait until your brother shall have come ; for I
have nothing. So he went in to them, and said to them, Take, eat. And they fell
upon the bread like ghouls. Then Joudar gave to his mother the rest of the gold,
saying. Take, my mother ; and when my brothers come, give to them, that they
may buy and eat during my absence.
He passed that night, and when he arose in the morning, he took the net, and went
to the Lake of Karoun, and, stopping there, he was about to cast the net. And lo,
another Mograbin approached, riding upon a mule, and more bedecked than he who
had died ; and he had with him a pair of saddle-bags, in which were two little boxes :
in each side of it was a little box. And he said, Peace be on thee, Joudar! So
Joudar replied, On thee be peace, my master the pilgrim ! And the Mograbin
said. Did there come to thee yesterday a Mograbin riding upon a mule like this
mule? Upon this Joudar feared, and denied, saying, I saw not any one — fearing
that he would say. Whither is he gone? — and if he answered him, He was drowned
in the lake — perhaps he might say. Thou drownedst him. It was therefore impos-
sible for him to do aught save to deny. The Mograbin then said to him, poor man,
this was my brother, and he hath gone before me. Joudar replied, I have no know-
ledge of him. But the Mograbin rejoined, Didst thou not bind his hands behind
him, and throw him into the lake, and did he not say to thee. If my hands come
forth, cast upon me the net, and draw me out quickly ; but if my feet come forth, I shall
be dead ; and take thou the mule, and give it to the Jew Shumia, and he will give
thee a hundred pieces of gold ? And his feet came forth, and thou tookest the mule,
and gavest it to the Jew, and he gave thee a hundred pieces of gold ? — So Joudar
said. Since thou knowest this, wherefore dost thou ask me? The Mograbin answered,
It is my desire that thou do with me as thou didst with my brother. And he took
forth and gave him a cord of silk, saying. Bind my hands behind me, and throw mo
in ; and if the like of that which befell my brother befall me, take the mule, and give
it to the Jew, and receive from him a hundred pieces of gold. He therefore said to
him. Advance. Accordingly he advanced, and Joudar bound his hands behind him,
and pushed him ; whereupon he fell into the lake, and sank ; and he waited for him
a while, and his feet came up. Therefore Joudar said, He is gone to perdition ! If
it be the will of God, every day may Mograbins come to me, and I will bind their
hands behind them, and they shall die, and a hundred pieces of gold from each one
who dieth will suffice me. — He then took the mule, and went away; and when the
Jew saw him, he said to hina. The other hath died ! Joudar replied. May thy head
long survive! And the Jew said to him. This is the recompense of the covetous.
And he took the mule from him, and gave him a hundred pieces of gold. So Joudar
took them, and repaired to his mother, and gave them to her ; whereupon she said
to him, my son, whence came unto thee this? He therefore informed her; and
she said to him. Go not again henceforth to the Lake of Karoun ; for I fear for thee
with respect to the Mograbins. But he replied, my mother, I throw them not in
save with their own consent; and how shall I act? This is a trade from which there
accrueth to us every day a hundred pieces of gold, and I return quickly: so by Allah
542 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
I will not desist from going to the Lake of Karoun until all traces of the Mograbins
cease, and not one of them remaineth.
Then, on the third day, he went and stood there; and lo, there came a Mograbin
riding upon a mule, and having with him a pair of saddle-bags ; but he was more
bedecked than the two former ones; and he said, Peace be on thee, Joudar, son
of Omar ! So Joudar said within himself. Whence do they all know me ? Then he
returned his salutation. And the Mograbin said, Have any Mograbins passed by
this place ? Joudar answered him, Two. The Mograbin asked him. Whither went
they ? — I bound their hands behind them, answered Joudar, and threw them into this
lake ; so they were drowned ; and the same end is for thee also. And the Mograbin
laughed, and said, poor man, every living being hath his destiny. He then
alighted from the mule, and said, Joudar, do with me as thou didst with both of
them. And he took forth the cord of silk. So Joudar said to him. Turn round thy
hands, that I may bind them behind thy back ; for I am in haste, and my time is
gone. He therefore turned round his hands towards him, and Joudar tied them
behind his back, and pushed him ; whereupon he fell into the lake, and Joudar stood
waiting for him. And lo, the Mograbin put forth to him his hands, saying to him.
Cast the net, poor man ! Accordingly he cast the net over him, and drew it ; and
behold, he was grasping in his hands two fishes, the colour of which was red, like
coral ; in each hand a fish ; and he said to Joudar, Open the two little boxes. So he
opened them for him ; and he put in each little box a fish, and covered the mouths
of the boxes over them. Then he pressed Joudar to his bosom, and kissed him on
the right cheek and on the left, and said to him, May Gad deliver thee from every
diflBculty ! By Allah, hadst thou not cast the net over me, and drawn me out, I had
not ceased to grasp these two fishes, submerged in the water, until I had died, and
I had not been able to come forth from the water. — And Joudar said to him, my
master the pilgrim, I conjure thee by Allah that thou acquaint me with the affair
of the two who were drowned before, and with the truth of the history of these two
fishes, and with the affair of the Jew.
The Mograbin therefore replied, Joudar, know that the two who were drowned
before were my brothers. One of them was named Abdelselam, and the other was
named Abdelahad ; I am named Abdelsamad, and the Jew is our brother; his name
is Abdelrahim : he is not a Jew, but a Mahometan, of the Malikee sect. Our father
taught us the arts of solving mysteries and opening hidden treasures, and enchant-
ment; and we strove until the Marids of the Genii, and the Afrites, served us. We
were four brothers, and the name of our father was Abdelwadoud ; and our father
died, leaving to us an abundance of things; whereupon we divided the treasures and
riches and talismans until we came to the books, which also we divided. But there
ensued among us a dissension respecting a book entitled The Stories of the Ancients,
the like of which existeth not, nor can any one give its price, nor can its equivalent
be made up in jewels ; for in it are given accounts of all the hidden treasures, and
the solutions of mysteries. Our father was in the habit of making use of it, and we
committed to memory a little of its contents, and each of us desired to possess it,
that he might know what was in it. Now when a dissension occurred between us,
there was present with us our father's sheikh, who had reared him and taught him
enchantment and divination, and he was named the Diviner Elabtan ; and he said
to us. Bring ye the book. So we gave him the book ; and he said. Ye are the sons
of my son, and it is impossible that I should wrong anyj^ne of you. Then let him
who desireth to take this book go and strive to accomplish the opening of the trea-
sure of Shamardal, and bring me the celestial planisphere, and the kohl-pot, and the
sealing, and the sword. For the seal-ring hath a Marid that serveth it, Avhose name
is Radelcasif, and whoso possesseth this seal-ring, neither King nor Sultan can pre-
vail against him ; and if he desire to possess the earth, in all its length and breadth,
he will be able to do so. And as to the sword, if it be drawn against an army, and
its bearer shake it, he will rout the army ; and if he say to it, at the time of his
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 543
shaking it, Slay tliis army — there will proceed from that sword a lightning, which
will slay the whol-e army. And as to the celestial planisphere, whoso possesseth it,
if he desire to behold all the countries from the east to the west, he will behold
them, and divert himself with viewing them, while he sitteth : whatsoever quarter
he desireth to see, he will turn the face of the planisphere towards it, and, looking
in the planisphere, he will see that quarter and its inhabitants as though all were
before him. Moreover, if he be incensed against a city, and turn the face of the
planisphere toward-s the sun's disk, desiring to burn that city, it will be burnt. And
as to the kohl-pot, whosoever applieth kohl from it to his eyes, he will see the trea-
sures of the earth. But I have a condition to impose upon you ; and it is this: —
that whosoever is unable to open this treasure, he shall not have any claim to th©
book ; and he who openeth this treasure, and bringeth me these four reposited things,
shall be entitled to take this book. — And we consented to the condition.
He then said to us, my sons, know that the treasure of Shamardal is under the
dominion of the sons of the Red King, and your father informed me that he had
striven to open that treasure, and had not been able : but that the sons of the Red
King had fled from him to a lake in the land of Egypt, called the Lake of Karoun,
where they withstood his authority ; and he pursued them to Cairo ; but could not
prevail against them, on account of their descending into that lake ; for it was
guarded by a talisman. He then returned overcome, and could not open the treasure
of Shamardal by reason of the sons of the Red King. So when your father was un-
able to prevail against them, he came to me, and complained to me. I therefore
made for him an astrological calculation, and saw that this treasure could not be
opened save by the good fortune of a young man of the sons of Cairo, named Joudar
the son of Omar : for that he would be the means of the seizure of the sons of the
Red King. Also, that the said young man would be a fisherman, that the meeting
with him would be by the Lake of Karoun, and that the charm would not be dissolved
unless Joudar should bind behind his back the hands of the person whose lot it was
to accomplish this, and throw him into the lake ; whereupon he would contend with
the sons of the Red King: and whosoever should have the fortune to do so would
seize the sons of the Red King. But he saw that he who should not be fortunate
would perish, and his feet would appear from the water; and that he who should be
safe, his hands would appear ; and it would be requisite that Joudar should cast
over him the net, and take him forth from the lake. Upon this [two of], my brothers
said, We will go, though we perish. And I said, I will go also. But as to our
brother who is in the garb of a Jew, he said, I have no desire. So we agreed with
him that he should repair to Cairo in the disguise of a Jewish merchant, in order
that if one of us should die in the lake, he might receive the mule and the saddle-
bags from Joudar, and give him a hundred pieces of gold. And when the first came
to thee, the sons of the Red King slew him ; and they slew my second brother; but
they could not prevail against me ; so I seized them.
Upon this, Joudar said. Where are they whom thou seizedst ? The Mograbin re-
plied. Didst thou not see them ? I have imprisoned them in the two little boxes. —
Joudar said. These are fishes. The Mograbin however replied. These are not fishes:
verily they are Afrites in the form of fishes. But, Joudar, know that the opening
of the treasure cannot be accomplished save by thy good fortune. Wilt thou then
comply with my desire, and go with me to the city of Fez and Mequinez, and open
the treasure? If so, I will give thee what thou shalt desire. Thou hast become my
brother by a covenant before God, and thou shalt return to thy family with a com-
forted heart. — Joudar said to him, my master the pilgrim, I have in my charge my
mother and my two brothers, and I am he who provideth for them ; and if I go with
thee, who will give them bread to eat? But the Mograbin replied. This is a vain
pretext ; and if it be on account of the money required for expenses, we will give
thee a thousand pieces of gold which thou shalt give to thy mother that she may ex-
pend it until thou shalt return to thy country; and if thou go away, thou shalt re-
§44 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
turn before four months. And when Joudar heard the mention of the thousand
pieces of gold, he said, Give me, pilgrim, the thousand pieces of gold, and I will
leave them with my mother, and will go with thee. So the Mograbin took forth and
gave him the gold, and he took it and went to his mother, and acquainted her with
that whioh had happened between him and the Mograbin, saying to her, Take these
thousand pieces of gold, and e.xpend of them upon thyself and upon my two brothers
while I journey with the Mograbin to the west, and I shall be absent four months,
and abundant good fortune will betide me: so pray for me, O my mother. She re-
plied, my son, thou wilt render me desolate, and I fear for thee. But he said, O
my mother, no harm will befall him whom God preserveth ; and the Mograbin is a
good man. And he proceeded to praise to her his state. So she replied. May God
incline his heart to thee! Go with him, my son. Perhaps he will give thee some-
thing.
He therefore bade farewell to his mother, and went; and when he came to the Mo-
grabin Abdelsamad, the latter said to him. Hast thou consulted thy mother? He
answered, Yes, and she prayed for me. And the Mograbin said to him. Mount be-
hind me. So he got upon the back of the mule, and they journeyed from noon until
the time of afternoon-prayers, when Joudar was hungry, and he saw not with the
Mograbin anything to be eaten ; wherefore he said to him, my master the pilgrim,
probably thou hast forgotten to bring for us anything to eat on the way. The Mo-
grabin said, Art thou hungry? Joudar answered. Yes. And upon this the Mo-
grabin alighted from the mule, with Joudar, and said. Put down the pair of saddle-
bags. So he put it down. Then the Mograbin said to him, What thing dost thou
desire, my brother? Joudar answered him. Anything. The Mograbin however
replied, I conjure thee by Allah that thou tell me what thing thou desirest. Joudar
said. Bread and cheese. But the Mograbin replied, poor man, bread and cheese
are not suitable to thy condition : therefore demand something good. In my estima-
tion, said Joudar, at this time everything is good. And the Mograbin aaked him.
Dost thou like browned chickens ? He answered. Yes. And the Mograbin said.
Dost thou like rice with honey? He answered, Yes. And the Mograbin said. Dost
thou like such a dish, and such a dish? — until he had named to him four-and-twenty
different dishes of food. Then Joudar said within himself. Is he mad? Whence
will he bring me the dishes of food that he hath named, when he hath neither
kitchen nor cook? But say to him. It is enough. — So he said to him, It is enough.
Dost thou make me desire the dishes when I shall see nothing? — The Mograbin
however replied, Welcome to thee, Joudar! And he put his hand into the saddle-
bag, and took forth a dish of gold containing two browned, hot chickens. Then he
put his hand a second time, and took forth a dish of gold containing roast meat.
And he ceased not to take forth from the pair of saddle-bags until he had taken forth
the four-and-twenty dishes that he had mentioned, entire and complete: whereupon
Joudar was confounded. He then said to him. Eat, poor man. And Joudar said,
my master, dost thou put in this pair of saddle-bags a kitchen and people to cook ? So
the Mograbin laughed, and replied, This is enchanted, having a servant; were we
to demand every hour a thousand dishes, the servant would bring them and make
them ready instantly. Joudar therefore said. An excellent thing is this pair of
saddle-bags ! Then they ate until they were satisfied, and what remained they threw
upon the ground; after which the Mograbin replaced the dishes, empty, in the
saddle-bags, and having put in his hand, took forth a ewer; and they drank, and
performed the ablution, recited the afternoon-prayers, and replaced the ewer in the
pair of saddle-bags. The Mograbin then put into them the two little boxes, placed
the saddle-bags on the mule, and mounted, saying. Mount, that we may journey on.
And he said, Joudar, knowest thou what space we have traversed from (^airo unto
this place? Joudar answered him. By Allah, I know not. And the Mograbin said
to him, We have traversed a space of a whole month's journey. And how so ? asked
Joudar. The Mograbin answered him, Joudar, know that the mule which is be-
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 545
neath us is one of the Marids of the Genii, that will travel in a day a year's journey:
but for thy sake it proceeded leisurely. — They then journeyed on until sunset ; and
when they halted in the evening, the Mograbin took forth from the saddle-bags the
supper ; and in the morning he took forth the breakfast. Thus they continued to do
for a period of four days, journeying until midnight, and alighting and sleeping, and
proceeding in the morning ; and all that Joudar desired he demanded of the Mo-
grabin, who produced it to him from the pair of saddle-bags. And on the fifth day,
they arrived at Fez and Mequinez.
They entered the city ; and when they entered, every one who met the Mograbin
saluted him, and kissed his hand. Thus he proceeded until he came to a door;
whereupon he knocked at it, and lo, the door opened, and there appeared from it a
damsel like the moon, to whom he said, Rhama, O my daughter, open for us the
pavilion. She replied. On the head and the eye, my father. And she entered,
wriggling her sides, so that Joudar's reason fled, and he said. This is none other
than the daughter of a King! Then the damsel opened the pavilion, and the Mo-
grabin took the pair of saddle-bags from the back of the mule, and said to it, De-
part: God bless thee! And behold the ground clove asunder, and the mule de-
scended, and the ground became again as it was. So Joudar said, excellent Pro-
tector! Praise be to God. who delivered us upon its back ! — The Mograbin however
said. Wonder not, O Joudar ; for I told thee that the mule is an Afrite : but come up
with us into the pavilion. And when they entered that pavilion, Joudar was amazed
at the abundance of the rich furniture, and at what he beheld in it, of rarities and
articles of jewels and minerals; and after they had seated themselves, the Mograbin
ordered the damsel, saying to her, Rahma, bring such a wrapper. She therefore
arose and brought a wrapper, which she put down before her father ; and he opened
it, and took forth from it a dress worth a thousand pieces of gold, and said, Put it
on, Joudar. Welcome to thee ! — So he put on the dress, and became like one of
the Kings of the West: after which the Mograbin placed the saddle-bags before him,
and, having put his hand into them, took forth from them dishes containing varieties
of viands until they composed a table of forty different dishes, when he said, my
lord, advance and eat, and be not displeased with us. We know not what viands
thou desirest : therefore tell us what thou wouldst have, and we will place it before
thee without delay. — Joudar replied. By Allah, my master the pilgrim, I love all
viands, and hate not aught: then ask me not respecting anything ; but bring all that
occur to thy mind, and I have nothing to do but to eat. — Then he resided with him
twenty days. Every day the Mograbin clad him with a dress, and the food was
from the pair of saddle-bags; the Mograbin not buying anything, either of meat or
bread, nor cooking ; but taking forth all that he required from the saddle-bags, even
the different kinds of fruit.
After this, the Mograbin, on the one-and-twentieth day, said, Joudar, arise with
us ; for this is the day decreed for the opening of the treasure of Shamardal. So he
arose with him, and they walked to the extremity of the city. Then they went forth
from it, and Joudar mounted a mule, and the Mograbin mounted a mule, and they
ceased not to journey on until noon, when they came to a river of running water.
There Abdelsamad alighted, and he said. Alight, Joudar. And he alighted ; and
Abdelsamad said, Quick ! — making a sign with his hand to the two slaves [who ac-
companied him] ; whereupon they took the two mules, and each slave departed by
one way, and they were absent a little while; after which one of them approached
with a tent, which he pitched ; and the other approached with a mattrass, which he
spread in the tent, placing around it cushions and pillows. Then one of them went
and brought the two little boxes in which were the two fishes ; and the other brought
the pair of saddle-bags. Upon this, the Mograbin arose and said. Come, Joudar.
So he came, and seated himself by his side; and the Mograbin took forth from the
saddle-bags thp dishes of viands, and they dined ; after which, the Mograbin took
the two little boxes, and recited a charm over them, whereupon those who were
35
546 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
within them began to say, At thy service, diviner of the world ! Have mercy upon
us! — They prayed for help, while he recited his charm over them, until the two little
boxes burst and became broken in pieces, the fragments flying about, and there ap-
peared from them two beings with their hands bound behind them, saying, Quarter!
diviner of the world ! What dost thou desire to do unto us ?— He answered. My de-
sire is, either to burn you, or that ye promise me to open the treasure of Shamardal.
And they replied. We promise thee, and we will open for thee the treasure ; but on the
condition that thou bring here Joudar the fisherman ; for the treasure cannot be opened
but by his good fortune, and no one can enter it excepting Joudar the son of Omar,
So he said to them. Him whom ye mention I have brought, and he is here, hearing
.you and beholding you. They therefore promised him to open the treasure, and he
released them. Then he took forth a tube, and some tablets of red carnelion, which
he placed upon the tube ; and he took a perfuming-vessel, put in it some charcoal,
and blew it with a single puff, wherewith he kindled it; and, having made ready the
incense, he said, Joudar, I will recite the charm, and throw on the incense, and
when I have begun the charm I cannot speak ; for the charm would be frustrated ;
and I desire to acquaint thee how thou shalt act to attain thy wish. So Joudar re-
plied, Acquaint me.
The Mograbin therefore said. Know that when I have recited the charm, and
thrown on the incense, the water will dry up from the bed of the river, and there
will appear to thee a door of gold, of the size of the city-gate, with two rings of
metal. Descend to the door, and knock it lightly, and wait a while : then knock a
second time, with more force than the first time: after that, give three knocks with-
out intermission, one after another. Thereupon thou wilt hear a speaker say, Who
knocketh at the door of the treasures and knoweth not how to solve the mysteries ?
And do thou answer, I am Joudar the fisherman, the son of Omar. Then he will
open to thee the door; and there will come forth to thee a person with a sword in his
hand, who will say to thee. If thou be that man, stretch forth thy neck that I may
smite off thy head. And stretch thou forth to him thy neck, and fear not ; for when
he raiseth his hand with the sword and smiteth thee, he will fall down before thee,
and after a while thou wilt see him a body without a soul, and thou wilt not suffer
pain from the blow, nor will aught befall thee : but if thou oppose him, he will slay
thee. — And after that, when thou hast annulled his talisman by obedience, enter on
until thou seest another door, which knock. There will come forth to thee a horse-
man riding upon a horse, and having upon his shoulder a spear, and he will say,
What hath brought thee into this place, which no one entereth, either of mankind or
of the Genii? And he will shake at thee the spear: but open to him thy bosom,
and he will smite thee, and will fall down instantly, and thou wilt see him a body
without a soul. If thou oppose him, however, he will slay thee. — Then enter the
third door. There will come forth to thee a son of Adam having in his hand a bow
and arrows, and he will shoot at thee with the bow : but open thou to him thy bosom,
and he will smite thee, and will fall down before thee a body without a soul ; but
if thou oppose him, he will slay thee. — Next enter the fourth door. There will come
forth to thee a huge lion, who will rush upon thee, opening his mouth, and showing
thee that he desireth to devour thee: yet fear thou not, nor flee from him ; but when
he cometh up to thee, give him thy hand, and when he biteth at thy hand he will
fall down instantly, and naught will befall thee.— After this, enter the fifth door.
There will come forth to thee a black slave, who will say to thee, Who art thou ?
Answer him, I am Joudar. And he will say to thee. If thou be that man, enter the
sixth door. — .Advance therefore to that door, and say, Isa, tell Mousa to open the
door. Thereupon the door will be opened, and do thou enter. Thou wilt find two
serpents ; one of them on the left, and the other on the right. Each of them will
open its mouth, and they will dart upon thee instantly; but stretch thou forth to
them thy two hands, and each of them will bite at a hand: if thou oppose, however,
they will kill thee. — Then enter on to the seventh door, and knock it. [The sem-
THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
547
blance of] thy mother will come forth to thee, and will say to thee, Welcome, my
son ! Advance, that I may salute thee. — But do thou reply. Keep far from me, and
pull off thine apparel. She will thereupon say to thee, my son, I am thy mother
and I have a claim upon thy duty for suckling and rearing thee. How then wouldst
thou strip me of my clothing? — Do thou, however, say to her. If thou pull not off
thy clothing, I will slay thee. And look on thy right side: thou wilt see a sword
suspended on the wall : so take it, and draw it upon her, and say to her. Pull off.
Then she will endeavour to beguile thee, and will humble herself unto thee: yet pity
her not: but every time that she puUeth off to thee anything, say to her. Pull off the
rest. And cease not to threaten her with slaughter until she pulleth off to thee all
that is upon her and falleth down. — Upon this, the mysterious contrivances will have
become dissolved, and the talismans annulled, and thou wilt be secure. So enter:
thou wilt find the gold in heaps within the treasury: pay no regard, however, to
aught of it: but thou wilt see a private chamber at the upper end of the treasury
with a curtain over its entrance. Remove the curtain, and thou wilt see the diviner
Shamardal lying upon a couch of gold, having at his head something round, shining
like the moon ; and it is the celestial planisphere. lie is also equipped with the
sword, hung upon his side; and upon his finger is a seal-ring; and upon his neck is
a chain, to which is attached a kohl-pot. Bring therefore the four reposited things;
and beware of forgetting aught of the things with which I have acquainted thee ;
and act not contrary to the directions ; for thou wouldst repent, and fear would be
entertained for thee. — Then he repeated to him the charge, a second and a third and
a fourth time, until he said, I have it in my memory : but who is able to face these
talismans which thou hast mentioned, and to endure these great horrors? The Mo-
grabin replied, Joudar, fear not; for they are bodies without souls. And he pro-
ceeded to tranquillize him. So Joudar said, I rely upon God.
Then the Mograbin Abdelsamad threw on the incense and continued a while
reciting the charm ; and lo, the water had gone, and the bottom of the river ap-
peared, and the door of the treasury. Joudar therefore descended to the door, and
knocked it ; and he heard a speaker say, Who knocketh at the doors of the treasures
and knovreth not how to solve the mysteries? So he answered, I am Joudar the son
of Omar. And upon this, the door opened, and the person came forth to him, and
drew the sword, saying to him, Stretch forth thy neck. Accordingly, he stretched
forth his neck, and the person smote him, and fell down. In like manner did Joudar
at the second door, and so on until he had annulled the talismans of [six of] the
seven doors. Then [the semblance of] his mother came forth to him, saying to him,
Joudar threatening the Semblance of his Mother.
Salutations to thee, my son ! And he said to her as the Mograbin had directed
him ; but after she had long remonstrated with him, and done nearly all that he had
548 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
commanded her, she said to him, my son, is thy heart stone? Is not this unlaw-
ful ! — And he replied, Thou hast spoken truth. So when he had uttered these words,
she cried out and said. He hath erred : therefore beat ye him ! And there fell upon
him blows like the drops of rain : the servants of the treasure assembled around him,
and they inflicted upon him a beating that he forgot not during his life ; after which
they pushed him, and cast him forth outside the door of the treasure, and the doors
of the treasure became closed as they were before. So when they cast him outside
the door, the Mograbin took him up instantly, and the waters flowed as before.
Then Abdelsamad the Mograbin recited over Joudar a charm, until he recovered
from his intoxication, when he said to him, "What hast thou done, poor man?
Joudar therefore told him what had happened ; whereupon the Mograbin replied,
Did I not say to thee, Act not contrary to the directions? Thou hast done ill unto
me and to thyself. But now thou must remain with me till the next year, until the
like of this day. — And he called out immediately to the two slaves ; who forthwith
struck the tent and carried it away, and, after they had been absent a little while,
n turned with the two mules ; and the Mograbin and Joudar each mounted a mule,
and they returned to the city of Fez.
Joudar remained with the Mograbin, eating well and drinking well, and every
day the latter clad him in a rich dress, until the year had ended, and that day
arrived ; when the Mograbin said to him. This is the appointed day: so repair with
us. Joudar replied. Well. The Mograbin therefore took him outside the city, and
they saw the two slaves with the two mules, and rode until they arrived at the river;
whereupon the two slaves pitched the tent, and spread the furniture in it, and the
Mograbin took forth the table of viands, and they dined. After this, the Mograbin
took forth the tube and the tablets, as on the first occasion, kindled the fire, made
ready his incense, and said, Joudar, 1 desire to charge thee. He replied, my
master the pilgrim, if I have forgotten the beating I may have forgotten the charge.
So the Mograbin said to him. Dost thou retain the charge in thy memory? He
answered. Yes. And the Mograbin said, Keep thy self-possession, and imagine not
that the woman is thy mother, for she is only a talisman in the form of thy mother,
and her desire is to make the err; and if the first time thou earnest forth alive, this
time, if thou err, they will cast thee forth slain. He replied. If I err, I shall deserve
their burning me. Then the Mograbin put the incense, and recited the charm, and
the river dried up. So Joudar advanced to the door and knocked it ; whereupon it
opened, and he annulled all the talismans until he came to [the semblance of] his
mother, who said to him. Welcome, my son! But he replied, How should I be
thy son, accursed? Pull off! — And she endeavoured to beguile him ; but he in-
sisted : and when she had done as he commanded her, she became a body without
a soul. He therefore entered, and saw the gold in heaps, but paid no regard to aught
of it. Then he came to the private chamber, and beheld the diviner Shamardal
lying, having the sword on his side, and the seal-ring upon his finger, and the kohl-
pot upon his bosom, and he saw the celestial planisphere over his head. So he
advanced and loosed the sword, and took the seal-ring and the celestial planisphere
and the kohl-pot, and went forth : and lo, n set of musical instruments sounded in
honour of him, and the servants [of the treasure] began to call out, Mayest thou
enjoy that which thou hast obtained, Joudar! The instruments ceased not to
sound until he went forth from the treasure, and came to the Mograbin, who there-
upon ceased from the recitation of the charm, and the fumigation, and, rising, pressed
him to his bosom, and saluted him ; and Joudar gave him the four reposited articles.
So the Mograbin took them, and called out to the two slaves, who forthwith took the
tent, and restored it to its place ; after which they returned with the two mules, and
the Mograbin and Joudar mounted them, and entered the city of Fez. The Mograbin
then brought the pair of saddle-bags, and proceeded to take forth from it the dishes
containing the various viands until a complete table was before him. when he said,
my brother, Joudar, eat. He therefore ate until he was satisfied, and Ihe
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 549
Mograbin emptied the remains of the viands into other dishes, and put back the
empty dishes into the saddle-bags.
Then the Mograbin Abdelsamad said, Joudar, thou quittedst thy land and thy
country on our account, and hast accomplished our affair; wherefore thou hast a
claim upon us for some object of desire ; so demand of us what thou wishest ; for
God (whose name be exalted !) giveth thee, and we are [merely] the means. Require
then what thou wilt, and be not abashed, since thou deservest. — He therefore replied,
my master, I desire of God, and then of thee, that thou give me this pair of saddle-
bags. And the Mograbin said [to his slave]. Bring the pair of saddle-bags. Accord-
ingly he brought it; and he said to Joudar, Take it; for it is thy due ; and hadst
thou desired something else, we had given it to thee. But, poor man, this will
not profit thee save in food, and thou hast >vearied thyself with us, and we promised
thee that we would restore thee to thy country with a comforted heart ; wherefore
thou shalt eat from this pair of saddle-bags, and we will give thee another pair of
saddle-bags, full of gold and jewels, and have thee conveyed to thy country; so thou
shalt become a merchant, and clothe thyself and thy family, and not stand in need
of money for thy expenses. Eat thou and thy family from this pair of saddle-bags;
and the mode of acting with it is this ; that thou put forth thy hand into it, and say.
By the great names that have influence over thee, servant of this pair of saddle-
bags, bring me such a dish ! Thereupon he will bring thee what thou demandest,
even if thou demand every day a thousand different dishes of food. Then he caused
a slave to come with a mule, and filled for Joudar a pair of saddle-bags, one half
with gold, and the other half with jewels and minerals, and said to him. Mount this
mule, and the slave will walk before thee •,^ for he will acquaint thee with the way
until he conveyeth thee to the door of thy house ; and when thou hast arrived, take
the two pairs of saddle-bags, and give him the mule, and he will bring it back. But
let not any one know thy secret. And now we commit thee unto God. — So Joudar
replied. May God increase thy prosperity ! He put the two pairs of saddle-bags upon
the back of the mule, and mounted; and the slave walked before him. The mule
followed the slave that day, and all the following night; and on the second day, in
the morning, he entered the Bab el-Nasr, and beheld his mother sitting and saying,
Something, for the sake of God ! So his reason fled, and, having alighted from the
back of the mule, he threw himself upon her ; and when she saw him, she wept.
Then he mounted her upon the mule, and walked by her stirrup until he arrived at
the house, when he set down his mother, took the two pairs of saddle-bags, and left
the mule to the slave, who took it and departed to his master : for the slave was a
devil and the mule was a devil.
But as to Joudar, the fact of his mother's begging was grievous to him ; and when
he entered the house, he said to her, my mother, are my two brothers well ? She
answered Well. And he said, Wherefore dost thou begin the way? She answered,
my son, in consequence of my hunger. He replied, I gave thee, before I departed,
a hundred pieces of gold the first day, and a hundred pieces of gold the second day,
and I gave thee a thousand pieces of gold on the day that I departed. — my son.
she said, they have cheated me, and taken them from me, saying, We desire to
purchase with them merchandise. And they took them, and turned me out: so I
betook myself to begging in the way, by reason of the violence of my hunger. — He
then said, my mother, no harm shall befall thee now that I have come: therefore
suffer no anxiety. This is a pair of saddle-bags full of gold and jewels, and good
things are abundant. — And she replied, my son, thou art fortunate ! May God be
well pleased with thee, and increase his favours to thee ! Arise, my son ; bring
for us some bread ; for I have passed the night in violent hunger, without supper. — •
Upon this, he laughed, and said to her. Welcome to thee, my mother! Demand
then whatever thou desirest to eat, and I will present it to thee immediately. I need
not to purchase from the market, nor need I any one to cook. — So she said, my
son, I see not with thee anything. He replied, I have with me, in the pair of saddle-
550 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
bags, of every kind of viands. And she said, my son, whatever is ready will stay
liunp;er. Thou hast spoken truth, he replied; for when plenty is wanting, man is
content with the smallest thing ; but when plenty is at hand, man desireth to eat of
what is good: and I have plenty ; therefore demand what thou desirest. And she
said to him, my son, some hot bread, and a piece of cheese. But he replied,
my mother, this is not suitable to thy condition. So she said to him, Thou knowest
my condition ; wherefore, what is suitable to my condition, thereof give me to eat.
And he said, my mother, suitable to thy condition are browned meat, and browned
chickens, and boiled rice with butter and salt and pepper ; and suitable to thy con-
dition are sausages, and stuffed gourds, and stuffed lamb, and stuffed ribs of lamb,
and kunafa with broken almonds and hazel-nuts, and honey and sugar, and kataif,
and baklawa. His mother therefore thought that he was laughing at her, and
making jest of her: so she said to him, Oh! Oh! What hath happened unto thee?
Dost thou dream, or hast thou become mad? — He asked her, Whence learnedst thou
that I had become mad ? She answered him. Because thou mentionest to me all
kinds of excellent dishes : and who can afford their price, or who knoweth how to
cook them ? And he replied, By my life, I must give thee to eat of all that I have
mentioned to thee, immediately. She said, I see not aught. And he said to her,
Bring me the pair of saddle-bags. She therefore brought him the pair of saddle-
bags, and, feeling it, found it to be empty ; and she put it before him. And he pro-
ceeded to stretch forth his hand and to take out filled dishes until he had produced
to her all that he had mentioned. So his mother said to him, my son, verily the
pair of saddle-bags is small, and it was empty, with nothing in it: yet thou hast
taken forth from it all these things: then where were these dishes? And he
answered, my mother know that the Mograbin gave me this pair of saddle-bags,
and it is enchanted, and hath a servant; if a man desire anything, and recite over
it the names, and say, servant of this pair of saddle-bags, bring me such a dish! —
he will bring it. Upon this, his mother said to him. Shall I stretch forth my hand
and demand of him ? He answered. Stretch forth thy hand. And she did so, say-
ing. By the names that have influence over thee, servant of this pair of saddle-
bags, bring me stuffed ribs of lamb ? And she saw that the dish had come into the
bag: so she put forth her hand and took it, and found in it delicate stuffed ribs.
Then she demanded the bread, and demanded everything that she desired, of various
kinds of viands. And he said to her, my mother, after thou shalt have finished
eating, empty the rest of the viands into other dishes than these, and put back the
empty dishes into the saddle-bags ; for the charm is on this condition : and take care
of the pair of saddle-bags. She therefore removed the pair of saddle-bags, and took
care of it. And he said to her, my mother, conceal the secret, and keep it ; and
whenever thou wantest anything, take it forth from the saddle-bags, and give alms,
and feed my two brothers, whether in my presence or in my absence.
After this he began to eat with her, and lo, his two brothers came in to him. The
news had been given to them by a man of the sons of his quarter, who said to them.
Your brother hath come, mounted on a mule, with a slave before him, and wearing
a dress of which the like existeth not. So they said, one to the other, Would that
we had not distressed our mother I She will doubtless acquaint him with that which
we have done unto her. Oh, how we shall be disgraced by him ! — But one of them
said, Our mother is tender-hearted ; and if she inform him, our brother is more
tender-hearted than she towards us ; and when we excuse ourselves to him, he will
accept our excuse. — Then they went in to him, and he rose to them upon his feet,
and saluted them with the best salutation, and said to them. Sit and eat. So they
sat and ate; and they were weak from hunger; wherefore they ceased not to eat
until they were satiated. And Joudar said to them, my brothers, take the
remainder of the food, and distribute it to the poor and needy. They replied, our
brother, leave it that we may make our supper of it. But he said to them, At the
time of supper there will be brought to you more than this. They therefore took
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 551
forth the rest of the viands, and to every poor person vrho passed by them they said,
Take and eat — until nothing remained. Then they took back the dishes, and Joudar
said to his mother, Put them into the saddle-bags. — And in the evening, he entered
the saloon, and took forth from the saddle-bags a table of forty different dishes ;
after which, he went up [into another apartment] ; and when he sat between his
two brothers, he said to his mother. Bring the supper. So when she entered the
saloon, she saw the dishes full ; and she placed the table, and brought the dishes,
one after another, until the forty dishes were all put. They then supped ; and after
supper, Joudar said. Take ye, and feed the poor and the needy. Accordingly they
took the rest of the viands, and distributed them. And after they had supped, Joudar
produced to them sweetmeats ; of which they ate ; and what remained of them,
Joudar told them to give to the neighbours to eat. On the following day they break-
fasted in the same manner, and they ceased not to remain in this state for a period
of ten days.
Then Salim said to Selim, What is the cause of this thing, that our brother pro-
iluceth to us a feast in the morning, and a feast at noon, and a feast at sunset, and,
at the end of the night, sweetmeats ; and that everything that remaineth he dis-
tributeth to the poor? This is the action of Sultans. And whence came to him this
prosperity ? We never see him buy anything, nor doth he light a fire, nor hath he
either kitchen or cook. Shall we not inquire respecting these various viands, and
respecting these sweetmeats? — His brother replied. By Allah, I know not. But
knowest thou any one who will acquaint us with the truth of this matter? — None,
said Salim, will acquaint us excepting our mother. They therefore contrived for
themselves a stratagem, and, going in to their mother during the absence of their
brother, they said, our mother, we are hungry. So she replied. Rejoice at good
news. And she entered the saloon, demanded of the servant of the pair of saddle-
bags, and brought out to them hot viands ; whereupon they said, our mother, this
food is hot, and thou hast not cooked, nor blown [a fire]. She replied, It is from
the pair of saddle-bags. And they said to her. What is this pair of saddle-bags?
She answered them. It is enchanted, and the demand is obtained by virtue of the
charm. And she acquainted them with the case, and said to them, Conceal the
secret. They replied. The secret is concealed, our mother; but teach us the mode
of this. She therefore taught them: and they proceeded to put forth their hands,
and to take out the thing that they demanded. And their brother had no know-
ledge thereof. So when they knew the property of the pair of saddle-bags, Salim
said to Selim, my brother, how long shall we remain with Joudar like servants,
and eat his alms? Shall we not employ a stratagem against him, and take this pair
of saddle-bags, and enjoy it? — How, said Selim, shall the stratagem be contrived?
Salim answered. We will sell our brother to the Captain of the Sea of Suez. — And
how shall we manage, asked the other, that we may sell him ? — I will go with thee,
answered Salim, to that Captain, and we will invite him to an entertainment with
two of his company ; and what I shall say to Joudar, do thou declare me to be
veracious therein ; and at the close of the night, I will show thee what I will do.
Thus they agreed to sell their brother. They went to the house of the Captain of
the Sea of Suez, and Salim and Selim both went in to the Captain, and said to him,
Captain, we have come to thee on account of an affair that will rejoice thee. So
he replied. Good. And they said to him. We are two brothers, and we have a third
brother, a profligate, in whom is no good ; and our father died, leaving to us a sum
of money. Then we divided the money, and he took what fell to his lot of the
inheritance, and expended it in debauchery and vice ; and when he was reduced to
poverty, he domineered over us and proceeded to complain against us to the tyrant*,
and to say. Ye two have taken my property, and the property of my father — and we
referred our case to the judges, and lost the property. After this, he suffered us a
while, and complained against us a second time, so that he brought us to poverty,
and he desisteth not from oppressing us ; wherefore we have become impatient of
552 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
him, and desire that thou purchase him of us. — So he said to them, Can ye employ
a stratagem against him, and bring him to me here? If so, I -will send him quickly
to the sea. — They answered, AVe cannot bring him ; but thou shalt be our guest,
and bring with thee two, no more ; and when he sleepeth, we five will assist one
another against him, and seize him, and put a gag in his mouth, and take him under
the covering of night. Then thou shalt carry him forth from the house, and do with
him as thou wilt. — And he said, I hear and obey. Will ye sell him for forty pieces
of gold? They answered him. Yes : and after the time of afternoon-prayers, thou
shalt come to such a quarter, where thou wilt find one of us waiting for thee. And
he replied. Go ye.
They therefore sought Joudar ; and after they had waited a while, Salim advanced
to him, and kissed his hand. So Joudar said to him. What dost thou want, my
brother? And he answered him, Know that I have a friend, who invited me to
entertainments many times in his house during thine absence, and he is entitled to
a thousand kindnesses from me, and he always treateth me with honour, as my
brother knoweth. Now I saluted him to-day, and he invited me ; but I said to him,
I cannot quit my brother. He therefore said. Bring him with thee. And I replied.
He will not consent to that ; but if thou and thy brothers will be my guests — for his
brothers were sitting by him ; so I invited them, thinking that I should invite them
and they would refuse. But when I invited him and his brothers, he consented,
and said, Wait for me at the door of the mosque, and I will come with my brothers.
Therefore I fear that he will come, and am abashed at thee. Wilt thou then com-
fort my heart, and entertain them this night? Thy good things are abundant, O
my brother. But if thou consent not, give me leave to take them into the neigh-
bour's house. — And Joudar said to him, Wherefore shouldst thou take them into the
neighbour's house? Is our house' then narrow, or have we not aught wherewith to
give them a supper? Shame upon thee to consult me. Thou hast nothing to require
but nice viands and sweetmeats in such quantities that there shall remain of them :
and if thou bring people and I be absent, demand of thy mother, and she will produce
to thee viands more than enough. Go: bring them. Blessings have betided us. —
So he kissed his hand, and went and sat at the door of the mosque till after the time
of afternoon-prayers ; and lo, they approached him. He therefore took them and
conducted them into the house ; and when Joudar saw them, he said to them.
Welcome to you ! And he seated them, and made himself familiar with them, not
knowing what was secretly purposed to betide him from them. Then he demanded
of his mother the supper, and she proceeded to take forth from the pair of saddle-
bags, while he said, Bring such a dish — until there were before them forty different
dishes. So they ate until they were satisfied, and the table was removed ; the sailors
thinking that this hospitable entertainment proceeded from Salim. And when a
third of the night had passed, Joudar caused the sweetmeats to be brought to them ;
and Salim was the one who served them. Joudar and Selim sat until they expressed
a desire to sleep ; when Joudar arose and laid himself down, and the others lay
down until he was inadvertent ; whereupon they arose and assisted one another
against him, and he awoke not until the gag was in his mouth. They bound his
hands behind him, carried him away, and took him forth from the pavilion under
the covering of the night, and sent him to Suez, where they put shackles upon his
feet, and he served in sil&nce, and ceased not to serve in the manner of captives and
slaves for a whole year. — Such was the case of Joudar.
But as to the case of his two brothers, when they arose in the morning, they went
in to their mother, and said to her, our mother, our brother Joudar hath not awoke.
So she replied. Wake ye him. They asked her. Where is he lying? And she
answered thorn. With the guests. They said. Probably he hath gone with the guests
while we were asleep, our mother. It soemetli that our brotlier hath tasted absence
from his country, and desired to enter the hidden treasures : for we heard him speak-
ing with the Mograbins, and they said to him, We will take thee with us, and we
THE STOKY OF JOUDAR. 553
will open for thee the treasure. — Hath he, she said, been with the Mograbins ? They
replied, Were they not guests with us? And she said, Probably he hath gone with
them ; but God will direct him right. This is a fortunate person ; he will certainly
come back with abundant riches. — And she wept, and his separation was grievous
unto her. So they said to her, accursed, dost thou love Joudar with all this love,
when, if we are absent or present, thou neither rejoicest in us nor niournest for us?
Are we not thy sons as Joudar is thy son ? — She answered. Ye are my sons : but ye
are wicked wretches, and ye are entitled to no favour from me ; for from the day
that your father died I have not experienced from you any good ; and as to Joudar,
I have experienced from him abundant good, and he hath comforted my heart, and
treated me with honour ; therefore it behoveth me to weep for him ; for his kindness
•was shown to me and to you. — And when they heard these words, they reviled her
and beat her ; and they entered, and proceeded to search for the pair of saddle-bags
until they found it ; and they took the jewels from the one half [of one pair of
saddle-bags], and the gold from the other half, and the enchanted pair of saddle-
bags also, saying to her. This was the property of our father. She replied. No, by
Allah ; but it is the property of your brother Joudar, who brought it from the country
of the Mograbins. They said to her. Thou liest ; this was the property of our
father, and we will dispose of it. So they divided it [that is, the jewels and gold]
between them ; but a dissension ensued between them respecting the enchanted
pair of saddle-bags. Salim said, I will take it. And Selim said, I will take it. And
opposition took place between them. Their mother therefore said, my sons, the
pair of saddle-bags in which were the jewels and the gold ye have divided, and this
cannot be divided, nor can its value be given in money ; and if it be cut in twain, its
charm will be annulled: but leave it with me, and I will take forth for you what ye
shall eat on every occasion, and will be content to take with you a morsel : if, more-
over, ye clothe me with anything, it will be of your favour ; and each of you shall
establish for himself a trafifick with the people. Ye are my sons, and I am your
mother ; then let us remain in our present state lest your brother come, in fear of
disgrace. — But they accepted not her proposal. They passed the next night contend-
ing together ; and a man heard them, an officer belonging to the guards of the King,
being a guest in a house adjoining the house of Joudar, a window of which was
open. So the officer looked from the window, and heard the whole of the dispute,
and the words that they uttered, and the division. And when the morning came,
this officer went in to the King, whose name was Shemseldowla, the King of Egypt
in that age ; and when the officer went in to him, he acquainted him with that which
he had heard ; whereupon the King sent to the two brothers of Joudar, and brought
them, and subjected them to torture. So they confessed ; and he took the two pairs
of saddle-bags from them, and put them in prison. Then he assigned to the mother
of Joudar such allowances every day as would suffice her. — Thus did it happen unto
them.
Now again as to Joudar, he remained a whole year serving at Suez, and after the
year he and others were in the ship, and there arose against them a wind which cast
the ship wherein they were upon a mountain, and it went to pieces, and all that was
in it was submerged. None reached the shore excepting Joudar ; and the rest died
And when he had reached the shore, he journeyed until he came to an encampment
of Arabs, by water and pasture ; and they asked him respecting his state ; wherefore
he informed them that he was a sailor in a ship, and he related to them his story.
Now there was in the encampment a merchant, of the people of Jiddah ; and he
pitied him and said to him. Wilt thou serve us, man of Cairo? If so I will clothe
thee, and take thee with me to Jiddah. — So he served him, and journeyed with him
until they arrived at Jiddah ; and the merchant treated him with much favour. Then
his master the merchant desired to perform the pilgrimage, and took him with him
to Mecca : so when they entered it, Joudar went to perform the compassings within
the temple; and while he was compassing, lo, he fiund his friend the Mograbin
554 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
Abdelsamad compassing]!; also. Therefore when the Mograbin saw him, he saluted
him, and asked him respecting his state. And he wept, and acquainted him with that
which had befallen him. And upon this the Mograbin took him with him until he
entered his house, where he treated him honourably, and clad him in a dress of
which there existed not the equal ; and he said to him, Evil hath quitted thee,
Joudar. He then performed for him an operation of geomancy, whereupon that
which had befallen Joudar's two brothers appeared to him, and he said, Know,
Joudar, that such and such things have befallen thy two brothers, and they are con-
fined in the prison of the King of Egypt: but thou shalt be welcome until thou
hast accomplished thy rites of sacrifice ; and nothing shall betide but good fortune.
So Joudar said to him, my master, wait until I go and take leave of the merchant
with whom I have been living, and come back unto thee. And the Mograbin said. Dost
thou owe money? He answered. No. The Mograbin therefore said, Go: take leave
of him, and come back immediately ; for bread imposeth obligation in the estimation
of the ingenuous. Accordingly he went and took leave of the merchant, and said
to him, I have met my brother. And the merchant said to him. Go ; bring him,
and we will make for him an entertainment. But Joudar replied. It is not necessary,
for he is of the people of affluence, and hath many servants. And the merchant
gave him twenty pieces of gold, saying to him, Acquit me of responsibility. So he
took leave of him, and went forth from him, and, seeing a poor man, he gave him
the twenty pieces of gold.
He then repaired to Abdelsamad, the Mograbin, and he remained with him until
they had accomplished the rites of the sacrifice of the pilgrimage ; whereupon the
Mograbin gave him the seal-ring that he had taken forth from the treasure of Sha-
mardal, and said to him, Take this seal-ring ; for it will cause thee to attain thy
desire; since it hath a servant whose name is Radelcasif; and whatever thou shalt
require of the things of the world, rub the seal-ring, and the servant will appear to
thee, [and he will bring it thee;] and whatsoever thou shalt command him to do,
he will do it for thee. And he rubbed it before him ; whereupon the servant ap-
peared to him, calling out, At thy service, my master ! What dost thou demand ?
It shall be given thee. Wilt thou then render flourishing a ruined city, or ruin a
city that is flourishing, or slay a King, or rout an army? — The Mograbin replied,
Radelcasif, this hath become thy master; and act thou well to him. Then he dis-
missed him, and said to Joudar, Rub the seal-ring, and its servant will appear before
thee, and do thou command him to do what thou desirest; for he will not disobey
thee. Repair to thy country, and take care of the ring; for thou wilt delude with it
thine enemies ; and be not ignorant of the potency of this ring. — Joudar therefore
replied, my master, with thy permission I will repair to my country. And the
Mograbin said to him. Rub the seal-ring: thereupon the servant will appear to thee,
and mount thou upon his back ; and if thou say to him, Convey me this day to my
country — he will not disobey thy command.
Joudar, upon this, bade Abdelsamad farewell, and rubbed the seal-ring; and Ra-
delcasif presented himself before him, saying to him. At thy service ! Demand : it
shall be given thee. — So he said to him. Convey me to Cairo this day. And he re-
plied, That shall be done for thee. He took him up and flew with him from the time
of noon until midnight, when he alighted with him in the court of the house of his
mother, and departed. He therefore went in to his mother: and when she saw him,
she arose and wept and saluted him, and informed him of that which had been done
to his two brothers by the King, how he had beaten them, and taken the enchanted
pair of saddle-bags, and the pair of saddle-bags containing the gold and jewels. —
And when Joudar heard that, the state of his brothers was not a light matter to
him : but he said to his mother. Grieve not for that which hath escaped thee ; for
instantly I will show thee what I will do, and I will bring my brothers. Then he
rubbed the seal-ring, and the servant appeared to him, saying. At thy service!
Demand ; it shall be given thee.— And he said to him, I command thee to bring me my
All were Drowned but Joudar. (Page 563.)
555
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 557
two brothers from the King's prison. So he descended into the earth, and came not up
save in the midst of the prison. Now Salim and Selim were in the most violent dis-
tress, and in great affliction, by reason of the misery of imprisonment; they had
wished for death, and one of them was saying to the other, By Allah, my brother,
our trouble hath become wearisome to us, and how long shall we remain in this
prison ? Death in it would be ease to us. — And while they were in this state, lo, the
earth clove asunder, and Radelcasif came forth to them, and, taking them both up,
descended into the earth. They swooned in consequence of the violence of their
fear; and when they recovered, they found themselves in their house, where they saw
their brother sitting with his mother by his side. And he said to them. Salutations
to you, my brothers ! Ye have cheered me by your presence. — Upon this, they in-
clined their faces towards the ground, and began to weep. But he said to them,
Weep not: for the Devil and covetousness forced you to do that. How could you
sell me? But I will console myself by remembering Joseph ; for his brothers did
unto him what was worse than your deed, since they cast him into the pit. Turn
ye, however, with repentance unto God, and beg his forgiveness, and He will forgive
yo"u, for He is the Abundant' in forgiveness, the Merciful. I have pardoned you.
Welcome to you ! No harm shall befall you. — And he proceeded to appease their
minds until he had soothed their hearts ; and he related to them all that he had suf-
fered at Suez [and afterwards] until he met with the sheikh Abdelsamad, informing
them also of the seal-ring. So they said, our brother, be not angry with us this
time. If we return to our former conduct, do with us what thou wilt. — He replied.
No harm : but tell me what the King did unto you. And they said, He beat us and
threatened us, and took the two pairs of saddle-bags from us.
Thereupon he said, Will he not care? And he rubbed the seal-ring. So the ser-
vant presented himself before him. And when his brothers beheld him, -they feared
him, and imagined that Joudar would order the servant to slay them. They there-
fore went to their mother, and began to say, our mother, we throw ourselves upon
thy generosity! our mother, intercede for us ! And she replied, my sons, fear
not. — Then Joudar said to the servant, I command thee to bring me all that is in the
treasury of the King, of jewels and other things, and to leave not in it aught: also,
that thou bring me the enchanted pair of saddle-bags, and the pair of saddle-bags
containing the jewels [and gold], which the King took from my two brothers. So
he replied, I hear and obey. And he went immediately, collected what was in the
treasury, brought the two pairs of saddle-bags with the enclosed deposits, and placed
all that was in the treasury before Joudar, saying, my master, I have not left in
the treasury anything. Upon this, Joudar ordered his mother to take care of the
pair of saddle-bags containing the jewels [and gold], put the enchanted pair of
saddle-bags before him, and said to the servant, I command thee to build for me,
during this night, a lofty palace, and to decorate it with water-gold, and spread it
with magnificent furniture, and let not morning come before thou hast completed the
whole of it. The servant replied. That shall be done for thee. And he descended
into the earth. Then Joudar took forth the viands, and they ate, and enjoyed them-
selves, and slept. — But as to the affair of the servant, he collected his 0ns,' and gave
orders to build the palace. So some of them began to hew the stones, and some to
whitewash, and some to paint, and some to spread the furniture ; and the daylight
came not before the order of the palace was perfect. The servant thereupen went
up to Joudar, and said, my master, the palace is finished, and its order is perfect ;
if then thou wilt go forth and divert thyself with a view of it, go forth.
He therefore went forth with his mother and his two brothers, and saw this palace
to be one of which there existed not the like, confounding the minds by the beauty
of its order. So Joudar was delighted with it, while he was yet passing along the
beaten track; and with all this, he had expended nothing upon it. He then said to
' Genii of an inferior class.
558 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
bis mother, Wilt thou reside in this pahice? She answered him, my son, I will
reside in it. And she prayed for him. Then he rubbed the seal-ring ; whereupon
the servant appeared, saying. At thy service ! And he said to him, I command thee
to bring me forty white and beautiful slave-girls, and forty black slave-girls, and
forty mamlouks, and forty male black slaves. The servant replied, That shall be
done for thee. And he repaired with forty of his 0ns to the countries of India and
Sinde and Persia ; and whenever they beheld a beautiful damsel, they carried her
off; and when they saw a young man, they carried him off. He sent also forty
others, who brought elegant black slave-girls, and forty others brought male black
slaves. All came to the abode of Joudar, and they filled it. Then he displayed
them to Joudar, and they pleased him ; and he said. Bring for each person a dress,
of the most magnificent apparel. The servant replied, Ready. And Joudar said,
Bring a dress for my mother to put on, and a dress for myself to put on. So he
brought all, and clad the female slaves, and said to them. This is your mistress :
therefore kiss her hand, and disobey her not, but serve her, white and black. The
mamlouks also clad themselves, and kissed the hand of Joudar; and his two brothers
clad themselves ; and Joudar became like a King, and his two brothers like Viziers.
His house was ample : so he lodged Salim and his female slaves in one part, and
Selim and his female slaves in another part ; and he and his mother resided in the
new palace; each being in his abode like a King. — Such was their case.
But as to the Treasurer of the King, he desired to take some things from the
treasury: so he entered, and saw not in it aught, but found it as the poet hath
said : —
The chambers were like a bee-hive well stocked : when their bees quitted them, they became
empty.
Upon this he uttered a great cry, and fell down in a swoon ; and when he recovered
he went forth from the treasury, leaving its door open, and, going in to the King
Shemseldowla, he said, Prince of the Faithful, what we tell thee is this, that the
treasury hath become empty during this night. So the King said, What hast thou
done with my riches that were in my treasury? He answered. By Allah, I have
not done with them aught, nor do I know the cause of their being exhausted. Yester-
day I entered the treasury, and beheld it filled, and to-day I entered it, and beheld
it empty, with nothing in it : yet the doors were locked, and it hath not been broken
through, nor hath its wooden lock been broken, nor hath a thief entered it. And
the King said, Have the two pairs of saddle-bags gone from it ? The treasurer an-
swered. Yes. And upon this the reason of the King fled from his head, and he rose
upon his feet, and said to the Treasurer, Go before me. So he went, and the King
followed him until they came to the treasury, and he found not in it aught. The
King therefore was vexed, and he said. Who hath assaulted my treasury, and not
feared my authority? And he was violently enraged. He then went forth, and held
a court, and the great officers of the army came, every one of them imagining that
the King was incensed against him ; and the King said, soldiers, know that my
treasury hath been plundered during this night, and I know not who hath done this
deed and assaulted me and not feared me. So they said. And how hath this hap-
pened ? He replied. Ask the treasurer. They therefore asked him, and he answered,
Yesterday it was full, and to-day I entered it and beheld it empty: yet it hath not
been broken through, nor hath its door been broken.
Now all the soldiers wondered at these words, and no reply had been given by
them, when the officer, who on a former occasion betrayed Selim and Salim, came in
to the King, and said, King of the age, all the night I have been amusing myself
with the sight of builders building, and when daylight came I saw a palace con-
structed, the like of which existeth not. I therefore asked, and it was said to me,
that Joudar had come and built this palace, and with him were mamlouks and black
slaves ; that he had brought abundant riches, and delivered his two brothers from
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 559
the prison, and was in his mansion like a Sultan. So the King said, Examine tho
prison. And they examined it, and saw not Saiim and Selim. They therefore re-
turned, and acquainted him with that which had happened; whereupon the King
said, My offender hath become manifest; for he who delivered Salim and Selim from
the prison, and took the two pairs of saddle-bags, is the person who took my
property. And the Vizier said, my lord, who is he? The King answered, Their
brother Joudar: but, Vizier, send to him an Emir with fifty men to seize him and
his two brothers, and to put seals upon all his property, and to bring them to me
that I may hang them. And he was violently enraged, and said, Ho! quickly send
to them an Emir to bring them to me that I may put them to death. But the
Vizier said to him, Be clement, for God is clement: He is not hasty towards his
servant when he disobeyeth Him. He who hath built a palace in one night, as they
have said, no one in tlie world can be compared with him ; and I fear for the Emir
that some trouble may befall him from Joudar. Have patience, therefore, that I
may contrive for thee some plan, or till thou see the truth of the case, and what thou
desirest thou wilt attain, King of the age. — So the King said. Contrive for me a
plan, Vizier. The Vizier replied, Send to him the Emir, and invite him to an
entertainment. Then I will pay all attention to him for thee, and a show of friend-
ship to him, and ask him respecting his state. After that, thou shalt see: if his
courage be strong, we will employ some stratagem against him ; and if his courage
be weak, seize thou him, and do with him as thou desirest. — And the King said,
Send and invite him.
Accordingly he ordered an Emir, whose name was the Emir Osman, to go to Jou-
dar and invite him, and say to him. The King suramoneth thee to an entertainment.
And the King said to him. Return not but with him. Now that Emir was stupid, and
haughty in mind ; and when he descended, he saw before the door of the palace [of
Joudar] a eunuch sitting upon a chair; and when the Emir Osman arrived at the
palace, the eunuch rose not to him, but remained as though no one were approach-
ing him : yet there were with the Emir Osman fifty men. And the Emir Osman
came up, and said to him, slave, where is thy master? He answered him, In the
palace. And he proceeded to speak to him in a reclining posture. So the Emir
Osman was enraged, and said to him, ill-omened slave, art thou not abashed
at me, that when I speak to thee thou liest down, like those who have no shame?
But he replied. Go along. Be not loquacious. — And the Emir heard not from him
those words before he became infused witn rage, and, drawing forth his mace, he
was about to beat the eunuch, not knowing that he was a devil. When the eunuch,
however, saw that he had drawn forth the mace, he arose and rushed upon him, took
the mace from him, and struck him four blows ; and when the fifty men saw it, the
beating of their master displeased them : they therefore drew their swords, and desired
to slay the slave. But he said to them. Do ye draw the swords, dogs? And he
fell upon them, breaking the bones of every one whom he smote with the mace, and
drowning him in blood. So they were routed before him, and ceased not to flee,
while he still beat them until they were far from the door of the palace, when he
returned, and seated himself again upon his chair, not caring for any one. But as
to the Emir Osman and his company, they returned routed and beaten until they
stood before the King Shemseldowla, and they acquainted him with that which had
happened unto them, the Emir Osman saying to the King, King of the age, when
I arrived at the door of the palace, I saw a eunuch sitting at the door, upon a chair
of gold, and he was haughty: when he beheld me approaching him, he laid himself
down, after he had been sitting, and despised me, not rising to me ; and I began to
speak to him ; but he replied to me still lying down. So passion seized me, and I
drew forth the mace upon him, and was about to beat him ; but he took the mace
from me, and beat me with it. He beat also my party, breaking their heads, and we
fled from before him, and could not prevail against him. — Upon this, the King was
enraged, and he said. Let a hundred men go down to him. They therefore went
560 THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
down to him, and approached him ; but he rose against them with the mace, and
ceased not to deal his blows among them until they fled from before him ; whereupon
he returned, and seated himself again upon the chair. So the hundred men went
back ; and when they came to the King, they informed him, saying to him, King
of the age, we have fled from before him in our fear of him. Then the King said,
Let two hundred go down. And they went down : but he routed them, and they
returned. Therefore the King said to the Vizier, I require thee, Vizier, to go
down with five hundred men, and to bring me this eunuch quickly, together with
his master Joudar and his two brothers. He replied, King of the age, I need not
soldiers ; but I will go alone to him, without weapon. And the King said. Go, and
do what thou shalt see fit.
So the Vizier threw down the weapon, clad himself in a white vesture, and, taking
in his hand a string of beads, walked alone, M-ithout a second person, until he arrived
at the palace of Joudar, and saw the slave sitting. And when he saw him, he
approached him without weapon, and seated himself by his side in a polite manner.
Then he said. Peace be on you! And the slave replied. And on you be peace,
human being! What dost thou desire ? — When the Vizier therefore heard him say,
human being — he knew that he was of the Genii, and he trembled by reason of
his fear, and said to him, my master, is thy master Joudar here ? The slave
answered. Yes, in the palace. And the Vizier said to him, my master, go to him
and say to him, The King Shemseldowla inviteth thee, and maketh for thee a banquet,
and greeteth thee with peace, saying to thee. Honour my abode, and eat of my
banquet. So the slave replied, Stay thou here until I consult him. Accordingly the
Vizier stayed, in a respectful posture, and the Marid went up into the palace, and
said to Joudar, Know, my master, that the King sent unto thee an Emir, and I
beat him ; and there were with him fifty men, and I routed them. Then he sent a
hundred men, and I beat them. Then he sent two hundred men, and I routed them.
Then he sent unto thee the Vizier, without weapon, inviting thee to visit him and
to eat of his banquet. What then sayest thou ? —^Joudar replied. Go, l)ring the
Vizier hither. So he descended from the palace, and said to him, Vizier, answer
the summons of my master. And he replied. On the head ! He ascended, and went
in to Joudar, and he saw him to be greater than the King, sitting upon furniture
the like of which the King could not spread. His mind was confounded by the
beauty of the palace, and by its painting and its furniture, which made the Vizier
8eem in comparison with him to be a pauper. And he kissed the ground, and prayed
for him: and Joudar said to him. What is thy business, Vizier? — my master,
he answered, the King Shemseldowla, thy friend, greeteth thee with peace, and is
desirous of beholding thy face, and he hath made for thee a banquet. Wilt thou
then comfort his heart ? Joudar replied, Since he is my friend, salute him, and tell
him to come unto me. So the Vizier said to him, On the head. Then Joudar took
forth the seal-ring, and rubbed it, and the servant presented himself; and Joudar
said to him, Bring me a dress of the best of apparel. He therefore brought him a
dress ; and Joudar said, Put on this, Vizier. And he put it on. Joudar then
said to him. Go: acquaint the King with that which I have said. And he descended
wearing that dress, the like of which he had never before worn, and, going in to
the King, informed him of the state of Joudar, and praised the palace with the
things that it contained ; and he said, Joudar hath invited thee.
Upon this, the King said. Arise, soldiers ! So all of them rose upon their feet.
And he said, Mount your horses, and bring unto me my courser, that we may go to
Joudar. Then the King mounted, and took the troops, and they repaired to Joudar's
palace. — Now aa to Joudar, he said to the Marid, I desire that thou bring us some
Afrites of thy 0ns, in the form of human beings, to be as soldiers, and to stand in
the court of the palace, that the King may see them, and that they may terrify him
and inspire him with dread, so that his heart may tremble, and he may know that
my power is greater than his. He therefore brought two hundred in the garb of
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 561
soldiers, equipped with magnificent arms; and they were strong and bulky. — So
when the King arrived, he beheld the strong and bulky troop, and his heart feared
them. Then he went up into the palace, and entered into the presence of Joudar,
whom he saw sitting in a state in which no King nor Sultan had sat; and he saluted
him, and raised his hands to his head before him. But Joudar rose not to him, nor
paid him honour, nor did he say to him. Sit : — he left him standing till fear seized
him, and he became unable either to sit or to go forth, and began to say within him-
self, Were he in fear of me, he had not le'ft me unheeded, and probably he will do
me some hurt, on account of that which I did with his brothers. Then Joudar said,
King of the age, it is not the proper business of such as you to tyrannize over
men and to take their goods. So he replied, my master, blame me not; for covet-
ousness constrained me to do so, and destiny took effect ; and were it not for offence,
there were no such thing as forgiveness. And he proceeded to excuse himself to
him for his former conduct, and to seek of him pardon and lenity. And he ceased
not to humble himself before him until he said to him. May God pardon thee? — and
ordered him to sit. So he sat ; and Joudar invested him with the garments of mercy,
and ordered his two brothers to spread the table. Then, when they had eaten, he
clad the King's company, and treated them with honour ; and after that, he ordered
the King to depart.
lie therefore went forth from the abode of Joudar ; and every day after, he used
to go thither, and used not to hold his court save in Joudar's abode. Their mental
familiarity and friendship increased, and they continued a while in this state. But
after that the King had a private interview with his Vizier, and said to him,
Vizier, I fear lest Joudar should slay me, and take the kingdom from me. The
Vizier however replied, King of the age, as to the act of taking the kingdom, fear
it not ; for the state which Joudar enjoyeth is more exalted than the state of the
King, and the taking of the kingdom would be a lowering of his dignity ; but if
thou fearest that he will slay thee, thou hast a daughter ; so marry her to him, and
thou and he will be of one condition. And he replied, Vizier, thou shalt be an
intermediary between me and him. The Vizier therefore said to him. Invite him to
an entertainment in thy palace ; then we will sit up at night in a saloon, and com-
mand thou thy daughter to deck herself in the most magnificent manner, and to pass
by him from the door of the saloon : for as soon as he seeih her, he will be
enamoured of her ; and when we perceive in him that result, I will incline towards
him and inform him that she is thy daughter, and I will keep up a conversation with
him as though thou hadst no knowledge of the matter, so that he shall demand her
of thee in marriage. When thou shalt have married to him the damsel, thou and
he will be one, and thou wilt be secure from any injury on his part; and if he die,
thou wilt inherit largely from him. — So the King replied. Thou hast spoken truth,
my Vizier. And he prepared the entertainment, and invited him. Joudar there-
fore came to the Sultan's palace, and they sat in the saloon in exceeding sociableness
until the close of the day. The King had sent to his wife, desiring her to deck the
damsel in the most magnificent manner, and to pass with her by the door of the
saloon. And she did as he had said. She passed by with the damsel, and Joudar
saw her ; and she was endowed with beauty and loveliness, having no equal. So
when Joudar took an accurate view of her, he said. Ah ! — and his limbs became
loosened, passion and desire became violent in him, ecstasy and distraction seized
him, and his complexion became sallow. The Vizier therefore said to him. May no
harm befall thee, my master! Wherefore do I see thee changed and in pain? —
And he said, Vizier, whose daughter is this damsel? for she hath captivated me,
and deprived me of my reason. So he answered. This is the daughter of thy friend
the King ; and if she please thee, I will speak with the King, that he may marry
her to thee. And Joudar said, Vizier, speak to him, and I, by my life, will give
thee what thou shalt desire, and will give to the King what he shall desire as her
dowry, and we will become friends and connexions. The Vizier replied, Thy desire
562
THE STORY OF JOUDAR.
The King's Daughter.
must be accomplished. Then the Vizier spoke to the King privately, saying to him,
King of the age, Joudar is thy friend, and desireth affinity to thee, and he hath
requested thee, by me, to marry to him thy daughter, the lady Asiya: therefore dis-
appoint me not, but accept my intercession ; and whatever thou shalt demand as her
dowry, he will give thee. And the King replied. The dowry hath been paid me, and
the damsel is a slave girl in his service: I will marry her to him, and he will do a
favour by accepting her.
They passed that night, and the King -arose in the morning and held a court, at
which he caused the nobles and the plebeians to be present, and the Sheikh el-Islam*
was there also. Then Joudar demanded the damsel in marriage, and the King said,
The dowry hath been paid. So they performed the ceremony of the marriage-con-
tract, and Joudar sent desiring that the pair of saddle-bags containing the jewels
[and gold] should be brought, and gave it to the King as the dowry of the damsel.
The drums were beaten and the pipes were sounded, the festal necklaces were strung,
and Joudar took the damsel as his wife. Thus he and the King became as one, and
they remained together for a period of days. Then the King died, and the troops
desired Joudar as Sultan, and they ceased not to urge him, while he refused to com-
ply with their request, until at last he consented. So they made him Sultan : and
he gave orders to build a congregational mosque over the sepulchre of the King
Shemseldowla, and endowed it ; and it is in the district of Bundukanin. The house
of Joudar was in the quarter of Yemania ; and when he became Sultan, he con-
structed buildings and a congregational mosque, and the quarter hath been named
after him, its name having become — the quarter of Joudaria. He continued as King
some time, and made his two brothers Viziers ; Salim the Vizier of his right hand,
and Selim the Vizier of his left: and they remained thus one year, and no more.
After this, Salim said to Selim, my brother, how long shall this state last?
Shall we pass our lives entirely as servants of Joudar, and shall we not enjoy domin-
ion nor prosperity as long as Joudar is living? — And how shall we manage to kill
The chief doctor of the Mahometan faith.
THE STORY OF JOUDAR. 563
him, said Selim, and to take from him the seal-ring and the pair of saddle-bagb?
Thou art more knowing than I : therefore contrive for us a stratagem in order that
we may kill him thereby. — If I contrive for thee a stratagem by which to kill him,
wilt thou consent that I shall be Sultan, and that thou shalt be Vizier of the right
hand, and that the seal-ring shall be mine, and the pair of saddle-bags thine? Selim
ans vered, I consent. So they agreed to kill Joudar, on account of the love of the
world and of dominion. Then Selim and Salim contrived a stratagem against
Joudar, and said to him, our brother, we desire that we may glory in thee, and
that thou wouldst enter our houses, and eat of our banquet, and comfort our heart.
And they proceeded to beguile him, saying to him. Comfort our heart, and eat of
our banquet. So he replied, No harm. In the house of which of you will be the
banquet? — Salim answered. In my house; and after thou shalt have eaten of my
banquet, thou shalt eat of the banquet of my brother. And he said, No harm : —
and went with him to his house. Then his brother placed the food for him, and put
into it poison ; and when he had eaten, his flesh fell to pieces with his bones. So
upon this, Salim arose to take the seal-ring from his finger; but it resisted hie
attempt ; therefore he cut off his finger with a knife. He then rubbed the ring, and
the Marid presented himself to him, saying. At thy service ! Demand then what thou
wilt. — And he said to him. Seize my brother, and slay him, and take up the two, the
poisoned and the slain, and throw them before the troops. Accordingly he took
Selim and slew him, and took up the two, and, going forth with them, cast them
before the great officers of the army. They were sitting at the table in the large
room of the house, eating ; and when they beheld Joudar and Selim killed, they
raised their hands from the food, and fear disturbed them, and they said to the Marid,
Who hath done these deeds with the King and the Vizier? So he answered them,
Their brother Salim.
And lo, Salim approached them, and said, soldiers, eat, and enjoy yourselves;
for I have obtained possession of the seal-ring from my brother Joudar, and this
Marid is the servant of the ring; he who is before you. I ordered him to slay my
brother Selim, that he might not contend with me for the kingdom, because he was
treacherous, and I feared that he would act treacherously towards me. Now this
Joudar hath been put to death, and I have become Sultan over you. Do ye accept
me, or shall I rub the ring, and shall its servants slay you, great and small? — They
answered him, We accept thee as King and Sultan. Then he gave orders to bury
his two brothers, and held a court ; and some of the people attended the funeral,
while others walked before him in the state-procession. And when they came to the
court, he seated himself upon the throne, and they swore allegiance to him as King ;
after which he said, I desire to perform the contract of my marriage to the wife of
my brother. They replied. When the period of widowhood shall have expired. But
he said to them, I know not a period of widowhood, nor anything else. By my head,
I must take her as my wife this night. — So they performed the ceremony of the
contract for him, and sent and acquainted the wife of Joudar, the daughter of Shem-
eeldowla; and she replied. Invite him to come in. And when he came in to her,
she made a show of joy to him, receiving him with expressions of welcome. But
fihe put poison for him in the water, and destroyed him. Then she took the seal-
ring and broke it, that no one might thereafter possess it; and she rent the pair of
eaddle-bags; after which she sent and informed the Sheikh el-Islam, and sent a
message to him and the people, saying to them, Choose for yourselves a King to be
Sultan over you.
This is what hath come down to us of the Story of Joudar, entire and complete.
564 GULNARE or THE SEA.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Commencing with part of the Seven Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night, and ending with part of
the Seven Hundred and Fifty-sixth.
THE STORY OF GULNARE OF THE SEA.
There was, in olden time, and in an ancient age and period, in the land of the
Persians, a King named Shahzeman, and the place of his residence was Khorasan.
He had a hundred concubines ; but he had not been blessed, during his whole life, with
a male child by any of them, nor a female; and he reflected on this one day, and la-
mented that the greater portion of his life had passed, and he had not been blessed
with a male child to inherit the kingdom after him, as he had inherited it from his
fathers and forefathers. So the utmost grief, and violent vexation, befell him on
this account.
Now while he was sitting one day, one of his mamlouks came in to him, and said
to him, my lord, at the door is a slave-girl with a merchant: none more beautiful
than she hath been seen. And he replied. Bring to me the merchant and the slave-
girl. The merchant and the slave-girl therefore came to him; and when he saw her,
he found her to resemble a straight lance. She was wrapped in an izar of silk em-
broidered with gold, and the merchant uncovered her face, whereupon the place was
illuminated by her beauty, and there hung down from her forehead seven locks of
hair reaching to her anklets, like the tails of horses. She had eyes bordered with
kohl, and heavy hips, and slender waist: she was such as would cure the malady of
the sick, and extinguish the fire of the thirsty. The King, therefore, wondered at
the sight of her, and at her beauty and loveliness, and her stature and justness of
form ; and he said to the merchant, sheikh, for how much is this damsel to be
sold? The merchant answered, my lord, I purchased her for two thousand pieces
of gold of the merchant who owned her before me, and I have been for three years
travelling with her, and she hath cost, to the period of her arrival at this place,
three thousand pieces of gold ; and she is a present from me unto thee. Upon this,
the King conferred upon him a magnificent robe of honour, and gave orders to
present him with ten thousand pieces of gold. So he took them, and kissed the
hands of the King, thanking him for his bounty and beneficence, and departed.
Then the King committed the damsel to the tire-women, saying to them, Amend the
state of this damsel, and deck her, and furnish for her a private chamber, and take
her into it. He also gave orders to his chamberlains that everything which she re-
quired should be conveyed to her. The seat of government where he resided was on
the shore of the sea, and his city was called the White City. And they conducted
the damsel into a private chamber, which chamber had windows overlooking the
sea; and the King commanded his chamberlains to close all the doors upon her after
taking to her all that she required.
The King then went in to visit the damsel ; but she rose not to him, nor took any
notice of him. So the King said. It seemeth that she hath been with people who
have not taught her manners. And looking at the damsel, he saw her to be a person
surpassing in beauty and loveliness, and in stature and justness of form; her faco
was like the disk of the moon at the full, or the shining sun in the clear sky ; and
GULNARE OF THE SEA. 565
he wondered at her beauty and loveliness, and stature and justness of form, extolling
the perfection of God, the Creator: lauded be his power! Then the King advanced
to the damsel, and seated himself by her side, pressed her to his bosom, and seated
her upon his thigh; and he kissed her lips, which he found to be sweeter than honey.
After this, he gave orders to bring tables of the richest viands, comprising dishes of
every kind ; and the King ate, and put morsels into her mouth until she was satis-
fied ; but she spoke not a single word. The King talked to her, and inquired of her
her name ; but she was silent, not uttering a word, nor returning him an answer,
ceasing not to hang down her head towards the ground ; and what protected her
from the anger of the King was the excess of her beauty and loveliness, and her
tenderness of manner. So the King said within himself, Extolled be the perfection
of God, the Creator of this damsel ! How elegant is she, saving that she doth not
speak! But perfection belongeth unto God, whose name be exalted! — Then the
King asked the female slaves whether she had spoken ; and they answered him,
From the time of her arrival to the present moment she hath not spoken one word,
and we have not heard her talk. The King therefore caused some of the female
slaves and concubines to come, and ordered them to sing to her, and to make merry
with her, thinking that then she might perhaps speak. Accordingly the female
slaves and concubines played before her with all kinds of musical instruments, and
sports and other performances, and they sang so that every one who was present was
moved with delight, except the damsel, who looked at them and was silent, neither
laughing nor speaking. So the heart of the King was contracted. He however in-
clined to her entirely, paying no regard to others, but relinquishing all the rest of
his concubines and favourites.
He remained with her a whole year, which seemed as one day, and still she spoke
not; and he said to her one day, when his love of her, and his passion, were ex-
cessive, desire of souls, verily the love that I have for thee is great, and I have re-
linquished for thy sake all my female slaves, and the concubines and the women and
the favourites, and made thee my worldly portion, and been patient with thee a
whole year. I beg God (whose name be exalted !) that He will, in his grace, soften
thy heart towards me, and that thou mayest speak to me. Or, if thou be dumb, ac-
quaint me by a sign, that I may give up hope of thy speaking. I also beg of God
(whose perfection be extolled !) that He will bless me by thee with a male child that
may inherit my kingdom after me ; for I am single and solitary, having none to be
my heir, and my age hath become great. I conjure thee then by Allah, if thou love
me, that thou return me a reply. — And upon this, the damsel hung down her head
towards the ground, meditating. Then she raised her head, and smiled in the face
of the King, whereat it appeared to the King that lightning filled the private cham-
ber; and she said, magnanimous King, and bold lion, God hath answered thy
prayer; for I am about to bear thee issue, and the time is [almost] come. But I
know not whether the child is male or female. And were it not for my being in this
state, I had not spoken to thee one word. — And when the King heard what she said,
his face brightened up with joy and happiness, and he kissed her head and her hands
by reason of the violence of his joy, and said, Praise be to God who hath favoured
me with things that I desired; the first, thy speaking : and the second, thy informa-
tion that thou art about to bear me issue. Then the King arose and went forth from
her, and seated himself upon the throne of his kingdom in a state of exceeding hap-
piness; and he ordered the Vizier to give out to the poor and the needy and the
widows and others a hundred thousand pieces of gold as a thank-offering to God
(whose name be exalted !) and an alms on his part. So the Vizier did as the King
had commanded him. And after that, the King went in to the damsel, and sat with
her, and embraced her and pressed her to his bosom, saying to her, my mistress,
who ownest me as thy slave, wherefore hath been this silence, seeing that thou hast
been with me a whole year, night and day, awake and asleep, yet hast not spoken to
566 GTJLNARE OF THE SEA.
me during this year except on this day ? What then hath been the cause of tby
silence ?
The damsel answered, Hear, O King of the age, and know that I am a poor person,
a stranger, broken-hearted: I have become separated from my mother and my family
and my brother. And when the King heard her words, he knew her desire, and he
replied. As to thy saying that thou art poor, there is no occasion for such an asser-
tion ; for all my kingdom and my goods and possessions are at thy service, and I
also have become thy mamlouk: and as to thy saying, I have become separated from
my mother and my family and my brother — inform me in what place they are, and
I will send to them, and bring them to thee. So she said to him, Know, fortunate
King, that my name is Gulnare of the Sea. My father was one of the Kings of the
Sea, and he died, and left to us the kingdom ; but while we were enjoying it, one of
the Kings came upon us, and took the kingdom from our hands. I have also a
brother named Saleh, and my mother is of the women of the sea; and I quarrelled
with my brother, and swore that I would throw myself into the hands of a man of
the inhabitants of the land. Accordingly I came forth from the sea, and sat
upon the shore of an island in the moonlight, and there passed by me a man who
took me and conducted me to his abode, and desired to make me his concubine; but
I smote him upon his head, and he almost died ; wherefore he went forth and sold
me to this man from whom thou tookest me, and he was an excellent, virtuous man,
a person of religion and fidelity and kindness. But had not thy heart loved me, and
hadst thou not preferred me above all thy concubines, I had not remained with thee
one hour; for I should have cast myself into the sea from this window, and gone to
my mother and my people, I was ashamed, however, to go to them in the state in which
I am ; for they would imagine evil of me, and would not believe me, even though I
should swear to them, when I told them that a King had purchased me with his
money, and had made me his worldly portion, and chosen me in preference to his
wives and all that his right hand possessed. This is my story, and peace be on thee!
— And when he heard her words, he thanked her, and kissed her between her eyes,
and said to her. By Allah, O my mistress, and light of my eyes, I cannot endure thy
separation for one hour ; and if thou quit me, I shall die instantly. How then shall
the affi^ir be? — She answered, my master, the time of the birth is near, and my
family must come. — And how, said the King, do they walk in the sea without being
wetted? She answered. We walk in the sea as ye walk upon the land, through the
influence of the names engraved upon the seal of Solomon the son of David, upon
both of whom be peace ! But, King, when my family and my brethren come, I
will inform them that thou boughtest me with thy money, and hast treated me with
kindness and beneficence, and it will be meet that thou confirm my assertion to them.
They will also see thy state with their eyes, and will know that thou art a King, the
son of a King. — And thereupon the King said, O my mistress, do what seemeth fit
to thee, and what thou wishest; for I will comply with thy desire in all that thou
wilt do. And the damsel said. Know, King of the age, that we walk in the sea
with our eyes open, and see what is in it, and we see the sun and the moon and the
stars and the sky as on the face of the earth, and this hurteth us not. Know also,
that in the sea are many peoples and various forms of all the kinds that are on the
land ; and know, moreover, that all that is on the land, in comparison with what
is in the sea, is a very small matter. — And the King wondered at her words.
Then the damsel took forth from her shoulders two pieces of Kamari aloes-wood,
and took a bit of them, and, having lighted a fire in a perfuming-vessel, threw into
it that bit, and she uttered a loud whistle, and proceeded to speak words which no
one understood ; whereupon a great smoke arose, while the King looked on. After
this, she said to the King, O my lord, arise and conceal thyself in a closet, that I
may show thee my brother and my mother and my family without their seeing thee ;
for I desire to bring them, and thou shalt see in this place, at this time, a wonder,
and shalt wonder at the various shapes and strange forms that God (whose name be
GULNARE OF THE SEA. 567
exalted !) hath created. So the King arose immediately, and entered a closet, and
looked to see what she would do. And she proceeded to burn perfume and repeat
spells until the sea foamed and was agitated, and there came forth from it a young
man of comely form, of beautiful countenance, like the moon at the full, with shining
forehead, and red cheek, and hair resembling pearls and jewels ; he was, of all the
the creation, the most like to his sister.
Afterwards, there came forth from the sea a grizzly-haired old woman, and with
her five damsels, resembling moons, and bearing a likeness to the damsel whose
name was Gulnare. Then the King saw the young man and the old woman and
the damsels walk upon the surface of the water until they came to the damsel
Gulnare; and when they drew near to the window, and Gulnare beheld them, she
rose to them and met them with joy and happiness. On their seeing her, they knew
her, and they went in to her, and embraced her, weeping violently ; and thev said to
her, Gulnare, how is it that thou leavest us for four years, and we know not the
place in which thou art? By Allah, the world was contracted unto us, by reason of
the distress occasioned by thy separation, and we had no delight in food nor in drink
a single day, weeping night and day on account of the excess of our longing to see
thee. — Then the damsel began to kiss the hand of the young man her brother, and
the hand of her mother, and so also the hands of the daughters of her uncle, and
they sat with her a while, asking her respecting her state, and the things that had
happened to her, and her present condition.
So she said to them, Know ye, that when I quitted you, and came forth from the
sea, I sat upon the shore of an island, and a man took me, and sold me to a merchant,
and the merchant brought me to this city, and sold me to its King for ten thousand
pieces of gold. Then he treated me with attention, and forsook all his concubines
and his women and his favourites for my sake, and was diverted by his regard for
me from everything that he possessed and what was in his city. — And when her
brother heard her words, he said. Praise be to God who hath reunited us with thee !
But it is my desire, my sister, that thou wouldst arise and go with us to our
country and our family. — So when the King heard the words of her brother, his
reason fled in consequence of his fear lest the damsel should accept the proposal of
her brother, and he could not prevent her, though he was inflamed with love of her ;
wherefore he became perplexed, in violent fear of her separation. But as to the
damsel Gulnare, on hearing the words of her brother, she said. By Allah, my
brother, the man who purchased me is the King of this city, and he is a great King,
and a man of wisdom, generous, of the utmost liberality. He hath treated me with
honour, and he is a person of kindness, and of great wealth, but hath no male child
nor a female. He hath shown favour to me, and acted well to me in every respect ;
and from the day when I came to him to the present time I have not heard from him
a bad word to grieve my heart; but he hath not ceased to treat me with courtesy,
and hath done nothing without consulting me, and I am living with him in the best
of states, and the most perfect of enjoyments. Moreover, if I quitted him he would
perish : for he can never endure my separation even for a single hour. I also, if I
quitted him, should die, by reason of the violence of my love for him in consequence
of the excess of his kindness to me during the period of my residence with him ; for
if my father were living, my condition with him would not be like my condition with
this great, glorious King. Ye have seen, too, that I am about to bear him issue;
and praise be to God who hath made me to be a daughter of the King of the Sea,
and my husband the greatest of the Kings of the Land. God (whose name be
exalted !) aSlicted me not, but compensated me well ; and as the King hath not a
male child nor a female, I beg God (whose name be exalted !) to bless me with a
male child, that may inherit of this great King these buildings and palaces and
possessions of which God hath made him owner. — And when her brother, and the
daughters of her uncle, heard her words, their eyes became cheerful thereat, and
they said to her, Gulnare, thou knowest the place which thou hast in our estima--
568 GULNARE OF THE SEA.
tion, and art acquainted with our aflFection for thee, and thou art assured that thou
art the dearest of all persons to us, and art certain that we desire for thee comfort,
without trouble or toil. Therefore if thou be not in a state of comfort, arise and
accompany us to our country and our family ; but if thou be comfortable here, in
honour and happiness, this is our desire and wish : for we desire not aught save thy
comfort in every respect. — And Gulnare replied, By Allah, I am in a state of the
utmost comfort and enjoyment, in honour and desirable happiness. So when the
King heard these words from her, he rejoiced, and his heart became tranquillized,
and he thanked her for them ; his love for her increased, and penetrated to his heart's
core, and he knew that she loved him as he loved her, and that she desired to remain
with him to see his child which she was to bear him.
Then the damsel Gulnare of the Sea gave orders to the female slaves to bring
forward the tables and the viands of all kinds ; and Gulnare herself was the person
who superintended the preparation of the viands in the kitchen. So the female
slaves brought to them the viands and the sweetmeats and the fruits ; and she ate
with her family. But afterwards they said to her, Gulnare, thy master is a man
who is a stranger to us, and we have entered his abode without his permission and
without his knowledge of us, and thou praisest to us his excellence, and hast also
brought to us his food, and we have eaten, but have not had an interview with him,
nor seen him, nor hath he seen us, nor come into our presence, nor eaten with us,
that the bond of bread and salt might be established between us. And they all
desisted from eating, and were enraged at her, and fire began to issue from their
mouths as from cressets. So when the King beheld this, his reason fled, in conse-
quence of the violence of his fear of them. Then Gulnare rose to them, and soothed
their hearts ; after which she walked along until she entered the closet in which was
the King her master; and she said to him, my master, didst thou see and didst
thou hear my thanks to thee, and my praise of thee in the presence of my family :
and didst thou hear what they said to me, that they desired to take me with them to
our family and our country? The King answered her, I heard and saw. May God
recompense thee for us well ! By Allah, I knew not the extent of the love that thou
feelest for me until this blessed hour, and I doubt not of thy love for me. — She
replied, my master, is the recompense of beneficence aught but beneficence ? Thou
hast treated me with beneficence, and bestowed upon me great favours, and I see
that thou lovest me with the utmost love, and thou hast shown me every kindness,
and preferred me above all whom thou lovest and desirest. How then could my
heart be happy to quit thee, and to depart from thee ; and how could that be when
thou bestowedst benefits and favours upon me? Now I desire of thy goodness that
thou come and salute my family, and see them, and that they may see thee, and that
pleasure and mutual friendship may ensue. But know, King of the age, that my
brother and my mother and the daughters of my uncle have conceived a great love
for thee in consequence of my praising thee to them, and they have said, We will not
depart from thee to our country until we have an interview with the King, and
salute him. So they desire to behold thee, and to become familiar with thee. — And
the King said to her, I hear and obey ; for this is what I desire. He then rose from
his place, and went to them, and saluted them with the best salutation ; and they
hastened to rise to hitfi: they met him in the most polite manner, and he sat with
them in the pavilion, ate with them at the table, and remained with them for a
period of thirty days. Then they desired to return to their country and abode. So
they todk leave of the King, and the Queen Gulnare of the Sea, and departed from
them, after the King had treated them with the utmost honour.
After this, Gulnare fulfilled her period, and she gave birth to a boy, resembling
the moon at the full, whereat the King experienced the utmost happiness, because
he had not before been blessed with a son or a daughter during his life. They con-
tinued the rejoicings, and the decoration [of the city], for a period of seven days, iu
the utmost happiness and enjoyment ; and on the seventh day, the mother of the
GULNARE OF THE SEA. 569
Queen Gulnare, and her brother, and the daughters of her uncle, all came, when
they knew that Gulnare had given birth to her child. The King met them, rejoicing
at their arrival, and said to them, I said that I would not name my son until ye
should come, and that ye should name him according to your knowledge. And they
named him Beder Basim ; all of them agreeing as to this name. They then pre-
sented the boy to his maternal uncle, Saleh, who took him upon his hands, and,
rising with him from among them, walked about the palace to the right and left;
after which, he went forth with him from the palace, descended with him to the sea,
and walked on until he became concealed from the eye of the King. So when the
King saw that he had taken his son, and disappeared from him at the bottom of the
sea, he despaired of him, and began to weep and wail. But Gulnare, seeing him in
this state, said to him, King of the age, fear not, nor grieve for thy son ; for I love
my child more than thou, and my child is with my brother; therefore care not for
the sea, nor fear his being drowned. If my brother knew that any injury would
betide the little one, he had not done what he hath done ; and presently he will bring
thee thy son safe, if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted ! — And but a short
time had elapsed when the sea was agitated and disturbed, and the uncle of the little
one came forth from it, having with him the King's son safe, and he flew from the
sea until he came to them, with the little one in his arms, silent, and his face
resembling the moon in the night of its fulness. Then the uncle of the little one
looked towards the King, and said to him. Perhaps thou fearedst some injury to thy
son when I descended into the sea, having him with me. So he replied. Yes, my
master, I feared for him, and I did not imagine that he would ever come forth from
it safe. And Saleh said to him, King of the Land, we applied to his eyes a colly-
rium that we know, and repeated over him the names engraved upon the seal of
Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace!), for when a child is born
among us, we do to him as I have told thee. Fear not, therefore, on his account,
drowning, nor suffocation, nor all the seas if he descend into them. Like as ye walk
upon the land, we walk in the sea.
He then took forth from his pocket a case, written upon, and sealed ; and he broke
its seal, and scattered its contents, whereupon there fell from it strung jewels, con-
sisting of all kinds of jacinths and other gems, together with three hundred oblong
emeralds, and three hundred oblong large jewels, of the size of the eggs of the
ostrich, the light of which was more resplendent than the light of the sun and the
moon. And he said, King of the age, these jewels and jacinths are a present from
me unto thee; for we never brought thee a present, because we knew not the place
of Gulnare's abode, nor were acquainted with any trace or tidings of her. So when
we saw thee to have become united to her, and that we all had become orye, we
brought thee this present ; and after every period of a few days, we will bring thee
the like of it, if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted ! For these jewels
and jacinths with us are more plentiful than the gravel upon the land, and we know
the excellent among them, and -the bad, and all the ways to them, and the places
where they are found, and they are easy of access to us. — And when the King looked
at those jewels and jacinths, his reason was confounded and his mind was bewil-
dered, and he said, By Allah, one of these jewels is worth my kingdom! Then the
King thanked Saleh of the Sea for his generosity, and, looking towards the Queen
Gulnare, he said to her, I am abashed at my brother; for he hath shown favour to
me and presented me with this magnificent present, which the people of the earth
would fail to procure. So Gulnare thanked her brother for that which he had done;
but her brother said, King of the age, thou hadst a prior claim upon us, and to
thank thee hath been incumbent on us; for thou hast treated my sister with benefi-
cence, and we have entered thine abode, and eaten of thy provision. Then Saleh
said. If we stood serving thee, O King of the age, a thousand years, regarding
nothing else, we could not requite thee, and our doing so would be but a small thing
in comparison with thy desert. — The King therefore thanked him eloquently. And
570 QULNAKE OF THE SEA.
Saleh remained with the King, he and his mother and the daughters of his uncle,
forty days; after which he arose and kissed the ground before the King, the husband
of his sister. So the King said to him, What dost thou desire, Saleh ? And he
answered, King of the age, thou hast conferred favours upon us, and we desire of
thy goodness that thou wouldst grant us a boon, and give us permission to depart;
for we have become desirous of seeing again our family and our country and our re-
lations and our homes. We will not, however, relinquish the service of thee, nor
my sister, nor the son of my sister ; and by Allah, King of the age, to quit you is
not pleasant to my heart; but how can we act, when we have been reared in the sea,
and the land is not agreeable to us? — So when the King heard his words, he rose upon
his feet, and bade farewell to Saleh of the Sea and his mother and the daughters of his
uncle, and they wept together on account of the separation. Then they said to the
King, In a short time we shall be with you, and we will never relinquish you, but
after every period of a few days, we will visit you. And after this, they flew to-
wards the sea, and descended into it, and disappeared.
The King treated Gulnare with beneficence, and honoured her exceedingly, and
the little one grew up well; and his maternal uncle, with his grandmother and the
daughters of his uncle, after every period of a few days used to come to the residence
of the King, and to remain with him a month, and two months, and then return to
their places. The boy ceased not, with increase of age, to increase in beauty and
loveliness until his age became fifteen years: and he was incomparable in his per-
fect beauty, and his stature and his justness of form. He had learned writing and
reading, and history and grammar and philology, and archery; and he had learned
to play with the spear; and he also learned horsemanship, and all that the sons of
the Kings required. There was not one of the children of the inhabitants of the
city, men and women, that talked not of the charms of that young man; for he was
of surpassing loveliness and perfection; and the King loved him greatly. Then the
King summoned the Viziers and the Emirs, and the lords of the empire and the
great men of the kingdom, and made them swear by binding oaths that they would
make Beder Basim King over them after his father ; so they swore to him by bind-
ing oaths, and rejoiced thereat : and the King himself was beneficent to the people,
courteous in speech, of auspicious aspect, saying nothing but what was for the good
of the people. And on the following day, the King mounted, together with the lords
of the empire and all the Emirs, and all the soldiers walked with him through the
city and returned ; and when they drew near to the palace, the King dismounted to
wait upon his son, and he and all the Emirs and the lords of the empire bore the
ghashiyeh' before him. Each one of the Emirs and the lords of the empire bore the
ghashiyeh awhile; and they ceased not to proceed until they arrived at the vestibule
of the palace; the King's son riding. Thereupon he alighted, and his father em-
braced him, he and the Emirs, and they seated him upon the throne of the kingdom,
while his father stood, as also did the Emirs, before him. Then Beder Basim judged
the people, displaced the tyrannical and invested the just, and continued to give
judgment until near midday, when he rose from the throne of the kingdom, and
went in to his mother Gulnare of the Sea, having upon his head the crown, and re-
sembling the moon. So when his mother saw him, and the King before him, she
rose to him and kissed him, and congratulated him on his elevation to the dignity
of Sultan ; and she offered up a prayer in favour of him and his father for length
of life, and victory over their enemies. He then sat with his mother and rested ;
and when the time of afternoon-prayers arrived, he rode with the Emirs before him
until he came to the horse-course, where he played with arms till the time of night-
fall, together with his father and the lords of his empire; after which he returned to
the palace, with all the people before him. Every day he used to ride to the horse-
course ; and when he returned, he sat to judge the people, and administered justice
' An embroidered saddle-cover, borne before a king.
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA. 571
between the Emir and the poor man. He ceased not to do thus for a -whole year;
and after that, he used to ride to the chase, and to go about through the cities and
provinces that were under his rule, making proclamation of safety and security, and
doing as do the Kings; and he was incomparable among the people of his age, in
glory and courage, and injustice to the people.
Now it came to pass that the old King, the father of Beder Basim, fell sick one
day, whereupon his heart throbbed, and he felt that he was about to be removed to
the mansion of eternity. Then his malady increased so that he was at the point of
death. He therefore summoned his son, and charged him to take care of his sub-
jects and his mother and all the lords of his empire and all the dependants. He
also made them swear, and convenanted with them, that they would obey his son, a
second time ; and he confided in their oaths. And after this he remained a few
days, and was admitted to the mercy of God, whose name be exalted ! His son
Beder Basim, and his wife Gulnare, and the Emirs and Viziers and the lords of the
empire, mourned over him ; and they made for him a tomb, and buried him in it,
and continued the ceremonies of mourning for him a whole month. Saleh, the
brother of Gulnare, and her mother, and the daughters of her uncle, also came, and
consoled them for the loss of the King; and they said, Gulnare, if the King hath
died, he hath left this ingenious youth, and he who hath left such as he is hath not
died. This is he who hath not an equal, the crushing lion, and the splendid moon.
— Then the lords of the empire, and the grandees, went in to the King Beder Basim,
and said to him, King, there is no harm in mourning for the King; but mourning
becometh not any save women; therefore trouble not thy heart and ours by mourning
for thy father ; for he hath died and left thee, and he who hath left such as thou art
hath not died. They proceeded to address him with soft words, and to console him,
and after that they conducted him into the bath : and when he came forth from the
bath, he put on a magnificent suit woven of gold, adorned with jewels and jacinths,
and he put the royal crown upon his head, seated himself upon the throne of hia
kingdom, and performed the afi'airs of the people, deciding equitably between the
strong and the weak, and exacting for the poor man his due from the emir; where-
fore the people loved him exceedingly. Thus he continued to do for the space of a
whole year ; and after every short period, his family of the sea visited him ; so his
life was pleasant, and his eye was cheerful ; and he ceased not to live in this state
for a length of time.
THE STORY OF BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
After this it happened that his maternal uncle came in one night to Gulnare, and
saluted her ; whereupon she rose to him and embraced him, and seated him by her
side, and said to him, my brother, how art thou, and how are my mother and the
daughters of my uncle ? He answered her, my sister, they are well, in prosperity
and great happiness, and nothing is wanting to them but the sight of thy face. Then
she ofi"ered him some food, and he ate; and, conversation ensuing between them,
they mentioned the King Beder Basim, and his beauty and loveliness, and his stature
and justness of form, and his horsemanship and intelligence and polite accomplish-
ments. Now the King Beder Basim was reclining; and when he heard his mother
and his uncle mentioning him and conversing respecting him, he pretended that he
was asleep, and listened to their talk. And Saleh said to his sister Gulnare, The
age of thy son is seventeen years, and he hath not married, and we fear that some-
thing may happen to him, and he may not have a son. I therefore desire to marry
him to one of the Queens of the Sea, that shall be like him in beauty and loveliness.
— So Gulnare replied. Mention them to me ; for I know them. Accordingly he pro-
ceeded to enumerate them to her, one after another, while she said, I approve not of
this for my son, nor will I marry him save to her who is like him in beauty and
572 BEDER BASIM AND GIOHABA.
loveliness, and intelligence and religion, and polite accomplishments and kindnesd
of nature, and dominion and rank and descent. And he said to her, I know not one
more of the daughters of the kings of the Sea, and I have enumerated to thee more
than a hundred damsels, yet not one of them pleaseth thee: but see, my sister,
■whether thy son be asleep or not. She therefore felt him, and she found that he
bore the appearance of sleep ; so she said to him. He is asleep: what then hast thou
to say, and what is thy desire with regard to his sleeping?
He answered her, my sister, know that I have remembered a damsel, of the
damsels of the Sea, suitable to thy son; but I fear to mention her, lest thy son should
be awake, and his heart should be entangled by love of her, and perhaps we may
not be able to gain access to her: so he and we and the lords of his empire would be
wearied, and trouble would befall us in consequence thereof. — And when his sister
heard his words, she replied, Tell me what is the condition of this damsel, and what
is her name ; for I know the damsels of the Sea, the daughters of Kings and of
others ; and if I see her to be suitable to him, I will demand her in marriage of her
father, though I expend upon her all that my hand possesseth. Acquaint me there-
fore with her, and fear not aught; for my son is asleep. — He said, I fear that he may
be awake. But Gulnare replied. Say, and be brief, and fear not, my brother.
And he said. By Allah, my sister, none is suitable to thy son excepting the Queen
Giohara, the daughter of the King Samandal, and she is like him in beauty and
loveliness and elegance and perfection, and there existeth not in the sea nor on the
land any one more graceful or more sweet in natural endowments than she. For
she hath beauty and loveliness, and handsome stature and just form, and red cheek
and bright forehead, and hair like jewels, and large black eye, and heavy hips and
a slender waist, and a lovely countenance. When she looketh aside, she putteth to
shame the wild cows and the gazelles; and when she walketh with a vacillating gait,
the willow-branch is envious ; and when she displayeth her countenance, she con-
foundeth the sun and the moon, and captivateth every beholder: she is sweet-lipped,
gentle in disposition. — And when she heard the words of her brother, she replied,
Thou hast spoken truth, my brother. By Allah, I have seen her many times, and
she was my companion when we were little children; but now we have no acquaint-
ance with each other, because of the distance between us ; and for eighteen years I
have not seen her. By Allah, none is suitable to my son except her.
Now when Beder Basim heard their words, and understood what they said from
first to last in description of the damsel that Saleh mentioned, Giohara the daughter
of the King Samandal, he became enamoured of her by the ear ; but he pretended to
them that he was asleep. A flame of fire was kindled in his heart on her account,
and he was drowned in a sea of which neither shore nor bottom was seen. Then
Saleh looked towards his sister Gulnare, and said to her. By Allah, my sister, there
is not among the Kings of the Sea any one more stupid than her father, nor is there
any of greater power than he. Therefore acquaint not thy son with the case of this
damsel until we demand her in marriage for him of her father ; and if he favour us
by assenting to our proposal, we praise God (whose name be exalted !) ; and if he
reject us, and marry her not to thy son, we will remain at ease, and demand in
marriage another. — And when Gulnare heard what her brother Saleh said, she
replied. Excellent is the opinion that thou hast formed. Then they were silent; and
they passed that night. In the heart of the King Beder Basim was a flame of fire,
kindled by his passion for the Queen Giohara ; but he concealed his case, and said
not to his mother nor to his uncle aught respecting her, though he was tortured by
love of her as though he were on burning coals. And when they arose in the morn-
ing, the King and his uncle entered the bath, and washed : then they came forth, and
drank some wine, and the attendants placed before them the food : so the King
Beder Basim and his mother and his uncle ate until they were satisfied, and washed
their hands. And after that, Saleh rose upon his feet, and said to the King Beder
Basim and his mother Gulnare, With your permission, I would go to my mother ;
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA. 573
for I have been with you a period of days, and the hearts of my family are troubled
respecting me, and they are expecting me. But the King Beder Basim said to his
uncle Saleh, Remain with us this day. And he complied with his request.
Beder Basim then said. Arise with us, my uncle, and go forth with us to the
garden. So they went to the garden, and proceeded to divert and recreate them-
selves; and the King Beder Basim seated himself beneath a shady tree, desiring to
rest and sleep; but he remembered what his uncle Saleh had said, describing the
damsel and her beauty and loveliness, and he shed many tears. Then he lamented
and groaned and wept. So when his uncle Saleh heard what he said, he struck hand
upon hand, and said. There is no deity but God: Mahomet is the Apostle of God
and there is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! Then he said
to him, Didst thou hear, my son, what I and thy mother said respecting the Queen
Giohara, and her mention of her qualities ? Beder Basim answered. Yes, my uncle,
and I became enamored of her from hearsay, when I heard what ye said. My heart
is devoted to her, and I have not patience to remain absent from her. — Saleh there-
fore said to him, King, let us return to thy mother and acquaint her with the case,
and I will ask her to permit me to take thee with me and to demand in marriage for
thee the Queen Giohara. Then we will bid her farewell, and I will return with thee;
for I fear that, if I took thee and went without her permission, she would be incensed
against me ; and she would be right, as I should be the cause of your separation,
like as I was the cause of her separation from us. The city, too, would be without
a King, its people having none to govern them, and to see to their cases; so the state
of the empire would become adverse unto thee, and the kingdom would depart from
thy hand. — But when Beder Basim heard the words of his uncle Saleh, he replied,
Know, my uncle, that if I return to my mother and consult her on this subject,
she will not allow me to do it; therefore I will not return to her, nor consult her
ever. And he wept before his uncle, and said to him, I will go with thee, and I
will not inform her, and then I will return. So when Saleh heard the words of his
sister's son, he was perplexed at his case, and said, I beg aid of God (whose name
be exalted !) in every circumstance.
Then Saleh, seeing his sister's son in this state, and knowing that he desired not
to return to his mother, but would go with him, took from his finger a seal-ring on
which were engraved some of the names of God (whose name be exalted!), and
handed it to the King Beder Basim, saying to him, Put this upon thy finger, and
thou wilt be secure from drowning and from other accidents, and from the noxious-
ness of the beasts of the sea and its great fishes. So the King Beder Basim took
the seal-ring from his uncle Saleh, and put it upon his finger; after which they
plunged into the sea, and ceased not in their course until they arrived at the palace
of Saleh, when they entered it, and Beder Basim's grandmother, the mother of his
mother, saw him, as she sat, attended by her relations. When they went in to them,
they kissed their hands ; and as soon as Beder Basim's grandmother saw him, she
rose to him and embraced him, kissed him between the eyes, and said to him. Thine
arrival is blessed, my son 1 How didst thou leave thy mother Gulnare? — He an-
swered her. Well ; in prosperity and health; and she saluteth thee and the daughters
of her uncle. Then Saleh acquainted his mother with that which had occurred be-
tween him and his sister Gulnare, and that the King Beder Basim had become
enamoured of the Queen Giohara, the daughter of the King Samandal, from hearsay.
He related to her the story from beginning to end, and said. He hath not come but for
the purpose of demanding her in marriage of her father, and marrying her.
But when the grandmother of the King Beder Basim heard the words of Saleh,
she was violently incensed against him, and was agitated and grieved, and she said
to him, my son, thou hast erred in mentioning the Queen Giohara, the daughter
of the King Samandal, before the son of thy sister; for thou knowest that the King
Samandal is stupid, overbearing, of little sense, of great power, piggardly of his
daughter Giohara towards those who demand her in marriage; for all the Kings of
574 BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
the Sea have demanded her of him, and he refused, and approved not one of them,
but rejected them all, and said to them, Ye are not equal to her in beauty nor in
loveliness, nor in other qualities than those. And we fear to demand her in marriage
of her father; for he would reject us as he hath rejected others ; and vre are people
of kindness ; so we should return broken-hearted. — And when Saleh heard what his
mother said, he replied, my mother, what is to be done? For the King Beder
Basim became enamoured of this damsel when I mentioned her to my sister Gul-
nare, and he said. We must demand her in marriage of her father though I should
give away all my kingdom. And he hath asserted, that if he marry her not he will
die of love and desire for her. — Then Saleh said to his mother. Know that the son
of my sister is more beautiful and more lovely than she, and that his father was
King of all the Persians, and he is now their King, and Giohara is not suitable to
any but him. I have resolved that I will take jewels, consisting of jacinths and
other gems, and convey a present befitting him, and demand her of him in marriage.
If he allege as a pretext to us that he is a King, so also is he a King, the son of a
King. And if he allege as a pretext to us her loveliness, he is more lovely than she.
Again, if he allege as a pretext to us the extent of dominions, he hath more exten-
sive dominions than she and than her father, and hath more numerous troops and
guards ; for his kingdom is greater than the kingdom of her father. I must en-
deavour to accomplish this affair of the son of my sister, though my life be lost
thereby, since I was the cause of this event; and as I cast him into the seas of her
love, I will strive to effect his marriage to her; and may God (whose name be exalt-
ed!) aid me to do that! So his mother said to him, Do as thou wilt, and beware of
speaking rudely to him when thou addressest him ; for thou knowest his stupidity
and his power, and I fear lest he make a violent attack upon thee, since he knoweth
not the dignity of any one. And he replied, I hear and obey.
He then arose, and took with him two leathern bags full of jewels and jacinths,
and oblong emeralds, and precious minerals of all kinds of stones, and, having made
his young men carry them, he proceeded with them, he and the son of his sister, to
the palace of the King Samandal. He asked permission to go in to him, and per-
mission was given him ; and when he entered, he kissed the ground before him, and
saluted with the best salutation. And when the King Samandal saw him, he rose
to him, treated him with the utmost honour, and ordered him to sit. So he sat; and
after he had been seated awhile, the King said to him. Thine arrival is blessed.
Thou hast made us desolate by thine absence, Saleh. What is thy want, that thou
hast come unto us ? Acquaint me with thy want, that I may perform it for thee. —
And upon this he rose, and kissed the ground a second time, and said, King of
the age, my want respecteth God and the magnanimous King, and the bold lion, the
report of whose good qualities the caravans have borne abroad, and whose fame hath
been published in the provinces and cities, for liberality and beneficence, and pardon
and clemency and obliging conduct. Then he opened the two leathern bags, and
took forth from them the jewels and other things, and scattered them before the
King Samandal, saying to him, King of the age, perhaps thou wilt accept my
present, and show ftivour to me, and comfort my heart by accepting it from me.
Upon this, the King Samandal said to him. For what reason hast thou presented to
me this present? Tell me thine affair, and acquaint me with thy want; and if I be
able to perform it, I will perform it for thee this instant, and not oblige thee to weary
thyself; but if I be unable to perform it, God imposeth not upon a person aught
save what he is able to accomplish. — Then Saleh arose, and kissed the ground three
times, and said, King of the age, verily the thing that I require thou art able to
perform, and it is in thy power, and thou art master of it. I impose not upon the
King a difficulty, nor am I mad, that I should ask of the King a thing that he ia
unable to do ; for one of the sages hath said. If thou desire that thy request should
be complied with, ask that which is possible. Now as to the thing that I have come
to demand, the King (may God preserve him !) is able to do it. — So the King said
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA. 575
to him, Ask the thing that thou requirest, and explain thine affair, and demand
what thou desirest. And he said to him, King of the age, know that I have come
to thee as a marriage-suitor, desiring the unique pearl, and the hidden jewel, the
Queen Giohara, the daughter of our lord ; then disappoint not, King, him who
applieth to thee.
But when the King heard his words, he laughed so that he fell backwards in de-
rision of him, and replied, Saleh, I used to think thee a man of sense, and an ex-
cellent young man, who attempted not aught but what was right, and uttered not
aught but what was just. What hath happened to thy reason, and urged thee to
this monstrous thing, and great peril that thou demandest in marriage the daughters
of Kings, the lords of cities and provinces? Art thou of a rank to attain to this
high eminence, and hath thy reason decreased to this extreme degree that thou con-
frontest me with these words ? — So Saleh said. May God amend the state of the
King! I demanded her not in marriage for myself; yet if I demanded her for my-
self I am her equal ; nay more ; for thou knowest that my father was one of the
Kings of the Sea, if thou art now our King. But I demanded her not in marriage
save for the King Beder Basini, lord of the provinces of Persia, whose father was
the king Shahzeman, and thou knowest his power. If thou assert that thou art a
great King, the King Beder Basim is a greater King ; and if thou boastest that thy
daughter is lovely, the King Beder Basim is more lovely than she, and more beauti-
ful in form, and more excellent in rank and descent; and he is the horseman of his
age. So if thou assent to that which I have asked of thee, thou wilt, King of the
age, have put the thing in its proper place; and if thou behave arrogantly towards
us, thou treatest us not equitably, nor pursuest with us the right way. Thou know-
est, King, that this Queen Giohara, the daughter of our lord the King, must be
married ; for the sage saith. The inevitable lot of the damsel is either marriage or
the grave ; — and if thou design to marry her, the son of my sister is more worthy
of her than all the rest of men. — But when the King Samandal heard the words of
the King Saleh, he was violently enraged ; his reason almost departed, and his soul
almost quitted his body, and* he said to him, dog of men, doth such a one as thy-
self address me with these words, and dost thou mention my daughter in the assem-
blies, and say that the son of thy sister Gulnare is her equal ? Who then art thou,
and who is thy sister, and who is her son, and who was his father, that thou sayest
to me these words, and addressest me with this discourse? Are ye, in comparison
with her, aught but dogs? — Then he called out to his young men, and said, young
men, take the head of this young wretch !
So they took the swords and drew them, and sought to slay him ; but he turned
his back in flight seeking the gate of the palace ; and when he arrived at the gate
of the palace, he saw the two sons of his uncle, and his relations and tribe and young
men, who were more than a thousand horsemen, buried in iron and in coats of mail
put one over another, and having in their hands spears and bright swords. On their
seeing Saleh in this state, they said to him, What is the news? He therefore told
them his story. And his mother had sent them to his assistance. So when they
heard his words, they knew that the King was stupid and of great power, and they
alighted from their horses, and drew their swords and went in to the King Samandal.
They saw him sitting upon the throne of his kingdom, heedless of these people, and
violently enraged against Saleh ; and they saw his servants and his young men and
his guards unprepared ; and when he beheld them, with the drawn swords in their
hands, he called out to his people, saying, Oh ! wo to you ! Take ye the heads of
these dogs ! — But there had not elapsed more than a little while before the party of
the King Samandal were routed, and betook themselves to flight; and Saleh and hia
relations had seized the King Samandal, and bound his hands behind him.
Now Giohara, awaking from sleep, was informed that her father was taken a cap-
tive, and that his guards had been slain. So she went forth from the palace, and
fled to one of the islands, where she repaired to a lofty tree, and she concealed her.
576 BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
self upon it. And when these two parties contended together, some of the young
men of the King Samandal fled, and Beder Basim, seeing them, asked them respect-
ing their case ; whereupon they acquainted him with that which had happened.
Therefore, on his hearing that the King Samandal had been seized, he turned his
back in flight, fearing for himself, and said in his heart. Verily this disturbance
originated on my account, and none is the object of search but myself. He turned
back in flight, seeking safety, and knew not whither to go. But the destinies fixed
from all eternity drove him to that island upon which was Giohara, the daughter of
the King Samandal ; and he came to the tree, and threw himself down like one slain,
desiring to take rest by his prostrate position, and not knowing that every one who
is an object of search resteth not, and none knoweth what is hidden from him in the
secrets of destiny. And when he lay down, he turned up his eyes towards the tree,
and his eye met that of Giohara: so he looked at her, and saw her to be like the
moon when it shineth ; and he said. Extolled be the perfection of the Creator of this
surprising form ! and He is the Creator of everything, and is Almighty ! Extolled
be the perfection of God, the Great, the Creator, the Maker, the Former ! By Allah,
if my imagination tell me truth, this must be Giohara the daughter of the King
Samandal. I suppose that when she heard of the conflict happening between the
two parties, she fled, and came to this island, and hid herself upon this tree ; but if
this be not the Queen Giohara, this is more beautiful than she. — Then he proceeded
to meditate upon her case, and said within himself, I will rise and lay hold upon her,
and ask her respecting her state; and if this be she, I will demand her in marriage
of herself, and this is the thing I seek. So he stood erect upon his feet, and said to
Giohara, utmost object of desire, who art thou, and who brought thee unto this
place? And Giohara, looking at Beder Basim, saw him to be like the full moon
when it appeareth from behind the black clouds, of elegant stature, comely in his
smile. She therefore said to him, thou, endowed with comely qualities, I am the
Queen Giohara, the daughter of the King Samandal, and I have fled to this place
because Saleh and his troops have fought with my father and slain his troops, and
made him a captive, together with some of his troops: so I fled in fear for myself.
Then the Queen Giohara said to the King Beder Basim, And I came not to this place
save in fliglit, fearing slaughter; and I know not what fortune hath done with my
father. And when Beder Basim heard her words, he wondered extremely at this
strange coincidence, and said. No doubt I have attained my desire by the capture of
her father. He then looked at her, and said to her. Descend, my mistress, for I
am a victim of thy love, and thine eyes have captivated me. On account of me and
thee were this disturbance and these conflicts. Know that I am the King Beder
Basim, the King of Persia, and that Saleh is my maternal uncle, and he is the person
who came to thy fother and demanded thee of him in marriage. I have left my
kingdom on thine account, and our meeting now is a wonderful coincidence. Arise
then, and descend to me, that I may go with thee to the palace of thy father, and
ask my uncle Saleh to release him, and marry thee lawfully.
But when Giohara heard the words of Beder Basim, she said within herself. On
account of this base young wretch hath this event happened, and my father been
made a captive, and his chamberlains and his attendants have been slain, and I have
become separated from my palace, and come forth an exile from my country to this
island. If now I employ not some stratagem with him, thereby to defend myself
from him, he will gain possession of me, and attain his desire; for he is in love;
and the lover, whatever he doth, is not to be blamed for it. — Then she beguiled him
with words, and with soft discourse, and he knew not what artifices she had devised
against him ; and she said to him, O my master and light of my eye, art thou the
King Beder Basim, the son of the Queen Gulnare? So he answered her. Yes, my
mistress. And she said. May God cut off my father, and deprive him of his king-
dom, and not comfort his heart, nor restore him from estrangement, if he desire a
person more comely than thou, and aught more comely than these charming
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA. 577
endowments! By Allah he is of little sense and judgment! — She then said to him
King of the age, blame not my father for that which he hath done. If the measure
of thy love for me be a span, that of my love for thee is a cubit. I have fallen into
the snare of thy love, and become of the number of thy victims. The love that thou
hadst is transferred to me, and there remaineth not of it with thee aught save as much
as the tenth part of what I feel. — Then she descended from the tree, and drew near to
him, and came to him and embraced him, pi-essing him to her bosom, and began to kiss
him. So when the King Beder Basim saw what she did to him, his love for her in-
creased, and his desire for her became violent. He imagined that she was enamoured
of him, and he confided in her, and proceeded to embrace her, and kiss her. And he
said to her, Queen, by Allah, my uncle Saleh did not describe to me th-e quarter of
the tenth part of thy loveliness, nor the quarter of a carat of four-and-twenty carats.
Then Giohara pressed him to her bosom, and uttered some words not to be under-
stood ; after which she spat in his face, and said to him, Be changed from this human
form into the form of a bird, the most beautiful of birds, with white feathers, and
red bill and feet. And her words were not ended before the King Beder Basim
became transformed into the shape of a bird, the most beautiful that could be of
birds ; and he shook, and stood upon his feet, looking at Giohara. Now she had with
her a damsel, one of her female slaves, named Marsini, and she looked at her and
said. By Allah, were it not that I fear on account of my father's being a captive with
his uncle, I had slain him, and may God not recompense him well ; for how un-
fortunate was his coming unto us; all this disturbance having been efl'ected by his
means 1 But, slave-girl, take him, and convey him to the Thirsty Island, and leave
him there that he may die of thirst. — So the slave-girl took him, and conveyed him
to the island, and was about to return from him ; but she said within herself. By
Allah, the person endowed with this beauty and loveliness deserveth not to die of
thirst. Then she took him forth from the Thirsty Island, and brought him to an
island abounding with trees and fruits and rivers, and, having put him upon it,
returned to her mistress, and said to her, I have put him upon the Thirsty Island. —
Such was the case of Beder Basim.
But as to Saleh, the uncle of the King Beder Basim, when he had got possession
of the King Samandal, and slain his guards and servants, and the King had become
his captive, he sought Giohara, the King's daughter, but found her not. So he re-
turned to his palace, to the presence of his mother, and said, my mother, where
is the son of my sister, the King Beder Basim ? She answered, my son, by Allah,
1 have no knowledge of him, nor know I whither he hath gone ; for when he waa
told that thou hadst fought with the King Samandal, and that conflicts and slaughter
had ensued between you, he was terrified, and fled. So when Saleh heard the words
of his mother, he grieved for the son of his sister, and said, my mother, by Allah,
we have acted negligently with respect to the King Beder Basim, and I fear that he
will perish, or that one of the soldiers of the King Samandal may fall upon him, or
that the King's daughter Giohara may fall upon him, and shame will betide us from
his mother, and good will not betide us from her ; for I took him without her per-
mission. Then he sent guards and spies after him, through the sea and in other
directions, but they met with no tidings of him ; wherefore they returned, and
informed the King Saleh thereof; and his anxiety and grief increased, and his
bosom became contracted on account of the King Beder Basim. — Thus was it with
them.
Next, with regard to Beder Basim's mother, Gulnare of the Sea, when her son had
descended into the sea with his uncle Saleh, she waited expecting him ; but he
returned not to her, and tidings of him were long kept from her. So she remained
many days expecting him; after which she arose, and descended into the sea, and
came to her mother ; and when her mother saw her, she rose to her, and kissed her
and embraced her, as did also the daughters of her uncle. She then asked her
tnother respecting the King Beder Basim, and her mother answered her, my
578 BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
daughter, he came with his uncle, and his uncle took jacinths and jewels, and went
with them, he and Beder Basim, to the King Samandal, and demanded in marriage
his daughter: but the King assented not to his proposal, and he was violent to thy
brother in his words. I therefore sent to thy brother about a thousand horsemen,
and a conflict ensued between them and the King Samandal ; but God aided thy
brother against them, and he slew his guards and his troops, and made the King
Samandal a captive. So tidings of this event reached thy son, and apparently he
feared for himself; wherefore he fled from us without our will, and he returned not
to us after that, nor have we heard any tidings of him. — Then Gulnare inquired of
her respecting her brother Saleh, and she informed her, saying, He is sitting upon
the throne of the kingdom in the place of the King Samandal, and he hath sent in
every direction to search for thy son and the Queen Giohara. So when Gulnare
heard the words of her mother, she mourned for her son violently, and her anger was
fierce against her brother Saleh, because he had taken her son and descended with
him into the sea without her permission. She then said, my mother, verily I fear
for our kingdom ; for I came to you and acquainted not any one of the people of the
empire, and I dread, tf I remain long away from them, that the kingdom will be
alienated from us, and that the dominion will depart from our hands. The right
opinion is, that I shoald return, and govern the empire until God shall order for us
the affair of my son ; and forget not ye my son ; nor neglect his case ; for if mischief
befall him, I perish inevitably ; since I regard not the world save in connection with
him, nor delight save in his life. — So her mother replied. With feelings of love and
honour will I comply, my daughter. Inquire not what we suffer by reason of his
separation and absence. Then her mother sent to search for him, and Beder Basim's
mother returned with mourning heart and weeping eye to the empire. The world
had become straight to her, her heart was contracted, and her case was grievous.
Now again as to the King Beder Basim, when the Queen Giohara had enchanted
him, and sent him with her female slave to the Thirsty Island, saying to her, Leave
him upon it to die of thirst — the slave-girl put him not save upon a verdant, fruitful
island, with trees and rivers. So he betook himself to eating of the fruits, and
drinking of the rivers: and he ceased not to remain in this state for a period of days
and nights, in the form of a bird, not knowing whither to go, nor how to fly. And
while he was one day upon that island, lo, there came thither a fowler, to catch
something wherewith to sustain himself, and he saw the King Beder Basim in the
form of a bird, with white feathers and with red bill and feet, captivating the be-
holder, and astonishing the mind. So the fowler looked at him, and he pleased him,
and he said within himself, Verily this bird is beautiful ; I have not seen a bird like
it in its beauty nor in its form. Then he cast the net over him, and caught
him, and he went with him into the city, saying within himself, I will sell it
and receive its price. And one of the people of the city met him, and said to him,
For how much is this bird to be sold, fowler? The fowler said to him, If thou
buy it, what wilt thou do with it? The man answered, I will kill it and eat it. But
the fowler said to him. Whose heart would be pleased to kill this bird and eat it?
Verily I desire to present it to the King, and he will give me more than the sum that
thou wouldst give me as its price, and will not kill it, but will divert himself with
beholding it and observing its beauty and loveliness ; for during my whole life, while
I have been a fowler, I have not seen the like of it among the prey of the sea nor
among the prey of the land. If thou be desirous of it, the utmost that thou wouldst
give me as its price would be a piece of silver ; and I, by Allah the great, will not
sell it. — Then the fowler went with hira to the palace of the King; and when the
King saw him, his beauty and loveliness pleased him, and the redness of his bill and
his feet; so he sent to the fowler a eunuch to purchase him of him ; and the eunuoh
came to the fowler and said to him, Wilt thou sell this bird? He answered. No; it
is for the King, as a present from me unto him. The eunuch therefore took him,
and went with him to the King, and acquainted him with that which he had said ;
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
579
The Fowler with the '.
whereupon the King took the
bird, and gave to the fowler
ten pieces of gold ; and he
received them, and kissed the
ground, and departed. The
eunuch then brought the bird
to the King's pavilion, pot him
in a handsome cage, hung it
up, and put with him what he
might eat and drink. And
when the King came down, he
said to the eunuch. Where is
the bird ? Bring it that I may
see it. By Allah, it is beauti-
ful ! — So the eunuch brought
him and put him before the
King; and he saw that, of the
food that was with him, he had
not eaten aught ; wherefore
the King said, By Allah, I
know not what he will eat,
that I may feed him. Then
he gave orders to bring the
repast. The tables therefore
were brought before him, and
the King ate of the repast ; and when the bird looked at the flesh-meat and other
viands, and the sweetmeats and fruits, he ate of all that was upon the table before
the King, and the King was amazed at him, and wondered at his eating, as did also
the other persons who were present. And upon this the King said to the eunuchs
and mamlouks who were around him. In my life I have never seen a bird eat like
this bird.
The King then commanded that his wife should come to divert herself with the
sight of him. So the eunuch went to bring her ; and when he saw her he said to
her, my mistress, the King desireth thy presence, in order that thou niayest divert
thyself with the sight of this bird that he hath bought ; for when we brought the
repast, it flew from the cage, and pitched upon the table, and ate of all that was
upon it. Arise then, my mistress; divert thyself with the sight of it: for it is
beautiful in appearance, and it is a wonder among the wonders of the age. — There-
fore when she heard the words of the eunuch, she came quickly ; but as soon as she
looked at the bird, and discovered him, she veiled her face, and turned back. So
the King rose and followed her, and said to her, Wherefore didst thou cover thy face,
when there are not in thy presence any but the female slaves and the eunuchs who
serve thee, and thy husband? And she answered, King, verily this is not a bird;
but it is a man like thee. But when he heard the words of his wife, he said to her.
Thou utterest falsehood. How much dost thou jest ! How can it be aught but a
bird ? — She replied, By Allah, I jested not with thee, nor did I tell thee anything
but truth. Verily this bird is the King Beder Basim, the son of the King Sliahze-
man, lord of the countries of the Persians, and his mother is Gulnare of the Sea. —
And how, said he, hath he become transformed into this shape? She answered hira.
Queen Gihhara, the daughter of the King Samandal, hath enchanted him. Then
she related to him what had happened to hira from first to last, telling him that ho
had demanded Giooara in marriage of her father, and that her father consented not
thereto, and that his maternal uncle Saleh had fought with the King Saraandal, and
that Saleh had overcome him and made him a captive. And when the King heard
the words of his wife, he wondered extremely. Now this Queen, his wife, was the
580
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
-^^
ZJ^-
The Kiiis's Wife disenchanting Beiler Basin
most skilful in enchantment among the people of her age. The King therefore said
to her, By my life, I conjure thee to free him from his enchantment, and not leave
him tormented. May God (whose name be exalted!) cut off the hand of Giohara !
How vile is she, and how little is her religion, and how great are her deceit and her
artitice ! — llis wife replied. Say to him, Beder Basim, enter this closet. So the
King ordered hira to enter the closet; and when he heard the King's words, he
entered it. Then the wife of the King arose, and, having veiled her face, took in
her hand a cup of water, and entered the
closet ; and she uttered over the water
some words not to be understood, and
[sprinkling him with it,] said to him, By
virtue of these great names, and excel-
lent verses [of the Koran], and by the
power of God (whose name be exalted !),
the Creator of the heavens and the earth,
and the Reviver of the dead, and the
Distributor of the means of subsistence
and the terms of life, quit this form in
which thou now art, and return to the
form in which God created thee ! And
her words were not ended when he shook
violently, and returned to his original
form, whereupon the King beheld him a
comely young man, than whom there was not upon the face of the earth one more
beautiful.
When the King Beder Basim beheld this thing, he said. There is no deity but God :
Mahomet is the Apostle of God ! Extolled be the perfection of the Creator of the
creatures, and the Ordainer of their means of subsistence and their terms of life. —
Then he kissed the hands of the King, and prayed for long life for him ; and the
King kissed the head of Beder Basim, and said to him, Beder Basim, relate to me
thy story from beginning to end. So he related to him his story, not concealing from
him aught; and the King wondered thereat, and said to him, Beder Basim, God
hath delivered thee from the enchantment; what then doth thy good pleasure
demand, and what dost thou desire to do ? He answered him, King of the age, I
desire of thy beneficence that thou wouldst prepare for me a ship, and a company
of thy servants, and all that I require ; for I have been absent a long time, and I
fear that the empire may depart from me. Moreover, I imagine not that my mother
is alive, on account of my separation. What seems most probable to me is, that she
hath died in consequence of her mourning for me ; since she knoweth not what hath
happened to me, nor whether I be living or dead. I therefore beg thee, King, to
complete thy beneficence to me by granting that which I have requested of thee. —
And when the King considered his beauty and loveliness and his eloquence, he
replied and said to him, I hear and obey. He then prepared for him a ship, trans-
ported to it what he required, and despatched with him a company of his servants.
So he embarked in the ship, after he had bidden farewell to the King, and they pro-
ceeded over the sea.
The wind aided them, and they ceased not to proceed for ten days successively ;
but on the eleventh day, the sea became violently agitated, the ship began to rise
and pitoh, and the sailors were unable to manage her. They continued in this state,
the waves sporting with them, until they drew near to one of the rocks of the sea,
and the ship fell upon that rock, and went to pieces, and all who were in her were
drowned, excepting the King Beder Basim : for he mounted upon one of the planks,
after he had been at the point of destruction. The plank ceased not to bear him
along the sea, and he knew not whither he was going, nor had he any means of
checking the motion of the plank : it carried him with the water and the wind, and
581
BEDEB BASIM AND GIOHARA. 583
continued to do so for a period of three days. But on the fourth day, the plank was
cast with him upon the shore of the sea, and he found there a city, white as a very
■white pigeon, built upon an island by the shore of the sea, with lofty angles, beauti-
ful in construction, with high walls, and the sea beat against its walls. So when
the King Beder Basim beheld the island upon which was this city, he rejoiced greatly ;
and he had been at the point of destruction by reason of hunger and thirst. He
therefore landed from the plank, and desired to go up to the city ; but there came to
him mules and asses and horses, numerous as the grains of sand, and they began to
strike him, and to prevent his going up from the sea to the city. So he swam round
behind that city, and landed upon the shore, and he found not there any one ; where-
fore he wondered, and said, To whom doth this city belong, not having a King nor
any one in it, and whence are these mules and asses and horses that prevented me
from landing? And he proceeded to meditate upon his case as he walked along, not
knowing whither to go.
Then, after that, he saw a sheikh, a grocer ; and when the King Beder Basim saw
him, he saluted him ; and the sheikh returned the salutation, and, looking at him,
saw him to be a comely person ; so he said to him, young man, whence hast thou
come, and what brought thee to this city ? He therefore related to him his story
from beginning to end ; and he wondered at it, and said to him, my son, didst
thou not see any one in thy way ? He answered him, my father, I only wonder
at this city, seeing that it is devoid of people. And the sheikh said to him, my
son, come up into the shop, lest thou perish. So Beder Basim went up and seated
himself in the shop. And the sheikh arose, and brought him some food, saying to
him, my son, come into the inner part of the shop. Extolled be the perfection of
Him who hath preserved thee from this she-devil ! — The King Beder Basim therefore
feared violently. He then ate of the food of the sheikh until he was satisfied, and
washed his hands, and, looking at the sheikh, said to him, my master, what is the
reason of these words? For thou hast made me to be frightened at this city and its
people. — And the sheikh answered him, my son, know that this city is the City of
the Enchanters, and in it is a Queen who is an enchantress like a she-devil ; she is a
sorcerer, a great enchanter, abounding in artifice, exceedingly treacherous, and the
horses and mules and asses that thou sawest, all these are, like me and thee, of the
sons of Adam ; but they are strangers ; for whoever entereth this city, and is a young
man like thyself, this infidel enchantress taketh him, and she remaineth with him
forty days, and after the forty days, she enchanteth him, and he becometh a mule or
a horse or an ass, of these animals that thou hast seen upon the shore of the sea.
Therefore when thou desiredst to land, they feared for thee lest she should enchant
thee like them, and they said to thee by signs, Land not, lest the enchantress see
thee — in pity for thee ; for perhaps she might do unto thee as she did unto them. —
And he said to him, She got possession of this city from her family by enchantment;
and her name is the Queen Labe ; the meaning of which is the sun.
Now when the King Beder Basim heard these words from the sheikh, he feared
violently, and began to tremble like the reed that is shaken by the wind ; and he
said to him, I believed not that I had escaped from the calamity in which I was
involved by enchantment, and now destiny casteth me into a situation more abomi-
nable than that ! And he proceeded to reflect upon his case, and upon the events
that had happened to him ; and when the sheikh looked at him, he saw that his fear
was violent; so he said to him, my son, arise and sit at the threshold of the shop,
and look at those creatures and at their dross and their forms, and the states in which
they are through enchantment; but fear not ; for the Queen, and every one that is
in the city, loveth me and regardeth me, and agitateth not my heart, nor wearieth
my mind. Therefore when the King Beder Basim heard these words of the sheikh,
he went forth and sat at the door of the shop, diverting himself; and there passed
by him people, and he beheld creatures not to be numbered. And when the people
saw him, they advanced to the sheikh, and said to him, sheikh is this thy captive,
584 BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
and a prey that thou hast taken during these days? But he answered them, This is
the son of my brother. I heard that his father had died: so I sent for him, and
caused him to come, that I might quench the fire of my desire by his company. —
They replied, Verily this young man is a comely youth ; but we fear for him on
account of the Queen Labe, lest she turn upon thee with treachery and take him from
thee ; for she loveth the comely young men. The sheikh however said to them.
Verily the Queen will not thwart me: she regardeth me favourably, and loveth me:
and when she knoweth that he is the son of ray brother, she will not offer him any
injury, nor afflict me with respect to him, nor trouble my heart on his account. —
And the King Beder Basim remained with the sheikh for a period of months, eating
and drinking, and the sheikh loved him greatly.
After this Beder Basim was sitting at the shop of the sheikh one day as was his
custom, and lo, a thousand eunuchs, with drawn swords in their hands, clad in
various kinds of apparel, having upon their waists girdles adorned with jewels,
riding upon Arab horses, and equipped with Indian swords ; and they came to the
shop of the sheikh, and saluted him, and passed on. Then, after them, came a
thousand damsels, like moons, clad in various dresses of silk and satin embroidered
with gold and adorned with varieties of jewels, and all of them were armed with
spears, and in the midst of them was a damsel riding upon an Arab mare, upon
which was a saddle of gold set with varieties of jewels and jacinths. — They ceased
not to proceed until they arrived at the shop of the sheikh, when they saluted him,
and passed on. And lo, the Queen Labe approached, in a magnificent procession,
and she ceased not to approach until she came to the shop of the sheikh : whereupon
she saw the King Beder Basim sitting at the shop, resembling the moon at the full.
So when the Queen Labe beheld him, she was confounded at his beauty and loveli-
ness, and amazed, and she became distracted with love of him. She came to the shop,
and alighted, and, having seated herself by the King Beder Basim, she said to the
sheikh. Whence obtainedst thou this comely person ? lie answered. This is the son
of my brother: he came to me a short time ago. And she said. Let him be with me
to-night, that I may converse with him. The sheikh said to her, Wilt thou take him
from me and not enchant him ? She answered, Yes. lie said. Swear to me. And
she swore to him that she would not hurt him nor enchant him. Then she gave
orders to bring forward to him a handsome horse, saddled, and bridled with a
bridle of gold, and all that was upon him was of gold set with jewels ; and she pre-
senteJi to the sheikh a thousand pieces of gold, saying to him. Seek aid for thyself
therewith. The Queen Labe then took the King Beder Basim, and departed with
him ; and he was like the moon in its fourteenth night. lie proceeded with her ;
and the people as often as they looked at him, and observed his beauty, were pained
for him, and said. By Allah, this young man doth not deserve that this accursed
woman should enchant him. And the King Beder Basim heard the words of the
people ; but he was silent, and had committed his case to God, whose name be
exalted !
lie ceased not to proceed with the Queen Labe and her retinue until they arrived
at the gate of the palace ; when the emirs and eunuchs and the great men of the
empire alighted. She had commanded the chamberlains to order all the great men
of the empire to depart : so they kissed the ground and departed. And the Queen,
with the eunuchs and the female slaves, entered the palace ; and when the King
Beder Basim looked at the palace, he beheld a palace of which he had never seen the
like. Its walls were constructed of gold, and in the midst of it was a great pool,
abounding with water, in a great garden ; and the King Beder Basim looked at the
garden, and saw in it birds warbling with all varieties of tongues and voices, mirth-
exciting and plaintive, and those birds were of all forms and colours. The King
Beder Basim beheld great majesty, and he said. Extolled be the perfection of God
for his bounty and his clemency ! He sustaineth the person who worshippetli otlier
than Hinisclf ! — The Queen seated herself at a lattice-window overlooking tlie garden,
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA. 585
She was on a couch of ivory, upon which was magnificent furniture; and the King
Beder Basim sat by her side; and she kissed him, and pressed him to her bosom.
Then she ordered the female slaves to bring a table; whereupon there was brought
a table of red gold set with large pearls and with jewels, and upon it were dishes of
all kinds of viands. So they ate until they were satisfied, and washed their hands.
The female slaves next brought vessels of gold and silver and crystal, and they
brought also all kinds of flowers, and plates of dried fruits ; after which the Queen
gave orders to bring singing women ; and there came ten damsels like moons, with
all kinds of musical instruments in their hands. Then the Queen filled a cup, and
drank it; and she filled another, and handed it to the King Beder Basim, who took
it and drank it; and they ceased not to do thus, drinking until they were satisfied;
when the Queen ordered the female slaves to sing. So they sang all kinds of
melodies, and it seemed to the King Beder Basim as though the palace danced with
delight at the sounds. His reason was captivated, and his bosom was dilated, and
he forgot his estrangement from his country, and said. Verily this Queen is a comely
damsel! I will never henceforth quit her; for her kingdom is larger than mine, and
she is preferable to the Queen Giohara. — He ceased not to drink with her until it
was evening, and the lamps and candles were lighted, and the attendants gave vent
to the fumes of the sweet-scented substances in the censers ; and they gave not over
drinking until they were both intoxicated, while the female singers continued sing-
ing. And when the Queen Labe was intoxicated, she arose from her place, and
slept upon her couch, having commanded the female slaves to depart ; and she
ordered the King Beder Basim to lie down by her side. Then, on the followino-
morning, she entered the bath in the palace, and he did the same: and when they
had come forth, she caused him to be clad in the most beautiful apparel, and gave
orders to bring the drinking-vessels. Accordingly the female slaves brought them,
and they drank ; after which the Queen arose, and took the hand of the King Beder
Basim, and they sat upon the throne, and she gave orders to bring the food : so
they ate and washed their hands. The female slaves then brought to them the
drinking-vessels, and the fresh fruits and the flowers and the dried fruits: and
they ceased not to eat and drink, while the female slaves sang various melodies, till
evening.
They continued eating and drinking, and delighting themselves, for a period of
forty days ; after which she said to him, Beder Basim, is this place the more plea-
sant, or the shop of thine uncle the grocer? He answered her. By Allah, Queen,
this is pleasant; for my uncle is a poor man who selleth beans. And she laughed
at his words. Then they slept: but in the morning, the King Beder Basim awoke
from his sleep and found not the Queen Labe by his side: so he said. Whither can
she have gone? He became sad on account of her absence, and perplexed respect-
ing his case; and she had been absent from him along time, and not returned;
wherefore he said within himself. Whither hath she gone? He then put on his
clothes, and proceeded to search for her: but he found her not: and he said within
himself, Perhaps she hath gone to the garden. He therefore went to the garden,
and he saw in it a running river by the side of which was a white bird, and on the
bank of that river was a tree, whereon were birds of various colours. So he looked
at the birds: but they saw him not; and lo, a black bird alighted by that white bird,
and began to feed her with his bill like a pigeon : and after a while, the latter bird
became changed into a human form, at which he looked attentively, and lo, she was
the Queen Labe. He therefore knew that the black bird was an enchanted man, and
that she loved him, and for that reason transformed herself by enchantment into a
bird; in consequence of which, jealousy seized him, and he was incensed against the
Queen Labe, on account of the black h'wd. Then he returned to his place, and laid
himself upon his bed ; and after a while, she returned to him, and began to kiss him
and to jest with him ; but he was violently incensed against her, and uttered not to
her a single word. So she knew what he feit, and was convinced that he saw her
586 BEDEK BASIM AND GIOHARA.
wnen she became a bird. She however did not manifest to him anything ; but con-
cealed her feelings.
After this, he said to her, Queen, I desire thee to permit me to go to the shop of
my uncle ; for I have conceived a desire to visit him, and for forty days I have not seen
him. And she replied, Go to him ; but be not long absent from me, since I cannot
part vrith thee, nor endure to be away from thee for one hour. So he said to her, I
hear and obey. He then mounted, and went to the shop of the sheikh, the grocer,
who welcomed him and rose to him and embraced him, and said to him. How art
thou with this infidel woman? He therefore answered him, I was well in prosperity
and health : but she was this last night sleeping by my side, and I awoke and saw
her not. So I put on my clothes, and went about searching for her until I came to
the garden. — And he informed him of that which he had seen, of the river, and the
birds upon the tree. And when the sheikh heard his words, he said to him. Beware
of her, and know that the birds that were upon the tree were all young men, stran-
gers, whom she loved, and she transformed them by enchantment into birds ; and
that black bird that thou sawest was of the number of her mamlouks. She used to
love him greatly; but he cast his eye upon one of the female slaves; so she trans-
formed him by enchantment into a black bird ; and whenever she desireth to visit
him, she transformeth herself by enchantment into a bird : for she still loveth him
greatly. And when she knew that thou wast acquainted with her case, she medi-
tated evil against thee ; and she doth not oifer thee a sincere affection, But thou
shalt suffer no harm from her as long as I have a care for thee ; therefore fear not;
for I am a Mahometan, and my name is Abdallah, and there is not in my age any
one more skilled in enchantment than I: yet I make not use of enchantment save
when I am constrained to do so. Often do I annul the enchantment of this accursed
woman, and deliver people from her ; and I care not for her, since she hath no way
of injuring me; on the contrary, she feareth me violentlj', as also doth every one in
the city who is an enchanter like her, after this manner: they all fear me, and all
of them are of her religion, worshipping fire instead of the Almighty King. But to-
morrow come to me again, and acquaint me with that which she shall do to thee ; for
this night she will exert herself to destroy thee, and I will tell thee what thou shalt
do with her that thou mayest save thyself from her artifice.
Then the King Beder Basim bade farewell to the sheikh, and returned to her, and
found her sitting expecting him. And when she saw him, she rose to him and
seated him, welcoming him ; and she brought him food and drink. So they ate
until they were satisfied, and washed their hands ; after which, she gave orders to
bring the wine. It was therefore brought, and they drank until midnight, when she
served him with the cups, and she continued to ply him until he was intoxicated,
and lost his sense and his reason. And when she saw him in this state, she said to
him. By Allah I conjure thee, and by the Object of thy worship, if I ask thee con-
cerning a thing, tell me, wilt thou inform me thereof truly, and reply to my ques-
tion? So he answered her, being in a state of intoxication. Yes, my mistress.
And she said to him, my master, and light of my eye, when thou awokest from
tliy sleep, and found me not, thou searchedst for me, and camest to me in the gar-
den, and sawest the black bird. Now I will acquaint thee with the truth of the
case of this bird. He was one of my mamlouks, and I loved him greatly; but he
cast his eye one day upon one of my female slaves ; eo jealousy came upon me, and
1 transformed him by enchantment into a black bird. And as to the slave-girl, I
killed her. But now I cannot bear to be absent from him one hour; and whenever
I desire to visit him, I transform myself by enchantment into a bird, and go to him.
Art thou not on this account incensed against me, although I, by the fire and the
light and the shade and the heat, have increased in love for thee, and made thee my
worldly portion? So he said, being intoxicated, Verily, what thou hast understood,
as to ray anger being on that account, is true ; and there is no cause for my anger
excepting that. And she embraced him and kissed him, and made a show of love to
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
587
him ; after which she slept, and he slept by her side. And when it was midnight,
she rose from the bed : and the King Beder Basim was awake ; but he pretended
that he was asleep, and kept stealing looks, and observing what she did ; and he
found that she had taken forth from a red bag something red, which she planted in
the midst of the palace ; and lo, it became a stream running like a large river. She
then took a handful of barley, scattered it upon the dust, and watered it with this
Queen I.;\be peiiDrinins: the Incantation.
water ; whereupon it became eared corn ; and she took it and ground it into fine
flour, after which she put it in a place and returned and slept by Beder Basim until
the morning.
So when the morning came, the King Beder Basim arose, and having washed his
face, asked permission of the Queen to go to the sheikh ; and she gave him permis-
sion. He therefore repaired to the shiekh, and acquainted him with that which she
had done, and what he had beheld ; and when the sheikh heard his words, he laughed,
and said, By Allah, this infidel enchantress had formed a mischievous scheme against
thee: but never care thou for her. lie then produced to him as much as a pound
of barley-meal, and said to him, Take this with thee, and know that when she seeth
it she will say to thee. What is this, and what wilt thou do with it? Answer her,
A superfluity of good things is good: — and do thou eat of it. And when she pro-
duceth her meal, and saith to thee. Eat of this flour — pretend to her that thou eatest
of it, but eat of this, and beware of eating aught of her barley, even one grain ; for
if thou cat of it even one grain, her enchantment will have power over thee, and she
will enchant thee, saying to thee. Quit this human form. So thou wilt quit thy form,
and assume whatsoever form she desireth. — But if thou eat not of it, her enchant-
ment will be frustrated, and no harm will result to thee from it; wherefore she will
become in a state of the utmost abashment, and will say to thee, I am only jesting
588 BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
with thee. Arid she will make profession of love and affection to thee : but all that
will be hypocrisy and artifice in her. Do thou, however, make a show of love to her,
and say to her, my raistregs, and light of my eye, eat of this meal, and see how
delicious it is. And when she hath eaten of it, if only one grain, take some water
in thy hand, and throw it in her face, and say to her, Quit this human form — and
tell her to assume whatsoever form thou desirost. Thereupon leave her and come to
me, that I may contrive for thee a mode of proceeding.
Beder Basim then bade him farewell, and pursued his way until he went up into
the palace and entered into her presence ; and when she saw him, she said to hira,
A friendly and free and ample welcome ! She arose to him and kissed him, and said
to him. Thou hast wearied me by thy delay, my master. He replied, I was with
my uncle. And he saw with her some flour, and said to her. And my uncle hath
given me to eat of this flour, and we have flour better than it. Then she put his
flour into a dish, and hers into another, and said to him. Eat of this, for it is nicer
than thy flour. So he pretended to her that he ate of it ; and when she believed that
he had eaten of it, she took in her hand some water, and sprinkled him Avith it, and
said to him. Quit this form, young wretch, villain, and assume the form of a
one-eyed mule of hideous appearance ! But he changed not. So when she saw him
in his proper state, unchanged, she rose to him, and kissed him between the eyes,
and said to him,0 my beloved, I was only jesting with thee; therefore be not changed
in mind towards me on that account. And he replied. By Allah, my mistress, I
am not at all changed towards thee; but I am convinced that thou lovest me: eat
then of this my flour. She therefore took a morsel of it, and ate it; and when it
had settled in her stomach, she was agitated; and the King Beder Basim, having
taken some water in his hand, sprinkled her with it upon her face, saying to her.
Quit this human form, and assume the form of a dapple mule. And she saw not
herself save in that form ; whereupon her tears began to run down upon her cheeks,
and she rubbed her cheeks upon his feet. lie then betook himself to bridle her;
but she allowed not the bridle to be put. He therefore left her, and repaired to the
sheikh, and acquainted him with what had happened ; upon which the sheikh arose
and produced to him a bridle, and said to him. Take this bridle, and bridle her with
it. So he took it, and went to her ; and when she saw him, she advanced to him,
and he put the bit in her mouth, and, having mounted her, went forth from the pa-
lace, and repaired to the sheikh Abdallah, who. on seeing her, rose to her, and said
to her, May God (whose name be exalted!) abase thee by aflliction, accursed wo-
man! Then the sheikh said to Beder Basim, my son, thou hast no longer an
abode in this city ; so mount her, and proceed with her to whatsoever place thou
wilt, and beware of giving up the bridle to any one. The King Beder Basim there-
fore thanked him, and bade him farewell, and departed.
He ceased not his journey for three days; after which he came in sight of a city,
and there met him a sheikh, of comely hoariness, who said to him, my son, whence
art thou come? He answered. From the city of this enchantress. The shiekh then
said to him. Thou art my guest this night. And he consented, and proceeded with
him along the way. And lo, there was an old woman, who, when she saw the mule,
wept, and said, There is no deity but God! Verily this mule resembleth the mule
of my son, which hath died, and my heart is troubled fur her. I conjure thee by
Allah, then, my master, that thou sell her to me. — He replied. By Allah, my
mother, I cannot sell her. But she rejoined, I conjure thee by Albih that thou re-
ject not my petition ; for my son, if I buy not for him this mule, will inevitably die.
Then she urged her request in many words: whereupon ho said, I will not sell her
but for a thousand pieces of gold. And Beder Basim said within himself, How can
this old woman procure a thousand pieces of gold? But upon this she took forth
from her girdle a thousand pieces of^gold. So when the King Beilor Basim saw
this, he said to her, my mother, I am only jesting with thee, and I cjinnot sell her.
The sheikh, liowever, looked at him, and said to him, mv son, no one may utter a
BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA. 589
falsehood in this city ; for every one who uttereth a falsehood in this city, they slay.
The King Beder Basim therefore alighted from the mule, and delivered her to the
old woman : and she drew forth the bit from her mouth, and, having taken some
water in her hand, sprinkled her with it, and said, my daughter, quit this form,
and return to the form in which thou wast! And she was transformed immediately,
and returned to her first shape ; and each of the two women approached each other,
and they embraced one another.
So the King Beder Basim knew that this old woman was the mother of the Queen,
and that the stratagem had been accomplished against him, and he desired to flee.
But lo, the old woman uttered a loud whistle ; whereupon there presented himself
before her an Afrite like a great mountain; and the King Beder Basim feared, and
stood still. The old woman mounted upon his back, took her daughter behind her,
and the King Beder Basim before her, and the Afrite flew away with them, and there
elapsed but a short time before they arrived at the palace of the Queen Labe, after
which, when she had seated herself upon the throne of her kingdom, she looked at
the King Beder Basim, and said to him, young wretch, I have arrived at this place,
and attained what I desired, and I will show thee what I will do with thee and with
this sheikh, the grocer. How many benefits have I conferred upon him, and he doth
evil unto me! And thou hadst not attained thy desire but by his means. — Then
she took some water, and sprinkled him with it, saying to him. Quit this form in
which thou now art, and assume the form of a bird of hideous appearance, the most
hideous of birds! And he was transformed immediately, and became a bird of
hideous appearance ; upon which she put him into a cage, and withheld from him
food and drink.
But a slave-girl looked at him, and had compassion on him, and she fed him, and
gave him to drink, without the knowledge of the Queen. Then the slave-girl found
her mistress inadvertent one day, and she went forth and repaired to the sheikh, the
grocer, and acquainted him with the case, saying to him, The Queen Labe is re-
solved upon the destruction of the son of thy brother. So the sheikh thanked her,
and said to her, I must surely take the city from her, and make thee Queen in her
stead. He then uttered a loud whistle, and there came forth to him an Afrite who
had four wings, and he said to him. Take this slave-girl, and convey her to the city
of Gulnare of the Sea, and to her mother Farashah ; for they two are the most
skilful in enchantment of all existing upon the face of the earth. And he said to
the slave-girl, When thou hast arrived there, inform them that the King Beder Basim
is a captive in the hands of the Queen Labe. The Afrite therefore took her up, and
flew away with her, and but a short time had elapsed when he alighted with her
upon the palace of the Queen Gulnare of the Sea. So the slave-girl descended from
the roof of the palace, and, going in to the Queen Gulnare, kissed the ground, and
acquainted her with the events that had happened to her son from first to last; upon
which, Gulnare rose to her, and treated her with honour, and thanked her. The
drums were beaten in the city to announce the good tidings, and she informed her
people, and the great men of her empire, that the King Beder Basim had been
found.
After this, Gulnare of the Sea, and her mother Farashah, and her brother Saleh,
summoned all the tribes of the Genii, and the troops of the sea; for the Kings of
the Genii had obeyed them after the captivity of the King Samandal. Then they
flew through the air, and alighted upon the city of the enchantress, and they plun-
dered the palace, and slew all who were in it. They also plundered the city, and
slew all the infidels who were in it in the twinkling of an eye. And Gulnare said
to the slave-girl. Where is my son? The slave-girl therefore took the cage, and
brought it before her, and, pointing to the bird that was within it, said. This is thy
son. So the Queen Gulnare took him forth from the cage, and she took in her hand
some water, with which she sprinkled him, saying to him, Quit this form, and as-
sume the form in which thou wast ! And her words were not ended when he shook
590 BEDER BASIM AND GIOHARA.
and became a man as he was before ; and when his mother beheld him in his ori-
ginal form, she rose to him and embraced him, and he wept violently, as did also
his maternal uncle Saleh, and his grandmother Farashah, and the daughters of his
uncle ; and they began to kiss his hands and his feet. Then Gulnare sent for the
sheikh Abdallah, and thanked him for his kind conduct to her son ; and she mar-
ried him (the sheikh) to the slave-girl whom he had sent to her with the news of
her son. So he took her as his wife ; and Gulnare made him King of that city.
And she summoned those Mahometans who remained of the inhabitants of the
city, and made them vow allegiance to the sheikh Abdallah, covenanting with them,
and making them swear, that they would ol)ey and serve him : and they said, We
hear and obey.
They then bade farewell to the sheikh Abdallah and departed to their city ; and
when they entered their palace, the people of their city met them with the drums to
celebrate the good news, and with rejoicing. They decorated the city for three days,
on account of their exceeding joy at the arrival of their King Beder Basim, rejoic-
ing greatly at his return. And after that, the King Beder Basim said to his mother,
my mother, it remaineth only that I marry, and that we all be united. So she
replied, my son, excellent is the idea that thou hast formed ; but wait until we
inquire for a person suitable to thee among the daughters of the Kings. And his
grandmother Farashah, and the daughters of his uncle, and his maternal uncle,
said. We, Beder Basim, will all immediately assist thee to attain what thou de-
sirest. Then each of those females arose and went to search through the countries,
and Gulnare of the Sea also sent her female slaves upon the necks of the Afrites,
saying to them. Leave not a city, nor one of the palaces of the Kings, without at-
tentively viewing all who are in it of the beautiful damsels. But when the King
Beder Basim saw the pains that they were taking in this affair, he said to his mo-
ther Gulnare, my mother, leave this affair; for none will content me save Giohara
the daughter of the King Samandal, since she is a jewel, as her name importeth.
So his mother replied, I know thy desire. She then sent immediately persons to
bring to her the King Samandal, and forthwith they brought him before her; where-
upon she sent to Beder Basim ; and when he came, she acquainted him with the
arrival of the King Samandal. lie therefore went in to him ; and as soon as the
King Samandal saw him approaching, he rose to him and saluted him and welcomed
him. Then the King Beder Basim demanded of him in marriage his daughter Gio-
hara ; and he replied. She is at thy service, and she is thy slave-girl, and at thy dis-
posal. And the King Samandal sent some of his companions to his country, com-
manding them to bring his daughter Giohara, and to inform her that her father was
with the King Beder Basim, the son of Gulnare of the Sea. So they flew through
the air, and were absent a while ; after wliich they came back accompanied by the
Queen Giohara ; who, when she beheld her father, advanced to him and embraced
him. And he looked at her and said, my daughter, know that I have married
thee to this magnanimous King, and bold lion, the King Beder Basim, the son of
the Queen Gulnare, and that he is the handsomest of the people of his age, and the
most lovely of them, and the most exalted of them in dignity, and the most noble
of them in rank : he is not suitable to any but thee, nor art thou suitable to any but
him. And she replied, my father, I cannot oppose thy wish: therefore do what
thou wilt; for anxiety and distress have ceased, and I am unto him of the number
of servants.
So thereupon they summoned the Cadies and the witnesses, and they performed
the ceremony of the contract of the marriage of the King Beder Basim, the son of
the Queen Gulnare of the Sea, to the Queen Giohara. The people of the city deco-
rated it, sent forth the announcers of the glad tidings, and released all who were in
the prisons; and the King clothed the widows and the orphans, and conferred robos
of honour upon the lords of the empire, and the emirs and other great men. Then
they celebrated a grand festivity, made banquets, and continued the festivities even-
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJKMAL. 591
ing and morning for a period of ten days ; and they displayed her to the King Beder
Basim in nine different dresses. After this, the King Beder Basim conferred a dress
of honour upon the King Samandal, and restored him to his country and his family
and his relations ; and they ceased not to pass the most delightful life, and the most
agreeable days, eating and drinking, and enjoying themselves, until they were
visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of companions.
This is the end of their story. — The mercy of God be on them all.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Commencing with part of the Seven Hundred and Fifty-sixth Night, and ending with part ^
Seven Hundred and Seventy-eighth.
THE STORY OF SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
There was, in olden times, and in an ancient age and period, in Egypt, a King
named Asim the son of Safvran. He was a liberal, munificent King, reverend and
dignified : he possessed many countries, and castles and fortresses, and troops and
soldiers, and he had a Vizier named Faris the son of Saleh ; and they all worshipped
the sun and fire instea,d of the almighty King, the Glorious, the Mighty in dominion.
Now this King became a very old man ; old age and sickness and decrepitude had
rendered him infirm ; for he had lived a hundred and eighty years ; and he had not
a male child nor a female ; on account of which he was in a state of anxiety and
grief night and day. And it happened that he was sitting one day upon the throne
of his kingdom, with the Emirs and Viziers and the chief officers and the lords of
the empire serving him according to their custom and according to their ranks ; and
whosoever of the Emirs came in to him having with him a son, or two sons, the King
envied him, and he said within himself. Every one is happy and rejoicing in his
children ; but I have not a son, and to-morrow I shall die, and leave my kingdom
and my throne and my lands and my treasures and my riches, and the strangers will
take them, and no one will ever remember me ; there will not remain any memory
of me in the world. Then the King Asim became drowned in the sea of solicitude:
and in consequence of the rapid succession of griefs and solicitudes in his heart, he
wept, and descended from his throne, and sat up(m the floor, weeping and humbling
himself. So when the Vizier and the assembly of the great men of the empire who
were present saw him do thus with himself, they called out to the people and said
to them, Go ye to your abodes and rest until the King recover from the state in
which he is.
They therefore departed, and there remained not any excepting the King and the
Vizier ; and when the King recovered, the Vizier kissed the ground before him and
said to him, king of the age, what is the cause of this weeping ? Inform me who
of the Kings and the lords of the castles, or of the Emirs and the lords of the empire,
hath become thine enemy, and acquaint me who opposeth thee, OKing, that we may
all attack him, and take his soul from between his sides. — But the King spoke not
nor raised his head. Then the Vizier kissed the ground before him a second time,
and said to him, King of the age, I am like thy son and thy slave; nay, I have
592 BEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
reared thee; and I know not the cause of thy grief and thine anxiety and thy dis-
tress and the state in which thou art. Who then beside me can know, and stand in
my stead before thee? Acquaint me therefore with the cause of this weeping and
mourning. — Yet he spoke not, nor opened his mouth, nor raised his head ; but ceased
not to weep, and he cried out with a loud voice, and wailed exceedingly, and cried,
Ah ! — while the Vizier regarded him patiently. And after that the Vizier said to
him. If thou tell me not the cause of this, I will kill myself before thee immediately
while thou lookest on, rather than see thee in anxiety. So the King Asim thereupon
raised his head, and wiped away his tears, and said, faithful Vizier, leave me in
my anxiety and my grief; for the sorrows in my heart are sufficient for me. But
the Vizier replied. Tell me, King, what is the cause of this weeping: perhaps God
may give thee relief by my 'means. And the King said to him, O Vizier, my weep-
ing is not on account of wealth nor on account of horses nor on account of anything
but this, that I have become an old man, and my age is about a hundred and eighty
years, and I have not been blessed with a male child nor a female ; so when I die,
they will bury me; then will every trace of me be obliterated, and my name v»'ill be-
come extinct, and strangers will take my throne and my kingdom, and no one will
ever remember me. To this the Vizier replied, O King of the age, I am older than
thou by a hundred years, and have never been blessed with a child, and I cease not
to suffer anxiety and grief night and day ; and what shall we do, I and thou? But
I have heard of the fame of Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace !),
and that he hath a mighty Lord, able to accomplish everything. It is meet therefore
that I repair unto him with a present, and have recourse to him, that he may petition
his Lord : perhaps He may bless each of us with a child. — The Vizier then prepared
for the journey, took a magnificent present, and repaired with it to Solomon the son
of David (on both of whom be peace!). — Such was the case of the Vizier.
Now as to Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace!), God (whose
perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted !) spoke in revelation unto him,
and said, O Solomon, verily the King of Egypt hath sent to thee this chief V^izier,
with presents and rarities, which are such and such things. Send thou therefore
unto him thy Vizier Asaph the son of Barkia, to meet him with honour and with
provisions at the halting places; and when he presenteth himself before thee, say to
him, Verily the King hath sent thee to demand such and such things, and thine affair
is so and so. Then propose to him the faith. — So upon this Solomon ordered his
Vizier Asaph to take with him a company of his dependants, to meet them with
honour and with sumptuous provisions at the halting places. Accordingly Asaph
went forth, after he had prepared all things necessary, to meet them, and he pro-
ceeded until he came to Faris, the Vizier of the King of Egypt. He met him and
saluted him, and treated him and those who accompanied him with exceeding honour,
and proceeded to present to them the provisions and the provender at the halting
places ; and he said to him, A friendly and free and ample welcome to the coming
guests ! Rejoice ye at the information of the accomplishment of your affair, and let
your hearts be glad and your eyes be cheerful and your bosoms be dilated ! — So the
Vizier said within himself. Who acquainted them with this ? Then he said to Asaph
the son of Barkia, And who informed you of us and of our desires, my lord?
Asaph answered him. Verily Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace !) ;
he it was who informed us of this. And who, said the Vizier Faris, informed our
lord Solomon? He answered him. The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and the
God of all creatures, informed him. And the Vizier Faris replied, This is none other
than a mighty God ! So Asaph the son of Barkia said to him. And do ye not worship
lliin ? Faris the Vizier of the King of Egypt answered, We worship the sun, and
prostrate ourselves to it. Asaph therefore replied, Vizier Faris, Verily the sun is
a star, of the number of the stars created by God (whose perfection be extolled, and
whose name be exalted !), and Cat be it from being a Lord ! For the sun appcareth
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 593
at times, and is absent at times, and our Lord is always present, never absent, and
He is able to effect everything.
They then journeyed on a little until they came near to the seat of government of
Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace !), when Solomon ordered his
troops of mankind and of the Genii and other creatures to range themselves in their
way in ranks. So the wild creatures of the sea, and the elephants and the leopards
and the lynxes, all stationed themselves, and ranged themselves in the way in two
ranks. The species of each kind collected themselves into separate bodies, and in
like manner did the Genii ; each of which appeared to the eyes unhidden, in a ter-
rible form ; and they were of various descriptions. They all stood in two ranks,
and the birds spread their wings over the other creatures to shade them, warbling
one to another with all tongues and with all notes. Therefore when the people of
Egypt came to them, they dreaded them, and dared not to proceed : but Asaph said to
them. Enter amid them and pass on, and fear them not ; for they are the subjects of
Solomon the son of David, and none of them will hurt you Then Asaph entered
among them ; and all the people entered behind him, the party of the Vizier of the
King of Egypt being among them : but they were in fear. They ceased not to pro-,
ceed until they arrived at the city, when they lodged them in the mansion of enter-
tainment, treated them with the utmost honour, and brought to them sumptuous
banquets during a period of three days.
After this, they brought them before Solomon the Prophet of God (peace be on
him !); and when they went in to him, they desired to kiss the ground before him ;
but he prevented their doing so, and said, It is not meet that a man prostrate him-
self upon the ground save unto God (to whom be ascribed might and glory!), the
Creator of the earth and the heavens and all other things ; and whoever among you
desireth to stand, let him stand : but none of you shall stand in attendance upon
me. They therefore complied, and the Vizier Faris sat, and some of his servants ;
but some of the inferiors stood waiting upon him ; and when they had sat awhile,
the servants spread for them the tables, and the people all ate of the repast until
they were satisfied. Then Solomon commanded the Vizier of Egypt to mention his
affair, that it might be accomplished, and said to him, Speak, and conceal not aught
of that on account of which thou hast come : for thou hast not come save for the ac-
complishment of an affair; and I will inform thee thereof. It is thus and thus: the
King of Egypt who sent thee is named Asim, and he hath become a very old man,
decrepit, infirm; and God (whose name be exalted!) hath not blessed him with a
male child nor a female. He hath therefore been in a state of grief and anxiety
and solicitude night and day, until it happened to him that he was sitting upon the
throne of his kingdom one day, and the Emirs and Viziers and the great men of his
empire came in to him, and he saw some of them having two sons each, and some
having one son, and some of them having three sons, and they came in accompanied
by their sons, and stood in attendance upon him. So he meditated in himself, and
said, by reason of the excess of his sorrow, Who will take my kingdom after my
death ? And will any but a stranger take it ? Thus I shall be as though I had
never been. lie became drowned in the sea of solitude on account of this, and
ceased not to remain in solitude and sorrow until his eyes overflowed with tears, and
he covered his face with the handkerchief, and wept violently. Then he arose from
his throne, and sat upon the floor, weeping and lamenting, and none knew what was
in his heart, excepting God (whose name be exalted!), while he thus sat upon the
floor. — And when the Prophet of God, Solomon the son of David (on both of whom
be peace !). had informed the Vizier Faris of the sorrow and weeping of the King,
and what had happened between him and his Vizier from first to last, he said after
that to the Vizier Faris, Is this which I have told thee, Vizier, true? So the
Vizier Faris answered, Prophet of God, verily that which thou hast said is true
and correct; but, O Prophet of God, when I was conversing with the King respect-
ing this matter, there was not with us any one, and not one of the people knew our
38
594 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
case. Who then informed thee of all these things? — He replied, My Lord, who
knoweth the furtive glance and what the bosoms conceal, informed me. So there-
upon the Vizier Paris said, Prophet of God, this is none other than an excellent,
mighty Lord, able to accomplish everything. And the Vizier Faris embraced the
true faith, he and they who were with him.
The Prophet of God, Solomon, then said to the Vizier, Verily thou hast with thee
such and such rarities and presents. The Vizier replied, Yes. And Solomon said
to him, I accept from thee all of them ; but I give them unto thee ; and rest thou,
and those who are with thee, in the place where ye took up your quarters, that the
fatigue of the journey may quit you, and to-morrow, if it be the will of God (whose
name be exalted !), thine affair shall be accomplished in the most complete manner,
by the will of God, the Lord of the earth and the heaven, and the Creator of all
creatures. Then the Vizier Faris went to his place ; and he repaired to the lord
Solomon on the following day; whereupon the Prophet of God, Solomon, said to
him, When thou hast come unto the King Asim the son of Safwan, and hast an in-
terview with him, do ye both ascend such a tree, and sit silent ; and when it is the
period between the morning and evening-prayers, and the midday-heat hath become
assuaged, descend ye to the foot of the tree, and look ye there : ye will find two
large serpents coming forth ; the head of one being like the head of the ape, and the
head of the other like the head of an Afrite. When ye see them, smite ye them
with arrows, and kill them ; then [cut off and] throw away, from the head-part of
each of them, as much as one span's length, and of the tail-part of each of them
likewise : so their flesh will remain, and do ye cook it, and cook it well, and feed
your two wives with it, and ye will obtain by them, by the permission of God (whose
name be exalted!), male children. — Then Solomon (on whom be peace!) caused to
be brought a seal-ring and a sword, and a wrapper containing a tunic ornamented
with jewels, and he said, Vizier Faris, when the two sons of you twain shall have
grown up, and attained to manhood, give ye to each one of them one of these things.
And after this, he said to the Vizier, In the name of God! May God (whose name
be exalted!) accomplish thine affair! And now there reniainoth not aught for thee
to do but that thou set forth on thy journey, relying upon the blessing of God (whose
name be exalted!) ; for the King is night and day expecting thine arrival, and his
eye is constantly gazing upon the way. — So upon this the Vizier Faris advanced to
the Prophet of God, Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace!), and
bade him farewell, and went forth from him, after he had kissed his hands.
He journeyed on during the rest of that day, full of joy on account of the accom-
plishment of his affair, and he prosecuted his journey with diligence night and day,
and ceased not to travel on until he came near to Egypt, when he sent one of his
servants to acquaint the King Asim therewith. So when the King Asim heard of
his arrival and of the accomplishment of his affiiir, he rejoiced exceedingly, he and
his chief officers and the lords of his kingdom and all his troops, and especially at
the safety of the Vizier Faris. And when the King and the A''izier met each other,
the Vizier alighted, and kissed the ground before him, and gave the King the glad
tidings of the accomplishment of his affair in the most complete manner; after
which he proposed to him the true faith ; whereupon the King Asim embraced the
true faith, with all his subjects, and said to the Vizier Faris, Go to thy house and
rest thyself this night, and rest thyself also for a week, and enter the bath: after
that, come to me, that I may inform thee of a thing respecting which we must de-
liberate. So the Vizier kissed the ground and departed, he and his dependants and
his young men and his servants, to his house, and he rested eight days ; after which
he repaired to the King, and related to him all that had occurred between him and
Solomon the son of David, on both of whom be peace ! He then said to the King,
Arise thou alone, and come with me. He therefore arose with the Vizier, and they
took two bows and two arrows, ascended the tree, and sat silent until the period of
midday had passed, and ceased not to remain so until near the time of afternoon-
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 695
prayers, when they descended, and looked, and saw two large serpents come forth
from the foot of the tree. The King looked at them, and liked them ; for they ex-
cited his admiration when he saw them with collars of gold ; and he said, Vizier,
verily these two serpents are adorned with collars of gold ! By Allah, this is a
wonderful thing! let us take them and put them into a cage, and divert ourselves
with the sight of them. — But the Vizier replied, These hath God created for their
use : so smite thou one with an arrow, and I will smite one with an arrow. Ac-
cordingly they both shot at them with the arrows, and slew them ; and they cut off
from the head-part of each of them a span, and from the tail-part of each a span,
and threw away these pieces. They then went with the rest to the King's palace,
demanded the cook, and gave him that meat, saying to him. Cook this meat nicely,
with onion-sauce and spices, and ladle it out into two saucers, and bring them hither
at such a time and at such an hour, and delay not. So the cook took the meat, and
went with it to the kitchen, and he cooked it well, with excellent onion-sauce ; after
which he ladled it out into two saucers, and brought them before the King and the
Vizier. The King therefore took a saucer, and the Vizier a saucer, and they fed
with them their two wives ; and by the good pleasure of God (whose perfection be
extolled, and whose name be exalted !), and his power and will, it happened, that
night, as the Prophet of God, Solomon, had said.
The King remained, after that, three months disturbed in heart, saying within
himself, I wonder whether this thing be true or not true. Then his wife was sitting
one day, and she felt symptoms of becoming a mother, and she was pained, and her
complexion changed. So she summoned one of the eunuchs who were with her, and
he was one of the chief of them, and she said, Go to the King, wherever he is, and
say to him, King of the age, I give thee the glad tidings that our mistress hath
felt symptoms of her becoming a mother. The eunuch therefore went forth quickly,
full of joy, and he saw the King alone, with his hand upon his cheek, meditating
on this subject; so the eunuch approached him, and kissed the ground before him,
and informed him of this fact. And when he heard the words of the eunuch, he
rose upon his feet, and, in the excess of his joy, kissed the hand of the eunuch, and
his head, and, having pulled off the apparel that was on himself, gave it to him ; and
he said to those who were present in his hall of assembly, Whosoever loveth me, let
him bestow favours upon him. They therefore gave him, of riches and jewels and
jacinths and horses and mules and gardens, what could not be numbered nor calcu-
lated. Then the Vizier came in at that time to the King, and said, King of the
age, I was just now sitting alone in the house, troubled in heart, meditating upon
■ the state of my wife, and saying within myself, I wonder whether it be true, and
whether Katoun will bear me a child or not — when lo, the eunuch came in to me,
and gave me the glad tidings that my wife Katoun had felt symptoms of becoming a
mother, and that her complexion was changed ; whereupon, in my joy, I pulled off
all the apparel that was upon me, and gave it to the eunuch ; and I gave him a thou-
sand pieces of gold, and made him the chief of the eunuchs. Then the King Asim,
said, Vizier, verily God (blessed be He, and exalted be his name!) hath favoured
us, in his bounty and goodness and liberality and beneficence, with the right re-
ligion, and honoured us in his graciousness and bounty, and brought us out from
darkness into light; and I desire to relieve the people, and to rejoice them. So the
Vizier replied. Do what thou desirest. And he said, Vizier, go down immediately,
and take forth every one who is in the prison, of the criminals and debtors ; and
whosoever shall be guilty of an offence after that, we will requite him with that
which he shall deserve. We will also take off from the people the tribute for three
years, and do thou set up around this city kitchens, around the walls, and order the
cooks to suspend there all kinds of cooking-pots, to cook all kinds of viands, and to
continue the cooking night and day ; and all who are in this city, and in the sur-
rounding tracts, near and distant, shall eat and drink and carry to their houses.
596 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
Order them also to make merry, and to decorate the city seven days, and not to shut
their shops night nor day.
So the Vizier went forth immediately, and did as the King Asim had commanded
him. They decorated the city and the castle and the towers in the most beautiful
manner, and clad themselves in the best of apparel ; and the people passed their
time in eating and drinking and play and merriment until the period of the de-
livery of the King's wife, after the fulfilment of her days, when she gave birth to a
male child like the moon in the night of its fulness, and the King named hira
Seifelmolouk. Likewise the wife of the Vizier gave birth to a boy like a lamp, and
he named him Said. When they had attained to years of discretion, the King Asim,
whenever he beheld them, rejoiced in them exceedingly ; and when their age had
become twenty years, the King summoned his Vizier Faris to a private interview,
and said to him, Vizier, a thing hath occurred to my mind, and I desire to do it ;
but I will consult thee respecting it. The Vizier replied. Whatever hath occurred
to thy mind, do it ; for thy judgment is blessed. And the King Asim said, Vizier,
I have become a very old, decrepit man ; for I am far advanced in years; and I de-
sire to reside in a mosque, to worship God (whose name be exalted !), and give my
kingdom and my empire to my son Seifelmolouk ; since he is now a comely young
man, perfect in horsemanship and intellect and polite literature and gravity and the
art of government. What then sayest thou, Vizier, of this idea? — The Vizier
answered, Excellent is the idea that thou hast formed. It is a blessed and fortunate
idea ; and if thou do this, I also will do like thee, and my son Said shall be Vizier
unto him; for he is a comely young man, a person of knowledge and judgment.
Thus the two shall be together, and we will arrange their affair, and will not be
negligent respecting their case, but guide them to the right way. — Then the King
Asim said to his Vizier, Write the letters, and send them by the couriers to all the
provinces and districts and fortresses and castles that are under our authority, and
order their chiefs to be present in such a month in the Horse-course of the Elephant.
The Vizier Faris therefore went forth immediately, and wrote to all the governors
and the commanders of the castles, and others who were under the authority of the
King Asim, commanding them all to be present in that month; and he ordered that
every one who was in the city should be present, the distant and the near.
Then the King Asim, after the expiration of the greater part of the interval, com-
manded the servants to pitch the tents in the midst of the horse-course, and to deco-
rate them in the most sumptuous manner, and to set the great throne upon which
the King sat not save on the occasions of festivals. So they did immediately all that
he commanded them ; they set the throne, and the lieutenants and chamberlains and
Emirs went forth. The King also went forth, and commanded to proclaim among
the people, In the name of God ! Come forth to the horse-course ! — Accordingly the
Emirs and Viziers, and the governors of the provinces and the cultivated tracts,
came forth to that horse-course, and betook themselves to the service of the King as
was their custom, and they all remained in their several places : some of them sat
and some stood, until all the people had collected, when the King gave orders to
spread the table. They therefore spread it, and they ate and drank, and prayed for
the King. Then the King commanded the chamberlains to proclaim among the
people that they should not depart. So they proclaimed, and said in their proclama-
tion. Not one of you shall go until he heareth the words of the King I Then they
raised the curtains, and the King said. Whoso loveth me, let him remain until he
heareth my words. Wherefore all the people sat with tranquil souls, after they had
been fearful. And the King rose upon his feet, and made them swear that none of
them would rise from his place ; and he said to them, Emirs and Viziers and lords
of the empire, great and small, and whosoever is present of all the people, do ye
know that this kingdom was an heritage unto me from my fathers and forefathers?
They answered him, Yes, King: all of us know that. And he said to them, I and
ye all worshipped the sun and the moon, and God (whose name be exalted 1) blest»od
SEIFELMOLOTJK AND EEDIA ELJEMAL. 597
OS with the true faith, and delivered us from darkness into light, and God (whose
perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted !) guided us unto the true religion.
Know also that I have now become a very old man, decrepit, impotent ; and I desire
to sit in a mosque, there to worship God (whose name be exalted!), and to beg his
forgiveness of past offences ; and this my son Seifelmolouk shall be ruler. Ye know
that he is a comely young man, eloquent, acquainted with the aSairs of the world,
intelligent, excelling in science, just. I therefore desire at this present time to give
him my kingdom, and to make him King over you in my stead, and seat him as
Sultan in my place. So I will retire to worship God (whose name be exalted !) in a
mosque, and my son Seifelmolouk will be invested with the sovereignty, and judge
between you. What then do ye all say? — And upon this, they all rose, and, having
kissed the ground before him, answered. We hear and obey. And they said, our
King and our defender, shouldst thou set over us one of thy slaves, we would obey
him, and attend to thy words, and comply with thy command ; how then in the
case of thy son Seifelmolouk ? We accept him and approve of him, on the eye and
the head.
So thereupon the King Asim the son of Safwan arose, and descended from his
throne, and, having seated his son on the great throne, took the crown from his own
head, and put it on the head of his son, and he girded his waist with the royal girdle.
Then the King Asim seated himself upon the throne of his kingdom, by the side of
his son; and the Emirs and Viziers, and the great men of the empire, and all the
people, arose, and kissed the ground before him, and stood saying one to another,
He is worthy of the sovereignty, and he is more worthy of it than any other. They
made proclamation of safety, and offered up prayers in his favour for victory and
good fortune : and Seifelmolouk scattered gold and silver over the heads of all the
people, conferred robes of honour, and gave and bestowed. Then, after a moment,
the Vizier Faris arose, and kissed the ground, and said, Emirs, lords of the
empire, do ye know that I am Vizier, and that my office of Vizier commenced of old,
before the King Asim the son' of Safwan was invested with the sovereignty, who hath
now divested himself of the sovereignty and invested his son in his stead? They
answered. Yes : we know that thou hast inherited thine office of Vizier from father
after grandfather. And he said. And now I divest myself, and invest this my son
Said ; for he is intelligent, sagacious, knowing. What then say ye all? — And they
answered. None is fit to be Vizier to the King Seifelmolouk except thy son Said; for
they are suited one to the other. So thereupon the Vizier Faris arose, and took off
his Vizier's turban, and put it on the head of his son Said, and he put the Vizier's
ink-case before him also. And the chamberlains and emirs said. Verily he deserveth
the office of Vizier. Then the King Asim and the Vizier Faris arose, and opened
the treasuries, and conferred sumptuous robes of honour upon the Kings and Emirs
and Viziers, and the great men of the empire, and all the people ; gave salaries and
benefactions, and wrote for them new diplomas and mandates with the signature of
Seifelmolouk and the signature of the Vizier Said the son of the Vizier Faris ; and
the people [of the provinces] remained in the city for a week, after which each of
them journeyed to his district and his place.
The King Asim then took his son Seifelmolouk, and Said the son of the old Vizier,
and they entered the city, went up to the palace, and, having summoned the
Treasurer, ordered him to bring the seal-ring and the sword and the wrapper ; and
the King Asim said, my sons, come: each of you shall choose something from this
present and take it. And the first who put forth his hand was Seifelmolouk, who
took the wrapper and the seal-ring ; and Said put forth his hand, and took the sword ;
after which they kissed the hands of the Old King, and departed to their dwelling-
places. Now when Seifelmolouk took the wrapper, he did not open it, nor look at
what was in it, but he threw it upon the couch on which he slept at night, together
with his Vizier Said ; for it was their custom to sleep together. They spread their
bed, and the two lay down together upon it, the candles shedding their light upon
598 SEIFELMOLOUZ AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
them ; and they remained until midnight. Then Seifelmolouk awoke from his sleeps
and, seeing the wrapper at his head, he said within himself, I wonder what is in this
wrapper which the King hath given us among the rarities. So he took it, and took
a candle, and descended from the couch, leaving Said asleep ; and he entered a closet,
and opened the wrapper; whereupon he saw in it a tunic of the fabric of the Genii.
He then opened the tunic, and spread it out, and found upon the lining of the back
part of it the portrait of a damsel, delineated in gold; but her loveliness was won-
derful. When he saw this portrait, his reason fled from his head : he became mad
with love of it, and fell upon the floor in a fit, and began to weep and wail, and to
slap his face and his bosom, and to kiss the portrait.
He ceased not to wail and weep, and to slap his face and his bosom, until the
Vizier Said awoke, and looked at the bed, and saw not Seifelmolouk ; but he saw a
candle; and he said within himself, Whither is Seifelmolouk gone? He then took
the candle, and proceeded to search through all the palace until he came to the closet
in which Seifelmolouk was, when he saw him weeping violently and wailing. So he
said to him, my brother, for what reason is this weeping? What hath happened
to thee ? Tell me, and acquaint me with the cause of this. — But Seifelmolouk spoke
not to him, nor raised his bead: he still wept and wailed, and struck his hand upon
his bosom. Therefore when Said saw him in this state, he said, I am thy Vizier
and thy brother, and I was reared with thee ; and if thou do not discover to me
thine affixirs, and make me acquainted with thy secret, to whom wilt thou reveal thy
secret, and whom wilt thou make acquainted with it ? And Said ceased not to
humble himself and to kiss the ground for some time, while Seifelmolouk looked not
towards him, nor spoke to him a single word ; but continued weeping. And when
his state alarmed Said, and his case wearied him, he went forth from him, and,
taking a sword, entered the closet in which was Seifelmolouk, and put the point of
the sword to his own bosom, and said to Seifelmolouk, Rouse thyself, my brother!
If thou tell me not what hath happened to thee, I will slay myself, rather than see
thee in this state. — So upon this, Seifelmolouk raised his head towards his Vizier
Said, and said to him, my brother, I was ashamed to tell thee and to acquaint
thee with that which hath happened to me. But Said replied, I conjure thee, by
Allah, the Lord of lords, and the Liberator of necks, and the Cause of causes, the
One, the Gracious, the Bountiful, the Liberal, that thou tell me what it is that hath
happened to thee, and be not abashed at me ; for I am thy slave and thy Vizier and
thy counsellor in all affiiirs. And Seifelmolouk said, Come, look at this portrait.
And when Said saw that portrait, he contemplated it for some time, and saw in-
scribed upon the head of it, in pearls arranged, This is the portrait of Bedia Eljemal
the daughter of Shahyal the son of Sharokh, one of the Kings of the believing
Genii, who sojourn in the city of Babil, and dwell in the Garden of Irem of the son
of Ad the Greater. — Upon this, the Vizier Said said to the King Seifelmolouk, my
brother, knowest thou who among women is the original of this portrait, that we
may search for her? Seifelmolouk answered. No, by Allah, my brother: I know
not the original of this portrait. And Said replied. Come, read this inscription.
So Seifelmolouk advanced, and read the inscription that was upon the crown, and
knew its purport; and thereupon he uttered a loud cry from the bottom of his
bosom, and said. Ah ! Ah ! Ah !— But Said said to him, my brother, if the original
of this portrait be in existence, and her name be Bedia Eljemal, and she be in the
world, I will hasten to seek her, without delay, that thou mayest attain thy desire.
I conjure thee then by Allah, my brother, that thou relinquish weeping, in order
that thou mayest introduce the people of the empire to wait upon thee : and when
the morning cometh, summon the merchants and the poor devotees and the travellers
and the needy, and inquire of them respecting the particulars of this city. Perhaps
some one, by the blessing of God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be
exalted !) and by his aid, may direct us to it, and to the Garden of Irem.
Accordingly, when the morning came, Seifelmolouk arose, and ascended the throne,
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 599
hugging the tunic ; for from this time he neither rose nor sat down, nor would sleep
come to him, unless it were with him. So the Emirs and Viziers and the troops and
the lords of the empire came in to him ; but when the court was fully attended, and
the assembly was ranged in order, the King Seifelmolouk said to his Vizier Said, Go
forth to them, and say to them, that the King hath experienced an indisposition, and
that he passed not last night save in a state of illness. The Vizier Said therefore
went forth and acquainted the people with that which the King had said. And
when the King Asim heard that, the case of his son was not a light matter to him ;
wherefore, upon this, he summoned the sages and the astrologers, and went in with
them to his son Seifelmolouk ; and they looked at him, and prescribed for him a
beverage, and he remained in his place during a period of three months. So the
King Asim said to the sages who were present, being enraged against them, Wo to
you, dogs! Are ye all unable to cure my son? Now if ye cure him not im-
mediately, I will slay you all! — Their chief replied, King of the age, we know
that this is thy son, and thou knowest that we are not neglectful in the cure of the
stranger: how then should we be so with respect to the cure of thy son? But thy
son hath a diflBcult disease: if thou desire to know it, we will mention it to thee,
and inform thee of it. — The King Asim said. What hath appeared to you in the dis-
ease of my son ? So the chief sage answered him, King of the age, verily thy
son is now enamoured, and loveth a person with whom there is no way of effecting
a union. And upon this, the King Asim was enraged, and said, How learned ye
that my son is enamoured, and how came love unto my son ? They therefore an-
swered him. Ask his brother and his Vizier, Said, for he is the person who knoweth
his state. And the King Asim arose, and, having entered a close* alone, summoned
Said, and said to him. Tell me the true nature of the disease of my son. But he
replied, I know not its true nature. And the King said to the executioner, Take
Said, bind his eyes, and smite off his head. So Said feared for himself, and said,
King of the age, give me promise of indemnity. And he replied. Tell me, and thou
shalt be safe. Then Said said to him. Verily thy son is enamoured. — And who,
asked the King, is the object of his passion ? Said answered. The daughter of one
of the Kings of the Genii; for he saw her portrait upon a tunic in the wrapper
which Solomon the Prophet of God gave you.
And thereupon the King Asim arose and went in to his son Seifelmolouk, and
said to him, my son, what hath aflBicted thee, and what is this portrait of which
thou hast become enamoured, and why didst thou not inform me? Seifelmolouk
answered, my father, I was abashed at thee, and I was not able to mention to
thee that matter, nor could I acquaint any one with aught of it ; but now thou know-
est my state : see then how thou wilt act to effect my cure. His fiither said to him,
What expedient shall be employed? Were this of the daughters of mankind, we
would contrive an expedient to obtain access to her; but she is of the daughters of
the Kings of the Genii ; and who is able to gain possession of her, unless it be Solo-
mon the son of David? for he is the person who can effect that. But, my son,
arise immediately, and strengthen thyself, and mount, and go to the chase, and to
the games in the horse-course ; employ thyself also in eating and drinking, and dis-
miss anxiety and grief from thy heart. I will bring thee a hundred damsels of the
daughters of Kings, and thou hast no need of the daughters of the Genii, over whom
we have no power, and who are not of our species. — But he replied, I will not re-
linquish her, nor will I seek any other than her. So his father said to him. How
shall it be done, my son? And he answered him. Bring to us all the merchants
and the travellers and wanderers throughout the countries, that we may inquire of
them respecting this. Perhaps God will direct us to the garden of Irem and to the
city of Babil. — The King Asim therefore commanded that every merchant in the
city should present himself, and every stranger in it, and every sea-captain ; and
when they came, he asked them respecting the city of Babil and its country, and
respecting the Garden of Irem. Not one of them, however, knew these places, or
600 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
gave any information of them. But on the breaking up of the assembly, one of
them said, King of the age, if thou desire to know that, inquire in the country of
China; for it hath a great city, and perhaps some one of that place may direct thee
to the object of thy desire. And upon this Seifelmolouk said, my father, fit out
for me a ship for the voyage to the land of China. His father replied, my son,
sit thou upon the throne of thy kingdom, and rule the people, and I will make the
voyage to the land of China, and go myself on this business. But Seifelmolouk
said, my father, this affiiir concerneth me, and no one can seek to accomplish it
like myself; and whatever may happen, if thou give me permission to make the
voyage, I will do so, and be absent for a period of time. If I find any tidings of
her, my desire is attained ; and if I find no tidings of her, by the voyage I shall
experience dilatation of my bosom, and enlivenment of my heart: by thi.^ means
my case will become easy; and if I live, I shall return to thee safe.— A.nd the King
looked at his son, and saw for himself no resource but doing for him that which
would content him. So he gave him permission to make the voyage, and fitted out
for him forty ships, and a thousand mamlouks, besides servants, and gave him
wealth and treasures, with everything that he required of implements of war ; and
he said to him, Set forth on thy voyage, my son, in prosperity and health and
safety. I commit thee unto Him with whom deposits are not lost.
Then his father and his mother bade him farewell, the ships were laden with
water and provisions, and arms and soldiers, and they commenced the voyage. They
ceased not to pursue their course until they arrived at the capital of China ; and
when the people of China heard that there had come to them forty ships filled with
men and equipages and arms and stores, they made sure that they were enemies
who had come to attack them and besiege them ; wherefore they closed the gates of
the city and prepared the catapults. So when the King Seifelmolouk heard of this,
he sent to them two of his favourite mamlouks, and said to them. Go ye to the King
of China, and say to him. This is Seifelmolouk, the son of the King Asim: he hath
come unto thy city as a guest, to divert himself in thy country for a period of time,
and not to fight, nor to contend : so if thou wilt receive him, he will land to visit
thee ; and if thou wilt not receive him, he will return and not trouble thee nor the
people of thy city. — Accordingly the mamlouks, on their arriving at the city, said to
its inhabitants, We are envoys of the King Seifelmolouk. They therefore opened to
them the gate, and went with them, and presented them before their King. His
name was Faghfour' Shah; and there had existed between him and the King Asim,
before that period, an acquaintance. So when he heard that the King who had come
to him was Seifelmolouk, the son of the King Asim, he bestowed robes of honour
upon the envoys, and gave orders to open the gates. He also prepared the gifts of
hospitality, and went forth himself, with the favourite officers of his empire, and
came to Seifelmolouk ; and they embraced each other. He said to him, A friendly
and free and ample welcome to him who hath come unto us 1 I am thy mamlouk,
and the mamlouk of thy fiither; my city is at thy disposal, and everything that thou
demandest shall be brought unto thee. — And he presented to him the gifts of hospi-
tality, and provisions [for him and his people], at their stations. Then the King
Seifelmolouk mounted, and Said his Vizier, and with them their favourite officers
and the rest of the soldiers, and they proceeded along the sea-shore until they en-
tered the city; when the cymbals were beaten, and the drums, to announce the
happy event; and they remained there for a period of forty days well entertained.
After this, the King of China said to Seifelmolouk, son of my brother, how art
thou? Hath my country pleased thee? — Seifelmolouk answered him, May God
(whose name be exalted!) make it ever to be honoured by thy rule, King! And
tiie King Faghfour Shah said, Nought hath brought thee hither save some affair that
hath occurred to thee ; and whatever thing thou desirest to obtain from my country,
' Faghfour is a corruption of the ancient Persian expression Bag-puter, or Bag-putra, meaning
" Son of the Illustrious."
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 601
I will accomplish it for thee. So Seifelmolouk replied, King, verily my case is
wonderful; and it is this: I have become enamoured of a portrait of Bedia Eljemal.
And upon this the King of China wept in pity and compassion for him, and said to
him. And what desirest thou now, Seifelmolouk? He answered him, I desire of
thee that thou bring unto me all the wanderers and travellers, and those who are ac-
customed to journeys, that I may inquire of them respecting the original of this
portrait. Perhaps some one of them may give me information respecting her. —
The King Faghfour Shah therefore sent the lieutenants and chamberlains and
guards, and commanded them to bring all the wanderers and travellers who were in
the country. So they brought them ; and they were a numerous company; and they
assembled before the King Faghfour Shah. Then the King Seifelmolouk inquired
respecting the city of Babil and the Garden of Irem: but none of them returned him
an answer; wherefore the King Seifelmolouk was perplexed at his case. After that,
however, one of the sea-captains said, King, if thou desire to know this city and
that garden, inquire in the islands that appertain to India.
So thereupon Seifelmolouk commanded that they should bring the ships; and they
did so, and stored them with water and provisions and all that they required ; after
which, Seifelmolouk embarked with Said his Vizier, having bidden farewell to the
King Faghfour Shah, and they continued their course over the sea for a period of
four months, with a fair wind, safe and secure. But it happened that there arose
against them a wind one day, the billows came upon them from every quarter, the
rain descended upon them, and the sea became changed by the violence of the wind.
The ships dashed one against another by reason of the force of the wind, and all fell
to pieces, as also did the small boats [excepting one], and they were all submerged
but Seifelmolouk with a party of his mamlouks who remained in a small boat. Then
the wind became stilled and calmed by the power of God (whose name be exalted !)
and the sun rose, and Seifelmolouk, opening his eyes, saw not any of the ships, nor
saw he aught save the sky and the water and himself and those who were with him
in the little boat. So he said to the mamlouks who were with him. Where are the
ships and the small boats, and where is my brother Said? They answered him,
King of the age, there remain not ships nor boats nor those who were in them ; for
they are all submerged, and have become food for the fishes. And thereupon Seifel-
molouk called out, and repeated a sentence the utterer of which is secure from con-
fusion ; that is. There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great!
Then he began to slap his face, and desired to cast himself into the sea ; but the
mamlouks prevented him, and said to him, King, what advantage would arise to
thee from this? Thou hast done with thyself thus, and hadst thou attended to tho
words of thy father, nought of this had happened to thee. But all this was written
from eternity by the will of the Creator of souls, and the servant must experience
the accomplishment of that which God hath decreed to befall him. The astrologers
said to thy father, at thy birth. Verily all these difficulties will befall this thy son.
And in this case we have no resource but to be patient until God shall dispel from
us the affliction in which we are involved. — And Seifelmolouk said. There is no
strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! There is no place of refuge
from that which God (whose name be exalted!) decreeth, nor any flight therefrom.
He was drowned in the sea of solicitudes, and his tears ran down his cheek like
a copious rain ; and he slept for a period of the day, after which he awoke, and de-
manded some food. So he ate until he was satisfied, and they removed the provision
from before him. The boat proceeded with them, and they knew not whither it was
conveying them ; and it ceased not to bear them along with the waves and the winds
night and day for a long period of time, until their provision was exhausted, and
they were confounded, and became in a state of the most violent hunger and thirst
and agitation. But lo, an island appeared to them in the distance, and the winds
drove them on until they arrived at it ; whereupon they made fast their boat to it,
and lauded, leaving one in tho boat. They went on upon that island, and saw upon
602 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
it many fniits of all kinds, and ate of them until they were satisfied. And lo, there
was a person sitting among the trees, long-faced, of strange appearance, with white
beard and skin ; and he called to one of the mamlouks by his name, and said to him,
Eat not of these fruits ; for they are not ripe ; but come to me that I may give thee
to eat of these ripe fruits. And the mamlouk looked at him, and imagined that he
was of the number of those who were submerged, and that he had landed upon this
island. So he rejoiced extremely at the sight of him, and walked on until he came
near to him ; this mamlouk not knowing what was secretly ordained to befall him,
and what was written upon his forehead. And when he came near to him, that
person leaped upon him ; for he was a Marid ; and mounting upon his shoulders, he
wound one of his legs round his neck, and hung the other down his back, and said
to him. Walk on ; there remaineth for thee no escape from me, and thou hast become
my ass. The mamlouk thereupon called out to his companions, and began to weep,
and to say, Alas, my master! Go ye forth and save yourselves from this wood, and
flee ye; for one of its inhabitants hath mounted upon my shoulders, and the rest
seek you, and desire to mount you like me. — So when they heard these words which
the mamlouk uttered, they all fled, and embarked in the boat; and the inhabitants
of the island followed them into the sea, saying to them, Whither go ye? Come
and remain with us, that we may ride upon your backs, and we will give you food
and drink, and ye shall be our asses. — Therefore, on their hearing from them these
words, they hastened in their course upon the sea until they were far from them ;
and they proceeded relying upon God, whose name be exalted !
They ceased not to proceed in this manner for the space of a month, till another
island appeared to them ; and they landed upon that island, and saw there fruits of
various kinds. So they busied themselves with eating the fruits; and lo, they saw
something in the way, appearing in the distance ; and when they drew near to it,
they looked at it, and saw it to be a creature of hideous appearance, lying down, like
a column of silver. And a mamlouk struck it with his foot ; and behold, it was a
person with long eyes and cloven hf ad, and he was hidden beneath one of his ears ;
for it was his habit, when ho slept, to put one of his ears beneath his head, and to
cover himself with the other ear. He then seized the mamlouk who struck him, and
went with him into the midst of the island ; and lo, it was all occupied by Ghouls,
who ate the sons of Adam. And thereupon that mamlouk called out to his com-
panions and said to them. Save yourselves ; for this island is the island of the Ghouls
who eat the sons of Adam, and they desire to cut me up and eat me. So when they
heard these words, they turned back in flight, and descended from the shore into the
boat, without having collected aught of the fruits.
They proceeded for some days, and it happened that there appeared to them, one
day, another island ; and when they arrived at it, they found upon it a high moun-
tain, which they ascended, and they found upon the mountain a wood of many trees ;
and they were hungry; wherefore they busied themselves with eating of the fruits.
But they were not aware when there came forth to them, from among the trees, per-
sons of horrible aspect, and tall ; the height of each of them was fifty cubits, and
his dog-teeth protruded from his mouth like the tusks of the elephant. And lo, they
found a person sitting upon a piece of black felt on a rock, and around him were
the Etliiopians, a numerous company, standing in attendance upon him. Then
these Ethiopians came and took Seifelmolouk and his mamlouks, and, having sta-
tioned them before their King, said. We found these birds among the trees. And
the King was hungry: so betook two of the mamlouks, and slaughtered them and
ate them. Therefore when Seifelmolouk beheld this thing, he feared for himself
and wept and lamented. And when the King heard his weeping and lamentation,
he said, Verily these birds have an agreealil^ voice and modulation, and their voices
have pleased me: so put ye each one of tli'-m into a cage. Accordingly they put
each of them into a cage, and they hung thoni over the head of the King that he
might hear their voices. Thus Seifelmolouk and his mamlouks became imprisoned
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 603
in the cages, and the Ethiopians gave them food and drink : and at times they wept
and at times hxughed, and at times they talked and at times were silent; the King
of the Ethiopians all the while delighting in their voices ; and they ceased not to re-
main in this state for a length of time.
Now the King had a married daughter in another island ; and she heard that her
father had birds of agreeable voices ; so she sent a party of her people to her father
to request of him some of these birds. Her father therefore sent to her Seifelmolouk,
and three mamlouks, in four cages, with the envoy -who came to request them ; and
when they were brought to her, and she beheld them, they fileased her, and she
ordered her attendants to put them up in a place over her head. So Seifelmolouk
wondered at the events that had befallen him, and he reflected upon the glorious
state in which he had been living, and began to weep for himself, while the three
mamlouks also wept for themselves ; and all the time the King's daughter believed
that they were singing. It was the custom of the King's daughter, when any one
of the land of Egypt or any other country fell into her possession, and pleased her,
to hold him in high estimation ; and it happened, by the decree of God (whose name
be exalted !) and his predestination, that when she saw Seifelmolouk, his beauty
and loveliness pleased her, and his stature and justness of form. She therefore gave
orders to treat him and his companions with honour, and caressed him ; but he
showed a dislike to her: and upon this she was incensed against him and his mam-
louks, and commanded them to serve her, and to convey to her the water and the
fire-wood. They continued to do thus for four years, and this state wearied Seifel-
molouk: so he sent to intercede with the Queen, hoping that she would liberate
them, and that they might go their way and be relieved from their present state;
but she refused ; and Seifelmolouk and the mamlouks remained with her upon the
island in the same condition. The inhabitants of the island knew that they were
the birds of the King's daughter: wherefore none of the people of the city dared
to hurt them in any way ; and the heart of the King's daughter was at ease respect-
ing them, and she felt certain that there was no escape for them from this island.
So they used to absent themselves from her for two days, and three, and to go about
the desert to collect fire-wood from the different tracts of the island, and to bring it
to the kitchen of the King's daughter; and they continued in this state five years.
After this, it happened that Seifelmolouk sat with his mamlouks one day, upon
the shore of the sea, conversing upon the events that had occurred, and Seifelmolouk,
looking aside, and seeing himself in this place with his mamlouks, thought upon his
mother and his father and his brother Said, and upon the state of glory in which he
had lived, and he wept and lamented and wailed exceedingly, as did also the mam-
louks. Then the mamlouks said to him, King of the age, how long shall we weep?
Weeping will not profit. This is an event written upon our foreheads by the pre-
determination of God (to whom be ascribed might and glory !), and the pen hath
written what He hath appointed, and nought will profit us Vjut patience. Perhaps
God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted!), who hath afilicted
us by this calamity, will dispel it from us. — And Seifelmolouk said to them, my
brothers, how shall we contrive our escape from this accursed woman ? I see no
way of escape for us unless God deliver us from her by his favour. But it hath
occurred to my mind that we may flee and be at ease from this fatigue. — They said
to him, King of the age, whither can we go from this island, which is all occupied
by Ghouls who eat the sons of Adam ? In every place to which we might go they
would find us, and they would either eat us or take us prisoners and bring us back
to our place, and the King's daughter would be incensed against us. — But Seifelmo-
louk replied, I will do for you something, and perhaps God (whose name be exalted !)
will aid us thereby to effect our deliverance, and we shall escape from this island.
So they said to him. How wilt thou act? And he answered. We will cut some of
these long pieces of wood, and twist ropes of their bark, and bind one to another,
and make them a raft, which we will launch into the sea, and lade with these fruits ;
604 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
and we wiil make for it oars, and embark upon it. Perhaps God (whose name be
exalted !) will give us relief by means of it ; for he is able to accomplish everything;
and perhaps God will bless us with a fair wind, that will convey us to the land of
India, and we shall escape from this accursed woman. — And they replied, This is a
good idea. And they rejoiced at it exceedingly.
They began immediately to cut the pieces of wood for making the raft. Then they
twisted the ropes to bind the pieces of wood together, and they persevered in this
work for the space of a month. Every day, in the evening, they took some fire-wood,
and carried it to the'liitchen of the King's daughter, and they devoted the rest of the
day to their work in making the raft, until they completed it. So when they had
finished making it, they launched it upon the sea, and laded it with fruits gathered
from the trees of the island, and prepared themselves at the close of the day, not
having acquainted any one with that which they had done. Then they embarked
upon the raft, and proceeded over the sea for a period of four months, not knowing
whither they were borne. Their provisions were exhausted, and they had become in
a state of the most violent hunger and thirst, when lo, the sea frothed and foamed,
and rose in high waves, and there came to them a horrible crocodile, which put forth
its fore-paw, and seized one of the mamlouks, and swallowed him. Therefore when
Seifelmolouk saw that crocodile do thus with the mamlouk, he wept violently. He
remained upon the raft with the two other mamlouks alone, and they passed on to a
distance from the place of the crocodile, in a state of fear. They ceased not to remain
in this state until there appeared to them, one day, a great mountain, terrible lofty,
rising high into the air ; and they were glad at the sight of it ; and after that, there
appeared to them an island: so they pursued their course to it with diligence,
rejoicing at their arriving there. But while they were in this condition, lo, the sea
became agitated, and its waves rose high, and its waves rose high, and its state
became changed. Then again a crocodile raised his head, stretched forth his paw,
and took the two remaining mamlouks of Seifelmolouk, and swallowed them.
So Seifelmolouk remained alone until he arrived at the island ; whereupon he
laboured till he had ascended the mountain, and he looked, and saw a wood, which
ne entered, and he walked among the trees, and began to eat of the fruits ; but he
saw that more than twenty great apes had ascended some of the trees ; each of them
larger than a mule. Therefore when Seifelmolouk beheld these apes, violent fear
came upon him. Then the apes descended, and surrounded him on every side ; and
after that they walked before him, making a sign to him that he should follow them,
and went on. So Seifelmolouk walked after them ; and they ceased not to proceed,
with him following them, until they came to a castle of high structure, with lofty
angles. They entered this castle, and Seifelmolouk entered behind them, and he
beheld in it, of all kinds of rarities and jewels and minerals, what the tongue cannot
describe. lie saw also in this castle a young man, upon the sides of whose face hairs
had not begun to grow ; but he was tall, exceedingly tall ; and when Seifelmolouk
saw this young man, he was cheered by his company ; and there was not in that
castle any one of mankind besides this young man. The young man, on seeing
Seifelmolouk, was pleased with him extremely ; and he said to him. What is thy
name, and from what country art thou, and how camest thou hither? Acquaint me
with thy story, and conceal not of it aught. — Therefore Seifelmolouk replied, I, by
Allah, came not hither by my own choice, nor was this place the object of my desire,
nor can I remain in a place until I attain what I seek. — And what is it, said the
young man, that thou seekest? Seifelmolouk answered him, I am of the land of
Egypt, and my name is Seifelmolouk, and my father is named the King Asim the
son of Safwan. He then related to him the events that had happened to him from
the first of the case to the last; and thereupon that young man arose and betook
himself to the service of Seifelmolouk, and said, King of the age, I was in Egypt,
and heard that thou hadst gone to the land of China ; and how iar is this land from
the land of China! Verily this is a wonderful thing and an extraordinary case! —
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 605
Seifelmolouk replied, Thy -words are true; but after that, I proceeded from the land
of China to the land of India, and a wind arose against us, and the sea became
agitated, and all the ships that were with me went to pieces. And he told him all
that had happened to him, until he said, And I have come unto thee in this place.
The young man then said to him, son of the King, what thou hast experienced in
this absence from thy country, and in the difficulties that have attended it, is suffi-
cient for thee, and praise be to God who hath brought thee to this place ! Reside
then with me, that I rasiy be cheered by thy society until I die, and thou shalt be
King over this region ; for it compriseth this island, of which no limit is known.
Moreover these apes are skilled in arts, and everything that thou shalt demand thou
wilt find here. But Seifelmolouk replied, my brother, I cannot remain in any
place until my afi'air be accomplished, though I should go round about the whole
world inquiring respecting the object of my desire. Perhaps God will cause me to
attain my wish, or my course may lead me to a place wherein my appointed term
shall end, and I shall die.
The young man then looked towards an ape, and made a sign to him ; whereupon
the ape absented himself for a while : after which he came back, accompanied by
apes with silken napkins tied to their waists; and they brought forward a table, and
put upon it about a hundred dishes of gold and silver, containing all kinds of viands,
and the apes stood in the manner of servants before Kings. Next he made a sign to
the chamberlains to seat themselves: so they sat; and he whose custom it was to
serve stood. Then they ate until they were satisfied, when they removed the table,
and brought basins and ewers of gold, and they washed their hands. And after
that, they brought wine-vessels, about forty vessels, each containing a particular
kind of wine ; and they drank, and enjoyed themselves, and were merry, and their
time was pleasant; all the apes dancing and playing, while the eaters were occupied
in eating. So when Seifelmolouk beheld this, he wondered at them, and forgot the
difficulties that had happened to him. And when night came, they lighted the can-
dles, and put them in candlesticks of gold and silver. Then they brought vessels
of dried and fresh fruits, and they ate; and when the time for sleep came, they spread
for them the beds, and they slept. And in the morning, the young man arose as he
was wont, and he woke Seifelmolouk, and said to him, Put forth thy head from this
window, and see what is standing beneath the window. lie therefore looked, and
he saw apes that filled the wide waste and all the desert tract, and none knew the
number of those apes but God, (whose name be exalted!). So Seifelmolouk said,
These are numerous apes, that have filled the open country, and wherefore have they
assembled at this time? And the young man answered him, This is their custom:
all who are in the island have come from a distance of two days' journey, or three
days ; for they come every Saturday, and stand here until I awake from my sleep
and put my head forth from this window; and when they see me, they kiss the
ground before me ; after which they depart to their occupations. And he put forth
his head from the window so that they saw him; and when they beheld him, they
kissed the ground before him, and departed.
Seifelmolouk remained with the young man during the space of a whole month;
and after that, he bade him farewell, and departed. The young man ordered a
party of the apes, about a hundred, to journey with him ; and they journeyed in
attendance upon Seifelmolouk for a period of seven days, until they had conducted
him to the extremity of their country, when they bade him farewell, and returned to
their places. Seifelmolouk then journeyed alone over the mountains and hills and
the deserts and wastes for the space of four months, one day hungry and another
day satiated, one day eating of the herbage and another day eating of the fruits of
the trees. He began to repent of that which he had done with himself, and of his
going forth from that young man, and he desired to retrace his steps to him. But
he saw an indistinct black object appearing in the distance ; so he said within
himself, Is this a black city, or how is the case? But I will not return until I see
606 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BBDIA ELJEMAL.
what this indistinct object is. — And when he came near to it, he saw it to be a palace
of lofty structure. He who built it was Japhet the son of Noah (on whom be
peace !), and it was the palace which God (whose name be exalted!) hath mentioned
in his Excellent Book, in his words, And an abandoned well, and a lofty palace.
Seifelmolouk seated himself at the door of the palace, and said within himself, I
wonder what is the state of the interior of this palace, and who of the Kings is
within it. Who now will acquaint me with the truth of the case, and are its inhabit-
ants of mankind or of the Genii? — He sat meditating for some time, and found not
any one entering it nor any coming forth from it. So he arose and walked forward,
relying upon God, until he entered the palace ; and he counted in his way seven
entrance-passages ; but saw no one. He beheld, however, on his right hand, three
doors, and before him a door over which hung a curtain. He therefore advanced to
that door, and lifted the curtain with his hand, and walked on within the door ; and
lo, he found a great raised floor spread with silken carpets, and at the upper end of
the floor was a couch of gold, whereon sat a damsel whose face was like the moon ;
upon her was the apparel of Kings, and she resembled a bride on the night of her
display. And at the feet of the couch were forty tables, upon which were dishes of
gold and silver, all of them filled with rich viands. When Seifelmolouk beheld her,
he approached her and saluted ; and she returned his salutation, and said to him,
Art thou of mankind or of the Genii? He answered, I am of the best of mankind ;
for I am a King, the son of a King. And she said to him. What dost thou desire?
Avail thyself of this food, and after that relate to me thy story from first to last,
and tell me how thou camest to this place. — Seifelmolouk therefore seated himself
at a table, and removed the cover from it, and, being hungry, he ate of those dishes
until he was satiated, and washed bis hands ; after which he ascended the couch,
and seated himself by the damsel, who thereupon said to him. Who art thou, and
what is thy name, and whence hast thou come, and who brought thee hither? Seifel-
molouk replied, As to me, my story is long. And she said to him. Tell me whence
thou art, and what is the cause of thy coming hither, and what is thy desire. But
he replied. Inform thou me what is thy state, and what is thy name, and who brought
thee hither, and wherefore thou art residing in this place alone. And the damsel
said to him : —
My name is Dowlet Katoun ; I am daughter of the King of India, and my father
dwelleth in the city of Serendib. He hath a beautiful, large garden : there is not in
the land of India and its districts any superior to it : and in it is a large tank ; and
I entered that garden one day with my female slaves, and I and my female slaves
approached and descended into the tank, and we proceeded to play and to amuse
ourselves. But I was not aware when a thing like a cloud came down upon me, and,
having snatched me away from among my female slaves, flew with me between
heaven and earth, saying, Dowlet Katoun, fear not, but be of tranquil heart. Then
he flew on with me for a short time ; after which he put me down in this palace, and
immediately became transformed, and lo, he was a comely young man, of youthful
beauty, and clean in apparel ; and he said to me, Dost thou know me? I answered,
No, my master. And he said, I am son of the Blue King, King of the Genii, and
my father dwelleth in the Castle of Colzum, and hath under his authority six hundred
thousand of the flying and the diving Genii. It happened to me that I was on a
journey, going on my way, and I saw thee and became enamoured of thee, and,
descending upon thee, seized thee from among the female slaves, and brought thee
to this lofty palace, which is my place and my abode. No one ever cometh to it;
neither any of the Genii nor any of mankind ; and from India to this place is a jour-
ney of a hundred and twenty years: so be sure that thou wilt never see again the
country of thy father and thy mother. Reside then with me in this place with
tranquil heart and mind, and I will bring before thee whatever thou shalt desire. —
And after that he embraced me and kissed me, and said to me. Reside here, and fear
not aught. Then he left me, and was absent from me a while ; after which he came
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 607
bringing these tables and the furniture and carpets. But he cometh to me every
Tuesday, and remaineth with me three days; and on Friday he remaineth till the
middle of the afternoon, when he departeth, and he is absent until the Tuesday ,
then again he remaineth with me in the same manner. When he cometh, he eateth
and drinketh with me, and embraceth me and kisseth me ; but he hath not induced
me to become his wife. My father is named Tajelmolouk ; and he knoweth no
tidings of me, uor hath he discovered any trace of me. — This.is my story : now tell
me thy story.
Upon this, Seifelmolouk said to her, Verily my story is long, and I fear that, if I
tell it thee, the time which it will require will be too long for us, and the Afrite will
come. But she replied. He did not depart from me more than a little while before
thine entrance, and he cometh not save on Tuesday: therefore remain and be at
ease, and gladden thy heart, and relate to me what hath happened to thee from first
to last. So Seifelmolouk said, I hear and obey. And he commenced his story, and
proceeded with it until he had related the whole of it from beginning to end; and
when he came to the mention of Bedia Eljemal, her eyes filled with copious tears, .
and she said, It is not as I imagined of thee, Bedia Eljemal 1 Alas, for the conduct
of fortune ! Bedia Eljemal, dost thou not remember me, nor say. My sister Dowlet
Katoun, whither hath she gone? — Then she wept exceedingly, and lamented that
Bedia Eljemal had not remembered her. Seifelmolouk therefore said to her,
Dowlet Katoun, thou art a human being, and she is a Fairy : how then can this be
thy sister; She replied. She is my foster-sister; and the cause was this: my mother
went down to divert herself in the garden, and, her time coming, she gave birth to
me in the garden: and the mother of Bedia Eljemal was in the garden, she and her
attendant Genies, and her time came ; so she sojourned in a tract of the garden, and
she gave birth to Bedia Eljemal. Then she sent one of her female slaves to my
mother to demand of her some food and necessary clothing, and my mother sent to
her what she demanded, and invited her. She therefore arose, and, taking Bedia
Eljemal with her, came to my mother, and my mother suckled Bedia Eljemal ; and
her mother and she remained with us in the garden for the space of two months;
after which she journeyed to her country ; and she gave to my mother a thing, say-
ing to her, When thou wantest me I will come to thee in the midst of the garden.
Bedia Eljemal used to come with her mother every year, and they used to remain
with us some time, and then to return to their country; and if I were with my
mother, Seifelmolouk, and beheld thee with us in our country, and we were united
as usual, I would employ some stratagem against Bedia Eljemal so as to make thee
attain thy desire ; but I am in this place, and they know not my case. If they were
acquainted with my case, and knew me to be here, they could efi"ect my deliverance
from this place ; but the affair is God's (whose perfection be extolled, and whose
name be exalted !), and what can I do ?
Seifelmolouk then said to her. Arise, and come with me: vre will flee, and go
whither God (whose name be exalted !) pleaseth. But she replied. We cannot do
that. By Allah, if we fled to the distance of a year's journey, this accursed wretch
would bring us back immediately, and ho would destroy us. — So Seifelmolouk said,
I will hide myself in a place ; and when he passeth by me, I will smite him with the
sword and slay him. But she replied. Thou canst not slay him unless thou kill his
soul. — And in what place, said he, is his soul? She answered, I asked him respect-
ing it many times ; but he would not confess to me its place. It happened, how-
ever, that I urged him, one day. and he was enraged against me, and said to me,
IIow often wilt thou ask me respecting my soul? What is the reason of thy ques-
tion respecting my soul? So I answered him, Ilatim, there remaineth to me no
one but thoe, excepting God ; and I, as long as I live, would not cease to hold thy
soul in my embrace ; and if I do not take care of thy soul, and put it in the midst
of my eye, how can I live after thee ? If I knew thy soul, I would take care of it as
of my right eye. — And thereupon he said to me. When I was born, the astrologers
608 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
declared that the destruction of my soul would be effected by the hand of one of the
sons of the human Kings. I therefore took my soul, and put it into the crop of a
sparrow, and I imprisoned the sparrow in a little box, and put this into another
small box, and this I put within seven other small boxes, and I put these within
seven chests, and the chests I put into a coffer of marble within the verge of this
circumambient ocean ; for this part is remote from the countries of mankind, and
none of mankind can gain access to it. Now I have told thee ; and tell not thou any
one of this ; for it is a secret between me and thee. — So I said to him. To whom
should I relate it? None but thee cometh unto me, that I should tell him. — Then I
said to him. By Allah, thou hast put thy soul in a most strongly-secured place, to
•which no being can gain access. How then should any one of mankind gain access
to it, unless what is impossible be ordained, and God have predetermined, like as
the astrologers have said? How can one of mankind gain access to this? — But
he replied. Perhaps one of them may have upon his finger the seal-ring of Solomon
the son of David (on both of whom be peace !), and he may come hither, and put his
hand with this seal-ring upon the face of the water, and say. By virtue of these name-s
let the soul of such-a-one come up I Thereupon the coffer will come up, and he will
break it, and the chests in like manner, and the small boxes ; and the sparrow will
come forth from the little box, and he will strangle it, and I shall die.
So thereupon Seifelmolouk said. That King's son is myself, and this is the ring
of Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace!) upon my finger. Arise
then and come with us to the shore of this sea, that we may see whether these his
words be false or true. — The two, therefore, arose and walked on until they came to
the sea, when Dowlet Katoun stood upon the sea-shore, and Seifelmolouk entered
the water to his waist, and said. By virtue of the names and talismans that are upon
this seal-ring, and by the influence of Solomon (on whom be peace !), let the soul of
such-a-one, the son of the Blue King, the Genie, come forth 1 And immediately the
sea became agitated, and the coffer came up. So Seifelmolouk took it, and struck it
against the rock. And broke it, and he broke the chests and the small boxes, and took
forth the sparrow from the little box. They then returned to the palace, and
ascended the couch ; and, lo, a horrible dust arose, and a huge thing came flying and
saying. Spare me, son of the King, and slay me not, but make me thy emancipated
slave, and I will cause thee to attain thy desire. But Dowlet Katoun said to him,
The Genie hath come ; therefore kill the sparrow, lest this accursed wretch enter the
palace, and take the sparrow from thee, and slay thee, and slay me after thee. So
upon this he strangled the sparrow, and it died, and the Genie fell upon the ground,
a heap of black ashes.
Then Dowlet Katoun said. We have escaped from the hand of this accursed wretch,
and how shall we now act? Seifelmolouk answered, We must seek aid of God
(whose name be exalted!), who hath afiiicted us; for He will order our affair, and
will aid us to effect our deliverance from our present state. And he arose, and pulled
off, of the doors of the palace, about ten doors. These were of sandal-wood and
aloes-wood, and their nails were of gold and silver. And he took some robes which
were there, of common silk and floss-silk, and bound the doors together; after which,
he and Dowlet Katoun helped each other so that they conveyed them to the sea and
cast them into it; they having become a raft; and they tied it to the shore. They
then returned to the palace, and carried off the dishes of gold and silver, and like-
wise the jewels and jacinths and precious minerals. They transported all that was
in the palace of such things as were light to carry and of high price, and put them
upon that raft, and they embarked upon it, placing their reliance upon God (whose
name be exalted!), who satisfieth, and doth not disappoint, him who relieth upon
Ilim. They also made for themselves two pieces of wood as oars ; and they loosed
the ropes, and let the raft take its course with them over the sea. They ceased not
to proceed in this manner for a period of four months, until their provisions were
exhausted, and their affliction became violent, and their spirits were oppressed: so
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 609
tliey begged God to grant them deliverance frum the state in which they were. Seif-
elniolduk, during the course of their voynge, used, when he slept, to put Dowlet
Katotin behind his back ; and when he turned over, the sword was between them.
And while they were in this state one night, it happened that Seifelmolouk was
asleep, and Dowlet Katoun awake, and lo, the raft inclined to the shore, and came
to a harbour in which were ships. So Dowlet Katoun saw the ships, and she heard
a man talking with the sailors, and the man who was talking was the chief captain.
Therefore when she heard the voice of the captain, she knew that this was the har-
bour of some city, and that they had arrived at the habitations of men ; and she re-
joiced greatly, and, having roused Seifelmolouk from his sleep, she said to him, Arise
and ask this captain respecting the name of this city and respecting this harbour.
And thereupon Seifelmolouk arose, joyful, and said to him, my brother, what is
the name of this city, and what is this harbo\ir called, and what is the name of its
King? But the captain replied, lying-faced! silly-bearded ! if thou know not
this harbour nor this city, how camest thou hither? Seifelmolouk said, I am a
stranger, and I was in a vessel, one of the merchant-vessels, and it was wrecked, and
sank with all that was in it; but I got upon a plank, and have arrived here, and I
asked thee a question, which is not disgraceful. So the captain said, This is the
city called Emaria, and this harbour is called the harbour Kemein el-Bahrein.
Now when Dowlet Katoun heard these words, she rejoiced exceedingly, and said,
Praise be to God! So Seifelmolouk said. What is the news? And she answered,
Seifelmolouk, rejoice at the announcement of speedy relief; for the King of this city
is my uncle, the brother of my father, and his name is Ali-elmolouk. Then she
said to him. Ask him and say to him. Is the Sultan of this city, Ali-elmolouk, well?
He therefore asked him that question ; and the captain, enraged at him, replied.
Thou sayest. In my life I never came hither; but am a stranger: — who, then,
acquainted thee with the name of the lord of this city? — And Dowlet Katoun was
glad, and she knew the captain ; his name was Moineddin, and he was one of her
fixther's captains : he had come forth to search for her, when she was lost, and found
her not, and he ceased not to search about until he came to the city of her
uncle. Then she said to Seifelmolouk, Say to him, captain Moineddin, come
and answer the summons of thy mistress. So he called to him in the words
which she had said; and when the captain heard his words, he was violently
enraged, and said to him, dog, who art thou, and how knewest thou me? And he
said to some of the sailors. Hand me an ashen staff, that I may go to this unlucky
fellow and break his head. He then took the staff, and went towards Seifelmolouk;
and he saw the raft, and saw upon it an object wonderful and beautiful, whereat his
mind was amazed ; and looking, and taking a sure view, he beheld Dowlet Katoun
sitting, like a piece of the moon. He therefore said, What is with thee? And Seif-
elmolouk answered him, With me is a damsel named Dowlet Katoun. And when
the captain heard these words he fell down in a fit, on his hearing her name, and
knowing that she was his mistress and the daughter of his King. Then, as soon as
he recovered, he left the raft with what was upon it, and repaired to the city, went
up to the palace of the King, and asked permission to go in to him. So the chamber-
lain went in to the King, and said, The captain Moineddin hath come to thee to give
thee good news. Wherefore he gave him permission to enter, and he went in to the
King, and kissed the ground before him, and said to him, O King, thou hast to give
a present for good news ; for the daughter of thy brother, Dowlet Katoun, hath
arrived at the city, in good health and prosperity, and she is upon a raft, accom-
panied by a young man like the moon in the night of its fulness. And when the
King heard the tidings of the daughter of his brother, ho rejoiced, and conferred a
sumptuous robe of honour upon the captain. He ordered also immediately that they
should decorate the city for the safety of the daughter of his brother, and sent to her,
and caused her to be brought to him, together with Seifelmolouk, and saluted them,
and po'inrr-itnlMtc'd them on their safety. He then sent to his brother to inform him
3U
610 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
that his daughter had been found, and that she was with him ; and when the mes-
Hienger came to him, he prepared himself, and the troops assembled, and Tajelmolouk,
the father uf Dowlet Katoun, set forth, and proceeded until he came to his brother
Ali-elmolouk, when he met his daughter, and they rejoiced exceedingly.
Tajelmolouk remained with his brother a week : after which he took his daughter,
and likewise Seifelmolouk, and they proceeded until they came to Serendib, her
father's country, when Dowlet Katoun met her mother, and they rejoiced at her
safety, and celebrated festivities ; and it was a great day, the like of which is not
seen. As to the King, he treated Seifelmolouk with honour, and said to him,
Seifelmolouk, thou hast done unto me and my daughter all this benefit, and I am
not able to requite thee for it, nor can any one requite thee save the Lord of all crea-
tures; but I desire of thee that thou sit upon the throne in my place, and govern in
the land of India; for I have given to thee my kingdom and my throne and my trea-
sures and my servants, and all this is a present from me unto thee. So thereupon
Seifelmolouk arose and kissed the ground before the King, and thanked him, and
said unto him, King of the age, I have accepted all that thou hast given to me,
and it is returned from me unto thee as a present also ; for I, King of the age,
desire not kingdom nor empire, nor desire I aught but that God (whose name be ex-
alted!) may cause me to attain my desire. The King then said to him, These my
treasures are at thy disposal, Seifelmolouk : whatsoever thou desire of them, take
it, and consult me not respecting it, and may God recompense thee for me with every-
thing good! But Seifelmolouk replied. May God strengthen the King! There is no
delight for me in sovereignty nor in wealth until I attain my wish ; but I desire now
to divert myself in this city, and to see its great thoroughfare-streets and its markets.
— So Tajelmolouk ordered that they should bring him a horse of excellent breed:
and accordingly they brought him a horse saddled and bridled, of excellent breed,
and he mounted it, and went forth into the market, and rode through the great
thoroughfare-streets of the city. And while he was looking to the right and left, he
saw a young man, with a tunic, crying it at the price of fifteen pieces of gold ; and,
looking attentively at him, he found him to resemble his brother Said ; and, in truth,
he was Said himself; but his complexion and condition were changed by protracted
estrangement and the difBculties of travel ; so he did not know him. lie then said
to those who were around him, Bring this young man, that I may interrog.tte him.-
And they brought him to him, and he said, Take him and convey him to the palace
in which I am staying, and let him remain with you until I return from diverting
myself. But they imagined that he said to them, Take him and convey him to the
prison. And they said. Perhaps this is one of his mamlouks, who hath fled from
him.
Accordingly they took him and conveyed him to the prison, and shackled him, and
left him sitting there. Then Seifelmolouk returned from diverting himself, and
went up into the palace ; but he forgot his brother Said, and no one mentioned him
to liim. So Said remained in the prison ; and when they went forth with the pri-
soners to employ theni in constructions and repairs and similar works, they took
Said with them, and he worked with the prisoners, and dirt increased upon him.
He remained in this state for the space of a month, reflecting upon his circumstances,
and saying within himself, What is the cause of my imprisonment? Arxl Seifel-
molouk was occupied by his joj's and other things. But it happened that he was
sitting one day, and remembered his brother Said; so he said to the mamlouks who
were with him. Where is the mamlouk who was with you on such a day ? They re-
plied, Didst thou not say to us. Convey him to the prison? He said. I did not say
to you these words ; but I said to you, C(mvey him to the palace in which I am stay-
ing. Then he sent the chamberlains to Said : so they brought him to him, shackled ;
and they loosed him from his shackles, and stationed him before Seifelmolouk, who
said to him, young man, from what country art thou? And lie answered him, I
am from Egypt, and my name is Said, the son of the Vizier Faris. AVhen Srifel-
They Rejoiced at her Safety. (Page 610.)
611
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 613
molouk, therefore, heard his words, he arose from the throne, threw himself upon
him, and clung to hit? neck ; and by reason of his joy, he wept violently, and he
said, O my brother, Said, praise be to God that thou art living, and that I have
seen thee ; for I am thy brother Seifelmolouk, the son of the King Asim. So when
Said heard the words of his brother, and knew him, they embraced one another, and
wept together ; and the persons who were present wondered at them. Then Seifel-
molouk ordered that they should take Said and conduct him to the bath. Accord-
ingly they conducted him thither: and on his coming forth from the bath, they c^Ad
him in sumptuous apparel, and brought him back to the chamber of Seifelmolouk,
who seated him with him on the throne. And when Tajelmolouk knew of this, he
rejoiced greatly at the meeting of Seifelmolouk with his brother Said ; and he came,
and the three sat conversing upon the events that had happened to them from first
to last.
Then Said said, my brother, Seifelmolouk, when the ship was submerged and
the mamlouks also were submerged, I and a party of the mamlouks got upon a
plank, and it proceeded with us over the sea for a period of a whole month ; after
which the wind cast us, by the decree of God (whose name be exalted !) upon an
island. So we landed upon it: and we were hungry : wherefore we went in among
the trees, and ate of the fruits, and were busied with eating: and we were not
aware when there come forth upon us people like Afrites, who sprang upon us, and
mounted upon our shoulders, saying to us, Go on with us ; for ye have become our
asses. I therefore said to him who had mounted me, What art thou, and why hast
thou mounted me? And when he heard from me these words, he wound his leg
round my neck in such a manner that I nearly died, and he beat me upon my back
with his other leg so that I thought he had broken my back. I then fell upon the
ground on my face, and no strength remained in me by reason of my hunger and
thirst. So when I fell, he knew that I was hungry, and, taking me by my hand, he
brought me to a tree abounding with fruit, and it was a pear-tree; and he said to
me. Eat from this tree until thou art satiated. I 'herefore ate from that tree until
I was satiated, and I arose to walk, without desiring to do so ; but I had not gone
more than a little way before that person turned back and mounted again upon my
shoulders. A while I walked, and a while I ran, and a while I trotted ; and he,
riding upon me, laughed, and said. In my life I have never seen an ass like thee.
Now it happened that we gathered some bunches of grapes one day, and put them
into a trench, and trod them with our feet, and that trench became a great pool.
Then we waited some time, and coming again to the trench, we found that the sun
had heated that juice, and that it had become wine. So after that, we used to drink
of it, and intoxicate ourselves, and our faces became red, and we used to sing and
dance, by reason of the exhilaration produced by intoxication : whereupon they
said. What is it that reddeneth your faces, and maketh you dance and sing? We
replied, Ask ye not respecting this. And what desire ye by asking respecting it? —
They said. Inform us, that we may know the truth of the case. And we replied,
The expressed juice of grapes. And upon this they took us to a valley, of which
we knew not the length nor the breadth, and in that valley were grape-vines of which
neither the beginning nor the end were known : every one of the bunches that were
upon them was as much as twenty pounds in weight, and every one was within easy
reach : and they said to us. Gather of these. We therefore gathered of them a great
quantity; and I saw there a large trench, larger than a great tank, which we filled
with grapes, and we trod them with our feet, and did as we had done the first time :
so it became wine, and we said to them. It hath come to perfection. — With what then
will ye drink? Whereupon they answered us. There were in our possession some
asses like you, and we ate them, and their heads remain : therefore give us to drink
in their skulls. And we gave them to drink, and they became intoxicated : after
which they lay down ; and they were about two hundred. Upon this we said one
to another. Is it not enough for these to ride us, but will thev eat us also ? There
614 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
is no strength nor power but in Gnd, the Ilijih, the Great! But we will make in-
toxication to overcome them, and then we will kill them, and be secure from them,
and escape from their hands. — Accordingly we roused them, and proceeded to fill
for them those skulls, and to give them to drink ; but they said, This is bitter. So
we said to them, Wherefore do ye say that this is bitter? Every one who saith that,
if he drink not of it ten times he will die the same day. — They therefore feared
death, and said to us. Give us to drink all the ten times. And when they had drunk
what remained of the ten draughts, they were intoxicated, and their intoxication
was excessive, and their strength entirely failed: so we dragged them by their
hands, and collected a great quantity of the sticks of those vines, and put them
around them and upon them; after which we set fire to the sticks, and stood at a
distance, to see what would become of them. We then approached them, after the
fire had become low, and we saw that they were reduced to a heap of ashes.
We therefore praised God (whose name be exalted !) who had saved us from them,
and going forth from the midst of that island, we sought the shore of the sea. Then
we parted, one from another. But as to me and two of the mamlouks, we walked
until we came to a great wood, abounding with trees, where we busied ourselves
with eating. And lo, a person of tall stature, with a long beard, with long ears,
and with two eyes like two cressets, before whom were many sheep which he was
tending, and with him was a party of persons like himself. And when he saw us,
he rejoiced at our coming, and was glad ; and he welcomed us, saying, A friendly
and free welcome! Come to my abode, that I may slaughter for you one of these
sheep, and roast it, and feed you. — So we said to him. And where is thy place?
And he answered. Near to this mountain : go ye then in this direction until ye see
a cave, which enter ye ; for in it are many guests like you. Go and sit with them
until we prepare for you the entertainment. — And we felt sure that his words were
true, and went in that direction, and entered that cave ; but we saw the guests that
were in it all of them blind ; and when we went in to them, one of them said, I am
sick: — and another said, I am infirm. So we said to them. What are these words
that ye utter ? What is the cause of your infirmity and your disease? — And they
asked us, saying. Who are ye ? We answered them. We are guests. And they
said to us. What hath thrown you into the hand of this accursed wretch ? There is
no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! This is a Ghoul, that
eateth the sons of Adam, and he hath blinded us, and desireth to eat us. — We there-
fore said to them, IIow hath this Ghoul blinded you? They replied. Verily forth-
with he will blind you like us. — But how, said we, will he blind us? They answered
us. He will bring you cups of milk, and will say to you, Ye are wearied by youi
journey: therefore take this milk, and drink of it. And when ye drink of it, ye
will become like us. — So I said within myself, There remaineth for us no escape save
by sti'atagom. And I dug a hole in the ground, and sat over it. Then, after a
while, the accursed Ghoul came in to us, bringing cups of milk, and he handed to
me a cup, and handed a cup to each of those who were with me, saying to us. Ye
have come from the desert thirsty; therefore take this milk, and drink of it, while
I roast for you the meat. Now as to myself, I took the cup, and put it near to my
mouth, and emptied it into the hole ; after which I cried out. Ah ! my sight is gone,
and I have become blind ! And I held my eyes with my hand, and began to weep
and cry out, while he laughed, and said. Fear not. But as to the two who were my
companions, they drank the milk, and became blind. And thereupon the accursed
arose immediately, and, having closed the entrance of the cave, drew near to me,
and felt my ribs, and ho found me lean, having no meat upon me; wherefore he
felt another, and he saw that he was fat, and rejoiced thereat. He then slaughtered
three sheep, and skinned them, and he brought some spits of iron, upon which he
put the flesh of the sheep, and he put them over a fire, and roasted the meat ; after
which he brought it to my two companions, who ate, and he ate with them. He
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 615
next brought a leathern bottle full of wine, and drank it, and laid himsell' down
upon his face and snored.
So upon this I said within myself, Verily he is immersed in sleep, and how shall
I slay him? Then I remembered the spits ; and I took two of them, and put them
into the fire, and waited until they had become like redhot coals ; whereupon I
girded myself, and, having risen upon my feet, took the two iron spits in my hand,
and drew near to the accursed, and thrust them into his eyes, pressing upon them
with all my strength. So by reason of the sweetness of life he rose erect upon hia
feet and desired to lay hold upon me, after he had become blind. But I fled from
him into the inner part of the cave, while he pursued me ; and I said to the blind
men who were with him. What is to be done with this accursed? Upon which one
of them said, Said, arise and ascend to this aperture ; thou wilt find in it a polished
sword ; and do thou take it, and come to me, that I may tell thee what thou shalt do.
Accordingly I ascended to the aperture, and took the sword, and came to that man ;
and he said to me, Take it, and smite him upon his waist, and he will die instantly.
I therefore arose and ran after him, and he was tired with running, and he came to
the blind men to kill them ; so I came to him, and smote him with the sword upon
his waist, and he became divided in twain : upon which he cried out to me, saying,
man, since thou desirest my slaughter, smite me a second time. Wherefore I re-
solved to smite him a second time ; but he who directed me to the sword said. Smite
him not a second time ; for in that case he will not die, but will live, and will de-
stroy us. So I complied with the direction of that man, and smote him not; and
the accursed died. The man then said to me, Arise ; open the cave, and let us go
forth from it. Perhaps God will aid us, and we shall be safe from this place. — But
1 replied. No harm remaineth for us. We will rather rest, and slaughter some of
these sheep, and drink of this wine ; for the land is far-extending. — And we remained
in this place for a period of two months, eating of these sheep and of the fruits.
After this, it happened that we were sitting upon the shore of the sea, one day,
and I saw a large ship appearing upon the sea in the distance: so we made a sign
to the persons on board of it, and called out to them. But they feared that Ghoul ;
for they knew that upon this island was a Ghoul that ate human beings ; wherefore
they desired to escape. We however made signs to them with the ends of our
turbans, and drew nearer to them, and proceeded to call out to them ; and there-
upon one of the passengers, who was sharp-sighted, said, company of passengers,
verily I see these indistinct objects to be human beings like us, and they have not
the form of Ghouls. Then they came towards us by little and little until they drew
near to us ; and when they were convinced that we were human beings, they saluted
us, and we returned their salutation, and gave them the good news of the slaughter
of the accursed Ghoul ; whereupon they thanked us. We then provided ourselves
from the island with some of the fruits that were upon it, and embarked on board
the ship, and it bore us along with a fair wind for the space of three days. But
after that, a wind arose against us, and the darkness of the sky became excessive,
and not more than one hour had elapsed when the wind bore the ship to a mountain,
and it was wrecked, and its planks were rent asunder. However, God the Great
decreed that I should lay hold of one of its planks, and I got upon it, and it bore me
along for two days. A fair wind had then come, and I, sitting upon the plank,
proceeded to row with my feet for some time, until God (whose name be exalted !)
caused me to reach the shore in safety, and I landed at this city. But I had become
a stranger, alone, solitary, not knowing what to do, and hunger had tormented me,
and extreme trouble had befallen me. I therefore came to the market of the city,
after I had hidden myself, and pulled oif this tunic, saying within myself, I will sell
it, and sustain myself with its price until God shall accomplish what he will accom-
plish. Then, my brother, I took the tunic in my hand, and the people were look-
ing at it, and bidding up for its price, until thou earnest and sawest me, and gavest
orders to convey me to the palace ; whereupon the young men took me and im-
616 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
prisoned me ; and after this period thou rememberedst me, and caused me to be
brouojht to thee. Thus I have acquainted thee with the events that have happened
to me ; and praise be to God for the meeting!
And when Seifelmolouk and Tajelmolouk the father of Dowlet Katoun heard the
story of the Vizier Said, they wondered at it greatly. Tajelmolouk had prepared a
pleasant place for Seifelmolouk and his brother Said ; and Dowlet Katoun used to
come to Seifelmolouk, and to thank him, and converse with him respecting his kind
conduct. Then the Vizier Said said, Queen, I desire thine aid to accomplish his
wish. And she replied, Yes; I will exert myself in his favour so that he shall attain
his wish, if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted ! And looking towards
Seifelmolouk, he said to him. Be of good heart, and cheerful eye. — Thus was the
case of Seifelmolouk and his Vizier Said. And now, as to the Queen Bedia Eljemal,
information was brought to her of the return of her sister Diwlet Katoun to her
father and her country; and she said, I must visit her and salute her in beautiful
trim and ornaments and apparel. So she repaired to her ; and when she drew near
to her abode, the Queen Dowlet Katoun met her, and saluted her and embraced her,
and kissed her between her eyes ; and
the Queen Bedia Eljemal congratulated
her on her safety. Then they sat con-
versing, and Bedia Eljemal said to Dow-
let Katoun, What happened to thee
during thine absence from thy country?
— my sister, replied Dowlet Katoun,
ask me not respecting the things that
befell me. Oh, what difficulties do
human creatures endure! — And how so?
\ asked Bedia Eljemal. She answered,
my sister, I was in the Lofty Palace, and
in it the son of the Blue King had pos-
session of me. And she related to her
the rest of the story from first to last, and
the story of Seifelmolouk, and what
happened to him in the palace, and the
Bedia Eijemai and Dowlet Katoun. difficulties and horrors that he had en-
dured until he came to the Lofty Palace :
also how he had killed the son of the Blue King, and how he had pulled off the
doors, and made them into a raft, and made for it oars; and how he came hither;
whereat Bedia Eljemal wondered. Then she said. By Allah, my sister, verily
this was one of the most extraordinary of wonderful cases, and I desire to acquaint
thee with the origin of his tale : but bashfulness preventeth my doing so. Bedia
Eljemal therefore said to her. What is the cause of thy bashfulness, when thou art
my sister and my companion, and we have much between us, and I know that thou
desirest not forme aught save what is good? Wherefore then shouldst thou be
abashed at me ? Acquaint me with that which thou hast to say, and be not abashed
at me, nor conceal from me aught of the matter.
So Dowlet Katoun replied. Verily he saw thy portrait on the tunic which thy
father sent to Solomon the son of David (on both of whom be peace!). Solomon
opened it not, nor saw what was on it, but sent it to the King Asim the son of Saf-
wan, the King of Egypt, among other presents and rarities which ho sent to him ;
and the King Asim gave it to his son Seifelmolouk before he opened it. And when
Seifelmolouk took it, he opened it, desiring to put it on himself, and he saw on it thy
portrait, and became enamoured of it ; wherefore he came forth to seek thee, and he
endured all these difficulties on thine account. — But Bedia Eljemal said (and her
face had become red, and she was abashed at Dowlet Katoun). Verily this is a thing
that can never be ; for mankind agree not with the Genii. So Dowlet Katoun pro-
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 617
ceeded to describe to her Seifelmolouk and the excellence of his form and his
conduct and his horsemanship; and she ceased not to praise him and to mention to
her his qualities until she said, my sister, for the sake of God (whose name be
exalted !) and for my sake, come and converse with him, though thou speak but a
single word. But Bedia Eljemal replied. Verily these words that thou utterest I
will not hear, nor will I yield to thy wish expressed in them. And she seemed as
though she heard not of them aught, and as though no love for Seifelmolouk and the
excellence of his form and his conduct and his horsemanship entered her heart.
Then Dowlet Katoun humbled herself to her, and kissed her feet, and said, Bedia
Eljemal, by the milk that we have sucked. I and thou, and by the characters en-
graved upon the seal of Solomon (on. whom be peace!), hear these my words; for I
pledged myself to him in the Lofty Palace that I would show him thy face. I conjure
thee then by Allah to show him thy form once, for my sake, and that thou also see
him. — And she proceeded to weep to her, and to humble herself to her, and to kiss
her hands and her feet, until she consented, and said. For thy sake I will show him
my face once.
Upon this, therefore, the heart of Dowlet Katoun was comforted. She kissed her
hands and her feet, and went forth, and came to the largest palace, which was in the
garden ; and she ordered the female slaves to spread the furniture in it, to set in it a
couch of gold, and to place the wine-vessels in order. She then arose and went in to
Seifelmolouk and Said his Vizier, who were sitting in their place, and gave to Seif-
elmolouk the good news of the attainment of his desii-e and accomplishment of hie
wish: and she said to him, Repair to the garden, thou and thy brother, and enter
the palace, and conceal yourselves from the eyes of the people, so that no one of those
who are in the palace may see you, until I and Bedia Eljemal come. So Seifelmo-
louk and Said arose, and repaired to the place to which Dowlet Katoun had directed
them ; and when they entered it, they saw a couch of gold set, with the cushions
upon it, and there were viands and wine. And they sat a while. Then Seifelmolouk
thought upon his beloved, and his bosom thereupon became contracted, and love and
desire assailed him: he therefore arose and walked on until he went forth from thf
entrance-passage of the palace. His brother Said followed him ; but he said to him
O my brother, sit thou in thy place, and follow me not, until I return to thee. So
Said sat. and Seifelmolouk descended and entered the garden, intoxicated by the
wine of desire, perplexed by excess of passion and distraction ; love had agitated him,
and ecstacy had overcome him. Then he wept again, and recited verses ; and thus
he continued to do, now weeping and now reciting, till Said, thinking him slow to
return, went forth from the palace to search for him in the garden, and saw him
walking there, perplexed, and reciting verses. Thereupon Seifelmolouk and Said
his brother met, and they proceeded to divert themselves in the garden, and to eat
of the fruits.
But as to Dowlet Katoun, when she and Bedia Eljemal came to the palace, they
entered it, after the eunuchs had decorated it with varieties of ornaments, and done
in it all that Dowlet Katoun had ordered them, having prepared for Bedia Eljemal a
couch of gold that she might sit upon it. So when Bedia Eljemal saw that couch,
she seated herself upon it; and there was by her side a window overlooking the
garden. The eunuchs had brought varieties of exquisite viands, and Bedia Eljemal
and Dowlet Katoun ate, the latter putting morsels into the mouth of the former
until she was satisfied ; when she called for various sweetmeats, and the eunuchs
brought them, and the two ladies ate of them as much as sufficed them, and washed
their hands. Next Dowlet Katoun prepared the wine and the wine-vessels, arranged
the ewers and the cups, and proceeded to. fill and to hand to Bedia Eljemal ; after
which she filled the cup and drank. Then Bedia Eljemal looked from the window
that was by her side into that garden, and saw its fruits and branches ; and happen-
ing to turn her eyes in the direction of Seifelmolouk, she beheld him wandering
about in the garden, with the Vizier Said behind him, and heard Seifelmolouk re-
618 SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL.
citing verses, while he poured forth copious tears ; and when she beheld him, the
sight occasioned her a thousand sighs. She therefore looked towards Dowlet Katoun
(and the wine had made sport with her affections), and she said to her, my sister,
who is this young man that I see in the garden, perplexed, distracted, melancholy,
sighing? So Dowlet Katoun said to her, Wilt thou permit his presence with us,
that we may see him ? She answered. If thou canst bring him, do so. And upon
this, Dowlet Katoun called him, saying to him, son of the King, come up to us and
approach us with thy beauty and loveliness. Wherefore Seifelmolouk, knowing the
voice of Dowlet Katoun, went up into the palace ; and when his eye fell upon Bedia
Eljemal, he fell down in a fit: so Dowlet Katoun sprinkled upon him a little rose-
water, and he recovered from his fit. He then arose, and kissed the ground before
Bedia Eljemal, who was confounded by his beauty and loveliness ; and Dowlet Ka-
toun said, Know, Queen, that this is Seifelmolouk, through whose means my de-
liverance was effected, by the decree of God (whose name be exalted !), and he is the
person whom all kinds of difficulties have befallen on thine account ; wherefore I
desire that thou regard him favourably. Upon this, Bedia Eljemal, after laughing,
said, And who fulfilleth vows, that this young man should fulfil them ? For man-
kind are destitute of affection. — So Seifelmolouk replied, Queen, verily faithless-
ness will never be in me ; and all people are not alike.
Then he wept violently, and recited verses ; and when he had ended them, he
wept again violently; whereupon Bedia Eljemal said to him, son of the King,
verily I fear to give myself up to thee entirely, lest I should not experience from
thee affection nor love ; for often the good qualities of mankind are found to be few,
and their perfidy is great. And know that the lord Solomon the son of David (on
both of whom be peace!) took Balkis lovingly; and when he saw another more
beautiful than she, he turned from her to that other person. — But Seifelmolouk re-
plied, my eye and my soul, God hath not created all mankind alike, and I, if it be
the will of God, will fulfil my vow, and will die beneath thy feet. Thou shalt see
what I will do agreeably with that which I say, and on God I depend for my doing
as I say. — So upon this, Bedia Eljemal said to him, Sit, and be at ease, and swear
to me by thy religion, and let us covenant with each other, that neither of us will be
treacherous to the other; and may God (whose name be exalted !) execute vengeance
on the one who is treacherous to the other! And when Seifelmolouk heard from
her these words, he sat; and, with the hand of each in the hand of the other, they
swore that neither of them would prefer to the other any person, whether of man-
kind or of the Genii. Then they remained a while embracing one another, and
weeping by reason of the violence of their joy. And after Bedia Eljemal and Seifel-
molouk had sworn, each to the other, Seifelmolouk arose to walk, and Bedia Eljemal
arose also to walk, attended by a slave-girl carrying some food, and carrying likewise
a bottle full of wine. And Bedia Eljemal sat, and the slave-girl put before her the
food and the wine ; but they had not remained more than a short time when Seifel-
molouk approached ; whereupon she met him with salutation, and they embraced
each other.
After this, they sat a while eating and drinking; and Bedia Eljemal said, son
of the King, when thou enterest the Garden of Irem, thou wilt see a large tent
pitched, of red satin, and its lining of green silk. Enter the tent, and fortify thy
heart. Thou wilt there see an old woman sitting upon a couch of red gold set with
large pearls and with jewels ; and when thou enterest, salute her with politeness and
reverence ; and look towards the couch : thou wilt find beneath it a pair of slippers
interwoven with gold and adorned with minerals. Take those slippers and kiss
them, and put them upon thy head; theij put them beneath thy right arm-pit, and
•stand before the old woman, silent, and hanging down thy head. And when she
asketh thee and saith to thee. Whence hast thou come, and how arrivedst thou here,
and who made known to thee this place, and for what reason tookest thou these
slippers?— be thou silent until this my slave-girl enteretli and converseth witn her,
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 619
and endeavoureth to render her favourable to thee, and striveth to content her
mind by words. Perhaps God (whose name be exalted !) may incline her heart to
thee, and she may consent to that which thou desirest. — She then called that slave-
girl ; and her name was MarjTina ; and she said to her. By thy love of me, accom-
plish this affair this day, and be not slothful in doing it. If thou accomplish it this
day, thou shalt be free for the sake of God (whose name be exalted !), and thou
shalt receive generous treatment, and there shall not be any dearer in my estimation
than thou, nor will I reveal my secret to any but thee. — So she replied, my mis-
tress, and light of my eye, tell me what is thine affair, that I may accomplish it for
thee on my head and my eye. And she said to her. It is, that thou carry this
human being upon thy shoulders, and convey him to the Garden of Irem, to the
presence of my grandmother, the mother of my father; that thou convey him to her
tent, and take care of him. And when thou enterest the tent, thou with him, and
seest him take the slippers and pay homage to them, and she saith to him. Whence
art thou, and by what way camest thou, and who brought thee to this place, and for
what reason tookest thou these slippers, and what is thine affair that I may accom-
plish it for thee? — thereupon enter quickly, and salute her, and say to her, my
mistress, I am the person who brought him hither, and he is the son of the King
of Egypt, and he is the person who went to the Lofty Palace, and killed the son of
the Blue King, and delivered the Queen Dowlet Katoun, and conveyed her to her
father safe ; and I have brought him to thee that he may acquaint thee and give thee
the glad tidings of her safety: therefore be gracious unto him. — Then after that,
say to her. By Allah, I conjure thee tell me, is not this young man comely, my
mistress? And she will answer thee. Yes. And thereupon say to her, my mis-
tress, verily he is perfect in honour and generosity and courage, and he is the lord
of Egypt, and its King, and he compriseth all praiseworthy qualities. And when
she saith to thee. What is his affair? — reply. My mistress saluteth thee, and asketh
thee, how long shall she remain in the house a maiden, unmarried? For the time
hath become tedious to her. What then is your desire in not marrying her, and
wherefore dost thou not marry her during thy life and the life of her mother, like
other damsels? — And if she say to thee. How shall we act to marry her? If she
know any one, or if any one have occurred to her mind, let her inform us respecting
him, and we will do for her as she wisheth as far as may be possible : — then do thou
reply, my mistress, thy daughter saith to thee. Ye were desirous of marrying me
to Solomon (on whom be peace !), and ye designed for him my portrait on the tunic.
But he had no lot in me: and he sent the tunic to the King of Egypt, who gave it
to his son, and he saw my portrait delineated upon it, and became enamoured of
me ; wherefore he abandoned the kingdom of his father and his mother, turning
from the world and what it containeth, and came forth wandering over the earth
without regard to anything, and endured the greatest of troubles and horrors on my
account.
The slave-girl then took up Seifelmolouk, and said to him. Close thine eyes. He
therefore did so; and she flew up with him to the sky; and after a while, she said
to him, son of the King, open thine eyes. So he opened his eyes, and beheld the
garden, the Garden of Irem ; and the slave-girl Marjana said to him, Enter, Seifel-
molouk, this tent. Upon this, Seifelmolouk uttered the name of God, and entered,
and, casting a look in the garden, he saw the old woman sitting upon the couch,
with the female slaves in attendance upon her; wherefore he approached her with
politeness and reverence, took the slippers and kissed them, and did as Bedia Elje-
mal had directed him. The old woman then said to him. Who art thou, and whence
hast thou come, and from what country art thou, and who brought thee to 'this place,
and for what reason tookest thou these slippers and kissedst them, and when didst
thou tell me of a want and I did not perform it for thee? So upon this the slave-
girl Marjana entered, and saluted her with politeness and reverence; after which
she repeated what Bedia Eljemal had told her. But when the old woman heard
620
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEUIA ELJEMAL.
Marjana carrying; Seifelmolouk.
these words, she cried out at her, and was incensed against her, and said, How can
there be agreement between mankind and the Genii? Seifelmolouk therefore re-
plied, I will agree with thee, and be thy page, and die loving thee, and keep thy
covenant, and see none but thee, and thou shalt see my veracity and my freedom
from falsehood, and the excellence of my generosity towards thee, if it be the will
of God, (whose name be exalted!). Then the old woman reflected for some time,
with her head hung down ; and after that, she raised her head, and said, comely
young man, wilt thou keep the covenant, and the compact? He answered her. Yes,
by him who raised the heaven and spread out the earth upon the water, verily I will
keep the covenant. And upon this the old woman said, I will accomplish for thee
thine aflfair, if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !); but go now into the
garden, and divert thyself in it, and eat of the fruits of which the equals exist not,
and to which there are not in the world the like, while I send to my son Shahyal,
who will come, and I will talk with him on that affair, and nought but good will
happen, if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !); for he will not oppose
me, nor disobey my command. I will marry to thee his daughter Bedia Eljemal :
so be of good heart; for she shall be thy wife, Seifelmolouk. — And when Seifel-
molouk heard from her these words, he thanked her, and kissed her hands and her
feet, and went forth from her into the garden. The old woman then looked towards
that slave-girl, and said to her. Go forth and search for my son Shahyal, seek for him
in whatsoever quarter and place he is, and bring him unto me. So the slave-girl
went and searched for the King Shahyal, and she met with him, and brought him to
his mother.
Meanwhile, Seifelmolouk was diverting himself in the garden, when five of the
Genii, who were of the subjects of the Blue King, saw him ; and they said. Whence
is this man, and who brought him to this place? Perhaps he is the person who
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 621
killed the son of the Blue King. — Then they said, one to another, We will employ a
stratagem against him, and interrogate him, and ask information of him. So they
walked on by little and little until they came to Seifelmolouk in aside of the garden,
when they seated themselves by him, and said to him, comely young man, thou
failedst not in killing the son of the Blue King, and delivering Dowlet Katoun fron.
him. He was a perfidious dog, and had circumvented her; and had not God sent
thee to her for that purpose, she had never escaped. But how didst thou kill him?
And Seifelmolouk looked at them and answered them, I killed him by means of this
seal-ring that is upon my finger. So it was evident to them that he was the person
who killed him: therefore two of them seized his hands, and two his feet, and the
other held his mouth, lest he should call out, and the people of the King Shahyal
should hear him and deliver him from their hands. Then they took him up and
flew away with him, and they ceased not in their flight until they alighted in the
presence of their King, when they stationed him before him, and said, King of
the age, we have brought thee him who killed thy son. — And where is he? said the
King. They answered, This is he. And the Blue King said to him. Didst thou kill
my son, and the vital spark of my heart, and the light of my eye, without right,
and without any ofi"ence that he had committed against thee? Seifelmolouk answered
him, Yes, I killed him; but on account of his tyranny and his iniquity; for he took
the children of the King and conveyed them to the Abandoned Well and the Lofty
Palace, and separated them from their families, and acted impudently towards them.
I killed him by means of this ring that is upon my finger, and God hurried his soul
to the fire, and miserable is the abode to which he hath gone. — So it was evident
to the Blue King that this was the person who killed his son, without doubt ; and
thereupon he called for his Vizier, and said to him, This is the person who killed
my son, without any uncertainty or doubt. What then dost thou counsel me to do in
his case? Shall I slay him in the most abominable manner, or torture him with the
most grievous torture, or how shall I act? — The chief Vizier answered, Gut off one
of his limbs. Another said. Inflict upon him every day a severe beating. Another
said, Cut him through the middle. Another said. Cut ofl" all his fingers, and burn
them with fire. Another said, Crucify him. And every one of them proceeded to
epeak according to his judgment.
But there was with the Blue King a great Emir, acquainted with afi'airs and with
the circumstances of the times, and he said to the King, King of the age, I will
say to thee some words, and it is thine to judge whether thou wilt attend to that
which I counsel thee to do. He was the counsellor of his kingdom, and the chief
officer of his empire, and the King used to attend to his words, and act according to
his judgment, and not oppose him in aught. Now he rose upon his feet, kissed the
ground before him, and said to him, King of the age, if I give thee advice in this
aff'air, wilt thou follow it, and wilt thou grant me indemnity? And the King
answered him. Show thine opinion, and thou shalt be safe. Then said he, King,
if thou kill this man, and receive not my advice, nor consider my words, the slaughter
of him at this time will not be right; for he is in thy hand and in thine asylum, and
he is thy captive, and when thou desirest him thou findest him, and mayest do
with him as thou wilt. Be patient then, King of the age; for this man hath
entered the Garden of Irem, and married Bedia Eljemal, the daughter of the King
Shahyal, and become one of them, and thy people seized him and brought him unto
thee, and he hath not concealed his case from them nor from thee. So if thou slay
him, the King Shahyal will demand of thee his blood-revenge, and will act hostilely
to thee, and come to thee with forces on account of his daughter, and thou art not
able to prevail against his forces, nor hast thou power to contend with him. — The
King therefore attended to this his advice, and gave orders to imprison Seifelmolouk.
— Thus did it happen unto him.
Now the lady Bedia Eljemal, having met with her father Shahyal, sent the slave-
girl to search for Seifelmolouk: and she found him not; wherefore she returned to
622 SEIFELMOLOFK ANT) BEBIA ELJEM.AL,
her mistress, and said, I have not found him in the garden. And she sent to the
gardeners, and asked them respecting Seifelmolouk : and they answered, We saw
him sitting beneath a tree, and lo, five persons, of the people of the BUie King
alighted by him, and conversed with him : then they took him up, and stopped his
mouth, and flew with him, and departed. So when the lady Bedia Eljemal heard
these words, the affair was not a light matter to her. She was violently enraged,
and, rising upon her feet, she said to her father the King Shahyal, How is it that
thou art King, and the people of the Blue King come to our garden and take our
guest and depart with him in safety while thou art living? In like manner his
mother also began to provoke him, and to say, It is not fit that any one should trans-
gress against us while thou art living. But he replied, my mother, this human
being killed the son of the Blue King, a Genie ; so God cast him into his hand : how
then should I go to him, and act hostilely towards him on account of the human
being? Ilis mother however said to him, Go to him, and demand of him our guest:
and if he be living, and he deliver him to thee, take him, and come back ; but if he
have slain him, seize the Blue King alive, him and his children and his harem, and
every one who hath his protection among his dependants, and bring them alive unto
me, that I may slaughter them with mine own hand, and devastate his dwellings.
If thou do not that which I have commanded thee, I will not hold thee lawfully
acquitted of the obligation that thou owest me for my milk, and my rearing of thee
shall be as though it were to thee unlawful. — So upon this the King Shahyal arose,
and commanded his troops to go forth, and repaired unto him, in honour of his
mother, and from a regard to the feelings of herself and of those who were beloved
of her, and in order to the accomplishment of a thing that had been decreed from
eternity.
Shahyal set forth with his troops, and they ceased not to pursue their way until
they came to the Blue King, and the two armies met; whereupon the Blue King
was defeated with his array, and the victors seized his children, great and small, and
the lords of his empire and its sreat men, and bound them, and brought them before
the King Shahyal, who said to the Blue King, Blue, where is Seifelmolouk, the
human being, who was my guest? The Blue King said to him, Shahyal, thou art
a Genie and I am a Genie, and on account of a human being who hath killed my son
dost thou do these deeds? He is the destroyer of my son and the vital spark of my
heart and the ease of my soul, and how hast thou done all these deeds and spilt the
blood of so many thousand Genii? — But Shahyal replied, Desist from these words:
and if he be living, bring him, and I will liberate thee, and will liberate every one
of thy children whom I have seized : but if thou hast slain him, I will slaughter
thee and thy children. The Blue King said to him, King is this more dear unto
thee than my son ? The King Shahyal answered him. Verily thy son was a tyrant;
for he carried off the children of men, and the daughters of Kings, and put them in
the Lofty palace and the Abandoned W(dl, and acted impudently towards them.
And the Blue King said to him, He is with me ; but make thou reconciliation be-
tvPeen us and him. So he reconciled them, and conferred upon them robes of honour,
and he wrote a voucher agreed upon between the Blue King and Seifelmolouk re-
specting the slaughter of the son of the former; after which, the King Shahyal
received Seifelmolouk, and entertained them handsomely: and the Bkie King
remained with him, he and his army, three days. Then Shahyal took Seifelmolouk,
and brought him to his mother, who rejoiced e.Kceedingly at seeing him, and Shahyal
wondered at the beauty of Seifelmolouk, and his perfection and loveliness; and
Seifelmolouk related to him his story from beginning to end, telling iiim what had
befallen him with Bedia Eljemal.
The King Shahyal then said, my mother, since thou hast consented to this, I
hear and obey all that thou desirest: so take him and go with him to S(>rendib, and
celebrate there a magnificent festivity : for he is a comely young man, and hath en-
dured horrors on her account. Accordingly she proceeded with lier female slaves
SEIFELMOLOUK AND BEDIA ELJEMAL. 623
until they arriveil at Serendib, and entered the garden belonging to the mother of
Dowlet Katoun. Bedia Eljemal saw Seifelmolouk, after they had gone to the tent
and met one another, and the old woman related to them what he had experienced
from the Blue King, and how he had been at the point of death in the prison of the
Blue King. Then the King Tajelmolouk, the father of Dowlet Katoun, summoned
the great men of his empire, and they performed the ceremony of the c(mtract of
the marriage of Bedia Eljemal to Seifelmolouk, and married her to him ; and when
the ceremony of the contract was performed, the ushers of the court cried out. May
it be blessed ! He deserveth ! — and they scattered the gold and the silver upon the
head of Seifelmolouk, conferred costly robes of honour, and made banquets. Seif-
elmolouk then said to Tajelmolouk, King, pardon ! I would ask of thee a thing,
and I fear that thou mayest refuse it me and disappoint me. But Tajelmolouk re-
plied. By Allah, wert thou to demand my soul, I would not withhold ii, from thee, on
account of the kind actions that thou hast done. So Seifelmolouk said, I desire that
thou marry Dowlet Katoun to my brother Said, that we may both be thy pages.
And Tajelmolouk replied, I hear and obey. He forthwith assembled the great men
of his empire a second time, and performed the ceremony of the contract of the mar-
riage of his daughter Dowlet Katoun to Said ; and when they had finished the cere-
mony of the contract, they scattered the gold and silver, and the King commanded
that they should decorate the city. They then celebrated the festivity, and Seifel-
molouk took Bedia Eljemal as his wife, and Said took Dowlet Katoun as his wife the
same night. Seifelmolouk ceased not to remain in retirement with Bedia Eljemal
for forty days ; and she said to him one day, O son of the King, doth there remain
in thy heart a regret for anything? Seifelmolouk answered, God forbid! I have
accomplished my want, and no regret remaineth in my heart ; but I desire to meet
my father and mother in the land of Egypt; and to see if they have continued well
or not. So she ordered a party of her servants to convey him and Said to the land
of Egypt ; and they conveyed them to their families in Egypt ; and Seifelmolouk
met his father and his mother, as also did Said, and they remained with them a
week. Then each of them bade farewell to his father and his mother, and they de-
parted to the city of Serendib ; and whenever they desired to see their families, they
used to go and return. Thus Seifelmolouk lived with Bedia Eljemal a most pleasant
and most agreeable life, and in like manner did Said with Dowlet Katoun, until
they were visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of companions. —
Extolled be the perfection of the Living who dieth not, who created the creatures,
and sentenced them to death, and who is the First, without beginning, and the Last,
without end !
624 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
CHAPTER XXV.
Commencing with part of the Seven Hundred and Seventy-eighth Night, and ending with part ot
the Eight Hundred and Thirty-first.
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
There was, in ancient times, a certain merchant residing in Balsora, and that
merchant had two male children, and great wealth. And it happened, as God, who
heareth and knoweth, decreed, that the merchant was admitted to the mercy of God
(whose name be exalted!), and left that wealth. So his two sons betook themselves
to prepare him for the grave and to bury him; after which they divided the wealth
between them equally, and each of them took his portion, and they opened fur them-
selves two shops. One of them was a dealer in copper-wares, and the other was a
goldsmith.
Now while the goldsmith was sitting in his shop, one day, lo, a Persian walked
along the market-street among the people until he came to the shop of the young
goldsmith, when he looked at his work, and examined it knowingly, and it pleased
him. And the name of the young goldsmith was Hassan. Then the Persian shook
his head, and said, By Allah, thou art an excellent goldsmith ! And he proceeded
to look at his work, while he (the young man) was looking at an old book that was
in his hand, and the people were occupied with the contemplation of his beauty and
loveliness and his stature and justness of form. And when the time of afternoon-
prayers arrived, the shop was quitted by the people, and thereupon the Persian ac-
costed Hassan and said to him, my son, thou art a comely young man! What is
this book ? I have not a son, and I know an art than which there is none better that
is practised in the world. Numbers of people have asked me to teach it them, and
I would not teach it to any one of them ; but my soul hath consented that I should
teach it to thee, and make thee my son, and put a barrier between thee and poverty ;
so thou shalt rest from this work and labouring with the hammer and the charcoal
and the fire. — Hassan therefore said to him, O my master, and when wilt thou teach
me? He replied. To-morrow I will come to thee, and will make for thee, of copper,
pure gold in thy presence.
Upon this, Hassan nyoiced, and he bade farewell to the Persian, and went to his
mother. He entered, and saluted her, and ate with her ; but he was stupified, with-
out memory or intellect. So his mother said to him, What is the matter with thee,
my son ? Beware of listening to the words of the people ; especially the Persians ;
and comply not with their counsel in aught; for these people are great deceivers,
who know the art of alchemy, and trick people, and take their wealth, and devour it
by means of false pretences. — But he replied, O my mother, we are poor people, and
we have nothing to be coveted, that any one should trick us. A Persian hath come
to me; but he is a virtuous sheikh, bearing marks of virtue, and God hath inclined
him' towards me. — And thereupon his mother kept silence in her anger; and her
son became busied in heart: sleep visited him not that night by reason of the vio-
lence of his joy at what the Persian had said to him. And when the morning came,
he rose, took the keys, and opened the shop ; and lo, the Persian approached him.
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 627
So he rose to him, and desired to kiss his hands ; but the Persian refused, and would
not consent to his doing that ; and said, Hassan, prepare the crucible, and place
the bellows. He therefore did as the Persian ordered him, and lighted the charcoal ;
after which the Persian said to him, my son, hast thou by thee any copper? He
answered, I have a broken plate. And he ordered him to press upon it with the
shears, and to cut it into small pieces ; and he did as he told him. He cut it into
small pieces, and threw it into the crucible, and blew upon it with the bellows until
it became liquid ; when the Persian put his hand to his turban, and took forth from
it a paper folded up, which he opened, and he sprinkled some of its contents into
the crucible, as much as half a drachm. That thing resembled yellow kohl : and he
ordered Hassan to blow upon it with the bellows ; and he did as he ordered him
until the contents of the crucible became a lump of gold. So when Hassan beheld
this, he was stupified, and his mind was confounded by reason of the joy that he ex-
perienced. He took the lump and turned it over, and he took the file and filed it,
and saw it to be pure gold, of the very best quality. His reason fled, and he was
stupified by reason of the violence of his joy. Then he bent down over the hand of
the Persian to kiss it; and the Persian said to him, Take this lump, and go down
with it into the market, and sell it, and take its price quickly, without speaking.
Accordingly, Hassan went down into the market, and gave the lump to the broker,
who took it of him, and rubbed it [on the touchstone], and found it to be pure gold.
They opened the bidding for it at the sum of ten thousand pieces of silver, and the
merchants increased their offers for it, so that he sold it for fifteen thousand pieces
of silver.
He received its price, and went home, and related to his mother all that he had
done, saying to her, my mother, I have learnt this art. But she laughed at him,
and said, There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! And
she kept silence in her anger. Then Hassan, in his ignorance, took a brass mortar,
and went with it to the Persian, who was sitting in the shop, and put it before him.
So he said to him, my son, what desirest thou to do with this mortar? He an-
swered, We will put it into the fire, and make it into lumps of gold. And the
Persian laughed, and said to him, my son, art thou mad, that thou wouldst go
down into the market with two lumps in one day ? Knowest thou not that the people
would suspect us, and that our lives would be lost? But, my son, when I have
taught thee this art, do not thou practise it in a year more than once ; for that will
suffice thee from year to year. — And Hassan replied. Thou hast spoken truth, my
master. Then he sat in the shop, and put on the crucible, and threw the charcoal
into the fire. The Persian therefore said to him, my son, what dost thou desire?
He answered. Teach me this art. But the Persian laughed, and said, There is no
strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! Thou, my son, art of little
sense. Thou art not suited for this art at all. Doth any one in his life learn this
art in the beaten way, or in the markets? For if we occupy ourselves with it in
this place, the people will say of us, Verily these are practising alchemy : — and the
magistrates will hear of us, and our lives will be lost. If therefore, my son, thou
desirest to learn this art, repair with me to my house. — So Hassan arose and closed
his shop, and went with the Persian. But while he was on the way, he remembered
the words of his mother, and revolved in his mind a thousand thoughts ; and he
stopped, hanging down his head towards the ground for some time ; whereupon the
Persian looked aside, and, seeing him stopping, laughed, and said to him. Art thou
mad? How is it that I purpose in my heart to do thee good, and thou imaginest
that I will injure thee? Then the Persian said to him, If thou be afraid to go with
me to my house, I will go with thee to thy house, and will teach thee there. So
Hassan replied. Yes, uncle. And the Persian said to him. Walk before me.
Hassan therefore went on before him to his abode, and the Persian followed him
until he arrived there, when Hassan entered his house, and found his mother, and
irformed her of the Persian's arrival with him, while the Persian stood at the door.
628
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
So she furnished for them the chamber, and put it in order, and when she had
finished her affair, she went away. Then Hassan gave permission to the Persian to
enter, and he entered ; and Hassan, having taken in his hand a plate, wont with it
to the market to bring in it something to eat. He went forth, and brought some
food, and put it before him, saying to him, Eat, my master, that the bond of bread
and salt may be established between us; and may God (whose name be exalted!)
execute vengeance upon him who is unfaithful to the bond of bread and salt! And
the Persian said to him, Thou hast spoken truth, my son. Then he smiled, and
said, my son, who knoweth the due estimation of bread and salt? And the Persian
advanced, and ate with Hassan until
they were satisfied ; when he said
to him, my son, Hassan, bring
for us some sweetmeat. Hassan
therefore went to the market, and
brought ten cups of sweetmeat ; and
he was rejoiced at the words of the
Persian. And when he presented
to him the sweetmeat, he ate of it,
and Hassan ate with him. The
Persian then said to him, May God
recompense thee well, my son !
With such an one as thou art should
men associate, and him should they
acquaint with their secrets, and
: teach what will profit him. — And
he said, Hassan, bring the appa-
ratus. And Hassan scarcely be-
lieved these words, when he went
forth like the colt dismissed to the
spring-pasturage, and proceeded un-
til he arrived at the shop, and he
took the apparatus, and returned,
and placed it before him. The
Persian thereupon took forth a piece of paper, and said, Hassan, by the bread
and salt, wert thou not dearer than my son, I would not acquaint thee with this art.
There remaineth not in my possession aught of this elixir save the contents of this
paper. But observe when I compound the simples and put them before thee; and
know, my son, Hassan, that thou must put, to every ten pounds of copper, half
a drachm of this which is in the paper, and the ten pounds will become pure, un-
alloyed gold. — Then he said to him, my son, Hassan, in this paper are three
ounces, of Egyptian weight; and after the contents of this paper are exhausted, I
will make for thee more. And Hassan took the paper, and saw in it something
yellow, finer than the first ; and he said, my master, what is the name of this, and
where is it found, and in what is it made? Upon this, the Persian laughed, and
longed to get possession of Hassan, and said to him. Respecting what dost thou ask?
Do the work and be silent. — And he took forth a cup belonging to the house, cut it
up, and threw it into the crucible, and threw upon it a little of what was in the
paper, whereupon it became a lump of pure gold. So when Hassan beheld this, he
rejoiced exceedingly, and became perplexed in his mind, entirely occupied by medi-
tation upon that lump of gold.
The Persian then hastily took forth a packet from his turban, cut it open, and put
it into a piece of the sweetmeat, and said to him, Hassan, thou hast become my
son, and hast become dearer to me than my soul and my wealth, and I have a
daughter to whom I will marry thee. Hassan replied, I am thy page, and what-
soever thou dost with me, it will be a deposit with God, whose name be exahed !
Bahrain the Magiaii.
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 629
And the Persian said, my son, have patience, and restrain thyself, and good fortune
will betide thee. Then he handed to him the piece of sweetmeat, and he took it,
and kissed his hand, and put it into his mouth, not knowing what was secretly de-
creed to befall him. He swallowed the piece of sweetmeat, and his head sunk down
before his feet, and he became lost to the world ; and when the Persian saw that the
calamity had come upon him, he rejoiced exceedingly. Rising upon his feet, he
said to him. Thou hast fallen into the snare, young wretch ! dog of the Arabs !
For many years have I been searching for thee, until I got thee, Hassan ! — He
then girded himself, and tied Hassan's hands behind his back, and bound his feet
to his hands ! after which he took a chest, emptied it of the things that were in it,
put Hassan into it, and locked it upon him. He emptied also another chest, and
put into it all the wealth that was in Hassan's abode, with the lump of gold that he
had made, and, having locked it, he went forth running to the market, and brought
a porter, carried off the two chests, and drew near to the moored vessel. That
vessel was fitted out for the Persian, and her master was expecting him : so when
her crew saw him, they came to him, and carried the two chests, and put them on
board the ship. The Persian then cried out to the master and to all the sailors,
saying to them, Rise ye ! The affair is accomplished, and we have attained our
desire. — The master therefore cried out to the sailors, and said to them, Pull up the
anchors, and loose the sails ! And the ship proceeded with a fair wind. — Such was
the case with the Persian and Hassan.
But as to the mother of Hassan, she remained expecting him until nightfall, and
heard no sound of him nor any tidings whatever. Then she came to the house, and
saw it open, and beheld not in it any one, nor found the chests nor the wealth. She
therefore knew that her son was lost, and that fate had taken effect upon him ; and
she slapped her face, and rent her garments, cried out and wailed, and began to say,
Oh, my son ! Oh, the delight of my heart! — She continued to weep and wail till
the morning, when the neighbours came in to her, and asked her respecting her son,
and she informed them of that which had happened to him with the Persian. She
felt certain that she should never see him after that, and went about the house weep-
ing ; and while she thus went about, lo, she saw two lines written upon the wall:
wherefore she brought a learned man, who read them to her ; and they were these :
— Leyla's phantom came by night, when drowsiness had overcome me, towards
morning, while my companions were sleeping in the desert ; but when we awoke to
behold the nightly phantom, I saw the air vacant, and the place of visitation was
distant. So when the mother of Hassan heard these words, she called out and said,
Yes, my son ! Verily the house is desolate, and the place of visitation is distant !
— Then the neighbours bade her farewell, after they had prayed for her that she
might have patience, and that she might soon experience a reunion, and departed.
But the mother of Hassan ceased not to weep during the hours of the night and the
periods of the day ; and she built in the midst of the house a tomb, on which she
inscribed the name of Hassan, with the date of his loss. She quitted not that tomb ;
and such was her habit incessantly from the time that her son was separated from
her.
Now again as to her son Hassan with the Persian. — This Persian was a Magian :
he hated the Mahometans greatly, and whenever he got power over any one of
them, he destroyed him. He was a wicked, vile alchemist.
The name of that accursed wretch was Bahram the Magian, and he used every
year to take a Mahometan and to slaughter him over a hidden treasure. And when
his stratagem was accomplished against Hassan the goldsmith, and he had pro-
ceeded with him from the commencement of day until night, the ship moored on the
shore till morning ; and at sunrise, when the ship continued her course, the Persian
ordered his black slaves and his pages to bring to him the chest in which was Hassan.
So they brought it to him, and he opened it, and took him forth from it. He then
poured some vinegar into his nostrils, and blew a powder into his nose ; whereupon
630 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
he sneezed, and vomited the bhang, and, opening his eyes, he looked to the right and
left, and found himself in the midst of the sea, the ship in its course, and the Persian
sitting by him. He therefore knew that it was a stratagem practised against him,
that the accursed Magian had done it, and that he had fallen into the calamity against
which his mother had cautioned him. So he pronounced the words of which the
utterer is secure from confusion, and which are these: — There is no strength nor
power but in God, the High, the Great ! Verily to God w^e belong, and verily unto
Him we return ! Allah, act graciously with me in thine appointment, and make
me to endure with patience thine affliction, Lord of all creatures ! — Then looking
towards the Persian, he spoke to him with soft words, and said to him, my father,
what are these deeds, and where is thy respect for the bread and salt and the oath
that thou sworest to me ? But he looked at him and said to him, dog, doth such
a one as myself know an obligation imposed by bread and salt? I have slain a
thousand youths like thee, save one youth, and thou shalt complete the thousand. —
And he cried out at him ; so he was silent, and he knew that the arrow of fate had
pierced him.
The accursed then gave orders to loose his bonds ; after which they gave him to
drink a little water, while the Magian laughed, and said. By the fire and the light
and the shade and the heat, I did not imagine that thou wouldst fall into my net ;
but the fire strengthened me against thee, and aided me to seize thee, that I might
accomplish my affair, and return, and make thee a sacrifice to it, that it might be
pleased with me. So Hassan replied, Thou hast been unfaithful to the bond of bread
and salt. And upon this the Magian raised his hand and gave him a blow, and
he fell, and bit the deck with his teeth, and fainted, his tears running down his
cheek. The Magian then ordered that they should light for him a fire ; therefore
Hassan said to him. What wilt thou do with it? He answered him, This is the fire,
that emitteth light and sparks, and it is what I worship ; and if thou wilt worship
it as I do, I will give thee half my wealth, and marry to thee my daughter. But
Hassan cried out at him, and said to him, Wo to thee ! Thou art surely an infidel
Magian: thou worshippest the fire instead of the Almighty King, the Creator of the
night and the day, and this is nought but an evil among religions. — And thereupon
the Magian was enraged, and said, Wilt thou not agree with me, dog of the Arabs,
and embrace my religion? But Hassan agreed not with him therein, and the
accursed Magian arose, and prostrated himself to the fire, and ordered his young
men to throw Hassan down upon his face. So they threw him down upon his face,
and the Magian proceeded to beat him with a whip of plaited thongs until he lace-
rated his sides, while he cried for aid, but was not aided, and implored protection,
but none protected him ; and he raised his eye to the Avenging King, and endeavoured
to propitiate Him by appealing to the Chosen Prophet. He had lost patience, and
his tears ran down upon his cheeks like rain. Then the Magian ordered the slaves
to make him sit, and to bring him some food and drink. So they brought it; but
he would not eat nor drink. The Magian proceeded to torture him night and day
during the voyage, while he endured with patience, and humbled himself to God (to
whom be ascribed might and glory !) ; and the heart of the Magian was hardened
against him.
They ceased not to pursue their Voyage over the sea for a period of three months,
during which Hassan continued to suffer torture from the Magian ; but when the
three months were completed, God (whose name be exalted !) sent against the ship
a wind, and the sea became black, and tossed the ship with violence by reason of the
greatness of the wind. And thereupon the master and the sailors said, This, by
Allah, is all occasioned by the crime committed against this young man, who hath
been for three months suffering torment from this Magian, and this is not allowed
by God, whose name be exalted ! Then they rose against the Magian, and slew his
young men and all who were with him. So when the Magian saw that they had
elain the young men, he made sure of destruction, and feared for himself; wherefore
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 631
he loosed Hassan from his bonds, pulled off from him the tattered garments that
were upon him, and clad him with others ; and he made peace with him, promising
that he would teach him the art, and restore him to his country, and said to him,
my son, blame me not for that which I have done unto thee. But Hassan said to
him, How can I any longer rely upon thee? He rejoined, my son, were it not for
offence, there were no such thing as pardon ; and I did not unto thee these deeds
save for the purpose of my seeing thy patience ; and thou knowest that the case is
wholly in the hand of God. The sailors, therefore, and the master, rejoiced at his
release, and Hassan prayed for them, and praised God (whose name be exalted!),
and thanked Him. Then the winds became stilled, the darkness was withdrawn,
and the wind and the voyage became pleasant. And Hassan said to the Magian,
Persian, whither repairest thou ? He answered, my son, I am going to the Moun-
tain of the Clouds, on which is the elixir wherewith we practise alchemy. And the
Magian swore to him by the fire and the light that he no longer meditated to do
Hassan aught that might frighten him. So the heart of Hassan was comforted ; he
■was rejoiced at the words of the Magian, and proceeded to eat with him, and drink
and sleep ; and the Magian clad him with his own apparel.
They continued their voyage for three months more ; after which the vessel moored
on a long coast, all of it composed of pebbles, white and yellow and blue and black
and of every other colour. And when the vessel moored, the Persian rose, and said,
O Hassan, arise and land ; for we have arrived at the place of our desire and our
■wish. So Hassan arose and landed with the Persian, and the Magian charged the
master to attend to his affairs. Then Hassan walked on with the Magian until they
were far from the ship and had disappeared from before the eyes of the crew ; where-
upon the Magian seated himself, and took forth from his pocket a drum of copper,
and a tassel of silk worked with gold and bearing talismans, and he beat the drum ;
and when he beat it, there appeared a dust from the further part of the desert. Has
san therefore wondered at his action, and feared him ; and he repented of his having
landed with him, and his complexion changed. So upon this the Magian looked at
him and said to him. What aileth thee, my son ? By the fire and the light thou
hast nothing to fear from me ; and were it not that my affair cannot be accomplished
save by thy means, I had not brought thee out from the ship. Rejoice at the pros-
pect of everything good. This dust is the dust occasioned by a thing that we shall
mount, and it will aid us to cross this desert, and will render easy unto us the incon-
venience thereof. — And but a little while had elapsed when the dust dispersed and
discovered three excellent she-camels. Then the Persian mounted one of them,
and Hassan mounted one, and they put their provisions on the third ; and they pro-
ceeded for seven days, after which they came to an extensive tract; and whe'Vi they
alighted at that tract, they beheld a cupola constructed upon four columns of red
gold. They alighted from the she-camels, and, having entered beneath the cupola,
ate and drank and rested ; and Hassan happened to look aside, and he saw some-
thing lofty ; so he said to the Magian, What is this, uncle? The Magian answered.
This is a palace. And Hassan said to him, Wilt thou not arise, that we may enter
it to rest ourselves in it, and to divert ourselves with the sight of it? But the Magian
upon this went away, saying to him. Mention not to me this palace ; for in it is
my enemy, and with him there happened to me ati event of which this is not the
time to inform thee.
Then he beat the drum, and the she-camels approached: so they mounted; and
they proceeded for seven days more ; and when the eighth day arrived, the Magian
said, Hassan, what is it that thou seest? Hassan answered, I see clouds and mists
between the east and the west. And the Magian replied. This is not clouds nor
mists ; but is a great lofty mountain, whereon the clouds divide, and there are not
any clouds above it, on account of its excessive height and vast elevation. This
mountain is the object of my desire, and upon it is that which we want. For the
sake of this I brought thee with me, and my affair will be accomplished by thy
632 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
means. — So tl ereupon Hassan despaired of life. He then said to the Magian, By
the object of thy worship, and by what thou believest in thy religion, what is the
thing on account of which thou hast brought me? And he answered him, The art
of alchemy will not succeed save by means of an herb that groweth in the place
where the clouds pass, and on which they are separated ; and it is this mountain ;
the herb is upon it; and when we have obtained the herb, I will show thee what is
this art. And Hassan replied, by reason of his fear. Yes, my master. He had
despaired of life, and he wept on account of his separation from his mother and his
family and his home, repenting of his having opposed his mother.
They ceased not to proceed until they arrived at that mountain, and stopped
beneath it, when Hassan saw upon that mountain a palace : so he said to the Magian
What is this palace ? And the Magian answered, This is the abode of the Genii
and the Ghouls and the Devils. Then the Magian alighted from his camel, and
ordered Hassan to alight also ; and he came to him and kissed his head, and said to
him. Blame me not for that which I did to thee. I will preserve thee when thou
ascendest to the palace, and it behooveth thee that thou be not dishonest to me in
aught of that which thou wilt bring thence: I will share it with thee equally. —
And he replied, I hear and obey. The Persian then opened a leathern bag, and
took forth from it a mill, and he also took forth from it a quantity of wheat, and
ground it with that mill ; after which he kneaded the flour, and made of it three
round cakes, and lighted a fire, and baked the cakes. He next took forth the copper
drum and the figured silk-tassel, and beat the drum; whereupon the camels came;
and he chose one of them, and slaughtered it, and stripped off its skin. Then look-
ing towards Hassan, he said to him, Hear, my son, Hassan, what I charge thee
to do. He replied, Well. And the Magian said, Enter this skin, and I will sew it
up over thee, and will lay thee upon the ground ; thereupon the Rocs will come, and
carry thee off, and fly with thee to the summit of the mountain. And take thou this
knife with thee, and when the birds have finished their flight, and thou knowest that
they have put thee upon the mountain, cut open with it the skin, and go forth ; for
the birds will fear thee and will fly away from thee ; and do thou look down to me
from the summit of the mountain, and speak to me, that I may inform thee of that
which thou shalt do. — He then prepared for him the three cakes, and a leathern
bottle containing water, and put them with him into the skin ; after which he sewed
it up over him, and went to a distance from him. And the Rocs came, and carried
him off, flew with him to the summit of the mountain, and there put him down. So
when Hassan knew that they had put him upon the mountain, he cut open the skin
and came forth from it, and spoke to the Magian, who, on hearing his words,
rejoiced, and danced by reason of the violence of his joy ; and he said to him. Go in
the direction to which thy back is turned, and tell me what thou seest. Hassan
therefore went, and he beheld many rotten bones, by which was much wood, and he
informed him of all that he saw ; upon which the Magian said. This is the object of
desire and search. Take then, of the wood, six bundles, and throw them down to
me ; for this wood is the material with which we shall perform the alchemical pro-
cess. — So he threw down to him the six bundles ; and when the Magian saw that
those bundles had come down to him, he said to Hassan, young wretch, the thing
that I desired of thee hath been accomplished ; and if thou wilt, remain upon this
mountain, or cast thyself down upon the ground that thou mayest perish. Then the
Magian departed.
Upon this, Hassan exclaimed, There is no strength nor power but in God, the
High, the Great! This dog hath circumvontod me! — He sat wailing for himself,
and reciting verses. He then stood upon his feet, and looked to the right and left,
and walked along the summit of the mountain. He made sure of his death, and he
proceeded to walk along until he came to the other side of the mountain, when he
saw, by the side of the mountain, a blue sea, agitated with waves; and it was foamy,
and every wave of it was like a great mountain. Thereupon he sat, and recited an
THE STORY OF HASSAN OP BALSORA. 633
easy portion of the Koran, and begged God (whose name be exalted!) to alleviate
his trouble, either by death, or by deliverance from these difficulties ; after which he
recited for himself the funeral-prayer, and cast himself into the sea. The waves,
however, bore him along safely, by the will of God (whose name be exalted !), until
he came forth from the sea safe, by the decree of God. So he rejoiced, and praised
God (exalted be his name!), and thanked Him.
He then arose and walked along, searching for something to eat ; and while he
was doing thus, lo, he came to the place where he was with Bahram the Magian.
And he walked on a while, and saw a great palace, rising high into the air. He
therefore went to it; and behold, it was the palace respecting which he asked the
Magian, and of which he said to him. In this palace is ray enemy. And upon this,
Hassan said. By Allah, I must enter this palace. Perhaps I may experience relief
in it. — And when he came to it, he saw its door open. So he entered the door-way;
and he saw a seat in the entrance-passage, and on the seat two damsels like two
moons, with a chess-table before them, and they were playing ; and one of them,
raising her head towards him, cried out by reason of her joy, and said, By Allah,
this is a human being, and I imagine that he is the person whom Bahram the Ma-
gian brought this year. Therefore when Hassan heard her words, he cast himself
down before them, and wept violently, and said, my mistresses, I am that poor
person. And upon this the younger damsel said to her sister the elder, Bear wit-
ness against me, my sister, that this is my brother by a covenant and compact
before God, and that I will die for his death and live for his life, and rejoice for his
joy and mourn for his mourning. Then she rose to him, and embraced and kissed
him, and, taking him by his hand, led him into the palace, her sister accompanying
her; and she pulled off from him the tattered clothing that was upon him, and
brought him a suit of royal apparel, with which she clad him. She also prepared
for him viands of every kind, and presented them to him, and she and her sister sat
and ate with him ; and they said to him. Relate to us thine adventure with the
wicked dog, the enchanter, from the time of thy falling into his hand to the time of thine
escape from him, and we will relate to thee what hath happened to us with him from
the first of the case to the last, that thou mayest be on thy guard if thou see him
again. And vrhen Hassan heard from them these words, and saw their ki»d recep-
tion of him, his soul was tranquillized, and his reason returned to him, and he pro-
ceeded to i-elate to them what had happened to him with the Magian from first to
last; whereupon they said to him, Didst thou ask him respecting this palace? He
answered, Yes, I asked him, and he said to me, I like not the mention of it; for
this palace belongeth to the Devils and Demons. So the two damsels were viol^iitly
enraged, and said. Did this infidel call us Devils and Demons? He answered them.
Yes. And the younger, the sister of Hassan, said. By Allah, I will surely slay him
in the most abominable manner, and I will surely deprive him of the air of the
world ! — And how, said Hassan, wilt thou get to him and slay him? She answered,
He is in a garden called Mashid, and I must without fail slay hira soon. And her
sister said to her, Hassan hath spoken truth, and all that he hath said of this dog is
true : but relate to him our whole story, that it may remain in his memory. So the
young damsel said : —
Know, my brother, that we are of the daughters of the Kings. Our father is
one of the Kings of the Genii, of great dignity, and he hath troops and guards and
servants, consisting of Marids ; and God (whose name be exalted !) hath blessed him
with seven daughters by one wife; but such folly and jealousy and pride as cannot
be surpassed affected him, so that he married us not to any one. Then he sum-
moned his Viziers and his companions, and said to them. Do ye know any place for
me that no one can invade, neither any of mankind nor any of the Genii, and that
aboundeth with trees and fruits and rivers? So they said to him. What, wouldst
thou do there, King of the age ? He answered, I desire to place in it my sjven
634 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
daughters. And thereupon they said to him, King, the Palace of the Mountain
of the Clouds, which an Afrite of the refractory Genii who stubbornly disobeyed
the vow exacted by Solomon (on whom be peace !) founded, and which palace, after
that Afrite perished, none inhabited after him, neither any of the Genii nor any of
mankind, will be suitable for them ; for it is separated from the rest of the world.
None gaineth access to it; and around it are trees and fruits and rivers, and around
it is running water sweeter than honey and colder than snow: no one having the
leprosy or elephantiasis or other diseases ever drank of it without being cured im-
mediately. So when our father heard of this, he sent us to this palace, and sent
with us soldiers and troops, and collected for us what we require in it. He used,
when he desired to ride, to beat the drum ; whereupon all the troops presented them-
selves to him, and he chose whom of them he would mount, and the rest departed.
And when our father desireth that we should visit him, he ordereth the enchanters
his dependants to bring us, and they come to us and take us and convey us to his
presence, that he may cheer himself by our society, and that we may accomplish
our desires by seeing him: then he sendeth us back to our place. We have five
sisters, who have gone to hunt in this adjacent desert: for in it are wild beasts that
cannot be numbered nor calculated. Each two of us have their turn to remain at
home for the purpose of cooking the food, and the turn came to us, me, and this my
sister; therefore we remained to cook for them the food ; and we were begging God
(whose perfection be extolled, and whose name be exalted !) that He would bless us
with a human being to cheer us by his company. Then praise be to God who hath
brought thee unto us ! And do thou be of good heart and cheerful eye. No harm
shall befall thee.
So Hassan rejoiced, and said. Praise be to God who hath guided us to the way of
deliverance, and hath moved hearts with affection and compassion for us ! Then
his sister arose and took him by his hand, led him into a private chamber, and
brought out from it linen and furniture such as no creature could procure. And
after a while their sisters returned from the chase, and they acquainted them with
the case of Hassan ; whereupon they rejoiced at his arrival, and, coming in to him
in the private chamber, they saluted him and congratulated him on his safety. He
remained with them, passing the most pleasant life, and enjoying the most agree-
able happiness, and he used to go forth with them to the chase, and slaughter the
game. Thus Hassan became familiar with them, and he ceased not to reside with
them in this condition until bis body became healthy, and he recovered from the
state in which he was; his frame was invigorated, and he became stout and fat, by
reason of the generous treatment that he enjoyed, and his residence with them in
that place. He amused and diverted himself with them in that decorated palace,
and in all the gardens and among the flowers, while they treated him with courtesy,
and cheered him with discourse, and his sadness ceased. The damsels became ex-
ceedingly joyful and happy in his society, and he rejoiced in their society more than
they rejoiced in him. And afterwards, his sister, the young damsel, related to her
sisters the story of Bahram the Magian, telling them that he had called them Devils
and Demons and Ghouls ; whereupon they swore to her that he should surely be
slain.
Then, in the following year, the accursed came, having with him a comely young
man, a Mahometan, resembling the moon, shackled, and tortured in the most cruel
manner; and he alip;hted with him beneath the palace where Hassan introduced
himself to the damsels. Now Hassan was sitting by the river, beneath the trees ;
and when he beheld the Magian, his heart palpitated, his complexion changed, and
he struck his hands together, and said to the damsels. By Allah, my sisters, aid
me to slay this accursed wretch ; for here he hath come, and he hath fallen into
your hands, and with him is a young Mahometan, a captive, of the sons of the great,
whom he is torturing with varieties of painful torture. I desire to slay him, that
I may heal my soul by taking vengeance upon him, that I may also release this
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 635
young man from his torture, and gain the recompense thereof [from God], and that
the young Mahometan may return to his home, and be reunited to his brethren and
his family and friends. That action will be as an alma proceeding from you, and ye
will acquire the reward thereof from God, whose name be exalted ! — And the dam
sels replied. We hear and obey God and thee, Hassan. They then threw clost
veils over their faces, equipped themselves with the implements of war, and slung
on the swords ; and they brought to Hassan a courser of the best breed, furnished
him with complete accoutrements, and armed him with beautiful weapons. Having
done this, they proceeded all together; and they found that the Magian had
slaughtered a camel and skinned it, and was tormenting the young man, and saying
to him, Eater this skin. So Hassan came behind him, while the Magian knew not
of his presence, and cried out at him, so that he stupified and confounded him.
Then, advancing to him, he said to him. Withhold thy hand, accursed ! enemy
of God, and enemy of the Mahometans ! dog! perfidious wretch ! worshipper
of fire! pursuer of the way of the wicked, who worshippest the fire and the light,
and swearest by the shade and the heat ! — The Magian therefore looked aside, and,
seeing Hassan, he said to him, my son, how didst thou escape, and who brought
thee down to the ground? Hassan answered him, God delivered me: He who hath
caused thy life to be taken by the hands of thine enemies. As thou torturedst me
all the way, infidel ! impious wretch ! thou hast fallen into afiliction, and turned
aside from the way ; and neither mother shall profit thee, nor brother, nor friend,
nor firm covenant; for thou saidst, Whoso shall be unfaithful to the bond of bread
and salt, may God execute vengeance upon him ! — and thou hast been unfaithful to
the bond of bread and salt ; wherefore God hath thrown thee into my power, and
thy deliverance from me hath become remote. — Upon this, the Magian said to him,
By Allah, my son, thou art dearer in my estimation than my soul and than the
light of mine eye ! But Hassan advanced to him, and quickly smote him upon his
shoulders so that the sword came forth glittering from his vitals, and God hurried
his soul to the fire ; a miserable abode ! Then Hassan took the leathern bag that
was with him, and opened it, and, having taken forth from it the drum and the
plectrum, beat with this the drum ; whereupon the camels came to him like light-
ning; and he loosed the young man from his bonds, mounted him upon a camel, on
which he put for him the remaining food and water, and said to him. Repair to the
place of thy desire. He therefore departed, after God had thus delivered him from
his affliction by the hand of Hassan. Then the damsels, when they had seen Hassan
smite the neck of the Magian, rejoiced in him greatly ; and they came round him,
wondering at his courage and his exceeding intrepidity, and thanked him for that
which he had done, congratulated him on his safety, and said to him, Hassan,
thou hast done a deed by which thou hast healed the sick, and pleased the Glorious
King. And he and the damsels returned to the palace.
He remained with them, eating and drinking, and sporting and laughing. His
residence with them was pleasant to him, and he forgot his mother. But while he
was with them, passing the most delightful life, there came towards them a great
dust from the further part of the desert, whereby the sky was darkened. So the
damsels said to him. Arise, Hassan, and enter thy private chamber, and conceal
thyself; or, if thou wilt, enter the garden and hide thyself among the trees and the
grape-vines ; and no harm shall befall thee. And he arose and went in and con-
cealed himself in his private chamber, having closed the door upon him, within the
palace. And after a while, the dust dispersed, and there appeared beneath it numer-
ous encumbered troops, like the roaring sea, approaching from the King, the father
of the damsels. When the troops arrived, the damsels lodged them in the best
manner, and entertained them during three days ; after which the damsels asked
them respecting their state and their tidings ; and they replied. We have come from
the King to summon you. So the damsels said to them. And what doth the King
desire of us? One of them answered, One of the Kings celebrateth a marriajje-
636 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
festivity, and he desireth that ye should be present at that festivity, that ye may
divert yourselves. — And how long, said the damsels, shall we be absent from onr
place? They answered, The time of going and coming, and a residence of two
months. The damsels therefore arose, and, entering the palace, went in to Hassan,
and acquainted him with the case, and they said to him, Verily this place is thy
place, and our house is thy house : so be of good heart and cheerful eye, and fear
not, nor grieve ; for no one can gain access to us in this place. Then be of tranquil
heart and joyful mind until we come to thee again. These keys of our private
chambers we leave with thee ; but, our brother, we beg thee by the bond of bro-
therhood that thou open not this door, [pointing to one of the doors,] for thou hast
no need of opening it. — Then they bade him farewell, and departed in company with
the troops.
So Hassan remained in the palace alone. His bosom was contracted, and his
patience became exhausted, his affliction was excessive, and he was sad, mourning
for their separation greatly ; the palace, notwithstanding its amplitude, was strait
unto him, and when he found himself solitary and sad, he reflected upon the damsels,
and recited verses. He used to go alone to hunt in the deserts, and bring back the
game and slaughter it, and eat alone. His gloominess and disquietude, on account
of his solitariness, became excessive. So he arose and went about through the palace,
exhausted every part of it, and opened the private chambers of the damsels ; and he
saw in them riches such as would ravish the minds of beholders. But he delighted
not in aught thereof, by reason of the absence of the damsels; and a fire burned in
his heart on account of the door which his sister had charged him not to open, and
respecting which she commanded him that he should not go near to it, nor ever open
it. He said within himself, My sister did not charge me not to open this door save
because within it is a thing with which she desireth that no one should become ac-
quainted. By Allah, I will arise and open it and see what is within it, though with-
in may be death. Accordingly, he took the key, and opened it, and he saw in it a
flight of stairs at the upper end of the place, vaulted with stones of the onyx of
Yemen ; and he ascended those stairs, and went up until he arrived at the roof of
the palace, saying within himself, This is what she forbade me to visit. He then
went about the top of the palace, and he looked down upon a place beneath it
entirely occupied by sown fields, and gardens and trees and flowers, and wild beasts,
and birds which were warbling and proclaimining the perfection of God, the One,
the Omnipotent. He gazed upon those places of diversion, and saw a roaring sea,
agitated with waves ; and he ceased not to go round about the palace, on the right
and left, until he came to a pavilion upon four columns, in which he saw a saloon
decorated with all kinds of stones, such as the jacinth and the emerald and the
balass-ruby, and various other jewels. It was built with one brick of gold and
another brick of silver and another brick of jacinth and another brick of emerald ;
and in the midst of that pavilion was a pool full of water, over which was a trellis
of sandal-wood and aloes-wood, reticulated with bars of red gold and oblong emeralds,
and adorned with varieties of jewels and pearls, every bead of which was of the size
of a pigeon's egg. Also by the side of the pool was a couch of aloes-wood adorned
with large pearls and with jewels, reticulated with red gold, and comprising all kinds
of coloured gems and precious minerals, set so as to correspond, one with another.
Around it the birds warbled with various tongues, proclaiming the perfection of God
(whose name be exalted !) by the sweetness of their notes and the diversity of their
tongues ; and the like of this palace neither a Kosrou nor a Caesar ever possessed.
So Hassan was amazed when he beheld it, and he sat in it, looking at what was
around it.
And while he sat in it, wondering at the beauty of its construction, and at the
lustre of the large pearls and the jacinths that it comprised, and at all the artificial
works that it contained, wondering also at those sown fields, and at the birds that
proclaimed the perfection of God, the One, the Omnipotent, and contemplating the
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA, 637
memorials of him whom God (exalted be his name !) enabled to construct this pavil-
ion (for he was of mighty condition), lo, he beheld ten birds, which approached from
the direction of the desert, coming to that pavilion and that pool. Hassan, therefore,
knew that they sought the pool to drink of its water: so he concealed himself from
them, fearing that they would see him and fly from him. They then alighted upon a
great, beautiful tree, and they went round it; and he saw among them a great and
beautiful bird, the handsomest among them ; and the rest encompassed it, and
attended it as servants ; whereat Hassan wondered. That bird began to peck the
nine others with its bill, and to behave proudly towards them, and they fled from it,
while Hassan stood diverting himself with the sight of them from a distance. Then
they seated themselves upon the couch, and each of them rent open its skin with its
talons, and came forth from it ; and lo, it was a dress of feathers. There came forth
from the dresses ten damsels, virgins, who shamed by their beauty the lustre of the
moon ; and when they had divested themselves, they all descended into the pool, and
washed, and proceeded to play and to jest together; the bird who surpassed the
others throwing them down and plunging them, and they fleeing from her, and un-
able to put forth their hands to her. When Hassan beheld her, he lost his reason,
and his mind was captivated, and he knew that the damsels forbade him not to open
the door save on this account. He became violently enamoured of her by reason of
what he beheld of her beauty and loveliness and her stature and justness of form,
while she was sporting and jesting, and they were sprinkling one another with the
water. Hassan stood looking at them, sighing that he was not with them ; his mind
was perplexed by the beauty of the young damsel, his heart was entangled in the
snare of her love, and he had fallen into the snare ; the eye was looking, in the heart
a fire was burning; and the soul is prone to evil. He wept with desire by reason
of her beauty and loveliness, fires were shot into his heart on her account ; a flame,
of which the sparks could not be extinguished, increased in him, and a desire of
which the signs could not be hidden.
Then, after that, the damsels came up from the pool, while Hassan stood looking
at them ; but they saw him not ; and he was wondering at their beauty and loveliness
and gracefulness and elegance. And when they came forth from the water, each of
them put on her dress and ornaments. The chief damsel put on a green dress, and
surpassed in her loveliness the beauties of the world, and the lustre of her face out-
shone the bright full moon : she surpassed the branches in the beauty of her bend-
ing motions, and confounded the minds with apprehension of incurring calumny.
The damsels then sat conversing and laughing together, while Hassan stood looking
at them, drowned in the sea of his passion, and bewildered in the valley of his soli-
citude, and he said within himself, By Allah, my sister said not to me. Open not this
door — save on account of these damsels, and in fear of my becoming enamoured of
one of them. He continued to gaze at the beauties of the chief damsel, who was
the most lovely person that God had created in her time, surpassing in her beauty
all human beings. She had a mouth like the seal of Solomon, and hair blacker than
the night of estrangement is to the afflicted, distracted lover, and a forehead like the
new moon of the Festival of Ramadan, and eyes resembling the eyes of the gazelles,
and an aquiline nose brightly shining, and cheeks like anemones, and lips like coral,
and teeth like pearls strung on necklaces of native gold, and a neck like molten
silver, above a figure like a willow branch. — The damsels ceased not to laugh and
sport, while he stood upon his feet looking at them, and forgot food and drink, until
the time of afternoon-prayer drew near, when the chief damsel said to her compan-
ions, O daughters of Kings, the time hath become late to us, and our country is dis-
tant, and we are tired of staying here. Arise, therefore, that we may depart to our
place. — Accordingly each of them arose, and put on her dress of feathers ; and when
they were enveloped in their dresses, they became birds as they were at first, and
all flew away together, the chief damsel being in the midst of them.
Hassan therefore despaired of them, and he desired to arise and descend from bis
638 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
place ; but he could not rise. His tears ran down upon his cheek, and his desire
ijoname violent. Then he walked a little, but without being led aright, until he
descended to the lower part of the palace ; and he ceased not to drag himself along
in a sitting posture till he came to the door of the private chamber; whereupon he
passed through, and locked it after him ; and he lay upon his side, sick, neither eat-
ing nor drinking. He was drowned in the sea of his solicitudes, and he wept and
lamented for himself until the morning. And when the sun rose, he opened the door
of the private chamber, and ascended to the place in which he was before, and sat
before the saloon until the approach of night ; but not one of the birds came while
he sat expecting them. So he wept violently, till he fainted, and fell prostrate upon
the ground; and when he recovered from his fit, he dragged himself along in a sit-
ting posture, and descended to the lower part of the palace. The night had come,
and the whole world was strait unto him, and he ceased not to weep and lament for
himself all the night until the morning came and the sun rose over the hills and the
lowlands. He ate not, nor drank, nor slept, nor had he any rest ; during the day he
was perplexed, and during the night sleepless, confounded, intoxicated by his solici-
tude, expressing the violence of his desire in some verses of a distracted poet.
Now, while he was in this violent state of distraction by reason of his passion, lo,
a dust arose from the desert ; whereupon he arose and ran down and hid himself.
He knew that the mistresses of the palace had come ; and but a little while had
elapsed when the troops alighted, and encompassed the palace. The seven damsels
also alighted, and they entered the palace, and took off their arms and all the imple-
ments of war that were upon them, except the youngest damsel, his sister, who took
not off the implements of war that were upon her, but came to the private chamber
of Hassan ; and she saw him not. So she searched for him, and fuund him in one
of the closets, infirm and lean ; his body had become languid and his bones were
wasted, his complexion had become sallow and his eyes were sunk in his face, in
consequence of the little food and drink that he had taken, and the abundance of his
tears by reason of his attachment to the damsel, and his passion for her. Therefore
when his sister the Fairy saw him in this state, she was confounded, and her reason
quitted her, and she asked him respecting his condition, and the state in which he
was, and what had befixllen him, saying to him. Inform me, my brother, that I
may devise some stratagem for thee to remove thine affliction, and I will be thy sacri-
fice. And upon this he wept violently, and said. The lover, when his beloved is
separated from him, hath nothing except sorrow and affliction. Within him is dis-
ease, and without is burning: the beginning is remembrance, and the end is solici-
tude. So when his sister heard these words, she wondered at his eloquence and his
fluency of speech, and at his beauty of expression and his reply to her ; and she
said to him, my brother, when didst thou fall into this predicament in which thou
art, and when did this happen to thee? For I see thee speak in verses, and shed
copious tears. I conjure thee by Allah, my brother, and by the sacred nature of
the love that existeth between us, that thou inform me of thy state, and acquaint me
with thy secret, and conceal not from me aught of that which hath befallen thee
during our absence ; for my bosom hath become contracted, and my life is perturbed
on thine account. — And thereupon he sighed, and shed tears like rain, and replied,
I fear, my sister, if I inform thee, that thou wilt not aid me to attain my desire,
but wilt leave me to die sorrowing, in my anguish. And she said, No, by Allah,
my brother, I will not abandon thee, though my life should be lost in consequence
thereof.
So he told her what had befallen him, and what he beheld when he had opened
the door, and informed her that the cause of his affliction and distress was his pas-
sion for the damsel whom he had seen, and his affection for her, and that for ten
days he had not desired food nor drink. Then he wept violently. And his sister
wept at his weeping : she was moved with compassion for his case, and pitied him
for his distance from home ; and she said to him, my brother, be of good heart
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 639
and cheerful eye ; for I will expose myself to peril with thee, and give my life to
content thee, and contrive for thee a stratagem even if it occasion the loss of my
precious things and my soul, that I may accomplish thy desire, if it be the will of
God, whose name be exalted! But I charge thee, my brother, to conceal the
secret from my sisters. Therefore reveal not thy state to any one of them, lest my
life and thine be lost ; and if they ask thee respecting the opening of the door,
answer them, I never opened it ; but I was troubled in heart on account of your
absence from me, and sadness for your loss, and my residence in the palace by my-
self. — And he replied. Yes: this is the right course. He kissed her head, and his
bosom became dilated. He had been in fear of his sister on account of his having
opened the door ; so now his soul was restored to him, after he had thought himself
at the point of destruction by reason of the violence of his fear.
He then demanded of his sister something to eat; whereupon she arose and went
forth from him : and afterwards she went in to her sisters, mourning and weeping
for him. So they asked her respecting her state, and she informed them that her
heart was troubled for her brother, and that he was sick, and for ten days no food
had entered his stomach. They therefore asked her respecting the cause of his sick-
ness ; and she answered them. Its cause was our absence from him, and our leaving
him desolate ; for these days during which we were absent from him were to him
longer than a thousand years, and he is excusable, seeing that he is a stranger and
alone, and we left him solitary, without any one to cheer him by society, or any one
to comfort his heart. Besides, he is, at all events, but a youth, and probably he
remembered his family and his mother, who is an old woman, and he imagined that
she was weeping for him during the hours of the night and the periods of the day,
and that she ceased not to mourn for him ; but we used to console him by our society.
— And when her sisters heard her words, they wept by reason of the violence of their
sorrow for him, and said to her. By Allah, he is excusable. Then they went forth
to the troops and dismissed them ; after which they went in to Hassan and saluted
him ; and they saw that his charrhs had become altered, and his complexion had
become sallow, and his body had become lean ; wherefore they wept in pity for him,
and they sat with him, and cheered him and comforted his heart by conversation,
relating to him all that they had seen of wonders and strange things, and what
happened to the bridegroom with the bride. The damsels remained with him
during the period of a whole month, cheering him by their society, and caressing
him ; but every day he became more ill ; and whenever they beheld him in this state,
they wept for him violently, the youngest damsel being the one of them who wept
the most.
Then after the month, the damsels were desirous of riding forth to hunt, and they
resolved to do so, and asked their youngest sister to mount with them ; but she said
to them. By Allah, my sisters, I cannot go forth with you while my brother is in
this state, until he is restored to health, and the affliction that he suffereth quitteth
him. I will rather sit with him to soothe him. — And when they heard her words,
they thanked her for her kindness, and said to her. Whatever thou dost with this
stranger, thou wilt be recompensed for it. Then they left her with him in the palace,
and mounted, taking with them provisions for twenty days. And when they were
far from the palace, their sister knew that they had traversed a wide space : so she
came to her brother, and said to him, my brother, arise ; show me this place in
which thou sawest the damsels. And he replied, In the name of Allah : on the head:
— rejoicing at her words, and feeling sure of the attainment of his desire. He then
desired to arise and go with her, and to show her the place ; but he was unable to
walk ; wherefore, she carried him in her bosom, and conveyed him to the [top of
the] palace ; and when he was upon it, he showed her the place in which he had
seen the damsels, and he showed her the saloon and the pool. And his sister said
to him, Describe to me, my brother, their state, and how they came. He therefore
described to her what he had observed of them, and especially the damsel of whom
640 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
he had becoine enamoured ; and when she heard the description of her, she knew
her, and her countenance became sallow, and her state became changed. So he said
to her, my sister, thy countenance hath become sallow, and thy state is changed ;
and she replied : —
my brother, know that this damsel is the daughter of one of the Kings of the
Genii, of great dignity. Her father had obtained dominion over men and Genii, and
enchanters and diviners, and tribes and guards, and regions and cities in great
numbers, and hath vast riches. Our father is one of his viceroys, and no one is
able to prevail against him, on account of the abundance of his troops, and the
extent of his dominions, and the greatness of his wealth. He hath assigned to his
children, the damsels whom thou sawest, a tract of a whole year's journey in length
and breadth, and to that tract is added a great river encompassing it, and no one
can gain access to that place, neither any of mankind, nor any of the Genii. He
hath an army of damsels who smite with swords and thrust with spears, five and
twenty thousand in number, every one of whom, when she mounteth her courser and
equippeth herself with her implements of war, will withstand a thousand brave
horsemen ; and he hath seven daughters who in bravery and horsemanship equal
their sisters, and excel them. He hath set over this tract, of which I have informed
thee, his eldest daughter, the chief of her sisters ; and she is distinguished by bravery
and horsemanship, and guile and artifice and enchantment, by which she can over-
come all the people of her dominions. But as to the damsels who were with her,
they are the chief ladies of her empire, and her guards, and her favourites among
the people of her dominions ; and these feathered skins wherewith they fly are the
work of the enchanters among the Genii. Now if thou desire to possess this damsel,
and to marry her, sit here and wait for her ; for they come on the first day of every
month to this place ; and when thou seest that they have come, conceal thyself, and
beware of appearing; for the lives of all of us would be lost. Know then what I tell
thee, and keep it in thy memory. Sit in a place that shall be near unto them, so
that thou shalt see them and they shall not see thee ; and when they take oS their
dresses, cast thine eye upon the dress of feathers belonging to the chief damsel, who
is the object of thy desire, and take it; but take not aught beside it; for it is the
thing that conveyeth her to her country. So if thou possess it, thou possesseth her ;
and beware of her beguiling thee, and saying, thou who hast stolen my dress,
restore it to me, and here I am with thee and before thee and in thy possession : —
for, if thou give it her, she will slay thee, and will demolish the pavilions over ua,
and slay our father. Know therefore thy case, and how thou shalt act. — When her
sisters see that her dress hath been stolen, they will fly away, and leave her sitting
alone: so thereupon go thou to her and seize her by her hair and drag her along;
and when thou shalt have dragged her to thee, thou wilt have obtained her, and she
will be in thy possession. Then, after this, take care of the dress of feathers; for as
long as it remaineth with thee, she is in thy power, and in captivity to thee ; since
she cannot fly away to her country save with it. And when thou hast taken her,
carry her and descend with her to thy private chamber, and reveal not to her that
thou hast taken the dress.
So when Hassan heard the words of his sister, his heart was tranquillized, and his
terror was quieted, and the pain that he suffered ceased. He then rose erect upon
his feet, and kissed the head of his sister; after which he descended from the top of
the palace, he and his sister, and they slept that night. He studied to restore him-
self until the morning came ; and when the sun rose, he arose and opened the door
and ascended to the top. He sat there, and ceased not to sit until nightfall, when
his sister came up to him with some food and drink, and changed his clothes, and
he slept. She continued to do thus with him every day until the next month com-
menced. So when he saw the new moon, he watched for them : and while he was
doing thus, lo, they approached him, like lightning. On hia seeing them, therefore,
be concealed himself in a place so that he could see them and they could not see
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 641
him. The birds alighted, each bird of them seating herself in a place, and they rent
open their dresses, and the damsel of whom he was enamoured did the same as tlie
rest. This was done in a place near unto Hassan. She then descended into the pool
with her sisters: and thereupon Hassan arose and walked forward a little, still
concealing himself; and God veiled him : so he took the dress, and not one of them
saw him ; for they were playing together. And when they had ended, they came
forth, and each of them put on her dress of feathers, except his beloved, who came
to put on her dress and found it not. Upon this she cried out, and slapped her
face, and tore her clothes. Her sisters therefore came to her, and asked her respect-
ing her state, and she informed them that her dress of feathers had been lost;
whereupon they wept and cried out, and slapped their faces. And when the night
overtook them, they could not remain with her: so they left her upon the top of thi
palace alone. Then, when Hassan saw that they had flown away and were absent
from her, he listened to her, and he heard her say, thou who hast taken my dress,
and stripped me, I beg thee to restore it to me, and may God never make thee to
taste my grief! And on his hearing these her words, his reason was captivated by
his passion for her, his love for her increased, and he could not withhold himself
from her. He therefore arose from his place, and ran forward until he rushed upon
her and laid hold of her. Then he dragged her to him, and descended with her to
the lower part of the palace, and, having taken her into his private chamber, threw
over her his cloak, while she wept, and bit her hands. He locked the door upon her,
and went to his sister, and told her that he had got her and obtained possession
of her, and hfid brought her down to his private chamber, and he said to her,
She is DOW sitting weeping, and biting her hands.
His sister, therefore, when she heard his words, arose and repaired to the private
chamber, and, going in to her, she saw her weeping and mourning. She kissed the
ground before her, and then saluted her; and the damsel said to her, daughter of
the King, do people such as ye are do these vile deeds with the daughters of Kings?
Thou knowest that my father is a great King, and that all the Kings of the Genii
are terrified at him, and fear his awful power, and that he hath, of enchanters and
sages and diviners and devils and marids, those against whom none can prevail, and
that under his authority are people whose number none knoweth but God. How
then can it be right for you, daughters of Kings, to lodge men of human kind
with you, and to acquaint them with our circumstances and yours? If ye did not
80, how could this man gain access to us? — So the sister of Hassan answered her,
O'daughter of the King, verily this human being is perfect in kindness of disposi-
tion, and his desire is not to do any shameful action : he only loveth thee ; and
women were not created save for men. Were it not that he loveth thee, he had not
fallen sick on thine account, and his soul had not almost departed by reason of his
love of thee. — And she related to her all that Hassan had told her, with respect to
his passion for her, and how the damsels had acted in their flight and their washing
themselves, and told her that none of them all had pleased him excepting her; for
all of them were her slave-girls ; and that she was plunging them into the pool, and
not one of them could stretch forth her hand to her. And when she heard her
words, she despaired of escape. Then the sister of Hassan arose and went forth
from her, and brought to her a sumptuous dress, with which she clad her. She also
brought to her some food and drink, and ate with her, and comforted her heart and
appeased her terror. She ceased net to caress her with gentleness and kindness,
and said to her. Have compassion upon him who saw thee once and became a
victim of thy love. Thus she continued to caress and gratify her, and to address
her with pleasing words and expressions ; but she wept until daybreak came, when
her heart was comforted and she abstained from weeping, knowing that she had fallen
into the snare, and that her escape was impossible. So she said to the sister of
Hassan, daughter of the King, thus hath God appointed [and written] upon my
41
642 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
forehead, with respect to my estrangement and my disjunction from my country an^.
my fiimily and my sisters ; therefore I must endure with becoming patience what
my Lord hath decreed. Then the sister of Hassan appropriated to her alone a
private chamber in the palace, than which chamber there was none handsomer
there ; and she ceased not to sit with her and console her, and to comfort her heart,
until she was content, and her bosom became dilated, and she laughed, and her
trouble and contraction of bosom on account of her separation from her family and
home, and her separation from her sisters and her parents and her dominions,
ceased.
The sister of Hassan then went forth to him, and said to him, Arise, go in to her
in her private chamber, and kiss her hands and her feet. He therefore entered, and
did so; and he kissed her between her eyes, and said to her, mistress of beauties,
and life of souls, and delight of beholders, be tranquil in heart. I have not taken
thee but that I may be thy slave till the day of resurrection, and this my sister will
be thy slave-girl. I, my mistress, desire not aught save to marry thee, agreeably
with the ordinance of God and his Apostle, and to journey to my country, and I
will reside with thee in the city of Bagdad. I will purchase for thee female slaves
and male slaves ; and I have a mother, of the best of women, who will be thy ser-
vant. There is not a country there better than our country: everything that is in it
is better than what is in any other of all the countries, and its inhabitants and its
people are good people, with comely faces.
But while he was addressing her and cheering her by conversation, and she ad-
dressed him not with a single letter, some one knocked at the door of the palace.
So Hassan went forth to see who was at the door ; and lo, there were the damsels,
who had returned from the chase. He rejoiced at their coming, and met and saluted
them ; whereupon they offered up prayers in his favour for safety and health, and
he prayed for them also. They then alighted from their horses, and entered the
palace, and each of them went into her private chamber, where she pulled off the
worn clothes that were upon her, and put on comely apparel, after which they came
forth, and demanded the game; and they brought an abundance of gazelles and
wild oxen and hares and lions and hyenas, and other beasts, some of which they
brought forward for slaughter, and they left the rest with them in the palace.
Hassan stood among them with girded waist, slaughtering for them, while they
sported and amused themselves, rejoicing exceedingly at his doing thus. And when
they had finished the slaughter, they sat preparing something whereof to make their
dinner. Then Hassan advanced to the eldest damsel, and kissed her head : and he
proceeded to kiss all their heads, one after another. So they said to him. Thou hast
greatly humbled thyself to us, our brother, and we wonder at the excess of thine
affection for us, thou being a man of the sons of Adam, and we being of the Genii.
And thereupon his eyes shed tears, and wept violently; wherefore they said. What
is the news, and what causeth thee to weep ? Thou hast troubled our life by thy
weeping this day. It seemeth that thou hast conceived a longing to see thy mother
and thy country; and if the case be so, we will equip thee, and will journey with
thee to thy home and thy friends. — He replied. By Allah, my desire is not to be
separated from you. They therefore said to him. Then who of us hath disturbed
thee, that thou art thus troubled? And he was ashamed to say. Nought hath dis-
turbed me but love of the damsel — fearing that they would deny him their ap-
proval: wherefore he was silent, and did not acquaint them with aught of his case.
So his sister arose and said to them. He hath caught a bird from the air, and he de-
sireth of you that ye aid him to make her his wife. And they all looked at him,
and said to him, We are all before thee, and whatsoever thou demandest, we will do
it. But tell us thy tale, and conceal not aught of thy state. — He therefore said to
his sister. Tell thou my tale to them ; for I am abashed at them, and I cannot face
them with these words.
Accordingly, his sister said to them, my sisters, when we departed on our
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 643
journey and left this poor young; man alone, the palace became strait unto him, and
ne feared that some one might come in to him ; and ye know that the intellects of
the sons of Adam are weak. He opened the door that leadeth to the roof of the
palace, when his bosom was contracted and he had become solitary and lone, and he
ascended upon it, and sat there, looking down upon the valley, and looking down
also towards the door, fearing lest some one should come to the palace. And while
he was sitting one day, lo, ten birds approached him, coming to the palace; and they
ceased not to pursue their course until they seated themselves upon the margin of
the pool that is above the mandhara ; whereupon he looked at the bird that was the
most beautiful of them, and she was pecking the others, among which there was
not one that could stretch forth her claw to her. Then they put their talons to their
necks, rent open their dresses of feathers, and came forth from them, and each of
them became a damsel like the moon in the night of its fulness. After that, they
disrobed themselves, while Hassan stood looking at them, and they descended into
the water, and proceeded to sport; the chief damsel plunging the others, among
whom there was not one who could put forth her hand to her; and she was the most
beautiful of them in face, and the most just of them in stature, and the most clean
of them in apparel. They ceased not to do thus until the time of afternoon-prayers
drew near, when they came forth from the pool, put on their garments, and entered
the apparel of feathers, in -which they wrapped themselves, and they flew away.
Thereupon his mind was troubled, and his heart was inflamed with fire, on account
of the chief bird, and he repented that he had not stolen her apparel of feathers.
He became sick, and remained upon the palace expecting her return, and he
abstained from food and drink and sleep. He continued in that state until the new
moon appeared ; and while he was sitting, lo, they approached according to their
custom, and pulled ofi" their garments, and descended into the pool. So he stole the
dress of the chief damsel, and, knowing that she could not fly save with it, he took
it and hid it, fearing that they would discover it and slay him. Then he waited until
the others had flown away: when he arose and seized her, and brought her down
from the top of the palace. — Upon this, her sisters said to her, And where is she?
She answered them. She is in his possession in such a closet. And they said,
Describe her to us, our sister. She therefore said, She is more beautiful than the
moon in the night of its fulness, and her face is more splendid than the sun, and the
moisture of her mouth is sweeter than wine, and her figure is more elegant than the
slender branch. She hath black eyes, and brilliant face, and bright forehead, and
a bosom like pearl, in which are seen the forms of two pomegranates ; and she hath
cheeks like two apples. She captivateth the hearts by her eyes bordered with kohl,
and by the slenderness of her delicate waist, and by her heavy hips, and speech that
cureth the sick. She is comely in shape, beautiful in her smile, like the full moon.
And when the damsels heard these descriptions, they looked towards Hassan, and
said'^to him. Show her to us. So he arose with them, distracted with love, and pro-
ceeded until he had conducted them to the closet in which was the King's daughter;
whereupon he opened it and entered, and they entered behind him ; and when they
saw her, and beheld her loveliness, they kissed the ground before her, wondering at
the beauty of her form, and at her elegance. They then saluted her, and said to
her. By Allah, daughter of the supreme King, this is an egregious thing; but
hadst thou heard the description of this human being among the women, thou
wouldst have wondered at him all thy life. He is enamoured of thee to the utmost
degree; yet, daughter of the King, he desireth not aught that is dishonest; he
desireth thee not save as his lawful wife ; and if we knew that damsels were content
without husbands, we would have prevented him from attaining the object of his
desire, though he sent not to thee a messenger, but came to thee himself; and he
hath informed us that he hath burnt the dress of feathers ; otherwise we would have
taken it from him. — Then one of the damsels agreed with her and became her deputy
for the performance of the ceremony of the marriage-contract. She performed the
644 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
ceremony of the contract of her marriage to Hassan, who took her hand, putting his
hand in hers, and she married her to him with her permission ; after which they
celebrated her marriage-festivity in the manner befitting the daughters of Kings, and
introduced him to her ; and he congratulated himself thereupon, and eulogized her
in verses. The damsels were standing at the door, and when they heard the verses,
they said to her, daughter of the King, hast thou heard the words of this human
being? How canst thou blame us, when he hath recited these verses on the subject
of his love for thee? — And on her hearing that, she was happy and cheerful and
glad. Then Hassan remained with her for a period of forty days, in pleasure and
happiness and delight and joy, the damsels renewing for him, every day, festivity
and beneficence, and presents and rarities, and he passing bis time among them in
happiness and cheerfulness; and the residence of the King's daughter among them
became pleasant to her, so that she forgot her family.
But after the forty days, Hassan was sleeping, and he saw his mother mourning
for him : her bones had wasted, and her body had become emaciated, and her com-
plexion had become sallow, and her state was altered, while he was in good condi-
tion. And when she beheld him in this state [as he thought], she said to him, my
son, Hassan, how is it that thou livest in the world, blessed with a pleasant life,
and forgettest me ? Look at the state in which I have been since thy departure. I
will not forget thep, nor will my tongue cease to mention thee until I die: and I have
made for thee a tomb in my house, that I may never forget thee. Shall I live, my
son, and see thee with me, and shall we again be united as we were? — So Hassan
awoke from his sleep weeping and lamenting; his tears ran down upon his cheeks
like rain, and he became sorrowful and afilicted ; his tears ceased not, nor did sleep
visit him, nor had he any rest, nor did any patience remain to him. And when he
arose, the damsels came in to him, and wished him good morning, and were cheerful
with him as they were wont ; but he looked not towards them. They therefore
asked his wife respecting his state ; and she answered them, I know not. So they
said to her, Ask thou him respecting his state. Accordingly she advanced to him,
and said to him. What is the matter, my master? And thereupon he sighed and
was oppressed, and acquainted her with that which he had seen in his sleep. His
wife, therefore acquainted them with that which he had said to her: and they were
moved with pity for his state, and said to him, Favour us [by doing as thou desirest] ;
in the name of Allah. We cannot prevent thee from visiting her; we will rather
aid thee to do so by every means in our power. But it behooveth thee to visit us, and
not sever thyself from us, though in every year thou come but once. — And he replied,
I hear and obey.
Then the damsels arose immediately, prepared for him the provisions, and equip-
ped for him the bride with ornaments and apparel and everything costly, such as
language would fail to describe ; and they also prepared for him rarities which pens
cannot enumerate. After that, they beat the drum, and thereupon the she-camels
came to them from every quarter, and they chose of them such as should carry all
that they had prepared. They mounted the damsel and Hassan, and put upon the
camels, and brought to them, five-and-twenty chests full of gold, and fifty of silver.
Then they proceeded with them for three days, during which they traversed a space
of three months' journey ; and having done so, they bade them farewell, and desired
to return from them. Upon this, Hassan's sister, the youngest damsel, embraced
him, and wept until she fainted ; and when she recovered, she bade him farewell,
and strictly charged him that, when he had arrived at his city and met his mother,
and his heart was tranquillized, he should not fail to visit her once in every six
months; and she said to him. When an affair rendereth thee anxious, or thou fearest
anything disagreeable, beat the drum of the Magian : thereupon the she-camels will
come to thee, and do thou mount, and return to ua, and remain not away from us.
And he swore to her that he would do so; after which he conjured them to return.
So they returned, after they had bidden him farewell, and mourned for his separa-
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 645
tion ; and she who mourned most was his sister, the youngest damsel ; for she found
no rest, nor did patience obey her: she wept night and day.
Hassan proceeded all the night and day, traversing with his wife the deserts and
wastes, and the valleys and rugged tracts, during the mid-day heat and the early
dawn, and God decreed them safety. So they were safe, and arrived at the city of
Balsora; and they ceased not to pursue their way until they made their camels
kneel down at the door of his house. He then dismissed the camels, and advanced
to the door to open it ; and he heard his mother weeping and lamenting with a soft
voice, that proceeded from a bosom which had experienced the torture of fire. And
Hassan wept when he heard his mother weeping and lamenting; and he knocked at
the door with alarming violence. So his mother said. Who is at the door? And he
replied. Open : — wherefore she opened the door, and looked at him; and when she
knew him, she fell down in a fit ; and he ceased not to caress her until she recovered,
when he embraced her, and she embraced him and kissed him. He then conveyed
his goods and property into the house, while the damsel looked at him and at his
mother.
Hassan and his mother then sat conversing together, and she said to him. How
was thy state, my son, with the Persian ? He answered her, my mother, he
was not [only] a Persian, but he was a Magian, who worshipped fire instead of the
Almighty King. And he informed her of what he had done with him ; that he had
travelled with him, and put him into the skin of the camel, and sewed it up over
him, and that the birds had carried him ofi", and put him down upon the top of the
mountain. He told her too what he had seen upon the mountain, namely the dead
men, whom the Magian had deluded and left upon the mountain after they had ac-
complished his affair; and how he cast himself into the sea from the top of the
mountain, and God (whose name be exalted!) preserved him, and conducted him to
the palace of the damsels ; and of the sisterly love of the youns:est damsel for him,
and his residence with the damsels; and how God had conducted the Magian to the
place in which he was residing. He also told her of his passion for the damsel
whom he had married, and how he caught her, and her whole story [and the subse-
quent events] until God reunited them. And when his mother heard his story, she
wondered, and praised God (whose name be exalted !) for his health and safety.
She then arose and went to those packages, and looked at them, and asked him
respecting them : and he acquainted her with their contents; whereat she rejoiced
exceedingly. And after that, she advanced to the damsel, to converse with her and
to cheer her by her company ; and when her eye fell upon her, her mind was stupi-
fied by her comeliness, and she rejoiced and wondered at her beauty and loveliness
and her stature and justness of form. Then she said to Hassan, my son, praise
be to God for thy safety, and for thy safe return ! And she sat by the side of the
damsel, cheering her by her company, and comforting her heart; after which, early
the next day, she went down into the market, and bought ten suits, the most sump-
tuous garments that were in the city. She also brought for her magnificent furni-
ture, and clad the damsel, and adorned her with everything beautiful. Then she
accosted her son, and said, my son, with this wealth we cannot live in this city;
for thou knowest that we were poor, and the people will accuse us of practising
alchemy. Therefore arise with us, and let us go to the city of Bagdad, the Abode
of Peace, that we may reside in the sacred asylum of the Caliph, and thou shalt sit
in a shop and sell and buy, and fear God (to whom be ascribed might and glory !) :
then will God open to thee the doors of prosperity by means of this wealth. — And
when Hassan heard her words, he approved them.
He arose immediately, and went forth from her, sold the house, and summoned
the she-camels : and he put upon them all his riches and goods, together with his
mother and his wife. He set forth, and ceased not to pursue his journey until he
arrived at the Tigris ; when he hired a vessel to convey them to Bagdad, embarked
in it all his wealth and effects, and his mother and his wife, and everything that
646 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
was with him, and went on board the vessel, which conveyed them with a fair wind
for a period of ten days, until they came in sight of Bagdad ; and when they came
in sight of it, they rejoiced. The vessel brought them into the city, and Hassan
landed there forthwith, and hired a magazine in one of the khans. He then re-
moved his goods from the vessel to the magazine, and went up, and remained one
night in the khan ; and when he arose in the morning, he changed bis clothes ; and
the broker, seeing him, asked him respecting his affair, and what he desired: so he
said to him, I desire a house, handsome and ample. And the broker showed him
the houses that he had to let, and a house that had belonged to one of the Viziers
pleased him ; wherefore he bought it of him for a hundred tl)ousand pieces of gold,
and gave him the price. Then he returned to the khan in which be had taken
lodging, and removed thence all his wealth and his goods to the house; after which
he went forth into the market, and bought what was requisite for the house, of uten-
sils and furniture and other things. He purchased also eunuchs, and among them
was a young black slave, for the house. And he resided in ease with his wife, en-
joying the most delightful life and happiness, for the space of three years, during
which he was blessed by her with two boys, one of whom he named Nasir, and the
other Mansour.
Then, after this period, he remembered his sisters, the damsels before mentioned,
and he remembered their kindness to him, and how they had aided him to attain his
desire. So he longed to see them ; and, having gone forth to the markets of the city,
he bought there some ornaments, and costly stuffs, and dried fruits, the like of which
they had never seen nor known. His mother therefore asked him the reason of his
buying those rarities, and he answered her, I have determined to repair to my sisters,
who treated me with all kindness, and from whose goodness and beneficence to me
my present good fortune proceeded ; for I desire to go to them and to see them, and
I will return soon, if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted! So she replied,
my son, be not long absent from me. And he said to her, Know, my mother,
how thou shalt manage with my wife. Here is her dress of feathers, in a chest
buried in the earth: then be careful of it, lest she light upon it and take it, and fly
away with her children, and depart, and I shall not find any tidings of her; so I
shall die in sorrow on account of them. Know also, my mother, that I caution
thee not to mention this to her. And know that she is the daughter of the King of
the Genii, and there is not among the Kings of-the Genii any greater than her father,
nor any that hath more numerous troops, or more wealth, than he. Know likewise
that she is the mistress of her people, and the dearest of the things that her father
hath. Moreover, she is excessively high-minded : therefore do thou thyself serve
her ; and allow her not to go forth from the door, or to look from the window, or
from over a wall ; for I fear on her account the wind when it bloweth ; and if any
event of the events of the world befall her, I shall slay myself on her account. —
And his mother replied, Allah preserve me from disobeying thee, O my son ! Am I
mad, that when thou givest me this charge I should disobey thee with respect to it?
Set forth, my son, and be of good heart, and thou shalt come back happily, and
see her, if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !), and she shall acquaint
thee with my conduct to her. But, my son, remain not away more than the time
required for going and returning. — And his wife, as was decreed, heard his words
to his mother; and they knew it not.
Hassan then arose and went forth from the city, and beat the drum ; so thereupon
the she-camels came to him, and he laded twenty with the rarities of Irak ; after
which he bade farewell to his mother and his wife and his children. The age of one
of his two children was a year, and the age of the other was two years. Then he
returned to his mother, and charged her a second time ; and having done this, he
mounted, and journeyed to his sisters. He ceased not to pursue his journey night
and day, traversing the valleys and the mountains, and the plains and too rugged
tracts, for the space of ten days ; and on the eleventh day he arrived at the palace
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 647
and went in to his sisters, having with him the things that he had brought for them.
And when they saw him, they rejoiced at his arrival, and congratulated him on his
safety ; and as to his sister, the youngest damsel, she decorated the palace without
and within. They took the present, and lodged Hassan in a private chamber as
before, and asked him respecting his mother and his wife. So he informed them
that his wife had borne him two sons. Then his sister, the youngest damsel, when
she saw him in health and prosperity, rejoiced exceedingly.
He remained with them, entertained and treated with honour, for a period of three
months, and he passed his time in joy and happiness and comfort and cheerfulness,
and in hunting.
But as to his mother and his wife, when Hassan had set forth on his journey,
his wife remained a day and a second day with his mother, and she said to her
on the third day. Extolled be the perfection of God ! Do I reside with him three
years and not enter the bath ! — And she wept. So his mother compassionated
her state, and said to her, my daughter, we are here strangers, and my husband is
not in the city. If he were present, he would take upon himself to serve thee ; but
as for me, I know not any one. However, my daughter, I will heat for thee the
water, and will wash thy head in the bath that is in the house. — To this the damsel
replied, my mistress, hadst thou said these words to one of the female slaves, she
would have demanded to be sold in the market, and would not have remained with
you. But, my mistress, men are excusable; for they are jealous, and their minds
say to them, that the woman, if she go forth from her house, will perhaps commit a
dishonest action ; and women, my mistress, are not all alike. Thou knowest too
that a woman, if she have a desire for a thing, no one can overcome her, nor can any
one set a guard over her or preserve her, or debar her from the bath or anything
else, or from doing all that she desireth. — Then she wept, and cursed herself, and
began to bewail for herself, and for her absence from her native country. So the
mother of her husband pitied her state, and knew that all which she said must be
done. Wherefore she arose and prepared the things that they required for the bath,
and took her and went to the bath. And when they entered it, they pulled off their
clothes, and all the women began to look at her, and to extol the perfection of God
(to whom be ascribed might and glory!), contemplating the beautiful form that He
had created. Every woman who passed by the bath entered and diverted herself by
viewing her. The fame of her spread through the city, and the women crowded
upon her, and the bath could not be passed through by reason of the number of
women who were in it. Now it happened in consequence of this wonderful event,
that there came to the bath that day one of the slave-girls of the Prince of the Faith-
ful, Haroun Alrashid, called Tohfa the lute-player ; and seeing the women crowding
together, and the bath not to be passed through by reason of the number of the
women and girls, she asked what was the matter, and they informed her of the
damsel. So she came in to her and looked at her, and viewed her attentively, and
her mind was confounded by her beauty and loveliness. She extolled the perfection
of God (greatly be He glorified!) for the beautiful forms that he had created, and
entered not [the inner apartment] nor washed ; but sat confounded at the sight of
the damsel until the damsel had made an end of washing, and come forth and put
on her clothes, when she appeared still more beautiful. And when she came forth
from the bath, she sat upon the carpet and the cushions, the women gazing at her;
and she looked at them and went forth.
Tohfa the lute-player, the slave-girl of the Caliph, arose and went forth with her,
and proceeded with her until she knew her house, when she bade her farewell, and
she returned to the palace of the Caliph. She ceased not to pass on until she came
before the lady Zobeide, and kissed the ground before her: whereupon the lady
Zobeide said, Tohfa, what is the reason of thy loitering in the bath ? So she
answered, my mistress, I saw a wonder, the like of which I have not seen among
women, and that was the thing which diverted my attention and amazed my mind
648 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
and confounded me so that I did not wash my head. And the lady Zobeide said,
And whot was it, Tohfa? She answered, my mistress, I saw a damsel in the
bath, having with her two young children, like two moons, and none hath beheld
the like of her, neither before her nor after her, nor doth there exist the like of her
form in the whole world. By thy beneficence, my mistress, if thou acquaintedst
the Prince of the Faithful with her, he would slay her husband, and take her from
him ; for there existeth not one like her among women. I inquired respecting her
husband, and they said that her husband is a merchant, whose name is Hassan of
Balsora. And I followed her when she went forth from the bath, until she entered
her houde, whereupon I saw it to be the house of the Vizier, that hath two entrances,
an entrance on the side of the river and an entrance on the side of the land. I fear,
my mistress, that the Prince of the Faithful may hear of her, and that he will dis-
obey the law, and slay her husband, and marry her. — Upon this, the lady Zobeide
said. Wo to thee, Tohfa! Is this damsel endowed with such beauty and loveliness
that the Prince of the Faithful would sell his religion for his worldly enjoyments,
and disobey the law on her account? By Allah, I must have a sight of this damsel ;
and if she be not as thou hast described, I will give orders to strike off thy head, O
wicked woman ! In the palace of the Prince of the Faithful are three hundred and
sixty slave-girls, according to the number of the days of the year, among whom there
is not one such as thou hast described. — And she replied, my mistress, no, by
Allah ; nor is there in all Bagdad the like of her ; nay, neither among the foreigners
nor among the Arabs, nor hath God (to whom be ascribed might and glory!) created
the like of her.
So upon this the lady Zobeide summoned Mesrour, who came and kissed the
ground before her; and she said to him, Mesrour, go to the house of the Vizier,
that hath two entrances, an entrance towards the river and an entrance towards the
land, and bring to me the damsel who is there, together with her children, and the
old woman who is with her, quickly, and loiter not. And Mesrour replied, I hear
and obey. He went forth from before her, and proceeded until he arrived at the
door of the house, whereupon he knocked at the door, and the old woman, the mother
of Hassan, came forth to him, saying, Who is at the door? He answered her,
Mesrour, the eunuch of the Prince of the Faithful. So he opened the door, and he
entered, and saluted her, and she saluted him, and asked him respecting his business.
He therefore said to her, the lady Zobeide the daughter of Kasim, the wife of the
Prince of the Faithful, Haroun Alrashid, the fifth of the sons of Abbas the uncle of
the Prophet (whom may God favour and preserve!), summoneth thee to her, thee
and the wife of thy son and her children ; for the women have informed her respect-
ing her and respecting her beauty. Upon this, the mother of Hassan said, Mesrour,
we are strangers, and the damsel's husband, my son, is not in the city, and he did not
order me to go forth, neither me nor she, to anyone of the creatures of God (whose name
be exalted !) ; and I fear, if any thing happen and my son come, he will slay himself.
1 beg then of thy kindness, Mesrour, that thou impose not upon us a command
which we are unable to perform. — But Mesrour replied, my mistress, if I knew
that in this were aught to be feared on your account, I would not require you to go.
The desire of the lady Zobeide is only to see her, and she shall return : therefore
disobey not; for thou wouldst repent; and like as I take you I will bring you back
hither safe, if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted ! — So the mother of
Hassan could not disobey him ; wherefore she entered, and made ready the damsel,
and took her forth, together with her children. They followed Mesrour, wiio pre-
ceded them to the palace of the Caliph, and led them up and stationed them before
the lady Zobeide, whereupon they kissed the ground before her, and pri«yed for her.
The damsel had her face covered : so the lady Zobeide said to her, W ilt thou not
uncover thy face, that I may see it? The damsel therefore kissed the ground before
her, and displayed a face that put to shame the full moon in the horizon of the sky ;
and when the lady Zobeide beheld her, she fixed her eyes in astonishment upon her,
Entering the House. (Page 648.)
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 651
and let them wander over her, and the palace was illumined by her splendour and
by the light of her countenance. Zobeide vras amazed at her beauty, and so also
was every one in the palace, and every one who beheld her became insane, unable to
speak to another. The lady Zobeide then arose, and made the damsel stand, and
she pressed her to her bosom, seated her with herself upon the couch, and com-
manded that they should decorate the palace ; after which she gave orders to bring
for her a suit of the most magnificent apparel, and a necklace of the most pre-
cious jewels, and decked the damsel with them, and said to her, mistress of beauties,
verily thou hast pleased me, and filled my eye with delight. What hast thou among
thy treasures? So the damsel answered, my mistress, I have a dress of feathers:
if I were to put it on before thee, thou wouldst see a thing of '-he most beautiful
make, that thou wouldst wonder at, and every one who would see it would talk of its
beauty, generation after generation. — And where, said Zobeide, is this thy dress ?
She answered, It is in the possession of the mother of my husband ; so demand it for
me of her.
The lady Zobeide therefore said, my mother, by my life I conjure thee that thou
go down and bring to her her dress of feathers, that she may amuse us with the sight
of that which she will do, and take thou it again. The old woman replied, my
mistress, this damsel is a liar. Have we seen any woman possessing a dress of
feathers? This is a thing that pertaineth not to any but birds. — The damsel how-
ever said to the lady Zobeide, By thy life, my mistress, I have in her possession a
dress of feathers, and it is in a chest buried in the closet that is in the house. So
the lady Zobeide pulled off from her neck a necklace of jewels worth the treasures
of a Kosru and a Caesar, and said to her, O my mother, receive this necklace. And
she handed it to her, saying to her. By my life I conjure thee that thou go down and
bring that dress, that we may divert ourselves with the sight of it. and take thou it
again after that. But she swore to her that she had not seen this dress, and that
she knew not where to find it. And upon this, the lady Zobeide cried out at the old
woman, and having taken from her the key, called Mesrour, who came, and she said
to him. Take this key, and go to the house, and open it, and enter the closet of which
the door is of such and such a description ; in the midst of it is a chest, which take
thou up, and break it, and bring the dress of feathers that is in it before me. So he
replied, I hear and obey. He took the key from the hand of the lady Zobeide, and
went; and the old woman, the mother of Hassan, arose, with weeping eye, repenting
of her compliance with the desire of the damsel, and of having gone to the bath with
her ; for the damsel had not desired to go to the bath save for the purpose of prac-
tising a stratagem. Then the old woman entered the house with Mesrour; then he
opened the door of the closet: so he entered, and took forth the chest, took from it
the dress of feathers, and, having wrapped it in a napkin that he had with him,
brought it to the lady Zobeide, who took it and turned it over, wondering at the
beauty of its make. She then handed it to the damsel, saying to her. Is this thy
dress of feathers? She answered. Yes, my mistress. And she stretched forth her
hand to it and took it from her, full of joy.
The damsel examined it, and saw that it was perfect as it was when upon her,
not a single feather of it being lost. She was therefore delighted with it, and rose
from the side of the lady Zobeide, took the dress and opened it, and took her chil-
dren in her bosom ; after which she wrapped herself in it, and became a bird, by
the power of God, to whom be ascribed might and glory! So the lady Zobeide won-
dered at that, as also did every one who was present; all of them wondering at that
which she did. The damsel leant from side to side, and walked about, and danced
and played ; and the persons present had fixed their eyes in astonishment upon her,
wondering at her actions. She then said to them, with an eloquent tongue, my
mistresses, is this beautiful ? The persons present answered her, Yes, mistress
of beauties ; all that thou hast done is beautiful. And she said to them. And this
that 1 am about to do will be more beautiful, my mistresses. And she expanded
652 THE STORY OF HASSAN OP BALSORA.
her wfngs, and flew up with her children above the cupola, and stood upon the roof
of tho saloon. So they looked at her and said to her, By Allah, this is an extra-
ordinary and a beautiful art, that we have never before beheld! Then the damsel,
when she desired to fly away to her country, remembered Hassan, and exclaimed.
Hear, my mistresses! And she said, thou who hast quitted these mansions, and
departed to the objects of thy love with rapid flight! Dost thou think that I continue
in comfort among you, and that your life hath not become a life of troubles? When
I was taken captive in the snare of love, he made love my prison, and went far
away. When my dress was hidden, he felt sure that I should not implore the One,
the Omnipotent, to restore it. He charged his mother to keep it carefully in a closet,
and transgressed; against me, and oppressed. But I heard their words, and kept
them in my memory, and conceived hopes of abundant good fortune. My going to
the bath was the means of making the minds of people to be confounded at the
sight of me. And the spouse of Alrashid wondered at my beauty, when she beheld
me on the right and left. Then I said, wife of the Caliph, I possess a dress of
feathers of great magnificence. If it were upon me, thou wouldst see wonders that
would efi"ace sorrow and disperse troubles. So the spouse of the Caliph asked. Where
is it? And I answered, In the house of him who hath hidden it. And Mesrour
pounced down and brought it to her; and lo, it was here, beaming with light. There-
upon I took it from his hand and opened it, and I saw its bosom and its buttons.
Then I entered it, having my children with me, and expanded my wings, and flew
away. mother of my husband, tell him when he cometh, if he wish to meet me,
he must leave his home. — And when she had ended, the lady Zobeide said to her,
Wilt thou not descend to us, that we may continue to enjoy thy beauty, mistress
of the comely? Extolled be the perfection of Ilim who hath endowed tliee with
eloquence and beauty! — But she replied, Far from returning be that which hath
passed ! She then said to the mother of Hassan, the mourning, the wretched. By
Allah, my mistress, mother of Hassan, thou wilt render me desolate by thine
absence ; but when thy son hath come, and the days of separation have become
tedious to him, and he desireth approach and meeting, and the winds of love and
longing desire agitate him, let him come to me in the Islands of Wak-Wak. — And
she flew away with her children, and sought her country.
When the mother of Hassan beheld this, she wept, and slapped her face, and
wailed until she fainted ; and when she recovered, the lady Zobeide said to her,
my mistress the pilgrim, I did not know that this would happen ; and if thou hadst
acquainted me with it, I w^ould not have opposed thee. I knew not that she was of
the Flying Genii before the present time ; and had I known that she was of this
nature, I would not have allowed her to put on the dress, nor would I have suffered
her to take her children. But, O my mistress, absolve me.— And the old woman re-
plied, having no way of avoiding it, Thou art absolved. She then went forth from
the palace of the Caliph, and ceased not to pursue her way until she entered her
house, when she proceeded to slap her face until she fainted again ; and when she
recovered from her fit, she sorrowfully longed for the damsel and for her children,
and for the sight of her son. Then she arose, and dug in the house three graves ;
and she betook herself to them, weeping night and day.
But as to her son Hassan, when he came to the damsels, they conjured him to stay
with them for three months. And after that period, they prepared for him the
wealth, and made ready for hiraten loads, five of gold and five of silver, and also of
provisions one load ; after which they bade him commence his journey, and went
forth with him ; but he conjured them to return. So they advanced to embrace him,
for the purpose of bidding him farewell. The youngest damsel first advanced to
him, and she embraced him, and wept until she fainted. The second damsel next
approached, and embraced him, and recited a couplet. In like manner also did tho
other damsels ; each embracing him and reciting a couplet. Then Hassan bade
them farewell. He then pursued his journey with assiduity, night and day, until
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 653
he arrived at Bagdad, the Abode of Peace, and the sacred asylum of the Caliphs of
the race of Abbas; and he knew not what had happened after his departure.
He entered the house, and went in to his mother to salute her ; but he saw that
her body was emaciated, and her bones were wasted, by reason of exceeding lamen-
tation and sleeplessness, and weeping and groaning, so that she had become like a
toothpick, and she was unable to reply. He dismissed the she-camels, and advanced
to her; and when he beheld her in this state, he went about the house searching for
his wife and children ; and found not any trace of them. Then he looked into the
closet, and he found it open, and the chest also open, and he found not in it the
dress. So upon this he knew that she had got possession of the dress of feathers,
and taken it, and flown away, taking her children with her. He therefore returned
to his mother, and, seeing that she had recovered from her fit, he asked her respect-
ing his wife and his children; and she wept, and said, my son, may God compen-
sate thee greatly for the loss of them ! These are their three tombs. — And when ho
heard the words of his mother, he uttered a great cry, and fell down in a fit, and
thus he remained from the commencement of the day until noon. The grief of
his mother therefore increased, and she despaired of his life. And when he re-
covered, he wept, and slapped his face, and rent his clothes, and went about the
house confounded. He then took his sword and drew it, and, coming to his mother,
he said to her. If thou acquaint me not with the truth of the case, I will strike ofi"
thy head, and slay myself. So she said to him, my son, do not that, and I will
inform thee. Then she said to him. Sheathe thy sword, and sit, that I may tell thee
what happened. And when he had sheathed his sword and seated himself by her
side, she repeated to him the story from beginning to end, and said to him, my
son. If I had not seen her weep to go the bath, and feared thee, that thou wouldst
come and that she would complain to thee, and thou wouldst be incensed against
me, I had not gone with her thither. And if the lady Zobeide had not been in-
censed against me, and taken from me the key by force, I had not taken forth the
dress, though I should have died ; and, my son, thou knowest that no one can
contend for superiority in power with the Caliph. Then, when they brought the
dress to her, she took it and turned it over, imagining that some part of it might be
lost; but she found that no injury had happened to it. She therefore rejoiced, and,
having taken her children she bound them to her waist, and put on the dress of
feathers, aftpr the lady Zobeide, had pulled ofi" and given to her all that was upon her,
in honour of her, and for her loveliness. And when she had put on the dress of
feathers, she shook and became a bird; and she walked about the palace, while they
looked at her and wondered at her beauty and loveliness. She then flew up, and
perched upon the palace ; and after that, she looked at me and said to me. When thy
son hath come, and the nights of separation have become tedious to him, and he de-
sireth to approach and meet me, and the winds of love and longing desire agitate
him, he must leave his home, and repair to the Islands of Wak-Wak. Thus did she
during thine absence.
Now, when Hassan heard the words of his mother, he uttered a great cry, and
fell down in a fit. He ceased not to lie in this state, until the close of the day;
and when he recovered, he slapped his face, and rolled about on the floor like a
serpent. His mother sat weeping at his head until midnight; and after he had re-
covered from his fit, he arose, and continued going about the house, moaning and
weeping and wailing, for a period of five days, during which he tasted not food nor
drink. So his mother went to him and conjured him with oaths to abstain from
weeping; but he yielded not to her words, and ceased not to weep and wail. His
mother still attempted to console him ; but he would not attend to aught that she
said. He continued in this state, weeping until the next morning. Then his eyes
slumbered, and he saw his wife mourning and weeping; whereupon he arose from
bis sleep, crying out. And in the morning his wailing and weeping increased
654 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
He remained with weeping eye and mourning heart, sleepless during the night, and
eating little ; and he continued in this state for the space of a whole month.
But when that month had passed, it occurred to his mind that he should journey
to his sisters, in order that they might assist him to attain his desire of regaining
his wife. So he summoned the excellent she-camela, loaded fifty with rarities of
Irak, and mounted one of them. He then charged his mother with the care of the
house, and committed all" his goods [to the custody of persons of his acquaintance],
except a few things that he left in the house ; after which he set forth on his journey
to his sisters, hoping that he might obtain their aid to effect his reunion with his
wife. He ceased not to pursue his way until he arrived at the palace of the dam-
sels by the Mountain of Clouds; and when he went in to them, he presented to them
the gifts, with which they were delighted ; and they congratulated him on his safety,
and said to him, our brother, what is the reason of thy coming so quickly, when
thou hast not been absent more than two months? And upon this he wept, and ut-
tered a great cry, and fell down in a fit ; and the damsels seated themselves around
him, weeping for him, until he recovered from his fit. He continued for some time
weeping and fainting, and the damsels had retired ; but when his sister heard him,
she came forth to him, and saw him lying in a fit ; upon which she cried out,
and slapped her face ; and her sisters, hearing her, came forth to her, and beheld
Hassan lying in a fit. They surrounded him, and wept for him; and when they saw
him in this state, the ecstacy and distraction of love, and longing desire, that affected
him, no longer remained concealed from them.
They then asked him respecting his condition, and he wept, and acquainted them
with tliat which ha'd befallen him during his absence from home, telling them that
his wife had flown away, and taken her children with her. So they mourned for
him, and asked him what she said when she departed ; and he answered, my
sisters, she said to my mother, Tell thy son, when he hath come, and the nights of
separation have become tedious to him, and he desireth to approach and meet me,
and the winds of love and longing desire agitate him, he must come to me in the
Islands of Wak-Wak. — And when they heard his words, they winked to each other,
and reflected; and each of them looked at her sister, while Hassan looked at them.
— Then they hung down their heads towards the ground a while ; and after that,
they raised their heads, and said. There is no strength nor power but in God, the
High, the Great! And they said to him. Stretch forth thy hand to heaven, and if
thou canst reach to heaven, thou mayest reach to thy wife and thy cliildren. And
thereupon his tears ran down upon his cheeks like rain, so that they wetted his
clothes ; and the damsels wept at his weeping ; compassion and zeal for him affect-
ing them.
They betook themselves to soothing him, and exhorting him to have patience,
a^nd praying for his reunion to his wife ; and his sister accosted him and said to him,
my brother, be of good heart and cheerful eye, and be patient: then wilt thou
attain thy desire ; for he who is patient, and waiteth, obtaineth what he wisheth ;
and patience is the key of relief. She then said to him. Strengthen thy heart, and
confirm thy resolution ; for he whose life is to be ten years will not die when he is
but nine ; and weeping and grief and mourning occasion disease and sickness. Re-
main with us until thou shalt have taken rest, and I will contrive means of thy gain-
ing access to thy wife and thy children, if it be the will of God, whose name be ex-
alted ! — But he wept violently. Then he sat by the side of his sister, who proceeded
to converse with him and to console him, and asked him what was the cause of his
wife's departure. So he informed her of the cause of that event; and she said to
him. By Allah, my brother, I desired to say to thee. Burn the dress of feathers ; —
but the Devil made me forget that. And she continued to converse witli him and to
soothe him. But the case became tedious to him, and his disquietude increased.
So when his sister saw how he suffered from ecstasy and distraction of love, and tho
afflictions of passion and desire, she went to her sisters, with weeping eve and mourn-
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 655
ing heart, and she wept Vjetbre them, threw herself upon them, kissed their feet, and
begged them to aid her brother in the accomplishment of his affair, and in effecting
his meeting with his children and his wife. She conjured them to contrive means'
of procuring him access to the Islands of Wak-Wak, and ceased not to weep before
her sisters until she made them also weep, and they said to her. Comfort thy heart;
for we will strive to accomplish his meeting with his family, if it be the will of God,
whose name be exalted ! He then remained with them a whole year: but his eye
abstained not from shedding tears.
Now the sisters of the youngest damsel had a paternal uncle, the brother of their
father by the same father and mother, and his name was Abdelcad-us. He loved the
eldest damsel with a great affection, and every year he used to visit her once, and
perform her affairs. The damsels also had related to him the story of Hassan, and
the events that befell him with the Magian, and how he was enabled to slay him ;
whereat their uncle rejoiced ; and he gave to the eldest damsel a purse containing
some incense, and said to her, daughter of my brother, if anything render thee
anxious, and anything disagreeable happen to thee, or any want occur to thee, throw
this incense into the fire, and mention me: and I will come to thee quickly, and will
perform thy want. This he said on the first day of the year. And that damsel
said to one of her sisters. Verily the year hath entirely passed, and my uncle hath
not come. Arise, strike the steel upon the flint, and bring me the box of incense. —
So the damsel arose joyful, and brought the box of incense: and she opened it, and,
having taken from it a small quantity, handed it to her sister, who took it and threw
it into the fire, mentioning her uncle ; and the fumes of the incense had not ceased
before a dust appeared advancing from the further extremity of the valley. Then,
after a while, the dust dispersed, and there appeared beneath it a sheikh riding upon
an elephant, which was crying out beneath him. And when the damsels beheld
him, he began to make signs to them with his hands and his feet. Soon after, he
came to them, and alighted from the elephant, and came in to them ; whereupon
they embraced him, and kissed his hands, and saluted him. He then sat, and the
damsels proceeded to converse with him, and to ask him the cause of his absence.
And he said, I was just now sitting with the wife of your uncle, and I smelt the in-
cense : so I came to you upon this elephant. What then dost thou desire, daughter
of my brother? — She answered, my uncle, we were longing to see thee, the year
having passed, and it is not thy custom to remain absent from us more than a year.
And he replied, I was occupied, and I had determined to come to you to-morrow.
They therefore thanked him and prayed for him.
After that they sat conversing with him, and the eldest damsel said to him, my
uncle, we related to thee the story of Hassan of Balsora, whom Bahram the Magian
brought, and how he slew him, and we informed thee of the damsel, the daughter of
the supreme King, whom he took, and of the diflBculties and horrors he endured, and
how he caught the King's daughter and married her, and how he journeyed with her
to his country. He replied. Yes. And what, he Jisked, happened to him after this?
— She answered him, She acted perfidiously to him, after he had been blessed with
two sons by her; she took them and departed with them to her country, while he
was absent; and she said to his mother. When thy son hath come, and the nights
of separation have become tedious to him, and he desireth to approach and meet me,
and the winds of love and longing desire agitate him, he must come to me in the
Islands of Wak-Wak. — And upon this he shook his head and bit his finger. Then
he hung down his head towards the ground, and began to make marks upon the
ground with the end of his finger ; after which he looked to the right and left, and
shook his head again, while Hassan looked at him, but was concealed from him.
So the damsels said to their uncle. Reply to us ; for our livers are broken in pieces.
And he shook his head at them and said to them, O my daughters, this man hath
wearied himself, and cast himself into a most terrible predicament and great peril ;
for he cannot gain access to the Islands of Wak-Wak. Upon this the damsels called
656 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
Hassan, and he came forth to them, and, advancing to the sheikh Abdelcadus, he
kissed his hand and saluted him ; and the sheikh was pleased with him, and seated
him by his side. The damsels then said to their uncle, uncle, show our brother
the truth of that which thou hast said. lie therefore said to him, my son, relin-
quish this most vexatious affair ; for thou couldst not gain access to the Islands of
Wak-Wak even if the Flying Genii and the wandering stars assisted thee, since
between thee and those Islands are seven valleys and seven seas and seven moun-
tains of vast magnitude. How then canst thou gain access to this place, and who
will convey thee to it? By Allah, I conjure thee that thou return soon, and weary
not thy heart. — And when Hassan heard the words of the sheikh Abdelcadus, he
wept until he fainted, and the damsels sat around him weeping for his weeping. But
as to the youngest damsel, she rent her clothes and slapped her face until she also
fainted.
So M'hen the sheikh Abdelcadus saw them in this state of anxiety, and ecstasy of
grief, and mourning, he pitied them, and was affected with commiseration for them,
and he said. Be ye silent. Then he said to Hassan, Comfort thy heart, and rejoice
at the prospect of the accomplishment of thine affair, if it be the will of God, whose
name be exalted ! And after that he said to him, my son, arise, and brace up thy
nerves, and follow me. So Hassan stood up, after he had bidden the damsels fare-
well ; and he followed him, rejoicing in expectation of the accomplishment of his
affair. The sheikh Abdelcadus then called the elephant, and he came, and he
mounted him, putting Hassan behind him, and proceeded with him for the space of
three days with their nights, like the blinding lightning, until he came to a vast
blue mountain, all the stones of which were blue : and in that mountain was a
cavern, which had a door of iron of China. Upon this the sheikh took the hand of
Hassan, and put him down ; after which the sheikh himself alighted, and dismissed
the elephant. lie then advanced to the door of the cavern, and knocked it; where-
upon the door opened, and there came forth to him a black slave, beardless, resem-
bling an Afrite, and having in his right hand a sword, and in the other a shield of
steel. But when he saw the sheikh Abdelcadus, he threw down the sword and shield
from his hands, and advanced to the sheikh, and kissed his hand. Then the sheikh
took the hand of Hassan, and entered with him, and the slave shut the door behind
them. Hassan saw that the cavern was very large and wide, and that it had a
passage vaulted over; and they ceased not to go on for the space of a mile, after
which their course brought them at last to a vast desert. They repaired to an angle
in which were two great doors of cast brass, and the sheikh Abdelcadus opened one
of them, and entered, and closed it, having said to Hassan, Sit at this door, and
beware of opening it and entering until I shall have entered and returned to thee
quickly. And when the sheikh had entered, he remained absent for the space of an
astronomical hour.
He then came forth, having with him a horse saddled and bridled, which, when
he went along, flew ; and when he flew, the dust overtook him not. The sheikh led
him forward to Hassan, and said. Mount. And the sheikh opened the other door,
whereupon there appeared within it an extensive desert. So Hassan mounted the
horse, and the two passed through the door, and were in that desert. And the
sheikh said to Hassan, my son, take this letter, and proceed upon this horse to the
place to which he will convey thee; and when thou seest him stop at the door of a
cavern like this, descend from his back, and put his rein upon the pommel, and
dismiss him, and he will enter the cavern ; but enter not thou with him. Stay at
the door of the cavern for the space of five days, and be not weary ; for on the sixth
day there will come forth to thee a black sheikh, clad in black apparel, and with a
beard white and long, descending to his waist; and when thou seest him, kiss his
hands, and lay hold of his skirt, and put it on thy head, and weep before him, that
he may have pity on thee. He will thereupon ask thee respecting thine affair;
and when he saith to thee, What is thine affair? — give him this letter, and he will
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 657
take it of thee and will not speak to thee, but will enter and leave thee. Stay in thy
place five days more, and be not weary, and on the sixth day expect him ; for
[perhaps] he will come forth to thee ; and if he himself come forth to thee, know
that thine affair will be accomplished ; but if one of his young men come forth to
thee, know that he who hath come forth to thee desireth to slay thee. And peace
be on thee! But know, my son, that every one who exposeth himself to peril
destroyeth himself; therefore if thou fear for thy soul, cast it not into destruction:
if however thou fear not, do as thou desirest. I have shown thee the circumstances
of the case; and if thou desire to return to thy companions, this elephant is ready,
and he will convey thee to the daughters of my brother, who will send thee to thy
country, and restore thee to thy home, and God will bless thee with one. better than
this damsel to whom thou art attached.
But Hassan said to the sheikh. How can life be pleasant to me without my attain-
ing my desire? By Allah, I will never return until I find my beloved, or my death
overtake me ! And when the sheikh Abdelcadus heard his words, he knew that he
would not relinquish the object of his desire, and that words would make no im-
pression upon him, and he was convinced that he must expose himself to peril,
though his life should be sacrificed. So he said. Know, my son, that the Islands
of Wak-Wak are seven islands, in which is a great army, entirely composed of dam-
sels and virgins ; and the inhabitants of the Interior Islands are Devils and Marids,
and enchanters and various tribes. Whosoever entereth their country returneth not,
and no one ever went to them and returned. I conjure thee therefore by Allah that
thou return to thy family soon. Know moreover that the damsel whom thou seekest
is the daughter of the King of all these islands ; and how canst thou gain access to
her? Hear then my words, my son ; and perhaps God will give thee in her stead
one better than she. — But Hassan replied. By Allah, my master, were I cut piece-
meal for my love of her, I should only increase in fondness and desire. I must see
my wife and my children, and enter the Islands of Wak-Wak ; and if it be the will
of God (whose name be exalted!), I will not return save with her and with my chil-
dren. So the sheikh Abdelcadus said to him, Then thou must perform the journey.
He replied, Yes ; and I only desire of thee thy prayers for help and aid. Perhaps
God will reunite me to my wife and my children soon. Then he wept, by reason of
the greatness of his desire, so violently that he fainted ; and on his recovery, the
sheikh Abdelcadus said to him, my son, thou hast a mother: then make her not
to taste the pain of thy loss. But Hassan replied. By Allah, my master, I will
not return save with my wife, or my death shall overtake me. Then he wept and
moaned, and recited some verses ; and when he had ended them, the sheikh
knew that he would not draw back from his present purpose, though his life should
be sacrificed ; wherefore he handed to him the letter, prayed for him, and directed
him how he should act, and said to him, I have given a strict charge for thee, in the
letter, to Aboulruish the son of Balkis the daughter of the accursed Eblis, for he is
my sheikh and my preceptor, and all mankind and the Genii humble themselves to
him, and fear him. He then said to him, Go, in reliance upon the blessing of
God.
He therefore departed, giving the rein to the horse, which fled with him more
rapidly than lightning. Hassan ceased not to speed along on the horse for a period
of ten days, until he beheld before him a huge indistinct object, blacker than night,
obstructing the space between the east and the west ; and when he drew near to it,
the horse neighed beneath him ; whereupon there came together horses numerous
as the drops of rain, the number of which could not be calculated, nor was any
help for them known, and they began to rub against Hassan's horse. So Hassan
feared them and was terrified ; and he ceased not to proceed, with the horses around
him, until he arrived at the cavern which the sheikh Abdelcadus had described to
him, when the horse stopped at its entrance, and Hassan alighted from him, and
put his rein upon his saddle. The horse then entered the cavern, and Hassan
42
658 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
stopped at the entrance, as the sheikh Abdelcadus had ordered him. He meditated
upon the result of his case, how it would be, perplexed, distracted, not knowing
what would happen to him. He continued at the entrance of the cavern five days
with their nights, sleepless, mournful, perplexed, meditating upon his having parted
from his family and home and companions and friends, with weeping eye and mourn-
ing heart. Then he remembered his mother, and thought upon what miglit happen
to him, and upon the separation of his wife and his children, and the troubles he
had suffered, and recited some verses, which he had not ended when the sheikh
Aboulruish came forth to him. He was black, and clad in black apparel ; and when
Hassan beheld him, he knew him by the descriptions which the sheikh Abdelcadus
had given of him. So he threw himself upon him, and rubbed his cheeks upon his
feet, and, taking his foot, he put it upon his head, and wept before him. The sheikh
Aboulruish therefore said to him. What is thine affair, my son ? And Hassan
stretched forth his hand with the letter, and handed it to the sheikh, who received
it from him, and entered the cavern, without returning him a reply ; and Hassan re-
mained in his place at the entrance, as the sheikh Abdelcadus had desired him,
weeping. He ceased not to stay in his place for the space of five days more. His
disquietude was excessive, and his fear was violent, and his sleeplessness was con-
stant. He wept, and was oppressed in mind by the pain of estrangement and ex-
cessive wakefulness, and recited some plaintive verses.
He ceased not to weep until the dawn appeared, when lo, the sheikh Aboulruish
came forth to him, clad in white apparel, and made a sign to him with his hand that
he should enter. So Hassan entered, and the sheikh, taking him by the hand, led
him into the cavern ; and he rejoiced, and felt sure that his affair would be accom-
plished. The sheikh continued to proceed, and Hassan with him, for the space of
half a day; after which they arrived at an arched doorway with a door of steel,
which the sheikh opened, and he and Hassan entered a passage vaulted over with
variegated stones decorated with gold. They ceased not to go on till they came to a
great saloon constructed with marble, and spacious, in the midst of which was a
garden containing all kinds of trees and flowers and fruits, and birds upon the trees
warbling, and proclaiming the perfection of God, the Omnipotent King. In the
saloon were four leewans, f\icing one another, each leewan having a sitting-place
with a fountain, and at each of the corners of each fountain was the figure of a lion
of gold. — In each sitting-place also was a chair, upon which was sitting a person
with a great number of books before him, and before them were perfuming-vessels
of gold, containing fire and incense. Every one of these sheikhs likewise had before
him students, reading to him the books. And when the two went in to them, they
rose to them and treated them with honour ; and the sheikh Aboulruish accosted
them, and made a sign to those four sheikhs that they should dismiss the other
persons who were present. So they dismissed them, and the four sheikhs arose and
seated themselves before the sheikh Aboulruish, and asked him respecti«g the case
of Hassan ; whereupon the sheikh Aboulruish made a sign to Hassan, and said to
him. Tell the company thy story, and all that hath happened to thee from the first
of the case to the last. And Hassan wept violently, and related to them his story ;
and when he had finished it all the sheikhs cried out and said. Is this he whom the
Magian caused to ascend to the top of the Mountain of the Clouds by means of the
birds, he being in the skin of the camel? So Hassan answered them, Yes. And
they accosted the sheikh Aboulruish and said to him, our sheikh, Bahram prac-
tised a stratagem to effect his ascent to the top of the mountain, and how did he
descend, and what wonders did he see upon the mountain? The sheikh Aboulruish
therefore said, Hassan, tell them how thou descendest, and acquaint them with the
wonders that thou sawest. Accordingly he repeated to them the account of the
events that had happened to him from beginning to end, and told them how he got
the Magian into his power and slew him, and how his wife had acted perfidiously to
him and taken his children and flown away, and all the horrors and diflSculties that
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 659
he had suffered. And the persons present wondered at the things that had happened
to him.
They then accosted the sheikh Ahonlruish, and said to him, O sheikh of the
sheikhs, by Allah, this young man is a pitiable person ; and perhaps thou wilt assist
him to deliver his Vife and his children. The sheikh Aboulruish replied, my
brothers, verily this is a great and perilous affair, and I have not seen any one hate
life except this young man. Ye know that the Islands of Wak-Wak are difficult of
access : no one ever arrived at them without exposing himself to peril ; and ye know
the strength of their inhabitants, and their guards. I have sworn that I will not
tread their country, nor oppose myself to them in aught; and how can this person
gain access to the daughter of the supreme King, and who can convey him to her, or
assist him to attain this object ? — Upon this they said, sheikh of the sheikhs, verily
desire hath almost consumed this man, and he hath exposed himself to peril, and
brought to thee the letter of thy brother, the sheikh Abdelcadus: therefore it is
incumbent on thee to assist him. Then Hassan arose and kissed the foot of Aboul-
ruish, and, lifting up his skirt, put it on his head, and wept, and said to him, I con-
jure thee by Allah that thou unite me with my children and my wife, though the
doing so occasion the loss of my life and soul ! And the persons present wept at his
weeping, and said to the sheikh Aboulruish, Acquire the recompense that will be
granted for this poor man ; and act kindly with him for the sake of thy brother the
sheikh Abdelcadus. So he replied, A^'erily this young man is a pitiable person, and
he knoweth not what he is undertaking ; but we will assist him as far as possible.
Hassan therefore rejoiced when he heard his words, and kissed his hands. He
kissed also the hands of the other persons who were present, one after another, and
begged their aid. And thereupon Aboulruish took a paper and an ink-case, and
wrote a letter, and sealed it, and gave it to Hassan. He likewise gave him a small
bag of leather, containing incense and instruments for striking fire, con"sisting of a
steel and other things ; and said to him. Take care of this bag ; and when thou fallest
into a difficulty, burn a little of the incense that it containeth, and mention me ; and
I will be present with thee, and deliver thee from the difficulty. Then he ordered
one of those who were present to summon to him an Afrite of the Flying Genii imme-
diately ; and he came ; and the sheikh said to him, What is thy name ? He
answered. Thy slave is Dahnash the son of Faktash. And Aboulruish said to him,
Draw near to me. So he drew near to him ; and the sheikh Aboulruish put his
mouth to the ear of the Afrite, and said to him some words ; whereat the Afrite
shook his head. The sheikh then said to Hassan, my son, arise, mount upon
the shoulders of this Afrite, Dahnash the Flyer ; but when he hath taken thee up to
heaven, and thou hearest the praises of the Angels in the sky, utter not thou any
words of praise; for if thou do, thou wilt perish, and so will he. And Hassan
replied, I will never speak. Then the sheikh said to him, Hassan, when he
hath gone with thee, he will put the down on the next day, a little before daybreak,
upon a white, clean land, like camphor ; and when hath put thee there, walk on ten
days by thyself, until thou arrivest at the gate of the city. On thine arrival at it,
enter, and ask for its King; and when thou hast an interview with him, salute
him and kiss his hand, and give him this letter ; and whatsoever he directeth thee
also to do, understand it. — So Hassan replied, I hear and obey. He arose with the
Afrite, and the sheikhs arose and prayed for him, and gave the Afrite a charge
respecting him.
Now when the Afrite had taken him upon his shoulders, he rose with him to the
clouds of heaven, and proceeded with him a day and a night, until he heard the
praises of the Angels in heaven ; and when the dawn came, he put him down upon
a land white like camphor, and left him and departed. So when Hassan saw that
he was upon the earth, and that no one was with him, he went on night and day for
the space often days, until he arrived at the gate of the city ; whereupon he entered
it, and inquired for the King. They therefore guided him to him, and said that his
660 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
name was the King Hasoun, King of the Land of Camphor, and that he had, of
soldiers and troops, what would fill the earth in its length and breadth. He asked
permission to go in to him, and permission was given him ; and when he went in to
him, he found him to be a magnificent King; and he kissed the ground before him.
So the King said to him, What is thine afi"air? And Hassan kissed the letter, and
handed it to him; and he took it and read it. Then he shook his head awhile;
after which he said to one of his chief officers, Take this young man, and lodge him
in the mansion of entertainment. Accordingly he took him and proceeded with him
until he had lodged him there, and he remained in it for a period of three days,
eating and drinking, having no one with him but the eunuch who attended him ;
and that eunuch conversed with him and cheered him, and asked him respecting his
story, and how he had come to this country ; wherefore he acquainted him with all
that had happened to him, and all his state. After that, on the fourth day, the
young man took him and brought him before the King; and he said to him,
Hassan, thou hast come unto me, desiring to enter the Islands of Wak-Wak, as the
sheikh of the sheikhs hath mentioned to us. my son, I will send thee during
these days ; but in thy way are many dangerous places, and thirsty deserts abound-
ing with fearful spots. Be patient, however, and nought but good will happen. I
must employ a stratagem, and cause thee to attain thy wish, if it be the will of God,
whose name be exalted ! Know, my son, that here are soldiers of Dilem desiring
to enter the Islands of Wak-Wak, fitted out with arms and horses and accoutre-
ments, and they have not been able to enter. But, my son, for the sake of the
sheikh of the sheikhs, Aboulruish the son of the daughter of the accursed Eblis, I
cannot send thee back to him without thy having accomplished thine afi'air. Soon
there will come to us ships from the Islands of Wak-Wak : there remaineth not
before their arrival more than a short time ; and when one of them hath come, I will
embark thee in it, and will charge the sailors respecting thee, that they may take
care of thee and convey thee to the Islands of AVak-Wak. AVhosoever asketh thee
respecting thy condition and thy story, answer him, I am a relation of the King
Hasoun, lord of the Land of Camphor. And when the vessel mooreth at the Islands
of Wak-Wak, and the master saith to thee, Land — do thou land. Thou wilt see
many settees in all the quarters of the shore ; and do thou choose for thyself one of
them, and sit beneath it, and move not. And when the night becometh dark, and
thou seest that the army of women hath surrounded the merchandise, stretch forth
thy hand and lay hold upon the owner of this settee beneath which thou hast placed
thyself, and beg her protection ; and know, my son, that if she protect thee, thou
•wilt accomplish thine affair, and wilt gain access to thy wife and thy children. But
if she protect thee not, mourn for thyself, and despair of Iffe, and be sure of thy
destruction. Know, my son, that thou art exposing thyself to peril ; and I cannot
do for thee aught but this. And peace be on thee ? Know also, that if aid had
not been granted thee by the Lord of Heaven, thou hadst not gained access hither.
When Hassan heard these words of the King Hasoun, he wept until he fainted ;
and on his recovering, he kissed the ground before the King, and said to him, great
King, how many days remain to the time when the ships will come? He answered,
The period of a month ; and they will remain here for the sale of their cargoes a
period of two months: then they will return to their country: so hope not to make
thy voyage in the ship save after three whole months. The King then commanded
Hassan to return to the mansion of entertainment, and gave orders to carry to him
all that he required, of food and drink and apparel, such as was fit for Kings. He
remained in the mansion of entertainment a month ; and after the month, the ships
came. The King and the merchants therefore went forth, and he took Hassan with
him to the ships. And he saw a ship in which were many people, like the pebbles;
none knew their number but He who created them. That ship was in the midst of
the sea, and had small boats transporting the goods that it contained to the shore.
Hassan stayed with them until the crew had removed the goods from it to the shore,
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 661
and sold and bought, and there remained not to the time of departure more than
three days; whereupon the King summoned Hassan before him, prepared for him
what he required, and conferred upon him great favours. Then, after that, he called
for the master of that ship, and said to him. Take this young man with thee in the
Bhip, and acquaint no one with him ; convey him to the Islands of Wak-Wak, and
leave him there, and bring him not back. And the master replied, I hear and obey.
The King then charged Hassan, and said to him. Acquaint not any one of the persons
with thee in the ship with aught of thy case, nor let any one know thy story ; for if
thou do, thou wilt perish. And he replied, I hear and obey. And he bade him
farewell, after he had offered up prayers in his favour for length of life, and victory
over all the enviers and enemies ; and the King thanked him for that, and prayed
for his safety and for the accomplishment of his affair. He then committed him to
the master, who took him and put him into a chest, and embarked him in a boat ;
and he took him not forth in the ship but when the people were occupied in remov-
ing the goods.
After that, the ships departed, and they ceased not to pursue their course for the
space of ten days ; and on the eleventh day they reached the shore. The master
thereupon landed him from the ship ; and when he went up on the shore, he saw
there settees, the number of which none knew but God. So he walked on until he
came to a settee of which there was not the like, and he hid himself beneath it. And
when the night approached, there came a numerous crowd of women, like scattered
locusts, advancing on foot, with their swords drawn in their hands ; but they were
enveloped in coats of mail ; and on their seeing the goods, they busied themselves
with them. Then, after that, they sat to take rest, and one of them seated herself
upon the settee beneath which was Hassan. He therefore laid hold of the edge of
her skirt, put it upon his head, and, throwing himself upon her, began to kiss her
hands and feet, weeping. So she said to him, thou, arise and stand up before any
one see thee and slay thee. And thereupon he came forth from beneath the settee,
[where he had hidden himself again,] and rose upon his feet, kissed her hands, and
said to her, O my mistress, I throw myself upon thy protection ! Then he wept
again, and said to her. Have mercy upon him who is parted from his family and his
wife and his children, and hath hastened to effect his reunion with them, and exposed
his life and soul to peril! Have mercy upon me, and be sure that thou wilt be
recompensed for that with Paradise. Or, if thou wilt not receive me, I conjure thee
by Allah, the Great, the Excellent Protector, that thou conceal my case ! — And the
merchants fixed their eyes upon him, while he spoke to her; and when she heard
his words, and saw his humiliation, she had compassion upon him, her heart was
moved with pity for him, and she knew that he had not exposed himself to peril
and come to this place save for a great affair. So thereupon she said to Hassan,
my son, be of good heart and cheerful eye, comfort thy heart and thy soul, and
return to thy place, and hide thyself beneath the settee as thou wast at first until
the next night, and God will do what He desireth. Then she bade him farewell, and
Hassan entered beneath the settee as before. The army passed the night, having
lighted candles composed with an admixture of aloes-wood and crude ambergris,
until the morning. And when daylight came, the ships returned to the shore, and
the merchants occupied themselves with conveying the goods and effects till night
approached, while Hassan remained hidden beneath the settee, with weeping eye
and mourning heart, not knowing what was secretly decreed to happen unto him.
Now while he was in this state, lo, the female merchant whose protection he had
bogged approached him, and handed to him a coat of mail and a sword and a gilt
girdle and a lance ; after which she departed from him, fearing the troops. So when
he saw that, he knew that the female merchant had not brought him these accoutre-
ments save in order that he should put them on ; wherefore he arose and put on the
coat of mail, put the girdle round his waist, hung on the sword beneath his arm-
pit, took the lance in his hand, and seated himself upon that settee. His tongue
662 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
neglected not to repeat the praises of God (whose name be exalted !), and he begged
his protection: and wliile he sat, lo, the cressets and the lanterns and the candles
approached, and the army of women. Hassan therefore arose and mixed among
the troops, having become like one of them ; and at the approach of daybreak, the
troops proceeded, and Hassan with them, until they came to their tents, when each
of them entered her tent. Hassan also entered the tent of one of them, and lo, it
was the tent of his companion, whose protection he had begged. And when she
entered her tent, she threw down her arms, and pulled off the coat of mail and the
veil; and Hassan, having thrown down his arms, looked at his companion, and
found her to be blue-eyed, with a large nose: she was a calamity among calamities,
of the most hideous form, with a face marked with small-pox, and hairless eyebrows,
and broken teeth, and puffed cheeks, and gray hair, and a mouth running with
saliva: her hair was falling off, and she was like the speckled, black and white ser-
pent. Now when she looked at Hassan, she wondered, and said, H^w could this
person gain access to this country, and in which of the ships came he, and how did
he arrive safely ? And she proceeded to ask him respecting his case, and wondered
at his arrival; and upon this Hassan fell upon her feet, rubbing his face upon them,
and wept until he fainted; and when he recovered, he took the skirt of the old
woman, and put it upon his head, and proceeded to weep and to beg her protection.
So when the old woman saw his ardour and affliction and pain and distress, her
heart was moved with sympathy for him, and she granted him protection, and said
to him. Fear not at all. Then she asked him respecting his case, and he related to
her all that had happened to him from beginning to end ; and the old woman won-
dered at his tale, and said to him. Comfort thy heart and comfort thy soul. There
remaineth nothing for thee to fear. Thou hast attained thy desire and the accom-
plishment of thine affair, if it be the will of God, whose name be exalted ! — There-
fore Hassan rejoiced at that exceedingly.
The old woman then sent to the leaders of the army, commanding them to come
before her. This was on the last day of the month. And when they presented
themselves before her, she said to them. Go forth, and proclaim among all the troops
that they shall go forth to-morrow, in the morning, and that none of them shall re-
main behind ; and if any one remain behind, that person's life shall be taken. And
they replied. We hear and obey. They went forth, and proclaimed among all the
troops that they should march on the morrow, in the morning; after which they re-
turned, and acquainted her therewith. So Haijsan knew that she was the chief of
the troops, and the person of authority among them, and their leader. Then Hassan
took not off the arms from his body that day. The name of that old woman with
whom he had placed himself was Shawahi, and she was surnamed the mother of
sorrows. And the old woman had not made an end of her commanding and forbid-
ding until the daybreak came, when all the troops went forth from their places ; but
the old woman went not forth with them. And when the army had gone, and the
places were devoid of their presence, Shawahi said to Hassan, Draw near to me,
my son. So he drew near to her, and stood before her ; and she accosted him, and
said to him, What is the cause of thine exposure of thyself to peril, and thine enter-
ing this country, and how was it that thy soul consented to its own destruction ?
Acquaint me with the truth of thy whole affair, and conceal not from me aught of
it, nor fear thou ; for thou hast become one to whom I have plighted my faith, and
I have granted thee protection, and had compassion upon thee, and pitied thy state.
If thou inform me truly, I will aid thee to accomplish thine affiiir, even if the conse-
quence be the loss of lives, and the destruction of the sheikhs. Now that thou hast
come unto me, no harm shall befall thee, nor will I suffer any one, of all who are in
the Islands of Wak-Wak, to do thee any injury. — He therefore repeated to hor hia
story from first to last, telling her of the affair of his wife, and the birds, and how
he caught her from among the ten, and how he married her, and then resided with
her until he was blessed with two sons by her, and how she took her children and
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 663
flew away when she knew the means of obtaining the dress of feathers-, and he con-
cealed not aught of his story, from the commencement to that day.
So when the old woman heard his words, she shook her head, and said to him,
Extolled be the perfection of God who preserved thee and brought thee hither and
caused thee to light on me ! Hadst thou lighted on any except me, thy life had
been lost, and thine affair had not been accomplished. But the honesty of thine in-
tention, and thy love and the excess of thy desire for thy wife and thy children,
were the means of enabling thee to attain the object of thy search. Were it not
that thou lovest her, and art distracted by thy passion for her, thou hadst not thus
exposed thyself to peril ; and praise be to God for thy safety ! It is therefore in-
cumbent on us to accomplish for thee thine affair, and to aid thee to attain the object
of thy desire, that thou mayest obtain what thou seekest soon, if it be the will of
God, whose name be exalted ! But know, my son, that thy wife is in the seventh
island of the Islands of Wak-Wak, and the distance between us and it is seven
montlis' journey, night and day. For we proceed hence until we arrive at a land
called the Land of the Birds ; and by reason of the vehemence of the cries of the
birds, and the flapping of their wings, one of them heareth not what another uttereth.
Then we proceed over that land for a period of eleven days, night and day ; after
which we pass forth from it to a land called the Land of the Wild Beasts ; and by
reason of the vehemence of the cries of the beasts of prey and the hyenas and other
wild beasts, and the howling of the wolves and the roaring of the lions, we shall
hear nothing else. We journey over that land for the space of twenty days, and
then pass forth from it to a land called the Land of the Genii, where, by reason of
the vehemence of the cries of the Genii, and the rising of the flames and the flying
about of the sparks and the smoke from their mouths, and the harsh sounds from
their throats, and their insolence, they will obstruct the way before us, and our ears
will be deafened, and our eyes will be covered with darkness, so that we shall neither
hear nor see, nor will any one of us be able to look behind him ; for by doing so he
would perish. In that place, the horseman will put his head upon the pommel of
his saddle, and not raise it for a period of three days. After that, there will be
before us a vast mountain and a running river, which extend to the Islands of Wak-
Wak. Know also, my son, that all this army consisteth of damsels, virgins ; and
the sovereign who ruleth over us is a woman of the Seven Islands of Wak-Wak.
The extent of those seven islands is a whole year's journey to the rider who travel-
leth with diligence. On the bank of this river [that I have mentioned] is another
mountain, called the Mountain of Wak-Wak ; and this name is the proper appellation
of a tree whose branches resemble the heads of the sons of Adam ; and when the
sun riseth upon it, those heads all cry out, saying in their cry, Wak ! Wak ! Ex-
tolled be the perfection of the King, the Excellent Creator! — So when we hear their
cry, we know that the sun hath risen. In like manner also when the sun setteth,
those heads cry out and say in their cry the same words, and we know thereupon
that the sun hath set. No man can reside with us, nor gain access to us, nor tread
our land ; and between us and the residence of the Queen who ruleth over this land
is a journey of a month from this shore. Also, all the subjects upon that shore are
under the authority of that Queen ; and under her authority likewise are the tribes
of the Genii, Marids and Devils, and under her authority are enchanters, the number
of whom none knoweth but He who created them. Now if thou fear, I will send
with thee one who will convey thee to the coast, and I will bring one who will tran-
sport thee with him in a vessel and convey thee to thy country. But if it be agree-
able to thy heart to remain with us, I will not prevent thee; thou shalt be with me
as though thou wert in mine eye, until thou shalt accomplish thine affair, if it be
the will of God, whose name be exalted !
Upon this he said to her, my mistress, I will not quit thee until I meet with my
wife, or my life shall be lost. And she replied. This will be an easy affair: so com-
fort thy heart, and thou shalt attain thy desire if it be the will of God, whose name
664 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
be exalted ! I must acquaint the Queen with thee, that she may aid thee to attain
thy wish. — Hassan therefore prayed for her, and kissed her hands and her head,
and thanked her for that which she had done, and for her exceeding kindness. He
proceeded with her, meditating upon what might be the result of his case, and upon
the horrors of his estrangement: and he began to weep and wail. The old woman
then gave orders to beat the drum for departure, and the army proceeded, Hassan
proceeding also, in company with the old woman. Being drowned in the sea of
solicitudes, he was oppressed in mind, and recited verses, while the old woman ex-
horted him to be patient, and consoled him ; but he recovered not, nor attended to
that which she proposed to him. They ceased not to journey on until they arrived
at the first of the seven islands, which was the Island of the Birds ; and when they
entered it Hassan imagined that the world was overturned, in consequence of the
vehemence of the cries. His head ached and his mind was bewildered, his eyea
ware blinded and his ears were stopped, and he feared violently, and made sure of
death, saying within himself. If this is the Land of the Birds, how will be the Land
of the Wild Beasts? So when the old woman named Shawahi saw him in this
state, she laughed at him, and said to him, my son, if this is thy state in the first
island, how will it be with thee when thou comest to the remaining islands? He
therefore supplicated God, and humbled himself to Him, and begged of Him that
He would aid him to bear up against the alHiction with which He had visited him,
and that He would cause him to attain his desires. They continued their journey
until they had traversed the Land of the Birds, and passed forth from it, and entered
the Land of the Genii ; and when Hassan beheld it, he feared, and repented of his
having entered it with them. Then he begged aid of God (whose name be exalted !),
and proceeded with them. And they escaped from the land of the Genii, and arrived
at the river, and, alighting beneath a vast, lofty mountain, they pitched their tents
upon the bank of the river. The old woman placed for Hassan a couch of alabaster,
set with fine pearls and with jewels and bars of red gold, by the side of the river.
So he seated himself upon it ; and the troops advanced, and she displayed them to
him. After that, they pitched their tents around him, and rested a while. Then
they ate and drank and slept in security ; for they had arrived at their country.
Now Hassan had put over his fiice a veil, so that naught of him appeared save
his eyes. And lo, a company of the damsels walked near to the tent of Hassan,
and, having pulled off their outer garments, descended into the river. So Hassan
kept looking at them while they washed, and they proceeded to play and to divert
themselves, not knowing that he was looking at them ; for they imagined that he
was of the daughters of the Kings. Thus the whole army assembled before Hassan ;
for the old woman gave orders to proclaim among all the troops that they should
assemble before his tent and display themselves and descend into the river, thinking
that perhaps his wife might be among them, and he would know her. She pro-
ceeded to ask him respecting them, company after company ; and he replied. She is
not among these, my mistress. So the old woman said. Describe her to me, and
acquaint me with all her characteristics, that she may be in my mind; for I know
every damsel in the Islands of Wak-Wak, as I am the leader of the army of damsels
and their commander; and if thou describe her to me, I shall know her, and will
contrive means for thy taking her. Accordingly he described her to her. And
thereupon the old woman hung down her head towards the ground for some time;
after which she raised her head towards Hassan, and said. Extolled be the perfec-
tion of God, the Great in dignity ! Verily I am afflicted in thee, Hassan ; and
would that I had not known thee! For the woman whom thou hast described to me,
she is thy wife indeed: I have known her by her characteristics, and she is the
daughter of the supreme King, his eldest daughter, who ruleth over all the Islands
of Wak-Wak. Therefore open thine eyes, and consider thine affair; and if thou be
asleep, awake ; for it is impossible for thee ever to gain aCcess to her; and if thou
gainedst access to her, thou couldst not get possession of her; since between theo
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 665
and her is like as is between heaven and earth. Return therefore, my son, soon,
and cast not thyself into destruction, and me with thee ; for I imagine that thou
hast no lot in her. Return to the place whence thou hast come, lest our lives be
lost. — And she feared for herself and for him.
When Hassan, therefore, heard the words of the old woman, he wept violently, so
that he fainted ; and the old woman ceased not to sprinkle water upon his face until
he recovered from his fit. He continued to weep so that he wetted his clothes with
his tears by reason of the excessive anxiety and grief that had come upon him in
consequence of the words of the old woman, and he despaired of life. Then he said
to the old woman, my mistress, and how can I return after I have got hither? I
did not imagine in my mind that thou wast unable to accomplish my desire,
especially because thou art the leader of the army of damsels, and their commander.
— To this she replied, I conjure thee by Allah, my son, that thou choose for thyself
a damsel from among these damsels, and I will give her to thee instead of thy wife,
lest thou fall into the hands of the Kings, and I shall have no means of releasing
thee. By Allah, I conjure thee that thou hear my words, and choose for thyself one
of these damsels instead of that damsel, and return to thy country soon in safety,
and make me not to drink thine anguish [by witnessingthy death]. By Allah, thou
hast cast thyself into a severe calamity and great peril, from which no one can deliver
thee. — So thereupon Hassan hung down his head and wept violently, until he fainted,
and the old woman ceased not to sprinkle water upon his face till he recovered from
his fit; when she addressed him and said, my master, return to thy country: for
if I go with thee to the city, thy life and mine will be lost; as the Queen, when she
knoweth thereof, will blame me for coming with thee into her country and her
islands, to which no one of the sons of Adam cometh, and she will slay me because
of my having brought thee with me, and given thee a sight of these virgins whom
thou hast seen in the river, although no male hath touched them, nor a husband
approached them. So Hassan swore that he had never looked at them with an evil
glance. But she rejoined, my son, return to thy country, and I will give thee
wealth and treasures and rarities on account of which thou shalt become indifferent
to all women. Hear then my words, and return soon, and expose not thyself to
peril ; for I have given thee good advice. When Hassan, however, heard her words,
he wept, and rubbed his cheeks upon her feet, and said, my mistress and my lady,
and delight of my eye, how can I return after I have come to this place without see-
ing her whom I desire, and have approached the abode of the beloved, and hoped to
meet her soon, and when perhaps I may have the good fortune to be reunited with
her? Then he recited some verses; and when he had ended them, the old woman
pitied him and had compassion on him, and, addressing him kindly, she comforted
his heart, and said to him. Let thy soul be happy and thine eye be cheerful, and let
thy mind be free from anxiety. By Allah, I will expose my soul to peril with thee
until thou shalt attain thy desire, or my death shall overtake me !
So the heart of Hassan was comforted, his bosom became dilated, and he sat con-
versing with the old woman until the close of the day ; and when the night ap-
proached, all the damsels became dispersed: some of them entered their palaces in
the city, and some passed the night in the tents. The old woman then took Hassan
with her, and conducted him into the city, and she appropriated to him a place for
himself alone, lest any one should. become acquainted with him and inform the Queen
of him, and she should slay him and the bringer of him. She served him herself,
and inspired him with fear of the authority of the supreme King, the father of his
wife ; and he wept before her, and said, my mistress, I choose death for myself,
and hate the world, if I be not reunited with my wife and my children : so I will
expose my life to peril, and either I shall attain my desire, or else I shall die. And
the old woman proceeded to meditate upon the mode of effecting his union and inter-
view with his wife, and what stratagem should be employed in the case of this poor
man, who had cast his soul into destruction, and would not be restrained from pur-
666 THE STOKY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
suing the object of his desire by fear nor by anything else. He had become indif-
ferent to himself; and the author of the proverb saith, The enamoured heareth not
the words of one who is free from love. The damsel above mentioned was Queen of
the island in which they then were, and her name was Nour Elhada, This Queen
had six sisters, virgins, residing with their father, the supreme King, who was ruler
of the islands and the districts of Wak-Wak, and the seat of government of that
King was in the greatest of the cities of that country. His eldest daughter, Nour
Elhada, was ruler over that city in which Hassan was, and over all its disti-icts.
Now the old woman, when she saw Hassan burning with desire to meet with his
wife and his children, arose and repaired to the palace of the Queen Nour Elhada,
and went in to her, and kissed the ground before her. The old woman had a claim
upon her for fovour, because she had reared all the daughters of the King, and she
had authority over them all, and was held in honour by them, and was dear unto
the King. So when she went in to the Queen Nour Elhada, the Queen rose to her
and embraced her, seated her by her side, and asked her respecting her journey.
She therefore answered her. By Allah, my mistress, it was a blessed journey, and
I have brought for thee with me a present which I will place before thee. Then she
said to her, my daughter, Queen of the age and time, I have brought with me a
wonderful thing, and I desire to show it to thee, in order that thou mayest aid me to
accomplish what it requireth. — And what is it? said the Queen. So she acquainted
her with the story of Hassan from its beginning to its end. She trembled like the
reed in the day of the stormy wind, until she fell down before the daughter of the
King, and said to her, my mistress, a person implored my protection upon the
coast, and he was hidden beneath the settee, and I granted him protection, and
brought him with me among the army of damsels, he being armed, that no one
might know him, and I conducted him into the city. Then she said to her. And I
inspired him with fear of thy authority, and acquainted him with thy valour and
thy power; but as often as I threatened him, he wept, and recited verses, and he
said to me, I must regain my wife and my children, or I will die, and I will not
return to my country without them. He hath exposed himself to peril, and come to
the Islands of Wak-Wak ; and I have not seen in my life a human being more strong
of heart than he, nor any of greater valour: but love hath gained the utmost
ascendency over him. — When the Queen, however, heard her words, and understood
the case of Hassan, she was violently enraged, and hung down her head for a while
towards the ground. Then she raised her head, and, looking at the old woman, said
to her, ill-omened old woman, hath thy wickedness occasioned thee to convey
males, and conduct them to the Islands of Wak-Wak, and bring them in unto me
without fearing my authority? By the head of the King, were it not for the claim
thou hast upon me on account of thy having reared me, I would slay thee and him
this instant in the most abominable manner, that the travellers might be admonished
by thine example, accursed woman, lest any one else should do the like of this
egregious deed which thou hast done, and which none was able to do before I But
go forth and bring him this instant, that I may see him.
The old woman therefore went forth from before her, confounded, not knowing
whither to go, and saying. All this calamity hath God sent upon me from this Queen
by means of Hassan ! She proceeded until she went in to Hassan, when she said to
him. Arise: answer the summons of the Queen, thou whose last day hath drawn
near. So he arose with her, his tongue ceasing not to utter the name of God (extolled
be it!), saying, Allah, act graciously with me in thine appointment, and deliver
me from the calamity which Thou hast sent upon me !— She went on with him until
she stationed him before the Queen Nour Elhada, and the old woman directed hin:\
on the way as to what he should say to her. And when he presented himself
before Nour Elhada, he saw her with a veil over her face ; and he kissed the ground
before her, and saluted her. Then the Queen commanded the old woman to talk
with him before her, that she might hear his answers. The old woman therefore
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 667
Baid, The Queen returneth thy salutation, and saith to thee, What is thy name, and
from what country art thou, and what are the names of thy wife and thy children on
account of whom thou hast come, and what is the name of thy country? So he
answered her (and he had fortified his heart, and destiny aided him), O Queen of the
age and period, and peerless one of the time, as to me, my name is Hassan, the very
mournful, and my city is Balsora ; but as to my wife, I know not her name: as to
my children, however, one is named Nasir, and the other is named Mansour. And
when the Queen heard his words, she said, And whence took she her children? He
answered her, Queen, from the city of Bao;dad, from the palace of the Caliph.
She then said to him. And did she say to you aught at the time of her flying away ?
He answered. She said to my mother. When thy son cometh, and the days of separa-
tion have become tedious to him, and he desireth nearness and meeting, and the
winds of longing desire agitate him, let him come to me in the Islands of Wak-Wak.
— And thereupon the Queen Nour Elhada shook her head. Then she said to him, If
she desired thee not, she had not said to thy mother these words ; and if she did not
desire thee and long for thine approach, she had not acquainted thee with the place
of her abode, nor summoned thee to her country. And Hassan said, mistress of
Kings, and ruler over every King and pauper, I have acquainted thee with what
hath happened, and I have not concealed of it aught. I implore protection of God
and of thee, begging thee not to oppress me. Have compassion upon me, and gain
the recompense and reward that will be given for me, and aid me to accomplish my
reunion with my wife and my children : dispel my sorrow and cheer mine eye by the
restoration of my children, and help me with a sight of them. — Then he wept and
yearned and lamented, and recited some verses.
Upon this, the Queen Nour Elhada hung down her head towards the ground and
shook it for a long time ; after which, she raised it, and said to him, I have com-
passionated thee and pitied thee, and I have determined that I will display to thee
every damsel in the city and in the districts of my island; and if thou know thy
wife I will deliver her to thee ; but if thou know her not, I will slay thee, and
crucify thee upon the door of the house of the old woman. And Hassan replied, I
accept this proposal from thee, O Queen of the age. I consent to the conditi(m which
thou hast imposed, and there is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the
Great ! — The Queen Nour Elhada then gave orders that no damsel in the city should
remain without coming up to the palace and passing before him, and she ordered
the old woman Shawahi herself to go down into the city and to bring every damsel
therein to the Queen in her palace. The Queen proceeded to introduce the damsels
to Hassan, a hundred after a hundred, until there remained not in the city a damsel
whom she did not display to him. But he saw not his wife among them. The
Queen asked him and said to him, Hast thou seen her among these? And he
answered her. By thy life, Queen, she is not among them. And thereupon the
rage of the Queen became violent against him, and she said to the old woman. Enter,
and bring out every one who is in the palace and display them to him. But when
she displayed to him every one in the palace, he saw not his wife among them ; and
he said to the Queen, By thy head, Queen, she is not among them. So she was
enraged, and she cried out to those around her, saying. Take him and drag him
upon his face on the ground, and smite off his head, lest any one after him expose
himself to peril and become acquainted with our condition, and come unto us in our
country, and tread our land and our islands.
Accordingly they dragged him along upon his face, threw his skirt over him,
bound his eyes, and stood with the swords over his head, waiting for permission.
And upon this, Shawahi advanced to the Queen, kissed the ground before her, and,
taking hold of her skirt, raised it over her head, and said to her, Queen, by the
claim that I have upon thee for rearing thee, hasten not to punish him, especially
since thou knowest that this poor man is a stranger, who hath exposed himself to
peril, and endured events that none hath endured before him, and God (to whom be
668 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
ascribed mij^htand glory!) hath saved him from death on account of the predestined
length of his life. He had heard of thy justice, and entered thy country and thine
asylum: therefore, if thou slay him, the news will be spread abroad by the travellers,
respecting thee, that thou hatest the strangers, and slayest them. He is at all events
in thy power, and the victim of thy sword if his wife appear not in thy country; and
at whatever time thou shalt desire his presence I shall be able to bring him back
unto thee. Moreover, I granted him not protection save with the desire of thy
generosity, on account of the claim that I have upon thee for having reared thee: so
I pledged myself to him that thou wouldst enable him to attain the object of his
search, because I knew thy justice and thy clemency. Had I not known this of thee,
I had not brought him into thy country, and said within myself. The Queen will
divert herself by seeing him, and by hearing the verses and the charming and elo-
quent words which he will utter, and which will be like strung pearls. This man
hath entered our country and eaten our food : so it is expedient that we give him his
due, especially since I promised him an interview with thee ; and thou knowest that
separation is hard to endure, and knowest that separation is slaughter, especially
separation from one's children. Now there remaineth not any one of the women for
us to display excepting thee: therefore show him thy face.
At this the Queen smiled, and she said. How can he be my husband, and have
had children by me, that I should show him my face? Then she gave orders to
bring him, wherefore they brought him in to her, and stationed him before her, and
she uncovered her face ; and when Hassan beheld it, he uttered a great cry, and fell
down in a fit. So the old woman ceased not to soothe him until he recovered ; and
•when he recovered from his fit, he arose and looked at the Queen, and again uttered
a great cry, whereat the palace almost fell upon those who were in it. Then a
second time he fell down in a fit, and the old woman, as before, ceased not to soothe
him until he recovered, when she asked him respecting his state, and he replied,
Verily this Queen is either my wife, or she is most like, of all persons, to my wife.
So the Queen said to the old woman. Wo to thee, nurse ! Verily this stranger is
mad, or disordered in mind ; for he looketh in my face and stareth. — The old woman
replied, Queen, this man is excusable ; therefore blame him not, since it is said in
the proverb, For the sick of love there is no remedy, and he and the mad are alike.
■ — Then Hassan wept violently, and said to the Queen, By Allah, thou art not my
wife ; but, of all persons, thou art the most like to her. And the Queen Nour El-
hada laughed until she fell backwards and turned upon her side. She then said,
my friend, act leisurely, and observe me distinctly, and answer me respecting that
of which I shall ask thee, and dismiss from thy mind insanity and perplexity and
confusion ; for relief hath approached thee. So Hassan replied, mistress of Kings,
and refuge of every rich person and pauper, when I beheld thee, I became mad, seeing
thee to be either my wife, or, of all persons, the most like to my wife ; and now ask
me concerning what thou wilt. And she said. What is there in thy wife that re-
sembleth me? He answered, my mistress, all that thou hast of beauty and love-
liness, and elegance and amorous manner (as the justness of thy shape, and the
sweetness of thy speech, and the redness of thy cheeks, and other things) resembleth
her. Then the Queen looked towards Shawahi the mother of sorrows, and said to
her, my mother, take him back to his place where he was with thee, and do thou
thyself serve him until I investig.ate his case ; and if this man be a person of gene-
rosity, so that he retain the feelings of companionship and friendship and affection,
it will be incumbent on us to aid him in the accomplishment of his affair, especially
since he hath sojourned in our country and eaten our food, and endured the difli-
culties of travel, and undergone horrors and perils. But when thou hast conveyed
him to thy house, give a charge respecting him to thy servants, and return to me
speedily; and if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !), nought but good
shall happen.
So thereupon the old woman went forth, and took Hassan, and having gone with
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 669
him to her house, she ordered her female shives and her servants and other depend
ants to serve him, commanding them to bring to him all that he required, and not
to fail in doing what vFas proper for him. She then returned to the Queen with
speed, and the Queen ordered her to arm herself, and to take with her a thousand
brave horsemen. And the old woman Shawahi obeyed her command. She put on
her coats of mail, and summoned the thousand horsemen; and when she stood before
the Queen, and informed her that the thousand horsemen were ready, the Queen
commanded her to go to the city of the supreme King, her father, and to alight at
the abode of his daughter Menar Elsena, her sister, and to say to her, Clothe thy
two sons with the two coats of mail which I have made for them, and send them to
their aunt; for she is desirous of seeing them. And she said to her also, I charge
thee, my mother, to conceal the affair of Hassan ; and when thou hast received
the two children from her, say to her, Thy sister inviteth thee to visit her. Then,
when she hath given thee her two children and come forth with them to visit me,
bring thou the two children speedily, and let her come at her leisure. Come thou
by a way different from that by which she shall come, and let thy journey be con-
tinued night and day, and beware that no one become acquainted with this affair.
Then I will swear by all oaths, that if my sister prove to be his wife, and it appear
that her children are his children, I will not prevent his taking her, nor her journey-
ing with him and with her children to his country. — And the old woman confided in
her words, not knowing what she purposed in her mind ; for the wicked woman had
purposed in her mind, that if she were not his wife, and if her children did not re-
semble him, she would slay him. The Queen then said to the old woman, my
mother, if my imagination tell truth, my sister Menar Elsena is his wife (but God is
all knowing) ; for these characteristics are hers, and all the qualities that he hath
mentioned, her surpassing loveliness and exceeding beauty, are not found in any
one except my sisters ; and especially are they found in the youngest. — Then the old
woman kissed her hand, and returned to Hassan, and acquainted him with that
which the Queen had said ; on his hearing which, his reason fled in consequence of
his joy, and he arose and advanced to the old woman and kissed her head. But she
said to him, my son, kiss not my head: kiss me on my mouth, and let this kiss
be a gratuity for thy safety. Be of good heart and cheerful eye, and let not thy
bosom be otherwise than dilated ; and dislike not kissing me on ray mouth, for I
have been the cause of thine interview with her. Comfort thy heart and thy mind,
and be not otherwise than with dilated bosom, cheerful eye, and tranquil soul. — She
then bade him farewell, and departed.
The old woman equipped herself with her arms, and, taking with her a thousand
armed horsemen, repaired to that island in which was the sister of the Queen, and
she proceeded until she came to the Queen's sister. Between the city of Nour El-
hada and that of her sister was a space of three days' journey. And when Shawahi
arrived at the city, and went up to the Queen's sister, Menar Elsena, she saluted
her, and gave her the salutation of her sister Nour Elhada, acquainted her with her
sister's desire to see her and her children, and informed her that the Queen Nour
Elhada reproved her for not visiting her. So the Queen Menar Elsena replied,
Verily I am indebted to my sister, and I have been deficient in the duty I owe her,
in my not visiting her; but I will visit her now. She then gave orders to take forth
her tents to the outside of the city, and took with her for her sister a present and
rarities suitable to her. And her father the King, looking from the windows of the
palace, saw the tents pitched. He therefore asked respecting them; and they
answered him, the Queen Menar Elsena hath pitched her tents in that route ; for
she desireth to visit her sister Nour Elhada. And when the King heard thereof,
he prepared for her some troops to conduct her to her sister, and took forth from his
treasuries, of riches, and of food and drink, and of rarities and jewels, what words
•would fail to describe. The seven daughters of the King were of one father and
one mother, except the youngest : the eldest was named Nour Elhada ; the
670 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
second, Nejm Elsabah ; the third, Shems Eldoha; the fourth, Shejcret Eldurr;
the fifth, Kout Elkuloub ; the sixth, Sharaf Elbenat ; and the seventh, Menar
Elsena ; and she was the youngest of them, and was the wife of Hassan, and she
was their sister by the father's side only. Then the old woman came and
kissed the ground before Menar Elsena. So Menar Elsena said to her, Hast
thou any want, my mother? And she answered her. The Queen Nour Elhada,
thy sister, desireth thee to change the apparel of thy two sons and to clothe
them with the two coats of mail which she hath made for them, and to send them
with me unto her, and I will take them and go on before with them, and will be the
announcer of the glad tidings of thy coming to her. But when Menar Elsena heard
the words of the old woman, she hung down her head towards the ground, and her
complexion had changed ; and she ceased not to hang down her head for a long
time. Then she shook her head, and, raising it towards the old woman, said to her,
my mother, my mind was violently agitated, and my heart throbbed, when thou
mentionedst my children ; for from the time of their birth none of the Genii nor
any of mankind hath seen their faces, neither female nor male, and I am jealous
for them, of the zephyr when it bloweth in the night. So the old woman said to
her. What are these words, my mistress? Dost thou fear, on their account, thy
sister? Allah preserve thy reason ! If thou wouldst disobey the Queen in this thing,
thou couldst not disobey; for she would reprove thee. However, my mistress,
thy children are young, and thou art excusable in fearing for them, and the loving
is addicted to evil imagination. But, my daughter, thou knowest my kindness
and my love for thee and for thy children, and I reared you before them. I will re-
ceive them and take them, and spread for them my cheek as a carpet, and open my
heart and put them within it, and I require no charge respecting them in such a
case as this. Therefore be of good heart and cheerful eye, and send them to her,
and at most I shall be before thee one day or two. — She ceased not to urge her until
her temper was softened, and she feared the anger of her sister, and knew not what
was concealed from her in the secret purpose of God. So she consented to send them
with the old woman, and, having called for them, she bathed them and made them
ready, changed their apparel, clad them with the two coats of mail, and delivered
them to the old woman.
She therefore took them and proceeded with them like a bird, by" a different way
from that by which their mother was going, as the Queen Nour Elhada had charged
her. She ceased not to prosecute her journey with diligence, fearing for them, until
she arrived with them in the city of the Queen Nour Elhada. She crossed the river
with them, entered the city, and went with them to the Queen their aunt; and when
the Queen saw them, she rejoiced at their arrival, embraced them and pressed them
to her bosom, and seated one upon her right thigh, and the other upon her left thigh.
Then she looked towards the old woman, and said to her. Bring now Hassan ; for I
have given him my protection, and granted him deliverance from my sword, and he
hath sought defence in my mansion, and alighted in my abode, after having endured
horrors and diflBculties, and escaped the causes of death that were attended by in-
creasing anxiety, yet to the present time hath not become secure from drinking the
cup of death, and from the stopping of his breath. The old woman therefore said
to her. If I bring him before thee, wilt thou reunite him and them ; and if it appear
not that they are his children, wilt thou pardon him, and send him back to his
country? But when the Queen heard her words she was violently enraged, and said,
Wo to thee, ill-omened old woman ! How long shall continue this guile in the
affair of this stranger, who hath emboldened himself against us, and removed our
veil, and become acquainted with our circumstances? Doth he imagine that he can
come to our country, and see our faces, and soil our reputations, and return to his
country in safety, and disgrace us in his country and among his people, and that
our story shall reach all the Kings in the regions of the earth, and the merchants
travel about relating our story in every quarter, and saying, A human being hath
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 671
entered the Islands of Wak-Wak, and crossed the countries of the enchanters and
sorcerers, and trud the Land of the Genii and the Lands of the Wild Beasts and the
Birds, and returned in safety? This shall never be. I swear by the Creator of
Heaven, and its Architect, and the Expander of the Earth, and its Spreader, and
the Creator of the Creatures, and their Numberer, if they be not his children, I will
surely slay him, and I will be the smiter off of his head with mine own hand ! —
She then cried out at the old woman, who thereupon fell down through fear ; and
she set upon her the chamberlain and twenty mamlouks, and said to them, Go with
this old woman, and bring me the young man who is in her house with speed.
So the old woman went forth, dragged along, with the chamberlain and the mam-
louks ; and her complexion had turned sallow, and the muscles of her side quivered.
She proceeded to her abode, and went in to Hassan ; and when she went in to him,
he rose to her and kissed her hands and saluted her. She, however, saluted not
him ; but said to him. Arise, and answer the summons of the Queen. Did I not say
to thee. Return to thy country — and did I not forbid thy doing all this? But thou
heardest not my words. And did I not say to thee, I will give thee what none is
able to procure, and return thou to thy country soon ? But thou obeyedst me not,
nor heardest my words, but actedst contrary to my advice, and chosest destruction
for me and for thyself. Take then what thou hast chosen ; for death is near. Arise ;
answer the summons of this wicked, sinful, oppressive, tyrannical woman. — So
Hassan arose, broken-spirited, with mourning heart, fearing, and saying, God of
peace, preserve me! Allah, act graciously with me in the trial which Thou hast
decreed to fall upon me, and protect me, most merciful of those who show mercy !
— And he had despaired of life. He repaired with the twenty mamlouks and the
chamberlain and the old woman, and they went in to the Queen with Hassan, who
found his two sons Nasir and Mansour sitting in her lap, and she was playing with
them, and cheering them by conversation. When his eye fell upon them, he knew
them, and, uttering a great cry, fell upon the floor in a fit by reason of the violence
of his joy at seeing his two children ; and when he recovered, he knew his children,
and they knew him, and natural affection moved them so that they extricated them-
selves from the lap of the Queen, and stood by Hassan ; and God (to whom be
ascribed might and glory!) caused them to utter the exclamation, our father!
Upon this, the old woman and the rest who were present wept in compassion and
pity for them, and said. Praise be to God, who hath reunited you to your father !
And when Hassan recovered from his fit, he embraced his children.
But when the Queen had certified herself that the little ones were the children of
Hassan, and that her sister, the lady Menar Elsena, was his wife, in search of whom
he had come, she was enraged against her with a violent rage, not to be exceeded ;
and she cried out in the face of Hassan, who fainted thereupon ; and when he re-
covered from his fit, he saw that they had taken him forth, dragged along upon his
face. So he arose and walked, stumbling upon his skirts, and not believing in his
escape from that which he had suffered from her; and this was grievous to the old
woman Shawahi ; but she could not address the Queen on the subject of his case by
reason of the violence of her anger. Now when Hassan went forth from the palace,
he became perplexed, not knowing whither to go, nor to what place to come, nor
whither to repair. The world, with its amplitude, became strait unto him, and he
found not any one to converse with him and cheer him by his company, nor any
one to comfort him, nor any one of whom to ask advice, nor any one to whom to
resort and to whom to apply for refuge. He therefore made sure of destruction ;
for he was unable to travel, and knew not any one with whom to travel, nor knew
he the way, nor was he able to traverse the Valley of the Genii, and the Land of the
Wild Beasts, and the Islands of the Birds: therefore he despaired of life. Then he
wept for himself until he fainted ; and when he recovered, he thought upon his chil-
dren and his wife, and her coming to her sister, and thought upon what might
happen to her with the Queen, her sister. He repented of his having come to this
672 THE STORY OF HASSAN OP BALSORA.
country, and of hi3 not h-^-ving attended to the words of any one ; and he recited
some mournful verses ; after which he ceased not to walk on until he went forth to
the outside of the city, when he found the river, and he proceeded along its bank,
not knowing whither to repair.
But as to his wife, Menar Eisena, she desired to set forth on her journey on the
second day after that on which the old woman set forth. — While, however, she was
meditating to depart, lo, the chamberlain of the King her fiither came in to her, and
kissed the ground before her, and said to her, Queen, thy father the supreme King
3aluteth thee and calleth thee to him. So she arose and repaired with the chamber-
lain to her father to see what he wanted. And when her father saw her, he seated
her by his side upon the couch, and said to her, my daughter, know that I have
seen this last night a vision, and I fear for thee in consequence thereof, and fear
that there will occur to thee, from this thy journey, long-continued anxiety. She
therefore said to him, Wherefore, my father; and what didst thou see in thy
sleep? And he answered, I beheld as though I entered a repository of treasure,
and saw in it great riohes, and jewels and jacinths in abundance, and as though
there pleased me not in all that treasure, nor among all those jewels, aught save
seven beads, which were the most Vjeautiful of the things there. And I chose, of
the seven jewels, one, which was the smallest of them, and the most beautiful of
them, and the most excellent of them in brilliancy ; and it seemed as though I took
it in my hand, when its beauty pleased me, and went forth with it from the reposi-
tory of treasure. But when I went forth from its door, I opened my hand, being
joyful, and turned over the jewel ; and lo, a strange bird had approached from a
distant country — it was not of the birds of our country — and it pounced down upon
me from the sky, seized the jewel from my hand, and returned with it to the place
whence it had come. So anxiety and sorrow and vexation came upon me, and I
was affected with exceeding terror, which roused me from my sleep, and I awoke
mournful, lamenting the loss of that jewel. Therefore when I awoke, I summoned
the interpreters and expounders, and related to them my dream ; and they said to
me. Thou hast seven daughters, the youngest of whom thou wilt lose, and she will
be taken from thee forcibly, without thy consent. Now thou, my daughter, art
the youngest of my daughters, and the dearest of them in my estimation, and the
most generous of them to me ; and now thou art about to journey to thy sister, and
I know not what will befall thee from her ; therefore go not ; but return to thy
palace. — And when Menar Eisena heard the words of her father, her heart throb-
bed, and she feared for her children, and hung down her head for a while towards
the ground. Then she raised her head towards her father, and said to him, King^
verily the Queen Nour Elhada hath prepared for me an entertainment, and she is
expecting my coming to her hour after hour. For four years she hath not seen me,
and if I delay visiting her, she will be incensed against me; and the utmost period
of my stay with her will be a month, after which I shall be with thee again. Be-
sides, who is this person who can invade our country, and gain access to the Islands
of Wak-Wak? And who can gain access to the White Land, and the Black Moun-
tain, and come to the Island of Camphor, and the Castle of Crystal ; and how can
he traverse the Valley of the Birds ; then the Valley of the Wild Beasts ; then the
Valley of the Genii ; and then enter our Islands ? If any stranger came in to them,
he would be drowned in the seas of destruction. Therefore let thy soul be happy
and thine eye be cheerful with regard to my journey, for no one hath power to tread
our land. — And she ceased not to persuade him until he granted her permission to
go. He then ordered a thousand horsemen to journey with her, to conduct her to
the river, and there to remain until she should arrive at the city of her sister, and
enter her sister's palace. He also ordered them to remain with her till they should
take her and bring her back to her father; and her father charged her that she
should remain with her sister two days only, and then return speedily. So she said,
I hear and obey.
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
673
She then arose and went forth, and her father went forth with her, and bade her
farewell. The words of her father had made an impression upon her heart, and she
feared for her children ; but fortifying oneself by caution against the assault of
destiny is of no avail. She prosecuted her journey with diligence for three days with
their nights, until she arrived at the river, and pitched her tents on its bank. Then
she crossed the river, having with her some of her pages and other followers, and
her Viziers ; and when she arrived at the city of the Queen Nour Elhada, she
ascended to the palace, and went in to her ; and she saw her children weeping by
lier, and crying out, our father ! So the tears flowed from her eyes, and she wept,
and, pressing her children to her bosom, she said to them. Have ye seen your father?
Would that the hour had never been when I parted from him ! And if I knew that
he were in the abode of the world, I would convey you to him. — She then lamented
for herself and for her husband and for the weeping of her children. But when her
sister saw that she pressed her children to her bosom, and said, I have occasioned
this to befall myself and my children, and have made my house desolate — she saluted
her not: on the contrary, she said to her, wicked woman, how hadst thou these
children ? Hast thou married without the knowledge of thy father, or hast thou
formed an unlawful connection ? If thou have done this, thou must be severely
punished ; and if thou have married without our knowledge, wherefore didst thou
quit thy husband and take thy children, separating them from their father, and
come to our country ? Moreover thou hast concealed thy children from us. Dost
thou imagine that we knew not that? By Allah (whose name be exalted!), who
knoweth all secrets, thy case hath been made manifest to us, and thy state hath been
llllllllli
^^^
Menar Elsena in prison.
revealed, and thy shameful secrets have been exposed. — Then, after that, she ordered
her guards to lay hold upon her. So they seized her, and she bound her hands
behind her, shackled her with shackles of iron, and inflicted upon her a painful beab-
43
674 THE STORY OF HASSAN OP BALSORA.
ing, so that she lacerated her skin ; and she suspended her by her hair, put her into
a prison, and wrote a letter to the supreme King, her father, informing him of her
story, and saying to him: —
There hath appeared in our country a man of the human race, and my sister,
Menar Elsena, asserteth that she hath married him lawfully and had by him two
sons, whom she hath concealed from us and from thee ; but she revealed not aught
respecting herself until that man, who is of the human race, came to us. His name
is Hassan, and he hath informed us that he married her, and that she resided with
him a long time ; after which she took her children and departed without his know-
ledge, having told his mother, at her departure, and said to her, Say to thy son, when
he hath a longing to see me, that he must come to the Islands of Wak-Wak. So we
seized the man in our abode, and I sent to her the old woman Shawahi to bring her
to me, together with her children ; wherefore she fitted herself out and came. And
I had ordered the old woman to bring to me her children first, and to come on in
advance to me with them, before the arrival of their mother. Accordingly the old
woman came with the children before her arrival. Then I sent to the man who
asserted her to be his wife ; and when he came in to me, and saw the children, he
knew them. • So I was certified that they were his children and that she was his
wife, and I knew that the saying of the man was true, that there was no disgraceful-
ness in him, and I saw that the turpitude and disgracefulness were in my sister. I
therefore feared that we should be dishonoured in the opinion of the people of our
islands ; and when this wicked deceitful woman came in to me, I waa incensed
against her, and inflicted upon her a painful beating, and suspended her by her hair.
Now I have acquainted thee with her story ; and it is thine to command ; whatever
thou shalt order us to do, we will do it. Thou knowest that this thing is attended
with dishonour to us, and with disgrace to us and to thee ; for probably the people
of the islands will hear thereof, and we shall become among them an example ;
wherefore it is expedient that thou return us a reply speedily.
She gave the letter to the messenger, who went with it to the King ; and when the
supreme King read it, he was violently enraged against his daughter Menar Elsena,
and wrote to his daughter Nour Elhada, a letter, in which he said to her, I have
committed her case unto thee, and given thee power over her life; and if the thing
be as thou hast said, slay her, and consult me not respecting her case. So when
the letter of her father came to her, and she read it, she sent to Menar Elsena, and
caused her to be brought before her. She was drowned in her blood, having her
hands bound behind her with her hair, shackled with heavy shackles of iron, and
upon her was apparel of hair-cloth. They stationed her before the Queen, and she
stood abject and abased ; and when she beheld herself in this state of great abase-
ment, and excessive contempt, she reflected upon her former glory, and wept violently,
until she fell down in a fit; and when she recovered, she recited some other verses.
Her sister then caused a ladder of wood to be brought to her, and extended her
upon it, and ordered the servants to bind her upon her back on the ladder, stretched
forth her arms and tied them with cords, uncovered her head, and wound her hair
upon the ladder ; and pity for her had been eradicated from her heart. So when
Menar Elsena beheld herself in this state of abasement and contempt, she cried out
and wept; but no one aided her. She said to the Queen, my sister, how is it that
thy heart is hardened against me, and thou hast no mercy on me, nor hast mercy
on these little infants? But when she heard these words, her hardness of heart in-
creased, and she reviled her, and said to her, wanton ! wicked woman ! May
God show no mercy to the person who showeth mercy to thee ! How can I have
pity on thee, deceitful woman? — So Menar Elsena, lying stretched (as above
described), said to her, I appeal against thee to the Lord of Heaven with regard to
that wherewith thou reproachest me, and I am innocent of it. By Allah, I have
not formed an unlawful connection ; but I married him legally ; and my Lord
knoweth whether my words be true or not. My heart is incensed against thee on
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 675
account of the excessive hardness of thy heart towards me. How is it that thou
accusest me of dishonesty without knowledge thereof? But my Lord will deliver
me from thee ; and if the accusation of dishonesty that thou hast brought against
me be true, God will punish me for it. — And her sister meditated in her mind when
she heard her words, and said to her. How is it that thou addressest me with these
words? Then she arose and advanced to her, and beat her until she fainted; and
they sprinkled water upon her face till she recovered. Her charms had become
changed by reason of the violence of the beating, and the tightness of the bonds,
and the excessive insult that she had experienced; and she recited verses : — But
•when Nour Elhada heard her verses, she was violently incensed, and said to her,
Dost thou speak, wicked woman, befoi-e me in verse, and seek to excuse thyself
for the heinous sins that thou hast committed? It was my desire that thou shouldst
return to thy husband, in order that I might witness thy wickedness and thy turpi-
tude ; for thou gloriest in the wickedness and shameful conduct and heinous sins
that have proceeded from thee. — She then ordered the pages to bring her the palm-
stick: so they brought it; and she arose and tucked up the sleeves from her arms,
and fell to beating her from her head to her feet; after which she called for a plaited
whip, such that if an elephant were beaten with it he would trot with speed ; and
she fell to beating her with that whip upon her back and her stomach and all her
limbs until she f\iinted. — Now when the old woman Shawahi saw this that the Queen
did, she went forth fleeing from before her, and weeping and cursing her. But the
Queen cried out to the servants, and said to them, Bring her to me ! So they ran
together after her, and laid hold upon her, and brought her before the Queen, who
gave orders to throw her upon the ground, and said to the female slaves. Drag her
along on her face, and turn her out. Accordingly they dragged her and turned her
out from before the Queen.
As to Hassan, however, he arose with firmness, and walked along the bank of the
river, and turned his face towards the desert. He was perplexed, anxious, despair-
ing of life, and he had become confounded, not knowing night from day, by reason
of the violence of the afflictions that had befallen him. He ceased not to walk on
until he came to a tree, and he found upon it a paper suspended. So he took it with
his hand, and looked at it ; and lo, on it were written consoling verses. And when
he had finished reading the paper, he felt sure of escape from trouble, and of effect-
ing his reunion. Then he went on two steps, and found himself alone in a desert,
perilous place, without any one by whose society to cheer himself; wherefore his
reason fled in consequence of his solitude and fear, the muscles of his side quivered
on account of this fearful place, and he recited some verses.
After that he proceeded along the bank of the river two steps further, and he
found two young boys, of the sons of the enchanters and sorcerers. Before them
was a rod of brass, engraved with talismans, and by the side of the rod was a cap
of leather, the crown of which was composed of three triangular pieces, whereon
were worked, in steel, names, and characters of seals. The rod and the cap were
thrown upon the ground, and the two boys were disputing and beating each other
on account of them, so that blood flowed from them, while this said. None shall
take the rod but I — and the other said, None shall take the rod but I. So Hassan
interposed between them, and disengaged them, one from the other, and said to
them. What is the cause of this contention? And they answered him, uncle,
judge between us; for God (whose name be exalted !) hath sent thee to us in order
that thou shouldst decide between us justly. He therefore said, Relate to me your
story, and I will judge between you. And one of them said to him. We are two
brothers by the same father and mother, and our father was one of the great en-
chanters. He resided in a cavern in this mountain, and he died, leaving to us this
cap and this rod ; and my brother saith, None shall take the rod but I — and I say.
None shall take it but I. So judge between us, and deliver us, one from another. —
Therefore when Hassan heard their words, he said to them. What is the difference
676 THE STOKY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
between the rod and the cap, and what is their value? For the rod, in appearance,
is worth six farthings, and the' cap is worth three farthings. — They replied. Thou
knowest not their virtues. And he said to them, What are their virtues ? They
answered hiin, In each of them is a wonderful secret property ; for the rod is worth
the revenue of the Islands of Wak-Wak, with their districts, and the cap in like
manner. So Hassan said to one of them, my son. By Allah, discover to me their
secret properties. And he replied, uncle, verily their secret properties are extra-
ordinary ; for our father lived a hundred and thirty-five years applying himself to
the contrivance of them until he finished them in the most perfect manner, ingrafted
in them the secret virtues, made use of them for extraordinary services, designed
upon them the similitude of the revolving firmament, and dissolved, by their means,
all talismanic charms ; and when he had finished the contrivance of them, death,
which every one must experience, overtook him. Now as to the cap, its secret pro-
perty is this : that whosoever putteth it on his head, he is concealed from the eyes
of all people, and no one seeth him as long as it remaineth on his head. And as to
the rod, this is its secret property: that whosoever possesseth it, he hath authority
over seven tribes of the Genii, and all of them will serve that rod: all of them will
be under his command and authority ; and every one who possesseth it, and in
whose hand it is, when he smiteth with it the ground, its Kings will humble them-
selves to hiin, and all the Genii will be at his service.
When Hassan heard these words, he hung down his head for a while towards the
ground. Then he said within himself, By Allah, I shall surely be rendered triumph-
ant by means of this rod and this cap, if it be the will of God (whose name be
exalted !) and I am more worthy of them than they. So I will immediately employ
a stratagem to take them from them, that I may have recourse to their aid for my
deliverance and the deliverance of my wife and my children from this tyrannical
Queen, and we will journey from this dismal place, from which there is [otherwise]
no deliverance nor flight for any one of mankind. Probably God sent me not to
these two youths save for the purpose of my getting from them the rod and the cap.
— He then raised his head towards the two youths, and said to them. If ye desire the
decision of the case, I will make a trial of you, and he who overcometh his companion
shall take the rod, and he who faileth shall take the cap ; for if I make trial of you
and discern between you, I shall know what each of you deserveth. And they
replied, uncle, we depute thee to make trial of us, and to judge between us as
thou choosest. Hassan said to them, AVill ye attend to my words, and have regard
to what I shall say? They answered him, Yes. And Hassan said to them, I will
take a stone and throw it, and the one of you who getteth first to it, and taketh it
before his companion, shall take the rod ; and he who is last, and reacheth it not,
shall take the cap. And they replied. We accept from thee this proposal, and we
are content with it. Then Hassan took a stone, and threw it with all his force, and
it went out of sight. The two youths therefore hastened together after it; and when
they were at a distance, Hassan took the cap and put ii on, and he took the rod in
his hand, and removed from his place to see the truth of that which they had said
with respect to the secret of their father. And the younger boy got first to the
stone and took it, and he returned with it to t^ie place in which was Hassan, and
saw no trace of him. So he called out to his brother, and said to him. Where is the
man who judgeth between us? And he answered, I see him not, nor know I
whether he hath ascended to the highest heaven, or descended to the lowest earth.
They searched for him, and saw him not; and Hassan was standing in his place.
Therefore they reviled one another, and said. The rod and the cap are gone ; they
are neither mine nor thine ; and our father said to us these very words ; but wo
forgot what he told us.
They then retraced their steps, and Hassan entered the city weai-ing the cap, and
having in his hand the rod, and none of the people saw him. He entered the palace.
ascended to the place in which was Shawahi, the mother of sorrows, and went in to
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 677
her, still wearing the cap, and she saw him not. Then he walked on until he drew
near to a shelf which was over her head, and on which were vessels of glass and
China-ware; and he shook it with his hand so that the things that were upon it fell
<1
illl'll
The Vessels of Glass and China-ware falling upon the Old Woman.
on the floor. So Shawahi cried out, and slapped her face ; and she arose and
restored what had fallen to their places, saying within herself. By Allah, I imagine
not aught but that the Queen Nour Elhada hath sent to me a devil, and that he hath
done to me this deed. I therefore beg God (whose name be exalted !) to deliver me
from her, and to preserve me from her anger. my Lord, if this is her abominable
conduct to her sister, beating and suspending her, when she is dear in the estimation
of her father, how will she act with the stranger like myself, when she is incensed
against her? — Then she said, I conjure thee, devil, by the most Compassionate,
the Beneficent, the Great in dignity, the Mighty in dominion, the Creator of mankind
and the Genii, and by the characters upon the seal of Solomon the son of David (on
both of whom be peace!), that thou speak to me and reply to me! So Hassan
replied to her, and said to her, I am not a devil : I am Hassan the distracted, the
confounded, the perplexed. He then pulled off the cap from his head ; whereupon
he appeared to the old woman, and she knew him, and, having taken him into a
private place, she said to him, What hath happened to thy reason, that thou hast
come hither? Go; hide thyself; for this iniquitous woman hath inflicted tortures
upon thy wife, though she is her sister: how then will she act if she light upon
thee? — And she related to him all that had befallen his wife, describing to him her
present state of distress and punishment and torture; and in like manner she
described to him the torture that had befallen herself: after which she said to him.
Verily the Queen repented of her having liberated thee, and hath sent to thee one to
bring thee to her, promising that she wiU give him a hundred-weight of gold, and
place him in my post in her service. She hath also sworn that if they bring thee
back, she will slay thee, and slay thy wife and thy children. — Then the old woman
wept, and discovered to Hassan what the Queen had done to her; whereupon Hassan
678 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
also ■wept, and he said, my mistress, how is it possible to escape from this country
and from this tyrannical Queen ; and what is the stratagem that will enable me to
deliver my wife and my children, and to return with them to my country? The old
woman replied. Wo to thee! Save thyself! — But he said, I must deliver her, and
deliver my children from the Queen by force. — How, said the old woman, wilt thou
deliver them from her by force ? Go and hide thyself, my son, until God (whose
name be exalted !) shall permit.
Hassan therefore showed her the rod of brass and the cap ; and when the old
woman saw them, she rejoiced in them exceedingly, and said to him. Extolled be the
perfection of Him who reanimateth the bones when they are rotten! By Allah, O
my son, thou and thy wife were nought but of the number of the perishing, and now,
my son, thou and thy wife and thy children are saved; for I know the rod, and know
who was its owner; he having been my skeikh, who taught me enchantment. He was
an egregious enchanter: he persevered a hundred and thirty-five years until he skil-
fully made this rod and this cap: and when the making of them in this manner was
finished, death, which is inevitable, overtook iiim. And I heard him say to his two
sons, my two sons, these two things are not of your lot; for a person, a stranger to
the country, will come and take them from you by force, and ye will not know how
he will take them. So they said, our father, inform us how he will be able to take
them. But he replied, I know not that. How then wast thou able, my son, to
take them ? He therefore told her how he took them from the two boys ; and when
he told her, she rejoiced thereat, and said to him, my son, as thou hast enabled
thyself to gain possession of thy wife and thy children, hear what I will say to thee.
1 can no longer reside in the abode of this wicked woman, since she hath assaulted
me and tormented me. I am about to depart from her to the cavern of the enchant-
ers, to reside with them and to live with them until I die. Now do thou, my son,
put on the cap, and take the rod in thy hand ; then go in to thy wife and thy children,
in the place in which they are, and strike the ground with the rod, and say, ser-
vants of these names! Thereupon their servants will come up to thee; and if one
of the chiefs of the tribes come to thee, command him to do as thou shalt desire and
choose.
He then bade her farewell, and departed, and, having put on the cap, and taken
the rod with him, he entered the place in which was his wife. He saw her in a state
approaching to annihilation, extended upon the ladder, with her hair bound to it,
and with weeping eye and mourning heart, in the most evil condition, not
knowing any way to effect her deliverance. Her children were beneath the
ladder playing, and she was looking at them, and weeping for them and for her-
self, on account of the things that had happened to her and bef\illen her, and the
torment and painful beating and most violent punishment that she suffered. AVhen
Hassan saw the torment and abasement and contempt that she was suffering, he
wept until he fainted, and on his recovering, and seeing his children playing, and
their mother in a fit of insensibility, by reason of the excess of her pain, he removed
the cap from his head ; whereupon they cried out, our father ! Then he covered
his head again, and their mother recovered from her fit on hearing their cry, and
saw not her husband, but only saw her children weeping, and crying out, our
father! So she wept when she heard them mention their father and weep: her heart
broke, and her bowels were cut in pieces, and she called out, with a liver that was
burst, and a painful heart. Where are ye, and where is your father? Then she re-
flected upon the times of her union with him, and reflected upon the events that had
befallen her since his separation, and wept violently, so that her tears ulcerated her
cheeks, and wetted the ground. Her cheeks became drowned in her tears, by the
excess of her weeping, and she had not a hand at liberty that she might wipe away
her tears with it from her cheeks. The flies were satiated with feeding upon her
skin, and she found for herself no aider save weeping, and consoling herself by re-
citing verses. And when Hassan heard her verses, he wept until he fainted ; his
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 679
tears ran down his cheeks like rain, and, drawing near to the children, ne removed
the cap; and when they saw him, they knew him, and cried out, saying, our
father ! So their mother wept again on hearing them mention their father, and said,
There is no means of avoiding what God hath decreed. And she said within her-
self, wonderful! What is the cause of their mention of their father at this time,
and their calling to him ?
So Hassan could no longer abstain from removing the cap from his head, and his
wife saw him ; and when she knew him, she uttered a cry that alarmed all who were
in the palace. She then said to him. How earnest thou hither? Hast thou descended
from the sky, or risen from the earth? — And her eyes filled with tears: therefore
Hassan also wept ; and she said to him, man, this is not a time for weeping, nor
is it a time for reproach. Fate hath had its course, and the sight was blinded, and
the pen hath written what God decreed from eternity. I conjure thee by Allah to
tell me whence thou hast come. Go and hide thyself, lest any one see thee and in-
form my sister thereof, and she slaughter me and slaughter thee also. — Hassan re-
plied, my mistress, and mistress of every Queen, I have exposed my life to peril
and come hither, and either I will die, or I will deliver thee from the predicament
in which thou art, and I and thou and my children will journey to my country, in
spite of this wicked woman, thy sister. But when she heard his words, she smiled
and laughed, and shook her head for a long time, and said to him. Far, my soul,
far is it from me that any one should deliver me from the predicament in which I
am, excepting God, (whose name be exalted !) So save thyself, and depart, and cast
not thyself into destruction ; for she hath numerous and heavily-equipped troops
whom no one can confront. And suppose thou tookest me and wentest forth, how
canst thou make thy way to thy country, and how can we escape from these islands
and the difficulties of these places? Thou hast seen, in thy way, wonders and
strange things, and horrors and troubles such as scarcely can one of the refractory
Genii escape. Go therefore soon, and increase not my anxiety nor my sorrow; and
pretend not that thou wilt deliver me from this state ; for who will convey me to thy
country across these valleys and thirsty lands and fatal places? — Hassan thereupon
said to her, By thy life, light of mine eye, I will not go forth hence, nor will I
journey forth, save with thee. She rejoined, man, how canst thou do this thing?
What is thy nature? For thou knowest not what thou sayest. If thou hast do-
minion over Genii and Afrites, and enchanters and tribes and spirits, thou couldst
not ; for no one is able to escape from these places. Therefore save thyself, and
leave me. Perhaps God will bring to pass other events after these. So Hassan said
to her, mistress of beauties, I came not save to deliver thee by means of this rod
and by means of this cap. And he related to her what had happened to him with
the two boys.
But while he was speaking, lo, the Queen came in to them, and heard their con-
versation. So when he saw the Queen, he put on the cap ; and she said to her sister,
wicked woman, who is he with whom thou wast conversing? She replied. And
who is with me to speak to me excepting these infants? And the Queen took the
whip, and proceeded to beat her with it, while Hassan stood looking on. She
ceased not to beat her until she fainted, when she gave orders to remove her from
that place to another; wherefore they loosed her and went forth with her to another
place, and Hassan went forth with them to the place to which they conveyed her.
Then they threw her down senseless, and stood looking at her ; and when she
recovered from her fit, the female slaves went forth from her.
So thereupon Hassan pulled off the cap; and his wife said to him. See, man:
all this hath not befallen me save on account of my having disobeyed thee, and acted
in opposition to thy command, and gone forth without thy permission. But I con-
jure thee by Allah, O man, blame me not for my misconduct. Know that a woman
is not sensible of the value of a man until she is separated from ftim. I have done
wrong and sinned ; but I beg God, the Great, to pardon the actions committed by
680 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
me ; and if God reunite us, I will never disobey thy command after that. — Hassan
replied (and his heart pained him for her), Thou sinnedst not, and none sinned but
I : for I went away on a journey and left thee with one who knoweth not thy dignity
nor knoweth thy value nor thy rank. And know thou, O beloved of my heart, and
delight of my soul, and light of mine eye, that God (whose perfection be extolled!)
hath empowered me to deliver thee. Desirest thou, then, that I convey thee to the
abode of thy father, and that thou shouldst experience, with him, the accomplish-
ment of all that God hath appointed for thee, or wilt thou journey to our country
soon, seeing that relief hath come to thee ? But she said to him, And who is able to
deliver me, except the Lord of Heaven? Go thou therefore to thy country, and
dismiss from thy mind desire; for thou knowest not the dangers of this country;
and if thou comply not with my advice, thou wilt see. Then she recited some verses,
and wept with her children, and the female slaves heard their weeping ; so they
came in to them, and found the Queen Menar Elsena and her children weeping ; but
they saw not Hassan with them ; and the female slaves wept in compassion for them,
and cursed the Queen Nour Elhada.
Then Hassan waited until night approached and the guards who were deputed to
watch her went to their sleeping-places ; after which he arose and girded his waist,
and, coming to his wife, loosed her, and kissed her head, pressed her to his bosom,
kissed her between her eyes, and said to her. How great is our desire for our country
and for our reunion there? Is this our meeting in sleep or in a time when we are
awake ? He then took up his elder child, and she took up the younger child, and they
went forth from the palace. God had let down the veil of his protection over them,
and they proceeded ; and on their arrival at the outside of the palace, they stopped at
the door that was locked to close the entrance to the palace of the Queen ; but when
they were there, they saw it locked. So Hassan said. There is no strength nor
power but in God, the High, the Great ! Verily to God we belong, and verily unto
Him we return ! Upon this they despaired of escape, and Hassan said, Dispeller
of griefs ! — and struck hand upon hand, and said, I had calculated upon everything,
and considered its result, excepting this ; and now, when the day cometh upon us,
they will take us; and how shall we contrive in this case? Then he wept, and his
wife wept at his weeping, and on account of the contempt and misfortunes that
she suffered. And his wife said to him. By Allah, there is no relief for us, unless
we kill ourselves, and so he at rest from this excessive trouble. Otherwise, in the
morning we shall suffer painful torture.
Now while they were talking, a speaker said, outside the door. By Allah, I will
not open to thee, my mistress Menar Elsena, and to thy husband Hassan, unless
ye will obey me in that which I shall say to you. And when they heard these words
from that person, they were silent, and desired to return to the place in which they
had been. But a speaker said, Wherefore have ye kept silence, and not returned
me a reply ? And thereupon they knew the person who spoke, who was the old
woman Shawahi the mother of sorrows. So they said to her, Whatsoever thou shalt
command us to do, we will do it. But open to us the door first; for this time is not
a time for talk. — She however replied, By Allah I will not open to you until ye
swear to me that ye will take me with you, and not leave me with this profligate
woman ; and whatsoever shall befall you shall befall me : if ye be preserved, I shall
be preserved ; and if ye perish, I shall perish ; for this wicked, vicious woman
despiseth me, and constantly tortureth me on your account ; and thou, my daughter,
knowest my worth. Therefore when they knew her, they confided in her, and swore
to her by oaths which she trusted in ; after wliich, she opened to them the door, and
they went forth : and they found her riding upon a red earthen jar of Greek manu-
fsicture, upon the neck of which was a rope of the fibres of the palm-tree, and it was
turning about beneath her, and moving with a speed greater than that of the Nejdee
colt. She then came before them and said to them. Follow me, and be not terrified
at aught ; for I know forty modes of enchantment, by the least of which I could
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 681
make this city a roaring sea agitated with waves, and enchant every damsel in it so
that she would Vjecome a fish. All that could I do before the morning; but I was
unable to do aught of that mischief by reason of my fear of the King, the father of
Nour Elhada, and from regard to her sisters ; for they derive might from the great
number of their guards and tribes and servants. However, I will show you the
wonders of my enchantment. Then proceed with us relying upon the blessing of
God (whose name be exalted!) and his aid. So thereupon Hassan and his wife
rejoiced, and felt sure of escape.
They went forth to the exterior of the city, and Hassan, taking the rod in his
hand, struck with it the ground, and fortified his heart, and said, O servants of these
names, present yourselves to me, and acquaint me with your brethren ! And lo, the
earth clove asunder, and there came forth from it seven Afrites, each of them having
his feet in the lowest limits of the earth, and his head in the clouds. They kissed
the ground before Hassan three times, and all of them said, with one voice. At thy
service, our master, and ruler over us ! What dost thou command us to do ? For
we will hear and obey thy command. If thou desire, we will dry up for thee the
seas, and remove for thee the mountains from their places. — So Hassan was rejoiced
at their words, and at the quickness of their reply : and he encouraged his heart,
and fortified his mind and resolution, and said to them. Who are ye, and what are
ye called, and from what tribes are ye derived, and of what race are ye, and of what
tribe, and of what company? Upon this, they kissed the ground a second time, and
answered with one voice. We are seven Kings ; each King of us ruleth over seven
tribes of the Genii and the Devils and the Marids: so we seven Kings rule over nine
and forty tribes of all the races of the Genii and the Devils and the Marids and the
companies and the spirits, the Flyers and the Divers, and the dwellers in the moun-
tains and the deserts and the wastes, and the inhabitants of the seas. Order us to
do what thou wilt ; for we are thy servants and slaves ; and whoever possesseth this
rod, he hath authority over the necks of us all, and we become obedient unto him. —
When Hassan, therefore, heard their words, he rejoiced greatly, as did also his wife
and the old woman ; and thereupon Hassan said to the Genii, I desire of you that
ye show me your company and your troops and your guards. But they replied,
our master, if we showed thee our company, we should fear for thee and for those
who are with thee; for it consists of numerous troops, of various forms and make
and kinds and faces and bodies. Among us are heads without bodies, and among
us are bodies without heads, and among us are some like the wild beasts, and among
us are some like animals of prey. However, if thou desire that, we must exhibit to
thee first those who are like the wild beasts. But, our master, what dost thou
desire of us at this present time? — So Hassan said to them, I desire of you that ye
carry me and my wife and this virtuous woman immediately to the city of Bagdad.
But when they heard his words, they hung down their heads. Therefore Hassan
said to them. Why do ye not reply ? And they said with one voice, master and
ruler over us, we have existed from the time of the lord Solomon the son of David
(on both of whom be peace !), and he made us swear that we would not carry any
one of the sons of Adam upon our backs ; so from that time we have not carried any
one of the sons of Adam upon our shoulders nor upon our backs ; but we will imme-
diately saddle for thee, of the horses of the Genii, such as will convey thee to thy
country, thee and those that are with thee.
Upon this, Hassan said to them, And what distance is between us and Bagdad ?
They answered him, A distance of seven years' journey to the horseman who travel-
leth with diligence. And Hassan wondered thereat, and said to them. How came I
hither in less than a year? They answered him, God moved the hearts of his virtu-
ous servants with compassion for thee; and had it not been for that, thou hadst not
gained access to this country and region, nor ever beheld it with thine eye. For the
sheikh Abdelcadus, who mounted thee on the elephant, mounted thee also on the
fortunate courser which traversed with thee, in ten days, a space of three years'
682 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
journey to the horseman who proceedeth with diligence ; and as to the sheikh Aboul-
Tuish, who committed thee to Dahnash, that Afrite traversed with thee, during the
day and the night, a space of three years' journey. This was effected through the
blessing of God, the Great : for the sheikh Aboulruish is of the posterity of Asaph
the son of Barkia, and he knoweth the Most Great name of God. And from Bagdad
to the palace of the damsels is a year's journey. So these make up the seven years.
— And when Hassan heard their words, he wondered greatly, and said. Extolled be
the perfection of God, who maketh easy what is difficult, and repaireth the broken
heart, and bringeth near what is distant, and abaseth every obstinate tyrant, who
hath rendered everything easy to us, and conveyed me to this country, and made
subservient to me these people, and reunited me to my wife and my children! I
know not whether I be sleeping or awake, or whether I be in my senses or intoxi-
cated. — He then looked towards them and said to them. When ye have mounted me
upon your horses, in how many days will they arrive with us at Bagdad ? They
answered. They will arrive with thee in less than a year, after thou shalt have
endured difficulties and troubles and horrors, and traversed thirsty valleys and
dismal wastes, and deserts and dangerous places great in number ; and we shall not
be sure of thy safety, our master, from the people of these islands, nor from the
malice of the supreme King, nor from these enchanters and sorcerers. Perhaps
they will overcome us, and take you from us, and we shall be afflicted by them ; and
every one whom the news reaches after that will say to us, Ye are the unjust. How
did ye go against the supreme King, and convey the human being from his country,
and convey also his daughter with you ? Wert thou alone with us, the affair were
easy to us ; but he who caused thee to gain access to these islands is able to cause
thee to arrive at thy country, and to reunite thee to thy mother soon, at no distant
period. Therefore be resolute, and depend upon God, and fear not ; for we are at
thy service until we cause thee to reach thy country. — So Hassan thanked them for
that, and said to them, May God recompense you well ! Then he said to them,
Hasten with the horses. And they replied, We hear and obey.
They then struck the ground with their feet ; whereupon it clove asunder, and
they were absent within it a while ; after which they presented themselves, and lo,
they had come up bringing with them three horses, saddled and bridled, and on the
fore part of each saddle was a pair of saddlebags, in one side of which was a
leathern bottle full of water, and the other side was full of food. They brought
forward the horses, and Hassan mounted a courser, taking a child before him ; and
his wife mounted the second courser, and took a child before her. Then the old
woman alighted from the jar, and mounted the third courser. And they departed,
and ceased not to proceed all the night, until the morning came, when they turned
aside from the way, and went towards the mountain ; their tongues ceasing not from
the mention of God. They proceeded all the day beneath the mountain ; and while
they were journeying on, Hassan beheld a phantom-like form, resembling a pillar,
and it was lofty, like smoke ascending to the sky. So he recited somewhat of the
Koran, and begged for refuge with God from Satan the accursed. Then that black
object appeared more plainly the nearer they approached to it; and when they came
near to it, they found it to be an Afrite, whose head was like a huge dome, and his
dog-teeth were like hooks, and his nostrils like ewers, and his ears like shields, and
his mouth was like a cavern, and his teeth were like pillars of stone, and his hands
like winnowing-forks, and his legs like masts: his head was amid the clouds, and
his feet were in the lowest limits of the earth, beneath the dust. And when Hassan
looked at the Afrite, the Afrite bowed himself and kissed the ground before him,
and said to him, Hassan, fear me not. I am chief of the inhabitants of this laud,
and this is the first island of the Islands of Wak-Wak. I am a Mahometan, a pro-
fessor of the unity of God ; and I heard of you, and knew of your coming ; and
when I became acquainted with your state, I desired to journey from the country of
the enchanters to another land, devoid of inhabitants, remote from human beings
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 683
and the Genii, that I might live therein solitary, by myself, and worship God until
my appointed term overtake me. I therefore desired to accompany you, and to be
your guide, until ye go forth from these islands, and I will not appear save by night.
So comfort your hearts with regard to me ; for I am a Mahometan like as ye are
Mahometans. — And when Hassan heard the words of the Afrite, he rejoiced exceed-
ingly, and felt sure of escape. Then looking towards him, he said to him. May God
recompense thee well! Proceed with us, relying upon the blessing of God. — Ac-
cordingly the Afrite went before them, and they betook themselves to conversing
and sporting. Their hearts had become happy, and their bosoms were dilated ; and
Hassan proceeded to relate to his wife all that had happened to him, and what he
had endured. They ceased not to prosecute their journey all the next night, until
the morning, the horses bearing them along like the blinding lightning; and when
daylight rose, they put their hands to their several saddle-bags, and each took forth
something thence, and ate it and took forth water, and drank it. Then they pursued
their way with diligence, and continued to proceed, with the Afrite before them ;
but he had turned aside with them from the way to another way, which was not a
beaten route, along the shore of the sea.
They ceased not to traverse the valleys and the wastes for the space of a whole
month ; and on the thirty-first day there arose against them a dust that obstructed
the view of the surrounding tracts, and the day was darkened by it. So when
Hassan beheld it, paleness came upon him ; and they heard alarming noises, and the
old woman, looking towards Hassan, said to him, my son, these are the troops of
the Islands of Wak-Wak : they have overtaken us, and immediately wilt they take
us in their grasp. Hassan therefore said to her, What shall I do, my mother?
And she answered him. Strike the earth with the rod. Wherefore he did so ; and
the seven Kings came up to him and saluted him, and, having kissed the ground
before him, said to him. Fear not, nor grieve. So Hassan rejoiced at their words,
and said, Ye have done well, lords of the Genii and Afrites. This is your time.
— And they said to him, Ascend, with thy wife and thy children, and her who is
with thee, upon the mountain, and leave us with them : for we know that ye are in
the right, and they are in the wrong, and God will defend us against them. There-
fore Hassan and his wife and his children and the old woman alighted from the
backs of the horses, and, having dismissed the horses, ascended upon the side of the
mountain. Then the Queen Nour Elhada approached, with troops disposed on the
right and the left, and the chiefs went around them, and ranged them company by
company. The two armies met, and the two hosts dashed against each other, and
the fires raged, and the heroes advanced boldly, and the cowards fled, and the Genii
cast forth from their mouths burning sparks, until the thickly dark night approached.
Thereupon the two hosts separated, and the two parties retired from each other; and
when they alighted from their horses, and rested upon the ground, they lighted the
fires, and the seven Kings went up to Hassan, and kissed the ground before him. So
he advanced to them and thanked them, and prayed for them that they might be
rendered victorious ; and he asked them respecting their state with regard to the
army of the Queen Nour Elhada; upon which they said to him. They will not with-
stand us more than three days; for we were to-day about to overcome them. We
have seized of them as many as two thousand, and slain of them a great multitude,
the number of which cannot be calculated. Therefore let thy soul be happy and
thy bosom be dilated. — Then they bade him farewell, and descended to their army,
to guard it. They ceased not to light the fires until the morning rose and diffused
its light and shone, when the horsemen mounted the five-year-old horses, and smote
one an6ther with the thin-edged sworda, and thrust one another with the brown
spears, and they passed the night upon the backs of the horses, dashing together
like seas, and the fire of war raged among them. They ceased not to fight and con-
tend until the troops of Wak-Wak were defeated, and their power was broken, and
their resolution fell, and their feet slipped ; and whithersoever they fled, defeat waa
684 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
before them. They turned their backs and placed their reliance upon flight. The
greater number of them were slain, and the Queen Nour Elhada was taken captive,
together with the grandees of her kingdom, and her chief officers.
And when the morning came, the seven Kings presented themselves before
Hassan, and set for him a couch of alabaster ornamented with fine pearls and with
jewels; and he seated himself upon it. They also set by it another couch, for the
lady Menar Elsena, his wife, and that couch was of ivory overlaid with brilliant
gold. And by the side of it they set another couch, for the old woman Shawahi the
mother of sorrows. Then they brought forward the' prisoners before Hassan, and
among them the Queen Nour Eldada, who had her hands bound behind her, and her
feet shackled. And when the old woman saw her, she said to her. Thy recompense,
wicked, tyrannical women, shall be none other than this: that one shall make
two bitches hungry, and tie them with thee to the tails of horses, and drive them to
the sea, that thy skin may be lacerated ; and after that, some of thy llcsh shall be
cut off and given thee to eat. How didst thou do to thy sister these deeds, wicked
woman, seeing that she married lawfully, according to the ordinance of God and
his Apostle? For there is no monkery in the True Faith, and marriage is
one of the ordinances of the Apostles (on whom be peace!); and women were
not created save for men. — And thereupon Hassan gave orders to slay all the
captives; and the old woman cried out and said, Slay ye them, and let not one of
them remain ! But when the Queen Menar Elsena saw her sister in this state,
shackled, and in captivity, she wept for her, and said to her, my sister, and who
is this who hath made us captives in our country, and overcome us? She answered
her. This is a momentous case. Verily this man whose name is Hassan hath gained
possession of us, and God hath given him power over us and over all our kingdom,
and he hath subjugated us and the Kings of the Genii. — And her sister replied, God
aided him not against you, nor did he subdue you, nor did he make you prisoners,
save by means of this cap and this rod. So her sister was convinced of that, and
knew that he had delivered her by these means : and she humbled herself to her
sister until her heart was affected with sympathy for her, and she said to her hus-
band Hassan, What dost thou desire to do with my sister? For here she is before
thee, and she hath not committed an abominable deed that thou shouldst punish
her for it. — He replied, Her torture of thee was sufficiently abominable. But she
said to him. For every abominable deed that she did to me she was excusable. And
as to thee, thou hast tortured my father's heart by reason of the loss of me-, and how
will be his state after the death of my sister? — So Hassan said to her. It is thine to
determine. Whatever thou desirest, do it. — And thereupon the Queen Menar Elsena
gave orders to loose all the prisoners ; and they loosed them for the sake of her
sister, and loosed her sister also ; after which, Menar Elsena advanced to her sister
and embraced her. She began to weep with her, and they ceased not to do so for
some time. Then the Queen Nour Elhada said to her sister, my sister, blame
me not for that which I have done to thee. And the lady Menar Elsena replied,
my sister, this was decreed to befall me.
She and her sister sat upon the couch, conversing together; and afterwards, Menar
Elsena made a reconciliation between the old woman and her sister in the most perfect
manner, and their hearts became comforted. Hassan then dismissed the troops who
were in the service of the rod, and thanked them for that which they had done in aid-
ing him against his enemies ; after which the lady Menar Elsena related to her sister
all that had happened to her with her husband Hassan, and what he had endured for
her sake. And she said to her, my sister, it is incumbent upon one not to neglect
what is due to a person who hath done these deeds, and who hath this power, and
whom God (whose name be exalted!) hath aided by such exceeding fortitude that he hath
entered our country, and taken thee and made thee a prisoner, and defeated thine
army, and subdued thy father the supreme King, who ruleth over the Kings of the
Genii. Her sister replied, By Allah, my sister, thou hast spoken truth in that
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF liALSORA. 685
which thou hast told me, respecting the wonderful events that this man hath endured.
And was all this for thy sake, my sister?— She answered. Yes. Then they passed
the night conversing together till the morning ; and when the sun rose, they desired
to depart. So they bade one another farewell, and Menar Elsena bade farewell to
the old woman, having made a reconciliation between her and her sister Nour
Elhada.
Thereupon Hassan struck the earth with the rod, and its servants came up to him,
and saluted him, and said to him, Praise be to God for the quiet of thy soul ! Com-
mand us to do what thou desirest, that we may do it for thee in less time than the
twinkling of an eye. — He therefore thanked them for their words, and said to them.
May God recompense you well! He then said to them. Saddle for us two coursers,
of the best of horses. And they did as he commanded them immediately, and
brought forward to him two saddled coursers. So Hassan mounted one of them,
taking his elder son before him; and his wife mounted the other, taking her younger
son before her. The Queen Nour Elhada also mounted, with the old woman ; and
all went to their countries. Hassan with his wife journeyed to the right, and the
Queen Nour Elhada with the old woman journeyed to the left; and Hassan ceased
not to proceed with his wife and his children for the space of a whole month ; after
which they found fruits and rivers; and when they arrived at the trees, they alighted
from the backs of the horses, desiring to rest. Then they sat conversing together;
and lo, many horsemen advanced to them. So when Hassan saw them, he rose upon
his feet, and met them ; and behold, they were the King Hasoun, the lord of the
Land of Camphor and the Castle of Crystal, with his attendants. Thereupon
Hassan advanced to the King, and kissed his hands and saluted him ; and when
the King saw him, he alighted from the back of his courser, and seated himself with
Hassan upon furniture spread beneath the trees, after he had saluted him and con-
gratulated him on his safety; and he was rejoiced exceedingly at his return, and
said to him, Hassan, acquaint me with the events that have happened to thee
from beginning to end. So Hassan acquainted him with all those events: and the
King Hasoun wondered at them, and said to him, my son, no one ever obtained
access to the Islands df Wak-Wak, and returned from them, excepting thee, and thy
case is wonderful. But praise be to God for thy safety! — Then, after that, the King
arose and mounted, ordering Hassan to mount and accompany him ; wherefore he
did so, and they ceased not to proceed until they came to the city, and they entered
the King's palace. The King JIasoun alighted, and Hassan and his wife and his
children alighted at the mansion of entertainment ; and when they had alighted,
they remained with the King three days, eating and drinking, and enjoying sport
and mirth.
Hassan then begged permission of the King Hasoun that he might journey to his
country, and he gave him permission. So he mounted with his wife and his chil-
dren, and the King mounted with them, and they proceeded ten days; and when the
King desired to return, he bade Hassan f\irewell, and Hassan continued his journey
with his wife and his children. They ceased not to journey on for the space of
another whole month, after which they came in sight of a great cavern, the ground
of which was of brass; whereupon Hassan said to his wife, See this cavern. Dost
thou know it ? — She answered. Yes. And he said, In it is a sheikh named Aboul-
ruish, to whom I am greatly indebted ; for he was the cause of the acquaintance be-
tween me and the King Hasoun. And he proceeded to relate to his wife the story
of Aboulruish, and lo, the sheikh Aboulruish came forth from the entrance of the
cavern. So when Hassan saw him, he alighted from his courser and kissed his
hands, and the sheikh Aboulruish saluted him, and congratulated him on his safety.
He rejoiced at his arrival, and took him and conducted him into the cavern, and sat
with him ; and Hassan proceeded to tell the sheikh Aboulruish what had happened
to him in the Islands of Wak-Wak; whereat the sheikh wondered extremely: and
he said, Hassan, how didst thou deliver thy wife and thy children ? Hassan there-
686 THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA.
fore related to him the story of the rod and the cap ; and when the sheikh Aboul-
ruisb heard that story he wondered, and said, my son, had it not been for this rod
and this cap, thou couldst not have delivered thy wife and thy children. And
Hassan replied, Even so, my master.
Now, while they were speaking, a person knocked at the door of the cavern : so
the sheikh Aboulruish went forth and opened the door, and he found that the sheikh
Abdelcadus had come, riding upon the elephant. The sheikh Aboulruish therefore
advanced and saluted and embraced him, rejoicing greatly at his arrival, and con-
gratulated him on his safety ; after which the sheikh Aboulruish said to Hassan,
Relate to the sheikh Abdelcadus, all that hath happened to thee, Hassan. So
Hassan proceeded to relate to the sheikh all that had happened to him from first to
last, until he came to the story of the rod and the cap ; whereupon the sheikh Abdel-
cadus said to him, my son, as to thee, thou hast delivered thy wife and thy chil-
dren, and thou hast no longer any need of the rod and the cap; but as to us, we
were the cause of thy gaining access to the Islands of Wak-Wak, and I have acted
kindly to thee for the sake of the daughters of my brother, and I beg thee, of thy
bounty and beneficence, to give me the rod, and to give the sheikh Aboulruish the
•jap. And when Hassan heard the words of the sheikh Abdelcadus, he hung down
his head towards the ground, and was ashamed to say, I will not give them to you.
Then he said within himself. Verily these two sheikhs have done a great kindness to
me, and they were the cause of my gaining access to the Islands of Wak-Wak, and
but for them I had not arrived at these places, nor had I delivered my wife and my
children, nor had I got this rod and this cap. And he raised his head, and said,
Yes ; I will give them to you. But, my masters, verily I fear the supreme King,
the father of my wife, lest he come to me with troops into our country, and they fight
against me, and I shall not be able to repel them save by means of the rod and the
cap. — The cheikh Abdelcadus, however, replied, my son, fear not; for we will be
to thee a spy and a helper in this place, and whosoever shall come to thee from the
father of thy wife, we will repel him from thee. Fear not anything whatever; but
be of good heart and cheerful eye and dilated bosom. No harm shall befiill thee. —
So when Hassan heard the words of the sheikh, bashfulness afi'ected him, and he
gave the cap to the sheikh Aboulruish, and said to the sheikh Abdelcadus, Accom-
pany me to my country, and I will give thee the rod. And the two sheikhs rejoiced
thereat exceedingly, and prepared for Hassan riches and treasures that cannot be
described.
He remained with them three days ; and after that, he desired to continue hie
journey ; wherefore the sheikh Abdelcadus prepared himself to journey with him.
And when Hassan had mounted a beast, and mounted his wife upon another, the
sheikh Abdelcadus whistled, and lo, a huge elephant advanced trotting from the
further part of the desert, and the sheikh Abdelcadus took him and mounted upon
him, and proceeded with Hassan and his wife and his children. But as to the sheikh
Aboulruish he entered the cavern. Hassan and his wife and his children, and the
sheikh Abdelcadus, ceased not to pursue their journey, traversing the land in its
length and breadth, the sheikh guiding them by an easy way and near roads, until
they drew near to the country that they sought; and Hassan rejoiced at his approach
towards the country of his mother, and at the return of his wife and his children to
him. On his arrival at the country [of his sisters], after these arduous, horrible
events, he praised God (whose name be exalted!) for this, and thanked Ilim for his
grace and bounty, and recited verses :— And when he had ended his verses, he looked,
and lo, the green cupola appeared to them, and the pool, and the green palace and
Mountain of the Clouds appeared to them in the distance. So the sheikh Abdelcadus
said, Hassan, rejoice at the prospect of good fortune; for thou wilt this night be
a guest with the daughters of my brother. Therefore Hassan rejoiced thereat ex-
ceedingly, and so did his wife. Then they alighted at the cupola, and rested and
THE STORY OF HASSAN OF BALSORA. 687
ate and drank : after which they mounted again, and proceeded until they drew near
to the palace.
Upon this, the daughters of the brother of the sheikh Abdelcadus came forth to
them and met them, and saluted them and their uncle, and their uncle saluted them,
and said to them, daughters of my brother, see I have accomplished the affair of
your brother Hassan, and aided him to deliver his wife and his children. So the
damsels advanced to him and embraced him, rejoicing at his return, and congrat-
ulated him on his safety and health, and his reunion to his wife and his children ;
and it was to them a festival-day. Then the sister of Hassan, the youngest damsel,
advanced and embraced him, and wept violently. Hassan also wept with her, on
account of the length of his desolate state; and she complained to him of the pain
of separation that she had experienced and the trouble of her heart, and what she
had endured in consequence of his absence, and recited two verses : — And when she
had finished her verses, she rejoiced exceedingly ; and Hassan said to her, my
sister, I thank none for this affair but thee, above the rest of my sisters ; and may
God (whose name be exalted !) be thine aider and assister ! He then related to her
all that had befallen him in his travel from first to last, and what he had endured,
and what had happened to him with the sister of his wife, and how he had delivered
his wife and his children. He told her also of the wonders, and the arduous and
horrible events, that he had witnessed, that the sister of his wife had desired to
slaughter him, and to slaughter her and her children, and that none had preserved
them from her save God, whose name be exalted! After that he related to her the
story of the rod and the cap, telling her that the sheikh Aboulruish and the sheikh
Abdelcadus had demanded those two things of him, and that he had not given them
to them but for her sake. She therefore thanked him for that, and prayed for long
life for him ; and he said. By Allah, I shall not forget all the good offices that thou
hast done me from the beginning of the affair to its endl Then his sister looked
towards his wife Menar Elsena, and embraced her, and pressed her children to her
bosom ; after which she said to her, daughter of the supreme King, was there no
mercy in thy heart, that thou separatedst him and his children, and torturedst his
heart for them? Didst thou desire by doing thus that he should die? — And she
laughed, and replied, Thus ordained God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose
name be exalted !) ; and he who deceiveth men, him doth God deceive. Then they
brought some food and drink, and they all ate and drank and were happy. Hassan
remained with them ten days, eating and drinking, and in joy and happiness ; and
after the ten days he prepared himself for his journey. His sister thereupon arose,
and prepared for him wealth and rarities that cannot be described, and after that,
she pressed him to her bosom, to bid him farewell, and embraced him. Then Hassan
gave the sheikh Abdelcadus the rod, and he rejoiced in it exceedingly, and thanked
Hassan for it : and after he had received it from him, he mounted, and returned to
his abode.
Hassan then mounted, with his wife and his children, and departed from the
palace of the damsels ; and they went forth with him, and bade him farewell, after
which they returned. Hassan repaired to his country, proceeding over the desert
tract for the space of two months and ten days, until he arrived at the city of Bag-
dad, the Abode of Peace ; and he came to his house by the way of the private door
which opened towards the plain and the desert, and knocked at the door. His
mother, on account of the length of his absence, had relinquished sleep, and given
herself continually to mourning and weeping and wailing, until she fell sick, and
ate not food, nor delighted in sleep, but wept night and day, and ceased not to
mention her son. She had despaired of his return to her; and when he stood at
the door, he heard her weeping, And, lo, she heard her son Hassan calling out at the
door, my mother, verily fortune hath granted reunion ! And on her hearing his
words, she knew him. She came to the door in a state between that of believing
and that of disbelieving; and when she opened the door, she saw her son standing
G88 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
there with his wife and his children, and she cried out by reason of the violence of
her joy, and fell upon the ground in a fit. Hassan therefore ceased not to soothe
her until she recovered, when she embraced him, and then she wept; after which
she called his pages and slaves, and ordered them to bring all that was with him
into the house. Accordingly they brought the loads into the house. Then his wife
and his children entered, and his mother went to her and embraced her, and kissed
her head and kissed her feet, and said to her, daughter of the supreme King, if I
have erred in not doing what was due to thee, lo, I beg forgiveness of God, the
Great. And looking towards her son, she said to him, my son, what was the
cause of this long absence? So when she asked him respecting that, he acquainted
her with all that had happened to him from beginning to end: and on her hearing
his words, she uttered a great cry, and again fell upon the ground in a fit, on ac-
count of the mention of the events that had happened to her son. He ceased not
to soothe her until she recovered, and thereupon she said to him, O my son, by Allah,
thou hast acted negligently with respect to the rod and the cap; for if thou hadst
taken care of them and preserved them, thou hadst possessed the earth in its length
and breadth ; but praise be to God, my son, for thy safety, and for that of thy
wife and thy children !
They passed a most agreeable and most pleasant night ; and when the morning
came, Hassan changed his clothes, and put on a suit of the most beautiful material.
He then went forth to the market, and bought male black slaves and female slaves,
and stuffs and precious things, consisting of ornaments and apparel, and furniture
and costly vessels, of which the like existed not in the possession of the Kings.
He bought also houses and gardens, immovable estates, and other things; and he
resided with his children and Jiis wife and his mother, eating and drinking and
delighting. They ceased not to pass the most comfortable life, and the most agree-
able, until they were visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of com-
panions. — Extolled be the perfection of Him who possesseth the dominion that is
apparent and the dominion that is hidden, and who is the Living, the Everlasting,
who dieth not I
CHAPTER XXVI.
Commencing with part of the Eight Hundred and Thirty-first Night, and ending with part of the
Eight Hundred and Forty-fifth.
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
There was, in ancient times, in the city of Bagdad, a fisherman named Califa,
who was a man in needy circumstances, a pauper; and he had never in his life
married. And it happened one day that he took his net, and went with it to the
river, as it was his custom to do, that he might catch some fish before the other
fishermen. When he arrived at the river, he girded himself, and tucked up his
sleeves: then advancing to the river, he spread his net, and cast it the first time and
the second time ; but there came not up in it aught. He ceased not to cast it until
he had done so ten times ; but nothing whatever came up in it. So his bosom was
contracted, and his mind was perplexed respecting his case, and he said, I beg for-
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 689
gT^eness of God, the Great, beside whom there is no deity, the Living, the Everlast-
ing; and I turn unto Ilim repentant! There is no strength nor power but in God,
the High, the Great! What God willeth coraeth to pass, and what He willeth not
Cometh not to pass ! Subsistence is to be bestowed by God (to whom be ascribed
might and glory!) ; and when God bestoweth upon a servant, no one preventeth
him ; and when He preventeth a servant, no one bestoweth upon him. — He then sat
a while, meditating upon his case, and hanging down his head towards the ground ;
after which he recited some verses, and said within himself, I will cast the net this
time also, and rely upon God : perhaps He will not disappoint my hope.
Accordingly he advanced and cast the net as far as he could into the river, and he
folded its cord, and waited over it a while. Then after that he drew it, and found
it heavy: therefore when he knew that it was heavy, he managed it gently, and
drew it until it came up on the bank : and lo, in it was a one-eyed, lame ape. So
Califa, on beholding him, said, There is no strength nor power but in God ! Verily
to God we belong, and verily unto Him we return ! What is this deficient fortune,
and evil luck ! What hath happened to me on this blessed day ! But all this is by
the predetermination of God, whose name be exalted! — He then took the ape, bound
him with a rope, and, advancing to a tree growing upon the bank of the river, he
tied him to it. And he had with him a whip, and he took it in his hand, and raised
it in the air, desiring to beat with it the ape. But God caused this ape to speak
with an eloquent tongue, and he said to him, Califa, restrain thy hand, and beat
me not, but leave me tied to this tree, and go to the river, and cast thy net, relying
upon God : for he will give thee thy means of subsistence. So when Califa heard
the words of the ape, he took the net, and advanced to the river, and cast it, and
slackened its cord. Then he drew it, and found it heavier than it was the first time ;
and he ceased not to labour at it until it came up to the bank, when lo, there was in
it another ape, whose front teeth were far apart, his eyes adorned with kohl, and his
hands stained with henna; and he was laughing, and had around his waist a piece
of ragged stuff. Upon this, Califo said. Praise be to God who hath substituted, for
the fish of the river, apes ! He then came to the ape that was tied to the tree, and
said to him. See, unlucky, how abominable was that which thou advisedst me to
do ! For none caused me to fall in with the second ape but thou ; because, when
thou presentedst thyself to me in the morning, lame and one-eyed, I became em-
barrassed, weary, not possessing a piece of silver, nor a piece of gold. — And he
took in his hand a stick for driving cattle, and whirled it round in the air three
times, and was about to strike with it the ape, when he prayed for aid against him,
and said to him, I conjure thee by Allah to pardon me for the sake of this my com-
panion, and seek thou of him what thou wantest ; for he will guide thee to that
which thou desirest. Califa therefore threw down the stick and pardoned him. He
then came to the second ape, and stood by him ; and the ape said to him, Califa,
these words will not profit thee at all, unless thou hear what I shall say to thee ; but
if thou hear my words and comply with my advice, and oppose me not, I shall be
the means of thy becoming rich. So Califa said to him, What wilt thou say to me,
that I may obey thee respecting it? And he answered him, Leave me tied here in
my place, and go to the river and cast thy net, and I will tell thee what thou shalt
do after this. Califa accordingly took the net and went to the river, and cast it and
waited over it a while. Then he drew it, and found it heavy ; and he ceased not to
labour at it until he brought it up to the bank ; and lo, in it was another ape; but
this ape was red: around his waist were blue garments, and his hands and feet
were stained with henna, and his eyes adorned with kohl.
On seeing him, Califa said. Extolled be the perfection of God, the Great ! Ex-
tolled be the perfection of the Possessor of dominion ! Verily this day is blessed
from its beginning to its end ; for its luck hath been shown to be fortunate by the
countenance of the first ap6, and the page is shown by its superscription ! Thia
day is a day of apes; there remaineth not in the river a single fish, and we came
44
690 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
not forth to-day save to catch apes ! Praise be to God who hath substituted, for the
fish, apes ! — He then looked towards the third ape, and said to him, What art thou
also, unlucky? The ape said to him, Dost thou not know me, Califa? Califik
answered. No. And he replied, I am the ape of Aboulsadat, the Jew, the money-
changer. — And what dost thou for him? said Califa. He answered him, I present
myse-lf to him in the morning, at the beginning of the day, and he gaineth five
pieces of gold; and I present myself to him in the evening, at the close of the day,
and he gaineth five pieces of gold again. And Califa thereupon looked towards the
first ape, and said to him. See, unlucky, how excellent are the apes of other
people ; but as to thee, thou presentest thyself to me in the morning lame and one-
eyed, and with thine unlucky countenance, and I become a pauper, a bankrupt,
hungry. He then took the stick, and whirled it round in the air three times, and
was about to strike him with it. But the ape of Aboulsadat said to him. Leave
him, Califa, and withdraw thy hand, and come to me, that I may tell thee what
thou shalt do. So Califa threw down the stick from his hand, and, advancing to
him, said to him. Of what wilt thou tell me, master of all apes? And he an-
swered him. Take the net, and cast it in the river, and leave me and these apes re-
maining by thee: and whatever cometh up to thee in the net, bring it to me, and I
will acquaint thee with that which will rejoice thee. Califa replied, I hear and
obey.
And he advanced to the river, and cast in it the net, and waited over it a while ;
after which he drew it, and lo, in it was a large fish, with a great head, and its tail
was like a ladle, and its eyes were like two pieces of gold. So when Califa saw it,
he was rejoiced at it; for he had not caught the like of it before in his life. He
took it, wondering at it, and brought it to the ape of Aboulsadat the Jew; and he
was as though he had gained possession of the whole world. And the ape said to
him, What dost thou desire to do with this, Califa, and what wilt thou do to thine
ape? Califa answered him, I will inform thee, master of all apes, what I will do.
Know that I will, before everything else, contrive means of destroying this accursed
one, my ape, and I will take thee in his stead, and feed thee every day with what
thou shalt desire. — And the ape said to him, Since thou hast informed me, I will
tell thee how thou shalt do; and by thy so doing, thy state shall be amended, if it
be the will of God, (whose name be exalted !). Understand then what I say to thee;
and it is this : that thou prepare for me also a rope, and tie me with it to a tree:
then thou shalt leave me, and go to the middle of the quay, and cast thy net into
the river Tigris ; and when thou hast cast it, wait over it a little, and draw it, and
thou wilt find in it a fish than which thou hast not seen any more beautiful in thy
whole life. Bring it to me, and I will tell thee how thou shalt do after that. — So
thereupon Califa arose immediately, and cast the net in the river Tigris, and drew
it, and he saw in it a fish of the kind called bayad,* of the size of a lamb. He had
not seen the like of it in his whole life; and it was larger than the first fish.
He took it and went with it to the ape ; and the ape said to him, Bring for thyself
some green grass, and put half of it into a basket, and put the fish upon it, and
cover it with the other half, and leave us tied. Then carry the basket upon thy
shoulder, and go with it into the city of Bagdad ; and whoever speaketh to thee, or
asketh thee a question, return him not a reply, until thou enterest the market of the
money-changers. Thou wilt find, at the upper end of the market, the shop of the
learned Aboulsadat the Jew, the sheikh of the money-changers, and thou wilt see
him sitting upon a mattrass, with a pillow behind him, and before him two chests,
one for the gold and the other for the silver, and with him mamlouks and black
slaves and pages. Advance to him, and put the basket before him, and say to him,
Aboulsadat, I have gone forth to-day to fish, and cast the net in thy name, and
God (whose name be exalted!) sent this fish. Thereupon he will say. Hast thou
'A fish common in the river Nile.
Fish for Sale. (Page 690.)
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
693
ehown it to any one beside me ? And do thou answer him, No, by Allah. And he
will take it from thee, and give thee a piece of gold. But do thou return it to him.
And he will give thee two pieces of gold. But return them to him. And whenever he
giveth thee aught, return it to him : if he give thee its weight in gold, receive not
from him aught. So he will say to thee. Tell me what thou desirest. And say
thou to him, By Allah, I will not sell it save for two sayings. And when he saith
to thee, And what are those two sayings? — answer him, Rise upon thy feet and say.
Bear witness O ye who are present in the market, that I have exchanged, for the
ape of Califa the fisherman, my ape ; and have exchanged, for his lot, my lot ; and for
his good fortune, my good fortune. This is the price of the fish, and I have no need
of the gold. — And when he hath done with thee thus, I will every day present myself
to thee in the morning and the evening, and henceforth thou wilt gain every day ten
pieces of gold ; while this his one-eyed lame ape will present himself in the morning to
Aboulsadat the Jew, and God will aflBict him every day with an exaction which he
will be obliged to pay, and he will not cease to be thus afilicted until he becometh
reduced to poverty, and is possessed of nothing whatever. Hear then what I say to
thee: so wilt thou become prosperous and be directed aright. — And when Califa the
fisherman heard the words of the ape, he replied, I accept the advice which thou
hast given me, King of all the apes! But as to this unlucky one, may God not
bless him ! I know not what to do with him. — The third ape, however, said to him,
Let him go into the water, and let me go also. And Califa replied, I hear and obey:
— and he advanced to the apes and loosed them and left them ; whereupon they de-
scended into the river.
He then approached the fish, and took it and washed it, 'and he put beneath it
some green grass in the basket, covered it also with grass, and, carrying it upon his
shoulder, proceeded until he entered the city of Bagdad ; and when he entered it,
the people, knowing him, wished him good morning, and said, What hast thou with
694 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
thee, Califa? But he paid no regard to any one among them until he came to the
market of the money-changers, and passed the shops, as the ape directed him. Then
he looked at the Jew, and saw him sitting in the shop, with the pages in attendance
upon him, and he was like one of the Kings of Khorasan. When Califa saw him,
he knew him, and walked on until he stood before him ; whereupon the Jew raised
his head towards him, and knew him, and said to him, Welcome to thee, Califa!
What is thine affair, and what is it that thou desirest? For if any one have spoken
to thee or contended with thee, tell me, that I may go with thee to the Judge, and
he will exact for thee thy due from him. — So he replied, No, by thy head, chief
of the Jews ! No one hath spoken to me. But I went forth to-day from my house
for thy luck, and repaired to the river, and cast my net in the Tigris, and there came
up this fish. — lie then opened the basket, and threw down the fish before the Jew ;
and when the Jew saw it, he admired it, and said, By the Pentateuch and the Ten
Commandments, I was sleeping yesterday, and I saw in my sleep as though I were
before a person who said to me. Know, Aboulsadat, that I have sent to thee a
beautiful present. So probably the present is this fish : without doubt it is. — Then
he looked towards Califa and said to him, By thy religion, hath any one seen it
beside me ? Califa answered. No, By Allah ! By Abou Beker the Very Veracious,
chief of the Jews, no one beside thyself hath seen it. — And upon this the Jew
looked towards one of his pages, and said to him, Come hither: take this fish, and
go with it to the house, and let Sadah prepare it, and fry and broil, against the time
when I shall accomplish my business and come. Califa also said to him. Go,
page : let the wife of the learned man fry some of it and broil some of it. And
the page replied, I hear and obey, my master. And he took the fish, and went
with it to the house. But as to the Jew, he stretched forth his hand with a piece of
gold, and offered it to Califa the fisherman, saying to him, Take this for thyself,
Califa, and expend it upon thy family.
When Califa saw it in his hand, he said. Extolled be the perfection of the Possessor
of dominion ! and seemed as though he had not seen anything of gold in his life.
He took the piece of gold, and walked away a little. Then he remembered the
charge of the ape: so he returned, and threw back the piece of gold to the Jew, say-
ing to him. Take thy gold, and give me people's fish. Are people to thee objects of
ridicule ? — And when the Jew heard his words, he imagined that he was jesting
with him ; wherefore he handed to him two pieces of gold in addition to the first
piece. But Califa said to him. Give me the fish without jesting. Dost thou know
that I will sell the fish for this price? — And the Jew put forth his hand to two othar
pieces, and said to him, Take these five pieces of gold as the value of the fish, and
relinquish covetousuess. And Califa took them in his hand and went away with
them, joyful. He proceeded to look at the gold and to wonder at it, and say. Extolled
be the perfection of God ! There is not in the possession of the Caliph of Bagdad
the like of what is in my possession this day ! And he ceased not to walk on until
he came to the end of the market. Then he remembered the words of the ape, and
the charge that he had given him. So he returned to the Jew, and threw back to
him the gold. The Jew therefore said to him. What aileth thee, Califa? What
dost thou desire? Wilt thou take pieces of silver in change of thy gold ? — And he
answered him, I desire not pieces of silver or pieces of gold. I only desire that thou
give me people's fish. — And upon this the Jew was enraged, and cried out at him,
and said to him, fisherman, dost thou come to me with a fish that is not worth a
piece of gold, and do I give thee for it five pieces of gold, and dost thou not consent?
Art thou mad? Tell me for how much thou wilt sell it. — Califa answered him, I
will not sell it for silver nor for gold, and I will not sell it save for two sayings that
thou shalt utter to me. And when the Jew heard his mention of two sayings,' his
eyes became fixed in his head, and his breathing became difficult, and he locked his
' The profes.sion of the Mahometan faith is often named the " two sayings."
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 695
teeth together, and said to him, recreant of the Mahometans, dost thou desire that
I should abandon my religion for the sake of thy fish, and wouldst thou alienate from
me my faith, and my belief which I found my fathers to have held before me ? And
he cried out to his pages, who came before him, and he said to them, Wo to you !
Take this unlucky fellow; mangle with blows the back of his neck, and torture him
with abundant beating. — They therefore fell to beating him, and ceased not to do so
until he fell down beneath the shop, when the Jew said to them. Leave him, that he
may rise. And Califa rose up as though nought ailed him.
The Jew then said to him. Tell me what thou desirest as the price of this fish, and
I will give it thee, for thou hast not obtained good from us on this occasion. But
Califa replied, Fear not for me, Teacher, on account of the beating; for I can
bear as much beating as ten asses. And the Jew laughed at his words, and said to
him, By Allah, I conjure thee, tell me what thou desirest, and I by my religion will
give thee it. So he replied. Nought from thee will content me as the price of this
fish save two sayings. The Jew therefore said to him, I imagine thou desirest of
me that I should become a Mahometan. Califa replied, By Allah, Jew, if thou
become a Mahometan, thy becoming so will not profit the Mahometans nor vrill it
injure the Jews ; and if thou remain in thine infidelity, thine infidelity will not
injure the Mahometans nor will it profit the Jews. But what I desire of thee is
this: that thou rise upon thy feet, and say, Bear witness against me, people of the
market, that I have given in exchange my ape for the ape of Califa the fisherman,
and my good luck in the world for his good luck, and my good fortune for his good
fortune. — And the Jew said. If this thing be thy desire, it is to me easy. Then the
Jew arose immediately, and stood upon his feet, and said as Califa the fisherman had
told him ; after which he looked towards him, and said to him. Hast thou aught
more to demand of me? The fisherman answered. No. And the Jew said to him.
Go in peace. So Califa arose immediately, and, having taken his basket and his net,
went to the river Tigris, and cast the net. Then he drew it, and found it heavy, and
pulled it not forth save after laborious exertion ; and when he pulled it forth, he saw
it full of fishes of all kinds. And there came to him a woman, having with her a
plate, and she gave him a piece of gold, for which he gave her fish ; and there came
to him a eunuch also, who bought of him for a piece of gold. Thus it happened
until he sold fish for ten pieces of gold ; and he ceased not to sell every day for ten
pieces of gold till the end of ten days, so that he amassed a hundred pieces of gold.
Now this fisherman had a chamber within a place through which the merchants
passed. And while he was sleeping in his chamber one night, he said to himself, O
Califa, verily all the people know that thou art a poor man, a fisherman, and there
have come into thy possession a hundred pieces of gold : so, inevitably, the Prince
of the Faithful, Haroun Alrashid, will hear of thy story from some one of the
people; and probably he will be in need of wealth, and will send to thee and say to
thee, I am in want of a certain number of pieces of gold, and it hath been told me
that thou hast a hundred pieces of gold ; therefore lend them to me. Then I will
say, Prince of the Faithful, I am a poor man, and he who informed thee that I
had a hundred pieces of gold lied against me: they are not in my possession, nor
have I aught thereof. And he will deliver me to the Judge, and will say to him.
Strip him of his clothing, and torture him with beating, that he may confess, and
may bring the hundred pieces of gold that are in his possession. Therefore the
right opinion, that will be the means of saving me from this embarrassing predica-
ment, is this: that I arise immediately, and torture myself with the whip, that I
may be accustomed to beating. — And his intoxication said to him. Arise ; strip thy-
self of thy clothes. So he arose forthwith, and stripped himself of his clothes, and
took in his hand a whip that he had by him. He had also a pillow of leather; and
he proceeded to strike one blow upon that pillow, and one blow upon his skin, say-
ing, Ah ! Ah ! By Allah, this is a false assertion, my lord, and they utter a lie
against me: I am a poor man, a fisherman, and have not in my possession aught of
696 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
worldly goods. — And the people heard Califa the fisherman torturing himself, and
beating upon the pillow with the whip, the falling of the blows upon his body and
upon the pillow making a noise in the night; and among those who heard him were
the merchants. They therefore said. What can be the matter with this poor man,
that he crieth, and that we hear the falling of the blows upon him ? It seemeth
that the robbers have come down upon him, and they are the persons who are tortur-
ing him. — So thereupon they ail arose, on hearing the sounds of the beating and
crying, and came forth from their lodgings to the house of Califa, and, seeing its
door locked, they said, one to another, Probably the robbers have descended upon
him from behind the saloon : therefore it is expedient that we ascend by way of the
roofs. Accordingly they ascended to the roofs, and descended through the skylight;
and they saw him with bare back, and torturing himself. They therefore said to
him. What aileth thee, Califa? What is thy story? — And he answered. Know,
people, that I have acquired some pieces of gold, and I fear that my case will be
reported to the Prince of the Faithful, Ilaroun Alrashid, and he will summon me
before him, and demand of me those pieces of gold. Then I will deny ; and when
I deny, I fear that he will torture me ; wherefore I am torturing myself, and making
the torture iiabitual to me, to prepare for what may come. — And the merchants
laughed at him, and said to him, Leave oif these actions. May God not bless thee,
nor the pieces of gold that have come to thee ! For thou hast disquieted us this
night, and alarmed our hearts.
So Califii discontinued the beating of himself, and slept until the morning; and
when he arose from sleep, and desired to depart to his occupation, he reflected upon
the matter of the hundred pieces of gold that had come into his possession, and said
within himself, If I leave them in the house, the robbers will steal them ; and if I
put them into a belt around my waist, probably some one will see them, and lay
wait for mo until I am alone, in a place devoid of other persons, and he will slay
me, and take them from me. But I will practise a stratagem, one that will be good,
and very advantageous. He then arose immediately, and sewed for himself a pocket
within the upper border of his vest, and, having tied up the hundred pieces of gold
in a purse, put them into that pocket which he had made; after which he arose and
took his net and his basket and his staff, and proceeded until he came to the river
Tigris, and cast his net in it. Then he drew it; but there came not up for him any-
thing. He therefore removed from that place to another place, and there he cast
his net; but nothing came up for him. And he ceased not to remove from place to
place until he was as far from the city as the space of half a day's journey, casting
the net on the way ; but still there came not up for him aught. And he said within
himself. By Allah, I will not cast my net again into the water save this time, what-
ever be the result! So he cast the net with all his force, by reason of the violence
of his rage, and the purse in w^hich were the hundred pieces of gold flew from his
bosom, fell into the midst of the river, and was carried away with the force of the
current. Upon this he threw down the- net from his hand, and stripped himself of
his clothes, and, leaving them upon the bank, descended into the river, and dived
after the purse. He ceased not to dive and come up about a hundred times, until
his strength became impaired ; but he found not that purse ; and when he despaired
of it he came up on the bank, and found not aught save the staff and the net and
the basket. He sought his clothes ; but discovered no trace of them. So he un-
folded the net, and wrapped himself in it, and. taking the staff in his hand, and
the basket upon his shoulder, he went trotting along like the stray-camel, running
to the right and left, and backwards and forwards, with dishevelled hair, and dust-
coloured, like the refractory Afrite when let loose from Solomon's prison. — Such
was the case of Califa the fisherman.
Now the Caliph Haroun Alrashid had a companion, a jeweller, named Benkernas ,
and all the people and the merchants and the brokers and the bargain-makers knew
that Benkernas was the merchant of the Caliph. Nought that w-as sold in the city
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
697
Califa wrapped in liis Net.
of Bagdad, of rarities and other costly things, was sold until it was. shown to hinij
and among these things were the mamlouks and the female slaves. And while that
merchant, Benkernas, was sitting in his shop one day, lo, the sheikh of the brokers
came to him, having with him a female slave, the like of whom eyes had not beheld.
She was endowed with the utmost beauty and loveliness, and fine stature, and just-
ness of form ; and among the number of her excellences were these: that she knew
all sciences and arts, and composed verses, and played upon all kinds of musical
instruments. So Benkernas the jeweller purchased her for five thousand pieces of
gold, and he clad her at the cost of one thousand pieces of gold, and brought her to
the Prince of the Faithful, who tried her in every science and in every art, and found
her to be acquainted with all sciences and arts. She was unequalled in her age ;
and her name was Koutelkuloub. And on the following morning, the Caliph Haroun
Alrashid sent to Benkernas the jeweller ; and when he came, he gave orders to pay
him ten thousand pieces of gold as the price of that slave-girl. Then the heart of
the Caliph became engrossed by that slave-girl named Koutelkuloub, and he aban-
doned the lady Zobeide the daughter of Kasim, though she was the daughter of his
paternal uncle. He abandoned also all the concubines, and remained a whole month
without going forth from that slave-girl, save to the Friday-prayers, after which he
returned to her in haste. So this conduct was grievous to the lords of the empire ;
wherefore they complained thereof to the Vizier Giafar the. Barmecide; and the
Vizier waited for the Prince of the Faithful until the next Friday, when he
entered the mosque, and met the Prince of the Faithful, and related to him all that
698 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
he had heard ofi stories concerning extraordinary love, in order that he might draw
forth the statement of his feelings. And upon this the Caliph said to him, Giafar,
by Allah, that thing was nut of my choice ; but my heart is entangled in the snare
of love, and I know not what is to be done. The Vizier Giafar therefore replied,
Know, Prince of the Faithful, that this concubine Koutelkuloub hath become
under thine autiiority, and of the number of thy servants ; and what the hand pos-
sesseth the soul doth not covet. I will also acquaint thee with another thing, which
is this : that the best of what the Kings and the sons of the Kings glory in are hunt-
ing, and enjoying sport and conveniences ; and if thou do thus, probably thou wilt
thereby be diverted from her, and probably thou wilt forget her. — And the Caliph
said to him. Excellent is that which thou hast said, Giafar. Repair then with us
hastily, immediately to hunt.
Accordingly when the Friday-prayers were ended, they both went forth from the
mosque, and mounted immediately, and went to hunt. They proceeded until they
came to the desert, and the Prince of the Faithful and the Vizier Giafar were riding
upon two mules ; and as they occupied each other by conversation, the troops out-
went them. The heat had become oppressive to them : so Alrashid said, Giafar,
violent thirst hath affected me. Then Alrashid cast his eyes, and saw a distant
object faintly appearing upon a high mound ; and he said to the Vizier, Dost thou
see what I see? The Vizier answered him. Yes, Prince of tlie Faithful: I see a
distant object faintly appearing upon a high mound, and it is either the keeper of
a garden or the keeper of a ground for melons and cucumbers; and in either case,
his tract id not without water. The Vizier then said, I will go to him, and bring
thee some water from him. But Alrashiil replied. My mule is more swift than thine ;
therefore stay thou here, on account of the troops, and I will myself go and get
drink from the station of this person, and return. And he urged his mule, which
thereupon went forth like the wind in its pace, or as water poureth into a pool, and
ceased not to bear him away until he arrived at that faint object in the twinkling of
an eye, when he found not that object to be any one but Califa the fisherman.
Alrashid saw him with his naked body wrapped in the net, and his eyes, by reason
of their excessive redness, were like burning cressets. His form was horrible, and
his figure bending, and, with dishevelled hair, and dust-coloured, he resembled an
Afrite, or a lion.
Alrashid saluted him, and he returned his salutation in a state of rage, and his
brpath would have kindled fires ; and Alrashid said to him, man, hast thou by thee
any water? Califa replied, thou, art thou blind or mad ? Go to the river Tigris ;
for it is behind this mound. So Alrashid went round behind the mound, and
descended to the river Tigris, and drank, and watered his mule. Then he went up
immediately, and, returning to Califa the fisherman, said to him. Wherefore, man,
art thou standing here, and what is thine occupation ? Califa replied. Verily this
question is more wonderful and more extraordinary .than thy question respecting the
water. Dost thou not see the apparatus of my occupation upon my shoulder? —
Alrashid therefore said to him, It seemeth that thou art a fisherman. He replied.
Yes. — Where then, said Alrashid, is thy tunic, and where is thy cloak, and where is
thy coat, and where are thy clothes? — Now the things that had gone from Califa
were like those which he mentioned to him, article agreeing with article; so when
Califa heard those words of the Caliph, he imagined in his mind that ho was the
person who had taken his clothes from the bank of the river. He therefore descended
immediately from the top of the mound, more swiftly than the blinding lightning,
and, seizing the bridle of the mule of the Caliph, said to him, man, give me my
things, and desist from sport and jesting. So the Caliph replied, I, by Allah, have
not seen thy clothes, nor do I know them. And Alrashid had large cheeks, and a
small mouth : wherefore Califa said to him. Probably thine occupation is that of a
singer or a piper? But give me my clothes, by the means that are best, or else I
will beat thee with this staff so that thou shalt find thyself in an evil plight. — And
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 699
when the Caliph saw the staff in Califa's hand, he said within himself, By Allah, I
cannot endure from this pauper half a blow with this staff. And there was upon
Alrashid a long vest of satin ; so he pulled it off, and said to Califa, O man, take this
vest instead of thy clothes. Califa therefore took it, and turned it over, and said.
Verily my clothes are worth ten such things as this variegated cloak. Alrashid
however replied, Wear it till I bring thee thine own clothes. And Califa took it and
put it on ; but he saw it to be too long for him ; and, having with him a knife tied
to the handle of the basket, he took it and cut off with it from the lower part of the
vest as much as one third of it, so that it reached but just below his knees.
He then looked towards Alrashid, and said to him, By Allah I conjure thee,
piper, that thou inform me what is the amount of thy wages that thou receivest
every month from thy master, for the art of piping. The Caliph replied. My wages
every month are ten pieces of gold. And upon this, Califa said to him, By Allah,
poor man, thou hast made me to partake of thine anxiety ! By Allah, the sum of
ten pieces of gold I gain every day ! Dost thou desire, then, to be with me as my
servant? If so, I will teach thee the art of fishing, and be partner with thee in tho
gain. Thus thou wilt work every day at the rate of five pieces of gold, and be my
young man, and I will protect thee from thy master with this staff. — And Alrashid
answered him, I consent to that. So Califa said to him. Alight now from the back
of the ass, and tie it, that it may be of use to us hereafter in carrying the fish ; and
come, that I may teach thee the art of fishing immediately. And thereupon Alrashid
alighted from the back of his mule, and tied it, and tucked up his skirts within the
circle of his girdle. Califa then said to him, O piper, hold this net so, and put it
upon thine arm so, and cast it into the river Tigris so. And Alrashid fortified his
heart, and did as Califa showed him. He cast the net in the river, and pulled it;
but could not draw it up. Califa therefore came to him, and pulled it with him ;
but they could not draw it up together. So Califa said to him, ill-omened piper,
if I took thy cloak instead of my clothes the first time, this time I will take thine ass
for my net, if I see it mangled, and I will beat thee until thou shalt be in an abomi-
nable condition. Alrashid replied, Let me and thee pull together. And the two
together pulled the net, and they could not draw up that net save with diflBculty;
and when they had drawn it up, they looked at it, and lo, it was full of all kinds of
fish. Upon this, Califa said to Alrashid, By Allah, piper, verily thou art an ugly
fellow ; but when thou shalt have laboured at fishing, thou wilt be an excellent
fisherman. And now, the right opinion is this: that thou mount thine ass, and go
to the market, and bring two great baskets, and I will take care of these fish until
thou come again, when I and thou will put them upon the back of thine ass ; and I
have the pair of scales and the pound-weights and everything that we require. We
will take all with us, and thou wilt have nothing to do but to hold the pair of scales
and to receive the prices ; for we have with us fish worth twenty pieces of gold.
Hasten then to bring the two great baskets, and delay not. — And the Caliph replied,
I hear and obey.
He left him, and left the fish, and urged on his mule, being in a state of the ut-
most joy. He ceased not to laugh at what had happened to him with the fisherman
until he came to Giafar; and when Giafar saw him, he said to him, Prince of the
Faithful, probably when thou wentest to drink, thou foundest a pleasant garden,
and enteredst it and divertedst thyself in it alone. And Alrashid, on his hearing
the words of Giafar, laughed. Then all the Barmecides kissed the ground before
him, and said to him, Prince of the Faithful, may God perpetuate thy joys, and
dispel from thee troubles! What was the cause of thy delay when thou wentest to
drink, and what happened to thee? — And the Caliph answered them, An extra-
ordinary event, and a mirth-exciting, wonderful thing hath happened to me. Then
he repeated to them the story of Califa the fisherman, and what had happened to
him with him ; his saying, Thou hast stolen my clothes, — and his having given him
his vest, and the fisherman's having cut off a part of the vest on his seeing it to be
700 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
too long for him. And Giafar said, By Allah, Prince of the Faithful, it was my
wish to have requested of thee the vest ; but I will go immediately to the fisherman
and purchase it of him. So the Caliph said to him. By Allah, he hath cut off a
third of it, from its lower part, and hath entirely spoiled it; but, Giafar, I am
fatigued by my fishing in the river ; for I have caught a great quantity of fish, and
they are upon the bank of the river, with my teacher Califa. He is standing there
waiting for me to return to him, and to take to him two great baskets. Then I and
he are to go to the market, and we are to sell the fish, and divide their price. — Giafar
replied, Prince of the Faithful, I will bring to you one who will purchase of you.
And the Caliph said to him, Giafar, by ray pure forefathers, to every one who
bringeth me a fish from among those which are before Califa, who taught me the art
of fishing, I will give for it a piece of gold! The crier therefore proclaimed among
the troops. Go ye forth and purchase fish for the Prince of the Faithful.
Accordingly the mamlouks went forth, repairing to the bank of the river ; and
while Califa was waiting for the Prince of the Faithful to bring to him two great
baskets, lo, the mamlouks pounced upon him like eagles, and took the fish, and put
them in gold-embroidered handkerchiefs, and proceeded to beat each other to get at
him. So Califa said. No doubt these fish are of the fish of Paradise! Then, taking
two fish in his right hand, and two in his left hand, he descended into the water to
his throat, and began to say, Allah, by these fish, let thy servant the piper, my
partner, come immediately! And lo, a black slave advanced to him, and that slave
was the chief over all the black slaves that were in the palace of the Caliph. The
cause of his having come later than the mamlouks was an impediment that occurred
to him on the way. So when he came to Califa, he found that there remained not
of the fish little nor much ; but looking to the right and left, he saw Califa the fisher-
man standing in the water with the fish in his hands: and thereupon he said to him,
fisherman, come hither! The fisherman replied. Go, without impertinence. The
eunuch, however, advanced to him, and said to him. Give me these fish, and I will
give thee the price. Califa the fisherman rejoined, Art thou of little sense? I will
not sell them. But the eunuch drew forth against him the mace ; so thereupon
Califa said to him. Strike not, wretch : for the conferring of a favour is better than
the mace! Then he threw to him the fish, and the eunuch took them, and placed
them in his handkerchief, and put his hand into his pocket; but found not a single
piece of silver. He therefore said, fisherman, verily thy fortune is unlucky! I,
by Allah, have not with me any money. But to-morrow come thou to the palace
of the Caliph, and say. Direct me to the eunuch Sandal. Thereupon the eunuchs
will direct thee to me ; and when thou bast come to me there, thou wilt obtain what
is decreed for thee, and thou shalt receive it, and go thy way.
So upon this, Califa said. Verily this day is blessed, and its blessing was apparent
from its commencement! Then he took his net upon his shoulder, and walked on
until he entered Bagdad, and he walked along the streets. The people therefore saw
the garment of the Caliph upon him, and they continued looking at him until he en-
tered the quarter [where he lived]. And the shop of the tailor of the Prince of the
Faithful was by the gate of the quarter: so the tailor saw Califa the fisherman
having upon him a garment worth a thousand pieces of gold, of the apparel of the
Caliph ; and he said, Califa, whence obtainedst thou this garment? Califa replied,
And what reason hast thou to be impertinent? I received it from him whom I have
taught the art of fishing, and who hath become my young man, and I have remitted
to him the amputation of his hand ; for he stole my clothes, and gave me this cloak
instead of them. — The tailor therefore knew that the Caliph had passed by him,
while he was fishing, and had jested with him, and given him the garment. Then
the fisherman went to his abode.
Now the Caliph Haroun Alrashid had not gone forth to the chase save in order
that he might be diverted from thinking of the slave-girl Koutelkuloub. And when
Zobeide heard of the slave-girl, and of the Caliph's devotion to her, that jealousy
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 701
which seizes women so seized her that she abstained from food and drink, and re-
linquished the delight of sleep ; and she waited for the absence of the Caliph, and
his going forth on a journey, that she might set for Koutelkuloub the snare of strata-
gems. Therefore when she knew that the Caliph had gone forth to hunt, she ordered
the female slaves to spread the furniture in the palace, and she made a profuse dis-
play of decoration and magnificence, caused the viands and the sweetmeats to be
placed, and prepared among these, a China dish containing sweetmeat of the most
dainty kind, in which she put some bhang, infusing it therewith. She then ordered
one of the eunuchs to go to the slave-girl Koutelkuloub, to invite her to partake of
the food of the lady Zobeide the daughter of Kasim, the wife of the Prince of the
Faithful, and to say to her, The wife of the Prince of the Faithful hath drunk to-day
some medicine, and she hath beard of the sweetness of thy melody, wherefore she
desireth to divert herself by hearing somewhat of thy performance. — And she re-
plied, I hear and obey God and the lady Zobeide. She arose immediately, not know-
ing what was secretly decreed to befall her, and, taking with her what instruments
she required, she accompanied the eunuch, and ceased not to proceed until she went
in to the lady Zobeide, when she kissed the ground before her many times ; after
which she arose upon her feet and said, Peace be on the lady of the highly-honoured
curtain and the unapproachable majesty, the descendant of Abbas and the member
of the fiimily of the Prophet ! May God cause thee to obtain prosperity and peace
during the course of days and years! — Then she stood among the female slaves and
the eunuchs; and thereupon the lady Zobeide raised her head towards her, and con-
templated her beauty and loveliness ; and she saw a damsel with smooth cheeks,
with a bosom presenting the similitude of two pomegranates, and a brilliant counte-
nance and shining forehead and large black eyes. Her eyelids were languishing,
and her face was beauteously bright. The splendour of her countenance was like
that of the rising sun ; and the hair over her forehead, like the darkness of night;
and her odour, like the fragrance diffused by musk ; and her beauty, like charming
flowers ; and her forehead, like the moon ; and her figure, like the waving branch.
She was like the full moon shining in the dark night, and her eyes were a,morous,
and her eyebrows were arched, and her lips were as though they were formed of
coral. She amazed by her beauty every one who beheld her, and enchanted with
her eye every one who saw her. Glory be to Him who created her and perfected her
and completed her.
The lady Zobeide said to her, A friendly and free and ample welcome to thee,
Koutelkuloub! Sit, that thou mayest amuse us with thy performances and the ex-
cellence of thine art. — So she replied, I hear and obey. And she sat, and, putting
forth her hand, she took the tambourine; and after that, the flageolet ; and next,
the lute ; and she played fourteen times, and sang to it an entire piece in such a
manner that she amazed the beholders, and moved with delight the hearers. And
after that, she exhibited her skill in juggling and sleights, and every pleasing art,
so that the lady Zobeide almost became enamoured of her, and said within herself,
The son of my uncle, Alrashid, is not to be blamed for his passion for her. Then
the damsel kissed the ground before Zobeide, and sat down : and they presented to
her the viands; and afterwards, the sweetmeat; and they presented the dish in
which was the bhang. So she ate of it; and the sweetmeat had not settled in her
stomach before her head turned over and she fell down on the floor asleep; whereupon
the lady Zobeide said to the female slaves. Take her up to one of the private cham-
bers, and there leave her until I require her to be brought. And they replied. We
hear and obey. She then said to one of the eunuchs, Make for us a chest, and bring
it to me. And she gave orders to make the semblance of a tomb, and to spread a
report that the damsel had been choked and had died. She also warned her chief
attendants, that whoever should say that she was living, that person's head should
be struck off. — And lo, the Caliph then came back from the chase, and his first in-
quiry was respecting the damsel. So one of his eunuchs advanced to him ; and the
(02
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
lady Zobeide had charged him, that if the Caliph should ask him respecting her, he
should say she had died : wherefore he kissed the ground before him, and said to
him, O my lord, may thy head long survive ! Know for certain that Koutelkuloub
hath been choked with food, and hath died. — Upon this, the Caliph said. May God
not rejoice thee with good tidings, wicked slave 1 lie then arose and entered the
palace, and heard of her death from every one in it ; and he said. Where is her
tomb. They therefore conducted him thither, and showed him the tomb that had
been made for deception, saying to him. This is her tomb. And when he saw it, he
cried out, and embraced the tomb, and wept, and recited some verses. He wept for
her violently, and remained there for some time; after which he arose and quitted
the tomb, in a state of the utmost grief. So the lady Zobeide knew that her strata-
gem had been accomplished, and she said to the eunuch. Bring the chest. He there-
fore brought it before her ; and she caused the damsel to be brought, and put her in
it, and said to the eunuch. Endeavour to sell the chest, and make it a condition with
the purchaser that he shall purchase it locked: then give its price in alms. And
the eunuch took it and went forth from her, and complied with her command.
But as to Califa the fisherman, when the morning came and diffused its light and
shone, he said, I have no occupation to follow this day better than my going to the
eunuch who bought of me the fish ; for he made an appointment with me that I
should go to him in the palace of the Caliph. He then went forth from his abode
to repair to the palace of the Caliph ; and when he arrived at it, he found the mam-
louks and the black slaves and the eunuchs sitting and standing. So he looked at-
tentively at them, and lo, the eunuch who took from him the fish was sitting there,
with the mamlouks in attendance upon him. And one of the mamlouks called out
to him ; whereupon the eunuch looked towards him, to see who he was ; and behold
he saw the fisherman. Therefore when the fisherman knew that he saw him, and
recognised his person with certainty, he said to him. Thou hast not failed in thy
duty, Red-face ! Thus are persons of fidelity! And the eunuch, on hearing his
words, laughed at him, and replied. By Allah, thou hast spoken truth, fisherman!
Then the eunuch Sandal desired to give him something, and put his hand to his
pocket. But just then a great clamour arose : so the eunuch raised his head, to see
what had happened ; and lo, the Vizier Giafar the Barmecide was coming forth from
the Caliph. Therefore when the eunuch saw him, he rose to him, and walked before
him, and they both proceeded to converse together as they walked until the time be-
Califa with Giafar and the Eunuch.
came tedious. Califa the fisherman waited a considerable while, during which the
eunuch looked not towards him ; and when his standing was tedious to him, the
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 703
fisherman placed himself opposite to him, but at a distance from him, and, making
a sign to him with his hand, said, O my master Red-face, let me go ! And the
eunuch heard him, but was ashamed to return him a reply, on account of the pre-
sence of the Vizier Giafar. He continued to converse with the Vizier, and 80 to
divert himself from attending to the fisherman. So Califa said, delayer of the
payment of thy debt, may God disgrace every sulky person, and every one who
taketh the goods of others and acteth sulkily to them. I place myself under thy
protection, my master Fat-paunch, begging thee to give me what is my due, that 1
may go !
The eunuch heard him; but he was abashed at Giafar; and Giafar also saw him
as he made signs with his hands and talked to the eunuch, though he knew not
what he said to him ; and he said to the eunuch, disapproving of his conduct,
eunuch, what doth this poor beggar demand of thee? Sandal the eunuch therefore
said to him, Dost thou not knov; this man, our lord the Vizier? The Vizier
Giafar answered. By Allah, I do not know him ! And how (he added) should 1
know this man, when I have not .seen him before the present time? — So the eunuch
replied, our lord, this is the fisherman whose fish we seized from the bank of the
Tigris. I got not any, and was ashamed to return to the Prince of the Faithful
without aught, all the mamlouks having taken. But when I came to him, I found
him standing in the midst of the river, supplicating God, and having with him four
fish. I therefore said to him. Give me what thou hast with thee, and receive their
price. And when he gave me the fish, I put my hand into my pocket, desiring to
give him something; but found not in it aught: wherefore I said to him. Come to
me in the palace, and I will give thee something by means of which thou mayest
seek aid against thy poverty. Accordingly he came to me this day, and I put forth
my hand with the desire of giving him something, and thou camest: so I arose to
wait upon thee, and was diverted by thee from attending to him, and the case be-
came tedious to him. This is his story, and this is the reason of his standing here.
— And when the Vizier heard the words of the eunuch, he smiled at them, and said,
eunuch, how is it that this fisherman hath come in the time of his need, and thou
hast not accomplished his afi'air? Dost thou not know him, chief of the eunuchs?
He answered. No. And Giafar said. This is the teacher of the Prince of the Faith-
ful, and his partner; and our lord the Caliph hath arisen this day with contracted
bosom, mourning heart, and troubled mind, and there is nothing that will dilate his
bosom except this fisherman. So let him not go until I consult the Caliph respect-
ing him, and bring him before him. Perhaps God will dispel his grief, and console
him for the loss of Koutelkuloub, by means of his presence, and he will give him
something wherewith to seek for himself aid ; and thou wilt be the cause of that.
— The eunuch therefore replied, my lord, do what thou desirest; and may God
(whose name be exalted !) preserve thee as a pillar of the dynasty of the Prince of
the Faithful ! May God perpetuate its shadow, and keep its branch and its root!
The Vizier Giafar then went to the Caliph, and the eunuch commanded the mam-
louks that they should not quit the fisherman. So thereupon Califa the fisherman
said, How excellent is thy beneficence, Red-face ! The demander hath become
demanded ; for I came to demand my money, and they have imprisoned me for the
arrears! — And when Giafar went in to the Caliph, he saw him sitting, hanging down
his head towards the ground, with contracted bosom, full of solicitude, singing some
plaintive verses; and Giafar standing before him, said. Peace be on thee, Prince
of the Faithful, and defender of the dignity of the religion, and descendant of the
uncle of the Chief of Apostles — may God favour and preserve him and all his family!
— The Caliph therefore raised his head, and replied, And on thee be peace, and the
mercy of God, and his blessings ! And Giafar said. With the permission of the
Prince of the Faithful, may his servant speak, and not be restrained? The Caliph
replied. And when was restraint as to speech put upon thee? Thou, being the chief
of the Viziers, shalt speak what thou wilt. — So the Vizier Giafar said to him, I went
704 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
forth, our lord, from before thee, desiring to repair to my house, and I saw thy
master and thy teacher and thy partner, Califa the fisherman, standing at the gate,
and he was displeased with thee, and was complaining of thee, and saying. Extolled
be the perfection of God ! I have taught him the art of fishing, and he went to bring
me two great baskets, and returned not to me ; and this is not consistent with the
condition of partnership, nor the condition of teachers. — Therefore if thon desire to
be a partner, no harm : but if not, inform him, that he may take some other than
thyself as partner. — And when the Caliph heard his words, he smiled, and the con-
traction of the bosom that be sufiered ceased ; and he said to Giafar, By my life I
conjure thee to tell me, is it true that thou sayest, that the fisherman is standing at
the gate? Giafar answered, By thy life, Prince of the Faithful, he is standing at
the gate. And thereupon the Caliph said, Giafar, by Allah, I will assuredly
endeavour to accomplish that which is his due ; and if God send him, by my means,
misery, he obtaineth it; and if He send him, by my means, prosperity, he obtaineth
it. Then the Caliph took a piece of paper, and cut it in pieces, and said, Giafar,
write with thine own hand twenty sums of money, from a piece of gold to a thousand
pieces of gold ; and the posts of Judge and Emirs, from the least office to that of
Vizier ; and twenty kinds of punishment, from the slightest chastisement to slaughter.
And Giafar replied, I hear and obey, Prince of the Faithful. He wrote the papers
with his own hand, as the Caliph commanded him ; and after that, the Caliph said,
Giafar, I swear by my pure forefathers and my connexion by lineage with Ham-
zah and Akeil, that I desire to cause Califa the fisherman to be brought, and I will
order him to take one of these papers, the inscription of which none shall know
excepting me and thee ; and whatever is written upon it, I will give him possession
thereof: even if upon it be written the office of Vizier, I will make him possessor of
it: and if upon it be written hanging, or amputation, or slaughter, I will do unto
him accordingly. So go, and bring him unto me.
When Giafar, therefore, heard these words, he said within himself, There is no
strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! Perhaps there will prove to
be the lot of this poor man something that will occasion his destruction, and I shall
be the cause. But the Caliph hath sworn: so it only remaineth for him to enter;
and nought will happen but what God desireth, — He then went to Califa the fisher-
man, and laid hold of his hand, desiring to enter with him : and upon this, the
reason of Califa fled from his head and he said within himself, How have I trifled,
that I have come to this ill-omened slave Red-face, and he hath brought me into the
company of Fat-paunch ! Giafar ceased not to proceed with him, the mamlouks
being behind him and before him, and Califa saying, Is not imprisonment enough,
that these are behind me and before me. preventing my fleeing? — Giafar still went
on with him until he had passed through seven antechambers, when he said to Califa,
Wo to thee, fisherman ! Thou wilt stand before the Prince of the Faithful, and
the defender of the dignity of the religion. — Then he raised the grand curtain, and
the eye of Califa the fisherman fell upon the Caliph, who was sitting upon his couch,
with the lords of the empire standing in attendance upon him ; and when he knew
him, he advanced to him and said, A friendly and free welcome to thee, piper!
Is it not right in thee to become a fisherman, and leave me sitting to keep watch
over the fish, and go, and not return, so that I was not aware when the mamlouks
advanced, upon beasts of various colours, and snatched the fish from me, while I
stood alone. All this was occasioned by thee; for if thou hadst come with the great
baskets, quickly, we should have sold of them for a hundred pieces of gold. But I
came to demand my due, and they imprisoned me. And who imprisoned thee also
in this place? — And the Caliph smiled, and, lifting up the edge of the curtain, put
forth his head from beneath it, and said to him. Advance, and take for thee one of
these papers. So Califa the fisherman said to the Prince of the Faithful, Thou wast
a fisherman, and I see thee to-day to have become an astrologer. But when a man's
trades become many, his poverty becometh great. — Upon this Giafar said, Take the
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 705
paper speedily, without talking, and do as the Prince of the Faithful hath com-
manded thee. Accordingly Califa the fisherman advanced, and put forth his hand,
and said, Far be it from me that this piper should be again my young man, and fish
with me ! He then took the paper, and handed it to the Caliph, and said, piper,
what hath proved to be written upon it as my lot? Conceal not of it aught. — The
Caliph therefore took it and handed it to the Vizier Giafar, saying to him. Read what
is upon it. And Giafar looked at it, and said, There is no strength nor power but
in God, the High, the Great! So the Caliph said. Good news, Giafar! What
hast thou seen upon it ? — He answered, Prince of the Faithful, there hath proved
to be written upon the paper. The fisherman shall receive a hundred blows with a
staff. And thereupon the Caliph commanded that he should have a hundred blows
with a staff inflicted upon him ; and they complied with his command ; and when
they had done so, Califa arose, saying, Accursed be this game, Fat-paunch. Are
imprisonment and beating among the conditions of the game?
Upon this, Giafar said, Prince of the Faithful, this poor man hath come to the
great river, and how shall he return thirsty? We hope that by the beneficence of
the Prince of the Faithful he may be allowed to take for himself another paper,
and perhaps there may prove to be written upon it as his lot something good, so
that he may return with it, to have recourse to it for aid against his poverty. — The
Caliph replied. By Allah, Giafar, if he take a paper, and slaughter prove to be
the lot written for him upon it, I will assuredly slay him, and thou wilt be the
'iause. Giafar rejoined. If he die he will be at rest. And upon this, Califa the
fisherman said to him, May God not rejoice thee with good tidings ! Have I made
Bagdad strait unto you that ye seek my slaughter? — But Giafar replied. Take for
thyself a paper, and beg success of God, whose name be exalted ! And he put forth
his hand, and took a paper, and gave it to Giafar, who took it from him, and read
it, and was silent. The Caliph therefore said to him. Why art thou silent, son of
Yahya? He answered, Prince of the Faithful, there hath proved to be written
upon the paper. The fisherman shall not be given anything. And the Caliph said,
There is no good fortune for him to obtain from us. Tell him to depart from before
my face. — But Giafar said. By thy pure forefathers, let him take the third ! Perhaps
good fortune may betide him by it. — And the Caliph replied. Let him take for him-
self one paper more, and nought beside it. So he stretched forth his hand, and
took the third paper ; and lo, on it was written. The fisherman shall be given a piece
of gold. Giafar therefore said to Califa, I sought for thee prosperity ; but God would
not that aught should fall to thy lot save this piece of gold. Califa replied, Every
hundred blows with a staff for a piece of gold are abundant good fortune. May God
not make thy body to be healthy ! — And the Caliph laughed at him.
Giafar then took the hand of Califa, and went forth with him ; and when he came
to the gate. Sandal the eunuch saw him, and said to him. Come hither, fisherman !
Bestow upon us a present from that which the Prince of the Faithful hath given
thee while jesting with thee. — And Califa replied. By Allah, thou hast spoken truth,
O Red-face! And dost thou desire to share with me, black-skinned, when I have
had a hundred blows with a staff and received one piece of gold ? Thou art absolved
of responsibility with respect to it. — Then he threw the piece of gold to the eunuch,
and went forth, his tears running down upon the surface of his cheek. So when
the eunuch saw him in this state he knew that he had spoken truth : he therefore
went towards him, and called out to the pages. Bring him back ! Accordingly they
brought him back ; and the eunuch put his hand to his pocket, and took forth from
it a red purse, which he opened and shook, and lo, in it were a hundred pieces of
gold ; and he said, fisherman, take this gold as the price of thy fish, and go thy
way. So thereupon Califa the fisherman rejoiced.
He took the hundred pieces of gold, and the Caliph's piece of gold, and went
forth; and lie had forgotten the beating. And as God (whose name be exalted!)
desired the accomplishment of an event that He had decreed, Califa the fisherman
45
706
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
passed through the market for female slaves : and he saw a large ring of persons,
comprising many people ; upon which he said within himself, What are these people ?
Then he advanced and made his way among the people, who consisted of merchants
and others: and the merchants said. Make room for the Captain Zuleyt ! So they
made room for him ; and Califa looked, and lo, there was a sheikh upon his feet,
and before him was a chest, upon which was sitting a eunuch ; and the sheikh was
crying and saying, merchants, possessors of riches, who will hazard and hasten
to give his money for this chest of which the contents are unknown, from the palace
of the lady Zobeide the daughter of Kasim, the wife of the Prince of the Faithful,
Alrashid? At what sum shall it be announced for you ? May God bless you! —
Upon this, one of the merchants said, By Allah, this is a hazarding; but I will say
something for which I shall not be blameable. Be it mine for twenty pieces of gold.
— Another said. For fifty pieces of gold. And the merchants increased their bid-
dings for it until the sum offered amounted to a hundred pieces of gold: when the
crier said, Have ye any addition to make, O merchants? And Califa the fisherman
said, Be it mine for a hundred pieces of gold and one. So when the merchants
heard the words of Califa, they imagined that he was jesting ; and they laughed at
him, and said, eunuch, sell it to Califa for the hundred pieces of gold and one.
And the eunuch replied. By Allah, I will not sell it save to him ! Take it, fisher-
man. May God bless thee in it! And give me the gold. — -Califa therefore took
forth the gold, and delivered it to the eunuch, and the contract was concluded. The
eunuch then gave away the gold in alms in the place where he stood, and returned
to the palace, and acquainted the lady Zobeide with that which he had done ; whereat
she rejoiced. Califa the fisherman took the chest upon his shoulder ; but he could
not carry it so, on account of the greatness of its weight ; wherefore he carried it
upon his head, and came with it to the quarter in which he dwelt, and put it down
from his head. He had become fatigued ; and he sat meditating upon the events
that had happened to him, and began to say within himself, Would that I knew
what is in this chest! Then he opened the door of his abode, and laboured to re-
move the chest until he had brought it into his abode ; after which he laboured to
open it; but was not able. So he said within himself. What hath happened to my
reason, that I have bought this chest? I must break it, and see what is in it. —
And he applied himself to open the lock ; but could not; and he said within him-
Belf, I will leave it till the morrow.
Ca.ifa on the Chest
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 707
He then desired to sleep ; but found not a place in which to sleep, for the chest
was just the size of the chamber in length and breadth. He therefore got upon it,
and slept on it; and after he had remained awhile, something moved; whereupon
Califa was frightened, and sleep fled from him, and his reason also took flight. He
arose and said. It seemeth that there are Genii in it. Praise be to God who caused
me not to open it 1 For if I had opened it, they would have come upon nie in the
dark and destroyed me, and no good would have betided me from them. — Then he
returned and lay down again ; and lo, the chest moved a second time more than the
first time. Califa therefore arose and stood up, and said. This is another time ; but
it is alarming! And he hastened to get a lamp; but found it not, and he had not
aught wherewith to buy a lamp. So he went forth from the house, and called out,
people of the quarter! And most of the people of the quarter were sleeping ; and
they awoke at his cry, and said, What aileth thee, Califa? He answered, Come
to me with a lamp ; for the Genii have come forth upon me ! They therefore laughed
at him, and gave him a lamp, and he took it and went with it into his abode. He
then beat the lock of the chest with a stone, and broke it, and opened the chest: and
lo, he beheld a damsel like the houri, lying in the chest. She had been stupified
with bhang, and having then vomited the bhang, and recovered her senses, she opened
her eyes and became sensible of her confinement, and moved. So when Califa saw
her, he rose to her, and said, By Allah, my mistress, whence art thou ? And she
opened her eyes, and said, Bring me Jasmin and Narcissa. Califa replied, There is
nothing here but henna. And upon this she recovered her consciousness, and, see-
ing Calif\i, she said to him, What art thou? Then she said, And where am I? Ho
answered her. Thou art in my house. She said. Am I not in the palace of the Caliph
Haroun Alrashid? He replied. What is Alrashid, mad woman? Thou art nought
but my slave-girl, and this day I bought thee for a hundred pieces of gold and one,
and brought thee to my house, and thou wast in this chest, asleep. — And when the
damsel heard his words, she said to him. What is thy name? He answered, My name
is Califa. And how is it (he added) that my star hath become fortunate, when 1
know that my star was not so ? And she laughed and said, Cease to trouble me with
these words. Hast thou anything to be eaten? — He answered, By Allah, I have not
even anything to be drunk ; and I, by Allah, have passed two days without eating
aught, and I am now in want of a morsel. So she said to him. Hast thou not any
money? He replied, Allah preserve this chest which hath reduced me to poverty!
For I have given what I had for it, and become a bankrupt. — And the damsel laughed
at him, and said. Arise, seek of thy neighbours something that I may eat ; for I am
hungry.
Califa therefore arose and went forth from the chamber, and cried out, O people
of the quarter! And they were sleeping; so they awoke and said. What aileth thee,
Califa? He answered, my neighbours, I am hungry, and I have not anything
for me to eat. And upon this, one came down to him with a cake of bread, and
another with a fragment of bread, and another with a bit of cheese, and another
with a cucumber. Thus his lap was filled, and he entered the chamber, and put the
whole before her, saying to her. Eat. But she laughed at him, and said to him,
How shall I eat of this, when I have not a mug of water whereof to drink, so that I
fear I may be choked with a morsel, and die? Califa therefore said, I will fill for
thee this jar. And he took the jar, and went forth into the midst of the quarter, and
called out, people of the quarter! So they said to him, What is thy misfortune
this night, Califa ? And he answered them. Ye gave me, and I have eaten ; but I
am thirsty ; therefore give me to drink. And this one came down to him with a mug,
and this with a ewer, and this with a water-bottle; and he filled the jar, went with
it into the chamber, and said to the damsel, my mistress, there remaineth to thee
no want. She replied. True: there remaineth to me no want at present. He then
eaid to her. Speak to me, and tell me thy story. And she replied, Wo to thee ! If
thou know me not, I will acquaint thee with myself. I am Koutelkuloub, the slave-
708 THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
girl of the Caliph Haroun Alraahid. The Lady Zobeide hath become jealous of me,
and stupified me with bhang, and put me into this chest. — Then she said, Praise
be to God that this easy event happened, and that another event happened not.
But this happened not to me save fur the sake of thy good fortune ; for thuu wilt
undoubtedly receive from the Caliph Alrashid a large sum of money, that will be
the cause of thy becoming rich. — Upon this, Califa said to her. Is not he Alrashid
in whose palace I was imprisoned? She answered, Yes. And he said, By Allah,
I have not beheld any one more avaricious than he, that piper of little goodness
and intellect! For he caused me to receive yesterday a hundred blows with a staff,
and gave me one piece of gold, although I had taught him the art of fishing, and
made him my partner; and he acted perfidiously to me. — So she said to him.
Abstain from this foul language, and open thine eyes, and behave respectfully when
thou seest him after this ; for if so, thou wilt attain thy desire. And when he heard
her words, he was as though he had been sleeping, and awoke ; and God removed
the veil from his judgment, for the sake of his good fortune; wherefore he replied.
On the head and on the eye. Then he said to her. In the name of Allah, sleep.
Accordingly she arose, and laid herself down and slept, and he slept at a distance
from her until the morning; and when she arose in the morning, she demanded of
him an ink-case and a piece of paper. So he brought them to her ; and she wrote
to the merchant who was the companion of the Caliph, acquainting him with her
case, and the events that had happened to her; that she was in the abode of Califa
the fisherman, and that he had purchased her. Then she gave to him the paper,
and said to him, Take this paper, and go with it to the jewel-market, and inquire
for the shop of Benkcrnas the jeweller, and give him this paper without speaking.
Califa therefore replied, I hear and obey. He took the paper from her hand, and
went with it to the jewel-market, and inquired for the shop of Benkernas. So they
directed him to it, and he came to him, and saluted him, and he returned his saluta-
tion, but despised him, and said to him. What dost thou want? And he handed to
him the paper, which he took; but he read it not, imagining that he was a pauper
who desired of him an alms ; wherefore he said to one of his pages, Give him half
a piece of silver. So CaliAi said to him, I have no need of alms ; but read thou the
paper. He therefore took the paper and read it, and he understood its contents;
and when he knew what it contained, he kissed it, and put it on his head, and,
rising, he said to Califa, my brother, where is thy house? Califa said to him.
And what desirest thou with regard to my house ? Is it thy desire to go to it to
steal my slave-girl? He answered him, No: but I will buy for thee something that
thou shalt eat with her. So thereupon Califa replied. My abode is in such a quarter.
And the jeweller said to him, Thou hast done well. May God not give thee health,
unfortunate! — Then he cried out to two of his black slaves, and said to them. Go
with this man to the shop of Mohsin the money-changer, and say to him, Mohsin,
give this person a thousand pieces of gold, — and return ye with him to me speedily.
— Accordingly the two slaves went with Califa to the shop of the money-changer,
and said to him, Mohsin, give this man a thousand pieces of gold. He therefore
gave him them, and Califa took them, and returned with the two slaves to the shop
of their master, whom they found riding upon a light-paced mule worth a thousand
pieces of gold, with the mamlouks and pages around him, and by the side of his
mule was a mule like it, saddled and bridled. The jeweller then said to Califa, In
the name of Allah, mount this mule. But Califa replied, I will not mount. By
Allah, I fear that she would throw me. — The merchant Benkernas, however, said
to him. By Allah, thou must mount. So Califa advanced to mount her, and he
mounted her back-foremost, and laid hold of her tail, and cried out, whereupon she
threw him on the ground, and the people laughed at him ; and he rose and said. Did
1 not say to thee, I will not mount this great ass?
Then Benkernas left Califa in the market, and went to the Prince of the Faithful,
and gave him information of the damsel ; after which he returned and removed her
THE STORY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN. 709
to his own house. And Califa went to his house to see the damsel, and beheld the
people of the quarter assembled, and saying. Verily Califa is to-day altogether terri-
fied ! Whence can this damsel have come into his possession? — And one of them
said, This man is a mad rascal. Probably he found her in the way, intoxicated, and
carried her and brought her to his house, and hath not absented himself, save
because he knew his crime. — And while they were talking, lo, Califa approached
them; and they said to him, IIow is thy condition, poor man? Dost thou not
know what hath happened to thee? — lie answered. No, by Allah. And they said.
Just now some mamlouks came and took thy slave-girl, and they sought thee, bul
found thee not. So Califa said. How, did they take my slave-girl? And one said,
Had he fallen in their way, they had slain him. And Califa paid no regard to them ;
but returned running to the shop of Benkernas; and he saw him riding, and
said to him. By Allah, it is not right in thee ; for thou divertedst my attention, and
sentest thy mamlouks, and they have taken my slave-girl. And he replied, mad-
man, come hither, and be thou silent! Then he took him, and conducted him to a
house of handsome construction, which he entered with him, and he saw the damsel
sitting in it upon a couch of gold, surrounded by ten slave-girls resembling moons.
And when Benkernas saw her, he kissed the ground before her; and she said to him.
What hast thou done with my new master, who purchased me with all that he pos-
sessed ? He answered her, my mistress, I have given him a thousand pieces of
gold. And he related to her the story of Califa from its beginning to its end ; where-
upon she laughed, and said, Blame him not ; for he is a man of the vulgar class.
Then she said. And these thousand pieces of gold besides are a present from me to
him ; and if it be the will of God (whose name be exalted!), he shall receive from
the Caliph what will enrich him.
Now while they were talking, lo, a eunuch from the palace of the Caliph advanced
demanding Koutelkuloub ; for the Caliph knew that she was in the house of Ben-
kernas, and when he knew that, he could not endure her absence, wherefore he gave
orders to bring her. And when, she went to him, she took Califa with her. She
went on until she approached the Caliph ; and on her coming to him, she kissed the
ground before him ; and he rose to her, and saluted her and welcomed her, and
asked her how had been her state with him who had purchased her. So she answered
him. He is a man named Califa the fisherman, and here he is standing at the gate;
and he hath mentioned to me that he hath a reckoning to make with our lord the
Prince of the Faithful, on account of the partnership that was between him and the
Prince of the Faithful in the trade of fishing. Upon this the Caliph said. Is he
standing there? She answered, Yes. And he gave orders to bring him. Therefore
he came ; and he kissed the ground before the Caliph, and prayed for the continu-
ance of his glory and blessings ; and the Caliph wondered at him, and laughed at
him, and asked him how he had conducted himself to Koutelkuloub. So he told
him that he had treated her respectfully, and he repeated to him the account of all
that had happened to him from first to last, while the Caliph laughed at him. He
told him the story of the eunuch, and what had happened to him w^ith him, and how
he gave him the hundred pieces of gold, in addition to the piece of gold that he had
received from the Caliph. He told him also of his entering the market, and his
buying the chest for the hundred pieces of gold and one, not knowing what was in
it; and he related to him the whole story, from the beginning to the end. And the
Caliph laughed at him ; his bosom became dilated, and he said to him. We will do
as thou desirest, thou who hast conveyed to the owner his rightful property !
Then he was silent. And after that, the Caliph gave orders to present him with fifty
thousand pieces of gold, and a sumptuous robe of honour, of the apparel of the great
Caliphs, and a mule ; and he gave to him black slaves to serve him. Thus he became
as though he were one of the kings of that age. And the Caliph was rejoiced at the
return of his slave-girl, and knew that all this was of the doings of the lady Zobeide,
710 THE STOKY OF CALIFA THE FISHERMAN.
the daughter of his uncle ; •wherefore his rage against her was excessive, and he
forsook her for a length of time, and visited her not, nor inclined to her.
So -when she was certified thereof, she was affected with great anxiety on account
of his wrath. Her complexion became sallow after redness ; and when endurance
wearied her, she sent a letter to the son of her uncle, the Prince of the Faithful,
apologizing to him, and confessing her crime. Therefore when the letter of the lady
Zobeide came to the Prince of the Faithful, and he read it, he knew that she had
acknowledged her crime, and sent to apologize to him for that which she had done.
So he said within himself. Verily God forgiveth all sins ; for He is the very forgiving,
the merciful. And he sent to her a reply to her letter, containing the expression of
his satisfaction and forgiveness, and pardon of what was past: whereupon she ex-
perienced great joy.
The Caliph then assigned Califa a monthly allowance of fifty pieces of gold ; and
he acquired, in the estimation of the Caliph, great dignity and high rank, and honour
and respect. Califa kissed the ground before the Prince of the Faithful on his going
forth, and went forth walking with stately gait; and when he came to the entrance,
the eunuch who had given him the hundred pieces of gold saw him and knew him,
and said to him, fisherman, whence came to thee all this ? So he told him what
had happened to him from first to last. And the eunuch rejoiced at that, seeing that
he had been the cause of his becoming rich ; and he said to him, Wilt thou not give
me a present from this wealth that hath become thine? And Califa put his hand to
his pocket, and took forth from it a purse containing a thousand pieces of gold,
which he handed to the eunnch ; but the eunuch said to him. Take thy wealth.
May God bless thee in it ! — And he wondered at his generosity and the liberality of
his mind, considering his late poverty. Califa then went forth from the eunuch,
riding upon the mule, and attended by the servants with their hands upon her
haunches. Thus he proceeded until he came to the khan, the people diverting them-
selves with gazing at him, and wondering at the glory that had betided him ; and
they advanced to him after he had alighted from the mule, and asked him respecting
the cause of that good fortune. He therefore acquainted them with the events that
had happened to him from first to last. Then he purchased a house of handsome
structure, and expended upon it a large sum of money, so that it became perfect in
beauty. He took up his abode in that house ; and when he had settled himself in
it, he demanded for himself in marriage one of the daughters of the chief men of the
city, of the beautiful damsels, and took her as his wife ; and he experienced the
utn\ost delight, and exceeding pleasure, and happiness. He became in a state
of abundant affluence and complete prosperity ; and when he beheld himself in that
state of enjoyment, he thanked God (whose perfection be extolled, and whose name
be exalted !) for the abundant affluence and successive favours that He had bestowed
upon him, praising his Lord with the praise of the grateful. He used frequently to
visit the Caliph Haroun Alrashid, being well received by him, and Alrashid used to
cover him with his benefits and munificence. So Califa ceased not to live in a state
of the most perfect affluence and happiness and glory and hilarity, enjoying abun-
dant wealth and rising elevation, and a pleasant, agreeable life, and pure, grateful
delight, until he was visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of com-
panions. — Extolled be the perfection of Him to whom belong glory and permanence,
and who is living, everlasting, who will never die !
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIK. 711
CHAPTER XXVU.
Commencing with part of the Nine Hundred and Thirtieth Night, and ending with part of thf-
Nine Hundred and Fortieth.
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
There were, in the city of Alexandria, two men, one of whom was a dyer, and his
name was Aboukir, and the other was a barber, and his name was Abousir ; and
they were neighbours, one to the other, in the market; the shop of the barber being
by the side of the shop of the dyer. The dyer was a swindler, a liar, a person of
exceeding wickedness: he was as though the temple of his head were cut out of
rock, or made from the threshold of the synagogue of the Jews : he was not ashamed
of any disgraceful action that he committed among the people. It was his custom,
when any one gave him a piece of stuff to dye, to demand of him the pay first, and
to make hinx believe that he would buy with it materials wherewith to dye. So the
man would give him the pay in advance: and when he had received it of him, he
would expend it for food and drink. Then he would sell the stuff that he had
received, after its owner had gone, and expend its price for food and drink and other
things. He ate nothing but what was good, of the most excellent of food ; nor did
he drink save of the best of drinks that dispelled the reason. And when the owner
of the stuff came to him, he would say to him, To-morrow come to me before sunrise,
and thou wilt find thy stuff dyed. Therefore the owner would go, and say within
himself. One day soon followeth another. Then he would come to him the next day,
at the time appointed; and the dyer would say to him, Come to-morrow; for yester-
day I was not at leisure, having with me guests ; so I was occupied in doing what
was expedient for them until they went. To-morrow, before sunrise, come and
receive thy stuff dyed. — And he would go, and come to him again on the third day;
when the dyer would say to him, Verily I was yesterday excusable ; for my wife
gave birth to a child in the night, and all the day I was engaged in transacting
affairs: but to-morrow, without fail, come and receive thy stuff dyed. The man
would therefore come to him again at the time appointed, and the dyer would prac-
tise with him some other stratagem, of any kind, and swear to him. And he would
not cease to promise him and to swear when he came to him, until the customer
would become impatient, and say to him, How often wilt thou say to me. To-morrow?
Give me my stuff; for I do not desire it to be dyed. — And thereupon the dyer would
say. By Allah, my brother, I am abashed at thee ; but I will tell thee the truth ;
and may God harm every one who harmeth men with respect to their goods ! So .
the man would say to him. Tell me what hath happened. And he would reply As
to thy stuff, I dyed it in a manner unequalled, and spread it upon the rope, and it
was stolen, and I know not who stole it. Therefore if the owner of the stuff were
of the people of kindness, he would say to him, God will compensate me. And if he
were of the people of malevolence, he would persevere in disgracing and insulting
him ; but nothing would he get from him, even if he complained of him to the
magistrate.
712 THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
He ceased not to do these deeds until he became notorious among the people, and
they used to caution one another against him, and to make him a subject of pro-
verbs. They all abstained from employing him ; and none used to fall into his
snare save he who was ignorant of his conduct; but notwithstanding this, he was
sure to experience, every day, insult and disgrace from the creatures of God. So
his trade became dull in consequence thereof, and he used to come to the shop of
his neighbour the barber Abousir, and to sit in it, facing the dyeing-shop, and look-
ing at its door ; and if he saw any one ignorant of his conduct standing at the door
of the dyeing-shop, and having with him something which he desired to be dyed, he
would rise from the shop of the barber, and say, What dost thou want, man?
He would answer him. Take and dye for me this thing. And he would say. What
colour dost thou desire? For with all these bad qualities, he was able to dye all
colours; but he never acted honestly with any one, and poverty overcame him.
Then he would take the thing of the man, and say to him. Give me the pay in ad-
vance, and to-morrow come and take the thing. And the man would give him the
pay, and depart ; and after the owner of the thing had gone his way, he would take
that thing, and repair to the market, and sell it, and buy, with its price, meat and
vegetables and tobacco and fruit, and what else he required. And when he saw
standing at the shop any one of those who had given him things to dye, he would
not appear to him, nor show himself to him. Thus he continued to do for years ;
but it happened to him one day, that he received a thing of a violent man, and sold
it, and expended its price ; and its owner came to him every day ; but saw him not
in the shop ; for whenever the dyer saw any who had aught to demand of him, he
used to fly from him into the shop of the barber Abousir. And when that violent
man had not found him in his shop, and this conduct of his wearied him, he re-
paired to the Cadi, and, having brought one of his sergeants to his shop, nailed up
its door in the presence of a company of the faithful, and sealed it ; for he saw not
in it aught, excepting some earthen basins broken in pieces, ard found not in it
anything to compensate him for his stuff. Then the sergeant took the key, and said
to the neighbours. Tell him to bring the property of this man, and come to receive
the key of his shop. And the man and the sergeant went their ways.
Abousir, upon this, said to Aboukir, What is thy misfortune? For every one
who bringeth to thee a thing thou makest to lose it. Whither is gone the property
of this violent man? my neighbour, he answered, verily it was stolen from me.
— Wonderful ! replied Abousir. Whenever any one giveth thee a thing, doth a thief
steal it from thee? Art thou at enmity with all the thieves? But I imagine that
thou liest. Acquaint me then with thy case. — And he said, my neighbour, no one
has stolen from me aught. — Then what dost thou, asked Abousir, with the men's
goods? He answered him. Whenever any one giveth me aught, I sell it, and expend
its price. Abousir said to him. Is this allowed thee by God ? Aboukir replied, I do
this only in consequence of poverty ; for my trade is unprofitable, and I am a poor
man, having nothing in my possession. And he proceeded to talk to him of the un-
profitableness of his trade, and the littleness of his business ; and Abousir spoke to
him of the unprofitableness of his trade also, and said, I am a craftsmaster ; I have
no equal in this city; but no one is shaved at my shop because I am a poor man,
and I have conceived a hatred for this art, my brother. So Aboukir the dyer said
to him. And I also have conceived a hatred for my art on account of its unprofitable-
ness. But, my brother, what is the inducement for our residing in this town?
Let me and thee journey from it, and divert ourselves in other countries, and our
arts, which we shall carry with us, will be in demand in all countries ; and when
we travel, we shall enjoy the fresh air, and be relieved from this excessive anxiety.
— And Aboukir ceased not to commend travel to Abousir until the latter became
desirous of emigration. So they both agreed to travel, and Aboukir rejoiced that
Abousir was desirous of doing so. And when they determined to travel Aboukir
said to Abousir, ray neighbour, we have become brothers, and there is no difference
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR. 713
between us: so it is requisite that we recite the opening chapter of the Koran in
confirmation of our agreement that he of us who is occupied shall make gain and
feed him of us who is unoccupied, and whatever remaineth we will put into a chest;
and when we return to Alexandria, we will divide it between us truly and equally.
Abousir replied, And it shall be so. And they recited the chapter in confirmation
of their agreement that the occupied should make gain and feed the unoccupied.
Abousir locked his shop, and gave the keys to its owner; and Aboukir left the
key of his shop with the sergeant of the Cadi, and left the shop closed, and sealed.
Then they took their things, and in the morning they set forth, embarking in a
galleon upon the sea. They departed that day, and aid attended them ; and by the
complete good fortune of the barber, it happened that among all who were in the
galleon there was not a single barber; and there were in it a hundred and twenty
men, beside the captain and the sailors. And when they loosed the sails of the
galleon, the barber arose and said to the dyer, my brother, this is a sea : we stand
in need here of food and drink, and we have not with us more than a little stock of
provisions ; but probably some one will say to me. Come hither, barber ; shave
me : — and I will shave him for a cake of bread, or for a farthing, or for a drink of
water: so I shall profit thereby; I and thou. And the dyer replied. No harm.
Then he laid down his head, and slept, while the barber arose and took his apparatus,
together with the cup, and, having put upon his shoulder a piece of rag to serve in-
stead of the towel (for he was a poor man), passed amid the passengers; and one
said to him. Come hither, craftsmaster : shave me. So he shaved him ; and when
he had shaved that man, he gave him a farthing; whereupon the barber said to him,
my brother, I have no need of this farthing ; and hadst thou given me a cake of
bread, it had been a more blessed gift to me on this sea ; for I have a qompanion,
and our provisions are but little. And he gave him a cake of bread and a piece of
cheese, and filled for him the cup with fresh water. He therefore took those things,
and came to Aboukir, and said to him, Take this cake of bread, and eat it with the
cheese, and drink what is in the cup. And he took them of him, and ate and drank.
Then Abousir the barber after that took his apparatus, with the rag upon his shoulder
and the cup in his hand, and went about the galleon, among the passengers ; and
he shaved one man for two cakes of bread, and another for a piece of cheese. De-
mands were made for his services ; and whenever any one said to him, Shave me,
craftsmaster, — he bargained with him for two cakes of bread and a farthing; and
there being in the galleon no barber beside him, sunset came not before he hr.d col-
lected thirty cakes of bread and fifteen farthings ; beside which he got cheese and
olives and caviar. Whenever he demanded anything, they gave it him, so that he
became in possession of an abundance of things. He also shaved the captain, and
complained to him of the smallness of his stock of provisions for the voyage ; and
the captain said to him. Welcome to thee ! Bring thy companion every night, and
sup ye with me, and suffer not anxiety as long as ye voyage with us.
He then returned to the dyer, and saw that he had not ceased to sleep ; so he
woke him ; and when Aboukir awoke, he saw at his head an abundance of bread
and cheese and olives and caviar ; and he said to Abousir, Whence gottest thou
this? Abousir ansM-ered, From the bounty of God, (whose name be exalted !) And
Aboukir desired to eat; but Abousir said to him. Eat not, my brother, of this.
Leave it to be of use to us at another time. And know that I have shaved the cap-
tain, and complained to him of the littleness of our stock of provisions; whereupon
he said to me, Welcome to thee ! Bring thy companion every night, and sup ye
with me. And the first time of our supping with the captain is to be this night. —
Aboukir however replied, I am sea sick, and cannot rise from my place; therefore
let me make my supper of these things, and go thou alone to the captain. So Abou-
sir said to him. There will be no harm in that. And he sat diverting himself with
looking at him while he ate, and saw him cut off the mouthful as the quarryman
cutteth stone from the mountain, and swallow it as the elephant that for days' hath
714
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKTR.
Aboiisir sliaving a Passenger in the Galleon.
not eaten, bolting one mouthful before he had quite swallowed the preceding one,
and staring at what was before him with the stare of the ghoul, and blowing as
bloweth the hungry bull over the straw and the beans. And lo, a sailor came and
said, craftsmaster, the captain saith to thee. Bring thy companion, and come to
supper. So Abousir said to Aboukir, Wilt thou arise and go with us? But he
answered him, I am not able to walk. The barber therefore went alone, and he saw
the captain sitting with a table before him comprising twenty different kinds of food,
or more ; and he and his party were waiting for the barber and his companion : so
when the captain saw him, he said to him, Where is thy companion? He answered
him, my master, he is sea-sick. And the captain replied, No harm will befall
him. His sickness will leave him. Come thou ; sup with us; for I was waiting for
thee. — Then the captain set apart a dish of roast meat, and put into it some of every
kind of food, and it became enough for ten; and after the barber had supped, the
captain said to him, Take this dish with thee to thy companion. Accordingly
Abousir took it, and went with it to Aboukir, whom he saw grinding his food with
his dog-teeth like the camel, and adding mouthful to mouthful in haste. So Abou-
sir said to him, Did I not say to thee, Eat not; for the captain hath abundance of
good things? See then what he hath sent thee, when I informed him that thou
wast sick. — Aboukir replied. Give it me. And Abousir handed to him the dish:
and he took it from him, greedy for it and for other food, like the grinning-dog, or
the bone-breaking lion, or the roc when it pounceth upon the pigeon, or like him
who hath almost died of hunger ; and Aboukir, seeing some viands, proceeded to
eat. Abousir then left him, and went back to the captain, and drank coffee with
him ; after which he returned to Aboukir, and he saw that he had eaten all that
was in the dish, and thrown it aside empty. So he took it and conveyed it to one
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR. 715
of the servants of the captain, and went back to Aboukir, and slept until the morn-
ing. And on the following day, Abousir proceeded again to shave ; and whenever
anything came to him, he gave it to Aboukir, who ate and drank sitting still, not
rising save when he was obliged to do so ; and every night, Abousir brought him a
full dish from the captain.
They continued in this state twenty days, until the galleon moored in the harbour
of a city; whereupon they both landed from the galleon, and entered the city, and
took for them a chamber in a khan. Abousir furnished it, and bought all that they
required, and brought some meat and cooked it, while Aboukir slept from tlie time
that he entered the chamber. He awoke not until Abousir roused him, and put the
table before him ; and when he awoke, he ate; and after that, he said to Abousir,
Blame me not; for I am giddy. Then he slept again. And they remained in this
state forty days. Every day the barber took his apparatus, and went about the
city, practised his art for such remuneration as destiny allotted him, and, returning,
found Aboukir sleeping. So he would wake him ; and when he awoke, he would
betake himself to eating with voracity, eating as he who is not satiated nor con-
tented ; after which he would sleep again. He ceased not to do thus for forty days
more ; and every time that Abousir said to him, Sit and rest thyself, and go forth
and take an airing in the city, for it is a diverting and gay place, and there is no
equal to it among the cities. — Aboukir the dyer would reply. Blame me not ; for I
am giddy. And Abousir the barber did not like to trouble his heart, nor to make
him hear a word that would vex him. But on the forty-first day, the barber fell
sick, and was unable to go abroad ; and he engaged the door-keeper of the khan to
serve him gratuitously. He performed for them their affairs, bringing them their
food and drink ; and all the while Aboukir ate and slept. The barber ceased not to
employ the door-keeper of the khan to perform gratuitously his affairs for the space
of four days ; and after that the disease of Abousir became so violent that he was
unconscious by reason of its severity.
But as to Aboukir, hunger tortured him. So he arose and searched the clothes of
Abousir, and saw in his possession a sum of money; and he took it, and closed the
door of the chamber upon Abousir, and departed, without informing any one ; and
the door-keeper was in the market ; wherefore he saw him not when he went forth.
Aboukir then betook himself to the market, and clad himself in costly clothes, and
proceeded to go about the city, and to divert himself. He saw it to be a city of
which he had not found the like among cities ; but all the apparel of its inhabitants
was white and blue, without any other colour. And he came to a dyer, and saw all
that was in his shop to be blue ; and, producing to him a handkerchief, he said to
him, master, take this handkerchief, and dye it, and receive thy pay. The dyer
replied. The pay for dyeing this will be twenty pieces of silver. So Aboukir said
to him. We should dye this in our country for two pieces of silver. The man re-
joined, Go, dye it in your country; but as to me, I will not dye it save for twenty
pieces of silver: the pay will not fall short of this sum in the least. Upon this,
Aboukir said to him. What colour dost thou desire to dye it? The dyer answered
him, I will dye it blue. Aboukir said to him, I desire that thou shouldst dye it for
me red. The man however replied, I know not how to dye red. Aboukir said,
Green. The dyer replied, I know not how to dye green. Aboukir said, Yellow.
The dyer replied, I know not how to dye yellow. And Aboukir proceeded to enume-
rate to him the colours, one after another ; but the dyer replied. We in our country
are forty masters, not one more nor one less ; and when one of us dieth, we teach
his son ; and if he leave not a son, we are deficient by one. When one leaveth two
sons, we teach one of them ; and if he die, we teach his brother. This our trade is
strictly regulated ; and we know not how to dye any colour excepting blue alone. —
So Aboukir the dyer said to him, Know that I am a dyer, and I know how to dye
all colours. I desire that thou wouldst take me into thy service for pay, and I will
teach thee the art of dyeing all colours, that thou mayest glory therein over all the
716 THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
company of dyers. — But he replied, We allow not a stranger to enter our trade ever.
Aboukir said to him, And if I open for myself alone a dyeing-shop? The man
answered him. Thou canst not do that ever. And thereupon Aboukir left him, and
went to the second, and he said to him as the first had said ; and he ceased not to go
from dyer to dyer until he had gone round to the forty masters ; but they would not
admit him either as a hired servant or as a master. He went also to the sheikh of
the dyers and informed him ; but he replied, We do not allow a stranger to enter
our trade.
So upon this, exceeding rage affected Aboukir, and he went up to complain to the
King of that city, and said to him, O King of the age, I am a stranger, and my
trade is that of dyeing, and there have happened to me, with the dyers, such and
such events. I dye red of various hues, as rose-colour and jujube-colour ; and green
of various hues, as plant-green, and pistachio-green, and oil-green, and parrot's
wing; and black of various hues, as coal-black and kohl-black; and yellow of
various hues, as orange-colour and lemon-colour; — and he proceeded to mention to
him all the colours. Then he said, King of the age, all the dyers who are in thy
city are unable to dye any of these colours, and they know not how to dye any
colour but blue ; yet they will not admit me among them as master, nor as a hired
workman. And the King replied. Thou hast spoken truth as to that matter; but I
will open for thee a dyeing-shop, and give thee a capital, and care not thou for them ;
for whosoever opposeth thee, I will hang him over the door of his shop. He then
commanded the builders, and said to them, Repair ye with this master; go about
the city with him, and whatsoever place pleaseth him, turn out its owner, whether
it be occupied by a shop or a khan or other building, and build for him a dyeing-
shop agreeable with his desire. Whatever he commandeth you to do, do it, and
oppose him not with respect to that which he shall say. — Then the King clad him
in a handsome suit of apparel, gave him a thousand pieces of gold, and said to him.
Expend them upon thyself until the building shall be completed. He also gave him
two mamlouks to serve him, and a horse with embroidered saddle and trappings ;
and Aboukir put on the dress, and mounted the horse, and became as though he
were an Emir. The King, moreover, appropriated to him exclusively a house, and
gave orders to furnish it: so they furnished it for him, and he took up his abode in it.
Then, on the following day, he mounted, and went about through the city, with
the architects before him, and he ceased not to survey until a place pleased him;
whereupon he said. This place is good. They therefore ejected its owner from it,
and brought him to the King, who gave him, as the price of his place, more than
would have contented him, and the building proceeded there, Aboukir saying to the
builders, Build thus and thus, and do thus and thus, — until they had built for him a
dyeing-shop of which the equal existed not. He then presented himself to the
King, and informed him that the building of the dyeing-shop was completed, and
that only the price of the materials for dyeing was requisite in order to commence
work ; upon which the King said to him, Take these four thousand pieces of gold,
and make them thy capital, and show me the product of thy dyeing-shop. So he
took them, and repaired to the market, and he saw the indigo to be abundant, and
[comparatively] of no price. He bought all the materials for dyeing that he required ;
after which, the King sent to him five hundred pieces of stuff, and he proceeded to
dye them, and, having dyed them of all colours, spread them [on ropes] before the
door of the dyeing-shop. Therefore, when the people passed by the shop, they saw
a wonderful sight, the like of which they had not seen in their lives: and crowds
collected at the door of the dyeing-shop, diverting themselves, and asking him and
saying to him, master, what are the names of these colours? So he answered
them. This is red, and this is yellow, and this is green, — mentioning to them the
names of all the colours ; and they proceeded to bring to him pieces of stuff, and to
say to him, Dye for us like this and this, and receive what thou shalt demand. And
when he had finished the dyeing of the stuffs of the King, he took them and went up
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR. 717
with them to the court, and on the King's seeing those dyed stuffs, he -vras
delighted with them, and conferred upon him exceeding favours. All the troops also
brought to him stuffs, saying to him. Dye for us thus. And he dyed for them ac-
cording to their desires, and they threw to him gold and silver. Then his fiime spread
abroad, and his dyeing-shop was named the dyeing-shop of the Sultan. Prosperity
came in upon him by every way; and of all the dyers, not one could speak to him ;
save only that they used to come to him and kiss his hands, and apologise to him,
for their past injurious conduct to him, offering themselves to him, and saying to
him. Make us servants to thee. But he would not accept one of them. lie had
male black slaves, and female slaves, and he collected abundant wealth.
Now as to Abousir, when Aboukir had closed the door of the chamber upon him,
after he had taken his money, and gone and left him sick, in a state of unconscious-
ness, he lay in that chamber, with the door closed upon him, and he remained so three
days. The door-keeper of the khan then observed the door of the chamber, and saw
it closed, and he saw not either of these two persons until sunset, nor knew he any
tidings of them. So he said within himself, Perhaps they have travelled away
without paying the rent of the chamber, or died; or what can be their case?
And he came to the door of the chamber, and saw it closed, and heard the groaning
of the barber within it, and saw the key in the wooden lock. He therefore
opened the door and entered, and saw the barber groaning: so he said to him,
No harm shall befall thee. Where is thy companion ? — And the barber replied,
By Allah, I have not recovered from the stupifying effects of my disease save
on this day ; and I called out but no one returned me a reply. I conjure thee by
Allah, my brother, that thou look for the purse beneath my head, and take from
it five farthings, and buy for me with them something wherewith I may sustain my-
self; for I am in a state of extreme hunger. — Accordingly, the door-keeper stretched
forth his hand, and took the purse, and he saw it empty ; wherefore he said to the
barber. Verily the purse is empty: there is not in it aught. So Abousir the barber
knew that Aboukir had taken what was in it, and fled ; and he said to the door-
keeper. Hast thou not seen my companion? He answered him. For the space of
three days I have not seen him, and I imagined not anything but that thou hadst
travelled away with him. And the bqrber replied. We travelled not ; but he coveted
my money, and he took it and fled, when he saw me sick. Then he wept and wailed.
But the door-keeper of the khan said to him, No harm shall befall thee; and he will
receive the recompense of his conduct from God. The door-keeper then went and
cooked for him some broth, and, having ladled out for him a dishful, gave it to him ;
and he ceased not to attend to him for the space of two months, maintaining him
from his own purse, until he perspired profusely, and God cured him of the disease
that he had been suffering. After this, he rose upon his feet, and said to the door-
keeper ot the khan. If God (whose name be exalted !) enable me, I will recompense
thee for thy good actions to me ; but none, save God in his bounty, will recompense.
The door-keeper however replied. Praise be to God for thy health ! I did not unto
thee that service save from a desire of seeing the face of God, the Bountiful.
The barber then went forth from the khan, and passed through the markets, and
destiny brought him to the market in which was the dyeing-shop of Aboukir. There
he saw the stuffs dyed of various colours, spread [upon ropes] at the entrance of the
dyeing-shop, and the people crowding together, diverting themselves with the sight
of them. So he asked a man of the inhabitants of the city, and said to him. What
is this place, and wherefore do I see the people crowding together? And the person
whom he asked answered him. This is the Sultan's dyeing shop, which he founded
for a stranger named Aboukir; and whenever he hath dyed a piece of stuff, we
assemble around it, and divert ourselves with the sight of his dyeing ; for there are
not in our country dyers who know how to dye these colours ; and such and such
events happened to him with the dyers who are in the city. lie told him what had
occured between Aboukir and the dyers, and that he hrvd complained of them to the
718 THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
Sultan, who thereupon had aided him, and Vjuilt for him this dyeing-shop, and given
him such and such things: and he acquainted him with all that had happened.
Upon this, Abousir rejoiced, and said to himself. Praise be to God who hath aided
him so that he hath become a master-tradesman ! And the man is excusable.
Probably he hath been diverted from thinking of thee by his work, and forgotten
thee ; but thou actedst kindly to him and treatedst him with generosity, when he
was unoccupied ; when he seeth thee, he will rejoice in thee, and treat thee with
generosity, like as thou hast treated him. — He then advanced towards the door of
the dyeing-shop, and saw Aboukir sitting upon a high mattrass upon a marble-seat
at the door of the dyeing-shop, with a suit of the apparel of Kings upon him, and
before him four black slaves and four white mamlouks wearing the most sumptuous
apparel. He also saw the workmen, ten black slaves, standing at work: for when
Aboukir bought them, he taught them the art of dyeing; and he was sitting between
the cushions, as though he were a grand Vizier, or a most magnificent King, nor
doing aught with his own hand, but only saying to them. Do so and so. Abousir
Btood before him, imagining that, when he should see him, he would rejoice in him,
and salute him, and treat him with generosity, and behave courteously to him. But
when eye met eye, Aboukir said to him, scoundrel, how many times have I said
to thee. Stand not at the door of this workshop? Dost thou desire to disgrace me
with the people, thief? — And he said. Seize ye him ! So the slaves ran after him,
and seized him, and Aboukir, rising with energy, took a staff, and said, Throw him
down ! Accordingly they threw him down ; and he gave him a hundred blows on his
back; after which they turned him round, and he gave him a hundred blows on his
stomach, and said to him, villain ! deceiver! if I see thee after this day standing
at the door of this dyeing-shop, I will send thee to the King immediately, and he will
deliver thee to the Judge, that he may strike off thy head ! Walk away ! May God not
bless thee ! — So he departed from him with broken heart by reason of the beating and
the contemptuous treatment that had befallen him ; and the persons present said to
Aboukir the dyer. What hath this man done? Whereupon he answered them. He is
a thief, who stealeth the stuffs of the people ; for he hath often stolen stuffs from me.
and I said within myself, May God pardon him ! for he is a poor man. — And I would
not trouble him ; but would give the people the prices of their stuffs, and forbid him
gently ; yet he would not abstain. So if he return again after this time, I will send
him to the King, and he will slay him, and relieve the people from his mischief. —
The people therefore reviled him after his departure.
Abousir returned to the khan, and sat reflecting upon that which Aboukir had
done to him ; and he ceased not to sit until the pain of the beating became-alleviated,
when he went forth and passed through the markets of the city, and it occurred to
his mind that he should enter the bath. So he asked a man of the inhabitants of the
city, and said to him, my brother, which is the way to the bath? But the man
said to him, and what is the bath ? He replied, A place in which people wash them-
selves, to remove the impurities that are upon them, and it is of the best of the good
things of the world. Upon this the man said to him. Betake thyself to the sea. He
replied, I desire the bath. But the man said to him, We know not what kind of
thing the bath is: we all of us go to the sea: even the King, when he desireth to
wash himself, goeth to the sea. So when Abousir knew that there was not a bath in
the city, and that its inhabitants knew not the bath, nor what kind of thing it was,
he repaired to. the council of the King, and went in to him, and, having kissed the
ground before him, and pr<iyed for him, said to him, I am a man of a strange
country, and my trade is that of a bath-keeper, and I entered thy city, and desired
to repair to the bath, but saw not in it even one bath ; and how is it that the city
which is of this beautiful description is without a bath, which is one of the best of
the delights of the world? So the King said to him. What is the bath? He pro-
ceeded, therefore, to describe it to him, and said to him. Thy city will not be a perfect
city unless there be in it a bath. And upon this the King said to him, Vn elcome to
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR. 719
thee ! And he clad him in a suit of apparel of which the like existed not, gave niro
a horse and two black slaves, and bestowed upon him four female slaves, and twc
mamlouks. He also prepared for him a furnished house, and treated him with more
honour than the dyer; and he sent with him the builders, saying to them. In the
place that shall please him, build ye for him a bath.
So he took them and went with them through the midst of the city, until a plact
pleased him, when he pointed it out to them, and they commenced the building
there. He proceeded to direct them as to the manner of its construction until they
had built for him a bath of which there existed not the like ; whereupon he ordered
thcim to paint it ; and they painted it in an admirable manner, so that it became a
delight to the beholders. He then went up to the King, and acquainted him with
the completion of the building of the bath, and its painting, and said to him. There
is nothing wanting but the furniture. The King, therefore, gave him ten thousand
pieces of gold ; and he took them and furnished the bath, and arranged in it the
napkins upon the ropes ; and every one who passed by the door of the bath gazed
at it in astonishment, and his mind was confounded at the sight of its painting.
The people crowded about that thing, of which they had not seen the like in their
lives, and they proceeded to divert themselves with the sight of it, saying. What is
this? And Abousir answered them, This is a bath. And they wondered at it.
Then he heated the water, and set the bath in action. He made also a fountain in
the basin, such as captivated the reason of every one of the inhabitants of the city
who beheld it. And he demanded of the King ten mamlouks under the age of
manhood; whereupon the King gave him ten mamlouks like moons; and Abousir
betook himself to rubbing them with the bag, and said to them, Do with the bathers
thus. He then gave vent to the fumes of the incense, and sent a crier to cry in the
city, and to say, creatures of God, repair to the bath, which is named the bath of
the Sultan ! So the people came thither, and he ordered the mamlouks to wash the
bathers. The people descended into the tank, and came up ; and after they had
come up, they sat upon the raised floor, while the mamlouks rubbed them as Abousir
had taught them ; and the people continued to enter the bath, and to gratify their
desire thereby and go forth, without paying, for the space of three days.
After that, on the fourth day, Abousir invited the King to the bath. So he
mounted with the great men of his empire, and they went thither. He pulled off
his clothes, and entered [the inner apartment], and Abousir entered, and rubbed
the King with the bag, removing from his person the impure particles like twists of
thread, and showing them to him ; whereat the King rejoiced. The putting his
hand upon his body made a sound, by reason of its smoothness and cleanness. And
after Abousir had washed his skin, he mixed for him some rose-water with the water
of the tank, and the King descended into the tank and came forth, and his skin was
softened, and he experienced a liveliness which in his life he had never known before.
Then, after that, Abousir seated him upon the raised floor, and the mamlouks pro-
ceeded to perform upon him the operation of gently rubbing and pressing him, while
the perfuming-vessels diffused the odour of aloes-wood. And the King said, master,
is this the bath? Abousir answered. Yes. And the King said to him, By my head,
my city hath not become a city save by this bath. He then said to him. What wilt
thou take as pay for each person? Abousir answered. What thou shalt command
me I will take. And he ordered him to take a thousand pieces of gold, saying to
him. From every one who washeth in thy bath take a thousand pieces of gold. But
Abousir replied. Pardon, King of the age ! Verily all men are not alike ; for
among them is the rich, and among them is the poor; and if I took from every one
a thousand pieces of gold, the bath would become void, since the poor man cannot
pay the thousand pieces of gold. — So the King said, And how then wilt thou act
with respect to the pay? Abousir answered, I will regulate the pay generously ;
and every one who can afford a thing, his soul consenting to it, shall give that thing.
Thus we shall take from every man according to his condition ; for if the case be so,
720 THE STORY OP ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
the people will come to us ; and he who is rich will give according to his rank,
while he who is poor will give that to which his soul consenteth. If the case be
thus, the bath will be in action, and it will be in excellent condition ; but as to the
thousand pieces of gold, it is the gift of the King, and every one cannot afford it. —
And the great men of the empire pronounced his words to be true, and said. This
will be the right course, King of the age. Dost thou imagine that the people are
all like thee, glorious King? — The King replied, Verily your saying is true; but
this is a stranger, a poor man, and to treat him with generosity is incumbent on us ;
for he hath made in our city this bath, the like of which we have never in our lives
seen, and our city hath not been adorned, and acquired importance, without it : so
if we show him generosity by giving him excessive pay, it will not be much. But
they said. If thou treat him with generosity, do so by bestowing upon him of thine
own wealth, and let the King's generosity be shown to the poor by the smallness of
the pay for bathing, in order that thy subjects may pray for thee ; but as to the
thousand pieces of gold, we are the great men of thine empire, and yet our souls
consent not to give it: how then can the souls of the poor consent thereto? The
King therefore said, great men of my empire, every one of you shall give him
this time a hundred pieces of gold, and a mamlouk, and a female slave, and a male
black slave. And they replied. Yes ; we will give him those things ; but after this
day, every one who entereth shall only give him what his soul shall consent to.
And he said. There will be no harm in that.
Accordingly each of the great men gave him a hundred pieces of gold, and a
female slave, and a mamlouk, and a male black slave ; and the number of the great
men who bathed with the King on this day was four hundred souls. So the number
of the pieces of gold that they gave him was forty thousand ; and of the mamlouks,
four hundred ; and of the male black slaves, four hundred ; and of the female slaves,
four hundred: and enough was this gift! The King also gave him ten tliousand
pieces of gold, and ten mamlouks, and ten female slaves, and ten male black slaves.
Abousir therefore advanced, and kissed the ground before the King, and said to
him, fortunate King, endowed with right judgment, what place will contain me
with these mamlouks, and female slaves, and male black slaves? The King replied,
I ordered not my grandees to do this save in order that we might collect for thee a
great quantity of wealth ; for perhaps thou hast reflected upon thy country and thy
household, and longed to see them, and desired to voyage to thy home, and thou
wilt have taken from our country a large quantity of wealth to which thou mayest
have recourse for thy subsistence as long as thou shalt live in thy country. But
Abousir rejoined, King of the age (may God strengthen thee !), verily these
numerous mamlouks, and female slaves, and male black slaves, are proper only for
Kings ; and hadst thou given orders to present me with ready money, it had been
better for me than this army ; for they will eat, and drink, and dress, and whatever
•wealth I acquire, it will not suflBce them to expend for their support. And upon
this the King laughed, and said. By Allah, thou hast spoken truth ; for they have
become a heavy army, and thou hast not ability to expend what will be sufficient
upon them. But wilt thou sell them to me, each one for a hundred pieces of gold?
—He answered, I sell them to thee for this price. So the King sent to the treasurer,
desiring him to bring him the money ; and he brought it, and the King gave Abousir
the price of the whole, complete and entire ; after which he bestowed them upon
their former owners, saying. Every one who knoweth his male black slave, or his
female slave, or his mamlouk, let him take such slave ; for they are a gift from me
unto you. And they complied with the command of the King, each of them taking
what appertained to him. Abousir then said to the King, May God relieve thee,
King of the age, as thou hast relieved me from these ghouls, whom none but God
can satiate ! And the King laughed at his words, and said that he had spoken truth ;
and he took the great men of his empire, and returned from the bath to his palace.
Abousir passed the ensuing night counting the gold and putting it into the bags
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
721
and sealing them. And he had with him twenty male black slaves, and twenty
mamlouks, and four female slaves to serve him. And when the morning came,
he opened the bath, and sent a crier to cry and say. Whosoever entereth the
bath and washeth, he shall give that to which his soul shall consent, and what
his generosity shall require him to give. lie seated himself by the chest, and
those who desired to bathe rushed upon him, every one who entered putting
down what was easy to him to give ; and the evening came not before the chest
was filled with the good gifts of God, (whose name be exalted!). Then the Queen
desired to enter the bath: so when this was made known to Abousir, he divided the
day on her account into two portions, making from daybreak to noon the portion of
the men, and from noon to sunset the portion of the women. And when the Queen
came, he stationed a female slave behind the chest. He had taught four female
slaves the arts of washing women and plaiting their hair, so that they became skil-
Damsels plaiting the Queen's hair.
ful performers of these arts ; and the Queen, on her entering, was pleased by what
she saw, her bosom became dilated, and she put down a thousand pieces of gold.
His fame spread throughout the city, and every one who entered treated him with
honour, whether he were rich or poor, and good fortune came in to him by every
way. He became acquainted with the King's guards, and gained companions and
friends, and the King used to come to him one day in the week, when he gave him
a thousand pieces of gold ; the other days of the week being for the great men and
the poor; and he used to behave kindly to the people, and to treat them with the ut-
most courtesy. It happened also that the King's sea-captain came in to him in the
bath one day, whereupon Abousir pulled off his clothes, and entered [the inner
apartment] with him, and proceeded to rub and press him, treating him with ex-
ceeding courtesy. And when he came forth from the bath, he made for him sherbet
and coffee; and on the captain's desiring to give him something, he swore that he
would not receive from him aught. So the captain was grateful for his kindness, on
account of the exceeding courtesy that he had experienced from him, and his benefi-
46
722 THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
cence to him, and he became perplexed respecting what he should give to that bath
keeper in return for his generous conduct to him.
Meanwhile, Aboukir heard all the people eagerly talking of the bath, every one
of them saying. Verily this bath is the delight of the world, without doubt! If it
be the will of God, such-a-one, thou shall go with us to-morrow into this delect-
able bath. — So Aboukir said within himself, I must go like others, and see this bath
that hath captivated the minds of men. Then he put on the most sumptuous of the
apparel that he had, mounted a mule, took with him four black slaves and four
mamlouks, who walked behind him and before him, and repaired to the bath. He
alighted at the door of the bath ; and when he was at the door, he smelt the odour
of aloes-wood, and saw men entering and men coming forth, and he saw the benches
fully occupied by great and small. He then entered the vestibule and saw Abousir,
who rose to him, and rejoiced at seeing him ; and Aboukir said to him. Is this ful-
filling the covenant of the sons of the ingenuous? I have opened for myself a dye-
ing-shop, and become the master-dyer of the city, and acquainted with the King,
and have become in a state of prosperity and authority, yet thou comest not to me,
nor inquirest respecting me, nor sayest. Where is my companion? I have been
unable to find thee while searching for thee, and sending my black slaves and my
mamlouks to search for thee in the khans and in all other places ; for they knew not
Uow to find thee, nor did any one give them tidings of thee. — So Abousir replied,
Did I not come to thee, and didst thou not call me a thief, and beat me, and disgrace
me among the people? And thereupon Aboukir was grieved, and said, What are
these words! Art thou the person whom I beat? — Abousir answered him, Yes;
that person was myself. And Aboukir swore to him a thousand oaths that he knew
him not, and said, One resembling thee used to come every day and steal people's
stuff's, and I imagined that thou wast that person. And he proceeded to feign re-
pentance, and to strike hand upon hand, and say. There is no strength nor power but
in God, the Great! We have acted injuriously to thee : but would that thou hadst
acquainted me with thyself, and said, I am such-a-one. The fault therefore is thine,
because thou didst not acquaint me with thyself; especially as I was confounded by
the multiplicity of my occupations. — And upon this, Abousir said to him. May God
pardon thee, my companion ! This event was secretly predestined, and reparation
is God's afi"air. Enter; pull off thy clothes, and bathe and enjoy thyself. — Aboukir
rejoined. By Allah, I conjure thee that thou pardon me, my brother! And Abou-
sir said to him. May God acquit thee of responsibility, and pardon thee ! For it was
an event predestined from eternity to befall me.
Aboukir then said to him, And whence obtainedst thou this authority? He an-
swered him. He who aided thee aided me ; for I went up to the King, and described
to him the bath, and he ordered me to build one. So Aboukir replied, As thou art
an acquaintance of the King, I also am his acquaintance ; and if it be the will of
God (whose name be exalted !), I will cause him to love thee and to treat thee with
generosity exceeding this generosity, for my sake ; for he knew not that thou wast
my companion ; but I will inform him that thou art my companion, and I will give
him a charge respecting thee. Abousir, however, said to him, I require not any
charge to be given him ; for He who moveth hearts with affection existeth ; and the
King hath conceived a love for me, he and all his court, and given me such and such
things. lie told him the story, and then said to him, Pull off thy clothes behind the
chest, and enter the bath, and I will enter with thee, that I may rub thee with the
bag. So he pulled off the clothes that were upon him, and entered the bath, and
Abousir entered with him, and rubbed him with the bag, washed him with soap,
dressed him, and occupied himself with serving him until he came forth [from the
inner apartment] ; and when he came forth, he brought him dinner and sherbet ;
and all the people wondered at the great honour that he showed him. After that,
Aboukir was about to give him something; but he swore that he would not receive
from him aught, and said to him. Be ashamed of this thing, seeing that thou art mj
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR. 723
companion, and there is no difference between us. Then Aboukir said to Abousir
my companion, by Allah, this bath is excellent; but thine art in it is deficient.
So Abousir said to him, And what is its deficiency? Aboukir answered him. The
remedy is a composition of arsenic and lime, which removeth the hair with
facility. Therefore make this remedy; and when the king cometh, present it to him
and teach him how the hair falleth off by its means ; for thereupon he will love thee
exceedingly, and will treat thee with honour. — And Abousir replied, Thou hast
spoken truth. If it be the will of God, I will make that.
Then Aboukir went forth, and mounted his mule, repaired to the King, and went
in to him, and said to him, I give thee a precaution, King of the age. So the
King said. And what is thy precaution? And he answered him, Information hath
been given me that thou hast built a bath. The King said. Yes: a stranger hath
come to me, and I have founded the bath for him, like as I have founded for thee
this dyeing-shop ; and it is an excellent bath ; my city hath become adorned by it
And he proceeded to mention to him the excellences of the bath. Aboukir then
said to him. And hast thou entered it? He answered, Yes. And Aboukir said,
Praise be to God who hath saved thee from the wickedness of this villain, the enemy
of the religion ; and he is the bath-keeper. The King therefore said to him. And
what is his desire? And Aboukir answered, Know, King of the age, that if thou
enter the bath after this day, thou wilt perish. — Wherefore ? said the King. He an-
swered him, Verily the bath-keeper is thine enemy, and the enemy of the religion ;
for he induced thee not to found this bath save because he desireth to poison thee
in it. He hath made for thee a thing ; and when thou enterest the bath, he will
bring it to thee, and will say to thee, This is a remedy: whosever applieth it to him-
self, it will cause the hair to fall off from the part with ease. And it is not a
remedy: on the contrary, it is a cause of terrible disease, and a deadly poison.
The Sultan of the Christians hath promised this villain that, if he slay thee, he will
liberate his wife and his children from^captivity ; for his wife and his children are
in captivity in the land of the Sultan of the Christians. I also was in captivity
with him in their country ; but I opened a dyeing-shop, and dyed for them stuffs of
various colours, in consequence of which they inclined the heart of the King to
favour me, and the King said to me, What dost thou desire? So I desired of him
emancipation, and he emancipated me ; and, having come to this city, I saw the man
in the bath. I therefore asked him and said to him, How was affected thine escape,
and the escape of thy wife and thy children? And he answered, I and my wife and
my children ceased not to remain in captivity until the King of the Christians held
a court, and I was present at it among the rest, standing among the people, and 1
heard them enter upon the mention of the Kings, and proceed until they mentioned
the King of this city ; whereupon the King of the Christians cried. Ah ! — and said,
No one in the world hath overcome me except the King of such a city ; and whoso-
ever will contrive means for me to slay him, I will give him everything that he shall
desire. So I advanced to him, and said to him. If I contrive means for thee to slay
him, wilt thou emancipate me and my wife and my children ? And he answered
me, Yes : I will emancipate thee, and I will give thee all that thou shalt desire. I
then agreed with him to do this, and he sent me in a galleon to this city. So I
went up to this King, and he built for me this bath, and there remaineth nothing for
me to do but to kill him, and go to the King of the Christians, redeem my children
and my wife, and demand of him what I desire. — I therefore said, And what is the
stratagem that thou bast contrived in order to kill him ? And he answered me, It
is an easy stratagem, the easiest that can be : for he will come to me in this bath,
and I have made for him something wherein is poison ; and when he cometh, I will
Bay to him, Take this remedy, and apply it to any part from which thou wouldst re-
move hair ; for the hair will fall off. So he will take it and apply it to himself, and
the poison will operate within him a day and a night, until it penetrateth to bis
heart and destroyeth him, and theio will be an end of the affair. Therefore on my
724 THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
hearing from him these words, I feared for thee ; because thy goodness hath im-
posed an obligation on me, and I have informed thee of this.
So when the King heard these words, he was violently enraged ; and he said to
the dyer, Conceal this secret. He then desired to go to the bath, that he might put
an end to doubt by certain assurance : and when the King entered the bath, Abousir
divested himself as he was accustomed to do, devoted himself to the service of the
King, and rubbed him with the bag: after which he said to him, King of the age,
I have made a remedy for clearing away the hair. So he said. Bring it to me. And
he brought it before him ; and the King perceived its smell to be abominable. It
appeared sure to him, therefore, that it was poison ; and he was enraged, and
called out to the guards, saying. Seize him ! Accordingly, the guards laid hold
upon him, and the King went forth, infused with rage, no one knowing the cause of
his rage ; and by reason of the violence of the rage of the King, he informed not
any one, nor did any one dare to ask him. He then put on his clothes, and went
up to the council-chamber, and, having caused Abousir to be brought before him, with
his hands bound behind him, he summoned the sea-captain. So he came; and when
the captain came, the King said to him. Take this villain, and put him into a sack,
and put into the sack two hundredweights of unslaked lime, and tie up its mouth
over him and the lime: then put it into a boat, and come beneath my palace. Thou
wilt see me sitting at its window, and do thou say to me, Shall I cast it in? There-
upon I will answer thee. Cast it. And when I have said to thee that, cast it, that
the lime may be slaked upon him, and he may die drowned and burnt. — So he re-
plied, I hear and obey. He then took him from before the King, to an island oppo-
site the King's palace, and said to Abousir, thou, I came to thee once in the bath,
and thou treatedst me with honour, and did what was requisite for me, and I de-
rived great pleasure from thee : thou sworest also that thou wouldst not receive from
me pay, and I have conceived for thee a violent love. Tell me then what was thy
case with the King, and what abominable action hast thou done to him, that he hath
become enraged against thee, and commanded me that thou shall die this evil death.
— So he replied. By Allah, I have not done anything, and I have no knowledge of
any crime that I have committed against hira requiring this.
Upon this, the captain said to him. Verily thou enjoyest, in the estimation of the
King, great dignity, such as none attained before thee ; and every one who is pos-
sessed of good things is envied. Perhaps then some one hath envied thee this good
fortune, and said some words injurious to thee in the presence of the King, in con-
sequence of which the King hath been thus enraged against thee. But welcome to
thee ! No harm awaiteth thee. For as thou treatedst me with honour without there
existing any acquaintance between me and thee, I will liberate thee. But when I
liberate thee, thou shalt remain with me on this island until a galleon shall depart
from this city towards thy country, when I will send thee in it. — Abousir therefore
kissed the hand of the captain, and thanked him for this. Then the captain brought
the lime, and put it into a sack, and he put into it a great stone, as large as a man,
and said, I place my reliance upon God. After that, he gave to Abousir a net, and
said to him, Cast this net in the sea. Perhaps thou wilt catch some fish. For the
fish for the King's kitchen are required of me every day, and I have been diverted
from fishing by this calamity that hath befallen thee, and fear that the cook's young
men may come to demand the fish and not find it; but if thou catch anything, they
will find it. Do so while I go and practise the stratagem that I have devised be-
neath the palace, and I will pretend that I have cast thee into the sea. — And Abou-
sir replied, I will fish, and go thou, and may God aid thee ! The captain therefore
put the sack into the boat, and proceeded until he came beneath tiie palace, when
he saw the King sitting at the window, and said, King of the age, shall I cast him
in? And he answered. Cast him : — and he made a sign with his hand ; and lo, a
thing gleamed: then dropped into the sea: and behold, what dropped into the sea
•was the King's seal-ring. This ring was enchanted, so that, when the King was
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
725
enraged against any one, and desired to slay him, he would make a sign to him
with his right hand, upon which was the seal-ring, and there would proceed, from
the ring, lightning which would strike the person to whom he made the sign, and
his head would fall from between his shoulders. And the troops obeyed him not,
nor did he subdue the mighty men, save by means of this seal-ring. So when the
ring fell from his finger, he concealed the matter, being unable to say. My ring hath
fallen into the sea, — through fear of the troops, lest they should rise against him,
and slay him ; wherefore he was silent.
But as to Abousir, after the departure of the captain, he took the net, and cast it
in the sea, and drew it ; and it came forth full of fish. Then he cast it a second
time, and it came up full of fish again. He ceased not to cast it, and it came up
every time full of fish, until there was before him a great heap of fish ; whereupon
/^>
Abousir emptying the Net.
he said within himself, By Allah, for a long time I have not eaten fish. And he
chose for himself a large, fat fish, and said, When the captain cometh, I will tell
him to fry for me this fish, that I may make my dinner of it. He then killed it with
a knife that he had with him, and the knife stuck in its gill, and he saw the King's
seal-ring in it; for the fish had swallowed it and destiny had driven it to that island,
and it had fallen into the net. So he took the ring, and put it on his little finger,
not knowing its properties ; and lo, two young men, of the servants of the cook,
came to demand the fish : and when they were near Abousir, they said, O man,
whither is gone the captain? He answered, I know not: — and made a sign with
his right hand, and behold, the heads of the two young men fell from between their
shoulders when he made a sign to them and said, I know not. Abousir therefore
wondered at that, and said, Who can have slain them ? Their ease grieved him, and
he was reflecting upon this event, when, lo, the captain approached, and saw a great
heap offish, and saw the two young men slain, and the seal-ring upon the finger of
Abousir. So he said to him, my brother, move not thy hand upon which is the
seal-ring ; for if thou move it, thou wilt slay me. And he wondered at his saying,
Move not thy hand upon which is the seal-ring; for if thou move it, thou wilt slay
me. And when the captain came to him, he said. Who slew these two young men ?
Abousir answered him, By Allah, O my brother, I know not. And the captain re-
plied. Thou hast spoken truth ; but inform me respecting this seal-ring, whence it
came to thee. He said, I saw it in the gill of this fish. And the captain rejoined,
Thou hast spoken truth ; for I saw it descending gleaming from the palace of the
King till it dropped into the sea, when he made a sign with respect to thee, and said
to me, Cast him. And when he made the sign, I cast in the sack, and the ring had
dropped from his finger, and fallen into the sea. Thereupon this fish swallowed it,
and God drove the fish to thee, so that thou caughtest it: therefore this is thy lot.
But knowest thou the properties of this seal-ring? — Abousir answered, I do not
know its properties. And the captain said. Know that the troops of our King have
726 THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR.
not obeyed him save from fear of this seal-ring ; because it is enchanted ; and when
the King was enraged against any one, and desired his slaughter, he used to make
a sign to him with it, and his head would fall from between his shoulders ; for a
lightning would proceed from this ring, and its ray would reach the object of rage,
who would die immediately. — So when Abousir heard these words, he rejoiced ex-
ceedingly, and said to the captain. Take me back to the city. And the captain re-
plied, I will take thee back, since I no longer fear for thee with respect to the King ;
for when thou makest a sign with thy hand, and hast conceived the intention of
slaying him, his head will fall down before thee ; and if thou shouldst desire the
slaughter of the King and all the troops, thou wouldst kill them without impedi-
ment.
He then embarked in the boat, and repaired with him to the city ; and when he
arrived there, he went up to the palace of the King, and entered the council-chamber,
where he saw the King sitting, with the troops before him, and he was in a state of
excessive grief on account of the seal-ring, unable to inform any one of the soldiers
of the loss of the ring. So when the King saw him he said to him, Did we not cast
thee into the sea? How hast thou contrived that thou hast come forth from it? —
And he answered him, King of the age, when thou gavest orders to cast me into
the sea, thy captain took me and proceeded with me to an island, and asked me
respecting the cause of thy rage against me, saying to me. What hast thou done
unto the King, that he hath given orders for thy death ? I answered him, By Allah,
I know not that I have done unto him any foul action. And he said to me, Verily
thou cnjoyedst great dignity in the estimation of the King, and perhaps some one
hath envied thee, and said some words injurious to thee in the presence of the King,
in consequence of which he hath become enraged against thee. But I came to thee
in thy bath, and thou treatedst me with honour; and in requital of the honour that
thou showedst me in thy bath, I will save thee and will send thee to thy country. —
He then put into the boat a stone instead of me, and cast it into the sea. But when
thou madest a sign to him with reference to me, the seal-ring fell from thy hand
into the sea, and a fish swallowed it; and I was on the island, fishing, and that fish
came up in the net among others. Thereupon I took it, desiring to broil it: and
when I opened its body, I saw the seal-ring in it. So I took it and put it on my
finger; and there came to me two of the servants of the kitchen, demanding the
fish ; and I made a sign to them, not knowing the property of the seal-ring, and
their heads fell off. Then the captain came, and he knew the ring which was upon
my finger, and acquainted me with its magic influence. I have therefore brought
it to thee; for thou hast acted kindly to me, and treated me with the utmost gene-
rosity, and the good actions that thou hast done me have not been lost upon me.
This is thy seal-ring: so take it; and if I have done unto thee anything requiring
my slaughter, acquaint me with my crime, and slay me, and thou shall be absolved
of sin in shedding my blood. — He then pulled off the seal-ring from his finger, and
handed it to the King.
Therefore when the King saw Abousir's be,neficent conduct, he deceived the ring
from him, and put it on his finger. His soul was restored to him, and, rising upon
his feet, he embraced Abousir, and said, man, thou art of the most excellent of
the sons of the ingenuous! Blame me not; but pardon me for my injurious con-
duct to thee. Had any one but thyself got possession of this seal-ring, he had not
given it to me. — Abousir replied, King of the age, if thou desire that I should
pardon thee, acquaint me with my crime tliat required thee to be enraged against
me, so that thou gavest orders for my slaughter. The King said to him, By Allah,
it hath become manifest to me that thou art innocent, and thou art not guilty in
aught, since thou hast done this kind action ; but the dyer said to me thus and thus.
And he acquainted him with that which the dyer had said ; whereupon Abousiik
said, By Allah, King of the age, I know not the King of the Christians, nor in
my life have I gone to the country of the Christians, nor did it enter my mind tc
THE STORY OF ABOUSIR AND ABOUKIR. 727
kill thee. But this dyer was my companion and my neighbour in the city of Alex-
andria, and our life there became difficult; so we came forth from it, on account of
the difficulty of obtaining our livelihood, and recited together the opening chapter
of the Koran in confirmation of our agreement that the occupied should feed the un-
occupied ; and such and such events happened to me with him. — lie acquainted
him with all that had happened to him with Aboukir the dyer, and how he had
taken his money, and abandoned him sick in the chamber that was in the khan, and
that the door-keeper of the khan used to expend upon him while he was sick, until
God restored him. Then he went forth and walked about the city with his appa-
ratus, as he was accustomed to do ; and while he was in the way, he saw a dyeing-
shop before which the people were crowding, and, looking at the door of the dyeing-
shop, he saw Aboukir sitting upon a stone seat there. So he entered to salute him,
and he experienced from him that beating and injurious treatment; Aboukir assert-
ing that he was a thief, and inflicting upon him a painful beating. And he ac-
quainted the King with all that had befallen him from first to last. Then he said,
King of the age, he is the person who said to me, Make the remedy, and present
it to the King: for the bath is perfect in all things, saving that this remedy is want-
ing in it. And know, King of the age, that this remedy injureth not: we make
it in our country, and it is one of the requisites of the bath ; but I had forgotten it ;
and when the dyer came to me, and I treated him with honour, he reminded me of
it, and said to me. Make the remedy. Now send, King of the age, and bring the
door-keeper of such a khan, and the workmen of the dyeing-shop, and ask them all
respecting the things with which I have acquainted thee.
So the King sent to the door-keeper of the khan, and to the workmen of the
dyeing-shop ; and when they all were present, he asked them, and they acquainted
him with the case. He therefore sent to the dyer, and said. Bring ye him barefooted,
with his head uncovered, and with his hands bound behind him. Now the dyer was
sitting in his house, happy at the thought of the slaughter of Abousir, and he was
not aware when the guards of the King rushed upon him, and blows fell upon the
back of his neck. They then bound his hands behind his back, and came with him
before the King; whereupon he saw Abousir sitting by the side of the King, and
the door-keeper of the khan and the workmen of the dyeing-shop standing before
him. So the door-keeper of the khan said to him, Is not this thy companion, whose
money thou stolest, and whom thou leftest with me in the chamber sick, and to
whom thou didst such and such things? And the workmen of the dyeing-shop said
to him, Is not this he whom thou commandedst us to seize, and whom we beat?
The baseness of Aboukir therefore was manifest to the King, and his deserving
more severe torture than that which is inflicted by Munkar and Nekir : so the King
said. Take ye him, and parade hjrji as an example through the city, and put him
into a sack, and cast him into th^ea. Upon this, Abousir said, King of the age,
accept my intercession for him ; for I have pardoned him all that he hath done unto
me. But the King replied. If thou hast pardoned him for his injurious conduct to
thee, I cannot pardon him for his injurious conduct to me. He then cried out and
said. Take ye him! They therefore took him and paraded him; and after that,
they put him into a sack, and put with him the lime, and cast him into the sea: so
he died drowned and burnt. Then the King said, Abousir, demand of me what
thou wilt, and it shall be given thee. And he replied, I demand of thee that thou
send me to my country ; for I no longer desire to reside here.
The King therefore gave him an abundance of things, in addition to his former
wealth and portion and gifts, and bestowed upon him a galleon laden with good
things, the sailors of which were mamlouks, whom also be gave to him, after he
had proposed to him that he should make him Vizier, and he consented not. Abou-
sir then bade the King farewell, and set forth on his voyage ! all that was in the
p;alleon being his property ; even the sailors being his mamlouks ; and he ceased
not to pursue his voyage until he arrived at the district of Alexandria, and moored
728 ABDALLA OF THE LAND,
by the shore of Alexandria. Thereupon they landed ; and one of his mamlouks
saw a sack by the shore : so he said, my master, by the shore of the sea is a
large, heavy sack, the mouth of which is tied, and I know not what is in it. Abou-
sir therefore came and opened it, and he saw in it the body of Aboukir; the sea
having driven it towards Alexandria. And he took the body forth, and buried it
in the neighbourhood of Alexandria, and made for it a tomb for visitation, which
he endowed with unalienable legacies.
Then Abousir remained a while, after which God took his soul, and they buried
him near the sepulchre of his companion Aboukir; and on that account, this place
was called Aboukir and Abousir ; but it is commonly known now by the name of
Aboukir. — This is what hath been related to us of their story. — Extolled be the
perfection of Him who endureth for ever, and by whose will the nights and days inter-
change !
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Commencing with part of the Nine Hundred and Fortieth Night, and ending with part of the
Nine Hundred and Forty-sixth.
THE STOKY OF ABDALLA OF THE LAND AND ABDALLA OF
THE SEA.
There was a fisherman named Abdalla, who had a numerous family : he had nine
children and their mother, and was very poor, possessing nothing but his net. He
used to go every day to the sea to fish ; and when he caught little, he sold it, and
expended its price upon his children, according as God supplied him ; but if he
caught much, he would cook a good dish, and buy fruit, and cease not to expend
until there remained not aught in his possession; whereupon he would say within
himself, The supply necessary for to-morrow will come to-morrow. Now when his
wife gave birth to another, his children became ten persons ; and the man that day
possessed not anything whatever: so his wife said to him, my master, see for me
something wherewith I may sustain myself. He answered her, Lo, I am going,
relying upon the blessing of God (whose name be exalted !), to the sea this day, for
the luck of this new-born child, that we may see its fortune. And she replied. Place
thy dependence upon God. Accordingly he took the net, and repaired to the sea.
He then cast the net for the luck of that little infant, and said, O Allah, make his
subsistence easy, not difficult ; and abundant, not little ! He waited over it a while,
and then drew it, and it came forth full of rubbish and sand and pebbles and grass ;
and he saw not in it any fish ; neither many did he see, nor few. So he cast it a
second time, and waited over it, and then drew it; but he saw not in it fish. And
he cast a third time, and a fourth, and a fifth ; but there came not up in it any fish.
He therefore removed to another place, and begged his subsistence of God (whose
name be exalted !), and ceased not to do thus till the close of the day; but caught
not a single minnow. And he wondered in his mind, and said, Hath God cn^atcd
this new-born child without allotting it subsistence ? This can never be : for He
who hath opened the jaws hath undertaken to provide for them the necessa-y snb-
AND ABDALLA OF THE SEA.
729
AbdaUa of the Land and his Children.
eistence ; and God (whose name be exalted !) is bountiful, a liberal supplier of the
necessaries of life.
He then took up the net, and returned with broken spirit, his heart being occupied
with care for his family, because he had left them without food, especially as his
wife had just given birth to a child. He ceased not to walk on, saying within him-
self. What is to be done ; and what shall I say to the children this night ? Then he
came before the oven of a baker, and saw a crowd before it. The time was a time
of dearness ; and in those days, there existed not in the possession of the people more
than a scanty supply of provisions, and the people wei*e offering money to the baker,
but he paid no attention to any one of them, on account of the greatness of the
crowd. The fisherman, however, stood looking, and smelling the smell of the hot
bread, and his soul desired it by reason of his hunger; and thereupon the baker saw
him, and called out to him, saying. Come hither, fisherman ! So he advanced to
him; and the baker said to him, Dost thou desire bread? And he was silent. The
baker said to him. Speak, and be not abashed: for God is bountiful. If thou have
not with thee money, I will give thee, and will have patience with thee until good
shall betide thee. — The fisherman therefore replied, By Allah, master, I have not
money ; but give me bread sufficient for my family, and I will leave this net in pawn
with thee till to-morrow. But the baker said to him, poor man, verily this net is
as it were thy shop, and the door of thy subsistence ; and if thou give it in pawn,
with what wilt thou fish ? Acquaint me then with the quantity that will suffice
thee. — He replied. For ten farthings. And he gave him bread for ten farthings; and
said to him. Take these ten farthings, and cook for thee by their means a dish of
730 ABDALLA OF THE LAND,
food ; so thou wilt owe twenty farthings, and to-morrow bring me their value in fish,
or, if nought betide thee, come, receive thy bread and ten farthings, and I will have
patience with thee until good shall betide thee; and after that, bring me fish to the
value of that which I shall be entitled to receive from thee. — So the fisherman replied,
May God (whose name be exalted !) reward thee, and recompense thee for me with
everything good ! He then took the bread and the ten farthings, and went away
happy, and, having purchased for him what he easily could, went in to his wife ;
and he saw her sitting, soothing the children, who were weeping by reason of their
hunger, and she was saying to them. This instant your father will bring something
for you to eat. So when he went in to them, he put down for them the bread, and
they ate ; and he acquainted his wife with that which had happened to him ; where-
upon she said to him, God is bountiful.
And on the following day, he took up his net, and went forth from his house, say-
ing, I beg thee, Lord, to supply me, this day, with that which shall whiten my
face in the eyes of the baker ! And when he came to the sea, he proceeded to cast
the net and draw it; but there came not forth in it any fish. He ceased not to do
so until the close of the day, and got nothing. So he returned in great grief; and
the way to his house led by the oven of the baker. He therefore said within himself,
By what way can I go to my house? But I will quicken my pace, that the baker
may not see me. — And when he came to the oven of the baker, he saw a crowd ; and
he hastened in his pace, by reason of his abashment at the baker, in order that he
might not see him: but lo, the baker raised his eyes towards him, and cried out,
saying, fisherman, come hither ; receive thy bread and the money for thy expen-
diture ; for thou hast forgotten ! He replied, No, by Allah ; I forgot not; but I was
abashed at thee ; for I have not caught any fish this day. The baker said to him,
Be not abashed. Did I not say to thee, Take thy leisure, until good shall betide thee?
— Then he gave him the bread and the ten farthings, and he went to his wife, and
informed her of the news ; upon which she said to him, God is bountiful. If it be the
will of God, good will betide thee, and thou shalt pay him all that is due to him. —
And he ceased not to continue thus for the space of for*;y days, every day going to
the sea, and remaining from the rising of the sun to its setting, and returning with-
out fish, and receiving bread, and money for his expenditure, from the baker, who
mentioned not to him the fish any day of those days, nor neglected him as men
generally would have done, but gave him the ten farthings and the bread ; and every
time that the fisherman said to him, my brother, reckon with me, — he would reply,
Go: this is not the time for reckoning: wait until good shall betide thee, and then I
will reckon with thee. So he would pray for him, and depart from him thanking
him. And on the one-and-fortieth day, he said to his wife, I desire to cut up this
net, and be relieved of this mode of life. — Wherefore? said she. He answered her,
It seemeth that my supply of subsistence from the sea is ended. And how long, he
added, shall this state continue? By Allah, I am dissolved by abashment at the
baker, and I will no more go to the sea, that I may not pass by his oven ; for there
is no way for me save by his oven ; and every time that I pass by it, he calleth me,
and giveth me the bread and the ten farthings. How long then shall I run in debt
to him? — But she replied. Praise be to God (whose name be exalted!) who hath
moved his heart to favour thee so that he giveth thee the food ! And what dost thou
dislike in this? — He said, I now owe him a great sum of money, and inevitably he
will demand his due. Ilis wife said to him. Hath he vexed thee with words? He
answered. No ; nor would he reckon with me ; but would say to me. Wait until good
shall betide thee. — Then, replied his wife, when he demandeth of thee, say to him.
Wait until the good that I and thou hope for shall betide. And he said to her.
When will the good that we hope for come? She answered him, God is bountiful.
And he replied. Thou hast spoken truth.
He then took up his net, and repaired to the sea, saying, Lord, supply me, if
only with one fish, that I may give it to the baker ! Then he cast the net in the sea,
AND ABDALLA OF THE SEA. 731
and drew it, and found it heavy ; and he ceased not to labour at it until he was
violently fatigued ; but when he drew it forth, he saw in it a dead ass, swollen, and
of abominable odour: so his soul was wearied. He extricated it from the net, and
said. There is no strength nor power but in God, the High, the Great! I have been
tired of saying to this woman. There remaineth for me no means of subsistence in
the sea: let me abandon this occupation : — and of her replying, God is bountiful:
good will betide thee. Is then this dead ass that good? — Exceeding grief affected
him, and he went to another place, that he might be rertfiote from the smell of the
ass, and took the net, and cast it, and waited over it some time. Then he drew it,
and again found it heavy ; and he ceased not to labour at it until blood issued from
the palms of his hands ; and when he had drawn forth the net, he saw in it a human
being. So he imagined that he was an Afrite, of those whom the lord Solomon used
to imprison in bottles of brass, and cast into the sea, and that, the bottle having
broken by reason of the length of years, that Afrite had issued from it, and come up
in the net. He therefore fled from him, and began to say, Mercy ! mercy ! Afrite
of Solomon ! — But the human being cried out to him from within the net, saying,
Come hither, fisherman ! Flee not from me ; for I am a human being like thee.
Liberate me then, that thou mayest obtain my recompense. — So when the fisherman
heard his words, his heart became tranquillized, and he came to him and said to
him. Art thou not an Afrite of the Genii? He answered, No; but I am a man, a
believer in God and his Apostle. The fisherman said to him. And who cast thee
into the sea? He replied, I am of the children of the sea. I was going about, and
thou threwest upon me the net. We are nations obedient to the ordinances of God,
and we are compassionate to the creatures of God (whose name be exalted!) ; and
were it not that I fear and dread being of the disobedient, I should have rent thy
net ; but I willingly submit to that which God hath decreed to befall me ; and thou,
if thou deliver me, wilt become my owner, and I shall become thy captive. Wilt
thou then emancipate me with the desire of seeing the face of God (whose name be
exalted!), and make a covenant with me, and become my companion? I will come
to thee every day in this place, and thou shalt come to me, and bring for me a present
of the fruits of the land. For with you are grapes and figs and water-melons and
pesfches and pomegranates and other fruits, and everything that thou wilt bring me
will be acceptable from thee. And with us are coral and pearls and chrysolites and
emeralds and jacinths and other jewels. So I will fill for thee the basket in which
thou wilt bring me the fruits with minerals consisting of the jewels of the sea. What
then sayest thou, my brother, of this proposal? — The fisherman answered him,
Let the opening chapter of the Koran be recited in confirmation of the agreement
between me and thee as to this proposal.
Accordingly each of them recited the chapter, and the fisherman liberated him
from the net, and said to him, What is thy name? He answered, My name is Ab-
dalla of the Sea ; and if thou come to this place, and see me not, call out and say,
Where art thou, Abdalla, thou of the Sea? — and I will be with thee instantly.
And thou (he added), what is thy name? The fisherman answered. My name is
Abdalla. So the other replied. Thou art Abdalla of the Land, and I am Abdalla of
the Sea. Now stay here while I go and bring thee a present. — And he said, I hear
and obey. Then Abdalla of the Sea went into the sea: and thereupon Abdalla of
the Land repented of his having liberated him from the net; and he said within
nimself. How do I know that he will return to me? He only laughed at me, so that
[ liberated him ; and had I kept him, I might have diverted the people in the city
with the sight of him, and received money for showing him from all the people, and
entered with him the houses of the great men. — Therefore he repented of his having
liberated him, and said to himself. Thy prey hath gone from thy hand. But while
he was lamenting his escape from his hand, lo, Abdalla of the Sea returned to him,
with his hands filled with pearls and coral and emeralds and jacinths and other
jewels, and said to him, Receive, my brother, and blame me not ; for I have not a
732 ABDALLA OF THE LAND,
basket: if I had, I would have filled it for thee. So thereupon Abdalla of the Land
rejoiced, and received from him the jewels ; and Abdalla of the Sea said to him,
Every day thou shalt come to this place before sunrise. He then bade him farewell,
and departed, and entered the sea.
But as to the fisherman, he entered the city, joyful, and ceased not to walk on
until he came to the oven of the baker, when he said to him, my brother, good
hath betided us ; therefore reckon with me. The baker replied. No reckoning is
necessary. If thou have with thee anything, give me ; and if thou have not with
thee anything, receive thy bread, and the money for thy expenditure, and go, and
wait until good shall betide thee. So he said to him, my companion, good hath
betided me from the bounty of God, and I owe thee a large sura ; but receive this.
And he took for him a handful of pearls and corals and jacinths and other jewels,
that handful being half of what he had with him ; and he gave it to the baker, and
said to him. Give me some money that I may expend it this day, until I shall sell
these minerals. He therefore gave him all the money that he had at his command,
and all the bread that was in the basket which he had with him ; and the baker
was rejoiced with those minerals, and said to the fisherman, I am thy slave and thy
servant. He carried all the bread that he had with him on his head, and walked
behind him to the house, and the fisherman gave the bread to his wife and his chil-
dren. The baker then went to the market, and bought meat and vegetables and all
kinds of fruit. He abandoned the oven, and remained all that day occupying him-
self with the service of Abdalla of the Land, and performing for him his afi^airs.
So the fisherman said to him, my brother, thou hast wearied thyself. The baker
replied. This is incumbent on me; for I have become thy servant, and thy benefi-
cence hath inundated me. But the fisherman said to him. Thou wast my benefactor
in the time of distress and dearness. And the baker passed the ensuing night with
him, enjoying good eating; and he became a faithful friend to the fisherman. The
fisherman informed his wife of his adventure with Abdalla of the Sea, whereat she
rejoiced, and she said, to him, Conceal thy secret, lest the magistrates tyrannize over
thee. But he replied. If I conceal my secret from all other people, I will not con-
ceal it from the baker.
He arose in the morning of the following day, having filled a basket v/ith fruits
of all kinds in the preceding evening, and he took it up before sunrise, and repaired
to the sea, put it down on the shore, and said. Where art thou, Abdalla, thou
of the Sea? And he answered him. At thy service ; — and came forth to him. He
therefore presented to him the fruit, and he took it up, and descended with it, diving
into the sea, and was absent a while; after which he came forth, having with him
the basket full of all kinds of minerals and jewels. So Abdalla of the Land put it
upon his head, and departed with it ; and when he came to the oven of the baker,
the baker said to him, my master, I have baked for thee forty cakes, and sent
them to thy house ; and now I will bake bread of the finest flour, and when it is
done I will convey it to the house, and go to bring thee the vegetables and the meat.
Upon this, Abdalla took for him, from the basket, three handfuls, and gave them to
him, and went to the house, where he put down the basket, and took, of each kind
of jewels, one jewel of great value. Then he repaired to the jewel-market, and,
stopping at the shop of the sheikh of the market, said. Purchase of me these jewels.
He replied, Show them to me. So he showed them to him : and the sheikh said to
him, Ilast thou any beside these? He answered, I have a basket full. The sheikh
said to him, Where is thy house? He answered him. In such a quarter. And the
sheikh took from him the jewels, and said to his servants, Lay hold of him: for he
is the thief who stole the things of the Queen, the wife of the Sultan. He then
ordered them to beat him, and they did so, and bound his hands behind his back ;
and the sheikh arose, with all the people of the jewel-market, and they began to
say. We have taken the thief. Some of them said. None stole the goods of such a
one but this villain : — and others said, None stole all that was in the house of such
AND ABDALLA OF THE SEA.
733
Abdalla of the Land carrying a Basket of Fruit
a one but he: — and some of them said thus, and others said thus. All this while,
he was silent; he returned not to any one of them a reply, nor did he utter to hiro
a sentence, until they stationed him before the King ; whereupon the sheikh said,
King of the age, when the necklace of the Queen was stolen, thou sentest and ac-
quaintedst us, and requiredst of us the capture of the offender ; and I strove above
the rest of the people, and have captured for thee the offender. Lo, here he is be-
fore thee, and these jewels we have rescued from his hand. — The King therefore
said to the eunuch, Take these minerals, and show them to the Queen, and say to
her. Are these thy goods that thou hast lost? Accordingly the eunuch took them,
and went in with them before the Queen ; and when she saw them, she wondered at
them, and she sent to say to the King, I have found my necklace in my place, and
these are not my property ; but these jewels are better than the jewels of my neck-
lace ; therefore act not unjustly to the man ; and if he will sell them, purchase them
of him for thy daughter, Umm-alsoud, that we may put them for her upon a neck-
lace.
So when the eunuch returned, and acquainted the King with that which the Queen
bad said, he cursed the sheikh of the jewellers, him and his company, with the
curse of Ad and Thamoud ; ' whereupon they said, King of the age, we knew that
this man was a poor fisherman ; so we deemed those things too much for him to
possess, and imagined that he had stolen them. But he replied, base wretches,
do ye deem good things too much for a believer? Wherefore did ye not ask him?
Perhaps God (whose name be exalted !) hath blessed him with them in a way he did
not reckon upon ; and wherefore do ye assert him to be a thief, and disgrace him
' Two ancient Arab tribes, destroyed for their wickedness.
734 ABDALLA OF THE LAND,
among the people ' Go forth ! May God not bless you ! — They therefore went forth
in a state of fear. The King then said, man, may God bless thee in that which
He hath bestowed on thee ! And thou hast promise of indemnity. But acquaint
me with the truth. Whence came to thee these jewels ? For I am a King, and the
like of them exist not in my possession. — So he answered, King of the age, I
have a basket full of them ; and the case is thus and thus. And he informed him
of his companionsliip with Abdalla of the Sea, and said to him. An agreement hath
been made between me and him, that I shall every day fill for him the basket with
fruits, and he shall fill it for me with these jewels. The King therefore said to him,
man, this is thy lot; but wealth requireth an exalted station, and I will prevent
men's domineering over thee in these days. Perhaps, however, I may be deposed,
or may die, and another may be appointed in my stead, and may slay thee on ac-
count of his love of worldly goods, and covetousness. I therefore desire to marry
thee to my daughter, and to make thee my Vizier, and bequeath to thee the kingdom
after me, that no one may covet thy possessions after my death. — Then the King
said. Take ye this man, and conduct him into the bath. So they took him, and
washed him, and they clad him in apparel of the style of Kings, and led him
forth into the presence of the King, who thereupon appointed him Vizier unto him.
He sent also the couriers, and the soldiers of the guard, and all the wives of the
great men, to his house ; and they clad his wife in the apparel of the wives of
Kings, clad her children likewise, and mounted her in a litter; and all the wives of
the great men, and the troops and the couriers, and the soldiers of the guard, walked
before her, and conducted her to the King's palace, with the little infant in her
bosom. They brought in her elder children to the King, who treated them with
honour, took them upon his lap, and seated them by his side. And they were nine
male children ; and the King was destitute of male offspring, not having been
blessed with any child except that daughter, whose name was Unim-alsoud. And
as to the Queen, she treated the wife of Abdalla of the Land with honour, and be-
stowed favours upon her, and made her Vizier to her. The King gave orders to
perform the ceremony of the contract of the marriage of Abdalla of the Land to
his daughter, and he assigned as her dowry all the jewels and minerals that he had,"
and they commenced the festivity; the King commanding that a proclamation
should be made to decorate the city on account of the marriage festivity of his
daughter.
Then, on the following day, after Abdalla of the Land had introduced himself to
the King's daughter, the King looked from the window, and saw Abdalla carrying
upon his head a basket full of fruits. So he said to him. What is this that is with
thee, my son-in-law, and whither goest thou? He answered, To my companion,
Abdalla of the Sea. The King said to him, my son-in-law, this is not the time to
go to thy companion. But he replied, I fear to be unfaithful to him with respect to
the time of promise ; for he would reckon me a liar, and say to me, Worldly matters
have diverted thee from coming to me. And the King said, Thou hast spoken truth.
Go to thy companion. May God aid thee! — So he walked through the city, on his
way to his companion, and, the people having become acquainted with him, he heard
them say. This is the son-in-law of the King, going to exchange the fruits for the
jewels. And he who was ignorant of him, and knew him not, would say, man,
for how much is the pound? Come hither: sell to me. — Whereupon he would
answer him. Wait for me until I return to thee. And he would not vex any one.
Then he went and met Abdalla of the Sea, and gave him the fruits; and Abdalla
of the Sea gave him for them jewels in exchange. — He ceased not to do thus, and
every day he passed by the oven of the baker, and saw it closed. He continued
thus for the space of ten days ; and when he had not seen the baker, and saw his
oven closed, he said within himself. Verily this is a wonderful thing! Whither can
the baker have gone? He then asked his neighbour, saying to him, my brother,
where is thy neighbour the baker, and what hath God done with him ? He an-
AND ABDALLA OF THE SEA. 735
Bwered, my master, he is sick: he doth not come forth from his house. So ho
said to him, Where is his house? The man answered him. In such a quarter. He
therefore repaired thither, and inquired for him ; and when he knocked at the door,
the baker looked from the window, and saw his companion the fisherman with a full
basket upon his head. So he descended to him, and opened to him the door; and
Abdalla of the Land threw himself upon him, and embraced him, and said to him,
How art thou, my companion? For every day I pass by the oven and see it
closed. Then I asked thy neighbour, and he informed me that thou wast sick. I
therefore inquired for thy house, that I might see thee. — The baker replied, May
God recompense thee for me with every thing good ! I have no disease; but it was
told me that the King had taken thee, because some of the people lied to him, and
asserted that thou wast a thief: so I feared, and closed the oven, and hid myself. —
Abdalla of the Land said, Thou hast spoken truth. And he informed him of his
case, and of the events that had happened to him with the King and the sheikh of
the jewel-market, and said to him. The King hath married me to his daughter, and
made me his Vizier. He then said to him. Take what is in this basket as thy lot,
and fear not.
After that, he went forth from him, having dispelled from him his fear, and re-
paired to the King with the basket empty. So the King said to him, my son-in-
law, it seemeth that thou hast not met with thy companion Abdalla of the Sea thif
day. He replied, I went to him, and what he gave me I have given to my com-
panion the baker; for I owe him kindness. The King said. Who is this baker?
He answered. He is a man of kind disposition, and such and such events happened
to me with him in the days of poverty, and he neglected me not any day, nor broke
my heart. The King said, What is his name? He answered, His name is Abdalla
the baker, and my nam« is Abdalla of the Land, and my other companion's name is
Abdalla of the Sea. Upon this, the King said. And my name is Abdalla, and the
servants of God' are all brethren. Send therefore to thy companion the baker:
bring him, that we may make him Vizier of the Left. Accordingly he sent to him ;
and when he came before the King, the King invested him with the apparel of Vizier,
and appointed him Vizier of the Left, appointing Abdalla of the Land Vizier of the
Right. Abdalla of the Land continued in this state a whole year, every day taking
the basket full of fruits, and returning with it full of jewels and minerals ; and
when the fruits were exhausted from the gardens, he used to take raisins and almonds
and hazel-nuts and walnuts and figs and other things ; and all that he took to him
he accepted from him, and he returned to him the basket full of jewels, as was his
custom.
Now it happened, one day, that he took the basket full of dried fruits, according
to his custom, and his companion received them from him ; after which, Abdalla of
the Land sat upon the shore, and Abdalla of the Sea sat in the water, near the shore,
and they proceeded to converse together, talking alternately, until they were led to
mention the tombs. Thereupon Abdalla of the Sea said, my brother, they say
that the prophet (may God favour and preserve him!) is buried among you in the
land. Dost thou then know his tomb ? — He answered. Yes. He asked. In what
place? He answered. In a city called Teybeh.* He said, And do men, the people
of the land, visit his tomb? He answered. Yes. And Abdalla of the Sea said, May
you derive enjoyment, O people of the land, from visiting this generous, benign,
merciful Prophet, whose visitor meriteth his intercession I And hast thou visited
him, my brother? — He answered, No ; for I was a poor man, and found not what
I should expend on the way, and I have not been independent save from the time
when I first knew thee and thou conferredst upon me this prosperity. But the visitr
ing him, after I shall have performed the pilgrimage to the Sacred House of God,
' Abdalla signifies " Servant of God."
'One of the names of the city of Medina.
736 ABDALLA OF THE LAND,
Abdalla of the Land, and Abdalla of the Sea.
hath become incumbent on me ; and nothing hath prevented my doing that but my
affection for thee; for I cannot separate myself from thee for one day. — Upon this,
he of the Sea said to him of the Land, And dost thou prefer thy affection for me
above visiting the tomb of Mahomet (may God favour and preserve him !), who will
intercede for thee on the day of appearance bef)re God, and will save thee from the
fire, and by means of whose intercession thou wilt enter Paradise ; and for the sake
of the love of the world dost thou neglect to visit the tomb of the Prophet Mahomet,
(may God favour and preserve him !). He answered. No, by Allah, verily the visita-
tion of him is preferred by me above everything else ; but I desire of thee per-
mission that I may visit him this year. He replied, I give thee permission to visit
him; and when thou gtandest by his tomb give him my salutation. I have also a
deposit: so enter the sea with me, that I may take thee to my city, and conduct thee
into my house, and entertain thee, and give thee the deposit, in order that thou
mayest put it upon the grave of the Prophet (may God favour and preserve him !);
and say thou to him, Apostle of God, Abdalla of the Sea saluteth thee, and hath
given to thee this present, and he beggeth thine intercession to save him from the
fire. — So Abdalla of the Land said to him, my brother, thou wast created in the
water, and the water is thine abode, and it injureth thee not; then if thou come
forth from it to the land, will injury betide thee? He answered. Yes; my body
will dry up, and the breezes of the land will blow upon me, and I shall die. — And
I in like manner, replied Abdalla of the Land, was created on the land, and the
land is my abode ; and if I enter the sea, the water will enter into my body, and
suffocate me, and I shall die. But the other said to him. Fear not that ; for I will
bring thee an ointment, with which thou shalt anoint thy body, and the water will
not injure thee, even if thou pass the remainder of thy life going about in the sea ;
and thou shalt sleep and arise in the sea, and nought will injure thee. So he re-
plied, If the case be so, no harm. Bring me the ointment, that I may try it.
Abdalla of the Sea said, Be it so. And he took the basket, and descended into
the sea, and was absent a little while. He then returned, having with him some
fat like the fat of beef, the colour of which was yellow, like gold, and its scent was
sweet; and Abdalla of the Land said to him. What is this, O my brother? He
answered him, This is the fat of the liver of a kind of fish, called the dendan. It
is the greatest of all kinds of fish, and the most violent of our enemies, and its
form is larger than that of any beast of the land existing among you : if it saw the
camel or the elephant, it would swallow it. — Abdalla of the Land said to him, my
brother, and what doth this unlucky creature eat? He answered him, It eateth of
the beasts of the sea. Hast thou not heard that it is said in the proverb. Like the
fish of the sea: the strong eateth the weak? — He replied. Thou hast spoken truth.
But have you (he added) many of these dendans among you in the sea? Abdalla
of the Sea answered. Among us are such as none can number except God, (whose
name be exalted !). Then said Abdalla of the Land, Verily I fear that, if I descend
AND ABDALLA OP THE SEA. 737
with thee, this kind of creature may meet me and devour me. But Abdalla of the
Sea replied, Fear not; for when it seeth thee, it will know that thou art a son of
Adam, and it will fear thee, and flee. It feareth not aught in the sea as it feareth
a son of Adam ; for when it hath eaten a son of Adam, it dieth instantly,
because the fat of a son of Adam is a deadly poison to this kind of creature.
And we collect not the fat of its liver in consequence of a son of Adam's
falling into the sea and being drowned : for his form becometh altered, and
often his flesh is torn, and the dendan eateth it, imagining it to be of some of
the animals of the sea, and dieth : then we happen to light on it dead, and take
the fat of its liver, with which we anoint our bodies, and we go about in the sea.
In whatever place is a son of Adam, if there be in that place a hundred or
two hundred or a thousand or more of that kind of creature, and they hear the cry
of the son of Adam, all of them die immediately at hia crying once, and not one of
them can move from its place.
Upon this, Abdalla of the Land said, I place my reliance upon God. He then
pulled ofi" the clothes that were upon him, and, having dug a hole on the shore he
buried his clothes; after which, he anointed his person from the parting of his hair
to his feet with this ointment. Then he descended into the water, and dived ; and
he opened his eyes, and the water injured him not. He walked to the right and left ;
and if he would, he ascended ; and if he would he descended to the bottom. He saw
the water of the sea forming as it were a tent over him, and it injured him not. And
Abdalla of the Sea said to him. What seest thou, my brother? He answered him,
I see what is good, my brother, and thou hast spoken truth in that which thou
hast said ; for the water doth not injure me. Then Abdalla of the Sea said to him.
Follow me. So he followed him ; and they ceased not to walk from place to place,
while he saw before him, on his right and on his left, mountains of water, and he
diverted himself with the view of them and with the view of the different kinds of
fish that were sporting in the sea, some great and some small. Among them were
some resembling buffaloes, and some resembling oxen, and some resembling dogs, and
some resembling human beings ; and every kind to which they drew near fled at
seeing Abdalla of the Land. He therefore said to him of the Sea, my brother,
wherefore do I see every kind to which we draw near flee from us? And he answered
him, Through fear of thee ; for every thing that God hath created feareth the son of
Adam. He ceased not to divert himself with the sight of the wonders of the sea UB4;il
they came to a high mountain, and Abdalla of the Land walked by the side of that
mountain, and suddenly he heard a great cry : so he looked aside, and he saw some-
thing black descending upon hira from that mountain, and it was as large as a
camel, or larger, and cried out. He therefore said to his companion, What is this,
my brother? He answered him. This is the dendan : it is descending in pursuit
of me, desiring to devour me: so cry out at it, my brother, before it reacheth us:
for otherwise it will seize me, and devour me. Accordingly Abdalla of the Land
cried out at it, and lo, it fell down dead ; and when he saw it dead, he said, Extolled
be the perfection of God and his praise ! I struck it not with a sword, nor with a
knife ! How is it that, with the enormity of this creature, it could not bear my cry,
but died? — But Abdalla of the Sea said to him. Wonder not: for by Allah, niy
brother, were there a thousand or two thousand of this kind, they would not be able
to endure the cry of a son of Adam.
They then walked to a city, and they saw its inhabitants to be all damsels, no
males being among them. So Abdalla of the Land said, my brother, what is this
city, and what are these damsels? And his companion answered him. This is the
city of the damsels ; for its inhabitants are of the damsels of the Sea. The King of
the Sea banisheth them to this city. Every one against whom he is incensed, of the
damsels of the Sea, he sendeth hither, and she cannot come forth from it ; for if she
came forth from it, any of the beasts of the Sea that saw her would devour her.
But in other cities than this there are men and women. Then Abdalla of the
47
738 ABDALLA OF THE LAND,
Land proceeded to divert himself with the view of these damsels, and saw that
they had faces like moons, and hair like the hair of women ; but they had arms
and legs in the fore part of the body, and tails like the tails of fishes. His com-
panion, having diverted him with the view of the inhabitants of this city, went
forth with him, and walked before him to another city, which he saw to be filled
with people, females and males, whose forms were like the forms of the damsels
before mentioned ; and they had tails ; but they had no selling nor buying like the
people of the land. And he said, my brother, how do they manage their mar-
riages? His companion answered him. They do not all marry ; for we are not all
of one religion : among us are Mahometans, unitarians ; and among us are Christians
and Jews and other sects : and those of us who marry are chiefly the Mahometans.
Whoso desireth to marry, they impose upon him, as a dowry, the gift of a certain
number of different kinds of fish, which he catcheth ; as many as a thousand or two
thousand, or more or less, according to the agreement made between him and the
father of the wife. And when he bringeth what is demanded, the family of the
bridegroom and the family of the bride assemble and eat the banquet. Then they
introduce him to his wife. And after that, he catcheth fish, and feedeth her ; or, if
he be unable, she catcheth fish, and feedeth him. Abdalla of the Sea then took him
to another city, and after that to another, and so on, until he had diverted him with
the sight of eighty cities ; and he saw the inhabitants of each city to be unlike the
inhabitants of another city: and he said, my brother, are there any more cities in
the Sea? His companion said, And what hast thou seen of the cities of the Sea and
its wonders? By the generous, benign, merciful Prophet, were I to divert thee for
a thousand years, every day with the sight of a thousand cities, and show thee in
every city a thousand wonders, I should not show thee a twenty-fourth part of the
cities of the sea, and its wonders. I have only diverted thee with the view of our
own region and our land, and nothing more. — So Abdalla of the Land said to him,
my brother, since the case is so, enough for me is that with the sight of which I
have diverted myself; for I have become weary of eating fish, and have spent eighty
days in thy company, during which thou hast not fed me, morning and evening,
with aught but raw fish, neither broiled nor cooked in any way. But thou hast not
diverted me with a sight of thy city. — He replied. As to my city, we have gone a
considerable distance beyond it, and it is near the shore from which we came.
Then he returned with him to his city, and when he came to it, he said to him.
This is my city. And he saw it to be a small city in comparison with those with
the sight of which he had diverted himself. He entered the city, accompanied by
Abdalla of the Sea, who proceeded until he came to a cavern, when he said to him.
This is my house ; and all the houses of this city are likewise caverns, great and
small, in the mountains, as are also all those of all the cities of the Sea. For every
one who desireth to make for himself a house goeth to the King, and saith to him,
1 desire to make me a house in such a place. Thereupon the King sendeth with
him a tribe offish called the peckers, assigning as their wages a certain quantity of
fish ; and they have beaks which crumble rock. They come to the mountain that
the intended owner of the house hath chosen, and excavate in it the house with
their beaks ; and the owner of the house catcheth fish for them, and putteth them
into their mouths, until the cavern is completed, when they depart, and the owner
of the house taketh up his abode in it. All the people of the Sea are in this state:
they transact not affairs of commerce, one with another, nor do they serve one an-
other, save by means of fish ; and their food is fish. — Then he said to him, Enter.
So he entered. And Abdalla of the Sea said, my daughter ! And lo, his daughter
advanced to him. She had a fiice round like the moon, and long hair and heavy
hips, and black-edged eyes and a slender waist; but she had a tail. And when she
saw Abdalla of the Land with her father, she said to him, my father, what is this
tail-less creature whom thou hast brought with thee? He answered her, my
daughter, tliis is my companion of the land, from whom I used to bring thee the
AND ABDALLA OF THE SEA. 739
fruits of the land. Come hither; salute him. — She therefore advanced and saluted
him, with an eloquent tongue and fluent speech ; and her father said to her, Bring
some food for our guest, by whose arrival a blessing hath betided us. And she
brought him two large fishes, each of them like a lamb; and he said to him, Eat.
So he ate in spite of himself, by reason of his hunger ; for he was weary of eating
fish, and they had nothing else. And but a short time had elapsed when the wife
of Abdalla of the Sea approached. She was of beautiful form, and with her were
two children, each child having in his hand a young fish, of which he was craunch-
ing bits as a man crauncheth bits of a cucumber. And when she saw Abdalla of
the Land with her husband, she said, What is this tail-less creature? The two chil-
dren also advanced with their sister and their mother, and they looked at Abdalla
of the Land, and said. Yea, by Allah : verily he is tail-less! And they laughed at
him. So Abd'alla of the Land said to his companion, my brother, hast thou
brought me to make me a laughing-stock to thy children and thy wife? Abdalla
of the Sea answered him. Pardon, my brother: for he who hath no tail existeth
not among us ; and when one without a tail is found, the Sultan taketh him to laugh
at him. But, my brother, be not displeased with these young children and the
woman, since their intellects are defective. — Then he cried out at his family, and
said to them. Be ye silent! So they feared, and were silent; and he proceeded to
appease his mind.
And while he was conversing with him, lo, ten persons, great, strong, and stout,
advanced to him, and said, Abdalla, it hath been told to the King that thou hast
with thee a tail-less creature, of the tail-less creatures of the land. So he replied,
Yes ; and he is this man ; for he is my companion : he hath come to mo. as a guest,
and I desire to take him back to the land. But they said to him. We cannot go
save with him ; and if thou desire to say aught, arise and take him, and come with
him before the King, and what thou sayest to us, say to the King. Therefore Ab-
dalla of the Sea said to him, my brother, the excuse is manifest, and it is impos-
sible for us to disobey the King; but go with me to the King, and I will endeavour
to liberate thee from him, if it be the will of God. Fear not; for when he seeth
thee, he will know that thou art of the children of the land ; and when he knoweth
that thou art of the land, he will without doubt treat thee with honour, and restore
thee to the land. So Abdalla of the Land replied. It is thine to determine ; and I
will place my dependence upon God, and go with thee. He then took him and pro-
ceeded with him until he came to the King; and when the King saw him, he laughed,
and said. Welcome to the tail-less! And every one who was around the King began
to laugh at him, and to say, Yea, by Allah : verily he is tail-less ! Then Abdalla
of the Sea advanced to the King, and acquainted him with his circumstances, and
said to him. This is of the children of the land, and he is my companion, and he
cannot live among us ; for he loveth not the eating offish unless it be fried or other-
wise cooked ; and I desire that thou give me permission to restore him to the land.
The King therefore replied, Since the case is so, and he cannot live among us, I
give thee permission to restore him to his place after entertainment. Then the
King said. Bring to him the banquet. And they brought him fish of various shapes
and colours, and he ate in obedience to the command of the King; after which the
King said to him, Demand of me what thou wilt. And Abdalla of the Land re-
plied, I demand of thee that thou give me jewels. So he said. Take ye him to the
jewel-house, and let him select what he requireth. Accordingly his companion
took him to the jewel-house, and he selected as many as he desired. He then re-
turned with him to his city, and, producing to him a purse, he said to him, Take
this as a deposit, and convey it to the tomb of the Prophet, may God favour and
preserve him ! And he took it, not knowing what was in it.
Then Abdalla of the Sea went forth with him, to conduct him to the land ; and
he saw, in his way, people engaged in singing and festivity, and a table of fish
spread ; and the people were eating and singing, and in a state of great rejoicing.
740 ABDALLA OF THE LAND.
80 he said to Abdalla of the Sea, Wherefore are these people in a state of great re-
joicing ? Is a wedding being celebrated among them ? — And he of the sea answered,
There is no wedding being celebrated among them ; but a person among them is
dead. Abdalla of the Land therefore said to him, Do ye, when a person dieth
among you, rejoice for him, and sing and eat? His companion answered. Yes.
And ye, people of the land, he added, what do ye ? Abdalla of the Land an-
swered. When a person among us dieth, we mourn for him, and weep, and the
women slap their faces, and rend the bosoms of their garments, in grief for him
who is dead. And upon this, Abdalla of the Sea stared at Abdalla of the Land,
and said. Give me the deposit. So he gave it to him. Then Abdalla of the Sea
took him forth to the land, and said to him, I have broken oif my companionship
with thee, and my friendship for thee, and after this day thou shalt not see me, nor
will I see thee. — Wherefore, said Abdalla of the Land, are these words ? Abdalla
of the Sea said, Are ye not, O people of the land, a deposit of God? — Yes, answered
he of the land. And the other rejoined, Then how is it that it is not agreeable to
you that God should take his deposit, but on the contrary ye weep for it? And
how should I give thee the deposit for the Prophet (may God favour and preserve
him !), seeing that ye, when the new-born child eometh to you, rejoice in it, though
God (whose name be exalted !) putteth into it the soul as a deposit? Then, when
He taketh that soul, how is it that it grieveth you, and ye weep and mourn ? Such
being the case, we have no need of your companionship. — He then left him, and
went back to the sea.
So upon this, Abdalla of the Land put on his clothes, and took his jewels, and
repaired to the King, who met him with a longing desire to see him, and rejoiced at
his return, and said to him. How art thou, my son-in-law, and what hath been the
cause of thine absence from me during this period ? He therefore told him his story,
and what he had seen of the wonders in the sea ; whereat the King wondered. He
acquainted him also with that which Abdalla of the Sea had said ; and he replied,
Thou art the person who erred, in thy giving this information. Abdalla of the
Land persevered for a length of time in going to the shore of the sea, and calling
out to Abdalla of the Sea; but he answered him not, nor came to him. So Abdalla
of the Land relinquished the hope of seeing him again, and he and the King his
father-in-law and their family resided in the most happy state and in the practice of
good deeds until they were visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of
companions, and they all died. — Extolled be the perfection of the Living who dieth
not, and to whom belongeth the dominion that is apparent and the dominion that is
hidden, and who is able to accomplish everything, and is gracious and knowing with
respect to his servants !
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA. 741
CHAPTER XXIX.
Commencing with part of the Nine Hundred and Fifty-second Night, and ending with part of
the Nine Hundred and Fifty-ninth.
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA.
Casib, the lord of Egypt, had a son, named Ibrahim, than whom there was none
more beautiful ; and by reason of his fear for him, he would not allow him to go
out, save to the Friday prayers. Now he passed, going forth from the Friday prayers,
by an old man, with whom were many books, and he alighted from his horse, and
seated himself by him, and, turning over the books and examining them, he saw in
one of them a picture of a woman, which almost spoke: none more beautiful than
she had been seen upon the face of the earth. Thereupon his reason was captivated,
and his mind was stupified, and he said to the man, O sheikh, sell me this picture.
And he kissed the ground before him, and replied, my lord, without price. So he
gave him a hundred pieces of gold, and took the book in which was this picture; and
he occupied himself with looking at it, and weeping, night and day. He abstained
from food and drink and sleep, and he said within himself, Had I asked the book-
seller respecting the painter of this picture, who he was, probably he had informed me ;
and if the original of it be living, I might gain access to her ; and if it be a picture not
representing any particular person, I would cease to be enamoured of it, and not
torment myself on account of a thing that hath no real existence. So when the. next
Friday arrived, he passed by the bookseller, who rose up to him, and he said to hini.,
uncle, inform me who painted this picture. He replied, my lord, a man of the
inhabitants of Bagdad, named Aboulcasim Sandalini, who resideth in a quarter
called the quarter of Elkark, painted it, and I know not whose portrait it is. The
youth therefore arose and left him, and he acquainted not any one of the people of
the empire with his state.
He performed the Friday prayers, and returned to the palace, and taking a leathern
bag, filled it with jewels and gold, and the value of the jewels was thirty thousand
pieces of gold. He then waited until the morning, and went forth, not having
informed any one; and he overtook a caravan, and saw a Bedouin, and said to him,
uncle, what distance is between me and Bagdad? He replied, my son, where
art thou, and where is Bagdad? Verily between thee and it is a space of two
months' journey. — And the youth said to him, uncle, if thou wilt conduct me to
Bagdad, I will give thee a hundred pieces of gold and this mare that is beneath me.
the value of M'hich is a thousand pieces of gold. Upon this, the Bedouin replied,
God is witness of what we say. But thou shalt not lodge this night save with me.
And the young man assented to that which he said, ana passed the night with him ;
and when daybreak appeared, the Bedouin took him, and proceeded with him quickly
by a near way, in eagerness for that mare which he had promised to give him. They
ceased not to journey on until they arrived at the walls of Bagdad, when the Bedouin
said to him, Praise be to God for safety! my master, this is Bagdad. — So the
young man rejoiced exceedingly, and he alighted from the mare, and gave her to the
Bedouin, her and the hundred pieces of gold.
742 THB STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA.
lie then took tlie leathern bag, and walked on, inquiring for the quarter of Elkark,
and for the place of abode of the merchants, and destiny drove him to a by-street in
which were ten chambers, five facing five, and at the upper end of the street was an
entrance with two folding doors, and with a ring of silver. At this entrance were
two benches of marble, spread with the best of furniture, and upon one of them was
sitting a man of reverend appearance, of handsome form, and clad in sumptuous
apparel, before whom were five mamlouks, like moons. When the young man saw
this, he knew the indication which the bookseller had mentioned to him ; and he
saluted the man, who returned his salutation, and welcomed him, and seated him.
and asked him respecting his state. So the young man said to him, I am a stranger,
and I desire of thy beneficence that thou wouldst seek for me, in this street, a house
in which I may reside. And the man cried out, saying, Gazala! — whereupon a
slave-girl came forth to him, and said. At thy service, my master ! And he said,
Take with thee some servants, and go ye to a chamber, and clean it, and spread
furniture in it, and put in it all that is requisite, of vessels and other things, for the
sake of this young man, the beautiful in form. Accordingly the slave-girl went
forth, and did as he had ordered her ; after which the sheikh took him and showed
him the dwelling; and the young man said to him, my master, how much is the
rent of this dwelling? He answered him, comely-ficed, I will not receive from
thee rent as long as thou remainest in it. The young man therefore thanked him
for that. Then the sheikh called another slave-girl; and there came forth a slave-
girl like the sun, and he said to her. Bring the apparatus for chess. So she brought
it, and a mamlouk spread the chess-table, and the sheikh said to the young man.
Wilt thou play with me? He answered. Yes. And he played with him several
times, and the young man beat him. He therefore said. Thou hast done well,
young man, and thy qualities are perfect. By Allah, there is not in Bagdad the
person who can beat me, and thou hast beaten me.
And after they had prepared the dwelling with the furniture and everything else
that was requisite, the sheikh delivered to him the keys, and said to him, O my
master, wilt thou not enter into my abode and eat of my bread, that we may be
honoured by thee ? And the young man assented to this, and went with him ; and
when they came to the house, he beheld a handsome, beautiful house, decoratted with
gold, and in it were all kinds of pictures, and varieties of furniture and other things,
such as the tongue cannot describe. The sheikh then complimented him, and gave
orders to bring the food ; whereupon they brought a table of the manufacture of
Sana of Arabia Felix, and it was put, and they brought extraordinary dishes of food,
than which there existed none more excellent, nor any more delicious. So the young
man ate until he was satisfied, and washed his hands; and he proceeded to look at
the house and the furniture. And after that, he looked for the leathern bag that
was with him ; and saw it not. So he said. There is no strength nor power but in
God, the High, the Great! I have eaten a morsel worth a piece of silver or two
pieces of silver, and there hath gone from me a leathern bag containing thirty thou-
sand pieces of gold. But I seek the aid of God. — Then he was silent, and was un-
able to speak; and the sheikh again caused the apparatus for chess to be brought
forward, and said to the young man. Wilt thou play with me? He answered. Yes:
— and played, and the sheikh beat him ; whereupon the young man said. Thou hast
done well : — and he gave over playing, and arose. So the sheikh said to him, What
aileth thee, young man ? He answered, I desire the leathern bag. And upon this
the sheikh arose and brought it out to him, and said, Lo, here it is, my master.
Wilt thou resume the playing with me? — He answered. Yes. And he played with
him, and the young man beat him. The man tiierefore said, When thy mind was
occupied with thinking of the leathern bag, I beat thee ; and when I had brought it
to thee, thou beatest me. Then he said to him, my son, inform me from what
country thou art. So he answered, From Egypt. And the sheikh said to him. And
•what is the reason of thy coming to Bagdad ? He therefore produced to him the
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA. 743
picture, and said, Know, uncle, that I am the son of Casib, the lord of Egypt ; and
I saw this picture in the possession of a bookseller, and my reason was captivated •
so I asked respecting the painter of it, and it was told me that the painter of it was
a man in the quarter of Elkark, named Aboulcasim Sandalani, in a street called
Darb el-Zafaran. I therefore took with me some wealth, and came alone, no one
knowing of my case ; and I desire of thy perfect beneficence that thou wouldst
direct me to him, in order that I may ask him the cause of his painting this picture,
and whose portrait it is; and whatsoever he shall desire of me, I will give him it.
Upon this, the sheikh said. By Allah, my son, I am Aboulcasim Sandalani, and
this is a wonderful thing. How is it that destiny hath driven thee to me? — And
when the young man heard his words, he rose to liim and embraced him, and kissed
his head and his hands, and said to him. By Allah, I conjure thee that thou tell me
whose portrait it is. And he replied, I hear and obey. He then arose and opened
a closet, and took forth from it a njjmber of books in which he had painted this
picture, and said. Know, my son, fhat the original of this portrait is the daughter
of my paternal uncle. She is in Balsora, and her father io governor of Balsora. He is
named Abouleis, and she is named Gemila ; and there is not on the face of the earth a
person more beautiful than she ; but she is averse from men, and cannot bear the men-
tion of a man in her company. I went to my uncle, desiring that he should marry me
to her, and I was lavish of wealth to him ; but he consented not to my proposal ; and
when his daughter knew thereof, she was enraged, and sent to me a message, saying
in it. If thou have sense, remain not in this city ; for if thou do, thou wilt perish, and
thy sin will be on thine own neck. And she is a virago among viragos. I therefore
went forth from Balsora with broken heart, and I painted this portrait in the books,
and dispersed them in the countries, thinking that they might fall into the hand of a
young man of beautiful form, like thee, and he might contrive means of gaining access
to her ; for perhaps she would become enamoured of him ; and I would previously ex-
act of him a promise that, when he should have gained possession of her, he should
show her to me, if he only granted me a look from a distance. So when Ibrahim the
son of Casib heard his words, he hung down his head awhile, meditating. And San-
dalini said to him, my son, I have not seen in Bagdad any one more beautiful than
thou ; and I imagine that she, if she see thee, will love thee. Canst thou then, if thou
obtain an interview with her, and get possession of her, show her to me, and grant
me even a look from a distance? — He answered. Yes. And the sheikh said. Since
the case is so, reside with me until thou shalt set forth. But the young man replied,
I cannot remain ; for an exceeding fire is in my heart on account of my passion for
her. So the sheikh said to him. Wait until I prepare for thee a vessel in the course
of three days, that thou mayest go in it to Balsora. He therefore waited until he
had prepared for him a vessel, and put in it all that he required of food and drink
and other things : and after the three days the sheikh said to the young man, Pre-
pare for the voyage ; for I have fitted out for thee a vessel, in which are all things
that thou requires!, and the vessel is my property, and the boatmen are of my ser-
vants, and in the vessel is what will sufiice thee until thou shalt return ; and I have
charged the boatmen to serve thee till thou shalt return in safety.
So the young man arose, and embarked in the vessel, bade farewell to the sheikh,
and proceeded until he arrived at Balsora, when he took forth a hundred pieces of
gold for the boatmen ; but they said to him. We have received the pay from our
master. He however replied. Receive it as a present, and I will not inform him of
it. They therefore received it from him, and prayed for him. The young man then
entered Balsora, and asked where was the place of abode of the merchants ; where-
upon they answered him, In a khan called the Khan of Ilamdan. So he walked on
until he came to the market in which was the khan ; and the eyes of the people were
cast upon him, gazing at him, on account of his excessive beauty and loveliness.
Then he entered the khan with a boatman, and inquired for the door-keeper. They
therefore directed him to him ; and he saw him to be an old, reverend sheikh. He
744 THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA.
saluted him, and the door-keeper returned his salutation ; and he Baid, O uncle, hast
thou an elegant chamber? He answered. Yes; — and, taking him, together with
the boatman, he opened for them an elegant chamber, decorated with gold, and said,
young man, this chamber is suitable to thee. And thereupon the young man took
forth two pieces of gold, and said to him. Receive these two as the gratuity for the
key. So he took them, and prayed for him. And the young man ordered the boat-
man to return to the vessel. He then entered the chamber, and the door-keeper of
the khan remained with him, and served him, and said to him, my master, happi-
ness hath betided us by thy coming. And the young man gave him a piece of gold,
saying to him, Buy for us with it some bread and meat and sweetmeat and wine.
Accordingly he took it, and repaired to the market, and returned to him, having
bought those things for ten pieces of silver, and gave him the remainder. But the
young man said to him, Expend it upon thyself. And the door-keeper of the khan
rejoiced thereat exceedingly. Then the young man ate, of the things that he had
demanded, one cake of bread with a little savory food, and said to the door-keeper
of the khan, Take this to the people of thy dwelling. He therefore took it, and went
with it to the people of his dwelling, and said to them, I imagine not that any one
on the face of the earth is more generous than the young man who hath taken up his
abode with us this day, or more sweet than he ; and if he remain with us, richness
will betide us.
Then the door-keeper of the khan went in to Ibrahim, and saw him weeping: so
he sat, and began to rub and press gently his feet ; after which he kissed them, and
said, my master, wherefore dost thou weep? May God not cause thee to weep !-—
And the young man said, uncle, I desire to drink with thee this night. The door-
keeper therefore replied, I hear and obey. And the young man took forth and gave
him five pieces of gold, saying to him. Buy for us, with them, fruits and wine. He
then gave him five other pieces of gold, and said to him. Buy for us, with these,
dried fruits and perfumes and five fat fowls, and bring me a lute. So he went forth
and bought for him what he had ordered him to get, and said to his wife. Prepare
this food, and strain for us this wine, and let that which thou shalt prepare be ex-
cellent ; for this young man hath extended to all of us his beneficence. His wife
therefore did as he had commanded her to the utmost of his desire, and he took the
provisions and went in with them to Ibrahim the son of the Sultan. So they ate and
drank and were merry; and afterwards the you-ng man wept and recited two
verses: — Then he uttered a great groan and fell down in a fit ; whereat the door-
keeper of the khan sighed; and when he recovered, he said to him, my master,
what causeth thee to weep, and who is she to whom thou alludest in these verses ;
for she cannot be aught but as dust to thy feet? And the young man arose, and,
taking forth a wrapper containing some of the most beautiful of women's apparel,
said to him, Take this to thy harem. So he received it from him, and gave it to his
wife, who thereupon came with him, and went in to the young man ; and lo, he was
weeping. She therefore said to him. Thou bast crumbled our livers. Tell us then
what beautiful woman thou desirest, and she shall not be aught but a slave in thine
abode. — And he said (addressing the door-keeper), uncle, know that I am the son
of Casib, the lord of Egypt, and that I am enamoured of Gemila, the daughter of
Abouleis, the chief. So the wife of the door-keeper of the khan said, Allah ! Allah !
my brother, abstain from uttering these words, lest any one hear us, and we perish ;
for there is not upon the face of the earth any one more violent than she, and no one
can mention to her the name of a man, since she is averse from men. Then, O my
son, turn from her to another. — And when he heard her words, he wept violently.
The dooi--kceper of the khan therefore said to him, I have nought but my life to give,
and I will expose it to peril for love of thee, and contrive for thee a plan by which
thy desire may be attained. Then they both went forth from him. And when the
morning came, the young man entered the bath, and put on a suit of the apparel of
Kings.; and lo, the door-keeper of the khan, with his wife, advanced to him, and
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA. 745
said to him, my master, know that here is a tailor, who is humpbacked, and he
is the tailor of the lady Gemila. So repair to him, and acquaint him with thy state,
and perhaps he will direct thee to a means of thine attaining thy desires.
The youth therefore arose and went to the shop of the humpbacked tailor: and he
went in to him, and found with him ten mamlouks, like moons. He saluted them,
and they returned his salutation, and were delighted with him, and they seated him,
and were confounded at the sight of his charms and his loveliness. And when the
humpback saw him, his mind was amazed at the beauty of his form. The young
man then said to him, I desire of thee that thou sew for me my pocket. So the
tailor advanced, and took a needleful of silk, and sewed it. And the young man had
torn his pocket purposely. And when the tailor had sewed it, he took forth for him
five pieces of gold, and gave them to him ; after which, he departed to his chamber.
The tailor therefore said. What have I done for this young man, that he hath given
me the five pieces of gold? Then he passed the night thinking upon his beauty and
his generosity, And when the morning came, the young man repaired again to the
shop of the humpbacked tailor. He entered and saluted him, and he returned his
salutation, treated him with honour, and welcomed him ; and when the young man
sat, he said to the humpback, uncle, sew for me my pocket ; for it hath been torn
a second time. So he replied, my son, on the head and the eye. And he advanced,
and sewed it; and the young man gave him ten pieces of gold. The tailor therefore
took them, and became amazed at his beauty and generosity, and said. By Allah, O
young man, there must be some reason for this conduct of thine, and this is not for
the sewing of a pocket. But inform me of the truth of thy case. — And he replied,
uncle, this is not the place for talking : for my story is wonderful, and my case is
extraordinary. Upon this, the tailor said. Since the case is so, arise and come with
us into a private place. Then the tailor arose, and, taking his hand, entered with
him a chamber within the shop, and said to him, young man, tell me. So he
related to him his case from first to last; and he was amazed at his words, and said,
young man, fear God with respect to thy case : for she whom thou hast mentioned
is a virago, averse from men. Therefore guard, my brother, thy tongue ; other-
wise thou wilt destroy thyself. — And when the young man heard his words, he wept
violently, and, keeping hold of the skirt of the tailor, he said. Protect me, uncle ;
for I am perishing; and I have left my kingdom and the kingdom of my father and
my grandfather, and become in the land a stranger, solitary : and I have not patience
to remain absent from her.
So when the tailor saw what had betided him, he pitied him, and said, my son,
1 have nought but my life to give, and I will expose it to peril for love of thee ; for-
thou hast wounded my heart. But to-morrow I will contrive for thee a plan by
which thy heart shall be comforted. He therefore prayed for him, and -departed to
the khan ; and he told the door-keeper of the khan what the tailor had said, where-
upon he replied. He hath acted with thee kindly. And when the next morning
came, the young man attired himself in the most sumptuous of his apparel, and,
taking with him a purse containing some pieces of gold, came to the humpback, and
saluted him, and sat down. Then he said to him, uncle, fulfil thy promise to me.
And he replied. Arise immediately, and take three fat fowls, and three ounces of
sugar-candy, and two small jugs, which fill thou with wine, and take a cup. Put
these things into a small bag, and embark, after the morning-prayers, in a small
boat, with a boatman, and say to him, I desire that thou go with me to the country
oelow Balsora. And if he reply, I cannot go further than a league, — say thou to
him. Thou shalt do as thou pleasest. But when he goeth, excite him with money,
until he conveyeth thee further ; and when thou hast arrived, the first garden that
thou wilt see is the garden of the lady Gemila. When thou seest it, go to its gate.
Thou wilt see two high steps, on vvhich is furniture of brocade, and a humpbacked
man, like myself, sitting. Complain to him of thy state, and solicit his favour, and
perhaps he will feel pity for thy state, and enable thee to see her, at least to obtain
746 THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA.
a sight from a distance. I have no expedient within mj power but this; and if he
be not moved with pity for thy state, I perit^h, and so dost thou. This is what I
think advisable, and the affair must be committed to God, whose name be exalted! —
So the young man said, I seek aid of God. AVhat God willeth must come to pass ;
and there is no strength nor power but in God. — lie then arose and departed from
the humpbacked tailor, and repaired to his chamber, took the things that he had
directed him to procure, and put ihem into a neat, small bag. And when he arose
in the following morning, he came to the bank of the Tigris, and lo, he saw a boat-
man lying asleep. So he woke him, and gave him ten pieces of gold, saying to him.
Convey me to the country below Balsora. The man replied, my master, on the
condition that I go not further than a league ; for if I go a span beyond that dis-
tance, we both perish. And he said to him, As thou pleasest. He therefore took
him, and proceeded with him down the river ; and when he came near to the garden,
he said, my son, beyond this point I cannot go : for if I pass this limit, we both
perish. So he took forth and gave him ten other pieces of gold, and said to him,
Receive this money, that thou mayest have recourse to it to amend thy state. And
the man was abashed at him, and said, I commit the affair to God, whose name be
exalted ! And he proceeded down the river with him ; and when he arrived at the
garden, the young man arose in his joy, leaped from the boat as far as a spear's
throw, and threw himself down ; and the boatman returned, fleeing.
The young man then advanced, and he saw all that the humpback had described
to him with respect to the garden. He saw its gate open, and in the vestibule was
a couch of ivory, on which was sitting a humpbacked man of comely countenance,
clad in apparel ornamented with gold, and having in his hand a mace of gilt silver.
So the young man went quickly and threw himself on his hand and kissed it ; where-
upon he said to him. Who art thou, and whence hast thou come, and who brought
thee hither, my son ? And that man, when he saw Ibrahim the son of Casib, was .
amazed at his loveliness. Then Ibrahim said to him, uncle, I am an ignorant,
strange youth. And he wept; and the man was moved with pity for him, and took
him up on the couch, wiped away his tears, and said to him, No harm shall befall
thee. If thou be in debt, may God discharge thy debt; and if thou be in fear, may
God appease thy fear ! — So he replied, uncle, I have no fear, nor am I in debt;
but have with me abundant wealth, by the good pleasure of God, and his aid. The
man therefore said to him, my son, what is thine affair, that thou hast exposed thy
life and thy beauty to peril by coming to a place of destruction ? And the young
man related to him his story, and explained to him his case: and when the hump-
back heard his words, he hung down his head a while towards the ground, and said,
Is the humpbacked tailor the person who directed thee to me ? He answered him,
Yes. And he rejoined. This is my brother, and he is a blessed man. Then he said,
my son, if affection for thee had not entered into my heart, and if I had not pitied
thee, thou hadst perished, thou and my brother and the door-keeper of the khan and his
wife. And he said, Know that there is not on the face of the earth the like of this
garden, and it is called the garden of the Pearl. No one hath entered it during the
period of my life, except the Sultan and myself and its owner Gemila [and her
attendants] ; and I have resided in it twenty years, and have not seen any man
[except the Sultan] come to this place. In the course of every forty days, the lady
Gemila cometh hither in the vessel, and ascendeth amid her female slaves, in a
canopy of satin, the borders of which ten female slaves hold up with hooks of gold,
till she entereth : so I have not seen of her aught. But I have nothing save my life
to give, and I will expose it to peril for thy sake. And thereupon the young man
kissed his hand; and the humpback said to him. Sit with me until I contrive for
thee a mode of proceeding.
After that he took the hand of the young man and conducted him into the garden ;
and when Ibrahim saw that garden, he imagined that it was Paradise. He beheld
the trees to be entangled, and the palm-trees tall, and the waters pouring, and the
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA. 747
birds warbling with various notes. Then the humpback went with him to a dome-
crowned pavilion, and said to him, This is the place in which the lady Gemila
sitteth. And he examined that pavilion, and found it to be one of the most wonder-
ful of pleasure-houses. In it were all kinds of pictures in gold and ultramarine, and
it had four doors, to which one ascended by five steps ; and in the midst of it was a
pool, to which one descended by steps of gold, those steps being set with minerals.
In the midst of the pool was a fountain of gold, with images, large and small, from
the mouths of which the water issued ; and when the images produced various
sounds at the issuing of the water, it seemed to the hearer that he was in Paradise.
By the dome-crowned pavilion was a water-wheel, the pots of which were of silver,
and it was covered with brocade. And on the left of the water-wheel was a lattice-
window of silver, looking upon a green meadow, in which were all kinds of wild
beasts, and gazelles, and hares ; and on its right was a lattice-window looking upon
a field in which were all kinds of birds, all of them warbling with various notes,
amazing the hearer. When the young man beheld this, he was moved with delight.
He seated himself at the gate of the garden, and the gardener sat by his side, and
said, How dost thou regard my garden? The young man answered him, It is the
Paradise of the World. And the gardener laughed. Then he arose, and was absent
from him a while, after which he returned, having with him a tray containing fowls
and quails, and nice food, and sweetmeat of sugar; and he put it before the young
man, and said to him, Eat until thou shalt be satiated. So I ate, says Ibrahim, until
I was satisfied ; and when he saw that I ate, he rejoiced, and said. By Allah, this is
the manner of Kings, the sons of Kings! And he said, Ibrahim, what is with
thee in this small bag ? I therefore opened it before him ; and he said, Carry it with
thee ; for it will be of use to thee when the lady Gemila cometh, since, when she
oometh, I shall not be able to come in to thee with aught for thee to eat. — Then he
arose and took my hand and brought me to a place opposite the dome-crowned pavi-
lion of Gemila ; and he made an arbour amid the trees, and said, Ascend into this ;
and when she cometh, thou wilt see her, and she will not see thee. This is the
utmost stratagem that I can employ, and upon God be our dependence. When she
singeth, drink to her singing, and when she departeth, return to the place whence
thou camest, if it be the will of God, with safety. — So the young man thanked him,
and desired to kiss his hand ; but he prevented him. Then the young man put the
small bag into the arbour which the humpback had made for him ; after which the
gardener said to him, Ibrahim, divert thyself in the garden, and eat of its fruits ;
for the appointed time of the coming of thy beloved is to-morrow. Ibrahim there-
fore proceeded to amuse himself in the garden, and to eat of its fruits.
He passed the night with the gardener, and when the morning came and difi'used
its light and shone, Ibrahim recited the morning-prayers, and lo, the gardener came
to him, with sallow complexion, and said to him, Arise, my son, and ascend to the
arbour ; for the female slaves have come to spread the furniture in the place, and
she will come after them ; and beware thou of spitting, or blowing thy nose, or
sneezing; for if tliou do we shall both perish. The young man therefore arose and
ascended to the arbour, and the gardener departed, saying, God grant thee safety,
my son ! And while the young man was sitting, lo, there approached five slave-girls,
the like of whom no one had beheld. They entered the dome-crowned pavilion,
pulled off their outer garments, and washed tlie place, sprinkled it with rose-water,
gave vent to the fumes of aloes-wood and ambergris, and spread the brocade. And
there approached after them fifty female slaves with musical instruments, and
Gemila was amid them, within a red canopy of brocade, and the female slaves held
up the skirts of the canopy with hooks of gold until she entered the pavilion. So
the young man saw not of her, nor of her apparel, aught; and he said witliin him-
self. By Allah, all my labour is lost; but I must wait until I see how the case will
be. The female slaves brought forward the food and drink ; and they ate, and
washed their hands, and set for Gemila a throne, on which she seated herself. Then
748
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA.
they all played on the musical instruments, and sang with mirth-excitino; voices, of
which there was not the like ; after which an old woman, who was a confidential
servant, came forth, and clapped her hands, and danced ; and the female slaves
pulled her along. And lo, the curtain was raised, and Gemila came forth, laugh-
ing ; and Ibrahim saw her. Upon her were ornaments and apparel, and on her
head was a crown set with fine pearls and with jewels, and on her neck a necklace
of pearls, and around her waist a girdle of oblong chrysolites, the strings of which
were of jacinths and pearls. And thereupon the female slaves arose, and kissed the
ground before her, while she laughed.
When I beheld her, says Ibrahim the son of Casib, I became unconscious of mv
existence, and my reason was confounded, and my mind was perplexed, in conse-
quence of my amazement at loveliness the like of which was not seen upon the face
of the earth. I fell down in a fit, and recovered with weeping eyes. — The old woman
then said to the female slaves. Let
ten of you arise and dance and
sing. And when Ibrahim saw
them, he said within himself, I
wish that the lady Gemila would
dance. And after the dancing of
the ten slave-girls was ended, they
went around her, and said, our
mistress, we wish that thou
wouldst dance amid this assembly,
that our happiness might be ren-
dered complete thereby; for we
have not seen a more delightful
day than this one. So Ibrahim
said within himself. No doubt the
gates of heaven have been opened,
and God hath answered my prayer.
Then the female slaves kissed her
feet, and said to her. By Allah,
we have not seen thy bosom dilated
as it is this day. And they ceased
not to excite her until she pulled
off her outer clothing, and became
only clad in a shirt woven with
gold, embroidered with varieties
of jewels, showing the forms of a
bosom like two pomegranates, and displaying a face like the moon on the night of
its fulness. Ibrahim beheld motions the like of which he had not seen before in his
life. And when she exhibited, in her dancing, an extraordinary mode, and wonder-
ful invention, her performance was such (says Ibrahim), that she made us forget the
dancing of the bubbles in the cups, and occasioned our thinking of the inclining of
the turbans from the heads.
Now, while I was looking at her, says Ibrahim, lo, a glance of her eye was directed
towards me, and she saw me ; and when she beheld me, her countenance changed,
and she said to her female slaves, Sing ye until I return to you. Then she took a
knife half a cubit in length, and came towards me, saying. There is no strength nor
power but in God, the High, the Great! And when she drew near to me I became
unconscious of my existence ; but when she saw me, and her face met mine, the
knife fell from her hand, and she said. Extolled be the perfection of the Changer of
hearts ! She then aaid to me, young man, be of good heart : thou art secure from
that which thou fearest. And J began to weep, and she wiped away my tears with
her hand, and said, young man, inform me who thou art, and what brought thee
(jciuila danciiig.
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA. 749
to this place. So I kissed the ground before her, and kept hold of her skirt, and
she said. No harm shall befall thee ; for, by Allah, mine eye hath not been delighted
with any male but thyself. Then tell me who thou art. — I therefore related to her
my story from beginning to end ; and she wondered thereat, and said to me, my
master, I conjure thee by Allah to tell me, art thou Ibrahim the son of Casib? I
answered. Yes. And she threw herself upon me, and said, my master, thou art
the person who made me averse from men ; for when I heard that there existed in
Egypt a yoiing man than whom there was not upon the face of the earth any one
more beautiful, I loved thee from the description, and my heart became fondly at-
tached to thee, by reason of that which was told me of thee, concerning thy sur-
passing loveliness. Therefore praise be to God who hath shown me thy face 1 By
Allah, had it been any but thee, I had crucified the gardener, and the door-keeper
of the khan, and the tailor, and him who had recourse to them ! — Then she said to
me, How shall I contrive means of procuring something for thee to eat without the
knowledge of my female slaves ? So I answered her, I have with me what we may
eat and what we may drink. And I opened the small bag before her, and took a
fowl, and she proceeded to feed me with morsels, I feeding her in like manner. And
when I saw this conduct of hers, I imagined that the event was a dream. Then I
brought forward the wine, and we drank. All that time, while she was with me,
the female slaves were singing; and we ceased not to remain in this state from morn
to noon, when she arose, and said. Arise now; prepare for thee a vessel, and wait
for me in such a place until I come to thee ; for there remaineth to me no patience
to endure thy separation. So I replied, my mistress, I have with me a vessel,
which is my property, and the boatmen are hired by me, and they are expecting me.
And she said. This is what we desire.
She then went to the female slaves, and said to them. Arise with us, that we may
go to our palace. They therefore said to her, Why should we arise now, when it is
our custom to remain three days? And she replied. Verily I experience in myself a
great heaviness. It seemeth that I am sick, and I fear that this illness may become
more heavy upon me. — So they said to her. We hear and obey. Accordingly they
put on their apparel, went to the bank of the river, and embarked in the boat. And
lo, the gardener approached Ibrahim, having no knowledge of that which had hap-
pened to him, and said, Ibrahim, thou hast not had the good fortune to delight
thyself with beholding her; for it is her custom to remain here three days, and I
fear that she hath seen thee. But Ibrahim replied, She saw me not, nor did I see
her, nor did she come forth from the pavilion. And he said, Thou hast spoken truth,
my son ; for had she seen thee, we bad perished : but remain with me until she
come next vreek, and thou shalt see her and satiate thyself with gazing at her. Ibra-
him, however, replied, my master, I have with me wealth, and I fear for it. I
have also left behind me men, and I fear that they will think me too long absent.
And the gardener said, my son, verily thy separation will be grievous to me. Then
he embraced him, and bade him farewell; and Ibrahim repaired to the khan in
which he was lodging, met the door-keeper of the khan, and took his wealth. And
the door-keeper said to him, Good news, if it be the will of God. But Ibrahim re-
plied, I found no way of accomplishing my affair, and I desire to return to my
family. So the door-keeper of the khan wept, and bade him farewell, carried his
goods, and conducted him to the vessel.
After that, Ibrahim repaired to the place of which Gemila had told him, and there
waited for her; and when the night became dark, lo, she approached him, in the
garb of a valiant man, with a round beard, and her waist bound with a girdle, and
in one of her hands were a bow and arrows, and in the other was a drawn sword ;
and she said to him, Art thou the son of Casib the lord of Egypt? So Ibrahim
answered her, I am he. And she said to him. And what young wretch art thou,
that thou hast come to corrupt the daughters of the Kings ? 'Arise ; answer the
summons of the Sultan. — Upon this, says Ibrahim, I fell down in a fit; and as to
750: THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA.
the boatmen, they almost died in their skins from fear. Therefore when she saw
•what had happened to me, she pulled off that beard, threw down the sword, and
loosed the girdle ; and I saw that she was the lady Gemila, and said to her, By
Allah, thou hast mangled my heart! Then I said to the boatmen, Hasten the course
of the vessel. Accordingly they loosed the sail, and hastened in their course, and
only a few days had elapsed before we arrived at Bagdad. And lo, there was a
vessel lying stationary by the bank of the river; and when the boatmen who were
in it saw us, they called out to the boatmen who were with us, and proceeded to
say, such-a-one ! and such-a-one ! we congratulate you on your safety ! They
then drove their vessel against ours ; and we looked, and behold, in it was
Aboulcasim Sandalani, who, when he saw us, said. Verily this is the object of my
search. Go ye, in the keeping of God. I desire to repair to accomplish an affair.
— And there was before him a candle. Then he said to me. Praise be to God for
thy safety! Hast thou accomplished thine affair? — I answered. Yes. And there-
upon he put the candle near to us; and when Gemila saw him, her state became
changed, and her complexion became sallow; and when Sandalani saw her, he said.
Depart ye in the safe keeping of God. I am going to Balsora, on business for the
Sultan : but the gift is for him who is present. — He then produced a small box of
sweetmeats, and threw it into our vessel, and there was in them bhang. So Ibra-
him said, delight of my eye, eat of this. But she wept, and said, Ibrahim,
knowest tliou who this is? — I answered (says Ibrahim), Yes : this is such-a-one.
And she rejoined. He is the son of my paternal uncle, and formerly he demanded
me in marriage of my father, and I did not accept him ; and he is repairing to Bal-
sora ; so probaVdy he will inform my father of us. But I said, my mistress, he
will not arrive at Balsora until we arrive at Mosul, — And they knew not what was
concealed from them in the secret purpose of God.
Then I ate (says Ibrahim) somewhat of the sweetmeat, and it had not descended
into my stomach before I struck the floor with my head. And when it was near
daybreak I sneezed ; whereupon the bhang issued from my nostril, and I opened my
eye, and beheld myself stripped of my outer clothing, and thrown amid ruins. I
therefore slapped my face, and said within myself. Verily this is a stratagem prac-
tised upon me by Sandalani. I knew not whither to repair, and had nothing upon
me but a pair of trousers ; and I arose and walked about a little ; and lo, the Judge
approached me, accompanied by a party of men with swords and leathern shields.
So I feared, and, seeing a ruined bath, I hid myself in it. But my foot stumbled
upon something : wherefore I put my hand upon it, and it became befouled with
blood. I therefore wiped it upon my trousers, not knowing what it was, and
Stretched forth my hand to the thing a second time ; whereupon it fell on a slain
person, and the head came up in my hand. So I threw it down, and said. There is
no strength nor power but in God, the High, tlie Great! I then entered one of the
retired corners of the bath ; and behold, the Judge stopped at the door of the bath,
and said, Enter ye this place, and search. And ten of them entered with cressets;
and by reason of my fear, I retired behind a wall, and, taking a view of that slain
person, I saw it to be a damsel, \v^hose face was like the full moon ; her head lying
on one side, and her body on another: and upon her was costly apparel. Therefore
when I beheld her. a violent trembling affected my heart. And the Judge entered,
and said. Search throughout the bath. And they entered the place in which I was,
and a man of them saw me, and came to me, having in his hand a knife half a cubit
Ion"-; and when he drew near to me, he said. Extolled be the perfection of God, the
Creator of this beautiful face ! young man, whence art thou ?— Then he took my
hand, and said, young man, wherefore didst thou slay this murdered female ? So
I answered. By Allah, I did not slay her, nor do I know who slew her, and I entered
not this place save through fear of you. And I acquainted him with my case, and
said to him, By Allah, I conjure thee that thou wrong me not, for I am anxious for
myself. And he took me and led me forward to the Judge ; and when he saw upon
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA. 751
my hands the marks of blood, he said, This requireth not proof: therefore strike off
his head. So when I heard these words, I wept violently. Then I uttered a groan,
and fell down in a fit ; whereupon the heart of the executioner was moved with pity
for me, and he said. By Allah, this is not the face of him who hath committed a
murder! But the Judge said. Strike off his head ! They therefore seated me upon
the skin of blood, and bound over my eyes a covering, find the swordsman took his
sword, asked permission of the Judge, and was about to strike off my head. So I
cried out, Alas for my distance from my home!
But lo, a company of horsemen approached, and a speaker said. Leave ye him !
Restrain thy hand, swordsman ! — And this was occasioned by a wonderful cause
and an extraordinary circumstance, which was this. Casib the lord of Egypt had
sent his Chamberlain to the Caliph Ilaroun Alrashid, and with him presents and
rarities, and also a letter, in which he wrote to him. My son hath been lost a year
since, and I have heard that he is in Bagdad ; and my desire of the beneficence of
the Caliph of God is, that he would search for tidings of him, and strive in seeking
him, and send him to me with the Chamberlain. So when the Caliph read the
letter, he ordered the Judge to investigate the truth of his story ; and the Judge and
the Caliph ceased not to inquire for him, until it was told the Judge that he was at
Balsora. He therefore informed the Caliph of that, and the Caliph wrote a letter,
and gave it to the Egyptian Chamberlain, ordering him to journey to Balsora, and
to take with him a party of the dependants of the Vizier. And by reason of the
eagerness of the Chamberlain to find the son of his lord, he went forth immediately,
and he found the young man upon the skin of blood, with the Judge. And when
the Judge saw the Chamberlain, and knew him, he dismounted to him ; and the
Chamberlain said to him, Who is this young man, and what is his case? So he
acquainted him with the matter; and the Chamberlain said, not knowing that he
was the son of the Sultan, Verily the face of this young man is the face of one that
doth not murder. And he ordered the Judge to loose his bonds ; wherefore he
loosed them ; and he said, Bring him forward to me. Accordingly he led him for-
ward to him. And his loveliness had departed in consequence of the severity of
the horrors that he had endured. The Chamberlain therefore said to him. Acquaint
me with thy history, young man, and tell me wherefore this slain female is with
thee. And when Ibrahim looked at the Chamberlain, he knew him : so he said to
him, Wo to thee! Dost thou not know me? Am I not Ibrahim, the son of thy
lord ? Probably thou hast come to seek for me. — Upon this, the Chamberlain fixed
his eyes intently upon him, and knew him perfectly: therefore, when he knew him,
he threw himself upon his feet. And when the Judge saw what the Chamberlain
did, his complexion became sallow. The Chamberlain then said to him, Wo to thee,
oppressor! Was it thy desire to slay the son of my master Casib the lord of
Egypt? So the Judge kissed the skirt of the Chamberlain, and said to him, my
lord, how could I know him? Verily we saw him in this plight, and we saw the
damsel slain by his side. — But he replied. Wo to thee! Verily thou art not fit for
the office of Judge. This is a young man, fifteen years of age, and he hath not
killed a sparrow. How then should he murder a human being? Didst thou not
grant him any delay, and ask him respecting his state? — Then the Chamberlain
and the Judge said. Search ye for the murderer of the damsel. They therefore
entered the bath a second time, and they saw her murderer: so they took him, and
brought him to the Judge, who took him and repaired with him to the palace of the
Caliph, and acquainted the Caliph with the events that had happened.
Upon this, Alrashid gave orders to slay the murderer of the damsel; after which
he commanded to bring the son of Casib. And when he presented himself before
him, Alrashid smiled in his face, and said to him. Acquaint me with thy history,
and the events that have happened to thee. So he related to him his story from the
beginning to the end : and it excited his wonder. He then called Mesrour the exe-
cutioner, and said, Go this instant and assail the house of Aboulcasim Sandalani,
752
THE STORY OF IBRAHIM AND GEMILA.
and bring hitn and the damsel to me. Accordingly he went immediately, and as-
sailed his house, and he saw the damsel bound with her hair, and at .he point of
destruction. Mesrour therefore loosed her, and brought her with Sandalani ; and
when Alrashid beheld her, he wondered at her loveliness. Then he looked towards
Sandalani, and said. Take ye him, and cut off his hands with which he smote this
damsel, and crucify him, and deliver his riches and his possessions to Ibrahim.
And they did so. And while they were thus employed, lo, Abouleis, the Governor
of Balsora, the father of the lady Gemila, approached them, to demand aid of the
Caliph against Ibrahim the son of Casib the lord of Egypt, and to complain to him
that he had taken his daughter. But Alrashid said to him, He was the cause of
her deliverance from torture and slaughter. And he gave orders to bring the son
of Casib ; and when he came, he said to Abouleis, Wilt thou not consent that this
young man, the son of the Sultan of Egypt, shall be a husband to thy daughter?
And he answered, I hear and obey God and thee, Prince of the Faithful ! So the
Caliph summoned the Cadi and the witnesses, and married the damsel to Ibrahim
the son of Casib. He also presented to him all the riches of Sandalani, and fitted
him out for his return to his country. And he lived with her in the most perfect
happiness and the most complete joy until they were visited by the terminator of
delights and the separator of companions. — Extolled be the perfection of the Living
who dieth not I
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 753
CHAPTER XXX.
Commencing with part of the Nine Hundred and Eighty-ninth Night, and ending with the
Thousand and First.
THE STORY OF MAROUF.
There was, in the guarded city of Cairo, a cobbler who mended old shoes. His
name was Marouf, and he had a wife whose name was Fatima, and whose nickname
was Orra ; and they gave her not that nickname save because she was a wicked, evil
woman, of little modesty, a great mischief-maker. She ruled her husband, and
every day used to revile him and curse him a thousand times ; and he dreaded her
malice, and feared her oppression ; for he was a sensible man, who felt shame for
his reputation ; but he was poor in circumstances. When he worked for much, he
expended his gains upon her ; and when he worked for little, she revenged, herself
upon his body during the ensuing night, and deprived him of health, making his
night like the record of her own actions.
Now, among the events that happened to this man, proceeding from his wife, it
chanced that she said to him, Marouf, I desire of thee to-night that thou bring me
some kunafeh ' with bees' honey upon it. And he replied, May God (whose name
be exalted !) make easy to me the means of obtaining its price, and I will bring it to
thee to-night. By Allah, I have had no money this day ; but our Lord may render
the affair easy. — She, however, said to him, I know not these words. Whether He
render it easy or do not render it easy, come not to me save with the kunafeh with
bees' honey; and if thou come without kunafeh, I will make thy night like thy
fortune when thou marriedst me and fellest into my hand. — So he replied, God is
bountiful. Then that man went forth, with grief displaying itself in his person ; and
after he had performed the morning-prayers, he opened the shop, and said, I pray
thee, Lord, to supply me with the price of this kunafeh, and to save me from the
mischief of this wicked woman to-night! And he sat in the shop until mid-day, but
no work betided him ; wherefore his fear of his wife became violent, and he arose
and closed the shop, and became perplexed respecting his case, on account of the
kunafeh, not having even any portion of the price of the bread. He then passed by
the shop of the seller of kunafeh, and stopped in a state of stupefaction, and his
eyes filled with tears. And the seller of kunafeh, casting at him a sidelong glance,
said, master Marouf, wherefore dost thou weep ? Tell me what hath befallen
thee. — He therefore told him his tale, and said to him. My wife is a virago, and she
hath demanded of me kunafeh, and I have sat in the shop until half the day hath
passed, but not even the price of bread hath betided me, and I am in fear of her.
And upon this, the seller of kunafeh laughed, and said. No harm shall befall thee.
How many pounds dost thou desire ? — He answered, Five pounds. And he wei^-hed
for him five pounds, and said to him, I have the clarified butter; but I have not
bees' honey ; I have, however, drip-honey,^ better than bees' honey ; and what will
be the harm if it be with drip-honey ? And Marouf was abashed at him, because he
A sort of pastry resembling vermicelli. ' Treacle.
48
754 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
was to wait for his paying the price. , He therefore said to him, Give it me with drip-
honey. And he fried for him the kunafeh with the clarified butter, and saturated it
with drip-honey, and it became fit to be presented to Kings. Then he said to him,
Dost thou want bread and cheese? He answered. Yes. So he took for him four
farthings' worth of bread, and a farthing's worth of cheese, and the kunafeh was for
ten farthings ; and he said to him, Know, Marouf, that thy debt hath become
fifteen farthings. Go to thy wife and make merry, and take this farthing to serve
as payment for the bath. Thou shalt have a delay of a day, or two days, or three,
until God shall supply thee; and distress not thy wife; for I will have patieHce
with thee until thou shalt have money exceeding what will be requisite for thy
expenditure.
So he took the kunafeh and the bread and the cheese, and departed praying for
him, and went with comforted heart, saying, Extolled be thy perfection, my Lord !
How bountiful art Thou ! — Then he went in to her, and she said to him, Hast thou
brought the kunafeh ? He answered. Yes. And he placed it before her. So she
looked at it, and saw it to be with honey of the sugar-cane; and upon this she said
to him, Did I not say to thee. Bring it with bees' honey? Dost thou act contrary to
my desire, and make it with honey of the sugar-cane? — He therefore apologized to
her, and said to her, I bought it not save upon credit. But she replied. These are
vain words. I will not eat kunafeh save with bees' honey. — And she was angry with
it, and threw it in his face, saying to him. Arise, you rascal: bring me some other
kunafeh! She then struck him with her fist upon the side of his face, knocking out
one of his teeth, and the blood flowed down upon his bosom ; and by reason of the
violence of his rage, he struck her one slight blow upon her head ; whereat she
seized his beard, and began to cry out and to say, ye Faithful ! The neighbours
therefore entered, and extricated his beard from her hand; and they beset her with
reproofs, and reproached her, and said. We all like to eat kunafeh that is with honey
of the sugar-cane. What is this oppressive conduct towards this poor man ? Verily
this is disgraceful to thee ! — And they ceased not to soothe her until they efi'ected a
reconciliation between her and him. But after the departure of the people, she
swore that she would not eat aught of the kunafeh ; and hunger tormented Marouf:
so he said within himself. She hath sworn that she will not eat : therefore I will eat.
Then he ate ; and when she saw him do so, she began to say to him, If it be the will
of God, may it be a poison that shall destroy thy body ! But he replied, It is not as
thou sayest. And he proceeded to cat, and to laugh, and say. Thou hast sworn that
thou wilt not eat of this. But God is bountiful; and if it be the will of God, to-
morrow night I will bring thee kunafeh that shall be with bees' honey, and thou
shalt eat it by thyself. — And he proceeded to appease her, while she cursed him.
She ceased not to revile him and abuse him until the morning; and when the morn-
ing came, she tucked up the sleeve from her arm to beat him: so he said to her,
Grant me a delay, and I will bring thee some other kunafeh.
He then went forth to the mosque, and said his prayers, and went to the shop, and
opened it and sat. But he had not sat long when two officers from the Cadi came
to him, and said to him, Arise ; answer the summons of the Cadi ; for thy wife hath
complained of thee to him, and her appearance is so and so. And he knew her [by
the description], and said, May God (whose name be exalted!) send trouble upon
her! Then he arose and walked with them until he went in to the Cadi, when he
saw his wife with her arm bound, and her face-veil b'.fouled with blood, and she was
standing weeping, and wiping away her tears. So the Cadi said to him, man,
dost thou not fear God, whose name be exalted? How is it that thou beatest this
wife, and breakest her arm, and knockest out her tooth, and dost these deeds unto
lier? — And he replied, if I have beaten her, or knocked out her tooth, sentence me
to what punishment thou choosest. Verily the case was so and so, and the neigh-
bours made peace between me and her. — And he acquainted him with the case from
beginning to end. And that Cadi was of the people of beneficence ; so he took forth
Marouf Flees from his Home. (Page 7B7.)
765
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 757
for him a quarter of a piece of gold, and said to him, mau, take this, and prepare
for her with it some kunafeh with bees' honey, and be thou reconciled to her. And
he replied. Give it to her. She therefore took it; and the Cadi made peace between
them, and said, wife, obey thy husband ; and thou, man, act kindly to her.
And they went forth reconciled by means of the Cadi. The woman went one way,
and her husband went another way, to his shop, and sat down. And lo, the ser-
geants came to him and said, Give us our fee. So he said to them, The Cadi took
not from me aught: on the contrary, he gave me a quarter of a piece of gold. But
they replied, We have no concern with the Cadi's giving to thee or taking from thee ;
and if thou give us not our fee, we will take it by force from thee. And they pro-
ceeded to drag him along through the market, lie therefore sold his implements,
and gave them half a piece of gold, and they went away from him. lie then put his
hand upon his cheek, and sat sorrowful, because he had not implements with which
to work. And while he was sitting, lo, two men of hideous aspect advanced to him
and said to him. Arise, man ; answer the summons of the Cadi ; for thy wife hath
complained of thee to him. He therefore replied. He hath made peace between me
and her. But they said to him, We are from another Cadi ; for thy wife hath com-
plained of thee to our Cadi. So he arose and went with them, praying for aid
against her by ejaculating, God is our suflBciency, and excellent is the Protector!
And when he saw her, he said to her. Have we not made peace with each other,
ingenuous woman ? But she replied. There remaineth no longer peace between me
and thee. And be advanced and related to the Cadi his story, saying to him. The
Cadi such-a-one made peace between us just now. So the Cadi said to her, impu-
dent woman, since ye have made peace with each other, wherefore hast thou come
complaining to me? She answered. He beat me after that. And the Cadi said to
them. Make peace with each other, — and, addressing the man, he added, — And beat
her not again, and she will not again oppose thee. They therefore made peace with
each other ; and the Cadi said to him. Give the sergeants their fee. Accordingly he
gave them their fee, and he went to the shop and opened it, and sat in it, like one
intoxicated, by reason of the anxiety that had befallen him.
And while he was sitting, lo, a man advanced to him and said to him, Marouf,
arise ; hide thyself; for thy wife hath complained of thee to the Sublime Court, and
Abou Tabak is coming down upon thee. So he arose and closed the shop, and he
fled in the direction of the Bab el-Nasr. And there had remained in his possession
five farthings, of the price of the lasts and the other implements. He therefore
bought for four farthings bread, and for one farthing cheese, as he fled from her.
And this happened in the winter-quarter, at the time of afternoon-prayers ; and
when he went forth among the mounds, the rain descended upon him like streams
pouring from the mouths of water-skins, and his clothes were wetted. So he entered
the Adilia mosque, and, seeing a ruined place, in which was a deserted cell, without
a door, he entered to shelter himself in it from the rain ; his clothes being wetted.
Then tears descended from his eyelids, and he became oppressed in mind by his
affliction, and said. Whither shall I flee from this vile woman ? I pray thee, Lord,
to send to me some person who shall convey me to a distant country, whither she
shall not know the way by which to reach me. — And while he was sitting weeping,
lo, the wall clove asunder, and there came forth to him from it a person of tall
stature, at the sight of whom the flesh quaked, and he said to him, man, what
aileth thee that thou hast thus disquieted me this night? I have ))een residing
in this place for two hundred years, and have not seen any one enter it and do as
thou hast done. Acquaint me then with thy desire, and I will accomplish thine
aflair, for compassion for thee hath affected my heart. — Upon this he said to him,
Who art thou, and what mayest thou be? And he answered him, I am the haunter
of this place. So he acquainted him with all that had happened to him with his
wife ; whereupon the Genie said to him. Dost thou desire that I should convey thee
to a country whither thy wife shall know no way by which to reach thee? He an-
758
THE STORY OF MAROU>
'I'he Genie carrying off Marouf.
swered. Yes. And the Genie said to him, Mount upon my back. Accordingly he
mounted ; and the Genie bore him and flew with him from after nightfall until the
rising of the dawn, when he set him down upon the summit of a' high mountain, and
said, human being, descend from the top of this mountain: thou wilt see the
threshold of a city, and do thou enter it; for thy wife will not know any way by
which to reach thee, nor will it be possible for her to gain access to thee. Then he
left him, and departed.
Marouf was in a state of confusion, perplexed in his mind, until the sun rose:
whereupon he said within himself, I will arise, and descend from this mountain to
the city; for in my sitting here is no advantage. So he descended to the foot of the
mountain, and he saw a city with high walls, and lofty pavilions, and decorated
buildings, and it was a delight to the beholders. He entered the gate of the city,
and saw that it dilated the sorrowful heart; and when he walked through the
market, the people of the city looked at him, diverting themselves with the sight of
him, and they assembled around him and wondered at his apparel ; for his apparel
resembled not theirs. And a man of the people of the city said to him, man,
art thou a stranger? He answered. Yes. He said to him, From what country? He
answered. From the fortunate city of Cairo. He said to him, Hast thou long quitted
it? He answered him, Yesterday in the afternoon. And thereupon he laughed at
him, and said, people, come hither; see this man, and hear what he saith ! So
they said, What saith he? He answered. He asserteth that he is from Cairo, and
that he came forth from it yesterday in the afternoon. And they all laughed, and
the people assembled around him, and said, man, art thou mad, that thou sayest
these words? How is it thou assertest that thou quittedst Cairo yesterday in the
afternoon, and foundest thyself in the morning here, when between our city and
Cairo is a space of a whole year's journey ? — But he replied, None are mad but you:
and as to me, I am veracious in my saying, and this is bread of Cairo: it hath not
ceased to remain with me moist. And he showed them the bread, and they diverted
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 759
themselves with looking at it, and wondered at it ; for it resembled not the bread of
their country. The crowd became numerous around him, and they said one to
another, This is bread of Cairo. Divert yourselves with the sight of it.
He became notorious in that city; and among the people, some believed him, and
some belied and derided him ; and while they were in this state, lo, a merchant ad-
vanced to them, riding upon a mule, and behind him were two black slaves. There-
upon the people became dispersed, and he said, people, are ye not ashamed of
collecting around this stranger and ridiculing him and laughing at him? What
concern have ye with him ? — And he ceased not to revile them until he drove them
away from him, no one being able to return him a reply. He then said to Marouf,
Come hither, my brother. No harm shall befall thee from these. Verily they
have no shame. — He took him and proceeded with him until he conducted him into
a spacious, decorated mansion, and he seated him in a royal chamber, and gave
orders to the slaves, who thereupon opened for him a chest, and took forth for him
a dress fit for a merchant possessing a thousand purses, and he clad him with it ;
and Marouf was a comely person: so he became as though he were Shah Bandar
of the merchants. Then that merchant demanded the table; and they put before
them a table containing every description of exquisite viands, of all kinds : and they
ate and drank; after which the merchant said to Marouf, my brother, what is thy
name? He answered, My name is Marouf; and my trade is that of a cobbler: I
mend old shoes. He said to him, From what country art thou ? He answered, From
Cairo. He said. From what quarter? Marouf said to him. Dost thou know Cairo?
The merchant answered him, I am of its sons. So Marouf replied, I am from the
street el-Ahmar. The merchant said to him. Whom dost thou know of the street el-
Ahmar? He answered him, Such-a-one and such-a-one. And he enumerated to
him many persons. The merchant said to him. Dost thou know the sheikh Ahmad
the druggist? He answered him, He was my neighbour, wall adjoining wall. He
said to him, Is he well? He answered, Yes. He said to him. How many children
hath he? He answered. Three: Mustapha and Mohamed and Ali. He said to him.
What hath God done with his children? He answered. As to Mustapha, he is well,
and he is a learned man, a professor: and as to Mohamed, he is a druggist: he hath
opened for himself a shop by the side of the shop of his father, after having married,
and his wife hath borne him a son whose name is Hassan. And the merchant said,
May God rejoice thee with good tidings! Marouf then said. And as to Ali, he was
my companion when we were little children, and I used always to play with him,
and we used to go, in the garb of the sons of the Christians, and enter the church,
and steal the books of the Christians, and sell them, and buy, with their price, food.
But it happened once that the Christians saw us, and laid hold of us with a book :
80 they complained of us to our families, and said to his fatlier. If thou prevent not
thy son from troubling us, we will complain of thee to the King. And he
appeased them, and gave him a beating; and for this reason he fled immediately,
and no way of finding him was known. He hath been absent twenty years, and no
one hath given any tidings of him.
Upon this, the merchant said to him. He is myself, Ali the son of the sheikh
Ahmad the druggist, and thou art my companion, Marouf. They saluted each
other, and, after the salutation, the merchant said to him, Marouf, acquaint me
with the reason of thy coming from Cairo to this city. So he acquainted him with
the history of his wife Fatima el-Orra, and what she had done with him, and said to
him, Wlien her injurious conduct to me became excessive, I fled from her, in the
direction of the Bab el-Nasr ; and the rain descended upon me; wherefore I entered
a ruined cell in the Adilia, and sat weeping, and there came forth to me the haunter
of the place, who is an Afrite of the Genii, and he questioned me. I therefore
acquainted him with my state, and he mounted me upon his back, and flew with me
all the night between heaven and earth : then he put me down upon the mountain,
and informed me of the city : so I descended from the mountain and entered the city,
760 THE STORY OF MAROUP.
and the people collected around me, questioning tne ; and I said to them, I came
forth yesterday from Cairo. But they believed me not. And thou camest, and
repelledst the people from me, and broughtest me to this house. This was the cause
of my coming forth from Cairo. And what was the cause of thy coming hither? —
He answered him, Folly overcame me when my age was seven years, and from that
time I have been going about from country to country and from city to city until I
entered this city, the name of which is Khitan of Tartary ; whereupon I saw its in-
habitants to be generous people, endued with compassion, and I saw that they con-
fided in the poor man, and sold to him on credit, and whatever he said they believed
him respecting it. I therefore said to them, I am a merchant, and I have come on
before my merchandise, and I desire a place in which to deposit it. And they
believed me, and appropriated a place to my exclusive use. Then I said to them. Is
there among you one who will lend me a thousand pieces of gold until my merchan-
dise shall arrive, when I will return to him what I receive from him ? For I am in
need of some commodities before my merchandise will enter the city. — And they
gave me what I desired. I then repaired to the market of the merchants, and, seeing
some goods, I bought them ; and on the following day I sold them, and gained by
them fifty pieces of gold, and bought other goods. I proceeded to associate with the
people, and to treat them with generosity ; and they loved me ; and I betook myself
to selling and buying, and my wealth became great. And know, my brother, that
the author of the proverb saith. The world is full of idle boasting, and artifice. And
in the country in which no one knoweth thee do whatsoever thou wilt. But if thou
say to every one who asketh thee, I am by trade a cobbler, and a poor man, and I
fled from my wife, and yesterday I came forth from Cairo, — they will not believe
thee, and thou wilt become among them a laughing-stock as long as thou shalt
remain in this city. And if thou say, An Afrite conveyed me, — they will run away
from thee in fear, and no one will come near thee ; and they will say, This is a man
possessed by an Afrite, and whosoever goeth near him, injury will happen to him.
And this notoriety will be disgraceful to me and to thee ; for they know that I am
from Cairo.
Marouf then said. And how shall I act? He answered, I will teach thee how thou
shalt act. If it be the will of God (whose name be exalted !), I will give thee to-
morrow a thousand pieces of gold, and a mule which thou shalt ride, and a black
slave who shall walk before thee until he shall conduct thee to the gate of the market
of the merchants. Then go in to them; and I will be sitting among the merchants ;
and when I see thee, I will rise to thee and salute thee, and I will kiss thy hand and
honour thy station ; and whenever I ask thee respecting any kind of stufl", saying to
thee, Hast thou brought with thee any of such a kind ? — answer, Abundance : — and
if they ask me respecting thee, I will praise thee and magnify thee in their eyes. I
will then say to them. Provide ye for him a magazine and a shop. And I will
describe thee as a person of abundant wealth and generosity ; and if a beggar come
to thee, give him what thou canst easily afford : thereupon they will confide in my
words, and believe in thy greatness and thy generosity and they will love thee.
After that I will invite thee, and I will invite all the merchants on thine account,
and bring you and them together, that all of them may know thee, and that thou
mayest know them, in order that thou mayest sell and buy and take and give with
them ; and no long period will pass over thee before thou wilt become a person of
wealth. — Accordingly when the morning came, he gave him a thousand pieces of
"■old, clad him in a suit of apparel, mounted him upon a mule, and gave him a black
slave, saying, God acquit thee of responsibility with respect to the whole ; for thou
art my companion ; so to treat thee with generosity is incumbent on me. Suffer not
anxiety ; but dismiss from thy mind the subject of thy wife, and mention her nut to
any one.
Marouf therefore said to him. May God recompense thee well ! He then mounted
the mule, and the slave walked before him until he had conducted him to the gate
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 761
of the market of the merchants, who were all sitting there, and the merchant Ali
waa sitting among them: so when he saw him, he arose and threw himself upon
him, saying to him, A blessed day, merchant Marouf, man of good works and
of kindness ? Then he kissed his hand before the merchants, and said, our
brothers, the merchant Marouf hath delighted you by his arrival. They therefore
saluted him, and the merchant Ali made signs to them that they should show him
honour : so he was magnified in their eyes. His companion set him down from the
back of the mule, and they saluted him again ; and the merchant Ali proceeded to
50 apart with one of them after another, and to praise Marouf to him ; and they said
to him. Is this a merchant? He answered them. Yes: indeed he is the greatest of
merchants, and there existeth not any one more wealthy than he ; for his wealth and
the wealth of his father and his forefathers are notorious among the merchants of
Cairo ; and he hath partners in Hind and Sinde' and in Arabia; and for generosity,
his fame resteth on an excellent foundation. Therefore know his dignity, and extol
his rank, and serve him ; and know that his coming to this city is not for the sake
of traffic; for his desire is for nothing but to divert himself with the sight of the
countries of the world ; because he is not in need of travelling to foreign parts for
the sake of gain and profits, having wealth which fires cannot consume, and I am of
the number of his servants. — He ceased not to praise him until they raised him above
their heads, and they proceeded to acquaint one another with his qualities. They
then came together to him, and presented him with food for breakfast, and sherbet.
Even the Shah Bandar of the merchants came to him, and saluted him ; and the
merchant Ali said to him, in the presence of the other merchants, my master,
probably ihou hast brought with thee some of such a kind of stuff. So he answered
him. Abundance. And on that day the merchant Ali had shown him the various
kinds of costly stuffs, and taught him the names of the stuffs, the dear and the cheap.
Then one of the merchants said to him, my master, hast thou brought with thee
yellow cloth? He answered. Abundance. He said. And red, of gazelle's blood!*
He answered. Abundance. And every time that he asked him respecting anything,
he answered him, Abundance. So thereupon he said, merchant Ali, verily thy
countryman, if he desired to transport a thousand loads of costly stuffs, could
transport them. And he replied, He would do so from one of his magazines, and
nought of its contents would be missing.
And while they were sitting, lo, a beggar came round to the merchants, and some
of them gave hiixi a farthing and some of them gave him a penny, and most of them
gave him not aught, until he came to Marouf, who took for him a handful of gold,
and gave him it. So he prayed for him, and departed ; and the merchants wondered
thereat, and said. Verily this is the gift of kings ; for he gave the beggar gold with-
out counting it; and were he not of the persons of great riches, and possessing
abundance, he had not given the beggar a handful of gold. And after a while
there came to him a poor woman ; whereupon he took another handful, and gave it
to her, and she departed, praying for him, and told the other poor persons. So they
advanced to him, one after another, and for every one who came to him he proceeded
to take a handful and to give it him until he had disbursed the thousand pieces of
gold ; after which he struck hand upon hand, and said, God is our sufficiency, and
excellent is the Protector? So the Shah Bandar of the merchants said to him, What
aileth thee, merchant Marouf? He answered. It seemeth that most of the people
of this city are poor and needy ; and if I had known that they were so, I had brought
with me in the saddle-bags a large sum of money and given it in alms to the poor.
1 fear that my absence from my country may be long, and it is a habit of my nature
not to reject the beggar; but I have with me no gold remaining: therefore when a
poor man cometh to me, what shall I say to him ? He answered him. Say to him,
God sustain thee ! — But he replied. It is not my custom, and anxiety hath come upon
' By Hind and Sinde the Arabs understand India generally.
^Name of deep red dye.
762 THE STORY OF MAROUP.
me on ac»;ount of this. Would that I had a thousand pieces of gold more, that 1
might give them in alms until my merchandise come ! — So he said, No harm. And
he sent one of his dependants, who brought him a thousand pieces of gold, and he
gave them to him. Marouf then proceeded to give to every one of the poor who
passed by him until the call to noon-prayers was chanted ; whereupon they entered
the mosque, and performed the noon-prayers, and what remained with him of the
thousand pieces of gold he scattered over the heads of the worshippers. The atten-
tion of the people was therefore drawn to him, and they prayed for him, and the
merchants wondered at the abundance of his generosity and his munificence. He
then inclined to another merchant, and obtained from him a thousand pieces of gold,
and distributed them ; and the merchant AH was observing his actions, but could
not speak. He ceased not to do thus until the call to afternoon-prayers was chanttd,
when he entered the mosque and prayed, and distributed the remainder. And they
closed not the gate of the market until he had received five thousand pieces of gold
and distributed them ; and to every one of whom he had received aught, he said,
Wait until the merchandise shall arrive, when, if thou desire gold, I will give it
thee, and if thou desire stuifs, I will give them thee ; for I have abundance. And
in the evening the merchant Ali invited him, and he invited with him all the mer-
chants. He seated him at the upper end of the apartment, and he talked not of
aught but of stufi"8 and jewels ; and whenever they mentioned to him anything, he
said, I have abundance of it. And on the following day he repaired again to the
market, and proceeded to incline to the merchants, obtain from them mcney, and
distribute it to the poor.
He ceased not to do thus for the space of twenty days, until he had received from
the people sixty thousand pieces of gold, and there came not to him merchandise
nor a burning plague. So the people were clamorous for their money, and said.
The merchandise of the merchant Marouf hath not arrived, and how long shall he
take people's money and give it to the poor? And one of them said. My opinion
is, that we should speak with his countryman, the merchant Ali. Accordingly
they came to him and said to him, merchant Ali, the merchandise of the merchant
Marouf hath not arrived. And he replied, Be ye patient; for it must arrive soon.
Then he had a private interview with him, and said to him, Marouf, what are
these deeds? Did I say unto thee, Toast the bread — or Burn it? Verily the mer-
chants have become clamorous for their money, and have informed me that they
have become creditors to thee for sixty thousand pieces of gold, which thou hast re-
ceived, and hast distributed to the poor. And how wilt thou pay thy debt to the
people, when thou neither sellest nor buyest? — But he replied, What will be the
consequence, and what are the sixty thousand pieces of gold? When the merchan-
dise arriveth, I will give them, if they will, stuffs, and if they will, gold and silver.
— Upon this, the merchant Ali said to him, God is most great! And hast thou
merchandise? — He answered. Abundance. And he said to him, Allah and the
Saints requite thee and thy turpitude! Did I teach thee this saying in order that
thou shouldst utter it to me? Now will I inform the people of thee. — Marouf re-
plied, Go. without loquacity. Am I a poor man? Verily my merchandise com-
priseth an abundance of things ; and when it arriveth they shall receive double the
value of their property. I am in no need of them. — So thereupon the merchant
Ali was enraged, and said to him, thou of little good-breeding, I will without fail
show thee. How is it that thou liest to me and art not ashamed ? — But he replied.
What thou hast in thy power, do ; and they shall wait until my merchandise arrive,
and shall receive their property with addition. He therefore left him, and departed,
and he said within himself, I praised him before, and if I censure him now, I be-
come a liar, and include myself among those to whom applieth the saying of him
who said. He who praiseth and censureth, lieth twice. And he became perplexed
respecting his case. Then the merchants came to him again, and said, merchant
Ali, hast thou spoken to him ? He answered them, people, I am abashed at him,
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 763
and he oweth me a thousand pieces of gold, but I have not been able to speak to
him respecting them. When ye gave him, ye consulted me not, and ye have nought
to say to me. So demand of him by an application from yourselves to him ; and if
he give you not, complain of him to the King of the city, and say to him. He is an
impostor, who hath imposed upon us. For the King will save you from being injured
by him.
Accordingly they went to the King and acquainted him with what had happened,
and said, King of the age, we are perplexed respecting our case with this merchant
whose generosity is excessive ; for he doth so and so, and everything that he receiveth
he distributeth to the poor by the handful. Now if he possessed little, his soul
would not consent to his taking gold by the handful and giving it to the poor ; yet
were he of the people of affluence, his veracity had appeared to us by the arrival of
his merchandise, and we see no merchandise belonging to him, though he asserteth
that he hath merchandise, and that he hath come on before it; and whenever we
mentioned to him any kind of stuff, he would say, I have abundance of it. A coh-
siderable period hath elapsed ; but no tidings of his merchandise have come ; and
he hath become indebted to us to the amount of sixty thousand pieces of gold, aii
of which he hath distributed to the poor. — And they proceeded to eulogise him and
to praise his generosity. And that King was covetous ; more covetous than Ashab :
80 when he heard of his generosity and munificence, covetousness overcame him,
and he- said to his Vizier, If this merchant did not possess abundant riches, all this
generous conduct would not proceed from him ; his merchandise will without fail
arrive, and these merchants will come together to him, and he will disperse among
them abundant riches. But I am more worthy of this wealth than they: therefore
I desire to contract friendship with him, and to show an affection for him, before
his merchandise arriveth ; and what these merchants will receive from him, I shall
receive, and I will marry to him ray daughter, and join his wealth with mine. — But
the Vizier replied, King of the age, I imagine him not to be aught but an im-
postor ; and the impostor hath ruined the house of the covetous. The King, how-
ever, said to him, O Vizier, I will try him, and know whether he be an impostor or
veracious, and whether he have been reared in affluence or not. The Vizier said,
With what wilt thou try him? The King answered, I have a jewel, and I will send
for him and cause him to be brought to me ; and when he hath seated himself, I
will treat him with honour, and give him the jewel ; and if he know it, and know
its price, he will be proved to be a person of riches and affluence ; but if he know
it not, he will be proved to be an impostor, an upstart, and I will slay him in the
most abominable manner.
Then the King sent to him, and caused him to be brought ; and when he came in
to him, he saluted him, and the King returned his salutation, and seated him by
his side, and said to him, Art thou the merchant Marouf? He answered, Yes.
And the King said to him. The merchants assert that thou owest them sixty thou-
sand pieces of gold. Now is that which they say true? — He answered, Yes. The
King said to him. Wherefore hast thou not given to them their money ? He an-
swered, Let them wait until my merchandise arriveth, and I will give them double
of what I have received; and if they desire gold, I will give it them, and if they
desire silver, I will give it them, and if they desire merchandise, I will give it them ;
and to him whom I owe a thousand I will give two thousand in return for that
wherewith he hath veiled my face before the poor; for I have abundance. The
King then said to him, O merchant, take this, and see what is its kind, and what is
its value. And he gave him a jewel of the size of a hazel-nut, which the King had
purchased for a thousand pieces of gold, and he had not another, and held it dear.
So Marouf took it in his hand, and he pressed upon it with his thumb and fore-
finger, and broke it ; for the jewel was frail, and would not bear the pressure. The
King therefore said to him, Wherefore hast thou broken the jewel ? And he laughed,
and answered, King of the age, this is not a jewel. This is a piece of mineral
764 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
worth !\ thousand pieces of gold. How is it that thou sayestof it that it is a jewel?
Verily the jewel is of the price of seventy thousand pieces of gold, and this is only
called a piece of mineral ; and the jewel that is not of the size of a hazel-nut hath
no value in my estimation, nor do I care for it. How is it that thou art a King,
and callest this a jewel, when it is a piece of mineral, the value of which is a thou-
sand pieces of gold ? But ye are excusable, because ye are poor, and have not in
your possession treasures that are of value. — So the King said to him, merchant,
hast thou jewels of the kind that thou mentionest? He answered, Abundance.
And thereupon, covetousness overcame the King, and he said to him. Wilt thou
give me perfect jewels? He answered him. When the merchandise cometh, I will
give thee abundance : whatsoever thou desirest, I have abundance thereof, and I
will give thee without price. So the King rejoiced, and said to the merchants. Go
your way, and be patient with him until the merchandise arriveth : then come, re-
ceive your money from me. And they departed. — Such was the case of Marouf
and the merchants.
But as to the King, he addressed the Vizier, and said to him. Treat the merchant
Marouf with courtesy, and take and give with him in talk, and mention to him my
daughter, in order that he may marry her, and we may gain these riches that are
in his possession. But the Vizier replied, King of the age, verily the state of
this man hath not pleased me, and I imagine that he is an impostor and a liar.
Therefore desist from these words, lest thou lose thy daughter for nought. — And the
Vizier had before solicited the King to marry to him the damsel, and he desired to
marry her to him; but when this was told her. she consented not. — So thereupon
the King said to him, deceiver, thou dost not desire for me good fortune, because
thou demandedst my daughter in marriage before, but she consented not to marry
thee. So now thou interceptest the way of her marriage, and desirest that my
daughter should remain as a waste land, in order that thou mayest take her. But
hear from me this saying; Thou hast no concern with these words. How can he be
an impostor, a liar, when he knew the price of the jewel, the price at which I pur-
chased it. and broke it because it did not please him? He hath many jewels; and
when he introduceth himself to my daughter, he will see her to be beautiful, and
she will captivate his reason, and he will love her, and will give her jewels and
treasures. But thou desirest to prevent my daughter and to prevent me from ob-
taining these riches. — So the Vizier was silent, and feared the King's rage against
him, and he said to himself. Set the dogs upon the cattle. Then he inclined to the
merchant Marouf, and said to him. His majesty the King loveth thee, and he hath a
daughter endowed with beauty and loveliness, whom he desireth to marry to thee.
What then sayest thou? — And he answered him. No harm. But let him wait until
my merchandise arriveth ; for the dowry of the daughters of the Kings is large,
and their rank requireth that they should not be endowed save with a dowry be-
fitting their condition; and at this present time I have not with me wealth. There-
fore let him have patience with me until the merchandise arriveth ; for I have
abundant riches, and I must give as her dowry five thousand purses. I shall also
require a thousand purses to distribute to the poor and needy on the night of my
introduction to the bride, and a thousand purses to give to those who shall walk in
the marriage-procession, and a thousand purses wherewith to prepare the viands foi
the soldiers and others ; and I shall require a hundred jewels to give to the Queen
on the morning of the wedding, and a hundred jewels to distribute among the female
slaves and the eunuchs, giving each a jewel in honour of the rank of the bride. 1
shall require moreover to clothe a thousand naked persons among the poor, and
alms will be indispensable; and this is a thing that will be impossible until the
merchandise arriveth. But I have abundance ; and when the merchandise cometh,
I care not for all these expenses.
The Vizier therefore went and acquainted the King with that which he had said ;
and the King said, When this is his desire, how is it that thou assertost of him that
THE STORY OF MAROUF. '765
he is an impostor, a liar? The Vizier replied, And I cease not to say so. But the
King chid him angrily, and threatened him, and said to him, By my head, if thou
desist not from these words, I will slay thee! Return then to him, and bring him
to me, and I will arrange with him. — So the Vizier went to him, and said to him.
Come hither: answer the summons of the King. And he replied, I hear and obey.
Then he came to him, and the King said to him, Apologise not with these excuses ;
for my treasury is full : therefore take the keys into thy possession, and expend all
that thou requirest, and give what thou wilt, and clothe the poor, and do what thou
desirest, and mind not for the damsel and the female slaves. But when thy mer-
chandise arriveth, show what generosity thou wilt to thy wife, and we will have
patience with thee for her dowry until the merchandise arriveth, and there shall
never be any diflFerence between me and thee. — He then ordered the sheikh el-Islam
to perform the ceremony of the marriage-contract. So he performed the ceremony
of the contract of the marriage of the King's daughter to the merchant Marouf. The
King commenced the celebration of the festivity, and gave orders to decorate the
city, and the drums were beaten, and the tables of viands were spread with all kinds
of dishes, and the performers of sports came. The merchant Marouf sat upon a
throne in a saloon, and the performers of sports, and the exhibiters of cunning
tricks, and the dancers, and the performers of extraordinary arts and won-
derful games, were disposed in order before him, and he proceeded to order the
Treasurer, and to say to him, Bring the gold and silver. Accordingly he brought
him the gold and the silver, and Marouf went round among the people who were
diverting themselves, and gave to every one who played by the handful, and bestowed
alms on the poor and needy, and clad the naked, and it was a noisy festivity. The
Treasurer had not time to bring the money from the treasury, and the heart of the
Vizier almost burst with rage ; but he could not speak. The merchant Ali also
wondered at the squandering of this wealth, and said to the merchant Marouf, May
Allah and the Saints retaliate upon thy temple ! Hath it not sufficed thee that thou
hast wasted the money of the merchants, but thou wilt also waste the money of the
King? — But the merchant Marouf answered him. Thou hast no concern with it; and
when the merchandise arriveth, I will compensate the King for this with double its
value. — And he proceeded to scatter the money, and to say within himself, A burn-
ing plague! What will happen will happen; and from that which is predestined
there is no escape.
The festivity ceased not for the space of forty days; and on the one-and-fortieth
day they made the procession for the bride. All the Emirs and soldiers walked
before her ; and when they entered with her, Marouf scattered gold over the heads
of the people. They made for her a magnificent procession, and Marouf expended a
vast quantity of wealth. They introduced him to the Queen, and he sat upon the
high mattress, and they let down the curtains, and closed the doors, and went forth,
leaving him with the bride. And thereupon he smote hand upon hand, and sat
sorrowful for some time, striking palm upon palm, and saying. There is no strength
nor power but in God, the High, the Great ! So the Queen said to him, my lord,
Allah preserve thee! What aileth thee, that thou art sorrowful? — And he replied,
How can I be otherwise than sorrowful when thy father hath disquieted me, and
done to me a deed like the burning of the green corn ? She said, And what hath my
father done to thee ? Tell me. — He answered, He hath introduced me to thee before
my merchandise hath arrived, and I desired at least a hundred jewels to distribute
among thy female slaves, to each one a jewel, that she might rejoice in it, and say,
My lord gave me a jewel on the night of his introduction to my lady; and this good
deed would have been an act of honour to thy rank, and have increased thy glory ;
for I am not deficient in lavishing jewels, having of them an abundance. — But she
eaid to him, Be not anxious for that, nor grieve thyself for this reason. As to my-
self, thou hast no blame to fear from me ; for I will have patience with thee until
the merchandise arriveth ; and as to the female slaves, thou hast nought to care for
766
THE STORY OF MAROUF.
on their accbunt. — So he was appeased. And on the following morning he entered
the bath, and put on a suit of the apparel of Kings, and, having gone forth from the
bath, entered the King's council-ehamber : whereupon those who were in it rose to
him upon their feet, and received him with respect and honour, and congratulated
him, and blessed him. He sat by the side of the King, and said, Where is the
Treasurer ? They answered, Lo, he is here before thee. And he said, Bring the
robes of honour, and invest all the Viziers and the Emirs and the men of office.
Accordingly he brought him all that he demanded, and he sat giving to every one
who came to him, and presenting to every man according to his rank.
He continued in this state for the space of twenty days, and there appeared not
any merchandise belonging to him, nor aught else. Then the Treasurer became
straitened by him to the utmost degree, and he went in to the King in the absence
of Marouf, when the King was sitting with the Vizier, and no one beside ; and he
kissed the ground before him, and said, King of the age, I will acquaint thee with
a thing; for perhaps thou wouldst blame me for not acquainting thee therewith.
Know that the treasury hath become almost empty; there remaineth not in it any
money, except a small quantity, and after ten days we shall close it empty. — So the
King said, Vizier, verily the merchandise of my son-in-law hath been backward
in coming, and no tidings of it have appeared. And the Vizier laughed, and said
to him. May God be gracious to thee, King of the age! Thou art none other
than a careless person with respect to the conduct of this impostor and liar. By
thy head, there is no merchandise belonging to him, nor a plague to relieve us of
him ; but he hath only incessantly imposed upon thee until he hath consumed thy
wealth, and married thy daughter for nothing. And how long wilt thou be heed-
less of this liar? — The King thereupon said to him, Vizier, how shall we act, that
we may know the truth of his state? And he answered, King of the age, no one
will become acquainted with the man's secret except his wife. Therefore send to
thy daughter, desiring that she may come behind the curtain, in order that I may
ask her respecting the truth of his state, so that she may examine him and acquaint
us with his state. — And he replied. There will be no harm in that. By my head, if
it be proved that he is an impostor, a liar, I will surely slay him in the most unfortu-
The Pniicess caressin? Marouf.
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 767
nate manner! — He then took the Vizier, and entered with him into the sitting-
chamber, and sent to his daughter. So she came behind the curtain ; and this was
during the absence of her husband ; and when she came, she said, my father, what
dost thou desire ? He answered. Speak to the Vizier. Accordingly she said, U
Vizier, what wouldst thou ? He answered, my mistress, know that thy husband
hath consumed the wealth of thj father, and he hath married thee without giving n
dowry, and hath not ceased to promise us and to break his promise: no tidings of
his merchandise have appeared ; and, in short, we desire that thou wouldst inform
us respecting him. She replied. Verily, his words are many, and he is constantly
coming and promising me jewels and treasures and costly stuffs ; but I have seen
nothing. And he said, my mistress, canst thou this night take and give with him
in talk, and say to him. Acquaint me with the truth, and fear nothing; for thou hast
become my husband, and I will not be neglectful of thee: so acquaint me with the
truth of the case, and I will contrive for thee a plan by which thou shalt be made
happy? After that, use nearness and remoteness of speech to him, and make a show
of affection to him, a'nd induce him to confess ; and then acquaint us with the truth
of his case. — And she said, my father, I know how to examine him.
She then departed ; and after nightfall, her husband Marouf came in to her
according to his custom. So she rose to him, and took him with her hand beneath
his armpit, and beguiled him with excessive guile. (And sufficient is the guile of
women when they have to request of men anything of which they desire the accom-
plishment.) She ceased not to beguile him and to coax him with speech sweeter
than honey until she stole his reason ; and when she saw that he had inclined to her
entirely, she said to him, O my beloved, delight of my eye, O joy of my heart, may
God not make me desolate by thine absence, nor time make a separation between me
and thee ! for affection for thee hath taken up its abode in my heart, and the fire of
desire for thee hath burned my liver, and there can be no neglect of thee ever. But
I desire that thou wouldst acquaint me with the truth ; for the stratagems of false-
hood are not profitable, nor do they gain credit on all occasions. How long wilt thou
impose and lie to my father? I fear that thy case will be exposed to my father
before we contrive a stratagem to avoid it, and that he will lay violent hands upon
thee. Acquaint me then with the truth, and thou shalt experience nought but what
will rejoice thee. When thou shalt have acquainted me with the truth of the case, thou
shalt fear nothing that would injure thee. How often wilt thou assert that thou art
a merchant, and a person of riches, and that thou hast merchandise? A long period
hath passed during which thou hast been saying. My merchandise: my merchandise:
— but no tidings of thy merchandise have appeared ; and anxiety is manifest in thy
countenance on this account. Now, if thy words have no truth, inform me, and I
will contrive for thee a plan by means of which thou shalt be safe, if it be the will
of God. — And he replied, ray mistress, I will acquaint thee with the truth, and
whatever thou wilt, do. So she rejoined. Say, and take care to be veracious ; for
veracity is the ship of safety : and beware of falsehood ; for it disgraceth its speaker.
— And he said, my mistress, know that I am not a merchant, and I have neither
merchandise nor a burning plague. But in my country I was only a cobbler, and I
have a wife whose name is Fatima el-Orra, and such and such things happened to
to me with her. — And he acquainted her with the story from its commencement to
its end.
Upon this she laughed, and said. Verily thou art skilful in the art of lying and
imposition ! He replied, my mistress, may God (whose name be exalted !) preserve
thee to veil faults and dissolve griefs ! And she said. Know that thou hast imposed
upon my father, and deceived him by the abundance of thine idle boasting, so that
he hath married me to thee by reason of his covetousness. Then thou consumedst
his wealth • and the Vizier suspecteth thee for this conduct; and how often doth he
speak of thee before my father, saying to him. Verily he is an impostor, a liar! But
my father hath not complied with that which he hath said, because he had demanded
768 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
me iu marriage, and I consented not that he should be to me a husband, and that I
should be to him a wife. Then the time became tedious, and my father had become
straitened, and he said to me, Make him confess. And I have made thee confess, and
what was covered hath become exposed. Now my father is purposing mischief to
thee on this account ; but thou hast become my husband, and I will not neglect thee.
For if I informed my father of this news, it would be proved to him that thou art
an impostor, a liar, and that thou hast imposed upon the daughters of Kings, and
squandered away their riches ; and thine offence would not be forgiven by him, but
he would slay thee without doubt, and it would become published among the people
that I had married a man who was an impostor, a liar, and thou wouldst be a cause
of disgrace to me. Moreover, if my father slew thee, probably he would desire to
marry me to another, and this is a thing to which I would not consent, even if I
were to die for refusing. But arise now, and put on a dress of a mamlouk, and take
with thee fifty thousand pieces of gold of my wealth ; then mount upon a courser,
and journey to a country to which the rule of my father doth not reach. There
trade as a merchant, and write to me a letter, and send it by a courier who will
bring it to me privately, that I may know in what country thou art, in order that I
may send to thee all my hand can procure. Thus thy wealth will become abundant;
and if my father die I will send to thee, and thou shalt come with respect and
honour ; and if thou die, or I die, departing to receive the mercy of God (whose
name be exalted !) the day of resurrection will unite us. This is the right plan ; and
as long as thou continuest well and I continue well, I will not cease to send thee
letters and riches. Arise before the daylight cometh upon thee, and thou art per-
plexed, and destruction environeth thee. — So he said to her, my mistress, I throw
myself upon thy generosity, begging thee to bid me farewell with an embrace. And
she replied. No harm. He then embraced her, and put on the dress of a mamlouk,
and ordered the grooms to saddle for him a swift courser. They therefore saddled
for him a courser, and he bade farewell to his wife, and went forth from the city at
the close of the night, and departed, every one who saw him imagining that he was
one of the mamlouks of the Sultan going on a journey for the accomplishment of
some affair.
And when the morning arrived, her father came with the Vizier to the sitting-
chamber, and her fiither sent to her. So she came behind the curtain, and her
father said to her, my daughter, what sayest thou? She answered, I say. May
God blacken the face of thy Vizier! For he desired to blacken my face in the eyes
of my husband. — And how so? said the King. She answered, He came in to me
yesterday, before I mentioned to him these words, and lo, Faraj the eunuch came in
to me with a letter in his hand, and he said. Ten mamlouks are standing beneath
the window of the palace, and they gave me this letter, and said to me, Kiss for us
the hands of our master Marouf the merchant, and give him this letter ; for we are
of his mamlouks who are with the merchandise, and it hath been told us that he
hath married the daughter of the King; so we have come to him to acquaint him
with the events that have happened to us on the way. — And I took the letter and
read it, and saw in it, — From the five hundred mamlouks, to the possessor of dignity,
our master, the merchant Marouf. — To proceed. The news wherewith we acquaint
thee is this. After thou leftest us, the Arabs came forth against us, and fought
with us, and they were two hundred horsemen, while we were five hundred mam-
louks ; and a severe contest ensued between us and the Arabs. They prevented our
pursuing the way, and thirty days elapsed while we were contending with them, and
this was the cause of our being behind the time in coming to tliee. They have taken
from us two hundred loads of stuffs, forming part of the merchandise, and killed of
us fifty mamlouks. — And when the news came to him, he said. May Allah disappoint
them ! Wherefore should they contend with the Arabs for the sake of two hundred
loads of merchandise? And what are two hundred loads? It was not expedient
for tliem to delay on that accour"*- for the value of the two hundred loads is but
THE STORY OP MAROUF.
769
seven thousand pieces of gold. But it is requisite that I go to them and hasten
them ; and as to what the Arabs have taken, the merchandise will not be the less
for it, nor will it make any impression upon me, and I will reckon as though T
had bestowed it in alms upon them. — Then he descended from me, laughing,
and grieved not for what was lost of his wealth, nor for the slaughter of his
mamlouks ; and when he descended, I looked from the window of the palace
and saw that the ten mamlouks, who brought him the letter, were like moons, each
one of them wearing a suit of apparel worth two thousand pieces of gold, and
that there was not in the possession of my father a mamlouk resembling one
of them. He then repaired with the mamlouks who brought him the letter, in
order that he might bring his merchandise. And praise be to God who prevented
me from mentioning to him aught of the words which thou orderest me to say ! For
he would have derided me and thee, and probably he would have looked upon me
with the eye of disparagement, and would have hated me. But the fault is wholly
in thy Vizier, who speaketh against my husband words not suitable to him. — So the
King said, my daughter, verily the wealth of thy husband is abundant, and he
thinketh not of it ; and from the day that he entered our country he hath been con-
stantly bestowing alms on the poor. If it be the will of God, he will soon come
with the merchandise, and abundant good fortune will betide us from him. — He pro-
ceeded to appease her mind, and to threaten the Vizier, and the stratagem deceived
him.
But as to the merchant Marouf, he mounted the courser, and proceeded over the
desert- tract, perplexed, not knowing to what country to go ; and by reason of the
pain of separation, he moaned, and he suffered ecstasy and afflictions, and recited
some verses; after which he wept violently. The ways were obstructed in his face,
and he preferred death above life. Then he went like one intoxicated, through the
violence of his perplexity, and ceased not to proceed until the hour of noon, when
he approached a village, and saw a ploughman near it, ploughing with a yoke of
bulls ; and hunger had violently affected him ; so he went to the ploughman and
Man at the Plongh.
said to him, Peace be on thee ! And he returned his salutation, and said. Welcome
to thee, my master! Art thou of the mamlouks of the Sultan? — He answered.
Yes. And he said, Alight here with me for entertainment. He therefore knew
that he was of the liberal, but he said to him, O my brother, I see not with thee
anything wherewith thou canst feed me. How is it then that thou invitest me? —
The ploughman answered, my master, good things are at hand. Alight thou ;
and behold, the village is near; so I will go and bring thee dinner, and fodder for
thy horse. — Marouf replied, Since the village is near, I shall arrive at it in the same
time in which thou wouldst arrive there, and I will buy what I desire from the
49
770 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
market, and eat. But he said to him, my master, verily the village Is a hamlet,
and there is not in it a market, nor selling nor buying. I conjure thee by Allah
that thou alight here with me, and comfort my heart ; and I will go thither, and
will return to thee quickly. — So he alighted ; and the peasant left him, and went
to the village to bring him the dinner. Marouf therefore sat waiting for him. Then
he said within himself, Verily we have diverted this poor man from his work; but
I will arise and plough in his stead, until he come, to compensate for my having
hindered him from his work.
Accordingly he took the plough, and drove on the bulls, and ploughed a little ;
and the plough struck against something, whereupon the beasts stopped. So he
urged them ; but they could not proceed ; and he looked at the plough, and saw that
it was caught in a ring of gold. He therefore removed from it the earth, and he
found that ring to be in the middle of a stone of alabaster, of the size of the lower
stone of a mill ; and he laboured at it until he pulled it up from its place, when
there appeared beneath it a subterranean place with stairs; and he descended those
stairs, and saw a place like a bath, with four floors. The first floor was full of gold,
from the floor to the roof; and the second floor was full of emeralds and pearls and
coral, from the floor to the roof; and the third floor was full of jacinths and balass-
rubies and turquoises ; and the fourth floor was full of diamonds and precious
minerals of all kinds of jewels. Also, at the upper end of that place was a chest
of clear crystal, full of incomparable jewels, each jewel of them being of the size
of a hazel-nut; and upon that chest was a little box, of the size of a lemon, and it
was of gold. So when he beheld this he wondered, and rejoiced exceedingly; and
he said. What can be in this little box ? Then he opened it, and he saw in it a seal-
ring of gold, on which were engraved names and talismans like the marks made by
the creeping of ants. And he rubbed the seal-ring ; and lo, a speaker said. At thy
service! At thy service ! my master! Demand then, and thou shalt receive.
Dost thou desire to build a town, or to ruin a city, or to slay a King, or to dig a
river, or anything of that kind? For whatsoever thou demandest, it will happen,
by permission of the Almighty King, the Creator of the night and the day. — So he
said to him, creature of ray Lord, who art thou, and what mayest thou be ? He
answered, I am the servant of this seal-ring, acting in the service of its possessor;
and whatever object of desire he demandeth, I accomplish it for him ; and there is
no excuse for my neglecting what he commandeth me to do ; for I am Sultan over
tribes of the Genii, and the number of my troops is two-and-seventy tribes. The
number of each tribe is two-and-seventy thousand, and every one of the thousand
ruleth over a thousand Marids, and each Marid ruleth over a thousand Genii, and
every Genie ruleth over a thousand Devils, and every Devil ruleth over a thousand
Genii, and all of them are under my authority, and they are unable to disobey me.
But I am bound by enchantment to this seal-ring, and I cannot disobey him who
possesseth it. Lo, thou hast possessed it, and I have become thy servant. Demand
then what thou wilt ; for I will hear thy saying and obey thy command ; and when
thou requirest me at any time, on land or on the sea, rub the seal-ring and thou wilt
find me with thee. But beware of rubbing it twice successively; for thou wouldst
burn me with the fire of the names [engraved thereon], and lose me, and repent
for me after that. Now I have acquainted thee with my state ; and peace be on
thee !
Upon this, Marouf said to him. What is thy name? He answered, My name is
Aboulsadat. And he said to him, Aboulsadat, what is this place, and who en-
chanted thee in this little box? He answered, my master, this place is a treasure,
called the treasure of Sheddad the son of Ad, who constructed Irem, the like of
which hath not been made in the countries of the earth. I was his servant during
his life, and this was his seal-ring, and he deposited it in his treasure; but it is thy
lot. — Marouf then said to him. Canst thou take forth what is in this treasure and
place it on the face of the earth ? He answered, Yes ; it will be the easiest of
THE STORY OF MAROUF.
771
Aboulsadat appearing
actions. And Marouf said, Take forth all that is in it, leave not of it aught. And
he made a sign with his hand towards the ground, whereupon it clove asunder.
Then he descended, and was absent a little while ; and lo, young, elegant boys,
with beautiful faces, came forth carrying baskets of gold, and those baskets were
full of gold, and they emptied them ; after which they went and brought more ; and
they ceased not to transport the gold and jewels, and not more than a short time had
elapsed when they said. There remaineth not in the treasure aught. Upon this,
Aboulsadat came up to him, and said to him, my master, thou hast seen that we
have transported all that was in the treasure. And he said to him, What are these
beautiful boys? He answered, These are my children ; for this work deserveth not
that I should collect for it the Genii, and my children have accomplished thine affair,
and have been honoured by serving thee. Now demand what thou desirest beside
this. — So he said to him. Canst thou bring me mules and chests, and put these
riches into the chests, and place the chests upon the mules? He answered, This
will be the easiest affair that can be. Then he uttered a great cry, whereupon his
children presented themselves before him ; and they were eight hundred. , And he
said to them. Let some of you become transformed into the semblance of mules, and
some of you into the semblance of beautiful mamlouks, such that the like of the
least of them existeth not in the possession of any of the Kings, and some of you
into the semblance of those who let out beasts of burden, and some of you into the
semblance of servants. And they did as he had commanded them ; after which he
called out to the Genii, who presented themselves before him, and he ordered them
that some of them should become transformed into the semblance of horses saddled
with saddles of gold set with jewels. And when Marouf beheld this, he said. Where
are the chests ? They therefore brought them before him. And he said. Pack the
772
THE STORY OF MAROUF.
gold and the minerals, each kind by itself. So they packed them, and put them
upon three hundred mules. And Marouf said, Aboulsadat, canst thou bring me
loads of precious stuifs ? He asked, Dost thou desire Egyptian stuifs, or Syrian, or
Persian, or Indian, or Greek? He answered. Bring of the stuffs of each country a
hundred loads upon a hundred mules. He replied, my master, grant me a delay,
until I arrange my servants for that purpose, and order each company to go to a
country in order to bring a hundred loads of its stuffs, and they shall become trans-
formed into the semblance of mules, and come carrying the goods. Marouf said.
What shall be the period of delay? He answered. The period of the blackness of
the night; for the daylight shall not arise without thy having with thee all that thou
desirest. And he said, I grant thee this period of delay.
He then commanded them to pitch for him a tent. So they pitched it, and he
seated himself, and they brought him a table of viands ; and Aboulsadat said to him,
my master, sit in the tent, and these my children are before thee to guard thee ;
therefore fear not aught; and I am going to collect my slaves, and send them to
accomplish thine affair. Then Aboulsadat went his way, and Marouf sat in the tent,
with the table before him, and the children of Aboulsadat before him, in the sem-
blance of mamlouks and servants and other dependants. And while he was sitting
in this state, lo, the peasant approached, carrying a large wooden bowl of lentils, and
a fodder- bag full of barley. So
he saw the tent pitched and the
mamlouks standing with their hands
upon their bosoms ; and he ima-
gined that Marouf was the Sultan,
who had come and alighted in that
place. He therefore stood in a state
of confusion, and said witliin him-
self. Would that I had killed two
chickens, and fried them red with
clarified cows' butter for the sake
of the Sultan. And he desired to
return, to kill two chickens where-
with to entertain the Sultan. But
Marouf saw him, and cried out to
him, and said to the mamlouks,
Bring him. They therefore carried
him with the wooden bowl of lentils,
and brought both before Marouf,
who said to him, What is this? He
answered. This is thy dinner, and
— the fodder for thy horse ; but blame
me not; for I did not imagine that
the Sultan would come to this place;
and had I known that, I would
have killed for him two chickens,
and entertained him in a goodly
manner. So Marouf replied, Tho
Sultan hath not come ; but I am his
son in-law, and I was displeased with him, he hath sent to me his mamlouks, who
have reconciled me, and I now desire to return to the city. However, thou hast
prepared for me this entertainment without being acquainted with me, and thine
entertainment is accepted, though it is of lentils, and I will not eat save Df thy cheer.
— He then ordered him to put the wooden bowl in the middle of the table, and ate
from it until he was satisfied; but as to the peasant, he filled his stomach with food
from those dishes of various exquisite viands. After that, Marouf washed his hands,
ugliiiian bringing the Bnwl uf Lentils.
THE STORY OF MAROUP. 773
and gave permission to the maniloiiks to eat. So they fell upon the remains of the
repast, and ate ; and when the wooden bowl was emptied, Marouf filled it for the
peasant with gold, and said to him, Convey it to thy dwelling, and come to me in
the city, and I will treat thee with generosity. He therefore took the wooden bowl
full of gold, and drove the bulls and went to his village, imagining that he [himself]
was a relation of the King.
Marouf passed that night in delight and joy, and they brought him damsels, of
the brides of the treasures, who played upon the instruments of music and danced
before him. Thus he passed his night, and it was not to be reckoned among lives.
And when the morning came, he was not aware when the dust rose and flew, and
dispersed, exposing to view mules bearing loads. They were seven hundred mules,
carrying stuffs, and around them were young men like those who let out beasts of bur-
den, and muleteers, and light-bearers ; and Aboulsadat was riding upon a mule, being
in the semblance of leader of the caravan, and before him was a litter upon which
•were four ornaments of brilliant red gold, set with jewels. When he arrived at the
tent he alighted from the back of the mule, and kissed the ground, and said, my
master, verily the affair is accomplished completely and perfectly, and in this litter
is a suit of apparel from the treasures, of which there is not the like among the ap-
parel of Kings: therefore put it on, and ride in the litter, and command us to do
what thou desirest. And he replied, Aboulsadat, I desire to write for thee a letter,
with which thou shalt repair to the city of Khitan of Tartary, and go in to my uncle
the King; and go not in to him save in the semblance of a human courier. So he
said to him, I hear and obey. He then wrote a letter and sealed it, and Aboulsadat
took it, and proceeded with it until he went in to the King, when he heard him saying,
Vizier, verily my heart is anxious for my son-in-law, and I fear that the Arabs
may slay him. Would that I knew whither he is going, that I might follow him
with the troops, and would that he had informed me thereof before his departure ! —
Upon this the Vizier replied. May God be gracious to thee with respect to this state
of heedlessness in which thou art! By thy head, the man hath known that we had
become excited to suspect him, and he feared disgrace, and fled ; and he is none other
than an impostor, a liar. — And lo, the courier entered, and he kissed the ground
before the King, and offered up a prayer in his favour for the continuance of his
glory and blessings, and for length of life. So the King said to him, Who art thou,
and what is thine affair? And he answered him, I am a courier. Thy son-in-law
hath sent me to thee, and he is approaching with the merchandise, and he hath sent
thee by me a letter. Lo, here it is. — He therefore took it and read it, and saw in it,
— After exceeding salutation to our uncle, the glorious King, I inform thee that I
have come with the merchandise ; so come forth and meet me with the troops. —
And thereupon the King said. May Allah blacken thy face, Vizier ! How often
wilt thou speak against the reputation of my son-in-law, and assert him to be a liar
and an impostor? He hath come with the merchandise, and thou art none other
than a traitor. So the Vizier hung down his head towards the ground, in shame
and confusion, and replied, King of the age, I said not these words save on account
of the long delay of the merchandise, and I was fearing the loss of the wealth that
ne hath expended. But the King said, traitor, what are my riches I Since this
merchandise hath come, he will give me instead of them an abundance of things.
Then the King gave orders to decorate the city, and went in to his daughter, and
said to her. Good news for thee ! Verily thy husband will soon come with his mer-
chandise ; and he hath sent to me a letter informing me of that event ; and lo, I am
going forth to meet him. The damsel therefore wondered at this circumstance, and
said within herself, Verily this is a wonderful thing! Was he deriding me, and
making game of me, or was he proving me, when he informed me that he was a
poor man? But praise be to God that nothing injurious to him proceeded from me !
— And as to the merchant Ali of Cairo, when he saw the decoration of the city, he
inquired respecting the cause of it, and they said to him, The merchandise of the
774 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
merchant Marouf, the son-in-law of the King, hath arrived. So he said, God is
most great! What is this calamity! Verily he came to me fleeing from his wife,
and he was a poor man. Whence then came to him merchandise? But probably
the daughter of the King hath contrived for him a stratagem, in fear of disgrace,
and Kings are not unable to accomplish anything. However, may God (whose name
be exalted !) protect him, and not disgrace him ! — And all the other merchants re-
joiced and were glad because they would receive their money. The King then as-
sembled the troops and went forth ; and Aboulsadat had returned to Marouf, and
informed him that he had delivered the letter; whereupon Marouf said, Put ye on
the loads. Accordingly they put them on ; and he clad himself in the suit of the
apparel of the treasures, and got up into the litter, and became a thousand
times greater and more majestic than the King. He proceeded as far as half the
way, and lo, the King met him with the troops ; and when he came to him, he saw
him wearing that dress, and riding in the litter, and he threw himself upon him,
saluted him, and congratulated him on his safety. All the great men of the empire
also saluted him, and it appeared that Marouf was veracious, and that there was no
falsehood in him.
He entered the city in a stately procession that would have made the gall-bladder
of the lion to burst, and the merchants came to him and kissed the ground before
him. Then the merchant Ali said to him, Thou hast done this deed, and it hath
been successfully accomplished by thee, sheikh of the impostors ! But thou art
deserving ; therefore may God (whose name be exalted!) increase to thee his bounty!
— And Marouf laughed. And when he entered the palace, he seated himself upon
the throne, and said, Put ye the loads of gold into the treasury of my uncle the
King, and bring ye the loads of stuffs. So they brought them forward to him, and
proceeded to open them, load after load, and to take forth their contents, until they
had opened the seven hundred loads ; whereupon he selected the best of them, and
said, Take them in to the Queen, that she may distribute them among her female slaves ;
and take ye this chest of jewels and carry it in to her, that she may distribute the
jewels among the female slaves and the eunuchs. Next he proceeded to give, to the
merchants to whom he was indebted, stuffs in payment of the debts ; and to whom
he owed a thousand, he gave stuffs worth two thousand, or more ; after which, he
distributed to the poor and needy, while the King looked on, and was unable to pre-
vent him. He ceased not to give and bestow until he had distributed the seven hun-
dred loads; when he looked towards the soldiers, and betook himself to distributing
among them minerals and emeralds and jacinths and pearls and coral and other
things, not giving the jewels save by handfuls, without numbering. So the King
said to him, my son, these gifts are sufficient ; for there remaineth not of the mer-
chandise more than a small quantity. But he replied, I have abundance. And his
veracity had become publicly manifest, and no one could any longer belie him. He be-
came careless as to giving; for the servant of the seal-ring brought him whatever he
demanded. Then the Treasurer came to the King, and said, King of the age, verily
the treasury is filled, and will not hold the rest of the loads, and where shall we put
what remaineth of the gold and minerals ? So he pointed out to him another place.
And when his wife beheld this thing, her joy was excessive, and she wondered, and
said within herself. Whence can all this wealth have come to him? In like manner
also the merchants rejoiced at the things that he had given them, and they prayed
for him. And as to the merchant Ali, he wondered too, and said within himself.
How is it that he hath imposed and lied so that he hath gained possession of all
these treasures? For if they were from the daughter of the King, he would not
have distributed them to the poor. — But as to the King, he wondered extremely at
what he beheld of the actions of Marouf, and his generosity and munificence in
lavishing the wealth.
After that, Marouf went in to his wife, who met him smiling, laughing, and joy-
ful, and kissed his hand, and said. Wast thou making game of me, or didst thou try
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 775
me by thy saying, I am a poor man, and fleeing from my wife? Praise be to God
that nothing injurious to thee proceeded from me ! Thou art my beloved, and there
is none more dear in my estimation, whether thou be rich or poor ; and I wish that
thou wouldst inform me what thou desiredst by these words. — He replied, I desired to
try thee, that I might see whether thine affection were sincere, or on account of
wealth, and covetousness of worldly goods ; and it hath become manifest to me that
thine affection is sincere ; and since thou art true in affection, welcome to thee ! I
have known thy value. — Then he went into a place by himself, and rubbed the seal-
ring. So Aboulsadat presented himself to him, and said to him, At thy service!
Demand then what thou wilt. — lie replied, I desire of thee a suit of the apparel of
the treasures for my wife, and ornaments of the treasures, comprising a necklace of
forty incomparable jewels. And he said, I hear and obey. Then he brought to him
what he had commanded him to procure, and Marouf carried the suit of apparel
and the ornaments, after he had dismissed the servant, and, going in to his wife, he
put them before her, and said to her. Take and put them on, and welcome to thee !
And when she looked at those things, her reason fled in consequence of her joy;
and she saw, among the ornaments, two anklets of gold set with jewels, the work of
the magicians, and bracelets and earrings, and a nose-ring which no riches would
suffice to purchase. She put on the suit of apparel and the ornaments, and said,
my master, I desire to treasure them up for festivals and holidays. But he replied.
Wear them always ; for I have abundance beside them. And when she put them
on, and the female slaves beheld her, they rejoiced, and kissed her hands. He then
left them, and went apart by himself, and again rubbed the seal-ring. The servant
therefore presented himself to him, and he said to him, Bring me a hundred suits
of apparel, with the ornaments of gold appropriate to them. And he replied, I hear
and obey, — and brought him the suits of apparel, each suit having its ornaments of
gold within it ; and Marouf took them, and called out to the female slaves. So they
came to him, and he gave to each of them a suit; and they put on the suits, and
became like the houris, the Queen being among them like the moon among the stars.
And one of the female slaves informed the King thereof; wherefore the King came
in to his daughter, and saw that she and her female slaves amazed the beholder;
and he wondered at this extremely.
He then went forth and summoned his Vizier, and said to him, Vizier, such and
such things have happened, and what sayest thou of this case? He answered,
King of the age, verily this conduct proceedeth not from merchants ; for pieces of
linen remain in the possession of the merchant for years, and he selleth them not
save for gain. How should merchants have generosity like this generosity, and how
can they accumulate the like of these riches and jewels such as exist not in the pos-
session of Kings, save in small quantities? How then can loads of them exist in
the possession of merchants? There must be a cause for this. But, if thou wilt
comply with my advice, I will make manifest to thee the truth of the case. — And he
replied, I will comply with thy advice, Vizier. So the Vizier said to him. Have
an interview with him, and show affection for him, and converse with him, and sav
to him, my son-in-law, I have it in my heart to go with thee and the Vizier, and
none else, to a garden, for the sake of diversion. And when we have gone forth to
the garden, we will put the wine-table, and I will constrain him, and give him to
drink ; and when he hath drunk the wine, his reason will be lost, and his right judg-
ment will quit him, and we will ask him respecting the truth of his case; for he will
acquaint us with his secrets. Then, when he hath informed us of the truth of the
lase, we shall know his state, and may do with him as we like and choose ; for I fear
for thee the results of this state in which he is. Probably his soul may be ambitious
of obtaining the kingdom, and the troops may be collected by means of generosity
and the lavishing of wealth, and he may depose thee, and take the kingdom from
thee. — And the King replied, Thou hast spoken truth.
They passed the night agreeing as to this plan ; and when the morning came, the
776 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
King wont forth to the hall, and seated himself; and lo, the servants and grooms
came in to him in affliction. So he said to them, What hath befallen you? And
they answered, King of the age, the grooms curried the horses, and gave fodder to
them and to the mules that brought the merchandise ; and when we arose in the
morning, we found that the mamlouks had stolen the horses and mules, and we
searched the stables, but saw not horses nor mules ; and we entered the place of the
mamlouks, but saw not in it any one ; and we know not how they fled. The King
therefore wondered at that ; for he imagined that the Genii were horses and mules
and mamlouks, and knew not that they were the Genii of the servant of the talisman.
And he said to them, ye accursed ! How is it that a thousand beasts, and five
hundred mamlouks, and servants besides, fled, and ye perceived them not? They
replied. We know not how it happened to us that they fled. And he said. Depart,
and wait until your master cometh forth from the harem, and acquaint him with the
news. So they departed from before the King, and sat perplexed respecting this
matter: and while they were sitting in this state, lo, Marouf came forth from the
harem, and saw them sorrowful, and he said to them. What is the news ? They
therefore acquainted him with that which had happened. But he said. And what is
their value, that ye are sorrowful on account of them? Go your way. And he sat
laughing, and was neither angry nor sorrowful on account of this event. And the
King looked in the face of the Vizier, and said, What is this man in whose estima-
tion wealth is of no value? There must be a cause for this. Then they conversed
with him a while, and the King said, my son-in-law, I desire to go with thee and
the Vizier to a garden, for the sake of diversion. What then sayest thou ? And he
replied. No harm.
So thereupon they departed, and repaired to a garden containing two kinds of
every fruit, and its rivers were flowing, and its trees were tall, and its birds were
warbling. They entered, within it, a pavilion that would dispel grief from hearts,
and sat conversing, the Vizier relating extraordinary tales, and introducing ludicrous
witticisms, and mirth-exciting sayings, and Marouf listening to the conversation,
until the dinner came up. They placed the table of viands, .and the jar of wine;
and after they had eaten, and washed their hands, the Vizier filled the cup, and gave
it to the King, who drank it ; and he filled the second, and said to Marouf, Take the
cup of the beverage in reverence of which the understanding bows the neck. So
Marouf said. What is this, O Vizier? The Vizier answered. This is the old maid,
and the virgin long kept in her home, and the imparter of joy to hearts. He ceased
not to excite his desire for the wine, mentioning to him such of its good qualities as
he relished, and reciting to him what occured to his mind of verses on the subject
of it, and pleasant stories, until he inclined to put his lips to the mouth of the cup,
and had no longer a desire for anything else. And the Vizier continued to fill for
him, and he drank and delighted and was merry, till he lost his reason, and distin-
guished not his wrong conduct from his right. So when he knew that his intoxica-
tion had become extreme, and exceeded the utmost point that was required, he said
to him, merchant Marouf, by Allah, I wonder whence came to thee these jewels
of which the like exist not in the possession of the royal Caesars ; and in our lives
we have never seen a merchant who hath accumulated riches like thee, nor any one
more generous than thou ; for thine actions are the actions of kings, and they are
not the actions of merchants. I conjure thee then by Allah that thou inform me in
order that I may know thy rank and thy station. — And he proceeded to ply him and
beguile him while he was bereft of reason. Marouf therefore said to him, I
am not a merchant, nor one of the Kings. And he acquainted him with his story
from beginning to end. So the Vizier said to him, I conjure thee by Allah, O my
master Marouf, to divert us with a sight of this seal-ring, that we may see of what
kind is its make. And he pulled ofi'the ring, in his intoxication, and said. Take it,
and divert yourselves with the sight of it. And the Vizier took it, and turned it over.
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 777
and said, If I rub it, will the servant present himself? Marouf answered, Yes: rub
it: he will present himself to thee; and divert thou thyself by beholding him.
The Vizier therefore rubbed it ; and lo, a speaker said. At thy service, my
master! Demand: thou shalt receive I Wilt thou ruin a city, or build a city, or
slay a King? For whatever thou desirest, I will do it for thee, without disobedience.
— And the Vizier made a sign to Marouf, and said to the servant, Take up this
erring man : then cast him down in the most desolate of deserted lands, so that he
may not find in it what he may eat nor what he m&y drink, and may perish of
hunger, and die in sorrow, no one knowing of him. So the servant seized him, and
flew with him, between heaven and earth. And when Marouf beheld this, he felt
sure of destruction and grievous embarrassment ; and he wept, and said, Aboul-
sadat, whither art thou going with me? He answered him, I am going to cast thee
down in the deserted quarter of the earth, thou of little good-breeding I Who
possesseth a talisman like this and giveth it to people that ^ey may divert them-
selves with the sight of it? But thou deservest what hath befallen thee ; and, but
that I fear God, I would cast thee down from the distance of a thousand fathoms,
and thou wouldst not reach the earth until the winds should have torn thee in pieces.
— So he was silent, and spoke not to him until he arrived with him at the deserted
quarter; whereupon he threw him down there; and he returned, and left him in
the desolate land. — Meanwhile, the Vizier, having possessed the se3,l-ring, said to
the King, How thinkest thou now? Did I not say to thee that this man was a liar,
an impostor? But thou didst not believe me. — And he replied. Thou art right, O
my Vizier ! God give thee health ! Give me this seal-ring, that I may divert my-
self with the sight of it. — But the Vizier looked at him angrily, and spat in his face,
and said to him, thou of little sense, how should I give it to thee, and become thy
servant, after I have become thy master? But I will no longer suffer thee to exist.
— Then he rubbed the seal-ring, and the servant presented himself, and he said to
him. Take up this person of little good-breeding, and throw him down in the place
where thou hast cast his stfin-in-law, the impostor. So he took him up, and flew
away with him, and the King said to him, creature of my Lord, what is my
ofi'ence? The servant answered him, I know not; but my master hath commanded
me to do this, and I cannot disobey him who possesseth the seal-ring containing
this talisman. He ceased not to fly on with him until he threw him down in the
place in which was Marouf. He then returned, and left him there. And the King
heard Marouf weeping, wherefore he came to him and informed him of his case,
and they sat weeping for that which had befollen them, and found neither food nor
drink.
But as to the Vizier, after he had separated Marouf and the King from their
home, he arose and went forth from the garden, and, having sent to all the soldiers,
held a court, and acquainted them with what he had done with Marouf and the
King. He told them also the story of the seal-ring, and said to them, If ye make
me not Sultan over you, I will command the servant of the seal-ring to carry you all
off and cast you down in the deserted quarter, and ye will die of hunger and thirst.
So they replied. Do us no injury ; for we consent to thy being Sultan over us, and
we will not disobey thy command. They agreed to his being Sultan over them
against their wish, and he conferred upon them robes of honour, and proceeded to
demand all that he desired of Aboulsadat, who presented it before him immediately.
He seated himself upon the throne, and the troops obeyed him ; and he sent to the
daughter of the King, saying to her. Prepare thyself; for I am coming to take thee
as my wife this night, being full of desire to be with thee. Upon this, she wept;
and the case of her father and her husband grieved her ; and she sent to say to
him. Let me remain until the period of widowhood shall have been completed; then
perform the ceremony of the contract of my marriage, and take me as thy wife
legally. But he sent to say to her, I know no period of widowhood nor length of
time, nor do I require a contract of marriage, nor do I know lawful from unlawful.
778 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
I must without fail take thee as my wife this night. — And she sent to say to him,
Welcome to thee ! And there will be no harm in that. — But this proceeding was a
stratagem of hers. And when the reply was brought to him, he rejoiced, and his
bosom became dilated ; for he was passionately enamoured of her. He then gave
orders to place the viands among all the people, and said. Eat ye this food, as it is
the banquet of the wedding festivity ; for I purpose to take the Queen as my wife
this night. The Sheikh el-Islam therefore said. It is not lawful for thee to take her
as thy wife until her period of widowhood shall have been completed, and thou shalt
have performed the ceremony of the contract of thy marriage to her. But he re-
plied, I know not a period of widowhood nor any other period : therefore multiply
not thy words to me. So the Sheikh el-Islam was silent, and feared his malice, and
said to the soldiers. Verily this is an infidel, and he hath no religion nor religious
opinion.
Then, when the evening came, he went in to her, and saw her wearing the most
magnificent of the apparel that she possessed, and adorned with the most beautiful
of ornaments ; and when she beheld him, she received him laughing, and said to
him, A blessed night! But hadst thou slain my father and my husband, it had been
better in my opinion ! So he replied, I must without fail slay them. And she
seated him, and proceeded to jest with him, and to make a show of afi"ection for
him ; and when she caressed him, and smiled in his face, his reason fled. But she
only beguiled him by caresses, in order that she might get possession of the seal-
ring and convert his joy into calamity upon his head. Then suddenly she retired to
a distance from him, and wept, and said, my lord, dost thou not see the man that
is looking at us? I conjure thee by Allah to veil me from his eye ! — And thereupon
he was enraged, and said. Where is the man ? She answered, Lo, he is in the stone
of the seal-ring, putting forth his head, and looking at us. He therefore imagined
that the servant of the seal-ring was looking at them ; and he laughed, and said.
Fear not. This is the servant of the seal-ring, and he is under my authority. — She
replied, I am afraid of Afrites : so pull it off, and throw it to a distance from me.
Accordingly he pulled it off, and put it on the cushion, and drew near to her. But
she kicked him with her foot upon his stomach, so that he fell upon his back sense-
less ; and she called out to her dependants, who came to her quickly, and she said
to them. Lay hold upon him. So forty female slaves seized him, and she hastily
took the seal-ring from the pillow, and rubbed it ; and lo, Aboulsadat approached,
saying, At thy service, my mistress ! And she said, Take up this infidel, and put
him into the prison, and make his shackles heavy.
He therefore took him, and confined him in the prison of anger, and returned and
said to her, I have imprisoned him. She then said to him. Whither conveyedst thou
my father and my husband? He answered, I threw them down in the deserted
quarter. And she said, I command thee to bring them to me this instant. So he
replied, I hear and obey. And he flew from before her, and ceased not to fly on
until he arrived at the deserted quarter and descended upon them, when he beheld
them sitting weeping, and complaining one to the other ; and he said to them. Fear
ye not. Relief hath come to you. — He acquainted them with that which the Queen
had done, and said to them, I have imprisoned him with mine own hand in obedience
to her ; and she commanded me to bring you back. They therefore rejoiced at the
news that he told them. Then he took them up, and fled away with them, and not
more than a little while had elapsed before he went in with them to the King's
daughter, who arose and saluted her father and her husband, and seated them, and
presented to them the viands and the sweetmeat. They passed the remainder of the
night, and on the following day she clad her father in a magnificent suit of apparel,
and clad her husband in like manner, and said, my father, sit thou upon thy throne,
a King as thou wast at first, and make my husband thy Vizier of the right hand ; then
acquaint thy troops with the events that have happened, and bring the Vizier from
the prison, and slay him, and after that, burn him ; for he is an infidel, and he desired
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 779
to take me as his wife unlawfully, without the rite of marriage. He hath avowed of
himself that he is an infidel, and that he hath no religion which he holdeth. And do
thou act well to thy son-in-law, whom thou hast appointed thy Vizier of the right hand.
— He replied, I hear and obey, my daughter: but give me the seal-ring, or give it
to thy husband. But she said, Verily it befitteth not thee nor him. The seal-ring
shall remain only in my possession, and probably I shall take more care of it than ye
would. Whatever ye desire, demand it of me, and I will demand for you of the
servant of the seal-ring. Fear ye not any harm as long as I live ; and after my death,
do as ye will with the seal-ring. — And her father replied, This is the right plan,
my daughter. Then he took his son-in-law, and went up to the council-chamber.
Now the troops had passed the night in excessive affliction, on account of the
King's daughter, and what the Vizier had [as they imagined] done with her, taking
her as his wife unlawfully, without the rite of marriage, and his ill-treatment of the
King and his son-in-law ; and they feared that the law of Mahomet would be dis-
honoured ; for it had become manifest to them that he was an infidel. Then they
assembled in the council-chamber, and began to reproach the Sheikh el-Islam, say-
ing to him, Wherefore didst thou not prevent him from taking the Queen as his Avife
unlawfully? So he answered them, people, verily the man is an infidel, and he
hath become possessor of the seal-ring, and I and ye are unable to do aught against
him. But God (whose name be exalted !) will recompense him for his conduct; and
be ye silent, lest he slay you. — And while the soldiers were assembled in the council-
chamber, conversing on this subject, lo, the King came in to them in the council-
chamber, and with him his son-in-law Marouf. So when the soldiers beheld him,
they rejoiced at his coming, and rose to him upon their feet, and kissed the ground
before him. He then seated himself upon the throne, and acquainted them with the
story. Therefore their grief quitted them. And he gave orders to decorate the city,
and caused the Vizier to be brought from the prison ; and as he passed by the
soldiers, they cursed him and reviled him and threatened him until he came to the
King ; and when he stood before him, he gave orders to slay him in the most abomi-
nable manner. So they slew him: then they burned him ; and he went to Hell in
the most evil of conditions. Then the King appointed Marouf his Vizier of the right
hand, and the times were pleasant to them and their joys were unsullied.
They remained thus five years ; and in the sixth year the King died ; and there-
upon the King's daughter made Marouf Sultan in the place of her father; but she
gave him not the seal-ring. And during this period she had borne him a boy, of
surprising loveliness, of surpassing beauty and perfection ; and he ceased not to
remain in the laps of the nurses until he had attained the age of five years. Then
his mother fell into a fatal sickness: so she summoned Marouf, and said to him, I
am sick. He replied, God preserve thee, beloved of my heart ! But she rejoined.
Probably I shall die. and thou requirest not that I should charge thee respecting thy
son. I only charge thee to take care of the seal-ring, from fear for thee and for this
boy. — He said, No harm will befall him whom God preserveth. And she pulled ofi"
the ring, and gave it to him ; and on the following day, she was admitted to the
mercy of God, whose name be exalted !
Marouf still remained King, and applied himself to the affairs of government.
And it happened one day that he shook the handkerchief, and the soldiers dispersed
themselves from before him to their abodes, and he entered the sitting-chamber, and
eat there until the day had passed, and the night came with its thick darkness. Then
the great men who were his boon-companions came in to him, according to their
custom, and sat up with him for the sake of enjoyment and amusement until mid-
night, when they asked permission to depart ; and he gave them permission, and
they went forth from him to their houses. After that, there came in to him a slave-
girl, who was employed to attend to his bed, and she spread for him the mattrass,
pulled off his clothes, and clad him in the apparel of sleep, and he laid himself down.
The damsel then proceeded to rub and press gently the soles of his feet until sleep
780 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
overcame him, whereupon she went forth from him to her sleeping-place, and slept.
And the King Marouf was sleeping, and suddenly he found something by his side in
the bed. So he awoke terrified, and said, I seek refuge with God from Satan the
accursed ! Then he opened his eyes, and saw by his side a woman of hideous aspect;
and he said to her, Who art thou ? She answered, Fear not. I am thy wife, Fatima
el-Orra.
Upon this, he looked in her face, and knew her by the hideousness of her shape,
and the length of her dog-teeth ; and he said, How camest thou in to me, and who
brought thee to this country ? She said to him. In what country art thou at present?
He answered, In the city of Khitan of Tartary. And thou (he added), when didst
thou quit Cairo? She answered, Just now. He said to her, And how so? She
answered. Know that when I wrangled with thee, and the Devil had incited me to
do thee mischief, and I complained of thee to the magistrates, they searched for
thee, and found thee not; and the Cadies inquired respecting thee; but they saw
thee not. Then, after two days had passed, repentance seized me, and I knew that
the fault was mine ; but repentance did not profit me. I remained for a period of
days weeping for thy separation, and my means became diminished, so that it was
necessary for me to beg for the sake of food. I proceeded to beg of every emulated
man of wealth and every detested pauper; and from the time when thou quittedst
me, I have been eating the food obtained by ignominious begging. I became in the
most evil of conditions, and every night I sat weeping for thy separation, and for
what I had endured since thy departure, of ignominy and contempt and disappoint-
ment and injury. — She continued to relate to him what had happened to her, while
he was in amazement at her, until she said, And yesterday I went about all the day
begging; but no one gave me aught. Every time that I accosted any one, and
begged him for a bit of bread, he reviled me, and gave me not aught. So when the
night came, I passed it without supper, and hunger tormented me; what I endured .
was grievous to me, and I sat weeping. And lo, a person appeared before me, and
said to me, woman, wherefore dost thou weep? I therefore answered, I had a
husband who expended upon me and accomplished my desires, and he hath been lost
to me, and I know not whither he hath gone, and I have endured embarrassment
since his departure. Thereupon he sa d. What is the name of thy husband ? I
answered, His name is Marouf. And he said, I am acquainted with him. Know
that thy husband is now Sultan in a city ; and if thou desire that I should convey
thee to him, I will do so. — I therefore said to him, I throw myself upon thy gene-
rosity, begging thee to convey me to him ! And he took me up, and flew with me
between heaven and earth until he conveyed me to this palace, when he said. Enter
this chamber. Thou wilt see thy husband sleeping upon the couch. — So I entered,
and saw thee in this state of sovereignty. Now it was not my wish that thou shouldst
forsake me. I am thy companion ; and praise be to God who hath united me with
thee ! — Upon this he said to her. Did I forsake thee, or didst thou forsake me? Thou
complainedst of me to Cadi after Cadi, and finishedst by complaining of me to the
Sublime Court, so that thou causedst Abou Tabak to come down upon me from the
Citadel. Therefore I fled in spite of myself. — And he proceeded to relate to her what
had happened to him until he became Sultan and married the King's daughter. He
told her also that she had died, and that he had by her a son, whose age was seven
years. And she said to him, What hath happened was predestined by God (whose
name be exalted!), and I have repented. I throw myself upon thy generosity,
entreating thee not to forsake me ; but let me eat bread in thine abode as alms.
She ceased not to humble herself to him until his heart was moved with com-
passion for her, and he said to her, llepent of evil conduct, and reside with me, and
thou shalt experience nothing but what will rejoice thee. But if thou do any evil
act, I will slay thee, and will not fear any one ; so let it not occur to thy mind that
thou mayest complain of me to the Sublime Court, and that Abou Tabak will come
down to me from the Citadel ; for I have become a Sultan, and the people fear me ;
THE STORY OF MAROUF. 781
Fatima el-Orra humbling herself before Marouf.
but I fear not any one except God (whose name be exalted !), since I have a seal-ring
that hath a servant in subjection to it. When I rub it, the servant of the ring ap-
peareth to me : his name is Aboulsadat ; and whatever I demand of him, he bringeth
it to me. Now if thou desire to return to thy country, I will give thee what will
suflSce thee all thy life, and send thee to thy country speedily. And if thou desire
to reside with me, I will appropriate to thee exclusively a pavilion, and furnish it for
thee with the best of silks, appoint for thee twenty female slaves to serve thee, and
assign for thee good food and magnificent apparel, so that thou shalt become a Queen,
and live in exceeding affluence until thou shalt die, or I die. What then sayest thou
respecting this proposal? — She answered, I desire to remain with thee. Then she
kissed his hand, and vowed repentance of evil conduct. . He therefore appropriated
to her a pavilion for herself alone, and bestowed upon her female slaves and eunuchs,
and she became a Queen. And the boy used to repair to her and to his father ; but
she hated the boy because he was not her son ; and when the boy saw that she
looked upon him with the eye of anger and hatred, he shunned her and hated her.
Marouf then became occupied with love of the beautiful slave-girls, and thought not
of his wife Fatima el-Orra, because she had become a half-grey old woman, with
hideous form, and a person whose hair was falling off, more ugly than the speckled
black and white serpent ; but especially because she had ill-treated him in a manner
that could not be exceeded; and the author of the proverb saith. Ill-treatment
eradicateth desire, and soweth fierce hatred in the soil of hearts.
Marouf did not receive her to reside in his abode on account of any praiseworthy
quality that she possessed; but he treated her in this generous manner only from a
desire of obtaining the approval of God, whose name be exalted ! And when she
saw that he withheld himself from her, and became occupied with others, she hated
him, and jealousy overcame her, and Eblis suggested to her that she should take the
seal-ring from him, and slay him, and make herself Queen in his place. Then she
went forth one night, and walked from her pavilion to the pavilion in which was her
husband, the King Marouf. Now it was his custom, when he slept, to take off the
seal-ring and conceal it ; and she knew this : so she went forth by night to go in to
him in the pavilion when he was drowned in sleep, and to steal this ring in such a
manner that he should not see her. But the King's son, at that time, was awake,
in a private chamber, with the door open ; and when she came forth from her pavilion,
he saw her carefully walking towards the pavilion of his father, and he said within
himself, Wherefore hath this sorceress come forth from her pavilion in the hour of
darkness, and wherefore do I see her repairing to the pavilion of my father? There
must be a cause for this event. — He then went forth behind her, and followed her
Bt«p8 without her seeing him. And he had a short, jewelled sword: and he used
not to go forth to the council-chamber of his father without having this sword hung
by his side, because he prized it highly; and when his father saw him, he used to
laugh at him, and say, God's will ! Verily thy sword is excellent, my son ! But
thou hast not gone down with it to battle, nor cut off with it a head. — And there-
upon he used to reply, I shall not fail to cut with it a neck that shall be deserving
782 THE STORY OF MAROUF.
of the cutting. And his father would laugh at his words. — Now when he walked
behind his father's wife, he drew the sword from its scabbard, and followed her
until she entered the pavilion of his father, when he stood watching her at the door
of the pavilion ; and as he continued looking at her, he saw her searching, and
saying. Where hath he put the seal-ring? He therefore understood that she was
looking about for the ring; and he ceased not to wait, observing her, until she
found it, when she said, Lo, here it is. And she picked it up, and was about to
come forth. So he hid himself behind the door ; and when she came forth from
the door, she looked at the ring, and turned it over in her hand, and was about to
rub it. But he raised his hand with the sword, and struck her upon her neck, and
she uttered one cry : then fell down slain.
Upon this, Marouf awoke, and beheld his wife laid prostrate, and her blood flow-
ing, and his son with the sword drawn in his hand. So he said to him, What is this,
my son ? He replied, my father, how often hast thou said to me. Verily thy
sword is excellent ; but thou hast not gone down with it to battle, nor cut off with
it a head? And I answered thee, I shall not fail to cut with it a neck deserving of
the cutting. Lo, now I have cut for thee with it a neck deserving of the cutting. —
And he acquainted him with her case. Then he searched for the seal-ring, but saw
it not. Ajod he ceased not to search her person until he saw her hand closed upon it.
Marouf therefore took it from her hand, and said to the boy. Thou art my son with-
out doubt or uncertainty. May God relieve thee from trouble in this world- and in
the next, as thou hast relieved me from this base woman ! Her course only led her
to her own destruction. Then the King Marouf called out to some of his depend-
ants, who came to him quickly, and he acquainted them with that which his wife
Fatima el-Orra had done, and commanded them to take her and put her in a place
until the morning. So they did as he commanded them ; after which he appointed
a number of the eunuchs to take charge of her; and they washed her and shrouded
her, made for her a funeral procession, and buried her. Thus her coming from Cairo
was only a journey to her grave.
The King Marouf then sent to summon the ploughman who had entertained him
when he was a fugitive ; and when he came, he appointed him his Vizier of the
right hand, and his counsellor, and he learned that he had a daughter of surprising
beauty and loveliness, of generous qualities, of noble race, of high dignity: so he
married to her. And after a period of time, he married his son. And they re-
mained a long time enjoying the most comfortable life: their times were unsullied,
and their joys were sweet, until they were visited by the terminator of delights, and
the separator of companions, and the miner of flourishing houses, and him who
maketh sons and daughters orphans. — Extolled be the perfection of the Living who
dieth not, and in whose hands are the keys of the dominion that is apparent and
the dominion that is hidden I
coNCLusioisr.
Sheherazade, during this period, had borne the King three male children ; and
when she had ended these tales, she rose upon her feet, and kissed the ground before
the King, and said to him, King of the time, and incomparable one of the age
and period, verily I am thy slave, and during a thousand and one nights I have re-
lated to thee the history of the preceding generations, and the admonitions of the
people of former times ; then have I any claim upon thy majesty, so that I may re-
quest of thee to grant to me a wish? And the King answered her, Request: thou
shalt receive, Sheherazade. So thereupon she called out to the nurses and the
eunuchs, and said to them, Bring ye my children. Accordingly they brought them
to her quickly; aad they were three male children: one of them walked, and one
crawled, and one was at the bi»east. And when they brought them, she took them
and placed them before the King, and, having kissed the ground, said, King of
the age, these are thy children, and I request of thee that thou exempt me from
slaughter, as a favour to these infants ; for if thou slay me, these infants will be-
come without a mother, and will not find among women one who will rear them
well. And thereupon the King wept, and pressed his children to his bosom, and
eaid, Sheherazade, by Allah, I pardoned tliee before the coming of these children,
because I saw thee to be chaste, pure, ingenuous, pious. May God bless thee, and
thy father and thy mother, and thy root and thy branch ! I call God to witness
against me that I have exempted thee from everything that might injure thee. — So
she kissed his hands and his feet, and rejoiced with exceeding joy ; and she said to
him. May God prolong thy life, and increase thy dignity and majesty !
Joy spread through the palace of the King until it became diffused throughout
the city, and it was a night not to be reckoned among lives: its colour was whiter
than the face of day. The King arose in the morning happy, and with prosperity
inundated ; and he sent to all the soldiers, who came ; and he conferred upon his
Vizier, the father of Sheherazade, a sumptuous and magnificent robe of honour,
saying to him, May God protect thee since thou hast married to me thy generous
daughter, who hath been the cause of my repenting of slaying the daughters of the
people, and I have seen her to be ingenuous, pure, chaste, virtuous. Moreover, God
hath blessed me by her with three male children ; and praise be to God for this
abundant favour ! — Then he conferred robes of honour upon all the Viziers and
Emirs and lords of the empire, and gave orders to decorate the city thirty days ; and
he caused not any one of the people of the city to expend aught of his wealth ; for
all the expense and disbursements were from the King's treasury. So they deco-
rated the city in a magnificent manner, the like of which had not been seen before,
and the drums were beaten and the pipes were sounded, and all the performers of
Bports exhibited their arts, and the King rewarded them munificently with gifts and
presents. He bestowed alms also upon the poor and needy, and extended his gene-
rosity to all his subjects, and all the people of his dominions. And he and the
people of his empire continued in prosperity and joy and delight and happiness
until thej were visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of companions.
783
784
CONCLUSION.
Extolled be the perfection of Him whom the vicissitudes of times do not destroy,
and to whom no change happeneth, whom no circumstance diverteth from another
circumstance, and who is alone distinguished by the attributes of perfection ! And
blessing and peace be on the Imam of his Majesty, and the elect from among his
creatures, our lord Mahomet, the lord among mankind, through whom we supplicate
God for a happy end!
and the Children before the
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